Rly season tickets now for 160-km travel

Chennai:02.09.2019

Southern Railway has announced that passengers can buy season tickets for travel from Chennai Central to Melalathur via Arakkonam and Katpadi as well as from Chennai Egmore to Gudiyattam via Park-Chennai Central, Arakkonam and Katpadi. These stations cover a distance of more than 150km. As per rules, season tickets can be issued only for a maximum distance of 150km. But the Railway Board had delegated powers to general managers of zonal railways and the Southern Railway GM took the decision to increase the maximum limit to 160km, an official release on Thursday said. The move followed representations from rail passenger associations, season ticket holders and rail users. TNN

Students may soon take shot at PhD directly after 4-year UG

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.08.2019

The University Grants Commission has released a draft of the changes it proposes in PhD programmes, including a recommendation to let students with four-year UG degrees enrol for a doctorate, so far permitted only in the IITs.

The draft, released on Wednesday seeking responses by August 16, moots entrance test and interview for admitting candidates in PhD programmes. It also proposes an easing of norm that only professors can guide up to eight research scholars at a time. The draft suggests that assistant and associate professors too be allowed to guide eight scholars against three and six at present. “There is huge shortage of qualified faculty members. The relaxation of ceiling for assistant and associate professors will help universities improve research output,” said P.Duraisamy, VC, University of Madras.

Academics warn of pitfalls in UGC’s PhD revamp plans

However, Anna University vice-chancellor M K Surappa said eight research scholars for assistant professors appeared to be on higher side. “The junior faculty members can guide four or five research scholars at a time,” he said.

Doubts have also been raised about the draft’s suggestion that candidates who have completed undergraduate courses of minimum fouryear duration in engineering, science, law, architecture, social sciences, humanities and others be considered eligible to enrol for PhDs like in the US.

“In the US, research scholars have to undergo rigorous course work. They will be allowed to do research only after qualifying the courses. The same system may not be applicable to our education system. We need at least PG and one-year research preparatory courses before enrolling students into PhD,” said professor K Jothi Sivagnanam, head, department of economics, University of Madras.

The draft has proposed a minimum credit requirement in PhD courses – 12 to 16 credits. It also wants departments to formulate good pre-PhD course programmes to help students from diverse backgrounds acquire good understanding of the fundamentals of the disciplines they propose to do research in.

Professor Sivagnanam said the purpose of MPhil programmes was to prepare candidates for PhD courses. “But, due to frequent changes in regulations, MPhil programmes have been rendered useless. UGC should convert MPhil into one-year research preparatory course,” he added.

The proposed entrance test for research scholars will test research aptitude, analytical skills, writing skills. Qualifying marks are to be 50%. The syllabus for the entrance test shall consist of 50% of questions that test research aptitude while 50% shall be subject specific. Further the university should conduct interviews. The weightage for entrance test and interview is to be the same.

To encourage quality of research publications, UGC is planning to remove the mandatory publication requirement prior to award of the PhD degree. “Quality assessment of MPhil/PhD degrees should be the responsibility of the institutions,” it said.

‘Why suppress info on rejection of NEET Bills’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.08.2019

The Madras high court has wondered why the Tamil Nadu government did not inform anyone, including the state legislative assembly, about the return from the Centre of its two NEET Bills seeking to exempt the state from the exam, that too after acknowledging the receipt of the returned copies of the Bills.

The state government has even written to the Centre asking for the reasons for denial of the Presidential assent, a division bench of Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad said on Thursday.

Noting that ministers and their secretaries cannot deny knowledge of such communication, the bench said providing assent or returning a Bill is the prerogative of the President, which none can question.

Though the state has sought the reasons for denying assent, the Centre has not replied to the communication yet. However, the state has no impediment in once again passing the Bills in the assembly and send them back to the President for his assent, the bench added.

The issue pertains to a PIL moved by Tamil Nadu Students Parents Welfare, represented by P B Prince Gajendra Babu and U Mustaffa seeking direction to the state government to complete the procedures for obtaining the presidential assent for the Bills on or before August 15, 2017.

During the course of hearing, the Centre informed the court that the Bills were returned as early in September 2017.

The Union government filed an affidavit submitting that the state was not only informed, but the true copies of the Bills were also returned which was acknowledged by the state.

When the plea came up for hearing on Thursday, senior counsel R Viduthalai submitted that the union and the state governments are hand in glove in the issue. Viduthalai further contended that it is the constitutional duty of the president to reveal the reasons of denial of assent to a Bill.

Recording the submissions, the bench adjourned the hearing to August 13.

The court observed that providing assent or returning a Bill is the prerogative of the President, which no one can question

STANDING TALL

NO LONGER PRONE: Athi Varadar, the statue of Lord Vishnu carved out of a fig tree, was placed in a standing position early on Thursday at the Devarajaperumal temple in Kancheepuram. From June 29, when it was taken out of the water tank, till July 31 it had been in the sayanam (sleeping) position. It will remain in the posture for another 17 days, after which it will be taken back to the temple tank where it will remain for another 40 years

Lufthansa to raise capacity in business class in flights from city

PTI

Published Jul 31, 2019, 5:30 pm IST

The move by the airliner comes in the backdrop of the 50 per cent expected growth of international passengers in the country by 2020.

The Lufthansa Group recently celebrated 25 years of service in Chennai. (Photo: AFP)

Chennai: German airline Lufthansa Group Wednesday said it has lined up plans to increase capacity in business class on its flights operating from the city.

The move by the airliner comes in the backdrop of the 50 per cent expected growth of international passengers in the country by 2020, a press release said.

The Lufthansa Group recently celebrated 25 years of service in Chennai.

Having commenced the regional operations in 1994 with bi-weekly flights from city, the airliner currently operates daily flights from Chennai to Frankfurt.

"In the 25 years since Lufthansa commenced its operations in Chennai, the city has become a flourishing global hub for IT and heavy industries", Lufthansa Group Airlines South Asia, Senior Director Sales, George Ettiyil said.

"We at Lufthansa are proud of the role that we have played in enabling this growth", he said.

Ettiyil said that over the next five years, Lufthansa aims to strengthen its presence in the city to capitalise the growth opportunity.

"The airline has already announced its plans to increase the capacity in the Business Class on its flights from Chennai summer 2020 with a different seat configuration", the airliner said.

Ettiyil said Chennai and the larger Tamil Nadu region remain key markets for Lufthansa.

"We plan to build on the success that we have earned here by facilitating more premium offerings and experiences for Lufthansa customers from Chennai", he said.

Tamil Nadu gets 150 more seats in new medical college

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedAug 1, 2019, 3:10 am IST

The campus has hostel facilities, built at a cost of Rs 71 crores, a 200-seater auditorium and 11 surgical departments.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurates the government medical college at Sanapiratti, Karur on Wednesday through videoconferencing from the Secretariat, Chennai on Wednesday. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurated the government medical college at Sanapiratti, Karur on Wednesday through videoconferencing from the Secretariat, Chennai.

Built on an area of over 17.45 acres, the college has been constructed at a total cost of Rs 115.71 crores.

The campus has hostel facilities, built at a cost of Rs 71 crores, a 200-seater auditorium and 11 surgical departments.

The six-floor medical college and hospital will also have an 800-bed facility, along with classrooms constructed over an area of 3.20 lakh square feet.

The Karur government medical college is the 23rd medical college in the state.

The construction of the college began in March last year.

The state government has sanctioned 150 medical seats to the college. Classes are set to commence from this academic year.

Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday announced that Arasu Cable TV subscription would be available for a monthly charge of Rs 130, excluding GST, from August 10.

The Chief Minister said after the request from the public, the government has decided to offer the Arasu Cable channels at a monthly subscription of `130 + GST across the state, excluding Vellore constituency.

Athi Varadar darshan now in standing posture

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | A. MURUGAN

Published  Aug 1, 2019, 3:21 am IST

He is 12-feet tall, two-and-half feet wide.

The doors of Vasantha Mandapam, where the deity had been placed for worship all these days, were closed at 5 pm on Wednesday after the administration provided prior notice to the public about the closure of darshan during the change of posture.

Kancheepuram: At dawn on Thursday, Athi Varadar will offer darshan in ninra thirukolam (standing pose) to bless multitudes of his devotees pouring into this temple town from all over the country and even beyond.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had announced this change from the Lord's sayanam (reclining) posture after being taken out of the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple tank on July 1 for public worship through 48 days before immersion on August 17.

The doors of Vasantha Mandapam, where the deity had been placed for worship all these days, were closed at 5 pm on Wednesday after the administration provided prior notice to the public about the closure of darshan during the change of posture. The doors would be opened at five in the morning to resume darshan, but in standing position for the next 17 days, officials said. He is 12 feet tall, and two-and-half wide.

They said close to 45 lakh devotees have had the divine darshan so far and the crowd density could increase further as the day of immersion draws close - there is also a serious debate and strong recommendation from certain influential sections of Hindu seers to retain Athi Varadar in the temple instead of returning the deity to the slushy tank bed that could be further polluted by human interference. "We are expecting more than two lakh bhaktars (devotees) per day for the remaining 17 days", said an officer, adding that no decision has been taken, yet, on the demand to retain the deity in the temple.

On Monday, Satakopa Ramanuja Jeeyar of the Manavala Mamunigal Mutt had told media persons that Athi Varadar should not "buried" in the slush of the tank bed. He also claimed that several other mutt heads too held a similar view; besides, Krishna Premi of Mangalasasana Divyadesa Samrakshana Trust (Kancheepuram) had told him that Athi Varadar had appeared in his dream and said he should not be buried again. The Trust has petitioned the HR&CE to give up the idea of sending the deity back to the tank bed, claiming that the practice had begun centuries ago due to the fear that Muslim invaders could damage the idol - this argument attracted criticism from certain Muslim parties and leaders who saw in it an attempt to denigrate their community.