First pvt. train violates Railway tariff law
IRCTC can’t fix its own fare, say officials

14/10/2019 , S. Vijay Kumar, CHENNAI

The country’s first private train has contravened the Railways Act, 1989, since the Central government is the competent authority to decide on tariff and not the IRCTC, say top railway officials.

The much-publicised train service flagged off on the Lucknow-Delhi-Lucknow route earlier this month, charges a higher fare than the existing Shatabdi Express and other trains on the same route.

The issue is being closely watched in the context of the move to run 150 more trains in private mode.

The Indian Railways had entrusted IRCTC, its commercial tourism and catering arm, with the task of operating two premium trains using the fully air-conditioned rakes of the semi-high speed Tejas Express. The second private train will soon be run on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Mumbai sector.

While the first corporate-run train has received good feedback from passengers. who compared its amenities and on-board service favourably with global standards, senior railway officials say the tariff fixed is apparently in violation of the Railways Act. The fares are higher and there is hardly any change in the running time. Railway officials say the IRCTC is not empowered to fix the tariff.

CM awarded honorary doctorate 

16/10/2019 , Special Correspondent, CHENNAI

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami would receive an honorary doctorate degree (Doctor of Letters) from the Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, a deemed university in Chennai on October 20.

The educational institution’s founder-chancellor A.C. Shanmugam heads the New Justice Party, an ally of the AIADMK.

Among the past recipients of honorary doctorate from the deemed university are actors Vijay and Vijaykumar.

HC to hear bail pleas of medico and his father together
Both the petitions pertain to the same case, says judge
 
16/10/2019 , B. Tilak Chandar, Madurai

The Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday adjourned the bail petition of Udit Surya, the first medical student to be arrested in the NEET impersonation case. The court will hear the student’s bail plea along with that of his father, V.K. Venkatesan.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan took cognisance of the fact that the father of the student had filed a bail application before the Theni Sessions Court. As both the petitions pertained to the same case, the judge said he will hear them together on October 17, and sought relevant papers in the case.

The court had agreed to treat the anticipatory bail petition filed by the student as his bail plea, considering his age. Earlier, the court took a serious view of the impersonation case. The father-son duo are currently lodged in the Madurai Central Prison.

In his petition, Surya cited health issues for quitting an MBBS course in the Theni Government Medical College. He denied the charge that another person had taken the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test and attended counselling for medical admission on his behalf.

The CB-CID secured Surya along with his family in Tirupati on September 25. Subsequently, the father-son duo was remanded in judicial custody. Earlier, the Judicial Magistrate, Theni, denied bail to Mr. Venkatesan.

SRIHER doctors win awards for research work
 
16/10/2019 , Staff Reporter, Chennai

Doctors from the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, who presented their research work at a conference of the Malaysian Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Society last week, won awards, according to a press release.

There were 26 research presentations, three lectures and one moderation. Three papers won awards, two in the student category: undergraduate student Vishnu J.M. and intern Nitesh Ramesh and one in the faculty category for a paper by N. Priyathersini. Prof. Sandhya Sundaram delivered a lecture on the expanding role of the pathologist in managing gastric cancer.

Life membership

Prof. S.M. Chandramohan, who delivered lectures on surgeries for tumours of the middle third of the stomach, was awarded an honorary life membership of the Malaysian Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Society.

CM to get honorary doctorate

16/10/2019 , Special Correspondent, CHENNAI

 

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will receive an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Letters) from the Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute on October 20. The institution’s founder-chancellor, A.C. Shanmugam, heads the New Justice Party — an AIADMK ally.

U.K. plans to recruit medical graduates, nurses from State

16/10/2019 , Special Correspondent, CHENNAI

The Health Department would facilitate placement of medical graduates and nurses from the State for the National Health Service (NHS), England, through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB). In addition, Health Education England, would impart training to government doctors and nurses in the State.

On Tuesday, a team from Health Education England was in Chennai to discuss the modalities with officials of the Health Department.

Health Secretary Beela Rajesh and Mission Director of National Health Mission-Tamil Nadu K. Senthil Raj were present.

The meeting discussed modalities to take forward the memorandum of understanding signed during the visit of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to the U.K., officials said.

The officials and Mr. Palaniswami had detailed discussions on the action plan and the time schedule.

Hospital suspended from govt. health scheme

16/10/2019 , Special Correspondent, CHENNAI

The State government has suspended Gleneagles Global Health City from the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) for its alleged involvement in diverting patients through 108 ambulance drivers. A senior official confirmed that the hospital was suspended from being an empaneled hospital under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme with immediate effect.

Detailed inquiry

“This action followed a detailed inquiry into their involvement in diverting patients to the hospital by bribing drivers of the 108 ambulance network. We have suspended the hospital from the scheme. They should fix the responsibility and act on those involved. We may then reconsider our decision,” the official said.