GTU postpones its college exams

GTU postpones its college exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:02.12.2020

Gujarat Technological University (GTU), the state’s largest university, has decided to postpone the winter 2020 exams indefinitely due to the Covid-19 situation in the state.

“At our meeting today, attended by deans and associate deans, it was unanimously decided to postpone the coming winter 2020 exams. Whenever the new timetable is finalized, it will be put on the GTU website 10 days in advance,” said Naveen Sheth, the vice-chancellor of GTU.

He said colleges will resume studies in online mode for the next semester to protect the interests of students.

The Association of Gujarat Engineering and Technological Diploma Colleges had earlier this week demanded that GTU to reconsider their decision to hold the winter examination in pen and paper format. There are 550 colleges affiliated to GTU.

As many as two lakh students were expected to take the exams, included candidates taking remedial exams.

In a letter to the GTU vice-chancellor, the association said GTU should consider holding the exams online.

The state government recently revoked its order for re-opening schools and colleges from November due to the Covid-19 situation. Schools and colleges have been closed in the state for more than eight months now.

GTU was the first university to hold online annual exams for colleges earlier this year.

As many as 460 students from 153 foreign countries and 17 states had registered for the online exams held from September 21.

GU defers exams

Due to the worsening Covid-19 situation, Gujarat University (GU) has finally decided not to go ahead with its examinations scheduled for later this month. Gujarat Technological University (GTU) had already announced the postponement of examinations that were to start from December 10. GTU decided to defer its exams because of the increase in Covid-19 cases. TNN

‘Choosing one’s spouse a fundamental right’

‘Choosing one’s spouse a fundamental right’

Karnataka HC Observation Echoes Verdicts By Allahabad, Delhi Courts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:02.12.2020

The Karnataka high court has said it was well settled that the “right of any major individual to marry the person of his/her choice is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of India”, echoing earlier observations by the Allahabad and Delhi high courts upholding the right to marry a person of one’s own choice.

The Karnataka HC division bench comprising Justices S Sujatha Sachin Shankar Magadum, which was dealing with a case involving two software professionals on November 27, added that “the said liberty relating to the personal relationships of two individuals cannot be encroached by anybody irrespective of caste or religion”.

The observations came while disposing of a habeas corpus petition filed by HB Wajeed Khan, a software engineer and resident of Bengaluru, who had approached the court seeking directions to produce Ramya G, a software engineer and colleague, and set her at liberty.

Acting on the court’s directions, Chandra Layout police produced Ramya before the court on November 27. Her parents, Gangadhar and Girija, as well as Wajeed Khan and his mother, Sreelakshmi, were present.

Ramya told the court she was staying at the NGO Mahila Dakshatha Samithi, Vidyaranyapura, following a complaint lodged by her with the Janodaya Santwana Kendra, a family dispute resolution forum set up by the department of women and child welfare development. Ramya had alleged that her parents were infringing on her right to liberty by opposing her marriage to Wajeed.

Wajeed’s mother Sreelakshmi said she had no objection to the marriage but Ramya’s parents had not consented.

UP may scrap sop for interfaith marriages

The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to withdraw a scheme that has incentivised interfaith marriage for 44 years, reports Anuja Jaiswal. This comes after the UP government ordinance banning “forced” conversions. The Intercaste & Interfaith Marriage Incentive Scheme has been in place since 1976. When Uttarakhand was carved out of the state, it retained the incentive plan. But now, Uttarakhand, too, is considering withdrawal of the scheme. P 10

The said liberty relating to personal relationships of two individuals can’t be encroached by anybody irrespective of caste or religion

—Karnataka HC

Three caught impersonating MBBS candidates

Three caught impersonating MBBS candidates

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:02.12.2020

Two girls and a boy were on Tuesday caught impersonating candidates who had been allotted MBBS seats in a city college. Karnataka Examinations Authority filed a police complaint against Pooja, Chaitra and Madhu for submitting fake documents.

According to KEA, three students — Abhay Gautam, Paragi and Maheen Nawaz — had been allotted MBBS seats in BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences. However, Madhu, Pooja and Chaitra appeared for Abhay, Paragi and Maheen, respectively, during submission of original documents on Tuesday.

“We realised the documents submitted were not tallying with details available on the CBSE website. The photographs printed on the marks cards submitted were not matching with the candidates physically present for submission of documents,” KEA said.

Police said they are questioning the boy and girls and examining the documents.

60% attendance in medical colleges

DAY ONE

60% attendance in medical colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 02.12.2020

Unlike Day 1 of reopening of engineering and degree colleges last month, medical colleges affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Medical Sciences (RGUHS) witnessed the attendance of 60% on Tuesday, when regular classes resumed for the first time since the nationwide lockdown in March.

The high numbers are being attributed to the varsity’s decision to focus on practical classes.

“Students have to come because of clinical postings,” said Dr S Sacchidanand, vice chancellor, RGUHS. “Exams are scheduled for February. We expect the numbers to grow as many are still getting their Covid test results and making travel arrangements. The numbers in dental colleges were slightly lower as they had just completed exams. In pharma and nursing colleges, exams are underway.”

Dental and other affiliate colleges of RGHUS reported about 50% attendance. While colleges can offer blended forms of learning for theory classes, students have to attend practicals in person.

“Colleges have been asked to adhere to safety norms as much as possible,” Dr Sacchidanand said. “An orientation programme on Covid etiquette has also been recommended.”

Dr VT Venkatesh, principal, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, said the attendance was 72% on Tuesday. “Even we were taken aback. Students have no alternative; they too want to get back to serious studies now. There were practicals and some theory classes too today,” he said.

Medical education minister K Sudhakar visited Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, which saw a staggering 90% attendance on the first day. At Oxford Medical College, the attendance was 45%.

Some allied courses saw thinner attendance as outstation students are yet to rejoin. Students from other countries have been complaining of lack of flights.

Students said colleges tried to maintain social distancing in clinical classes by dividing them into smaller batches and leaving enough gaps between students on Day 1. Hostels, however, continue to have more than one student in a room.

BEING PRACTICAL:

Health and medical education minister K Sudhakar visited Bangalore Medical College and interacted with students who turned up for classes on Day 1, on Tuesday

Buying a car? Show proof of parking first

Buying a car? Show proof of parking first

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 02.12.2020

In a bid to decongest roads in Bengaluru city, the state government is looking at allowing registration of vehicles only after owners produce a ‘commitment letter’ showing parking space is available.

After a meeting convened by chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday on formulating Parking Policy 2.0, the government said it is mulling curbs on purchase of vehicles without parking space. The CM directed chief secretary TM Vijayabhaskar to finetune the draft policy after consulting senior officials and place it before the cabinet for approval.

In 2019, the previous JD (S)-Congress government had mooted a similar proposal, but it failed to take off.

New policy proposes pay-and-park system in city’s major localities

BDA chairman and CM’s political secretary SR Vishwanath who attended the meeting said the new policy proposes to make it mandatory for new vehicle buyers to have their own parking space.

“Many households own more than one vehicle. Most of them are parked on roads. We plan to address this issue on priority,” said an official. The policy hopes to bring in a controlled, tech-based parking system. It proposes to introduce a payand-park system in all major localities. “We have smart parking fee collection facilities at 80-85 places. We want to extend such facilities to the entire city,” Vishwanath said.

It proposes to ban parking of vehicles in a 1km radius around existing multi-level parking facilities in Bengaluru. “Since most of these facilities have remained underutilised, the new rule will help address this issue. It will ease congestion on surrounding roads,” he said.

The government is also looking at utilising private open spaces and residential plots as parking spaces by involving BBMP to join hands with land owners. Vishwanath said the number of vehicle buyers in Bengaluru is more than in any other metropolitan city. “People may find these rules tough, but we have to do something to address this problem,” he added.

During the meeting, officers apprised the CM about the need for a Parking Policy 2.0 since the number of vehicles has almost doubled in the city in the past seven years. They said usage of public transport must be encouraged.

Responses about the policy have been received from individuals, NGOs and RWAs and based on this feedback, parking policy will be revised and submitted for government approval, officials said.

Kerala HC backs transsexuals in NCC

Kerala HC backs transsexuals in NCC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi:02.12.2020

The world has progressed and the central government cannot remain in the 19th century, the Kerala high court remarked while considering a transsexual student’s plea challenging exclusion from National Cadet Corps (NCC). Considering a petition filed by Hina Haneefa, justice Devan Ramachandran told the counsel representing NCC, “The world has progressed, you cannot remain in the 19th century.” The transsexual has challenged section 6 of the National Cadet Corps Act, 1948 that allows only males or females to enroll as NCC cadets.

The court’s remark came after NCC’s counsel submitted that refusal of enrollment of the petitioner does not amount to discrimination. The counsel sought time to file an affidavit explaining the stance.

Responding to the submission, the court said the stance that the central government is taking is unfortunate. There certainly are three genders – male, female, and transsexual, the court said. The court also noted that the petitioner has decided to become a woman and has undergone the surgery too. NCC can admit her as a woman, the court suggested.

Full report on www.toi.in

Times View

One of the benchmarks of a modern and progressive state lies in the way it treats its minorities. Transgenders are sexual minorities. They are often socially marginalized and excluded from activities that others take for granted. Their inclusion in the NCC would be a mini-milestone in efforts to give them

Ayush practitioners can aid in treatment of Covid patients: Govt

Ayush practitioners can aid in treatment of Covid patients: Govt

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:02.12.2020

The Union government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that ayurveda, unani and homoeopathy practitioners can prescribe drugs for prevention of Covid-19 by boosting immunity but cannot claim that their medicines can cure such patients.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta informed a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R S Reddy and M R Shah that Ayush practitioners have been provided with guidelines to prescribe drugs for boosting immunity or for symptomatic treatment of Covid-19 patients.

The Ayush ministry said in its affidavit, “Keeping in view this unprecedented and unforeseen precarious situation, the health system preparedness of the country and the anticipated patient/conventional doctor ratio of the country, the ministry of Ayush decided to augment and strengthen the Covid medical response of the country by using the traditional healthcare system of the country, which included ayurvedic practices, homoeopathy practices as well as Unani practices.” It said homoeopathic medical practitioners were permitted to prescribe drugs, as mentioned in the guidelines, as an add-on to the conventional treatment for patients who had tested Covid positive and were undergoing conventional treatment.

Clinical trials for Sputnik V begin

New Delhi: Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Tuesday said they have commenced adaptive phase 2/3 clinical trials for the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in India. The trials have commenced after receiving the necessary clearance from the Kasauli-based Central Drugs Laboratory, they added. PTI