1,042 students receive degrees in city college

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.03.2019

SSN College of Engineering celebrated its 19th Graduation Day on Sunday.

Former director of IISc Bangalore P Balaram conferred degrees to 1,042 students in a ceremony held at the SSN campus.

Balaram said, “There is a great need for young people to understand multiple phenomena, to experiment and do research. There is no greater case for research than the fact that it helps one to find answers to questions and in the process of finding those answers, occasionally make great discoveries."

In the 2017-2018 academic year, 832 undergraduate, 94 postgraduate and 116 MBA students graduated with flying colours. The graduating batch has 112 university rank holders which include Charanya G, a gold medalist from the undergraduate program and three other gold medalists from postgraduate programs. The management honored the rank holders.

Supreme Court Directs BCI to Reconsider Upper Age Limit for LLB Course Admission

Shilpi Sharan March 13, 2019 



March 13, 2019

In a case (Rishabh Duggal v. Bar Council of India & anr.) taken up by Two-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the Apex Court has directed the Bar Council of India to reconsider the upper age limit for admission into LLB courses.

The Court’s direction can be accessed here.

“We consider it appropriate in the interest of justice to permit the Bar Council of India to reconsider the age limit after hearing the various stakeholders, including the petitioner.”

While passing the aforesaid direction the Bench was of the view that there was no age to acquire education and that children belonging to the economically weaker section would be disadvantaged by the upper age limit. The impugned direction comes in response to Clause 28 of Rules of Legal Education providing for the Age of Admission.

According to the Clause the maximum age for seeking admission into a stream of integrated Bachelor of law degree program, is limited to twenty years in case of general category of applicants and to twenty two years in case of applicants from SC, ST and other Backward communities.

Similarly, the maximum age for seeking admission into a stream of Three Year Bachelor Degree Course in Law, is limited to thirty years with right of the University to give concession of 5 further year for the applicant belonging to SC or ST or any other Backward Community. The provision has been challenged by the Petitioners of being arbitrary and in contravention of fundamental right of students under Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution.

In Delhi University, Mother- daughter duo receive PhD degrees together 

Officials at the University of Delhi said it was first time that a mother-daughter duo had completed their doctoral programme together from the institution although there have been similar cases at the postgraduate level. education Updated: Mar 17, 2019 09:14 IST



Fareeha Iftikhar
Hindustan Times, New Delhi


Mala Dutta (left) and Shreya Mishra with their degrees(HT)

Mala Dutta, 56, achieved her dream of receiving a PhD degree on Friday, 34 years after she stepped out of college. What made it a doubly memorable occasion was that her 28-year-old daughter, Shreya Mishra, was with her to pick up her own doctoral degree the same day after they completed their PhD programmes together—something both had worked for.

Officials at the University of Delhi said it was first time that a mother-daughter duo had completed their doctoral programme together from the institution although there have been similar cases at the postgraduate level. They missed attending the convocation last year because it had been scheduled to take place a day after Shreya’s wedding.

Datta, an Indian Economic Service officer working with the defence ministry, said she had always wanted to do her PhD after completing her Master’s in economics from the Delhi School of Economics in 1985.

“I had to take a break from work in 2012 when my younger daughter had her class 12 board exams. That was the time when I registered for PhD (in finance). I then took study leave from the ministry and worked seriously on my completing the PhD,” Datta said.

Her daughter Mishra, a consultant at the World Bank, registered for her own PhD, in psychology, two years later. “After I registered for the PhD we realised that we can complete it together and make it the most remarkable moment for us. Though our subjects were totally different, I started seeking guidance from my mother and worked harder to complete it within three years,” Mishra said.

The mother and daughter finally managed to submit their theses and attend their oral exams last year, with a couple of months separating the two.

“It’s an absolutely wonderful experience for me because I got to learn a lot studying with the co-students of my daughter’s age. There were instances when my professor would call me ma’am. But I enjoyed it. The motivation was to get a PhD degree with my daughter on the convocation day,” Dutta said.

That wasn’t to be, however. “The convocation was on November 19, a day after I was getting married. There was no chance of us attending and receiving our degrees together. It was disappointing for us both,” said Mishra.

Datta and Mishra went to the university on Friday and collected their degrees. “We finally realised our dream and collected our degrees together. Officials there said that we would have made news headlines if we had received the degrees on the day of the convocation. But it doesn’t matter because now my paternal grandparents and my husband are here to share this unique feat,” said the daughter.

First Published: Mar 17, 2019 08:34 IST

Sree Balaji medical college: MCI order on PG courses intake 

increase quashed by HC

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedMar 18, 2019, 1:36 am IST

In the absence of any deficiency, the disapproval of the MCI cannot be sustained, the judge added.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has set aside an order of the Medical Council of India, disapproving the proposal submitted by the Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital at Chromepet in Chennai for increase in intake of the Post Graduate courses.

Allowing the petition filed by the college, Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana said since the refusal is based only on discrepancies, the matter is remitted back to MCI/Central Government for reconsideration to grant permission, if otherwise, the college is entitled for the proposal already submitted for the academic year 2020-2021.

The judge said when this court put a specific question as to whether the MCI has got any method or norm based on which the IPD and total daily admissions are computed, on instructions, the counsel for the MCI stated that there is no specific formula for the same. It is also stated that there are no specific norms.

Clause 11.3 of the 2000 Regulations deals with the bed strength in clinical departments which merely says that a department to be recognised for training of post graduate students shall have at least 60 beds each of general medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology and 30 beds each for other specialties for degree and diploma courses and 20 beds each in case of super specialty courses. The petitioner, having applied for increase in intake of PG students, had already complied with the MCI norms of students for PG courses. Excepting the above, there is no specific ratio mentioning about the number of beds for number of PG students. In the absence of verification of the original records by the inspection teams, it will not lie in the mouth of the MCI that they are falsified. It is also not the case of the MCI that the petitioner college refused to furnish the original records. It cannot take away the valuable rights of the petitioner college for no fault of theirs, the judge added.

The judge said it was the claim of the petitioner that it had applied for additional intake of PG students only on the strength of the fact that it has already complied with the norms of MCI. In the absence of any specific or special rules for additional intake of students, the MCI cannot deny the approval on discrepancies, when the said discrepancies were also explained by the petitioner college and they were mere discrepancies and not deficiency. In the absence of any deficiency, the disapproval of the MCI cannot be sustained, the judge added.

Chennai: Family to get Rs 17.75 lakh for loss of breadwinner

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published  Mar 18, 2019, 1:55 am IST

The judge said from the facts and circumstances of the case and also on perusal of the FIR and post-mortem certificate.

Madras high court

Chennai: Coming to the rescue of the family members of an agricultural coolie who died due to electrocution, the Madras high court awarded a compensation of Rs 17.75 lakh to them.

Justice T.Raja awarded the compensation while disposing of a petition from Maheswari, wife of the deceased, which sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited to pay a sum of Rs 7 lakh as compensation.

According to petitioner, on June 24, 2017, while her husband, after finishing his agricultural work, was taking bath in the backyard of his house, he came in contact with the overhead three-phase live wires which caused the death of her husband. Immediately after the accident, a case was registered by the Thiruvarur Police. The overhead three-phase wires near her house were running very low and close to palmyrah tree ad therefore, although she and her husband approached the authorities, they have never rectified such defects. In view of such negligence on the part of the Electricity Board, her husband lost his life, that too, at the age of 37 years leaving her and two minor daughters behind. Had the Electricity Board maintained the electricity wires properly, the ill-fated accident would have been averted, she added.

The judge said from the facts and circumstances of the case and also on perusal of the FIR and post-mortem certificate, “it is clear that the death had occurred due to the negligence on the part of the Electricity Board as they have not maintained the live wires properly, therefore, in my considered view, the board cannot escape from the liability of paying compensation”, the judge added.

The judge said with regard to awarding of compensation, there was no codified law for arriving at quantum of compensation in cases of these types of cases.

The enactments like the Motor Vehicles Act and the Workmen’s Compensation Act may be applied for arriving at a just compensation. In the case on hand, at the time of death the petitioner’s husband was aged about 37 years. Therefore, since the deceased was an agricultural coolie, this court by following the recent judgment of the division bench of this court, was inclined to fix a sum of Rs 11,000 per month towards notional income. After adding 25 percent towards future prospectus, the total monthly income of the deceased works out to Rs 13,750, the judge added.

The judge said by following the ratio laid down by the Apex Court, this court fixes multiplier at 15 and as the deceased was a married person at the time of death, after deducting 1/3rd of his income towards personal expenses, this court awards a sum of `16.50 lakh towards loss of dependency. By adding the compensation towards loss of love and affection, pain and sufferings and funeral expenses, the court awarded a total sum of Rs 17.75 lakh as compensation, the judge added.

Goa CM Manohar Parrikar loses cancer battle

DECCAN CHRONICLE WITH AGENCY INPUTS

PublishedMar 18, 2019, 12:40 am IST

He was 63. The Centre has announced national mourning on Monday to mark his death.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar

New Delhi: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar passed away at his residence in Panaji on Sunday evening after a prolonged illness. He was 63. The Centre has announced national mourning on Monday to mark his death.

Parrikar’s health had worsened over the past two days, and turned critical late Saturday night. when he was put on life support. His medical condition had fluctuated for over a year. The four-term chief minister and former defence minister was flown to the United States for treatment of his pancreatic cancer in March last year. 

“The chief minister died around 6.40 pm on Sunday,” a state government official said in Panaji. A widower, he is survived by his two sons and their families.

Parrikar will be accorded state funeral. The national flag will be flown at half-mast in New Delhi and the capitals of all states and Union territories on Monday. The Union Cabinet will hold a special meeting at 10 am on Monday to pay tribute.

President Ram Nath Kovind Monday expressed grief over Parrikar’s demise, saying he was an “epitome of integrity and dedication in public life”. Condoling his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a unparalleled leader, who was a true patriot and an exceptional administrator, admired by all. “Shri Manohar Parrikar was an unparalleled leader. A true patriot and exceptional administrator, he was admired by all. His impeccable service to the nation will be remembered by generations. Deeply saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Shanti,” the PM said in a tweet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said when Parrikar was the defence minister, India witnessed a series of decisions that enhanced the country’s security capacities, boosted indigenous defence production and bettered the lives of ex-servicemen.

With Parrikar’s demise, the BJP-led coalition in Goa has to search for a new leader to replace him. He was heading a coalition government comprising the BJP, Goa Forward Party, MGP and Independents. His death will also necessitate a fourth byelection in Goa, where bypolls are due for the Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa Assembly seats on April 23. These will be held in the state along with the Lok Sabha polls.

“With CM Parrikar’s demise, the ruling coalition will have to make a fresh representation to the governor after choosing their leader. The representation will have the letter of support,” a senior Goa official said. “If the governor is not convinced, then she will have to invite the single largest party to form the government,” he said.

The Congress is the single largest party in Goa, with 14 MLAs, while the BJP has 13 in the 40-member Assembly. The Goa Forward Party, MGP and Independents have three MLAs each, while the NCP has one. The strength of the House has been cut to 36 due to demise of BJP MLA Francis D’Souza earlier this year, and Parrikar on Sunday, and the resignation of Congress MLAs, Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte, last year. After the news of Parrikar’s death broke, the coalition partners have called emergency meetings.

7 of 20 DMK candidates are political heirs

Party bigwig Duraimurugan’s son Kathir Anand has been given a ticket to contest from Vellore and former minister K Ponmudi’s son D Gowtham Sigamani is to contest from Kallakuruchi.

Published: 18th March 2019 06:44 AM 

DMK flag (File Photo | EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The opposition DMK’s president M K Stalin announced the party’s candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as well as for the bypolls to the 18 vacant Assembly seats in Chennai on Sunday. Significantly, of the 20 candidates contesting the parliamentary polls six are the sons and daughters of DMK leaders, including Kanimozhi, daughter of the late DMK party chief M Karunanidhi, and only two are women.

While Kanimozhi, a two-time Rajya Sabha MP will be facing a direct election — from Thoothukudi — for the first time, former union minister Dayanidhi Maran, son of late union minister Murosoli Maran, will be contesting from Chennai Central again. Former minister Arcot N Veerasamy’s son Dr Kalanidhi Veerasamy will contest from Chennai North while former minister Thangapandian’s daughter Tamizhachi Thangapandian will contest from Chennai South.

Party bigwig Duraimurugan’s son Kathir Anand has been given a ticket to contest from Vellore and former minister K Ponmudi’s son D Gowtham Sigamani is to contest from Kallakuruchi. Former Rajapalayam MLA Dhanushkodi’s son Dhanush M Kumar is to contest from Tenkasi.

Aside from the political heirs, quite a few former union ministers have also received tickets, with TR Baalu contesting from Sriperumbudur constituency, A Raja from Nilgiris, S Jagathratchagan contesting from Arakkonam, and SS Palanimanickam from Thanjavur. Baalu and Jagathratchagan won from Sriperumbudur and Arakkonam respectively in 2009.
Raja, who, along with Kanimozhi, was investigated, jailed and then acquitted in the 2G spectrum scam case in 2017, last won from Nilgiris in 2009.


The DMK has also given a ticket to former DMDK MLA SR Parthiban to contest from Salem. Parthiban joined the DMK in 2016.

Other candidates are G Selvam for Kancheepuram (SC), Dr S Senthilkumar for Dharmapuri, CN Annadurai for Tiruvannamalai, K Shanmugasundaram for Pollachi, P Velusamy for Dindigul, TRVS Sriramesh for Cuddalore, S Ramalingam for Mayiladuthurai and S Gnanathiraviam for Tirunelveli parliament constituency.

Speaking to the media after releasing the list Stalin said that the party manifesto would be released on March 19 and he would begin the poll campaign from Tiruvarur on March 20. 

Asked why only two women candidates were being fielded, Stalin said, “We are handling this the way Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) handled it.”