Madras varsity ready to admit student on submission of documents

18/10/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

The University of Madras on Thursday told the High Court that it would admit T. Kirubamohan, 27, an active member of the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, in a master’s course on Buddhism if he submits an ‘eligibility certificate’ from the Registrar of the varsity and a recommendation letter from the head of the Department of Journalism and Communication, where he had obtained his first master’s degree.

Advocate-General Vijay Narayan informed Justice G. Jayachandran that the provisional admission of the student in M.A. (Buddhism) course was cancelled on August 28 only because he failed to submit the eligibility certificate and recommendation letter. Appearing on behalf of the university, the A-G said the two documents were essential for grant of admission as per the university prospectus.

He pointed out that the writ petitioner Mr. Kirubamohan had obtained a bachelor’s degree from Anna University and then obtained his Master’s in Journalism and Communication from the University of Madras. Thereafter, he was granted provisional admission in M.A. Buddhism in July which was later cancelled.

The university rules prescribe that admission in M.A. (Buddhism) would be granted only if the candidate had pursued his undergraduation either in Madras University or in any other accepted by the Syndicate as equivalent. Since the petitioner pursued his undergraduation in engineering, he must produce an eligibility certificate.

After recording his submission and the arguments advanced by Senior Counsel N.R. Elango, representing the petitioner, the judge directed the petitioner to approach the authorities concerned for documents.

The student must be admitted in the course, the judge ordered and added that the entire exercise should be completed within three weeks.

Bharathidasan University accused of violating State’s quota policy

AUT accuses institute of following Central Act
18/10/2019, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

The Association of University Teachers (AUT) has condemned Bharathidasan University (BDU) for adopting the reservation policy as per a Central act, which is in contravention of Tamil Nadu’s policy, in the ongoing recruitment of 54 faculty members.

It has blamed BDU for adopting the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act of 2019, which says that the entire university must be treated as one unit while applying reservation policy, instead of the State government’s norms that demand that each department in the university be treated as a separate unit.

The notification of BDU inviting applications for the posts of 14 Professors, 14 Associate Professors and 26 Assistant Professors in in 28 departments was issued on July 8, 2019.

On August 29, Mangat Ram Sharma, Principal Secretary of Higher Education Department (HED), issued a clarification to all universities stating that the Central act did not apply to 13 universities under the aegis of HED.

Condemning BDU for going ahead with the recruitment as per Central act, M.S. Bala Murugan, General Secretary, AUT, said the ‘unilateral’ and ‘provocative’ move of BDU would complicate the situation in other universities and lead to arbitrary implementation and ‘sabotage’ of reservation policy.

‘Ethnic purity’

AUT, in a letter to the Principal Secretary seeking intervention, said the policy of treating university as one unit may be leveraged by vested interests to maintain ‘ethnic purity’ in departments of their choice by allocating vacancies in them to particular reservation categories. K. Pandian, former president, AUT, said the association, barring some concerns, was in principle favour of treating university as one unit as it increased the possibility of better representation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Communities.

“However, the problem here is about a State-run university going against the reservation policy of the State government. The Tamil Nadu government must clarify which policy is in force and whether individual universities can decide on their own,” he said.

P. Manisankar, Vice-Chancellor, BDU, said the notification treated university as one unit since it was issued before the clarification of Principal Secretary.

“The recruitment is not over. We have only received the applications. We have taken up this matter with the State government and are awaiting their concurrence or clarification. We will act accordingly,” he said.

Kuvempu University convocation Notification

HC grants bail to medico, rejects father’s plea in NEET case

‘Student’s father was the brain behind the whole episode’

18/10/2019, B. TILAK CHANDAR,MADURAI

Considering the age of the first medical student arrested in the NEET impersonation case, Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday granted bail to the student. However, the bail petition of his father was dismissed. Justice G.R. Swaminathan said the student’s father was at the centre of the scheme of things and his son had played along. It appears that the father was the manipulator and had drawn inspiration from the Tamil film, Vasool Raja MBBS, the court said. The court, apart from taking into account the age of the student, said that it appeared that the boy was seriously affected by the whole episode.

His continued incarceration was not required, the court said and directed the student to appear before the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the CB-CID, Madurai, daily as per conditions. Denying bail to the father, the court asked why the petition should be considered when he had failed to cooperate with the investigation.

Information from NTA

The court took cognisance of the information provided by the National Testing Agency that revealed the fact that an impersonator had written the exam in Mumbai in the student’s name, while the student wrote it in Chennai.

Dearness allowance for State govt. employees up 5%
Arrears to be with retrospective effect from July 1
18/10/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday hiked the Dearness allowance (DA) for its employees by 5% with effect from July 1.

“The additional instalment of DA payable under these orders shall be paid in cash with effect from July 1,” a Government Order issued in this regard said.

The payment of DA arrears from July to September this year would be drawn and disbursed immediately by existing cashless mode of Electronic Clearance System (ECS).

The revised DA would apply to the teaching and non-teaching staff working in aided educational institutions, employees under local bodies, employees governed by the University Grants Commission/All India Council for Technical Education scales of pay, the Teachers/Physical Education Directors/Librarians in government and aided polytechnics and special diploma institutions. Village assistants in the Revenue Department, noon meal organisers, child welfare organisers, anganwadi workers, cooks, helpers, panchayat secretaries or clerks in village panchayat under the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department are also eligible for the revised DA.

Follows Centre’s move

It may be recalled that the Centre had recently enhanced DA to its employees with effect from July 1.

Purohit against freeing seven Rajiv case convicts

He disagreed with T.N. Cabinet’s stand

18/10/2019, T. RAMAKRISHNAN,CHENNAI

Banwarilal Purohit has not conveyed anything in writing to the government.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit is said to have informally indicated to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami that he is not inclined to agree with the Cabinet’s recommendation to release seven life convicts in the assassination case of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

As of now, Mr. Purohit has not conveyed anything in writing to the government about his decision. But the hint from him is that he would not like to go along with the Cabinet’s recommendation made in September last year for premature release of the convicts, according to multiple sources.

No surprise

The Governor’s position should not be a matter of surprise, an official explained, in the light of a Presidential Order issued through the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in April 2018.

In response to the State government’s proposal in February 2014 and March 2016 to release the convicts, the order said the move would “set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications”.

Before making its recommendation in September last year, the government received opinion from Advocate-General Vijay Narayan too. He held that the Governor had “unfettered power” under Article 161 (to grant pardons and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases) to decide on their release.

In the last year or so, the State government sent a few reminders to the Raj Bhavan, but the response was that the matter was under “consideration”, said the sources.

Jaffna puts civil war behind, flight services resume after 40 years
An Alliance Air Flight From Chennai Touches Down To Mark The Inauguration
Ayyappan.V@timesgroup.com

Jaffna:

After redeveloping Jaffna international airport, Sri Lanka is looking at further collaboration with India, especially the south, to develop its northern province.

Sri Lanka President M Sirisena inaugurated the airport, which was redeveloped at₹1,950 million (Sri Lankan rupee) of which India funded ₹300 million (Sri Lankan rupee). An Alliance Air flight from Chennai touched down to mark the commencing of commercial operations at the airport after a gap of 40years following the LTTEled civil war in the island nation.

At the inauguration, Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said that India-Sri Lanka collaboration has potential for economic development of the Jaffna region. “India has shown willingness to develop Jaffna and funds were given. India has invested Sri Lankan ₹300 million to develop Jaffna airport. Fastest growing region in Indian Ocean will be South Asia. We should settle all issues by internal discussions and should not go to war that will lead to disappearance of South Asian miracle.” Northern province governor Suren Raghavan said the development of Jaffna airport was a step to improve an area that was in tatters once.

Hinting about the significance of Alliance Air flight landing at the airport on its day of inauguration, he said, “This is not a mere opening of an airport but to rebuild relations with international destinations. Now, it is easy to go to Chennai than to go to Colombo and then fly to Chennai.”

However, he pointed out the need to hand over land to around 2,000 families staying near Jaffna airport. “They are still like refugees and are yet to get their land back.”

High commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu said that bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka have now truly touched the sky. “The inaugural flight was yet another example of India’s commitment to continue with people-oriented development projects in Sri Lanka. It was also a reflection of the shared commitment to further strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka which lies at the heart of the bilateral relationship.”

It may be recalled that Indian government had earlier extended grant assistance for the rehabilitation of runway and basic infrastructure at the Palaly airfield under the MoU concluded in November 2005 with the Sri Lankan government.

He said the people-oriented projects that were on in Sri Lanka include restoration of railway line, emergency ambulances, help to fishing community in Hambantota, IT centre at Jaffna, university auditorium, upgrading KKS harbour which will become port, and others covering housing, education, sports, water, livelihood.

Minister of civil aviation Arjuna Ranatunga, responding to a question on Chinese investment, said, “Our government does not have money. China has funds. Our projects are open to competition. We are planning to buy 2,000 buses. It is open to all. India, Malaysia, China or anybody can participate. So far there is no Chinese investment in developing airport infrastructure in Sri Lanka. But we do get a lot of flights bringing in Chinese tourists.”

(This correspondent was in Jaffna at the invitation of Alliance Air)

GRAND WELCOME: The Alliance Air flight gets a water salute at Jaffna International Airport on Thursday