Government Employee Dying A Day Before 60th Birthday Is Deemed Under 60, Dependent Eligible For Compassionate Appointment : Calcutta HC

Government Employee Dying A Day Before 60th Birthday Is Deemed Under 60, Dependent Eligible For Compassionate Appointment : Calcutta HC

Namdev Singh

25 Mar 2025 1:15 PM




The Calcutta High Court bench comprising of Saugata Bhattacharyya, J. held that a government employee is deemed not to have completed 60 years of age if they die one day before their 60th birthday, therefore making their dependent eligible for compassionate appointment.

Background Facts

The petitioner applied for appointment on compassionate ground in a secondary school after death of his father. The date of birth of father was 2nd January, 1961. He turned sixty on January 1, 2021, the same day he passed away. The respondent refused the prayer of the petitioner. The reason assigned by the respondent in the memo dated 5th February, 2024 was attainment of age of sixty years by father of the petitioner on 1st January, 2021 when he died.

Also Read - Recovery Of Excess Amount Can't Be Permitted If Officer Is Not At Fault: Delhi High Court


The respondent decided on the basis of Schedule V of the West Bengal School Service Commission (Selection of Persons for Appointment to the Post of Non-teaching Staff) Rules, 2009 (Rules of 2009), that father of the petitioner attained sixty years on the date of his death, therefore, petitioner was not entitled to get benefit of appointment on compassionate ground.

Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner filed the writ petition for quashing the memo dated 5th February, 2024 issued by the Assistant Secretary, West Bengal Regional School Service Commission.

Also Read - Repeated Misconduct Justifies Compulsory Retirement Under BSF Rules: J&K HC

It was contended by the petitioner that since date of birth of father of the petitioner was 2nd January, 1961 therefore, father of the petitioner did not complete sixty years on 1st January, 2021. He would have completed sixty years on 2nd January, 2021. It was further argued that, despite the petitioner's father's date of superannuation, the petitioner should have been considered an eligible candidate for appointment on compassionate grounds. It was stated that there was one day short to complete age of 60 years on the date of death, which makes the petitioner entitled to be considered for appointment on compassionate ground.

Also Read - Part-Time Teachers In Night Junior Colleges Not Entitled To Pensionary Benefits Under MEPS Rules: Bombay HC

Further petitioner relied on Rules 18 and 20 of the West Bengal Primary School Teachers Recruitment Rules, 2016. As per Rule 18, the superannuation date of father of the petitioner was 31st January, 2021. It was further submitted that Rule 20 states the financial hardship of family of deceased teacher and definition of family are to be taken into consideration in terms of Schedule V of the Rules of 2009.

Also Read - KWA Service | Once Appointed As Assistant Engineer, Right To Opt For Degree Or Diploma Quota For Promotion Remains Open: Supreme Court

On the other hand it was contended by the respondent that Rules of 2016 was not applicable but Schedule V of Rules of 2009 was applicable while adjudging eligibility of the petitioner to be appointed on compassionate ground. Clause 1 of Schedule V of the Rules of 2009 states that date of superannuation of father of petitioner was fixed on 31st January, 2021. However, father of the petitioner attained sixty years on 1st January, 2021 which makes the petitioner disentitled in the matter of granting appointment on compassionate ground. According to the respondent authorities, date of birth of father of the petitioner was 2nd January, 1961 and he completed sixty years of age on 1st January, 2021. Therefore, petitioner was not entitled to be considered for appointment on compassionate ground.

Findings of the Court

The Clause 1 under Schedule V of the Rules of 2009 was relied upon by the court which provides that when a teacher or non-teaching staff dies in harness before the date of his superannuation that is the age of sixty years in that event only one of the family members of the deceased teacher /nonteaching staff is entitled to be considered for appointment on compassionate ground.

It was observed by the court that father of the petitioner was scheduled to retire on 31st January, 2021 but unfortunately, he died on 1st January, 2021 when his age was 59 years 11 months and 29 days. If the father would have died on 2nd January, 2021 it could have been concluded that father completed sixty years of age.

It was further observed that had father of the petitioner died on 2nd January, 2021 then son would have been adjudged being not eligible to be considered for appointment on compassionate ground. But in the present case, since father died on the last date when he attained 60th year it cannot be concluded that the father completed sixty years.

Therefore, it was held by the court that there is no bar in considering application of the petitioner seeking appointment on compassionate ground if father of the petitioner had died on the last date just before completing sixty years of age. Therefore, the memo dated 5th February, 2024 issued by the respondent was set aside by the court.

With the aforesaid observations, the writ petition was allowed.

Case Name : Sk. Monikul Hossain VS. The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Case No. : W.P.A. 28275 OF 2024

Counsel for the Petitioner : Firdous Samim, Gopa Biswas, Sampriti Saha, Swati Dey

Counsel for the Respondents : Biswabrata Basu Mallick, Biman Halder, Sunit Kumar Roy, Saibal Acharyya, Tanweer Jamil Mandal

If poor don’t get free treatment at Apollo, will hand it over to AIIMS, warns Supreme Court

If poor don’t get free treatment at Apollo, will hand it over to AIIMS, warns Supreme Court

The Supreme Court asked the Central and Delhi governments to set up a joint inspection team to “find out if poor people are being treated there or this land has been grabbed for private interest”.

By: Express News Service

New Delhi | Updated: March 27, 2025 05:58 IST

The bench also asked them to inform it of the existing total bed strength of the hospital and sought records of OPD patients for the past five years.

The Supreme Court has warned the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi that it will ask the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to take over its management if it does not fulfill its commitment in the lease agreement to provide free treatment to poor patients. “If we find out that poor people are not provided free treatment, we will hand over the hospital to AIIMS,” a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh cautioned on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court asked the Central and Delhi governments to set up a joint inspection team to “find out if poor people are being treated there or this land has been grabbed for private interest”.

“Discuss the matter at the highest level, and if need be, we will ask AIIMS to run the hospital,” the court said. The hospital has been given four weeks to submit a report.

Story continues below this ad

The bench was hearing an appeal filed by Indraprastha Medical Corporation Limited (IMCL), which runs the hospital, challenging an order dated September 22, 2009, by the Delhi High Court, which said that “there has been hardly any implementation of the conditions of the agreement providing for free treatment to indoor and outdoor patients” as it cited “reports which clearly show that the IMCL has flouted the conditions with impunity”.

As per the agreement establishing the hospital, it was stipulated that it shall provide free facilities of medical diagnostic and other necessary care to not less than 1/3rd of the total capacity of 600 beds and to provide free of cost full medical diagnostic and other necessary facilities to 40% of the patients attending OPD of the hospital.

The All India Lawyers Union had approached the High Court alleging that this was being flouted.

The High Court asked the hospital “to provide one-third of the free beds i.e. 200 beds with adequate space and necessary facilities to the indoor patients and also to make necessary arrangements for free facilities to 40% of the outdoor patients.”

Story continues below this ad

Hearing the appeal against the High Court order on Tuesday, the Supreme Court orally remarked that the hospital — built on 15 acres of land given on a symbolic lease of just Re 1 — was to be run on a ‘no profit and no loss’ formula but has instead turned into a purely commercial venture where the poor can hardly afford treatment.

The IMCL counsel told the bench that it was being run as a joint venture and the government of NCT of Delhi has 26% shareholding and had also benefited from the earnings.

“If the Delhi government is earning profit from the hospital instead of taking care of the poor patients, it is the most unfortunate thing,” Justice Kant said. The Supreme Court noted that the land on which the hospital was built was given on a 30-year lease, which was to expire in 2023, and asked the Centre and Union Health Ministry to find out if the same had been renewed and to explain “if the lease deed has not been renewed, what lawful recourse has been initiated for restoration of government land”.

The bench also asked them to inform it of the existing total bed strength of the hospital and sought records of OPD patients for the past five years.

Story continues below this ad

“The affidavit will explain how many poor patients on the recommendation of the state authorities were provided indoor and outdoor treatment in the last five years,” the court said, allowing the hospital to explain its stand in an affidavit.

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

Academics air equivalency worry over UGC’s new role in foreign degree recognition

Prof Furqan Qamar, the former secretary-general of the AIU and former vice-chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, said recognition of academic degrees is not done by any government agency globally

Basant Kumar Mohanty Published 23.03.25, 05:47 AM

The grant of certificates equivalent to degrees awarded by foreign universities to Indian students will be handled by the University Grants Commission (UGC) instead of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), according to a government decision that has been decried by academics.

Academics have expressed concern over the transfer of responsibility from an independent body like the AIU to a government-controlled agency like the UGC in violation of global practice.

The education ministry is learnt to have communicated its decision to the UGC to take over the work. However, the UGC is yet to set up a wing with experts to handle the task.

Since its inception in 1925, the AIU has been granting equivalence certificates to foreign degree holders to enable them to pursue higher studies and jobs in India. The ministry of human resource development (MHRD), now the education ministry, had in 1995 issued a notification to recognise the work undertaken by the AIU.

However, the UGC, headed by M. Jagadesh Kumar as its chairman, proposed to take over the responsibility in 2023 and unveiled draft regulations. The education ministry has since then held a series of meetings with UGC and AIU officials, sources said.

“The government has decided that the UGC is the appropriate body to perform this responsibility. The government took the decision on the ground that the AIU is a private body and it cannot be allowed to discharge this responsibility,” a UGC official said.

The AIU gets financial assistance from the government for the promotion of sports and games in universities. Currently, 1,004 universities are members of the AIU.

For the AIU to grant equivalence certificates, the foreign university should be recognised in that country, the course should be a full-time, regular (on-campus) degree programme and the programme duration should be the same as Indian universities.

The AIU does not grant equivalence certificates to pathway degrees that help students transition to the second year of an undergraduate course in a university after pursuing a one-year diploma course in another institute.

The UGC may allow equivalence to pathway degrees, according to its draft.

Prof M.M. Salunkhe, the former president of the AIU, disapproved of the government’s decision.

“There have been no allegations against the AIU. It has performed its work professionally for 100 years. It has the expertise. Most importantly, it is truly an independent agency. I believe that an independent agency should handle this work,” Salunkhe said.

Prof Furqan Qamar, the former secretary-general of the AIU and former vice-chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, said recognition of academic degrees is not done by any government agency globally. For example, the European Network of Information Centre and National Academic Recognition Information Centre handles the recognition of academic degrees in European countries.

Qamar said the UN’s education arm Unesco also preferred member countries to designate a similar independent agency for this work.

Madras High Court restrains authorities from publishing NIRF ranking for 2025

Madras High Court restrains authorities from publishing NIRF ranking for 2025

A PIL petition has claimed the ranking is without any basis and is misleading students

Published - March 21, 2025 08:47 pm IST - MADURAI

The Hindu Bureau

The Hindu

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday restrained the Ministry of Education and the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) from publishing the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking for 2025.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by C. Chellamuthu of Oddanchatram in Dindigul district. The petitioner claimed the NIRF ranking was totally without any basis and it was misleading students.

NIRF was launched by the NBA on the direction of the Ministry of Education for evaluating higher education institutions in the country. The NBA publishes the NIRF rankings of colleges every year. The NIRF ranking framework evaluates institutions in five broad categories: Teaching, Learning and Resources; Research and Professional Practice; Graduation Outcomes; Outreach and Inclusivity; and Perception, the petition said.

The NBA directs the institutions to upload the data such as student and staff strength, staff salaries, graduation index, placement details and funds received for research and development on its web portal. Based on the data entered by the institutions, rankings were awarded without any further verification or auditing, the petitioner said.

Comparing it with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR), the petitioner said the NAAC AQAR documents were audited and checked by expert committees sent by the NAAC to the institutions.

‘Data manipulated’

According to him, in all the ranking parameters, the data provided by the institutions that got NIRF ranking was manipulated and completely false. There was no transparency or accountability of the data submitted by the institutions. Instead of collecting data from the available official government records, institutions were invited to submit the data online. Without verifying the information entered, top rankings were awarded, he said.

It could negatively impact the quality of education in India. Reputed academicians and educationalists had criticised the system followed by the NIRF, the petitioner said, and sought the grant of an order of interim stay restraining the authorities from publishing the NIRF ranking for 2025.

The petitioner sought a direction to the NBA to publish the NIRF ranking after comparing and verifying the data submitted by the institutions with the data in the government records and disclose the calculation method.

A Division Bench of Justices J. Nisha Banu and S. Srimathy restrained the authorities from publishing the ranking for 2025. The court sought a counter affidavit and posted the matter to April 24.

Published - March 21, 2025 08:47 pm IST

Students struggle to get tatkal passport appointments in Hyd

Students struggle to get tatkal passport appointments in Hyd

Ashresh.Marupaka@timesofindia.com 21.03.2025

Hyderabad : The ongoing delay in tatkal passport appointments at Hyderabad’s Ameerpet and Begumpet passport seva kendras (PSKs) has raised concerns among those planning to pursue higher education or work abroad. With over three weeks of waiting already in effect, prospective students and educational consultancies are worried about missing the August intake window to foreign universities if they do not have their passports in time. 

Currently, the earliest tatkal appointments are available only in the second week of April. “Students, especially for the upcoming August intake, are going to decide now after the global scenario stabilises. For them, the first step is to go for a passport. If passport processing is delayed, they might miss this window,” says Arvind Manduva, a educational consultant. The situation has forced many applicants to explore alternatives, including travelling to smaller cities for appointments. “In Hyderabad centre, we do not have enough slots. They are taking up some other slots to places like Nizamabad and Karimnagar, and people have to travel there to get it done,” explained Sahas Yuvraj, another consultant. 

He shared a recent case highlighting the impact of these delays: “A UK-based NRI got married, but his wife does not have a passport. They are trying to apply with their marriage certificate, but no slots are available. They have been waiting for 3-4 days. Now they are forced to go for a change of plans.” 

‘Running at 75% capacity’ 

However, the Regional Passport Office has issued a clarification regarding the reduced appointment availability. Hyderabad’s Regional Passport Officer, Snehaja Jonnalagadda, explained, “We are in the process of system migration, because of which we have reduced the number of appointments. We are running at 75% capacity.” She assured that the situation is temporary and should improve soon. “We are rescheduling appointments and hope it will be solved in a week or two,” Snehaja added.

Key GOs missing on govt site, concerns over lack of access

Key GOs missing on govt site, concerns over lack of access 

GOs On Phone Bills & Leaves Uploaded Fast 

Koride.Mahesh@timesofindia.com 21.03.2025

Hyderabad : The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) department on March 12 issued two important Government Orders (GOs). One concerning the creation of Future City Development Authority, and the other pertaining to expansion of HMDA jurisdiction. These decisions were made by the Telangana cabinet earlier. However, these two significant GOs could not be found on the state govt’s website, ‘goir.telangana.gov.in’. Similarly, hundreds of GOs issued by various govt departments, such as the guidelines for Indiramma Illu, are also missing from the govt portal. 

However, officials promptly upload GOs relating to the payment of telephone bills, sanctioning of leaves, promotions, and sometimes, GOs involving central schemes and budget allocations. AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi had raised this issue of GOs and Budget Releasing Orders (BROs) in the state assembly a few days ago. 

He questioned how many GOs issued by various govt departments over the past year had been uploaded to the govt website. He even remarked in the assembly, “Don’t run the assembly as Gandhi Bhavan,” after his question was not addressed and was changed. Previously, public interest litigations (PILs) were filed in the Telangana High Court regarding the failure to upload important GOs on the govt website. 

Officials claimed that the practice of not making important GOs publicly available was initiated by the previous BRS govt, and the current Congress govt is continuing it. Now, departments classify the GOs as confidential and internal, before sending them to the officers or departments concerned. Sometimes, the GOs only come to light after several days or weeks when they are eventually reported by media. 

“The central govt uploads all GOs and orders immediately. Even the HC previously commented that when HC orders are uploaded to the website within 24 hours, why is the govt not uploading its orders? This attitude of the govt leads to a lack of transparency in the administration and fosters corruption,” said M Padmanabha Reddy, Secretary of Forum For Good Governance, who filed a PIL on GOs in the HC several years ago. 

He added that the state govt has not even filed a counter in this case. When the BRS was in power, the Dalit Bandhu scheme guidelines and the sanctioning of units to Vasalamarri were not made publicly available, which led to a case being filed in the HC. Interestingly, BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan, who was formerly with Congress, had also filed a PIL concerning the absence of GOs on the govt website, alleging that portal had been shut down a few years ago.

Govt faces scrutiny over purchase of medicines without issuing tenders

Govt faces scrutiny over purchase of medicines without issuing tenders

 Min Says All Procedures Duly Followed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 21.03.2025

Jaipur : Govt’s response to a starred question by Congress MLA Rafeek Khan Thursday showed that SN Medical College in Jodhpur purchased medicines worth Rs 5 crore in 2024-25 without going through the mandatory tendering process while medicine supplies worth Rs 28.5 crore were obtained through tenders. 

Responding to Khan’s question on the methods deployed to purchase medicines and healthcare equipment, health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said medical colleges and departments follow established regulations for purchases. He said that due to emergency reasons, purchases are sometimes made without tenders. Khimsar assured Khan that any complaints regarding irregularity will be thoroughly investigated. He promised to forward detailed information on this to Khan.

Khimsar’s written response clarified that some medicines were purchased without tenders from cooperative consumer centres and Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi centres, and also locally for amounts under Rs 10,000. Urgent requirements necessitated some equipment purchases without tenders, he added. The medical department’s tender-based procurement for 2024-25 (until Feb 28) included medicines worth Rs 1,366.7 crore and equipment worth Rs 110.9 crore (until March 3). Khimsar announced that the IPD Tower at SMS Hospital in Jaipur will be completed and ready for commissioning by 2028, while the Cardiac Tower is expected to become operational in 3-4 months. The cardiac building at SMS Hospital will be operational within three to four months and offer cardiac services. The 28-storey IPD tower’s completion is scheduled for 2028

Missing fee records: GU withholds degrees

Missing fee records: GU withholds degrees 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  20.03.2025

Ahmedabad : A new controversy has emerged at Gujarat University’s animation department regarding fee-related issues of reserved category students. Recently, students raised concerns about their mark sheets and degree certificates being withheld due to unpaid fees. However, university officials have now admitted that they do not have any statistical data on how many students paid their fees. A student leader formally requested the exact figures, but the university failed to provide any details. It was also revealed that the former coordinator, Kawaljit Lakhtariya, did not maintain proper records regarding fee payments. Due to this lack of data, the department has withheld the mark sheets and degree certificates of all students, causing severe inconvenience. Additionally, the newly appointed in-charge registrar has also confirmed that no official records of fee payments are available. As a result, only students who can personally provide proof of payment are receiving their mark sheets, while others remain deprived. The incident has raised serious concerns about the university’s administrative efficiency, and students are demanding an immediate resolution to the issue.

High court stays GST action against Gujarat Medical Council, other boards

High court stays GST action against Gujarat Medical Council, other boards 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 20.03.2025

Ahmedabad : The Gujarat high court on Thursday stayed the Goods & Services Tax (GST) department from taking any action against five different councils and boards that regulate and register practitioners of different systems of medicine in the state over payment of taxes. According to the case details, the director general of GST Intelligence (DGGI) issued notices to the Gujarat Medical Council, the Council of Homeopathic System of Medicine, the Gujarat Board of Ayurvedic and Unani System of Medicine, the Gujarat State Dental Council and the Gujarat State Council for Physiotherapy under Section 74 of the GST Act. 

It stated that these bodies are corporates and have GST numbers as well, for they provide services in lieu of charging fees. Hence, their services are taxable under the GST law. After getting expert opinion, these councils and boards replied to the department and conveyed that they are not liable to pay GST because they are not private corporate bodies but were formed under the statutes and they act as extended govt bodies. However, the department insisted that these councils and boards are not govt companies, but body corporates and therefore are liable to pay taxes on the services they offer. According to advocate Neel Lakhani, who appeared for DGGI, the councils and boards filed petitions in the HC claiming that they are not taxable persons and demanded that the communication issued by the GST department be quashed. 

After a preliminary hearing, Justice Bhargav Karia and Justice D N Ray issued a notice seeking a reply from the department by May 1, and directed the department not to take any coercive action against the petitioners until then

‘Two with criminal records selected for panel to choose VC’ HC ISSUES NOTICES

‘Two with criminal records selected for panel to choose VC’  HC ISSUES NOTICES 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 18.03.2025

 Bhopal : A division bench of MP high court issued notices to respondents in a petition charging that persons with criminal background have been selected in the committee formed to suggest a panel of names for the post of vice-chancellor, Indira Gandhi national tribal university. The court further said that appointment of vice chancellor will be subject to the final decision of the court on the petition. Ajay Mishra from Anuppur town in his petition said that a three-member committee has been constituted to suggest names for the post of vice-chancellor to Indira Gandhi national tribal university. The two names of the committee were recommended by the executive council of the university while the third name was chosen by the President of India. 

The two members recommended by the executive council have criminal cases pending against them, he said, praying the court that they be dropped from the committee. The union education ministry, vice-chancellor, registrar and three professors of Indira Gandhi national tribal university have been named as respondents in the case. The bench comprising chief justice S K Kait and Justice Vivek Jain, while asking respondents to give a reply to the petition within three weeks on an affidavit, said appointment of V-C of the tribal university will be subject to court decision on the petition.

Stay off roads to beat heat & disease Grabbing A Drink On Roadside In Summers Can Increase Risk Of Infections

Stay off roads to beat heat & disease Grabbing A Drink On Roadside In Summers Can Increase Risk Of Infections 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 17.03.2025

Chennai : The stifling heat may tempt people to grab a glass of lemonade or seasonal fruits sold on the roadside, but in summer these carry an increased risk of viral and bacterial infections that can lead to stomach infections, including acute gastroenteritis disorders, health officials warn. 

Doctors across the city say they see cases, mostly family clusters, of hepatitis A and E, typhoid, and gastrointestinal diseases, all caused by contaminated water and food. The public health department says epidemiological data shows contaminated food and water-borne diseases increase in summer. Cut fruits, with their exposed surfaces and high sugar content, are vulnerable to growth of bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, and warm weather can expedite this. 

“Fruits naturally spoil faster in hot weather. Cutting them accelerates this process, as the exposed flesh oxidises and decays,” said Dr P Sampath, joint director of public health (epidemics). “During summer, flies and other insects are more prevalent, increasing the risk of contamination. Poor hygiene practices, such as unwashed hands or unclean cutting surfaces, can also contribute to contamination,” he added. 

Summer fruits such as watermelon, pineapples, and citrus fruits are high in water content, crucial for staying hydrated. They are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health and immunity, particularly important in summer. 

“It’s important for children to eat a bowl of fruits every day. We recommend people buy whole, uncut fruits,” said paediatrician Dr S Balasubramanian. “We must teach children to wash them thoroughly. It is preferable to eat fruit that is washed and cut at home. This way, you know they are clean and hygienic.” 

Food safety officials, meanwhile, are holding discussions with vendors, asking them not to use chemicals to ripen fruit. “They pack chemicals such as calcium carbide in fruit boxes to expedite ripening. We have told vendors we will destroy boxes of fruits if we find them using unsafe artificial methods,” said designated food safety officer (Chennai) Dr P Satheesh Kumar. 

Officials are also asking street food vendors to ensure they buy fresh raw material in small quantities from authorised dealers and source clean water for cooking and cleaning. “Meat and dairy should be preserved at the right temperature, cooked food must be stored in closed containers, and food handlers must follow hand hygiene practices,” said designated food safety officer (Tiruvallur) Dr Subhash Chandra Bose.

 “We also tell people to ask vendors about the source of water and hygienic practices. They can also check for FSSAI licences on food carts and inside hotels. If there are issues, people must file complaints to prevent disease outbreaks,” he said.

RGUHS students get same questions from prep paper of two colleges in final Ayurveda exam

RGUHS students get same questions from prep paper of two colleges in final Ayurveda exam

Mar 15, 2025, 23:23 IST

Read more at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/119052907.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Bengaluru: A controversy has erupted over the Ayurveda exams conducted by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) after students discovered that their final examination paper was identical to the preparatory question paper of two colleges. The revelation has triggered outrage among students, who are now questioning the fairness of the examination process.

The Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) first professional Sahita Adhyayana-1 final examination was held on March 7, 2025. On Monday, the university received an anonymous mail, stating that the final exam question paper was identical to the preparatory question paper of SDM Ayurveda College, Udupi, and Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya and Hospital, Hubbali. Though the colleges had no role in the question paper that was distributed, the news spread and the students alleged foul play over the conduct of the exam. Thr incident has raised serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of the examination process. University exams are meant to assess students on an equal footing, but if the same questions appear in both a practice test and final exam, it puts some students at an unfair advantage, while leaving others at a disadvantage," alleged Likith Gowda N M, convenor of Jignasa Karnataka South.

"When we set a question paper, we call a group of experts from across Karnataka to prepare it. In June 2023, a set of examiners prepared around 12 question papers. Once they set the question paper, we take the confidentiality clause with them that whatever questions they have set should not be revealed or repeated. However, in this case, one of the examiners released it in Dec for the preparatory examination in their college," explained registrar evaluation of RGUHS, Riyaz Basha.

"Our system is computer-generated. From among the available sets of 10, one question paper was released on March 7. It turned out to be the same paper this examiner used three months back in his college. The same paper was shared between two colleges," he added. "It is not a question paper leak, but it is a fault of the paper setter. There is a clause of confidentiality and a sense of ethics that he has broken. After we were informed of this on March 11, we asked them for an explanation. They have now sent an explanation. On Monday, a committee will go through it. Depending upon how many people have been impacted and the quantum, a call will be taken on the future of the case," he added.

NEET aspirant kills mother, critically injures father after being told to stop using mobile in Madhya Pradesh

NEET aspirant kills mother, critically injures father after being told to stop using mobile in Madhya Pradesh

TNN | Mar 5, 2025, 11.43 AM IST

BHOPAL: A 20-year-old NEET aspirant was so addicted to his mobile phone that it drove him to a murderous rage when his parents asked him not to use it.

He lashed out at them with an iron rod, killing his mother, while his father is in a critical condition at a hospital.

The incident took place at Sikandra village panchayat under Waraseoni police station of Balaghat district.

Accused Satyam Katre, 20, is the only child of Kishore Katre and Pratibha Katre—both govt teachers. On Monday night, Satyam attacked both his parents with an iron rod, inflicting severe injuries. Thereafter, he himself called his relatives and police, informing them that he killed his parents.

The kin and police rushed to the spot. Both the injured were rushed to Gondiya in neighbouring Maharashtra for treatment. His mother, Pratibha Katre, died during treatment on Tuesday night at around 10.30 pm. His father, Kishore Katre, is in ICU.

“We rounded up the youth on Monday night itself. When asked, he said that he watches his mobile phone regularly and gets uncomfortable without the phone.

On Monday night, his father asked him to stop using the mobile, which led to the incident. We have seized his phone and will be sending it for forensic tests. Primarily, he is a mobile addict, but what he was watching on the phone will be clear after forensic evaluation. New sections will be added after the death of his mother,” sub-divisional officer of police, Wareseoni, Abhishek Chowdhary told TOI.

Local villagers say that he mostly used to remain reserved and confined to his phone; otherwise, his behaviour was normal.

“His parents are well-educated, the entire family is educated. And parents wanted him to do something good. They sent him to Kota to prepare for NEET, he returned after around four months. Both his parents are teachers, he is their only child, and he used to remain at home with his phone,” sarpanch of Sikandara village, Kanhaiyalal Khairwar told TOI.

“On Monday night, he himself informed the relatives and police. I also went with the police to his house. He was present there, neither sad nor happy. The iron rod used was also present there,” he said.

“He was addicted to mobile phones, the neighbours told us,” Khairwar said.

Experts say that this addiction is similar to the addiction to narcotic substances.

“This is a behavioural addiction, and it also works on those reward centres of the brain where other addictions like liquor work, thus there are similar reactions when the addicted person is stopped or restricted. It is required to be seen as a mental disorder rather than an evil,” consultant psychiatrist Dr Satyakant Trivedi told TOI.

MBBS student from Jaipur ends life at Kota medical college

MBBS student from Jaipur ends life at Kota medical college

TNN

Mar 7, 2025, 10:09 IST

JAIPUR: A 26-year-old MBBS student of Kota Medical College died by suicide in his hostel room Wednesday night, leaving a brief note apologising to his parents for not being able to fulfil their dreams. The student, Sunil Bairwa, was a resident of Bassi in Jaipur.

Police said Sunil was suspended from college for a year during third year after being allegedly caught cheating, which led to the cancellation of two papers he wrote. Officials suspect the suspension and subsequent struggles with the college administration pushed him into depression, ultimately leading to his death.

His body was discovered in his room at the undergraduate hostel, according to Mahaveer Nagar police station SHO Ramesh Kavia. The hostel warden first informed the college principal, who then contacted the police. Officers found the two-line suicide note in his room.

Alleging harassment by the college, Sunil's father, Kajodmal, said Sunil secured admission to Kota Medical College in the 2019-20 after learing NEET. Kajodmal said Sunil failed his first year exam, but a review of his answer sheets after the family filed a case with Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) declared him as having passed nearly eight months after the original results were published.

Sunil encountered fresh difficulties in the third year, when he was accused of cheating, resulting in two papers he wrote getting cancelled. Kajodmal alleged Sunil was unable to continue his studies in the last year and a half after successive difficulties. He also said whenever Sunil approached the administration to seek resolution, they harassed him instead of offering support.

Non-MBBS VC for medical university faces Rajasthan doctors' opposition

Non-MBBS VC for medical university faces Rajasthan doctors' opposition

Mar 5, 2025, 2:29 IST

Haribhau Bagde.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan's medical fraternity reacted with outrage Tuesday to governor Haribhau Bagde appointing someone with a doctoral degree in pharmaceutical sciences as vice chancellor of Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), terming it "unacceptable" and threatening a statewide agitation if the decision wasn't revoked, reports Intishab Ali.

The state chapter of IMA has written to Bagde, saying Pramod Yeole being asked to take charge of RUHS was at odds with the institution's responsibility of setting high standards in medical education, and improving public health outcomes. Thirty medical colleges are affiliated to the university. Yeole was previously VC of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad and pro VC of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University.

Dismissed employee entitled to leave encashment, rules HC

Dismissed employee entitled to leave encashment, rules HC

TNN

Feb 28, 2025, 23:47 IST

Dismissed employee entitled to leave encashment, rules HC

Bengaluru: An employee dismissed from service as a penalty is entitled to encashment of privilege leave, the Dharwad bench of Karnataka high court ruled recently. Justice M Nagaprasanna made this observation, while allowing the petition filed by one G Linganagouda.

A resident of Hosapete in Vijayanagara district, the petitioner was working as an assistant manager in Pragathi Krishna Grameena Bank. On March 31, 2012, the bank initiated disciplinary proceedings for certain misconduct, and ultimately on Dec 19, 2014, dismissed him from service. Thereafter, he submitted a representation seeking encashment of 220 days of accrued leave. However, the same was turned down by the management, citing misconduct. Linganagouda challenged the same.

After perusing the materials on record, Justice M Nagaprasanna noted that as per the judgements of the Bombay and Madhya Pradesh high courts, leave encashment to an employee is trite, a statutory right and the right to receive terminal benefits is recognised as a right to property obtaining under Article 300A of the Constitution of India.

"Article 300A mandates that persons not be deprived of property save by authority of law. Therefore, it becomes unmistakably clear that any attempt by the employer to take away the right of any part of terminal benefit, which in the case at hand is leave encashment, without any umbrage of a statutory provision, is sans countenance. Therefore, it is a right of an employee not only under the statute, even under the fountainhead of all statutes – the Constitution of India," the judge further observed.

Ban on wrist watches for Inter exam: TGBIE

Ban on wrist watches for Inter exam: TGBIE

Mar 2, 2025, 0:05 IST

Hyderabad: Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TGBIE) has decided to ban all types of wrist watches inside exam centres to curb malpractice.

With over five lakh students set to appear for the intermediate public examinations from March 5, authorities have decided to ban all types of electronic gadgets inside exam centres.

"The blanket ban comes as smartwatches have increasingly been used by students to cheat during exams, making it impractical for officials to check every watch individually," said TGBIE secretary, Krishna Aditya.

He added, "All necessary measures, including CCTV surveillance at centres, were taken to curb malpractices. Students will not be allowed to carry any electronic gadgets inside exam halls, including mobile phones, digital devices, and watches. The decision to ban watches entirely was taken due to the logistical challenge of checking each watch in such large numbers. However, students can rely on wall clocks placed in rooms."

Drunk UP groom garlands bride’s bestie, arrested

Drunk UP groom garlands bride’s bestie, arrested 

25.02.2025

Bareilly : A drunk groom’s mis step at his own wedding in UP — in which he mistakenly garlanded his bride’s best friend — set off a series of mishaps, ending with his arrest and the bride calling off the marriage, reports Kanwardeep Singh. It started as Indian weddings often do — with a delay. The groom, Ravindra Kumar, 26, was late, and when he arrived, he didn’t seem to be in a hurry, lingering with his friends, catching up over drinks.

‘Medical test confirmed groom was drunk’ 

The 500-odd guests at a house in Naughwa Bhagwantpur village in Bareilly stayed in their seats as the bride waited. The garland-exchanging ceremony — one of those formalities that takes only a moment — was about to begin. Then, Kumar turned to the wrong woman. It was just a second. A miscalculation. But in that brief pause, before anyone could intervene, he placed the ceremonial garland over the bride’s best friend. As confusion rippled through the crowd, he took the garland off and placed it around the neck of a male friend beside her. Then, to perhaps maintain a certain symmetry, he garlanded an elderly guest as well. There are moments when silence is more telling than noise. 

The wedding guests did not react immediately. They watched. The bride, Radha Devi, 21, did not. She slapped him and walked away. It had taken months of preparation. Omkar Verma, the bride’s brother, said the family had spent over Rs 10 lakh on the wedding. He had his own theory for why things had gone wrong. “They were unhappy with the dowry gifts. Maybe this was their way of humiliating us,” he told TOI. 

“And then we find out that he isn’t even a farmer as his family told us—he’s a truck driver.” At 4 am, a complaint was filed at Kularia police station. By morning, the wedding was off, and Kumar was in police custody. By noon, he had apologised. His family suggested the wedding should go on. Radha refused. 

Circle officer Harsh Modi—used to break-ins and thefts but less accustomed to cases of misdirected garlanding—kept his summary brief. “The groom was intoxicated. He misbehaved. His medical examination confirmed he was drunk. He was booked under sections of the Dowry Act.” 

Boy, 17, driving dad’s minivan mows down 53-yr-old woman Older

Boy, 17, driving dad’s minivan mows down 53-yr-old woman Older 

Man Arrested For Letting Minor Drive

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 24.02.2025

Chennai : A 17-year-old boy trying to move his father’s minivan parked outside their house in Kancheepuram on Sunday morning accidentally killed a 53-year-old woman. The older man was later arrested for allowing a minor to drive the vehicle. Police said the boy, whose father Rasa prepares snacks at home and delivers them to shops in his minivan, was trying to move the vehicle in front of their house on Gangai Amman Temple Street at 6.30 am when he lost control. The vehicle hit Saraswathi, who was drawing a kolam in front of her house, then collided with a pushcart and a scooter before stopping. 

A few of their neighbours rushed to help when the minivan trapped Saraswathi underneath. They lifted the vehicle off her, but she died on the spot. A team of the Sivakanchi police arrived, took the boy into custody for questioning and sent Saraswathi’s body to the Kancheepuram Govt Hospital for a postmortem examination. Investigations revealed that neither Rasa nor his son knew how to drive and hired a driver to deliver snacks. 

“The son occasionally tried operating the vehicle to learn driving,” said a police officer. Police suspect that in panic, the boy accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. They registered a case against Rasa for negligence and for allowing his minor son to operate the vehicle. Investigations continue. “We have been creating awareness about dangers involved in underage driving. But people continue to flout norms,” said the officer.

Runaway bride: Woman doc elopes with female friend on wedding day, family ‘fakes death’

Runaway bride: Woman doc elopes with female friend on wedding day,

 family ‘fakes death’

TNN Feb 19, 2025, 23:38 IST

Agra: The wedding bells were supposed to ring, and guests had gathered in UP's Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday. On what should have been a night of celebration, the bride-to-be vanished—just hours before the ceremony. The 26-year-old homeopathic doctor had stepped into a beauty parlour to get ready but never returned. What followed was a desperate cover-up, a fabricated death, and a search that led to Jhansi.

"To avoid embarrassment", family members allegedly told guests that she had died of a heart attack while being taken to Meerut for treatment and called off the wedding.

However, upon reviewing CCTV footage from the parlour, police found that the woman had left with her female friend on Tuesday. The next day, both were tracked down and detained in Jhansi.

New Mandi deputy superintendent of police Rupali Rao said that an FIR had been registered under BNS section 137 (kidnapping) based on the complaint filed by the bride's father on Tuesday. "Two dedicated teams were assigned to the case, and the woman was safely located on Wednesday. Her statement is now being recorded in court, and further legal action will be taken based on her testimony," Rao said.