CJI’s assets less than daily fees of top lawyers
Dipak Misra Retires After 21 Years As Judge

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi 03.10.2018

: When attorney general K K Venugopal on Monday said judges’ salaries should be tripled, he probably had in mind the asset declarations by Supreme Court judges, particularly CJI Dipak Misra and CJI-designate Ranjan Gogoi, who will take oath as CJI on Wednesday.

CJI Misra retires after 21 years as a permanent judge, 14 of which were spent in high courts. Justice Gogoi became a permanent judge of Gauhati HC on February 28, 2001, and took oath as an SC judge on April 23, 2012.

Despite their long stints as HC and SC judges, their personal wealth remained paltry, and they would be considered paupers compared to successful senior advocates. Their lifelong savings in bank balance and other assets, put together, would fall short of the daily earning of many senior advocates, who command astronomical fees.

Justice Gogoi does not own a single piece of gold jewellery while the only jewellery his wife owns is what she got from her parents, relatives and friends at the time of her marriage. CJI Misra has two gold rings, which he wears, and a gold chain. His wife has a little more jewellery than Justice Gogoi’s spouse.

Both the CJI and the CJIdesignate do not have any personal vehicle, may be because they were provided with official cars for the last nearly two decades. But unlike some judges of the SC and HCs, Justices Misra and Gogoi don’t dabble in the stock market.

Justice Gogoi has no outstanding loan, mortgage, overdraft, unpaid bill or any other liability. Justice Misra had taken ₹22.5 lakh loan from a bank to purchase a flat in the advocates’ cooperative society in Mayur Vihar, Delhi, which he is repaying.

The CJI has another house in Cuttack, which was constructed more than a decade before he become an HC judge. Both of them had declared these assets in 2012.

Bank balance, including LIC policy, for Justice Gogoi and his spouse totals a meagre ₹30 lakh. He declared in July that a plot of land at Beltola in Guwahati purchased by him in 1999, before becoming a judge in Gauhati HC, was sold for ₹65 lakh in June (he declared the name of the purchaser too).

He also said his mother had transferred in his and his spouse’s name a plot of land in Japorigog village near Guwahati in June 2015.

Compared to their assets, a successful senior advocate in the SC earns more than ₹50 lakh a day. AG Venugopal, while speaking at CJI Misra’s farewell function on Monday, probably had the Rs 1 lakh per month salary of an SC judge in mind.

Of course, the judges get good perks, allowances and help at the residence. But in money terms, judges are far disadvantaged compared to senior advocates.


LONG STINT: Outgoing Chief Justice of India Justice Dipak Misra (R) with CJI-designate Justice Ranjan Gogoi

Sabarimala: Hundreds block roads protesting SC verdict

Outfit Urges Govt To File Fresh Review Petition In SC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  03.10.2018

Thiruvananthapuram:

Hundreds of Ayyappa devotees took out protest marches at various parts of Kerala demanding a review of the Supreme Court order permitting women of all ages to worship at Sabarimala temple on Tuesday. Marches held at Palakkad, Kochi, Pandalam, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday were attended by hundreds of believers, including women.

At Pandalam, the protest was led by Sasikumara Varma, the representative of Pandalam Palace. In Thiruvananthapuram, Rahul Easwar from the family of Sabarimala Thanthri led the march along with Prayar Gopalakrishnan, former president of Travancore Devaswom Board. In other places, devotees assembled under the banner Antharashtra Hindu Parishath (AHP), an organization recently formed.

The AHP came to the forefront of the protest movement as other major Hindu organizations are undecided on their stand in the issue. Sources said the unexpected support gathered by AHP has prompted a rethinking in the state BJP leadership, which now wants the government to be cautious while implementing the court order.

AHP leaders said they wanted the state and central governments to file review petitions in the SC and seek a fresh directive to continue with the age-old custom of not allowing young women to the temple. If the SC dismisses that, a legislation in the line of one drafted to protect Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu should be brought in, they said.

Tuesday’s protests led to traffic disruptions in some centres. At the busy Vytilla junction in Kochi, vehicular traffic was disturbed for over 45 minutes. The protesters at Palakkad blocked the Coimbatore-Thrissur highway. At Pandalam, the protest march was along the busy MC Road from Medical Mission Hospital Jn to Valiya Koyikkal temple. In Thiruvananthapuram, the protest march on the MG Road concluded in front of Hanuman temple at PMG Junction.

RELIGIOUS TENSION: A woman chants hymns during a protest called by various Hindu organizations against the Supreme Court judgment in Kochi on Tuesday

Bedi and AIADMK MLA in public spat at government event

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Puducherry: 03.10.2018

The150th birth anniversary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday was marred by the antics of AIADMK legislator A Anbalagan. At the event, public works minister A Namassivayam declared the Union territory of Puducherry open defecation-free under the Swachh Bharat Mission in the presence of lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi.

A few minutes before the event, which was held in his constituency, Anbalagan learned that he would not be addressing the audience. He picked up an argument with minister Namassivayam and local administration secretary P Jawahar. Namassivayam pacified him and requested him to join the dais. The MLA levelled a series of charges against the Congress government alleging that the government had been neglecting his constituency, which is the tail-end of all drains leading to the sea. He charged that the administration had come to a standstill due to the tussle between the council of ministers and the administration.

Bedi, who was scheduled to attend another function immediately after the celebrations, directed an official to hand him a note requesting him to wind up his address.

After reading the note, Anbalagan gave it back to the official and asked him why he should cut short his address. He continued his tirade against the government.

A few minutes later, Bedi sent another official with a note. Without even reading the note, Anbalagan this time folded it and kept in his pocket. A visibly upset Bedi then went straight to the podium and asked him to stop addressing the gathering.

Undeterred, Anbalagan continued. Bedi asked the sound engineer to switch off the mike, infuriating the MLA and leading to an ugly spat between the two.

TOI INTERVIEW

‘If probed, will expose Koovathur plot’ 03.10.2018 TOI

A folk artist turned actor turned politician, Karunaashas turned a rebel now, 20 months after endorsing Edappadi K Palaniswami’s government in a trust vote. The Thiruvadanai MLA got assembly ticket from Jayalalithaa and won on the two leaves symbol. In an interview to Julie Mariappan, the Mukkulathur Pulipadai leader claims that the AIADMK government remains a slave to Narendra Modi’s BJP and works against the wishes of partymen. An ardent supporter of jailed leader V K Sasikala, he says if there is a probe, he would expose everything that happened at Koovathur resort prior to the formation of the EPS government.

You won the polls on two leaves symbol as an AIADMK ally. What prompted you to lash out at the chief minister?

What I spoke was wrongly interpreted by the media. All that I said was that the intelligence wing was feeding wrong information to the chief minister and that he was believing it. My supporters and myself honoured the CM during Thevar Jayanthi celebrations last year. There was huge posse of police force around me. I came to know later that the intelligence wing had informed the CM that I was planning to waylay him. Doesn’t CM know me? After all, I was the one who supported his candidature. Nobody bothered to clarify with me as to what I had said.

Do you regret speaking ill about the chief minister?

Ihave been running my party, Mukkulathor Pulipadai, since 2009. I have never spoken ill of other communities, nor have I instigated violence. Police could not find even one case against me. When I came to know that certain sections were offended by my reference to a community, I expressed regret.

There are reports that AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran is guiding you. Why did TTV supporter and Aranthangi MLA R Rathinasabapathy meet you?

I am a party leader and I consult my office bearers for evolving policies and strategies. Why would I consult a leader of another party? Rathinasabapathy is my relative from Pudukkottai. I am an ally of the AIADMK. Amma gave me the assembly ticket. When she was alive, I was encouraged to speak. After her death, we have not got our due space and recognition.

What was the reason for your arrest?

You must ask the CM. My people and constituency have been ignored by this government. My men are targeted by police in districts like Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Madurai. You put them in jail if they committed any wrongdoing. Why do you harm them physically. Their livelihood is affected. Why should I support this government?

Has the CM responded to your concerns?

Thrice I sought appointments with the chief minister. I did not get any response. I have information that the administration has been instructed to ignore my constituency.

There are reports that the AIADMK is pushing for getting you and three other MLAs disqualified. Have you been served any show cause notice?

No. If there is one in the offing, I am not afraid. Let me tell you, this government will face the consequences during the next polls.

You met V K Sasikala in Bengaluru prison days after you lashed out at the CM. How did the meeting go?

I met her because I am concerned about her well-being. She is my relative. She lost her husband too. She was upset that those in power had betrayed her. This government was formed to beat the designs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But now it has become a stooge of the central government. She felt Edappadi was committing the same mistake that OPS committed.

You were at Koovathur resort prior to the trust vote? What happened there?

Everyone — MLAs, ministers and chief minister — knows what happened at Koovathur and how this government was formed by V K Sasikala. Others are too scared to talk. If there is a probe, I will reveal everything.

Panneerselvam feigns ignorance about disqualification move against Karunaas

Chennai:

Deputy chief minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam on Tuesday feigned ignorance about his party’s move to get Thiruvadanai MLA and Mukkulathor Pulipadai leader S Karunaas disqualified from the assembly. Panneerselvam, along with chief minister K Palaniswami, was closeted with speaker P Dhanapal on Monday for a protracted meeting. And a section of media reported that the party was pushing for the disqualification of Karunaas and three other MLAs who are supporting T T V Dhinakaran. Asked about the disqualification move, Panneerselvam said, “I came to know about it only through you (media)”. The deputy CM, however, said action would be taken against those who support Karunaas. TNN

Nurses to run 10,000 clinics across state

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.10.2018

The state will set up at least 10,000 nurse-led clinics to aid early detection of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart ailments and cancer as part of the Universal Health Coverage scheme. At these clinics, patients can get tests done free of cost and medication with doctors’ prescriptions.

On Tuesday, senior officials headed by chief secretary Girija Vaidhyanathan discussed he policy, infrastructure and human resources required.

“It’s a plan to tackle the epidemic of non-communicable diseases in the state. We are hoping that these clinics will used by all sections,” said director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy.

The state plans to set up all these nurse-led centres by 2022 along with 3,000 other doctor-led centres in PHCs, secondary care facilities in taluks and districts, tertiary care facilities in medical college hospitals, senior officials said. The nurses, who will have cleared the two-year auxiliary nurse midwifery course, will check temperature, blood pressure, sugar levels and do other blood tests.

While results for some tests will be available instantly at the clinics, other samples will be sent to the nearest primary health centre or district hospital. Patients can collect their free medication from the clinics instead of travelling to the primary health centre. The nurses will enter the patients’ health status in a centralised platform and alert doctors in case of any abnormality.

In 2017, the state launched a pilot project in three health blocks -- Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district, Viralimalai in Pudukkottai district and Veppur in Perambalur district.

The footfalls in these clinics increased and a study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras found that over a period of time these centres, which are the closest delivery points to the community, showed the potential to become the building blocks for universal health coverage.

The study done by professors including V R Muraleedharan and Umakant Dash eight months after the establishment of these clinics showed that the share of private hospitals for out-patient care in these areas dropped significantly. Shoolagiri and Veppur saw a fall from 51% to 21% and Viralimalai from 47.8% to 24.2%.

The out-patient expenditure for patients also came down significantly from ₹261 to ₹59 in Shoolagiri; from ₹351 to ₹26 in Viralimalai, and from ₹395 to ₹67 in Veppur.

The state plans to set up all these nurse-led centres by 2022 along with 3,000 other doctor-led centres in PHCs, secondary care facilities in taluks and districts

HC relief for man left jobless after migration to another post

Chennai:03.10.2018

In an ‘out of box’ relief, the Madras high court has directed authorities to treat as voluntary retirement the resignation of an employee who quit service to migrate to another post where his selection was annulled after a litigation.

The transport department employee had resigned as a senior assistant engineer after 26 years of service in the TNSTC to migrate to another post in the Transport Subordinate Service.

His services, however, were terminated after a litigation over his selection as motor vehicle inspector.

Justice V Parthiban directed the government to extend all retirement benefits to petitioner S Chellamuthu, whose selection as Motor Vehicle Inspector in 2009 was set aside by the high court on a petition by an unsuccessful candidate, resulting in termination of his services.

Left jobless, the petitioner had sought a direction to the state public service commission to call him afresh for an interview for the motor vehicle inspector post or reinstate him as a senior assistant engineer in TNSTC, the post he had resigned from. PTI

NOTICE SERVED

37 doctors in state may lose PG degrees
Probe Finds Courses Did Not Get Nod From MCI

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com 03.10.2018

Chennai:

The post-graduate degrees of at least 37 doctors in the state may be deleted from their licences, barring them from being teaching faculty or specialists in emergency departments across the country, after it was found that the degrees were unrecognised. The doctors may also receive a censure, with or without a fine of ₹10,000.

The state medical council’s disciplinary committee issued showcause notices to 48 doctors registered as emergency medicine specialists. While 11 sought more time to appear before the council, some ignored the notice. “We were not satisfied with the reply given by those who appeared before the council. A decision on the case will be taken at the general committee meeting on October 10,” said state council president Dr K Senthil. “Some doctors from Kerala told us they were not able to attend the meeting as they were stuck in floods. A few others wanted advance notice as they were living abroad. We will be calling them for inquiry soon,” he said.

Earlier, the council received a complaint from Emergency Medicine Association that 48 of the 59 doctors registered as postgraduates in emergency medicine were holding degrees not approved by the Medical Council of India, the apex body regulating medical education.

All doctors were conferred MD in emergency medicine by Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute and Vinayaka Mission Medical College. Both the universities received permission to run the course after 2012, but doctors who passed out in 2009 have registered their degrees.

An investigation found that the doctors registered their post-graduate degrees between October and December 2017 when the council was headed by a court-appointed administrator. The council’s elected members moved court against one another over who should be president. When the issue reached a stalemate, the Madras high court appointed a retired judge as administrator. “None of these doctors registered their postgraduate degrees until then. The administrator was doing electoral roll revision so council election can be held. They registered their PG degrees then,” said a senior council member.

The application for registration had signatures of candidates, but no sign of verification of whether the course was recognised or if the certificate was genuine, officials said. “In the last three months, the council has laid down guidelines for staff to follow. The deputy registrar should verify and sign the application before it is sent to the registrar. The registrar will do the final verification before approving the registration,” Dr Senthil said.