Fake faculty row: Anna univ to inspect all 440 colleges

Fake faculty row: Anna univ to inspect all 440 colleges 

Before Nod For Affiliation This Academic Year

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 24.02.2025

Chennai : In the wake of last year’s fake faculty row, Anna University has decided to inspect all 440 engineering colleges in the state for granting affiliation for 2025-26. During the check, it will look into the permanently affiliated courses to rule out any malpractices. It will check various parameters including qualifications of the principal, faculty members, library, classrooms, labs, and admissions. Last year, top colleges were exempted from physical inspection. 

In a recent circular, the university asked colleges to submit biometric details of faculty members after authenticating them with Aadhaar through the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency and Unique Identification Authority of India. It also asked them to verify all certificates, including PAN and Aadhaar details, with originals. College chairpersons or secretaries of trusts were directed to submit an affidavit stating that all details submitted are true. It also mandated AICTE Faculty ID for all members. “Faculty qualifications, experience, scale of pay, and cadre ratio should be strictly followed as per AICTE norms to grant affiliation,” the circular from registrar J Prakash said. “Those pro grammes which have not fulfilled the stipulated affiliation requirements will be suspended or withdrawn without any further notice.” For the first time, the university sought details of all permanently affiliated courses to verify them.

“Anna University used to give permanent affiliation to courses if the college is offering the course for 10 years with better admission record and no prior punishment. However, it was found that some colleges misused the permanent affiliation and showed them as faculty members in other departments. So, it was decided to verify these courses also,” a source said. The last date for submission of applications for affiliation with a late fee for 2025-26 is Feb 28. AICTE Approval Process Handbook for 2025-26 allowed institutions to appoint up to 20% of faculty as Professors of Practice (PoP) — industry professionals with varying qualifications, including PhDs or BTech with significant industry experience. The university is yet to act against 2,500 faculty members found faking identities and working in multiple colleges at the same time. Some 30 colleges were involved. “There is a court case regarding POP qualifications. University is yet to action against the faculty members and colleges. Then only the physical inspection for 2025-26 will commence,” a source added.

Runaway bride: Woman doc elopes with female friend on wedding day, family ‘fakes death’

Runaway bride: Woman doc elopes with female friend on wedding day,

 family ‘fakes death’

TNN Feb 19, 2025, 23:38 IST

Agra: The wedding bells were supposed to ring, and guests had gathered in UP's Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday. On what should have been a night of celebration, the bride-to-be vanished—just hours before the ceremony. The 26-year-old homeopathic doctor had stepped into a beauty parlour to get ready but never returned. What followed was a desperate cover-up, a fabricated death, and a search that led to Jhansi.

"To avoid embarrassment", family members allegedly told guests that she had died of a heart attack while being taken to Meerut for treatment and called off the wedding.

However, upon reviewing CCTV footage from the parlour, police found that the woman had left with her female friend on Tuesday. The next day, both were tracked down and detained in Jhansi.

New Mandi deputy superintendent of police Rupali Rao said that an FIR had been registered under BNS section 137 (kidnapping) based on the complaint filed by the bride's father on Tuesday. "Two dedicated teams were assigned to the case, and the woman was safely located on Wednesday. Her statement is now being recorded in court, and further legal action will be taken based on her testimony," Rao said.

RG Kar doc’s parents yet to receive death certificate

RG Kar doc’s parents yet to receive death certificate

Feb 23, 2025, 0:05 IST

Kolkata: Parents of the post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, who was found raped and murdered on Aug 9, 2024, are yet to receive her death certificate.

Though Panihati Municipality issued a cremation certificate, the parents said they were still waiting for a death certificate to be issued by Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).

Parents said that when they approached KMC, they were told RG Kar would issue the death certificate.But the hospital authorities claimed the opposite and said the death certificate had to be issued by KMC.

According to civic health department officials, while KMC does issue death certificate for normal as well as unnatural deaths in most cases, for persons dying in a govt hospital within its jurisdiction, the death certificate is issued by the hospital concerned.

But the deceased doctor's parents said RG Kar officials had insisted that KMC must provide death certificates for all deaths occurring within hospital premises, including for "brought-dead" cases.

Upset over thrashing by teacher, 14-year-old jumps to death from 4th floor of school building in Hyderabad

Upset over thrashing by teacher, 14-year-old jumps to death from 4th floor of school building in Hyderabad

23.02.2025

A 14-year-old student died by suicide after jumping from the fourth floor of his school in Hyderabad, following alleged corporal punishment by a teacher. The incident led to protests from the boy's family and student organizations. The police have registered a case against the teacher and the school management for abetment to suicide.

HYDERABAD: A 14-year-old student died by suicide after he jumped from the fourth floor of his school building in Uppal on Saturday morning. The boy took the extreme step after being allegedly struck by a school teacher.

Uppal police said that the 14-year-old jumped from the fourth floor of the Sagar Grammar School building during school hours. On hearing a thud, the school staff rushed out and found the boy in a pool of blood. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The incident led to a protest, with family members and a few student organisations demanding action against the school teacher.

The boy's mother blamed the school's physical training (PT) teacher for her son taking the extreme step.

At around 9.30 am, the student was found playing with a CCTV camera on the school campus. On seeing this, the teacher got upset and allegedly smacked him besides reprimanding him. "Later, the boy, under the pretext of going to the washroom, went to the fourth floor of the building and jumped to death," Uppal inspector Election Reddy told TOI.

The alleged incident of corporal punishment took place in front of other students. "Perhaps, he felt humiliated since he was smacked in front of others," sub-inspector V Chiranjeevi said. Before taking the extreme step, the 14-year-old wrote a note in his notebook, expressing his apology to his parents. Police have recovered the material.

Based on the complaint given by the family members of the deceased, a criminal case was registered against the teacher and the management of the school on the charge of abetment to suicide.

HC stays order on compassionate appointment to man

HC stays order on compassionate appointment to man

Kaushik Kannan

Feb 23, 2025, 0:26 IST

HC stays order on compassionate appointment to man

Madurai: Compassionate appointment cannot be considered a mode of recruitment, it is only to tide over the immediate financial distress of the family of the deceased employee, which occurred due to the sudden demise of the sole breadwinner, Madras high court has observed. The court said this while setting aside an order of a single bench which directed the authorities to grant compassionate appointment to the son of a deceased govt employee from Karur district.

The court was hearing an appeal preferred by the Karur district collector and block development officer of Krishnarayapuram, challenging the order of the single bench.

P Jeyaraman was employed as a panchayat assistant in Pappakkapatti village. He died during service in 2015, leaving behind his mother, wife, son J Mahendiran, and his sister as his legal heirs. At the time of his death, Mahendiran was 15 years old, and his sister was 12 years old. The family was in a precarious financial situation, as Jeyaraman was the sole breadwinner.

Mahendiran submitted an application seeking compassionate employment. The application was rejected since the petitioner was a minor at the time of application. After attaining majority, Mahendiran submitted an application in 2021. However, it was also rejected on the basis that it was made three years after his father's death. Hence, Mahendiran filed a petition before the court seeking relief.

The single bench stated that Mahendiran's application was rejected on the sole ground that he was a minor on the date of his father's death. However, the order did not address the indigenous circumstances of the family of the deceased employee. Hence, the single bench directed the authorities to grant compassionate appointment to Mahendiran. Challenging the order, the present appeal was preferred by the authorities.

A division bench of justice J. Nisha Banu and justice S Srimathy observed that the full bench of the Madras high court held that the legal heir is entitled to compassionate appointment if the application is submitted within three years from the date of the employee's death. If the legal heir is a minor at the time of submitting the application, then the heir is not entitled to compassionate appointment. It was further held that any application submitted after attaining majority, but by the time the three-year period had lapsed, the legal heir is not entitled to compassionate appointment.

The judges observed that in the case at hand, the applicant's father died in 2015. The three-year period was over in Oct 2018, and the applicant attained majority in 2019. Therefore, the petitioner was not entitled to compassionate appointment. The mother of the petitioner was entitled to compassionate appointment, but she did not choose to apply for the same.

"The compassionate appointment post cannot be kept endlessly vacant for the family of the deceased employee," the judges observed and set aside the order.

NEWS TODAY 23.02.2025

 

‘Tough’ CBSE physics paper has students on tenterhooks

‘Tough’ CBSE physics paper has students on tenterhooks 

Even 1-Mark MCQs Too Complex, Say Students, Feel Out Of Depth & Time

Ramendra.Singh@timesofindia.com 23.02.2025 

Bhopal : This was the board exam or JEE-Mains? That was the feeling among the majority of students after the CBSE class 12 physics paper on Friday. And on Saturday, social media was buzzing with complaints of how tough and lengthy it was. Students complained that the paper was far too heavy on numericals and broke from the pattern of a balanced distribution of topics and complexity.

 “It is not a competitive exam, but a qualifying exam. All three sets were lengthy, complex and needed strong problem-solving skills. How many children in India can solve such a paper without private coaching? How many CBSE students in villages can afford coaching?” asked a school teacher, requesting not to be named. 

Several teachers told TOI that even the section containing one-mark questions included very complex theoretical concepts that required a deeper understanding and far more investment of time than the weightage merited. Students faced ‘unforeseen components’ and numerical problems that demanded extensive calculations, requiring careful time management. Many struggled to finish the paper in time. Most of those who could, didn’t get time to revise. 

“The examination pattern deviated slightly from previous years, catching students off guard,” said a teacher. Derivations got far less weitage that previous years. “The numerical questions, especially those carrying two marks, proved exceptionally difficult. Several MCQs were extremely complicated,” said a student, Samarth Kumar. Some students said that one of the MCQs was drawn from topics excluded from the syllabus. Education experts suggested that the paper's structure could have been more balanced. They emphasised that while challenging questions are necessary to differentiate between students’ 

capabilities, the overall difficulty level should have been more moderate. Some teachers felt that the paper reflected the need of the times and would help acquaint students with the toughness of competitive examinations.

Doc leaves mop in woman’s stomach during C-section

Doc leaves mop in woman’s stomach during C-section 

MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE? 23.02.2025

BANGALORE 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK In an alleged case of medical negligence, a doctor at a Puttur hospital in Dakshin Kannada left a surgical mop inside a woman’s stomach during a C-section, putting her life in danger and requiring an emergency surgery at another hospital two months later, after a CT scan exposed the doctor’s carelessness. She is still not able to breastfeed her newborn. 

“We have posted the issue on National Consumer Grievance portal and department of consumer affairs. We have spent lakhs on her treatment,” the woman’s husband said. Dakshina Kannada district health and family welfare officer Dr Thimmaiah HR said a thorough probe will be conducted. The husband posted on X that his wife underwent a Csection on Nov 27 at a private hospital, but a week after she was discharged on Dec 2, she developed high fever and had to be readmitted. Concerned about an unusual sensation on one side of her stomach, the couple insisted on an ultrasound scan, which revealed a 10cm mass. However, the radiologist allegedly refused to disclose its details or communicate with the doctor in their presence. 

The doctor, in turn, dismissed their concerns, claiming it was hematoma rather than a foreign object. As the discomfort persisted, the couple requested a CT scan, but the doctor reportedly disregarded it, insisting the condition would resolve over time. Although the woman’s fever subsided, follow-up ultrasounds showed no reduction in the mass. Meanwhile, she began experiencing severe joint, wrist and leg pain, making it difficult for her to walk, stand or even lift her baby to feed. 

A CT scan later confirmed the presence of a surgical mop inside her stomach. By then, the infection had spread to her lungs, blood, putting her life at grave risk, her husband alleged. When they confronted the doctor who had performed the C-section, he allegedly refused to take responsibility.  Ultimately, an emergency surgery was performed at another private hospital on Jan 25 to remove the mop. She was discharged on Feb 15.

Biometrics block Aadhaar update, man moves HC

Biometrics block Aadhaar update, man moves HC

BIOMETRIC DATA TAKEN 12 YEARS AGO DO NOT MATCH, HIGH COURT SEEKS REPLY FROM UIDAI OFFICIALS

23.01.2025

TIMES NEWS NETWORK Ahmedabad : The Gujarat high court has sought a response from the ministry of electronics and information technology’s Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) over a petition from an individual facing difficulties in updating his Aadhaar card. The issue stems from his current biometrics not matching those recorded during his childhood. Mohammed Mansuri, 22, participated in a 2011 Aadhaar registration camp held in his locality at Raikhad in Ahmedabad when he was eight years old.

Along with other residents, he queued up for biometric recording and subsequently received his Aadhaar card. When attempting to update his Aadhaar in Sep 2023, particularly to replace his childhood photograph and for correction in his birthdate, he submitted an application to UIDAI but encountered no success. Officials informed him about the biometric mismatch with their recorded data. He made another attempt unsuccessfully in April 2024, Mansuri mentioned in his petition.

Through his lawyer Aziz Alvi, Mansuri presented two possibilities to the HC: either incorrect biometrics were recorded in his Aadhaar in 2011, or his biometrics have altered over time. Seeking the HC’s directive to UIDAI for updating his Aadhaar, Mansuri stated in his petition, “The petitioner is in need to update his Aadhaar card but due to the nonmatching of the biometrics, the respondent authority has not updated the Aadhaar card because they are dependent upon the matching of the biometrics.” Justice Aniruddha Mayee, after an initial hearing, has issued a notice asking for UIDAI’s response by Feb 28

Board exams: Secure answer sheets with white thread only or face action

Board exams: Secure answer sheets with white thread only or face action

TESTING TIMES 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 23.02.2025

Ahmedabad : A new rule has been implemented for the upcoming board exams: students are now required to use only the white thread provided by the Board to secure additional answer sheets. The use of any alternative thread types is strictly forbidden, and any violation of this regulation will be treated as a case of cheating, subject to severe penalties. 

The final exams for Class 10 and Class 12 students will begin on Feb 27. The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) has released detailed instructions to ensure a fair exam process for all students. To assist students in adhering to the correct answering format, the board has provided specific guidelines within the question papers. Essential instructions will be printed on the second page of each answer sheet, and failure to comply with these directives may result in disciplinary action. Students must verify that the seat number printed on the first page of their answer sheet matches the seat number on the barcode sticker. Any discrepancies should be immediately reported to the invigilator. The barcode sticker must be affixed correctly, without any folds or damage, and students should refrain from making any unnecessary markings on it. 

Students are required to write their seat number both in figures and words at the top of the answer sheet and complete the roll number section on page two. A signature is mandatory after the barcode sticker has been attached. Answers must be written exclusively in blue or black ink. The use of other colours for underlining is not permitted. Students are prohibited from removing pages from their answer sheets or making corrections through overwriting. 

Any alterations in the answer sequence must be properly indexed. Lastly, students are instructed not to leave any blank pages in their answer sheets; any unused pages should be marked with a cross.

FB ‘friend’ dupes man of ₹1.92 cr in crypto scam

FB ‘friend’ dupes man of ₹1.92 cr in crypto scam 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  23.02.2025 

Ahmedabad : In an era where digital connections often blur the lines between trust and deception, a 48-year-old businessman from Ahmedabad learned a costly lesson. What began as a friendly Facebook interaction evolved into a sophisticated scam, stripping him of Rs 1.92 crore. 

According to a complaint registered with the Cybercrime police on Friday, the fraud began in Aug 2024 when he received a friend request on his Facebook page from a woman claiming to be involved in gym equipment businesses in Dubai and Mumbai. The message read: "Hey, your profile caught my eye while checking my friends' suggestions and thought I would reach out. Can we get to know each other?" 

He responded to her message and soon their chats transitioned to WhatsApp, where she introduced him to a lucrative cryptocurrency investment opportunity, allegedly advised by her uncle, a high-ranking official at an American financial firm. The businessman checked online and found that the company was legitimate. The complainant stated, “My initial investment of $ 500 yielded a profit of $ 250, which encouraged me to make further investments.”He was able to withdraw $1,000 which encouraged him to invest larger sums. 

He eventually saw an online account balance of $677,806 (Rs 6 crore approximately). However, when attempting to withdraw Rs 77 lakh, he was asked to pay a 20% tax upfront. Subsequently, the woman became unreachable, and further research revealed the investment platform was fraudulent. Realizing he had been duped, with only Rs 92,000 returned from his Rs 1.92 crore investment, he reported the matter to the Cybercrime police. 

A complaint for criminal conspiracy, cheating,criminal breach of trust, and cheating by impersonation against an unidentified person has been registered.

AIIMS to shift to Thoppur by early 2026: Official

AIIMS to shift to Thoppur by early 2026: Official

TNN Feb 21, 2025, 0:59 IST

Madurai: AIIMS Madurai is expected to shift its operations to its permanent campus at Thoppur in Madurai by early 2026, according to M Hanumantha Rao, executive director and CEO of the institute. He said in a statement on Thursday that construction of the buildings in phase I is 28% complete. "We are working toward shifting operations to the permanent campus by the end of this year or early next year," Rao said.

Phase I which includes academic block, hospital outpatient services, hostels and essential service buildings, is expected to be completed within 18 months of commencement. Phase II, covering the remaining infrastructure, will be completed within 33 months, by February 2027. He said construction is aligned with global standards, prioritizing sustainability. "We are aiming for an IGBC Gold rating to ensure environmental responsibility and energy efficiency across the campus," he said.

The 900-bed hospital, including a dedicated 150-bed infectious disease block, is designed to be comprehensive and patient-centric, with an academic zone, hospital zone, hostel and residential areas, sports facilities, and a 750-seater auditorium. Faculty recruitment is being carried out in phases. At present, the AIIMS is functioning from its temporary campus at Government Medical College, Ramanathapuram.

Pvt varsities rope in service providers for degree programmes

Pvt varsities rope in service providers for degree programmes

Sruthy Susan Ullas

Feb 19, 2025, 23:48 IST

Bengaluru: Several private universities in the state have started taking the help of service providers to conduct degree programmes, especially in new-age fields where their existing faculty don't have expertise. These programmes range from computer science engineering to BBA to BCom.

Face Prep, for instance, which was into campus placement training for over 16 years, started the business of taking over and running degree programmes in 2023, and is expected to touch 28 colleges in the country for the academic year 2025-26. The courses it handles consist of BCA or BSc in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Machine Learning, BCom in FinTech with Artificial Intelligence, and BBA in eCommerce with Digital Marketing.

"We act as knowledge partners, providing end-to-end solutions for colleges. What makes our programmes different from the conventional curriculum is that students will learn hands-on," said Karthik Raja, CEO of Face Prep. In the model Face Prep offers, it forms the curriculum, which is vetted by the college, sets the criteria for admission, and helps in recruiting and training faculty for the programme.

The CEO of another company providing similar services in healthcare courses said: "These are specifically for new-age programmes that universities are not best poised to either invest in developing curriculum for, training faculty, or setting up skill labs. So, they appoint a service provider. We're a training partner that produces industry-aligned modules and provides placement support and internships. For that scope of work, universities appoint us. The exams, assessment, and award of degrees are done by the colleges."

"For skill-based education, UGC (University Grants Commission) specifically allows universities to appoint a training-cum-placement partner. We help them in curriculum development by bringing industry-side modules, bringing experts from the industry, and setting up skill labs at our own cost," he added.

‘Undervalued profession'

The fact that universities are forced to take the help of service providers is mainly on account of lack of expert faculty, said Rajesh Kumar, CEO and co-founder of Kalvium, which runs computer science engineering programmes in 17 universities, with 13 more in the pipeline for the next academic year.

"The reliance of universities on service providers emerges from the fact that teaching and learning as a profession is extremely undervalued, and the quality of teachers has dipped. This is particularly true in cases like engineering because of the job potential it holds. Hence, there is this move towards partnering with third parties to offer programmes. While PG programmes by service providers have been in practice for some time, UG is just picking up pace now," he said.

"While UGC doesn't permit outsourcing programmes, these service providers act as skill providers, which is permitted by law. This is the space that is being explored by the companies," explained another company CEO working in the domain.

One of the reasons these premier institutions partner with us is the kind of curriculum we've been able to design, which is fairly evolved and advanced compared to what the traditional university system is able to offer

— Rajesh Kumar | CEO & co-founder, Kalvium

TN woman injured in e-scooter battery explosion dies

TN woman injured in e-scooter battery explosion dies

Arockiaraj Johnbosco  TNN

Feb 21, 2025, 21:23 IST

MADURAI: A woman, who suffered severe burn injuries after an electric scooter battery exploded a week ago, died in Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital on Friday.

The explosion happened in a poultry unit and piggery -- owned by Devadoss of Anaikudi in Tirunelveli district -- on Feb 15.

The victim, Jansi Papa from Idachivilai in Tuticorin, was working in his farm. Devadoss has two electric scooters which he used to charge in his farm. On Feb 14, he disconnected batteries from the scooters and took them to the chicken incubation room in his poultry farm. After charging them during the night, he decided to charge them again the following morning.

Police said Jansi Papa went to the incubation room the following morning, when one of the batteries exploded causing severe burn injuries to her.

She was rushed to Thisayanvilai primary healthcare centre, from where she was referred to Tirunelveli MCH as her injuries were severe. However, Papa died in the hospital on Friday not responding to the treatment.

The Thisayanvilai police filed a case and were investigating.

NOC of state not mandatory to seek affiliation, says CBSE

NOC of state not mandatory to seek affiliation, says CBSE

Feb 22, 2025, 1:09 IST

Chennai: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that a no-objection certificate (NOC) from state govt is not mandatory to seek affiliation from 2026-27. This move could become another flashpoint between Centre and Tamil Nadu as it could lead to mushrooming of CBSE schools in the state implementing the three-language policy despite opposition from the state govt.

“The schools seeking affiliation with the board henceforth will be permitted to apply on the SARAS portal under various categories with or without a no-objection certificate with effect from 2026-27,” said the notification by CBSE secretary Himanshu Gupta on the amendments to the affiliation bylaws 2018.

Bengaluru woman asks doctor for pills to kill mother-in-law, later claims suicide intent

Bengaluru woman asks doctor for pills to kill mother-in-law, later claims suicide intent

A Bengaluru doctor received a shocking request from a woman asking for tablets to kill her mother-in-law. He informed her that doctors save lives, prompting her to delete the messages. The woman, later traced by police, admitted she wanted to commit suicide and didn't intend to harm anyone else.

TNN Feb 20, 2025, 7:45 IST

A north Bengaluru doctor was shocked by a woman's WhatsApp message asking for tablets to kill her mother-in-law. The doctor reported the incident to the police, who later traced the woman.

Bengaluru: A north Bengaluru doctor was shocked when a woman sent him a WhatsApp message asking for tablets to kill her mother-in-law. But Dr Sunil Kumar from Sanjay Nagar replied that doctors are there to save lives and not to take them, prompting the woman to delete all her messages.

Dr Kumar approached police Tuesday, requesting them to identify the woman and act against her. "This is shocking; it also pains me to see in what time we are living; a woman seeking a doctor's help to kill her mother-in-law with tablets. I clearly told her (through messages) that doctors are there to save lives but not take them; when I said so, she deleted the messages. However, I saved the screenshots and handed them over to police," he told the media.

According to Dr Kumar, he received the messages around 2:10pm Monday. "She typed in Kannada and first said she wanted to ask for something. Then she messaged, asking what if I scolded her; I then asked her what it was about. Then she asked me to prescribe some tablets to kill her aged mother-in-law. She explained that her mother-in-law was 70 years old and would harass her," police quoted the doctor as saying in his complaint.

By the time the woman deleted her messages, Dr Kumar had taken their screenshots.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Nagar police succeeded in tracing the woman by Wednesday evening and summoned her to the station for questioning. Accompanied by her husband, she stated that she actually wanted to commit suicide and never wanted to kill her mother-in-law.

"If I had asked the doctor for tablets to kill myself, he would have definitely refused. So I asked it in a different way. If he had prescribed tablets, I would have taken them and died by suicide," the homemaker, aged around 40 years, said. Her husband works as a driver, and the couple has a minor daughter.

She told cops that she got Dr Kumar's mobile number online.

Doctor gets request from woman in Bengaluru seeking tablet prescription to kill mother-in-law

Doctor gets request from woman in Bengaluru seeking tablet prescription to kill mother-in-law

The accused contacted the doctor after finding his number on Instagram

Updated - February 19, 2025 03:49 pm IST - Bengaluru

The Hindu Bureau

A doctor from Sanjay Nagar in Bengaluru filed a complaint against a woman after she allegedly messaged him seeking help to kill her mother-in-law through medication.

The accused contacted Sunil Kumar after finding his number on Instagram and sent messages seeking a prescription for a tablet which could kill her mother-in-law. She claimed that her mother-in-law is aged and harassing her.

Shocked, he replied that being a doctor, he is supposed to save life and not to kill someone or recommend such an act.

He approached Sanjay Nagar police on February 17 and filed a complaint seeking legal action against the woman, and also submitted the chat history and her contact number.

The police tried to reach the number, but it was switched off.

“We suspect that either it was a prank or the woman was not in her senses when she made the demand,” a police officer said, adding that they are checking her location through call record details.

Published - February 19, 2025 01:52 pm IST

Govt eyes push to students, faculty for non-clinical courses in medical colleges

Govt eyes push to students, faculty for non-clinical courses in medical colleges

The government is looking at ways to boost student enrolment in non-clinical PG courses such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry. Medical colleges also face issues of lack of faculty.

Priyanka Sharma

Published 20 Feb 2025, 07:36 PM IST

Reportedly, there are 1.3 million MBBS doctors registered with the National Medical Commission, however, their specialisations are not known.

Even as the government claims to have increased the number of medical education seats in the country, these medical colleges and institutes face a severe student enrollment crisis in post-graduate courses such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, forensics, microbiology and pathology, according to an official aware of the matter on condition of anonymity.

This has led to a faculty shortage for these courses since students are not keen on pursuing them.

In this scenario, the National Medical Commission (NMC) is mulling a two-pronged strategy to bridge the gap in demand for these courses.

First, NMC will open a third of the vacant faculty posts to non-medical teachers with a doctorate in the subject and a Bachelor’s and Master’s from the science stream. The other part of the plan is to make these courses more attractive for students through incentives and the inclusion of clinical activities.

Reportedly, there are 1.3 million MBBS doctors (both private and government colleges) registered with the National Medical Commission, however, their specialisations are not known.

Faculty posts

“There’s an acute shortage of post-graduate faculty mainly in pre-para clinical subjects—anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, forensics, microbiology and pathology—as students do not want to opt for such seats. Even though NMC has allowed zero percentile (students with the lowest marks can get these seats) for such seats, the seats remain vacant. Last year, around 600 PG seats remained empty in 20-30 medical colleges,” said an official aware of the matter.

For example, a course with around 100 students should have at least three faculty members—a professor, an associate professor, and an assistant professor. However, the shortage of teachers in many courses makes running colleges difficult.

“In fact, government medical colleges are finding it difficult to get faculty for some PG courses. We hope that NMC’s draft regulation on Teachers Eligibility Qualifications Regulations (TEQ) 2024 attracts a good number of teachers as NMC has relaxed several qualification norms,” the official said. “This is a temporary exercise. When we get enough lecturers for these courses, NMC will start phasing out the system. This is being done so that colleges don't shut down.”

Going forward, colleges will issue public advertisements in two phases. In the first round, advertisements will be for faculty with a medical background in the specified subject. However, if these posts remain unfilled, the second advertisement will open them for non-medical faculty teachers, specifying that the posts were opened as there were no suitable candidates with a medical background.

“However, the priority will always be given to medical background (MD and DNB) candidates. This is the only way to fill the deficiency of faculty members in these courses,” the official added.

A senior professor from AIIMS-Delhi forensic department, who does not wish to be named, said, "Selection of courses is a personal choice of the student. However, vacant seats for non-clinical subjects are mostly found in medical colleges located on the outskirts or periphery of cities. When students complete MBBS, they broadly have clarity on what PG course to choose. Obviously, the first choice is always clinical subjects, but non-clinical subjects are equally good. As far as faculty for these courses is concerned, it is a dynamic process and a demand-supply game."

There is a misperception among medical students that courses like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, forensics, microbiology, and pathology are non-clinical subjects and require no interaction with patients, which discourages them from opting for these subjects in PG courses.

“So, in future, NMC may plan to bring more attractive norms for such non-clinical subjects like offering incentives to students, allowing one-year clinical courses, etc.,” the official added.

Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered till press time.

SC rejects decades-old 'both handsintact' requirement to study MBBS

SC rejects decades-old 'both handsintact' requirement to study MBBS

TNN | Feb 22, 2025, 02.32 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Discarding the decades-old 'both hands intact' requirement for aspiring doctors, the Supreme Court on Friday said it "reeks of glorifying ableism" and directed National Medical Commission (NMC) to revise the outdated criteria to enable persons with disabilities (PwD) to pursue MBBS course.

Accepting Dr Satendra Singh's report favouring admission to a PwD candidate and rejecting the report of a five-member AIIMS medical board declaring him unfit to pursue MBBS course, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan asked NMC to report the progress in revising the eligibility criteria by March 3. Dr Singh, part of the five-member board, had given a separate opinion.

Writing the judgment, Justice Viswanathan said, "The 'both hands intact' prescription has no sanctity in law as it does not admit of a functional assessment of the individual candidate, a matter which is so fundamental in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities." Referring to Dr Singh's report, the bench said it had an interesting reference about how in an age when robotic surgeries are relied upon, the NMC norms still insisted on the 'both hands intact with intact sensations' norm.

"A prescription such as 'both hands intact' reeks of ableism and has no place in a statutory regulation. In fact, it has the effect of denuding the rights guaranteed under the Constitution and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act) and makes a mockery of the principle of reasonable accommodation," the bench said.

The SC said one should not assume incompetence without providing ample opportunities after ensuring clinical accommodations and assistive technologies.

"In our considered view, the correct approach is the one that Dr Satendra Singh has adopted - to not bar a candidate at the threshold but grant the candidate the choice after completing the MBBS course, to decide whether he wishes to specialise in a non-surgical or medical branch or continue as a general duty medical officer," the bench said. "In our view, this prescription of 'both hands intact' is completely antithetical to Article 41 of the Constitution, the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the salutary provisions of the RPwD Act," the SC said.

“In our view, this prescription of ‘both hands intact’… propagates that persons with typical abilities and with faculties similar to what majority may have are somehow superior. This is precisely what Directive Principles of State Policy, UN Convention and the RPwD Act abhor,” SC added.

Madambakkam lake full of sewage, hyacinth

Madambakkam lake full of sewage, hyacinth

Feb 22, 2025, 04.01 AM IST

Chennai: Madambakkam lake, covering over 250 acres, once a drinking water source, is now sewage-ridden and marred by unchecked growth of hyacinth. Additionally, there is illegal dumping of garbage, including plastic and meat waste.

In 2024, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) floated a 10-crore tender to restore the lake and transform it into an eco-park, but nothing has changed. The issue was raised in a National Green Tribunal case. CMDA, however, is yet to submit updates on the project. Activists are now demanding that civic agencies drop their plan to build an ecopark.

“The lake should remain a lake instead of being converted into an eco-park. In recent years, many influential people have illegally occupied parts of the lake. They obtained 'patta' using their money and muscle power," said Mohan Srinivas, president, environment qwareness and protection association. “The agency must evict people who have occupied the area illegally,” he said.

Residents say they often see tankers illegally dumping sewage into the lake.

“This lake was once beautiful. We could have our morning walks around the lake,” said Vanitha S, a resident of Madambakkam. “We have seen it deteriorate over the years. Tambaram Corporation has taken no steps to protect it,” she said. In 2024, a team of scientists from IIT-M said the water was mixed with sewage, posing a serious threat to the fish and other aquatic species. To make things worse, waste collected from the area is dumped near the lake and is left to rot.

“We have complained to the Tambaram Corporation about the garbage issue, and we are waiting for them to resolve it,” said Murugesan R, a resident of Madipakkam.

CMDA assistant planner Priya R did not tell TOI why the work on restoration was delayed, but said, “Work is in progress and will be completed at the earliest.”

MBBS Exam Scam: Varsity To Check Answer Sheets Of Last 5 Years' Exams

MBBS Exam Scam: Varsity To Check Answer Sheets Of Last 5 Years' Exams 

Written By Divyani Paul 

Published On 18 Feb 2025 4:00 PM  

Haryana- In the reported MBBS exam scam from Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences (UHS), Rohtak, authorities have now decided to to-check-answer-sheets-of-last-5-years-exams-

In this regard, an order has recently been issued by the VC stating that “As the inquiry committee suggested in its report on February 13, another committee is constituted to scrutinise the answer sheets and records of previous batches who can also be involved in this scam so that further necessary action as per the findings and rules may be taken.” 

To oversee this task, a three-member committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of PGIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Kundan Mittal. Dr Sukhdev Chandla, Professor of Physiology at PGIMS and Dr Arun Kumar, Professor of Pedodontics at PGIDS, Rohtak are the other members of the committee. According to TribuneIndia media news report, the sources on this stated that "The committee has been constituted by UHSR Vice-Chancellor Dr HK Aggarwal who wants to ensure action against officials and students involved in the MBBS annual or supplementary examination scandal”. 

This initiative aims to highlight any tampering of answer sheets or irregularities in the examination process during these examinations. Last year in 2024, a major scam of MBBS exam question papers came to light at Pandit BD Sharma UHS, where university staff charged huge sums of money from students to help them pass a particular subject by allowing them to rewrite their answer sheets using erasable ink pens and reference from the textbook 

On this, Medical Dialogues has earlier reported that the district administration has asked the institute to expedite its investigation and submit a report at the earliest for prompt action on the matter.

Ragging in Karnataka medical college; Kashmiri MBBS student ‘beaten’, given death threats by seniors Second-year student Hamim at Al-Ameen Medical College made to sing, dance, perform 'Al-Ameen' salute, beaten in hostel room. JKSA wants accused suspended.

Ragging in Karnataka medical college; Kashmiri MBBS student ‘beaten’, given death threats by seniors Second-year student Hamim at Al-Ameen Medical College made to sing, dance, perform 'Al-Ameen' salute, beaten in hostel room. JKSA wants accused suspended.

Ragging in Karnataka medical college; Kashmiri MBBS student ‘beaten’, given death threats by seniors... 

Read more at: https://news.careers360.com/ragging-in-karnataka-medical-college-al-ameen-kashmiri-mbbs-second-year-student-beaten-given-death-threats-seniors-jksa

NEW DELHI: 19.02.2025

Amid multiple reports of ragging incidents in colleges across the country, another case has now surfaced in Karnataka wherein a Kashmiri MBBS student has been allegedly ‘brutally’ ragged and assaulted at a medical college. Second-year student Hamim was beaten up by senior students of the 2019 batch at Al-Ameen Medical College in Bijapur, according to the Jammu Kashmir Students Association (JKSA). 

Calling it a ‘deeply disturbing incident’, the student body has sought state chief minister Siddaramaiah’s intervention to ensure strict action against the accused students and to safeguard the rights and safety of students, especially non-locals. It also demanded expulsion of those found guilty from the college.

According to the national convenor of JKSA, who spoke to the victim, the ragging had been going on for months, over a probable clash of power between the senior students and the MBBS student who is the captain of the cricket team of 2023 batch. 

Power clash, death threats 

The student belonging to Anantnag was beaten, humiliated, and severely ragged by seniors, JKSA alleged. Narrating the incident, the association said that the issue came up during a cricket match between the 2019 and 2022 batches on February 18. Initially, Hamim was asked to stay out of the boundary of the playground by the seniors, to which he complied and started watching the match from a distance. When he refused to stay afar, asserting his rights, the seniors allegedly confronted him. What initially was a verbal altercation, quickly turned into bullying, with a group of seniors asking Hamim to perform an "Al-Ameen salute”, sing songs, and dance for their amusement.

They even tried to force him into their car, in an attempt to harm him further. Calling such actions inappropriate and against college rules, the victim student refused and took out his phone to record the incident, further enraging the seniors. Later in the evening, some students barged into the Kashmiri student’s hostel room and inflicted physical assault on him, beating him repeatedly and forcing him to record a video apologizing. 

They also gave him death threats and warned him that he would not be allowed to play cricket for the next four years. “You have four more years here. We are locals—imagine how terrible we can make your life,” the seniors were quoted as saying by the student. “Such incidents highlight the alarming culture of unchecked ragging and abuse within educational institutions. This is not just an isolated case of violence—it is a failure of the system meant to protect students. Immediate legal action must be taken against the perpetrators, and both college authorities and law enforcement must intervene swiftly,” said JKSA. 

Stronger antiragging measures need to be implemented to ensure the safety and dignity of all students, especially non-locals and Kashmiri students, who often face additional discrimination, it added. 

Recently, a junior student at a government nursing college in Kerala’s Kottayam was subjected to ‘brutal’ ragging, an incident that triggered widespread public outcry in the state. Five third-year students who targeted first-year nursing students have been arrested. In similar cases, a government college student in Kerala made allegations of brutal ragging, and an Indore medical college student claimed ragging on social media. Follow us for the latest education news on colleges and universities, admission, courses, exams, research, education policies, study abroad and more..

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