7 months after seizures, DVAC books ex-official

7 months after seizures, DVAC books ex-official

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.07.2021

DVAC officials registered a disproportionate assets case against S Pandian, who held the post of superintendent of the department of environment, and his wife Latha on June 30, almost seven months after police seized valuables from his residence. Pandian was suspended in December 2020.

The DVAC team filed an FIR in December 2020 to conduct a surprise check at Pandian’s home in Maduravoyal. On December 15, 2020, the team led by the superintendent of police Lavanya seized ₹23 crore, gold, diamond, silver and documents for property worth ₹7 crore and other valuables.

A request was sent to the state vigilance commissioner in Tamil Nadu to book a fresh cases against Pandian and his wife Latha. However, the DVAC got the nod to proceed with the case only recently after new vigilance commissioner V Irai Anbu took over.

Officials said a detailed probe is planned as they suspect that Pandian colluded with politicians, former and senior police officers and those still in the force to block the DVAC investigation. Officials said Pandian, while working in the environment department, took bribes to redraw Tamil Nadu’s coastal map, thereby leading to the disappearance of 6,569 acres of land in Ennore creek.

PMK slams Leoni’s appointment

PMK slams Leoni’s appointment

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Villupuram:09.07.2021

The appointment of orator and staunch DMK supporter Dindigul Leoni as the chairman of Tamil Nadu textbook and educational services corporation by the DMK government has drawn flak from various quarters. Leoni has been accused of making derogatory remarks against women while campaigning for DMK candidates ahead of April 2021 assembly polls. PMK youth wing president and Rajya Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss demanded the government revoke Leoni's appointment as the chairman of the corporation immediately. Anbumani took to Twitter to condemn the government's decision to appoint a person “with the habit of making misogynist remarks” as the chairman of the corporation and termed his appointment an insult to the position. The PMK leader expressed serious concerns over the future of the students, who must follow the syllabus derived by the corporation headed by a person known for “making derogatory remarks on women”.

Pallavaram residents protest as drinking water supply cut

Pallavaram residents protest as drinking water supply cut

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.07.2021

A group of residents in Pallavaram staged a protest against the local civic body for stopping drinking water supply through pump without prior intimation. For more than 15 years, residents of NSK Nagar, MGR Nagar and Kamala Street in Pallavaram have depended on the pump for their drinking water needs.

Last week, Pallavaram municipality stopped the supply to pumps abruptly. It later said it was impossible to extract water from the hand pump anymore as the groundwater level had dropped below 300 feet. The local body also told the residents that they were planning to convert the pump into a rainwater harvesting pit so that groundwater level might improve in the future.

However, A Subramanian, president of NMK Residents Welfare Association which covers the three areas, said there could be an ulterior motive behind this sudden move. “Recently, a premium apartment has come up in our area and the drinking water pump is obstructing free movement of vehicles into the apartment. They don’t want to see water cans in front of their entrance,” he said.

Rejecting this, a senior Pallavaram municipality official said groundwater levels dropped below 300ft a few years back and it has got nothing to do with the apartment coming up there. To meet drinking water needs, the municipality has installed a hand pump and a mini-water tank (filled with the help of a bore well motor) on an adjacent street. Besides, water is supplied through tankers once every five days.

But how is this even sufficient, asked Subramanian, who said the majority of residents affected are daily wagers who leave very early for work. “They don’t have the time to stand in queues for hours to fetch water from the water tank on the next street. So once they return home in the evenings, hand pumps are the only source of water,” he said.

As protests continued, Pallavaram MLA I Karunanidhi, police and municipality senior officials arrived at the scene and appeased the protesters by giving up the move to disconnect the pump temporarily. They also promised to provide water through tankers twice a week till a permanent solution was found. Authorities promised the locals that the underground drinking water pipe works in Pallavaram municipal area is nearing completion and it will be inaugurated within 20 days. Once the project becomes a reality, water can be supplied once in two or three days.

BASIC NEED: The hand pump has been their only source for drinking water for more than 15 years

A premium apartment complex has come up in our area and the drinking water pump is obstructing free movement of vehicles into the building. They don’t want to see water cans in front of the entrance

A SUBRAMANIAN | president of NMK Residents Welfare Assn

HC: Issue separate certificate on cause of death in Covid-19 cases

HC: Issue separate certificate on cause of death in Covid-19 cases

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 09.07.2021

The Madras high court on Thursday directed the state government to take immediate steps to issue a separate certificate to the families of all eligible Covid-19 victims mentioning the cause of death to help them claim relief, if any, provided by the government.

This shall be in addition to the death certificate issued by the authorities now, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said.

Presently, death certificates issued by civic bodies do not mention the cause of death.

The court issued the direction on a public interest writ petition that sought a direction to the government to frame and implement an effective policy to ensure that the cause of death is properly and correctly mentioned in the relevant certificate/official document for all cases of Covid-related deaths in accordance with law.

HC: Records would help future studies

On June 11, the court emphasised the need for accurate reporting of Covid-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu, and observed that due to the current policy followed in declaring a Covid-19 death, in some cases, families of the deceased are denied state compensation.

“It is necessary that an appropriate study be conducted by a specialised team, if necessary. It would also be fit and proper to require death certificates already issued to be revised, if necessary; if only not to deny the relief due to the family of the deceased in terms of the several schemes announced by the central and the state governments,” the court had said.

Accurate reporting or recording of deaths would help in studies being undertaken to deal with a pandemic of this nature in future, the court added.

NEET panel affront to SC, beyond state’s legal powers, Centre tells HC

NEET panel affront to SC, beyond state’s legal powers, Centre tells HC

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.07.2021

The Justice A K Rajan committee constituted by the Tamil Nadu government to study the impact of NEET on state students is an affront to the Supreme Court and an exercise in futility which is neither required nor valid, the Union government has told the Madras high court.

In its affidavit, filed in response to a writ petition filed by state BJP functionary K Nagarajan, the Centre said the executive power of the state, including the power to constitute a commission, is restricted to subjects within its legislative competence. “The field ‘medical education’ is regulated under the central legislation — the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. Nothing inconsistent or contrary thereto can stand legally. Therefore, the state cannot constitute a panel to study the impact of NEET on medical admissions,” the health ministry said.

Petitioner wants TN govt’s June order on NEET panel quashed

Countering the Tamil Nadu government’s contention that constituting such committee is a sovereign power of the state, the counter said, “as per the Commissions of Inquiry Act the state is the appropriate government only in respect of a commission appointed by it to make an inquiry into any matter relatable to any of the entries enumerated in the state list of the Constitution.”

This apart, the committee constituted is in contravention of various judgment of the Supreme Court approving NEET examination along with its various facets, it added.

“The reference made to the committee is not only a slight against the status and privilege of the Supreme Court but is also an exercise in futility as the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all functionaries,” the Centre has said.

Nagarajan has sought to quash an order issued by the Tamil Nadu government on June 10, constituting a committee headed by Justice A K Rajan to study the impact of the NEET.

Top political parties, including DMK, besides Dravidar Kazhagam, have filed separate petitions to implead themselves as parties to the proceedings. The first bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee is scheduled to hear the PIL on July 13.

Top political parties, including DMK, have filed separate petitions to implead themselves as parties to the proceedings

UGC, TN govt ordered to respond to pleas seeking vaccine for college students

UGC, TN govt ordered to respond to pleas seeking vaccine for college students

It also asked them to explain the shortcomings in online education provided to higher-education students.

Published: 07th July 2021 05:19 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered the State and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to respond to a plea seeking for all college students in the State to be vaccinated on a priority basis. It also asked them to explain the shortcomings in online education provided to higher-education students.

Petitioner Nervazhi Iyakkam Trust, represented by its managing trustee T Ganesh Kumar, of Guduvachenrry, sought for the court to direct the authorities to vaccinate students, especially those in college, and teachers, on a priority basis.

The petitioner also said the UGC should address the shortcomings in online education, such as challenges in providing internet access to the underprivileged, and the physical and mental impacts of prolonged online classes in violation of the UGC guidelines.

Courses that require a hands-on practical approach are being taken online, and this is intentionally being left out from the regulations, said the petitioner’s counsel M Sricharan Rangarajan. “Conducting online classes for such courses would severely handicap students, and they could come up short in their understanding as well as application of the subject,” he added.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy admitted the plea and issued notices to the State and UGC to file a detailed report within four weeks.

‘Intentionally left out’

Courses that require a hands-on practical approach are being taken online, and this is intentionally being left out from the regulations, said the petitioner’s counsel

Stalin opens obstetrics block at Tiruvarur GH

Stalin opens obstetrics block at Tiruvarur GH

On his way to the hospital, he stopped at Odampokki river bridge and inquired about the desilting works being carried out.

Published: 08th July 2021 05:05 AM 

Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurates the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care services block at Tiruvarur GMCH

By Express News Service

TIRUVARUR: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday inaugurated Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care services block at Tiruvarur Government Medical College Hospital, built at the cost Rs 10.5 crore.

He inspected equipment bought at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore, emergency wards, blood bank and other facilities at the hospital. Earlier in the day, he received petitions from the pubic on South Main Street.

On his way to the hospital, he stopped at Odampokki river bridge and inquired about the desilting works being carried out. Ministers Ma Subramanian, K N Nehru, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Siva V Meyyanathan, were present along with him. On Tuesday night, Stalin along with his family members visited the memorial of his paternal grandmother Anjugathammal located at Kattur village near Tiruvarur.