Governor’s signature must to release Rajiv case convicts: HC

12/03/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Wednesday held that a recommendation made by the State Cabinet to the Governor on September 9, 2018, for releasing all seven life convicts involved in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case would come into effect only after the Governor affixes his signature and not otherwise.

Justices R. Subbiah and R. Pongiappan held so while dismissing a habeas corpus petition filed by one of the convicts S. Nalini to declare her detention since September 10, 2019, as illegal and consequently order her release forthwith on the ground that the Governor’s nod was sought only as a matter of constitutional courtesy.

The Bench said: “The mere advice tendered by the council of ministers will not entitle the petitioner to get released prematurely unless it was accepted or signed by the Governor. The signing of the order by the Governor is mandatory and in the absence of the same, the petitioner cannot get the benefit.”

The judges concurred with Additional Solicitor General (ASG) G. Rajagopalan and State Public Prosecutor A. Natarjan that the Cabinet’s recommendation per se would not entitle the convict to lay a claim of illegal detention when she and all other convicts had been put through a full fledged trial and were found guilty in the courts of law.

Further, the ASG also relied upon a 1988 judgment of the Supreme Court wherein it was held that the Governor’s nod for decisions taken by the State government was not a mere formality and that it was mandatory.

Deciding to follow the principle laid down in that verdict, the Bench led by Justice Subbiah said: “Thus, it is evident from the above decision that the order, though it may be formal, to be passed by the Governor of the State assumes significance and without the consent of the Governor or his signature on the proposal sent to him, such proposal shall not take effect.”

Insofar as the present case was concerned, the Cabinet had made a recommendation to release all seven convicts. However, “such advice has not been acted upon and it is pending consideration of the Governor. No order has been passed thereof as on date. While so, merely based on the advice of the council of ministers, her detention cannot be declared as illegal,” the Bench concluded.

Private colleges told to disclose fee collected from students, under RTI

TNIC seeks explanation from colleges for skipping hearing

12/03/2020, S. VIJAY KUMAR,CHENNAI

TNIC directed five private colleges in Vellore to divulge details of fee collected and salary paid.

The Tamil Nadu Information Commission has directed five private colleges in Vellore district to share the details of fee collected from students in aided/unaided courses and also disclose the salary paid to faculty in self-financed courses.

The case arises out of a petition filed by I. Elangovan of Vellore in 2008 seeking details of fee and special fee collected from students in under-graduate and post-graduate courses since 2003 from Dhanabagiyam Krishnasamy Mudaliar College for Women (Autonomous), Sainathapuram, Islamiah College, Vaniyambadi, Mazharul Uloom College, Ambur, C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam and Vorhees College in Vellore district, under the provisions of Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Not satisfied with the reply received from the Joint Directorate of Collegiate Education, the petitioner moved the commission which passed orders in 2009 directing the Public Information Officers of the respective colleges to provide the details sought under the Act. However, the colleges moved the Madras High Court by filing a writ petition challenging the order.

After hearing both sides, the court in 2019 passed orders directing the Commission to pass fresh orders after hearing all parties concerned.

In the fresh hearing that commenced later, the PIOs of Islamiah College and C. Abdul Hakeem College assured to provide details sought by the petitioner while the PIO of Mazharul Uloom College sought more time to furnish the same. The petitioner did not turn up for the hearing. The PIOs of Dhanabagiyam Krishnasamy Mudaliar College for Women (Autonomous) and Voorhees College also failed to appear in the hearing to present their arguments. The Commission recorded their absence with dissent.

Passing orders, State Information Commissioner S. Muthuraj directed all the colleges to send the information required by the petitioner by registered post and report compliance to the Commission.

He sought an explanation from the two colleges that did not appear in the hearing as to why disciplinary action should not be initiated against the PIO and the Principal under Section 20(2) of the Act.

No more advance increment to govt. staff for higher qualification

‘Lately, highly qualified persons like doctors, engineers taking up clerical jobs’

12/03/2020, DENNIS S. JESUDASANCHENNAI

All G.O.s issued over the years for sanction of advance increment stand cancelled with immediate effect. For representational purposes onlyFor representation only

With several over-qualified candidates such as post-graduates, doctors and engineers increasingly joining the government service for clerical jobs, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to cancel the scheme of sanctioning advance increment to government staff, of all departments, for acquiring higher education qualification, with immediate effect.

Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam issued a G.O. on Tuesday in this regard to the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, cancelling all relevant G.O.s issued over the years for sanction of advance increment. The sanction of advance increment for passing Account Test for Sub-ordinate Officers Part-I has also been dropped with immediate effect.

The scheme for advance increment for passing the Account Test exam was initially introduced in 1963 to non-gazetted employees in the Ministerial Service. In 1972, advance increment was granted to engineers in Public Works Department. Since then, the scheme underwent several modifications and included several departments.

The scheme was introduced a few decades ago when the government realised that qualified persons were rarely identified for government posts. This was not the case anymore.

“But, in present days, highly qualified persons, including many professionals (doctors and engineers) are entering into government service... even for Group C posts like Assistants/ Junior Assistants/ Typists, etc., to do clerical jobs,” the G.O. pointed out.

Increasing number of educational institutions and qualified candidates, and pay anomalies in advance increment between seniors and juniors in a department, were cited as other reasons behind the decision.

“If a government servant needs promotion/appointment to a higher post which carries higher qualification, then it is the responsibility of the government servant to qualify himself/herself for promotion/appointment to that higher post.”

The government also pointed out that in several departments, the employees with higher qualification, like those with the required qualification, were “discharging the same duty of the post concerned in routine manner only.”

Various recruiting agencies are selecting qualified persons suitable for various government posts after conducting tests/examinations at various stages.

However, the advance increment for acquiring higher qualification already granted to government employees will not be recovered from candidates.

80,448 MBBS Seats In Medical Colleges: Centre

A total of 80,448 MBBS seats are available in medical colleges in the country at present. The number of medical postgraduate seats is 40,408 which is little more than half of the MBBS seats available.

EducationEdited by Maitree BaralUpdated: March 06, 2020 05:04 pm IST

A total of 80,448 MBBS seats are available in medical colleges in the country at present.

New Delhi: 

A total of 80,448 MBBS seats are available in medical colleges in the country at present. The number of medical postgraduate seats is 40,408 which is little more than half of the MBBS seats available. This information was shared by Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan in the Lok Sabha today.

Questions were asked by Chandra Sekhar Sahu and Dr Pritam Gopinathrao Munde on whether the government proposes to enhance MBBS and PG seats in equal numbers in medical colleges in the country and whether NITI Aayog has also recommended any proposal to the government in this regard.

The Minister replied that enhancement of MBBS & PG seats is dependent on availability of adequate faculty and infrastructure as per prevalent regulations of MCI. Among the various steps taken by the government to increase the seats, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, are establishment of new medical colleges attached with district/ referral hospitals in underserved districts, enhancement of maximum intake capacity at MBBS level from 150 to 250 and upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government medical colleges.

The government has also decided to give relaxation in the norms for setting up of medical college in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure.

The ratio of teachers to students has also been revised to increase the number of PG medical seats.

Replying to the question on whether NITI Aayog has recommended any such proposal to government, the Minister said, "The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare consults with various stakeholders including NITI Aayog to augment the number of medical seats in the country. The suggestions of NITI Aayog received from time to time are duly considered."

On March 4, Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey had informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 533 medical colleges are offering MBBS courses in the country, which 261 medical colleges under private management.

Nirbhaya case convict seeks FIR against Delhi cops

TNN | Mar 12, 2020, 04.39 AM IST

NEW DELHI: One of the death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya case has sought an FIR against two police constables for alleged physical assault inside Mandoli jail, where he is lodged. The incident, however, is stated to have taken place in July, last year.

Pawan Gupta’s counsel A P Singh filed an application and said the incident took place on July 26, 2019, when the convict was thrashed “very badly on the head and also his entire body with a stick” inside jail number 14 of Central Jail, Mandoli. Singh said that a court issued notice to the jail authorities concerned.

Gupta was beaten up again on July 28, 2019, when he once again received injuries all over his body besides being verbally abused, the application said. “Blood oozed from his head and only after repeated requests and a prolong delay he was sent to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital,” the plea claimed.

It has been contended in the application that when Gupta’s father approached the local police station to lodge an FIR, he was harassed and threatened. And despite representations before various police authorities no action was taken, it added. “Please take legal action as soon as possible,” the application said.

On March 9, another convict, Vinay Sharma, approached the lieutenant governor’s office seeking commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

Sharma, in his petition, described his life behind bars and what he faced during his confinement. The plea also urged the LG to allow Sharma’s lawyer to make oral submission before him.

(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

All cinema halls in Delhi to be closed till March 31: Arvind Kejriwal

Mar 12, 2020, 10:09PM ISTSource: ANI

Amid growing cases of deadly coronavirus in India, Delhi government has announced to shut all cinema halls in Delhi till March 31. While speaking to media persons, CM Kejriwal said, “We held a meeting on coronavirus where all officials including Delhi Health Minister and LG were there. As I even earlier said that Delhi government is fully prepared to fight coronavirus. We have reviewed all the measures that have been taken so far. We took some more measures. All cinema halls to remain shut in Delhi till 31st March. Schools and colleges where exams are not being held will also remain closed. We have sufficient beds for quarantine or isolation.”

Mom of coronavirus patient positive, Delhi count stands at 6

TNN | Mar 13, 2020, 04.30 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi rose to six on Thursday, with a 69-year-old woman, mother of a Covid-19 patient, testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Her son, with a history of travel to Japan, Geneva and Italy, had tested positive for the infection on Wednesday.

Officials said both the mother and son have been admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital. “The condition of the 69-year-old woman is unstable,” officials said, without revealing her exact health status.

They added that 50 houses in their neighbourhood in Janakpuri have been surveyed and surveillance officers were keeping a close watch on anyone who may have come in contact with the people confirmed positive for Covid-19.

Of the six cases confirmed in Delhi, the first one was a resident of Mayur Vihar in east Delhi. The rest are from west Delhi, sources said.

An official said the state health secretary held a review meeting of all Delhi government-run hospitals to assess the status of sample collection and isolation beds in 34 hospitals. As on date, sample collection has been initiated in six hospitals — five Delhi government and one north corporation-run hospital. These are Sanjay Gandhi Memorial, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, Babu Jagjivan Ram and Hindu Rao hospitals. “Municipal bodies, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board and commissioners of all 11 districts have been directed to set up quarantine facilities,” said an official.

He added that as on Thursday, 208 passengers from affected countries had been admitted to Safdarjung and RML hospitals. “Of this, 164 tested negative for the novel coronavirus and they were discharged. Total 36 passengers are still admitted at the two hospitals,” said an official.

The Delhi government has identified more than 68 beds for isolation for suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 in government-run hospitals. Also, six private hospitals have kept isolation facilities ready for admitting persons suspected or confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, nearly 700 employees of a private company in Noida have been asked to work from home after it came to light that one of its senior executives — a resident of Delhi who recently tested positive for Covid-19 — had interacted with several people in the office. Health department officials were informed about the development and a team of paramedics was rushed to the office.

The patient is undergoing treatment in Delhi, confirmed Gautam Budh Nagar chief medical officer Anurag Bhargava. “But before the symptoms developed and he got infected, a lot of people in the Noida office interacted with him,” he added.

Finally, BDU approves BIM’s degree certificates it held back

TNN | Mar 13, 2020, 04.43 AM IST

Trichy: After refusing to approve the degree certificates of students from Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM) for a month citing clarification on modification made to its bylaws, Bharathidasan University (BDU) finally issued the certificates on Thursday.

While there were talks of a postponing the convocation planned in BIM, all the 117 students will be finally getting their degrees on Saturday. BIM was started in 1984 as a school of excellence and registered as a society in partnership with Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL). Set up on the BHEL campus, it made changes to the bylaws, which virtually cut off BDU’s role in BIM.

“While it was governed by a council of which the BDU vice-chancellor was a member, his membership was removed following changes to the bylaws in 2011,” said a senior faculty member of BDU.

However, the degree has been issued by BDU every year since its inception. According to highly placed sources, this year BDU had written to the state government saying it will not sign degrees this year as BIM had not complied with the norms by not allowing academic and financial audit.

According to the original bylaws, BDU has serious role in the academic activity which the BIM under the directorship of Karuthiah Pandian refuses to acknowledge. BDU registrar G Gopinath told TOI that there was a communication gap between BIM and BDU. “BIM has modified some of its bylaws and we wanted clarification. The university has requested the higher education department to give directions on accepting the modified bylaws,” he said.

This being an internal communication and students should not be affected, they had issued the degree certificate of all the 117 students to BIM, he said. In 2011, it made some changes that may not be adhering to the university standards. While it was also not approved by the syndicate, they had sought clarification, he added.

MKU syndicate likely to meet on March 24: VC

TNN | Mar 13, 2020, 04.47 AM IST

Madurai: The next syndicate meeting of the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), to discuss a host of issues including various pending complaints of wrongdoings, is likely to be held on March 24, vice-chancellor M Krishnan said on Thursday.

The syndicate is expected to take a decision on the alleged graft charges and wrongdoings of controller of examination, O Ravi and a misconduct complaint against a faculty member of a MKU constituent college in Thirumangalam.

The CoE has already submitted his replies to the two charge memos issued by the MKU VC seeking explanation regarding two separate alleged wrongdoings.

The first was with regard to an incident on January 23, where an unauthorised personnel from a distance education centre was found going through consolidated marksheets in the CoE office.

The second was about the issue of November 2019 exam answer sheets being lost and found just before the results were to be announced on February 10. The CoE was also accused of corruption and bribery.

In another instance, a teaching faculty member from an MKU constituent college in Thirumangalam was accused of indulging in unprofessional behaviour by several female faculty and students.

An internal committee was subsequently formed to look into the matter and a report submitted to the VC.

The last MKU syndicate meeting was held on January 29. During that meeting, it was decided to call for a re-advertisement for the post of registrar as all candidates interviewed that day were found unsuitable.

Anna univ may not get IoE status, HRD says time’s up

Mar 12, 2020, 04.01 AM IST

Chennai: Anna University is set to lose its chance to become an institute of eminence (IoE). After clarifying doubts and waiting for eight months for a letter of commitment from the state government, the Union ministry of human resource development has informed Anna University that IoE status will be given to the next university on the list if it does not receive a letter of commitment immediately. Savitribai Phule Pune University is next on the list.

The MHRD had in August last year announced IoE status for seven public institutions, including Anna University and IIT Madras, and seven private institutions. While central institutions were granted the status instantly, the ministry a demanded letter of commitment for Anna University and Jadavpur University from the respective state governments promising their share of funds.

Anna University would receive Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre and more autonomy for the next five years if it gets the IoE status. The state government would have to spend Rs 1,570 crore.

"Although MHRD has agreed to all the conditions of the state government and university officials cleared the doubts of ministers, there has been no positive response from the state government for reasons unknown," officials from the university told TOI.

Earlier, the state government sought clarification on whether the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institution and of Appointments or Posts in Services under the State) Act, 1993, which envisages 69% reservation would apply to Anna University after getting the IoE tag. The MHRD said the state government’s reservation policy would apply even after getting the IoE status.

மொபைல் செயலி, இணையதள பிரச்சினையால் ரீசார்ஜ் செய்ய முடியாமல் சிரமப்படும் பிஎஸ்என்எல் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் 10.03.2020

பிஎஸ்என்எல் செயலி மற்றும் இணையதளம் மூலம் செல்போன்களுக்கு ரீசார்ஜ் செய்ய முடியவில்லை என வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் புகார் தெரிவித்து வருகின்றனர்.

பிஎஸ்என்எல் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் "மை பிஎஸ்என்எல்" என்ற செல்போன் செயலி மற்றும் பிஎஸ்என்எல்-ன் இணையதளம் ஆகியவை மூலமாக தங்களது தரைவழி தொலைபேசிகளுக்கான பில்கள் மற்றும் செல்போன்களுக்கான ரீசார்ஜ், டாப் அப் போன்றவைகளை செய்து வருகின்றனர்.

காகிதமில்லா பரிவர்த்தனை, மற்றும் ஊழியர்களின் வேலைப்பளுவை குறைப்பது போன்ற காரணங்களுக்காக பிஎஸ்என்எல் நிர்வாகமும் இதுபோன்ற டிஜிட்டல் பரிவர்த்தனைகளுக்கு அவ்வப்போது சிறப்பு சலுகைகளும் வழங்கி வருகிற

து. வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கும் பிஎஸ்என்எல் அலுவலகத்திற்கு நேரில் சென்று வரிசையில் நிற்பது போன்ற அலைச்சலை தவிர்ப்பதற்காக டிஜிட்டல் முறையை பயன்படுத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

கடந்த சில வாரங்களாக பிஎஸ்என்எல்-ன் மொபைல் செயலி மற்றும் இணையத்தளத்தில் பண பரிவர்த்தனைகள் செய்ய முடியவில்லை. இதனால் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் கடைசிநாள் வரை முயற்சித்துவிட்டு, பிஎஸ்என்எல் அலுவலகத்துக்கோ, அல்லது ரீசார்ஜ் கடைகளுக்கோ செல்ல வேண்டிய நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

டிஜிட்டல் முறைக்கு மாறிய அனைவரும் மீண்டும் கவுன்டர்களில் பணம் செலுத்தும் நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதால் பிஎஸ்என்எல் அலுவலகங்களில் நீண்ட வரிசை காணப்படுகிறது. எனவே செயலி மற்றும் ஆன்லைன் பிரச்சினைகளுக்கு உடனடியாக தீர்வு காண நிர்வாகம் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும் என வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்து வருகின்றனர்.

இதுகுறித்து “இந்து தமிழ்” உங்கள் குரல் சேவையில் தொடர்புகொண்ட எல்லீஸ்நகரை சேர்ந்த சிவகுமார் கூறியதாவது, “பிஎஸ்என்எல் தொலைபேசி இணைப்புக்கான பில் தொகை, செல்போன்களுக்கான ரீசார்ஜ் ஆகியவற்றை மொபைல் செயலி மற்றும் இணையத்தளம் மூலமாக செலுத்தி வந்தோம்.

ஆனால் 2 வாரங்களுக்கும் மேலாக செயலி மற்றும் ஆன்லைன் முறையில் பில்லிற்கு பணம் செலுத்தவோ, ரீசார்ஜ் செய்யவோ முடியவில்லை. பிற செயலிகள் மூலமாக முயற்சித்தாலும் பிஎஸ்என்எல் எண்களுக்கு மட்டும் ரீசார்ஜ் செய்ய முடியவில்லை. ஆனால் பிஎஸ்என்எல் அலுவலங்களிலோ, தனியார் கடைகளிலோ ரீசார்ஜ் செய்ய முடிகிறது. இதனால் பிஎஸ்என்எல் வாடிக்கையாளர் சேவை மையங்களில் நீண்ட வரிசையில் நிற்கிறார்கள்.

அங்கு பணியிலுள்ள குறைவான ஊழியர்களால் இவர்களை விரைவாக கையாள முடியவில்லை. பிஎஸ்என்எல்-ன் வாடிக்கையாளர் தொடர்பு எண்ணில் புகார் செய்தால், “இப்பிரச்சினை விரைவில் சரிசெய்யப்படும் அதுவரை வாடிக்கையாளர் சேவை மையங்களில் பணம் செலுத்துங்கள்“ என்கிறார்கள். அனைத்தும் டிஜிட்டல்மயமாகி வரும் நிலையில் பிஎஸ்என்எல் மீண்டும் பழையகாலத்தை நோக்கி செல்வது வருத்தமளிக்கிறது. பிஎஸ்என்எல் நிர்வாகம் இப்பிரச்சினைகளை உடனடியாக சரிசெய்ய வேண்டும் என்றார்.

வேளாங்கண்ணி, ராமேஸ்வரத்துக்கு சிறப்பு கட்டண ரயில்கள்

Added : மார் 10, 2020 23:19


சென்னை: நாகர்கோவில், வேளாங்கண்ணி, ராமேஸ்வரம் மற்றும் எர்ணாகுளத்துக்கு, சிறப்பு கட்டண ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.

 சென்னை, தாம்பரத்தில் இருந்து, ஏப்., 8, 15, 22, 29, மே 6, 13, 20, 27, ஜூன் 3, 10, 17, 24 மற்றும் ஜூலை, 1ம் தேதிகளில், மாலை, 4:45 மணிக்கு இயக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு கட்டண ரயில், மறுநாள் அதிகாலை, 5:25க்கு, நாகர்கோவில் சென்றடையும்

 நாகர்கோவிலில் இருந்து, ஏப்., 9, 16, 23, 30, மே 7, 14, 21, 28, ஜூன் 4, 11,18, 25 மற்றும் ஜூலை, 2ம் தேதிகளில், இரவு, 7:40 மணிக்கு இயக்கப்படும் ரயில், மறுநாள் காலை, 9:00க்கு, சென்னை, எழும்பூர் வந்தடையும்

 எர்ணாகுளத்தில் இருந்து, ஏப்., 4, 11, 18, 25, மே 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 ஜூன் 6, 13, 20, 27ம் தேதிகளில், காலை, 11:00 மணிக்கு இயக்கப்படும் ரயில், மறுநாள் காலை, 7:00க்கு, வேளாங்கண்ணி சென்றடையும்

 வேளாங்கண்ணியில் இருந்து, ஏப்., 5, 12, 19, 26, மே 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, ஜூன் 7, 14, 21 மற்றும் 28ம் தேதிகளில், மாலை, 6:15க்கு இயக்கப்படும் ரயில், மறுநாள் மதியம், 2:00 மணிக்கு, எர்ணாகுளம் சென்றடையும் இந்த ரயில், கோட்டயம், காயன்குளம், புனலுார், செங்கோட்டை, ராஜபாளையம், விருதுநகர், மானாமதுரை, காரைக்குடி, திருச்சி, தஞ்சை, திருவாரூர், நாகப்பட்டினம் வழியாக இயக்கப்படும்

 எர்ணாகுளத்தில் இருந்து, ஏப்., 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, மே 7, 14, 21, 28 ஜூன் 4, 11, 18 மற்றும் 25ம் தேதிகளில், இரவு, 7:00க்கு இயக்கப்படும் ரயில், மறுநாள் காலை, 7:30 மணிக்கு, ராமேஸ்வரம் சென்றடையும்

 ராமேஸ்வரத்தில் இருந்து, ஏப்., 3, 10, 17, 24, மே 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, ஜூன் 5, 12, 19 மற்றும் 26ம் தேதிகளில், மாலை, 4:00க்கு இயக்கப்படும் ரயில், மறுநாள் அதிகாலை, 4:30 மணிக்கு, கேரளா மாநிலம், எர்ணாகுளம் சென்றடையும். ராமநாதபுரம், மானாமதுரை, மதுரை, திண்டுக்கல், ஒட்டன்சத்திரம், பழநி, பொள்ளாச்சி, பாலக்காடு வழியாக இயக்கப்படும், இந்த ரயில்களுக்கான முன்பதிவு, இன்று துவங்குகிறது என, தெற்கு ரயில்வே தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

கர்நாடகா, கோவாவுக்கு சொகுசு சுற்றுலா ரயில்

Added : மார் 10, 2020 21:41

சென்னை : இந்திய ரயில்வே உணவு மற்றும் சுற்றுலா கழகமான, ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி.,யானது, கர்நாடகா மற்றும் கோவாவுக்கு, 'கோல்டன் சாரியட்' என்ற, சொகுசு சுற்றுலா ரயிலை இயக்குகிறது.

கர்நாடகா சுற்றுலாத்துறை, 2019 ஜனவரியில், 'கோல்டன் சாரியட்' என்ற, சொகுசு சுற்றுலா ரயிலை அறிமுகம் செய்தது. இந்த ரயில் பின்னர், ஐ.ஆர்.டி.சி.டி.,யிடம் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்டு, கர்நாடகா மற்றும் கோவாவுக்கு இயக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. இது, தென் மாநிலங்களில் உள்ள, ஒரே சொகுசு ரயிலாகும். இந்த ரயிலில் செல்லும் வகையில், வரும், 29ம் தேதி மற்றும் ஏப்., 12ம் தேதிகளில், இரு சுற்றுலாக்களை, ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி., ஏற்பாடு செய்துள்ளது.

ஆறு இரவுகள், ஏழு பகல்கள் உடைய சுற்றுலா, கர்நாடாகா மாநிலம், யஷ்வந்த்பூர் நிலையத்தில் இருந்து புறப்படுகிறது. இப்பயணத்தில், பந்திப்பூர் சரணாலயம், மைசூர், ஹளபேடு, சிக்மங்களூர், ஹம்பி, பதாமி, பட்டாடக்கல், ஐஹோலே, கோவா ஆகிய இடங்களை பார்த்து வரலாம். சுற்றுலாவில், ஒருவருக்கு, 2 லட்சத்து, 99 ஆயிரத்து, 130 ரூபாய் கட்டணம். இந்தியர்களுக்கு, 35 சதவீதம் கட்டண சலுகை உண்டு.

குறிப்பிட்ட நகரங்கள் வரை, இரண்டு இரவுகள், மூன்று பகல்கள் கொண்ட பயணத்துக்கு, ஒருவருக்கு, 59 ஆயிரத்து, 999 ரூபாய் கட்டணம். மேலும், தகவலுக்கு, ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி.,யின், சென்னை அலுவலகத்துக்கு, 82879 31970, 82879 31973 என்ற, மொபைல் போன் எண்களில், தொடர்பு கொள்ளலாம் என, ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி., தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

வாரணாசி கோவிலில் சாமி சிலைகளுக்கு 'மாஸ்க்'

Updated : மார் 10, 2020 20:12 | Added : மார் 10, 2020 20:10
 

வாரணாசி: நாடு முழுவதும் கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவி வரும் நிலையில், வாரணாசி பிரகலதேஸ்வரர் கோவிலில் உள்ள விஸ்வநாதர் சிலைக்கு முகக்கவசம் அணிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. சாமி சிலையை பக்தர்கள் யாரும் தொட வேண்டாம் என அர்ச்சகர் கேட்டுக்கொண்டுள்ளார்.



சீனாவில் உருவான, 'கொரோனா' வைரஸ், இன்று சர்வதேச நோயாகி இருக்கிறது. இந்தியா உட்பட, 100க்கும் மேற்பட்ட நாடுகளை ஆட்டம் காண செய்துள்ளது. இந்நிலையில், வாரணாசி பிரகலதேஸ்வரர் கோவிலில் அர்ச்சகர் ஒருவர் சாமி சிலைகளுக்கு முகக்கவசம் அணிவித்துள்ளார். பக்தர்கள் யாரும் சாமி சிலையை தொடவேண்டாம் எனவும் கூறியுள்ளார்.

இதுகுறித்து அர்ச்சகர் கிருஷ்ண ஆனந்த் பாண்டே கூறுகையில், கொரோனா வைரஸ் குறித்து பொதுமக்களிடம் விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்த விஸ்வநாதர் சிலைக்கு முகக்கவசம் அணிவித்துள்ளோம். வெயில் காலத்தில் ஏசி, பேன் போடுவது போலவும், குளிர் காலத்தில் துணிகளை போர்த்துவது போலவும் தற்போது முகக்கவசம் அணிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.



சாமி சிலையை தொட்டு வணங்குவதால், வைரஸ் மற்றவர்களுக்கு பரவி பாதிப்படைவதை தடுக்க, சிலைகளை தொட்டு வணங்க வேண்டாம் என பொதுமக்களிடம் வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளோம். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார். கோவிலில் அர்ச்சகர்கள் மட்டுமன்றி, பக்தர்களும் முகக்கவசம் அணிந்து சாமி தரிசனம் செய்தனர்.

‘Oh my Kadavule,’ says realtor after losing mobile number to Vani Bhojan
In a bizarre incident, a Chennai-based realtor has found himself waking up to a flurry of calls with weird requests.

Published: 11th March 2020 05:55 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a bizarre incident, a Chennai-based realtor has found himself waking up to a flurry of calls with weird requests. A resident of Vyasarpadi has been receiving continuous calls from unknown men asking for actress Vani Bhojan after his number was allegedly used in the recently released Tamil movie, ‘Oh my Kadavule.’

Boobalan, a real-estate businessman from Bharathiyar Nagar, lodged a police complaint against the director of the movie. The movie also stars Ritika Singh and Ashok Selvan and is directed by Ashwath Marimuthu. In a scene in the movie, Vani, who plays a character named ‘Meera,’ gives out a mobile number to the protagonist, which happens to be Boobalan’s.

The man said he has been using the number for 19 years now. “Since the first show of the movie, I have been receiving phone calls from men asking if it was really Vani Bhojan’s number. Several men send flirty messages. When I tell them that it is not Vani Bhojan’s number and not to disturb me again, they use abusive language,” said Boobalan.

People also call asking if he is a “pimp” for the actress. “Initially I did not know what was happening until my friends explained it to me,” said Boobalan, who has been receiving around 100 calls every day and is afraid to pick up calls from unknown numbers.

‘My business has taken a hit as I avoid taking calls’

"My business has taken a hit for the past one month as I have been avoiding calls and some of my clients are angry with me. Everytime my phone rings, my blood pressure increases,” said Boobalan

On Tuesday, Boobalan lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime division in the Chennai city Police Commissioner’s office and was directed to register a complaint at the Vyasarpadi police station.“I am going to file a petition in court against the director for using my number without my consent,” he said. In another incident, Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of city-based civic rights NGO Arappor Iyakkam, has received over 30 calls since Monday asking for ‘disposable surgical masks.’

He later found that in two Telengana-based newspapers, an ad for ‘Non-woven disposable surgical face masks with earloop’ carried his mobile number along with that of his colleague, also a member of Arappor. The ad titled ‘Coronavirus safety mask’ (sic) claims to offer three masks for ‘a discounted price’ of `Rs 5 and that free delivery was available.

“If one of our numbers were given out, the argument that it was a mistake might have been reasonable but three numbers belonging to our organisation have been published,” he said. “We have never put out these three numbers together. We suspect that it was done on the insistence of a TN-based politician,” he added. Venkatesan said he has filed a complaint with the DGP of TN and Telangana.

Newly released film did the damage

A new film had the actress giving the realtor’s number as hers to the protagonist and ever since, the man has been receiving bizarre calls from unknown persons.

Pharmacy Council Alone Has Jurisdiction In The Field Of Pharmacy Education, Not AICTE: SC [Read Judgment]

Ashok Kini

 

9 March 2020 5:06 PM

"The fight of supremacy between both the regulators is unhealthy for the education sector as well as the institutions to permit two regulators to function in the same field."

The Supreme Court has held that the Pharmacy Council of India shall alone have the Jurisdiction in the field of pharmacy, and not the All India Council for Technical Education.

The bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, Vineet Saran and MR Shah observed that in the field of Pharmacy Education and more particularly so far as the recognition of degrees and diplomas of Pharmacy Education is concerned, the Pharmacy Act, 1948 shall prevail. 

The Court was considering the petitions filed by Pharmacy Council of India in which the issue was regarding the applicability of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 or the All India Council of Technical Education Act, 1987 in relation to the subject of Pharmacy, including approval of courses of study, minimum standards of education required for qualification as a Pharmacist, registration as a Pharmacist, regulation of future professional conduct etc. The contention on the part of AICTE was that the AICTE Act is subsequent law and in the definition of "technical education" contained in Section 2(g), it includes "pharmacy" also, therefore, being a subsequent law, the same shall prevail as there will be a implied repeal of the Pharmacy Act. It was further contended that, in terms of Article 372 of the Constitution, the 1987 Act to the extent it covers the same field as covered by the existing law i.e. 1948 Act, will prevail and the provisions of the 1948 Act to that extent stand repealed/altered.

Rejecting this contention, the bench observed thus: 

"The Pharmacy Act is a Special Act in the field of pharmacy and it is a complete code in itself in the field of pharmacy, the Pharmacy Act shall prevail over the AICTE Act which, as observed hereinabove, is a general statute dealing with technical education/institutions. Therefore, the submission on behalf of AICTE and/or concerned educational institutions that the AICTE Act is a subsequent law and in the definition of "technical education" it includes the "pharmacy" and therefore it can be said to be an "implied repeal", cannot be accepted. At his stage, it is required to be noted that as such in the AICTE Act there is no specific repeal of the Pharmacy Act, more particularly when, as observed hereinabove, the Pharmacy Act is a Special Act and the subsequent enactment of AICTE Act is general and therefore the Pharmacy Act being a Special Act must prevail. Apart from that, with regard to several aspects, there is no provision made in AICTE Act which are exclusively within the domain of PCI. Thus, it cannot be accepted that there is 'implied repeal' of the Pharmacy Act."

The Court also criticized the fight between two central authorities, like in the present case. It said: 

Both, the PCI and AICTE are the creature of the statute. Therefore, it is not at all healthy that the two regulators, both being Central authorities, can be permitted to fight for supremacy. The fight of supremacy between both the regulators is unhealthy for the education sector as well as the institutions to permit two regulators to function in the same field.

The Court also noted a recent decision in AICTE v. Shri Prince Shivaji Maratha Boarding House's College of Architecture (2019) 16 SCALE 421 wherein it was held that insofar as recognition of degrees and diplomas of architecture education is concerned, the Architecture Act, 1972 would prevail and that AICTE shall not be entitled to impose any regulatory measure in connection with the degrees and diplomas in the subject of architecture.

Regarding the application of Article 362, the bench noted that unless a pre-constitutional statute is specifically repealed it continues to remain in operation. The bench finally held as follows:
It is held that in the field of Pharmacy Education and more particularly so far as the recognition of degrees and diplomas of Pharmacy Education is concerned, the Pharmacy Act, 1948 shall prevail. The norms and regulations set by the PCI and other specified authorities under the Pharmacy Act would have to be followed by the concerned institutions imparting education for degrees and diplomas in Pharmacy, including the norms and regulations with respect to increase and/or decrease in intake capacity of the students and the decisions of the PCI shall only be followed by the institutions imparting degrees and diplomas in Pharmacy Case Name: The Pharmacy Council of India vs. Dr. S.K. Toshniwal Educational Trusts Vidarbha Institute of Pharmacy a
Case No.: TRANSFER PETITIONS (CIVIL) NOS. 87-101 OF 2014

Coram: Justice Arun Mishra, Vineet Saran and MR Shah

Counsel: Sr. Adv Maninder Singh, Adv Harish Panday, ASG Pinki Anand

Pharmacies warned against selling face masks above MRP

11/03/2020, VIGNESH VIJAYAKUMAR,SALEM

The Drug Control Board has warned of stern action against pharmacies selling face masks and sanitisers over maximum retail price.

According to Drug Control officials, drug inspectors are conducting regular inspections at pharmacies to check overpricing and to ensure availability of stock of essential products.

With government missionaries taking various measures to prevent spread of COVID-19, preventive materials like face masks and hand sanitisers are on high demand. S. Gurubharathi, Assistant Director of Drugs Control, Salem Zone, said, “Inspectors from Drug Control have been conducting regular checks at pharmacies and we are also checking regarding availability of stocks of face masks and hand sanitisers.”

He said that they have been receiving complaints of selling essentials at high price in some places and necessary action is being taken.

“We have asked all pharmacies to sell the products only at Maximum Retail Pric,” he said.

Officials said that they also lifted samples of hand sanitisers from pharmacies for standard quality checks.

‘Hindu adoption not valid without consent from wife’
Supreme Court cites two essential conditions for adoption

11/03/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

A Hindu adoption is not valid unless the man takes prior consent from his wife and there is a “ceremony of giving and taking in adoption,” the Supreme Court has held.

A Bench led by Justice L. Nageswara Rao said the mandate of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act of 1956 was that no adoption was valid unless the two essential conditions of the consent of the wife and the actual ceremony of adoption were established.

The March 6 judgment came on an appeal by M. Vanaja, who claimed she is the adopted daughter of the late Narasimhulu Naidu. She had filed a civil suit for partition of property. The suit was dismissed. The Hyderabad High Court had eventually upheld the dismissal, following which an appeal was filed in the Supreme Court.

Justice Rao, who wrote the judgment, said Sections 7 and 11 of the 1956 Act are the consent of the wife before a male Hindu adopts a child and proof of the ceremony of actual giving and taking in adoption.

“The appellant [Vanaja] admitted that she does not have the proof of the ceremony of giving and taking of her in adoption. Admittedly, there is no pleading in the plaint regarding the adoption being in accordance with the Act. That apart, the respondent, who is the adoptive mother, has categorically stated in her evidence that the appellant was never adopted,” the court concluded, rejecting appeal.

TTD issues advisory to NRIs, foreigners

11/03/2020, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Amid fresh coronavirus cases being reported in parts of the country, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) that manages the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara has issued an advisory asking foreigners, NRIs and others not to visit the temple for 28 days after they landed in the country.

The advisory was issued late on Tuesday as a precautionary measure to check the spread of COVID-19.

Pilgrims told to avoid Sabarimala

11/03/2020, SPECIAL 

CORRESPONDENT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president N. Vasu has urged the public not to attend the monthly pujas scheduled to be held at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple from March 13 to 18.

Mr. Vasu told reporters here on Tuesday that the request to pilgrims to abstain themselves from the monthly pujas was made in view of the precautionary measures initiated by the government following the spread of COVID-19 cases. Pilgrims from all over the country reach the temple for the monthly pujas. The Kerala Cabinet too had called upon the public to suspend festivals, marriages and other functions.

Ponnaiyan is vice-chairman of T.N. Planning Commission

11/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday appointed senior AIADMK leader and former Finance Minister C. Ponnaiyan as the vice-chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission.

Mr. Ponnaiyan has served as a Minister for various portfolios, including Finance.

The Chief Minister is the chairman of the State Planning Commission.

Old-age pension norms relaxed

Move to facilitate assistance of ₹1,000 to more persons

11/03/2020, DENNIS S. JESUDASAN, CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government recently relaxed the guidelines for the grant of old-age pension (OAP) to eligible persons, in a move that is expected to allow more people to avail themselves of the monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000.

According to a communication from Commissioner for Revenue Administration J. Radhakrishnan to District Collectors across the State, amendments have been made to the Tamil Nadu Old Age Pension Rules.

With the amended guidelines, persons having fixed assets valued at less than ₹1 lakh are eligible to get the OAP. Earlier, the slab was ₹50,000.

The official communication defined a ‘destitute’ as a person without any income or source of income and owning fixed assets of less than ₹1 lakh in value, and who has no relatives of 20 years of age. The government has also decided to relax the guidelines further to make persons who have been assigned a free house eligible for OAP.

Rigid guidelines

A senior officer explained that certain rigid guidelines had prevented several genuine persons from getting OAP. “During our field trips to several areas, we realised that many genuine persons were not able to get OAP due to some restrictions,” he said. For instance, in some cases, elderly persons had an acre of barren land but earned no income from it, and were struggling to make ends meet.

“We realised that OAP was not being granted to them even though they are truly the needy,” he said. Even in cities like Chennai, those evicted from riverbanks, who were once allotted a house in slum board tenements, were not able to get OAP.

Currently, around 31 lakh people benefit from OAP granted by the Tamil Nadu government.

‘Anna University Syndicate ignored Anandakumar Committee report’

Panel was tasked with probing recruitment irregularities

11/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, COIMBATORE

The Anna University Syndicate, which favoured retaining the services of 135 teaching and non-teaching staff, who were appointed in gross violation of norms, ignored the recommendations of the Committee headed by IAS officer Anandakumar.

The committee was the last to be set up by the Higher Education Department to probe irregularities in the recruitment made in the erstwhile five Anna Universities of Technology, which were established during the DMK regime.

The Syndicate had based its decision on the recommendations of two other panels — the Priya Balakrishnan Committee and the Muthusamy Committee, which had submitted their findings prior to the constitution of the Anandakumar Committee, sources in the university said on Tuesday.

The sources said that at a meeting last year, Vice-Chancellor M.K. Surappa had placed before the Syndicate the findings of all the committees. However, the Syndicate selectively chose to go by the recommendations of the Priya Balakrishnan Committee and the Muthusamy Committee and recommend that the 135 persons be retained.

While all the committee reports were official, not all of them came up with the correct findings.

It was the Anandakumar Committee that pointed out how candidates who did not possess the right qualifications were appointed as teachers in violation of norms and the communal roster system, the sources said.

What is it like to work at airport?

Employees go about their job, with care and precaution

11/03/2020, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI

Several flights fly with poor occupancy. Airports wear a dull and a nearly empty look. At a time when hundreds of passengers have called off non-essential travel this past month following fear of COVID-19, what is it like to work at the airport in such times?

Employees go about their jobs as usual with care and precaution, though there is a faint underlying fear inside, many of them said.

“Immigration staff like me are the first point of contact for passengers after they finish the health check-up. I wear gloves and a mask and have a hand sanitiser. I meet hundreds of passengers every day. I’m confident that with good precautionary measures nothing will happen, but there are moments when I’m a bit nervous,” a staff in immigration said.

The police and CISF personnel, who walk through to different parts of both international and domestic terminals round the clock, say they are in a critical job of communicating with almost all the staff in the terminals.

“I’m confident that as long as we take adequate precautions, there is nothing to fear. Even if there is a chance of getting the infection, we read reports about cases where people have recovered from COVID-19. There should be only caution and not any stigma,” a police source said.

Family in fear

While they are confident, they say their family members don’t feel the same way. “My wife keeps calling me every now and then to check if I’m doing fine. I keep reassuring her that there is nothing to feel paranoid. But yes, the fear is quite natural,” a CISF staff said.

But many passengers are scared to eat or even touch anything in the terminals, they added.

“The growing fear is affecting everyone. This kind of an uneasy atmosphere shouldn’t persist for long,” he added.

Honour for diabetologist

10/03/2020,CHENNAI

V. Mohan, chairman, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre and director of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation has been conferred the Corresponding Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He has published over 1,250 research papers and chapters in text books, according to a release.

When PGs pick up the broom to become govt. servants

Highly educated persons among newly posted conservancy staff in Coimbatore

10/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,COIMBATORE

When 23-year-old K. Sangeetha picked up a broom to sweep Raja Street on Monday morning she was going through mixed emotions.

It was the first day of her job as a Coimbatore Corporation conservancy worker and she was not quite prepared for the task that awaited her. “I did not expect to sweep the road. Initially it was very difficult. I felt as if all eyes were on me. But I managed to pull through.”

Despite holding a post-graduate qualification in microbiology, she took up the appointment because she always wanted a government job.

“I convinced myself — let me take it, for life does not have to end with me being a conservancy worker. I’ll use this as a stepping stone to find better avenues.”

For 35-year-old N. Padmavathy too, Monday was the first day of work as a municipal conservancy worker. She also took up the assignment because it was a government job and the salary was better than that at her last employer.

The conservancy workers on entry get a little more than ₹17,500 a month. They are eligible for annual increments and pension benefits.

The working hours were another reason for Ms. Padmavathy quitting her job as an accountant at a private firm near Town Hall.

“Here I’m happy that I can finish my work early in the evening to return home to my children,” says the mother of two.

The women are among dozens of men and women with under-graduate and post-graduate qualifications who applied for and were appointed for conservancy work. The new staff include those from the Backward Classes and the Most Backward Classes.

R. Naveen, a civil engineering diploma holder, says family circumstances forced him to take up the job. “I’m the breadwinner and support my mother and younger sister. That is why I left my job at a private company to take up this government job.”

Welcoming the fact that qualified candidates and persons from outside the SC communities were taking up conservancy work, S. Selvakumar, member, State Level SC Welfare Committee, said it was a step towards ensuring social equality.

A senior Corporation official said the civic body followed the roster system in appointing qualified candidates but did not share details on the exact number of appointees with a college qualification.

ILLUSTRATION: DEEPAK HARICHANDAN

Many Under-Secretary posts lying vacant in govt. departments

Pending litigation cited as reason

09/03/2020,DENNIS S. JESUDASAN   CHENNAI

About half of the posts of Under-Secretary in various departments at the Secretariat are lying vacant.

Of the more than 200 such posts in 37 departments (regarded as one unit, excluding Finance and Law Departments) at the Secretariat, a little over 100 are currently vacant. While pending litigation in the Madras High Court is often cited as a reason behind the delay in appointing the Under-Secretaries, a section of the staff pointed out that appointment orders had previously been issued promoting staff to the post with a caveat that it would be subject to the outcome of the litigation. “The primary reason for the hold-up is a dispute between direct recruits and promotees, who joined government service as typists, and who have staked their claim to be appointed as Under-Secretaries. The dispute has been going on for a long time. If the government takes legal opinion on the issue, it could be resolved. Otherwise, if either party wins the case, naturally the other would file an appeal. Governance has been affected due to the dispute,” a bureaucrat claimed. A Section Officer said Under-Secretaries deal with files in three to four sections in a department and assist their seniors in taking decisions on the files. “In some departments, about 90% of these posts are vacant. It is due to the delay in promotions for about two years that the clearing of files is taking time. It will also eventually affect the promotions of Assistant Section Officers and Assistants. It is a cyclical issue,” he said.

Minister for Personnel and Administrative Reforms D. Jayakumar could not be reached for comment.

Nirbhaya death-row convict now goes to lieutenant governor

TNN | Mar 10, 2020, 04.17 AM IST

NEW DELHI: One of the death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, Vinay Sharma, on Monday approached lieutenant governor Anil Baijal’s office seeking commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

The LG office confirmed that it had received a petition from Vinay Sharma’s lawyer. “The petition has been forwarded to Delhi government’s home department for its comments. Appropriate decision will be taken on the basis of the department’s views,” an official said.

The convict moved the LG’s office through his counsel A P Singh, who filed a plea under Sections 432 (power to suspend or remit sentences) and 433 (power to commute sentence) of CrPC.

Sharma, in his petition, described his life behind bars and what he faced during his confinement. The plea urged the lieutenant governor to allow Sharma’s lawyer to make oral submission before him. “Along with other nuances of the petitioner’s case, the entirety of physical and mental torture suffered by the petitioner could be best conveyed to your excellency only by means of an oral hearing,” it said.

A city court has set March 20 as the date for execution of the four death-row convicts — Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Akshay Thakur and Vinay Sharma.

Plea to regularise ad hoc staff at BDU constituent colleges

TNN | Mar 9, 2020, 04.04 AM IST

Trichy: The Association of University Teachers (AUT) observed a fast in Trichy on Sunday demanding regularisation of the services of teaching and non-teaching staff in Bharathidasan University’s 10 constituent colleges.

The AUT also demanded that the Tamil Nadu government and the BDU allow ad hoc teachers to pursue PhD and also to guide research scholars. The association demanded UGC pay scale for these teachers.

Only 31 regular teachers have been recruited since the establishment of these colleges, starting 2006. There are 10 constituent colleges including four recently converted into government colleges.

“UGC regulations mandates that not more than 20% of the sanctioned strength shall be filled with ad hoc teachers. However, all the six constituent colleges don’t have a single regular teacher and are run with only ad hoc teachers,” said N Pasupathy, AUT president.

He added that UGC guidelines fixes Rs 25,000 as monthly consolidated pay for ad hoc teachers, which was subsequently modified to Rs 50,000 in 7th UGC scales of pay.

The university has not adopted either so far while the university has chosen to appoint ‘hourly-basis lecturers’ to exploit them further.

“While they are entitled for UGC pay scale, 363 guest lecturers, 214 hourly-basis teachers and around 100 odd PTA teachers are running the college by getting a maximum salary of Rs 12,000. The salary starts at Rs 5,000,” said AUT general secretary M S Balamurugan.

Also, there was a delay on the part of the university to disburse the salary every month, he said. No service rules had been framed in the last 15 years to cater to the needs of the staff, he added.

BDU asst professor booked for sexual assault on PhD scholar

TNN | Mar 11, 2020, 04.55 AM IST

Trichy: An assistant professor from the Bharathidasan University has been booked by the all woman police station (AWPS) Thiruverumbur after a sexual harassment complaint was filed by a research scholar. He has been booked under section 354A for sexual harassment.

According to the victim, the faculty member had made sexual advances citing inability to have physical relationship with his wife over medical grounds.

Although she lodged a complaint with the vice-chancellor, who assured to get her another guide, other faculty members refused to guide her. Subsequently, the vice-chancellor told her that she would be admitted to any of the affiliated colleges under the university.

She approached the Trichy superintendent of police following which a case was booked at the AWPS Thiruverumbur on February 25. On Monday, the victim approached the district collector seeking action against the faculty member.

Speaking to TOI, registrar G Gopinath said that an internal complaints committee has been constituted as per UGC directives. “The inquiry will conclude on Wednesday and the committee is likely to submit the report soon. Action will be initiated based on the report,” he said. Thiruverumbur DSP Y Suresh Kumar said that action will be initiated based on the internal report.

Bank fraud: HC denies relief to staff

TNN | Mar 9, 2020, 04.46 AM IST

Madurai: The Madras high court dismissed the plea of a co-operative bank employee seeking to quash trial court proceedings against him for recommending loans to ineligible people who had already defrauded the bank by obtaining loans in 2014.

Justice G Jayachandran observed that the circular issued by the cooperative society does not prohibit from taking action against erring officials, as it is only suggestive in nature.

The judge observed that when dereliction of duty is not tainted with criminal intention, recovery proceedings alone is sufficient. “This is a clear case of fabrication of records and thereby, the petitioner and the other accused have caused loss to the society. The role of the petitioner in granting loan and tampering records has been spoken by the witnesses in their statements,” noted the judge.

The petitioner A Manivel was working as the circle supervisor of Trichy district central cooperative bank and his duty was to verify loan applications received by the primary agricultural cooperative society and forward the same to the district central cooperative bank. tnn

HC quashes recovery proceedings against woman over 36 years’ delay

TNN | Mar 10, 2020, 04.47 AM IST

Madurai: Madras high court has quashed recovery proceedings initiated against a woman under the Revenue Recovery Act after taking cognizance of the fact that recovery proceedings were initiated against her after a delay of 36 years for the notional loss suffered by the state government during an auction of an arrack shop in 1982.

M Rajathi moved the high court Madurai bench in 2018, seeking to quash an order of the divisional excise officer at Thirumangalam in Madurai district for initiating recovery proceedings.

The facts of the case are that an auction was conducted for an arrack shop at Thirumangalam in which an impersonator in the name of the petitioner’s husband, S A Maharajan took part in 1982. The impersonator had offered the highest bid of Rs 45,180. Though there was a precondition that the impersonator had to remit certain amount of money before the end of the day, the impersonator did not come forward to pay the amount.

Therefore, the authorities re-auctioned the shop which was fetched by another person for Rs 30,105. Since the difference in auction price is Rs 15,075, the amount which was calculated for 12 months at Rs 1,80,900 is being recovered from the petitioner.

Taking cognizance of the submissions that the authorities were well aware of the fact that an impersonator took part in the auction, justice C V Karthikeyan observed the petitioner’s husband died in 2004 and no action was taken by the officials when he was alive. The judge observed that recovery proceedings were initiated only in 2018 and there is no explanation given by the officials for not taking action for the past 36 years.

The judge also noted that the proceedings were initiated not for the actual loss but the notional loss said to have been suffered by the state government. “This is the case which reflects the retrograde bureaucratic approach of the government officials. TNN

Notice to Anna University for 'not filing income tax returns'

TNN | Mar 10, 2020, 12.53 PM IST

CHENNAI: The Income Tax department has issued a notice to the Controller of Examinations, Anna University, for deposit of the money deducted as tax deducted at source (TDS) and for not filing IT returns.

The notice said the controller has not filed quarterly returns for financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20. The department threatened to take action under Section 276B, 278B and 276C of the Income Tax Act if the University fails to reply. Under the sections, the person responsible to reply can be arrested.

Since the financial year is about to end in a few weeks, the income tax department will increase the heat on assessees for either not depositing the money deducted as TDS or those who have not filed their returns.

"We have information that you have not uploaded quarterly returns from the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20. If you have already filed quaterly returns for the above mentioned period, please produce a copy of such returns," said a note income tax officer V Anandraj sent to the university's controller of examinations on March 6. Anandraj said if the university failed to provide proof of having filed the returns and also failed to file the returns, penal action will be taken. "TDS has been taken from the teaching faculty who were deputed for the semester exam during November-December 2019 for answer sheet evaluation and the same has been done in 23 centres across Tamil Nadu. But the TDS deducted from the individuals have not reflected in form 26AS. Hence you are required to file 24Q and 26Q for the respective financial years in which the amount was deducted from their salary," said Anandraj. The department said the case has been posted for hearing on March 13 at 11.30am. "At this time and date, you are requested to furnish copies of quarterly returns filed and paid challans for the above period," said the I-T official.

Officials in the controller of examinations department told TOI that they were yet to receive the IT notice. "Several thousands of teachers are involved in the answer sheet evaluation and till now the work is going on. We have deposited whatever money has been deducted as TDS and very soon we file the returns also," said a senior official from the University.

Yes Bank users can use NEFT for loan payments

Customers Can Now Pay Credit Bill, Other Repayments Through Other Bank Accounts

New Delhi:11.03.2020

Crisis-hit Yes Bank said on Tuesday that customers could now make payments towards their credit card and loans through other bank accounts, days after prominent banking services were curtailed after the RBI imposed moratorium on the lender.

The announcement comes as panic gripped the bank’s customers, who queued before ATMs and bank branches to withdraw money. They were also not even able to access Internet banking and other services like digital payments through another party’s platform. Forex services and credit card purchases, among others, were also impacted.

“Inward IMPS/NEFT services have now been enabled,” Yes Bank tweeted. “You can make payments towards YES Bank credit card dues and loan obligations from other bank accounts. Thank you for your co-operation.”

The Reserve Bank of India had put a moratorium last Thursday on the cashstrapped Yes Bank, imposed withdrawal restriction of ₹50,000 only till April 3 and superseded its board through appointment of an administrator.

However, the bank has now said that its ATMs are fully up now and customers can withdraw the stipulated amount from other banks’ ATMs as well.

During the moratorium period, Yes Bank will not be able to grant or renew any loan or advance, make any investment, incur any liability or agree to disburse any payment.

As per the RBI’s draft reconstruction scheme, State Bank of India will pick up 49% stake in the crisis-ridden Yes Bank under a government-approved bailout plan by infusing capital of ₹2,450 crore.

The bank’s financial health is not sound as it has failed to raise enough capital under the new leadership of Ravneet Singh Gill, who took charge as the managing director and CEO from March last year.

Troubles at new-generation private sector started brewing up ever since the the Reserve Bank denied extension to its co-founder Rana Kapoor— who now is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate on charges of financial mismanagement and money-laundering— to continue as MD and CEO in September 2018, and had asked the lender to find a new successor.

Yes Bank’s administrator, Prashant Kumar, a former SBI executive, had on Friday assured customers that the moratorium period could end by this weekend. PTI

EASING STRESS ON CUSTOMERS