For the second time around, the Law Ministry has put a spoke in the wheel to the progress of the scheme for allowing nationalised banks to restructure their capital base. According to sources, an eleventh hour objection raised by the Law Ministry for issuing a notification to this effect, has caused a fresh round of delay for the proposal that has been hanging fire for several months now.

300 ill after gas leak in Delhi

At least 300 people were affected when toxic fumes spread in a north-east locality of the capital early this morning. The residents of Shahdra, many of them children and aged people, fled the area around 4 a.m. with respiratory problems after the gas fumes spread, senior police officials said. Preliminary investigations indicate that the gas could be chlorine-based and might have emanated from old gunny sacks set on fire by a waste material dealer.

‘Govt. audit should respond to public needs’

The Union Finance Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, today said Government audit should respond to public financial needs, constraints and challenges. Fear of public audit must not lead to the creation of a mind-set in the public administration which is averse to innovation and risk-taking and inhibits speedy decision-making, Dr. Singh said in his address to the 6th assembly and 5th international seminar of Asian organisation of supreme audit institutions. Audit work has to be so organised that it will help check waste and inefficiency in the raising and use of resources without affecting the ability and incentive for the exercise of creativity and initiative in the provision of Government services.

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