NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Monday approved extension of revised pay scales to all eligible teachers in universities and colleges with effect from January 1, 1996. The revised scales and other related matters would be fixed as recommended by the Human Resource Ministry. The Cabinet also decided to restore pension parity to government employees who retired before the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission. The government had fixed pension at 50 per cent and family pension at 30 per cent minimum of the revised scales as per the Fifth Pay Commission.

ULFA leader

DHAKA: A Bangladeshi court sentenced ULFA leader Anup Chetia to six years in jail for illegal immigration, court officials said today. Chetia, who was arrested from a rented house in the Bangladeshi capital last year pleaded guilty. Chetia, secretary general of ULFA, is wanted in India on murder and kidnapping charges and faces trial on two more counts of illegal holding of foreign currency and cellphones. Since his arrest, India has been seeking Chetia's extradition.

Potato export ban

NEW DELHI: The government today imposed a total ban on the export of potatoes and onions due to acute shortage in the open market. Commerce Minister R K Hegde announced after a cabinet meeting here that the government has also decided to put the import of pulses on the Open General Licence list.