Govt rushes to SC against HC ruling on Tasmac closure

Govt rushes to SC against HC ruling on Tasmac closure

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 10.05.2020

Within 24 hours of the Madras high court ordering closure of Tasmac liquor outlets for flouting almost every condition laid down by the court for resumption of liquor sale, Tamil Nadu moved the Supreme Court challenging the orders saying it was a case of ‘judicial overreach.’ Tasmac did ₹295 crore business in two days.

In its appeal, the state argued that high court order was not sustainable under law and hence, ought to be set aside. “The net effect of the high court order is complete and indefinite standstill of the sale of liquor in the state leading to grave losses to the state’s revenue and commercial activity in the state,” the petition said. It recalled an early order of the high court, refusing to ban liquor sale on the ground that it was a policy matter within the state’s domain. The government said the entire batch of petitions was filed by vested private interest to make enormous commercial gains from the unfortunate situation.

On Friday, the Supreme Court refused to direct the states to close liquor shops during lockdown and left it to each state’s discretion to consider non-direct sale, including sale/ home delivery of liquor. “The SC recognised that states have a broad margin of power to determine whether and how to effect sale of liquor in this lockdown period and therefore, the HC order is a clear case of judicial overreach and is not sustainable,” Tamil Nadu said.

As for the high court’s directive to the state to amend the Tamil Nadu Liquor (Licence and Permit) Rules, 1981, to have atechnology-enabled home delivery to promote responsible consumption of alcohol, the state said court cannot compel the state to amend the rules.

The ‘judicial overreach’ will have the effect of stultifying a major commercial activity in the state, it said, adding that except Maharashtra where the Covid-19 figures are 3-4 times that of Tamil Nadu, no other state is selling liquor exclusively online. Tamil Nadu said it made elaborate security arrangements to control the crowd and stopped the sale in 12 shops due to overcrowding.

BIG ON BOOZE: TN sold liquor worth ₹295 crore in 2 days

Labour dept gets 1,600 calls on pay cuts, lay-offs

GOVT YET TO SET UP DEDICATED HELPLINE

Labour dept gets 1,600 calls on pay cuts, lay-offs

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 10.05.2020

The state department of labour and employment has received more than 1,600 calls from people complaining about non-payment of salaries, wage cuts and layoffs since the lockdown began. Most of the complainants work in the IT sector and private firms. Some of them have not been paid for the month of March.

Chennai topped the list with 550 complaints in the past 40 days. Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts followed behind closely.

T Kathiravan, who works as an air-conditioner technician in a private firm in the city, said he was not paid salary for the month of March and was paid less than half his pay for April. “There are five technicians working in the company. While two of them received their full salaries for the months, a colleague and I were asked to ‘adjust’,” he said. “We are still sent to customers’ houses to repair their ACs. We have to spend on the commute from our own pockets, there is no reimbursement either,” he said.

A large number of employees working in private firms and unorganised sectors were reaching out to the department to help them get their due wages. The labour department has appointed a state nodal officer to take note of all grievances from people and connect them to the officials concerned.

Unlike Karnataka, Gujarat, and Kerala, there is no common helpline dedicated exclusively to handle labour-related issues in Tamil Nadu. People have to either contact the department or any official who will then guide them to the nodal officer to take the complaint forward. The complainant’s name and contact details are kept confidential.

“Once we receive the complaint we alert our field officers to visit the firm or industry and conduct a detailed inquiry. Once that is done, we direct them to pay them the defaulted wages,” the nodal officer said. The officer added that most employers cite financial crunch as the main reason, “But we give them a few days’ time and post our intervention, the workers get their dues. We also follow up,” he said.

Activists, however, insist that the department must launch a helpline since many workers do not know how to reach out to the department. “And this time is crucial since many are struggling with their jobs and do not know how to get their grievances addressed. The labour department must come out with a more proactive plan,” said R Geetha, advisor to the Unorganised Workers Federation.

To report any disputes, complaints, contact the labour deparment at 044-24335107.

Starting Monday: 6-day mantra to exit lockdown

REBOOT TAMIL NADU

Starting Monday: 6-day mantra to exit lockdown

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.05.2020

For almost 50 days of the Covid-imposed lockdown, our factories have remained shut, academic schedules upset, malls and theatres locked and infrastructure work stalled. The virus has stopped us in our tracks. But not forever.

As pressure mounts on industries and the government to get back to business, it is time to not just weigh the pros and cons of exiting the lockdown, but also tactical ways to tread the path ahead.

Doing just that will be policy makers, industry captions and experts from diverse fields at ‘Reboot Tamil Nadu’, a virtual conclave being organised by The Times of India from Monday to Saturday, between 10am and 12.45pm. The six-day conclave will cover the segments of manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, education, real estate, retail, small industries, IT/ITES, logistics, hospitality and entertainment.

On the inaugural day, the first session on industries, ‘Driving past the Covid curve’ will see N Srinivasan, vice-chairman & MD of India Cements, in discussion with Satyakam Arya, MD&CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and Sasikumar Gendham, MD, Salcomp Manufacturing India Private Limited. The second session, ‘From farm gate to front door’ will have TN agricultural secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi sharing thoughts with other panelists R V Bhavani, director, agriculture-nutritionhealth program – MSSRF and Ravichandran Purushothaman, president, Danfoss India. For more, watch this space.

The sessions will be webcast live on The Times of India, Chennai’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ChennaiTOI , besides our other digital platforms.

Mild cases can be discharged without test: Health ministry

Mild cases can be discharged without test: Health ministry

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 10.05.2020

In a move that is likely to reduce India’s need for Covid-19 testing kits, the health ministry has said that mild and moderate cases do not need to be tested prior to the discharge of patients from hospital. So far, patients had to test negative twice prior to discharge. The new directive is part of the revised policy for discharge of Covid-19 patients from hospitals. Even for severe cases, the patient would need to test negative only once, as against twice earlier.

“Mild/very mild/presymptomatic cases admitted to a Covid care facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring. The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge. At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for further 7 days as per guidelines,” the revised discharge policy said.

Till Saturday morning, 15.23 lakh samples were tested for Covid-19. According to the ministry, the capacity has been ramped up to test around 95,000 samples per day across 332 government and 121private labs.

Only 1.5% of beds in Covid hosps used

Less than 1.5% of over 1.3 lakh hospital beds earmarked for Covid-19 patients are currently being utilised and this could see a review of hospital preparedness plans that might free up some beds for non-Covid care. P 7

Last 24 hrs see 3,320 fresh Covid-19 cases

However, positive cases also continue to rise across the country. In thelast24hours,3,320 newconfirmed cases have been added taking the total number of cases to 59,662.

The policy also says that at any point of time, prior to discharge from Covid care centre, if the oxygen saturation dips below 95%, patient has to be moved to Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) with ICU facility. After discharge from the facility, if the patient again developssymptomsoffever, cough or breathing difficulty, he/she will contact the Covid care centre or state helpline or 1075. His/her health will again be followed up through tele-conference on the 14th day, it says.

Moderate cases have been categorised as those whose symptoms resolve within three days and maintains oxygen saturation above 95% for the next 4 days. “If the fever resolve within 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days (without oxygen support), such patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onsetin caseof absenceof fever without anti-pyretics, resolution of breathlessness, no oxygen requirement. There willbe no needfor testing prior to discharge,” says the policy.

Don’t increase fees, State tells schools

Don’t increase fees, State tells schools

Managements asked to allow parents to pay in instalments

10/05/2020, ALOK DESHPANDE,MUMBAI

The Maharashtra government has directed all schools in the State, across all boards, all mediums, and from pre-primary to Class XII, to not increase the fees for the academic year 2020-21.

According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Education Department recently, all the schools have also been asked to provide an option to parents to pay any pending fees for 2019-2020 or for the upcoming year academic in monthly or tri-monthly instalments. It has directed the school managements to not seek fees in one instalment.

At the same time, the government has also asked schools to evaluate the infrastructure they will be using throughout the year and, “in case certain educational facilities are not going to be used, then the Executive Committee of Parent Teacher Association (EPTA) may pass a resolution seeking reduction in fees”.

All the schools will also have to give parents the option of paying fees online during the period of lockdown, the GR said.

The State government has already issued a notification directing schools to not force parents to pay fees of the previous or next year. The GR, dated March 30, directed schools to collect fees only after lockdown ends.

“The government is responding to the demands of the parents to ensure they don’t face any hardship in this time. The department had received complaints about schools demanding pending fees even in lockdown time and therefore we issued the notification on March 30,” said an official.

Parents, he added, are also worried about the post-corona scenario, both economically and socially. “At such a time, we decided to ensure that they are not burdened with extra expenditure in the form of increased school fees. Every school in the State, irrespective of its board or medium, has to follow the government direction on fees,” he said.

Over 2,000 passengers to land in Mumbai next week

Over 2,000 passengers to land in Mumbai next week

CSMIA gears up to welcome Indians stranded in foreign countries; four flights to land today

10/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,MUMBAI

Heading home: Passengers arrive at Mumbai international airport to board a special flight to London.File PhotoMitesh Bhuvad

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is set to receive around 2,350 Indians over the period of one week, starting Sunday.

These Indians will arrive by repatriation flights arranged by the government of India to facilitate the return of 14,800 Indian nationals stranded abroad.

A Mumbai International Aiport Limited spokesperson said the airport has put together a standard operating procedure to ensure the safety of all passengers.

The repatriation operations will see CSMIA catering to 10 flights and six transit flight in the course of seven days, welcoming Indians returning from the U.S., U.K., Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Philippines, with 4 flights arriving on Sunday.

CSMIA said it will comply with the government guidelines during the repatriation. The airport will ensure the safety and well being of the passengers, right from the time the flight lands and passengers disembark the aircraft till they leave the terminal building.

“Two dedicated aerobridges have been identified for the repatriation flights, along with provision of proper infrastructure to the Airport Health Officer (APHO) for the screening of passengers before entering the immigration area,” the spokesperson said.

Passengers will need to maintain a physical distance of at least 2 metres through distinctive markings laid out at the airport and are required to wear face masks and gloves during the entire course of their journey.

In addition, the airport has set up 30 immigration counters for undertaking the necessary procedures and ensuring quick clearance of arriving passengers.

“The airport will be undertaking preventive measures by disinfecting the baggage before loading on the conveyor belt and providing sanitised baggage trolleys. Hand sanitisers will be placed on various touchpoints at the airport. Arriving passengers will be escorted by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel until they are handed over to State authorities.

“CSMIA will be operating with just one-third of its staff who will be provided with PPE, face masks, hand gloves and sanitisers,” the spokesperson said.

The airport maintenance staff will continue to follow the comprehensive cleaning procedures to efficiently sanitise and disinfect the terminal building including the vital areas such as elevator buttons, escalators, railings, amongst others.

For the benefit of the passengers, a limited number of forex and SIM card outlets will be made operational at the airport so passengers may download and install Aarogya Setu App on their mobile phones prior to proceeding on quarantine.

Provisions have also been made in the eventuality that any symptomatic passenger is identified at the airport; they would be immediately isolated and moved to the separate area earmarked for the purpose. Additionally, designated airport ambulances have been kept on standby to shift the symptomatic passengers to designated isolation centres.

The State government has made arrangements for asymptomatic passengers from Mumbai to be moved to identified quarantine facilities like hotels, depending on their preference while those from other cities will be transported by the State to their respective district headquarters for institutional quarantine. For this purpose, a help desk has been set up at the airport to guide the arriving passengers.

362 NoRKs arrive from Muscat, Kuwait

362 NoRKs arrive from Muscat, Kuwait

Two Air India Express flights bring them home, another flight from Doha to bring 183

10/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,KOCHI

Some of the passengers of the AIE flight IX 0474 from Bahrain on their arrival at the Cochin airport on Friday night.

Two Air India Express (AIE) flights carrying 362 Non-Resident Keralites (NoRKs) from Kuwait and Muscat landed at the Cochin international airport here on Saturday at 9.45 p.m. and 10 p.m. respectively. Another AIE special flight from Doha will be reaching the airport early Sunday morning.

They were being evacuated after they were stranded in these countries following the worldwide lockdown in air traffic to combat COVID-19.

There were 181 passengers, including four children, on the AIE (IX 0442) Muscat-Kochi flight.

They included 23 from Ernakulam, 26 from Thrissur, 20 each from Palakkad and Pathanamthitta, 16 from Kannur, 13 each from Kollam and Kottayam, 12 each from Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha, two each from Idukki and Kasaragod, 15 from Kozhikode, and nine from Malappuram.

The AIE flight from Kuwait (IX 0396) had 181 passengers, including four children.

The flight from Doha (IX 0476 ), scheduled to land at 1.40 a.m. on Sunday, will be carrying 183 passengers. Reports indicated that the 541 Malayalis being evacuated from the Gulf countries will be reaching Kochi without preliminary screening for COVID-19. It will be a major challenge for the State government, which has left nothing to chance by arranging quarantine for expatriates with symptoms in government facilities and home quarantine for those without the symptoms

From Bahrain

A group of 181 evacuees from Bahrain landed in Kochi on Friday night. The passengers comprised 87 men. Officials said 25 of the 94 women passengers were pregnant. The flight also had 28 children below 10 years of age. Of the 28 natives of Ernakulam, who arrived from Bahrain, 15 were sent to corona care centres and 13 in home quarantine. The flight had 41 natives of Thrissur, 19 of Palakkad, 22 of Kottayam, four of Kannur, ten of Alappuzha, and 17 of Kollam.