TN lost ₹2,000cr in PDS tenders in 5 yrs, says NGO in graft plaint

TN lost ₹2,000cr in PDS tenders in 5 yrs, says NGO in graft plaint

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.06.2021

Times of India :Chennai Edition 

Tamil Nadu lost at least ₹2,000 crore since 2015 in 50 tenders awarded for procuring sugar, palm oil and pulses for ration shops in the state, says a complaint filed by anti-graft NGO Arappor Iyakkam to the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) on Friday.

Tender conditions were tweaked and designed to favour a cartel of companies and to eliminate competition, the NGO said. The prices finalised for supplying thousands of tonnes of essentials were way above even retail prices prevailing at that time, it said.

For instance, according to Arappor, for a tender (cancelled by the present DMK government) on May 5, 2021, for procurement of pulses, a company quoted around ₹145 per kg. But after Arappor flagged it, the tender norms were corrected and re-floated 10 days later. This time more companies participated and the same company quoted around ₹80 as price for pulses. Tamil Nadu saved ₹120 crore in this single tender alone.

Similarly, for sugar tenders, prior to 2019, sugar manufacturers participated directly in tender which kept the procurement price at ₹37 a kg. However, after tender conditions were modified in July 2019, the price went up to ₹47 a kg.

‘Govt paid a premium above wholesale rates’

Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of the NGO, said, “When the same tender was re-floated a few months later, the same company, which had originally quoted ₹32.9, submitted a rate of ₹49.9 and all competing bidders had been rendered ineligible to bid.”

Arappor’s complaint pertains to tenders for supply of 2.7 lakh tonnes of sugar from January 2019 to 2021, 56.56 crore one-litre pouches of palm oil from 2017-2021 and 5 lakh tonnes of pulses (dhal) from 2015-2021.

According to the complaint, Tamil Nadu government paid a premium of ₹10 per kg for sugar, ₹15.95 per pouch for palm oil and ₹15 per kg for dhal over and above the wholesale rate.

To buttress their complaint, Arappor has also attached wholesale as well as retail rates of commodities obtained from the government-run Amudham stores. Though the government procurement was in bulk, the final rates were higher than even the retail rates in almost all cases.

Arappor’s evidence also shows that the cartel, led allegedly by Christy Freidgram group in Tiruchengode, also enrolled themselves as buyback suppliers for central government trading agencies like MSTC and Kendriya Bhandar. These agencies participated in TNCSC tenders and quoted the rates given to them by the cartel led by Christy Freidgram.

“This is violative of STC tender clauses which disallow buyback suppliers and STC participating in the same tender,” Arappor said in its complaint. Information obtained by Arappor through RTI shows that the STCs got only 1% of the earning, while the rest went to the buyback supplier. When contacted, a company official of Christy Freidgram said: “The allegations are completely false. We supply at prices lower than those quoted in the tender after negotiation with the government.”

CBSE can’t refuse to change names after declaring results: SC

CBSE can’t refuse to change names after declaring results: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:04.06.2021 

In an important judgment, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the CBSE could not impose a blanket ban on changes in the names of students, parents and other particulars in certificates or mark sheets after declaration of results of board examinations.

The judgment, delivered by a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari, came on 22 petitions relating to correction or change in name and surname or date of birth of candidates or their parents in the CBSE certificates. Various high courts gave conflicting rulings on this issue.

Justice Khanwilkar said the right to change a name was a constituent element of freedom of expression of identity. “...an individual is not only recognised by how an individual identifies oneself but also by how his or her official records identify. For, in every public transaction of an individual, official records introduce the person by name and other relevant particulars,” he said.

The bench directed the board to take immediate steps to amend its bylaws to allow candidates to change their names or the names of their parents in certificates.

“Illustratively, a juvenile accused of being in conflict with the law or a victim of sexual abuse whose identity gets compromised ... may consider changing the name to seek rehabilitation in society in exercise of her right to be forgotten. If the board, in such a case, refuses to change the name, the student would be compelled to live with the scars of the past,” the bench said.

Times View: There could be several bona fide reasons for which an individual needs a new name. CBSE should facilitate the process, rather than being cussed about it. The SC has rightly made them see the light.

3,000 junior docs resign as HC declares strike illegal

3,000 junior docs resign as HC declares strike illegal

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:04.06.2021

A division bench of Madhya Pradesh high court on Thursday declared the state-wide strike by junior doctors as illegal and ordered them to resume duty within 24 hours. If the doctors don't return to duty, the state government should initiate tough action against them, the court said.

Soon after the high court order was received, the MP Medical University, Jabalpur cancelled the registrations of 450 junior doctors. Hurt by these two incidents, all the junior doctors of the state announced their collective resignations with immediate effect. The 3,000 resignations took place in the six medical colleges GMC Bhopal, MGM Indore, NSCBMC Jabalpur, BMC Sagar, SSMC Rewa and GRMC Gwalior. At a press conference, later in the evening JUDA representatives said they would approach the Supreme Court for relief. “State government had made a commitment to JUDA and the onus is on the government to fulfil it. We have been on peaceful strike for four days, but there is no communication from the government side. Rather, an attempt was made to mislead us by getting a petition filed in the high court. That's why we tell the government that you can stop us from strike, but not from resigning. So, we have decided that we will resign and continue our fight,” said MP JUDA president, Dr Arvnid Meena.

Junior doctors stage protest after mass resignation, at Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal on Thursday

HC slams docs for strike amid second wave

Earlier, a division bench of MPHC headed by Chief Justice, Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Sujoy Paul criticised the junior doctors for proceeding on a strike during the devastating second wave of Coronavirus pandemic and said strike by junior doctors at this critical juncture can't be justified on any ground.

Shailendra Singh, an advocate from Jabalpur, had filed a petition in the high court seeking court's intervention in the strike by junior doctors. He contended that in response to his earlier petition, the court on July 15, 2018, had declared medical services as essential services and under the Essential Services Maintenance Act and doctors can't proceed on strike or take a mass leave. TNN

Chennai Port Trust moves Madras HC to 'trace and return' its Rs 100 crore

Chennai Port Trust moves Madras HC to 'trace and return' its Rs 100 crore

Justice R Mahadevan, before whom the writ petition came up for hearing, directed the petitioner to implead the necessary parties as respondents and adjourned the matter.

Published: 03rd June 2021 11:00 PM

Madras High Court (File Photo| PTI)

By PTI

CHENNAI: The Chennai Port Trust on Thursday moved the Madras High Court for a direction to the Indian Bank to trace and return Rs 107.16 crore it had deposited with its various branches in the city between March and May 2020.

Justice R Mahadevan, before whom the writ petition came up for hearing, directed the petitioner to implead the necessary parties as respondents and adjourned the matter.

The petition d prayed for a direction to the Indian Bank to pay Rs 107.16 crore within a time frame to be fixed by the court.

Of this, Rs 100.57 crore was the principal amount deposited by the CPT in fixed deposits at various branches of the bank in the city in the months of March, April and May 2020 and Rs 6.59 crore was the interest accrued thereon, on maturity.

The petition, after alleging fraudulent activities, unauthorised transfer of the funds and impersonation, said that the bank had not hitherto agreed to return the entire sum and had incorrectly linked the repayment to the investigation pending before the CBI on the issue.

Sixth Chennai school summoned over sexual abuse claims

Sixth Chennai school summoned over sexual abuse claims

The summons have been issued to a religious guru associated with the school management and teachers who allegedly facilitated the abuse.

Published: 04th June 2021 06:42 AM 

Image for representational purpose only. ( Express Illustration)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After receiving complains of sexual abuse, the Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TNCPCR) has summoned representatives from Sushil Hari International Residential School, Kelambakkam.

The summons have been issued to a religious guru associated with the school management and teachers who allegedly facilitated the abuse. The TNCPCR inspected the school on Thursday. According to sources, the guru under inquiry was not found on the school campus. However, summons have been issued to him to appear before the commission later in June.

With this, the TNCPCR has summoned a total of six schools in the city including three private CBSE schools, one Central government school, one Anglo-Indian school and one international school, Saraswathi Rangasamy, the chairperson of the commission, told Express. However, the school management could not be reached for comments as calls went unanswered.

Some alumni of the Sushil Hari International Residential School, through social media posts, alleged that the guru associated with the school management sexually abused them. The allegations range from molestation, intoxicating minors with alcohol, showing pornography to minors and even rape.

An alumna said the guru manipulated girls and called them to his bungalow and sexually abused them. She added that young girls were told that “previous birth’s karma will forever fade away,” if they did what he asked them to do. Another alumni said he asked her to strip in front of him, saying he was “Lord Krishna” and she was his “Gopika.”

A Good Samaritan gone too soon due to Covid

A Good Samaritan gone too soon due to Covid

The death of Dr Shahul Hameed Mansoor came descended as a big tragedy for the people of his community and the town of Aruppukottai.

Published: 04th June 2021 05:24 AM 

Dr Shahul Hameed Mansoor

By Express News Service

VIRUDHUNAGAR: The death of Dr Shahul Hameed Mansoor came descended as a big tragedy for the people of his community and the town of Aruppukottai. The 52-year-old doctor died during the early hours on Wednesday after putting up a 21-day long battle against Covid-19. Mansoor was working as the Chief Medical Officer of Aruppukottai ESI hospital and also ran a private multi-specialty hospital.

His motto was to provide good treatment at low cost to the people who came to his hospital, say the people from his hospital, which started functioning in 2006. He was in service as a doctor for around four decades.

“He was a pious person and was deeply connected to his community. Being one of the board members of the Wisdom Educational Society, he provided a lot of help for the education of students. He also had a policy of feeding anybody who asks him for food and to those without a house or family. Every month he used to feed at least 300 people,” said Dr Sohail Rashid Meeran, his son, who has just finished his MBBS.

Being a genuine and kind figure in the town, people always turned to him in the times of need, be it financial or medical, and he offered treatment with minimal fee, added Sohail. Mansoor is survived by his wife Dr Vennila, and two children.

கரோனா நிவாரண நிதி வழங்க விருப்ப ஓய்வுபெறும் ஆசிரியர்: நாகை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரிடம் கடிதம் அளித்தார்

கரோனா நிவாரண நிதி வழங்க விருப்ப ஓய்வுபெறும் ஆசிரியர்: நாகை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரிடம் கடிதம் அளித்தார்

நாகை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்தில் ஆட்சியர் பிரவீன் பி.நாயரிடம் தனது விருப்ப ஓய்வு கடிதத்தை வழங்குகிறார் ஆசிரியர் புத்தநேசன். உடன், அவரது மனைவி, மகள் உள்ளனர்.

நாகப்பட்டினம்

கரோனா நிவாரண நிதி வழங்குவதற்காக நாகை மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்த அரசுப் பள்ளி உடற்கல்வி ஆசிரியர் விருப்ப ஓய்வு பெற விண்ணப்பித்துள்ளார்.

நாகப்பட்டினத்தை அடுத்துள்ள தெத்தி சமரசம் நகரைச் சேர்ந்தவர் புத்தநேசன்(55). இவர், திருவாரூர் மாவட்டம் நன்னிலத்தை அடுத்து உள்ள நெடுங்குளம் அரசு ஆதிதிராவிடர் நல மேல்நிலைப் பள்ளியில் உடற்கல்வி ஆசிரியராக உள்ளார். இவரது மனைவி கோமதி. இவர்களுக்கு 8-ம் வகுப்பு படிக்கும் சுவாதியா என்ற மகள் உள்ளார்.

இந்நிலையில், கரோனா தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மக்களுக்கு உதவுவதற்காக, ஆசிரியர் பணியிலிருந்து விருப்பு ஓய்வு பெற்று, அதன் மூலம் கிடைக்கும் பணப்பலன்களை முதல்வரின் கரோனா நிவாரண நிதிக்கு வழங்க முடிவு செய்து உள்ளார்.

இதையடுத்து, புத்தநேசன், தனது மனைவி, மகளுடன் நேற்று முன்தினம் நாகை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்துக்கு வந்து, ஆட்சியர் பிரவீன் பி. நாயரை சந்தித்து, ஆசிரியர் பணியிலிருந்து விருப்ப ஓய்வுபெறுவதற்கான கடிதத்தை வழங்கினார். அதைப் பெற்றுக் கொண்ட ஆட்சியர், கல்வித் துறைக்கு அனுப்பி உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதாக கூறி, ஆசிரியர் புத்தநேசன் மற்றும் அவர்களது குடும்பத்தினரை பாராட்டி, வாழ்த்து கூறினார்.

இதுகுறித்து ஆசிரியர் புத்தநேசன் ‘இந்து தமிழ்’ நாளிதழிடம் கூறியது: கரோனா தொற்றால் தினம் தினம் ஏராளமான மக்கள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு பல்வேறு துயரங்களை அனுபவித்து வருகின்றனர். பலர் உயிரிழந்தும் வருவதால், அவர்களது குடும்பங்களும் பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றன.

எனவே, பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு நாமும் எந்த வகையிலாவது உதவ வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக பணியிலிருந்து விருப்பு ஓய்வு பெற்று, அதன் மூலம் கிடைக்கும் பணப்பலன்களை முதல்வரின் நிவாரண நிதிக்கு வழங்குவது என முடிவு செய்தேன். இதுகுறித்து நான் எனது மனைவி, மகளுடன் கலந்து ஆலோசித்தேன். அவர்களும் எனது முடிவை முழு மனதுடன் ஏற்றுக் கொண்டனர்.

சுமார் ரூ.10 லட்சம்

அதன்படி, மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரை சந்தித்து விருப்பு ஓய்வு பெறுவதற்கான கடிதத்தை வழங்கினேன். அதன் மூலம் வரும் பணப்பலன்கள் (சுமார் ரூ.10 லட்சம்) முழுவதையும் முதல்வரின் நிவாரண நிதிக்கு வழங்குவேன்.

கிடைக்கும் வருமானம் போதும்

நான் ஓய்வு பெறுவதற்கு இன்னும் சுமார் 5 வருடங்கள் உள்ளன. 2003-ம் ஆண்டுக்குப் பிறகு நான் பணியில் சேர்ந்ததால், ஓய்வூதியம் கிடைக்காது. ஏற்கெனவே நான் சரக்கு ஏற்றும் மினி வேன், வாடகை கார் வைத்துள்ளேன். போலீஸாருக்கு சீருடை துணிகளை விற்பனை செய்து வருகிறேன். மேலும் எனது சகோதரி மகன் மூலம் காய்கறி வியாபாரமும் செய்கிறேன். எனது மனைவி வீட்டிலிருந்தபடியே கவரிங் நகைகளை விற்பனை செய்து வருகிறார். இதன் மூலம் கிடைக்கும் வருமானம் குடும்பச் செலவுகளுக்கு போதுமானதாக இருக்கும். எங்களுக்கு வேறு பெரிய செலவுகள் எதுவும் இல்லை என்பதால், கிடைக்கும் வருமானத்தை வைத்து சமாளித்துக் கொள்வோம் என்றார்.

பசியால் வாடுவோருக்கு ஒருவேளை உணவு அளிக்கக்கூட யோசிப்பவர்களுக்கிடையே, கரோனாவால் வாடும் மக்களின் துயர்துடைக்க ஆசிரியர் புத்தநேசன் எடுத்துள்ள முடிவு ஆச்சரியத்தையும், நெகிழ்ச்சியையும் ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது என்றால் அது மிகையல்ல.