Retired parents of married government staff entitled to medical reimbursement, says HC

The judge quashed an order dated April 25, 2019 of the Additional Chief Secretary for Finance (Salaries) disallowing his claim for reimbursement and directed him to re-consider Kathiravan’s claim.

Published: 07th January 2020 06:37 AM 

By Siva Sekaran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a significant judgment, the Madras High Court has held that retired and aged parents, more specifically sick parents of married government employees, are also eligible for reimbursement of medical expenses.

“Clause 4(iii) of the Medical Insurance Scheme, introduced in 2016, states that parents of the employee will also be covered only till the employee remains unmarried. If this clause is read literally, on the face of it, it would sound illegal and illogical. The parents of an employee will not cease to be parents after the marriage of the employee,” Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed on January 2 while allowing a writ petition from R Kathiravan, an Assistant Agricultural Officer.

The judge quashed an order dated April 25, 2019 of the Additional Chief Secretary for Finance (Salaries) disallowing his claim for reimbursement and directed him to re-consider Kathiravan’s claim. “After satisfying himself that his father is dependant on him, the authority should reimburse the medical expenses running to `5.7 lakh, due to Apollo Sepciality Hospital, within four weeks,” the judge said.

“The object of the Health Insurance Scheme introduced in 2016 is to help the employee tide over the crisis faced by him due to a sudden and emergent medical emergency. The government had thought it fit to appoint the United India Insurance Company Limited for the implementation of the scheme and for the disbursement of medical reimbursement. It becomes important to take note of annexure-I in a G.O. dated June 30, 2016. Under clause 4 of the annexure, ‘family members’ are defined. Clause 4(iii), if it is read literally, on the face of it, sounds illegal and illogical. Unfortunately, even though this society is moving towards a state where the parents are disregarded after marriage, this court does not expect the government to give a similar treatment for the parents of government employees, who get married,” the judge said.

“This clause cannot be read in isolation and it cannot be given a literal meaning, since it will end up with disturbing consequences. The only way to read this clause is that the parents will continue to be treated as family members till they continue to be the dependants of the government employee.

If this clause is not assigned this meaning, the poor parents will be left in lurch during the evening of their life,” the judge said.

Consider plea for Rs 1 cr compensation: HC

Chennai: A division bench of the Madras High Court has directed the State government to consider within four weeks a plea for compensation of `1 crore from father of young woman who was killed in a road accident after a banner fell on her at Pallikaranai in September last. The direction came after a petition by R Ravi, father of the deceased.

CBI probes transfer of ₹1,038.34 cr. to Hong Kong

48 firms, three persons and unknown officials of banks booked

07/01/2020, , DEVESH KUMAR PANDEY,NEW DELHI

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against 48 Chennai-based companies, three individuals and unknown officials of various banks for having allegedly transferred ₹1,038.34 crore in unaccounted cash to Hong Kong in 2014-15.

Bank accounts opened in the names of these companies were allegedly used to receive money from a large number of accounts in different parts of the country and divert it to the accounts of several firms in Hong Kong.

The three individuals have been identified as Mohammad Ibramsa Johny, a resident of Sivaganga and Zinta Midhar and Nizamuddin from Chennai.

The case is based on information received from a source about the transfer of black money through foreign remittances, mostly by residents of Chennai, in connivance with bank officials.

In all, 51 current accounts for the 48 firms were opened in four branches of the Bank of India, the Punjab National Bank and the State Bank of Mysore for transferring the funds, the FIR alleged. As many as 24 of these accounts were used for outward remittances in foreign currency — valued around ₹488.39 crore back then — on the pretext of advance payment for import of goods, while the other accounts were used for outward transfers totalling ₹550 crore, purportedly for foreign travel by Indian tourists. It is alleged that the companies had submitted identification papers and certificate of import-export codes issued in the name of 25 firms, of which only 10 had made imports in small quantities. The value of the imported goods was much lower than that which was declared in the invoices submitted by the companies to the banks concerned at the time of transferring the funds abroad.

The persons who facilitated the transactions were paid commissions, and bank officials were bribed. Most of the transactions were made in the second half of 2015. The annual turnover of the firms was shown in lakhs, while the funds sent abroad were in crores.

Rajini’sDarbar to release in 4,000 screens across India

The ₹200-crore Pongal release has tie-ups with 15 brands

07/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,CHENNAI

The film is expected to open big as it is releasing solo for the Pongal holidays between January 9 and 19. File Photo

Actor Rajinikanth’s next film, Darbar, directed by A.R. Murugadoss and releasing on January 9, will be screened in 4,000 screens in India alone, said R. Kannan, COO, Lyca Productions.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Kannan said that the film, rumoured to be made on a whopping ₹200-crore budget, is also scheduled to release in places where Tamil films have not released yet.

“The film will release in 7,000 screens across the world. We are planning to release it in a few islands to reach out to the maximum number of people,” he said.

“We are spending ₹7-8 crore to promote the film. The marketing investment for this film is one of the highest in Tamil cinema,” he said, adding that the trade is expecting a super hit.

Mr. Kannan said that around 15 brands such as SpiceJet, Cadbury’s, BookMyShow and Airtel have tied up with the film.

With recent films such as Karthi’s Thambi and Sivakarthikeyan’s Hero declared flops, exhibitors are expecting this film to bring audiences back to theatres. Udeep Reddy, managing director, Mayajaal, said that the film would eventually open big as it was releasing solo for the long Pongal holidays between January 9 and 19.

“It looks like the film will do well for everyone in the trade,” he said.

JNU students, staff want V-C removed

Blame game begins between ABVP and JNUSU over violence on the campus that left 34 injured

07/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,NEW DELHI

United in protest: JNU students staging a demonstration on the campus on Monday against the brutal attack by masked goons on Sunday night.R.V. Moorthy

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Monday demanded the immediate removal of JNU Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar following the brutal attack by masked goons on the university campus on Sunday night.

Under fire for allowing the violence to continue, the Delhi police said an FIR had been registered against “unknown persons” for rioting and damage to property. No arrests have been made so far.

34 treated for injuries

Thirty-four persons injured in the attack, who were brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Sunday night, were discharged after treatment. One teacher was taken to Safdarjung Hospital and later discharged, an official said.

“Several students had broken limbs and head injuries. They were discharged after first aid,” said a senior official at the AIIMS.

“I was specifically targeted on Sunday during a peace march on the campus. Around 20-25 masked persons disrupted the march and attacked me with iron rods,” said JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh at a press conference, her arm in a cast and bandages on her head — she required at least 15 stitches following the attack.

The BJP’s student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), denied it was behind Sunday’s attacks, as alleged by both the JNUSU and the JNUTA.

The outfit, in turn, blamed Ms. Ghosh’s left-wing union for orchestrating the violence. It also claimed that many of its activists were injured, but did not present any to the media.

The JNUSU and a number of faculty members have accused the Delhi police of being bystanders to the violence and allowing the attackers to leave the premises after going on the rampage for several hours.

‘A shameful episode’

“The violence that happened on Sunday is the result of the desperation and frustration of the V-C and his cronies. But the chronology of events that unfolded is a shameful episode for the Delhi police who gave a safe passage to ABVP goons imported from outside. For days now, the administration has been unable to break our protest. Since 4th January, ABVP people were directed as henchmen of the V-C to come and beat up students. They used lathis and pipes on that day,” JNUSU alleged in a statement.

In a separate development, the JNUTA has written an open letter to President Ram Nath Kovind on the connivance between the attackers and the JNU administration.

Singapore to be placed on destination wedding map for Indians

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.01.2020

Singapore Tourism is looking at attracting more visitors by promoting the island as a destination for weddings, cruises and overseas excursions this year.

G B Srithar, regional director, India, Middle East and South Asia of Singapore Tourism Board said, “We will focus on these elements to encourage more visitors. We used to promote school excursions years ago.” Destination weddings are becoming a thing among Indians, he said, adding, “We want people from Tamil Nadu to hold their weddings in Singapore.”

In a bid to promote educational institutions to take up excursions, Singapore tourism will encourage travel agents to offer incentives, he added. Singapore Tourism Board conducted a roadshow in the city where officials interacted with around 100 travel and tour operators.

“South India is an important region for us with direct flights available from nine cities, including Chennai, Trichy and Coimbatore,” he said.

Cruise tours are a great hit among Indians as they’ve hopped aboard cruises to the island most. “This makes it important for us. Indian cruise travellers are the youngest, with an average age of less that 30 years against the global average of 40. A good number of people who take cruise tours also stay in Singapore.”

Similarly, Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018.

Till October 2019, 1.19 million tourists from India visited Singapore.

Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018

Rail to link Velachery with Tambaram soon

U.Tejonmayam@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.01.2020

Residents of areas between Tambaram and Velachery may soon have a faster and comfortable mode of transport for daily commute, with the government planning a transit system, most probably a metro rail or a light metro line. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), which now operates a 45km rail network in the city, will conduct feasibility studies and prepare a detailed project report.

In his customary address on the floor of the assembly, on Monday, governor Banwarilal Purohit said, “To address increasing traffic congestion on the Tambaram-Velachery corridor, the government will establish a rail-based transit system for a total of 15.5km and Chennai Metro Rail Limited will prepare a feasibility report.” Sources said the line will come up along Velachery Main Road, which was one of the routes proposed to be linked by monorail between Velachery and Vandalur via Madipakkam, Pallikaranai, Medavakkam, Selaiyur and Tambaram. “These localities are fast developing and if this link is connected, commuters can reach Tambaram to travel to Guduvanchery and beyond,” an official said.

Centre participation for phase-2 project sought

However, the decision to operate a rail service may depend on the investment the government is ready to make as well as the potential passenger traffic along the corridor.

The feasibility study will involve collecting extensive data on public transport users and private vehicles on the route. Based on the existing passenger traffic, a forecast for the coming decades and peak hour traffic will be assessed before the type of rail system suitable for the stretch is decided.

CMRL had earlier proposed lining a part of Kathipara-Poonamallee corridor, suggested for monorail, to the 118.9km metro phase-2. While Kathipara is linked to Alandur in phase-1, the remaining areas like Porur, SRMC Hospital, Iyyappanthangal, Kattupakkam, Kumananchavadu and Karayanchavadi are now part of phase-2.

The decision to build a metro rail network on the planned monorail route was made after CMRL conducted a comprehensive study on the passenger flow along the route and found that the high traffic density between Porur and Poonamallee could only be handled by metro rail.

The governors said the state had decided to extend the metro rail corridor by 15.3km from Chennai Airport to Kilambakkam, where a new mofussil bus stand is coming up.

On the three-corridor 118.9km phase-2 project, which is estimated to cost ₹69,180 crore, the governor said JICA had agreed to fund a stretch of 52.01km and the first tranche of the loan agreement has been signed. Multilateral assistance from Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank is being availed of for the remaining stretches. “I urge the Government of India to accord early approval for their participation in the phase-2 project on a 50:50 equity sharing model adopted for phase-1,” he said.

He also said the phase-1extension line up to Thirvottiyur/ Wimco Nagar will be completed by mid-2020.

SC: Govt can regulate selection of students in minority institutes
‘Art 30 Is Not An Absolute Right’

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:07.01.2020

In a ruling with significant implications for minority institutions, the Supreme Court on Monday held that Article 30(1) does not confer an absolute right to them to run their affairs as per their choice as they need to regard merit while selecting students and teachers.

The SC said government has a role in ensuring quality of education in a case regarding a West Bengal law setting up a commission for appointing teachers to madarsas which receive government funding. The law was struck down by the high court but the decision has now been reversed by the SC. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit said any such regulative measures is not only in the interest of the minority educational institution, but of the public and nation as a whole. Such measures must necessarily apply to all educational institutions, whether run by majority or minority communities, even as it added that government regulations cannot destroy the minority character of an institution.

9-judge SC bench to hear Sabari case

A nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear from January 13, the issue of allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Kerala’s Sabarimala temple along with other contentious issues of alleged discrimination against Muslim and Parsi women. Last November, a five-judge bench in a 3:2 verdict had referred to a 7-judge bench, the pleas seeking review of its 2018 ruling allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple. P10

Merit must be the governing criterion: SC

The bench said, “The decision in TMA Pai Foundation case, rendered by eleven judges of this court, put the matter beyond any doubt and clarified that the right under Article 30(1) is not absolute or above the law and that conditions concerning the welfare of the students and teachers must apply in order to provide proper academic atmosphere, so long as they did not interfere with the right of the administration or management.” Article 30 says that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

The question of procedures and appointments has arisen frequently in the context of the state’s role when it aids such institutions.

Referring to another verdict of the apex court, Justice Lalit, who penned the judgment, said merit-based selection is in the interest of the nation and this strengthens national welfare and must not be ignored.

“Selection of meritorious students has been accepted to be in national interest. A minority institution cannot in the name of right under Article 30(1) of the Constitution, disregard merit or merit-based selection of students as regards professional and higher education. The right to take disciplinary action against the staff has also not been accepted to be an unqualified right,” the court said.

The court said excellence and merit must be the governing criteria in national interest if the right has not been accepted as absolute and unqualified. “Any departure from the concept of merit and excellence would not make a minority educational institution an effective vehicle to achieve what has been contemplated in various decisions of this Court.

Further, if merit is not the sole and governing criteria, the minority institutions may lag behind the non-minority institutions rather than keep in step with them,” it said.

“An objection can certainly be raised if an unfavourable treatment is meted out to an educational institution established and administered by minority,” it said.