Students in limbo over new UK jab rules

Students in limbo over new UK jab rules

Preeti.Biswas@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:22.09.2021

The new United Kingdom international travel rules, which do not recognise Indians who have got both shots of Covid-19 vaccine as ‘fully vaccinated’ has come as a big blow to the students.

On September 17, the UK had announced new rules for international travel to replace the current system of red, amber and green. As per the new rules, the UK government only considers fully vaccinated to be those who have been vaccinated under an approved vaccination programme in the UK, Europe or the US, or who were vaccinated in 17 other countries, including Australia, Israel, Japan and Singapore. Thus, even fully-vaccinated Indians have to undergo a 10-day quarantine and Covid-19 test predeparture and on day 2 and day 8 on arrival in the UK.

Terming it as a biased rule, many local students admit that they are in a limbo over the rule imposed by the UK government. “It is extremely demeaning to know that while vaccinated students from other countries are freely moving around and engaging in various induction programmes, Indian students have to undergo a 10-day quarantine period. There is no clarity if we would be asked to re-vaccinate ourselves or if we’d be allowed to visit various public places even after our quarantine period concludes,” said Anita V (name changed), a master’s student at University College, London.

Many others are worried over the accommodation and Covid-19 test costs. “I have to spend almost ₹1.10 lakh towards accommodation for 10 days. Each test costs almost ₹14,000 and has to be taken twice during the 10-day period. All this is an additional cost,” said a master’s student of University of Westminster.

Experts are hopeful that the governments of both countries will discuss this soon. “It is disappointing that as of now, people vaccinated in India are being tagged under the ‘unvaccinated’ category. So, essentially it means a status quo for Indian students as even now, they have to quarantine at home in the UK or at the university campus for 10 days. But, the students can still travel without any restrictions, which is a welcome development,” said Piyush Kumar, regional director (South Asia), IDP Education, an overseas education consultancy.

BIASED FOREIGN POLICY?

HC: Horoscope mismatch no reason to back out of marriage

COURT DENIES RELIEF IN RAPE & CHEATING CASE

HC: Horoscope mismatch no reason to back out of marriage

Rosy.Sequeira@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:22.09.2021

The Bombay high court has refused relief for a Badlapur resident who took the pretext of incompatible horoscopes to resile from his promise to marry the woman he was in a relationship with.

“It is apparent that applicant under the guise of astrological incompatibility of horoscopes avoided the promise. Thus I am convinced that the material on record suggests it is a case of false promise to marry which apparently vitiates the complainant’s consent,” Justice Sandeep Shinde said on Monday. He rejected the plea for discharge by the man who was booked in January 2013 for rape and cheating. Earlier, the Dindoshi court too had rejected his plea.

In the FIR, the woman said that they got close in 2012 while working in a hotel. She said the man exploited her physically and mentally and when she conceived, he convinced her to abort and promised to marry her after two years. Later he avoided her.

On her December 28, 2012, complaint, the police suggested counselling. The man assured he would marry her. On January 6, 2013, she withdrew her complaint. On January 18, 2013, he told the counsellor he cannot marry her. The woman then renewed her complaint.

In the HC, the accused’s advocate Raja Thakare argued that it was a case of breach of promise and not false promise of marriage. He said since the horoscopes did not match and being a case of astrological incompatibility, relations could not be furthered.

But Justice Shinde said, “There is sufficient material to suggest that since inception, the applicant had no intention of upholding his promise to marry the complainant.”

It is apparent that applicant under the guise of astrological incompatibility of horoscopes avoided the promise

JUSTICE SANDEEP SHINDE

Bombay high court

No change in DoB at fag end of service: SC

No change in DoB at fag end of service: SC

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:22.09.2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that a person cannot claim as a matter of right to get his or her date of birth changed if the application is made after inordinate delay and more particularly when it is made at the fag end of service or when the employee is about to retire on attaining the age of superannuation.

A bench of Justices M R Shah and A S Bopanna said the plea for change in date of birth by an employee can be rejected in such cases even if there is “cogent evidence” as allowing such plea could result in a chain reaction and others below him, waiting for years for their promotion, would get affected.

Referring to various judgements delivered by the apex court on the issue of change in date of birth, the bench said, “The law on change of date of birth can be summarised as under: (i) application for change of date of birth can only be as per the relevant provisions/ regulations applicable; (ii) even if there is cogent evidence, the same cannot be claimed as a matter of right;

(iii) application can be rejected on the ground of delay and more particularly when it is made at the fag end of service and/or when the employee is about to retire on attaining the age of superannuation.”

The court set aside the order of the Karnataka HC which had allowed the plea of a government employee for change in date of birth which he had sought 24 years after joining the service. The employee had sought change of date of birth from January 04, 1960 to January 24,1961.

Kovalam, Eden beaches bag ‘Blue Flag’ tag

Kovalam, Eden beaches bag ‘Blue Flag’ tag

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:22.09.2021

Two more Indian beaches — Kovalam in Kerala and Eden in Puducherry — have got the international ‘Blue Flag’ certification, an eco-level tag given to well-managed and clean beaches as per globally recognised standards. India now has 10 such beaches.

The ‘Blue Flag’ tag is one of the world’s most recognised awards for clean, safe and environment-friendly beaches, and marinas. The other eight Indian beaches, which had got this tag last year, are Shivrajpur (Dwarka, Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Beach (Puri, Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands). Announcing certification for two new beaches on twitter, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said it was another milestone in the country’s journey towards a clean and green India, led by PM Narendra Modi.

Parents plan to visit students in US as travel ban relaxed

Parents plan to visit students in US as travel ban relaxed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:22.09.2021

November may be over a month away but for Avnika Sarkar whose daughter left for Cornell University, preparations for what must be bought and packed started as early as Tuesday.

With the United States relaxing the travel ban in November for air travelers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, parents are planning their maiden trip to campuses where their wards have recently started classes. The frenzy to fly out to the USA is higher among parents of freshmen who have gone for their undergraduate education.

“My daughter completed her first year online from home. She flew out in February and is now in the second year. But as soon as the travel ban is lifted, we are leaving for the US to be with her,” said Sarkar.

The White House on Monday said it was easing the tough pandemic-related restrictions that started early last year.

While a precise start date for the new rules is not out, the White House stated that they would be eased from “early November”; many details of the new policy are still being decided.

“The US consulate must resume B1 and B2 visa applications so that parents who want to visit their children can do so. Many students would be graduating in December and parents will definitely not want to miss being a part of their convocation. The pandemic has been difficult and many parents were very uncomfortable sending their children out during this time but yet they did so. It is only fair that they now want to fly out and see how their children are doing,” said international education counsellor Karan Gupta.

“There are some parents whose visas have expired and they will be looking at making fresh applications. The consulate should start accepting fresh applications as well,” added Gupta.

Many students would graduate in December and parents wouldn’t want to miss attending their convocation, said said Karan Gupta, an education counsellor

‘Don’t use word Dalit to identify anyone’

‘Don’t use word Dalit to identify anyone’

Punjab SC Commission Issues Guidelines

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chandigarh:22.09.2021

Taking note of the word ‘Dalit’ being used for newly appointed chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi in social media pages, print and electronic media, chairperson of the Punjab state scheduled castes commission Tejinder Kaur on Tuesday issued instructions to not use nomenclature ‘Dalit’ to mark identity of any person belonging to the scheduled castes .

The chairperson said the nomenclature ‘Dalit’ does not find mention in the Constitution of the country or any statute and moreover, the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment has already directed all chief secretaries of the state governments and Union territory administrations on this issue. She said the Madhya Pradesh high court bench in Gwalior had passed an order on January 15, 2018, in a public interst litigation ‘Dr Mohan Lal Mahor Vs Union of India & Ors’ and had directed that “the central government/ state government and its functionaries would refrain from using the nomenclature ‘Dalit’ for the members belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes as the same does not find mention in the Constitution of India or any statute”.

The chairperson said that the Union ministry had directed all the state governments and Union territory administrations to use the word “scheduled caste” instead of “Dalit” for the persons belonging to scheduled castes. The commission in a letter addressed to chief secretary Vini Mahajan on September 13 recommended renaming of villages, towns and other places named after castes and not use derogatory names such as Chamarheri etc.

The commission chairperson said that the nomenclature ‘Dalit’ does not find mention in the Constitution of the country

4 attempt suicide over jobs on compassionate grounds

4 attempt suicide over jobs on compassionate grounds

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Patiala:22.09.2021

Seeking jobs from Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on compassionate grounds, three protesters from the families of late employees on Tuesday poured petrol over themselves, while another consumed poison in four attempted suicides here.

Protesters Gagandeep Singh of Bathinda, Nishan Singh of Tarn Taran, and Veerpal Singh of Muktsar doused themselves with petrol, Mritak Aashrit Sangharsh Committee (PSPCL) union leader Charanjit Singh said: "Fellow protesters overpowered them before they could burn themselves. Enraged protesters tried to storm the PSPCL office and get to its seventh floor to join the 11 protesting there for the past five days."

When police didn’t let them in, one of the protesters, Dharminder Singh of Tarn Taran, consumed poison and was moved to Government Rajindra hospital in Patiala. About two years ago, six protesters, including an old woman, had climbed a water tank in Patiala after waiting two decades for job. The union’s Tuesday meeting with the PSPCL management was futile, and they will now meet the chairman and managing director on Wednesday in Chandigarh.

Charanjit said: "Our parents and loved ones died serving the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) that was, later, dissolved and transformed into PSPCL and PSTCL in 2010. These employees died between 2000 and 2010, when the government had stopped giving jobs on compassionate grounds. In 2010, when the board was dissolved, the government restored the job benefit to the kin of late employees but left us out. The department has a record of 6,141 job seekers but the actual figure is only 1,000, since the others have moved abroad, died, or found other jobs."

The death of an earning member and lack of timely compensation, accompanied by the pandemic-induced lockdown, have left many families in a desperate financial situation. Many linemen have been electrocuted because of somebody's negligence or lack of safety gear and equipment.

Many of their dependents were in school or college at the time of these accidents and they had to abandon their education for want of money..