All Unaided Private Educational Institutions 'Establishment' For The Purpose Of ESI Act: Madras HC [Read Judgment]

All Unaided Private Educational Institutions 'Establishment' For The Purpose Of ESI Act: Madras HC [Read Judgment]: All private educational institutions will come under the purview of the ESI Act and will be treated as an 'establishment' for all purposes under it, the Madras High Court has ruled.The order was...

Nilgiris medical college a step closer to reality

Nilgiris medical college a step closer to reality

Environment Ministry gives stage-1 nod to build facility inside the eco-sensitive region

Published: 02nd August 2020 05:35 AM |

By SV Krishna Chaitanya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The State government’s plan to build a medical college in the Niligiris has received in-principle approval from the Union environment ministry. The regional empowered committee of the Central ministry has accorded stage-1 nod to build the facility inside the ecologically sensitive Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.

A decision in this regard was made at a meeting held on April 17 at the ministry’s regional office in Chennai. A total of 25 acres of forest land would be diverted for the purpose. The committee, while recommending the approval, has set seven specific conditions.

No tree of spontaneous growth shall be felled and no cutting shall be carried out without prior approval of the Hill Area Conservation Authority. “Felling of trees with more than 60 cm girth may be avoided and translocating of trees may be carried out wherever possible.” No residential constructions shall be built on the diverted forest.

In case any dispute arises over the land considered for diversion or over the structures claimed to be built by Hindustan Photo Films Limited (HPFL), which are existing within the forest area proposed for diversion, the State government shall take full responsibility and resolve the disputes appropriately, the committee said. 

Government sources told TNIE that nine structures build by the HPFL are situated in the forest land proposed to be diverted and they are free of any occupancy. “The Nilgiris district collector, in a letter dated February 19 this year, has submitted to the committee that the entire extent of 292.71 acres of land previously given to the HPFL has been resumed and handed over to the forest department,” sources said.

Post inspection, Anna varsity releases list of seats, affiliated colleges

Post inspection, Anna varsity releases list of seats, affiliated colleges

Anna University has published a list of courses and the number of seats in each affiliated college for the current academic year.

Published: 02nd August 2020 05:35 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Anna University has published a list of courses and the number of seats in each affiliated college for the current academic year. Some institutions have applied for affiliation to the university but have not submitted the statutory documents.

These institutions are not included in the list. The varsity, in a statement, said the list will be updated when such colleges submit the documents. The last date for granting approval is August 15. 

It may be noted that registrations for the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2020 started on July 15. A top official from the university said that they have already granted affiliation to over 400 institutions. The inspection process was carried out online this year owing to the lockdown. The list of affiliated colleges and seats can be found at: https://www.annauniv.edu/cai/Options.php.

Madurai doctor loses Rs 2.1 crore to ‘mask sellers’

Madurai doctor loses Rs 2.1 crore to ‘mask sellers’

Conmen are as virulent as the virus itself during the pandemic — this is a lesson a doctor from Vadipatti learnt after falling prey to frauds not once but twice within a couple of months.

Published: 02nd August 2020 05:49 AM |

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Conmen are as virulent as the virus itself during the pandemic — this is a lesson a doctor from Vadipatti learnt after falling prey to frauds not once but twice within a couple of months. Scam operators pretending to be representatives of overseas mask manufacturers, cheated the owner of a private hospital of Rs 2.1 crore over two months starting May.

The incident came to light when the 44-year-old doctor approached the District Crime Branch with a complaint, sources said. A Hyderbad-based middleman going by the name, Uday Shankar Parupalli, approached the doctor on May 22 and offered him help to purchase N95 mask in bulk from a Kyrgyzstan- based company at reduced price.

Lured by the offer, the doctor placed an order for 2 lakh masks with the company online. Later, a man named Surya Narayanan, who claimed to be the commercial director of the company, contacted the doctor and confirmed the order. As instructed, the doctor paid Rs 90 lakh, a part of the total amount, in several transactions until July 3.

Madurai doctor loses Rs 2 crore to ‘mask’ men

In June, the doctor placed a second order online for 5 lakh N95 masks with a private company in The Netherlands. Shortly after placing the order, a man named Patrick Van Dick, who claimed to be from the sales section of the company, contacted him to discuss the sale and the transaction. A few days later, another man named Peter Booths, who introduced himself as the manager of the company, contacted him and confirmed the order. The duo asked the doctor to pay 20 per cent of the amount as advance, and he paid $1,60,000 in several transactions between June 9 and June 16. The men sent him an airway bill and demanded a further payment of 30 per cent of the total amount; they said the remaining 50 per cent could be paid after the order reached the Chennai Airport.

Something amiss

In July, the doctor received a document sent by Uday Shankar and Surya Narayanan. A scrutiny proved that the document was fake. Alarmed, the doctor contacted the duo and demanded his money, but to no avail. Around the same time, the doctor contacted ‘The Netherlands’ company, to which he had by then paid more than Rs 1 crore, and tried to cancel the order; both Dick and Booths stopped responding to his calls.

They neither supplied the masks nor returned the advance amount. Based on the complaint lodged by the doctor, the DCB registered two separate cases against seven persons under Sections 120 (B), 406, 420 and 34 of IPC. Police sources said that since foreign nationals are involved in the crime, the embassies concerned should be contacted for further investigation. It may be noted that two businessmen in Mumbai and a doctor in Hyderabad had lost their money in similar frauds while trying to purchase N95 masks and PPE kits online.

An ST with SC certificate: An issue even govt officials cannot solve?

An ST with SC certificate: An issue even govt officials cannot solve?

Even as Jayaraj steps inside the RDO’s office, an employee sitting there will look away from him and into the calendar.

Published: 02nd August 2020 05:50 AM 

By Nirupa Sampath

Express News Service

CUDDALORE: Even as Jayaraj steps inside the RDO’s office, an employee sitting there will look away from him and into the calendar. He will announce a fresh date, even before Jayaraj can ask about the status of his community certificate. This has become a ritual over the past 18 months. The 21-year-old mathematics graduate has lost all hope, but has not given up his attempts. 

Back in 2018, Jayaraj was an inspiration for the children and youngsters in Samy Nagar, an Irula hamlet in the outskirts of Cuddalore. He had obtained an ST community certificate and was determined to study further. He finished graduation, without major hassles. However, then arose a community certificate conundrum.

“I went through my entire schooling without a community certificate,” explains Jayaraj. “Later, I realised that it would be helpful to have an ST certificate, as I would get fee concessions, scholarships, and other government benefits. So, I applied for an SC certificate. I knew I belonged to the ST category, but I just thought it would be easier securing an SC paper.” He got an SC certificate. However, later, officials conducted inquiries and gave him an ST certificate too, in 2018. Now, he has two community certificates in hand, and his ordeal has been about getting the SC certificate cancelled. “I have been running pillar to post, and it’s taking a toll on my physical, mental, and financial health,” he says. 

The trouble, activists say, is with officials taking terminologies too literally. Initial definition and general perception is that Irulas are hill-tribes. But, many of them migrated or were forcibly brought down to the plains over the years

Jayaraj, so far, has submitted three letters and five petitions. “Over the time, officials have misplaced them,” he claims. “When I approached the RDO office, they told me to submit both my certificates. But, I was apprehensive, as they had misplaced by petitions and documents earlier. It took the officials nearly two months to even see my documents.” Jayaraj says he has made multiple trips to Chennai and regular visits to the RDO office.

“They are yet to cancel my SC certification.” Jayaraj was recently asked to go see the Cuddalore Tehsildar. “But when I went there, they said they were unaware of the procedures through which they can sort out my case. I am deeply worried. If even the officials do not know what to do, what will I do?” Jayaraj at least had the grit to fight. Three of his friends gave up and discontinued studies after class 12. “I kept persuading them not to give up. But, their family situations were such that they could not afford this fight. It consumes too much time and money. They gave up.”

Agreeing that there have been some problems in issuing community certificates to Irulas, Director of TN Tribal Welfare Department Ritto Cyriac says that he has been regularly instructing revenue department officers to consider deserving cases without any undue delay

Chennai private hospital loses its licence for fleecing patients

Chennai private hospital loses its licence for fleecing patients

According to a statement, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, after receiving complaints against the hospital, had inspected the facility.

Published: 02nd August 2020 05:39 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Despite the State government fixing a price cap on Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals, some of them continue to charge their patients exorbitantly, thereby making the most out of the pandemic crisis.

One such instance came to light on Saturday when the State government temporarily revoked the permission given to the Bewell Private Hospital at Kilpauk, to treat Covid-19 patients. The hospital allegedly overcharged a Covid patient to the tune of Rs 12.20 lakh for 19 days of treatment. 

According to a statement, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, after receiving complaints against the hospital, had inspected the facility. The visit revealed that the hospital indeed overcharged the patients and did not adhere to the price cap set by the State. Hence, the licence of the hospital was revoked temporarily. 

The State government fixed rates for private hospitals to provide Covid-19 treatment after reports emerged that some hospitals were fleecing their patients. According to the Government Order in this regard, Grade 1& 2 hospitals can charge a maximum of Rs 7,000 in general ward per day, while Grade 3& 4 hospitals can charge Rs 5,000 per day. 

The order clearly mentions that private hospitals must strictly not charge more than the prescribed limit and that the decision has been taken after considering the requests placed by the State branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and media reports on private hospitals going overboard.

Earlier, the State had included the treatment of Covid-19 patients in private hospitals under the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme. The treatment is provided free-of-cost at all designated government hospitals. The families that have already enrolled and are eligible under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance scheme can avail treatment as per the announcements.

Asha Bhosle files complaint after ₹2L power bill

Asha Bhosle files complaint after ₹2L power bill

Mumbai:  02.08.2020

Singer Asha Bhosle filed a complaint with state power utility firm MSEDCL after receiving a bill of Rs 2 lakh for her bungalow in Lonavla. Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) stated that the bill was generated per the ‘actual meter reading’, and that this had been communicated to the singer. MSEDCL has been receiving flak from consumers for ‘inflated’ bills in June.

Bhosle received a power bill of Rs 2,08,870 for June, while the bill for the same house for the months May and April were Rs 8,855.44 and Rs 8,996.98, respectively. According to the power consumption history mentioned in the bill, the singer had received a bill of Rs 6,395.66 for June 2019.

“We received a complaint from Bhosle for an inflated bill. Acting on the same, a senior official from the Pune circle personally went there [Bhosle’s Lonavla bungalow] to check the reading. It was verified that the meter reading was correct and so was the bill,” said an MSEDCL spokesperson. He added that after conducting a proper investigation, it was found that the bungalow was not closed and that shoots were taking place there.

Bhosle was not available for comment. This is not the first time she has complained about inflated electricity bills. In 2016, Bhosale had complained about receiving an exorbitant bill for the bungalow, which was “not much in use”. The then energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had then assured Bhosle that he would look into the matter. PTI