No-pay leave offer to Jet pilots, 15 planes grounded

New Delhi:03.04.2019

Jet Airways has grounded 15 more aircraft and is now flying only around 13-14 planes. The airline told the DGCA —which is monitoring the situation daily — on Tuesday afternoon that it is flying 28 planes. Then, late on Tuesday, it told BSE about grounding of 15 more planes. The situation is worsening for the crisis-ridden airline due to delay in infusion of emergency funds.

Jet, which once had 124 planes, is now operating a highly truncated schedule and has told its Boeing 737 pilots that they may take “long break/sabbatical” without pay up to September. The decision comes after Jet sent all its big-wage expat pilots on furlough, or long leaves, without pay last week.

Meanwhile, Jet’s pilot union on Tuesday wrote to aviation minister Suresh Prabhu requesting the government to ensure the airline pays salary dues of January, February, and March with interest. TNN

Full report on www.toi.in

DGP gets contempt notice over bogus expert report

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03,04,2019

J K Tripathy, an officer in the rank of director general of police, has landed in hot water with the Madras high court. The court has initiated suo motu contempt of court proceedings against him for having filed a bogus expert opinion in court to deny appointment to an eligible candidate for a sub-inspector post.

Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB), of which Tripathy is chairperson, filed an ‘expert report’ in the high court claiming that IIT Madras professor D Moorthy had prepared it. But when verified, it was revealed that IIT-M did not have a faculty member by that name on its rolls and that Moorthy was a retired school teacher, who was merely asked by the TNUSRB to solve a mathematics problem. On Tuesday, after initiating contempt proceedings, Justice S M Subramaniam issued a statutory notice to Tripathy and directed the registry to list the case on April 5 when the officer would have to appear in person.

“It is unfortunate to state that such a bogus expert opinion obtained by way of impersonation was knowingly filed by the board. Therefore, the officials of the board are certainly responsible and accountable for the act which has resulted in denial of justice to the litigant. This not only amounts to interference with the administration of justice but also miscarriage of justice,” Justice Subramaniam said.

However, in a boon to the petitioner, the board submitted that it would give half a mark to all nine aggrieved people, including petitioner S Arunachalam, and include their names on the provisional list for appointment.

The issue pertains to a recruitment drive for sub-inspector (finger print) in 2018. Arunachalam, a grade-II constable, applied for the post but missed selection by half a mark. Aggrieved, he approached the high court alleging that he missed out on the score due to a wrong answer key. However, based on the ‘expert opinion’ produced by the board, Arunachalam’s plea was dismissed.

Subsequently, when Arunachalam found that there was no ‘expert’ identified as ‘Professor’ D Moorthy at IIT-M, he brought it to the court’s attention. The board also admitted that the ‘opinion’ was bogus and informed the court that criminal cases had been initiated against G V Kumar, who, the board said, was instrumental in obtaining the opinion.

In his affidavit, Moorthy said he was unaware that his ‘opinion’ would be filed before the court. He said: “Kumar was my professor in Madras University. He called me over phone and requested (that I) solve the mathematics problem. I solved it and sent it via-WhatsApp. Thereafter, Kumar requested me to visit the office of the member-secretary. There I was asked by the personal assistant of the IG to solve the problem on a blank sheet which was later printed and on which I was told to affix my signature. But when I signed it, nothing other than my name was found on the sheet. The designation ‘professor IIT-M’ had been inserted in the office of the IG.”

When the court asked about Kumar’s relationship with the board, N K Senthamaraikannan, an IG rank officer and membersecretary of the board, told the court that Kumar was a consultant hired by the Board to prepare question papers.

It is unfortunate to state that such a bogus expert opinion obtained by way of impersonation was knowingly filed by the board... The act has resulted in denial of justice to the litigant

Justice Subramaniam |

MADRAS HIGH COURT

Chennai parents allege CBSE school failed LKG kid, demand return of fees

The parents said that the school detained their ward in the same class since she was unable to cope up with the syllabus. 

Published: 03rd April 2019 07:23 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Parents of a kid studying in lower kindergarten on Tuesday alleged that a CBSE school at Adyar detained their ward in the same class since she was unable to cope up with the syllabus and also forcibly made them write a letter assuring that their ward be retained in the same class.

The parents demanded their fee be returned and also wanted the State government to initiate action against the erring school authorities. P Jaishankar, a driver with MTC and his wife J Hemavathi, of Tiruvanmayur, admitted their three-year-old child in Bharath Senior Secondary School in kindergarten last year. However, when the results were out in the middle of March, the parents were called separately and were informed by the teacher that their ward results were being withheld since the grades were poor, said the parents while addressing the press.

Hemavathi said even the next academic year first term fee of Rs 15275 for their ward for LKG was also paid as per the instruction of the teachers in the school after a consent letter of studying in the same class was obtained on the same day of the result.“ Since a number of students are on waiting list for LKG, the coordinator wanted us to write a letter and pay the fees the same day”, she said.

The parents further alleged that they were unable to meet the principal of the institution. A total of Rs 65273 paid to the school was demanded by the parents. A Senthil Arumugam, general secretary, Satta Panchayat Iyakkam said, “As per the Right to Education norms, a student is not supposed to be failed till Class V. However, private institutions across the State are detaining students, which is illegal”.


He further added that the State government has to seriously take action against such private schools, which will set an example for other institutions.Refuting the allegations, the school principal K Prem Shantha told Express that the allegations raised by the parents had never come to her purview and assured that the issue will be sorted out. She also emphasised that the school never took such letters from parents forcibly.

BDU secures A+ ranking in third cycle 

Special Correspondent 
 
TIRUCHI, April 03, 2019 00:00 IST

Under NAAC’s new framework

Bharathidasan University has secured A+ ranking in the third cycle of accreditation under the new framework of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), placing itself on a strong pedestal to receive more Central funding and strengthening the reach of its distance education programme.

Bharathidasan University is the first State university in Tamil Nadu to get A+ accreditation with institutional CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 3.32 on a four-point scale, after the new framework came into effect since July 2017, Vice-Chancellor P. Manisankar told media persons on Tuesday.

The seven Cumulative Grade Point Average criteria encompassed curricular aspects; teaching-learning and evaluation; research, innovations and extension; infrastructure and learning resources; student support and progression; governance, leadership and management; and institutional values and best practices.

The third cycle of NAAC assessment will be valid till April 1, 2024. The stride has placed BDU among top 15% of universities in the country with A+ and A++ status, the Vice-Chancellor said.

The latest score is well above the minimum of 3.26 points stipulated last year by University Grants Commission and Distance Education Bureau as eligibility for universities to offer distance education programmmes.

The university faced a disadvantage as it secured only 3.16 points in the second cycle of accreditation in 2013.

This time, the university secured 85.10% in qualitative metrics based on online submission of self-study report, and 77.1% in quantitative metrics through peer team visit last month, evaluated in the ratio of 70:30.

The five-member team visited all departments of the university from March 26-28.

By virtue of A+ ranking, BDU will be in a position to receive substantial funding under RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) and other Central schemes, Mr. Manisankar said.

Also, the university is looking forward to increasing the learning centres for distance education to 200, and restoring enrolment substantially.

Enrolment in distance education programmes fell drastically to 8,000 last year from 28,000 a few years ago due to NAAC stipulation of minimum points for universities to offer distance education programmes.

The strength was increased to 11,000 over the last one year. There is scope for restoring enrolment to the previous level since many institutions will evince interest to start learning centres following the latest National Assessment and Accreditation Council ranking, he added.

Report card

Secured 3.32 on a four-point scale

Assessment under seven CGPA criteria

Valid till April 1, 2024

Fillip to distance education programme

Increase in learning centres planned

Kenyan student sentenced to life 

Staff Reporter 
 
Salem, April 03, 2019 00:00 IST

A Kenyan student, who was studying at a private college here, was sentenced to life by the Mahila Court here on Tuesday for raping a 22-year-old Kenyan woman in 2016.

Eric Mulinge Nethuli (26) was studying Masters in Business Administration at a private college here in 2016.

The victim, who was also a student at the same college, reportedly invited Eric for dinner to her place and Eric raped her. A case was registered by Ammapettai All Women Police Station.

On Tuesday, the court sentenced him to six-and-a-half years of imprisonment under sections 342,352, 506 part 1, and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment Act and life imprisonment under Section 376 - all to be served concurrently.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 17,500 on the convict.

He has been lodged in Puzhal prison.

MCC students go on strike 

Special Correspondent 
 
CHENNAI, April 03, 2019 00:00 IST

Seek details of report on two professors

Students of Madras Christian College went on strike on the campus on Tuesday, demanding that the authorities share the details of a report prepared on two professors from the zoology department.

A group of 34 students had filed a complaint with the college principal in the first week of February seeking action against two faculty members for sexual misconduct during a study tour organised a couple of months earlier.

The college had instituted a departmental inquiry, following which disciplinary action was initiated.

Severe action demanded

The students were, however, not satisfied with the response and demanded severe action against the teachers.

On Tuesday, the students staged a sit in, demanding that the report of the committee subsequently constituted to inquire into their complaint be read out to them.

After nearly two hours of talks when the students refused to back down, principal in-charge A. Duraisamy read out the report to the students.

The principal, R.W. Alexander Jesudasan, is out of the country and is expected to return on April 15.

The second committee included an alumnus, a lawyer and the head of women students.

Students were told that the report would be submitted on April 6 to the internal complaints committee for further action.

One of the protesters said the college had only decided to bar the erring faculty from participating in tours till 2022 and from examination-related activities.

After nearly two hours of talks when the students refused to back down, Mr. Duraisamy, read out the report to the students.

College has only decided to bar the erring faculty from participating in tours

Protesting student

Retired HC judge to head T.N. Lokayukta 

Special Correspondent 
 
CHENNAI, April 03, 2019 00:00 IST

P. Devadass
 

 
Judicial and non-judicial members also appointed

The Governor has appointed retired High Court judge P. Devadass as the chairperson of the five-member Lokayukta that was notified on Monday.

The notification was issued following the recommendations made by a search committee.

Four members

Former district judges K. Jayabalan and R. Krishnamoorthy are the two judicial members and retired IAS officer M. Rajaram and advocate K. Arumugam are the two non-judicial members of the anti-corruption body, according to the notification issued by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department.

“The chairperson and the members shall hold office for five years from the day they enter office or the date on which they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier,” stated the notification.

It was in December last year the State government constituted a search committee for submitting names for the posts of the chairperson and members of the Lokayukta.

Search committee

Retired High Court judge K. Venkataraman was the chairperson of the panel. Former Advocate General R. Krishnamoorthy and retired IPS officer A. Pari were the other members on the search committee. In July last year, the Tamil Nadu government passed the legislation in the Assembly a day before the deadline set by the Supreme Court in this regard.

In November that year, the State government notified the Tamil Nadu Lokayukta Rules, 2018.

Complaints against a public functionary can be submitted to the Registrar or the designated officer in person or by post, but anonymous complaints would not be entertained by the panel.

When the State government invited Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin to participate in the meeting called over constituting the search committee in December last year, he boycotted it, contending that his objections expressed before the passing of the legislation were ignored and the Bill was passed in a hurried manner.

Huge furore

It may be recalled that Mr. Devadass’ judgment in June 2015 during his tenure in the Madras High Court suggesting mediation between a rape convict and the survivor, resulted in a huge furore from across the country.

The judge had then recalled his judgment and eventually cancelled the bail granted to the rape convict.