Monkey rains money from tree after snatching advocate’s bag with ₹2L

Monkey rains money from tree after snatching advocate’s bag with ₹2L

Kanwardeep Singh TNN

Bareilly:19.09.2021

It was an altogether different kind of setting, with an advocate pleading before a monkey perched high on a tree. The simian had snatched a bag containing ₹2 lakh from unsuspecting Vinod Kumar Sharma, who was going to purchase stamp papers for a land registry in Rampur’s Shahabad town.

As a crowd of curious people gathered, hooted and clapped, the monkey threw the bag down but not before taking out ₹1 lakh.

After another round of cajoling, the monkey started throwing the notes in the air. Now it was Sharma’s turn to plead before the cheering crowd, which was trying to pocket the money. After a lot of convincing, people collected the money and gave it to Sharma, who was nervous and sweating by then.

After over 30 minutes of high-drama, the advocate was able to collect ₹95,000. There was no trace of the remaining ₹5,000, but Sharma was “happy”.

The video of the monkey was shot by a few people, who later shared it on social media platforms. In October 2019, a similar incident was reported from Budaun district where two monkeys snatched a bag from a woman and showered money on people.

Sharma said, “I got the shock of my life when the monkey snatched my bag and climbed on the neem tree. There was ₹2 lakh in the bag, which I had taken from a client for stamps. The monkey then took out two bundles of ₹50,000 each from the bag and threw the bag.

“When we tried to chase it, it climbed on the top branch of the tree and started showering money. I was helplessly watching and requesting people to return the money. I managed to get back ₹95,000 from people. I don’t blame anyone for the remaining ₹5,000 as most people were trying to help me. I haven not filed any complaint.”

Affan Ahmad, an eye witness, told TOI, “I shot videos while Sharma along with other advocates were putting efforts to get the money back from the monkey. Sharma even took a risk and tried to climb on the tree through tin roof. He even slipped twice as the surface was slippery because of the rain. After 30 minutes, Sharma managed to get most of his money back. Monkeys often snatch bags of people visiting the court premises in Shahabad.”

Now, vigilance clearance must for J&K staff to obtain passport

Now, vigilance clearance must for J&K staff to obtain passport

Srinagar:17.09.2021

Vigilance clearance will be mandatory for government employees to obtain a passport, the J&K government said in an order issued on Thursday.

A circular issued by the general administration department stated that passport to citizens, including government employees, is issued on the basis of verification carried out by the CID. “The current system does not contain any mechanism as would help denying the passport to such employees who are either under suspension or facing departmental inquiry or prosecution on account of serious charges,” it read. TNN

Vax catch-22: How can U-18 college-goers get vac cert?

Vax catch-22: How can U-18 college-goers get vac cert?

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:17.09.2021

Several first year students, who have not completed 18 years of age yet, are in trouble as vaccination certificate is mandatory to attend classes in college.

Students said they will have to wait till they get 18 to attend the college. First year classes will start from October 1. “I will be 18 in December, which means I can’t go for vaccination before that. As vaccination certificate is mandatory for attending college, I will have to miss my classes,” said Shlok Dubey.

He is worried that he may be in big trouble if online classes are also stopped. “I have heard that colleges may stop e-classes once offline classes resume. How to attend classes after that will be a big question before me,” said Dubey.

Even girl students are also facing same problem. “I can’t change my age. Even college has given me admission. Now, issue is that how to attend classes as I will complete 18 years in November. Despite being eligible I won’t be able to attend offline classes,” said a student Shruti Maheshwari.

Higher education department had recently issued guidelines for opening colleges and universities in the state from September 15. Students with 50% strength and at least first dose of vaccination can attend classes on the campuses. Students and college staff are asked to submit their certificates of first dose of vaccination.

Interestingly, hostel facility will be available for the students only after they submit consent letter of their parents and vaccination certificates.

Teachers wade through a flooded govt school in Bawadia Kala on Thursday

School fee: High court disposes of pleas by mgmts

School fee: High court disposes of pleas by mgmts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:17.09.2021

The high court on Thursday disposed of petitions filed by private school managements against the state government’s 30% fee cut order, referring to a Supreme Court judgment in the matter on May 3. The apex court, in the Indian School Jodhpur vs State of Rajasthan case, allowed for a 15% cut in fees for the 2020-21 academic year and said the remaining amount should be paid in six equal monthly instalments.

Referring to the SC decision, Justice R Devdas told school managements not to debar any student from attending online or physical classes over non-payment of fees or arrears. They have also been asked to consider sympathetically the representations of students whose parents can’t afford to pay fees.

The Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS), Karnataka State Minorities Educational Institutions Managements Federation and others had challenged the January 29, 2021 directive issued by the state government asking all the private schools to collect only 70% of the fees collected in 2019-20, without any other changes. They said the directive barring coercive action had resulted in parents not paying fees.

They further claimed that though the government allowed collection of 70% of tuition fees, it amounted to only 50% since no admission fees and other charges were collected by the member schools for 2020-21 and there was greater spending on infrastructure for conducting online classes. The minority schools contended that the directive of the state government affected their rights guaranteed under Article 30 of the Constitution.

Referring to the apex court decision, Justice R Devdas told school managements not to debar any student from attending online or physical classes over non-payment of fees or arrears

Non-payment biggest issue for institutions

Non-payment biggest issue for institutions

Kevin.Mendonsa@timesgroup.com

17.09.2021

Private schools, especially those catering to students from lower income groups in rural areas in the coastal districts, are in financially doldrums due to the pandemic and stringent government rules.

Managements of low-budget schools say another closure — perhaps for a possible third wave — would be the last straw. They say the biggest problem is poor fee collection because of which, they cannot pay their staff. Other reasons include delay in RTE reimbursement and stringent renewal rules.

“Since parents are not paying fees on time, staff are at the receiving end,” said Moosabba P Beary, vice president, English Medium Schools Association, Dakshina Kannada district. The district has about 300 private English medium schools. “Some schools have not paid salaries to staff ever since the pandemic struck and teachers were forced into menial jobs to run their families. Some relatively new schools are on the verge of bankruptcy,” Beary said.

Beary said by ordering schools to cut fees by 30% and warning managements not to force parents to pay, the government has been unfair to private schools. “If there is another wave of infections and a lockdown is imposed, many schools will have to shut for good,” he said.

Rasheed Vittal of Ukkuda Public School in Vittal said the government has increased renewal rules from 30 to 52. Some of them include obtaining fire and safety licences, PWD licence, health and hygiene certificates and child safety certificates.

“Every licence or certificate comes with a fee. How can cashstrapped schools pay when they are unable to even pay their staff?” Vittal said. “Besides, only some schools have received half the RTE reimbursement amounts.”

Another stakeholder said that the government can commence offline classes for LKG to grade five in phases. “Children should be allowed to come to campus thrice a week,” he said. When contacted, Malleswamy, DDPI of DK, said no school has requested for closure so far.

Fee imbroglio: Schools relieved but parents unhappy with court order SWEET & SOUR Pvt schools Said Govt’s 30% Fee Cut Order Created A Major Crisis

Fee imbroglio: Schools relieved but parents unhappy with court order

SWEET & SOUR Pvt schools Said Govt’s 30% Fee Cut Order Created A Major Crisis

45% Of Adult Population Suffers Persistent Pain

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:17.09.2021

While private school managements cheered the high court’s order on the issue of fees, parents associations were understandably dissatisfied.

The high court disposed of pleas by schools contesting the government’s diktat ordering a 30% tuition fee cut, by pointing out that the Supreme Court had settled the issue in a petition filed by unaided schools in Rajasthan. In that case, the SC had ordered schools not to charge more than 85% of fees collected in 2019-20 for the academic year 2020-21.

D Shashi Kumar, secretary, Association of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka said: “When the government told us to reduce 30% of tuition fee and not charge any other fees, it worked out to a cut of almost 45%-50% of total fees. For many of us, it created a major crisis. The HC order is a welcome one. Many schools have already waived more than 30% fees. If parents are in a financial crisis, they can approach school managements for a waiver.”

Recognised Unaided Private Schools Association, another group of private schools, also welcomed the HC’s order.

Lokesh T, president of the association, said: “We welcome the HC move. Last year, in rural Karnataka, several parents were awaiting a government order to pay fees. We request the government to find a permanent solution to this problem.”

He said schools affiliated to the association are willing to waive fees this year too. “We gave a 30% concession last year and we will continue with it this year as well,” Lokesh said.

However, parents were an unhappy lot. Ganesh Poojary, member of Voice of Parents-Karnataka, said: “I can react only after reading the judgement copy. The Karnataka government had ordered schools not to collect anything other than tuition fee and to reduce it by 30%. Now it depends on what the HC order says. If they have kept the Karnataka government order in mind and reduced that 30% to a lower figure, it may not help us, but we are ready to accept it. But if the order says the reduction is on the overall fees [all other heads besides tuition fees], it is unacceptable.”

Many parents said the reduction is meagre and only symbolic.

‘Software error’ credits ₹964cr to two Katihar kids’ accounts

‘Software error’ credits ₹964cr to two Katihar kids’ accounts

Sanjeev Mishra@timesgroup.com

Katihar:17.09.2021

Two Class 6 students of a government school in Bihar's Katihar briefly had more millions in the bank than what their multiplication skills would have enabled them to calculate, courtesy a supposedly “software error” that credited Rs 902 crore and Rs 62 crore to their respective accounts.

Gurucharan Biswas and Ashish Kumar’s short-lived windfall was “rectified immediately” after Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank realised what had happened, district magistrate Udayan Mishra said on Thursday even as the two students recounted their fleeting tryst with crores of rupees they never got to spend.

On Tuesday, one Ranjit Das of Khagaria had been arrested for allegedly refusing to return a portion of the Rs 5.5 lakh wrongly credited to his account with the same bank in March last year. He told the police that he thought the money was part of a direct benefit transfer promised by PM Modi. In Katihar, both students received the mistakenly credited amounts in their accounts on Wednesday. They both study in a government school at Pastiya village of Azamnagar block.

"Due to a banking software error, one account was showing an inflated amount. In another instance, the amount appeared only in the printout of a receipt," the district magistrate said.

Lalan Biswas, mukhiya of Pastiya village, said, "Children receive money in their bank accounts every month to buy uniforms and books. When one of our students checked his balance on Thursday, he was surprised to see the amount. Another student did the same and he was in for a surprise, too."

When the students tried to withdraw some money, they realised that the "credits" were notional, Biswas said.