Fake marksheet racket busted in Anand

TIP OF THE ICEBERG

Fake marksheet racket busted in Anand

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara/ Anand:  16.12.2020

Acting on a tip-off, the Anand special operation group (SOG) busted a racket of making and selling marksheets and certificates and arrested three persons.

One of them is from Anand and two from Vadodara. As the trio is linked with a visa consultancy firm, cops suspect that the arrest could lead to a bigger fake visa racket as well.

SOG sleuths had got specific information that one Kanu Rabari, a resident of Atithi Apartment in Anand’s Mangalpura area, was running a visa consultancy firm through which foreign aspirants were sold fake marksheets and degree certificates of several educational institutes. When the cops raided his house, they found huge stacks of files containing fake marksheets and certificates of a number of educational institutes including Sardar Patel University, Gujarat University, Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) apart from colleges. As many as 106 fake marksheets and certificates, 16 original ones, 30 passports, mobile and cash worth Rs 22.50 lakh were seized from Rabari’s house. Rabari revealed that he was in touch with Vadodara resident Aditya Patel, who through another accused resident Hiren alias Sonu Satham, provided bogus documents to those seeking jobs abroad.

“The trio have confessed that they have forged hundreds of such marksheets and certificates,” said Anand district superintendent of police Ajit Rajian. “The trio used their knowledge of visa consultancy to execute the fraud. They were aware of the companies and countries where chances of marksheets and certificates getting cross-verified is low,” said Rajian. They have also seized 52 other fake marksheets and certificates, 57 rubber stamps, sophisticated printers and dye-making items among others from Satham.

The arrested trio ran visa consultancy in Anand

Ten universities to set up Kamdhenu Chairs

Ten universities to set up Kamdhenu Chairs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

16.12.2020

Ahmedabad: Ten universities from across the country have announced that they will set up Kamdhenu Chairs in their respective institutions of higher learning. Over 500 vice-chancellors and officials of universities from across the country took part in an open house organized by Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) on Monday to promote the idea of setting up ‘Kamdhenu Chairs’ in universities.

Among other objectives of setting up the chairs, RKA has proposed setting up of certificate and diploma courses on cow-based entrepreneurship and sensitizing students about the scientific, economic, environmental and spiritual importance and impact of cow.

The universities which have announced that they will set up Kamdhenu Chairs are Allahbad University, Kamdhenu University, RAJUVAS University, Central University of Haryana, Saurashta University, RKDF University, Jyoti Vidyapeeth Women’s University, Guru Govind Singh University and ICFAI University.

“Now the government has started to explore the potential of cows and panchgavya. There is need to promote the science related to indigenous cows and our education system should provide a platform as well as push in research on benefits of cows with modern sci-entific and processoriented approach,”

said RKA chairman Vallabh Kathiria.

Union minister of state for education, Sanjay Dhotre, said, “I am sure that the few colleges and universities will start the Kamdhenu Chair then others will follow. Research and practical implementation in form of products needs to be showcased, established economically and presented with accurate scientific data in time-bound way,” he said.

Apart from officials of over 500 universities, AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe, UGC secretary Rajnish Jain, secretary-general of Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Pankaj Mittal, and other officials connected with higher education and research were present in the webinar.

Aadhaar not valid to enrol for vaccine

NOT PROOF?

Aadhaar not valid to enrol for vaccine

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 16.12.2020

The state government has embarked on its exercise of registering people for the Covid-19 vaccine, but survey teams do not accept Aadhaar card as proof of identity.

Satellite resident Lalita Patel was appalled to learn that the team surveying the area for senior citizens do not accept Aadhaar cards as valid proof. “Team members categorically told me that we should produce some other document like a PAN card or a voter ID card, but not an Aadhaar card,” Patel said.

Another team visiting a society in Bopal said they have been instructed not to accept Aadhaar cards as proof of identity. “The survey form has a column for a photo identification card. A PAN card, driving licence, passport or even a stamped bank passbook with a photograph will be acceptable, but not Aadhaar card,” a member of the survey team said.

District collector Sandip Sagale said, “The main purpose of the exercise is inclusion of everybody and so we are not insisting on Aadhaar card. If people do not have an Aadhaar card, any other authorised document for identification is valid.”

What went wrong on IIT-Madras campus

What went wrong on IIT-Madras campus

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 16.12.2020

The Covid-19 case tally at IIT, Madras, went up to 183 with 79 more students testing positive on Tuesday. Public health officials have identified crowding at the mess and sharing of toilets as one of the reasons for the cluster.

According to the Covid-19 registry, IIT-M reported two cases on December 1, and in the next 15 days the rate of transmission increased pushing the positivity rate to 19%. “It (cluster) has happened before in jewellery shops and meat markets. In every case, it was a violation of the epidemic protocols,” state health secretary J Radhakrishnan said.

In March, when the state announced a lockdown, 335 students continued to stay in the hostels. When public transport resumed, the institute sent some students back to their homes and the strength in the hostel came down to 180. “This is not the first time the institute is reporting a case,” a student said. “Months ago, when students tested positive, the institute sanitized the hostel and quarantined all students. There were no clusters. But this time, no sanitization of buildings or quarantine was done,” the student said.

One of the main reasons for the spread was overcrowding at the mess. The institute operated one mess for 180 students during the lockdown-.But when the campus reopened and the student strength increased to 774, the management still operated just one mess, the Himalaya mess. “It is the only place where students from all hostels meet. All mess employees have tested positive. What else could be the source?” a senior faculty member said.

Following the Covid cluster at IIT Madras, students in city college hostels are being tested

Money laundering is a continuing offence: HC

Money laundering is a continuing offence: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 16.12.2020

Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the relevant date is not that of acquisition of unaccountedfor money but when such an amount is being processed and projected as untainted.

The high court made this observation while disposing of a batch of petitions filed in 2016-17, challenging the action initiated under PML Act and saying it can’t be invoked retrospectively.

Pointing out that money laundering is a continuing offence, the court noted that the offence under Section 3 of PML Act is a standalone in itself and one doesn’t need other schedule offences to proceed against a person. For constituting an offence under Section 3, connection of the transaction to proceeds of the crime is sufficient and not the crime, a division bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar observed.

Not feasible to test students frequently: College admins

IIT CLUSTER SCARE

Not feasible to test students frequently: College admins

TOO MANY & TOO FEW Numbers, Fear Prevent Regular Testing, Say Managements

Only 300 Show Up For 3rd Phase Of Vaccine Trial

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

16.12.2020

Bengaluru: The cluster outbreak at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, which led to the campus being temporarily shut down, has triggered concerns over the safety of students on campuses in colleges in Karnataka.

At IIT-Madras, more than 180 students and residents were found to be infected and experts say fear of similar outbreaks in campuses in Karnataka would not be unfounded since students are tested only once — before they get back on campuses. This is unlike some countries in the West where students are tested every week, experts say.

They say campuses in the US have been able to open only because of aggressive testing. For example, in New York University, students are expected to undergo tests every week. They are also expected to complete a ‘daily screener’ — a self-reporting form — before entering any NYU building.

Reports say some universities even built their own labs since test results were otherwise delayed. For example, University of New Hampshire, conducted over 250,000 tests in the fall semester in its own lab where students performed self-administered nasal swabs. Syracuse University built its own lab within the biology department.

“Periodical testing is required on campuses,” admitted Dr CN Manjunath, director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sciences and nodal officer for Covid testing and labs in Karnataka. “We can gauge prevalence only if tests are conducted. If prevalence is low, testing frequency can be altered. Tests should not only be conducted on students, but also teaching and non-teaching staff, who keep travelling and live in clustered homes. Complacency at this stage will lead to a second wave.”

However, doctors point out that a model of weekly tests is impossible in India due to the sheer numbers.

“As a state, we can look at 1lakh testing per day,” said Dr V Ravi, former head of the department of neurovirology, Nimhans and member of the state’s Covid-19 technical advisory committee. “We have several multiples of students than those on campuses in the West. We have around 8 lakh SSLC students, 6 lakh PU students and many more in colleges. We can only test students once and later if they develop symptoms.”

Colleges also say frequent Covid tests on students is difficult if near impossible. “Pupils were uncomfortable getting tested even before reporting back to college. Attendance remained low initially because they were scared to undergo the mandatory test,” said the principal of a management college.

KR Venugopal, vice-chancellor, Bangalore University, said “We could test students today and they might get infected the next day. How often can we test students? The current protocol is ideal. Thus far, no cases have been reported.”

BADLY HIT: Schools and Child Welfare Association members and teachers held a protest on Tuesday demanding reopening of schools

Students with OCI card can get state quota: HC

Students with OCI card can get state quota: HC

Vasanth.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 16.12.2020

Students holding Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards should be treated as Indian citizens for the purpose of admission to professional courses and they are entitled to admission under the state quota, the Karnataka high court has stated.

The court observation came while disposing of a batch of petitions by students and a writ appeal by the state government.

A division bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and NS Sanjay Gowda has pointed out that when the issue pertains to citizenship, the state law must yield to the Citizenship Act, the central legislation enacted by Parliament.

The high court has said the petitioners were minors at the time of filing of petitions and had the benefit of a dual citizenship.

Petitioners have dual citizenship benefit: Court

The court said the petitioners had the benefit of a dual citizenship being conferred on account of their birth in a foreign country (citizenship of that country where the birth had occurred) and also citizenship of India as per section 4(1A) of Citizenship Act, a right particularly conferred on minors so as to safeguard and protect their interests until they attain full age.

“We would like to remind ourselves of the ancient Indian thought – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which means ‘the world is a family’. Therefore, the minor children of Indian citizens born overseas must have the same status, rights and duties as Indian citizens, who are minor,” the bench said. The court quashed Section 2(1)(N) of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission & Determination of Fee) Act, 2006, (amended in 2017) to the extent it sought to include OCI cardholders within the definition of nonresident Indian category.

Full report: toi.in

We would like to remind ourselves of the ancient Indian thought – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which means ‘the world is a family’. Therefore, the minor children of Indian citizens born overseas must have the same status, rights and duties as Indian citizens

—Karnataka HC bench