Scrapped MTech courses: HC tells Anna University to explain

Scrapped MTech courses: HC tells Anna University to explain

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.02.2021

The Madras high court on Tuesday made it clear that it would be constrained to stay the decision of Anna University in scrapping MTech Biotechnology and MTech Computational Biology programmes for the academic year 2020-21 if the university failed to give a proper explanation for arriving at the decision.

The courses have been scrapped due to a difference of opinion between the university and the AICTE in following reservation in admission.

Justice B Pugalendhi made the observation while adjourning the plea moved by R Chitra, a student of the university challenging the decision.

When the plea came up for hearing, counsel for the petitioner, Saravanan Annadurai, submitted that the decision to scrap the courses has to be stayed as it is against the interest of the students. However, the counsel representing the university sought time to get appropriate instruction from the university. “The university must give proper and appropriate explanation, or the court will be constrained to grant interim stay as sought by the petitioner,” the judge said and adjourned the hearing to February 3.

According to the petitioner, the central government’s insistence that the university follow only 49.5% reservation and not the state’s 69% quota policy in admission is arbitrary. “The entire infrastructure, resources, salaries of staff and the teaching faculty are all taken care of by the state government. The Centre through its department of biotechnology only provides Rs 12,000 for MTech Biotechnology and Rs 12,500 MTech Computational Biology as stipend. This will not give them any right to insist that only the reservation policy of the Centre should be followed,” she said.

Since the courses are sponsored by the central government, the AICTE wanted the university to follow the 49.5% reservation policy of the centre. But the state government has directed the university to follow 69% reservation. Due to this tug of war between two agenciesour future is at stake, the petitioner said.

Fill backlogs in reserved vacancies: UGC to univs

Fill backlogs in reserved vacancies: UGC to univs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:3.2.2021

The University Grants Commission (UGC) asked the central, state and deemed universities and grant-in-aid institutions to fill up backlogs in reserved vacancies in teaching and non-teaching posts.

"All centrally funded universities, colleges and institutions are required to ensure strict compliance of government of India orders/rules on the reservation in their institutions. State universities including its affiliated, constituent colleges and other institutes functioning within the state should follow the percentage reservation for OBCs, SC/ST as prescribed by the concerned state government," UGC's joint secretary G S Chauhan said in a letter to the registrars of all universities on Monday.

The letter also asked the institutions to display the reservation roster which is to be updated at regular intervals on the website. The registrars also asked to circulate the letters to all constituent and affiliated colleges of the concerned universities.

Income-Tax Slabs Remain Unchanged; Relief For Senior Citizens Above 75 Years : Budget 2021 Highlights

Income-Tax Slabs Remain Unchanged; Relief For Senior Citizens Above 75 Years : Budget 2021 Highlights: The UnionFinance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman today presented the Budget for financialyear 2021

Madras High Court Allows Subordinate Courts In Tamil Nadu, Puducherry To Function In Full Capacity With No Limitations/Restrictions From Feb 8

Madras High Court Allows Subordinate Courts In Tamil Nadu, Puducherry To Function In Full Capacity With No Limitations/Restrictions From Feb 8: The Madras High Court, in an Official Memorandum issued on Monday (01st February), has allowed the Subordinate Courts (in the State of Tamil Nadu and UT of Puducherry) to work in full capacity ...

Rs 63k crore alloted for Chennai Metro Phase-2

Rs 63k crore alloted for Chennai Metro Phase-2

This announcement by Centre has come as Phase-2 Metro rail construction works are underway.

Published: 02nd February 2021 03:44 AM 

By Omjasvin MD

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the 118.9-km Phase 2 Metro stretch in Chennai, the Centre has announced funding of Rs 63,246 crore for the project. This announcement by Centre has come as Phase-2 Metro rail construction works are underway. The stretch will have both elevated and underground lines along Madhavaram-SIPCOT (Siruseri), Lighthouse-Poonamallee and Madhavaram-Sholinganallur. Officials said that once completed in 2026, this will be the longest metro rail stretch in the country, carrying close to 25 lakh passengers a day.

CMRL officials said that Larsen and Toubro is likely to take work orders for the 21-km stretch between Madhavaram and Tharamani. L&T has already received contracts to build stations for the 8-km stretch between Powerhouse and Porur. Officials said 23 tunnel boring machines are likely to be used for the project. It is also funded by various foreign banks such as JICA, ADB, AIIB and NDB. The 45.8 km-long Corridor 3 is from Madhavaram to SIPCOT and will have 50 Metro stations.

Fake degree: Key accused in custody

Fake degree: Key accused in custody

Accused Avinash Roy, 23, from Delhi, was arrested from Noida on Friday.

Published: 02nd February 2021 05:21 AM | Last Updated: 02nd February 2021 05:21 AM | A+A A-

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cybercrime police have arrested the ringleader of a racket engaged in the sale of fake course certificates after setting up bogus websites of Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan and 40 universities situated across the country. Accused Avinash Roy, 23, from Delhi, was arrested from Noida on Friday.

The Cyber police have been pursuing the accused after the Pareeksha Bhavan secretary lodged a complaint with the City police commissioner in this regard. More members of the racket re expected to be arrested in the coming days. A special team led by DySP Syamlal was formed to crack the case.

Tamil Nadu to withdraw cases against government employees who struck work in 2019

Tamil Nadu to withdraw cases against government employees who struck work in 2019

CM Edappadi Palaniswami said that department wise disciplinary proceedings were initiated against nearly 7,900 teachers and 408 cases booked against over 17,600 employees for taking part in protests.

Published: 01st February 2021 11:37 PM 

By PTI

CHENNAI: Cases filed against Tamil Nadu government employees, including teachers, for their January 2019 strike over various demands would be withdrawn in the spirit of "forget and forgive," Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Monday.

He said in a statement here that department wise disciplinary proceedings were also being withdrawn.

Various unions of government employees and teachers had embarked on an indefinete strike in January 2019, pressing for demands, including release of 21-month salary arrears in line with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, withdrawing the New Pension Scheme and addressing wage anomalies, he recalled.

He said that department wise disciplinary proceedings were initiated against nearly 7,900 teachers and 408 cases booked against over 17,600 employees for taking part in road blockade protests, among others. 'As many as 2,338 people were suspended, but reinstated later," he added.

However, he said that they had resumed work in about a week following his plea and had earlier requested him to drop all the action initiated against them, including the cases.

On Monday, members of a union met Fisheries and Personnel and Administrative Minister D Jayakumar and reiterated their demand, which he took up with Palaniswami. "The request was considered by the government, which is dropping all the pending action and criminal cases in the spirit of forget and forgive," the chief minister added.