Docs worried as Covid wards in major B’luru hospitals are almost full

Docs worried as Covid wards in major B’luru hospitals are almost full

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:01.04.2021

With Covid-19 cases steadily increasing in Bengaluru, a majority of the hospitals treating the infections said most of their beds are occupied and doctors fear demand for ICU beds could throw up infrastructure and human resources challenges in the coming days.

Covid wards in major hospitals in the city are nearly full, despite 80% of the cases in the second wave are asymptomatic and require only home isolation. In a 1,000-bed hospital, 10% of the beds are for intensive care. In Covid care for severe patients, at least 40-50% beds should be in ICUs, doctors said.

At a recent meeting with prominent hospitals and medical colleges, the state health and family welfare department asked hospitals to reserve10% of their total beds for Covid cases. Currently, government hospitals are largely used for severe Covid patients. Unlike last year, private hospital beds for Covid will used in a staggered manner. “In the next one week, all hospitals must have 10% of beds for Covid patients. As the situation demands, the percentage of private beds will be increased,” said a BBMP officer.

At Trauma and Emergency Care Centre in Victoria Hospital campus attached to the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, 150 of the 162 Covid beds are occupied, said Dr Smitha Segu, nodal officer.

Full report on www.toi.in

PRESSING PROBLEMS: In a 1,000-bed hospital, 10% of the beds are for intensive care. In Covid care for severe patients, at least 40-50% beds should be in ICUs, doctors said

Karnataka minister writes to guv, says CM ‘interfering’ in ministry

Karnataka minister writes to guv, says CM ‘interfering’ in ministry

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:01.04.2021

Alleging chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s “authoritarian interference” in his ministry, Karnataka rural development and panchayat raj minister KS Eshwarappa on Wednesday sought the intervention of the governor and party leadership for revocation of orders and restoration of “peace” in administration.

In a written complaint to governor Vajubhai Vala and BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh, Eshwarappa accused Yediyurappa of direct interference in his ministry in violation of the Karnataka (Transaction of Business) Rules on division of power in the cabinet. A copy has been forwarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda.

The complaint brings to the fore resentment against Yediyurappa in the cabinet and growing discord against his style of functioning. Eshwarappa and Yediyurappa, both from Shivamogga in Karnataka, have had a lovehate relationship.

Eshwarappa, however, said: “It is an internal matter and I will not discuss it in public. I am not unhappy with the CM and there is no question of resentment (against him). There is no need to attach political significance to a meeting I had with the governor to discuss issues related to my department. There is no bar on meeting party leaders or Union ministers to discuss department matters.”

Full report onwww.toi.in

Girl moves SC for delay in medical admission under Central Pool

Girl moves SC for delay in medical admission under Central Pool

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:01.04.2021

A medical aspirant from Ladakh, whose name was recommended by the UT administration for admission from the Central Pool in the capital’s Lady Hardinge Medical College, has moved the Supreme Court against the college for delaying her admission even though classes for first year MBBS course had started. The court issued notice to the college seeking its response.

Agreeing to address the grievances of the student who claimed that the college failed to clear her admission despite her completing all the formalities more than a month back, a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah issued notice to the college and posted the hearing for April 5.

The petitioner, Farzana Batool, approached the apex court through her advocate Neeraj Shekhar after classes for the course started but her admission was not cleared.

The director general of health services of Ladakh had forwarded her name on February 19 and she rushed to Delhi a day after and completed the admission formalities by submitting the relevant documents as well as fees in the college on February 22.

She alleged that even after completing all the formalities, her admission has not yet been confirmed, whereas classes for the first year MBBS course have started.

“Therefore, she was constrained to write an email on March 7 to the authorities requesting them to intervene and thereby confirm the admission process. But till date, the admission of the petitioner has not been confirmed,” said the petition.

Can’t equate MBA’s earnings with that of labourer’s: HC

IN ABSENCE OF INCOME PROOF

Can’t equate MBA’s earnings with that of labourer’s: HC

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh: 01.04.2021

The income of a person with an MBA cannot be equated with the earnings of a labourer in case of non-availability of income proof, the Punjab and Haryana high court has held.

The court also clarified that the cost index and status of the two sides fighting a case are to be considered while determining maintenance allowance to estranged wife in matrimonial disputes.

“The contention that income of the petitioner should be considered as a labourer and thereafter interim maintenance should be fixed, is noted to be rejected. The pleadings that the petitioner is a fashion designer and with an MBA qualification have not been denied. It would not be appropriate to equate the petitioner (an MBA) with a labourer. While fixing interim maintenance, the cost index and status of the parties is to be considered,” held Justice Avneesh Jhingan of the high court, who passed these orders while dismissing a plea filed by a Sonipat resident.

The petitioner had approached the HC following an order of February 12, 2020, passed by a family court in Rohtak fixing interim maintenance of ₹7,000 per month to be paid to his wife under Section 125 CrPC.

In her plea seeking maintenance, the petitioner’s wife had pleaded that after their marriage she was subjected to cruelty and forced to live separately. She has no source of income.

EVIDENCE ISSUE

The petitioner denied the plea regarding his qualification and income of Rs.40,000 per month on the grounds that there is no proof that he is earning Rs 40,000 per month.

Indiscipline no grounds to expel student: HC

Indiscipline no grounds to expel student: HC

Schools Must Manage Kids From Diverse Backgrounds

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:01.04.2021

The Madras high court on Wednesday observed that the indisciplined behaviour of a teenaged student should not justify expulsion from school. The court said that schools are expected to handle and manage different segments of students and strive to mould them into good citizens.

The court made the observations while directing a school management at Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district to take in a student who was denied admission in Class XI due to indisciplined behaviour. The court was hearing a petition from the student’s mother V Lakshmi.

Justice V Parthiban observed that it is needless to mention that there are two facets to education -- one is to draw out the best ability of the student and the other is the character edification and the inculcation of values of life, its meaning and existence. The combination of these two facets ought to be the aim of every school management to sub-serve the interest of society at large.

In an institution having several hundreds of students hailing from various socio-economic, cultural backgrounds on its strength, it is too much to expect homogeneous conduct and regimented behaviour from all students. “This court is conscious of the fact that in today’s context, schools are run as enterprises with a paramount aim of achieving excellence in terms of their academic balance sheet with a view to be a leader in the field of education. In the bargain, all round growth of the students is relegated to the back burner, if not, it is altogether shunted out of the academic activities,” said the judge.

The judge observed that it was easy for an institution to send a student away on grounds of indiscipline. But such steps amount to shirking its ultimate responsibility and reflect on its inability to address so-called errant behaviour of the student concerned, which is viable for any school for that matter.

Quoting Abraham Lincoln ‘mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice’, the judge directed the school management to admit the student by accepting the undertaking affidavit filed by the petitioner ensuring her son’s good behaviour for the next two years. The judge directed the school to comply with the direction within one week as the present academic year has already commenced.

In an institution having several hundreds of students, it is too much to expect homogeneous conduct from all students

Teacher held for uploading picture of postal ballot

Teacher held for uploading picture of postal ballot

Three persons including a woman teacher, her husband and a Tenkasi resident were arrested for sharing a picture of her postal ballot on social media here on Tuesday.

Published: 31st March 2021 04:37 AM 

By Express News Service

TENKASI: Three persons including a woman teacher, her husband and a Tenkasi resident were arrested for sharing a picture of her postal ballot on social media here on Tuesday.

“The suspected teacher from Vellakal cast her vote on the postal ballot which was delivered by polling staff. Her husband, a retired army man, took a photo of that ballot and posted it on social media. The third suspect, a resident of Tenkasi, forwarded the same to his friends. All three have been arrested.

A Surandai-based woman teacher was mistakenly suspended on Monday based on the recommendation of the District Educational Officer, Kokila, for allegedly posting a picture of her postal ballot. However, the inquiry conducted by the police inspector Balamurugan revealed that the polling staff wrongly delivered the postal ballot of the Surandai-based teacher to the teacher whose postal ballot picture was shared on social media,” said police.

Referring to the serial number of the postal ballot which was posted on social media, the School Education Department had suspended the Surandai-based teacher. Representatives of Tamil Nadu Primary School Teachers Federation and the teacher petitioned the District Election Officer (DEO) against her suspension.

Madurai doctor’s death not linked to Covid vaccination: Health Dept

Madurai doctor’s death not linked to Covid vaccination: Health Dept

Harini who took the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield on February 5, reportedly developed fever and body pain on March 5, four weeks after taking the vaccine.

Published: 18th March 2021 05:02 AM 

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Denying social media messages that claimed link between Covid-19 vaccine and the death of 26-year-old Hari Harini, a postgraduate student at Madurai Medical College, last week, the district health department has clarified that she took the first dose of Covishield over a month ago and died last week due to anaphylactic shock that was most likely caused by a painkiller injection administered by her doctor-husband.

Hari Harini who was a postgraduate student at the department of Anaesthesiology in Madurai Medical College was married to Dr Ashok Vignesh, a postgraduate student in the department of general surgery at the Madurai Medical College. The couple who got married in November last was residing at Mela Anuppanadi.

Harini who took the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield on February 5, reportedly developed fever and body pain on March 5, four weeks after taking the vaccine. “In a bid to treat her at their residence, her husband reportedly administered the painkiller injection Diclofenac. A few hours later, she started vomiting and fell unconscious,” police sources said.

Avaniapuram police registered a case and an RDO probe was also initiated. District Immunisation Officer Dr KV Arjun Kumar said that Harini was shifted to a private hospital on March 5 around 7.30 am and was put on mechanical ventilation. “She died six days later, on March 11 afternoon,” he said. For the past couple of days, messages linking Harini’s death with Covid vaccination are doing the rounds in social media. The message also urges the public not to take any other injection or medicine after taking the jab of Covid vaccine.

“The autopsy was performed on March 12 and the provisional diagnosis state that she suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction due to inadequate oxygen supply) due to anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction). The anaphylactic shock could have occurred due to the painkiller injection,” Arjun Kumar said. He also ruled out that the death was due to vaccination. He further said that the painkiller injection Diclofenac is not being used in healthcare facilities for many years now and that injectable painkillers are usually avoided.