TN college correspondent booked for sexual abuse of staff, students

• Anjana Shekar
• Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 15:29

The incident at the paramedical and research college came to light after a woman staff member who reportedly escaped an attempt to harass her filed a complaint.

In a shocking case of harassment in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, a male college correspondent and two women staff members have been arrested for allegedly abusing and abetting the abuse of students and other staff members at a college. The incident, which took place at the Jacob Memorial College, came to light on Tuesday after several students, women staff and their families staged a protest, demanding the arrest of the correspondent.

According to one report in the Times of India, Ravi, 35, the correspondent of the paramedical and research college reportedly made women students and staff feel uncomfortable. Two women staff members – Nalini, 30 and Kala, 28 – reportedly aided the abuse. The complaint leading to the trio's arrest was filed by one of the female staff members at the college soon after Ravi attempted to misbehave with her.

The co-educational institution is reportedly attended by 80 students and 10 staff members. The newspaper also reports that in the past, staff members had allegedly quit the institution after they faced harassment from Ravi.

Speaking to TNM, Additional Superintendent of Police of Nagercoil, G Jawahar said, “The three have been arrested and remanded on Wednesday. A case under Indian Penal Code Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506(2) (Punishment for criminal intimidation) have been filed on the correspondent. The two women staff members have been booked under Section 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe). Further action will be taken based on the investigation.”

On Tuesday, staff and students of the college staged a protest, demanding the arrest of the correspondent as well as the two staff members. Following the arrests, the protesters have dispersed, said the police.

DVAC chief calls for speedy action on tainted staff

It is learnt that the Vigilance commissioner has told State departments there is no need to refer in the proposals seeking vigilance commission remarks.
 
Published: 22nd March 2019 06:19 AM |

 By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The order to prosecute tainted government officials under Section 17 A of Prevention of Corruption Act should be given within the time-frame of three months as laid down by the Supreme Court, according to official sources.

It is learnt that the Vigilance commissioner has told State departments there is no need to refer in the proposals seeking vigilance commission remarks.

It has been clarified that the government is empowered to take a decision independently based on the merits of the case, sources said.

These observations were made during the monthly review meeting conducted by Vigilance commissioner and commissioner of Administrative Reforms recently.


The monthly review meetings have been started from this year with the first meeting on January 29, 2019 and the second on February 21, 2019. It is learnt that the monthly review meetings have resulted in speedy approvals and sanction of vigilance cases within a record time.

Usually, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) books officials under preliminary enquiry (PE), detailed enquiry (DE), regular cases or traps. It is learnt there are 893 cases under preliminary enquiry and detailed enquiry, 680 cases under regular cases enquiry and 141 cases pertain to traps, as per figures available till 2017-18.

Sources said usually many State departments slow down the cases or keep them in abeyance and say the cases are under consideration of the department.

Now, the Vigilance Commissioner has stated that it is the prerogative of the government in taking a decision and informing DVAC within a time-frame fixed in the Act.

“The issues which may arise out of the decision taken by the government will be brought to the notice of vigilance commission by DVAC and during that time the commission will render appropriate advice to the government,” a source said quoting DVAC officials, and added the commission does not want the departments in the Secretariat to send in the concerned file to it for remarks.

It is learnt that State departments while passing final orders never update DVAC on the decision taken and it has been ordered to send in the final orders pertaining to vigilance cases to the directorate and vigilance commission.

Anna University to strengthen security of answer scripts: VC

Along with strengthening the security of the places where answer scripts are stored, the university will also conduct awareness drives among the examination invigilators and other stakeholders. 

Published: 22nd March 2019 06:16 AM 

The Anna University administration and Higher Education department at loggerheads about conducting Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission.

 By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After suspending 37 temporary staff for their alleged involvement in malpractices in examinations, Anna University has decided to store the answer scripts in a more secure and safe place, Vice-Chancellor M K Surappa has said. Along with strengthening the security of the places where answer scripts are stored, the university will also conduct awareness drives among the examination invigilators and other stakeholders.

“Through sensitisation drive we will urge invigilators and other persons involved in the examination process to do their job diligently and not to indulge in such malpractices,” said Surappa. However, he refused to divulge the details as to how the university will ensure the security of the answer scripts. “We will take adequate measures to avoid a rerun of the incident,” he told Express.

Notably, Anna University has unearthed a scam related to examinations in November -December 2017 and terminated 37 temporary staff. An inquiry committee found that the terminated staff allegedly connived with students and some other officials of the university, and allowed students to write their papers outside the examination hall. According to sources in the varsity, the group took at least `15,000 to `40,000 from each student. “The group committed the malpractice cunningly. After taking money from students, it used to take out the original answer scripts of the students concerned from the bundle after the examination and later handed over blank answer sheets to them. The students or any candidate entrusted by them used to fill the blank answer sheets with the correct answers outside the examination hall. Later, the same was inserted into the bundle,” said an official.

மருந்தாளுநர் பணிக்கு போலி நியமன ஆணை: அமைச்சரின் உதவியாளர் உட்பட 3 பேர் கைது

Published : 20 Mar 2019 08:54 IST

புதுக்கோட்டை மாவட்டம் கறம்பக்குடி அருகே உள்ள பிலாவிடுதியைச் சேர்ந்தவர் முத்துராசு மகன் கார்த்திகேயன்(23). இவர், தன்னை மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனையில் மருந்தாளுநராக நியமனம் செய்யுமாறு அரசாணை, பணி நியமன ஆணை போன்றவற்றை புதுக்கோட்டை அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி முதல்வர் மீனாட்சி சுந்தரத்திடம் நேற்று முன்தினம் அளித்துள்ளார்.

அதில், பணி நியமன ஆணை போன்ற கடிதத்தில் முதல்வர் மீனாட்சி சுந்தரம் கையெழுத்திட்டதாக இருந்துள்ளது.

தான் கையெழுத்திடாத நிலை யில், பணி நியமன ஆணை வழங்கப்பட்டிருப்பது குறித்து அதிர்ச்சியடைந்த மீனாட்சிசுந்தரம், இதுகுறித்து புதுக்கோட்டையில் உள்ள மாவட்டக் குற்றப் பிரிவில் புகார் அளித்தார்.

இதுதொடர்பாக ஆய்வாளர் லட்சுமி மேற்கொண்ட விசாரணையில் கறம்பக்குடி அருகே உள்ள நரங்கியப்பட்டு கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த பசுபதி மகன் பிரபாகரன்(33) என்பவர் மூலம் புதுக்கோட்டை மச்சுவாடி பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்தவரும் அமைச்சர் சி.விஜயபாஸ்கரிடம் உதவியாளராகவும் இருந்த விக்னேஷ் என்ற விக்னேஷ்வரன்(25) என்பவர் ரூ.2 லட்சத்தை வாங்கிக்கொண்டு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி முதல்வரின் கையெழுத்தை போலியாக இட்டு, போலி பணி நியமன ஆணை தயாரித்து தந்தது தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து கார்த்திகேயன், பிரபாகரன் மற்றும் விக்னேஷ்வரன் ஆகிய 3 பேரையும் நேற்று கைது செய்தனர்.

நாகர்கோவில்-தாம்பரத்துக்கு சுவிதா ரயில் இயக்கம்

By DIN | Published on : 22nd March 2019 02:49 AM |

பயணிகள் வசதிக்காக, நாகர்கோவில்-தாம்பரத்துக்கு சுவிதா சிறப்பு ரயில் இயக்கப்படவுள்ளது.

நாகர்கோவில் - தாம்பரம்: நாகர்கோவிலில் இருந்து ஜூன் 2-ஆம் தேதி மாலை 5 மணிக்கு சுவிதா சிறப்பு ரயில் (82646) புறப்பட்டு, மறுநாள் அதிகாலை 5.05 மணிக்கு தாம்பரத்தை வந்தடையும். 

இதுபோல, சென்னை சென்ட்ரலில் இருந்து ஆமதாபாத் மற்றும் சந்திரகாச்சிக்கு தலா ஒரு சுவிதா சிறப்பு ரயில் இயக்கப்படவுள்ளது. இந்த ரயில்களுக்கான டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு வெள்ளிக்கிழமை (மார்ச் 22) காலை 8 மணிக்கு தொடங்குகிறது.

Get inspired by IAF pilots who hit JeM camps, Madras HC tells public servants

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedMar 20, 2019, 3:30 am IST

A public servant, more specifically, serving as a staff nurse, is bound to serve with full devotion to duty.

Madras high court.

Chennai: Reminding the bravery shown by our Indian air force pilots in targeting the enemy terrorists camps inside the territory of Pakistan, the Madras high court has expressed its expectation from a staff nurse, who is transferred from Coimbatore government hospital to Vellore government hospital, to show such courage and braveness in performing his duties.

“If such mindset is developed in the public service, then, there would be no room for corrupt activities also in public service”, said Justice S.M.Subramaniam while dismissing the petitions filed by R.Sreenivasan, challenging the order of the authorities transferring him from Coimbatore Government hospital to Vellore district.

The judge said the petitioner is serving as a Staff Nurse in Government Hospital. The job nature of staff nurse is noble one. A public servant, more specifically, serving as a staff nurse, is bound to serve with full devotion to duty. Undoubtedly, the petitioner, being a staff nurse, more specifically in a government hospital, has to serve in the interest of public and for the welfare of the administration, the judge added.

The judge said administrative transfers were issued on various grounds. It was not necessary for the competent authorities to spell out reasons for all such administrative transfers. Administrative grounds cannot be challenged in a routine manner. However, the authorities, while exercising the power of discretion must keep in mind that the said power should be used without any bias and administrative transfers were to be issued for genuine reasons. The authorities should not issue any such transfer orders on personal vengeance or on any other extraneous consideration, the judge added.

The judge said in the present case, except by stating that the petitioner was an office bearer of an Association and the officials concerned have taken certain personal vengeance against him, the said allegations were not substantiated with sufficient materials on record.

Those officials were not impleaded as parties in their personal capacity. In the absence of any such specific and substantiated allegations regarding the mala fide intention, this court would not entertain a petition based on certain bald allegation or on certain grounds made in the petition. If such grounds were accepted at the threshold, every public servant will come to the court and state that every such transfer orders were issued with some ulterior motive or on personal vengeance. Courts cannot give room for such pleadings to be raised by the public servant without any basis, the judge added.

The judge said undoubtedly every family in this country has got problems in one way or other and they have to solve the problems and lead their life with happiness and peace. Such personal grievances cannot be a ground to revoke an order of transfer. “Public service is a noble one, more so being a member of medical services in government hospitals, where the service of nurses like the petitioner, is very much essential for the benefit of poor people. This court would like to remind the bravery shown by our Indian air force pilots in targeting the enemy terrorists' camps inside the territory of Pakistan.

The petitioner staff nurse also is expected to show such courage and braveness in performing his duties. If such mindset is developed in the public service, then, there would be no room for corrupt activities also in public service. Under these circumstances, this court would suggest that the petitioner has to serve in the place where he is posted, in the interest of public and to serve the nation with full devotion to duty”, the judge added.

Nigerian girl wins 20 gold medals and 5 cash awards, shatters University of Mysore's record

Emelife Stella Chinelo, a 28-year-old from Nigeria, had returned to her country only recently after learning that she has topped the University of Mysore in MSc Chemistry.

Published: 18th March 2019 07:11 AM 

(Right to left) Emelife Stella Chinelo, Sanjana Darla P and Meera Manahar Rao Anasane with their gold medals (Photo | EPS)
By Express News Service

MYSURU: Emelife Stella Chinelo, a 28-year-old from Nigeria, had returned to her country only recently after learning that she has topped the University of Mysore in MSc Chemistry. However, she had no inkling about emerging as a ‘golden’ girl, which she came to know only a few weeks ago.

On Sunday, Chinelo received 20 gold medals and five cash prizes, the highest ever in post-graduation studies, during the varsity’s 99th convocation.

An elated Chinelo told reporters that it was the result of hardwork and perseverance. “I devoted most of my time towards studies. I was either in the classroom or library. The reason why I chose India, especially the UoM, for higher studies is because of its scope for academic excellence,” she said.

Moreover, she is so good at Chemistry that she also topped Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Nigeria, where she studied BSc (applied chemistry).

A native of Anabra state in the eastern part of the African country, Chinelo wants to make a career in teaching in any part of the world. However, for the time being, she has landed a job as a teacher in her country. Her mother is also a teacher, while her father is a businessman.