US returnee flees with swab from airport in Jharkhand

US returnee flees with swab from airport in Jharkhand

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jamshedpur:05.12.2021

A 28-year-old man who flew into Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur from the US on Friday created ruckus at the airport Covid test centre and eventually fled with his swab sample. Health department authorities got in touch with him over the phone on Saturday and requested him to come for the test, additional chief medical officer Sahir Pall said.

Not just this man, several other foreign returnees to Jamshedpur and the rest of East Singhbhum are not cooperating with health officials when it comes to Covid tests, sources said. Health officials have sought police help in making sure that the US returnee comes to a Covid test centre. Some returnees are switching off their phones soon after leaving the airport. Some others are sharing their international numbers with the authorities, sources said.

Heavy rain likely in 4 WB coastal districts

Heavy rain likely in 4 WB coastal districts

Prithvijit.Mitra@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:05.12.2021

Cyclone Jawad lost strength and weakened into a deep depression on Saturday even as it approached the Odisha coast and is set to recurve near Puri on Sunday afternoon and move towards Bengal coast, losing further strength. It may reach Bengal as a low-pressure or a cyclonic circulation on Sunday that will curb its impact a great deal, though heavy rain has still been predicted in some areas of the four coastal districts of the state. Kolkata could receive just light to moderate showers on Sunday.

Three factors led to Jawad losing its strength, said weather experts. First, the lack of a uniform ‘wind shear’ that was needed to keep the cyclone intact and make it move towards the coast. Secondly, north Bay of Bengal — over which the system is now hovering turns cool in December which cuts off the supply of moisture to cyclonic systems, rendering them weaker. Finally, cool winds have been blowing into the sea from the land which is making the system disintegrate.

“A cyclone is a mammoth system which needs to be pushed by a uniform wind speed which is now lacking. Disparate wind currents tend to break the system and leave it weaker, which has happened to Jawad. Due to low temperatures and cool winds, which now prevail over Bay of Bengal, cyclones are rare in December,” said Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) director GK Das.

With Jawad fizzling out as a cyclone, Kolkata is now set to receive just light to moderate rain on Sunday, instead of the very heavy showers that had been earlier predicted.

Full report on www.toi.in

Will India see Omicron wave? ‘It will be clear in 6 to 8 weeks’

Will India see Omicron wave? ‘It will be clear in 6 to 8 weeks’

Doctor: Have To Study If Omicron Displaces Delta As Dominant Variant

Malathy Iyer TNN

Mumbai  05.12.2021

: While Maharashtra’s first Omicron case has been detected in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, experts said it would take another six to eight weeks for an “Omicron wave”, if at all, to become apparent.

The state health machinery is going to use the time to focus on vaccination. State additional chief secretary (health) Dr Pradeep Vyas said, “We will focus on quickly completing the vaccination process and ensuring that people follow Covid-appropriate behavior, particularly proper wearing of face mask.”

Dr Shashank Joshi, a member of the state government’s Covid task force, said, “There are too many unknowns with the Omicron variant at the moment. We shouldn’t panic, but maintain a vigil. We have to study if Omicron in the next few weeks displaces the Delta variant (which caused the second wave in India) as the dominant variant in circulation.”

He said the next six to eight weeks are crucial to see how the Omicron variant behaves in India which has seen a wide exposure to the Delta variant. “Most Omicron cases are related to travel. We have to study clusters of cases in countries other than South Africa that may have developed after the first travel-related case. It will help us prepare,” added Dr Joshi.

Full report on www.toi.in

JABBED: A health worker administers a dose of Covid-19 vaccine to a beneficiary at a vaccination centre in Patna on Saturday

RT-PCR report must for Vaishno Devi visit

Reviewing precautionary measures taken in view of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has mandated for all visiting devotees to have verifiable RT-PCR reports not older than 72 hours, reports Sanjay Khajuria. Urging those taking up the pilgrimage not to let down their guard in the wake of a recent spike in Covid cases, SMVDSB chief executive officer Ramesh Kumar has appealed to the devotees to adhere to Covidappropriate behaviour and carry valid RT-PCR reports with them.

Patient accuses radiologist of sexually harassing her

Patient accuses radiologist of sexually harassing her

Madurai:05.12.2021

A radiologist at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) has been accused of sexually harassing a 24-yearold woman transplant patient from Madurai and an internal committee has conducted an inquiry based on her complaint. The committee has submitted the report to director of medical education Dr R Narayana Babu and further action is awaited.

According to sources, the woman had come to GRH on November 26 for a scan and was attended to by a radiologist at the hospital. She was asked to come the next day for another scan. However, on November 27, the radiologist allegedly sent the nurse out of the room and sexually harassed the woman on the pretext of examining her.

The woman subsequently filed a complaint with the government hospital. TNN

2 medicos among 3 dead in accident

3 OTHERS WOUNDED

2 medicos among 3 dead in accident

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Tirunelveli:05.12.2021

Three people, including two fourth year MBBS students of government Tirunelveli medical college hospital, died in an accident on Saturday morning when an SUV collided with their scooter at Reddiarpatti on the Madurai-Kanyakumari highway. A passenger seated next to the SUV’s driver also died on the spot. A third classmate, who was also riding pillion on the scooter, the driver of the SUV and another passenger were hospitalised with grievous injuries.

Police said the speeding SUV, which was heading for Tuticorin from Nagercoil, hit the median at a turn about 500m from Reddiarpatti Hill. “It rolled over a couple of times and stopped on the other side of the road where it hit the three students on a scooter,” deputy commissioner of police T P Suresh Kumar told TOI.

Students P Divya Gayathri, 21, of Avudayanoor in Tenkasi district and R Freeda Angelin Rani, 23, of Parasurampatti in Madurai, and passenger Shanmugasundaram, 41, of Kottar in Kanyakumari district died on the spot. K Divya Bala, 21, who was seated third on the scooter, sustained critical injuries to the head and thoracic area and was under ventilator support and but is said to be stable. Car driver Santhosh Kumar, 45, and another passenger were also out of danger. Santhosh Kumar was booked under various IPC sections including rash driving and causing death due to negligence.

Police said the women who were in uniform attended class till 9.45am. Their sudden deaths left their fellow students in tears as the bodies of the women were brought to the hospital for autopsy. Suresh Kumar said a committee will probe the accident and submit a report to the police commissioner.

TN nurse goes beyond call of duty, gives back life to accident victim

TN nurse goes beyond call of duty, gives back life to accident victim

Gokul.Rajendran@timesgroup.com

Mannargudi:05.12.2021

A 22-year-old college student who fell unconscious on the road after an accident got his life back, thanks to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) done by a nurse on the spot in Mannargudi on Friday. The video has gone viral.

M Vanaja, 39, of government headquarters hospital at Mannargudi was travelling in a car with her family from Madhukkur to Mannargudi on her weekly off when she saw the victim lying head down on the road near Lekkanampettai on Madhukkur road. Vasanth, a polytechnic student of Karuvakurichi who was riding a bike, had rammed into a herd of goats, skidded and fallen down.

Vanaja got off the car, cleared through the crowd which was looking at the man, and without any hesitation performed CPR on the youth. “He showed signs of life after 30 seconds of pressing. Usually, we require oxygen facility while applying CPR. In this case, I was ready to give him oral breathing but the youth himself breathed,” she told TOI. She said she continued the process for two more minutes. “Soon, he caught my hand due to the discomfort of pressing and opened his eyes,” Vanaja said. A 108 ambulance vehicle reached the spot and in the next few minutes Vasanth walked to it with Vanaja holding his hand. He was admitted to Thanjavur medical college hospital.

GOOD SAMARITAN: The video of M Vanaja performing CPR on Vasanth has gone viral

Social service outfit urges TN govt to regularise Vanaja’s job

As he hit his face and the forehead on the road, he became unconscious due to the shock. So we referred him for medical examination,” Vanaja said.

As the photographs and video of Vanaja saving the youth in the golden hour went viral, netizens overwhelmed her with wishes. A nursing diploma holder, she has been a contractual employee for the past one year and had recently undergone training in Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency care initiative (TAEI) in Trichy.

“The youth is safe now because of Vanaja’s timely action. The medical examination showed he has no life threatening injuries,” said Dr N Vijayakumar, chief medical officer of the hospital where Vanaja works.

Meanwhile, a social service organisation called ‘Nesakaram’ of Mannargudi bestowed Vanaja with the title “Nightingale of Mannargudi” at the hospital on Saturday. The outfit appealed to the state government to regularise her job.

NTR varsity staff, students up in arms against fund diversion Hans News Service

NTR varsity staff, students up in arms against fund diversion Hans News Service 

 1 Dec 2021 2:08 AM IST 

 Dr NTR University of Health Sciences employees protest against transfer of university funds to the government, on the university premises in Vijayawada on Monday 

HIGHLIGHTS JAC of students and faculty decides to boycott duties and classes from today Vijayawada: 

A Joint Action Committee (JAC) of students and faculty and staff of NTR University of Health Sciences on Tuesday decided to boycott the classes and other duties from December 1 in protest against the alleged diversion of university funds by the government. 

The JAC is alleging that the state government had diverted Rs 400 crore funds of the varsity from bank account to Andhra Pradesh Finance Services Corporation. The employees have demanded that the government immediately withdraw their funds from APFSC and deposit into their bank accounts. The employees are alleging that the cash starved state government may divert the funds for other purposes. 

The JAC of students, faculty and staff met at the varsity on Tuesday resolved to "protect the university and its funds" from the evil designs "at any cost". It said it would also meet the state Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan to apprise him of the situation. Leaders of the JAC accused the university authorities of succumbing to the pressure of the CMO in diverting the funds.

 The JAC consisted of all unions and associations of the university, they said. Education minister Audimulapu Suresh, however rebutted the charge to say "the government will not take away any university's funds if it has any problems. Anyway, this university does not fall under my purview". He went on to add that the state government had launched several welfare programmes for the students and 11 lakh students had been reimbursed Rs 650 crore so far under fee reimbursement programme. The government was sensitive to people's problems and stood by them always including during the troubled Covid-19 times, he added.

https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/vijayawada/ntr-varsity-staff-students-up-in-arms-against-fund-diversion-717690?infinitescroll=1

Non-Implementation Of EWS Reservation For Veterinary & Dental Courses Under KEAM: Kerala High Court Issues Notice

Non-Implementation Of EWS Reservation For Veterinary & Dental Courses Under KEAM: Kerala High Court Issues Notice: Delay in implementing EWS reservation to veterinary and dental course is infringement of Article 14 of the Constitution, states the plea.

Pension Shall Be Determined On Rules Existing At The Time Of Retirement: Supreme Court

Pension Shall Be Determined On Rules Existing At The Time Of Retirement: Supreme Court: The Supreme Court has observed that the pension payable to an employee on retirement shall be determined on the rules existing at the time of retirement. The Court also observed that the law did...

CU ranks first among all Indian state-run universities in QS Rankings

CU ranks first among all Indian state-run universities in QS Rankings

While CU is ranked first among all state-run universities in India, it occupies the third rank among all the universities in India.

Published: 04th November 2021 12:41 PM 

Calcutta University (Photo | Calcutta University Website)

By PTI

KOLKATA: Calcutta University has ranked on top above all state-run universities in the country in the QS Asia University Rankings 2022.

Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University Prof Sonali Chakraborty Banerjee said on Wednesday that while CU is ranked first among all state-run universities in India, it occupies the third rank among all the universities in India - first being Delhi University and second being JNU, both of them being Central universities.

"I got the information after the ranking 2022, Released by QS Rankings on Asian Universities, was out. We have to carry on the good work in academics," she said Calcutta University is ranked 154th in Asia.

In the QS Asia University Rankings 2022, the universities are ranked across 11 parameters including academics and employer reputation, the number of staff having PhD, proportion of students from abroad.

NTR varsity employees’ JAC boycotts duties

NTR varsity employees’ JAC boycotts duties

The survival of the university will become questionable if the government doesn’t return the amount to the University.

Published: 02nd December 2021 07:59 AM |

NTR University of Health Sciences

By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Intensifying their agitation against the alleged diversion of Rs 400 crore funds to Andhra Pradesh Financial Services Corporation (APFSC), the Joint Action Committee (JAC) leaders of Dr NTR University of Health Sciences boycotted their duties and participated in a protest at the university campus here on Wednesday.

JAC convener Venkata Narayana expressed his concern over the unilateral decision by vice-chancellor P Syam Prasad for diverting Rs 400 crore to APFSC, instead of developing the University on all fronts.

The V-C had no authority to divert funds and how can the government give only a meagre amount of Rs 5 crore per annum as against Rs 30 crore expenditure, including payment of salaries for the staff and other maintenance, the leaders said.

The survival of the university will become questionable if the government doesn’t return the amount to the University. Apart from that, students’ futures would also be affected, quality education and practicals could not be conducted, they added. JAC convenor also questioned who would guarantee the condition of the employees now that the salaries of contract employees would be stagnant.

Doctors protest delay in PG admissions

Doctors protest delay in PG admissions

In Chennai, resident doctors boycotted OP at Madras Medical College and Government Stanley Medical College.

Published: 02nd December 2021 06:36 AM 

Image of medical students attending class used for representation. (Photo | Vinod Kumar T, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Expressing solidarity with the the Federation of Resident Doctors Association, resident doctors in Tamil Nadu boycotted outpatient services on Wednesday due to delay in NEET PG-2021 admission counselling. The doctors said they will boycott non-emergency services from Thursday.

In Chennai, resident doctors boycotted OP at Madras Medical College and Government Stanley Medical College. One of the PG doctors at the Government Stanley Medical College said the delay was causing a lot of mental trauma to doctors who are waiting for the admissions. PG doctors on duty are also burdened with too much work in the absence of first year PG students.

“TN is also seeing a surge in dengue and fever cases. Apart from Covid-19, we have to deal with seasonal fevers also. If this continues, 2021 would be a zero academic year. Our protest is against the Union Government,” the doctor said. The counselling is delayed due to the case in the Supreme Court on EWS quota in All India Quota seats in PG medical admissions.

Why Make Examinations Larger-Than-Life Events?

THE SPEAKING TREE

Why Make Examinations Larger-Than-Life Events?

Pulkit Sharma

03.12.2021

It is commonplace to experience anxious thoughts, negative emotions, obsessive rituals, sleepless nights and butterflies in the stomach during examination time. Moderate levels of stress motivate us to work hard, overcome our limitations and give our best performance. However, when we are overly distressed, our worries can make us dysfunctional at the physical, emotional and behavioural levels. Consequently, an inner sense of vulnerability and hopelessness incapacitates us, stopping us from listening to the voice of reason. During this time, we may feel like a complete failure and see no hope in making an effort.

As a society which now believes firmly in competing, achieving and winning, we have erroneously turned examinations into larger-than-life events. We seem to have forgotten that an examination is just an innocuous assessment to tell us how well we have grasped a particular curriculum and where we need to improve in that specific programme. Whatever be the results of an examination, they can never change who we are and what we eventually do in our lives. Therefore, whenever we are stressed, we must remind ourselves that it is just one exam and in our long life, it is not going to be the end of the world. Life will give us many other chances to grow and evolve into a better person.

Letting go of this immense pressure, breathing out our worries and smiling freely during examinations is the right approach.

Comparing ourselves with others builds a lot of fear in our psyche and derails our progress. Rather than thinking about either defeating others or getting defeated by them, we should drop this unhealthy thought process and make self-perfection our long-term goal. Let us always strive to improve ourselves, working hard on overcoming our weaknesses and realising our inherent potential.

Give up smaller, mundane goals to pursue a higher ideal is the key. We can create a broad vision by visualising a better self imagining a healthy body, a strong mind, a happier self, harmonious relationships and a meaningful life. Reminding ourselves of this vision and working on it consistently will take us closer to the transcendent point of psychic evolution.

At a larger level, we also need to introspect and reform our education system. We seem to be teaching children almost everything apart from who they are, what the purpose of their birth is, how they can fulfil it, and how they can know themselves better. These questions are generally dismissed as being too esoteric for young minds and it is implied that such concerns fall outside the purview of modern education systems. But without such opportunities for inner reflection and deeper self-knowledge, our children end up wasting their energies in trivial pursuits and worrying about pointless things. Later in life, when some of them realise this, it is too difficult for them to abandon flawed assumptions and start afresh.

We need our children to be in a perpetual state of fulfilment, growth, tranquillity and joy regardless of the ups and downs of their life. Therefore, let us think of ways to empower them so that they awaken from their present state of ignorance and pursue the fullness inherent within them.

The writer is a clinical psychologist in Puducherry

Expensive tests at airport

Expensive tests at airport

02/12/2021

As stricter COVID-19 testing norms at airports kicked in from Wednesday, passengers from “at-risk” countries had to brace for massive queues, long waiting time for test results and missed connecting flights.

Their only way out was to pay for the expensive Rapid PCR test that cost up to ₹4,500 — nearly nine times the regular test.

Resident doctors boycott OPD over NEET-PG counselling delay

Resident doctors boycott OPD over NEET-PG counselling delay

Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors’ Association has called for a Statewide agitation

02/12/2021

Seeking a remedy: Members of the resident doctors’ association staging a dharna at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Wednesday. B. JOTHI RAMALINGAMB. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

Several postgraduate medical students, under the banner of Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors’ Association, boycotted outpatient department (OPD) services as a sign of protest over the delay in holding counselling for NEET-PG 2021.

As part of the Statewide protest, the resident doctors decided to stay away from OPD services from Wednesday until their demand to conduct counselling was met. In Chennai, the doctors staged demonstrations at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) and the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.

While the NEET-PG was held in September, counselling had not been conducted because of a case in the Supreme Court over the EWS quota. “First, the NEET-PG was postponed and held in September. Now, the counselling has been delayed. This led to washout of an entire academic year for medical students,” said a doctor at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.

Faced with financial constraints, many aspirants were in a dilemma as to whether to wait for counselling or take up employment.

“The next court hearing is scheduled to be held in January. It will take another two or three months [to get a clear picture]. So, the government should conduct counselling on an urgent basis by following the existing reservation structure,” a resident doctor of RGGGH said.

The association urged the Centre and the Supreme Court to take note of the grievance of resident doctors and take steps to expedite NEET-PG counselling as well as the admission process and speed up court proceedings.

The delay in admission had caused a strain on the existing resident doctors. They said the workload of the existing postgraduate doctors had increased as they were involved in COVID-19 vaccination, flood relief camps and dengue management.

DVAC search at house of former MKU Controller of Examination

DVAC search at house of former MKU Controller of Examination

Documents of 22 vehicles and properties seized

02/12/2021

Special Correspondent MADURAI

Sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption on Wednesday seized documents of 22 vehicles and properties from the residence of former Controller of Examination, Madurai Kamaraj University, O. Ravi, 57, who has been charged with amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

A day after DVAC DSP M. Sathyaseelan filed a first information report against Ravi and his wife Sumathi on Tuesday under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Inspectors A. Kannan, K. Kumaraguru, A. Ambrose and T. Suryakala conducted a surprise house search during which the documents were seized.

A DVAC source said 18 rental vehicles, including 12 vans, were registered in the name of Sumathi, a homemaker. Besides, they found documents of properties in the name of Sumathi, their daughter and son-in-law.

Ravi is now the Principal of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar College, Usilampatti.

Based on specific information, DVAC conducted an investigation into his income and wealth between July 2013 and June 2020 and found that the family had acquired wealth of ₹2.91 crore over and above the known sources of income.

CBSE exam question on 2002 riots causes stir

CBSE exam question on 2002 riots causes stir

It violated guidelines, says CBSE

02/12/2021

Priscilla Jebaraj NEW DELHI

A question in the Class 12 Board examination of the CBSE on sociology on Wednesday has created a stir. “The unprecedented scale and spread of anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002 took place under which Government?” asked question no. 23 in the sociology paper. The choices offered to students were: “(a) Congress (b) BJP (c) Democratic (d) Republican.”

“A question has been asked in today’s Class 12 sociology Term 1 exam which is inappropriate and in violation of the CBSE guidelines for external subject experts for setting question papers. The CBSE acknowledges the error made and will take strict action against the responsible persons,” said a statement on the CBSE’s Twitter handle.

Several teachers said the question was within the syllabus. In the textbook “Indian Society”, a chapter on “The challenges of cultural diversity” includes a section on communalism.

“To the extent that Governments can be held responsible for communal riots, no Government or ruling party can claim to be blameless in this regard,” says a paragraph on page 134 of the text approved by the NCERT.

“In fact, the two most traumatic contemporary instances of communal violence occurred under each of the major political parties. The anti-Sikh riots of Delhi in 1984 took place under a Congress regime. The unprecedented scale and spread of anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002 took place under a BJP Government.”

Another teacher who has previously set questions for the CBSE agreed that the question was within the syllabus, but noted that the Board’s guidelines for examination papers were more restrictive. “Ensure that the questions should be class-neutral, religion-neutral, not touching the controversial, social, political, critical issues under the prevailing conditions in the country,” say the guidelines seen by The Hindu.

Problems galore in BU Syndicate election

Problems galore in BU Syndicate election

02/12/2021

Special CorrespondentCoimbatore

Election of four persons to the Bharathiar University Syndicate, it appears, is running into problems.

In October this year, the University issued a notification to elect four persons to the Syndicate – two from the teachers’ constituency and a like number from the principals’ constituency in the Senate. It had said that November 9 would be the last date for receipt of nomination and November 16 the date for withdrawal of nominations and the election will be held on December 8.

Earlier, the University had accepted applications for inclusion of names in the voters’ list for the two constituencies.

After the University published the list of candidates in the fray in the teachers’ constituency, it came to light that one of the contestants – D. Gnana Senthil Kumar, a faculty of a self-financed college in Tiruppur district, was not even a voter in the teachers’ constituency.

Clerical error

When this was raised with the University authorities, the reply was that Mr. Kumar was very much a voter in the teachers’ constituency and the failure to include his name in the voters’ list was a clerical error.

The second, according to sources, was a few persons had approached the University to include names of 22 persons who were either principals or principals in-charge in self-financed colleges but were not in the voters’ list.

After the move came to light, the Association of University Teachers objected to it saying inclusion of names after the finalisation of voters’ list, notification of election and finalisation of candidates was illegal.

The Association’s State president P. Thirunavukkarasu, in his note to Vice Chancellor P. Kaliraj, said as per election rules, inclusion of names at such a very late stage in election was arbitrary and illegal.

The final electoral rolls the University had published on November 8 was final.

Objection

Sources said one of the four contestants in the fray in the principals’ constituency objected to the inclusion of names in electoral rolls.

Vice-Chancellor Mr. Kaliraj said it was true that a move was made to update the rolls. But the University had decided against it because it had had given ample time for updating electoral rolls in both the constituencies.

As for the candidature of Mr. Kumar, Mr. Kaliraj said the application for inclusion of his name in voters’ list was submitted well before the deadline.

HC rejects student’s plea for govt seat

HC rejects student’s plea for govt seat

BDS Candidate Wanted To Swap Pvt Seat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:03.12.2021

The high court rejected a petition filed by a student seeking permission to participate in the mop-up round of counselling to get a government seat. He is already enrolled in Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course at Sri Jagadguru Murugarajendra Dental College and Hospital, Chitradurga, under private quota.

P Prajwal from Bengaluru contended that many students less meritorious than him were allowed to participate in the mop-up round.

However, a division bench headed by Justice Alok Aradhe said the petitioner had participated in counselling, been allotted a seat and even paid admission fee. “He has no right to seek a government seat after having taken admission in the first round under private quota,” the bench observed. It said Prajwal had neither furnished details of the “less meritorious” candidates nor impleaded them in the writ petition.

Prajwal appeared for NEET 2020 and secured an all-India rank of 2,14,774. He participated in counselling and was allotted a private quota seat. He paid the fee and joined the college in Chitradurga. However, Prajwal claimed he learnt through an RTI plea that many candidates less meritorious than him were allotted government seats in the course during the mop-up round. He subsequently approached the court seeking a direction to consider his candidature for a government seat and adjust the excess fee paid.

‘Deadline over’

Counsel for the government and Karnataka Examinations Authority said the petitioner was allotted a seat in the first round of counselling under private quota and the last date for admission to the course was now over.

Centre, UGC told to decide college status

The high court directed the central government and University Grants Commission to pass within two months a reasoned order on the status of Rajarajeshwari Medical College and Hospital (RRMCH), Bengaluru.

A division bench headed by Justice Alok Aradhe said both have to comply with the procedural mandate contained in UGC Regulations, 2016, and decide on inclusion of the college under the ambit of Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, a deemed-to-be university, after taking into account the state government’s views.

The bench noted that in this case, the procedure was not followed as UGC did not take into account views of the government and approved and forwarded to the Centre an expert committee’s recommendation. Based on this, on February 14, 2019, the Centre issued a notification transferring RRMCH to the Chennai-based institution.

On November 3, 2020, a single-judge bench quashed the Centre’s order. The bench pointed out that UGC shouldn’t have made a recommendation without considering Karnataka’s objections.

A direction was also issued for restoring the medical college to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bengaluru. The plea of Moogambikai Charitable and Educational Trust, Bengaluru, was dismissed.

The trust managing RRMCH had challenged the state government’s May 16, 2019, order and the June 29, 2019, decision of RGUHS not to allow disaffiliation of the college. TNN

SA traveller, B’luru doctor are India’s first Omicron patients

SA traveller, B’luru doctor are India’s first Omicron patients

46-Yr-Old Indian Had No Recent Travel History

Sunitha Rao & Sushmi Dey TNN

Bengaluru/New Delhi: 03.12.2021

India’s first Omicron-infected Covid-19 patients have been detected in Karnataka.

One of them is a 66-yearold flyer from South Africa while the other is a 46-yearold anaesthetist from Bengaluru, the health ministry said on Thursday. Fear of the variant is high, given concerns over its transmissibility and ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity.

“We are tracing three types of contacts — primary, secondary and tertiary. We have already traced the remotest contacts of these two cases,” said Sujeet Kumar Singh, director of the National Centre for Disease Control.

The anaesthetist tested positive on November 22 and five of his contacts tested positive between November 22 and 25, Karnataka health officials said. Their samples have been sent for sequencing. Officials said an absence of travel history for the doctor suggests the presence of the new variant in the community.

The doctor and his contacts are in hospital isolation.

‘6 boosters safe after Covishield shots’

Six different Covid-19 boosters are safe and provoke strong immune response in people who have received a two-dose course of Covishield, the first randomised phase-2 trial of boosters published in The Lancet shows. Apart from the Covishield and Pfizer shots, Novavax, Janssen, Moderna, VLA2001 (Valneva) and CVnCov (Curevac) were studied. P 7

Let us not fear or panic, let us all be responsible: Govt

Thirteen of the doctor’s primary contacts and 205 secondary ones have been traced so far.

The 66-year-old South African national travelled from his country, labelled ‘at risk’, on November 20. Asked to self-isolate at a city hotel, he left on November 27 for Dubai before authorities got the results of his genome sequencing. The two Omicron patients showed only mild symptoms. Both were double-vaccinated.

The new Omicron variant of SARS-CoV2 — first reported by South Africa — is spreading rapidly in many countries and appears to be outcompeting other variants in transmissibility. “The new variant is possibly around 500% more competitively infectious,” said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the health ministry.

Omicron is “heavily mutated” with 45-52 amino acid changes across the whole genome and 26-32 changes in the spike protein — the part that attaches to human cells — Agarwal said, underlining that the variant is considered to be highly transmissible, and has improved binding affinity.

However, on the upside, all Omicron patients are found to have mild symptoms so far. The government said the situation is being closely examined and all issues including a ban on international flights is under discussion within the technical and scientific circles. “Let us not fear or panic, let us all be responsible. It is an unfolding situation and we are all learning,” said VK Paul, member health, NITI Aayog.

Officials emphasised that the tools to combat even the new variant remain the same. While full vaccination was underlined as a must to protect against severe disease, officials also stressed on the need to wear masks and adhere to other Covid-appropriate behaviour.

The Bengaluru municipal corporation has traced 264 persons in contact with the man from South Africa and none of them tested positive. In the anaesthetist’s case, a total of 218 contacts have been traced and five of them have tested positive, including three primary contacts and two secondary ones.

› COVID CASES DOUBLE IN A DAY IN SOUTH AFRICA, P 15

Now, book an Uber on WhatsApp

GLOBAL-FIRST INTEGRATION

Now, book an Uber on WhatsApp

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:03.12.2021

Uber has partnered with WhatsApp to allow people to book a ride via Uber’s WhatsApp chatbot. The service is first being launched in India, and Lucknow will be the first city to experience it.

Nandini Maheshwari, senior director of business development in Uber Asia Pacific, said, “We want to make it as easy as possible for all Indians to take an Uber trip, and to do that we need to meet them on platforms they are comfortable with. We are thrilled at this global-first integration for Uber, and look forward to rolling it out across India.”

Ther service is built on WhatsApp Business Platform. Abhijit Bose, head of WhatsApp India, said the WhatsApp Business Platform has been an important lever for businesses that want to build a direct connect with their consumers. “The Uber experience on WhatsApp is simple, familiar, and relatable for users and has the potential to accelerate adoption of Uber with a new category of riders in India,” he said. With this integration, riders will no longer need to download or use the Uber app. From user registration to booking a ride, and getting a trip receipt will be managed within the WhatsApp chat interface.

WhatsApp users can book an Uber ride through three simple ways: messaging to Uber’s business account number; scanning a QR code; or clicking a link directly to open an Uber WhatsApp chat. They will then be asked to provide pickup and drop off locations. Users will receive upfront fare information and the driver’s expected time of arrival.

The companies said that riders will get the same safety features and insurance protections as those who book trips via the Uber app directly. Drivers on Uber’s platform will see no change in their experience with rides booked via WhatsApp.

PG medicos strike to continue

PG medicos strike to continue

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.12.2021

Outpatient services at medical college hospitals in Tamil Nadu were largely unaffected on day two of the protests by resident doctors against delay in NEET postgraduate counselling.

Assistant professors, MBBS doctors (recruited on contract basis) and interns were deployed to take care of the outpatient department and wards in in hospitals of the city.

Given that there was no response from the Union government regarding NEET PG counselling dates, the protesting doctors in the state have announced that they will be boycotting elective surgeries at operation theatres in addition to outpatient and ward services on Friday.

“We ensured that emergency services are intact. Enough doctors will be available at TN Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI) wards, surgical Intensive Care Units (ICUs), toxicology wards, Intermediate Care Units (IMCUs) and Intermediate Respiratory Care Units (IRCUs),” said R Vignesh from Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association (TNRDA).

MBBS student alleges gang-rape in Alwar; 1 held, other on the run

MBBS student alleges gang-rape in Alwar; 1 held, other on the run

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Alwar:02.12.2021

The Alwar police on Wednesday arrested a 22-yearold youth after a 20-year-old MBBS student alleged that she was gang-raped on Tuesday evening.

Police have identified the main accused as one Ravi Choudhary, while the second accused, Ravindra Choudhary, is currently on the run. Police are also investigating the involvement of the girl’s batchmate in the case.

The Alwar police claimed that the entire incident took place when the girl’s batchmate invited her to the wedding of his sister in Alwar. The batchmate sent his friends Ravi and Ravindra in a car to bring her to the city for the function.

Instead of taking her to the wedding venue, Ravi allegedly took the girl to a hotel where he raped her while Ravindra stood guard outside the room.

The girl sought help and went to a nearby police station on Tuesday evening where she narrated her ordeal.

Probe against friend who sent invitation

Alwar: The girl sought help and went to a nearby police station on Tuesday evening where she narrated her ordeal. Police recorded her statements on Wednesday, following which they arrested prime accused Ravi Choudhary.

The case is being investigated by additional SP Rameshwar Choudhary.

A medical examination was held on Wednesday.

While Ravi Choudhary has been identified as the main accused in the case, investigation is also underway against the girl’s batchmate who invited her to the wedding.

Both Ravindra and the girl’s batchmate have been booked for aiding the crime. The preliminary investigation indicated that the girl and her batchmate, both hailing from the same city, were studying MBBS at a foreign university.

Jr docs threaten to boycott all services from Dec 4

Jr docs threaten to boycott all services from Dec 4

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:02.12.2021

Junior doctors at the state-run Gandhi Hospital and Osmania General Hospital (OGH) boycotted outpatient (OP) services on Wednesday over repeated delay in NEET counselling by the Centre. The OP boycott would continue for two more days and the Telangana Junior Doctors’ Association (TJUDA) has threatened to extend it to all services from December 4 if the Centre failed to act.

On Wednesday, the patients were only partially affected, but if junior doctors go ahead with their threat then things would become difficult for patients from December 4. “The impact of boycott on Wednesday was not felt sharply as patient footfall has been less for last two days. It might be due to the news of the new variant of Covid-19. Instead of 5 doctors manning a department, today 2-3 were present. It only caused a delay of 30-40 minutes,” said a source at Gandhi Hospital.

“While we only boycotted OP services today, if no measures are taken by government to speed up the process, we’ll escalate the protest after meeting with all other RDAs. Currently, other staff were able to handle most departments, but if we extend it to all services then it’ll be difficult to manage,” said TJUDA president Dr Sagar Dharmula.

Junior doctors protest at Gandhi Hospital

On holiday plans, domestic flyers wait and watch for now

On holiday plans, domestic flyers wait and watch for now

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:02.12.2021

Demand for domestic travel had peaked in the past two months during the festive season and the year was supposed to end with a bang, what with travellers making advance bookings for the year-end holiday. But the Maharashtra government directive that made RT-PCR reports mandatory for all inter-state arrivals has left many year-end travel plans in a limbo, say travel industry insiders.

“The major concern is about spending January 1 queueing up at Goa’s testing centres and hospitals to undergo an RT-PCR test. The next day is a Sunday, most testing places in Goa would be closed. Most passengers are booked to return to Mumbai on Sunday evening and Monday morning,” said a travel agent. He added that passengers booked on the domestic sector have adopted a wait-and-watch policy. “We’re expecting some air ticket cancellations in the coming weeks, but people might not entirely abandon their year-end plans. We expect inter-state road travel to pick up. The past two peaks have shown that RT-PCR reports aren’t checked diligently on roads,” he added.

Currently, the cheapest return ticket for year-end travel on non-stop flights between Mumbai and Goa — the most popular year-end route — starts at Rs 11,000. Prashant Pitti, co-foundrf EaseMyTrip, said they had witnessed more than 400% jump in advance air ticket bookings for Decmber. “About 65-75% of travellers have opted for the full-refund booking options since the second wave, and with the new variant, this number is expected to grow in the coming weeks,” he added.

The major concern is about spending January 1 queueing up at Goa’s testing centres and hospitals to undergo an RT-PCR test. The next day is a Sunday, most testing places in Goa would be closed

SC: Doctors can’t be always blamed for negligence in deaths

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:02.12.2021

The Supreme Court has said that a hospital cannot be held liable for negligence if operation of a patient is delayed because of nonavailability of operation theatres and ruled that doctors also cannot be always blamed if a patient did not favourably respond to treatment or a surgery failed.

Setting aside the order National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission which held Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre and its doctors liable for medical negligence for death of a patient, a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and V Ramasubramanian said that the fault cannot always be fastened on the doctors and hospital if a patient did not survive. It said that delay in conducting some medical test due to fault in machine can also not be said to be negligence on the part of the doctor or the hospital, saying “Any machine can become non-functional because of innumerable factors beyond the human control as the machines involve various mechanical, electrical and electronic components”

“No fault can be attached to the hospital if the operation theatres were occupied when the patient was taken for surgery. Operation theatres cannot be presumed to be available at all times. Therefore, non-availability of an emergency operation theatre during the period when surgeries were being performed on other patients is not a valid ground to hold the Hospital negligent in any manner,” the bench said...

Exam controller held for role in rigging TET

Exam controller held for role in rigging TET

‘Gave Contract To Firm That Had No Infra’

Pathikrit Chakraborty@timesgroup.com

Lucknow:02.12.2021

The exam regulatory authority (ERA) secretary, Sanjay Kumar Upadhyay, who was on Tuesday suspended for his role in the UPTET question paper leak, was arrested in Lucknow after a protracted interrogation that stretched well past midnight. The UP special task force (UPSTF) formally arrested him at 3am on Wednesday and sent him to prison by noon.

A 1995 batch Provincial Civil Services (PCS) officer, Upadhyay’s complicity in the paper leak was exposed during questioning of the director of RSM Finserv Ltd, the Delhi-based firm contracted to print Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) question papers. The director, Rai Anup Prasad, who was arrested in Noida late Tuesday, had told interrogators that Upadhyay was instrumental in handing over the contract to his company on October 26.

Confirming Upadhyay’s arrest, additional director general of police, law and order, Prashant Kumar told TOI that no accused would be spared and the gang’s network would be dismantled.

Senior superintendent of police, STF, Hemraj Meena said, “RSM Finserv Ltd based in Delhi’s Greater Kailash-II neither had infrastructure nor resources to print question papers on such a large scale. And the firm’s laxity led to a comprise in secrecy protocols enabling infiltration by the solver’s mafia. The government has instituted an inquiry against Upadhyay, who handed out work order without checking the Delhi fir m’s antecedents.”

On November 28, Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test (UPTET) was cancelled after a question paper was leaked on social media, triggering arrests of 37 accused till late Wednesday. At least 20lakh lakh students were scheduled to write the exam at 2,736 centres in two shifts.

Another TET conduit arrested in Aligarh

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:02.12.2021

Continuing its crackdown on those who rigged UPTET exams, UP special task force (UPSTF) on Wednesday arrested another accused, Gaurav Kumar, from Aligarh. Gaurav, who was picked from the city’s Malroz intersection, had bought question papers from the solver’s syndicate just hours before the exam and circulated them among TET aspirants for Rs 2 lakh each.

Senior superintendent of police, STF, Hemraj Meena, said, during interrogation Gaurav claimed to have bought the question papers from two other conduits, Nirdosh Singh and Vishnu for Rs 5 lakh. “He passed it on to his friends, Dharmendra Malik, Ravi Pawar, Manish Malik and Ajay for distribution in Mathura for big kickbacks. Gaurav got hold of the leaked papers just before the exam and sold them for Rs 2lakh,” said Meena.

Gaurav confessed he met Nirdosh through his brother, Updesh, who was his batchmate in AMU during 2011-12. “Updesh had told him that any online and offline examination could be easily cracked with Nirdosh’s expertise,” Gaurav told police. STF sources said Gaurav’s other aides will be tracked down and arrested soon.