Aspirants must continue to study for NEET: Health min

Aspirants must continue to study for NEET: Health min

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.06.2021

Students in Tamil Nadu aspiring to pursue MBBS must continue preparing for NEET even as the state government is working towards getting an exemption, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday. He was reacting to a statement by deputy leader of opposition O Panneerselvam, which said the state’s decision to start NEET coaching centres in government schools when they promised an exemption was confusing to students.

Subramanian said, “Admission now is based on NEET. The state is working towards getting a permanent exemption from the entrance test. Nevertheless, we don’t want to leave students stranded if we don’t get that exemption,” he said.

Free coaching for NEET was introduced by the AIADMK government which made little efforts to seek exemption from the test, Subramanian pointed out. The first announcement about such a course came from AIADMK’s former education minister K A Sengottaiyan, he said.

“While the DMK moved the court to stop the entrance based admission in 2010, the test became the sole criterion for medical admissions since 2017. The DMK supported the legislation against NEET in the TN assembly but the move did not receive presidential sanction. It was later returned by the Union home ministry as there was not enough “pressure” from the then ruling AIADMK,” Subramanian remarked, adding that several students had to face difficulties when NEET was made mandatory.

Ever since the DMK came to power, it has made consistent efforts to ensure students don’t have to write NEET, he said. “Instead of merely passing legislation, the DMK government decided to study the impact of NEET. A nine-member committee under retired justice A K Rajan has been working to study its impact on students. In the past one week, the committee has met at least four times,” the minister said. “They will submit their recommendation to the state within a month.”

In 2006, TN government passed a legislation to cancel entrance examinations for professional courses based on the recommendations of an expert committee headed by educationalist Dr M Ananthakrishnan. “We are hopeful of doing the same thing with the present committee,” Subramanian said.

Committee seeks public opinion:The A K Rajan committee set up TN government to study the impact of NEET has asked members of the public to e-mail their opinions on the issue, not exceeding five pages, to neetimpact2021@gmail.com or by post to the committee office functioning on the campus of Director of Medical Education in Kilpauk before June 23. The DME office has placed a drop box for people to drop hard copies of their opinions. By Friday, the directorate had received at least 5,000 e-mails regarding NEET.

Admission now is based on NEET. The state is working towards getting a permanent exemption from the entrance test. Nevertheless, we don’t want to leave students stranded if we don’t get that exemption

MA SUBRAMANIAN

State health minister

Bar council told to take suo motu action against misconduct by lawyers

Bar council told to take suo motu action against misconduct by lawyers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.06.2021

It is time the Bar council took suo motu action against unprofessional conduct of advocates as soon as it comes to its notice through digital/print media, and without awaiting a formal complaint, Madras high court has said.

Justice M Dhandapani, denying anticipatory bail to a woman advocate, Tanuja Rajan, who was booked for abusing and intimidating policemen who had stopped her daughter’s car and imposed ₹500 fine on her for lockdown violation, said: “…though this court cannot give any positive direction to the Bar Council to do one thing or the other…this court feels it is high time the Bar Council enforces Section 35 of the Advocates Act which gives it the power and authority to initiate action suo motu on the incidents which comes to its knowledge through digital or print media, for which there is no complaint given by any individual.”

Pointing out that Tanuja Rajan’s conduct on June 6 in full public view could not be brushed as an one-off act, the judge said, pointing out to a similar fracas during an election check when she had projected herself as an advocate and immune to any checks that police may conduct. “The whole act of Tanuja Rajan is not only demeaning the legal fraternity in bad light in front of the public, but it is a clear misuse of her position and professional privilege as an advocate to further her cause, which is impermissible,” he said.

Justice Dhandapani, however, granted bail to her daughter, Preeti Rajan, who is a fourth year law student.

The judge also frowned at one advocate R Krishnamoorthi, a ‘total stranger to the proceedings’, and initiated contempt of court proceedings against him for making derogatory statements on the social media against the judicial functions of the judge. “If such an act is not nipped in the bud, it will send a wrong signal to other persons to make scathing aspersions against other judges which would impede the discharge of judicial functions,” said Justice Dhandapani.

The court denied bail to advocate Tanuja Rajan who was booked for intimidating cops who had stopped her daughter’s car and imposed ₹500 fine on her for lockdown violation

Law faculty exam paper repeated, DU orders probe

Law faculty exam paper repeated, DU orders probe

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:18.06.2021

First-year students of Delhi University’s Faculty of Law who sat for their Law of Contract paper on June 16 were shocked to find that they had got the same question paper as their seniors did for their exam in December 2020. The exam was held through online open book examination format.

The law faculty has formed a committee to investigate the lapse.

One of the candidates, Shwet Kumar Singh, said that he was shocked to see the same set of questions and was unsure if he had to attempt the paper. He had seen last year’s paper while preparing for his exam. “When second-year students gave the exam in December, they had received the exact same six questions. I and my classmates first thought that it was a mistake and complained about it but we got no answers from anyone,” said Singh.

Vivek Raj, a second-year student, said that “those who appeared for their improvement exam in December would have never thought that the paper would be repeated. The 100-mark question paper had six questions, of which students had to attempt four. All the questions were exactly the same. The only difference was the date of the exam.”

He added, “These types of things can ruin the reputation of the law faculty.”

DS Rawat, dean of exams, said that “DU only issues the guidelines and the exam question papers are set by the law faculty. And during the pandemic, they said that they would also be conducting the exams. When we got to know about the incident, we spoke to them and asked them to investigate. The law faculty stated that they have constituted a committee and will investigate the matter.”

Dean of law faculty Vandana did not respond to calls and messages by TOI.

One of the candidates said he was shocked to see the same set of questions and was unsure if he had to attempt the paper. He had seen last year’s paper while preparing for his exam

AIIMS to resume routine admissions

AIIMS to resume routine admissions

New Delhi:18.06.2021

AIIMS has decided to resume routine inpatient admissions and elective surgeries at its general and private wards and in all its centres with immediate effect, according to an order by the hospital administration. “In view of the decreased need of hospitalisation of Covid patients and considering the relaxation of curfew announced by Delhi government, it’s been decided that inpatient admission, including elective surgeries in general wards and private wards in AIIMS Hospital and all centres, be resumed with immediate effect,” the order issued by the medical superintendent stated.

Heads of all departments have been requested to provide a proposed number of new and follow-up OPD patients daily who are to be given online or telephonic appointments. OPD registration will be done only for such patients with online/phone appointments. TNN

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CBSE Class XII marks may dip due to 30% weightage to Class XI

CBSE Class XII marks may dip due to 30% weightage to Class XI

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.06.2021

The Central Board of Secondary Education's Class XII evaluation criteria which gives 30% weightage to Class XI marks may dip the scores of Class XII students, say experts and principals.

Following the cancellation of the Class XII board exam, the CBSE announced that 40% weightage will be given to unit test, mid-term test, pre-board exam and 30% weightage will be given to Class XI theory exams and 30% weightage will be given to Class X marks. Class X marks are based on the average theory component of the best of three performing subjects out of five mine subjects.

Marks for practicals and internal assessment will be based on the marks uploaded by schools on the CBSE portal.

R Srinivasa Raghavan, principal of Bala Vidyamandir Senior Secondary School in Adyar said there will be a dip in marks for Class XII students. "Evaluation criteria is fair. But, Class XI students would not have taken their exams seriously. So, there will be a dip in marks. Nobody expected that Class XI marks to be a part of evaluation and it will be a catch for them," he said. adding that it has given a message to all students that they should not take any academic test lightly.

Sunitha Vipinchandran, principal of Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School said more weightage for Class X board exams could have been given. "Because of the board exams, Class X students would have studied more seriously. But, Class XI students might not have taken their exams seriously. So, the weightage for board exams should have been more," she said.

Some principals said top rankers may not be satisfied with Class XII marks. "It is the only option for the board in view of the cancellation of Class XII exams. But, brighter students who have prepared for the examination, won't be satisfied with the marks. If the marks are low, then CBSE might think of giving moderation," said P G Subramanian, principal of Bhavans Rajaji Vidhyashram in Kilpauk.

Carreer consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi said the performance of Class XII science group students was good last year. "The 30% weightage to Class XI exams will have an impact this year as CBSE students don't focus on Class XI exams. The marks won't be like last year. The students who have done very well in Class XI will have an advantage over others," he said.