Madras high court: Ruling parties using cops for personal work 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jun 21, 2018, 2:44 am IST

Policemen should be used only for police work, said the judge, known for his consistent campaign to inject discipline and integrity. 


Madras high court.

Kanyakumari: The Madras High Court has lamented that the police force in the state was being misused by the government to serve the interests of the ruling party, whichever political party comes to power.

Justice N. Kirubakaran made the observation on Wednesday while hearing a petition that sought direction to the State to take steps to eliminate mental stress among the police personnel and also to do away with the orderly system in the uniformed force.

Responding to the submission made from the government that the orderly system had been abolished, the judge said even then, the policemen were being misused in several other forms and for various other jobs. The police are being misused to serve the ruling party, he regretted.

The judge referred to a recent incident of a rowdy in Ramanathapuram attacking a policeman. However, a state minister met this rowdy in the hospital and consoled him. “This is highly condemnable”, said the judge.

He wondered why the human rights activists, who alleged violation of human rights when the policemen hit rowdies, kept mum when rowdies attacking policemen.

On the issue of orderlies, the judge said it was wrong to use policemen as orderlies in the houses of superior officers for the purpose of walking their dogs, cooking, and washing dishes and clothes. Policemen should be used only for police work, said the judge, known for his consistent campaign to inject discipline and integrity in the various departments of the government. The judge posted this petition to June 26 for further hearing.

A party offered me Rs. 100 crore: Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan
In an exclusive interview with the New Indian Express, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) leader discusses his future plans, and why he believes he's an instrument of change.
 
Published: 20th June 2018 01:06 AM |

Kamal Haasan (Express Illustration)

By S Subhakeerthana

Express News Service

After a five-decade film career, Kamal Haasan has entered the tumultuous political scene in Tamil Nadu. In this exclusive interview with the New Indian Express, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) leader discusses his future plans, and why he believes he's an instrument of change.

It's been more than 100 days since MNM was launched. What, according to you, are the key achievements of the party?

We're looking at achievable and realistic goals. As a fledgling party with no funds, we've done a lot. We identified eight villages and adopted a couple of them. They say I chose Adigathur because that was an easy option, but I'd disagree. C Sumathi, who has been heading the village since 1996, met me and put forth the problems faced by their people including erratic power supply and inadequate water facilities. Despite the corrupt system, she has been striving to uplift her folks. I wanted to support her.

Also, we've conducted gram panchayats. Twenty-five years ago, if this system had been used effectively, it would have been stronger than the Assembly. If trained properly, the representatives of gram sabhas can function effectively and bring about participatory democracy. But unfortunately, some villages have never seen gram sabhas because they are manipulated by politicians.

The change people want to see should begin from themselves. Citizens should realise they are powerful, that they are capable of making or breaking a government. You look for a post office and you can’t find it. It’s the same about a pharmacy. But how many TASMAC outlets do we have? A government that's supposed to look after its people spends its resources on the liquor business. Yes, it generates revenue. So what? Will they move to cocaine next?

Is your plan then to make the State TASMAC-free?

Anyone who says these things can be eradicated overnight doesn't understand human psychology. I don't want to create mafias who will make deals with the Secretariat. I'll set up rehabilitation centres in every village. Shutting down of TASMAC shops can never be the solution.

How do you see public participation in MNM?

The first step is to question, even if it may not be the correct one always. There should be a constant exchange of cultural dialogue between people and leaders. That’s why I decided to generate money through crowdfunding. That's the only way to create a sustainable model and raise funds for the party. Take money from people, and hand over the accounts to them. And no, I don't want to give anyone freebies. It's like feeding them biryani only on Eid. I want to keep it going for the rest of the year. I believe in teaching a man to fish so that he can eat for a lifetime. I want MNM to function even after me.

Converting your huge fan base into a cohesive political unit is a layered process.

This government is stopping me from visiting schools, colleges and interacting with students. Politics starts from there. The youth should be politically and socially aware so that they question the system. When sex education has been introduced in schools, why not politics? I am not saying this because I'm a politician. I'd not be what I am today if I were not exposed to politics as a student. I was inspired by the Dravidian movement; that was the beginning.

What do you see to be the biggest failure of the Dravidian parties?

Nothing much. As a matter of fact, I saw an upsurge in 1967 and thought a new era had arrived. The Dravidian movement would have happened even if Periyar, Annadurai, and Karunanidhi hadn't been born. It was the need of the hour. Leaders of those times struck a chord with the masses, and things worked to their favour. However, all politicians have an expiry date and that's the truth. No empire lasted long in the world. Gandhi had reiterated the idea during the late 40s -- that once we got Independence -- we should disband the Congress. All parties need constant reassessment. The efficient and energetic should replace the old and the inefficient. I hate promising people that they will get a permanent Chief Minister for the next consecutive three terms. That’s because in MNM, we believe that no high position in the party can be held by someone for a long time. We didn't start the party to sit in a chair. I want to do good to people without making compromises.

What does the word, Dravidam, mean do you? Is it an ideology, a race or a geographical place?

It's an ethnic anthropological statement, which can be politicised. What we need now is a Neo-polityculturist movement. In other words, an organised system that engages with the culture and system of government.

Vote banks in Tamil Nadu are caste-driven, aren’t they? You often say you're neither anti-Hindu nor against any other religion.

I believe in humanitarianism. Everything else is man-made.

Despite being active in the political circuit and meeting leaders across the State, they say you're not a full-time politician.

Don't expect me to sacrifice my space. I need my Sundays to myself, and I'll be honest about it. Who's full-time here? The Prime Minister? (laughs) Politicians should be paid well so that they don't feel like stealing. And don't expect me to be like Gandhiji. This syndrome should go away. But again, Gandhi could afford to come into politics because he was a son of a Diwan. And so was Jawaharlal Nehru and Buddha. None of them were underdogs. They were well-off. People need to trust someone like me, who has seen affluence. Because the poor will think of only himself and his suffering. But I rather feel guilty when I am on the road in a car. I want to do something to the society that has given me the power and money. What's wrong with using a platform like Bigg Boss Tamil? What does an evangelist do? He talks on the podium. You don't call him a podium-evangelist. You get what I am saying?

But critics seem to suggest you are more a Twitter activist.

I've lived with criticism all these years. Twitter came in only recently, but criticism existed already. When I am wrong, I've no shame in admitting that. Also, I contradict myself to better myself. I don't say things for the sake of an argument. I firmly believe in whatever I say. When was Hey Ram released? I was a politician from then. I could have made a film like Nayagan or Thevar Magan again. But I chose to make a Hey Ram because it kind of forecast what was going to happen.

Let's talk about the Whistle App.

It's a tool, which ensures problems reach officials concerned and not a magic wand that can solve issues instantly. Slowly, we are looking to making it an interactive process between the party members and the public.

Is there a possible coalition between MNM and Rajinikanth?

Let the manifesto come. It’s too early to talk about that.

If the High Court upholds the disqualification of the 18 MLAs and an election is held for these 18 seats, will your party contest?

I can't say that now because party decisions are collectively taken. I should weigh the pros and cons along with my folks and decide accordingly.

How centric is your centricism?

It doesn't mean I am in the centre and won't budge. Sometimes, being eccentric is necessary because great inventions come from such minds. Centre is often a boring place to be in, but the balance is hard to achieve. Centricism is a point of view, that's all. It's not a permanent position. As of now, the philosophy isn't important. What Tamil Nadu needs is first-aid, not a medical college. With the available facilities and policies, let's strive to make things better.

You have clearly distanced yourself from AIADMK and its multiple factions, and the BJP. You then seem to be in the same field as the DMK. Clarify how different your ideologies are.

There are certain areas where I differ. I learn from observing different political parties. In Tamil Nadu, there are lots of activists, who aren't politically-driven but are ready to help people. One of them, in fact, disbanded his organisation and joined MNM.

What do you think is the pressing issue that's plaguing our State?

Corruption. Someone goes shopping from a jail, and that's on the headlines only for a couple of days. That issue then gets forgotten. I was offered Rs 100 crore by a party, and I refused to give in. I thought I could support myself by raising funds from my people.

Vice-Chancellor row: caveat filed in Supreme Court

A Caveat was filed in the Supreme Court by the People’s Rights Protection Centre, praying to be notified before passing any orders on the appeal petition filed by Chelladurai.
 
Published: 20th June 2018 04:51 AM |

 By Express News Service

MADURAI: A Caveat was filed in the Supreme Court by the People’s Rights Protection Centre, praying to be notified before passing any orders on the appeal petition filed by Chelladurai, whose appointment as Vice-Chancellor of MKU was quashed by the Madras High Court.

On June 14, the Madras High Court set aside the appointment of Chellathurai as the Vice-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University on the ground that the proceedings of the Search Committee were flawed, without expressing any opinion on eligibility, and noticing that Chelladurai has been dropped/deleted from a criminal case/charge sheet after investigation.

Further, the Court directed to reconstitute the Search Committee for selecting a panel of three names for appointment as Vice-Chancellor, and the committee shall embark upon the process of selecting a panel of three names for appointment as Vice-Chancellor in accordance with Madurai Kamaraj University Act.

Further the Court directed the Search Committee to complete the process within three months, and submit the panel of three names to the Chancellor. Challenging this, Chelladurai moved the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, one M Lionel Antony Raj, a member of People’s Rights Protection Centre, whose petition in the Madras High Court led to the setting aside of the appointment of Chelladurai, filed a Caveat in the Supreme Court.

Notice issued over reappointment of officers

The bench issued notices to the respondent authorities to explain the reason of re-appointing the officers who retired from government service.
 
Published: 21st June 2018 04:01 AM

By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court issued notices to Telangana government to respond to a PIL filed challenging the decision of the state to re-appoint or extend the services of officers who retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation in various government departments.

The bench passed the order on Tuesday in a PIL filed by Telangana roads and buildings SC and ST engineers and employees welfare association, represented by its president A Gangaram, seeking directions to the authorities concerned to forthwith fill up the posts, held by the retired officers, by way of promotion as per seniority and eligibility.

After hearing the case, the bench said it appears that the practice of re-employing retired officers on contract basis has become a regular phenomenon everywhere because of the experience they possess in particular department. Such a practice would hamper the promotional chances of officials in service, the bench observed.

The bench issued notices to the respondent authorities to explain the reason of re-appointing the officers who retired from government service. While adjourning the case by three weeks, the bench directed the registry to tag the present case with the PILs filed earlier on the same subject and were pending before the court.

Karnataka demands 50 per cent seats in medical universities for state students

The state Medical Education Department has decided to write to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry requesting to give seats for Karnataka students at deemed medical universities in the state.

  Published: 21st June 2018 05:19 AM | 



By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The state Medical Education Department has decided to write to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry requesting to give seats for Karnataka students at deemed medical universities in the state.

After a discussing with the heads of deemed medical universities in the state on Wednesday, Medical Education Minister D K Shivakumar said he will request the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry to make provision for students from the state to get seats at deemed medical universities.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Shivakumar said, “Due to court orders, the deemed universities cannot share seats with the state government. Considering this we have decided to request the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry to get 50 per cent of seats at deemed universities to state students.”

At least 1,630 medical seats and 640 dental seats at deemed universities in the state for undergraduate courses are available and the department is asking for 50 per cent seats to Karnataka students. These deemed universities do not come under the state act or state government. They are affiliated to the University Grants Commission (UGC).

“Students from other states are getting admissions at deemed universities here and going back to their respective states. What’s the use if we produce doctors and send them to other states? If it is our students they will serve here,” Shivakumar said.

There are nine institutions from eight deemed universities with 1,630 MBBS seats and 640 dental seats.

Shivakumar added that this was an attempt by the state government to ensure that there was no shortage of doctors in Karnataka. “Very few students from the state get admissions at these universities,” he said.

Dr S Kumar, secretary of Consortium of Deemed Universities in Karnataka, said, “We have no objections to allot seats to Karnataka students, but we want the counselling to be done by the Directorate General of Health Services.” And for this to happen, deemed universities want the Union Health Ministry and UGC to issue an order.

Kumar also pointed out that although they had entered into an MOU in 2017-2018 academic year for post graduate seats and had decided to give 25 per cent of their seats to Karnataka students at a concessional fee of `6 lakh for clinical degrees, the Supreme Court had said that they (deemed universities) need to maintain the “all India” character.

MS Swaminathan receives honorary doctorate, says first rice cultivators were women

TNN | Jun 20, 2018, 06.17 PM IST

 

CHENNAI: An honorary doctorate of letters was conferred on agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan on Wednesday by Gwalior-based ITM University, in recognition of his contribution to sustainable agriculture leading to global food security. 

Kamal Kant Dwivedi, vice-chancellor of ITM University, presented the degree to Swaminathan at a special convocation held at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) here.

Sustainable development goal 2 (zero hunger) can only be achieved through sustainable agriculture, said Swaminathan, after accepting the honour.

The veteran agriculture scientist expressed happiness that ITM University had produced 1,000 agricultural degree holders. He said it was important that the core of that learning include the dimensions of social, gender equality, economics and ethics.

Swaminathan said biodiversity conservation was a key step in sustainable agriculture. He gave the example of how the germplasms of thousands of varieties of rice available now could be attributed to the work of farmers, who originally discovered it.

“The first rice cultivators were women,” Swaminathan said, noting that there was a portrait of a woman in a temple at Along in Arunachal Pradesh, whom the local people consider to be the one who introduced rice into cultivation.

Speaking on the ethical aspect of patenting new discoveries, he said its high time institutions were put in place to maintain equity.

Headmistress gives new lease of life to TN panchayat union school without students

TNN | Jun 20, 2018, 09.06 PM IST

 

 TRICHY: A panchayat union primary school at Valaikolai in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu had been functioning for some time without a single student and with a headmaster and a teacher assistant . The school was on the verge of closure. 

However, a newly appointed headmistress changed the fate of the school. Her efforts paid rich dividends. On Wednesday, 12 students joined the school.

The villagers had refused to send their children to the school as the former headmistress, Jothi , had a strained relationship with them. She had allegedly not taken any efforts to enrol students. As a result, Jothi got a punishment transfer.

After Jothi’s transfer, S Arockiamary joined the Valaikolai school on Tuesday. On day one, Arockiamary convened a meeting of parents and village heads. She convinced them about the importance of sending their children to the school situated in the villager instead of sending them elsewhere.

She also visited the homes in in the village and spoke to parents.

“I could get children for all the classes up to Class V who were studying other schools,” said Arockiamary. It would not have been possible without the support from the villagers, she added.