‘Decision to clear arrears against UGC guidelines’

‘Decision to clear arrears against UGC guidelines’

According to E Vijay Anand, counsel for Balagurusamy, only universities have such powers and not the State government. 

Published: 01st October 2020 05:44 AM 

AICTE. (Photo | aicte-india.org)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has informed the Madras High Court that the exemption awarded to college students in Tamil Nadu from taking their arrear exams by the State government is not in accordance with the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC). M Sundaresan, south regional officer of the council, in his reply, submitted, “The council has not issued any exemption for students appearing in exams and those pursuing their studies next year without being assessed through exams.

Degree cannot be awarded to a student who has failed to clear a large number of arrears. This is not acceptable in the industry too.” The AICTE replied to the submissions made by former Vice-Chancellor E Balagurusamy and advocate Ramkumar Adityan, who challenged the State government’s move to cancel the exams. According to E Vijay Anand, counsel for Balagurusamy, only universities have such powers and not the State government. 

The petitioner further said that the government’s decision will lower the educational standard of students and the university. “It will badly affect the reputation, credibility, and prospects of meritorious students and the quality of education,” he added. Denying the submissions made by the State, AICTE said, the government order cancelling arrear exams declaring all students who paid the exam fees to have passed, claimed to be made as per the guidelines of the council, is not true.

Earlier, the State government argued that the order was passed under the Disaster Management Act, exercising the powers vested with the State Disaster Management Authority under the legislation. Even the apex court has upheld such rights and powers of the State authority under the Act, if it does not fall in conflict with the UGC guidelines, said Advocate General Vijay Narayanan. The court is likely to hear the case tomorrow based on the submissions made by AICTE.

TNSTC buses packed to the rafters as private ones stay off road in State

TNSTC buses packed to the rafters as private ones stay off road in State

The owners also demanded that full occupancy must be allowed in buses against the 50 per cent currently allowed.

Published: 01st October 2020 04:34 AM 

 (File Photo | Nakshatra Krishnamoorthy/EPS)

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Even as authorities are appealing to the public to maintain social distancing, people are forced to travel in crowed TNSTC buses, especially during rush hour. This is because private buses continue to stay off the roads as the owners are waiting for the government to meet their demands.

“Till the State government does not issue a separate SOP meeting our demands, it is not feasible for private buses to operate. Two cases in the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court, on the extension of the loan repayment moratorium period and the waiver from road tax too are being delayed,” said Tamil Nadu Omni Bus Owners Association president A Afzal.“How can we pay road tax for March to September, when we did not ply at all? Our families are struggling and the government is asking us to pay for something which we have not even used. Even worse, some officials are demanding fine,” a private bus owner, R Anbalagan said.

The owners also demanded that full occupancy must be allowed in buses against the 50 per cent currently allowed. Meanwhile, the TNSTC buses ply heavily crowded during rush hour. “I even noticed people travelling on footboards. Currently, very few trains operate and buses are the only pocket friendly option for inter-district travel. However, it is not possible for people to maintain social distancing on the vehicles and some passengers do not even were masks,” said M Aravind, a regular commuter.As of yet, there is no clear information from the government on meeting the private bus owners’ demands.

Advocate moves Madras HC against removal of 'thali' and 'metti' during NEET exams

Advocate moves Madras HC against removal of 'thali' and 'metti' during NEET exams

When examination halls are fitted with CCTV cameras and invigilators are always present to ensure the proper conduct of the exams, there is no necessity for such frisking, said the petition

Published: 30th September 2020 07:26 PM | Last Updated: 30th September 2020 07:26 PM 

NEET exam hallMedical aspirants and their parents waiting outside a NEET examination hall in Chennai. (File photo | Express)By Harish MuraliExpress News Service

CHENNAI: An advocate has moved the Madras High Court seeking to restrain the National Testing Agency and Medical Council of India from forcing the removal of sacred ornaments such as 'thali' and 'metti' of candidates who are taking part in the NEET. The petitioner stated that the rules are in violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The petitioner said, "According to Hindu customs, it should be removed only after the death of the husband. That is the reason even in all international airports all over the world, 'thali' is not required to be removed during the security check as it is a religious symbol for the sacramental bond."

In the name of ensuring fairness in the examination, the students are put to all kinds of stress due to the dress they wear, said S Aravind Raj.

When examination halls are fitted with CCTV cameras and invigilators are always present to ensure the proper conduct of the exams, there is no necessity for such frisking, said the petition.

Chapter 8 of the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test 2020 relating to wearing of metal or ornaments is in violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India. Hence it is liable to be declared as unconstitutional and unreasonable, he added.

Students miss NEET: Three teachers suspended in MP

Students miss NEET: Three teachers suspended in MP

TNN | Sep 29, 2020, 12.03 PM IST

KHARGONE: Khargone district education officer (DEO) has suspended three teachers in the case of nine students failing to appear in NEET. Apart from this, a proposal has been sent to stop the increments of two officers.

As per official information, Khargone DEO KK Dongre has suspended Dasnaval primary teacher Prince Gupta, Segav middle school teacher Durgavati Gupta and Kelly primary teacher Geeta Bhatnagar with immediate effect.

A proposal has been sent to divisional commissioner to stop two increments of Segav block education officer ML Verma and Segav excellence school principal Sandeep Kapadnik.

Due to negligence in duty, nine students could not attend NEET held on September 13.

They were entrusted with the responsibility of arranging a bus to ferry students to the exam centre in Indore and bring them back.

Khargone collector Anugraha P, taking cognizance of the case, had directed action against the guilty after meeting with the deprived students, their parents and government officials. She had also instructed to arrange coaching for the students.

Univ sits on proposal to set up Ambedkar studies department - The Times Of India

Univ sits on proposal to set up Ambedkar studies department - The Times Of India

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

Chennai:1.10.2020 

Thirteen long years have passed since the Thiruvalluvar University (TU) got the nod to establish the department of Dr B R Ambedkar Studies and a chair in Ambedkar’s name.Theuniversity,however, is yet to set them up.

The proposal to establish the department of Dr Ambedkar Studies was placed before the university in December 2006. The syndicate discussed and approved the proposal following which it was sent to the governor. The governor’s nod came in February 2007. Things stand there till now.

Meanwhile, the assent of Dr Ambedkar Foundation under the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment to create Dr B R Ambedkar Chair with a seedfundof ₹50lakhhad been pending since 2005 as the university made no efforts to set it up. “Since 2005, we have been reminding every vicechancellor to establish the chair and starting the department (Dr Ambedkar Studies)but not much has been done,” said I Elangovan, former syndicate member of the university and president of Thiruvalluvar University Employees’ Union.

The previous vice-chancellor, K Murugan, constituted a seven-member board of studies to frame the syllabus and come up with other requirements. But the task was not accomplished, he said.

He added that apart from the seed money, Dr Ambedkar Foundation was ready to provide additional financial support to sustain the activities if the university was ready to allocate a separate building or a wing of a building to run the chair. “Till 2010, the university was functioning on the premises of Vellore Fort and did not have sufficient infrastructure. However, no steps were taken after the university moved to a new campus at Serkadu,” he said.

Professor K Anthony Baskaran, one of the serving syndicate members, had raised the issue in the first meeting held after the new VC Thamaraiselvi Somasundaram took over last year. She had assured to take necessary steps. “Though the present VC launched a number of new courses, she did not take this department forward,” Baskaran said.

Thamaraiselvi, when contacted,saidshewasunawareof the board of studies formed by the former VC. She said, “We will form a committee soon and take necessary steps to establish the department of Ambedkar Studies and the chair. Getting the approval is easy but funding is a difficult task.”

HC stays G.O. requiring deemed varsities to obtain NOC for agriculture courses

HC stays G.O. requiring deemed varsities to obtain NOC for agriculture courses

30/09/2020

Mohamed Imranullah S. CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Tuesday stayed the operation of a Government Order issued on July 28 directing all deemed universities to obtain no objection certificates (NOCs) from the government within six months for conducting agriculture or allied courses and not to admit new students until such NOC was obtained.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh granted the interim stay on petitions filed by SRM Institute of Science and Technology and Vellore Institute of Technology challenging the G.O. on the ground that the State government had no authority to force the deemed universities to obtain NOCs from it.

Senior counsel G. Masilamani and Chitra Sampath told the court the G.O. had been passed by referring to the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations of 2004 and 2016, though all deemed to be universities across the country were now actually governed by the UGC (Institutions deemed to be universities) Regulations of 2019.

Mr. Masilamani contended that the regulations in vogue do not require the deemed universities to obtain NOCs from the State government. Central Government Senior Panel Counsel B. Rabu Manohar, representing the UGC, also told the court that there was no necessity for institutions deemed to be universities to obtain clearance from the State governments.

He brought it to the attention of the court that an association of self-financing agricultural colleges had already filed a writ petition seeking a direction to the government to implement the G.O. and prevent all nine deemed universities, that were offering agriculture and allied courses, from admitting students this year. The UGC had prepared a counter affidavit to that petition taking a stand that the government had no role to play in conduct of agriculture and allied courses by deemed universities, he said.

Jipmer won’t conduct MBBS entrance test from current year

Jipmer won’t conduct MBBS entrance test from current year

Admissions will be made through NEET, says director

01/10/2020

Special CorrespondentPUDUCHERRY

The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) will not conduct the MBBS entrance examination from the current year, with the admission process being handled by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Directorate-General of Health Services, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In a press note, the Jipmer Director made it explicit in the wake of rumours circulating in relation to admission counselling for MBBS seats that from the current year, Jipmer’s own MBBS entrance test had been discontinued and all admissions at the institute would be made through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Hence, counselling for the candidates who have qualified in NEET 2020 would be conducted by the MCC.

The allotment of seats on the Puducherry and Karaikal campuses would be done as per Jipmer’s existing policies for reservation and domicile regulations. The details are available on the Jipmer’s official website www.jipmer.edu.in

MD/MS admissions

In keeping with a communication from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, admissions to the postgraduate courses (MD/MS/DM(6 years)/M.Ch (6 years)/MDS) at Jipmer, Puducherry, for the January 2021 session will be made through a Combined Entrance Examination for Postgraduate Courses at Institutes of National Importance (CET-INI), along with those for seats at the AIIMS, New Delhi, PGIMER, Chandigarh, and NIMHANS in Bengaluru.

The test will be conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, on November 20 at several centres around the country. Interested candidates are advised to visit the website, www.aiimsexams.org for online registration (the last date is October 12).

All applicants are required to visit the website regularly since all subsequent corrigenda, addenda and updates will be available there.

No convocation

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the safety of all stakeholders and to abide by the restrictions imposed by the Central and Puducherry governments under the Epidemic Act, Jipmer will not conduct its annual convocation this year.

All degree certificates will be sent to the registered addresses of the students.

All the eligible students have to register themselves in the format available on the Jipmer website.