Aadhaar’s catch-22: To get missing man’s info, trace him!

Aadhaar’s catch-22: To get missing man’s info, trace him!

Hear Him Before Ordering Us To Reveal Details: UIDAI To HC

Saeed.Khan@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:11.07.2021 

A 19-year-old boy, Jigar Jadav, went missing from his school in Devas village in Banaskantha in 2011. A decade later, when the local police sought help from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to provide any and every available detail on Jadav to help trace him, the Aadhaar authority cited the right to privacy of the person--missing in this case.

In March this year, the Gujarat HC directed Banaskantha police to launch an investigation to trace Jadav and ordered UIDAI to cooperate with the police to trace Jadav through Aadhaar card, if it was issued at all to him.

Reluctant to share Aadhaar information, if it has any, on missing Jadav, the UIDAI authorities informed the Gujarat high court that the HC can order it to furnish information only after hearing the authority and the person whose information is being sought for. Ironically, in this case, it is a missing person!

In March, the Gujarat HC had directed police to launch a probe to find Jigar

Cooperate with cops: HC to UIDAI

The insistence on part of the Aadhaar authority on following the law perplexed the HC which directed UIDAI on Wednesday to cooperate with the police in its investigation into the disappearance of Jadav after 10 years following a habeas corpus petition filed by Jadav’s father, Nagjibhai. Jadav had disappeared from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Kumar Chhatralay in Devas village in Banaskantha. His father frantically inquired with the schools and hostel authorities and pursued the matter with high-ups in the government. When no trace of his son was found, he approached the high court through advocate Nayanavati Jethva.

Following the HC order, the Deesa police wrote to UIDAI seeking information about Jadav, if it has any. In reply, the authority said that it would be difficult to identify a person merely on the basis of his birth date and name and without Aadhaar number.

The authority later reiterated this in its affidavit filed in the high court and asserted that it would not be feasible to trace him on the basis of cursory details. It also cited various provisions of laws and court orders by which the right to privacy restricts disclosure of details pertaining to an Aadhaar card holder.

The Aadhaar authority further submitted that the court can order it to furnish information about an Aadhaar card holder only after hearing UIDAI and the person concerned. It cited provisions of section 33(1) of UIDAI Act. “It is pertinent to mention that since Mr. Jigar Kumar Nagji Bhai Jadav has now attained majority (as per the information provided by state police authorities), he is also required to be heard by the Court along with the authority in view of the aforesaid Section 33 (1) of the said Act (as amended), in case if he has enrolled himself for an Aadhaar number and subsequently allotted the same by the Authority,” the affidavit reads.

Meanwhile, the Banaskantha police submitted its report on the probe during the hearing. The HC has posted the matter for further hearing on July 26.

48 hours after bail to 13 juveniles, SC order yet to reach Agra prison

48 hours after bail to 13 juveniles, SC order yet to reach Agra prison

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesgroup.com

Agra:11.07.2021 

Over 48 hours after the Supreme Court granted “immediate interim bail” to 13 convicts lodged at Agra Central Jail who spent between 14 and 20 years each in prison despite being juveniles at the time of committing the crimes, the inmates are yet to walk free. Jail authorities are awaiting court orders that are delivered via India Post.

“We can’t release the prisoners on bail until we receive a certified copy of the SC order. We have completed all formalities at our end and will let them go once we get the order,” V K Singh, senior superintendent of Agra Central Jail, told TOI.

The case came to light recently after the convicts moved the apex court, stating that they were being kept in jail in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.

Full report on www.toi.in

Woman dies after allergy med overdose

Woman dies after allergy med overdose

Coimbatore:11.07.2021 

A 28-year-old woman died of overdose of tablets used for allergies in Coimbatore on Friday night.

The Singanallur police identified the deceased as R Lavanya, of Thatchan Thottam at Neelikonampalayam. She was working with a nationalised bank in the district and was slated to marry a relative on August 20.

A police officer said, “Lavanya had gone to a beauty parlour a few days ago for hand waxing. She developed allergic reaction (on the hands) on Friday evening and immediately took five Avil tablets. When she fell unconscious, family members took her to a private hospital at Singanallur, where she died without responding to treatment. The body was handed over to the family on Saturday afternoon after autopsy at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital.”

The Singanallur police have registered a case under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code. TNN

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.