Govt reappoints Pandya as Gujarat University VC

Govt reappoints Pandya as Gujarat University VC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 01.07.2020

The state government today announced its decision to reappoint Himanshu Pandya, a professor at department of biochemistry and forensic science, as the vicechancellor of Gujarat University.

Pandya, who will be serving his second term at the top GU post, seem to have earlier fallen out with the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) after the GU students’ union election, held after a gap of four years in March. ABVP faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Congress’ student political wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). Many of them had alleged that Pandya supported NSUI to win the elections. Pandya’s name was among the candidates shortlisted by the search committee headed by Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat. His first term ended on May 16 and the charge was temporarily given to Jagdish Bhavsar, pro VC of GU. The committee, formed in February to shortlist names for the post of VC, said it could not complete the task due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown situation.

What seems to have swung things into Pandya’s favour is the recent announcement of the all National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Ranking 2020 by the Centre where Gujarat University made a surprise entry at number 60 in the list of higher education institutes in the overall category.

Last year, when the varsity did not even figure in the top 100 names in overall rankings in the NIRF 2019 list, Pandya, the then VC, had started various initiatives to raise its quality and standards.

“I want to take GU to newer heights. A research park that is currently being built will have far reaching benefits for the students, faculty members as well as the society,” said Pandya. He will take charge of the position in the next couple of days.

The three-member search committee included Kamlesh Joshipura, former vice-chancellor of Saurashtra University whose nomination was chosen by GU. Parimal Vyas has been chosen by the Joint Board of Vice-Chancellors (JBVC) is the third member of the committee.

COVID19: Permit Advocates To Advertise, Take Up Alternative Works During Lockdown: Plea In SC Seeks Directions To BCI & State Bar Councils For Desired Changes

COVID19: Permit Advocates To Advertise, Take Up Alternative Works During Lockdown: Plea In SC Seeks Directions To BCI & State Bar Councils For Desired Changes

By - Sanya TalwarUpdate: 2020-06-30 10:43 GMT

COVID19: Permit Advocates To Advertise, Take Up Alternative Works During Lockdown: Plea In SC Seeks Directions To BCI & State Bar Councils For Desired Changes

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking issuance of directions to the Bar Council of India to permit use of advertisements for lawyers till March 2021, allow public listings so that other para-legal work can be taken up by them to earn their livelihood in light of the pandemic situation and allow alternative means of sustenance.

The PIL has been filed by a practicing lawyer and Senior Standing Counsel to the income Tax Department, Charanjeet Chanderpal, in his capacity as Secretary General of a Non Governmental Organisation by the name of Nitya Law Society.

Averring that existing rules need to be altered in order to accommodate advocates who are from middle and lower middle class and are unable to sustain themselves, the plea states,

"In such situations, for persons other than advocates, if one option to earn to sustain is affected, they can look for alternatives and endeavour that would come in their way. However, if an advocate works outside his profession to stabilise his income, the regulations that govern the conduct of advocates will consider it as professional misconduct"

In this backdrop, it highlights the loss of income that advocates have faced during the pandemic and subsequent lockdown as a result of which there have been reports of suicides, depression and inability to subsist. Therefore, the plea prays that changes be brought forth in the Bar Council of India Rules by issuance of a circular or modification or issuing a corrigendum or suspension of current rules as well as initiate modifications under Section 49 of the Advocates Act, 1961.

"There are reports of suicides as a result of no work, medical depression, advocates's family members expiring due to no money to pay medical fees, reports of there being domestic violence in the houses of advocates. This is widely known as the internet is full of this information. This is happening all over India and times has come that the Bar Council of India must allow relaxations within the Rules. The same is applicable to the whole of India and time has come that the Bar Council of India must allow relaxations within the rules"

The petitioner avers that a long term solution is a must in these unprecedented crisis instead of "providing Rs. 5000 or 3000 per lawyer". Illustrating the recent commission of suicide by a 35 year old lawyer, the petitioner states that many of his acquaintances are going through a financial crunch and that even Senior Advocates with selective practice are going through a financial crunch due to closure of courts.

"A number of cases of advocates getting suicidal thoughts, suffering from depressing, suffering from no income, suffering from starvation and no income- all as a result of closure of courts..... Our NGO to propose the contents of this submission ... This is necessary for the survival of the advocates belonging to the middle and lower middle class. The representation there represents lakhs of advocates across our country who have stood affected."

To substantiate the same, the plea puts forth suggestions to allay the problems faced by lawyers which include:

1) Clarification of Chapter III Rule 2 of the Bar Council Rules viz. permission to advocates to be sleeping director or sleeping partner so that they can be inducted as "legal retainers" and legal advisors in organisations as there are wrong impressions in this regard.

2) Issuance of a circular permitting use of advertisements and whatsapp messages to permit advocates to take up chamber work like income tax assistance, GST assistance, registration of societies, trusts including assistance in online filing of cases.

3) Official notification, keeping in view the current covid situation, allowing advocates to earn their livelihood by alternative means along with an undertaking that the same shall not continue after March 2021.

UGC expected to issue revised guidelines for final year exams tomorrow

UGC expected to issue revised guidelines for final year exams tomorrow

UP government has said that they will issue their university exam guidelines on July 2nd based on UGC guidelines expected to be issued on July 1st.

Scroll Staff

Jun 30, 2020 · 12:17 pm

University Grants Commission (UGC) is expected to be releasing new guidelines for the university and college examinations tomorrow, July 1. This information is based on another report where the UP government has said that they will decide on university exams in the state on July 2 based on the UGC guidelines to be issued on July 1.

The Commission had released an initial set of guidelines in the month of May in which it had asked universities and colleges to conduct examinations only for the final year or final semester students and to promote the remaining students based on past performance.

MHRD had formed another committee to give a revised set of guidelines based on the current COVID-19 situation. Moreover, AICTE Chairman Anil Sahasrabuddhe had reportedly said last week that a revised guidelines will be released keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation in various states.

He also said that these guidelines will be made after consulting various professional bodies like AICTE, Bar Council of India, Architecture Council, Pharmacy Council, among others.

Times of India had earlier reported that a decision to scrap the final year exam has already been reached by the UGC committee and a formal notice for the same will be issued soon. It should be noted that the information has not yet been confirmed independently and students should wait for an official announcement.

At least four states - Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana - have taken a decision to cancel the university and college exams in their state including the final year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students have flooded the social media requesting the government to cancel all the exams or to postpone them.

Banned apps will get chance to send in their clarifications

Banned apps will get chance to send in their clarifications

TikTok removes app from Play Store, says it follows all rules

01/07/2020

TikTok says it has not shared details of Indian users with foreign governments.AFP

A day after the Union government banned 59 Chinese applications, including popular ones such as TikTok, Shareit, Mi Video Call, Club Factory and Cam Scanner, citing threat to national security and sovereignty, an Information Technology Ministry official said the banned platforms would be given a chance to submit their clarifications.

This is in line with provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.

Following the ban, TikTok withdrew its app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In a statement on Tuesday, it said it had been invited to meet the authorities concerned and submit clarifications.

The company’s India head, Nikhil Gandhi, said it had complied with all Indian laws related to data privacy and had not shared information of any Indian user with foreign governments, including the Chinese. “The government has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok, and we are in the process of complying with it.”

AUT welcomes BU move on research thesis

AUT welcomes BU move on research thesis

01/07/2020

Association of University Teachers has welcomed the Bharathiar University’s move to make available online the progress in the evaluation of Ph.D. synopsis and thesis.

The Association’s State president N. Pasupathy said by helping research scholars track the progress in acceptance and evaluation of the thesis, the University had fulfilled a long-pending demand, for in the past the candidates were left in the lurch.

A few candidates had to wait for even two years to know the result of evaluation of their thesis.

MKU College guest lecturers seek salaries

MKU College guest lecturers seek salaries

01/07/2020

A section of guest lecturers from Madurai Kamaraj University College made a representation to Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan, demanding salaries for the months of May and June.

K. C. Palani Kumar, one of the representatives, said that there were a total of 63 guest lecturers who were recruited in 2019 to the MKU College for a salary of ₹15,000 each. Mr. Palani Kumar claimed that while some guest lecturers in MKU’s other constituent colleges have received their salaries, it was only the 63 members at MKU College who were yet to be paid.

With regular classes for this academic year not likely to begin soon due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, Mr. Palani Kumar said they were worried that they would be left without an income for many months. “How will we feed our families? It would be really kind if the university chooses to pay our salaries at least for the month of June,” he said.

The MKU V-C said that guest lecturers in Tamil Nadu were yet to receive their salaries as universities were still waiting for proper guidance from the State government regarding the matter.

“As soon as we get the nod, we will begin disbursing salaries,” he said.

Around 50 students face insufficient data pack to attend online NEET classes

Around 50 students face insufficient data pack to attend online NEET classes

01/07/2020

Around 50 students of government and government-aided schools across the district have been identified as those who have difficulties in attending the School Education Department’s online crash course for cracking NEET examinations, citing insufficient data pack and poor network coverage.

S. Vennila Devi, a government teacher and district coordinator for NEET, said that based on instructions from senior officials, her team had identified these students who couldn’t attend the classes due to insufficient data packs.

“There are plans to recharge internet packs for these students, so that they can attend the online classes. There will be an online meeting with senior officials on Wednesday to discuss the issue,” she said.

Initially, around 370 students from the district had registered for the online classes which commenced on June 17. Then the strength was increased to around 400 students. The students have video lectures and online tests as part of the crash course.

Usually, in the run-up to the NEET examinations, the School Education Department conducts a one-month residential crash course for students. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, online classes were started this year.

Chief Educational Officer R. Swaminathan said that around 90% of registered students attended the online classes everyday. However, students, especially those from interior pockets, had issues in attending online classes citing insufficient data packs or poor network, he said.