Deadly sting: Hospital workers seen removing, selling organs from bodies

MEERUT: In a shocking scam, a sting operation done by a team of anti-corruption activists has revealed that workers in some Uttar Pradesh hospitals who assist doctors in conducting post-mortems have been removing organs from human bodies and selling them to tantrikswho use them for black magic. A liver went for Rs 5,000. But a heart could go up to as much as Rs 20,000. TOI has procured videos of the sting operation.

Meerut district magistrate Pankaj Yadav on Saturday said he has sent a report to the government and sought a probe into the incident while CMO Ramesh Chandra said instructions have gone out "that no human body should be opened or closed for post mortem without the presence of police".

In the video, a worker at the post-mortem house is seen explaining the rates to a man who pretends to be a potential buyer. He then says: "Liver from a fresh body costs Rs 5,100 while that of a body that's few days old can be purchased for Rs 2,000." The worker goes on to claim that he recently sold the organ of a police official who died in an accident in Meerut on June 22 for Rs 5,100.

According to the worker, these organs are mostly procured by tantriks who perform black magic. "Generally, liver is the most sought-after organ but a few tantriks also look for other organs like heart," said Kapil Patiyal, one of the team members who conducted the sting.

District hospital authorities said they had no idea how long this scam had been running. Chandra said, "It is quite unfortunate that such an inhuman activity is taking place here. We have issued strict instructions that no human body must be opened or closed for post-mortem without the presence of police and doctors."

Superintendent of police (city) Om Prakash added, "This is the first time we have heard something of this kind. It is not only unethical but illegal as well. There is a whole procedure and consents are taken when an organ is removed from a body. And most of the time, it is done for transplantation. The matter is still under investigation by civic authorities. We will act only once a case is filed in the matter."

Vaigai Express to get high-end loco from July 6

MADURAI: The Madurai railway division has announced that one of its premium trains, the Madurai - Chennai Egmore Vaigai Express would be hauled by Indian Railways' most powerful passenger locomotive, WAP-7, on a permanent basis. While the train would get the 6120 horsepower loco from Chennai Egmore on July 6, the first service from Madurai will begin from July 7, officials from the Southern Railway electrical department said.

They said the locomotive benefits loco pilots and railways in general. Not only does it enable smooth acceleration and deceleration, but is also equipped with more power and regeneration capacity, which can help the railways operate more trains on the section without incurring additional cost on power. More automation features help loco pilots to operate the train without complexity, they said. "Overall, the locomotive benefits all stake holders," said an official.

Divisional railway manager, Sunil Kumar Garg said a request has been placed for more advanced locomotives for operation of trains. "We are getting WAP-7 for Vaigai first and a request has been placed with the headquarters to allot more such locomotives for the division," he said. A total of 22 loco pilots are required to operate express and mails when these locos are assigned and the personnel are given training to operate them, officials said.

The locomotive's goods variant, WAG-9 has been hauling freight trains in the division from May. The steep gradient between Kalpattichathiram and Ayyampalayam for a stretch of 32 km has come as a boon for the division as these locomotives regenerate good amount of electricity.

High court directs that seats be provided to accused during trial

CHENNAI: Why should people accused in criminal cases not be allowed to sit in court halls during trial, the Madras high court has asked.

"We see no reason why, if there are benches vacant, even the accused who come to the court cannot be seated there," said the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam, in an apparent bid to make the court experience easier for not only witnesses, but also the accused.

The judges then directed the court's registrar-general to look into the issue and make available seating facilities for accused in the criminal and trial courts.

"We find it difficult to accept that any court would deliberately make a woman or an expectant mother to stand in the court," they observed, adding that if a person is of advanced age or if any expectant mother even in the witness box that person can be seated, if required. "The purpose is to record the testimony and not to cause pain or physical inconvenience," they said.

In this regard, the judges cited the 33-year old judgment of the Supreme Court in the Avatar Singh and others Vs State of Madhya Pradesh (1982) case which said: "We are unable to understand how any court in our country can at all insist that the accused shall keep on standing during the trial, particularly when the trial is long and arduous. We hope that all the high courts in India take appropriate steps, if they have not already done so, to provide in their respective criminal manuals required under Section 477(1) of the CrPC, that the accused shall be permitted to sit down during the trial unless it becomes necessary for the accused to stand up for any specific purpose as for example for the purpose of identification."

Reiterating the need to follow the dictum laid down by the Supreme Court, the first bench said the high court's registrar-general should issue necessary direction/office order in the matter.

The judgment has come at a time when trial courts are making witnesses and suspects go through highly forgettable court experiences, said former special public prosecutor for human rights court V Kannadasan. "In most trial courts, accused and those who come to courts for surrender or recall of warrants are made to squat on the floor, and no one is allowed to enter with chappals on. Accused are herded into the box with folded hands and bowed heads," he said.

The issue of providing seats to witnesses and accused came up for court's consideration when a PIL filed by A Jaiganesh of Satta Panchayat Iyakkam came up for hearing. Seeking a direction to all judicial and quasi-iudicial forums in Tamil Nadu to re-arrange their paraphernalia in such a way as to treat victims, witnesses and suspects with dignity by offering them a seat, the PIL submitted that citizens arraigned as accused and summoned by criminal courts are denied a seat and forced to stand for hours.

It also cited the case of the arrest of RTI activist Siva Elango, who was detained for taking a seat during a hearing at Tamil Nadu State Information Commission. Assailing the "mindset" of judicial and quasi-judicial authorities and the treatment meted out to Siva Elango, the PIL claimed that the then chief information commissioner had told protesting RTI activists that he was a retired chief secretary of a state and hence others should remain standing during hearings.

Relegating victims, witnesses and suspects in criminal and civil trials to the far-end of court halls and herding them like cattle is unfair, the PIL said.

Chhattisgarh government’s no fee refund policy for MBBS seats cause anxiety among aspirants

Chhattisgarh government's latest policy of "no refund" of fee to MBBS students, who have taken admission in medical colleges through the state's PMT, is causing anxious moments to many parents as the All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), which was cancelled by the apex court due to fraud and cheating, is being re-conducted on July 25, which coincides with the second session of counselling for the seats in the state.

According to officials, Chhattisgarh's new PMT Admission Rules 2015 clearly state that of no fee would be refunded to students once admission is granted to them. The first counselling session for filling up 82 % of the available 805 MBBS seats in the state has already been held and the second session is scheduled for July 25.

Talking to TOI, a concerned parent said he would stand to loose the Rs 3.8 lakhs deposited for his son's admission in Chandulal Chandrakar Medical College, in case he clears his AIPMT exam and gets admission in a better college. He suggested that the state government should delay the counselling and the admission process till the declaration of the AIPMT results.

"What would happen if I go ahead with the PMT counselling and pay the fee to secure my seat here, but later also clear the AIPMT," said a student, requesting anonymity. He said he had checked with the admission cell and they had clearly told him that no fee would be refunded.

When contacted Director medical education, Pratap Singh, confirmed that the fee will not be refunded once a student gets admission in any of the college during counselling. He said if any student clears AIPMT and chooses Chhattisgarh then he would have to first surrender his or her seat of state quota of that college and then take admission under AIPMT quota with full fee.

Officials said earlier, the government used to permit refund of fee after 10% deduction as administrative charges. However, new rules do not permit this. Incidentally the first year's fee in government colleges is Rs 29000 and in private colleges (state quota) is Rs 3.80 lakhs.

Another AIPMT aspirant, Prafful, (name changed) said, "It has become really difficult for us. We have to make preparations for the AIPMT again and at the same time schedule our counselling at medical colleges". He said many parent have written to the MCI and health ministry to postpone the counselling in medical colleges.

Appreciating the decision of the Supreme Court, a professor in a medical college said, "It is good that the SC has given an early deadline of August 17 to the CBSE for declaring result. This would ensure that the session is not delayed".

Fill vacancies without loss of time in the interest of students: court

Whenever a post fell vacant following the resignation, retirement or death of a serving teaching faculty, the college management shall fill the post by a qualified teacher without loss of time in the interest of the students, the Madras High Court has observed.

Passing a common order on a batch of petitions, Justice D. Hariparanthaman recalled the court’s interference in the action of some educational institutions which had refused to approve the appointment of teachers, since “that action would ultimately affect the poor students who will seek admission in various courses in aided colleges, wherein no fee or nominal fee is collected.”

Several petitioners working in Scott Christian College at Nagercoil had moved the court seeking to direct the Director of Collegiate Education to approve their appointment as assistant professors in various departments of the college in the existing vacancies with monetary and all other service benefits on the similarly placed persons.

The Director of Collegiate Education had issued a proceeding on April 4 to the Registrar of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University stating that it should not grant approval for the qualification unless the authorities concerned sanctioned the grant and hence the petition.

The judge directed the Collegiate Education officials to grant approval to the appointment of the petitioners within four weeks as they were appointed against the regular vacancies.












Petitioners working in Scott Christian College at Nagercoil had sought approval of their appointment as assistant professors

‘Cannot deny VRS for already punished employee’

A government servant, who had already faced disciplinary proceedings initiated by the department, cannot be disqualified from opting for voluntary retirement from service, the Madras High Court has held.

Passing orders on a petition by R. Lakshmi of Motor Vehicles Maintenance Department, Justice D. Hariparanthaman said that Rule 56 (3) (e) of the Fundamental Rules placed restriction for going on voluntary retirement only if disciplinary proceeding was contemplated or pending.

The petitioner, who had put in over 37 years of service, had on April 20 sought permission to go on voluntary retirement which was rejected by the authorities and hence the petition.

The Additional Government Pleader submitted that the petitioner’s increment was stopped for three years with cumulative effect from 2005 and the same was considered her disqualification to opt for voluntary retirement.

The judge said that a person seeking voluntary retirement shall be allowed to retire voluntarily unless there was any disqualification, and quashed a Government Order rejecting her application seeking voluntary retirement.

Further, the court directed officials to relieve her from service by July 31.



Petitioner, who had put in over 37 years of service, had on April 20 sought permission to go on VRS and it was eventually rejected

Denial of subsistence allowance is deprival of livelihood, says HC

Describing that denial of subsistence allowance amounted to deprival of an employee’s livelihood, the Madras High Court has observed that the management of a cooperative society cannot deny payment of the allowance to a suspended employee on the ground that it was incurring loss.

In a recent order, Justice D. Hariparanthaman said, “If the society is running at loss, it can very well close its business. The alleged loss incurred by the management cannot be a ground to deny the payment of subsistence allowance.”

Petitioner G. Mohanan sought a direction to the authorities to disburse the subsistence allowance to him for the period under suspension from November 26, 2012 to May 31, 2015 to the tune of Rs. 8.99 lakh for every succeeding month.

Counsel appearing for the co-operative society said that though it was willing to pay the allowance, it sought six months to pay the arrears of subsistence allowance.

The judge said, “I am not inclined to give the time sought for. Denial of subsistence allowance amounts to deprival of livelihood and is violative of Article 21 of the Constitution.”

The judge further directed the president of Meyyur Primary Agricultural Co Operative Society at Uthukottai in Tiruvallur district to pay arrears of subsistence allowance to the petitioner within four weeks and continue to pay the allowance every month till the completion of disciplinary proceedings.



‘If the society is running at loss, it can very well close its business. The alleged loss incurred by tit cannot be a ground to deny the payment of subsistence allowance’