HC dismisses plea of job applicant who hid case info

HC dismisses plea of job applicant who hid case info

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:16.11.2020

Verification of character and antecedents is of paramount importance for police services, the Madras high court has observed while dismissing the plea moved by a candidate seeking appointment in Tamil Nadu Special Police Youth Brigade (TSPYB) on the ground that he had suppressed the fact that a criminal case was registered against him.

Petitioner Loordhu Packiyam had cleared the written examination and subsequently participated in certificate verification and physical endurance test for appointment to the post of TSPYB in 2014. When his antecedents were verified by the police, they found that a criminal case was registered against him and he was subsequently acquitted on the basis of a compromise.

Hence the rejection order was passed for suppressing this, which Packiyam challenged before the HC Madurai bench in 2014. Justice S M Subramaniam observed that the petitioner stated in his application that no criminal case was ever registered against him whereas there were columns in the applications to state even if a criminal case was registered on an earlier occasion. Thus, it was unambiguous that petitioner has suppressed the fact regarding the criminal case, said the judge. Referring to an earlier order of the court in 2019, the judge observed that he is not entitled to relief.

Innocent until proven guilty, says HC, while granting bail to two

Madurai:

Observing that law presumes innocence unless allegations are established or proved against the people who are charged, Madras high court granted bail to two people arrested in connection with a murder case in Madurai district. The court was hearing the bail petitions filed by Kannayiramoorthy alias Kannayiram and Vigneswaran who were arrested by the South Gate police on August 22, on charges of murdering a man due to family dispute. Justice S M Subramaniam observed that the seriousness of the allegations or the availability of the materials are not the only consideration for declining bail. There are various other factors, which can be considered for granting bail and bail cannot be rejected in a routine manner. TNN

Stalin demands suspension of Anna Univ V-C

Stalin demands suspension of Anna Univ V-C

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.11.2020

DMK president M K Stalin has demanded the suspension of Anna University vice-chancellor M K Surappa, who is facing a probe into charges of corruption. In a statement on Sunday, Stalin noted that former vice chancellors of Anna University were suspended when they faced similar allegations. Stalin questioned the delay in ordering the probe against Surappa despite the government receiving complaints nine months ago. Though the complaints against Surappa came in February, why did the government keep them pending for the past nine months? The delay on the part of the government to order a probe calls for a separate inquiry, he said. Vice chancellor of Anna University, Coimbatore, R Radhakrishnan was suspended during DMK regime. When Anna University V C P Mannar Jawahar faced charges, the AIADMK government had suspended him, said Stalin. Radhakrishnan was suspended in 2009 and was eventually convicted in 2016 for receiving bribes. Mannar Jawahar had completed his tenure in 2013 when corruption charges were levelled. He was serving as a professor in Madras Institute of Technology and was suspended from the post just before his retirement. He was eventually exonerated from the charges. “Why should Surappa be an exception. Only if the VC is suspended immediately, it will enable a free and fair probe,” said Stalin, urging chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to order his suspension, before the probe panel led by retired high court judge P Kalayarasan begins the inquiry. Stalin said even a government staff member, who is accused of receiving ₹500 as bribe, was being suspended. But Surappa continues to be in the post despite explicit complaints of multi crore bribery levelled against him as well as the deputy director of Anna University Sakthinathan, he said.

Later, RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy tweeted: “Surappa Anna University VC, a man of impeccable integrity and an equally good academic, is being persecuted by TN Govt as he refused to give degrees to students with arrears. Thousands of students with 20-35 arrears who never clear the would have got degrees”.

TN to release rank list for MBBS today

TN to release rank list for MBBS today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.11.2020

The Directorate of Medical Education will release the rank list for MBBS/ BDS admissions on Monday (today). This year 38,232 students applied for more than 4,000 seats available at government and self-financing medical colleges.

“The rank list will be released by health minister CVijayabaskar on Monday at 10am,” said Dr R Narayana Babu, director of medical education. The medical counselling is likely to be held from November 18 or 19 in offline mode at a new location with Covid-19 precautions.

According to the data provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the number of students scoring above 400 marks in Tamil Nadu has doubled compared to last year. A total of 11,978 students scored above 400 marks compared to 5,634 students in 2019.

Former VC gets bail in murder case

Former VC gets bail in murder case

Bengaluru: 15.11.2020 

The high court has granted bail to Sudhir Angur, former vice-chancellor of Alliance University and prime accused in the Ayyappa Dore murder case. The relief is for three months to enable him to undergo an angiogram procedure for his cardiac ailment.

Justice PS Dinesh Kumar considered the November 2, 2020 letter by the chief medical officer, Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, to the jail superintendent. The prosecution said bail could be granted for a limited period by imposing conditions.

Angur has to execute a personal bond for Rs 2 lakh with two sureties of like sum, surrender his passport, gun licence and weapon before the station house officer at RT Nagar police station. Once he’s declared fit by doctors, he should surrender before the trial court.

Dore, 53, then VC of the university, was found murdered on October 15, 2019 at HMT ground. Angur, who was arrested on October 17 last year, had filed a bail petition before the 55th City Civil and Sessions Court, but it was dismissed in April. The high court rejected his regular bail plea on August 12, 2020. After his plea on medical grounds was rejected by the trial court on November 6, 2020, he pleaded the high court for six-month bail to undergo the procedure. TNN

Faculty crunch in colleges as filling vacancies delayed

Faculty crunch in colleges as filling vacancies delayed

AnanthaNarayanan.K@timesgroup.com

Kochi:15.11.2020

The delay in filling vacancies of teachers, both regular and guest, has affected academic activities in several colleges in Kerala and now the pandemic and the resultant financial crunch is further worsening the situation. The directorate of collegiate education (DCE) has restricted the appointment of teachers in higher educational institutions under its ambit during the pandemic.

Besides the delay in regularizing appointment of faculties, the heads of institutions were asked to temporarily stop appointing guest lectures until further notice, and emergency appointments could only be made after special permission from the department.

Moreover, in case if any college faces severe shortage of teachers leading to interruption in teaching of subjects, the principals/ HODS will have to make arrangements with other colleges and avail online lessons on respective subjects from the teachers there.

A circular regarding this was sent by the DCE to all heads of institutions through deputy directors. Many colleges are struggling to complete syllabi through online classes, and with the classes of first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students beginning in most colleges by next week, the faculty crunch will be a problem. Even though many colleges have conducted interviews, they are hesitant to make appointments fearing government action.

The situation is worse in aided colleges compared to government colleges, where appointments through transfer is possible to meet the requirements to a certain extent. College principals and teachers said that the government will have to clear the delay in appointments immediately.

“There are around 28 unfilled vacancies across departments in the college and the coverage of portions was mostly managed through guest lecturers. The restrictions in appointing guest teachers are affecting academics. Though we held interviews to find qualified teachers, they are doubtful about getting salaries due to the present restrictions and hence have not joined. It is impractical to avail online classes from other colleges to compensate for faculty crunch. With the classes of new batches beginning, there will be additional workload on teachers,” said a HOD at St Albert’s College, Ernakulam.

Fr Prashant Palackapilly, principal of Sacred Heart College, Ernakulam, said that faculty crunch will affect the quality of education imparted. “The system of filling vacancies in Kerala has several flaws and delays. This has worsened during the pandemic. Getting qualified and efficient guest lecturers itself is a difficult task and even if we find someone the appointments are not possible,” he said.

The higher education department has recently approved 197 hybrid courses, including nearly 20 integrated courses, across the state and gave the permission to start the course this month itself. But only guest lectures will have to be appointed for these new courses until 2025. The restrictions in appointment of guest lecturers are delaying the implementation of new courses too.

Higher education department officials said that the government will have to issue a new order regarding the appointments for these courses. “The reports and complaints from colleges about faculty shortage have increased since the pandemic began. But the government circular will exist until offline classes are resumed. For appointments of teachers in newly-announced courses, we are awaiting further orders,” a senior official with DCE said.

The heads of institutions were asked to temporarily stop appointing guest lectures too

Sabarimala temple will open today

Sabarimala temple will open today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

15.11.2020

Sabarimala temple will open for this year’s Mandala pilgrimage season on Sunday. Chief priest A K Sudheer Namboothiri will open the temple nada at 5pm on Sunday. Devotees will be allowed to visit the temple from Monday morning. As per Covid-19 protocol, only 1,000 devotees will be allowed per day through virtual queue.

Medical fitness certificate is mandatory for those in the age group of 60 to 65 years and Covid negative certificate is must for all pilgrims. The health department has set up facilities for conducting antigen tests at Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvalla, Chengannur and Kottayam railways stations. There would also be Covid testing kiosks in Nilackal and Pamba.

‘Can’t seek review of college fees with retrospective effect’

‘Can’t seek review of college fees with retrospective effect’

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:15.11.2020  

Educational institutions cannot retrospectively seek review of fees fixed by Fee Regulating Authority (FRA), ruled the quasi-judicial body after a complaint by students from a private management institute. FRA, in a “well-reasoned and an elaborate” order, pointed out that the institute cannot seek review of fees fixed in 2018, when it opted for no revision in the subsequent year, acquiescing to the fee structure fixed by the authority for two academic years.

N L Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research from Mira Road charged MMS students of 2019-20 batch nearly Rs 2.3 lakh, over and above fees (tuition and development) approved by FRA of nearly Rs 1.9 lakh. Two students from 2019-20 batch complained to FRA that the college collected extra and submitted receipts.

FRA sought an explanation from the institute, which sought review of the fee structure approved by the authority on January 24, 2018. Citing a provision of the regulatory act, FRA stated that “if the fee approved by the authority is not acceptable to the institution, it may file a review application with detailed reasoning within 15 days from the date of communication”. The institute did not file any review application in 2018. It opted for no upward revision on FRA’s portal in 2019, retaining fees at nearly Rs 1.9 lakh even for 2019-20 batch of 240 students. Therefore, the review application filed now cannot be applicable for both academic years, said the order.

The 2018-19 batch graduated and 2019-20 batch will complete the course in six months. “It is strange a review application for hike in fees is retrospectively being sought, which in no circumstance is permissible,” stated the order of the regulatory body, headed by retired high court judge, Justice M N Gilani.

The institute authorities were not reachable for comments but an official said they provide value-added courses to students to make them industry-ready and receipts were provided. The institute CEO, before the FRA, mentioned “excellent infrastructure, best placement record and many other welfare measures undertaken by the institute”.

An FRA member said the institute will be given a chance to justify excessive fees but if there is no valid reason, as in most such cases, institutes have to refund excessive fees.

TIMES VIEW: FRA gives colleges 15 days to seek review of fees fixed by it. Colleges are expected to file a review application justifying higher fees within that period if they are not convinced with the approved fees. If the college has voluntarily accepted the fees, it weakens its stand in charging excessive fees. Anything charged above tuition fees may be seen as capitation fees by the regulatory body.