வார்த்தை வன்முறை!

நடுப்பக்கக் கட்டுரைகள்

வார்த்தை வன்முறை!

DINAMANI 20.05.2025

பூ விற்கும் இரண்டு பெண்களுக்குள் ஏதோ தகராறு. இருவரும் மாறிமாறி திட்டிக் கொண்டார்கள். சண்டை என்னவோ இவர்கள் இருவரிடையேதான். ஆனால், தேவையே இல்லாமல் இருவரும் அடுத்தவரின் குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்களைப் பற்றி மிகவும் அசிங்கமாகப் பேசத் தொடங்கிவிட்டார்கள். அவர்களைக் கடந்து சென்றவர்கள் முகம் சுளித்துக் கொண்டே சென்றார்கள்.

ஓர் அடுக்குமாடிக் குடியிருப்பு. படித்த மேல்தட்டு மக்கள் வசிக்கும் குடியிருப்பு. எதற்காகவோ இரண்டு பெண்களுக்குள் பிரச்னை. அங்கும் வார்த்தைகள் வரம்பு மீற ஆரம்பித்து, தடித்த சொற்கள் விழ ஆரம்பித்தன. சிறிது நேரத்தில் அந்த வீட்டு ஆண்களும் சேர்ந்துகொள்ள காதுகூசும் அளவுக்கு வசவுகள். இங்கே கொஞ்சம் ஆங்கிலம், மீதி தமிழ். மற்றபடி அந்த படிக்காத பெண்களுக்கும் இவர்களுக்கும் எந்த வேறுபாடும் இல்லை.

கோபம் வந்தால் எல்லா மனிதர்களும் தன்னிலை மறந்து போகிறார்கள். இதுவே வாய்மொழி வன்முறை என்பதாகும். வன்முறை என்றால் என்ன? மனிதர்களால் உடல் ரீதியான பலத்தையோ அல்லது சக்தியையோ பயன்படுத்தி பிற உயிரினங்களுக்கு தீங்கு விளைவிப்பதையும், அவமானம், வலி, காயம், இயலாமை, சொத்துகளுக்கு சேதம் மற்றும் மரணத்தை ஏற்படுத்துவது, ஒரு சமுதாயத்தின் வாழும் சூழலுக்கு அழிவை ஏற்படுத்துவது ஆகிய இவையே வன்முறை என வரையறுக்கப்படுகிறது. ஒருவரை அடித்து துவைப்பது மட்டுமே வன்முறை அல்ல. கத்தியால் குத்திக் கொல்வதோ, துப்பாக்கியால் சுட்டுக் கொல்வதோ, வெடிகுண்டு வீசிக் கூண்டோடு அழிப்பதோ மட்டும் வன்முறை என்று கட்டம் போட்டுவிடக் கூடாது. வாய்மொழி வன்முறையும் பலருக்கு மிகப்பெரிய மனக் காயத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும். மற்றவர் முன்னிலையில் கேலி செய்வது; மட்டம் தட்டிப் பேசுவது; அவர் பேச விரும்பாத விஷயத்தைப் பேசுவது; குத்திக்காட்டிப் பேசுவது; அவமானப்படுத்தும் நோக்கில் பேசுவது; அபாண்டமான குற்றச்சாட்டைச் சுமத்துவது ஆகிய அனைத்தும் வன்முறையே.

ஒருவருடைய இனம், நிறம், வயது, தோற்றம், இயலாமை, மொழி, மதம், நம்பிக்கை, பாலினம் ஆகியவற்றின் அடிப்படையில் இழிவாகப் பேசினால் அது குற்றம். வார்த்தை என்பது ஒலிகளின் ஓசை மட்டுமா? அது எழுத்துகளின் சேர்க்கை. வார்த்தைகள் என்பது சொற்களின் கோர்வை. ஆகவே, சொற்களை கோக்கும்போது நம் சொற்களில் கவனம் இருக்க வேண்டும். மனிதர்களின் நாக்கு கத்தியைவிடக் கூர்மையானது. மோசமான நாக்கு ஒருவரின் நம்பிக்கையை சிதைக்கும்; பெருமையைப் பொசுக்கும்; உள்ளத்தில் ஆறாத ரணத்தை உண்டாக்கும்; பழியைச் சுமத்தும்; புகழைக் கெடுக்கும்; ஊரையே அவருக்கு எதிராகத் திருப்பி, புழுதிவாரி தூற்ற வைக்கும்.

சிதறாத வார்த்தைகள் சீரான வாழ்க்கையைத் தரும். வாய்தவறி விழும் பேச்சுகள், கைதவறி விழும் கண்ணாடியைவிடக் கூர்மையானவை. ஒருவரிடம் நாம் பேசும்போது நாம் என்ன அர்த்தத்தில் பேசுகிறோம் என்பதைவிட, நாம் கூறுவதைக் கேட்பவர் எந்த அர்த்தத்தில் அதைப் புரிந்துகொள்வார் என்பதைக் கவனித்துப் பேச வேண்டும். ஒரே வார்த்தையில் அதிகபட்ச மகிழ்ச்சியையும், ஒரே வார்த்தையில் கடும் வேதனையையும் தரும் வல்லமை படைத்தது நம் நாக்கு. நாம் நெருக்கமானவர்களிடம் நம்பி சொன்ன வார்த்தைகளை, மூன்றாம் மனிதர் வாயால் நாம் கேட்கும்போது அவமானப்படுகிறது நம் நம்பிக்கை. பல சமயம் யோசிக்காமல் கடும் சொற்களை வீசிவிட்டுப் பின்னர் வருந்துகிறோம். மெüனம் பல சண்டைகளைத் தடுக்கும். எந்தச் சூழ்நிலையிலும் நம் சிறந்த பதில் ஒரு புன்னகை. நம்மைத் தவறாக புரிந்துகொள்பவர்களிடம், புறக்கணிப்பவர்களிடம், புண்படுத்துபவர்களிடமும் அமைதியே நம் பதிலாக இருக்கட்டும்.

சுமுகமான சூழ்நிலை இல்லாத இடத்தில் நாம் மெüனத்தைக் கடைப்பிடிக்கும்போது சண்டையிடாமல், விவாதிக்காமல், உணர்ச்சிவசப்பட்டு கட்டுப்பாட்டை இழக்காமல் நம்மைக் கட்டுப்படுத்திக்கொள்ள முடியும். மெüனத்தின்மூலம் நம் எதிர்ப்பைப் பலமாகக் காட்ட முடியும். மெüனமும், புன்னகையும்தான் இந்த உலகில் மிகவும் சக்தி வாய்ந்த ஆயுதங்கள். புன்னகை பிரச்னைகளைத் தீர்க்கும்; மெüனமோ பிரச்னைகளே வரவிடாமல் தடுக்கும். நம் மெüனத்தைக் கண்டு பயப்படுவார்கள். நாம் ஆழமாகக் காயப்பட்டு இருக்கிறோம் என்பதையும் நம் மெüனம் உணர்த்தும். யோசிக்காமல் சட்டென ஒரு வார்த்தையைப் பேசிவிட்டதால் முறிந்து போன உறவுகளும், நட்பும் ஏராளமாக இருக்கக்கூடும். அந்த விநாடியில்அந்த வார்த்தை தவிர்க்கப்பட்டிருந்தால், பல இன்னல்கள் காணாமல் போயிருக்கும்.

இப்போது அதிக நா கட்டுப்பாடு அரசியல் புள்ளிகளுக்கும், தொண்டர்களுக்கும் அவசியம் வேண்டும். தேர்தல் நெருங்க நெருங்க விவாதங்களும், விமர்சனங்களும் சூடுபிடிக்க ஆரம்பித்துவிடும். நாள்தோறும் காட்சி ஊடகங்கள் அனைத்தும் அரசியல் நிலைமை குறித்த நிகழ்ச்சிகளை நடத்துகின்றன. அது என்ன மாயமோ தெரியவில்லை. அவர்களுக்காகவே தினம் ஒரு பிரச்னை வந்துவிடுகிறது. பேசுபவர்கள் அனைவரும் தங்கள் கட்சிகளின் நிலைப்பாட்டை எடுத்துரைக்கிறார்கள். காரசாரமான விவாதங்கள்; வார்த்தை தாக்குதல்கள்; கட்டுக்கடங்காத கோபம் என அந்த விவாதம் வேறொரு பரிமாணம் எடுத்துவிடுகிறது. அவர்களைக் கட்டுப்படுத்த நெறியாளர்கள் மிகவும் சிரமப்படுகிறார்கள். கத்தி கூச்சல் போடுகிறார்கள். சட்டென உணர்ச்சிவசப்படுகிறார்கள்.

மக்கள் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள் என்பதை நினைவில் நிறுத்திக்கொண்டு பேச வேண்டுமல்லவா? இவர்கள் இடத்தில் அந்தந்த கட்சித் தலைவர்களே இருந்தால்கூட அவர்கள் இந்த அளவுக்குக் கூச்சல்போட மாட்டார்கள். கண்ணியம் காக்கப்படல் வேண்டும். கொள்கைக்காக கொடி பிடிக்கலாம். ஆனால், எவரையும் இழிவாகவோ, அநாகரிகமாகவோ தரம்தாழ்த்திப் பேசக் கூடாது. வெறுப்பு அரசியல் என்னும் நோய்த்தொற்று அதிவேகமாக பரவிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. இது பகை அரசியலாக வளர்ந்திருக்கிறது. அவரவர் கருத்துகளைச் சொல்லட்டும். கருத்து வேறுபாடும், கருத்து முரணும் பகைக்கு வித்தாகிவிட வேண்டுமா? தவறான தகவல்களுடன் இணைந்த வெறுப்புப் பேச்சு, பெரிய அளவிலான வன்முறைக்கு வழிவகுக்கும். சென்ற தலைமுறை அரசியல் தலைவர்கள் கொள்கைகளில் மாறுபட்டார்கள். ஆனால், அதைத் தாண்டிய நட்பும், மரியாதையும் அவர்களிடையே இருந்தது. மேடை நாகரிகத்தை அவர்கள் மீறியதில்லை.

தற்போது மேடையில் பேசுபவர்களும், சமூக ஊடங்களில் பேசுபவர்களும் மிகவும் எச்சரிக்கையுடன் பேச வேண்டும். தவறான ஒரு சொல் ஒரு பெரிய பிரளயத்தையே ஏற்படுத்திவிடும். இனியாவது, நம் அரசியல் களம் கொள்கைகளைப் பேசும் களமாக இருக்கட்டும். வீட்டு சண்டையின்போதும் சட்டென பேச்சு கடுமையாகிப் போய்விடுகிறது. வாய் வார்த்தை வளர்ந்து சர்ச்சைக்கு வித்திடுகிறது. கணவன்-மனைவி, மாமியார்-மருமகள், மருமகன்-மாமனார், சகோதரசகோதரிகள் இடையே சண்டை வரும்போது அதை கவனிக்கும் குழந்தைகள் அதிகம் பாதிக்கப்படுகிறார்கள். இது அவர்களின் மனநிலையைப் பாதித்து, படிப்பில் இருக்கும் நாட்டத்தையும் குறைத்துவிடுகிறது. வீட்டில் அமைதியான, இனிமையான சூழல் இருந்தால் மட்டுமே குழந்தைகளின் ஆளுமைத் திறன் அதிகரிக்கும். அனைவரும் எதிராளிக்கு சமமாக நின்று பேச முடியாது; பேசத் தெரியாது. சண்டை போடப் பிடிக்காத அவர்கள் சகித்துக் கொண்டு மெüனமாக இருந்துவிடுவார்கள். யார் பக்கம் சரி, யார் பக்கம் உண்மை உள்ளது என்பது அபாண்டமாகப் பேசுபவருக்கும், அந்த ஆண்டவனுக்கும் தெரியும். அதுவே போதும். அவர்கள் ஓரளவுக்கு அடங்கிப் போகிறார்கள். ஒருகட்டத்தில் அவர்களும் பொங்கி எழுகிறார்கள். மிதிக்க மிதிக்க, நசுங்கிச் சாவதற்கு ஒருவரும் புழு அல்லவே.

சொல்லுக்குச் சொல் சிங்காரம் எதற்கு? என்பார்கள். அதுபோல பதிலுக்கு தடித்த வார்த்தைகளை விட்டுவிடுகிறார்கள். அந்த நபர் இவர் சொன்னதை மட்டுமே அனைவரிடமும் சொல்லிச் சொல்லி பழிசுமத்துகிறார். சில சமயம் வாயடைத்துத்தான் போய்விடுகிறது. என்ன செய்ய? பேச வார்த்தைகளற்று இருப்பது, அமைதி வார்த்தைகள் இருந்தும் பேசாமல் இருப்பது மெüனம். தொலைவை நிர்ணயிப்பது சாலைகள் மட்டுமல்ல; வார்த்தைகளும்தான். கூடுமானவரை அவர்களை மன்னித்து விடுவோம். மன்னிக்காத மனம் அமிலத்தைப் போன்றது. மனதை அரித்துவிடும்.

ஒரு நாள் ஒரு குதிரைக்காரன் ஒரு தோட்டம் வழியாகக் கடந்து செல்ல நேர்ந்தது. அவனது குதிரைக்குத் தண்ணீர் தரும்படி விவசாயியிடம் கேட்டான். விவசாயி மகிழ்ச்சியோடு தண்ணீர் எடுப்பதற்கு பெர்ஷியன் சக்கரத்தைச் சுழலவிட்டான். ஆனால், குதிரை அந்த சத்தத்தைக் கேட்டு பயந்து, கிணற்றின் அருகே நெருங்கி வரவே இல்லை. குதிரைக்காரன் கேட்டான்: "என் குதிரை தண்ணீர் குடிப்பதற்காக இந்தச் சத்தத்தை நிறுத்த முடியுமா?'' "முடியாது ஐயா. உமது குதிரை தண்ணீர் குடிக்க விரும்பினால் இந்தச் சத்தத்துடன்தான் குடிக்க வேண்டும். இங்கே சத்தத்துடன்தான் தண்ணீர் வரும்'' என்றான் விவசாயி.

நட்புகூட குறைபாடுகளுடன்தான் இருக்கிறது. வாழ்வுகூட மன்னிக்கும் மனநிலையில் இருந்துதான் ஊற்றெடுக்கிறது. மன நிம்மதியுடனும், மனநிறைவுடனும் வாழவேண்டுமானால், கோபம் வரும்போது நம் வார்த்தைகளுக்குக் கடிவாளம் போட வேண்டும்.

கட்டுரையாளர்: பேராசிரியர்.

Two-day bank strike deferred

Two-day bank strike deferred 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 23.03.2025

Ahmedabad : In a significant relief to people, the banking associations have decided to postpone the two day nationwide nationalised banks strike on March 24 and 25 after discussions with the central govt over their demands. Janak Rawal, general secretary of the Mahagujarat Bank Employees Association, said, “The conciliation meeting between the United Forum of Banks Union, Central Labour Commissioner (CLC), Indian Bank Association (IBA), and Department of Finance Secretariat (DFS) took place on March 21 in Delhi. It was a positive meeting, and another meeting will be held in the third week of April. In view of this positive development, it was felt necessary to postpone the strike for a month or two. Thus, our strike is postponed.” 

The strike was planned for Monday and Tuesday, and it would have resulted in a four-day bank closure. The unions are demanding adequate recruitment in all cadres, regularisation of temporary employees, implementation of a fiveday work week, and job security. They have also sought the withdrawal of recent govt directives on performance-linked incentives, amendments to gratuity limits, and a halt to outsourcing permanent banking jobs.

Students demand safety after medical intern is left injured in clash

Students demand safety after medical intern is left injured in clash 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 23.03.2025

Chennai : Two days after a medical intern at the ESIC Medical College and Hospital in KK Nagar was injured in a clash with the housekeeping and security staff, students —undergraduates and postgraduates — went on a protest on Saturday, demanding safety on campus. The protest, which began at 8am, lasted more than four hours. Students ended it after the management issued a four-page circular promising further inquiry into the incident and enhanced security for students. On Friday, the MGR Nagar police registered a case and arrested housekeeping staff member A P Balajeevagan, who was produced before a magistrate court and remanded in judicial custody. Hospital sources said the security and housekeeping staff stopped a food delivery agent from entering the campus at 11:30pm on Thursday as it was beyond “permitted hours”.

Following this, the intern who had ordered the food, Alfred, argued with Balajeevagan and five other security staff as one of the students recorded them. In the video sent to media, Alfred is seen asking who ordered them to prevent students from ordering food late at night. The arguments turned into a fistfight, and Balajeevagan was seen beating Alfred. Alfred was not available for comment. “Alfred has blunt injuries on his shoulder. He is being treated at the hospital,” hospital dean Dr Kalidas Chavan said. “Preliminary enquiries revealed the intern was beaten. We terminated the housekeeping and security staff. The agencies that employed them gave us a copy of the termination letters. We also filed a police complaint and initiated an internal enquiry into the incident. 

A three-member committee headed by the medical superintendent will inquire into the incident,” he said. The college had asked the security to not permit outsiders, including food delivery agents, on campus after 10:30pm for security reasons, he said. Senior professors said they counselled students and promised legal action against those who hurt Alfred. Meanwhile, students said the management gave them a copy of the letters from two agencies — Urekha Security Agency Private Limited, which terminated H Anwer Basha, R Durai Raj, S Uthirapathy, N Ramamoorthy, and S Durai from services, and from Alert Security Services, which relieved Balajeevagan due to “administrative reasons.”

 

No maintenance to wife if her earning is at par with that of husband: Apex court

No maintenance to wife if her earning is at par with that of husband: Apex court 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  22.03.2025

New Delhi : Noting that a woman who is employed and holding the same post as that of husband and can take care of herself independently, Supreme Court has turned down her plea seeking maintenance from her estranged husband. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan refused to grant relief to the woman who is working as an assistant professor and sought maintenance from her husband. “Both the first petitioner and respondent (husband and wife) are holding the same post of an assistant professor. No case for interference is made out in exercise of our jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution of India. 

The special leave petition is accordingly dismissed,” the court said in its brief order. The bench was hearing a plea of the wife seeking maintenance but her plea was opposed by her estranged husband who alleged that she did not need maintenance as she was earning herself. Opposing her plea, advocate Shashank Singh, appearing for the husband, told the court that she was earning around ₹60,000 per month and both of them were holding the post of the same grade. But the wife pleaded that she was entitled for maintenance and the wife’s earning capacity and qualification cannot automatically absolve the husband of his obligation to provide maintenance. She told the bench that her husband was earning around ₹1 lakh per month. As there was dispute over their monthly salaries, the court directed both of them to place before it the salary slip of the last one year. Before passing the order, the bench took into account their monthly income after examining their salary slips of last year.

Madras High Court restrains authorities from publishing NIRF ranking for 2025

Madras High Court restrains authorities from publishing NIRF ranking for 2025

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

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

The Hindu Bureau

The Hindu

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

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

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

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

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

‘Data manipulated’

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

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

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

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

Published - March 21, 2025 08:47 pm IST

Students struggle to get tatkal passport appointments in Hyd

Students struggle to get tatkal passport appointments in Hyd

Ashresh.Marupaka@timesofindia.com 21.03.2025

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

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

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

‘Running at 75% capacity’ 

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

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

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

GOs On Phone Bills & Leaves Uploaded Fast 

Koride.Mahesh@timesofindia.com 21.03.2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

Magistrate pulled up for denying maternity leave

Magistrate pulled up for denying maternity leave 

21.03.2025

Chennai: Dubbing it as “inhuman”, Madras high court censured a judicial magistrate for denying maternity leave to an office assistant who remarried after the demise of her first husband, on the grounds that there was no proof of her second marriage. 

Kodavasal, the district munsif-cum-judicial magistrate of Thiruvarur, even went to the extent of speculating that the second marriage appeared to have taken place after the pregnancy. Setting aside the order returning the application for maternity leave, a division bench of Justice R Subramanian and Justice G Arul Murugan directed the registrar-general of the HC to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation for the mental agony the woman suffered. 

“It is high time judicial officers reform themselves and take a pragmatic view of things,” HC said, adding, “The action of the judicial officer, to say the least, is inhuman. At a time when even live-in relationships are recognised by the Supreme Court, the judicial officer appears to have taken an archaic view of the matter.” —Sureshkumar K

Govt faces scrutiny over purchase of medicines without issuing tenders

Govt faces scrutiny over purchase of medicines without issuing tenders

 Min Says All Procedures Duly Followed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 21.03.2025

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

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

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

NMC clarifies on promotions, seniority

NMC clarifies on promotions, seniority 

Intishab.Ali@timesofindia.com 20.03.2025

Jaipur : In a bid to address promotion related concerns raised by Rajasthan Medical College Teachers Association, National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued guidelines this month to ensure eligible candidates receive promotions retrospectively. 

Medical colleges’ faculty had raised objections about delayed promotions linked to the BCMET course, particularly when course access was limited. They pointed out the lack of clear selection criteria for course participation, noting that the current system could permanently im

pact career advancement for many members. NMC's intervention is expected to settle the dispute in favour of the affected personnel. NMC’s March 2025 order said, “In view of the requirement of BCMET course for promotion, it is clarified if a faculty member completes BCMET course after due date of promotion and submits the completion certificate, then he should be promoted from due date of promotion.” Those completing BCMET before Apr 1, 2024, will receive promotions this year, whilst later completions will be considered for Apr 1, 2025.

NEWS TODAY 20.03.2025

 

No maintenance for educated wife, HC advises her to work

No maintenance for educated wife, HC advises her to work

Abhinav.Garg@timesofindia.com 20.03.2025

New Delhi : Delhi High Court has underlined that a well-educated wife qualified to work must not deliberately remain idle, only to receive maintenance from the husband. Denying relief to one such estranged wife who did her master’s in international business from Australia and worked in Dubai but preferred not to work, the court stressed that law doesn’t promote idling. “A well-educated wife, with experience in a suitable gainful job, ought not to remain idle solely to gain maintenance from her husband. Therefore, interim maintenance is being discouraged in the present case as this court can see potential in the petitioner to earn and make good of her education,” Justice CD Singh observed on Tuesday. 

The court said wives having the earning capacity and qualification but remaining idle should not set up a claim for interim maintenance. “Section 125 of CrPC carries the legislative intent to maintain equality among the spouses, provide protection to the wives, children and parents, and not promote idleness... A well-educated wife, with ex perience in a suitable gainful job, ought not to remain idle solely to gain maintenance from her husband,” it observed, dismissing the woman’s plea against a trial court order denying her interim maintenance from her husband. HC explained that courts need to be satisfied if the wife is genuinely in need of maintenance and the factors leading to such a need for maintenance and encouraged the petitioner to look for a job to become self-sufficient, saying she had wide exposure and was aware of worldly affairs, unlike other uneducated women who were completely dependent on their spouses for basic sustenance. 

“This court is unable to comprehend the fact as to why, despite being able-bodied and well qualified, the petitioner has chosen to remain idle since her return to India,” the bench noted, acknowledging her qualifications and past employment record. “There is no reason why she ought not to be in a position to also maintain herself in the future.” It added that though the woman claimed she was trying to find a job, neither did she place any evidence to support her claim nor resume her business activities. “Mere assertion of job-seeking, without corroborative evidence, is insufficient to establish genuine efforts of self-sufficiency,” it noted. The court highlighted WhatsApp chats between the woman and her mother where the latter advises that employment would jeopardise the alimony claims. 

“This communication, preceding the maintenance petition, strongly suggests a deliberate attempt to remain unemployed to seek maintenance claims,” the court said. The couple married in Dec 2019 and left for Singapore. The woman said she returned to India in Feb 2021 allegedly because of the cruelty meted out to her by her estranged husband and his family members. In June 2021, she filed a petition for maintenance.

Missing fee records: GU withholds degrees

Missing fee records: GU withholds degrees 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  20.03.2025

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

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

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

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 20.03.2025

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

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

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

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

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

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 18.03.2025

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

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

HC orders TN to consider making woman prof RGGGH dean

HC orders TN to consider making woman prof RGGGH dean

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  18.03.2025

Chennai : Madras high court has criticised the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) for not considering the administrative experience of a petitioner to include her in the panel for appointment as dean to Rajiv Gandhi Govt General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai. Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed that the petitioner’s name was dropped ‘like a hot potato’, and the authorities are taking a hypertechnical stand that the petitioner holding the incharge position cannot be considered. 

“The authorities have virtually used the services of the petitioner as the HoD whenever it is favourable to them and are denying her position as the HOD when it comes to recognising her administrative experience. Such a stand taken by the authorities is quite un- fortunate and cannot be entertained,” the court said. 

The issue pertains to a plea moved by Dr Priya Pasupathy challenging a GO issued by the department dated Oct 1, 2024, as it does not include the petitioner’s name in the panel for the post of dean in RGGGMC, Chennai. The department clarified that the petitioner completed five years as a professor; however, she was not qualified as she does not possess 1-year mandatory administrative experience for the post. Opposing the stand, the petitioner submitted that she served as a director, Institute of Community Medicine, Madras Medical College (MMC) from May 1, 2020, to Aug 18, 2020. This apart, she also served as chief warden of the women’s hostel in the MMC, as a deputy warden of the ladies hostel at Kilpauk Medical College, and as the head of the department (HOD) of community medicine at the MMC. 

Recording the submissions, the court said if the stand of the authorities is taken to its logical conclusion, then the recognition and the renewal obtained from the NMC based on the signature subscribed by the petitioner as the HOD will become questionable. “It would mean that such recognition and renewal were obtained by portraying an unqualified person as the HOD before the NMC,” the court said. The court then allowed the plea and directed the department to include the name of the petitioner for the post of dean in the GMC by placing her in the appropriate position as per the seniority within four weeks.

‘Physiotherapists are docs, can seek Dr. title from ministry’

‘Physiotherapists are docs, can seek Dr. title from ministry’ 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 17.03.2025 .BHOPAL 

Bhopal :The Madhya Pradesh govt clarified its position on the recognition of physiotherapists as “doctors” in response to inquiries from Brajendra Pratap Singh, MLA of Panna. The Public Health and Medical Department, in a written response during the budget session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, stated that physiotherapists are recognized as doctors by law according to the gazettes of both the Indian and Madhya Pradesh govts, according to Vidhan Sabha reply from MP health minister Rajendra Shukla. These gazettes define physiotherapy and the scope of a physiotherapist’s practice. 

“Physiotherapy is defined as a person who practices, provides treatment and advises on physical therapy by means of a comprehensive examination and appropriate investigation of individuals using physical modalities including exercise, mobility, manual therapy, electrical and thermal agents and other electro-therapeutic techniques for the prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, health promotion and recovery of movement or functional dysfunction, dysfunction, disorder, disability, trauma and disease and for the purpose of recovery and pain.” The gazette further states that a physiotherapist can operate independently or within a multi-disciplinary team and must hold a minimum of a graduate degree. 

The Madhya Pradesh Nursing Home Act 1973 mandates that any facility offering physiotherapy services must employ a physiotherapist with a bachelor’s degree. Madhya Pradesh clarifies the legal recognition and employment status of physiotherapists. 

The state govt confirmed physiotherapists are legally recognized as doctors under the National Commission for Allied and Health Care Professions Act-2021. This recognition grants them authority to practice, diagnose, and treat independently. The Madhya Pradesh Allied and Health Care Professions Rules 2024, enacted under the 2021 Act, are in effect. 

The state govt stated, “Clear instructions regarding permission to physiotherapists to use the title Dr. with their name can be obtained from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and action can be taken accordingly.” Regarding employment, the Madhya Pradesh Paramedical Council has 3,028 registered physiotherapists: 286 with master’s degrees and 2,742 with bachelor’s degrees. As of March 13, 2025, no regular physiotherapist positions are approved in Primary Health Centers or Community Health Centers under the 2024 state-approved standard. Data on registered physiotherapist clinics are currently being compiled. The National Health Mission has approved 107 contractual physiotherapist positions, 94 of which are filled, leaving 13 vacancies.

AI ethical monitoring system a must to curb academic dishonesty

AI ethical monitoring system a must to curb academic dishonesty

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 17.03.2025

With the Supreme Court highlighting technology integration, lower courts will use technically inclined lawyers as their number rises. AI is gradually transforming the legal education system but there is still a wide technical divide that needs to be bridged. The lack of formal integration of AI into legal education in Indian colleges is the biggest challenge that needs to be addressed. Vageshwari Deswal, professor, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, says, “Colleges can enhance students’ understanding of complex legal theories, case laws, and statutes using AI tools. These technologies provide swift access to vast data, making legal research simpler. Simulated classrooms, techenabled virtual client counselling sessions, and mock sessions with AI chatbots can better equip students for real courtroom experiences. Students must learn that AI cannot contextualise data nor replace human reasoning or judgment.” 

“The integration of AI is a work in progress that demands adapting to the technology while preserving the core principles of legal education,” says V Shyam Kishore, dean, Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, Bengaluru. Before incorporating AI into the curriculum, it is crucial to educate students, faculty, and administrators about AI’s benefits, and limitations. “Understanding and using AI tools will become a fundamental skill in future, just like how legal professionals today are expected to know how to use MS Office, legal research databases, and citation tools,” he adds. The legal sector is rapidly adopting AI-driven tools, with several software applications already available for legal research, litigation support, and compliance monitoring. Kishore says, “Many of these tools are already being used by legal firms and institutions to streamline processes, improve research, and enhance efficiency. 

However, most of these AI-powered solutions are designed for global markets and must be tailored to India’s unique legal framework.” Currently, there is no national regulatory framework governing the use of AI in law schools, as the BCI is yet to update its policies to reflect the growing role of AI. Kishore says, “The establishment of AI governance mechanisms in law schools is required to regulate AI’s ethical and pedagogical use. AI ethics committees should be formed to monitor AI-assisted legal research and prevent academic dishonesty. These committees should align with ethical AI guidelines, such as those from NITI Aayog, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and international standards like OECD and UNESCO.”

Traditional medical education to soon incorporate AI electives

Traditional medical education to soon incorporate AI electives

AI tools can make ayurveda knowledge and services more widely accessible, reaching global audiences 

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 17.03.2025

The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) is set to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) curricula to revolutionise the Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM). To equip students with both foundational knowledge of ISM and the skills to incorporate modern technological advancements, the ministry is working on formulating a benchmark framework to offer AI as one of the elective subjects. 

To implement the plan, the ministry has been evaluating the sector’s readiness for AI, creating a standardised framework for AI system integration, and developing AI educational tools. Creating a benchmark A framework is needed to integrate AI into traditional medicines to make it scientifically validated, efficient, and globally recognised. The ministry has collaborated with global focus groups to develop benchmarks for AI usage in traditional medicines. Talking to Education Times, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, says, “The Centre of Excellence (CoE) component of the Ayurswasthya Yojana, a project sanctioned to IIT Jodhpur, aims to combine functional genomics, electronics, digital health, and AI to realise evidence based ayurvedic solutions. 

The CoE will provide technological solutions for understanding and applying ayurveda’s principles and practices—P5 medicine: Personalised, Preventive, Predictive, Participatory, and Promotive—as well as integrative medicine, including environmental response and disease development.” Integrating AI in ayurveda can enhance diagnostic accuracy, personalised treatment planning, research efforts, and healthcare delivery, says Pooja Sabharwal, assistant professor, Govt of NCT of Delhi. “Training students in traditional medicine to provide AIenabled public health services alongside their core curriculum can empower them to deliver more comprehensive and effective care, contribute to improved health outcomes, and adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape. 

With AI algorithms, students can identify patterns and correlations in complex datasets, such as ayurvedic diagnostic criteria, symptoms, and treatment outcomes. Analysing these patterns through AI allows it to assist ayurvedic practitioners in diagnosing diseases more accurately and predicting the efficacy of various treatment modalities,” she adds. Moreover, AI can enhance various aspects of education and healthcare, particularly in the context of ayurveda and traditional medicine. 

“AI can automate administrative tasks, assist in curriculum development, and provide real-time feedback to educators, allowing them to focus more on mentorship and teaching. AI-driven platforms can also make ayurveda knowledge and services more widely accessible, reaching global audiences,” adds Kotecha. In 2017, the ministry launched AYUSH Grid, an initiative to integrate technology with traditional medicine systems like ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha, and homeopathy. Through the Grid, students are trained in modern technologies to improve healthcare services such as accessibility, quality, and efficiency. Kotecha says, “Students are already using the AYUSH Learning Management System (e-LMS) under AYUSH Grid, where AI-driven analytics are being developed.” 

Strengthening research Incorporating AI into research methodology courses will enable students to conduct data-driven research in ayurveda, says Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, director general, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). He says, “The regulatory body of AYUSH education, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), is taking steps to strengthen the research system. The implementation of AI-integrated education at universities and colleges can take several forms. For example, developing a curriculum with dedicated courses on data science, AI, and machine learning, tailored to ayurvedic studies, including their application in traditional medicine research and practice.”

PG NEET: NRI application rejection doubles at 324

PG NEET: NRI application rejection doubles at 324 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  17.03.2025 BANGALURU

Bengaluru : Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) rejected 324 applications for NRI (nonresident Indian) quota in PG NEET admissions this time, more than twice the number it did last year. As the PG NEET admissions for 2024-25 come to a close, a closer look at the data shows that KEA received 1,090 applications for NRI seats. This was 91 more than last year. While 766 of these were approved, 324 were rejected. At the same time last year, 850 were approved and 149 rejected. The bigger rejection rate is because of the stringent scrutiny KEA adhered to after a scam in allotting NRI seats was reported from Tamil Nadu. 

It may be recalled that in TN, a verification by the selection committee at the Directorate of Medical Education found that at least 44 doctors faked their certificates in their applications. Candidates applying under NRI sponsorship must have a real blood relation to the financial supporter. “As per the SC rulings, it should be up to first-degree relation. But many of the applications had only distant relations with the sponsor, resulting in their rejection. We also wrote to various embassies asking about the genuineness of the certificates, but we are yet to receive any reply from them,” said H Prasanna, KEA executive director.

“Many candidates approached us and asked us to consider their applications under general category,” he said. The number of seats allotted to NRI quota has also fallen drastically this year. Only 87 seats were allotted, while 344 vacant seats were converted to management. Last year, 394 seats were allotted for NRIs, and only 254 were converted to management. “We are unable to understand why only fewer students took up NRI seats this year. Students try through various states and the All India quota. They might have got better seats elsewhere,” he said.

Banned cough syrups seized, two held

Banned cough syrups seized, two held 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  17.03.2025

Vadodara : The Vadodara special operations group (SOG) arrested two individuals who illegally stocked banned cough syrups containing codeine, an opiate (used to treat pain), which is abused, particularly among young people. 

SOG officials arrested Vipul Rajput (23) a resident of Ratilal Park Society in Wag- hodiya, runs a medical store named Oakland Pharmacy near Gayatri temple in Waghodiya and Keyur Rajput (33), a resident of the Wadi area, runs a medical store named Ma Medical Store. 

Police officials said they received a tip-off that the banned syrup was stocked at Vipul’s house in Waghodiya. After the SOG team conducted a raid at the house along with a team of FSL and Vadodara food and drug inspector, the duo confessed to being involved in the illegal racket of selling the banned syrup. Later, the accused also revealed that they used to stock the cough syrup along with other medicines at a rented godown near Gayatri temple. When the SOG team raided the premises, they seized 4,785 bottles of 100 ml bottles of codeine phosphate and triprolidine HCL syrup, Anrex cough syrup worth Rs 10.97 lakh, along with 1,59,120 capsules of NRX dicyclomine hydrochloride, tramadol hydrochloride, and acetaminophen capsules, SEMDEX-plus capsules worth Rs 15.57 lakh.

 The total seizure is worth Rs 26.54 lakh, including cash, mobile phones, and vehicles. The duo was arrested and booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act

HC allows legal heir certs based on affidavits in absence of other proof

HC allows legal heir certs based on affidavits in absence of other proof 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  17.03.2025

Chennai : Madras high court has observed that legal heir certificates can even be provided based on affidavits of applicants and their kin. When there is no other proof, the applicant can be directed to file affidavits and arrange for five affidavits from persons known to the family, which will include relatives and neighbours. On that basis, the certificate can be issued when there is no rival claim, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy said. 

The court passed the order on a plea moved by S Arasu, challenging the order of the Mylapore tahsildar denying him certificates as a legal heir of C P Subramaniyam who died on Dec 19, 1998, and the death was reported. However, so far, no one applied for a legal heir certificate. His application for the certificate was rejected as the authorities could not conclude who the legal heirs of the deceased were. 

Aggrieved, the petitioner moved the court. When the plea came up for hearing, the court said, “Once the death is reported, when an application is made for a legal heirship certificate, it has to be determined who the legal heirs are.” Setting aside the order, the court directed the petitioner to appear before the tahsildar for further enquiry on March 28. 

The tahsildar shall insist on affidavits or relegate him to the revenue inspector for further enquiry, and the authorities shall make further enquiry and come to a conclusion by their best judgment as to who all the legal heirs are, include the names of those persons, and issue the legal heirship certificate, the court said. The exercise shall be completed within 12 weeks, the judge added.

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

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

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 17.03.2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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