No extention of parole on kin’s health grounds:  Hyderabad High Court

By R Rajashekar Rao   |  Express News Service  |   Published: 30th October 2017 09:30 AM  |  

HYDERABAD: Prison Rules make a prisoner ineligible for further grant of parole/emergency leave on the ground of continued illness of his/her close relative as the said ground does not fall under any of the rules for which parole can be extended. The rules mandate that the period of release on parole should not ordinarily exceed two weeks except in special circumstances. Primarily, grant of parole is within the exclusive prerogative of the government and it shall decide the period of release on parole on the merits of each case.

In one of the cases before the Hyderabad High Court, the petitioner is a convict serving life sentence at the Cherlapally Central prison in Rangareddy district. He was initially granted parole for a period of 30 days, considering the medical reports of his mother. After some days, his parole was extended by 15 days. 

While he was on parole, he made a representation to the government stating that his mother was aged 76 years and was suffering from serious health problems, and sought extension of parole by six months.

When there was no response from the government to his representation for extension of parole, he filed a writ petition before the High Court with a plea for declaration of the  government’s inaction as illegal and arbitrary.Placing on record various medical reports of the petitioner’s mother, his counsel urged the court to support the case by exercising its discretionary powers.

On the other hand, the government counsel told the court that as per sub-rules (12) and (16) of Rule 974 of the Andhra Pradesh Prison Rules, parole cannot be extended. The continued illness of a relative of the prisoner shall not be considered a reasonable ground to justify grant of extension of the period of release on parole already sanctioned.

Justice Challa Kodanda Ram pointed out that the reason (mother’s illness) stated by the petitioner for extension of parole does not fall under any of the rules for which parole can be extended. On the contrary, sub-rule (16) prohibits illness of a relative of a prisoner for extension of parole. Therefore, non-passing of orders by the state government on the petitioner’s representation cannot be found fault with, the judge noted and dismissed the plea, saying that the petitioner’s request for extension of parole cannot be acceded to.

Here’s why doctors of Telangana are fighting for government jobs

By K Shiva Shanker  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 30th October 2017 09:18 AM  |  

HYDERABAD: Shattering notions, the corporate healthcare sector is fast shedding its image of being a lucrative career option. This is based on the increasing trend of MBBS and MD graduates eyeing government jobs in TS. A whopping 5,569 doctors have applied for 286 vacancies in government hospitals across TS. This translates to about 20 doctors competing for one vacancy. The trend may continue in the recruitment for assistant professors, applications for which will end on November 15, say experts.

The trend is not without reason. Apart from the oft-cited job security that government postings offer, policymakers have also managed to make it glamourous by providing better salary packages compared to private peers. In fact, the salary difference is drastic. A medico with an MD and 10 years of experience is on an average offered around Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 in the private sector, say experts. This is equal to the salary of a rookie software developer. On the other hand, the same candidate earn up to Rs 93,270 working in a government hospital.

Doctors point out that situation is peculiar to TS, AP and Karnataka due to intense competition. They say that the average salary for an MBBS doctor in state around Rs 20,000. “In other states, people are ready to pay Rs1-2 lakh per month for post-graduate doctors,” said one doctor, who openly floated the possibility of ‘active private practice’ while holding a government job. Doctors’ associations have used the trend to claim there’s no unwillingness among them to serve in rural areas. However, critics claim it’s the lack of monitoring of attendance on daily basis that’s the perk. It allows them to pursue their interest while holding a well-paying government job.  

The Telangana State Public Service Commission is on a massive recruitment drive to fill posts of civil assistant surgeons (CAS) and dental assistant surgeon (DAS). They are also looking to hire tutors, lecturers and assistant professors for the Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad hospitals.“If one doctor is ready to perform a surgery at private hospitals for `10,000, another offers to perform it at Rs 5000. Competition is cut-throat and doctors are ready to work anywhere. While public think that we earn Rs 80,000 to `1 lakh, it takes at least five-years after post-graduation to earn that kind of money, which is around 15-years after we start MBBS course,” a doctor said. 

However, in private sector, doctors point out that though starting salaries are low, it can increase multi-fold depending on expertise and reputation. Private hospital staff said there are liver transplantation specialists who earn up to `18 lakhs per month. 

One of applicants to the government posts said that level of monitoring on a doctors attendance is low in Vaidya Vaidhana Parishad Hospitals. “Out of five days, doctors attend duties on two or three days. Infrastructure too is bad,” the applicant said. It is known to everybody that doctors keep their private practise active while holding government jobs. While talent flow to government sector seems to be a healthy phenomenon, it’s unlikely to benefit the poor and needy as the focus of many remains on the possiblity of private practice.

Air Arabia flight service suspended following bird hit

By Express News Service  |   Published: 30th October 2017 02:04 AM  |  

COIMBATORE: AN Air Arabia flight from Sharjah was grounded at Coimbatore airport after the fight suffered a snag following a bird hit during landing here in the early hours of Sunday. A mishap was avoided when the flight landed on the runway after the bird hit. According to airport officials, the daily international flight usually landed at 4 am at Coimbatore International Airport and departed for Sharjah at 4.40 am. When the flight was preparing to land the pilot heard a sound on the left wing.

The pilot landed the flight which had 107 passengers on board. Inspection later showed damage to the wing. Following the snag, the return service to Sharjah from Coimbatore was suspended and crew of about 163 passengers were forced to wait some hours. Then some of them were sent to Cochin, Chennai through domestic flights in order for them to reach Sharjah.

A technical team was called to correct the snag. As of 6 pm on Sunday, the flight service was not resumed. Officials said it would be ready by Sunday night. R Mahalingam, director, Coimbatore International Airport, said, “It has been identified that a bird hit damaged the left wing when the plane was 400 ft above the outer space of the airport exactly at Chinniampalayam.”He said,  “To stop the such incidents, we have made a technical arrangement using sonar gun, which emits sound during the take off and landing of flights. We cannot prevent bird hits in space outside the airport.”

Madras High Court questions need for 'huge' police force at Poes garden

By PTI  |   Published: 30th October 2017 09:45 PM  |  

The Poes Garden residence of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa | EPS

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court today sought to know the reason behind the stationing of a "huge" posse of police personnel at the Poes Garden residence of J Jayalalitha.

Observing that police personnel were burdened with "unnecessary" bandobast and not even given time for spending with their families, Justice N Kirubakaran asked the Additional Advocate General: "What is the need for deploying such a huge police force at the Poes Garden now. I have seen a large number of personnel there today also." The judge made the passing reference orally when a police report with regard to action taken against tobacco sellers was submitted.

Not satisfied with police's action, the judge wanted to know why the police department is not appointing people who are well-versed in law.

The matter relates to a plea filed by T C Sharath for action against smokers in public places.

When it came up for hearing today, the judge orally observed that these days the sub-inspectors are unable to file FIRs properly.

The judge, while referring to cases and FIRs filed, asked the Additional Advocate General "what is the use of these FIRs ... every section is bailable ... there are no non-bailable sections." When the AAG responded to a question that the training period of SIs is one year, the judge suggested that it may be extended.

Not satisfied with the report, the judge directed the AAG to file a fresh one.

The judge observed that policemen are deployed for unnecessary political and other purposes and hence are unable to perform their official duties.

He said police personnel be given some time to spend with their families and children

PCB says Chitlapakkam dumpsite unauthorised, yet appeals by locals to clear it fall on deaf ears

By Samuel Merigala  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 30th October 2017 01:22 AM  |  

Dumpyard near the Chitlapakkam lake is a health hazard | Sunish P Surendran

CHENNAI: An RTI petition filed by a local activist has reaffirmed that the dumpyard near the Chitlapakkam lake and the police station is unauthorised. 

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, to whom the RTI application was addressed, has clearly stated that permission has not been given to the Chitlapakkam town panchayat to process and dispose of solid waste in the area. P Viswanathan, petitioner and president of the Chitlapakkam Residents Welfare Association, describes the mounds of unsegregated waste towering behind the Chitlapakkam police station as “The Himalayas” partly because it keeps getting bigger and partly because all their repeated attempts to bring it down have been futile. 

“Closure of this dumpyard which borders a police station, government school and the Chitlapakkam lake is something we have been fighting for since 2000,” said Viswanathan. It was in 2000 when the TNPCB first issued a show-cause notice to the Chitlapakkam town panchayat for its irresponsible disposal of solid waste. The town panchayat flinched and began dumping waste in the nearby burial grounds. After intervention of the Kancheepuram Collector, arrangements were made for waste to be dumped in Perungudi. “At that time we didn’t have a vehicle to transport waste to Perungudi,” said an official at the Chitlapakkam town panchayat. 

Waste continued to be dumped near the lake despite repeated assurances from the panchayat that dumping would shift to Keerapakkam, where 20 acres of land has been allocated for waste from town panchayats. 
On July 24, Viswanathan filed a complaint to the Chief Minister’s special cell regarding the illegal dumping of waste near a government school and sought special permission for the 15 tonnes of waste generated every day from Chitlapakkam to be dumped in Venkatamangalam landfill.

The complaint was forwarded to the District Collectorate which said on August 8 that arrangements would be made for collection and dumping of waste in Venkatamangalam landfill, where the solid waste of the municipalities is scientifically processed. The Collectorate further said that the dumpyard at Chitlapakkam would be closed and the existing waste removed from the 0.63-acre dumpyard. However, no action has been taken and partially segregated waste continues to be dumped and mounds grow bigger. 

Irregular waste collection, segregation

The Chitlapakkam town panchayat outsourced conservancy work to an NGO called Hand in Hand in 2008. An MOU was signed where the panchayat agreed to let NGO bring in 56 workers and provide implements required for conservancy work 
After nine years, the number of conservancy workers has increased to just 61 in the MOU while the population has drastically increased in the area 
K Kannan, supervisor for Hand in Hand at Chitlapakkam, told Express that out of the 61 workers, there are at least 10 absentees every day. “Finding people do conservancy work is difficult. So we can’t force them to be regular,” he said
“There are around 12,800 people living per square kilometre in Chitlapakkam. Still depending on an NGO with irregular workers to do conservancy work is stupidity on the part of the town panchayat,” said S Chandrasekar, a member of the Chitlapakkam Residents Welfare Association 

அஞ்சல் துறையில் போஸ்ட்மேன் வேலை: பத்தாம் வகுப்பு முடித்தவர்கள் விண்ணப்பிக்கலாம்!

Published on : 30th October 2017 02:28 PM    

ராஜஸ்தான் அஞ்சல் வட்டத்தில் நிரப்பப்பட உள்ள 129 போஸ்ட்மேன் வேலைக்கு பத்தாம் வகுப்பு முடித்தவர்களிடமிருந்து விண்ணப்பங்கள் வரவேற்கப்படுகின்றன.

பணி: Postman

காலியிடங்கள்: 129

தகுதி: பத்தாம் வகுப்பு தேர்ச்சி பெற்றிருக்க வேண்டும்.

வயதுவரம்பு: 18 முதல் 27க்குள் இருக்க வேண்டும்.

சம்பளம்: மாதம் ரூ.21,700

விண்ணப்பக்கட்டணம்: ரூ.100

தேர்வு கட்டணம்: ரூ.400

விண்ணப்பிப்பதற்கான கடைசி தேதி: 27.11.2017

மேலும் முழுமையான விவரங்கள் அறிய http://www.doprajrecruitment.in/Post-MG%20exam%20%20notification%20-%202017.pdf என்ற லிங்கை கிளிக் செய்து தெரிந்துகொள்ளவும்.

மெர்சல் படத்துக்கு ரூ. 200 கோடி வசூலா?: அபிராமி ராமநாதன் ஆச்சர்யம்!

By எழில்  |   Published on : 30th October 2017 01:05 PM  

மெர்சல் படம் ரூ. 200 கோடி வசூலைத் தொடவுள்ளதாக வெளியாகும் தகவல்களுக்கு அபிராமி ராமநாதன் ஆச்சர்யம் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

அட்லி இயக்கத்தில் விஜய் நடிப்பில் வெளியாகியிருக்கும் படம் - மெர்சல். இப்படத்தில் இடம்பெற்றுள்ள ஜிஎஸ்டி தொடர்பான வசனங்களுக்கு பாஜக கட்சித் தலைவர்கள் கடும் ஆட்சேபம் தெரிவித்து வருகின்றனர். மெர்சல் படத்தில் மருத்துவர்களைப் பற்றி உண்மையற்ற, மலிவான காட்சிகள் இடம்பெற்றிருப்பதாக மருத்துவர்கள் சங்கமும் கண்டனம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது. இதனால் பெரும் சர்ச்சை உருவாகியுள்ளது.

இந்நிலையில் தயாரிப்பாளரும் திரையரங்க அதிபருமான அபிராமி ராமநாதன், மெர்சல் படத்தின் வசூல் குறித்து சில தகவல்களைத் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். இணையத்தளம் ஒன்றுக்கு அளித்த பேட்டியில் மெர்சல் வசூல் குறித்த கேள்விக்கு அவர் பதில் அளித்ததாவது:  

நாங்கள் 1976-ல் இருந்து இந்தத் துறையில் உள்ளோம். முன்பு, பிளாக்கில் டிக்கெட் விற்பவர்களுக்கு 20% வரை டிக்கெட்டுகள் ஒதுக்கிவிடுவோம். எம்ஜிஆர் படத்துக்கு நூறு ரூபாய் டிக்கெட் விற்கிறார்கள் என மக்கள் வியந்தால் எனக்கு அந்த இடத்தில் இலவசமாக விளம்பரம் கிடைக்கிறது. இதனாலேயே இன்று ரூ. 150 கோடி, ரூ. 200 கோடி வசூலாகிறது என்று சொல்கிறார்கள். இது சிதம்பர ரகசியம். யாராலும் கண்டுபிடிக்கமுடியாது. சென்னை நகரத்தில் இந்தப் படத்துக்கு எவ்வளவு வசூல் கிடைத்தது என்பது எனக்கு மட்டும்தான் தெரியும். தயாரிப்பாளருக்கு இன்னும் அந்த வசூல் நிலவரங்களை நான் தரவில்லை. படம் ஓடிமுடிந்தபிறகுதான் வசூல் விவரங்கள் அளிக்கப்படும். அதற்குக் கிட்டத்தட்ட ஒரு மாதமாகும். அதேபோல மற்ற ஊர்களிலும் எவ்வளவு வசூலாகிறது என்பதைத் தயாரிப்பாளருக்குச் சொல்லவேமாட்டோம். இந்த நிலையில் ரூ. 200 கோடி வசூல் என எப்படி ஒருவர் சொல்கிறார்? இதைச் சொன்னால் யாராலும் மறுக்கவும் முடியாது. இது ஒரு இலவச விளம்பரம். மற்றபடி 99% உண்மை கிடையாது என்றார்.