Uttarakhand RTI applicant told to pay Rs 1.49 lakh as cost of over 73k printouts

After an activist filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Haldwani Municipal Corporation has asked him to pay Rs 1.49 lakh as the cost of printoutsDEHRADUN Updated: Sep 16, 2018 06:00 IST

Abhinav Madhwal 

Hindustan Times, Haldwani

Hemant Gauniya had filed the Right to Information application on August 28, seeking information on municipal tax defaulters and their addresses, and the action taken by the civic body against them.(HT Photo)

After an activist filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Haldwani Municipal Corporation has asked him to pay Rs 1.49 lakh as the cost of printouts.

Hemant Gauniya had filed the Right to Information application on August 28, seeking information on municipal tax defaulters and their addresses, and the action taken by the civic body against them.

He also sought details about how many shopkeepers have not paid rentals to the municipal corporation and what action had been taken.

The corporation, in a letter written on September 7, sought Rs 147,938 from Gauniya as the printout cost for 73,969 pages at the rate of Rs 2 per page.

The total cost comes to Rs 149,288 as the information involves 135 full-size papers whose printing cost is more, corporation officials said.

“I was shocked at the exorbitant amount asked for; I think that this is a ploy to dissuade me from seeking any information in future,” Gauniya said, adding that he would not be able to give the amount for the printouts. “Presently there is no provision for giving information in pen drive or CD; digitised data is not available now,” he said.

Assistant municipal commissioner VS Chauhan said, “Gauniya can seek any important information by coming to my office. But the government has laid down the price for each page of information sought under the Right to Information Act. The cost of around 74,000 pages would be close to Rs 1.5 lakh.”

Gauniya has earlier filed Right to Information applications seeking information on those who have not paid dues to the Haldwani unit of the Uttarakhand Power Corporation and the Payjal Sansthan.

He has lodged complaints on the chief minister’s portal, leading to action by the authorities on power cuts, electric transformer repair, and traffic management.

Fake certificates issued to non-qualified nurses, council to probe

TNN | Sep 5, 2018, 09.14 AM IST

BENGALURU: In what appears to be a fresh scandal brewing in nursing education in the state, certificates issued by the Karnataka State Nursing Council to qualified nurses have been used to generate fake papers for several other candidates.
These certificates have been faked by replacing the candidates’ photographs, names, final exam registration numbers and college names and the council is in the dark over the recipients’ credentials. According to documents available with TOI, fake certificates issued to the candidates bear the names of eight nursing colleges from Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Raichur and Bidar.

Acting on a complaint made to the medical education department by a whistleblower, the council is now verifying all its documents. The complainant has alleged that the certificates have been doctored to suit the requirements of candidates who had failed to complete the course, but were working in hospitals already.

“These certificates have been created to make certain candidates work in hospitals though they have not completed the course at that time. This could also be a part of a racket to show adequate number of nurses in hospitals during MCI and NABH inspections,” the complaint stated.

“We’re crosschecking the certificates. While the fake ones carry council registration numbers, the photos, names and exam registration numbers have been changed. Incidentally, most nurses whose documents have been tampered with are from Kerala and have studied in the state’s nursing colleges. There are chances that these nurses had shared their original certificates with some agents while seeking jobs abroad. That could be one of the ways by which miscreants might have accessed genuine certificates for producing fake ones,” said Srikanth G Phulari, registrar, academics, Karnataka State Nursing Council.

For example, the registration certificate of a nurse who bore the register number ‘074781’ and had passed BSc nursing course from a Bengaluru college has been used to create fake certificates for eight persons. The names of three different nursing colleges have been used in these fake certificates.

The council will form a committee to look into allegations and submit a report to the government, Phulari added.

BN Muninarayanappa, former registrar, administration, Karnataka State Nursing Council who retired on August 31, said fake certificates may have been made by scanning the original ones and covering the original name and photo of the candidates. Some of these certificates carry his signature too. “Original certificates have been misused. Genuine candidates should also be consulted regarding this. Earlier too, we had complained to police on fake certificates,” he said.

A copy of the complaint has also been sent to RGUHS.

However, Dr MK Ramesh, registrar, RGUHS, said he had not received any such complaints. “Even my signature was forged in some of the provisional certificates issued by a college. That’s being investigated by the CID. With the advent of technology, it’s no rocket science to produce a fake certificate. If we get documents pertaining to other nursing colleges, we’ll refer the case for investigation to CID,” said Dr Ramesh.

State medical council presses charges on 58 'bogus' doctors

TNN | Sep 13, 2018, 02.21 AM IST

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has pressed criminal charges against 58 doctors for submitting fake postgraduate degrees from the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS) to obtain licence to practice. The quasi-judicial body has also written to the state medical education department to take over the expansive probe, citing lack of resources.

The MMC, which grants doctors licence to practise within Maharashtra based on their passing certificates, first stumbled upon the scam in 2016 when around 20 doctors were netted. The probe continued over the next few years, gaining momentum in 2017-18 when 58 offenders were identified. Many of these doctors were treating patients as specialists in surgery, paediatrics and gynaecology till the MMC suspended their licences this July.

"Forgery is a criminal offence, so we had to file a police complaint. It assumes more seriousness when medical professionals indulge in such cheating as it puts human lives at stake," said Dr Shivkumar Utture, MMC president. He added that an application has been submitted at Agripada police station.

An official from the Agripada police station said the FIRs are yet to be registered. The charges would be finalized only after an FIR. TOI was the first to report about the scam on April 6.

The two-year diploma and three-year fellowship degrees awarded by CPS are equivalent to the MD/MD and diploma degrees granted at medical s chools. Majority of the fake degrees were pertaining to the sought-after CPS courses, including diploma in gynaecology and obstetrics, diploma in ophthalmic medicine, diploma in general surgery, diploma in cardiology, and fellowships in surgery and medicine.

The MMC had found that MBBS graduates had submitted marksheets and degree certificates without actually clearing the final exams. When the degrees were cross-checked with the CPS database, the names of many candidates didn't appear in their list of successful candidates for that academic year.

"With our limited resources, we have managed to go through our records for 2016 and half of 2015. But we are afraid the scam began much before that as we are still getting cases," Dr Utture said. He added that the body has sought the state's support in the investigation, fearing a bigger racket spread across Maharashtra.

During their hearings in front of the MMC, many doctors admitted having 'bought' their certificate from a 'CPS agent', while some others claimed that they were cajoled into paying by a mysterious caller.

An FIR against Dr Senhal Nyati, allegedly a paediatrician and a CPS agent, was registered in the past. The doctors were allegedly told that they had flunked in their final exams, but the results could be tweaked for Rs 3-5 lakh. The MMC has maintained that a thorough probe is required to rule out the involvement of the college itself.

No politics, only patriotism: HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on UGC circular on Surgical Strike Day

zee news
Javadekar said that many institutes had approached the HRD ministry with a demand to commemorate the second anniversary of the surgical strike. 

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) Prakash Javadekar rubbished opposition over the University Grants Commission's advisory to celebrate September 29 as 'Surgical Strike Day'. Defending the government, Javadekar said that there is no politics over the celebration and reflects only patriotism.

"We never mandate anything, we suggest and issue advisory. There is no politics, it is only patriotism," Javadekar said adding that the circular is only advisory in nature and is not being imposed.

He said that many institutes had approached the ministry with a demand to commemorate the second anniversary of the surgical strike. "We have not made any compulsions on institutions or students. We have issued a program because of suggestions from many students and teachers that they need to commemorate the second anniversary of surgical strike," Javadekar said.

Javadekar also said that the government has advised colleges to arrange lectures by ex-army officers who can tell the students how defence forces defend the country. "On 29th September, we have asked colleges, those who want to, can arrange a lecture by ex-army officers who can tell the students how defence forces defend the country and how the surgical strike was conducted," he said.

Opposition parties have been attacking the Central government over the decision to celebrate September 29 as Surgical Strike Day. Lashing out at the government, Congress had said that such a directive is destroying the independence of the university system. "It is absolutely shocking. In fact, I don't think since independence, we have seen UGC giving any kind of directive of this nature to universities. For UGC, to give a directive is destroying the very independence of the university system," Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.

West Bengal government had already said that they will not participate in the celebrations. Criticising the BJP-led central government for trying to "malign and politicise" the Army, state education minister Partha Chatterjee had said: "This is an agenda of the BJP and it is trying to push this agenda by using the UGC ahead of elections. It is a matter of shame that they are using the UGC to achieve their political agenda."

On September 29 in 2016, the Indian Army carried out "surgical strikes" on seven terrorist launchpads across the LoC as a response to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. The Indian Army had said its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists waiting there to cross onto the Indian territory.

Universities in West Bengal won't observe 'Surgical Strike Day' as directed by UGC, says minister Partha Chatterjee; calls it 'BJP's agenda'

India Press Trust of India Sep 21, 2018 15:27:50 IST

Kolkata: The UGC direction to universities to mark September 29 as "Surgical Strike Day" is a part of the BJP's "political agenda" and educational institutes in West Bengal will not observe the day, state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said on Friday.

Chatterjee criticised the BJP-led central government for trying to "malign and politicise" the Army. The BJP said the TMC government has made it a practice to oppose each and every decision of the central government.


File photo of West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee. PTI

On 29 September in 2016, the Indian Army carried out "surgical strikes" on seven terrorist launchpads across the LoC as a response to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. The Indian Army had said its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists waiting there to cross onto the Indian territory.

"This is an agenda of the BJP and it is trying to push this agenda by using the UGC ahead of elections. It is a matter of shame that they are using the UGC to achieve their political agenda. We won't abide by the directions of UGC," Chatterjee said.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday directed varsities and higher educational institutions across the country to observe 29 September as "Surgical Strike Day". Talk sessions by ex-servicemen about sacrifices by the armed forces, special parades by NCC and visit to exhibitions are among the prescribed events by the UGC for the celebration.

Chatterjee said, "We would have understood it had they asked us to observe the day in the name of sacrifices made by our soldiers. We have full respect for our soldiers and their sacrifices."
"The Indian Army has always been kept above politics and controversies. But now we are seeing that the BJP is trying to malign and politicise the Indian Army. This is not right and we won't support it," he said.

IRCTC online ticket cancellation rules before and after chart preparation 

23 Sep 2018 | By Sagar Malik



Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) offers the facility of online cancellation of e-tickets via its website and mobile app.

A passenger can cancel the ticket or file Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) against it, as the case may be, either before or after chart preparation.

Here are the rules and other details you need to know about IRCTC online ticket cancellation.

In context: IRCTC ticket cancellation rules before and after charting

23 Sep 2018IRCTC online ticket cancellation rules before and after chart preparation

IRCTC e-cancellation rules before preparation of charts
In case a passenger wishes to cancel their e-ticket before chart preparation, they must first log in to their account on the IRCTC website, then go to the 'Booked Tickets' link, select the ticket to be cancelled, and then proceed with the cancellation process.



Rules (1)Cancellation rules for fully confirmed, fully waitlisted tickets

After preparation of charts, confirmed tickets can be cancelled or TDR filed up to 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train for getting refund of fare.

In case of fully waitlisted tickets, the PNR (Passenger Name Record) is dropped from the reservation charts at the time of charting, and the refund amount is credited automatically to the customer's account.

Rules (2)About cancelling tickets for partially confirmed, partially waitlisted PNR

For a PNR which has some passengers confirmed, and others waitlisted or on RAC status, names of all the passengers, including waitlisted ones will appear on the charts.

In such cases, if waitlisted passengers do not travel, a non-travelling certificate can be obtained from the ticket checking staff in the train, and correspondingly, refunds can be claimed by sending an online TDR request.

மின் கம்பத்தில் மோதிய ஆம்னி பஸ் : பீஹாரை சேர்ந்த 38 பேர் காயம்

Added : செப் 24, 2018 02:46




கடலுார்: ஹைமாஸ் விளக்கு மின் கம்பத்தில், ஆம்னி பஸ் மோதியதில், பீஹார் மாநிலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த, 38 பேர் காயம் அடைந்தனர். பீஹார் மாநிலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த, 100க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர், 14ம் தேதி, ஆம்னி பஸ்களில், ஆன்மிக தலங்களுக்கு பயணம் துவக்கினர். நேற்று முன்தினம் ஆந்திரா மாநிலம், திருப்பதிக்கு சென்று தரிசனம் முடித்து, தமிழகத்தில் மதுரை, ராமேஸ்வரம், கன்னியாகுமரிக்கு புறப்பட்டனர். இதில், ஒரு ஆம்னி பஸ்சில், 51 பேர் பயணம் செய்தனர். நேற்று அதிகாலை, 2:50 மணியளவில், சென்னை - திருச்சி தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலையில், கடலுார் மாவட்டம், வேப்பூரில், சென்டர் மீடியனில் உள்ள, ஹைமாஸ் விளக்கு மின் கம்பத்தின் மீது, ஆம்னி பஸ் மோதியது. இவ்விபத்தில், பஸ்சில் பயணித்த, 38 பேர் காயமடைந்தனர்.  1 மணி நேரம் போக்குவரத்து பாதிக்கப்பட்டது. வேப்பூர் போலீசார், காயமடைந்தவர்களை மீட்டு, 32 பேரை, விருத்தாசலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கும், ஆறு பேரை பெரம்பலுார் அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கும் அனுப்பினர். காயமடைந்தவர்கள், தங்கள் மாநிலத்திற்கு செல்ல உதவுமாறு கோரிக்கை விடுத்தனர். வேப்பூரில் இருந்து சென்னை, எழும்பூர் ரயில் நிலையம் செல்வதற்கு அரசு பஸ்சை, ஆர்.டி.ஓ., ஏற்பாடு செய்தார். நேற்று இரவு, 7:00 மணியளவில், 49 பேர் பீஹாருக்கு புறப்பட்டனர்.

காஸ், 'லீக்'கால் பரபரப்பு : தொடர்ச்சியாக பல நாட்கள் ஆன்மிக தலங்களுக்கு பயணம் செய்வதால், உணவு சமைப்பதற்காக அடுப்பு, காஸ் சிலிண்டர்களை, பயணம் செய்த பஸ்சிலேயே அவர்கள் எடுத்து வந்தனர்.விபத்து காரணமாக, அவர்கள் கொண்டு வந்த பொருட்கள், வேப்பூர், போலீஸ் நிலையத்திற்கு கொண்டு வந்து வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன. அதில், ஒரு சிலிண்டரில் காஸ் வெளியேறியதால் பரபரப்பு ஏற்பட்டது. வேப்பூர் தீயணைப்பு வீரர்கள் சிலிண்டரை சரி செய்து, காஸ் வெளியேறுவதை தடுத்தனர்.