Visually impaired student gets MBBS seat
He will join Tirunelveli Medical College
08/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,MADURAI

Visually impaired medical aspirant J. Vibin of Tirunelveli, who undertook a series of litigations to join the course of his choice, has been allotted a seat at Tirunelveli Medical College.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court was informed of this by the State on Wednesday.

Taking note of the submission, a Division Bench of Justices K. Ravichandrabaabu and Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy closed the contempt petition. The State had earlier informed the court that Vibin would be allotted a medical seat this academic year.

The contempt petition was filed by Vibin’s father M. Jabakar, who sought a direction to the Selection Committee to allot a seat to his son.

Though Vibin was allotted a seat at Pudukkottai Medical College after online counselling last year, he was denied admission following a variation in the visual impairment assessment. His disability was assessed at 90% by Madras Medical College, contrary to the 75% disability mentioned in the certificate issued by the State government.

A single judge bench had allowed the petition filed by Mr. Jabakar, and the subsequent appeal preferred by the State was dismissed by a Division Bench. The Supreme Court also dismissed the Special Leave Petition preferred by the State, following which it agreed to allot a medical seat to the candidate under special category.

Meanwhile, following the orders of Justice R. Suresh Kumar, another candidate, P. Karuppasamy from Thoothukudi, who was denied a seat on the basis of nativity, was allotted a medical seat at Government Thoothukudi Medical College. Though Karuppasamy had completed his school education in Thoothukudi, he was denied a seat since his parents were Tamils from Sri Lanka.

Community certificate

The court, taking into account that the candidate was born and brought up in Thoothukudi and had obtained a community certificate under Scheduled Caste category issued by a Tahsildar, observed, “Law is well settled that as far as communal status was concerned, if a certificate was issued by a competent authority, until and unless the certificate is withdrawn or cancelled in matter known to law, the law shall presume that the candidate belongs to that community”.

Government hospital told to share details of patients, treatment
TNIC issues show-cause notice to Public Information Officer

08/08/2019, S. VIJAY KUMAR ,CHENNAI

In a significant order, the Tamil Nadu Information Commission (TNIC) has directed the Public Information Officer (PIO), Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem, to provide complete information sought by a petitioner regarding the treatment provided to patients admitted to the emergency ward during a specified period.

In his petition dated 19/02/2018, V. Raju of Azhagapuram in Salem sought access to the register containing the details of patients admitted to the emergency ward of the hospital between 01/01/2015 and 01/12/2015 and also the particulars of the treatment provided to them. In particular, he sought to know the name of the doctor who treated A. Sennakrishnan of Narasothipatti and the medication that was prescribed to the patient.

Not satisfied with the information shared by the PIO and the first appellate authority, he moved the Tamil Nadu Information Commission, seeking the desired information and action against the PIO for not providing the same.

State Information Commissioner S. Selvaraj, who heard both sides, concluded that the details provided by the PIO was not complete. He directed the public authority to allow the petitioner to peruse the register containing information and treatment protocol of patients in the emergency ward and to issue certified copies, if required, under the provisions of Section 7(6) of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Calling for a compliance report, Mr. Selvaraj issued a show cause notice to the PIO, seeking an explanation as to why a penalty of ₹25,000 under Section 20(1) of the Act should not be imposed on her for not providing complete information to the petitioner in time.

However, a Chennai-based medico-legal expert pointed out that patients had the rights to privacy and secrecy, and doctors had a duty to safeguard these rights. Private medical records cannot be revealed to third parties. Close relatives can certainly demand to see the medical records of patients. However, for someone to get access to the details of all patients in a particular ward over a period of a year will be, clearly, an infringement of the rights of those patients.

New mobile taxi app PIU launched in city

Aggregator promises ‘Fair Fare’ policy

08/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

The city is set to witness greater competition in the call-taxi sector with the launch of PIU, a new taxi and autorickshaw app. K.G. Sivadasan Nair, chairman and co-founder, Mindmaster Technologies, lauched the taxi aggregator app in the city on Wednesday.

Mr. Nair promised that the mobile taxi app would create a win-win situation for all stakeholders, including commuters, taxi owners and taxi aggregators.

Affordable rides

He said the PIU app, having already enrolled over 3,000 commercial cars, would work with a “Fair Fare” policy, benefitting the commuters through ride profit share, and ensuring bigger earnings for drivers through minimal charging of commission.

Mr. Nair said the PIU taxi, unlike other dominant taxi aggregators that charge a hefty commission of more than 20% from its drivers, would charge only a small percent of commission.

The drivers, by paying a nominal annual subscription, would be able to earn more profit on their rides.

Rides on discount

Similarly, the new taxi operator will give ride profit share to loyal customers and more than four rides a month will have discounts.

The company has also created an SOS button for the safety of women passengers.

For last leg of Athi Varadar fest, CM steps in
A slew of orders issued to ease darshan

08/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Faith calls: With devotees thronging the Kancheepuram temple, a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the district on August 13, 14 and 16. B. Velankanni Raj

With just 9 days remaining for devotees to have darshan of Athi Varadar, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has issued a number of directions to ensure that pilgrims are not put to hardship. The idol of Athi Varadar will be on display till August 17.

On Wednesday, the CM directed the Kancheepuram district administration to allow vehicles to be parked on school and college campuses. He ordered additional seating arrangements for the elderly and the physically challenged.

He directed the Chennai Corporation to depute more conservancy staff to intensify cleaning and sanitation work in the area, deploy more police personnel there, boost security, monitor the quality of food and water being provided to devotees and provide a special bonus to staff engaged in security and other activities.

The government will provide special funds to Kancheepuram district, taking into account the expenses borne by the administration for conducting the festival.

To avoid any hassle to devotees, whose numbers are swelling by the day, a holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the district on August 13, 14, and 16.

Man dies, three others suffer electric shock

Two devotees sustain injuries in the ensuing commotion

08/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

A 70-year-old man who had come to Kancheepuram to get darshan of Athi Varadar died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday. Later in the day, three people suffered an electric shock while waiting in the queue and two others sustained injuries in the ensuing commotion.

Police sources said Lakshmanan, 70, a resident of Pollachi, and his wife Lakshmi, 60, arrived in Kancheepuram by train early on Wednesday. “After Ms. Lakshmi told the police personnel on duty that her husband had poor eyesight, they guided him to the Vahana mandapam, from where physically challenged persons are taken inside for darshan. Around 7.30 a.m., before Mr. Lakshmanan could stand in the queue, he collapsed,” a police officer said.

He was rushed to the Kancheepuram government hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival.

Meanwhile, commotion prevailed in the town after a few persons suffered an electric shock while waiting in the VIP queue. A few others sustained injuries in the melee that ensued. Kumar, 52, of Virugambakkam, Selvamani, 70, of Coimbatore, and Sangeetha, 32, of Velachery fell unconscious and were rushed to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Vasantha, 65, of Kancheepuram, and Padma Kumari, 50, of Hyderabad, were injured after other people fell on them during a rush. There were rumours that the cause of the electric shock was a cable that had come into contact with a metal barricade. This was dismissed by the police. An inquiry has been initiated.

Meanwhile, devotees pinned the blame on poor crowd management at the venue.

Colleges find new ways to monetise MBBS seats
Collect ‘Advance’ Of ₹40 Lakh For Vacant Seats

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.08.2019

Several deemed universities and self-financing colleges have started registering aspiring MBBS students for an “advance fee” of up to ₹40 lakh promising them a seat if the selection committees return vacant seats two days before the admission deadline.

Some 314 seats, including 175 NRI seats, in deemed universities and more than 250 NRI seats in self-financing colleges are still vacant. Agents have been telling parents that many students may not take NRI seats as the fee structure is very high.

The centre’s medical counselling committee will return the seats to deemed universities on August 27 for mop-up counselling. “We are told that for those registering at the college now, the management will convert NRI seats to management seats,” said R Dharamarajan, whose nephew is awaiting admission.

The annual fee for NRI quota seats in a deemed university is between $60,000 (₹42 lakh) and $220,000 (1.5crore) against ₹24 lakh for a management quota seat.

Parents are being asked to pay “an advance” as cash and demand draft or completely as cash and write their names in a register. If the admission is not available, the money will be returned. “If not, the demand draft will be used as first year fee and what is paid in cash will remain as capitation,” said another parent.

Agents TOI spoke to claim they can block seats for colleges across TN, Puducherry, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Senior counsellors and experts in medical education say universities that do not convert NRI seats into management or general quota seats during mop-up rounds should not be allowed to do so during their in-house counselling. “It’s a loophole that is being misused and it should be plugged,” said Ganesh Kumar, counsellor and NEET tutor.

Worse, NRI students and parents who are awaiting admissions in self-financing colleges in the state are still clueless about the dates of counselling. State selection committee secretary Dr G Selvarajan said “We will be completing all admissions before the end of August.”

The annual fee for NRI quota seats in a deemed university is between $60,000 (₹42 lakh) and $220,000 (1.5crore) against ₹24 lakh for a management quota seat

காஷ்மீருக்கு சிறப்பு அந்தஸ்து ரத்து: தமிழ்நாட்டை உதாரணம் கூறி பேசிய அமித் ஷா

By DIN | Published on : 06th August 2019 11:04 AM |kashmir live news


புது தில்லி: ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீர் மாநிலத்துக்கு சிறப்பு அந்தஸ்து அளிக்கும், அரசியல்சாசன சட்டத்தின் 370-ஆவது பிரிவு ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. மேலும், அந்த மாநிலம் ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீர் மற்றும் லடாக் என இரு யூனியன் பிரதேசங்களாகப் பிரிக்கப்படுகின்றன.

370-ஆவது சட்டப் பிரிவை ரத்து செய்யும் தீர்மானத்தையும், ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீர் மாநிலத்தை ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீர், லடாக் என இரு யூனியன் பிரதேசங்களாகப் பிரிப்பதற்கான மசோதாவையும் மாநிலங்களவையில் உள்துறை அமைச்சர் அமித் ஷா திங்கள்கிழமை கொண்டு வந்தார்.


இதற்கு காங்கிரஸ், திமுக உள்ளிட்ட எதிர்க்கட்சிகளும், ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீரைச் சேர்ந்த தேசிய மாநாட்டுக் கட்சி, மக்கள் ஜனநாயகக் கட்சி ஆகியவையும் கடும் எதிர்ப்புத் தெரிவித்தன. எனினும், கடும் அமளிக்கு நடுவே, இது தொடர்பான தீர்மானம் மற்றும் மசோதா மாநிலங்களவையில் நிறைவேறியது. இந்த தீர்மானம் மற்றும் மசோதா மக்களவையில் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை நிறைவேற இருக்கிறது.

எதிர்க்கட்சிகளின் குற்றச்சாட்டுகளுக்கு அமித் ஷா பதில்
எதிர்க்கட்சியினருக்கு பதிலளித்துப் பேசிய அமித் ஷா, சிறப்பு அந்தஸ்து இருந்ததால்தான் இத்தனை ஆண்டுகளாக ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீர் மக்கள் வறுமையில் உள்ளனர்; ஊழலும் அதிகம் நடந்து வந்தது; மூன்று குடும்பங்கள் மாநிலத்தைக் கொள்ளையடித்து வந்தன. மேலும், 370-ஆவது சட்டப் பிரிவால்தான் இந்தியாவுடன் ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீர் இணைந்தது என்று கூறுவது தவறு. 1947 அக்டோபர் 27-ஆம் தேதியே இந்தியாவுடன் ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீர் இணைந்துவிட்டது. ஆனால், சிறப்பு அதிகாரம் 1949-இல்தான் அளிக்கப்பட்டது. மேலும் 370-ஆவது சட்டப் பிரிவு என்பது தற்காலிகமானதுதான். வாக்கு வங்கி அரசியல், சரியான முடிவெடுக்கும் துணிச்சல் இல்லாதது போன்ற காரணங்களால் முந்தைய அரசுகள் அதனை நீக்காமல் இருந்தன.

தமிழ்நாட்டை உதாரணம் கூறி... : சிறப்பு அந்தஸ்து நீக்கப்பட்டால், ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீரின் கலாசாரம், பண்பாடு, தனித்தன்மை அழிந்துவிடும் என்று கூறப்படுவது உண்மையல்ல. தமிழ்நாடு, ஆந்திரம் உள்ளிட்ட மாநிலங்கள் தங்கள் மொழி, கலாசாரம், பண்பாடு, தனித்தன்மையை சிறப்பாக கட்டிக்காத்து வருகின்றன. பூலோக சொர்க்கம் என்று கூறப்படும் காஷ்மீர், இனிமேல் உண்மையில் அந்த நிலையை அடையும். மாநிலத்தில் சகஜநிலை திரும்பாமல் இருக்க காரணமாக இருப்பதே 370-ஆவது சட்டப் பிரிவுதான். சிறப்பு அந்தஸ்து காரணமாகவே அங்கு பயங்கரவாதத்தை ஒழிக்க முடிவில்லை.

மேஜையைத் தட்டி வரவேற்ற மோடி: ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீரில் வளர்ச்சி இல்லாதது, நிலம் விலை மிகவும் குறைவாக இருப்பது, சுற்றுலா மேம்படாமல் இருப்பது, தொழில் வளம் குறைந்திருப்பது, போதிய மருத்துவ வசதிகள் கிடைக்காதது, கல்வி உரிமை இல்லாதது, இத்தனை ஆண்டுகளில் பயங்கரவாதத்துக்கு 41,400 பேர் பலியானது என அனைத்துக்குமே காரணம் 370-ஆவது சட்டப் பிரிவுதான். அது நீக்கப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில், ஜம்மு-காஷ்மீர் மாநிலம் உண்மையாகவே இந்தியாவின் ஒருங்கிணைந்த பகுதியாக மாறிவிட்டது என்றார் அமித் ஷா. அப்போது பிரதமர் நரேந்திர மோடியும் மாநிலங்களவைக்கு வந்திருந்தார். எதிர்க்கட்சிகளின் குற்றச்சாட்டுக்கு அமித் ஷா பதிலடி கொடுத்து முக்கியக் கருத்துகளை முன்வைத்தபோது, மோடி மேஜையைத் தட்டி வரவேற்றார்.