18 districts had nil vax stock on Sat

18 districts had nil vax stock on Sat

No Camp in Coimbatore For 7th Day; Similar Plight In Southern Districts too

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.07.2021

Most vaccination centres across the state were closed after more than 18 districts reported nil stock on Saturday. By 10pm, TN received 5 lakh doses of Covishield, which were dispatched to districts by road late in the night. Officials said districts will resume vaccination from Sunday but those requiring Covaxin – first or second dose – will have to wait until Tuesday, when the next stock of the vaccine is expected.

The state, which had around 20,000 doses, recorded 27,922 vaccinations on Saturday. Officials said the daily count includes several backlog entries. “Some primary health centres (PHCs) and hospitals do not enter the details of recipients every day. Some of these backlog entries get added to the daily list. Also, nurses manage to squeeze out up to at least 11 doses from every 10-dose vial,” said joint director immunisation Dr K Vinay Kumar.

Over the past week, the state has reported a maximum of 1.3 lakh vaccinations in a day compared to 4.7 lakh on July 3. Coimbatore, which reported nil doses, had no vaccination camps for the seventh day in a row. While most districts in the western belt complained of the same problem, the situation wasn’t different in the southern districts. In Madurai, around 1,000 people were vaccinated on Saturday. Most people who received shots got it through special camps organised by the district health authorities, but what has irked senior citizens is the lack of information. “I am trying to get information on the availability of vaccines. I have called helplines and have asked people I know. Most say there is no vaccine. My husband and I were due for the second dose on July 5,” said A Sundari a resident of Tahsildar Nagar. To make things worse, she got a text message reminding her to get the second dose on time.

In the midst of acute vaccine shortage, state commercial taxes minister P Moorthy inaugurated a special vaccination camp organised by the state labour welfare department. He told reporters that 4,000 construction workers have received their first dose and that steps were on to vaccinate autorickshaw drivers and industrial workers. “We are vaccinating as many people as possible every day. The number of vaccinations depend on the number of vaccines received,” he said.

HURDLE TO FIGHT COVID:

An elderly woman returns after seeing a ‘no vaccine stock’ board at the urban primary health centre at Villapuram, Madurai, on Saturday

‘Faulty’ TNPSC selection process: HC stays MV inspector interviews

‘Faulty’ TNPSC selection process: HC stays MV inspector interviews

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.07.2021 

Citing defects in recruitment process, the Madras high court has stayed the interview notified by Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) for recruitment to to 226 posts of motor vehicle inspector. The interview, scheduled for July 19, will not be held till further orders, the HC said, directing the TNPSC to make available all certificates and credentials of shortlisted candidates to petitioners who had moved the court.

“Since this court is convinced that there are defects in the process of recruitment, this court is of the view that the petitioners’ right should be preserved during the pendency of the writ petitions. Hence there shall be an order for maintaining status quo,” said Justice S S Sundar in his interim orders.

It is seen that TNPSC has now issued notification dated July 1 asking selected candidates to attend the interview on July 19. Hence the interview as scheduled by the notification shall be postponed sine die. There shall be no interview during pendency of the writ petitions or until further orders, the court added.

Directing the registry to post the pleas on July 19 for final hearing, the judge said: “This court will consider whether or not TNPSC can be directed to publish marks obtained by all candidates in the written examination and as to the publication of certificates of all the selected candidates.”

The credentials of the institutions which have issued such certificates will also be considered on July 19, the court added.

The court passed the order on a batch of pleas moved by candidates challenging the recruitment process.

According to the petitioners, of the 226 candidates selected for the interview, many are not eligible as per the recruitment notification.

They further demonstrated before the court that some candidates who were selected earlier by holding that they have required qualification were not selected and that there is no material to reconcile the inconsistencies.

Recording the submissions, Justice Sundar said: “In such circumstances, this court is of the prima facie view that all certificates and credentials of the selected candidates should be made available to the counsels appearing for the petitioners in all the writ petitions.”

Noting that such a move alone would ensure transparency in the process of selection, he said, “This court also can get a valid assistance while considering the cases on merits.”

Since this court is convinced that there are defects in the process of recruitment, this court is of the view that the petitioners’ right should be preserved during the pendency of the writ petitions. Hence there shall be an order for maintaining status quo

MADRAS HIGH COURT

‘No govt student got med seat in 2019 due to NEET’

‘No govt student got med seat in 2019 due to NEET’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.07.2021 

The introduction of NEET for admissions to undergraduate medical courses caused a steep fall in the number of government school students securing MBBS admission, the CPM has told the Madras high court.

After NEET was implemented, the number of government school students securing government seats in medical colleges dropped to a paltry five in 2017, seven in 2018 and zero in 2019, the party said, seeking to implead itself as a party to the PIL filed by a BJP functionary.

The PIL opposes the formation of the Justice A K Rajan committee to study the impact of NEET on students in the state. DMK, Dravidar Kazhagam and others too have sought to implead themselves in the PIL, which has been posted to July 13 for further hearing. The Union government, however, filed a counter-affidavit saying constitution of the committee is an affront to the Supreme Court and that it was an exercise in futility.

“Before introduction of NEET, 90% of students getting admission to government medical colleges in the state were from government and government aided schools or low-cost private schools teaching the state board syllabus,” CPM said.

The sudden drop in the numbers post NEET is a cause for worry and the state government is duty-bound to study the root cause of the problem, it said.

NEWS DIGEST

NEWS DIGEST

11.07.2021 

Railway partially cancels trains

Southern Railway has partially cancelled a few trains. Chennai Egmore – Rameswaram superfast special (02205) scheduled to leave Chennai Egmore at 5.45pm on July 11, 12 and 13 will run till Mandapam. Rameswaram - Chennai Egmore special (02206) scheduled to depart Rameswaram at 8.25pm on July 11, 12, 13 and 14 will leave from Mandapam at 8.52pm.

7 more complaints against athlete coach: The city police have received seven more complaints against arrested athlete coach G Nagarajan, 59, who was arrested on a complaint of one of her former trainees, a college student. The complaints were included in the case after inquiring the victims. Police have invited people to reveal about their harrowing experience while getting trained by the coach, said a police officer. The coach, who worked as an assistant commissioner at the GST commissionerate, had been heading a sports academy in the city and he was arrested on May 30 following a complaint from the 19-year-old victim, the first to file a complaint, that she was sexually harassed over the years.

Fine arts college seeks applications for diploma: The Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts has invited applications for admission to full-time four-year diploma course in Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music (vocal, instrumental, veena, violin, mridangam, flute) and visual arts, academic studies. Indian arts (drawing and painting) sculpture, ceramics, print making, computer graphics and photography. Only online application is accepted. The last date for submission is August 6, 2021. For further details contact 044-24521169, or email- registrar@kalakshetra.in or log onto www.kalakshetra.in.

Metro rail extends train timings: Metro trains will operate from 5.30am to 10pm as Chennai Metro Rail Limited extends train timings to cater to the increasing footfalls. Earlier trains were operated till 9pm. Trains will be available every five minutes during peak hours- 8am to 11am and from 5pm to 8pm. During non peak hours, trains will be operated every 10 minutes. On Sundays and public holidays, trains will be operated from 7am to 9pm with a 10-minute frequency. So far, 40 passengers, who were caught not wearing face masks properly in metro stations and trains, were each fined ₹200.

Revised norms of state govt bus usage

Revised norms of state govt bus usage

hennai:11.07.2021 

Tamil Nadu transport department has revised the norms for condemnation of overaged government buses.

State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) buses will be condemned at the end of seven years or completion of 12 lakh km. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) mofussil buses will be condemned at end of nine years or 12 lakh km.

The decision has been made based on recommendations made by a committee, constituted to study the issue. TNN

Govt exams & bus service to Pondy allowed from Monday

Govt exams & bus service to Pondy allowed from Monday

All Shops Can Now Work Till 9pm, TN Curbs Extended

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.07.2021 

Bus services to Puducherry from Tamil Nadu will resume and shops can remain open till 9pm across the state from Monday as chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday announced extension of the Covid-19 lockdown till 6am on July 19 with more relaxations. Competitive exams for state and Union government jobs will also be allowed, but agencies conducting the tests must inform district collectors in advance.

Interstate public and private transport and international air travel, except the ones permitted by the Union home ministry, however, will continue to remain prohibited. Curbs on cinema theatres, bars, swimming pools, social and political gatherings, entertainment, sports and cultural events, schools and colleges and zoological parks too will remain intact. A maximum of 50 people will be permitted to attend marriages, and 20 people for funerals and last rites.

“All permitted activities will be allowed to continue in the state, except in containment zones. Shops and other activities permitted till 8pm will be allowed till 9pm,” the CM said. Restaurants, tea shops, bakeries, eateries, sweet shops will be permitted with a 50% cap on customers at a time till 9pm. “Standard operating procedures should be followed strictly at all shops and public gatherings,” the CM said.

Doors, windows must be kept open in shops to ensure good ventilation

Even as the total positive rate is falling, the state government wants to remain cautious. “The state is still not in a comfort zone to open up fully,” said a senior official.

Hand sanitizers and dispensers should be compulsorily made available at the entry and customers screened using thermal screening. Management should ensure that staff and customers wear masks at all times. Doors and windows should be kept open in shops with air-conditioning facilities to ensure adequate ventilation. Entry should be restricted to maintain social distance, while marking should be drawn for the customers to maintain distance when they stand in queue near shops.

“The district collectors and local bodies will have to take up intensive preventive measures through micro-level containment of cases,” he said. No other activities other than medical emergency services and supply of essential commodities will be permitted in the containment zones. The administrative machinery should set up committees and take up aggressive door-to-door monitoring in these zones.

Stalin urged the public to avoid stepping out of houses and gather in public places to prevent the infectious disease. “Wearing masks, maintaining social distance and frequent hand washing should be strictly followed. Public should visit hospitals nearby for consultation or treatment as soon as they get to know of the symptoms,” Stalin said. Imposing fines on violations of Covid protocols will continue, he said.

SC judges get ₹208 per case, senior lawyers charge lakhs

SC judges get ₹208 per case, senior lawyers charge lakhs

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:10.07.2021

If we are looking for mockery of the principle of equal work for equal pay, we don’t have to go beyond the highest court of the land as the comparison of compensation paid to a Supreme Court judge for hearing and deciding a case and to a senior advocate for arguing it brings out the wide chasm.

An SC judge gets a salary of ₹2.5 lakh a month, which works out to approximately ₹8,333 per day, during which time he/she hears arguments from lawyers on an average of 40 cases. This translates to ₹208 per case, be it a simple appeal, a PIL on Covid issues, or one involving intricate questions of law. In contrast, a newly designated senior advocate commands a price of ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh for arguing a case. The services of a seasoned advocate like A M Singhvi, Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi or Harish Salve may find the litigant’s bank balance lighter by ₹10 lakh-₹20 lakh per hearing.

Each opinion of a retired CJI fetches her/him ₹10-₹20 lakh

So an SC judge, who hears and decides a case, gets ₹208 per day per case while seasoned senior advocates, who cannot guarantee a result in a case, are paid in lakhs of rupees per day per case.

Well, none of the senior advocates argue in 40 cases a day, for which an SC judge prepares every evening to be ready to listen to the legal arguments the next day.

This is the reason why many SC judges look forward to their retirement, which allows them to offer legal expertise as arbitrators, or, for that matter, provide valued opinion to corporations and multinationals on legal issues in their operations in India, or in disputes arising from contracts, agreements and MoUs.

A retired SC judge earns between ₹2 lakh and ₹5 lakh for a two-hour sitting as an arbitrator and there are some who do three sittings every day to match the earnings of a reasonably successful senior advocate. A retired Chief Justice of India commands a little more than a retired SC judge while performing the duty of an arbitrator.

In rendering an opinion, a retired SC judge gets between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh while each opinion of a retired CJI fetches her/him ₹10-₹20 lakh. A retired CJI confided to TOI: “I do three to four opinions a month and earn between ₹30-50 lakh, unthinkable money for a sitting judge. I indulge in a lot of charity. And yet, I am left with an amount which is more than the provident fund money I got on retirement after rendering services for more than two decades as a judge of constitutional courts.”

Full report on www.toi.in