Going on hunger strike not suicide attempt, rules HC

CASE AGAINST SL REFUGEE QUASHED

Going on hunger strike not suicide attempt, rules HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.02.2021 

Making it clear that resorting to a hunger strike as protest does not amount to attempt to suicide inviting punishment under Section 309 of IPC, the Madras high court has quashed criminal proceedings initiated against a Sri Lankan refugee lodged in a special camp.

“The mere fact that the petitioner has protested by sitting on hunger strike will not attract the offence under Section 309 of IPC. Even if the material available on record are taken as it is, it does not constitute an offence under Section 309 of IPC,” Justice Anand Venkatesh said.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by P Chandrakumar seeking to quash criminal proceedings initiated against him for attempt to commit suicide. According to the prosecution, he was detained at the Special Camp, Poonamallee, where he resorted to hunger strike for eight days.

Therefore, the jurisdictional police registered an FIR for offence under Section 309.

Allowing the plea, the court said the Poonamalee court, which kept the proceedings pending, should have taken cognizance within a period of one year since the offence itself is punishable for a maximum period of one year. However, the trial court has taken cognizance after nearly three years without assigning any reasons, which is barred by CrPC.

“In view of the above, no useful purpose will be served in keeping the proceedings pending. Therefore, the proceedings in on the file Judicial Magistrate No.II, Poonamallee, is hereby quashed,” the court said.

Not just how much you sleep, your bedtime is important too

Not just how much you sleep, your bedtime is important too

More Heart Ailments In Those Who Sleep Before 10pm, After 12am

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

19.02.2021 

Going to bed early can indicate an underlying heart ailment while going to bed late can trigger a series of metabolic diseases and lifestyle disorders, according to a study.

There was a 9% increase in incidence of heart ailments among those sleeping before 10pm, compared to those who went to bed between 10pm and midnight, scientists wrote in medical journal Sleep Medicine, after screening 5,633 deaths and 4,346 deaths from more than 21 countries. Among people who sleep past midnight, the incidence increases by nearly 10%.

“We know sleeping six to eight hours is important. This study shows sleeping at the right time matters too,” said senior diabetologist Dr V Mohan, who was a part of the study. “We saw a Ushaped association between bedtime and medical events. The incidence was lower when the sleep time was between 10pm and midnight. The score went up for people in both early and late bedtime groups. While it may not be very different for those who slept at 9pm or 1am, the graph showed that those who slept after 3am or before 7pm were more likely to have health problems,” he said.

Canada-based scientist Dr Salim Yusuf from McMaster University, Hamilton, who is also the corresponding author of the study, concluded that “those going to bed between 10pm and 12am experienced the lowest incidence of events, while early or late bedtimes were associated with a modest detrimental effect on health, suggesting that early or late bedtimes could be an indicator or risk of adverse health outcomes”.

Experts say sleeping early or late tampers with circadian rhythms. These rhythms are 24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock, running in the background to carry out essential functions. Different systems of the body follow circadian rhythms that are synchronized with a master clock in the brain. This master clock is directly influenced by environmental cues, such as day and night. This rhythm promotes consistent and restorative sleep. But when this circadian rhythm is thrown off, it can create significant sleeping problems. “While sleeping late can trigger a series of diseases including heart attacks and death, sleeping early is an indication of an underlying disease. A person who has hyperthyroidism, diabetes or obesity usually tends to sleep more,” Mohan said.

The study found that early sleepers were slightly older, less educated, more likely to be women, lived in rural areas, slept more, smoked and drank less, consumed less energy and had a lower BMI. People with hypertension were more in this group compared to late sleepers, but there were fewer people with diabetes or depression.

While an individual may not have complete control over time of sleep, doctors say the body can be trained to follow the rhythm with exposure to natural light, exercise, low intake of stimulants like caffeine. The key message is it’s important to consult a doctor if you are hitting the bed too early, sleeping for more than eight hours or waking up early.

Supreme Court Dismisses Plea By Doctors Challenging Extension Of DNB Courses By National Board Of Examination

Supreme Court Dismisses Plea By Doctors Challenging Extension Of DNB Courses By National Board Of Examination

Srishti Ojha17 Feb 2021 7:25 PM

Supreme Court has on Wednesday dismissed the plea by the Association of Diplomate of National Board Doctors challenging the National Board of Examination's notice that extended training of the DNB candidates by 3 months due to Covid19. The plea argued that the decision is prejudicial to the career of the students who helped the Nation fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

A division Bench of Justice Nageswara Rao and Justice Ravindra Bhat heard the plea that contended that the National Board of examination, not being a statutory body did not have the right to issue the notification, and is bound to follow directions of National Medical Commission.

Also Read - UP Court Issues Notice To Comedian Kunal Kamra On Revision Petition Against Dismissal Of Plea For FIR Over Alleged Insult To National Flag

During the hearing today, Advocate Tanmaya Mehta appearing on behalf of the petitioner association that it is a pan India issue, a question of vires, and the Court should interfere.

"Why should we interfere when half of it is over. Just finish your training. The court doesn't have any judicially manageable standards here." the Bench observed.

Adv Mehta submitted that NBE being a non-statutory body cannot interfere in this manner. He added that it is also a case of over classification as many hospitals and trainings have continued. There has also been discrimination within the same class as several other DNB students were allowed to continue the training.

Also Read - 'Horrific Incident Has Taken Us Back To Days Of Anarchy': BCI Condemns Murder Of Lawyer Couple In Telangana

"Consider practicality, if we issue notice, then they will file counter. By the time the case is over, the Training period will be over." - Justice Ravindra Bhat remarked.

The plea was filed by Advocates Puneet Yadav, Sourabh Gupta and Aakarsh Kamra from Samaya Law Chambers, on behalf of the petitioners.

The petitioner in this case is a duly registered society with doctors presently pursuing 3rd/Final years of DNB courses throughout the country in various institutions as members. The members of and were to appear in the forthcoming practical and theory examination and their training is extended by 3 months period by the Impugned Notification.

Also Read - Plea In Bombay High Court Seeks Stay On Release Of Film On Life Of Sushant Singh Rajput

The subject matter of the petition is a notice issued by the NBE on 18th January 2021 whereby the training of the DNB candidates was extended by 3 months whose scheduled tenure is ending in 2021. The training period was extended by 3 months for the following courses:

The plea alleged that the impugned notification is totally arbitrary and unreasonable as the training of DNB trainees had not been adversely impacted during the lockdown in COVID-19 and they continued with the academic and practical requirement even during the ongoing pandemic.

According to the petitioner NBE is bound to follow the PGME Guidelines of 2000 and the directions of the National Medical Commission, a statutory body formulated under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. The impugned notification was issued with no suitable reasoning and without consultation with student bodies, faculties or hospitals.

"As per circulars dated 15.03.2020 and 24.03.2020, the ministry of Home Affairs clarify that there would be no discontinuance of work in hospitals or treatment of patients therein, during the currency of the COVID-19 pandemic, or imposition of lockdown by the Government in connection therewith." - the plea read.

The plea submitted that no such extension has been directed in the case of MD/MS postgraduates trainees which is an equivalent course to the DNB trainees and some universities have gone ahead and promoted the MD/MS junior residents to Senior Residents irrespective of exam status on the basis of completion of 3 years of training. The 2017 batch of NBE trainees have received the training completion certificate without any extension and therefore there has been disparity between the two batches of students.

The petitioner submitted that there are hundreds of students who have bonds to clear for which they have been assigned post by state agencies. Such an arbitrary extension would result in the loss of entire year and cause irreparable harm to the academic and professional life of many individuals. The students will loose out on opportunities for fellowships, jobs and career prospects. Also, the candidates who were stuck during lockdown at their hometown and are already serving an extension for the said time are now being subjected to 3 months more extension.

The petitioner further argued the training obtained for the COVID-19 treatment was also made part of the academic schedule by the Hospital and Institutions under the NBE and was being treated as part of the curriculum and therefore it cannot be said that the time spent in treating the Covid-19 patients was not part of the training of the candidates.

HC refuses to stay NBE notice to extend doctors training during COVID-19 pandemic'

April 2020

HC refuses to stay NBE notice to extend doctors training during COVID-19 pandemic': The Delhi High Court has refused to stay the decision of National Board of Examination (NBE) to extend the training of doctors, who are in the final year of training of the Diplomate of National Board (DNB), on the ground that it has been adversely

Now, you can choose between Covaxin, Covishield

Now, you can choose between Covaxin, Covishield

The decision was taken following requests for Covaxin from districts that earlier did not offer it.

Published: 18th February 2021 04:01 AM

A health official shows Covaxin dose.

By Lalitha Ranjani

Express News Service

MADURAI: A month after the Covid-19 inoculation drive was kicked off in Tamil Nadu, the beneficiaries will now be allowed to choose between the two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin.Making this statement while speaking exclusively to Express, the Principal Secretary to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Dr J Radhakrishnan, said, “Since two vaccines have been granted approval and are in stock, the government has decided to make them both available in all the districts, leaving it to the beneficiaries to choose between the two. The decision was taken following requests for Covaxin from districts that earlier did not offer it. Some who preferred Covaxin over Covishield said that they had to travel far to take the jab at one of the six districts initially.”

This is the first time the beneficiaries have been given a choice. On January 13, after the inoculation drive began, Director of Public Health, Dr T S Selvavinayagam, had said, “Beneficiaries cannot choose between Covishield and Covaxin. They can only get what is available at the time of the vaccination drive in the site.”

The Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, which was administered at only six vaccination session sites across Tamil Nadu until last week, will now be available at government medical college hospitals in several districts in a phased manner. The State had received its first consignment of 20,000 doses of Covaxin, developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech, on January 13, in addition to 5,36,500 doses of Covishield, developed jointly by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, that were flown down to Chennai from Pune on January 12.

At the time when the Covid-19 immunisation drive was kick-started in the State on January 16, Covishield was administered at 160 vaccination session sites (healthcare facilities), while Covaxin was given at only six vaccination sites.But from January 28, the health department added more number of session sites to the list of centres giving Covishield in all the districts. Eventually, taluk hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres also became vaccine centres. As on Wednesday, Covishield vaccine is being offered at 646 session sites across the State.

However, the availability of Covaxin was restricted to only six government medical colleges till February 15, according to data released by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. On February 16 (Tuesday), the number of session sites administering Covaxin was stepped up to 16, making the vaccine available at 10 other medical college hospitals across the State, the data showed. On Wednesday, the number of session sites for Covaxin climbed further to 22, revealed the data.

A directive, dated February 12, issued by the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Dr TS Selvavinayagam, states that 1,71,920 doses of Covaxin have been allotted for distribution to all the 10 Regional Vaccine Stores (RVS), from where the vaccine vials would be further dispatched to several districts across Tamil Nadu.Accordingly, 25 more districts have now been allocated for administering Covaxin, in addition to the existing six districts.

Multiple sources in the state health department said that Covaxin, which is yet to complete phase 3 clinical trial, is being introduced with caution across the State. In line with this, the vaccine is administered only at tertiary healthcare centres - government medical college hospitals or district headquarters hospitals that are well-equipped to treat a beneficiary if he/she experiences any adverse effects following immunisation (AEFI).

In Madurai district, Covaxin was introduced in the district on February 15 (Monday) with four healthcare workers taking the jab on day one in the session site at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH). On the second day, 18 healthcare workers received the shot on day two at GRH. On Wednesday, 40 healthcare workers took the jab at GRH and 20 healthcare workers took the jab at the Usilampatti district headquarters hospital. Thus, a total of 82 healthcare workers in the district opted to be inoculated with Covaxin so far. The district received 10,000 doses of Covaxin, said the District Immunisation Officer Dr KV Arjun Kumar.

Why prefer Covaxin over Covishield?

When asked why they preferred Covaxin, some of the doctors and medical students said that Covaxin uses inactivated virus. Commenting on this, public health expert Dr K Kolandaswamy said that by incorporating a new technique in biotechnology, Covishield uses a chimpanzee viral vector that is incapable of replication, based on a weakened adenovirus that causes infections in chimpanzees. “On the other hand, Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine that uses the dead virus which causes the infection,” he added.

Man with three blocks gets new lease of life

Man with three blocks gets new lease of life

Diagnosis and tests revealed he had total blockage in all three major coronary vessels, a rare condition.

Published: 18th February 2021 04:58 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Doctors at the Promed Hospital successfully treated a 73-year-old man, who had 100 per cent blockage in all three major heart vessels. According to a statement from the hospital, Dr Arun Kalyanasundaram, chief cardiologist, treated the patient using the Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention technique. The patient who is a diabetic was also on dialysis apart from having hypertension and elevated cholesterol. Due to this, a bypass could was not feasible.

Diagnosis and tests revealed he had total blockage in all three major coronary vessels, a rare condition.

Dr Kalyanasundaram, said, “The successful CTO PCI is a proof that any blockage can be opened despite complexity of the procedure. This should give hope for patients with similar conditions, and who have been told that they have no choice.” He added both antegrade and retrograde techniques were utilised to help clear blockages and the patient was normal in a couple of days.

கரையான் அரித்த 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் நோட்டுகள்

DINAMALAR

சம்பவம் செய்தி

இந்தியா

கரையான் அரித்த 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் நோட்டுகள்

Added : பிப் 18, 2021 01:54

விஜயவாடா:ஆந்திராவில், கரையான் அரித்த, 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் ரொக்கத்தை, தெருவில் விளையாடிக் கொண்டிருந்த குழந்தைகளுக்கு வினியோகித்த வியாபாரியின் செயல், பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியது.

ஆந்திராவின் கிருஷ்ணா மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள, மயிலாவரம் என்ற இடத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர், பிஜிலி ஜமாலைய்யா. இவர், சொந்தமாக வீடு கட்டுவதற்காக, சிறுக சிறுக பணம் சேர்த்து வந்தார்.வியாபார தொழிலில் கிடைத்த பணத்தை, வங்கியில் முதலீடு செய்யாமல், 500 மற்றும், 200 ரூபாய் நோட்டுகளாக மாற்றி, தன் மனைவியிடம் கொடுத்து, வீட்டில் உள்ள மரப் பெட்டியில் சேமித்து வந்தார்.

இந்நிலையில், மரப் பெட்டிக்குள் கரையான் புகுந்து, அதில் இருந்த, 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் பணத்தை அரித்தது. இதில், மொத்த பணமும் ஆங்காங்கே கிழிந்தும், ஓட்டைகள் விழுந்தும் காணப்பட்டன. இதனால் விரக்தி அடைந்த பிஜிலி, கிழிந்த 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் ரொக்கத்தையும், தெருவில் விளையாடிக் கொண்டிருந்த குழந்தைகளுக்கு வினியோகித்தார்.

குழந்தைகள் கட்டுக்கட்டாக கிழிந்த ரூபாய் நோட்டுகளை வைத்திருந்ததைப் பார்த்த, அப்பகுதி மக்கள் அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்தனர். போலீசார் நடத்திய விசாரணையில், மொத்த விபரமும் வெளிச்சத்துக்கு வந்தன.'பணத்தை வங்கியில் ஏன் முதலீடு செய்யவில்லை' என, வியாபாரி பிஜிலியிடம் போலீசார் விசாரணை நடத்தினர். அப்போது, வங்கியில் கணக்கு துவங்குவது, பணத்தை முதலீடு செய்வது குறித்த நடைமுறைகள் தனக்கு தெரியாததால், வீட்டிலேயே சேமித்து வந்ததாக, அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.