From: reddym@Barra.COM (Reddy Mallidi)
Subject: India - Torrential rains claim more than 200 lives 
Organization: BARRA, CA
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 13:13:19 GMT


    Sources: PTI, XINHUA
    Dates  : Nov. 17, 1992 
    Country: India 

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    * Supreme Court uphelds reservations for backward classes

        In a far reaching judgement delivered on Monday, the supreme court
    has upheld the decision of the government of former prime minister
    Mr V.P. Singh to reserve government jobs for the socially and educationally
    backward classes (SEBC). In a 5-4 decision, the court quashed the 10%
    reservations set out for economically weaker sections not belonging to
    the SEBCs by the P.V. Narasihma Rao government. However, the full bench
    of the court directed the government to limit the caste-based quotas to
    a maximum of 50%. The bench quashed the reservations in promotions. The
    supreme court also told the government to eliminate the economically 
    better-off castes from the purview of the reservations. (PTI, Xin)

    * Agitation erupts against job quotas

        Students burnt buses, blocked trains and road traffic and clashed
    with police as they gave went to their anger against the supreme court
    verdict on reservations. Reports of arson, stoning, torching of 
    vehicles received from several places in U.P, Bihar, Orissa and Delhi.
    Vehicular movement was disrupted near the main Delhi university campus.
    Angry students damaged atleast 12 buses belonging to the Delhi Transport
    Corporation. Police opened fire in the air to disperse rioting students 
    in Allahabad, Gorakhpur and Varanasi where students set fire to buses. 
        Talking to pressmen in New Delhi, union minster for welfare Sitaram
    Kesari said that the government would consult all political parties to 
    find a way out of the issue.  (PTI, Xin)

    * Torrential rains claim more than 200 lives 
   
        Torrential rains which battered several parts of south India claimed
    more than 200 lives so far. In Tirunalveli-Kattabomman district 61 deaths,
    and in Madurai 54 deaths were reported. A big landslide took place 
    following the flash floods triggered by the storm in Tamilnadu, 
    about 430km south of Madras. Meanwhile Ms Jayalalitha, chief minister of
    Tamilnadu visited Chidambaram and Kanyakumari districts. A central team
    headed by the union agriculture minister Balaram Jakhar had made an aerial
    survey of the cyclone-hit areas. Helicopters were dropping food supplies
    to people in the flood hit areas. The storm rendered 25000 people homeless
    in Tamilnadu, and Kerala. (Xin)

    * India ready to discuss disarmament issue

        India is ready to discuss any plan leading to global disarmament,
    Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao told a U.S congressional delegation.
    During a meeting with the U.S delegation, Rao also said that India is
    having talks with the U.S on the nuclear non-proliferation issue. He
    also explained the steps taken by India to improve relations with its
    neighbours. The delegation arrived on Monday to discuss a variety of
    bilateral and regional issues with Indian senior officials. (Xin)


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