Pondy varsity denies VC was at ABVP meet

Puducherry:02.03.2019

Pondicherry University has refuted media reports that vice-chancellor Gurmeet Singh attended a function organized by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students' wing of the BJP. The university also brushed aside the SFI’s charges that it has launched attempts to promote Hindutva agenda on the campus.

In a statement, assistant registrar (public relations) K Mahesh said Singh had presided over a distinguished lecture series organized in collaboration with the Union human resource development ministry. Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation director Anirban Ganguly delivered a lecture on, ‘Government policies, transformation initiative, their impact and the future direction’at Jawaharlal Nehru auditorium.

He said students and research scholars interacted with Ganguly after the lecture. TNN

Pvt colleges use students as their marketing agents

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:02.03.2019

Around noon on Friday, the first day of the Class XII state board exams, groups of first year and second year college students were seen waiting in front of a school at R S Puram in the city with bunches of pamphlets and notices in their hands.

A college bus had dropped some of them at the spot a few minutes ago. The students, in some cases accompanied by an employee of the college, were waiting to distribute their college admission pamphlets to Class XII students who would come out after writing the exam.

Some of them told TOI that they were second year students while some said they were first year students. When they were waiting, a college employee was seen asking the students to remove their identity cards and collecting them.

Once the students started coming out after the exam, the college students who were restlessly waiting till then, sprang into action and started distributing the pamphlets. They were also seen collecting the names and phone numbers of the Class XII students.

A few other colleges had, however, deployed their employees at the same spot to distribute pamphlets.

When contacted, a representative of the Pioneer College of Arts and Science, students of which were seen distributing pamphlets, said those students had volunteered to do so. “These students act as volunteers in all our college activities. In the process of admission also they help us,” the representative said. The representative also said it was an ‘extension activity’ like an NSS camp where they go door to door to spread messages.

TOI contacted St Paul’s College of Arts and Science for Women, students from which were also seen distributing pamphlets, and asked to speak to the principal. While a staff member from the college said the principal would call back, there were no calls from the college.

When TOI spoke to an official from the regional directorate of collegiate education regarding the issue, the official said it was unwarranted of colleges to make students do such work. The official, however, said that the issue had not been brought to their notice till then and that they would investigate it.

OUT OF SYLLABUS: College students distribute pamphlets to school students

TN adds 508 PG seats in govt medical colleges, 2-fold jump in key specialties

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.03.2019

Tamil Nadu will add 508 postgraduate seats in government medical colleges soon, making it the state with the most number of PG government seats in the country. The total number of PG seats will be 1,758, compared to 2,900 undergraduate medical seats. A major share of the 40% increase came through conversion of diploma seats — barring three in diabetology — into PG degree programmes.

The increase in PG seats, officials say, will directly benefit healthcare services in the state. For instance, the number of obstetrician-gynecologists the government colleges produces every year will nearly double from 109 to 203 and the number of anesthesiologists will go up from 126 to 193. There will also be at least 29 more general surgeons and 18 more general medicine practitioners from the state colleges, said deputy director of medical services Dr K Rajasekar.

The directorate of medical education received the Centre’s permission, from the board of governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India, on Thursday to convert 384 of its 396 PG diploma seats into PG degree seats. The diploma seats in diabetology could not be converted as there was no PG degree equivalent; and the state had to forgo the remaining seats in some colleges as it had reached the limit.

State has most PG seats in govt colleges

In addition, the state has permission to start 124 new PG degree courses across 14 state-run medical colleges.

This means, during the 2019 PG counselling, after surrendering 50% of seats towards the all-India quota the state will still be left with more than 850 seats. The state is known for having the maximum number of MBBS seats in 22 government medical colleges; it will now have highest number of PG degree seats in government colleges as well.

In some colleges, there are more PG degree seats than UG degree seats. The Madras Medical College has 433 MD/MS seats and 250 MBBS seats. “That’s how premium medical colleges work. Centre-run colleges such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences and JIPMER have very few undergraduate seats. As the MCI has made it mandatory for all colleges to have PG courses, we will be increasing the seats every year. Converting two-year diplomas to three year degrees will also mean we will also have more teaching faculty to help us do this. Diploma holders can practice their speciality, but aren’t allowed to teach,” said director of medical education Dr A Edwin Joe. Stanley Medical College has 204 MD/MS seats and 250 MBBS seats. At the Madurai Medical College where MBBS seats are expected to go up to 250 from the present 155, there are 184 PG seats.

More than 11,000 candidates from the state have cleared PG Neet this year.

Service Law- Remaining Absent for Long Time is not Minor 
Misconduct-Karnataka HC 

February 25, 2019



February 25, 2019

Case name: The Chief Traffic Manager vs S. Ganesh

The Appellant has challenged the impugned order, whereby the Single Judge of High Court has set aside the order of dismissal and directed respondent’s reinstatement with continuity of service and all consequential benefits. As per the facts of the case, respondent did not report for duty for about two years.

In view of the facts and circumstances in the case and precedent on the subject, the Division Bench allowed the appeal and made the following observations in the case:

The Supreme Court on the subject made reference to the case of North-Eastern Karnataka RT Corpn. Vs. Ashappa, wherein it was observed that remaining absent for a long time, in our opinion, cannot be said to be a minor misconduct. He was found not only to have remained absent for a period of more than three years, his leave records were seen and it was found that he remained unauthorisedly absent on several occasions. In this view of the matter, it cannot be said that the misconduct committed by the respondent herein has to be treated lightly.

In view of the aforesaid verdict and facts of the instant case that petitioner did not chose to report for duty for two years after revocation of suspension, the High Court of Karnataka held that impugned order was not sustainable.

The entire case can be accessed here.

Chennai: Private bus owner, insurance firm to pay Rs 14 lakh to kin of mishap victim 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Feb 28, 2019, 2:34 am IST

In the petition Vijaya submitted that her husband, Panchatcharam had several businesses including real estate business.

Panchatcharam sustained grievous injuries and next day he died in the hospital. She said the accident took place due to the negligence of the bus driver. (Representational Image)

Chennai: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chennai, directed a private bus operator and a public sector insurance firm to pay a compensation of Rs 14 lakh to family members of a 57-year-oldbusinessman who died in a road accident.

In the petition Vijaya submitted that her husband, Panchatcharam had several businesses including real estate business. He was earning Rs 50,000 per month.

On September 15, 2015, at about 7 am, he was riding the motorcycle (bearing registration No. TN20 AW 7096) on Vallal MGR Salai, near Thiruvalluvar Salai Arch, Maraimalai Nagar. A bus, which was belonged to M/s.Sri Ganesh Travels, was being driven in a rash and negligent manner.

The bus rammed into the two-wheeler.

Panchatcharam sustained grievous injuries and next day he died in the hospital. She said the accident took place due to the negligence of the bus driver. Hence, M/s.Sri Ganesh Travels and the New India Assurance Co., Ltd., insurer of the vehicle, jointly and severally liable to pay compensation to the family members.

In the reply the insurance firm stated that the petition is false, frivolous, vexatious, not maintainable in law and in facts. The alleged accident happened only due to the rash and negligent riding of Panchatcharam. Hence, contributory negligence may be apportioned with a greater percentage against the motorcycle.

Chief Judge, Court of Small Causes, Chennai, R.Selvakumar said considering oral and documentary evidence, this court finds that the accident took place due to the rash and negligent driving of the bus driver.

In the result, the travels and insurance firm jointly and severally ordered to pay a sum of Rs 14 lakh to the petitioners with interest at the rate of 7.5 per cent, said the Chief Judge.

Chennai: Supermarket to pay Rs 8,000 for selling beyond MRP 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Mar 1, 2019, 2:38 am IST

The outlet sold the soaps under an offer, "Buy 3 get 1 free" for a price of Rs 120. 


The issue was rectified within a few days, after Sathyan sent a legal notice to the shop.

Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram district, has directed a supermarket to pay compensation of Rs 8,000 for selling a popular soap for more than the maximum retail price to a resident, two years ago.

In the petition, M. Sathyan of Pallavaram submitted that he had purchased a bar of Chandrika soap from the Ayyanar Super Market. The outlet sold the soaps under an offer, "Buy 3 get 1 free" for a price of Rs 120. However, the shop collected Rs 169, which was above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).

Sathyan alleged that the manufacturer was hand in glove with the shopkeepers by offering an attractive price outside the packet and the original price was mentioned in small letters on the wrapper.

He said the soap manufacturing company, 'The Wipro Consumer Care' Bengaluru and Shri Ayyanar Super Market in Pallavaram had cheated him by overcharging. He sought compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the company and the supermarket.

Denying the allegations, Wipro Consumer Care said that the company was not responsible for selling its product at more than the MRP mentioned on it. The supermarket accepted the mistake of affixing stickers of reduced prices of the soap sold. The issue was rectified within a few days, after Sathyan sent a legal notice to the shop.

The forum headed by president J Justin David said that Shri Ayyanar Super Market had committed the mistake while affixing the stickers, which amounts to negligence and deficiency of service. The forum directed the supermarket to pay the petitioner a compensation of Rs 8049 for collecting an excess amount and for causing mental agony.

Chennai: Bike taxis without proper commercial permit seized 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Mar 1, 2019, 2:41 am IST

Meanwhile, drivers of the bike taxi service are protesting as their means of livelihood have now been hit. 


 
he app, initially launched in Bangalore, was brought to Chennai in February and was a boon to commuters who required to go someplace quickly, and at nominal cost.

Chennai: Days after an app based bike taxi service was launched in the city, the police seized 10 vehicles for operating without obtaining necessary permits and put a hold on its functioning until appropriate permissions are acquired. Traffic police in KK Nagar seized two vehicles belonging to the app based service after it was found to be having private vehicle number plates.

 Claiming that it violates existing motor vehicle rules, an official said that both vehicles have been seized and notices issued to the firms running the apps. The app, initially launched in Bangalore, was brought to Chennai in February and was a boon to commuters who required to go someplace quickly, and at nominal cost. Meanwhile, drivers of the bike taxi service are protesting as their means of livelihood have now been hit. "The services were discontinued in Bangalore too. Why can't the government amend the Act," one driver said.