Karnataka HC

Can’t direct govt. to give funds to advocates: HC

10/05/2020,BENGALURU

The High Court of Karnataka has declined to accept a plea made by PIL petitions filed by advocates seeking a direction to the State and Union governments to release ₹50 crore to the Karnataka State Bar Council to grant financial assistance to lawyers facing financial difficulties due to closure of courts in view of the COVID-19 lockdown.

RTI

Online application for RTI in the works

Trial run of software will be conducted

10/05/2020, R. SIVARAMAN,CHENNAI

Applications seeking documents under the Right to Information (RTI) Act can now be filed online in Tamil Nadu.

A Government Order issued by S. Swarna, Secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, on April 29, said the facility of online filing of petitions under Section 6(1) and First Appeals under Section 19(1) of RTI Act will be rolled out. This will be done using the software available with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and after making necessary changes to make it suitable for the needs of the State.

“As a first step, a trial run of the software for filing of petitions will be conducted in the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department at the Secretariat. After ascertaining the performance, a pilot run will be conducted in a major department such as School Education Department, which has a wide penetration of officers in the State,” Ms. Swarna said.

The government also decided to accept online payment pending amendment to the Tamil Nadu RTI (Fees) Rules and to engage the State Bank of India to act as a merchant banker for providing payment gateway.

So far, applications under the RTI Act, are submitted in the State only through typed or handwritten applications. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh and Delhi already allowed online applications.

Many RTI activists consistently demanded that online application facility be introduced in the State. Reacting to the decision, RTI activist, V. Gopalakrishnan, said, “It is too late since other States have already introduced the system. The State Information Commission recommended that the government introduce the online facility.”

However, another activist P. Viswanathan welcomed the addition and said “This introduction of online facility will encourage the younger generations to file more petitions and will bring more transparency into the system.”

Thirumazhisai Market Ready

Thirumazhisai market ready

About 200 shops set to begin operations tomorrow; all vehicles to be sanitised

10/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Taking stock: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam inspecting the market on Saturday; at right, some of the stalls at the market. M. Vedhan

The temporary market that has been set up at Thirumazhisai will begin functioning from Monday.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam inspected the facilities along with officials of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.

According to officials, only wholesale shops from Koyambedu would be allowed to function in the new premises. About 200 shops had been set up with 10 feet space between them to ensure physical distancing.

The 200-sq.ft. shops had been divided into four blocks. Toilet blocks and shelters for workers had been provided, the officials said. Provision had been made for bank kiosks and food stalls at the makeshift market. Roads had been paved to facilitate entry of heavy vehicles and for unloading of vegetables.

All vehicles would be sanitised before they enter the premises. The market would be monitored from watch towers, sources said.

Koyambedu wholesale vegetable market was closed on May 5 as it became a COVID-19 cluster with the traders and vendors becoming carriers of the infection when they returned home.

According to Koyambedu wholesale traders, vehicles would begin to arrive from 7 p.m. Sunday and sales would start from the early hours of Monday and go on till 10 a.m.

A separate block had been allotted for onion and potato stalls as heavy vehicles from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra would bring these produce. Moreover, space had been earmarked for those selling mint, coriander, greens and coconut.

Passes for vehicles and traders were expected to be issued on Sunday. About 2,000 workers were expected to work in the new market, traders said.

Flight info

Two flights, a whole range of emotions

Over 350 Indians land in Chennai on two late-night flights from Dubai

10/05/2020, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI

The passengers finished immigration procedures, gave their swab samples, and left for quarantine centres. Special Arrangement

Velmurugan, in his 50s, left Tirunelveli with his brother-in-law on Thursday, for Chennai. The journey was rather painful, as he was to receive his 29-year-old daughter V. Kollammal, who was arriving from Dubai along with the mortal remains of her husband L.M. Kumar.

“It is a long journey back and a tough road ahead for us. I don’t know how to comfort her. It is heart-wrenching for me see these events unfold at this age of my life,” he said. His daughter and son-in-law were living in Dubai and were to celebrate their third anniversary next month.

Ms. Kollammal was among the 358 Indian nationals flown to Chennai by two flights from Dubai at 12.30 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. on Saturday. After completing the procedures at the airport, she and her father have now left for their home town.

The remaining passengers finished the immigration procedures, gave authorities their swab samples, and then left for quarantine centres. All of them were given a choice of free quarantine accommodation offered by the government or paying and staying in a hotel.

Options given

While nearly 230 passengers were taken to a college campus on the Vandalur-Kelambakkam road, 102 opted to stay in a hotel in Periyamet which will cost them ₹1,500 a day. The remaining checked into a luxury hotel in Guindy. All passengers were taken by bus and would remain in quarantine for two weeks at these locations.

For 30-year-old Suganya Saravanan, the homecoming is rather special and crucial as she is expecting to deliver soon. It was a hurried decision — after receiving a mail from the Indian embassy, her husband quickly booked tickets for her to return home. “It was a smooth process. From staff at the Dubai and Chennai airports to co-passengers, everyone helped me and didn’t even allow me to lift my baggage,” she said.

The flight itself was a unique experience, as almost everyone was clad in personal protective equipment, she said. “As soon as we entered the aircraft, we were given a new set of gloves and masks. The food — a sandwich and cake — and water were already placed in each seat. The crew was fantastic,” she added. After spending two weeks in quarantine, she will return to Puducherry for the birth of her child.

To assess Pandemic economy

Now, a panel to assess impact of pandemic on economy

C. Rangarajan, former RBI governor, to head committee

10/05/2020, T. RAMAKRISHNAN,CHENNAI

C. Rangarajan

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced the formation of a 24-member committee, headed by former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India C. Rangarajan, to assess the immediate and medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors of the State’s economy.

This is the 16th committee formed by the government to tackle issues arising out of the pandemic. This also comes in the wake of Punjab forming a similar panel.

As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, there is one more reason for constituting the panel. During his reply in the Assembly to the debate on the State Budget in February, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who also holds the Finance portfolio, stated that a committee of experts would be set up to recommend measures to improve the tax-GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) ratio. Apart from this, the committee will give its findings on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the State government’s fiscal position and outline the way forward to improve the fiscal health, including increasing tax, diversifying revenue sources and re-prioritising expenditure.

The panel will also study the lockdown’s impact, additional costs and implications due to personal distancing and other precautionary measures; assess opportunities and threats in the short and medium terms and suggest measures required to help the important sectors of the economy overcome the adverse impact. Besides, it will identify fiscal issues and economic promotion measures required to be pursued by the State government with the Centre and possible sources of financing and funding for different sectors, including infrastructure projects and small businesses.

Non-official members

Former Chief Secretary N. Narayanan, who served as Finance Secretary for years under the chief ministership of M. Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa; vice chancellors of Madras and Agricultural University P. Duraisamy and N. Kumar; directors of Madras School of Economics and Madras Institute of Development Studies K. R. Shanmugam and P.G. Babu; three industrialists A. Vellayyan, former chairman of the Murugappa Group, N. Srinivasan, vice chairman and managing director of India Cements and Venu Srinivasan, chairman of TVS Motors; MD of Indian Bank Padmaja Chunduru; MD and CEO of Equitas Bank P.N. Vasudevan; public finance expert M. Govinda Rao; professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras M. Suresh Babu; and UNICEF coordinator in Chennai Pinaki Chakraborty are the non-official members of the panel, according to an order issued by the Finance Department.

While Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) S. Krishnan will serve as the coordinator of the committee, other representatives of the government are Principal Secretaries in charge of Industries, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Housing and Urban Development, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi departments; Additional Chief Secretaries looking after Labour and Employment, Tourism and Culture departments and the Secretary of the Information Technology department. The committee has been asked to submit its final report to the government in three months, besides an interim report.

A Looser Lockdown

From tomorrow, shops to stay open longer

Timings for fuel outlets extended as well; tea shops will be able to offer parcel services

10/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced a further relaxation of lockdown regulations from Monday, for areas outside containment zones in the State.

A press release said that in areas under the Greater Chennai Police, shops selling vegetables and essentials would function from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Standalone and neighbourhood shops would be allowed to operate between 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m., it added.

Shops selling vegetables and essentials in other parts of Tamil Nadu would function from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Standalone and neighbourhood shops would be allowed between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Warning issued

Tea shops would be allowed to function in all areas, except containment zones, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., for parcel service alone.

The government said that tea shops should ensure that physical distancing norms are followed and must disinfect the shops five times a day.

“Customers are not allowed to sit in the shops. Shops violating rules will be shut down,” the government warned.

Petrol pumps in areas under the Greater Chennai Police can function from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. In other areas, they will function between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. There are no restrictions on working hours for pumps along National Highways.

Private firms

Private establishments in areas under the Greater Chennai Police can function between 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. with 33% employees.

In other areas, working hours will be between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The government has urged District Collectors, Corporation Commissioners and the police to strictly enforce standard operating procedures, physical distancing norms, ensure the safety of workers and the disinfection of establishments.

“The relaxations already announced will be in force till further orders are issued. People and private establishments are advised to cooperate with the government,” the release said.

Detect Fake news

Police get a guide to detect fake news

Manual asks officers to fact-check with reliable sites, including thehindu.com

10/05/2020, VIJAITA SINGH,NEW DELHI

The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) has published a step-by-step guide for law enforcement agencies to identify “fake news” and videos intended to spread panic through hatred and communal violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The think-tank under the Union Home Ministry, in the detailed guide, has said “digital news has brought back and increased the usage of fake news or yellow journalism” usually “published with the intent to damage an agency, entity or a person and gain financially or politically “often using sensationalist, dishonest or outright fabricated headlines to increase readership.”

‘Look for trusted source’

“Photos, audio recordings, and videos can be edited to mislead the recipient. Look at trusted news sources to verify whether the story is being reported elsewhere. When a story is reported in multiple places, it is more likely to be true,” the manual said, asking the officers to read beyond “outrageous” headlines designed to attract clicks. It asked them to read the whole story and also do a “quick search on the author” if he or she is “reliable and real.”

The manual gives an indicative list of websites that could be accessed for fact-checking including thehindu.com, pib.gov.in and reporterlabs.org among others.

Communal angle

To explain the communal aspect, the guidelines include a screenshot of a fake video which accused Muslims of licking cleaned plates and spoons to “transfer the virus to people at large”.

It also attached a clip where miscreants used fake URLs to mislead people who wanted to donate to PM-CARES fund.

The guidelines ask police and other investigating agencies to use open domain tools to authenticate content such as Google Reverse Image search for collecting more information on fake videos.

The research body, however, cautioned that the “Investigating officer may consider the case sensitivity because these websites are hosted on foreign servers/cloud systems, that may influence or mislead the investigation due to data leakage.”

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