Backdoor entry in colleges should stop, lakhs of students work hard to get admission: Delhi HC

Backdoor entry in colleges should stop, lakhs of students work hard to get admission: Delhi HC

According to the Supreme Court's direction, admissions in all government and private medical colleges in the country have to be done through the centralised counselling system on the basis of NEET examination results.

Ritesh K Srivastava

@ritesh_ks

Updated:  Sep 19, 2021, 16:26 PM IST  Source:  PTI

New Delhi: Lakhs of students in the country work hard and toil to secure admissions in educational institutions on the basis of merit and it is high time that backdoor entries there, including medical colleges, should stop, the Delhi High Court has said.

The high court's observation came while dismissing an appeal by five students who were granted admission in 2016 by L N Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal, without their undergoing the centralised counselling conducted by the Department of Medical Education (DME).

However, according to the Supreme Court's direction, admissions in all government and private medical colleges in the country have to be done through the centralised counselling system on the basis of NEET examination results.

Consequently, the Medical Council of India (MCI) issued letters of discharge regarding the five petitioners in April 2017 and thereafter, several more communications were sent but neither the students nor the medical college paid any heed to them.

The college continued to treat the petitioners as their students and allowed them to attend the course, appear in the examinations and get promoted. Eventually, the five petitioners filed a petition seeking quashing of the discharge communications issued by the MCI and for direction that they be permitted to continue their studies in the medical college as regular medical students, which was dismissed by the single judge.

They filed an appeal challenging the single judge's order. However, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh also dismissed the appeal saying there is no merit in it. "It is high time that such backdoor entries in educational institutions, including medical colleges, should stop. Lakhs of students all over the country work hard and toil to secure admissions to educational institutions on the basis of their merit," the bench said in its order on September 9.

"To permit any backdoor entry to any educational institution would be grossly unfair to those who are denied admission, despite being more meritorious, on account of the seats being taken and blocked by such backdoor entrants,’’ it said. It further added that the petitioners have only themselves to blame for the mess that they find themselves in.

"Had they acted in terms of the discharge letter of April 26, 2017, they would have saved four years of their lives. But they did not and acted recklessly. Despite not having any interim orders in their favour in their writ petition, they continued to attend the course, obviously, at their own peril,’’ the court said.

Advocate T Singhdev, representing the MCI, said despite discharge of the petitioners by the MCI, as early as on April 26, 2017, the same was not acted upon either by the college or by the students and they continued to ignore it even after repeated communications.

He further said that there was no interim order obtained by the petitioners from the court and despite that they continued to take admissions in subsequent years and undertake examinations at the college which was done at their own peril and they cannot claim equity in their favour.

Singhdev said the petitioners did not undergo the centralised counselling and they were well aware from day one that their admissions in the college were irregular and illegal, being in the teeth of the judgement of the Supreme Court.

The counsel for the petitioners contended that they ranked higher in the NEET examination than even those who were granted admission through the central counselling conducted by the DME in relation to this medical college and, therefore, they should be shown leniency.

The court said it is for this reason that if the medical college had informed the vacancy position the DME on time, the DME would have conducted further counselling and sent names on merit on the basis of the NEET examination conducted in 2016. "It is quite possible that the names of other candidates, more meritorious than the five petitioners, may have been sent,’’ the bench said.

"Since the respondent medical college does not appear to have informed the DME of the vacancy position, and they proceeded to grant admissions to the five petitioners much before the close of the date of admission on October 7, 2016, the other meritorious students, obviously, remained unaware that they could stake a claim against a seat in the respondent medical college on the basis of their merit. Thus, to say that no other meritorious candidate has shown up, is neither here nor there,’’ it added.

Court slams culture of ‘backdoor entry’, says it insults meritorious students

Court slams culture of ‘backdoor entry’, says it insults meritorious students

5 medical students were barred from continuing their studies as they were issued letters of discharge four years ago as they did not undergo the centralised counselling conducted by the Department of Medical Education (DME), but neither them nor the college paid any heed to it.

Written by Shankhyaneel Sarkar | 

Edited by Poulomi Ghosh, 

Hindustan Times, New Delhi

UPDATED ON SEP 19, 2021 04:57 PM IST

The Delhi high court observed that it is necessary to stop the practice of backdoor entries in all categories of educational institutions. The court said this practice demeans millions of students across the nation who work hard and toil to secure admissions on the basis of merit.

“It is high time that such backdoor entries in educational institutions, including medical colleges, should stop. Lakhs of students all over the country work hard and toil to secure admissions to educational institutions on the basis of their merit,” a bench headed by Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh said.

The observation made by the court came while it dismissed an appeal by five students who were granted admission in 2016 by Bhopal's LN Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, but did not undergo the centralised counselling conducted by the Department of Medical Education (DME), which is a prerequisite set by the Supreme Court for admissions in all government and private medical colleges. The counselling is done on the basis of the NEET examination results.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) sent several letters of discharge to the students and the medical college but neither party paid any attention to them. Instead of discharging the students, the college treated the petitioners as students and allowed them to attend the course, sit for exams and also get promoted.

The students filed a petition seeking quashing of the discharge communications issued by the MCI and for a direction that they be permitted to continue their studies in the medical college as regular medical students. The petition was dismissed by a single judge which was challenged by the students. It was later quashed again by the Delhi high court when a bench led by justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh observed that the appeal lacked merit.

“To permit any backdoor entry to any educational institution would be grossly unfair to those who are denied admission, despite being more meritorious, on account of the seats being taken and blocked by such backdoor entrants,” the bench observed. The bench also said the petitioners are responsible for the mess they find themselves in. The court said that if the students would have paid heed to the letter and acted according to the discharge instructions in April 2017 then they could have saved four years of their lives. “They did not, and acted recklessly. Despite not having any interim orders in their favour in their writ petition, they continued to attend the course – obviously, at their own peril,” it said.

The MCI counsel T Singhdev said that no party paid heed to the warnings despite the authority issuing discharge letters as early as April 2017. He said that they continued to ignore it even after repeated communications. He also highlighted that the petitioners did not obtain any interim order from the court and continued to take admissions in subsequent years.

Singhdev said that they took examinations in the college at their own peril. He said that the petitioners were aware that their admission to the college was ‘irregular and illegal, being in the teeth of the judgement of the Supreme Court.’

The counsel for the petitioners requested that some leniency be given to them and contended that they ranked higher in the NEET examination than even those who were granted admission through the central counselling conducted by the DME in relation to the medical college.

The court said that if the medical college informed the DME on time regarding the vacant positions, the body would then have conducted further counselling and sent names on merit on the basis of the NEET examination conducted in 2016. “It is quite possible that the names of other candidates, more meritorious than the five petitioners, may have been sent,” the court said.

(with inputs from PTI)

Backdoor entry in colleges should stop, lakhs of students work hard to get admission: HC

Backdoor entry in colleges should stop, lakhs of students work hard to get admission: HC

PTI | Sep 19, 2021, 03.14 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Lakhs of students in the country work hard and toil to secure admissions in educational institutions on the basis of merit and it is high time that backdoor entries there, including medical colleges, should stop, the Delhi High Court has said.

The high court's observation came while dismissing an appeal by five students who were granted admission in 2016 by L N Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal, without their undergoing the centralised counselling conducted by the Department of Medical Education (DME).

However, according to the Supreme Court's direction, admissions in all government and private medical colleges in the country have to be done through the centralised counselling system on the basis of NEET examination result.

Consequently, the Medical Council of India (MCI) issued letters of discharge regarding the five petitioners in April 2017 and thereafter, several more communications were sent but neither the students nor the medical college paid any heed to them.

The college continued to treat the petitioners as their students and allowed them to attend the course, appear in the examinations and get promoted.

Eventually, the five petitioners filed a petition seeking quashing of the discharge communications issued by the MCI and for the direction that they are permitted to continue their studies in the medical college as regular medical students, which was dismissed by the single judge.

They filed an appeal challenging the single judge's order. However, a bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh also dismissed the appeal saying there is no merit in it.

"It is high time that such backdoor entries in educational institutions, including medical colleges, should stop. Lakhs of students all over the country work hard and toil to secure admissions to educational institutions on the basis of their merit," the bench said in its order on September 9.

"To permit any backdoor entry to any educational institution would be grossly unfair to those who are denied admission, despite being more meritorious, on account of the seats being taken and blocked by such backdoor entrants,” it said.

It further added that the petitioners have only themselves to blame for the mess that they find themselves in.

"Had they acted in terms of the discharge letter of April 26, 2017, they would have saved four years of their lives. But they did not and acted recklessly. Despite not having any interim orders in their favour in their writ petition, they continued to attend the course – obviously, at their own peril,” the court said.

Advocate T Singhdev, representing the MCI, said despite discharge of the petitioners by the MCI, as early as on April 26, 2017, the same was not acted upon either by the college or by the students and they continued to ignore it even after repeated communications.

He further said that there was no interim order obtained by the petitioners from the court and despite that they continued to take admissions in subsequent years and undertake examinations at the college which was done at their own peril and they cannot claim equity in their favour.

Singhdev said the petitioners did not undergo the centralised counselling and they were well aware from day one that their admissions in the college were irregular and illegal, being in the teeth of the judgement of the Supreme Court.

The counsel for the petitioners contended that they ranked higher in the NEET examination than even those who were granted admission through the central counselling conducted by the DME in relation to this medical college and, therefore, they should be shown leniency.

The court said it is for this reason that if the medical college had informed the vacancy position to the DME on time, the DME would have conducted further counselling and sent names on merit on the basis of the NEET examination conducted in 2016.

"It is quite possible that the names of other candidates, more meritorious than the five petitioners, may have been sent,” the bench said.

"Since the respondent, medical college does not appear to have informed the DME of the vacancy position, and they proceeded to grant admissions to the five petitioners much before the close of the date of admission on October 7, 2016, the other meritorious students, obviously, remained unaware that they could stake a claim against a seat in the respondent medical college on the basis of their merit. Thus, to say that no other meritorious candidate has shown up, is neither here nor there,” it added.

‘If not declared void at 18, minor marriage valid’

‘If not declared void at 18, minor marriage valid’

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:20.09.2021

The Punjab and Haryana high court ruled that a girl married off before the age of 18 can seek separation only through a decree of divorce if she did not declare the marriage void on attaining the age of majority.

The division bench of Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Arun Monga issued the order while setting aside a Ludhiana family court's refusal to grant divorce by mutual consent to a couple who had got married when the wife was a minor. The family court had ruled that the couple’s marriage wasn't valid in the first place as the wife was younger than18 at the time of nuptials.

“Since the respondent wife was 17 years, 6 months and 8 days old at the time of marriage, and for all intents and purposes no petition was filed for declaration of her marriage as void by the wife, the petition for divorce under Section13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, should have been allowed,” the high court said.

After recording the statements of both parties, the bench granted them divorce by mutual consent.

The couple from Ludhiana had got married on February 27, 2009 — the man was around 23 at the time. The couple jointly filed a petition for dissolution of their marriage before the Ludhiana family court last year. While dismissing the plea, the family court cited Section 5(iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, which requires the bride to be18 or above for the union to be considered legally valid.

A petition for nullity under Section 13 (2)(iv) could be filed if the girl had got married at the age of 15, and she then filed a petition for dissolution of marriage before turning 18. In this case, since the girl was just over 17 years old at the time of the wedding, and she did not file a petition to get her marriage declared void on attaining the age of majority, the plea for dissolution by mutual consent should have been allowed by the family court, the high court held.

The family court had ruled that the couple’s marriage wasn’t valid in the first place as the wife was younger than 18 at the time of nuptials

150 acres of Tiruvarur temple land encroached

150 acres of Tiruvarur temple land encroached

Thanjavur:  20.09.2021

About 150 acres of land belonging to Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple at Thirukkannamangai in Tiruvarur district may have been encroached, according to the deputy superintending epigraphist of Archaeological Survey of India, K Panneerselvam. His observation is based on inscriptions in the copper plate of the temple which has been found to be in the safe custody of the joint commissioner of HR and CE department in Thanjavur. The ASI official was conducting a survey of various temples on the direction of the Madras high court which had heard a public interest litigation petition stating that the copper plate containing details of donation of land was missing from the temple. Panneerselvam said he had found it inscribed in the copper plate that King Vijayaragunatha Nayak donated 400 acres of land to the temple in 1608. He said he will submit a report quantifying the land donated by the king for daily temple pujas, the extent of land available with the temple now and with the encroachers to the HR & CE department for further action. TNN

500m stretch at Kelambakkam turns OMR traffic bottleneck

500m stretch at Kelambakkam turns OMR traffic bottleneck

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:20.09.2021

Offices and educational institutions along OMR are resuming work and traffic snarls have begun paralysing Kelambakkam again.

A stretch of OMR that is barely 500m long and passes through the busy Kelambakkam market area continues to be a bottleneck for road users as the six-lane IT Corridor (Rajiv Gandhi Expressway) narrows down at this junction, leading to vehicles getting piled up for long distances in both directions during peak hours. Now, as a temporary solution, the authorities plan to throw open a portion of an unfinished bypass at Padur on OMR soon to divert traffic.

Two-wheelers encroaching upon the carriageway on either side of the road further shrink the motorable space, leading to traffic moving at a snail's pace. The lifeline linking the city with Thiruporur, the junction records a huge movement of vehicles including buses belonging to MTC, private colleges and companies. According to sources in the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC), which laid OMR and maintains it, the stretch on an average records a daily movement of 60,000 vehicles. Of these, two-wheelers and cars account for about 35,000 and the rest are MTC buses, buses of private colleges and institutions and heavy vehicles.

Unless something is done fats, regular road users say, the traffic situation could worsen into that prevalent during pre-Covid times when vehicles are clogged during office hours in the morning and evenings. “Once all the IT sector employees return to their offices, it would lead to acute traffic snarls. The problem is only on the 500 metre stretch,” said S Dillibabu, an auto rickshaw driver said.

The laying of a bypass linking Padur near Kelambakkam and Kalavakkkam around Thiruporur, which commenced five years ago, is stuck in issues of land acquisition, with only three km of the 13-km-long road completed. Kuppan, a resident of Padur, said work on the bypass been completed within the scheduled time, Kelambakkam would not have suffered due to traffic. “The deserted road is used by a few for illegal bike racing,” he said. Pieces of broken liquor bottles can be found at one end of the completed portion.

When contacted, official sources in the TNRDC said that a portion of the 13-km bypass would be thrown open for traffic in a week. “This three kilometre portion of the bypass road linking Padur with Kelambakkam-Kovalam Road will reduce the traffic burden at Kelambakkam Junction as 25% of the vehicles can be diverted,” the official said.

BUMPER TO BUMPER: Traffic snarl along Old Mahabalipuram Road

2 pvt colleges to offer mechanical, CS courses in Tamil from this year

2 pvt colleges to offer mechanical, CS courses in Tamil from this year

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

20.09.2021

In a first since College of Engineering (CEG) in Anna University launched engineering in Tamil 11 years ago, two private colleges in Tamil Nadu will offer mechanical engineering and computer science engineering in Tamil from 2021-22.

With All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) nod, Erode Sengunthar Engineering College in Perunthurai will offer mechanical engineering in Tamil while Rathinam Technical Campus in Coimbatore will offer CS in Tamil from this year.

“Our college is situated in a rural area and Tamil-medium students are showing interest in studying BE in Tamil, so we started the course,” said V Venkatachalam, principal of Erode Sengunthar Engineering College.

Except for CEG, the 16 constituent colleges of Anna University had poor enrolment to Tamilmedium courses due to lack of study materials in Tamil and fewer job opportunities.

“Our college faculty members are translating resource material into Tamil. AICTE is translating engineering books in regional languages and Anna University has also already translated 15 subjects in mechanical engineering and released them on the website. We expect the translated material to be available from next academic year,” Venkatachalam said. He further said attending placement interviews will be easier for mechanical students (Tamil-medium) as core companies focus on practical and subject knowledge and not communication skills.

There were 719 seats in BE Mechanical Engineering (Tamil) and 659 seats in BE Civil Engineering (Tamil) last year.

UGC asks univs to consider CBSE applied maths for UG admissions

UGC asks univs to consider CBSE applied maths for UG admissions

Chennai:20.09.2021

The University Grants Commission (UGC) asked all universities to consider CBSE’s Class XII applied mathematics course on par with mathematics for admission to humanities and commerce undergraduate courses.

“The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced applied mathematics for Classes XI and XII. The subject has curriculum specifications that are compatible with other major subjects,” a letter from UGC secretary Rajnish Jain to all vicechancellors said. “ It may be considered at par with mathematics for admission to humanities and commerce, other than pure sciences,” the letter said. TNN

நேரில் ஆஜராகும்படி உத்தரவிட உறுதியான ஆதாரங்கள் தேவை'

நேரில் ஆஜராகும்படி உத்தரவிட உறுதியான ஆதாரங்கள் தேவை'

Added : செப் 18, 2021 20:58

புதுடில்லி:'உறுதியான ஆதாரமின்றி யாரையும் நேரில் ஆஜராகும்படி நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட முடியாது' என, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் ஒரு வழக்கில் தீர்ப்பு அளித்துள்ளது.

கடந்த 2015ல், உ.பி.,யைச் சேர்ந்த ஒரு கார் டிரைவர் மர்மமான முறையில் இறந்து கிடந்தார். இது குறித்து போலீசார் வழக்கு பதிவு செய்து விசாரணை நடத்தி வந்தனர். இந்நிலையில் கார் டிரைவரின் மனைவி, விசாரணை நீதிமன்றத்தில் ஒரு மனு தாக்கல் செய்தார். அதில், தன் கணவரை, முதலாளி ரமேஷ் சந்திர ஸ்ரீவத்சவா நண்பர்களுடன் சேர்ந்து கொலை செய்து விட்டதாக கூறி, அவரை விசாரிக்கும்படி கோரிஇருந்தார்.

விசாரணை நீதிமன்றம் ரமேஷ் சந்திர ஸ்ரீவத்சவா நேரில் ஆஜராகும்படி 'சம்மன்' அனுப்பியது. இதை எதிர்த்து ரமேஷ் சந்திர ஸ்ரீவத்சவா தாக்கல் செய்த மனுவை, அலகாபாத் உயர் நீதிமன்றம் தள்ளுபடி செய்தது. இதைத் தொடர்ந்து அவர் உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மேல்முறையீடு செய்தார். இந்த மனு, உச்ச நீதிமன்ற நீதிபதி கே.எம்.ஜோசப் தலைமையிலான அமர்வு முன் விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அப்போது அமர்வு அளித்த தீர்ப்பு:

ஒரு வழக்கில் குற்றஞ்சாட்டப்படாத நபர் தொடர்பாக உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க நீதிமன்றங்களுக்கு அதிகாரம் உள்ளது.அதேசமயம் அந்த நபர் குற்றம் செய்ததற்கு வலுவான ஆதாரங்கள் அல்லது சாட்சிகள் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே, அவரை நீதிமன்றத்தில் ஆஜர்படுத்த 'வாரன்ட்' பிறப்பிக்க முடியும். எந்தவொரு ஆதாரமும் இன்றி சாதாரணமாக ஒருவரை நேரில் ஆஜராகும்படி நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட முடியாது.

இது குறித்து, 2014ல் ஹர்தீப் சிங் வழக்கில் உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் தெளிவான உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்து உள்ளது. இதை ஆராயாமல் விசாரணை நீதிமன்ற நீதிபதி, எந்தவித குற்றச்சாட்டும் பதிவு செய்யப்படாத நிலையில், மனுதாரரை நேரில் ஆஜராகும்படி உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார். இந்த உத்தரவு ரத்து செய்யப்படுகிறது. இவ்வாறு தீர்ப்பு அளிக்கப்பட்டது.

வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவம் படித்த மாணவர்கள் கோரிக்கை

வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவம் படித்த மாணவர்கள் கோரிக்கை

Added : செப் 18, 2021 20:29

சென்னை:'வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவம் படித்த மாணவர்கள், தமிழகத்தில் பயிற்சி பெற அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும்' என கோரிக்கை விடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

முதல்வர் தனிப்பிரிவு அலுவலகத்தில் கொடுத்துள்ள கோரிக்கைமனு:தமிழகத்தில் இருந்து 300க்கும் மேற்பட்ட மாணவர்கள், வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவம் படித்து உள்ளோம். வெளிநாடுகளில் மருத்துவம் படித்தவர்கள், நம் நாட்டில் எப்.எம்.ஜி.இ., தேர்வு எழுத வேண்டும். அதில் தேர்ச்சி பெற்றவர்கள் பயிற்சி பெற காத்திருக்கிறோம். அனைவரும், 2020 ஜனவரியில் விடுமுறைக்காக இந்தியா வந்தோம்.

கொரோனா காரணமாக, கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு திரும்பி செல்ல முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டது. எனவே, எங்கள் இறுதி செமஸ்டர் தேர்வை, 'ஆன்லைன்' வழியாக எழுதி தேர்ச்சி பெற்றோம். பின், நம் நாட்டில், எப்.எம்.ஜி.இ., தேர்வு எழுதி தேர்ச்சி அடைந்தோம். ஆனால், இணையவழியில் கல்வி கற்று தேர்வு எழுதியதால், மருத்துவ கவுன்சிலில் பதிவு செய்ய மறுக்கின்றனர்.எங்களுடன் மருத்துவம் படித்த வெளிமாநில மாணவர்கள், தங்கள் மாநிலத்தில் தற்போது பயிற்சியை துவக்கி விட்டனர்.

தமிழகத்தில் மாணவர்கள் பயிற்சிக்காக செலுத்த வேண்டிய கட்டணத் தொகை, 2 லட்சம் முதல் 6 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வரை உள்ளது.டில்லி போன்ற நகரங்களில் உள்ள மருத்துவமனைகளில், கட்டணம் இல்லாமலே மாணவர்கள் பயிற்சி பெற முடிகிறது. இதுபோன்று தமிழகத்திலும் செய்தால் எங்களுக்கு பேரும் உதவியாக இருக்கும்.

எப்.எம்.ஜி.இ., தேர்ச்சி பெற்று, 'இன்டர்ன்ஷிப்' பயிற்சிக்காக காத்திருக்கும் மாணவர்கள், தமிழக மருத்துவமனைகளில், பயிற்சி பெற அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

NEET-UG 2021: Kerala High Court Seeks NTA's Response In Plea Seeking Retest Citing Delay By Invigilator

NEET-UG 2021: Kerala High Court Seeks NTA's Response In Plea Seeking Retest Citing Delay By Invigilator

Hannah M Varghese

18 Sep 2021 5:07 PM

The Kerala High Court on Friday admitted a plea moved by a NEET (UG) candidate seeking a retest of the Entrance examination citing that her OMR answer sheet was likely to be rejected due to the dereliction of the Invigilator assigned to her exam hall. The Court has sought the response of the National Testing Agency.

Justice P.B Suresh Kumar will hear the matter in the upcoming week.

The petitioner had approached the Court aggrieved by the alleged arbitrary manner in which the National eligibility Cum Entrance Test (UG) 2021 was conducted at her examination centre, Sree Narayana Public School, Poothotta.

The setbacks faced by the petitioner allegedly resulted in her and the other candidates in her examination hall losing half an hour of her time to complete the test, the total duration of which is 3 hours.

Considering the cut-throat competition involved in the test, it was alleged that the confusion created at the examination centre adversely affected the prospects of the petitioner in getting admitted to the MBBS course.

Advocate Santhosh Mathew appeared for the petitioner in the matter.

The Admit Card issued to the candidates required them to present themselves at the examination centre by 11 am for procedural formalities and verification, and to be seated in the examination hall by 12 pm.

The petitioner had duly followed by the said instructions and was in her allotted room by 12 pm.

The plea stated that as per the Information Bulletin issued, the candidates were to be issued with the test booklet including the answer sheets at 1:45 pm and the exam was scheduled to commence from 2 p.m.

This interval of 15 minutes was provided to the candidates for them to carefully fill in their Roll numbers and other details, to blacken the relevant bubbles and to glimpse through the question paper without a rush.

However, the petitioner alleged that the candidates seated in her examination hall were provided with the test booklet only at 2 pm.

The candidates in the said room were not permitted to fill up their details by the invigilator due to some confusion regarding the booklets provided.

Ten minutes later, the test booklets were collected back and another set of booklets were distributed to the candidates in the room, including the petitioner.

However, the booklet received by the petitioner carried the details of another candidate, and the relevant bubbles were already shaded.

Upon informing this to the Invigilator, she was asked to strike off the details of the other candidate and to fill in her details over it.

The petitioner pointed out that the evaluation of the OMR sheet is done by computer software as specifically informed by the detailed instructions issued to the candidates regarding the procedure to be followed while filling the OMR Answer sheets.

The said instructions also disclosed that the software was very sensitive and that it can only read properly filled black coloured bubbles.

It was further instructed that the Answer sheets should not be tampered with or crossed out in any manner and that any alteration can lead to the rejection of the OMR sheets.

This made her quite anxious since she was very well aware of the sensitive nature of the software that evaluates the answer sheets, and was quite informed that any tampering could lead to rejection.

The plea contended that it took nearly 30 minutes for the candidates in the said hall to commence the actual examination.

Due to the confusion caused, the three hours test had to be completed by the petitioner and other candidates within two and a half hours.

It was also submitted that other formalities such as the placing the initials of the Invigilators on the answer sheets were also carried out during the said two and a half hours, where it was supposed to be done between 1:45 to 2 pm. This led to the candidates losing out on more time.

On the aforesaid grounds, the petitioner asserted that grave injustice has been done to students like the petitioner in an entrance examination like NEET (UG) where every mark counts for getting a higher rank.

Such confusion has adversely affected the possibility to get a good score in the examination, which will, in turn, affect her chances of getting admitted to a good college of her choice for MBBS.

Apprehending rejection of her answer sheet, the petitioner had approached the respondent as evidenced by an email where she reported the incident and requested a retest.

The inaction of the respondents has resulted in irreparable examination and hardship to the petitioner.

"The inaction on the part of the invigilators at the test centre in exercising due caution and care has exposed candidates like the petitioner to a possible threat of rejection of their OMR sheets," the plea read.

She prayed that a detailed enquiry be conducted into her grievance by the respondents.

Similarly, it was also prayed that the respondents facilitate the conduct of a retest to the petitioner and similarly situated students who lost half an hour to complete the examination.

The plea has sought interim relief to the effect that the petitioner's OMR answer sheet may be evaluated without rejection pending disposal of the writ petition.

Case Title: Devika R. Mohan v. Union of India & Ors.

Irregular bus services drive Erode schoolgirl to her wit’s end

Irregular bus services drive Erode schoolgirl to her wit’s end

More than 30 students in the village depend on the bus to reach schools. They are forced to walk to school due to shortage of buses.

Published: 18th September 2021 09:02 AM |

The lack of bus services is evident at most of the rural areas.

By Subashini Vijayakumar

Express News Service

ERODE: A class X student in Vallipurathanpalayam tried to kill herself on Thursday allegedly after being told by her father to stop attending school because bus services to the village had not resumed fully post easing of lockdown restrictions.

The girl (15) studied in the government school at Sengodampalayam, which is 6.5 km away from her village and used to travel by bus daily. Since the bus service was irregular, the girl’s father dropped her at school on Wednesday before heading to work in Perundurai. After classes got over for the day at 3.30 pm, she waited for a bus to return home.

Since it got late, she took a bus going towards Perundurai and got off at Vepampalayam. From there, she walked three kilometres to her village. Upon knowing the incident, her father scolded her and told her to discontinue studies at least until bus services resumed. The girl got upset and on Thursday, tried to kill herself. Her parents and neighbours broke open the door of her room and rescued her.

Rattled by the girl’s action, residents of Vallipurathanpalayam appealed to the government to restore the bus services fully for the benefit of students. The village has a middle school and students have to travel to Sengodampalayam, Thindal or Pallipalayam to pursue education.

Two buses were operated between Vallipurathanpalayam and Bhavani through Erode bus stand. “The buses ply through Thindal, Sengodampalayam, Kumalankuttai, Collector Office, GH, PS Park, Erode bus stand. When there were two buses, the services were regular between 7am and 9pm. However, following the lockdown, only one bus is operated and the evening service has been irregular,” Sekar (name changed), a resident of the village, said.

More than 30 students in the village depend on the bus to reach schools. They are forced to walk to school due to shortage of buses. If the situation persisted, girls would be forced to dropout, they added. The residents said they urged the transport department to restore buses as schools had reopened, but there was no action.

Upon knowing the girl’s action, District Collector H Krishnanunni reportedly assured that bus services to the village would be restored.

Erode: Get vaccinated against Covid, get two cents of land free

Erode: Get vaccinated against Covid, get two cents of land free

Tahsildar Muthukrishnan said the names will be selected by drawing chits and they would be given prizes, including two cents of land, one gram gold coin, silver lamps and clothes.

Published: 19th September 2021 04:06 AM 

By Express News Service

ERODE: In order to encourage people to get vaccinated, Tahsildar of Bhavani in the district has announced that 10 persons from underprivileged backgrounds, who come to get vaccinated on Sunday would be chosen and provided two cents of land.

Tahsildar Muthukrishnan said the names will be selected by drawing chits and they would be given prizes, including two cents of land, one gram gold coin, silver lamps and clothes. “The main aim is to achieve full vaccination.

In order to entice people, I have announced these prizes with help from volunteers,” he said. As the moral code of conduct is in place, residents of Andikumar, Ocheri, Chinnapuliyur, Odathurai panchayats in Bhavani and Ammapettai unions will not be eligible for the benefits, he said.

TN govt systems under cyber attack, probe on

TN govt systems under cyber attack, probe on

The Tamil Nadu government’s Public Department is said to have come under a ransomware attack, wherein a malware was used to encrypt computer files.

Published: 19th September 2021 04:35 AM 

By C Shivakumar And T Muruganandham

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government’s Public Department is said to have come under a ransomware attack, wherein a malware was used to encrypt computer files. It is learnt the suspect reportedly demanded a payment of $1,950 in cryptocurrency as ransom for handing over the decryption code.

The department functions directly under the Chief Secretary and deals with important matters concerning the general administration of the State. It also handles protocol arrangements relating to visits of VVIPs, VIPs, and other dignitaries, and matters of common interest between the Central and State governments, besides handling law and order issues.

While officials maintained that none of the confidential files were lost as they were handled manually, they refused to confirm or divulge the sum demanded by the hacker, and said it was immaterial. A top official from the Information Technology department confirmed the attack, and said, “We are at it and trying to get back the access.” Cyber security experts from the Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC) and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) are trying to retrieve the documents.

Meanwhile, the public department has lodged a complaint with the cyber cell. “Something happened to the computers in the Special-B section,” an official said, adding that no file has been lost due to the attack. “This department maintains confidential files only in papers. For government records, normally we will be taking a backup,” he added.

Explaining how confidential files are maintained, the official said, “e-Governance or e-Office will not apply to the confidential section. Even approvals are given manually. Computers are used to key-in and take prints, and to save them in files,” he said.

‘We fear this is just the beginning’

Securin, a Chennai-based cyber security company, which investigated the attack, found one vulnerability (environment.tn.gov.in) to have been exploited by one WannaCry ransomware. It also found that over 400 public facing assets linked to the domain are vulnerable. Commenting on the investigation, Ram Movva, co-founder and chairman of cyber security works and CEO of Securin, said, “Our investigation shows very poor cyber hygiene in the State’s Public Department.

Our analysis has revealed vulnerabilities exploited by WannaCry. Over 80 assets have vulnerabilities that have Remote Code Execution and Privilege Execution capabilities.” “We fear this is just the beginning.

We have seen many government entities become targets of ransomware attacks since last year, and have warned CERT-In about the exposures that we have seen in the dark web. Continuous vulnerability scanning and an automated Attack Surface Management programme is the need of the hour for all government entities,” said Movva.

‘Very poor cyber hygiene’

Our probe shows very poor cyber hygiene in the Public Department, says Ram Movva

WannaCry under scanner

Securin, a Chennai-based cyber security company, which investigated the attack, found one vulnerability (environment.tn.gov.in) to have been exploited by one WannaCry ransomware

Andhra education department employees with 5 years of service at one station to be transferred

Andhra education department employees with 5 years of service at one station to be transferred

All transfers will be made by way of counselling through transfer committees constituted by the competent authority i.e., Commissioner of Intermediate Education, Guntur.

Published: 18th September 2021 08:38 AM |

Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Audimulapu Suresh 

By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: The Department of Higher Education issued revised transfer guidelines for the Intermediate Education Department on Friday. According to Minister for Education Audimulapu Suresh, these transfer guidelines are applicable to all the employees working in the department.

All transfers will be made by way of counselling through transfer committees constituted by the competent authority i.e., Commissioner of Intermediate Education, Guntur. The employees who worked in any category in any station and proceeded on long leave (more than 90 days) shall only be posted to the same station except for the cases when they are liable to be transferred otherwise.

Those who completed five years of service at a station as of June 1, 2020, are invariably liable for transfer. Those who completed two years of service at a station as June 1, 2020, are eligible to apply for transfer on a request basis.

The Commissioner of Intermediate Education will draw a schedule for effecting transfers. The appointing authorities i.e., RJDIE’s in respect of junior lecturers, physical directors, librarians and non-teaching staff and the commissioner in respect of Principals and dy. D.V.E.O./A.O. and superintendent working in mufssil shall issue transfer orders based on the recommendations of the Committees constituted for the purpose and outcome of the counselling.

Apps Just A Click Away For Daily Help In Mental Illness

Apps Just A Click Away For Daily Help In Mental Illness

Developed By AIIMS & IIIT-D, Public Launch Likely In January

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:20.09.2021

A person suffering from mental illness in India might find treatment, but it would be near impossible to find guidance for managing functional problems in daily life. Disha and Saksham, two apps developed by the psychiatry division of AIIMS in collaboration with Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi, aim to change this. While Disha is focused on helping newly diagnosed patients of schizophrenia and other severe psychotic disorders, Saksham is meant to help those suffering from chronic illness.

The apps have been used successfully by 25 patients and, the researchers reported, they plan to roll them out for the public by January 2022. “The computer engineers involved in the project are currently working to ensure the safety of patient data,” said Dr Mamta Sood, professor of psychiatry at AIIMS, who is also one of the project developers.

These apps will be available in English and Hindi. Once individuals download the app and fill in the details about their illness, it will display information about the nature and course of the disease and the treatment and management of its side-effects. The app will also have the option to update details about compliance on medication and daily self-care tasks, Sood added.

In the movie A Beautiful Mind, actor Russel Crowe plays the role of mathematician John Nash who suffered from schizophrenia and had delusions and hallucinations. Constant engagement with doctors, support from family members and at the place of work help the mathematician recover considerably. While this is ideal, the AIIMS doctor revealed there weren’t enough mental health professionals in India, resulting in a treatment gap.

According to the World Mental Health Atlas Report, 2017, there are only 0.29 psychiatrists per 100,000 population in India. Child psychiatrists are rarer. The availability of psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and other paid mental health workers that form the backbone of mental healthcare in western countries is also scarce, according to experts.

The patients and their caregivers still trawl the internet for information on disease management. But online sources are often not reliable, caution researchers. Also, caregivers too need encouragement. The mobile apps developed by AIIMS and IIIT Delhi experts will have features to motivate them, one example of this being pop-up messages of encouragement to caregivers and questions seeking to know their well-being.

The apps provide an opportunity to consider the physical health of a patient, an aspect that is often neglected. “The apps have options to feed data on the weight, blood pressure and other key parameters in addition to suggestions such as eating healthy and leading an active life,” disclosed Sood.

Don’t ignore the danger of dizziness

Don’t ignore the danger of dizziness

20.09.2021

When you get out of bed too quickly, do you occasionally feel dizzy and have to sit down again? That light-headedness is called postural hypotension (PHoT) — literally an abnormal drop in blood pressure when you stand.

It is worth noting because it can raise the risk of falls, heart disease, depression, dementia and death.

What to do

When getting out of bed, change position in stages (from lying to sitting to standing), rather than standing in one swift movement. While sitting, count to ten before standing.

The golden rule to treating PHoT is to avoid its triggers. Avoid alcohol, large meals, very warm environments or hot showers. Sleep with the head of the bed raised. Exercise every day to normalise your blood pressure and when you stand, tense the muscles in your legs and buttocks.

— DAILY MIRROR

OMR sheet leak: SI aspirant in cop net

OMR sheet leak: SI aspirant in cop net

Alwar:20.09.2021

The police here on Saturday arrested a 22-yearold man who appeared for Rajasthan police sub-inspector recruitment tests and posted photos and videos of his answersheet from the examination hall.

Jaydev Sharma, a resident of Hanumangarh, was arrested from Sri Ganganagar by Alwar’s Kotwali police. Police said that Sharma’s examination centre was allotted in Alwar’s Nehru Public School located in Scheme 4 at Rajendra Nagar locality. He came to Alwar on Wednesday to appear in the recruitment examination. About five minutes before the examination was to get over, Sharma shot videos and photos of his OMR (optical mark reader) also known as the answer sheet, from his mobile phone.

Sharma is accused of uploading photos of his answer sheet on social media. Sources in Alwar police claimed that SDM had taken cognisance of the matter and directed an FIR which was registered on Friday at Kotwali police station in Alwar.

SHO Rajesh Sharma told TOI that a mobile phone was recovered from the accused from which he had shot photos of the answer sheet.

The centre’s superintendent, deputy superintendent and two invigilators have also been charge-sheeted in the matter. The photograph of the OMR sheet of a candidate giving the SI exam went viral on social media on Thursday.

Sources said that the incident hinted at a major breach of the examination centre protocol because mobile phones are strictly prohibited inside the premises. TNN

Book 16 days before travel for low airfares

Book 16 days before travel for low airfares

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:20.09.2021

You will now be able to get domestic air tickets at lower rates for travel beyond 15 days of booking. Fare bands will apply only to domestic tickets booked within 15 days of travel, instead of 30 earlier.

This apart, airlines can now operate more domestic flights — up to 85% of their pre-pandemic capacity instead of the earlier 72.5%. This is the maximum capacity deployment allowed during the pandemic as before the second wave, the allowed highest domestic capacity was 80%.

The winter schedule comes into force next monthend and the industry is hoping that if Covid remains under control, airlines may be allowed to return completely to pre-Covid domestic capacity.

The aviation ministry on Saturday allowed airlines to sell domestic tickets based on market forces of demand and supply — without adhering to fare bands — for travel beyond 15 days of booking. This means, a person booking on October 1 can book a ticket for travel after October 15 to be offered rates by airlines that are lower than the prescribed minimum for that domestic route as also higher than the allowed maximum under the fare bands. Called rolling fare bands, the earlier time period was 30 days which has now been cut by half to 15.

This also means that fare bands put in place in May last year when domestic flights were allowed to resume after a two-month suspension during the lockdown, will continue for some time. Senior airlines industry officials expect fare bands to remain in place till 100% of pre-domestic capacity is allowed.

Low-cost carriers account for almost 80% of domestic air travel. The thumb rule for budget flyers, in pre-Covid times, was book early and get low fares. This way airlines get cash flow and early birds get low fares. The shorter window for which domestic fare bands are applicable will allow airlines to offer lower than the minimum fares for not so early birds.

You can fly to Sindhudurg from Oct 9

Mumbai:

From October 9, direct flights to Sindhudurg will operate after the airport’s inauguration by state authorities. IRB Sindhudurg Airport Pvt Ltd received an aerodrome licence to operate its newly-built greenfield Sindhudurg airport at Chipi. Director-general of civil aviation (DGCA) issued the license on Friday night, an IRB spokesperson said. The project has a cost outlay of approximately Rs 800 crore and an operating and cost recovery (concession) period of over 90 years. TNN

CBSE Has Not Asked Any School To Conduct Only Offline Exams

Schools can’t force students for offline exams, says DEO

CBSE Has Not Asked Any School To Conduct Only Offline Exams

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:20.09.2021

District education office, Bhopal, made it clear on Saturday after several parents complained that schools are forcing their children to take offline exams that schools can’t force students to take offline exams.

School education department has also made it clear that action will be taken against the schools that force students for offline exams without their consent.

The tussle between parents and management of several schools in Bhopal over offline exams has intensified.

Although CBSE has not asked any school to conduct only offline exams, several schools have forced parents to send their wards to school for the campus exams.

Parents have also complained against such schools to district administration.

DEO Bhopal, Nitin Tripathi said, “Schools can conduct offline exams, but they can’t force any parent for offline exams. If parents are not willing to send their children to campus, then school will have to conduct online exams. The rule is applicable for all boards in the state capital.”

Senior school education department officials said on the condition of anonymity that several parents have contacted them to seek their intervention.

“Parents have been told that they can file a complaint if schools have refused to conduct online exams and force parents for offline exams without their consent,” said an official.

Such is the situation that even the schools that kept their campuses closed till date have also forced the parents to send their children for offline exams.

“This is strange that on one side schools have kept their campuses closed, citing fear of a third wave and on the other side they are insisting that my children write their exams on campus only. I have never seen such kind of approach,” lamented a parent, Avinash Rao.

Parents also alleged that schools have also refused to provide bus facilities.

“My daughter’s school has opened the campus after announcement of the reopening by the state government. However, school authorities have not started school buses, saying it is not easy to handle primary school children in the bus. If they can’t handle them in the bus, then how would they do it in the class,” asked another parent, Anita Mukherjee.

MUHS declares postgraduate, diploma results in six days

MUHS declares postgraduate, diploma results in six days

Ranjan.Dasgupta@timesgroup.com

Nashik:17.09.2021

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) on Wednesday night declared the results of the summer 2021 post graduate (allopathy) and diploma (medical) offline examinations, just six days after the completion of the exams.

As many as 2,150 students had appeared for these exams and the pass percentage was over 95%. In the previous exam too the pass percentage was around 95% among about 2,000 students who had appeared.

MUHS authorities said this is one of the shortest periods in recent times that the examination department has announced the exam results.

“We were able to announce the results within six days due as the evaluation of the answer scripts started immediately after completion of the theory papers on August 23. We requested all examiners to complete checking the answer scripts as soon as possible. Each answer script is checked twice by two different examiners,” the university’s controller of examination, Dr Ajit Pathak, told TOI.

Pathak said acting vicechancellor, Nitin Karmalkar, had been guiding the examination department to declare the results speedily. Moreover, the department’s officials and staff worked even on holidays.

Govt puts cap on vehicle price, no high-end cars for university bigwigs

Govt puts cap on vehicle price, no high-end cars for university bigwigs

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:17.09.2021

The state government has capped the price for purchasing automobiles for university authorities. A government resolution to that effect has been passed and the upper limit for a vehicle for a vicechancellor (VC) has been set at Rs 12 lakh, which includes the cost of installing additional accessories and services. Similarly, the expenditure limit for a pro vice-chancellor’s car is Rs 10 lakh.

The GR caused ripples in the academic circles with heads of universities making frantic calls to Mantralaya to find out whether the rules would be applicable retrospectively too. “We have issued a resolution to ensure that university heads do not splurge on cars. After all, this money is collected from students’ fees,” minister for higher and technical education Uday Samant told TOI. “VCs are on a par with state secretaries and after due diligence, my team has issued the expenditure limit that all university authorities need to adhere to.”

VCs who have been enquiring regarding the application of rules on purchases already made, may have to wait for clarity. “The matter on whether university heads should personally pay the difference between the cost incurred and what is permitted for a car is pending before the higher education secretary,” said Samant.

Interestingly, the minister who toured several state universities noticed that most VCs had purchased very high-end vehicles “Our cabinet ministers travel in a car costing Rs 12 lakh. Our state’s chief secretary has a car costing Rs 15 lakh. But our VCs are traveling in cars ranging from Rs 45 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. We were worried that if a GR is not put in place, we will find VCs travelling in vehicles that will cost a crore,” said a source from the ministry.

Couple get twins on same date that their 2 kids died

Couple get twins on same date that their 2 kids died

Umamaheswara.Rao@timesgroup.com

Visakhapatnam:20.09.2021

T Appala Raju and Bhagyalakshmi, residents of Vizag, had lost both their daughters in one of Andhra’s worst boat accidents in the Godavari on September 15, 2019. About 50 people had drowned in the accident, the two little girls aged 3 and 1 were among the victims.

Exactly two years after the accident, on September 15, 2021, Bhagyalakshmi gave birth to twins. As fate would have it, both are daughters. The couple says it is God’s blessing to have twins on the same day they lost their daughters. Tragedy had hit Appala Raju and his family when a doubledecker launch had capsized after it was caught in a whirlpool midstream.

T Appala Raju & Bhagyalakshmi with their twins in Vizag

‘Newborns even have same features as of deceased sisters’

The couple had cancelled their trip at the last minute after Appala Raju, 32, , an employee in a glass manufacturing company, complained of uneasiness. However, they sent their two daughters, Geetha Vaishnavi, 3, and Dhatri Ananya, 1, with relatives for pilgrimage to the Sri Rama temple at Bhadrachalam on the banks of the Godavari. In all, there were 11 members from four families related to Appala Raju. Of them, only one had survived. Even as the tragedy continued to haunt the couple, on September 15, exactly two years after the mishap, Bhagyalakshmi, 28, was blessed with the twins.

Bhagyalakshmi told STOI, “The newborns even have the same features as of their (deceased) sisters. Both babies are doing well,” said Bhagyalakshmi. TNN