College directed to return original papers to student

College directed to return original papers to student

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Tirunelveli:01.12.2021

The permanent lok adalat in Tirunelveli district on Tuesday directed a private college to return the original certificates to a student who had discontinued her studies.

M Saranya, a resident of Tuticorin district had filed a petition before the permanent lok adalat.

The petitioner had joined BE computer science course at PSN College of Engineering and Technology in Tirunelveli district during the academic year 2019-2020. But, she had to discontinue her studies due to poverty.

When the petitioner sought the college to return her certificates, the college had stated that it would be returned only if she pays ₹67,600 towards arrears of tuition and mess fees.

Chairperson and district judge of the lok adalat, S Sameena recalled that time and again the Madras high court had held that a college is not entitled to withhold the original documents submitted by a student at the time of admission for the reason that the student did not pay the tuition fees.

The college in its reply stated that the petitioner has stayed in the hostel for three-and-a-half months and she has to pay the fees for availing the facilities.

The chairperson directed the college to return the original documents and certificates to the petitioner on payment of ₹3,000 towards mess and hostel fees. It is also made clear that the college shall not insist the petitioner for payment of the tuition fees at the time of handing over of the documents.

The petitioner was forced to discontue studies and when asked the college to return her certificates, the college wanted her to first pay ₹67,600 fee arrears

Does your vehicle sputter? It’s the rainwater in petrol

Does your vehicle sputter? It’s the rainwater in petrol

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.12.2021

Flooding on Chennai streets has affected the quality of fuel sold at petrol pumps in the region.

Despite precautionary measures, the surface runoff water had entered the underground storage tanks at a few retail outlets, particularly those in flooded suburban areas.

On Monday, motorists, who refilled fuel tanks in Thiruvallur, were shocked when they found out that petrol mixed with water was sold to them. This also led to a verbal brawl.

K Murali, president of TN Dealers Association said, "This is why we requested petroleum companies to stop supply of ethanol-mixed-petrol temporarily during the rainy season". Not all petrol pumps are equipped to prevent entry of rainwater. So, when runoff leaks through the manholes of underground storage tanks in bunks during rains, water gets mixed with ethanol in the fuel, said Murali.

Manikandan, a mechanic from Madipakkam, said that people usually don't suspect fuel adulteration.

ADULTERATION: A motorist shows diluted petrol at a fuel bank Thiruvallur

No respite from inundation for Iyyapanthangal residents

No respite from inundation for Iyyapanthangal residents

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.12.2021

About 5000 residents in Iyyappanthangal village panchayat have been under four feet deep water for over two weeks now, thanks to a private person who encroached upon a canal that takes excess rainwater from Porur lake to Adyar river. The panchayat administration has done little to resolve their flooding issues that they are facing for over ten years now.

Close to 45000 people reside here and about 10000 live in flood-hit areas alone such as EVP Prabu Avenue, Dhanalakshmi Nagar, Sri Sai Nagar, Kumaran Nagar, Maduram Nagar. They have to walk through hip deep water every time they need to purchase essentials or go for work. Boats have been deployed but not everyone can access them. The residents have been cut off from the main roads for the last two weeks with water level showing no signs of receding.

Pattabiraman, Vice president of Maduram Nagar welfare association said that excess water from Chembarabakkm lake when let out comes to the area via a canal and reaches Porur lake. Once this lake is filled up, the water must go to Adyar river via various disposal points. However, there is a reverse flow from Porur lake causing heavy inundation in the area due to blocked canals.

“A culvert that was an outlet from the lake on the eastern side has been blocked which is why our area is getting flooded now. We didn’t have any problem in 2008. The surplus water from Porur lake would exit at 13.895 km from Perungalathur NHAI toll road. This was not functional as a private person from Moulivalkam village sealed the outlet on both sides with cement concrete. The canal that goes up to Kundrathur road is enchroached. Multistoried buildings have also been built upon canal path,” he said.

Senthil Kumar, an RTI activist, said that while it was true that the area is low-lying, it had enough canals and drains carrying excess rainwater to Porur lake. “Why should residents pay the price for government inaction on encroachment,” he said.

The panchayat residents have also opposed the government’s decision to join it with Mangadu municipality. “We are not even half a kilometre away from Chennai corporation. We should be added to the corporation. Only then, our civic woes will reduce,” said Senthil.

An official said that the public works department had constructed a check-dam to store water from Porur lake.

MONSOON EFFECT: Residents use makeshift boats to move around in Dhanalakshi Nagar near Iyyappanthangal where water has not receded for the last two weeks

Tamil Nadu resident docs to go on strike today

Tamil Nadu resident docs to go on strike today

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.12.2021

Protesting the delay in NEET PG counselling and admissions, residents doctors at medical college hospitals in Tamil Nadu will be withdrawing from outpatient department services on Wednesday. New doctors are unable to join hospitals because of the delay in counselling. As a result, the existing batch of resident doctors are overburdened and are made to work up for 18-hour long shifts and without adequate leaves. The primary reason for the delay in NEET PG counselling is the union government's indecision over the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) seats. The counselling was originally scheduled to begin on October 25. But the government recently told the Supreme Court that it has decided to postpone the PG admission process by another four weeks as it was reconsidering the Rs.8 lakh annual income criteria for EWS quota seats.

This leaves the new batch of 4,500 resident doctors in a lurch as they will not be able to join the state's health force anytime soon. And the existing resident doctors, who are already under severe stress and fatigue in the middle of the pandemic, must continue work without adequate breaks.

These doctors, who have worked without juniors, claim to do the bulk of work in medical college hospitals. They prepare case sheets, investigate patients in wards, perform bedside duties, dressings, assist surgeries in operation theatres and ready health insurance related documents.

Soon, the final year students will also be leaving the colleges. So, the workload will fall on the single batch of PG students, said V Vignesh from TN Resident Doctors' Association. "Covid-19 has taught everybody to take doctors for granted. There is no respite for us. With inadequate sleep and fatigue, our health has taken a beating," he said.

At present, 80% of the resident doctors are in conventional treatment wards and the rest are assisting covid patients. This could change if the new variants of the virus are detected here. So, TNRDA has requested the state health department to take up the issue with the union government and stress to get the new batch of doctors on duty at the earliest possible.

Resident doctors in other Indian states have already begun the strike stressing similar demands.

The doctors, who will withdraw from outpatient services on Wednesday, are protesting against delay in NEET PG counselling, admissions

'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல் 1,500 பஸ்கள் முடக்கம்

'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல் 1,500 பஸ்கள் முடக்கம்

Added : நவ 29, 2021 23:29

சென்னை : தமிழகத்தில் 'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல், 1,500 பஸ்கள் நிறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன.

தமிழக அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழகங்கள் பெரும் நிதி நெருக்கடியில் சிக்கித் தவிக்கின்றன. இதனால், ஊழியர்கள், ஓய்வூதியர்களுக்கான பணப் பலன்களை வழங்குவதிலும், பஸ்களை பராமரிப்பிலும் பெரும் சிக்கல் நிலவுகிறது. குறிப்பாக, உதிரி பாகங்கள் வாங்க பணம் இல்லாததால், பழுதடைந்த பஸ்களில் இருந்து கழற்றி மாற்றும் நிலை உள்ளது.

ஆனால், காலாவதியான பேட்டரிகளை அதுபோல மாற்ற இயலவில்லை. ஒவ்வொரு பணிமனையிலும், ஒன்றிரண்டு பஸ்கள் என பேட்டரி இன்றி, தமிழகம் முழுதும் 1,500க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பஸ்கள் முடக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளன. இது போன்ற பிரச்னைகளை சரி செய்து, 100 சதவீத பஸ்களை இயக்க, பட்ஜெட்டில் நிதி ஒதுக்க வேண்டும் என, ஊழியர்கள் வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளனர்

சென்னை டூ- சிங்கப்பூர்; மீண்டும் விமான சேவை

சென்னை டூ- சிங்கப்பூர்; மீண்டும் விமான சேவை

Added : நவ 29, 2021 23:27

சென்னை : சென்னை - சிங்கப்பூர் இடையேயான விமான சேவை, ௨௦ மாதங்களுக்கு பின் மீண்டும் துவங்கியுள்ளது.

கொரோனா தொற்று பரவ துவங்கியதும், 2020 மார்ச் 25ல், சர்வதேச நாடுகளுக்கான விமான சேவைகள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டன. பின், அதே ஆண்டு மே 9 முதல், சில குறிப்பிட்ட நாடுகளுக்கு மட்டும், 'வந்தே பாரத்' திட்டத்தின் கீழ், மீட்பு விமானங்களும், சிறப்பு விமானங்களும் இயக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

இந்நிலையில், டிசம்பர் 15 முதல், அனைத்து சர்வதேச விமான சேவைகளும் இயங்க, மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளது. அத்துடன், சிங்கப்பூர் - இந்தியா இடையேயான விமான சேவைக்கும் அனுமதி தரப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, சென்னையிலிருந்து சிங்கப்பூருக்கு நேற்று முதல் தினசரி விமான சேவையை, சிங்கப்பூர் ஏர்லைன்ஸ் நிறுவனமும், இண்டிகோ ஏர்லைன்ஸ் நிறுவனமும் துவக்கி உள்ளன.

சிங்கப்பூர் ஏர்லைன்ஸ் விமானம், இரவு 10:00 மணிக்கு சிங்கப்பூரிலிருந்து சென்னை விமான நிலையம் வந்து சேரும். மீண்டும் இரவு 11:15 மணிக்கு சென்னையிலிருந்து புறப்பட்டு சிங்கப்பூர் செல்கிறது.இதேபோல, இண்டிகோ ஏர்லைன்ஸ் விமானம், சென்னை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையத்திலிருந்து, இரவு 9:45க்கு சிங்கப்பூருக்கு புறப்படுகிறது.

தற்போது, 20 மாதங்களுக்கு பின், சென்னை -- சிங்கப்பூர் - இடையே, நேரடி பயணியர் விமான சேவை மீண்டும் துவங்கி உள்ளது.இந்த விமானங்களில் பயணம் செய்யும் பயணியருக்கு, இரண்டு தவணை தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தியதற்கான சான்றிதழ் மற்றும் 48 மணி நேரத்திற்குள் எடுக்கப்பட்ட கொரோனா நெகடிவ் சான்றிதழ் அவசியம்.

Adhere to guidelines from WHO to the letter: V Irai Anbu

Adhere to guidelines from WHO to the letter: V Irai Anbu

Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu on Monday held detailed discussions with collectors, health officials, and police through a video-conference call from the Secretariat.

Published: 30th November 2021 06:58 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu on Monday held detailed discussions with collectors, health officials, and police through a video-conference call from the Secretariat. The chief secretary urged the collectors and other departments to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with regard to Omicron. Since vaccination is the best weapon to counter the virus, the collectors were told to intensify measures for spreading awareness on vaccination.

Though Omicron is yet to be detected in Tamil Nadu, RT-PCR test is being done at international airports in the State on those coming from South Africa, European countries, Botswana, Hong Kong, China, Israel, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Mauritius.

Those who test negative in the RT-PCR test are advised to be in home quarantine for a week. After that, they have to undergo another RT-PCR test and continue to monitor their health for another week. If any passenger tests positive, further tests will be done to find out which variant it is. Whole genomic sequencing of samples taken from those arriving from other countries is also being carried out.

Passengers note!

Those who test negative in the RT-PCR test are advised to be in quarantine for a week. After that, they have to undergo another test and continue to monitor their health for another week