HC quashes certificate of registration of marriage

HC quashes certificate of registration of marriage

03/07/2021

Staff Reporter Madurai

Bringing relief to a young woman from Thoothukudi, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has quashed the certificate of the registration of marriage issued by the Sub-Registrar. The woman had sought the cancellation of the registration.

The woman said that when she was 17 years old, she got acquainted with a 22-year-old man while she was studying in a higher secondary school in 2014. She said that he misled her, took her to a Sub-Registrar office and made her sign some documents. Only later on that she realised that the Sub-Registrar had registered the marriage.

She pointed out that at the relevant point of time she was 17 years and therefore the entire marriage was invalid in the eyes of law. She sent a representation to the District Registrar seeking the cancellation. But it was rejected and she was asked to approach a competent court.

It was said that no formal marriage was conducted and a forged document was submitted before the authorities.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh observed that the two people knew each other. But it was not clear why she had accompanied him to the office of the Registrar and signed the documents. Probably, the petitioner was in her adolescence and did not understand the consequences of a marriage registered before the competent authority.

It is an admitted case that the petitioner was 17-year-old at the time of marriage. Therefore, the so-called marriage itself was invalid in the eyes of law and ought not to have been registered by the Sub-Registrar. No Marriage Certificate was issued and the one produced before the Sub-Registrar was highly doubtful.

The Sub-Registrar has been assigned certain duties under the Tamil Nadu Registration of Marriage Act and it ought to have been confirmed from the priest if any such marriage took place, since both the people were young.

That apart, the age of the petitioner should have been ascertained. If proper care was taken to ascertain the age, the marriage would not have been registered..

Taking into account the fact that the very registration was bad in the eyes of the law, the court quashed the certification of the registration of marriage and held that there was no marriage between the woman and the man.

Govt. to publish names of COVID-19 victims

Govt. to publish names of COVID-19 victims

03/07/2021

Special Correspondent Thiruvananthapuram

The Kerala government will henceforth publish the line list of all those who die of COVID-19 in the State, a statement issued by Health Minister Veena George said.

The Health Department, in its daily COVID bulletin published on the department’s website, has given out the district-wise details of deaths, including the age of the deceased and the date of death. The names of the deceased and their place of residence will also be added. The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the Health Minister here on Friday.

From Saturday, the Health Department’s daily bulletins will include the names of those who die of COVID in the State.

HC invalidates marriage, pulls up sub-registrar

HC invalidates marriage, pulls up sub-registrar

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:3.7.2021 

Charging a sub-registrar for registering a marriage without verifying the documents, the Madras high court has cancelled the marriage certificate on the ground that the wedding was invalid in the eye of law as the girl was only 17 years old at the time of registration in 2017.

Justice N Anand Venkatesh was hearing a petition filed by the woman from Tuticorin district, seeking to cancel the marriage certificate. The petitioner claimed that she was misled by a 22-year-old man who took her to the sub-registrar office on August 8, 2017 and made her sign in certain documents. It was only later she came to know that the man had registered the marriage. When she approached the authorities to cancel the marriage certificate, it was rejected.

The judge said that it is clear from the facts that the petitioner and the man were known to each other. However, it is not clear as to why she accompanied the man to the subregistrar office and signed in certain documents.

The judge took note of the submission by the parish priest that no marriage certificate was issued by him. Observing that there is a very serious doubt as to whether any marriage took place between the petitioner and the man, the judge said that the sub-registrar ought to have confirmed with the priest, since both the petitioner and the man were very young.

“The sub-registrar failed in his duty by not scrutinizing the documents and ascertaining the age of the petitioner and the registration has taken place in a mechanical fashion. Unfortunately, the registration of the marriage is now standing in the way of the petitioner and it will very seriously affect her future prospects,” observed the judge.

Taking into consideration the fact that the very registration of marriage is bad in the eyes of law, the judge quashed the marriage certificate.

17 Final Year Resident PG Doctors On COVID Duty Move Supreme Court Seeking Alternate Mode Of Assessment

17 Final Year Resident PG Doctors On COVID Duty Move Supreme Court Seeking Alternate Mode Of Assessment

Shrutika Pandey30 Jun 2021 7:26 PM

A group of 17 final year resident postgraduate doctors from various Universities have approached the Supreme Court seeking an alternative mode of assessment given that most of them are engaged in Covid duties.

A Division Bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Ramasubramanian will hear the matter Tomorrow.

The services of these postgraduate students as residents were continued to be utilized until fresh batches of postgraduate students join as per a recent notice of the National Medical Commission and the Prime Minister's announcement regarding the postponement of NEET-PG until August 31, 2021.

The petitioners state that depending on the nature of their duty, they remain engaged from 8-12 hours to 24 hours a day. Amidst the raging pandemic, they were shocked and surprised to note that Universities have abruptly announced the timetable for Final Year Examination without sufficient notice to even prepare for the examination, the petition states. The resident doctors also state that it is unjust and manifestly arbitrary to expect a doctor on duty to sit for a theory examination without reasonable notice. They seek the Apex Court's intervention to ensure the protection of their fundamental rights enshrined under Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The Petitioners submitted that "the abrupt announcement of the examination schedule is unreasonable, arbitrary and a mindless exercise as it fails to take into consideration the hardship which will be caused to thousands of resident doctors."

"This will not only be a life threat to the patient which the doctor is attending but at the same time will also expose them to the deadly virus. It is more dangerous because they will have to come back from the examination and attend to the Covid patients, who are most vulnerable to any kind of exposure", the petition adds.

The Petitioners have clarified that they are not seeking cancellation or postponement of the final year examination but an alternative mode of assessment, including practical examination and assessment based on the internal assessment as a one-time exception in the prevailing circumstances.

Students illegally staying in hostels, Raj varsity denies

Students illegally staying in hostels, Raj varsity denies

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur:30.06.2021

Despite government shutting down all educational institution in the state, there are a few students allegedly staying in Rajasthan University hostels with the knowledge of the authorities.

Sources alleged 14 to 20 students are living in Aravali and DBN hostels on Rajasthan University campus. These students, who stay in nearby villages, have returned in order to resume studies.

An RU student said, “There are some students who with the help of authorities have started staying in the hostels. Although girls’ hostels are shut down, some students who have good terms with the administration in the university are living without permission.”

Varsity chief warden Rajesh Sharma refuted the claims. “There are no students living in the hostels. We are getting applications of students, but that is not possible to allow without the orders of the government. There are however, some students who have arrived to take their clothes or books back to their homes as they have been stuck there since pandemic. We have just allowed them, but no one is staying for the night.”

Several complaints have also been received by the registrar of the university, K M Dhuria, regarding the staying of boys in the hostels. “I have received these complaints and I will look into the matter,” he said.

GOVT RULES GO FOR A TOSS

‘Think before you click to avoid online fraud’

EXPERT ADVICE

‘Think before you click to avoid online fraud’

Shikha Goel, additional commissioner of police, Crimes & SIT, Hyderabad, answers queries from TOI readers on red flags to watch out for during online transactions, common cyber crimes and what people can do in case they are defrauded

30.06.2021 

n Following an advertisement to rent my apartment, I was approached by a man who claimed to be an Army personnel and said he’d transfer the deposit – of Rs 26,000 – once I scan a QR code. Instead of receiving any money, the person withdrew ₹25,000 from my account. I have complained with my bank and cyber crime cell. Should I raise the issue with any other authority. Also, is scanning QR codes not advisable? —Dheerender Ambati

This is a classic QR code scam. It takes advantage of the victim’s lack of knowledge of how the UPI systems of payments and receipts works. It also exploits the gullible person’s trust.

One may need to scan a QR code only when payment is to be made to someone else. To receive money, the other person (payee) must scan your QR code or directly use your UPI address. When you scanned the fraudster’s QR code, your screen would have clearly indicated: “Proceed to pay,”

rather than ‘’Accept Payment”. However, because victims trust the fraudster, they do not pay adequate attention to what is notified on their own screens and such losses are incurred.

The rapid digitalisation, while making processes convenient in many ways, has also increased the risks of online transactions. What measures must people take to protect themselves from frauds? Also, are cyber crime sleuths taking any measures to create awareness among people? —P R Vittal Rao

You are right in terms of overall increased vulnerability to cyber crime, owing to exponential increase in online transactions. However, cheating, impersonation are age-old crimes. Now, these have infested the internet-connected virtual world as well. Most crimes occur because of either of the following or a combination of the same: Lack of adequate information/ sensitivity on part of victim: There are a large number of first-time users of technology currently in India. While the apps and wallets are quite easy to use and have inbuilt security measures, we must be very careful of how we use them. Sufficient training on how the technology really works will go a long way in reducing instances of such crime. Paying close attention while transacting online is also critical.

Plain old greed: Thousands of victims fall for the ruse of a jackpot or a quick financial gain. We should remember that if some proposition offered by an unknown party on the internet seems too good to be true, it is probably a con job. Do not fall for it.

Shame/fear of loss of reputation: We have seen in matrimonial frauds, WhatsApp video-based sex chat frauds etc., that the fear of loss of reputation leads the victims to fall for blackmail and extortion.

I request all citizens to step up without fear and notify authorities. In such matters, adequate confidentiality is maintained by police.

After lodging a cyber complaint, how often is a victim successful in recovering his/her money? —Anirudh Iyengar

In case of online financial frauds, it only takes a fraction of a second to incur huge losses. Add to that, fraudsters divert their ill-gotten funds within minutes into multiple bank accounts spread all over the country and sometimes abroad. Most times, they withdraw the entire amount immediately leaving limited or no money trail. In such scenarios, it is a Herculean task to catch the suspect. Even when they are caught, the chance of recovering the defrauded amount is minimal.

I frequently receive SMSs/ emails saying that huge amounts of lottery or leftover assets are available. The sender asks for all sorts of details. Are all these frauds? Should we report them? If yes, what’s the procedure? —A S R Sarma

The maxim that there are no free lunches stands true in such cases. One should not believe such messages.

THE REPORTING OPTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

When received through SMS, the consumer can register his/ her preference(s) in NCPR by dialing 1909 or by sending SMS to 1909. You can also register using the TRAI DND 2.0 mobile app.

After registering, in case any subscriber receives unsolicited commercial communication after expiry of seven days from the date of his registration in NCPR/DND, he/she may lodge a complaint with the service provider through voice call or SMS to toll free short code 1909 or through DND App within 3 days of receipt of such UCC.

If you receive such potential spam messages on WhatsApp, you can check for reporting options here: https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-andprivacy/staying-safe-onwhatsapp/?lang=en l If you have received an email, especially one that looks like from your bank, all banks have notified phishing reporting email ids where you can send details. You should also block the message in your email tool.

In addition, you can report to the jurisdictional cyber crime police station.

How safe is it to share mobile numbers while transacting with people online? And does it help to block the number later, if it raises any suspicion? —Sunitha Reddy

There is no danger in sharing your mobile number but doing so with unknown persons may pose unforeseen risks in future. So, it is always advisable to err on the side of caution and refrain from sharing your personal mobile number with strangers. Several apps, including some stock apps in leading brands of mobile phones now provide the ability to block a number. You may choose to block a number once you are sure that the caller is pesky or makes you uncomfortable or suspicious in any manner.

I was recently trying to sell used furniture online and realised 9 out of 10 people approaching me were fraud. As soon as I mentioned ‘cash payment’ they withdrew their interest. Is that a sign of a fraudster? Also, is it safe to agree for payment through to GPay or PayTm? —S S Murthy

While we cannot substantiate the percentage, we do agree that a significant number of buyer ids on such websites may belong to potential fraudsters. There are safety guidelines available within the portals themselves which may be closely followed. There is a significantly higher risk of falling prey to cyber crime when the person on the other side insists on only digital payment. However, please understand that you cannot lose money when using a payment tool if you are paying sufficient attention and know how the digital payment networks work.

Now-a-days there are a zillion online trading sites selling everything from clothes to household items to electronic appliances. Many of them are very lucrative as they have great offers. How does one ascertain if an e-commerce platform is genuine or not? —Prakash Kishore

It is difficult to ascertain the genuineness of an e-commerce site. You are already aware of leading e- commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart etc. It is relatively safer to purchase things from such sites owing to their internal policies and support mechanisms against fraud. The safest way to explore new options is through word-of-mouth reference from friends and well-wishers.

Have heard about friends who were defrauded when they clicked on a link sent to them on email, supposedly from their bank seeking some details.

Though they did not furnish any information, just clicking on the link led them to losing money.

How does one save themselves from such high-tech frauds? — Kirthi Parekh

This is rare, but certainly very plausible. If the shared link, when clicked, enables downloading of a malware, then such programme can initiate action on your device without you being aware of it. It is a best practice not to click the links sent by strangers or from seemingly dubious ids. Even though the victim doesn’t knowingly reveal any confidential information, there is a chance that the device/system may get compromised when such links are clicked. Later criminals may take advantage of the same.

Retd 70-yr-old AI employee now a hero on 2 wheels

BEACONS OF HOPE

Retd 70-yr-old AI employee now a hero on 2 wheels

Nirupa.Vatyam@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:30.06.2021

At a time when even the young are hesitant to step out, 70-yearold KR Srinivas Rao has been busy helping others. Even when Covid-19 cases were peaking, Rao was running errands on his bicycle to deliver medicines, ration, and other essentials to those in need.

Rao, a retired Air India employee, also helps Hyderabad Relief Riders in checking whether a request is genuine or not. “I want to do whatever little I can do for the society,” the 70-yearold told TOI. Rao, a resident of West Marredpally, has been attending requests within a six to seven kilometre from his residence, even sponsoring their requirements in some cases.

“Whenever I go to deliver, I make it a point to see their condition and do my bit,” he says, adding that his wife was a little hesitant in the beginning but is now very cooperative. “My children, who are currently living abroad, however, are not completely on board with me stepping out amid pandemic,” he added.

Rao said that he spends about 2 hours every day playing table tennis and mostly uses his cycle to travel. He said that on multiple occasions he came across people trying to misuse their service even when they have a healthy adult at home, who is capable of doing chores. “When I come across such cases, I counsel them and encourage them to step out and shop for their needs,” he added and said that he even served people younger than him in the last couple of months.

Rao’s fellow riders volunteering at Hyderabad Relief Riders said that he is an inspiration to many. “Apart from delivering, he also helps us in verifying requests,” said Ravi Sambari, a cyclist. 82-year-old Nirmal Verma, who lives alone in the city, said that Rao delivered her groceries on Monday after she placed a request with Hyderabad Relief Riders.

Apart from delivering the essentials, Rao also sponsors the supplies for those in need