‘Cowshed’ law colleges slammed by Madras HC

‘Cowshed’ law colleges slammed by Madras HC

Chennai:17,09,2021

The Madras high court on Thursday deplored the trend of ‘cowshed’ law colleges mushrooming in the country, damaging the image of the lawyers.

It is a big issue that needs to be addressed to preserve the credibility of lawyers, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu orally observed.

The bench made the observation when a PIL petition praying for a direction to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to nominate retired/sitting judges as members of the council’s disciplinary committees came up.

The petitioner found fault with the present practice of nominating other lawyers as ‘judges’ of the committees. PTI

Value of DA assets much more: NGO

Value of DA assets much more: NGO

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.09.2021

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) has estimated AIADMK former minister and Jolarpet strongman K C Veeramani’s disproportionate assets to be worth ₹28 crore. But the worth of the assets would have been much more had the agency ran checks for the past decade, said NGO Arappor Iyakkam.

The NGO had submitted a complaint to the DVAC a month ago stating that Veeramani has disproportionate assets worth ₹76 crore based on publicly available papers such as election affidavits and land registration documents. The fundamental difference is the check period considered by the agency, said Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam.

In their complaint, Arappor had considered Veeramani and his family’s assets from 2011, which is when he became MLA. The DVAC’s check period is only from 2016, which was Veeramani’s second consecutive term as MLA and minister. “The FIR would have been more fool proof if DVAC had considered from 2011, when so much proof is available. The assets disproportionate to the known sources of income would have been bigger,” Jayaram said.

This would also be an issue legally, Jayaram said, explaining that this way only the assets acquired illegally from 2016 could be confiscated. The social activist said the FIR as such was still strong enough for the state government to get a conviction.

In their complaint last month, Arappor had included assets such as hotels, agricultural land, cars, high-end trucks and gold declared in the names of Veeramani, his wife, children and another relative who has been named as a dependent. It also submitted evidence of several fraudulent land deals. Veeramani had then denied all allegations to TOI, stating that he came from an extremely rich family and owned highend cars even in the 1970s. “I have not lied in my affidavits,” he had told TOI then.

Report on Jaya death within a month, probe panel tells SC

Report on Jaya death within a month, probe panel tells SC

17.09.2021

The Commission of Inquiry probing the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that it has examined 154 witnesses so far and only four witnesses are remaining, and it will be able to submit a report within a month in the matter.

The top court on April 26, 2019, had stayed the commission's proceedings on a plea by Apollo Hospital questioning the scope of inquiry. In September 2017, the Tamil Nadu government had set up the commission headed by Justice A. Arumughaswamy (retd). A bench of Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari, dealing with the application by the Tamil Nadu government asking it to vacate the stay on the proceedings of the commission, agreed to hear the case next Thursday.

Counsel appearing for the commission submitted it has examined over 154 witnesses and only four witnesses remain, and it will be in a position to submit its report within a month. The 154 witnesses, included 56 doctors attached to Apollo hospital, five doctors from AIIMS, 12 government doctors including the medical board of five doctors constituted by the Tamil Nadu government, 22 paramedical staff and other witnesses. The commission is probing the circumstances leading to the former chief minister's hospitalisation at Chennai's Apollo Hospital, and the 75 days of treatment, which culminated in her death on December 5, 2016. IANS

Pondy guv tones down vax message

Pondy guv tones down vax message

Tamilisai: I Said Necessary Not Mandatory

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Puducherry:17.09.2021

Union territory of Puducherry Lieutenant governor (additional charge) Tamilisai Soundararajan's statement on Thursday that government servants should have taken their Covid-19 vaccination before they get their salaries created a flutter. “If people want government benefits, those distributed during festivals, they should have taken their shots. How can they enjoy it if they fall sick,” asked the governor, participating in an event in Puducherry.

Civil rights' activists termed Tamilisai's comment 'unconstitutional' and cited a high court order that declared that the state cannot deny welfare schemes to the people, who have not taken the Covid vaccination. “I never said it was mandatory,” the governor told TOI. “Two months ago, I told govt servants that before they get their salaries, they should have taken the vaccination. I said 18+ students taking their examinations should have their vaccination certificates. My view is that everyone should take their shots,” she said.

At least 65% of the adult population in the Union Territory have taken their shots, said the governor. “In two weeks’ time we hope the entire UT would be vaccinated,” she said. Flagging off a cycle expedition on Thursday to create awareness among the public to get vaccinated for Covid-19 infection, the governor urged the people to extend support to the vaccination drive and make Puducherry a 100% vaccinated territory before October 2. "I strongly object to this arbitrary move by the lg. This is unconstitutional. A high court has held that the state cannot deny welfare measures for such whims. Several poor people depend on these government schemes," said civil rights' activist Saurav Das.

Das cited a Manipur high court order, which said, "State cannot seek to impose conditions upon the citizens so as to compel them to get vaccinated, be it by holding out a threat or by putting them at a disadvantage for failing to get vaccinated." "For the past one week, the vaccination drive has slackened in the Union Territory. As a doctor I am worried. The core of my talk was that if it is necessary, compel people, plead or persuade them to take their vaccination. Don’t interpret it as if it is something undemocratic. This is for the good of the people,” said the governor, adding that the number of cases were increasing again in Puducherry and that 95% of those admitted to ICU with Covid had not been vaccinated.

Public servants must work where they’re posted: HC

Public servants must work where they’re posted: HC

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:17.09.2021

A public servant is liable to work wherever he is posted in the interest of public administration as transfers are incidental to the service conditions, the Madras high court has observed.

Justice D Krishnakumar observed that it is pertinent to note that transfers are imminent in respect of public servants. In certain circumstances, there may not be any evidence to prosecute the employee or to initiate departmental disciplinary proceedings. However, the competent authorities may be of the opinion that further continuance of a public servant in a particular place would cause inconvenience as well as cause some difficulties for the peaceful functioning of the public administration.

The judge observed that administrative transfers are the prerogative of the concerned department and its competent authorities are the best persons to assess and act accordingly. Only if an order of transfer is issued with malafide intention or in violation of the statutory provisions, a writ petition can be entertained. In the absence of any such legal grounds, routine administrative transfers can never be interfered with by the constitutional courts.

The court made the observations while hearing a batch of petitions filed before the HC Madurai bench in 2019, by two Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables challenging their transfer orders and consequential relieving orders. They were transferred from Golden Rock Workshop at Trichy district to Mayiladuthurai railway station in 2019.

The standing counsel for the authorities submitted that transfer orders were issued to the petitioners on administrative grounds.

City teen attempts to end life over NEET

City teen attempts to end life over NEET

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.09.2021

A 17-year-old girl, who recently wrote the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), tried to set herself ablaze on Thursday as she didn’t perform well in the examination, police said The girl, a resident of Guduvanchery, sustained at least 60% burns and has been admitted to the government hospital in Chengalpet. She is being attended to by a team of doctors. Police, quoting the doctors, said the girl is in a critical condition.

“The girl sat for NEET on September 12 and was stressed over the outcome. She is said to have been detached and aloof for the past couple of days and she set herself ablaze when she was alone at home in Urapakkam,” an officer said.

The Guduvanchery police, who received information from the Chengalpet GH about the girl, rushed to the hospital and held an inquiry.

On Wednesday, a 17-yearold girl from Katpadi in Vellore district ended her life fearing poor results after appearing for NEET. A day after the exam, a 17-year-old student from Ariyalur district also ended her life.

On the eve of the test, a 20-year-old man from Salem also took his life over fears that he would fail the test a third time.

(Assistance for those experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)

Police said the 17-yearold girl from Guduvanchery tried to end her life over fears that she didn’t perform well in the test. She is being treated for burns and is said to be in a critical condition

Fresh Covid death certificate must be given in one month: HC to TN

Fresh Covid death certificate must be given in one month: HC to TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.09.2021

If a death due to Covid-19 is not recorded in the death certificate itself, an additional certificate should be made available within a month of the death, the Madras high court has said.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu made the observation on Thursday while disposing of a batch of PILs alleging that the cause of death wais not being appropriately recorded in death certificates, particularly in case of deaths caused by the pandemic.

When the plea came up for hearing, government pleader P Muthukumar submitted a status report on behalf of the principal secretary, health and family welfare department.

In the report, the officer referred to the guidelines issued for Covid deaths by the Union health ministry pursuant to orders of the Supreme Court.

It was indicated that based on the guidelines, the state government has instructed all collectors to form district level committees, consisting of the additional district collector, the chief medical officer, and the dean or joint director of medical and rural health services in addition to an expert, for the issuance of the official document in the format as suggested by the Union.

Recording the submission, the bench said: “It is hoped that the guidelines are strictly adhered to and the district level committee should ensure that in case of deaths which have happened on or prior to August 31, the appropriate certificates in accordance with the relevant guidelines are issued by October 31.”In the event the certificates are not issued within time or on some other untenable excuse, it will be open to the individuals affected thereby to raise the grievance before the appropriate forum in accordance with law., the court added.

‘Approach local health authorities for official document for Covid-19 death’

Chennai:

People can approach local health authorities for an “official document for Covid-19 death”, the directorate of public health said on Thursday. After orders from the Madras high court, the state health department said applicants will be given copies of forms that contain certification of deaths by doctors along with cause details. “The certificates issued by the government will not carry cause of death. But people can take a copy of doctors’ certification which will have these details,” said director of public health Dr TS Selvavinayagam, who is also the registrar of births and deaths for the state. “Health officials are following protocols declared by the centre in the declaration of Covid-19 deaths,” he said. If people want to dispute the reports issued by hospitals or doctors regarding kin’s death, they can lodge complaints to the district collectors. If district reconciliation committee thinks the death should be entered into Covid registry, it will make its recommendation, he said. TNN