Dead man still earns Rs. 4,000 a month, says income certificate

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TIRUNELVELI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST

An income certificate issued by the Kovilpatti Taluk Office says that a person who died 15 years ago is still earning Rs. 4,000 a month and this calculation by officers has effectively denied a widow the chance of getting marriage assistance for her daughter.

According to K. Muthuveeri of Kumarikulam near Ettaiyapuram, whose husband Krishnasamy died 15 years ago, she had submitted online application a few days ago for getting income and nativity certificates from Kovilatti tahsildar as she had to attach these documents along with the application for getting marriage assistance for her daughter.

The certificate issued by the Kovilpatti taluk office shwoed the family’s annual income as Rs. 84,000 – monthly income of Rs. 3,000 for Ms. Muthuveeri and Rs. 4,000 for Krishnasamy. Though the poor widow pinpointed this mistake and asked the officials to give a new income certificate, she was reportedly threatened and chased away.

Agitated public and farmers, along with Ms. Muthuveeri, staged dharna at the Kovilpatti Revenue Divisional Officer’s office on Friday. When the RDO’s personal assistant Suryakala received the petition from the protesters, she assured to take appropriate action to give a new income certificate to the widow. “The State government has fixed the annual income ceiling at Rs. 72,000 for getting any official assistance. Since officials of Kovilpatti taluk office have mentioned Rs. 4,000 as monthly income for a person who died 15 years ago, the Collector should initiate action against those who caused this confusion and take steps for issuing a new income certificate. If not, the farmers will lay siege to the Collectorate,” said A. Varadharajan, president of Karisal Bhoomi Vivasaayigal Sangam.

‘No work, no pay’ clause invoked to counter mass CL plan

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST

In the wake of various service associations calling for a mass casual leave on October 4 to press for various demands, the State government has instructed all heads of departments not to sanction casual leave to employees without ascertaining the genuineness of the reason.

In a communication sent to all the department heads, the Chief Secretary stated that the mass casual leave would affect the normal functioning of the government. Also, it was in violation of rules 20 and 22 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1973.

“If any staff member has a genuine reason for applying for a casual leave on October 4, the same may be sanctioned after ensuring their genuineness,” the communication stated.

The absence of any employee or teacher without prior sanction of permission would be considered unauthorised, and there would not be any pay and allowance, it stated.

All the departments have been asked to send a consolidated report on the attendance position, at the latest by 10:45 a.m. on October 4, to the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, the order added.

80% marks must to study medicine abroad: HC

Legal Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST

‘Less meritorious won’t do justice to profession’

The Madras High Court on Friday prohibited the Centre as well as the Medical Council of India from permitting students who had scored less than 80% marks in core science subjects in their Plus Two examinations from undergoing undergraduate medical courses in foreign institutions.

Justice N. Kirubakaran took serious note of a miniscule percentage of candidates with foreign degrees being able to pass the screening test titled Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) conducted in the country, before allowing them to practice the profession, because of lack of merit.

He pointed out that 1,160 (9.44%) out of 12,283 candidates who took the FMGE, conducted by the National Board of Examinations, had cleared the examinations in 2016. Similarly the pass percentage in 2015 was only 11.33% as just 1,374 managed to clear as against 12,125 students who took up the examinations that year.

Since the MCI issues eligibility certificates to any candidate who has scored 50% marks in core science subjects, such students struggle to complete the medical courses on time, though their economically well-off parents manage to obtain seats in foreign medical colleges, the judge said.

He pointed out that in the present case, the petitioner had taken eight years to complete a medical course of four-year-duration in West Indies.

He had joined the course in 2003, completed it in 2011 and managed to clear the FMGE only in 2016, thereby wasting several years of his prime life.

Likelihood of malpractice

“Thus, it is the duty of the Government of India as well as the Medical Council of India or any successive body to be established by the Government to prevent the wastage of valuable manpower in the futile exercise, which may not be in the interest of students and his family, as well as the country,” the judge said.

Mr. Justice Kirubakaran went on to state that less meritorious students would not be able to do justice to the medical profession. “Moreover, the money invested by a student to become a graduate in medicine has to be earned by him. With heavy competition, it may not be possible for him/her to get back the money spent for the medical course.”

“Hence, there is a likelihood of malpractice by those candidates in an attempt to get back the money spent. The said situation cannot be ruled out though there may be doctors who are still interested in rendering quality medical services to the poor people in spite of the money spent by them,” the judge said.

The judge made it clear that the minimum requirement of 80% marks in core science subjects in Plus Two should be insisted for foreign admissions, apart from the requirement of clearing NEET.

Airport to do away with 12-minute entry-to-exit rule

STAFF REPORTER

CHENNAI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST


But cars can only spend 3 minutes at departure terminal, after which a penalty will be levied

In a huge relief to departing passengers, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will soon do away with the rule that a vehicle should enter and exit the Chennai airport premises in 12 minutes, failing which, a parking fee is levied.

As part of the new parking rules, which will be implemented in three months, the rule will be abolished. However, vehicles will be given only three minutes’ time to deboard a passenger at the terminal. If the vehicle stays next to the terminal beyond three minutes, a penalty will be collected. “We haven’t decided the penalty fee as yet. But we will give the wheelchair passengers and differently-abled passengers more time to get off,” an official said. Several passengers have time and again complained about the existing rule. As part of the new parking rules, any private vehicle coming to pick up passengers from the arrival area will not have to pay parking fee. But taxi services, arriving to receive passengers, will have to pay Rs. 60. The parking fee for vehicles will also be revised. The parking fee for a car will now be changed to Rs. 40 for up to 30 minutes and Rs. 100 for 30-120 minutes. The fee for two- wheelers will be revised to Rs. 20 for up to 30 minutes, and Rs. 25 for 30-120 minutes.

At this university, it is a long wait for a Ph.D

R. Sujatha

CHENNAI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST

At the Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University, it can take as much as eight years to complete a Ph.D. Candidates who had registered for Ph.D in 2011 are still awaiting a call from the University for their viva, which is the final step before the degree is awarded.

A candidate from Salem had sent five copies of her thesis, including one soft copy in 2016 to the University but is still awaiting a call for viva. Research guides blame the delay on external examiners.

The professors who guide the students blame the university’s norms. One of them is that the thesis should be evaluated by a panel of three examiners, including a faculty from a foreign university.

“The guide must provide a list of 10 experts - five Indian and five foreign, to the University Vice Chancellor, who will select a panel of three persons and returns to the guide. The guide will send out letters to the chosen panelists seeking their consent to evaluate the thesis. If they refuse then the guide must send a fresh panel of names to the VC and the process is repeated until three evaluators give consent,” an academic explained.

The process takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months. The problem lies with foreign evaluators who may refuse to participate in the process.

A TNTEU professor who has several research scholars under her said she had to make several trips to the University to ensure that the evaluation is completed. “I produced a panel of three names but the examiner from Sri Lanka refused and we had to start all over again,” she said.

A research scholar must submit the synopsis of the thesis and within six months the entire thesis. During this time, the guide is expected to forward the synopsis to the examiners and get their willingness.

University Vice Chancellor S. Thangasamy said Ph.D thesis evaluation is highly confidential.

“Sometimes guides provide names of foreign examiners with whom they are not familiar. Or they submit the names of professors which are either wrong or inappropriate for the evaluation. This will naturally delay the process. We have so far cleared 100 theses. There are probably around five students whose thesis is pending. Candidates can approach the University and we will sort it out for them,” he said.

Doctor clears the air on flying Jayalalithaa abroad

Deepu Sebastian Edmond

CHENNAI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST



Jayalalithaa
Says former CM had shot down the suggestion made by Dr. Richard Beale

A specialist in critical care who treated Jayalalithaa told the Commission of Inquiry looking into the former Chief Minister's death that the option of flying her abroad was discussed with government officials, who responded by saying that the AIADMK general secretary will not give consent to the proposal.

R. Senthil Kumar, a senior consultant with Apollo Hospitals, told the Justice (Retd.) A. Arumughaswamy Commission during cross-examination that the hospital did not decide on taking its patient abroad. Options were presented before relatives, who took the decision.

The controversy over taking Jayalalithaa abroad for treatment surfaced recently after comments made by Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who said that he had suggested to Apollo Hospital authorities that the former CM be taken abroad. He went on to allege that the hospital had rejected his request.

According to V.K. Sasikala's lawyer N. Raja Senthoor Pandian, Dr. Kumar — who was cross-examined on Thursday — said that he was not aware of Mr. Panneerselvam’s request. Sasikala’s lawyer sought to turn the tables on Mr. Panneerselvam for his criticism of Apollo and extracted a testimony that the Deputy CM’s mother had sought treatment at the hospital four times since Jayalalithaa’s death.

A source said that Dr. Kumar had said that Jayalalithaa was in no condition to be taken abroad from the time of her admission on September 22, 2016, to mid-October. When her condition improved slightly, the option was discussed with various individuals, including the Health Minister, who said that Jayalalithaa will not agree to leave the country.

Dr. Kumar also said that he was outside the room when intensivist Dr. Richard Beale exited the room after discussing the possibility with Jayalalithaa herself; Dr. Beale reported that the CM had declined to be flown abroad.

All women may pray at Sabarimala

Krishnadas Rajagopal

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST


Prohibition amounts to smear on individual dignity, says SCBan is the result of hegemonic patriarchy in religion, says CJIIt is a form of untouchability, says Justice Chandrachud

The Supreme Court, in a majority opinion of 4:1 on Friday, lifted the centuries’ old prohibition on women from the age of menarche to enter the famed Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

The main opinion, shared by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, said the prohibition reduced freedom of religion to a “dead letter”, and the ban was a smear on the individual dignity of women.

‘No place for dogma’

“Relation with the Creator is a transcending one. Physiological and biological barriers created by rigid social dogma have no place in this,” Chief Justice Misra wrote.

The Chief Justice, who authored the opinion, held that the prohibition was founded on the notion that menstruating women are polluted and impure; that women, in this “procreative stage”, would be a deviation from the vow of celibacy taken by the male devotees of Lord Ayyappa for the pilgrimage. Besides, the deity in Sabarimala is himself a ‘naishtika brahmachari’ or an ‘eternal celibate.’

But Chief Justice Misra held that the ban was actually a product of hegemonic patriarchy in religion. “On the one side, we pray to goddesses and on the other, women of a certain age are considered impure. This ban exacts more purity from women than men. The ban is discriminatory.”

Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, in his separate but concurring opinion, was unsparing. To treat women as the children of a lesser God was to blink at the Constitution, he observed.

He termed the social exclusion of women, based on menstrual status, a “form of untouchability.” The judge observed that notions of “purity and pollution” stigmatised individuals. To exclude women was derogatory to an equal citizenship.

Justice Chandrachud dismissed the argument that the prohibition was in keeping with the form of the deity and the vow of celibacy of the devotees.

“It is assumed that the presence of women would deviate the celibacy and austerity observed by the devotees. Such a claim cannot be a constitutionally sustainable argument. Its effect is to impose the burden of a man’s celibacy on a woman and construct her as a cause for deviation from celibacy. This is then employed to deny access to spaces to which women are equally entitled,” Justice Chandrachud rationalised. “The notion that women cannot keep thevratham(vow of celibacy) is to stigmatise and stereotype them as “weak and lesser human beings”, Justice Chandrachud said.

The Chief Justice agreed with the view that the “mere sight of women cannot affect one’s celibacy if one has taken oath of it. Otherwise such oath has no meaning.” Devotees did not go to the Sabarimala temple for taking the oath of celibacy but for seeking the blessings of Lord Ayyappa. Maintaining celibacy was only a ritual, Chief Justice Misra said.