Nine engineering students, suspended for ragging a fellow student, have moved the Bombay High Court challenging the Anti-Ragging Act passed by the Maharashtra legislature on April 7 last.

Tushar Jadhav, Abhijit Rokade, Deepak Dhirave, Laxmikant Jadhav, Semedh Kulkarni, Ashish Muley, Rajendra Patil, Firdosh Khan and Sagar Bhagwat -- students of Government Engineering College in Pune -- were suspended for five years for ragging one Tejas Joshi in July this year. On August 27, the college lodged an FIR with police who registered a case against them. The students were suspended after a four-member committee gave a report on the incident. The Anti-Ragging Bill provides for suspension of a student from college for five years, besides a two-year jail term and a fine of Rs 10,000. (PTI)

Thane hoteliers oppose 5 dry days

Permit rooms and wine shops in Thane district will have to observe prohibition on October 5, 6 and 7 on account of counting of votes, as perthe directives of the Election Commission. Prohibition Week is observed in Maharashtra from October 2 to 8, with no liquor served on the first and last day. Thane's hoteliers said they had been dealt a severe blow by the three-day prohibition orders of the EC as all the three days are part of the Prohibition Week. Meanwhile, permit rooms in Mumbai will be closed only on the day of counting, i.e., October 6, and will remain open on October 5 and 7, as the Bombay High Court has granted them a stay against the EC circular.

Award for Athavale

Magsaysay awardee Pandurang Shastri Athavale, pioneer of the Swadhayee movement will be conferred the Chaturang Pratishthan Award for his contribution in the field of social work. The award, having a cash prize of Rs one lakh, citation and a memento will be given during a two-day cultural programme to be held in Mumbai on December 18 and 19. The selection committee for the award was headed by Loksatta editor Dr Aroon Tikekar. (UNI)