June 13, 1984

In a move that would end nearly 20 years of involvement in the Dominican Republic, Gulf and Western Industries said yesterday that it would try to sell its sugar growing operations and holdings there. ''Sugar no longer fits in with the company's long-term strategic plan to concentrate principally on higher return, consumer-oriented products, financial services and leisure time businesses,'' said Martin S. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer. The company, which a year ago announced write-offs of $470 million to divest itself of several major lines of business, will also end its sugar activities in Florida. Gulf and Western said that the write-down from the sugar operations will reduce third- quarter income by about $30 million.

A report in New York Day by Day yesterday about Bella Abzug's possible candidacy for the House of Representatives in Westchester County incorrectly described the residency requirement. House members need only to be residents of the states that elect them.

The Senate tonight approved a compromise measure that would forbid Pentagon spending to test American antisatellite weapons unless President Reagan certifies that he is ''endeavoring, in good faith to negotiate the strictest possible limitations on antisatellite weapons.'' The 61-to-28 vote came as the Senate continued debate on a $213.5 billion military authorization bill for the 1985 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The compromise on financing for antisatellite testing was worked out by Senators Paul E. Tsongas, Democrat of Massachusetts, and John W. Warner, Republican of Virgina, after a nearly three- hour secret session. Request by Reagan Mr. Reagan has asked for about $2 billion in fiscal 1985 for research on methods intended to defend the United States from Soviet nuclear ballistic missile attack. He has made a separate $400 million request for development of a rocket-powered missile designed to destroy Soviet satellites in space.

The Supreme Court ruled today that a court may not order an employer to protect the jobs of recently hired black employees at the expense of whites who have more seniority. The 6-to-3 decision came in the most highly charged case involving alleged discrimination against whites to reach the Court in several years. In an opinion by Associate Justice Byron R. White, the Court overturned an order by two lower Federal courts that had shielded newly hired black officers in the Memphis fire department against layoffs. The Court's ruling comes at a time of continuing debate between union leaders, who say senority should determine who is laid off, and civil rights leaders, who say such a policy frustrates the employment prospects of minorities. It is likely to have some impact in many cities across the nation where similar cases are in litigation.

At least 12 more Sikh deserters from the Indian Army were reported killed today and nearly 350 more were arrested. Military officials declared the scattered three-day revolt by Sikh troops to be at an end, but 200 members of a Sikh battalion in the northeastern state of Tripura stole four military vehicles and deserted today. They were intercepted and, according to officials, surrendered without a fight. ''Only stray cases of individuals remain to be mopped up,'' said Brig. K. L. Juneja, an army spokesman. He said that all other deserters had surrendered, been captured or killed.