Chennai reels under heavy rain, depression to cross coast today

Chennai reels under heavy rain, depression to cross coast today

Landfall Likely Near North Of Puducherry

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:`11.11.2021

Heavy rain that started battering the city and its suburbs late on Wednesday may continue on Thursday as the depression that has intensified over the Bay of Bengal is likely to cross the coast close to north of Puducherry and south of Andhra on Thursday evening. As of late Wednesday, the depression was around 430km east-southeast of Chennai and 420km east-southeast of Puducherry.

Several areas in Chennai continued to be inundated by rain water on Wednesday.

N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, said the system is likely to bring thunderstorms with very to very heavy rain in a few places and isolated extremely heavy rain in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Chengalpet. “There will be more rain than wind. Surface winds on land close to the coast will be at 30kmph and there won’t be much wind in the interior areas. After it crosses the coast, it will weaken,” Puviarasan said.

The official said the intensity of rainfall in the interior districts of Tamil Nadu may be less and alerts issued for Puducherry, Cuddalore and delta districts have been withdrawn as chances of heavy rainfall in these districts are low. “Unlike cyclones, which have a centre, a depression doesn’t have one. The location of its crossing changes according to cloud formation,” he added. As on Wednesday, around 30 locations remained flooded, and the civic body has sanctioned ₹20 lakh for all 200 wards to buy food for people and arrange machinery for flood relief.

At 97, WWII veteran wins battle for disability pension

At 97, WWII veteran wins battle for disability pension

Yeshika.Budhwar@timesgroup.com

Jaipur: 11.11.2021 

Sepoy Balwant Singh, a 97-year-old World War II veteran from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, won a long personal battle on Tuesday when a military tribunal allowed him the government’s war disability pension that was denied to him for the past five decades. He lost his left leg in a landmine blast while fighting with the Indian contingent for the Allied forces in Italy on December 15, 1944, and was discharged two years later on a basic pension reserved for soldiers invalided out of service for war wounds.

Singh, enlisted in 3/1 Punjab Regiment in1943 and transferred to Rajputana Rifles following his return from WWII, had applied for a pension that the government introduced in 1972, guaranteeing “100% of the last salary drawn” to Indian soldiers discharged from service because of wounds in various wars since Independence. However, soldiers who lost their limbs or were maimed for life fighting in the two World Wars were excluded from this retirement scheme. More than 2.5 million Indians fought in WWII alone.

A New Delhi bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal — taking over the case from its Jaipur unit that was hearing it since 2010 — ruled in favour of the nonagenarian soldier on Tuesday. An administrative member from Chennai said Singh would get 100% pension from 2008 along with arrears, which is prior to three years before he filed the case.

Singh’s counsel Col (retired) S B Singh said the WWII veteran and his family were delighted with the news. “Balwant Singh’s disability is100% as he lost his left leg. We are happy that he got at least some of the dues denied to him.”

Singh served in the pre-Independence Indian Army for three years, two months and 16 days before he was retired prematurely for having lost a leg. His son Subhash Singh said he was happy with the tribunal’s decision, but the family could have done better had the state come forward to help it. “We live in a village and knew nothing about the pension for the battle-wounded. We came to know of it only after the Kargil War (summer 1999),” he said.

Sepoy Balwant Singh had lost his left leg in a landmine blast while fighting with the Indian contingent for the Allied forces in Italy in 1944, and was discharged two years later on a basic pension reserved for soldiers invalided out of service for war wounds

MEA denies permission to Kerala babus for UAE visit

MEA denies permission to Kerala babus for UAE visit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:11.11.2021

The Centre has denied political clearance for Kerala principal secretary (industries) K ellangovan and the department’s director S Harikishore to travel to the UAE for supervision of Kerala’s preparations to set up a pavilion at the Dubai World Expo.

The state had sought clearance from the ministry of external affairs for the officials to visit the expo venue from November 10 to 12 to supervise the state’s preparations. The ministry informed the state that the officials could visit the venue in the first week of December, if required.

Industries minister P Rajeeve protested against the Centre’s decision to deny travel clearance for an event in which Kerala wants to put its best foot forward.

The Kerala pavilion at Dubai World Expo will be open from December 24 to January 6, showcasing its industrial and tourism potential. The expo began on October 1 and will continue till March 31 next year, giving every participating country a chance to portray its best attributes. India's pavilion is being overseen by the ministry of external affairs and the ministry of industries and commerce.

‘Dependent parents no excuse to not pay wife maintenance’

‘Dependent parents no excuse to not pay wife maintenance’

High Court Orders Petitioner To Pay Wife ₹20,000 Every Month

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:11.11.2021

The Punjab and Haryana high court has made it clear that a person cannot be absolved of the liability to maintain his estranged wife and minor children on the ground that he is responsible for his parents who are entirely dependent on him.

“Even if the parents of the petitioner are dependent upon him, it will not absolve him of his liability to maintain his wife and the minor children. The wife and minor children are entitled to reasonable standards of living which are commensurate with the income and status of the petitioner,” Justice Vivek Puri held while dismissing a petition filed by a resident of Haryana’s Kaithal district, who is presently serving as a constable in the Border Security Force (BSF).

The petitioner had challenged the legality and validity of the order dated September 21, 2021, passed by the principal judge, family court, Hisar, through which he was ordered to pay Rs 20,000 every month as maintenance to his estranged wife and their two minor children.

The family court had passed the orders after allowing the application filed by the wife under Section 125 of CrPC seeking maintenance allowance. The wife had argued that she does not have any independent source of income. It was stated that the petitioner is an employee of BSF and earns Rs 47,332 per month. According to the wife, she also has the responsibility of two minor daughters.

The couple in this case was married for a long time and had two daughters. A matrimonial dispute had cropped up between them and both were residing separately.

Aggrieved from the family court orders, the petitioner had approached the HC. His main argument was that his parents are dependent upon him and the interim maintenance awarded by the family court in favour of the wife was on the higher side. He also argued that his wife is a skilled lady having qualifications from ITI.

After hearing the petition, the high court dismissed the husband’s plea observing that the order of the family court cannot be termed to be excessive or not commensurate with the income of the petitioner and does not warrant any interference by this court. With this, the petitioner has to pay Rs 20,000 per month to the wife as per the family court orders.

HP to get 2nd state university, panel to work out modalities

HP to get 2nd state university, panel to work out modalities

Shimla: 11.11.2021

Himachal Pradesh is going to have its second state university with the cabinet on Monday deciding to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of chief secretary to work out the modalities to set up a state university at Mandi. Himachal Pradesh University at Shimla was established on July 22, 1970, and after a wait of 51 years now, the government has decided to have another state university that will directly benefit the students of Mandi, Kullu, Kangra, Hamirpur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts as students of these districts will not have to travel much distance for higher education. Having two state universities will also increase postgraduation seats and students will be able to take admission easily as they will not have to go to private universities. At the same time, thousands of students of Himachal Pradesh will not have to go to other states for the higher education.

Geographically, Mandi is situated in the middle of Himachal Pradesh. Students from tribal areas will be benefited the most with the opening of second university of the state in here. Students from the districts like Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti, which lie on the other end of Shimla, will make find it easier to pursue higher education. TNN

Haryana decides to recruit staff for varsities through HPSC, HSSC

Haryana decides to recruit staff for varsities through HPSC, HSSC

Oppn Targets Govt Over Issue Of Autonomy

Manvir.Saini@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh: 11.11.2021

In an unprecedented move, which has put the ruling BJP-JJP combine in the firing line, the government has decided to carry out recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff of all the universities through the Haryana Public Service Commission and Haryana Staff Selection Commission.

The higher education department issued a formal notification related to this on Monday. This has not only triggered unrest among staffers of universities, but has also made the opposition to train guns on the government while terming the move as “ending the autonomy of universities” in the violation of statutes.

Notably, there are eight state government-run universities in Haryana. In all the state universities, there is an issue of shortage of teaching as well as non-teaching staff.

“Universities are an autonomous bodies and they have capable staff and experts to conduct their own recruitment. And committees are constituted for this purpose. Now, this order will certainly have government’s direct interference into the affair. This would prove costly for all,” said a senior professor of MDU.

“This is the biggest blunder which the BJP-JJP government has made on the lines of Union government which has ruined the autonomy of internationally acclaimed universities like JNU. All this is being done to give a backdoor entry to their favourite and choicest candidates or party loyals. This will ultimately ruin Haryana universities as well,” said Rohtak and Jhajjar MLA B B Batra and Geeta Bhukkal at Chandigarh. Aftab Ahmed, deputy leader of opposition, said this way, the government has shown complete disrespect to the Constitution of India.

Haryana education minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar defended the decision. “The government has not taken away anybody’s autonomy. We have just dealt with the recruitment part and this will give more support to universities and they will work more independently,” said Gujjar.

Sources said for group-B posts, universities will send requisition to HPSC. HPSC will conduct examinations and interview for these posts and the list of selected candidates recommended would be sent to the university for appointment.

“For this, the statutes/service rules of the university are to be amended. In case of the registrar, the statutes may be amended to provide for a search-cum-selection committee consisting of the vicechancellor as chairperson, one expert each to be nominated by the HPSC, Haryana State Higher Education Council, state government and Executive Council of the University,” said the higher education department said in its orders to all the vice-chancellors of the universities under it.

For group C and D posts, the universities will send requisitions to Haryana Staff Selection Commission. HSSC will conduct examination and the list of selected candidates recommended will be provided to the university for appointment. And for the post of assistant professor (in case examination are proposed to be held), the university will send requisition to HPSC, which will conduct examination and the list of candidates with the marks obtained in the examination would be provided to the university.

The government has not taken away anybody’s autonomy. We have just dealt with the recruitment part and this will give more support to universities and they will work more independently

Kanwar Pal Gujjar | HARYANA EDUCATION MINISTER

Sacking orders for re-employed staff

TO BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY

Sacking orders for re-employed staff

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chandigarh:11.11.2021

The Punjab government on Tuesday ordered immediate termination of services of all officers and officials re-employed after retirement, except law officers.

There was a demand from the employees union that those re-employed should be removed immediately so that the junior officials get the opportunity of promotion to higher posts and youngsters could get jobs against vacant positions. The personnel department in its letter addressed to all the department heads informed that services of all the retired officers and other employees re-employed on contract or other basis at their level with the approval of the personnel department should be terminated immediately. “Only re-appointed law officers will be exempt from these instructions,” said the personnel department.

In another decision, while implementing recommendations of the 6th Punjab Pay Commission, the state government on Tuesday issued the notification for grant of Rs 1,000 per month as fixed medical allowance to all its pensioners and family pensioners. This decision will be effective from July 1 this year. The fixed medical allowance was Rs 500 per month earlier.

The finance department also issued a notification on Tuesday increasing the dearness relief to pensioners and family pensioners from 17% to 28% with effect from November 1. “The decision regarding release of arrears shall be taken later,” reads the notification.