படிக்க திணறிய ஆசிரியை உ.பி., பள்ளியில் அவலம்

Updated : டிச 01, 2019 00:03

உன்னாவ் : உத்தர பிரதேச மாநிலம், உன்னாவில் உள்ள ஒரு பள்ளியில், பாடத்தை படிக்க முடியாமல், மாணவர்கள் திணறினர். அவர்களுக்கு பாடம் சொல்லித் தரும் ஆசிரியையும் படிக்க முடியாமல் திணறினார்.

உத்தர பிரதேசத்தில், முதல்வர் யோகி ஆதித்யநாத் தலைமையிலான, பா.ஜ., அரசு அமைந்து உள்ளது. மாநிலத்தில் கல்வியின் தரம் மோசமாக உள்ளதாக அடிக்கடி செய்திகள் வெளியாகி வருகின்றன.

சோதனை

இந்நிலையில், தான் சொல்லித் தரும் பாடத்தையே படிக்க முடியாமல் ஆசிரியை ஒருவர் திணறிய சம்பவம் அங்கு நடந்துள்ளது. உன்னாவ் நகருக்கு அருகில் உள்ள, சிக்கந்தர்பூர் சரவ்சி கிராமப் பள்ளியில், மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் தேவேந்திர குமார் பாண்டே, சமீபத்தில் திடீரென சோதனை செய்தார். அப்பள்ளி மாணவர்களை, பாடங்களை படித்துக் காட்டும்படி கூறியுள்ளார். ஹிந்தி மொழி வழியான பாடங்களை மாணவர்கள் படித்துக் காட்டினர். அவர்களுக்கு கலெக்டர் பாராட்டு தெரிவித்தார்.

மாணவர்களின் ஆங்கில திறமையை சோதித்து பார்த்தார் கலெக்டர். அவர்கள், கோர்வையாக படிக்க முடியாமல் திணறினர். 'ஏன் மாணவர்கள் திணறுகின்றனர்? நீங்கள் கொஞ்சம் சொல்லித் தாருங்கள்' என, எட்டாம் வகுப்பு ஆங்கில ஆசிரியையை பாடம் எடுக்கும்படி, கலெக்டர்கூறினார்.

கேள்வி

மாணவர்களே பரவாயில்லை என்று கூறும் அளவுக்கு, ஆசிரியை திக்கித் திணறி படித்தார். ஒரு பத்தியை படிப்பதற்குள், அவருக்கு மூச்சு முட்டிவிட்டது. 'நீங்களே சரியாக படிக்காவிட்டால், மாணவர்களுக்கு எப்படி சொல்லித் தருவீர்கள்?' என்று, கலெக்டர் கேள்வி எழுப்பினார்.

இதைத் தொடர்ந்து, மேலும் சில வகுப்பறைகளில் சோதனை நடத்தினார். அப்போது, இன்னொரு ஆசிரியையும், ஆங்கிலம் படிக்கத் தெரியாமல், திக்கித் திணறினார். இவர்கள் இருவரையும், 'சஸ்பெண்ட்' செய்ய, கலெக்டர் பரிந்துரை செய்துள்ளார்.

ஆதார் இருந்தால் வெங்காயம் ; உ.பியில் கூத்து

Updated : டிச 01, 2019 00:58 | Added : டிச 01, 2019 00:55

வாரணாசி : உத்திரபிரதேசத்தில் ஆதார் அட்டையை அடமானமாக வைத்து வெங்காயம் வாங்கலாம் என சில கடை உரிமையாளர்கள் கூறிய சம்பவம் அரங்கேறியுள்ளது.



தற்போது நாட்டில் வெங்காயத்தின் விலை நாளுக்கு நாள் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. ஒரு கிலோ வெங்காயம் ரூ. 100க்கு அதிகமாகவே விற்கப்படுகிறது. வெங்காயத்தின் கடுமையான விலை உயர்வை கட்டுப்படுத்த மத்திய மற்றும் மாநில அரசுகளும் பலவித முயற்சிகளையும் செயல்பாடுகளையும் செய்து வருகிறது.

வெளிநாடுகளில் இருந்தும், உள்நாட்டில் பல இடங்களில் இருந்தும் வெங்காயம் கொள்முதல் செய்யப்படுகிறது. ஆனாலும் ஆங்காங்கே வெங்காய விலை உயர்வு மக்களை வெகுவாகவே பாதித்துள்ளது.





இந்நிலையில் உ.பி மாநிலம் வாரணாசியில் சமாஜ்வாடி கட்சியை சேர்ந்த சில காய்கறி உரிமையாளர்கள் வெங்காய உற்பத்தி குறித்து புதிய அறிவிப்புகளை அறிவித்துள்ளனர். அதாவது, வெங்காயம் வங்க வரும் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் தங்கள் ஆதார் கார்டை அடமானமாக வைத்து வெங்காயம் வாங்கி செல்லலாம். மற்றும் சில கடைகளில் வெள்ளி பொருட்களை அடமானமாக வைத்தாலும் வெங்காயம் கிடைக்கும் என்று கூறுகின்றனர்.



இதுகுறித்து ஒரு வெங்காய கடை உரிமையாளர் கூறுகையில், நாட்டில் வெங்காயத்தின் மதிப்பும் அதன் தேவையும் மக்களிடையே அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. உ.பியில் கடை உரிமையாளர்கள், பணம் வைக்கும் பெட்டிகளில் தற்போது வெங்காயத்தை பாதுகாப்பாக வைத்கின்றனர். பல இடங்களில் வெங்காயம் கொள்ளையடிக்கப்படுவதாகவம் கூறப்படுகிறது. இதன் மூலமாக மாநிலத்தில் நிலவிவரும் வெங்காய விலை உயர்வுக்கு எங்கள் எதிர்ப்பை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறோம். இவ்வாறு கூறினார்.

செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டத்தில் இடம் பெறும் தாலுகாக்கள்



செங்கல்பட்டு, தாம்பரம், பல்லாவரம், மதுராந்தகம், திருப்போரூர், செய்யூர், திருக்கழுக்குன்றம், வண்டலூர் ஆகிய தாலுகாக்களும் செங்கல்பட்டு புதிய மாவட்டத்தில் இடம் பெறுகின்றன.

பதிவு: நவம்பர் 29, 2019 04:30 AM

வாலாஜபாத்,

காஞ்சீபுரம் மாவட்டத்தில் இருந்து பிரிந்து இன்று (வெள்ளிக்கிழமை) செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டம் உதயமாகிறது. புதிதாக பிறக்கும் இந்த மாவட்டத்தை பற்றிய சிறப்புகளை இனி காண்போம்.

ஆங்கிலேயர் ஆட்சிகாலத்தில் சென்னை முதல் பொன்னேரி வரை செங்கல்பட்டை தலைமையிடமாக கொண்டுதான் செயல்பட்டது. 1997-ல் தான் இந்த மாவட்டமானது காஞ்சீபுரம், திருவள்ளூர் என இரண்டு மாவட்டங்களாக பிரிக்கப்பட்டது.

செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டத்தில் செங்கல்பட்டு, தாம்பரம், பல்லாவரம், திருப்போரூர், மதுராந்தகம், செய்யூர் ஆகிய சட்டமன்ற தொகுதிகள் உள்ளன. தாம்பரம், செங்கல்பட்டு, மதுராந்தகம் என 3 வருவாய் கோட்டங்களும், செங்கல்பட்டு, தாம்பரம், பல்லாவரம், மதுராந்தகம், திருப்போரூர், செய்யூர், திருக்கழுக்குன்றம், வண்டலூர் ஆகிய தாலுகாக்களும் புதிய மாவட்டத்தில் இடம் பெறும்.

செங்கல்பட்டு, பல்லாவரம், தாம்பரம், அனகாபுத்தூர், மறைமலை நகர், பம்மல், செம்பாக்கம், மதுராந்தகம் என 8 நகராட்சிகளையும், அச்சரப்பாக்கம், சிட்லபாக்கம், இடைக்கழிநாடு, கருங்குழி, மாடம்பாக்கம், மாமல்லபுரம், நந்திவரம், கூடுவாஞ்சேரி, பள்ளிக்கரணை, பெருங்களத்தூர், திருநீர்மலை, திருப்போரூர், திருக்கழுக்குன்றம் போன்ற பேரூராட்சிகளையும் கொண்டு அமைகிறது செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டம்.

காட்டாங்கொளத்தூர், திருப்போரூர், புனித தோமையார் மலை, மதுராந்தகம், அச்சரப்பாக்கம், இலத்தூர், சித்தாமூர், திருக்கழுக்குன்றம் ஆகிய 8 ஊராட்சி ஒன்றியங்கள் புதிய மாவட்டத்தில் இணைந்துள்ளன.

உலகமே வியந்து பார்க்கும் வரலாற்று சின்னங்களையும், தகவல்களையும் கொண்ட பெருமை மிக்க மாவட்டம் செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டம் ஆகும். பல்லவ சாம்ராஜ்யத்தின் சிற்ப கலைக்கூடமாக திகழ்கின்ற மாமல்லபுரம் செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டத்திற்கு ஒரு மணிமகுடம் என்று சொன்னால் அது மிகையல்ல. அங்குள்ள பல்லவ காலத்து சிற்பங்களும், வரலாற்று சின்னங்களும் எந்த காலத்திலும் தமிழர்களுக்கு மட்டுமல்ல, இந்தியர்களுக்கே பெருமை சேர்ப்பதாகும்.

சமீபத்தில் வல்லரசு நாடுகளில் ஒன்றான சீன அதிபரே மாமல்லபுரம் வந்து சிற்பங்களை கண்டு வியந்தது தமிழனின் திறமையை, பெருமையை உச்சம் கொள்ள செய்தது. எப்போதும் சுற்றுலா பயணிகளின் முதல் இடமாக நினைவில் நிற்கும் மாமல்லபுரம் தொடர்ந்து அதிகமான வெளிநாட்டு பயணிகளை ஈர்த்து வருவது மாவட்டத்திற்கு வருவாயை மட்டுமல்ல புகழையும் சேர்க்கப்போகிறது. வரலாற்று நினைவுகளை மட்டுமல்லாது, பக்தி மனம் தவழும் ஆன்மிக தலங்களையும் கொண்டுள்ளது செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டம்.

மாமல்லபுரம் தலசயன பெருமாள் கோவில், திருக்கழுக்குன்றம் வேதகிரீஸ்வரர் கோவில், ஏரிகாத்த ராமர் கோவில் என ஆன்மிக தலங்களுக்கு இங்கு பஞ்சமில்லை.

செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டம் 120 கி.மீ அழகிய எழில் கொஞ்சும் கடற்கரையை (கிழக்கு கடற்கரை சாலை) கொண்டது. தகவல் தொழில்நுட்ப பூங்காக்கள் அதிகம் உள்ளதால் மாவட்டத்தில் வேலைவாய்ப்புக்கு குறைவில்லை.

வண்டலூர் உயிரியல் பூங்கா, வெளிநாட்டு பறவைகளுக்கு அடைக்கலம் தரும் வேடந்தாங்கல் பறவைகள் சரணாலயம் ஆகியவை சுற்றுலா வருமானத்தை ஈட்டி தருபவை. மாவட்டத்தின் மிகப்பெரிய பரப்பளவு கொண்ட மதுராந்தகம் ஏரி பெரும்பாலான மக்களின் தண்ணீர் தாகத்தை தீர்த்து வைப்பதுடன், விவசாயத்தை தழைக்க செய்கிறது.

சென்னையை இணைக்கும் செங்கல்பட்டு ரெயில் நிலையம், தலைமை அரசு ஆஸ்பத்திரி, செங்கல்பட்டு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனை, மாவட்ட ஒருங்கிணைந்த விரைவு மற்றும் அமர்வு கோர்ட்டுகள், மாவட்ட தலைமை நூலகம், மாவட்ட கல்வி அலுவலகம், மாவட்ட கலெக்டர் அலுவலகம் என மக்களுக்கு சேவையாற்றி வருபவை பல உள்ளன.

சென்னை கடற்கரையில் 2-வது நாளாக நுரை வெளியேற்றம்



சென்னை கடற்கரையில் நேற்று 2-வது நாளாக அதிகளவு நுரை வெளியேறியதால் பொதுமக்கள் பீதி அடைந்தனர்.

பதிவு: டிசம்பர் 01, 2019 04:15 AM

சென்னை,

சென்னை பட்டினப்பாக்கம் கடற்கரையில் நேற்று முன்தினம் கடல் அலைகளில் திடீரென நுரை பொங்கி வந்தது. கடற்கரையில் பனிபோல் நுரைகள் காணப்பட்டதால் அங்கு பரபரப்பு ஏற்பட்டது.

இதுபற்றி தகவல் அறிந்ததும் தமிழ்நாடு மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாடு அதிகாரிகள் அங்கு சென்று அந்த கடல் நீரின் மாதிரிகள் மற்றும் நுரைகளின் மாதிரிகளை ஆய்வுக்காக சேகரித்து சென்றனர். இந்த நிலையில் நேற்று 2-வது நாளாக பட்டினப்பாக்கம் கடலில் இருந்து அதிகளவில் நுரை வெளியேறியது.

மெரினா கடற்கரை, சீனிவாசபுரம், திருவான்மியூர், பெசன்ட்நகர் கடற்கரை பகுதிகளிலும் கடல் அலைகளில் இருந்து அதிகளவு நுரை பொங்கி வந்தது.

கடற்கரை முழுவதும் நுரை பொங்கி படர்ந்து காணப்படுவதால் பொதுமக்கள் அலையில் கால்களை நனைக்காமல் ஒதுங்கி நின்று அச்சத்துடன் கடலை பார்வையிட்டு சென்றனர். சிறுவர்கள், சிறுமிகள் சிலர் அந்த நுரையை கைகளால் எடுத்து விளையாடி மகிழ்ந்தனர்.

ஒரு விதமான தூர்நாற்றத்துடன் வெளியேறும் அந்த நுரை, காற்றில் அடித்து செல்லப்பட்டு பொதுமக்களின் கால்கள் மற்றும் உடம்புகளில் ஒரு விதமான பசை போல் ஒட்டிக்கொள்கிறது. இதனால் பலரின் உடலில் அரிப்பு ஏற்படுவதாகவும் கூறப்படுகிறது.

இதுகுறித்து மாசு கட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரிகள் கூறியதாவது:-

கடல் அலைகளில் இருந்து வெளியேறும் நுரைகளை அதிகாரிகள் அடங்கிய குழு பார்வையிட்டது. நுரைகளின் மாதிரிகளை ஆய்வுக்காக கொண்டு சென்றுள்ளனர்.

கூவம் மற்றும் அடையாறு ஆறுகளின் முகத்துவாரம் வழியாக கடலில் கலக்கும் கழிவு நீர், அலைகளின் வேகத்துக்கு ஈடு கொடுக்க முடியாததால், கடலுக்கு உள்ளே செல்லாமல் கரைக்கு அருகிலேயே அலைகளில் சுழன்று கொண்டு கிடக்கிறது. இந்த கழிவு நீருடன் தற்போது பெய்து வரும் மழை நீரும் அதிகளவு கடலில் கலக்கிறது.

இதனால் கடல் அலையில் இருந்து நுரை வெளியேறி வருகிறது. இவை அலையின் வேகத்தில் கரைக்கு அடித்து வரப்பட்டு கரையில் தள்ளப்படுகிறது. எனவே கடலில் இருந்து நுரை வருவதற்கு இதுதான் காரணம். கடலில் வேதியியல் மாற்றங்கள் எதுவும் ஏற்பட வாய்ப்பு இல்லை.

இவை ஒரு சில நாட்கள் இருக்கும். பின்னர் சரியாகி விடும். இதனால் ஆபத்து எதுவும் ஏற்பட வாய்ப்பு இல்லை. பொதுமக்கள் அச்சம் கொள்ள தேவையில்லை. இருந்தாலும் இந்த நுரையால் கடல்வாழ் உயிரினங்கள் பாதிக்கப்படுமா? என்ற தகவல் ஆய்வுக்கு பின்னர் தான் முழுமையாக தெரியவரும்.

இவ்வாறு அதிகாரிகள் கூறினார்கள்.

இதுகுறித்து பட்டினப்பாக்கம் சீனிவாசபுரத்தை சேர்ந்த சேகர் என்பவர் கூறியதாவது:-

கடல் நீரில் ஆக்சிஜன் அளவு குறையும் போது அவ்வப்போது இதுபோன்று நுரை தள்ளுவது வழக்கம் தான். எங்களுக்கு இது புதிதல்ல. ஆனால் பொதுமக்கள் இதை பார்த்து அச்சப்படுகின்றனர். நுரை வெளிப்படுவதால் எங்களுக்கு மீன்பிடிக்க செல்வதில் எந்த பிரச்சினையும் இல்லை. காரணம் நடுக்கடலில் நுரை எதுவும் தென்படுவதில்லை.

ஆனால் கரையில் நிறுத்தி வைக்கப்படும் படகு முழுவதும் நுரை ஆகி விடுகிறது. அது ஒன்று தான் பிரச்சினையாக இருக்கிறது. சில நாட்களுக்கு பின்பு இது தானாகவே காணாமல் போய்விடும். அச்சப்படுவதற்கு ஒன்றும் இல்லை.

இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

Madras high court pulls up police for negligence in probe

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedDec 1, 2019, 2:34 am IST

The evidence of four prosecution witnesses has not been corroborated by other evidence that is available on record.

Madras high court

Chennai: Pulling up the police for not conducting the investigation properly, the Madras high court has upheld an order of the trial court, acquitting five accused in a murder case.

Dismissing the appeal filed by Antony, father of the deceased, a division bench comprising Justices S.Vaidyanathan and Anand Venkatesh said, “We are of the considered view that the prosecution has failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubts. The evidence of four prosecution witnesses has not been corroborated by other evidence that is available on record. Therefore, it will not be safe to set aside the judgment of the trial court with the available evidence. In the result, the judgment dated May 2, 2017 passed by the Sessions Judge, Kanyakumari district is hereby confirmed”.

The bench said, “This case is a classic example, where the police had failed to prove the guilt of the accused on account of their lethargic attitude and they had investigated the case in a slight manner, as if it is a case of minor offences. The prosecution had shown prosecution witnesses 1 to 4 as eyewitness to the occurrence and among them PW4/sister of the deceased had deposed in her cross that she has been living with her husband in Tuticorin since her marriage and her deposition that she was present at the time of attack by the accused persons, is pinching and pricking us to differ with the view of the trial court. It is no doubt true that the deceased was murdered by way of indiscriminate attack either by Aruval or Iron rod or bricks, but there is no iota of evidence to establish that the it was the accused persons, who had caused the murder and the prosecution had not proved its case beyond reasonable doubts as to whether the accused persons were really responsible for the death of the deceased”.

The prosecution case was that on August 12, 2007, a complaint was preferred by the brother of the deceased stating that the five accused attacked him, his father, his brother and sister in connection with a dispute regarding letting out sewage water in the lane, thereby abutting the house of his father-in-law. It was further alleged that the accused who were all relatives attacked the complainant and his relatives with iron pipe, as a result of which, they all sustained severe injuries and his deceased brother succumbed to death in the hospital. A case was registered and the trial court acquitted all the accused. Aggrieved, the father of deceased filed the present appeal.

The bench said the prosecution in the present case on hand had failed to prove the motive and its failure to prove motive for crime has diluted the entire case of the prosecution. In this case admittedly, the four witnesses were stated to be eyewitnesses to the occurrence, but a glance at the cross examination of complainant indicates the fact that there was no previous enmity existed between the accused and him.

In this case as rightly observed by the trial court, as per the different versions of prosecution witnesses, even the place of occurrence was highly doubtful, as each one had indicated different places of incident. Thus, there was no corroboration in their evidences, which lead us to come to a conclusion that the guilt of the accused had not been duly established, the bench added.

Hyderabad horror prompts Delhi police to reinforce women’s safety

Fresh instructions issued to respond at once to distress calls

01/12/2019, SAURABH TRIVEDI,NEW DELHI

The Hyderabad gang rape-and-murder incident has brought back chilling reminders of the Nirbhaya case not just for residents but also the Delhi Police, which has issued fresh instructions to all patrolling units to ensure safe transport facilities for women stranded at any location in the city during odd hours.

The advisory was first issued after the December 2012 incident and has been in practice since then. The guidelines assume more importance in winter when the sun sets early, and the Hyderabad incident has prompted the police to enforce them more vigorously now, said a senior police officer on Saturday.

DCP (PCR) Sharat Sinha said they keep sensitising the policemen deployed in PCRs about women’s safety.

“PCR is the first responder to any distress call and we reach any location in the city within a few minutes. We also ensure the availability of women constables in PCRs operating during odd hours,” said Mr. Sinha.

Last week, the PCR vans responded to seven calls made by women commuters who either lost their way or suffered a vehicle breakdown on the road during odd hours. In all seven cases, the police personnel ensured that the women reached their homes safely.

“We request all women who travel late at night from their workplaces to instal Delhi Police safety app ‘Himmat Plus’,” said a police officer.

Another officer said he had recently held a meeting with all SHOs and instructed them to sensitise autorickshaw drivers, e-rickshaw drivers and rickshaw pullers about women safety as they provide last-mile connectivity from any metro station.

Recent SC verdicts rein in constitutional authorities
‘They should be neutral, objective’

01/12/2019, KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL,NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court, through its back-to-back decisions in November while resolving the political crises in Maharashtra and Karnataka, has sent a strong message to high constitutional authorities who shed their neutrality to favour party politics in States.

The court has highlighted the need for authorities like the Speaker and the Governor to be faithful to constitutional morality and not vacillate under “prevailing political pressures”.

The court has made it clear that as “the sentinel on the qui vive of the Constitution, it is under obligation to see that the democracy prevails and not gets hollowed by individuals”.

In its November 26 order in the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine’s petition against the Governor’s decision to appoint the Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra, the Bench led by Justice N.V. Ramana agreed to judicially examine the extent of a Governor’s ‘satisfaction’ on who commands the majority to form the government.

Justice Ramana wrote that these were issues “touching upon the democratic bulwark of our nation”.

The order was preceded by a November 13 judgment based on a bunch of petitions filed by 17 former dissident JD(S)-Congress Karnataka legislators against the Speaker’s decision to disqualify them for defection.

“In order to uphold the Constitution, we need to have men and women who will make a good Constitution such as ours, better,” Justice Ramana, had observed.

“If Speaker is not able to disassociate from his political party and behaves contrary to the spirit of the neutrality and independence, such person does not deserve to be reposed with public trust and confidence,” Justice Ramana wrote.

Probe sought into ‘sabotage’ of Vande Bharat Express

Railways planning global tenders for 160 coaches

01/12/2019, S. VIJAY KUMAR , ,CHENNAI

Work stalled: Train18 project got derailed after allegations surfaced over procedural flaws in the award of tenders.

In a twist to the ongoing controversy over halting production of Train18 coaches at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) here, a top railway official has written to Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav demanding an enquiry into the ‘sabotage’ of the Vande Bharat Express project.

Chief Administrative Officer, Rail Wheel Plant, Bela, Shubhranshu, who played a key role as the Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer in rolling out the indigenously built Train18 in record time, has expressed concern over the vigilance enquiry against almost all the senior officials of Team Train18 and alleged that efforts were on to implicate officers in some case or the other.

“The purpose [of enquiry] seems to be to sabotage the indigenous train forever and to kill the initiative...I, as the builder of the Vande Bharat Express, a senior government official and a concerned citizen of India, demand a vigilance enquiry into this sabotage of the Vande Bharat Express, air-conditioned Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs) and Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMUs),” he said.

The letter of Mr. Shubhranshu, an officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, came at a time when the Ministry of Railways plans to float global tenders to procure 16 train sets (160 coaches) for the trains.

The Team ICF manufactured Train18 in a record 18 months, which was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi between New Delhi and Varanasi in February. The second rake was launched between New Delhi and Katra later.

Successful initiative

Though celebrated as one of the most successful products of the “Make in India” initiative and orders placed for making dozens of train sets, the project got derailed after allegations surfaced over procedural flaws in the award of tenders. The Vigilance Directorate registered cases against almost all the senior engineers involved in the making of the train.

“It is over six months now that the Vigilance has been going through the Train18 files of ICF with a fine tooth comb, but has found nothing incriminating. What started as accusations of violating procedures against the innovative, bold and nationalistic team of ICF later evolved into a full bloom vigilance enquiry,” he said.

Though the Express has been running successfully since its launch, it was alleged that the engineers compromised on safety aspects by not obtaining the sanction of the Research Designs and Standards Organisation of the Railways.

Soon after halting the work on making more rakes and transferring out some top officials involved in the making of Train18, the ICF was told to refer the design to the RDSO for approval.

Import order

The revised specifications of the self-propelled train set, Mr. Shubhranshu argued, would narrow down the competition and make the playing field more uneven. “I have learnt that an import proposal for 60 train sets has been made costing over ₹25,000 crore citing delay in the production of Vande Bharat in ICF. So, what started as an enquiry into alleged corruption in ICF and what intended to create more competition and level playing field has turned out into a sinister exercise to import when we should have been proudly exploring export markets. I feel that this enquiry into the so-called irregularities was designed to sabotage the greatest Make in India’ success story,” he said in his letter.

Officials who were part of Team18 project say the new design and specifications would result in a sharp increase in the cost of procuring the train sets involving global manufacturers.

RMO of CMCH R. Soundravel retires

01/12/2019, STAFF REPORTER,COIMBATORE

R. Soundravel, who worked as the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) since 2015 was relieved from the post on Saturday owing to his retirement from the Tamil Nadu Medical Services.

After completing post-graduation in general medicine from Madurai Medical College in 1990, he joined Government service in 1991 and worked at the primary health centre at Arisipalayam in Coimbatore for 12 years. Dr. Soundravel joined CMCH in 2002 as assistant professor in general medicine.

He worked as Assistant RMO of the hospital from 2005 and was elevated as RMO in 2015. Despite various recognitions received during his service, Dr. Soundravel was known for his humanitarian approach towards patients and the needy, especially those from poor economic background.

New sitting arrangement at High Court Bench

01/12/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,MADURAI

A new set of judges will preside over the court proceedings at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court from December 2.

Justice M. Duraiswamy will be the Administrative Judge of the High Court Bench for the next three months. A Division Bench of Justices M. Duraiswamy and T. Ravindran will hear public interest litigation petitions, all Division Bench writ and appeal matters, criminal contempt and appeals relating to orders in contempt proceedings.

After Division Bench sitting, Justice M. Duraiswamy will hear old writ petitions and Justice T. Ravindran civil revision petitions of 2014.

A Division Bench of Justices T. Raja and B. Pugalendhi will hear habeas corpus petitions, all criminal appeals and criminal cases to be heard by a Division Bench, including crime against women and children. After Division Bench sitting, Justice T. Raja will hear old civil revision petitions and Justice B. Pugalendhi criminal original petitions and writ petitions (Cr.P.C.) of 2017.

Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana will hear writ petitions relating to motor vehicles, motor vehicle tax, all other taxes and duties, export and import, customs and Central excise, prohibition and State excise, mines and minerals, forest and industries.

Justice S.S. Sundar will hear writ petitions relating to general miscellaneous, education, land reforms, land tenancy, land ceiling, land acquisition and other land laws.

Justice R. Subramanian will hear second appeals from 2015, civil miscellaneous second appeals, company appeals, transfer civil miscellaneous petitions and civil revision petitions up to 2013.

Justice J. Nisha Banu will hear writ petitions relating to labour and service up to 2015. Justice M.S. Ramesh will hear writ petitions relating to labour and service from 2016 and writ petitions relating to Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme.

Justice N. Sathish Kumar will hear first appeals and second appeals up to 2014. Justice A.D. Jagadish Chandira will hear criminal original petitions and writ petitions (Cr.P.C.) from 2018.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan will hear criminal original petitions, anticipatory bail petitions and bail petitions, writ petitions (Cr.P.C.) up to 2016.

While Justice R. Tharani will hear civil miscellaneous appeals and civil revision petitions from 2015, Justice T. Krishnavalli will hear criminal appeals, including appeals relating to crime against women and children, and criminal revision petitions from 2015.

Justice M. Nirmal Kumar will hear criminal appeals, including appeals relating to crime against women and children, and criminal revision petitions up to 2014, CBI and Prevention of Corruption Act cases.

HC comes to rescue of real life ‘Encounter Ekambaram’

It upholds quashing of disciplinary action against policeman

01/12/2019, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

In an unusual reversal of real life imitating celluloid, a soft hearted policeman, much like Vadivelu as the iconic ‘Encounter Ekambaram’ in the 2007 Arjun-starrer Marudhamalai, was cleared of charges of indiscipline by a bench of the Madras High Court earlier this week.

To the uninitiated, comedian Vadivelu as ‘Encounter Ekambaram’ holds a special place among his fans for his role as Head Constable who often gets into trouble due to his antics. In one hilarious scene, ‘Encounter’ Ekambaram empathises with a criminal, who says he wants to meet his mother before being produced in court for remand, and ends up letting him escape. Needless to say, the soft touch Head Constable is punished by his superiors.

An identical incident came up before the first Division Bench of the Madras High Court, led by Chief Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Justice Subramonium Prasad, during the hearing of a writ appeal preferred by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Thanjavur Range, challenging a single judge’s order.

The case related to punishment imposed by the department more than a decade ago on police constable M. Kulothungan, for having allowed an accused in his custody to have food at a private person’s place while being taken to court. The constable was also charged with having allowed some persons to garland the accused. The constable had filed a writ petition way back in 2006 challenging the punishment imposed on him. After about four years, Justice D. Hariparanthaman (since retired) had allowed the writ petition on January 25, 2010 and set aside the punishment. While allowing the case, the single judge had come to a conclusion that the departmental inquiry proceedings were severely vitiated on account of the inquiry officer having relied on material that had been collected by the police department behind the constable’s back to hold him guilty.

Aggrieved over the single judge’s decision, the DIG as well as the Thajavur Superintendent of Police had preferred a writ appeal in 2011. However, the appeal had gathered dust for about eight years until it was taken up for final disposal this week by the first Division Bench which upheld the single judge’s decision. The Chief Justice’s Bench was of the view that the inquiry officer ought not to have relied upon the report of a preliminary inquiry, which was conducted without the knowledge of the constable, to hold him guilty. “This was in clear violation of principles of natural justice,” the Bench said while dismissing the appeal.

“This procedure, in our opinion, was clearly faulty. It was not open to the disciplinary authority to have indicted the respondent on the strength of some evidence collected behind his back,” the judges opined.

Pilot did grass-landing in B’luru at 155m visibility

SwathyR.Iyer@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:1.12.2019

On November 11, when a GoAir flight veered off the runway and landed on grass at Bengaluru airport, the visibility was only 155 metres. However, as per norms, it should be at least 550 metres for the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to give a go-ahead for landing, airport sources said.

It was a scary experience for 180 passengers on board G8 811 from Nagpur to Bengaluru at 7.30am. Sources said “as the pilot was approaching the runway, visibility dropped to around 155 metres, which is not suitable for landing a plane”. After veering off the runway at Kempegowda International Airport, it took off and landed at Hyderabad, allegedly without keeping ATC in the loop immediately.

On November 11, operations of 56 other flights were disrupted due to dense fog and low visibility at the airport.

An inquiry ordered by aviation regulatory authority Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) into the incident is still under progress.

RISKY: The pilot took off soon after the flight veered off into the runway and went over the grass on November 11

2 Kerala techies found hanging after family says no to marriage over caste difference

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru1.12.2019

 Two techies from Kerala allegedly killed themselves near Electronics City in Hebbagodi police limits following alleged parental opposition to their marriage. Their bodies, found hanging from a tree on November 29, were in a highly decomposed state.

The deceased have been identified as Abhijit Mohan, 25, and Srilakshmi S, 21. Both worked as junior software engineers with an IT major in Electronics City Phase II.

Since October 9, the duo had stopped accepting calls from their family members. After complaints were filed, police launched a search operation, but could only trace the couple’s mobile tower locations in Bengaluru. On November 23, a distraught Srilakshmi called and “thanked” her family for “troubling” them. Six days later, a shepherd found their bodies hanging from a tree.

Hailing from Thrissur in Kerala, the two had joined the IT major over a year ago. They were staying in different paying guest (PG) accommodations in Parappana Agrahara area. According to police, Abhijit and Srilakshmi were in love and wanted to get married. However, their families were against the relationship allegedly due to the caste difference. “The duo tried their best to convince the family members, but in vain. Srilakshmi’s uncle had threatened them with dire consequences,” police said, quoting their friends and colleagues.

In the first week of October, the duo had communicated to their families that they were marrying each other. “It caused a stir. Srilakshmi’s uncle allegedly threatened her that anything could happen if they chose to marry. He even warned of breaking the relationship,” sources said.

Full report on www.toi.in

Abhijit Mohan and Srilakshmi

Hang them or set them on fire: Kin of accused

Mom: Can’t defend my son after this, I’ll be hated by all

Sushil.Rao@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:1.12.2019

Family members of the four men accused of raping and brutally murdering the 27-year-old veterinary doctor on the outskirts of Hyderabad have said that they would not challenge if the court gives capital punishment to their sons.

Shyamala, mother of one of the accused C Chennakeshavulu, said, “Let him be hanged or set on fire like what they have done to the doctor,” she said.

Chennakeshavulu hails from Gudigandla village in Makthal mandal of Telangana’s Narayanpet district. After police took her son away on Thursday morning for questioning, Shyamala said her husband left home in disgust.

Shyamala said she could feel the pain the family of the veterinarian was going through. “I have a daughter and I know what the woman’s family must be suffering. If I defend my son after knowing that he has committed a heinous crime, people will hate me for the rest of my life.”

“Five months ago, we got him married to a girl of his choice. We have never put any pressure on him at home as he has been suffering from a kidney ailment. We were taking him to NIMS hospital in Hyderabad every six months for treatment,” she recalled.

Jollu Shiva and Jollu Naveen, who are among the accused, also hail from Gudigandla. The main accused, Mohammed Areef, belongs to Jaklair, a neighbouring village.

Areef’s mother Moole Bi was distraught when reporters spoke to her. Areef, driver of the lorry which was used to dispose of the body, came home after committing the crime. “He told me that a girl had died in an accident in which his lorry was involved,” she said.

His father Hussain said they had no idea about the crime that Areef was involved in. “Let him be given any punishment he deserves,” he said. Moole Bi said the other three suspects used to often visit their home.

People were agitated in both Gudigandla and Jaklair and said the shocking crime had brought shame to their villages. Locals and students took out rallies in both villages. Girl students, who participated in a rally at Jaklair, shouted slogans demanding stringent action .

₹440 crore GST fraud racket busted in Chennai, 1 held

Search On For Two More Accused

Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Chennai:1.12.2019

The Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence has busted a racket involving ₹440 crore GST fraud in Chennai. The racket involved issue of fake invoices, without the actual supply of goods. The fraudsters claimed input tax credit to the tune of ₹79 crore in the process.

The department has found the involvement of three people in the racket. While one of them has been arrested and remanded, others are absconding. “Preliminary investigation revealed existence of 54 bogus entities merely on papers. The modus operandi was to get PAN card and Aadhaar card from identity lenders and float several fictitious entities and register them under CGST Act using those documents,” said principal additional director general K Anpazhakan.

Searches conducted on several premises revealed that most of them were locked. There were no signs of any major business activity in those places. “In fact, one of the declared premises turned out to be a tea shop. The bogus entities were floated in several layers to create a complex network of transactions among themselves, including transfer of money into bank accounts to make them appear genuine so that the fake invoices reach the manufacturers,” said Anpazhakan.

The accused availed themselves of the fraudulent input tax credit without receipt of goods in question, which was metal scrap. “The contact details furnished for the purposes of registration with the GST department and opening of bank accounts were found to be relating to persons not connected with the above activities in any manner,” the ADG said.

The bank accounts were opened by the bogus entities using forged documents allegedly in connivance with the officials of private banks. “Investigation revealed that the conspiracy was hatched by three people, where one person had the role of creating fictitious entities which in turn issued fake invoices without actual supply of goods and another played the key role in identifying the recipients of fake invoices who actually availed the ineligible ITC,” said Anpazhakan.

Prabakar posted as home secretary

Chennai:1.12.2019

The state government on Saturday transferred principal secretary to highways and minor ports, S K Prabakar and posted him as secretary to the high-profile, home, prohibition and excise department. He replaced Niranjan Mardi, who retired on Saturday.

Prabakar, the 1989-batch officer hails from Tamil Nadu. He had a stint in public works department before moving to highways in September last year, the portfolios held by chief minister Edappadi K Palainswami. He also helmed commercial taxes and registration, information technology departments during Jayalalithaa’s regime. Prabakar was collector of Tiruvallur district during the DMK government and was secretary to former chief minister M Karunanidhi in his last tenure. TNN

New home secretary S K Prabakar with CM Edappadi K Palaniswami

TN ranked best in organ transplant for fifth time
Chennai:01.12.2019

The state health department has received the best performer award in organ donation for the fifth consecutive time. State health minister C Vijayabaskar received the award for the department at the 10th annual National Organ Day held in New Delhi.

One of the recipients of the double arm transplant, Narayanaswamy, lit the lamp during the inauguration of the award ceremony. Since 2008, the state has retrieved more than 1,000 organs from brain dead patients in various government and private hospitals. Though the number of donors had come down, the state has put most organs retrieved to judicial use. Besides topping the country’s list for maximum number of heart and lung transplants, the state has done pancreas, bowel and double hand transplants, health minister C Vijayabaskar said. TNN

Rain lashes Chennai, leaves several roads inundated

TNN | Dec 1, 2019, 04.39 AM IST

CHENNAI: If the intense spells of rain that lashed several places across the city over the last three days flooded streets, then according to the weatherman, more rain is in the offing. Meteorological department officials said the city could witness heavy spells till Monday.

IMD forecast for the city said, “Sky condition is likely to be cloudy. Moderate to heavy rain is likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 30 C and 24 C,” for the next 48 hours.

The Met department warned of, “Scattered heavy with isolated very heavy rain over coastal and adjoining districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.” “What we are getting now is an easterly ‘pulse’. It’s a circulation in the easterly. It’s moving from east to west. As it moves, the rainfall intensity will reduce,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre. “Rainfall would be mostly during the nights and early morning,” Puviarasan added.

Light to heavy spells lashed many city localities starting Friday night. After a break during the day, some places like Aminjikarai and Nungambakkam saw intermittent rain. Schools were closed in Chennai, Chengelpet, Pudukottai and Sivaganga on Saturday after rain on Friday night.

As of 8.30am on Saturday, Nungambakkam weather station recorded 20.2mm, while Meenambakkam registered 24.4mm. Between 8.30am and 8.30pm, the two stations recorded only 8.6mm and 11.7mm. After 9pm, heavy rain lashed certain areas, following which neighbourhoods, including Guindy, Vadapalani and T Nagar, witnessed inundation.

However, the Friday night rain left only some locations like Taramani waterlogged. Surprisingly, in flooding-prone areas such as Velachery, there was less inundation. While some residents attributed it to the storm water drain network built after the 2015 deluge, others said the intensity of rain this season has been less. R Ashok, a resident of VGP Selva Nagar Extension in Velachery, said, “We are surprised by the lack of flooding this monsoon in the area. But, we will have to see how the storm water drains hold up when the rain is heavy.”

Both rain and weekend crowd affected traffic movement in core locations like Anna Nagar, Nungambakkam and T Nagar. “It took 90minutes to reach T Nagar from Anna Nagar. Usually, it takes only half that time,” said Nirmala of Thirumangalam.

The rain brought down the deficit to 30% in the city and 2% in Tamil Nadu. After two days, rainfall is likely to start subside. “The decrease in rainfall would be due to the formation of a low pressure area over southeast Arabian Sea. Gradually it will move towards Lakshadweep and the moisture concentration and rain will be confined over this area,” said Skymet Weather.

UGC drafts regulations to control deemed university fees

Abhay Anand | Nov 28, 2019 - 3:39 p.m.

NEW DELHI: In continuation with its resolve to bring parity in fee structure in private aided and unaided institutions, the higher education regulator, University Grants Commission (UGC), has sought comments on a draft fee regulation policy for deemed-to-be universities.

Students and parents have been demanding regulation of the fees charged by some institutions, and also a ban on the practice of charging capitation fee. In February, the UGC issued new regulations for deemed-to-be universities – standalone institutions that enjoy many of the powers of a university but aren’t established through any state or central law. There are 127 deemed-to-be universities in the country.

The new policy set new guidelines for their functioning and says that no deemed-to-be university can collect more fees than what has been prescribed by the fee committee constituted as per the new regulations.

The UGC has given the public 15 days to comment on the draft policy, following which the Commission will start the process of creating fee committees.

The draft regulation proposes to establish “fee committees” to decide the fee structure of deemed-to-be universities. The fee will be decided on the basis of the institution’s location, the average per-seat cost and the quantum of government aid it is receiving.

The draft policy clearly states that “No institution shall charge capitation fee in any form or manner”. It also proposes a penalty for violating the regulations – a fine of up to Rs. 10 lakh.

It proposes different fee structures for different professional programmes.

Fee Regulation structure

With no uniformity in the fee structure of deemed institutions, it was found that institutions located in the same region were charging different amounts for the same programmes. The fee for engineering courses ranges from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 9 lakh, while that for medical courses, it its Rs. 20-25 lakh.

On receiving feedback from stake-holders, UGC will constitute fee committees to regulate the fees. As per the draft regulation, the committee will determine the fee structure of an institution considering the economic condition of the various social groups of that area. It will also increase or decrease the fees depending on whether the institutions get some form of aid from the government or not.

The operating costs of the institute –including staff salaries, contingency funds, administrative, laboratory and library costs – will also be factored in.

It has been stated in the draft that an institution will not be able to charge fees from a student for more than a semester or a year, depending on the calendar of the course.

The fee approved by the committee will be valid for a period of three years, after which a fresh review will be done to assess the situation.

Every institution will have to submit its fee structure for approval six months before the academic session starts.

Composition of Fee Committees

The draft proposes a five-member committee to be headed by a former Vice-Chancellor or former head of a regulatory body like the UGC. The other four members of the committee will include an eminent educationist who had achieved the rank of a professor, a nominee of a statuary national regulatory authority, an expert from the field of accountancy and an officer of the UGC.

Pvt Institutes To Charge Fee Semester Wise: UGC

UGC draft rules proposes fee fixation committee to regulate fee structure

By OB Bureau On Nov 28, 2019

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed to set up a high-powered committee to regulate the fee charged by private-aided and unaided institutes.

The fee approved by the five-member committee for each of the professional programmes and for different category of students will be communicated to the institutions well before the commencement of the admission process.

No institution shall charge capitation fee in any form, the draft UGC (Fees in professional education imparted by private-aided and unaided institutions deemed to be universities) Regulations, 2019 has said. The rules have provisions for more than one committee if required.

The commission, which examined the draft rules at a meeting in October this year, has put them in public domain for feedback from various stakeholders. The commission in its note has made it clear that no capitation fee shall be charged from a student, citing Supreme Court ruling in this regard.

The draft rule says that the institution shall charge from the student only the fee that has been approved by the committee.

Significantly, it makes it clear that lodging, boarding, transport, books etc shall be optional and not compulsory for students.

It further states that the approved fee shall be payable by the students at the time of admission for not more than one semester where the professional programme is semester-based. Likewise, where the programme follows an annual calendar, the fee shall not be charged for more than one year.

The return on investment or revenue surplus shall be utilised only for the development and expansion of the institution. It shall not be diverted or expanded for any other purpose.

According to the draft rules, the fee approved by the fee committee at any time shall be valid for three years. Any changes will come into effect at the time of new admission.

Composition of the committee:

An eminent educationist who has been a vice-chancellor or head of a statutory national regulatory body appointed by the UGC chairman

An educationist of eminence

A nominee of the statutory national regulatory authority

An expert with a standing of at least 10 years in the field of cost accountancy or institutional finance

An officer of UGC not below the rank of joint secretary.

FASTags pose serious data privacy and security threat

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | SANGEETHA G

PublishedNov 30, 2019, 1:43 am IST

Criminals, Govt agencies can access data; threat to women’s safety.

FASTag is no more an option for vehicle owners but a mandatory requirement.

Chennai: FASTags that are soon going to be mandatory for all vehicles passing through National Highway toll booths pose a data privacy threat to the vehicle owners. It can also be a serious security threat for women owners.

FASTag is no more an option for vehicle owners but a mandatory requirement. But with FASTags it is possible to access the ownership and other data pertaining to the owner and it will be easy for tracking a vehicle not just by government agencies and other stakeholders of the system, but for private persons as well since RFID readers are easily available in the market at very low cost. “Worldwide, mass warrant-less surveillance of cars is a major human rights issue,” finds Fennel Aurora, Security Advisor at F-Secure, a Finnish cyber security company.

“Worldwide, this is mainly implemented via far more invasive and non-optional automatic number-plate recognition (APNR) via pervasive video surveillance cameras. There is a movement across the US of local governments trying to pass ordinances banning police departments from buying this kind of technology,” he said.

According to Aurora, depending on the implementation, it may be possible for persons with malicious intend to use a cheap RFID scanner to obtain sensitive information about vehicle owners from the tag by walking past parked cars and this information can be used for further crimes.

“Potentially the payment information could be retrieved, and fake payments forced to pass onto the linked account. Tags could be cloned to use on the criminals’ vehicle–a form of identity theft,” he said.

For women owners, there is an additional threat. If the name/gender of the vehicle owner is available, this can be a significant risk for women who can be more easily tracked and targeted by violent men waiting near identified cars, he said.

“The tag is primarily a unique signature and the data is out there. Being a privacy enthusiast, it is my top most priority to ensure that my data remains protected. FAS-Tag should be an option and not forced upon individuals,” said Farrhad Acidwalla, Founder, Cybernetiv Digital.

According to Sunil Sharma, Managing Director–Sales, India & SAARC, Sophos, all the software systems can be breached and FASTags also carry the cyber security threats that any software system carries.

“Given the widespread security, privacy, safety, and corruption issues around the Aadhar system, there are obvious reasons to doubt this new system also. Like many similar convenience measures that come with built-in surveillance, one has to wonder whether the few seconds saved is worth the potentially extreme costs.”

Doctor

MCI rules Violation for MBBS admissions: Varsity slapped with Rs 2.5 crore fine by Gujarat High Court
November 29, 2019

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has imposed a fine of whopping Rs 2.5 crore to a medical university noting that the institution had violated the rules and regulations set by the Medical Council of India (MCI) on the centralized process of MBBS admission.

The decision comes in the case of Parul University, whereby the varsity had had sought regularization of admissions of 15 students to whom the MBBS seats were given on its own accord after the same had become vacant from the Centralized Process of Admission. The varsity had earlier applied to the single bench which had denied any relief to it, pursuant to this, it moved the higher bench of the HC.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the MCI had called for discharging of these 15 students from MBBS courses and the single bench had held the MCI decision

At that hearing, the bench had expressed its anguish over the fact that every year when the admissions for the medical courses commence, it has had the occasion to witness chaos. The bench disappointedly stated, “This is yet another example where the Court needs to express its anguish over the insensitivity of the college in admitting students flouting the set rules and regulations of the centralized process of admission. The issue that arises for consideration before this court is whether the petitioners could have on their own granted admission to 15 students on the seats which became vacant on withdrawal of admissions by the students who were initially allotted admission in the Centralized Process of Admission.”

Before admitting the students on its own, the varsity had said that it had in fact informed Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC) to furnish a merit list so that in the eventuality of the seat falling vacant, the University can fill the same by offering the same to the next meritorious candidate.

Despite such request and in absence of any active response from the ACPUGMEC and since the time frame of 31.08.2017 was fast approaching, it had no alternative but issue an advertisement in two newspapers inviting applications from meritorious students, the university had submitted

After going through all the submissions, the bench observed that as per the MCI regulations on MBBS admission process, the varsity could not have carried out the process of admission on their own. Even merit has been compromised in the admission process conducted by the university further implying that the MCI’s decision and the ACPUGMEC stance are not at fault, the bench had added.

Aggrieved with the single bench’s decision, university approached the higher bench of honourable Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice A J Shashtri who has now imposed a fine of Rs 2.50 crore on the Parul University for admitting 15 students to its medical course without the consent of the centralised admission committee, reports Mirror

However, the court asked the students to make a representation before the state government to regularise their admission.

Chennai: Bar council bans practice by 5 advocates

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedNov 29, 2019, 1:49 am IST

On November 13, he returned with 14 other people and demanded Rs one crore saying the store was selling fake gold

On November 13, the city police arrested the lawyers along with four others, who claimed to be journalist and police officers on charges of extortion.

Chennai: The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has prohibited five Chennai based advocates, who has been charged with extorting money from the owner of Saravana Stores Elite Jewellery shop in T Nagar, from practising law.

A communication from BCTP represented by its secretary C.Raja Kumar said by a resolution dated November 27, 2019, advocates M.Jagadeeshwaran from Ennore, V.Sriram from Kilpauk, A.Amanullah from Pudupettai, B.Murugan from East Tambaram and M.Sundara Pandya Raja from Kodambakkam have been prohibited from practice in all Courts, Tribunals and other authorities in India either in his name or in any assumed name till the disposal of disciplinary proceedings pending against them.

On November 13, the city police arrested the lawyers along with four others, who claimed to be journalist and police officers on charges of extortion.

According to police, Siva Aruldurai, owner of Saravana Stores Elite Jewellery Shop in T.Nagar complained to the police that one Dhanasekar who claimed to be the Vice President of Universal Press Media had visited the shop on November 3. He had exchanged some gold coins for a three sovereign gold chain.

Following this, he accused the shop of giving him a fake gold chain. Claiming to be from the press fraternity he said he would give the news to the media about the store and forced the shop to part with Rs 15 lakh.

On November 13, he returned with 14 other people and demanded Rs one crore saying the store was selling fake gold. The employees alerted the police, who arrived at the spot and nabbed nine persons, which included five advocates while the rest managed to escape.

UGC panel to decide fees in deemed universities

Deemed-to-be-universities would no longer be able to fix fee for courses offered by them as fee committee(s) to be constituted by UGC would regulate such fees.

Published: 29th November 2019 05:23 AM 

By S Mannar Mannan

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Deemed-to-be-universities would no longer be able to fix fee for courses offered by them as fee committee(s) to be constituted by UGC would regulate such fees.The UGC on Wednesday released the draft ‘fees in professional education imparted by private aided and unaided institutions deemed to be universities regulation 2019’ and sought feedback from stakeholders.

According to the draft regulation, the committee will determine the fee based on social aspects like population share of SC/ST, socially and economically backward classes, economically-weaker sections, minorities, and rural population and their educational needs.

If the institutions do not follow the fee structure, the committee shall be competent to impose a fine up to `10 lakh per violation in addition to refund of the excess fee charged and punish violators under section 24 of UGC Act.

Is it a highway, people ask

Express took a ride from Central to Thiruverkadu, travelling some 40 km in both directions. Here’s what Omjasvin M D and P Jawahar witnessed

Published: 28th November 2019 06:27 AM 

By Omjasvin M D and P Jawahar

Express News Service

Despite being a busy National Highway, EVR Periyar Salai (Poonamallee High Road) has not been maintained properly. On some stretches, like the Koyambedu-Thiruverkadu, the road has developed craters and on other stretches, there is sand, leading to heavy dust pollution. In some parts, the road itself is missing. The recent rains added to the woes of the motorists.

MGR University

The stretch outside the entrance of MGR University at Maduravoyal has craters. Many motorists pass this stretch at the cost of severe back pain among other health issues. About a hundred metres away, there is no asphalt on the road but just gravel and stones, causing a jittery feeling for bike riders

Pachaiyappa’s College

Though the damage is not so much as the stretch on the outskirts, potholes and bumps remain a major concern. Short spells of rain on Wednesday afternoon covered the potholes confusing commuters.

Vanagaram

At Vanagaram there are craters. About 20 traffic police officials have been deployed here to regulate traffic as the road has become completely dangerous for commuting. Veera Ragahavan, who commutes on the stretch said brakes do not work properly on the stretch and chances are high that vehicles can topple. Even buses seem to be in danger when they cross the stretch.

Velappanchavadi

Here, sandy road is the only one available for commuters to use. When buses pass this stretch, they kick up the sand, causing severe dust pollution and breathing issues to commuters. “It even blocks our vision during the day’’, said Vijay G, a commuter.
The bad roads have been earmarked for repair and National Highways Authority of India officials have deployed asphalt paving machines and road-rollers for work

Thiruverkadu

Thiruverkadu is a busy stretch, but here too the problem remains the same. The part of the highway is battered severely with potholes, bumps and craters even at prime junctions. Bearing back pain and other health issues, commuters cross the stretch with the hope that one day things will improve

Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals

Near this hospital at Vellappanchavadi, on the service lanes, there are heaps of garbage. Apart from this, sand has filled the service lanes. Adding to the public’s hardship is that there are no street lights on this stretch. This can cause vehicles to slip and fall

Maduravoyal flyover

As unclosed pits have been left unattended for a long time under the Maduravoyal flyover, rainwater has stagnated on this stretch. In the wake of the city reporting many dengue cases, civic negligence in prime localities like this is a cause of concern.
Besides, lane separators, which are normally painted in white, are missing. This leads to vehicles shifting lanes indiscriminately.

AirAsia flight makes priority landing at Chennai due to hydraulic issue
The flight landed safely nine minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival, an airport source said.

Published: 28th November 2019 11:58 AM |

AirAsia (File | PTI)

By PTI

CHENNAI: A city-bound AirAsia India flight carrying 114 passengers from Delhi made a priority landing here on Thursday due to a hydraulic issue, an airport source said.

The flight landed safely nine minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival, he said.

A statement on the incident from AirAsia India was awaited.

"Local stand-by was declared for AirAsia India flight operating on Delhi-Chennai route on Thursday morning. The pilot in command sought priority landing from Chennai ATC due to some issue in the aircraft's hydraulic system. The flight landed safely at 8.01 am," the source said.

In local stand-by, all aerodrome emergency services are brought to a state of readiness and local emergency services are notified but remain at their respective bases on stand-by.

There were 114 passengers on board the flight, he added.

Now, Scrub typhus major health concern

If the dengue and viral fever cases were not enough, the officials of the health department are now also battling scrub typhus (a mite-borne disease).

Published: 29th November 2019 06:37 AM 

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI : If the dengue and viral fever cases were not enough, the officials of the health department are now also battling scrub typhus (a mite-borne disease).The disease caught attention after three cases were detected at the Institute of Mental Health during a special screening. All inmates were screened after four persons who were admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) died recently. According to senior health official, 45 scrub typhus cases were reported in Chennai and around 1,400 cases were reported across the State from January.

“It is an undifferentiated febrile illness. High grade fever, body pain and eschar at the site of the bite are common symptoms. It even affects the central nervous system and cause encephalitis, eventually leads to multi-organ failure and death,” an official said.“During screening, the official detected three cases and they were given antibiotics. We have bushes around, so the cases have been reported.

All precautions were taken,” said P Poorna Chandrika, Director, Institute of Mental Health. A senior doctor at RGGGH said, “Every day, one or two patients from IMH are being admitted. But they are chronically ill with co-morbid conditions. Though a few cases have been admitted with fever, still we have not come to any conclusion on common cause.

What is scrub typhus

Scrub typhus is a disease caused by Orientia Tsutsugamushi bacteria and it is spread to people through bites of infected larval mites. It is treated with antibiotic doxycycline. The mites are mainly found in grassy fields, shruby areas, forests, abandoned rice fields and cleared forests, officials said.

Four nurses duped by consultancy
29/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,BENGALURU

The Halasuru police have taken up a case of cheating against a -based job consultancy firm that allegedly duped as many as four nurses by falsely promising them employment in Ukraine, and then taking their money and passports.

Based on a complaint filed by Avinash B., a nurse from Mysuru, the police have booked a cheating case against the owner of the firm — Pranay Kiran Shah — who is absconding. In his statement to the police, Avinash said that Shah runs a consultancy firm in Murphy Town and had advertised that there were job opportunities for nurses in Ukraine. Avinash and three other nurses — Devaiah, Karyappa and Venkatachala — approached him and paid the required fee of ₹1 lakh each. In September 2019, they submitted their passports to the firm.

The cheating came to light this month when the victims went to collect their visas and air tickets as was promised to them and found the office locked up. They tried to reach Avinash but found that his phone was switched off, after which they went to the police to register a complaint.

Fake aviation firm scam

In a similar incident, a city based businessman filed a cheating complaint against an aviation firm for duping him by promising to to train his son to become a pilot.

The victim Mahadevaswamy, 57, a resident of Banashankari, told the SJ Park police that the accused Naveen Ravindran, owner of Suguna Aviation academy, had taken the money for the course in 2014, but kept prolonging the training session. On Wednesday, when the businessman went to the firm’s office to get his money back, he learned that Naveen had vacated the premises, and was unreachable on his phone.

Don’t withhold information sought under RTI : DGP

29/11/2019, GAUTAM S. MENGLE,MUMBAI

The office of the Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra, has issued instructions for information on ongoing cases, sought under the Right To Information Act, to be given out to applicants provided it can be established beyond doubt that giving out the information will not hamper the case.

The circular, signed by Special Inspector General of Police Milind Bharambe, Law and Order, on behalf of Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, DGP, refers to repeated observations about police officers refusing point blank to share information about ongoing cases, saying it will hamper the investigation.

“It has been brought to the notice of the State Information Commissioner that applications filed under the RTI that seek information about registered cases are summarily dismissed, with the only reason given being that the information can not be revealed as it is an ongoing investigation. Police officers have been observed to refuse or avoid giving information using this reason,” the circular states.

It further says that following these observations, instructions were issued by the State Information Commissioner about making information available about records, case diaries and reports, and CCTV footage as requested under the RTI.

The circular also instructs police personnel to save a copy of every footage released to applicants.

When contacted, Mr. Bharambe said,

“We have observed ample examples of RTI applications being filed for frivolous reasons, which is why it is important to consider each application based on its merit.”

Gujarat

Kuwait domestic help issue raised in House

Action taken against apps: Minister

29/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, ,CHENNAI

V. Muraleedharan

The Kuwait government has clamped down on apps and websites used to sell domestic help, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He was responding to query raised by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi MP D. Ravikumar.

“According to certain reports in the media, a digital application was used to solicit the services of domestic workers for Kuwait. The country’s laws are against human trafficking,” the Minister said in his reply. The authority concerned of the Government of Kuwait responded promptly to the media reports and took necessary action against such applications as well as other similar websites, he added.

Protective measures

Mr. Muraleedharan said the Indian Mission was also in touch with the Kuwait authorities to protect Indian workers from such applications. No case of an Indian victim duped through such means had come to the knowledge of the Mission, he said.

The Minister highlighted the measures put in place by the Indian government to safeguard Indian women workers and regulate their emigration for overseas employment in Gulf countries. All women emigrants (except nurses) emigrating on ECR [Emigration Check Required] passports, irrespective of the nature/category of employment, must be above the age of 30 years, he said. If foreign employers wanted to recruit Indian female workers holding ECR passports for overseas employment in 18 ECR countries, they could only do so by engaging any of the State-run recruiting agencies, Mr. Muraleedharan said.

No database

The foreign employer had to deposit a bank guarantee in the respective Indian Mission equivalent to $2500 for recruiting a woman worker in case of direct recruitment, the Minister said. Embassy attestation had been made mandatory in respect of direct recruitment of all ECR passport holding women workers in respect of all ECR countries, he said

Mr. Muraleedharan, however, said there was no mechanism at present to prepare a comprehensive database of women working as domestic servants in the Gulf countries because a number of such category of workers are holders of Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) passport and they were not required to take either clearance or register themselves before departure from India. In addition, many often go to Gulf Countries on tourist visa/ family visit visa and subsequently take employment there. Naturally, in such cases also, there is no clearance or registration.

Train passengers seek better access facilities at Tambaram station

29/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

When Tambaram railway station was designated as the third railway terminal in the city a few years ago, it brought cheer to the residents in the southern parts of the city.

While Southern Railway has started operating long-distance trains and has also provided stoppages for several trains at the station, it is yet to become a full-fledged railway terminal.

Despite good multi-modal facilities, the station suffers due to poor access facilities. Senior citizens particularly face severe hardships to reach the platforms to board trains.

V. Rama Rao, a senior citizen, rued the absence of an escalator or lift in platforms 7 and 8.

A senior official of the Chennai Division of Southern Railway said several passenger amenities have been created including the concrete-paved access road, parking facilities, and food plazas on both sides of the station.

On the absence of escalators and lifts at platform nos. 7 and 8, he said there is a proposal to instal escalators and lifts on the northern side of the station.

Another school meal shocker: One litre milk diluted with water for 81 children
Binay Singh@timesgroup.com

Varanasi:29.11.2019

A litre of milk was allegedly diluted with copious amounts of water to meet the nutritional needs of 81 children at a primary school in UP’s Sonbhadra district on Wednesday, reminiscent of the midday meal controversy stoked by a viral video purportedly showing students of a school in Mirzapur having roti with salt.

As news of the latest midday meal sham spread on social media, the district education authorities laid the blame at the school’s door. Basic shiksha adhikari Gorakhnath Patel, who visited Salaibanva Primary School in Chopan block on Thursday, held the staff there accountable for the lapse. “Appropriate action will be taken against the erring staff after a probe,” he told TOI later. The children at the school were to be served tehri (vegetable mixed rice) and milk on Wednesday. But since only a litre of milk was available in the kitchen, water was generously used to make up for the shortfall. Dev Kalia, a member of the Kota gram panchayat, reported the alleged adulteration.

“According to midday meal norms, each student of a primary school should get 150ml of milk. In junior high school, the prescribed quantity for every child is 200ml,” Patel said. “It was sheer carelessness on the staff’s part not to arrange the required quantity of milk for the children. More milk was arranged and served to the children after the lapse was brought to our notice.”

In August, a video purportedly showing “roti-namak” being served to children at a primary school in Mirzapur district had triggered a furore. The administration accused the journalist who shot the video and the person who had invited him there of criminal conspiracy to malign the government’s image.


MIDDAY MEAL SHAM: The children at the school were to be served tehri (vegetable mixed rice) and milk on Wednesday. But since only a litre of milk was available in the kitchen, water was generously used to make up for the shortfall

Pharma companies offer women to bribe docs: Study

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
29.11.2019

Medical representatives have revealed the widespread use of bribes including foreign trips, microwave ovens, expensive smart phones, gold jewellery and even women by pharmaceutical companies even as the government drags its feet on a 2016 proposal to bring in a Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) “with teeth” in the form of penal provisions.

In a report on pharmaceutical marketing practices compiled by a public health group Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiatives (SATHI), medical representatives (MRs) talked of the tremendous pressure exerted by companies on them through high sales targets. They also revealed how training for MRs is focused less on technical knowledge and more on salesmanship and ‘management of customer (read doctors) relations’.

The report is based on indepth interviews with 50 MRs, area sales managers, allopathic and Ayush doctors and pharma executives from six cities conducted last year. Though the code of ethics of the Medical Council of India bars doctors from accepting any gifts, cash, travel facilities or hospitality from pharma companies for themselves or any member of their family, there are no laws to deal with such corrupt marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies.

According to the MRs, hardly 10-20% doctors follow the MCI code of ethics, while the rest accept or even demand ‘incentives’ to prescribe products of a company. The most common inducement is the sponsoring of doctors for national and international conferences. In many high value deals, such as instalments on the purchase of a car, the company even threatens the doctor if the targeted business (a certain number of prescriptions for a drug) is not achieved, revealed MRs. The report revealed how cash bribes have changed to petrocards, credit cards or e-vouchers for online purchases.

Full report on www.toi.in


The report is based on in-depth interviews with 50 MRs, area sales managers, allopathic and Ayush doctors and pharma executives from six cities conducted last year

IMPERSONATION CASE: ADVANCE BAIL SOUGHT

NEET scam: Student’s dad asked to appear before probe officer

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:29.11.2019

The Madras high court has directed an MBBS student’s father to appear before the investigating officer and cooperate with the probe in a NEET impersonation case.

V Ravikumar and his son, of Chennai, filed two separate petitions before HC seeking anticipatory bail as a case was registered against them in connection with impersonation in NEET. In the petition, Ravikumar stated that his son had cleared NEET and the allegation of impersonation was due to mismatch of photograph in the hall ticket. He stated that he had informed this issue to the authorities concerned and his son was allowed to appear in the exam.

Hearing the petition on Thursday, Justice G R Swaminathan directed Ravikumar to appear before the investigating officer on November 29 and cooperate with the probe.

Bridge washed away, kids wade through river to reach school

Vincent.Arockiaraj@timesgroup.com

Nagapattinam:29.11.2019

For children of five villages in Nagapattinam district, going to school has never been as risky and challenging as it has been in the last two months. Ever since the wooden bridge across the Vettaru river was washed away in September, the students as well as villagers of Kilvelur union have been wading through the water to reach the other side.

“Ever since the monsoon set in, we have been walking through the water all drenched from the hip. We carry school bags on our head. Since there is a heavy flow now, we cross the river risking our lives. It is affecting our studies,” said S Arun, a student of government higher secondary school, Kilvelur. The affected students are mostly from schools in Nagapattinam, Kilvelur and Tiruvarur.

P Mahalaxmi of the same school said they carry an extra pair of clothes. “After crossing over, we change to our uniform . We rarely manage to reach on time. While coming back, the uniform also gets wet,” she said. Many fall ill and are forced to skip classes frequently. Some lucky ones, small in size, are carried on shoulders of a parent or a relative. As for little kids, parents invariably have to carry them both ways.

Around 1,500 families in Okkur, Kadamangudi, Moongilkudi, Vilampakkam and Mulapadugai have been going through this ordeal. They had approached the authorities several times but no action has been taken, said K Sundharambal, a villager who wants nothing short of a concrete bridge built.

Sources said there was nothing across the river until 2017, when a wooden bridge linking Vilambakkam and Kohur villages came up at ₹6 lakh from the constituency development funds of Kilvelur’s DMK MLA U Mathivanan. In September this year, due to the heavy flow, the wooden bridge was washed away.

When contacted, Keelvelur block development officer K Arunmozhi told TOI that they had sent a proposal to construct a bridge across the Vettaru river. “Since it is a huge project, it will take some time to get the proposal cleared. Since water is flowing on the river, work can start only during summer. We hope to complete the work in the coming summer”, the BDO said. Attempts to contact MLA Mathivanan and the district collector went in vain as both were not reachable.

RISKY ROUTE: Students of five villages in Nagapattinam district risk getting uniforms wet to get to school

NEWS DIGEST

29.11.2019

Delhi-Chennai flight makes priority landing

A Delhi-Chennai AirAsia flight with 160 passengers made a priority landing at Chennai airport on Thursday and was towed to the parking bay near the terminal following a snag in the steering of landing gear. An airport official said it was not an emergency but the flight was given priority to land. In a statement the airline said, “AirAsia flight, I5-761, operating from New Delhi to Chennai had a cautionary message regarding the nose wheel steering system. The captain elected to not taxi back and requested a tow back to the bay, it was conveyed to the air traffic control (ATC) and was arranged for.”

Photography contest on water, energy conservation: Grundfos India has launched their annual online photography contest ‘The Essence of Light and Water’ to spread awareness on water and energy conservation. The contest will be live on Grundfos India’s social media platforms till December 3. Participants must upload photographs that capture the interplay of both elements — light and water. For more details, check the company’s social media platforms Ek Boondh Pani and i Save Energy on Facebook and Twitter.

British Council to organise award ceremony: British Council will organise International School Award 2019-22 at Taj Coromandel, Nungambakkam on Friday at 5pm. The international school award is an accreditation for schools that have shown a commitment to embedding international awarenss and global citizenship within their class and school. The accredtation is valid for three years. There will also be a pane discussion on ‘how can we prepare our students for an uncertain future?’ prior to the award ceremony between 2pm and 4pm.

Psychiatric hospital to mark 10th anniversary: Buddhi Clinic, a psychiatric hospital, will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Madras Management Association on Saturday at 5.30pm. Anurag Sharma, Lok Sabha MP and director, Baidyanath Group, Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS Motor Company Ltd, professor Perminder Sachdev, neuropsychiatric institute, Sydney, Australia and Dr Rema Raghu, chief clinical officer, Buddhi Clinic, will be present.

Local cabbies launch app-based taxi service without surge pricing

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.11.2019

Twenty-five drivers of app-based cab services have joined hands to launch their own service in Chennai in an attempt to overcome competition from corporate firms like Ola and Uber.

Within days of the launch, around 160 car and auto drivers have subscribed to ‘D-Taxi’ its founders say will have no surge pricing. It is run by a cooperative society registered with the state industrial department in May 2018. The society floated tenders to design a mobile app for customers and drivers’ use before the service was formally launched on Monday.

Any taxi driver-cum-owner can enrol with D-Taxi if they have a commercial licence and pay ₹100 as registration fee. There will be no commission withheld and drivers can take home whatever they earn. Yhey need to pay a fixed fee of ₹3,000 per month. “The key feature about our service is that there is no surge pricing during peak hours. Users can pay for only the distance they have travelled,” said G Balaji, president.

For autos, the base fare is ₹25 for the first 1.8km and ₹12 for every km travelled thereafter. Waiting charge is 30 paise per min. For hatchback (small) and sedan cars (executive), the base fare is ₹30 and ₹12.50-₹13 a km after that. Waiting charge is ₹1.50 per minute.

As far as XUVs are concerned, ₹150 will be the base fare and rate per km is ₹18-₹19.

Besides short trips, long distance and outstation trips too can be booked using the app available on Google Play Store. Rates vary from ₹9.50 to ₹13 depending on the car model for such trips which cover minimum of 250km.

Bookings can be done on the spot. Drivers will help users make bookings on their app and users can continue if they find the estimated fare satisfactory, said Balaji. “We are trying to set an example. It will be expanded to Coimbatore and Madurai soon,” he added.

WELCOME MOVE: Members of the group that launched the service

MTC runs small buses as regular services

Move Leaves Commuters Confused

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.11.2019

Amid the increasing demand for small buses in Chennai, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has silently converted some of them into regular services. This unannounced conversion has created confusion among commuters.

Based on complaints from passengers, TOI did a reality check at Mandaveli depot. Small buses were operated along regular route 21 (connecting Broadway with Mandaveli) as express services.

MTC has permits only to operate conventional town buses with 48 seats along this route. According to rule 248 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, vehicles owned by state transport corporations including MTC should be operated only along routes approved by the transport authority and any violation attracts ₹2,500 fine. More than 1,500 government buses have been booked for this offence in the past.

“It was very uncomfortable to travel in a small bus till Broadway as they are designed only for short trips. It was very difficult to get down or even move inside when it gets crowded,” said Prabhakar, a commuter from Mandaveli.

In response, an MTC official said this was done only twice a day to help government employees working at the state secretariat to travel easily between their residences and workplace. But the reality check was done around 2.30pm on Thursday which was no way close to offices’ closing or opening hours. “By default, all small buses were operated as express services. Moreover, it will be a loss to operate small buses along regular routes since the seating capacity is less,” the official added.

But when asked about fares, a conductor said it would cost ₹12 to travel to Broadway from Mandaveli and hid the route board under the driver’s seat soon after this reporter left the spot. The fare for ordinary services is just ₹9.

On an average, 120 services are operated along this route from Mandaveli depot on a daily basis carrying around 5,000 commuters.

Besides this, small and regular MTC buses are diverted to neighbouring districts during festivals and special occasions. Though they are eventually brought back to Chennai, passengers suffer in the meanwhile. Patronage will take a beating if services are irregular, say experts.

Corroborating this, official data says daily patronage recorded per small bus dropped from 625 in 2017 to 565 now.

Of the 200 small buses launched in Chennai in 2013 to improve last mile connectivity, more than 180 are operated regularly and rest could not be due to high absenteeism rate among drivers, say officials.

A small bus, to be operated on route 21, at Mandaveli depo

UGC wants to fix fees for deemed univs

5-Member Committees Proposed

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.11.2019

Deemed universities may not be able to charge students at their discretion as the University Grants Commission (UGC) is planning to set up five-member committees to monitor fee structure for 126 deemed universities, including 29 in Tamil Nadu.

As of now, there is no mechanism to regulate fees of private institutions deemed to be universities, which come under the purview of the central government.

Draft regulations released by the UGC on Wednesday said, “An institution shall charge from the students only the fee approved and communicated by the fee committee and no other fee shall be demanded or collected by the institution, either directly or indirectly under any other head of account or guise.”

If there are any violations, the committee will impose fine up to ₹10lakh, refund the excess fee and take other penal action. Deemed universities can appeal against the fee committee’s orders. Deemed universities should submit a proposed fee structure for professional programmes at least six months before the date of advertisement for admissions. Each proposal should be accompanied by authenticated data, including documents and audited accounts, on the basis of which the institution proposes the fee structure.

The fee approved by the fee committee at any point shall be valid for the next three years and subsequent changes, if any, shall be applicable only for new admissions. The fees will be based on parameters such as average per seat cost of imparting education, cost of course wise expenses for students, need for research, extent of aid received by the institutions, social status and educational needs of the people in the area.

The committee will have a former vice-chancellor or head of a national regulatory authority as chairman and an eminent educationist, nominee of a regulatory authority, and a financial expert as members. An official from UGC will be member-secretary. After the draft rules were made public, deemed universities in Tamil Nadu demanded adequate representation on the fee committees. “While I hope that the regulations are in alignment with the Supreme Court order in the 13-judge bench in TMA Pai case, adequate representation of deemed universities in the committee membership must be ensured,” said S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of Sastra . “When the Justice Srikrishna committee report, medical fee regulations, prohibition of capitation fee acts are in force, the need for new regulations needs justification and, if found necessary, must be in harmony with those in force,” he added.

“Deemed universities are autonomous institutions and promoting research and innovation using their autonomous status. Now, they cannot bring the autonomous institutions under the regulations; it is not acceptable,” said Ishari K Ganesh, chancellor, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies.