PG NEET aspirants wary of seat blockers and 'seats sale' scams

The seat-blockers opt for seats during the centralised counselling process but relinquish the seat at the last moment.

Published: 06th May 2018 04:52 AM | 
 
By Sadaf Aman
Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Ahead of the second round of counseling for Post Graduate NEET seats is scheduled, aspirants fear that their chances of getting any good seats will be marred by the clandestine attempts to manipulate PG medical seat allotments.

The practice, in common parlance termed as seat-blocking, prevents deserving candidates from gaining admission to good colleges. The seat-blockers opt for seats during the centralised counselling process but relinquish the seat at the last moment.

With the first round of counselling for management quota seats over on May 2, and the second round happening on May 8, aspirants suspect, candidates with high ranks from other states in collusion with agents, block seats under management quota in private medical colleges and post the second round leave them. Often, the seat blocking is a part of undercover financial deals.

As per the rulebook, since there are only two rounds of counselling in the management quota, the seats that are not taken the post the second round of counselling get converted into NRI quota. These seats can be sold to any candidate at a price decided by the private college managements which often runs into crores.

Junior doctors also alleged the role of the private institution in such scams, which eventually stand to make big bucks from the conversion of seats. "In the absence of a mop-up round, all seats that not taken are converted into NRI quota and deserving candidates lose out on seats that they otherwise would have got. On each NRI seat private colleges make three times the money on each seat they otherwise make under management quota," explained Dr K Srinivas, member, Telangana Junior Doctors Joint Action Committee.

A candidate, who wished to remain anonymous said, "Such cartels between agents, students and private colleges not only take a toll on the genuine claims for seats of their choice, in worst cases, force some aspirants have to wait for another year to score a seat."

Another aspirant said that while some seats genuinely are left vacant, the agents and colleges plan it in a way that it is not very visible. "Why would an 8,000 or 9,000 ranker want to take a seat in lower grade college and in not so popular stream when they can get better? Students can often make out which seat are not going taken by genuine candidates but we don't have proof," said the aspirant.

As per rules, a total of 50 per-cent of seats are earmarked for all India quota and the remaining for the State quota.

‘Delhi student blocking seat in TS, AP’

Meanwhile, Dr K. Mahesh Kumar, president, Healthcare Reforms Doctors Associations (HRDA) told Express that a PG aspirant from Delhi who has secured 9,098 rank has been found to be blocking seats in both AP and Telangana. While he submitted his certificates for verification to Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences by 30 April, he also participated in first round counselling by KNRUHS.

"When his name did not feature in the list of candidates who did not report to NTRUHS, it was confirmed. The same person can not submit original certificates at both places. Either college authorities colluded with him or he fooled the universities with fake certificates. In either case, a formal complaint will be sent to KNRUHS and MCI," said Dr Kumar.

If found guilty, as per the MCI rules, the candidates would be barred from counselling for three years and may also be booked for criminal cases amounting to cheating.

Aadhaar service introduced in major post offices 

Staff Reporter
THENI, May 16, 2018 00:00 IST



From now on, residents in major towns and rural areas need not go to headquarters or wait in private centres to enrol their names for Aadhaar.

They can visit post offices to enrol themselves for Aadhar cards thanks to introduction of Aadhaar service in major post offices in the district.

Superintendent of Posts R. Swaminathan told reportes here on Tuesday that Aadhaar enrolment facility, in the first phase, had been introduced in 26 post offices in Periyakulam, Andipatti, Devadhanapatti, Gandamanur, Kadamalaigundu, Lakshmipuram, Periyakulam Bazaar, Saptoor, Sedapatti, Theni, T. Subbulapuram, Usilampatti, Vadugapatti, Veerapandi, Ezhumalai, Cumbum, Royappanpatti, Bodinayakkanur, Chinnamanur, Goodalur, Kamayagoundenpatti, Kombai, Sillamarathupatti, Subbu Raj Nagar, Theveram and Uthamapalayam. These post offices would function as centres for Aadhaar enrolment and updating.

Computerised network facility was provided and specially trained staff were deputed in each post office to provide better service. This facility would benefit residents in rural pockets.

Registration for Aadhaar would be done free of cost and Rs. 30 would be charged to make necessary correction in Aadhaar cards, change of address or addition of any more information in cards.

Audit finds discrepancies in increments to faculty 

Special Correspondent 
 
Chennai, May 16, 2018 00:00 IST
Govt. may recover benefits after a review of the cases

The State government may recover increments given to faculty members, following a report by the chief internal auditor of the Internal Auditor and Statutory Board.

In a letter to the Directorate of College Education, Higher Education Secretary Sunil Paliwal listed several GOs pertaining to the implementation of the career advancement scheme for the faculty and the discrepancies arising out of the various GOs issued earlier.

The letter states that certain “glaring violations have been pointed out by the chief internal auditor of the Internal Audit and Statutory Board in awarding increments based on the Ph.D subject. The auditor has said all such cases have to be reviewed completely, and wherever it is determined that the subject of Ph.D is not relevant, the increments awarded have to be cancelled and benefits already given, recovered.

Similarly, the department has been advised to conduct a special drive to rectify errors committed earlier and “effect recoveries in all such cases where benefits/higher pay have been wrongly drawn” and fix the grade pay of retired Grade 1 Principals.

The letter, dated May 14, cited earlier GOs issued during different times and pertained to the implementation of the career advancement scheme and pay variance between juniors and seniors. A retired professor and member of the Association of University Teachers said the earlier orders were issued with the concurrence of the officials in the department. That being the case, the government should initiate action against the officials.

Can’t force divorce by mutual consent: HC

New delhi, May 16, 2018 00:00 IST

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ruled that no one in an estranged marriage can be compelled to take divorce by mutual consent even if one of them decides to retract from the undertaking given to the court at the time of filing for dissolution of the marriage.

HC issues notice to TN govt to probe corruption in Annamalai University

Chennai: Times of India 16.05.2018

The Madras high court has ordered notice to the state government on a PIL seeking to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the allegations of irregularities and corruption in Annamalai University before the administration was taken over by state government.

A vacation bench of Justice V Parthiban and Justice P D Audikesavalu passed the interim order directing the authorities to file their response by June 6 on the PIL moved by A Narayanan. According to petitioner, Annamalai University was rocked by serious allegations of widespread irregularities, rampant corruption and maladministration because of the indulgence of the private management and their agents.

“ To access and quantify the loss due to the financial crisis and other irregularities in the university, the government constituted a special audit team. The team found that there were irregularities and placed the then vice chancellor under suspension and appointed Shiv Das Meena IAS as the administrator,” the petitioner said. Though the government had taken over the administration, so far, no legal action has been initiated against the then private management and their associates. TNN

SRM launches performing arts centre

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 16.05.2018
SRM Institute of Science & Technology launched center for performing and fine Arts on its Kattankulathur campus.

The center offers degrees for music, dance, and fashion technology and certificate courses in performing arts. The center will be headed by musician and musicologist Shobana Vignesh. The centre will provide several recital and concert venues for students, faculty, visiting artists, and for the students of performing arts.

It will also provide opportunities to exhibit designs and merchandise for the fashion designing students. To extend knowledge on related field, arts students will also be trained with supportive courses like event management, sound engineering.

Trains run at 80kmph in metro rail inspection

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 16.05.2018

The commissioner of metro rail safety (CMRS) has given a few suggestions including completion of passenger amenities at Central metro, as the last leg of inspections needed for authorising operations of one of the largest underground transit hubs in the country along with Egmore metro line on Poonamallee High Road was completed on Tuesday. Trains were operated at a maximum speed of 80kmph from midnight on Monday to 4am on Tuesday.

CMRS K A Manoharan said the authorisation to officially open the downline from Central Metro to Nehru Park

(2.5km) and upline from Shenoy Nagar to Central Park

(5.62km) is likely to be given in a week's time. “One of the suggestions after we conducted the inspections is to complete certain passenger related facilities at Central Metro. The safety parameters for passengers are all in place,” the commissioner said. “We will try to give CMRL the authorisation to operate the line in a week's time as we have some more work to do before we approve. But it may subject to one or two conditions like completion of the service station before opening to the public.”

Manoharan also said they found infringement in the schedule of dimensions, which requires structures like walkway to be at a certain distance from the centre of the tracks, in a few places. “It is not so serious but we have told CMRL to correct them,” he said. At Central Metro, the concourse and upper track level linking Egmore metro and other underground stations along Poonamallee will be operational after CMRS approval. The lower track linking Washermenpet on one side and Anna Salai on the other is yet to be ready.

As the inspections are complete on corridor 2, the team will inspect a part of Anna Salai line linking five underground stations on Anna Salai from AG-DMS to Little Mount and the tunnels linking these stations on May 18 and 19.

On Tuesday, the commissioner and his team inspected the tunnels linking the downline from Nehru Park station to Central Metro via Egmore metro station. Several critical systems like tracks, tunnel ventilation, over-head equipment (OHE), civil and operational and system reqdiness among others were inspected.

The team later visited the Operational Control Centre (OCC) at CMRL Admin building, Koyambedu to check the integration of the entire system. CMRL officials said the CMRS team inspected all stations linking the upline from Shenoy Nagar to Central metro and associated tunnels on Monday.

Once Central metro is open, commuters will be able to board a train to CMBT or a direct train to the airport. 


SAFE ON TRACK: Commissioner of metro rail safety K A Manoharan (on the left of the trolley) and other officials during Tuesday’s inspection