HC to govt: Are you making a mockery of edu system?

HC to govt: Are you making a mockery of edu system?

Rosy.Sequeira@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:21.05.2021

The Bombay high court on Thursday came down heavily on the state government for its decision not to hold SSC exams. The HC heard a PIL by Dhananjay Kulkarni, a retired teacher from Pune, which stated that cancelling of SSC exams can lead to problems for Class XI admissions as different boards declare results based on different formulae.

Government pleader Priyabhushan Kakade said the state is waiting for suggestions from the State Council of Educational Research and Training in a week, after which it will come up with a formula. “Are you making a mockery of the education system?” asked Justice Kathawalla. Kakade said the decision was taken due to the pandemic. “What are you talking? Pandemic. Pandemic,” said Justice Kathawalla, adding that on one hand, the state is saying Covid-19 cases are lessening. “In the name of the pandemic you cannot spoil the career and future of our children... It is not acceptable,” he said.

The judges questioned the discrimination in holding HSC exams for 14 lakh students and not SSC exams for 16 lakh students, adding that “things are done as per whims and fancies of so-called policy- makers.” Told by Kakade that it was a policy decision taken by the government not to hold the SSC exams, Justice Kathawalla remarked, “You are just destroying the system.”

Kulkarni’s advocate Uday Warunjikar said that for Classes I-VIII, there were no exams and even for Class XI. “The complete batch is without any examinations,” he said. Advocate Madhaveshwari Mhase, for an intervenor Anubha Sahai, said Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu had cancelled SSC exams. She said the Madras HC had even dismissed a challenge to the decision. “It is not binding on us. We care about the future of our students, who are the future of the country. They cannot be promoted year after year,” said Justice Kathawalla.

The SSC board’s advocate Kiran Gandhi said it is awaiting a formula from the state. “You are not prepared with anything. Just cancel the exams and sit tight!” said Justice Kathawalla. The judges will pass an order on the matter.

No bail for vendor who laid iron rod on tracks

No bail for vendor who laid iron rod on tracks

Rebecca.Samervel@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:21.05.2021

Seven months after a 30-year-old flower vendor allegedly threw an iron rod on railway tracks as revenge after he was robbed of his sleep for several days due to ongoing work on an FOB at Charni Road, a sessions court this week rejected his bail plea. The accused, Anil Vaghela, lived on a footpath nearby.

Relying on CCTV footage, the court said that if any train were to pass, the possibility of an accident and loss of life could not be ruled out. “Fortunately, the train… stopped,” the court said.

It said that since Vaghela lived close to Charni Road railway station, if released on bail, he could commit such an offence again. “Therefore, considering the seriousness and prima facie evidence available on record (there is) no ground to release accused on bail,” the court said. Vaghela was booked for “mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees and upwards” under the IPC and offences under the Railways Act. The maximum possible sentence is three years’ imprisonment.

9am to 2pm: PU office new timings

9am to 2pm: PU office new timings

Chandigarh:21.05.2021 

In order to review the status of Covid-19 cases at Panjab University (PU) and to contain the spread, the PU authorities on Thursday decided the timings of the university office from 9 am to 2 pm with 50% staff till May 31. Officers at the level of office superintendent and above will attend the office daily. TNN

50% STAFF TO ATTEND PANJAB UNIVERSITY OFFICE FROM 9AM TO 2PM

 Times of India  Chandighar 

50% STAFF TO ATTEND PANJAB UNIVERSITY OFFICE FROM 9AM TO 2PM

Russian holiday vaccine seekers’ and travel industry’s best shot

ATTRACTIVE OFFERS

Russian holiday vaccine seekers’ and travel industry’s best shot

Shariq.Majeed@timesgroup.com

Ludhiana:21.05.2021

Vaccine tourists fly to Russia amid shortage at home, even as Sputnik lands. Booking queries for the combo package of Russian holiday and shots exceed the frequency of flights, so wait until May-end and hope for this second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic to subside.

Micro and small travel agent association president Gurpreet Chawla said: "The Russia package includes shots of Sputnik V for the 18-plus, with certificate, besides 24-night stay in a 4-star hotel with breakfast. The client can downgrade or upgrade, and add extra meals, sightseeing, and chauffer service. But the two weekly direct flights are full."

A prominent tour company’s sales head, Rakesh Sharma, said: “We hope it will be better after May. Besides Ludhiana, other cities are also calling in. Mostly, those are families and groups, as the sharing price is cheaper than the Rs 30,000-to-40,000 cost for singles.” There are also Rs 80,000 and Rs 1.25 lakh packages. Local facilitators in Russia have a tie-up with its government clinics but boarding the flight takes RTPCR negative report not more than 72 hours old.

Travel agent Sanjay Mehra said it was lockdown in almost all international destinations, while Russia was open. The package includes daily breakfast in hotel, airport-to-hotel transfer, two doses of Sputnik with certificate, two pre-vaccination medical check-ups, all transfers and doctor’s visit with English-speaking guide, invitation letter for tourist or medical visa (subject to approval), Russian Visa fee (also subject to approval). Extra meal costs Rs 950 and includes continental buffet and Indian food. Mehra launched the combo offer with seven bookings.

Since Sputnik V has arrived in India, many travel agents see their business opportunity waning.

A local travel agent said: “The Russian vaccine is expected to be available in India soon but since people haven’t been able to go out for long, they might prefer our package." Russian health and disease-control regulations since April 28 require all passengers from India to be tested for Covid-19 after passing immigration. They need no wait at the airport to get the result.

City man fails to get HC relief to fly to US over bank fraud

City man fails to get HC relief to fly to US over bank fraud

Court Seeks Reply From Union Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:21.05.2021

The Telangana high court on Thursday declined to give any interim relief to a city resident who sought permission to fly to the United States.

Refusing to accept the pleas of petitioner Kanumuri Venkata Subba Raju, Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili issued notices to the Centre, immigration officials and sought their replies within two weeks. The judge was hearing a petition of Subba Raju who said that the immigration officer at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport affixed a stamp on his passport indicating that it stood cancelled.

Stating that a person who defrauded a bank should not talk about rules and procedures when he was facing a lookout circular and was prevented from flying to the US, the judge said: “You cheat a bank and when the aggrieved bank writes to the Centre and got a lookout circular issued against you, you are now talking about rules and procedures. I cannot accept this.” The judge asked the petitioner to make UCO Bank a party.

Subba Raju’s counsel argued that there was no criminal case against him and that it was not right to stop him from going to the US as he had already acquired the US citizenship. “It is unlawful to prevent him to leave India,” he said, and added that all this was done at the behest of UCO Bank, Kolkata. The judge then asked the petitioner why did not he make the bank a party to his petition. Subba Raju is a resident of Kavuri Hills near Madhapur.

Shopkeepers booked for selling pulse oximeters at higher prices

Shopkeepers booked for selling pulse oximeters at higher prices

Mungara.Sunil@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:21.05.2021

Exploiting the precarious situation, several medical shops are making a killing by jacking up the prices of pulse oximeters and sanitizers. Instead of selling them at MRP, the shopkeepers are hiding the price by sticking blank labels on them.

Confirming these violations, assistant controller of legal metrology department Shivanand said that raids are being conducted on several medical shops. “Our special teams have raided several shops and found that a few are violating norms. We have raided 110 medical shops so far and imposed penalties. A reputed medical shop was fined Rs 25,000 for selling pulse oximeters and sanitizers at higher prices,” said Shivanand, adding that cases were booked for violating the compulsory mask rule.

“So far 12 cases were booked and Rs 23,000 fined was imposed for violating the compulsory mask rule,” he added.

The official made it clear that they have no intention to harass the shopkeepers.

“Our intention is not to harass the shopkeepers by imposing penalties and booking cases. We are coming hard on those greedy who are exploiting the rush because of the pandemic situation and the lockdown. Some shops are illegally hiking the price of oximeters by about 95 to 120%.

Officials conduct a raid at a medical shop