India maps now with IST meridian

Coimbatore (PTI): The surveyor-general of India has decided to print the country’s maps with the Indian Standard Time (IST) meridian with immediate effect after a suggestion from a school principal here.

India’s time is calculated on +82 degree 30’E+ longitude, which passes through Allahabad. So far, no India map shows this, though it is mentioned in high school textbooks.

As most countries in their maps highlight the longitudes that decide their standard time, P.A.M. Thampi, the principal of T.V. Sekharan Memorial Matric Higher Secondary School, sent his suggestion to carry the IST meridian to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Realising the importance of the suggestion, Kalam immediately forwarded it to the Survey of India in Dehra Dun, V. Bakthavatchalam, the general manager of a leading textbook publishing firm, said.

The Survey of India immediately responded to Thampi’s suggestion and issued orders to print India maps with the IST meridian.

Rape evidence glare on doctor

Ahmedabad (PTI): The chief medical officer of the civil hospital here, who was arrested on Saturday in connection with an alleged gangrape on New Year’s eve, was remanded in judicial custody on Sunday.

Dr B.M. Jadhav was arrested for alleged “destruction of evidence” and acts of “omission and commission” while examining victim Bijal Joshi on the night of the incident.

Jadhav is the first doctor to be arrested in the case a day after a 600-page chargesheet was framed by police against 12 people, including prime accused Sajal Jain, a Delhi-based businessman, and two absconders.

Forensic department officials who handled the case said the “vaginal swab of the victim was not taken by the doctor and it was one among the 51 pieces of evidence sent for scientific examination that was missing”.

The doctor was arrested after the police pointed to the “destruction of evidence” under Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code.

Collecting the swab is a crucial piece of evidence and was mandatory under the law in such cases and the doctor “deliberately” did not collect it and conduct a detailed medical check-up of the victim, an investigating officer said.

Govt stamps in garbage bin

Salem (PTI): Rubber stamps of government officials, including those of some of the returning officers appointed for the Lok Sabha elections, were found on Sunday in a garbage bin near the collectorate by some boys.

District collector Sethu Ramachandran has asked police and the revenue divisional officer to conduct an inquiry and submit a report to him.

Official sources said the boys while playing cricket went to the garbage bin to retrieve the ball. They noticed the rubber stamps and informed some journalists at the collectorate press room. The scribes then informed the collector.

Mild quake

New Delhi (PTI): A mild earthquake measuring 1.6 on the Richter scale was felt in the city on Sunday morning, the meteorological department said. The slight tremors were felt at 9.51 am. There was no report of any casualty or damage to property.

Explosives haul

Madurai (PTI): Police seized 750 kg of explosives, including gelatine sticks and explosive chemicals, from a van at Kotanathampatti near Melur on Sunday. The driver was arrested. The police said they had been monitoring the movement of “anti-social elements” ahead of the elections and had been carrying out random checks on vehicles.

Aishwarya case

Mumbai (PTI): A sessions court will deliver on Monday its verdict on a plea by actor Aishwarya Rai and her family to dismiss a case filed by a real estate agent for alleged non-payment of brokerage. Sessions judge H.S. Deshpande reserved his order till March 29 and extended until then the stay granted on a magistrate’s order issuing summons to Aishwarya and her family.

Heroin seized

Mumbai (PTI): The Narcotics Control Bureau has seized heroin worth over Rs 10 crore. The consignment was to be delivered in Bandra on Saturday. Three persons carrying the consignment from Madhya Pradesh to Mumbai were arrested.

A hundred test-tube babies and their parents gathered at the Tech Babies Meet, 2004, in Ahmedabad on Sunday to discuss modern and scientific methods of conceiving with the doctor, Himanshu Bhavishi, who had treated them.