3,292 NGOs have 15 days to comply with FCRA rules or face action

New Delhi: 29.04.2018

The ministry of home affairs has issued notices to 3,292 NGOs/associations including Delhi University, JNU, IGNOU, IIT-Madras and others asking them to submit their annual returns from 2011-12 to 2016-17 within the next 15 days or face cancellation of licence under FCRA 2010.

In an order issued this week, the ministry has asked the associations registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010 to submit their mandatory annual returns for these six years on the FCRA portal online “immediately”.

According to the rule, those NGOs/organisations which do not receive funds from foreign countries are also required to furnish a ‘nil’ return for the respective financial years.

The ministry has issued the notices to 3,292 physically while stating, “If you failed to submit any of the missing return (s) within this time period (2011-12 to 2016-17), appropriate action under the section 14 (cancellation) of the FCRA, 2010 would be initiated against your association for the said violation,” stated the order. Some of the associations/ NGOs which have been sent notices this week include prominent higher education institutions like University of Delhi, JNU, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), IITMadras, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) Delhi, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) among others.

“This is the final opportunity these organisations have,” said a senior MHA official. TNN

No need for original records of case in higher courts, rules SC

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 29.04.2018

A month after ruling that stay on trial proceedings, particularly in corruption cases, must not exceed six months, the Supreme Court has taken another significant step to ensure speedy completion of trials, holding that the present practice of higher courts seeking original records of a case from lower courts must be done away with.

Original records are sought by the Supreme Court and high courts while hearing a plea of an accused challenging interim order of a trial court. The proceedings in the lower court get stalled till the documents are sent back to it from the SC or HC.

Now a bench of Justices A K Goel and R F Nariman has ruled the present practice must be done away with and the SC and HCs should get photocopies or scanned copies of the trial court records to decide the case and the original documents should remain with the trial court to ensure uninterrupted proceedings.

“We direct that if, in future, the trial court records are summoned, the trial courts may send photocopy/ scanned copy of the record and retain the original so the proceedings are not held up. In cases where specifically original record is required by holding that photocopy will not serve the purpose, the appellate/revisional court may call for the record only for perusal and the same be returned while keeping a photocopy/ scanned copy of the same,” the bench said.

The bench said its order was in continuation of the apex court’s March 28 verdict, in which it ruled that higher courts should not stay trial proceedings for more than six months. It had said lower courts could proceed after a six-month period, preventing the accused from dragging on the trial.

“To give effect to directions in judgment of this court dated March 28, we direct that wherever original record has been summoned by an appellate/revisional court, photocopy/scanned copy of the same may be kept for its reference and original returned to the trial courts forthwith,” the apex court said.

The court said the right of the accused has to be considered vis-a-vis the interest of society. Larger societal interests get affected due to delay in trial proceedings after the original records are sent to higher courts.

The apex court in its March 28 verdict said, “It is well accepted that delay in a criminal trial, particularly in the Prevention of Corruption Act cases, has deleterious effect on the administration of justice. Delay in trials affects the faith in Rule of Law and efficacy of the legal system. It affects social welfare and development. ” 

Arrested MKU prof’s wife alleges conspiracy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai: 29.04.2018

The wife of arrested Madurai Kamaraj University assistant professor V Murugan on Saturday claimed that there was a threat to her family if they revealed the names of the real culprits in the scandal involving Arupukottai Devanga Arts College assistant professor Nirmala Devi.

Suja Murugan told reporters here that her husband was innocent and he had been made a scapegoat to protect the real culprits. “The real offenders are at the Madurai Kamaraj University and there is a threat to our lives if we reveal their names. Let the Santhanam committee and the CB-CID find out the truth,’’ she said.

She said it was former research scholar Karuppasamy who had introduced Nirmala Devi to her husband. Devi met Murugan when he was made the incharge of room allocation for the participants of a refresher course conducted by the university. She had also come with Karuppasamy to meet Murugan after her suspension for seeking his help, Suja said.

Students join varsities abroad before results

Chennai:
29.04.2018

Siddharth Sridhar is yet to get his Class XII results, but has already secured admissions in the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technologyin Boston,USA.Hewasoneof the 15 Class XII students who had enrolled in the USA Univ-Quest programme run by FIITJEE coaching. The programme helped him clear several tests like SAT (Reasoning), SAT Subjects, Advanced Placement, andTOEFL.

Vijay Lakshmi, a senior manager of USA UnivQuest, Chennai, said the programme helps students with different profiles and notjust academics. “Several universities abroad give importance to extracurricular activities. USA UnivQuest has .. programmes designed to provide the best personalised professional training to suit each student’s requirement, learning abilities andschedule,” shesaid.

Deeksha Shridhar, who has been drawing professionally for more than 10 years, said, “Through USA UnivQuest, I will pursue myUGcourse abroadwithoutsidelining drawing.” TNN

Cancer survivors serve as living proof that early diagnosis is key to cure disease

Chennai: 29.04.2018

After being diagnosed with oral cancer during avisitto a dentistin 2011,Azhagu Ramasamy spent sleepless nights watching her children sleep and lamenting if she would survive to see them grow.Thefear was palpable, as the 47-year-old had witnessed thedeathof her mother after a three-year fight with the disease. But what she realised muchlater wasthatearly diagnosis gaveher a secondchance atlife.

She stood at the Outsmart Cancer event on Saturday to recall her tale of survival. “I was diagnosed when the wound, after removing my wisdom tooth, didn’t heal. I feared initially, but it was my teenageson’swordsthatdrove me to face my problem with a positive attitude,”she recounted.

The Outsmart Cancer is a joint initiative of the Times of India and the Apollo Cancer Center, which emphasises on detection and diagnosis of malignancy at an early stage. “80% of the patients come to doctors at an advanced stage and 70% of them die in the first year after diagnosis. When detected early, 80% of cancer is curable,” said Dr T Raja, senior consultant, medicaloncology,ApolloHospitals.

Doctors explained that detection of malignancy is possible by following a few simple steps of self-examination, with specialists adding that the top five cancers, including that of the breast, cervix and lung, affecting people in India arescreenable.Whileopportunistic screening has been the way so far when it comes to cancer diagnosis, oncologists pondered if coming up with programmes for mass screening is the way forward to deal withtheissue.

“Mass screening may not be required, as it is cost and labour intensive. The need of the hour is a robust policy for non-communicable diseases, including prevention and early diagnosis,” said Dr Rakesh Jalali, director of south east asia’s first Proton TherapyCentre,ApolloHospital.

In order to makecancer diagnosis more affordable,Apollo Hospitals announced the opening of a proton center in Chennai. Harshad Reddy, director, Apollo Hospitals, who spoke on the efforts taken by the hospital said, “Chennai would soon have a proton cancer centre that would benefit millionswho are nowforcedto gototheWestfor treatment.” 



OUTSMARTING EVIL: Dr Harshad Reddy, director, Apollo Hospitals presents the momento to cancer survivor Azhagu Ramasamy. Preetha Reddy, vice-chairperson of Apollo Hospitals and Dr T Raja during ‘Outsmart Cancer’ by The Times of India on Saturday

Power demand in State touches a new peak 

R. Srikanth 
 
Chennai, April 29, 2018 00:00 IST


Tangedco tackles it by augmenting generation capacity, distribution network

It was the same day two years ago on April 29, 2016, when the city residents faced the worst blackout after the State recorded the highest demand for power. However, the electricity distribution network in the city on Friday withstood the peak demand when it almost touched 15,500 mega watt (MW).

The two-year-old record of highest peak demand was broken when the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) registered 15,440 MW demand at 7.50 p.m. on Friday.

Peak daily usage

The previous record of highest demand was registered at 15,343 MW on April 29, 2016. Not only the peak demand but also the highest daily usage went past 352 million units (MU) last week by touching 355 MU on Friday. This month alone the daily usage crossed the 350 MU mark thrice.

A senior Tangedco official said though the highest demand touched 15,440 MW and consumption recorded 355 MU on Friday, there were not many disruptions in the city which reflects the robust distribution network.

Power cuts experienced by residents in parts of the city, including T. Nagar, R.A. Puram, Royapettah and Mylapore, on Friday night were not because of demand, but because of the damage to underground power cable by some service provider. The disruptions were rectified within an hour, he added.

Power managers in the State are not perturbed by the peak demand, which is in the range of 15,300 to 15,500 MW a day during this month, as the generation capacity without wind energy was almost 18,000 MW and the distribution network was working fine because of better maintenance work carried out last year.

Another surge likely

A senior Tangedco official said the electricity utility could easily manage 15,500 MW of peak demand easily. Once the wind season picks up, which could happen from May, they could even handle demand for 16,500 MW.

The only problem the officials are facing is the extreme heat that could cause damage in the form of snapping of high tension power lines or technical snag at substations.

But, necessary backup power supply in case of such technical faults had been provided, he says.

Beware, SIM card sellers can misuse Aadhaar biometrics 

Marri Ramu 
 
HYDERABAD, April 29, 2018 00:00 IST



Thumb rule:Linking of Aadhaar card being done for a new SIM card.Photo: G. 
RamakrishnaG_RAMAKRISHNA 

New cards can be activated using fingerprints multiple times
Next time you want to buy a new Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for your mobile device, be wary if your retailer tries to take your Aadhaar-linked fingerprints more than once.

The retailer can get a new SIM card activated — without your knowledge — using your thumb impression multiple times. Cases have surfaced of SIM cards thus activated being sold to persons who have then used them to commit crimes.

A SIM card retailer of Yasin Mobiles shop, Mohammed Rahmatullah, in Amberpet of Hyderabad was caught by Department of Telecommunications officials here two days ago on such a charge. “He admitted to have sold over 150 SIM cards fraudulently acquired in this manner. Some of these cards are being used to operate illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone call rackets at different places in the country,” a senior DoT officer told The Hindu .

VoIP racket

A Hyderabadi woman grew suspicious when she got a phone call from abroad with a local mobile phone number. She complained to a DoT call centre. “Our inquiries confirmed that she got phone call from abroad through someone operating a VoIP racket, who purchased a local SIM card from a retailer. The latter got that SIM card activated by misusing Aadhaar biometrics of an unsuspecting person,” they explained. Further investigations suggested that SIM cards obtained by misusing customers were being used by many illegal phone call operators in other parts like Delhi. “We’re alerting officials concerned and catching them with the help of local police,” the DoT officials said. VoIP call rackets are not only making a huge dent on the exchequer but also raising security concerns. The authorities are worried that these cards may land in the hands of terrorists.

Mobile phone service SIM card sellers have Aadhaar card biometrics readers, and the scanners are connected to a computer to process applications for different service providers. Retailers verify customer’s fingerprints often with customers not being able to see the confirmation of identify on computer screens.

“Customers do not know if biometrics matched in the first attempt. Hence, retailers collect fingerprints multiple times,” the authorities said. When the fingerprints match, automatically all details, including photograph, available in Aadhaar card, are captured in the mobile phone service provider’s Know Your Customer (KYC) form.