HC turns down PIL seeking judicial probe into Hathras gang rape case

Rajesh Kumar Pandey TNN

Prayagraj  05.12.2020

: The Allahabad high court on Thursday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a judicial inquiry into the alleged gang rape of a 19-yearold dalit woman in Hathras, saying it did not want to multiply the litigation as another one in this regard was pending before its Lucknow bench.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Piyush Agrawal, was hearing the PIL filed by one Babita Upadhyay. The petitioner had also sought directions to the UP government and authorities concerned not to restrain the media or the public at large to meet the family members of the victim.

The court while declining to interfere in the present proceedings, said that a division bench at Lucknow had taken suo motu cognizance of the midnight cremation of the victim’s body. “We are not inclined to multiply the litigation in relation to the issue which is already under consideration,” it observed.

The petitioner had also sought a direction to the state government to formulate proper guidelines and provide adequate and uniform compensation to all the victims of gang rape and murder without any discrimination.

Full report on www.toi.in

The Allahabad high court said it does not want to multiply the litigation as another plea in the alleged Hathras gang rape case was pending before its Lucknow bench

TN ready for vaccination drive, govt tells PM Modi

TN ready for vaccination drive, govt tells PM Modi

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:05.12.2020

At the all-party meeting convened on Friday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, DMK urged the Centre to offer Covid-19 vaccine free of cost to all people. The ruling AIADMK said its government is fully geared up to carry out the vaccination process in the state.

“While developed countries are planning to offer 5-10 doses of the vaccine to their people, every Indian should get at least two doses,” DMK treasurer and Sriperumbudur MP T R Baalu said, while urging the Centre to offer the vaccine free of cost to all.

“With an average cost of ₹1,000 per vaccine approximately, the procurement cost of vaccine to cover 130 crore Indians and for two doses would work out to Rs 2.6 lakh crore. The government should not get enamoured by this huge cost,” Baalu said.

“It should be seen, as an investment on Indian human resources. The expense can be met by the Centre and states as well as public sector units and by tapping the CSR funds of the private sector,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in October that all Indians would be given free shots of Covid-19 vaccine.

On its part, the ruling AIADMK said it would offer the vaccine free of cost to all people in the state. “Our state government has already announced that it would provide Covid-19 vaccination free of cost to all the people in Tamil Nadu as and when it becomes available and aligning with the instructions of the Centre and as per the priority indicated,” AIADMK Lok Sabha MP P Ravindhranath said at the meeting. “We have constituted the state steering committee headed by the chief secretary and state task force headed by the health secretary. The steering committee and the task force held their meeting on Thursday, while the district and block-level meetings are in progress,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in October that all Indians would be given free shots of Covid-19 vaccine. On its part, the ruling AIADMK said it would offer the vaccine free of cost to all people in the state

It will be the rule of the Kazhagam in 2021: EPS

It will be the rule of the Kazhagam in 2021: EPS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:05.12.2020

The BJP is yet to formally confirm that electoral ties with the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu would continue for the forthcoming assembly election. But chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday not only indicated his party’s keenness to cement the pact for the 2021 assembly election as well but also asserted his party’s seniority in the alliance.

When reporters in Madurai asked the CM about BJP leaders’ recent statements claiming they would come to power in 2026, he said, “I declared with Amit Shah beside me that it would be the rule of the Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 2021, we do not know who will be there or what will happen in 2026.’’ As for Rajinikanth’s political plans, Palaniswami said he would prefer to wait for the actor to launch his party before offering any comments. “I will comment on actor Rajinikanth’s move to launch a political party after he registers it. Any comments about it made by the deputy chief minister are his own,’’ he told reporters in response to questions in Sivaganga.

The CM was briefing reporters after completing his review of the Covid-19 situation in the district. Asked about DMK leader A Raja’s challenge to debate with him on who was more corrupt, the CM said Raja was convicted and imprisoned for corruption, that too when DMK’s ally, the Congress, was in power at the Centre. “It did not happen when the BJP came to power, we will wait for the appeal in the 2G case,” he said.

It was a case of corruption in tenders wherein they were given to people of their choice without following any rule. But in Tamil Nadu now, all tenders are transparent and anyone can register their names online, he said, adding that DMK president M K Stalin was aware of these facts but still making false allegations.

The CM also said the recommendations to bring seven communities under the common name of Devendrakula Vellalar would be made to the central government. This was a long-pending demand of these seven communities. A committee was constituted to study the demand on March 4, 2019.

CM lays stone for Madurai drinking water project

Madurai: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday laid the foundation stone for a ₹1,296crore project to bring drinking water through pipelines directly from Mullaperiyar dam to Madurai city. When completed by 2023, all 100 wards of the city corporation would have water supply 24x7, he said. TNN

Unease in AIADMK over BJP’s aloofness on alliance

Unease in AIADMK over BJP’s aloofness on alliance

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.12.2020

With actor Rajinikanth announcing the launch of his party in January, a section in the ruling AIADMK appears jittery about BJP’s “reluctance” to formally cement poll ties with the Dravidian major for the 2021 assembly election. This, notwithstanding the assertion by the party leadership, chief minister and AIADMK joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy CM and party coordinator O Panneerselvam at a government event in Chennai recently that the party’s alliance with the BJP would continue for the 2021assembly poll.

“With Rajinikanth announcing a party, we suspect the game plan of the BJP is to ditch the AIADMK and in the process split the party to get a chunk of leaders to their side, and our allies,” said a senior leader, seeking anonymity. “They may go to any extent, even freezing the two leaves symbol if we do not fall in line,” said the leader. After a bitter power struggle in October, Panneerselvam had agreed to Palaniswami being made the chief ministerial candidate, and the CM agreed to the constitution of the steering committee.

The AIADMK, which is gearing up for its golden jubilee celebrations, is hoping to assert its ‘supremacy’ in the alliance, if it sustained. “Rajinikanth is not equivalent to MGR or Amma. His popularity should not be taken seriously. The BJP should not think otherwise,” said another senior AIADMK leader. But the actor’s entry into politics has dramatically altered the AIADMK-BJP dynamics.

BJP leaders in private say that the party was banking on the popularity of the AIADMK’s two leaves, but there was a possibility of “a change” in the event of the party dumping its ally and forging an alliance with actor Rajinikanth. On Thursday, the actor stated the time had come to change the fate of Tamil Nadu, change of politics and change of government.

“We may join hands with the actor. It all depends on how Rajini wants to keep the show going. A clarity will emerge soon,” said a senior BJP leader.

Meanwhile, former AIADMK MP K C Palanisamy, whose petition in the Delhi high court on two leaves symbol is coming up for hearing on December 18, said tough times were ahead for the ruling AIADMK in the coming weeks. The petition also challenged the amendment to party bylaws, creation of posts and doing away the post of general secretary.

CRACKS EMERGE: The AIADMK, which is gearing up for its golden jubilee celebrations, is hoping to assert its ‘supremacy’ in the alliance, if it sustained

Flights at Chennai airport can now use defence airspace, save time, fuel

Flights at Chennai airport can now use defence airspace, save time, fuel

Oppili.P@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.12.2020

Flying in and out of the city will now be hassle-free for pilots and help airlines save fuel and time as Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the defence ministry have set up a mechanism to use defence airspace for commercial flights.

Until now, at Chennai airport, part of the airspace was controlled by the Indian Air Force (IAF) station at Tambaram and INS Rajali in Arakkonam, where civilian aircraft were usually not allowed.

On Wednesday, as part of a national initiative under National High-Level Airspace Policy Body (NHLAPB) to promote flexi use of airspace; the AAI established at Chennai airport a Regional Airspace Management Cell (RAMC) comprising AAI and defence air traffic controllers.

It will be operational on a 12-hour basis on all working days except for public holidays, said an AAI official.

The quick coordination will result in dynamic flight planning for airline operators, reduced fuel consumption and operating cost, with consequent reduction in carbon footprint, he said. It will help the airport manage air congestion efficiently, with flights not requiring to take detours to avoid defence airspace.

AAI had planned to implement flexi use of airspace on a dozen domestic routes to help reduce travelling distance ranging from five nautical miles to 98 nautical miles. Similarly, the travelling time for passengers will also come down by up to 15 minutes, said the official.

A National Airspace Management Cell (NAMC) was set up in Delhi some time ago with a plan to have many RAMCs. The cell in Chennai is the second regional cell after the NAMC and RAMC in Delhi.

It was inaugurated by R Madhavan, regional executive director, southern region, AAI, in the presence of senior officials from AAI, IAF and other civil and military agencies.

Anna varsity to conduct arrear exams after direction from HC

Anna varsity to conduct arrear exams after direction from HC

Opens Portal For Students To Register

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.12.2020

Following a Madras high court direction, Anna University has decided to conduct arrear exams with semester exams for its students. It also opened its web portal for students to register for arrear exams.

After hearing a batch of petitions challenging the government order cancelling arrears exams, the Madras high court restrained universities from declaring all pass without conducting the tests.

While most universities implemented the GO, Anna University, which had not taken any decision, will hold arrear exams in online mode. “The registration of students in the current semester has already been completed. Similarly, the registration for the arrear courses is to be carried out by colleges for November/December examinations. The web portal is open and colleges are requested to complete the registration on or before December 10," a circular from controller of examinations said.

The university plans to conduct a 60-minute proctored online test for all students for upcoming semester exams following the government’s nod.

Across the state, there are more than 5 lakh students with arrears ranging from one paper to 66 papers including 30,000 students at the university’s four campuses including College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG) and Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Chromepet.

It was estimated that an additional two lakh students would have graduated from Anna University this year had the GO been implemented.

Some principals have asked the university to give an extra opportunity for students to clear arrears. “Barring those in the final year, all students have been promoted, with the former having appeared for the exams in September for the April/ May semester. However, students with arrears are getting only one chance this year. The university should give them an additional chance,” said B Chidambararajan, principal of SRM Valliammai Engineering College.

“As per the court order, all state universities should conduct arrear exams for students and declare results. Other state universities also should conduct arrear exams without any delay,” Anna University former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy said.

Vaikunta Ekadasi: Strict measures in place at Srirangam temple

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:05.12.2020

The Trichy district administration has suggested the Srirangam Arulmigu Ranganathaswamy Temple administration opt for token system and online booking to allow darshan for the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival scheduled from December 14. With Covid-19 still active in the region, restrictions such as physical distancing and promoting edarshan through live streaming were suggested.

District collector S Sivarasu, on Thursday, conducted a review meeting involving all the stakeholders. The temple management was instructed to print passes in different colours, each allowing darshan for a one-hour time slot. The pass system is intended to minimise the footfall of devotees. Devotees will not be allowed inside the temple after 8pm.

Directions to apply online for reserving passes will be publicised by the temple management a week before the festival. Senior citizens aged above 65 years and those with comorbidities will not be allowed. The temple management has been instructed to facilitate shelters with seating arrangements outside the temple for devotees waiting for their turns. “People without face masks will not be allowed inside the temple and screening and hand sanitisation are must at the entrance. Floors and temple corridors will be frequently sanitised,” an official said.

HR&CE officials said, this year the 22 day-long annual festival will conclude on January 4, 2021, with Nammalvar Motcham. The most auspicious event involving the opening of Paramapathavasal gates will be held in the early hours of December 25.