Meat ban a basic rights issue, says U’khand HC

Meat ban a basic rights issue, says U’khand HC

Prashant.Jha@timesgroup.com

Nainital:24.07.2021

In a country where 70% of the population eats nonvegetarian food, the matter of banning meat is one that pertains to the fundamental rights of citizens and isn’t a majority versus minority issue, the Uttarakhand high court said on Friday while hearing two petitions against a ban on slaughterhouses in Haridwar.

The bench of Chief Justice R S Chauhan and justice Alok Kumar Verma said, “The issue is not minority versus majority. The issue is very simple. What are the fundamental rights of the citizens of India?”

The court has now asked the petitioners to amend their pleas in a week as none of them pleaded that such a ban violates the right to privacy of a citizen. The court remarked that the petitions have not been drafted with “whole-heartedness” that is required in challenging “seminal constitutional issues”.

The pleas filed by some residents of Haridwar had alleged that a ban on slaughterhouses in Haridwar discriminated against minorities as many areas in the district had a substantial Muslim population.

Bench cited surveys on food habits of Indians from 2018 and 2019

On Friday, the bench cited surveys on food habits of Indians from 2018 and 2019. “It’s very glaring data that in Uttarakhand 72.6% of the population is non-vegetarian. In totality, 70% of Indian population is non-vegetarian which busts the myth that the majority of the population is vegetarian,” the court said.

In its previous hearing, the bench had said that a ban like the one in Haridwar calls into question the extent to which the state can determine a citizen’s choices. “The issue is whether a citizen has the right to decide his own diet or will that be decided by the state,” it had said. The court had also said that a civilisation is judged only by how it treats its minorities. “Democracy does not only mean rule by majority but, most importantly, democracy means the protection of the minority,” it had said.

In March, Uttarakhand had declared all areas in Haridwar “slaughterhousefree” and cancelled no objection certificates issued to slaughterhouses. The two petitions in the high court challenged this on two grounds — a blanket ban on meat of any type is unconstitutional, as was the section the Uttarakhand government had inserted into the UP Municipalities Act, 237A, to give itself power to declare an area under a municipal corporation, council or nagar panchayat a “slaughterfree” zone. The court has also asked the petitioners to amend the plea to challenge the constitutional validity of the amendment made to the UP Municipal Corporation Act.

Boost for Chennai transport: MTC adds over 17 buses in 12 routes

Boost for Chennai transport: MTC adds over 17 buses in 12 routes

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation recently resumed and introduced over 17 buses in 12 routes in Porur, Nanganallur and suburban areas of the city.

Published: 23rd July 2021 03:51 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Metropolitan Transport Corporation recently resumed and introduced over 17 buses in 12 routes in Porur, Nanganallur and suburban areas of the city. The buses were recently flagged off by Transport Minister RS Raja Kannappan in presence of Rural Industries Minister TM Anbarasan.

Services on old routes, that had been stopped since last year, were resumed. The routes are 52K (Nanganallur-Broadway), 70N (Nanganallur-CMBT), M18C (Kilkattalai-T Nagar), 166 (Iyyapanthangal-Tambaram), 88C (Thandalam-Broadway), 188C (Kundrathur-Broadway) and 566 (Kundrathur-Thiruporur).

The newly introduced routes are 576 (Mount Metro-T Nagar), S40 (KavulBazar Indra Nagar-Pallavaram), S 165 ( Kovur EB-Pallavaram), S166 (Porur-Manimedu) and 188A (Kundrathur-T Nagar), said a statement from MTC.

Speaking to reporters, Kannappan said about 1.42 crore women travelled in women special ordinary buses between July 12 and 17 without paying ticket fare. “About 60 per cent of women travelled in ordinary services as against the projection of 40 per cent a day. As many as 1.1 lakh persons with disabilities and 17,500 transpersons also availed free travel.”

Govt seeks to tweak law on states’ OBC lists

Govt seeks to tweak law on states’ OBC lists

Subodh.Ghildiyal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:

The Centre has moved a proposal to amend the 102nd constitutional amendment Act to overturn the May 5 Supreme Court judgment and restore the rights of states to identify the OBCs for the “state list” of castes eligible for Mandal reservations in education and employment under state governments.

Well placed sources said the social justice ministry has moved the Cabinet note. The swift move implies that the bill can be brought in the ongoing monsoon session itself. If so, it could be part of a strategy to break the blockade of Parliament proceedings by the opposition over the Pegasus snooping scandal.

Given the sensitivity of the issue and the rights of states involved, neither Congress nor regional parties can afford to block the bill. It may thus restore normalcy in the Parliament. However, the larger political aim of the Centre is to assure OBCs that their rights, as under state lists, were not being undermined. The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed emphasis on the OBC representation in the recent Cabinet reshuffle along with women, SCs and STs.

It is learnt that the proposal has suggested specific changes to be made to the Act to clarify that state lists and central list of OBCs are separate and under the jurisdiction of respective governments — as had been the case before the SC judgment. The apex court also rejected a government appeal against the order earlier in July.

While upholding the said Act (102nd) in the Maratha reservation case, the SC held that its provisions implied that OBCs for states and Central lists both were to be identified by the President (Centre) on the recommendations of the national commission for backward classes.

ஓ.பி.சி., சான்றிதழை தாமதமின்றி வழங்க மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தல்

DINAMALAR

பொது செய்தி

தமிழ்நாடு

ஓ.பி.சி., சான்றிதழை தாமதமின்றி வழங்க மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தல்

Added : ஜூலை 21, 2021 22:22

சென்னை:இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினருக்கான ஜாதி சான்றிதழை காலதாமதமின்றி வழங்க, அதிகாரிகளுக்கு அறிவுரை வழங்கும்படி மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழ்நாடு பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோர், மிக பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோர் மற்றும் சிறுபான்மையினர் நலத்துறை முதன்மை செயலர் கார்த்திக், வருவாய் துறை கூடுதல் தலைமைச் செயலர் மற்றும் மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு அனுப்பி உள்ள கடிதம்:மத்திய அரசு பணி நியமனம்; மத்திய அரசு கல்வி நிறுவன மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கையில், இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோருக்கு, 27 சதவீத இட ஒதுக்கீடு வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

இதன்படி, தமிழகத்திற்கான இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினர் பட்டியல், மத்திய அரசால் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.கடந்த, 1993ல் நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட பெற்றோரின் ஆண்டு வருமான வரம்பு, 1 லட்சம் ரூபாயில் இருந்து, படிப்படியாக அதிகரிக்கப்பட்டு, 2017ல் 8 லட்சம் ரூபாயாக நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்டு நடைமுறையில் உள்ளது.

இவர்களுக்கான வருமான வரம்பை கணக்கிடும்போது, ஊதியம் மற்றும் வேளாண் வருமானத்தை சேர்க்கக் கூடாது என்ற வழிகாட்டு நெறிமுறைகளை பின்பற்றி, இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினருக்கு, ஜாதி சான்றிதழ் வழங்க வேண்டும். இருப்பினும், இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பு ஜாதி சான்றிதழ் பெறுவதில் சிரமம் இருப்பதாக, அரசின் கவனத்திற்கு எடுத்து வரப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதனால், மத்திய அரசின் 27 சதவீதம் இட ஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ் பயன்பெற இயலாத சூழ்நிலை ஏற்படுகிறது.எனவே, மத்திய அரசின் வழிமுறைகளை பின்பற்றி, இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினர் ஜாதி சான்றுகளை, காலதாமதமின்றி வழங்கும்படி, ஜாதி சான்று வழங்கும் அலுவலர்களுக்கு, மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்கள் தகுந்த அறிவுரைகள் வழங்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Madurai: Biriyani offer misfires, crowd gets out of hand

Madurai: Biriyani offer misfires, crowd gets out of hand

What was planned to encourage numismatics ended up in chaos as scores of biriyani lovers thronged a restaurant at Sellur, violating Covid protocols on Wednesday.

Published: 22nd July 2021 04:38 AM |

By Lalitha Ranjani

Express News Service

MADURAI: What was planned to encourage numismatics ended up in chaos as scores of biriyani lovers thronged a restaurant at Sellur, violating Covid protocols on Wednesday. As an inaugural offer, Akshaya Prabhu (25), the owner of Suganya’s Biryani, had announced to give biriyani packs to everyone in exchange for 5 paise coin.

Prabhu, a numismatic and a antique collector, herself and an antique collector, said that she zeroed in on the '5 paise biriyani offer’ for the launch of the restaurant’s second branch at Sellur to cheer up coin collectors, especially at the time when artifacts are being unearthed from Keezhadi and the like.

She told TNIE that she thought not too many would possess the old 5 paisa coin and that not many would be willing to part with their collection even if they had. “We expected only about 50 persons to turn up with the coins. But, much to our surprise, due to overwhelming response, 120 parcels of biryani were sold in just 10 minutes. And the crowd grew bigger during the peak lunch hours. We had to turn many away, despite they coming with the old coins,” she added.

Sources said that flouting Covid protocols and physical distancing norms, scores of the people thronged the shop. “As the crowd began to swell, police had to be deployed to disperse the crowd and the shop was shut soon after,” they said.

A police official from Sellur station said that the hotel management had informed them about the inauguration one day prior and a policeman was deployed on the spot. “The rest of the team was diverted to mosque premises on account of Bakrid. The shop owners had drawn circles for social distancing but the unexpected crowd went out of control,” he added.

Honorary fellowship for Hyd doctor

Honorary fellowship for Hyd doctor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:22.07.2021

Dr P Raghu Ram, Padma Shri awardee and founding director, KIMSUshalashmi Centre for Breast Diseases was conferred with an honorary fellowship of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI) this week. The ASGBI is an organisation that represents the surgical fraternity in United Kingdom and Ireland.

Mr Neil Welch, president of ASGBI bestowed the honour upon Dr Raghu Ram during the 100th centenary annual general body meeting of the association.

“Raghu Ram is the first surgeon of Indian origin to have this honour conferred on him and we are delighted to welcome him as honorary fellow of ASGBI,” he said announcing the honorary fellowship.

AICTE directs colleges not to insist on payment of full fees

AICTE directs colleges not to insist on payment of full fees

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:22.07.2021

After receiving several complaints from students concerning the collection of full payment of fees in one go, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has directed colleges to not insist on payment of full fees amid pandemic, and instead collect in three or four instalments.

The council also directed the colleges to display the fee payment schedule on the notice board and also communicate the same through email. “AICTE is in continuous receipt of grievances from students regarding insistence by institutes for paying the full year in one go. Upon considering the current state of the country during an ongoing national emergency due to the second wave of Covid-19 outbreak, guidelines are being reissued by the AICTE for strict compliance by all colleges/institutions,” read a release from AICTE.

The council also directed the colleges not to terminate any faculty without enough disciplinary ground and due process of redressal. “Salary and other dues to the faculty/staff members should be released monthly on time. The terminations made during the lockdown, if any, should be withdrawn,” the circular added.

The faculty working in technical colleges, meanwhile, said AICTE should ensure that guidelines are strictly followed by the colleges. “The council has been issuing circulars, but the same is not strictly implemented. During the pandemic, scores of them have been terminated and colleges are not paying salaries. Not many colleges are providing an option to pay fees in multiple instalments,” said A Santosh Kumar, president, Telangana School’s Technical Colleges’ Employees Association.