Ailing DMK’s Karunanidhi fails to recognise K Chandrashekhar Rao 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Apr 30, 2018, 1:32 am IST

So when Rao visited him, Karunanidhi could hardly recognise him in spite of repeated introductions by Stalin and T.R. Baalu.


M. Karunanidhi

Chennai: He used to be a man of many words – spoken and written. His quick wit and elephantine memory during a conversation would leave his guests awestruck by his brilliance. After spending even five minutes with Karunanidhi, any political visitor would walk away with memories to cherish.

And so for his admirers it was all the more difficult to digest the video that went viral showing the visit of Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao to the DMK veteran at his Gopalapuram residence. The orchestrated show evoked sympathy towards the former Chief Minister as he sat there helpless and unaware even as those around him tried to make the best out of the house visit.

If the DMK leadership wanted to convey to the cadres that Thalaivar Kalaignar, after all those critical months in and out of hospital, is now showing gradual improvement, then there could be some satisfaction as the man lifted his right hand to wave to the guest.

Videos of the waving of hand and the suggestion of a smile have been put out now and then, in recent times, to enthuse the party cadres who have been doting on the Dravidian granddad. The 93-year-old DMK leader has been virtually incommunicado after suffering memory loss and undergoing a tracheostomy that deprived him of his speaking ability.

So when Rao visited him, Karunanidhi could hardly recognise him in spite of repeated introductions by Stalin and T.R. Baalu. In fact it seemed that the AP CM’s presence hardly made a blip on Karunanidhi’s mind.

Even when Rao handed over a bouquet or wished him Namaste, Karunanidhi appeared lost in his own world unable to register the visitor’s presence.

Though his father was not responding the way one would wish to see, Stalin kept prodding him — appearing to be more like a parent caring for a child than a son dealing with an ailing old man, Stalin kept prodding his father: “Do you know who has come to see you? Andhra Pradesh CM has come. What shall we offer him: coffee or tender coconut? I am taking him home for lunch; shall I?”

As there was not much of response from Karunanidhi and CM Rao sat through embarrassing silence, not knowing what to talk, Baalu helpfully suggested that thalaivar was more alert during the evenings, implying that the morning visit was ill-timed.

Vacation for Madras High Court to begin today

The summer vacation for the Madras High Court will begin on Monday and will go on till June 3. The courts will reopen on June 

Published: 30th April 2018 02:48 AM | 

 

Madras High Court (File Photo | Express Photo Service)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI : The summer vacation for the Madras High Court will begin on Monday and will go on till June 3. The courts will reopen on June 4. Justices V Bharathidasan, N Seshasayee, G Jayachandran, S Ramathilagam and R Pongiappan will be the vacation judges, who will sit on Thursday (May 3).
Justices V Parthiban, P D Audikesavalu, S M Subramaniam, Ramathilagam and Pongiappan will be the vacation judges, who will sit on May 9 and 10.Justices R Subramanian, M Dhandapani, C V Karthikeyan, P Rajamanickam and R Hemalatha will be the vacation judges for the third part of the session and they will sit on May 16 and 17.

On May 23 and 24, Justices T Ravindran, P Velmurugan, V Bhavani Subbaroyan, Rajamanickam and Hemalatha will sit as vacation judges for the fourth part.Justices S Baskaran, Abdul Quddhose, R M T Teekaa Raman, N Sathish Kumar and A D Jagadish Chandira will be the vacation judges for the fifth and final session and they will sit on May 30 and 31.On the same dates as mentioned above, Justices S S Sundar, A M Basheer Ahamed and R Tharani will be the vacation judges for the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court for the first part.

For the second part, the judges will be Justices M Govindaraj, G R Swaminathan and Tharani. For the third session, it will be Justices M Sundar, Anita Sumanth and M S Ramesh. Justices D Krishnakumar, R Suresh Kumar and T Krishnavalli will be the vacation judges for the fourth part, and Justices M V Muralidharan, J Nisha Banu and Krishnavalli will be for fifth and final part of the summer vacation of the Madurai Bench. Dates of filing urgent cases for both Principal Seat in Chennai and its Bench at Madurai are May 2, May 7 and 8, May 14 and 15, 21 and 22, 28 and 29.

Students turn brokers for admissions in Bengaluru

l Students are able to manage their extra expenses through brokering without the risk of getting caught; they earn anywhere between `20,000 and `2 lakh per month l Staffer of a college says it

Published: 30th April 2018 02:08 AM | Last Updated: 30th April 2018 07:05 AM | A+A A-


By Preeja Prasad

Express News Service

BENGALURU : Skilled workers were always known to be the breadwinners of the society. But to see students earning money, over and above a fresher from any industry does leaves the professionals dumbfounded. Students in the age group of 18-25 have found an easy way to make money and look after their expenses — as brokers for college admissions.While the starting salary for a professional itself is less than Rs 20,000 per month, student brokers are known to receive money during the admission period to earn in the range of Rs 20,000 to Rs 2 lakh, depending on the type of seat the candidates require. For example, medical seats receive a good amount as donation in the form of packages.

“These packages go up to Rs 2 crore, inclusive of fees, hostel, and donation,” says Raj Arora (named changed), a second year engineering student from a reputed college in Bengaluru who started brokering last year. “I had a friend in my first year who was into this and he got me in touch with a consultancy which deals with admissions. The job is to find clients for these consultancies or even for colleges which are in need of getting their seats filled, and we receive a commission based on that,” he adds.

THE PROCESS
So how does the process work? A mutual agreement is made between the consultancy and the student, wherein if the client is brought in by the student, a fixed commission is received. The consultancy then works with a staff of the admissions department and fixes a price for donation inclusive of the student’s commission. This way, the staff is unaware of the identity and involvement of a student in the process.
According to Raj, student brokers are now very common especially in the last three years due to high demand by the clients. Moreover, based on the consultancy that he works for, after Coimbatore and Chennai, Bengaluru is the third city which receives a high number of clients for admission in the management quota.

At present, he is servicing 3-5 clients for this year’s admission and calls this an average number which brokers receive every year. “I stay a bit far from the college and commuting was a struggle at first. I recently bought a second-hand scooter without depending on my family, and can travel easily,” he says.

ON THE SLY
Since the commission is received in cash, student brokers have also found it easy to conceal it from their parents without getting into trouble. Rahul Sharma (name changed), another second-year student from the same university started brokering eight months ago. “I used to visit my girlfriend in Chennai every month and was caught by my parents eventually as I had swiped their debit card in a completely different state. But now I don’t have to worry about it as I can meet my expenses there as well as meet her now without my parents finding out,” he says.

THERE ARE RISKS TOO
Just as any in profession, student brokers also face risks in the market. An incident occurred last year wherein the donation was Rs 7 lakh for an MBA seat in one of the Universities. The client had made an advance payment of Rs 2 lakh and requested for the remaining payment to be done after the admission process was completed. However, the client’s son was given admission elsewhere to which they withdrew their application here, losing Rs 2 lakh instantly. “Because they were my clients, I was asked to pay the remaining amount to the college and as students, we do not have that kind of money. So I had to resolve the issue with the client and get them to pay,” Rahul explains the only con of being a student broker.

Not only that, clients choose their brokers based on the rates that they are being offered. Hence, students brokers tend to cut a deal within themselves as to how to fix a rate with the clients.Some student brokers have also taken it up as a career and started their own consultancy for a living after their graduation. Ramesh Sinha (name changed), a 26-year-old, started brokering during his college years and currently owns a consultancy back in his native place. He deals with clients from all over the country and 30-40 clients during the admission period. “I have four people working under me at the consultancy and the business is going well so far as each year there is an increase in the number of clients,” he explains about his business which was started in late 2014.

Prince Kumar, the head of the Engineering Admissions Department of a reputed university, says student brokers are a common practice in Bengaluru and that they usually deal with colleges which receive a high donation. “The reason for candidates approaching brokers is that colleges are not approachable. So to make it easier for their child to get admission, they prefer these agencies or students,” he points out. When asked about such practices within the campus, he said, “We are unaware of such incidents and it is highly unlikely as we do not accept any donation.” However, should a student get caught, “their parents will be informed and action will be taken accordingly,” he adds.

WRITING A WILL? AVOID THESE MISTAKES 
 
Find out where you can go wrong during estate planning and what to do to ensure your assets are passed on smoothly to your heirs

RIJU MEHTA 

TIMES OF INDIA  30.04.2018

Where there’s a will, there’s usually someone ready to contest it. Where there’s none, someone is ready to fight over the inheritance anyway. Does this mean writing a will is an exercise in futility? “No, it is not. While law allows a person to voice concern over a person’s inheritance, if a will is made properly, the objection can be dismissed easily,” says Rohan Mahajan, Founder & CEO, LawRato. A will reduces expense, effort and paperwork, not to mention disputes within the family. While writing the will itself is a simple task, it is best to do it under legal supervision, consulting a lawyer or online will-makers. “This is because on your own, you are likely to overlook many details that can result in legal battles,” says Raj Lakhotia, Founder, Dilsewill, an online will-maker.

1 Not having a will

This is the biggest mistake and a step that needs to be taken as soon as you hit your 50s, or earlier if you have multiple assets and properties.

More time and higher expenses: In the absence of a will, legal heirs are forced to spend large sums to acquire mandatory documents like a succession certificate or letter of administration, in order to transfer titles, cash, investments, assets or properties, not to mention paying prohibitive lawyers’ fees. A succession certificate is required in the case of a movable property, while the letter of administration is needed in the case of an immovable property. While having nominees helps with the immediate transfer of cash and certain movable assets, you need the legal documents because a nominee is only a caretaker of assets and will have to pass these on to the legal heirs.

Undesirable distribution of assets:

A will helps decide which asset you want to give to which heir, in what proportion. Without one, you have no power over who inherits your assets and the court follows the succession acts as per your religion. For instance, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs are governed by the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, and Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005.

2 Drafting incorrectly

You can draft the will either on your own, through a lawyer, or via any of the online will-makers. If any detail is not precise or you get it wrong, the will can be easily contested in court. Make sure you enter the personal details, including name, address, place and date; put in the full name and relationship of beneficiaries; mention the assets precisely; have it done in the presence of two witnesses; and sign it along with the witnesses and their details. “The most important aspect of a will is a valid signature of the person making it. Since a will can be written on a blank paper, the signature is the only authentic detail,” says Mahajan.

Equally important are the three declarations—that you are revoking all earlier wills, that you are of sound mind, and that you are not making the will under any pressure. If a person is old, attach a doctor’s certificate certifying his sanity. You could also register the will, as it offers a degree of authenticity since it has been approved by a government official. Remember, that a registered will can be as easily challenged as a non-registered will. “Registering minimises the grounds on which a will can be challenged. Since soundness of mind, forged signatures and drafting under coercion are common grounds for challenging a will, a visit to the registrar and being photographed bring down the possibility of it being contested on these grounds,” says Jasmeet Singh, Advocate, Delhi High Court.

3 Not being specific

“Make your will as specific as possible. Mention each bank account, locker number, or property details,” says Singh. List all your assets, movable and immovable, in detail. For investments and insurance, list the scheme name, number, financial institution and insurer, along with the addresses. For more than one property, distinguish each one clearly by listing dates of purchase, addresses, etc. As for heirs, don’t forget to mention the full name, your relationship with him, and the assets you want to give.

4 Not updating the will

If there is any alteration in the status of assets or heirs, you should draft another will to incorporate the changes. Any lifestage development, such as the birth of a child, marriage or divorce, will call for a redistribution of assets. If any asset has been sold or new ones bought, these will have to be removed or included. All you have to do is to draft a new will, including a declaration that it is your final will and revoking all previous wills and codicils. Also register the updated will, though it doesn’t mean that the unregistered will shall not be considered by the court. As per law, the last drawn will is considered whether registered or not.

5 Wrong executor

A common mistake is appointing relatives or friends in the same age bracket, or minor children, as executors. “Ensure that the executor is the best choice for the time-consuming and complex job. He/she must be trustworthy, know about your wishes, and work according to your will, not his own,” says Mahajan. To ensure objectivity, you could also get a thirdparty administrator for a nominal sum.

6 Gifting while alive

Gifting assets during one’s lifetime may not be a good idea. “If you gift an asset while you are still alive, it will be immune to challenge. But it can also make old people vulnerable because once the property is in the hands of children, they can ill-treat parents,” says Singh. If, instead, it is willed to the child, the balance of power remains with parents. “If you give away everything, how will you live?” asks Lakhotia.

“Before you decide to gift, know the difference between a gift deed, and a will. A will, be it registered or not, is revocable during the lifetime of the testator. On the other hand, a gift deed, once executed, is irrevocable,” says Mahajan. As for tax, any gift to specified relatives is exempt from tax in the hands of the receiver. In case of an immovable property given as gift to specified relatives, it will invite stamp duty.

7 Neglecting illness

It is important to make provisions in the will in case you suffer from a terminal illness, disability or are in a coma. Mention who will take charge of your estate and financial affairs, and if you have kids, who will be their guardian. You could even appoint a power of attorney or set up a trust to handle your affairs. You can now also pen down a living will, as per a recent Supreme Court ruling. You can decide the particular line of treatment or its withdrawal, if you want, by appointing an executor to take the health-related decisions on your behalf.

Engg students may soon take open-book exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 30.04.2018
An All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)-instituted committee on examination reforms has recommended “open-book examination” for engineering programmes. The report is being examined by the AICTE and the HRD ministry. If accepted, open-book exams will allow students to take notes, text book and resource material inside an exam hall.

The panel said the openbook system was being proposed as the traditional pattern of examination often led to rote learning. The panel was set up in January and it submitted its report to the AICTE recently. These reforms are part of the systemic changes the apex regulator of technical education is undertaking, including curriculum changes it had undertook recently.

According to the report, while examinations/student assessments play a critical role in deciding the quality of education, the academic quality of examinations and question papers in Indian engineering education system had been a matter of concern for a long time.

Among the changes suggested by the committee include introduction of educational experiences to teach and assess professional outcomes including openended experiments in laboratories and project-based learning modules and internship experiences, among others. The AICTE has already initiated mandatory internships for all technical courses from this academic session.

The committee was of the view that open-book system was especially useful in testing skills in application, analysis and evaluation.

For the full report, log on to www.timesofindia.com 

‘I will remind PM of promises he made before Lord Balaji’

Mohua.Chatterjee@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 30.04.2018
 
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s latest bid to hit out at PM Narendra Modi, “for not keeping his promise” to the newly-formed state, is to mount moral pressure for going back on assurances that Naidu claims to have been given “in the presence of Lord Balaji from his abode in Tirupati”.

Naidu, who is involved in a bitter political fight with the BJP after he parted ways on the ground that the saffron party did not fulfill financial commitments, is looking to go back to when Modi was a prime ministerial candidate and came to Tirupati exactly four years ago on April 30, 2014. In the past weeks, the TDP has sought to counter BJP chief Amit Shah’s detailed letter on the quantum of financial and other assistance given to Andhra Pradesh and the CM’s alleged inability to utilise funds.

Amid an early start to the 2019 election season when the state and Lok Sabha polls are due, Naidu is faced with a challenge from bitter rival Jaganmohan Reddy besides the allyturned-foe BJP. Since he quit the ruling NDA last month, Naidu has found new ways of attacking the Centre for “depriving” Andhra Pradesh.

On Monday, Naidu will hold a public meeting at the same venue in Tirupati, where Modi addressed a rally. He will claim that Modi promised “in the presence of Lord Balaji” to hold hands of the state government to develop it. At the public meeting, Naidu plans to show audio and video clippings of Modi’s speeches to remind the PM as well the people of the promises, including according special category status to the new state 

Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences