Mobiles have longer reach than missiles: Rajnath

Mobiles have longer reach than missiles: Rajnath

Chandigarh:19.12.2020

Apparently referring to the impact of social media in conflicts between nations, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the reach of the mobile phone now was bigger than that of a missile. Addressing the annual Military Literature Festival here, Singh warned that different kinds of security threats may emerge in the future.

“This event is important from another point of view,” he said through videoconference. “As times change, the nature of threats and wars is also changing. In the future, other security-related issues may come before us.”

He added that conflicts are gradually becoming “comprehensive” in the manner never imagined earlier. Possibly alluding to the power of social media and mobile apps, he said, “Today the range of a mobile has crossed even the reach of a missile,” he said.

He added that the enemy can now reach people even without crossing any borders, and urged everyone to play the role of a soldier. “We should remain alive to these dangers and save ourselves from wrong and misleading information and save others too, and festivals like this can play a key role in this,” he said, urging literary figures to make use of their talent to the full for this. PTI

Woman sues dentist for botched procedure, wins ₹60,000 relief Suffered Severe Pain, Swelling

CONSUMER IS KING

Woman sues dentist for botched procedure, wins ₹60,000 relief

Suffered Severe Pain, Swelling

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:19.12.2020

A 34-year-old woman took a dentist to the consumer court after her root canal procedure went awry, resulting in an infection, swelling of the gum and excruciating pain. Following a court battle which lasted nearly three years, Fatemah Razmjouei recently won a compensation of Rs 60,000.

In July 2017, Fatemah, a resident of Banashankari III Stage, suffered from severe tooth and gum ache. She approached Dr Diwakar’s private clinic in the locality and sought preliminary treatment. The dentist recommended a root canal procedure, which was carried out at his clinic on July 18. Fatemah was asked to visit again later to fix a tooth cap. But within a few days, she developed an infection, for which the doctor gave her a few medicines.

With the situation persisting, the dentist recommended Fatemah go for a CT scan, from which it became evident that something had gone wrong with the root canal procedure. Fatemah next approached a private hospital, where dentists asked her to immediately remove the filling done as part of the procedure. She also visited the dental facility at St Martha’s Hospital, where doctors confirmed incorrect drilling on the right side of the mouth. She had to undergo a fresh surgery and subsequent treatment to recover completely.

Infuriated by the episode, the Bengaluru woman sent a legal notice to Dr Diwakar and sought Rs 10 lakh in damages for the botched-up procedure. On January 24, 2018, Fatemah filed a complaint with Bangalore 2nd Additional Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

During the litigation, Fatemah presented her case through her lawyer. The dentist’s attorney argued that Fatemah had created a ruckus at the clinic and that Dr Diwakar had refunded Rs 3,700 to her. The attorney further claimed the court case was an attempt at making illegal gain as there was no threat to the tooth, as claimed.

In the proceedings that lasted 34 months, judges of the city consumer forum examined the records presented and determined that there was indeed negligence on the part of the dentist while performing the surgery. But the court didn’t encourage other claims of the complainant, including possible loss of tooth and weight loss because of the procedure, as she failed to produce proof to substantiate the same.

In a verdict pronounced on November 24, 2020, the judges ruled that the dentist must pay Fatemah a compensation of Rs 50,000 for negligence, apart from Rs 10,000 towards her litigation expenses, all payable within 60 days of the verdict.

A CT scan showed something had gone wrong with the root canal procedure Fatemah underwent at a BSK clinic. She later visited the dental facility at St Martha’s Hospital, where doctors confirmed incorrect drilling on right side of the mouth

HC: Change of name part of right to expression under Constitution

HC: Change of name part of right to expression under Constitution

Rajesh Kumar Pandey TNN

Prayagraj: 19.12.2020

The Allahabad high court has held that change of name is a part of right to expression guaranteed under Article Article 19

(1) (a) of the Constitution of India.

Allowing a writ petition filed by one Kabir Jaiswal, Justice Pankaj Bhatia observed, “As the right to freedom of expression is guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution, freedom of expression through the change of name cannot be denied to the petitioner in the present case and he is entitled to change his name.”

The court also directed the CBSE to issue a fresh certificate recording the name of the petitioner as Kabir Jaiswal in place of Rishu Jaiswal within a period of two months.

According to the petitioner, he had appeared in the Secondary School Examination in the academic year 2011-13, i.e., Class X, and Senior School Certificate Examination in the year 2015, i.e., Class XII, conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi in the name of Rishu Jaiswal, son of Santosh Kumar Jaiswal and had passed the examinations also.

Later, the petitioner with an intent to change his name from Rishu Jaiswal to Kabir Jaiswal, got a notice published in the notification in the Gazette of India and moved an application for correction of the name from Rishu Jaiswal to Kabir Jaiwal. In the petition, the petitioner claims that the name was changed in the Aadhaar card and the PAN card also in pursuance to the Gazette Notification.

However, when the petitioner moved an application through the school concerned for change of name in the certificates, granted by the CBSE, the school in question forwarded the request to the Board and the Board vide order dated May 27, 2020, rejected the application for change of name on the ground that the particulars of the school records do not show the change of name as sought by the petitioner.

Rape-Marriage Promise Can't Be Called Inducement When Sexual Activity Continues Over Indefinite Period Of Time: Delhi High Court

Rape-Marriage Promise Can't Be Called Inducement When Sexual Activity Continues Over Indefinite Period Of Time: Delhi High Court: 'The talks of Marriage took place between accused & prosecutrix after they entered into an intimate physical relationship.'

FASTag to take heavy toll on motorists without Aadhaar

FASTag to take heavy toll on motorists without Aadhaar

Notification in November made card must for purchasing FASTag

Published: 16th December 2020 05:09 AM |

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: With the Centre making FASTag, an electronic toll collection system, mandatory for all four-wheelers running on National Highways (NH) toll plazas from January 1, motorists who are yet to get Aadhaar, which is a prerequisite for getting the FASTag, are expected to be penalised heavily. Although the Supreme Court ordered that Aadhaar should be made compulsory only for availing benefits from the government, union government has made it mandatory for purchasing the FASTag ID. 

Activists rued that motorists who did not have Aadhaar or not willing to share their Aadhaar will be put through hardship for using national highways. To this effect, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification in November, amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. To get FASTag, motorists had to submit a copy of Aadhaar, vehicle registration certification, bank account, and mobile number. 

Representatives of FASTag suppliers said, “For filling the electronic KYC (Know Your Customer) form in ‘myfastag’ application, Aadhaar is mandatory. Without getting validated through Aadhaar, the FASTag account will not get linked with bank account, which will allow the user to recharge the amount.”Retired IAS officer MG Devasagayam, who was one of the petitioners of the case in Supreme Court against linking Aadhaar with bank accounts said making it compulsory was illegal, unconstitutional, and amounted to contempt of court.

“The apex court clearly said Aadhaar should always be optional unless the person was a beneficiary of the government scheme. The High Courts and Supreme Court should exercise their powers when the judicial orders are disobeyed blatantly.” Aimed at reducing cash handling at the toll gate, the e-payment system was introduced in tollgates maintained by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) since December 15 last year. The NHAI said non-FASTag vehicles would be charged double the user fee.

Following a stiff resistance from a section of truck owners, NHAI converted 25 per cent of the lands into hybrid lanes, enabling user fee payment through cash, and FASTag in 13 out of 48 tollgates in the State. In May, the hybrid lanes in 13 tollgates were made FASTag lanes. However, one lane on the extreme left in each toll was allowed for making cash. Chennai-based consumer activist T Sadagopan wondered why one’s private credentials are required for using toll roads. “The personal data captured in Aadhaar are sensitive in nature. Senior citizens are vulnerable as their data could be misused. People have the right to say ‘no’ to sharing their personal details. There is no transparency and NHAI is following unfair trade practices in selling FASTags.

The Ministry’s notification said transports will not be able to renew fitness certificates without installing FASTags. The notification also stated that, to acquire third-party insurance for a vehicle, FASTag will become a requirement from April 1, 2021. Despite repeated attempts, NHAI officials could not be reached for comments.

Railways to operate special train from Tambaram to Assam

Railways to operate special train from Tambaram to Assam

In return direction, the Tambaram - New Tinsukia Weekly Special will leave Tambaram at 6.55 pm on Thursdays and reach New Tinsukia at 7.55 am the fourth day. The services are to start on December 31.

Published: 17th December 2020 02:26 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Railways announced that a weekly special train will be introduced between New Tinsukia in Assam and Tambaram in Tamil Nadu. In a statement, the Railways said New Tinsukia - Tambaram Weekly Special will leave New Tinsukia at 6.30 am on Mondays and reach Tambaram at 9.25 pm the third day. First service is to commence on December 28.

In return direction, the Tambaram - New Tinsukia Weekly Special will leave Tambaram at 6.55 pm on Thursdays and reach New Tinsukia at 7.55 am the fourth day. The services are to start on December 31.

The trains will stop at Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, North Lakhimpurpur, Harmuti, Viswanath Charali, Rangapara North, New Misamari, Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, New Alipurduar, New Coochbehar, Dhupguri, New Jalpaiguri, Kishanganj, Barsoi, Malda Town, New Farakka, Pakur, Rampur Hat, Siuri, Andal Jn, Durgapur, Asansol, Joychandi Pahar, Purulia, Tatanagar, Hijilli, Balasore, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road, Berhampur, Visakhapatnam, Rajamundry, Eluru, Viyayawada, Ongole, Nellore and Chennai Egmore. The trains will be operated until further advice, and advance reservation has been opened, the Railways added.

Chennai's RGGGH reduces the number of doctors posted on Covid-19 duty

Chennai's RGGGH reduces the number of doctors posted on Covid-19 duty

The RGGGH has handled the largest number of positive Covid-19 cases in the State, treating more than 30,000 patients since March, and has also processed more than 4.5 lakh swab samples so far. 

Published: 16th December 2020 05:13 PM 

Chennai corporation collecting swabs from migrant workers who are working at a construction site at OMR (File Photo | Ashwin Prasath, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) has reduced the number of doctors posted on Covid-19 duty due to the decrease in positive cases. 

RGGGH dean Dr E Theranirajan said a total of 243 doctors were posted for a cycle consisting of seven days, and now this has been reduced to less than 90 doctors per cycle. 

"One or two doctors are posted from each department. The cases have largely decreased and since we have begun non-Covid operations, many doctors have returned to routine services," he told The New Indian Express. 

The RGGGH has handled the largest number of positive Covid-19 cases in the State, treating more than 30,000 patients since March, and has also processed more than 4.5 lakh swab samples so far. 

Dr Theranirajan said that as on Wednesday, the Covid inpatients in the hospital are the lowest ever. "There are only 79 Covid positive patients now which is the lowest ever, while 150 patients are kept in observation as suspect cases," he said. 

More than 80 percent of beds too are vacant in the hospital presently with just 229 beds occupied out of the 1668 beds available. 

The inpatient count too has reduced largely in the hospital. "From about 200 inpatients daily during the peak stages, now only about 30 inpatients are coming. Among them, only about 15 are positive cases," added Dr Theranirajan. 

From deaths being in double digits during the Covid peak period, presently, the deaths at the RGGGH are at zero every alternative day, said doctors. 

"Deaths from the RGGGH has remained in zero mostly but still, some private healthcare facilities are transferring patients in the last minute. So, one or two deaths happen on alternate days," said Dr Theranirajan. 

He spoke of a case where a private hospital had kept a patient for more than 40 days and shifted him to the GH at the last minute when his condition became critical. "His condition remains critical but we are giving him the best treatment," the dean said.