Rain may not dampen Diwali as experts predict dry weather
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.10.2019

A near-dry spell may come as good news for city residents, as weather experts have forecast only traces of light rain, which may not dampen Diwali celebrations on Sunday. While IMD forecast light rain, private weather experts said rain may gain momentum in the coastal regions, including Chennai, from October 28.

The regional meteorological centre forecast that “the sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy and light rain likely to occur in some areas” for the next 48 hours in the city.

Day temperature may reach 32°C, while the minimum may hover around 26°C.

Since the low pressure area, which was expected to bring heavy rain to Chennai, skipped the city and moved towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, IMD forecast light rain, while the city has been receiving only traces. On Friday, the Nungambakkam weather station recorded traces, while it remained dry in Meenambakkam.

According to the IMD’s weather inference on Friday, the low pressure area over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining area of south Odisha and west central Bay of Bengal has become less marked.

Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist, Skymet Weather, said with Cyclone Kyarr gathering strength over Arabian Sea, most parts of Tamil Nadu, particularly the coastal regions, have been experiencing dry westerly winds.

“We do not expect any significant rain at least for the next two days in Chennai. Most of the rain will be over Kerala, just like southwest monsoon,” he said.

But with the cyclone expected to move away from the Indian coast beginning Sunday, experts said sea breeze would start to set in over coastal Tamil Nadu from Diwali day.

But rain may pick up from Monday when a cyclonic circulation could form over the Sri Lankan coast and extend up to south Tamil Nadu.

“Next active spells of rain from sea should start on October 27-28,” said weather blogger Pradeep John in his online post.

Palawat said, “Chennai may see some rain on October 29 and 30. But as of now, there are no chances of a significant weather system forming over Bay of Bengal.”

After a few days of traces and light rain, experts said conditions may turn favourable for a cyclonic system to travel from the Philippines coast towards Bay of Bengal.

However, as per the present forecast, the system may skip Tamil Nadu and go towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.

HC calls for zero tolerance against drunk driving

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.10.2019

Advocating a zerotolerance policy against the drunk driving menace, the Madras high court has said that state and central governments should amend the Motor Vehicles Act to contain the growing scourge.

“It is not possible to countenance an argument that any person has a fundamental right to drink, let alone to drink any amount and then get behind the wheel of a motor car or onto a two-wheeler. Even the most minute impairment caused by alcohol intake might have the most disastrous consequences,” said Justice R Mahadevan.

Justice Mahadevan was passing orders denying any compensation to a victim of road accident, as he was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

Referring to a report released by Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD), the court said that around 1.34 lakh people die every year in India because of road accidents. The most shocking fact is that 70% of these are due to the consumption of alcohol, according to the report released in 2011.

“Regard must necessarily be had to the conditions in our country and in our cities — the overcrowded roads, pedestrian movement on roads, the absence of sufficient sidewalks or pavements, a general indiscipline and indifference to traffic regulations. Our roads and few sidewalks are used by hawkers during the day and by the poorest of the poor at night. This makes drunken driving more dangerous. This court does not think that it is possible to ignore these conditions, especially given our experience with fatalities caused to third parties by reported incidents of drunk driving,” Justice Mahadevan added.

Further, despite the law’s seemingly stern approach to drunk driving offenders, societal attitudes, by far and large, do not match, he said. A study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) found that 99% of drivers who drink and drive, agree that it (drinking and driving) is dangerous and 97% were aware that it is prohibited under law. Despite this, many people are still getting behind the wheel while intoxicated, Justice Mahadevan pointed out. Noting that blood alcohol limit prescribed in Section 185 of the MV Act seems to be theoretical, Justice Mahadevan wanted the governments to amend the act so as to adopt zero tolerance norm in the act itself.

“The time has now come for just such a measure. Too many lives have already been lost to this lethal cocktail of internal consumption and internal combustion,” he added.

SCARY RIDES: A study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences found that 99% of drivers who drink and drive, agree that drunk driving is dangerous

400-plus new lawyers get enrolled in Bar council

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.10.2019

Advocates who play a major role in the development of the country should refrain from involving in activities which might go against the welfare of the state, Justice Vineet Kothari, Acting Chief Justice of the Madras high court, said on Friday.

Justice Vineet Kothari also said he felt happy to see a large number of women coming into the legal profession, almost equalling men.

Delivering a special address during the mass enrolment of newly graduated lawyers, organised by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, here, Justice Kothari said: “With hard work, honesty and humanity, an advocate can excel in his profession.”

The event, in which more than 400 newly graduated lawyers were enrolled as members of the Bar, was organised in the Bar council building on the high court premises.

The welcome address was delivered by advocate P S Amalraj, chairman of the bar council, and the enrolment was moved by advocate M Krishnasamy, former Congress MP.

Administration of oath for the newly enrolled advocates was tendered by advocate and head of Bar council’s enrolment committee K Balu, while they were felicitated by senior advocate and former attorney general of India K Parasaran and BCI co-chairman S Prabakaran.

Among others who attended the function were T Michael Stanis Prabhu, C Srimurugaa, members of the enrolment committee of the bar council, and C Rajakumar, secretary of the council.



LEGAL EAGLES: (Top right) Justice Vineet Kothari, Acting Chief Justice of the Madras high court, and K Parasaran, former attorney general of India, during the mass enrollment of newly graduated lawyers (above) organised on the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Bar Council premises in the city on Friday

SEARCHES ACROSS TAMIL NADU

Ahead of Diwali, DVAC searches govt offices
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.10.2019

Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has again conducted surprise checks at government offices which deal with cash, ahead of Diwali, typically the time when bribes are offered.

DVAC sources said that on Wednesday and Thursday, as many as 17 offices across the state were raided and ₹19.8lakh unaccounted money was seized.

These include two searches at the sub-registrar’s office in Ambattur, and the district fire office on the High Court campus where ₹4.67lakh and ₹1.6lakh cash were recovered. At the RTO office in Chengalpet, DVAC sleuths found ₹86,510.

Other places raided across the state include subregistrar offices, taluk offices, RTO offices and motor vehicle inspector’s offices and even a TASMAC office in Perambalur.

The second highest seizure was at the BDO’s office in Tiruchendur where ₹2.24lakh was seized.

Officials said that bribes were being demanded by officials as “Diwali bonus” for the expenses arising out of festival shopping.

“Major ‘bribe collecting offices’ include registration, TASMAC and RTO,” said officials. This year, the fire services department has also made an entry in the list. It is likely because of permissions to be given to firecracker shops by the fire services department.

Cases would be registered against the officials, DVAC sources said.

Doctors begin strike, but patient care not affected
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.10.2019

Government doctors in the city and the rest of Tamil Nadu began an indefinite strike on Friday demanding an increase in salary. While there were long queues in outpatient sections in many government medical college hospitals in the morning, the situation was near normal by noon. Emergency departments, ICUs and fever wards were fully functional.

While most doctors found new ways to participate in the strike by signing attendance forms and taking turns to stand with the protesting doctors’ group, a five-member group went on an indefinite hunger strike demanding that the chief minister meet them and hear their demands.

In Chennai, more than 300 doctors from different hospitals raised slogans outside the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Most doctors said they did not want patients to suffer. “Most departments had professors and post-graduates on the floor throughout the day. Assistant professors took breaks to join the strike,” said an assistant professor in Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.

The highest absence in Chennai was recorded at Stanley Medical College Hospital, where 95 doctors, including three senior doctors, of the total 508 did not sign the attendance register. In Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, barring 65 of the 135 assistant professors, most doctors signed the register and attended duty. At the GH, doctors were on leave without permission. “None of the scheduled surgeries were cancelled in our hospital. There was a delay in waiting period but our OP strength was normal,” said Stanley Medical College dean Dr R Shanthimalar.

Health secretary Beela Rajesh held talks with the striking doctors, but to no avail. “She asked us to return to work as it is the festival season and there were many fever cases. There was no favourable response to our demand,” said a protesting doctor. The strike had no effect on patient care in government hospitals and primary heath care centres in Madurai and the southern districts. Protesting doctors in Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai and Coimbatore Medical College Hospital have been boycotting classes for medical students since Thursday. However, all other patient facilities will be fully operational till October 29. “We have planned for a full 48-hour strike on October

30. Even on that day, we will have teams to respond to emergencies. It is just that one doctor will have to deal with the work load of 10 on those two days,” said Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association president Dr K Senthil. While Tuticorin Medical College Hospital recorded 100% attendance, according to resident medical officer Dr Silas Jeyamani, 550 PG doctors in Trichy participated in the strike, said Service Doctors and Postgraduates Association (SDPGA) treasurer Dr T Aruleeswaran.

The salary for doctors in state and central services is the same when they join duty, but doctors in central government service receive promotions in four, nine, 13 and 20 years, compared to eight, 15, 17 and 20 years in the state government.



SALARY MATTERS: Doctors hold a protest at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on Friday

EPS should hold talks, says Stalin

Chennai:

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami should immediately hold talks with the striking government hospital doctors, said DMK president M K Stalin in a statement on Friday. So far, the CM has not called the doctors and the government is not worried about people, he said.

Madras high court directs law student to do social service 


DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published Oct 23, 2019, 1:22 am IST

However, the petitioner admitted that he was present at the scene.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed a Law Student to do social service by way of planting at least 10 tree-saplings in the campus of Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College, Pudhupakkam, as a pre-condition for discharge from a police FIR arraigning him among other accused in a case of Pachaiyappa’s College Students unrest in the city.

Justice M.S.Ramesh gave the directive on a petition filed by E.Durai Raj, a second year B.A.,LLB student of Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College, Pudhupakkam.

The case of Durai Raj was that there was a discrepancy in the FIR that he belonged to Pachaiyappa’s college and raised slogans in support of students on the opening day of Pachaiyappa’s college, whereas he was a student of Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College. However, the petitioner admitted that he was present at the scene.

Holding that the young man’s career should not suffer on account of this case, Justice Ramesh took the magnanimous view that the ends of justice would be served, if Durai Raj gives an undertaking that he will do social service by planting at least 10 tree-saplings in Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College, Pudhupakkam.

The judge said, “The petitioner should ensure that the trees are well watered, at least for one month and report the action taken to the Principal, Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College, Pudhupakkam. With such a condition, the impugned FIR on the file of the Ayyanavaram police, stands quashed”.

Islamic college donates 20 acres of land for medical college in Mayiladuthurai

A delegation of the college met Nagapattinam district collector Praveen P Nair and gave its consent to donate land for a medical college in Mayiladuthurai.

Published: 24th October 2019 02:55 PM 


The eight-member delegation which included members from Jamia Misbahul Hudha Arabic College.

By Antony Fernando

Express News Service

NAGAPATTINAM: An Islamic college from Mayiladuthurai has come forward to donate 20 acres of its land for the construction of the medical college in Mayiladuthurai.

An eight-member delegation which included members from Jamia Misbahul Hudha Arabic College in Nidur near Mayiladuthurai has met Nagapattinam district collector Praveen P Nair on Thursday and gave its consent to donate land for a medical college in Mayiladuthurai.

“We wholeheartedly wish to donate our land of 21 acres for the welfare of the public without any expectations for a return of a favour. We took this decision days ago after we realized Mayiladuthurai could get a medical college if it there is enough land available to the government. The government should now fulfil the wish of Mayiladuthurai residents to have a medical college here," said SA Mohamed Sadeeq, the general secretary of Jamia Misbahul Hudha Trust in Needur.

Jamia Misbahul Hudha Arabic College in Needur and its trust has been functioning since 1912, and formally registered under the Indian government in 1947. The barren land they are donating is near a hamlet called Erumbukadu in Mayiladuthurai taluk. It is situated 6.5 kilometres north of Mayiladuthurai.

The delegation that met the collector also included Mayuram Bar Association’s president advocate R Seyon and former MLA of Kuthalam constituency ‘Kuthalam’ P Kalyanam. R Seyon said, “We do not wish that Nagapattinam should be deprived of a medical college. It should have one irrespective of formation of Mayiladuthurai district.”

It is to be noted that Nagapattinam district collector Praveen P Nair had already proposed Orathur in Nagapattinam taluk as the location for the establishment of the medical college in Nagapattinam district. But, it was met with sharp reactions from Mayiladuthurai.

TNIE had earlier reported that Needur near Mayiladuthurai still stands a chance as an alternative.

While speaking to TNIE, Kuthalam’s former MLA ‘Kuthalam’ P Kalayanam said, “The patients in the northern side cannot be left in the mercy of medical college in Nagapattinam, particularly after formation of the new district with Mayiladuthurai as its headquarters. It will duplicate the scenario of Karaikal being in the mercy of Puducherry as both the Union territory districts are geographically apart.”