Appointment of DG Vaishnav principal revoked after plagiarism charges proved

Siddharth Prabhakar | TNN | Dec 16, 2017, 07:04 IST



CHENNAI: University of Madras has disapproved the appointment of professor T Santhanam as principal of D G Vaishnav College after proving a plagiarism charge against him.

The university's syndicate passed a unanimous resolution on Friday to revoke the appointment. Vice-chancellor P Duraisamy confirmed the resolution.

Santhanam is a professor of computer science and was appointed principal on September 28. Dr Regina Vincent, a resident of Korattur, had filed a complaint with the university vice-chancellor stating that Santhanam, in his PhD thesis 'The Validation of a Computer Simulation Model Using Spectral Analysis', had copied three chapters verbatim from a thesis published by a research scholar of Arizona State University.

The complaint letter was also sent to all media houses a month ago. University of Madras had awarded a PhD in computer science to Santhanam in 2001.

A subject expert committee constituted by the varsity found that there was a "high level of plagiarism" and the three chapters had been copied almost verbatim from the thesis of the American scholar. "By avoiding taking action against him we did not want to create an image of going slow on plagiarism. This is a serious issue," a top official of the university told TOI after the syndicate meeting.

Professors in the university said this was a good precedent and would send out a strong message to the academic community. "The thesis in question is 16 years old. Academics who have plagiarised works will now be worried," said a senior professor.

Senior faculty members of the varsity said there was no clear regulation to address the issue as the syndicate can only check if the appointment of the principal was done according to UGC regulations. But in Santhanam's case, since the degree based on which he had applied for the post was in dispute, the appointment could not be approved.

Welcoming the tough action, professor Gopalji Malviya, former head the department of defence studies of the university, said there were many other cases where PhD and M Phil degrees were fraudulently obtained. "There are many departments where shortcuts have been taken. Will the university investigate these," he asked.

TOI made multiple efforts to contact Santhanam but they proved to be futile.

Beginning of end for tainted MCI: Cabinet OKs reforms

Mahendra K Singh and Durgesh Nandan Jha | TNN | Updated: Dec 16, 2017, 05:01 IST



NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Friday cleared the national medical commission bill, which seeks to reduce red tape in medical education and give the government a say in fixing fees in up to 40% of seats in private medical colleges.

The bill seeks to replace the existing apex medical education regulator, Medical Council of India, (MCI) with a new body in an effort to increase transparency in the wake of corruption cases with regard to admissions to medical colleges.

While private medical colleges will still have the power to determine fees for the majority of seats, that for 40% of the seats will be decided by NMC, offering applicants some reprieve from exorbitant fees. TOIhad first reported on March 28, 2016, that in a health sector review PM Modi had called for the scrapping of MCI.



A four-member committee headed by the Niti Aayog vice-chairman drafted the NMC bill The bill proposes a common entrance exam and licentiate exam that all medical graduates will have to clear to practise, officials said. The exit exam will be treated as an entrance exam for PG courses. With NEET for MBBS courses and the exit exam, the multiplicity of exams will end.

The nod for the bill comes in the wake of several complaints against the MCI and its top officials, accused in the past of using its sweeping powers to derecognise medical colleges as well manipulate admissions to mint money. The new commission will have four boards — for undergraduate and PG medical education, medical assessment and rating, and ethics and medical registration.

As per the provisions of the draft bill, no permission would be needed to add seats or start PG courses. There will be fewer elected members in the commission. This has attracted the charge of the NMC being undemocratic but official sources said it would include well-regarded doctors and non-medical experts.

Under the MCI Act, 1956, medical colleges needed permission to be established and recognised, for renewal and increase in intake. The NMC bill reduces this to establishment and recognition. There will be no need for annual renewal. The MCI has been accused of being opaque in its accreditation process and the decision to do away with permissions in the new bill is aimed at addressing this, though the flip side could be less scrutiny for colleges.

Vodafone’s new offer will give you 2GB data per day 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.
Published Dec 14, 2017, 2:21 pm IST

Under this plan subscribers will total of 56GB data for a period of 28 days for both 3G and 4G devices.


The new plan also enables users to make unlimited local, STD and roaming calls with a daily cap of 250 minutes, after which 1 paisa per second will be charged.

The battle in the telecom sector is getting fierce as giants such as Jio and Airtel are offering free voice calling and data at dirt cheap prices. Vodafone has also joined the bandwagon with its new Rs 348 prepaid plan which offers 2GB data per day.

Under this plan subscribers will total of 56GB data for a period of 28 days for both 3G and 4G devices. The new plan goes directly in competition with Airtel’s Rs 349 plan and Jio’s Rs 399 plan.

The new plan also enables users to make unlimited local, STD and roaming calls with a daily cap of 250 minutes, after which 1 paisa per second will be charged. There is a weekly cap of 1000 minutes as well. Users can avail up to 5 per cent of cashback if they perform the recharge from the app or the website.

Airtel’s Rs 349 plan in turn, offers 2GB data per day with a validity of 28 days. It offers unlimited local, STD and roaming calling and users also get unlimited local and national SMS.

Bengaluru: Retired doctor in the dock for Aadhaar attestation

By Praveen Kumar, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Updated: Dec 15, 2017, 08.44 AM IST

Former medical officer accused of attesting address, ID proofs

A retired Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of the state government has landed in a soup after he allegedly issued fabricated attestation of proofs of identities and addresses for the purpose of Aadhaar enrolment and updation. This caught the attention of deputy director of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), who has filed a complaint.

The issue assumes significance as only recently a duty doctor at a government hospital in Jayanagar was accused of having issued Gazetted Officer certificates to three Pakistani nationals without checking their background.

The complaint against Dr Mahantappa Shabadi, retired RMO, government of Karnataka, Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) 11032, was filed by Ashok Lenin, deputy director, UIDAI. The complaint against Shabadi accuses him of omission and commission by issuing fabricated attestation of proofs of identities and addresses. The complaint was registered on Monday. "The incident came to light during back-end checking at the regional office of the UIDAI at Khanija Bhavan on the Race Course Road when the details of the gazetted officers, who attest the Aadhaar enrolment applications, were being scrutinised. When an application attested by Dr Mahantappa Shabadi was being checked, we found that as he had retired, he was not authorised to sign as a gazetted officer," said an official of UIDAI.

In the attestation copy, the doctor's address is given as RMS Layout in Sanjyanagar. Shabadi is also accused of illegally issuing the Gazetted Officer (GO) certificates at proofs. Lenin states in the complaint that this act of the doctor facilitates forgery and fabrication. "Investigation is in the preliminary stages. The police are in the process of collecting documents from the UIDAI to establish their allegations against the doctor," Chetan Singh Rathor, deputy commissioner of police (North), told BM.

When the Sanjaynagar police went to the specified address, they found he had vacated the house. A case under section 419 (cheating by personation) , 420 (cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of IPC, section 34 of The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016 has been registered against Shabadi.

All Aadhaar deadline extended to 31 March 

NT Bureau and Agency December 15, 2017



New Delhi: The Supreme Court today extended till 31 March next year the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes.

A five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in an interim order, also modified its earlier order with regard to linking of Aadhaar with mobile services and said the deadline of 6 February next year for this purpose also stood extended till 31 March.

The bench, which also comprised justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, said for opening new bank accounts, an applicant will not be required to provide Aadhaar number to the bank.

However, the applicant will have to show proof to the bank that s/he has applied for the Aadhaar number, Justice Chandrachud, who wrote the unanimous interim order, said.

The apex court said the Constitution bench would commence final hearing from 17 January on the petition challenging the Aadhaar scheme itself.

Yesterday, attorney general K K Venugopal had submitted before the top court that the deadline of mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes can also be extended up to 31 March next year.

Recently, a nine-judge Constitution bench of the apex court had held that Right to Privacy was a fundamental right. Several petitioners challenging the validity of Aadhaar had claimed it violated privacy rights.

Some petitioners in the top court have termed the linking of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) number with bank accounts and mobile numbers as ‘illegal and unconstitutional’.

Shyam Divan, a senior advocate and one of the petitioners, argued that Aadhaar linking was being extended to all areas like availing of scholarships, nursery admissions and medical treatment for HIV patients in violation of court orders.

“The government has disregarded the court’s earlier orders that continue to have full sanctity and say that until the apex court takes a final decision on Aadhaar, it cannot be made mandatory for all services,” Divan said.

He added that the government should have sought variation of orders limiting mandatory use of Aadhaar.

CJI Misra, however, observed that the court’s earlier orders were passed based on the government’s executive decision, and needed to be tested on the anvil of law, now that the Aadhaar Act is in place.

On 30 October, the apex court referred all Aadhaar cases to a five-judge Constitution bench to be formed by the end of November.

‘Vikram Vedha’ team celebrates 100th day 

NT Bureau December 15, 2017 0


A good film will be celebrated by audience irrespective of when it releases, said actor Madhavan.

Speaking at the 100th day celebrations of Vikram Vedha, Madhavan, said, “When the movie was released, there was chaos and confusion as GST was implemented then. Many said it was a wrong time as people would not come to theatres.”

However, people appreciated the content and made it a hit, said Madhavan.

Directed by Pushkar-Gayathri, the movie was based on the famous tales of Vikram and Vedhal.

It narrated the story of a honest cop Vikram (Madhavan), who’s on a mission to nab a notorious gangster Vedha (Vijay Sethupathi).

Vikram Vedha was Pushkar-Gayathri’s third film after Oram Po and Va Quarter Cutting.

The movie also starred Shraddha Srinath, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Kathir in important roles.

Vijay Sethupathi, said, “It would be a movie to cherish in my career. It won me more fans and admirers.”

He thanked the director-duo for their hard work and conviction in the script.

Shraddha Srinath and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar also spoke on the occasion.

Power shutdown areas in Chennai on 16-12-17

 

 

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Posted on : 15/Dec/2017 09:48:32

Power supply will be suspended in the following areas on 16-12-17 between 9.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M. for maintenance work. Supply will be resumed before 4.00 P.M. if the works are completed.

NANDANAM AREA: Jogi thottam, Anbu colony, Power finance corporation building, SM nagar, Ceebros hotel, Karumuthu centre, JVL Plaza, IOC, Voltas Structure, Defence Accounts, Mambalam Telephone exchange, Entire VN road, South Boag road, Melony st, Hindi Pracharashaba area, Amudam colony, Thomas road, Guna complex, Fathima akthar complex, cape Gemini, K.B. Dasan salai, part of Teynampet, Chitaranjan road, Cenetaoph road first st, Alwarpet 1 to 5th st, Cenetaoph first and second lane, part of Chamiers road, Seethamal Extension 1 to 3rd st & cross st, Ganesapuram, Apollo speciality hospital, Rathna nagar, Turnbulls road, Poultry, L.R. Swami building, part of North boag road, Giriappa road, Thyagaraya road.

CIT NAGAR AREA: Model Hutment road, 1 to 6th cross st, 2nd to 5th, Main road of East CIT Nagar, South west boag road, Sadullah st, Abdul Aziz st, Moosa st, South Dhandapani st, part of V.N. road, Moopparapan st, Canal Bank road, Srinivasan st, Gopal st, Siviaji st, Damodaran st, Part of Mannar st, Part of South Usman road, Motilal st, Sarojini st, part of Usman road, Ramanathan st, Rameswaram road, Ranganathan st, Mangair st, Moosa st, Barkit road, Dandapani st, Cresant park st, Jagathesan st, Mylai Ranganathan st, Part of Thanikachalam road, Lotus colony, Nandanam Extension 1 to 15 st, Old Tower Black, part Chamiers road Temple tower Kiviraj building, EVR Periyar building, Anna salai.

Guindy: Guindy Industrial area South phase, A, B, C, D, E and G Blocks, Kathipara junction to No. 120 Mount Road, Ekkattuthangal, Ambal Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Poomagal Street, Ganapathy Colony, Rajiv Gandhi Street, Lazer Street, Sardar Colony and Tiny Sector (Developed Plots and Adjacent areas).

AVADI AREA: Thirumullaivoyal area, Railway car shed, Senthil nagar, Police Quarters, Vaishnavi nagar, Avadi area, C.T.H Road, N.M. Road, Kannikapuram, Gandhi nagar, Cavarapalayam, Telephone Exchange, Shivashakthi nagar, Balaji nagar, Manikandapuram, Kovilpathagai, Poombozhil nagar, Ashok nagar, Kannadapalayam.

PALLAVARAM AREA: Part of Pammal, Pallavaram East & West, Part of Pallavaram GST Road, Keelkattalai, Thirusoolam, Veteran Lines. GANDHI NAGAR & KODUNGIYUR AREA: Kamaraj & Sathyavani muthu Salai, Jambuli & Kattabomman St, Seetharam, RV, Poongavanam & Gandhi Nagar, Part of GNT Road, RC Flats.

Madanandapuram: Annai velankanni nagar, Madha nagarm Kumari nagar, Vasuki nagar, Mugalivakkam main roadm Balaji nagar.