The JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav on Tuesday told reporters that the Bihar government would be submitting its reply on Rs 11,000 crore treasury scam in the next hearing of the Patna high court on July 26. Mr Yadav also stated that the NDA will hold its co-ordination meeting on July 26 for the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The railways “running staff” which includes the crucial category of loco pilots (train drivers) is crucial for the safe running of trains. And yet, it is this very important band of railway employees that appears to be battling not only a shortage of hands but also increased pressure when new trains are introduced.

The battle between the governments of Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh acquired a human rights angle with the TDP approaching the NHRC with a complaint against the Maharashtra government.

West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is again expected to give a miss to the crucial meeting convened by the CPI(M) central leadership in the capital beginning here on Wednesday. Owing to his differences with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, Mr Bhattacharjee has been skipping the CPI(M) meetings repeatedly.

A bill seeking to increase the salary and allowances of members of Parliament is on the top priority list of the government in the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning Monday at a time when price hike is pinching the common man.

The concerns over high volume of traffic on Ring Road has forced the authorities to utilise the virtually defunct “Ring Rail” to transport people and also commercial goods. The step has been taken to decongest the two main peripheral roads around the city in wake of the Commonwealth Games. However, no extra trains have been proposed so far. Officials say that the existing fleet of trains — both passenger and commercial — would be used for the purpose.

Delhi University vice-chancellor Deepak Pental may get a six month extension. The news is doing the rounds in the human resource development ministry circles that the ministry decided to extend Prof. Pental’s tenure in the wake of the Commonwealth Games.

Angry over non-payment of their dues for the past 18 months, the MCD contractors have threatened to strike work in the city from Wednesday. For the time being, they have kept the Games 2010-related projects out of the strike but only “for the next five to six days in national interest”. They also asserted that they would not do any work

The second heavy spell of rain in the city and the NCR disrupted normal life for the better part of Tuesday with traffic snarls, waterlogging and other related problems. It also blew away the claims of authorities dealing with the Games preparations with reports of water entering the recently inaugurated cycli-ng velodrome at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s attempt to break bread with the judiciary after being named as one of the accused in the over Rs 11,500-crore treasury scam, failed on Sunday.