Madras High Court notice to TN government, varsity on semester exam work PIL

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedMar 3, 2019, 2:30 am IST

Counsel said that in 2016, the university issued a tender notification.

Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the state government and Thiruvalluvar University on a public interest litigation challenging the tender notification issued by the university for outsourcing work with regard to the conduct of semester examinations.

A division bench comprising Justices S. Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad posted after four weeks, hearing on the PIL filed by Prof. I. Elangovan, a retired associate professor of Voorhees College in Vellore district. "Confirmation of any tender would be subject to the result of the petition," the bench said.

Petitioner's counsel S. Sathiachandran said that in 2013 the university had sacked 91 non-teaching staff involved in pre- and post-examination work, and entrusted the task to a private agency in Puducherry without following due procedure, thus causing heavy financial loss to the university.

The ex-officio members of the Syndicate of the University and the ex-officio member on the finance committee did not take cognisance of this serious irregularity and illegality. The issue was not reflected in the audit report, Mr Satiachandran said.

Counsel said that in 2016, the university issued a tender notification. By allegedly manipulating the process the contract was awarded to a private agency in Chennai in violation of the Tamil Nadu Transparency of Tender Act and Rules.

There were now 31 employees available at the office of the Controller of Examination of Thiruvalluvar University who had no work, Mr Sathiachandran said. The university has been outsourcing the work to private agencies from the November-December 2013 examinations till date though it was fully equipped with the infrastructure and manpower to accomplish the important and confidential work.

Mr Sathiachandran said the university was unwittingly spending public funds ranging from Rs 2.46 crore to Rs 3.5 crore every semester. This was wasteful expenditure as well as threatening the maintenance of confidentiality of data, he said.

This being so, Thiruvalluvar University had now issued a tender notification dated February 14 with regard to the automation of the pre- and post-examination work. Hence, Prof. Elangovan had filed the PIL to quash the tender notification, Mr Sathiachandran said.

பம்மலில் குடிநீர் கேட்டு பொதுமக்கள் சாலை மறியல்


பல்லாவரம் அருகே பம்மலில் குடிநீர் கேட்டு பொதுமக்கள் சாலை மறியலில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

பதிவு: மார்ச் 03, 2019 04:00 AM
தாம்பரம்,

சென்னை பல்லாவரம் அடுத்த பம்மல் நகராட்சிக்கு உட்பட்ட 21-வது வார்டு பகுதியில் கடந்த 3 மாதங்களாக வீடுகளுக்கு குடிநீர் வினியோகம் செய்யப்படவில்லை என தெரிகிறது. லாரிகள் மூலமும் சரியாக குடிநீர் வழங்கப்படவில்லை என கூறப்படுகிறது. இதனால் குடிநீர் இன்றி பொதுமக்கள் அவதிப்பட்டனர்.

இதனால் ஆத்திரம் அடைந்த அந்த பகுதியை சேர்ந்த திரளான பெண்கள் உள்பட பொதுமக்கள், குடிநீர் கேட்டு நேற்று மதியம் பல்லாவரத்தில் இருந்து பம்மல் செல்லும் அண்ணாசாலையில் திடீரென மறியலில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

சாலை மறியலில் ஈடுபட்ட பெண்கள் கூறும்போது, “எங்கள் பகுதிக்கு கடந்த 3 மாதங்களாக சரியான முறையில் குடிநீர் வரவில்லை. இதுபற்றி பம்மல் நகராட்சி அதிகாரிகளிடம் தெரிவித்தும் உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவில்லை” என்றனர்.

இதுபற்றி தகவல் அறிந்து வந்த சங்கர்நகர் போலீசார், சாலை மறியலில் ஈடுபட்ட பொதுமக்களிடம் பேச்சுவார்த்தை நடத்தினர். பம்மல் நகராட்சி அதிகாரிகளிடம் இதுபற்றி பேசி முறையாக குடிநீர் வழங்க நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதாக தெரிவித்தனர்.

அதை ஏற்று சாலை மறியலை கைவிட்டு பொதுமக்கள் கலைந்து சென்றனர். இதனால் அந்த பகுதியில் சுமார் 1 மணிநேரம் போக்குவரத்து பாதிக்கப்பட்டது.

Abhinandan most favoured name for newborns

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | KATHELENE ANTONY

Published

Mar 3, 2019, 2:40 am IST

Social media users also took to celebrate the Wing Commander's return by tweeting pictures of new-borns named Abhinandan.

Abhinandan Varthaman

Chennai; There will be a flood of Abhinandans on the birth register of hospitals and maternity clinics across the country in the days to come, such is the aura created by this man over a cup of tea.

Even as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman crossed over the Wagah-Attari border and moved back to Indian soil, the entire nation heaved a huge sigh of relief. At a hospital in north Chennai, another family heaved a similar sigh after their daughter gave birth to a baby boy after some complications. "The timing was almost perfect. Abhinandan came back to India at 9:20, my boy was born at 9.21," says Parimalam Ramanathan. "We have decided to name him after Abhinandan. We expect him to serve the nation just like him after growing up," Parimalam said.

Further north in Rajasthan's Alwar district, another family who wanted to remember Wing Commander Abhinandan Vardaman's bravery too named the baby 'Abhinandan.' Speaking to the press, the baby's mother Sapna Devi stated: "By naming my son Abhinandan, we will keep reminding him about the valour of the pilot and I would like him to become a brave soldier just like him."

Social media users also took to celebrate the Wing Commander's return by tweeting pictures of newborns named Abhinandan. One user, Kesar Chauhan tweeted, "My brother gave birth to a baby boy today, we have decided to keep his name Abhinandan. Our Josh is still high. How's the name?" Along the same lines, a couple in Ajmer named their newborn 'Mirage' to pay tribute to Air force for a strike on terror camps in Balakot. SS Rathore, the father said, "We named our child Mirage Rathore to commemorate strike on Pakistan by Mirage jets. We hope inspired by his name, he'll join the security forces."

Tamil Nadu government told to help students of defunct medical college

Justice N Kirubakaran gave the directive while disposing of a batch of revision and writ petitions from the students and others.

Published: 03rd March 2019 06:03 AM 

Madras High Court (File | EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Coming to the rescue of students of the defunct Annai Medical College at Sriperumbudur, the Madras High Court has directed the State government authorities to allow the affected students accommodated in various other medical colleges in the State, to attend the second year classes till March 2019, so that, they will have the minimum required attendance of 75 per cent for writing the second year examination in August 2019.

Justice N Kirubakaran gave the directive while disposing of a batch of revision and writ petitions from the students and others. While the students sought to review the court’s earlier order dated April 28, 2018, the writ petitions sought to declare a circular dated May 9, 2018 of the Director of Medical Education (DME) stating that the relocated students are eligible to appear for second year examinations only in August 2019 and third year examinations in August 2020 and subsequently, in August 2021, for final year examinations.

The judge said the State Health Secretary and DME should conduct the second year examinations for the accommodated students in August 2019 and permit them to attend third year classes along with regular students and continue their studies from April 2019 onwards.

Taking into consideration the fact that the students had already attended the classes and they are having 62 per cent to 70 per cent of attendance and to give effect to the order passed by the court on December 22, 2017, this court is of the view to allow the relocated students to continue to attend the second year classes till March 2019. After classes for third year students commence, the accommodated students will be allowed to merge with regular students, namely, III year students and continue their studies from April 2019 onwards, the judge said.

Since the requirement of Medical Council of India regulations is 75 per cent attendance, there should not be any problem for the council or for Dr MGR Medical University or for the State in permitting affected students to write the second year exam in August 2019 and similarly, there should not be any problem in allowing them to merge with third year students from April 2019 onwards, the judge said.


This order is passed taking into consideration the peculiar circumstances of students, who continue to suffer for no fault of theirs. They should be given a helping hand, so that they merge with third year students, the judge said.

After 19 years, Chennai-Kollam regular train service to resume from Monday
The new daily train is to be operated from Chennai Egmore to Kollam Junction via Madurai, Virudhunagar and Sengottai on chord line, according to official railway documents.

Published: 03rd March 2019 03:55 AM |

Image used for representational purpose.

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Nearly 19 years after the withdrawal of the daily train between Chennai and Kollam in metre-gauge line, the regular train service in one of the oldest routes in South India, is set to resume from Monday.

The new daily train is to be operated from Chennai Egmore to Kollam Junction via Madurai, Virudhunagar and Sengottai on chord line, according to official railway documents. With this, the Chennai - Sengottai section will have two daily trains and one tri-weekly train.

The inaugural special will be flagged from Egmore station at 3.15 pm on Monday and the regular services will commence from the next day.


The regular train will leave Chennai Egmore at 5 pm and reach Kollam at 8.45 am on the next day. Similarly, in the return direction, the train will leave Kollam at 11.45 am and reach Egmore at 3.30 am the next day.

The Madras - Quilon Mail, which started running in 1904, was one of the oldest trains in Indian Railways.In order to transport spices and condiments including black pepper, cashew, cloves and cardamom from the capital of erstwhile Travencore State, Quilon to Madras, the South Indian Railway Company had opened the Quilon - Sengottai line in 1902. This was the first line in Travencore State.

Subsequent to the completion of Madurai - Virudhunagar - Sengottai meter gauge line by the British government, the Quilon - Madras mail was flagged off by Travencore Maharajah Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma in 1904. The train then extended till Thiruvananthapuram in 1918.

The Quilon Mail was one of the oldest metre-gauge trains run with first class and air- conditioned coaches. After serving the rail passengers for more than 70 years, the train got short terminated at Kollam in 1979 for gauge conversion works in Kollam - Thiruvananthapuram section.

“In 1979, when Thiruvananthapuram division was created, Madurai division officials strongly objected to transfer the Virudhunagar - Kollam section to the former as the Madurai - Kollam section was one of the high revenue generating sections in Southern Railway,” recalled official railway sources.

In 1996, during gauge conversion works between Virudhunagar and Madurai, the Quilon Mail was diverted via Virudhunagar and Manamadurai. Later, the service discontinued in 2000 for gauge conversion works.

Official sources said the new line would create a third rail route between Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, reducing the travel time by 100 km.

Presently, superfast trains from Chennai Central, reach Thiruvananthapuram via Coimbatore, Kottayam, Chenganur and Kollam, covering 922 km in 16 hours ten minutes.

“The travel distance between Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram via Kollam would be 825 km. It will serve as an alternative line of Chennai Egmore - Thiruvananthapuram via Madurai, Tirunelveli and Nagercoil, (795 km),” said official sources.

Madras High Court transfers fake UGC office scam probe to CB-CID

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court transferred the investigation into the fake University Grants Commission (UGC) office scam to CB-CID.

Published: 03rd March 2019 06:06 AM |


Madras High Court (File Photo | EPS)

By Express News Service

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court transferred the investigation into the fake University Grants Commission (UGC) office scam to CB-CID.Justice N Seshasayee passed the order by allowing a petition filed by one S Sakthivel, a retired Selection Grade Senior Assistant in Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) who is one of the victims of the scam.

According to Sakthivel, three persons - R Sathiyaseelan, J Stephen Raj and V Edwin Vinothkumar - ran a fake UGC CRAI (Centre for Research and Innovation) regional office in Madurai and defrauded him and several others of lakhs of money in the pretext of providing employment.

It is the case of the petitioner that the three persons collected `9 lakh from him and after conducting written examination and interview, they appointed his son as Additional Administrative Supervisor in the ‘fake’ office. As his son died before he could join duty, the accused offered the job to her daughter, who was equally qualified, and she worked in the office from November 5, 2017.

The SS Colony police raided the office on September 19, 2018 and upon detailed inquiry it was found that the accused were running such centres in other districts as well and had been cheating people of several crores of rupees.


The petitioner further submitted that the accused at the time of collecting money from him had produced very convincing evidences such as certificates and imitating the logo, signature of UGC authorities among others.

Even the staff, including his daughter, who worked in the fake office were unaware of the scam, he stated and prayed the Court to transfer the case to CB-CID Special wing and to expedite the investigation.

Hearing the same, the Judge directed the Inspector of Police of Central Crime Branch, Madurai to handover the case files to CB-CID in two weeks.

Exam, interview

It is the case of the petitioner that the three persons collected Rs 9 lakh from him and after conducting exam and interview, they appointed his son as Additional Administrative Supervisor in the ‘fake’ office

Non-teaching staff of MKU shifted en masse

Pon Vasanth B.A

MADURAI, MARCH 03, 2019 00:00 IST

The major reshuffle follows allegations of corruption and irregularities in several departments

The Madurai Kamaraj University administration has transferred a large number of its non-teaching staff within different departments (sections) of the university in what is seen by the staff as a major reshuffle done after a gap of many years.

The move follows long-pending allegations of corruption and irregularities in some departments, for which the same set of personnel serving in those departments for long years was cited as a primary reason. According to university sources, at least 130 staff, including about 50 regular staff and other temporary workers in the casual labour (CLR) and consolidated pay casual labour (CPCLR) categories, were transferred on Friday.

The entire non-teaching staff from the Research section and the office of the Additional Controller of Examinations (ACE) in the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE), from where maximum number of complaints were reported in the past, have been transferred to other departments.

It can be noted that the university’s Syndicate, in its last meeting, passed a resolution to constitute a committee to enquire into complaints reported against present Additional Controller of Examination M. Rajarajan and his office.

Reshuffle of all non-teaching staff was one of the key demands raised by Joint Action Council - Madurai Kamaraj University, a coalition of few teaching and non-teaching staff associations, to Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan after he took charge in January.

Though a similar reshuffle was attempted when G. Arumugam, who has since retired, was acting as Registrar, it was revoked when P.P. Chellathurai, the previous VC, took charge.

The Vice-Chancellor said the mass transfer was done to clean up and to infuse new blood in all the departments.

Automation

Mr. Krishnan said a number of other initiatives were also being taken to address problems. V.S. Vasantha, Professor from School of Chemistry, has been appointed as Research Coordinator, he said.

Highlighting that inordinate delays were reported mainly in Research section, he said that steps were being taken to automate the processes. “We will soon have an online system, through which the scholars can track the status after submission of their theses,” he said.

Setting things right

Mass transfer was done to clean up and to infuse new blood in all the departments, says VC