Judge recuses from hearing appeals in sexual harassment case

Legal Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 19, 2019 00:00 IST

A Division Bench led by Justice K.K. Sasidharan of the Madras High Court on Monday recused from hearing a batch of writ appeals preferred by an Inspector General of Police challenging orders passed by a single judge of the court in cases related to a complaint of sexual harassment lodged against the officer by a woman Superintendent of Police (SP).

Counsel’s reservations

The judge recused after V. Selvaraj, counsel for the SP, expressed reservations over arguing the case before the Bench and wondered if he would get justice. The advocate, however, refused to divulge further details in the open court and said he was prepared even to go to jail if he was to be hauled up for contempt of court for making such submissions.

The appeals had been preferred against orders passed by Justice S.M. Subramaniam on February 14 directing an Internal Complaints Committee constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013 to continue with its probe into a complaint lodged by the woman officer. The judge had also ordered the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department to continue with its parallel probe into a criminal complaint lodged by the woman officer against her superior.

Over Rs. 1 crore seized from staff of cash firm

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, MARCH 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Flying squad seeks special permission

A flying squad of the Election Commission, accompanied by the police, on Monday morning seized Rs. 1.04 crore from the staff of a cash management firm who were carrying it without requisite permission.

While the flying squad was conducting vehicle checks on the national highway near Nazarathpet close to Poonamallee, they intercepted a van belonging to the cash management firm.

The team found that the staff were carrying Rs. 1.04 crore from a private bank in Adyar to fill ATMs in Irunkattukottai, Sriperumpudur and other places. Though the staff showed the documents from the bank, the officials demanded they produce the special permission issued for carrying large anounts of cash when the model code of conduct is in force.

The seized cash was taken to the district treasury in Tiruvallur. Officials said money would be returned on producing authorisation.

Long queues await international travellers

STAFF REPORTER

CHENNAI, MARCH 19, 2019 00:00 IST

The upgradation of the inline scanners is part of the phase II expansion and modernisation project at Chennai Airport.

Standalone baggage scanners for check-in luggage to operate for next few months

For the next few months, passengers flying out of Chennai airport may have to endure long queues while getting their baggage scanned at the international terminal as only standalone baggage scanners will be available. The inline scanners at the terminal are being upgraded and hence standalone baggage scanners have been brough in as a temporary measure. This means passengers will also have to come in and report much earlier to the terminal.

At present, international passengers just drop off their check-in baggage at the inline scanner near the airline counters before getting their boarding card. For a few months, they will have to carry it, load it into the standalone baggage scanner and then take it off again. This will involve passengers having to lift heavy bags as many carry more than 15kg on international travel.

Officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the upgradation of the four inline scanners at the international terminal was part of the phase II expansion and modernisation project, estimated to cost Rs. 2,500 crore. “We cannot do without installing the new scanners, as they are built with the latest technology to offer. Passengers have to adjust only for a few months after which the new inline scanners will be installed,” an official said.

There will be five standalone baggage scanners for the next few months and AAI also plans to depute a few additional personnel to help passengers, especially senior citizens, he added.

Children with rare diseases await T.N.’s nod to start treatment

Serena Josephine M.

CHENNAI, MARCH 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Despite court orders, the govt. is yet to implement the life-saving ERT

Nine-year-old Praveen (name changed), suffering from a rare disorder, is waiting for the State government’s nod to avail of Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT).

With the government taking time to arrive at a decision, his mother is worried because he is growing weaker. Only treatment can help prevent more complications.

“It was when he was two-and-a-half-years old that he was diagnosed with mucopolysaccharidosis I. He has difficulty in walking. He goes to school but he cannot exert much and cannot write. Only ERT can help in preventing his condition from worsening. He was evaluated and selected for treatment. But we are still awaiting the government’s response on providing ERT for a group of children with rare disorders, including my son,” said Pavithra (name changed), his mother.

Risky wait

The State Technical Committee has sent a list of 27 patients with Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSD) to the government for approval.

But the wait is risky for children with LSDs, a group of rare disorders, say parents and members of LSD Support Society (LSDSS).

“In the last one year, four children in Tamil Nadu have died waiting for treatment. We have informed the government about the deaths. ERT is life-saving medicine for children with LSDs,” said M. Raja, joint secretary and State coordinator of LSDSS, Tamil Nadu. Eighteen months ago, LSDSS filed a PIL in the Madras High Court.

The court directed the State and Institute of Child Health (ICH) to provide treatment without delay and form a committee involving all stakeholders, recalled Manjit Singh, national president of LSDSS.

“The committee was formed and the first meeting was held within two months of the judgement. The children were evaluated at ICH and a report was sent to the Health Department. But treatment has not started till date,” he said.

As of now, 18 children are getting free treatment through international charitable support, he added.

Urgent hearing

“Earlier this month, we made an application to the Registrar General of the Madras High Court for an urgent hearing in this matter. We are appealing to the government to start treatment for a handful of children, who urgently need ERT. Already, Karnataka is providing treatment for seven children,” he said.

Sujatha Jagadeesh, head, Department of Genetics, MediScan, said as of now, 28 children are on treatment at the centre, while another 15 to 20 are on the waiting list.

“It is the prerogative of the State to collect data on rare disorders at government teaching hospitals and genetic centres,” she said.

Night shifts? Ensure your circadian rhythm is in place

Serena Josephine M.

CHENNAI, MARCH 19, 2019 00:00 IST



Altering sleep-wake cycle will have its effect on the body, say experts

Working on night shifts might have become a way of life for many professionals now, but altering the sleep-wake cycle will have its own effect on the body; it could cause a sleep disorder in some. Sleep specialists say that such disorders can be treated by taking simple measures at the workplace and home.

Shift Work Sleep Disorder occurs when the body’s internal biological clock gets altered or confused. While there are many professionals who work at night, it is the employees of the Information Technology sector who are the most affected, mainly due to the regular night shift patterns, say sleep specialists.

IT/BPO sector

“More than 80% of persons suffering from shift work sleep disorder are from the IT and BPO sector. This is because they work in the same shifts, disrupting their sleep pattern,” said N. Ramakrishnan, senior consultant, Sleep Medicine, Apollo Hospitals.

“Most of us go to bed between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. and wake up between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. This is the usual sleep-wake up time and socially accepted hours of sleeping. For those with this sleep disorder, the symptoms are like chronic jet lag. Irritability, anxiety and depression are among the symptoms. The hormonal cycle is messed up. We are noticing menstrual irregularities among women and infertility among men,” he explained.

Lifestyle problems

There is the risk of lifestyle-related health problems. High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, early heart disease and stroke are common, Dr. Ramakrishnan of Chennai said.

Koushik Muthuraja, consultant, pulmonologist and sleep specialist, Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, said, “We have the circadian rhythm that is considered to be our bodies’ internal biological clock. This clock on a 24-hour basis regulates certain changes in our body, such as hormonal secretions, temperature regulation, sleep timing and other physiological changes. When people work at night continuously, the biological clock gets confused.”

As a result, a majority of night shift workers present themselves with complaints, he said.

Dr. Ramakrishnan said the treatment included a review of the entire cycle.

“A significant amount of counselling is involved. We tell them to ensure appropriate light and dark exposure. They should ensure that their workplace is appropriately lit at night time. When they go back home, they should avoid driving and instead take a car pool. They can use eye shades. They should eat light and make their room conducive. Occasionally, we use melatonin for treatment,” he said.

High Court rules out criminal action against Chief Secretary

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI, MARCH 19, 2019 00:00 IST



Girija Vaidyanathan

‘Seizure of documents at Veda Nilayam by I-T dept. supports her stand’

The Madras High Court on Monday rejected a plea to initiate criminal action against Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan on the charge of perjury.

A litigant had accused her of having filed a false affidavit in the court on July 17, 2017 when she claimed that a letter sent by the Income Tax department to her predecessor P. Rama Mohana Rao, regarding illegal sale of gutkha in the State, on July 9, 2016 was not available with her office.

Justices K.K. Sasidharan and P.D. Audikesavalu dismissed the case filed by Madurai-based trade union leader K. Kathiresan after pointing out that the discovery of the letter from Veda Nilayam, the Poes Garden residence of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, by none other than Income Tax officials during a raid conducted on November 17, 2017 would fortify the Chief Secretary’s claim that it was not available with her office.

“The documents seized by the Director of Income Tax (Investigation) during the search at Poes Gaden supports the stand taken by the Chief Secretary. The documents were seized only from the residence of the then (sic) Chief Minister at Vedha Nilayam. Therefore, it is clear that the documents referred to in the affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary were not available with her office. It was very much available at Veda Nilayam.

‘Affidavit is correct’

“The Chief Secretary was, therefore, correct in her affidavit that no such communication was received from the Income Tax department as alleged... The availability of the documents in the office of the Chief Secretary would arise only in case those documents were still there. The search conducted by the Income Tax Department clearly revealed that the documents were not available with the office of the Chief Secretary,” the Bench said.

The judges came down heavily on the petitioner for having filed a series of public interest litigation petitions targetted at the continuance of T.K. Rajendran as Director General of Police by accusing him of having played a role in permitting illegal manufacture and sale of gutkha. They pointed out that Mr. Kathiresan had filed only three “public interest litigation” petitions in his lifetime and all three were aimed only at Mr. Rajendran.

“The successive petitions filed by the petitioner targeting a particular officer of the police department clearly shows that he is dancing to the tunes of others. The petitioner has been lending his shoulder to others to fire the gun. He has given a brand name, ‘public interest litigation’ to make it appear as if everything was in larger public interest. We are therefore of the view that the petition deserves to be dismissed,” the Division Bench said.

Singapore couple jailed for ‘worst kind of’ maid abuse

Singapore: 19.03.2019

Times of India

A Singaporean couple was on Monday jailed for abusing a Myanmar maid after the pair force-fed her with a funnel, made her eat her own vomit and threatened to kill her family if she reported the maltreatment.

In a case described by Singapore prosecutors as “arguably one of the worst of its kind” in the city-state, the married couple — who were sentenced two years ago over the abuse of another maid — beat and kicked their helper and made her clean the house in her underwear.

Moe Moe Than, 32, was also given little food, limited use of the toilet and faced threats that her parents in Myanmar would be killed if she reported the abuse, court documents showed.

The district judge sentenced the woman, Chia Yun Ling, to 47 months in prison and ordered her to pay a fine. Her husband, Tay Wee Kiat, a former information technology manager, was jailed for 24 months. They were ordered to pay compensation to the maid. AFP