Result withheld over fee, MBBS students cry foul

Were shifted from Chintpurni college to GMCs

Balwant Garg & Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

aridkot/Patiala, March 30

The delay in the declaration of result of their final prof has left at least 75 MBBS students in the lurch.

The affected students, presently studying at government medical colleges at Amritsar, Patiala, and Faridkot, are of the 2014-15 batch of Chintpurni Medical College, which was shut following irregularities.

On the directions of the Supreme Court, 98 MBBS students were shifted to the three government colleges. While 41 were shifted to Faridkot, 30 Amritsar and 27 Patiala. A controversy started about two months back, when 18 students of Faridkot college, 30 Amritsar and 27 of Patiala college refused to pay Rs 3.22 lakh fee. They claimed that they would only pay fee as applicable for government students, not the government quota fee of private colleges.

While publishing the result of final prof part-II on March 28, the BFUHS withheld the result of these 75 students for non-payment of tuition fee.

The matter is sub judice ever since these students were shifted to the GMCs. The students and their parents have alleged that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has already directed the colleges to stick to the fee as per the government quota seat, which is Rs 28,350 until a final decision was taken.

They claim that last year, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), through a letter, had directed the colleges to take annual fees as applicable for government students.

On the other hand, the university authorities maintained that the letter was issued mistakenly and it was annulled by the department on March 6.

Dr Raj Bahadur, vice chancellor, BFUHS, said in the notification for the shifting of 98 students in September 2017, it was clearly mentioned that as the private medical colleges had refused to admit these students at government fee, they would pay government quota seat fee of private colleges, to which they had agreed.

A student of GMC, Patiala, said, “Ever since we were shifted from Chintpurni to GMC, we have been facing problems. Till date, the CMCH has not given our detailed mark sheets. Now when we are about to begin internship, we have been asked to pay lakhs of rupees within two weeks.”

Arun Batra, father of an affected student, said, “Earlier, the university had denied roll numbers to the students and now it has withheld the result. This is a case of contempt of court.”

Sushil Goyal, president, CMCH Parent Welfare Association, said, “The vice chancellor of BFUHS and Additional Health Secretary have turned a blind eye to the issue. The CM should intervene in the matter.”

Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, said, “If the matter is sub judice, I will not be able to comment, but the government has always helped these students. It was on Capt Amarinder’s directions that they were adjusted in government institutions in 2017 after the CMCH went bankrupt.”

Future at stake

In the absence of their result, if the 75 students fail to initiate one-year internship from April 1 onwards, they would not be eligible for NEET-PG, 2020, the entrance test for admission in MD and MS courses.

An employee can’t be kept under suspension for years together: Madras High Court

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published  Apr 1, 2019, 1:29 am IST

The judge said disposal of the criminal case may take long years by the competent court of law.

Madras High Court

Chennai: Holding that an employee cannot be kept under suspension for years together without any progress in departmental disciplinary proceedings, the Madras high court came to the rescue of an employee, who was under suspension for over 10 years. The court quashed an order of the Chennai Corporation dated April 24, 2008, suspending him from service for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe.

Allowing the petition filed by the employee R. Velmurugan, Justice S.M. Subramaniam directed the Chennai Corporation to reinstate him in service. The Chennai Corporation is directed to post the petitioner in any one of non-sensitive posts till the conclusion of the departmental disciplinary proceedings as well as the criminal case registered against the petitioner, the judge added.

Challenging the criminal case registered against the petitioner by the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, the counsel for the petitioner stated that the said criminal case was still pending and the trial was in progress. However, keeping the petitioner under suspension for an unspecified period was bad in law, he added.

Counsel for the Chennai Corporation submitted that the petitioner was trapped and arrested for the allegation of demand and acceptance of bribe. Therefore, no leniency can be shown and the petition was liable to be rejected, she added.

The judge said prolonged suspension was bad in law. On initiation of disciplinary proceedings undoubtedly an employee shall be placed under suspension by the competent authority. However, competent authorities must ensure that departmental disciplinary proceedings initiated against the employee were concluded within a reasonable period of time. In the event of an enormous delay in concluding the departmental disciplinary proceedings, then the competent authorities must review the order of suspension for its revocation.

If it was not possible for the authorities to conclude the departmental disciplinary proceedings, then the order of suspension can be revoked and the employees shall be reinstated into service and posted in any non-sensitive post till the conclusion of the departmental disciplinary proceedings as well as the criminal case registered against him, the judge added.

The judge said disposal of the criminal case may take long years by the competent court of law. However, there was no bar for the disciplinary authorities to continue the departmental disciplinary proceedings even during the pendency of the criminal case. If the files, materials and other records were available with the authorities, then they were at liberty to continue the departmental disciplinary proceedings, conclude the same and pass final orders pending disposal of the criminal case, the judge added.

The judge said if an employee, after departmental disciplinary proceedings, was convicted by the competent court of law, then further actions shall be taken or the earlier orders shall be reviewed for issuing appropriate orders based on the conviction. There was no impediment for the authorities on initiation of fresh proceedings, if a public servant was convicted in criminal case by the competent court of law. This being the legal principles settled by the Constitutional Courts, the authorities need not keep an employee under suspension for an unspecified period.

Keeping an employee under suspension for long years and paying subsistence allowance for an unspecified period was causing financial loss to the state exchequer. Payment of subsistence allowance without extracting work was a financial loss to the state exchequer. Thus, the authorities must be vigilant and review the order of suspension periodically and if there was no impediment, conclude the disciplinary proceedings and pass final orders, the judge added.

The judge said in the case on hand, the order of suspension was issued long back and the petitioner was under continuous suspension without any progress in the departmental disciplinary proceedings as well as the criminal case. “This being the factum of the case, this court is of an opinion that there is no useful purpose would be served in keeping the petitioner under suspension for further period”, the judge added.

Vellore cash seizure: Action will depend on gravity of situation, says TN Chief Electoral Officer
Apart from Rs 78.12 crore, 328 kg of gold, 409 kg of silver and some other materials worth Rs 93.36 crore had been seized.

Published: 02nd April 2019 05:45 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI : Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo on Monday said the Election Commission of India would act, based on the ‘gravity’ of the situation in the Vellore parliamentary constituency where huge amounts of unaccounted money were seized earlier in the day. Asked whether the ECI would countermand the elections in Vellore constituency following the seizure of huge cash, Sahoo said, “The Commission will take into account many aspects before taking such a decision.

It is premature to talk about countermanding elections. We have to get a report from the District Election Officer as well as from the I-T department involved in the searches.” Sahoo also said that till Sunday, the total seizure of unaccounted money stood at Rs 78.12 crore.

Besides, 328 kg of gold, 409 kg of silver and some other materials worth Rs 93.36 crore had been seized. Responding to a question, the CEO said that so far, 80 FIRs had been filed against political functionaries on complaints of model code violations across the State.

Candidate moves Madras​ HC


Alleging that the raids conducted by I-T department at his premises are politically motivated and timed to prevent him from carrying on his campaign, Kathir Anand, son of DMK treasurer Durai Murugan and party candidate for Vellore, moved the Madras High Court on Monday.

TNSTC directed to pay Rs 36.7 lakh to victim’s kin

The victim, a materials manager in a private company, died in a hospital. He was the sole breadwinner.

Counsel for the transport corporation submitted that the accident was never caused by the bus.

Published: 01st April 2019 03:24 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Nearly three years after a State transport bus fatally hit a 47-year-old man near Marakkanam, a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal has directed TNSTC, Villupuram, to pay a compensation of Rs 36.73 lakh to the family. The deceased, A Sampathkumar, was going on a bike when the bus hit him and speed away.
According to a petition submitted by S Kausalya, the wife of the deceased, on May 17, 2016, a TNSTC bus plying near Palayar Madam on ECR hit the bike. The accident occurred because the bus was driven in a rash and negligent manner, the petitioner added.

The victim, a materials manager in a private company, died in a hospital. He was the sole breadwinner.

Counsel for the transport corporation submitted that the accident was never caused by the bus. 

The tribunal headed K Ayyappan observed that in a petition filed before the HC, the bus driver had specifically admitted that TNSTC Corporation had initiated disciplinary action against him. To this, the petitioner’s counsel argued that if the driver was not involved in the accident, the department should not have initiated action. The tribunal asked TNSTC to pay the compensation.

Courier firm to pay Rs 21,000 for bad service

Shobhit Shah, a resident of Narasingapuram near Mount Road, booked a parcel to be sent to Sithalapakkam, which never reached the person concerned.

Published: 01st April 2019 03:17 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For failing to deliver a parcel and also losing it, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South), directed the Franch Express to pay a compensation of Rs 21,000. Shobhit Shah, a resident of Narasingapuram near Mount Road, booked a parcel to be sent to Sithalapakkam, which never reached the person concerned.

The complainant submitted that by paying a sum of Rs 8,500 in 2012, he sent a Wii play console to one Preetha Chandrashekar in Sithalapakkam through the firm. However, the delivery was never made. The courier network also refused to refund the amount.

Denying the allegations, the courier network submitted that the parcel usually takes only 24 hours for delivery and if the door is locked or the address is wrong, the delivery shall not be done.

Considering the oral and documentary evidence, the forum presided by M Mony observed that the consignment usually reaches the destination within 24 hours, but in this case, the parcel was found to be missing. The forum directed the firm at Kilpauk to pay the compensation.

Colleges worried as UGC sends directive on Yoga day preparations

University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a letter to universities and affiliated colleges to start preparations for 5th International Day of Yoga (IDY) to be celebrated on June 21.

Published: 01st April 2019 03:30 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a letter to universities and affiliated colleges to start preparations for 5th International Day of Yoga (IDY) to be celebrated on June 21.
The commission has asked varsity authorities to organise “run up” event for the IDY on May 2, (50 days ahead of the event). Colleges and universities are concerned as amid the elections, they will be facing problem in making arrangements for the run up activities for Yoga day.

“Our staff is busy with election duty and examination arrangements and amidst all this we hardly have any manpower or time to make arrangements for IDY. Probably, after elections we will decide what to do on Yoga day,” said a principal of a city college.

“Elections in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 18 and after that we will have handful of days to organise the run up for the event. I do not know how we will make arrangements for the day,” said a senior faculty member of a university

The UGC has written to all Vice-Chancellors last week asking them to organise activities to promote Yoga among youth and invoke sentiments of National pride in proliferating Yoga to the rest of the world. 

In the letter, it has mentioned that the ministry of AYUSH has taken up preparation for celebration of International Day of Yoga with greater and more active participation of students and teachers during the current year celebration. The UGC has further suggested measures to the institutes to celebrate the IDY 2019 in a befitting manner.

The commission has suggested to universities and colleges to adopt yoga as a part of activities to encourage physical well-being and to focus on common yoga protocol(CYP) which consists of 45 minute sequence of relatively simple yoga drills. The UGC has also said in the letter to keep the essential facilities open during summer vacation for Yoga Programs to be attended by teachers and students. 

The letter addressed to Vice-Chancellors says “You are also requested to arrange such events as run-up activities on 2nd May 2019 (50 days to the event).”

Colleges worried as UGC sends directive on Yoga day preparations

University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a letter to universities and affiliated colleges to start preparations for 5th International Day of Yoga (IDY) to be celebrated on June 21.

Published: 01st April 2019 03:30 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a letter to universities and affiliated colleges to start preparations for 5th International Day of Yoga (IDY) to be celebrated on June 21.
The commission has asked varsity authorities to organise “run up” event for the IDY on May 2, (50 days ahead of the event). Colleges and universities are concerned as amid the elections, they will be facing problem in making arrangements for the run up activities for Yoga day.

“Our staff is busy with election duty and examination arrangements and amidst all this we hardly have any manpower or time to make arrangements for IDY. Probably, after elections we will decide what to do on Yoga day,” said a principal of a city college.

“Elections in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 18 and after that we will have handful of days to organise the run up for the event. I do not know how we will make arrangements for the day,” said a senior faculty member of a university

The UGC has written to all Vice-Chancellors last week asking them to organise activities to promote Yoga among youth and invoke sentiments of National pride in proliferating Yoga to the rest of the world. 

In the letter, it has mentioned that the ministry of AYUSH has taken up preparation for celebration of International Day of Yoga with greater and more active participation of students and teachers during the current year celebration. The UGC has further suggested measures to the institutes to celebrate the IDY 2019 in a befitting manner.

The commission has suggested to universities and colleges to adopt yoga as a part of activities to encourage physical well-being and to focus on common yoga protocol(CYP) which consists of 45 minute sequence of relatively simple yoga drills. The UGC has also said in the letter to keep the essential facilities open during summer vacation for Yoga Programs to be attended by teachers and students. 

The letter addressed to Vice-Chancellors says “You are also requested to arrange such events as run-up activities on 2nd May 2019 (50 days to the event).”