Teens don’t need parents’ nod for Covid jabs: Official

Teens don’t need parents’ nod for Covid jabs: Official

Umesh.Isalkar@timesgroup.com

23.01.2022

Pune: Consent from parents — written or oral — is not required for teenage Covid vaccination in the 15-17 age group, state immunization officer Dr Sachin Desai confirmed on Sunday.

“There is a lot of confusion over seeking parents’ consent prior to vaccinating adolescents. But as per the Union government’s norms, parents’ consent is not required,” Dr Desai said. The issue of con- sent had cropped up soon after vaccination for teens was announced on school and college premises.

“Schools are under the impression that they need parents’ written or oral consent before vaccinating their teenage students. But that's not the case,” Dr Desai said, adding that registration on the CoWIN portal before getting the shot is considered consent. “So schools should not compel students to bring consent letters from parents,” he said. The senior of- ficial also said the rule applies not only for vaccination at school or college premises, but at hospital-based vaccine centres too.

Senior paediatrician Dr Pramod Jog, a member of the Covid task force, said, “Although parents’ written consent is not required, it is advisable that the parents accompany the child at the time of taking the Covid shot. This will bolster the confidence of the vaccinator at the vaccination centre. Besides, a parent’s physical presence is great mental support as well. ”

CBI books firm for defrauding banks of ₹271cr

 CBI books firm for defrauding banks of ₹271cr

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Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

23.01.2022

Chennai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked a city-based food production company for defrauding banks to the tune of ₹217. 2 crore. Oceanic Tropical Fruits Private Limited (OTFPL), Pepsico's co-packer for their product Slice, had taken loans amounting to ₹274. 3 crore loans from three banks – State Bank of India, ICICI and Central Bank of India. As the loans weren’t repaid, the banks declared them non-performing assets.

But auditors later found out that the company's directors – A Joseb Raj, Vimala Joseb and James Walter (personal guarantor) – diverted the loan funds. The company submitted fake vouchers and transaction details to divert the money, according to an FIR filed by the CBI on Thursday.

OTFPL used another firm, KK Foods (KKF), to collect receivables or debts from its consumers. The banks found out that KKF had actually collected the receivables but did not credit them in OTFPL's accounts. OTFPL was primarily involved in processing mango into pulp and concentrate and KKF acted as intermediary with mango suppliers. When the banks reviewed KKF's ledger account, they found 86 out of the 429 transactions were inconsistent. The firm claimed that it used private vehicles to transport 10,000 kilograms of mangoes. But when the banks crosschecked the registration numbers, they were found to be of two-wheelers and not trucks.

So the banks in 2019 declared the company's activities as fraudulent and authorised SBI's Stress Assets Management Branch to act on it. S Ravichandran, the branch's deputy general manager, confirmed the banks' findings and complained to the CBI.

MDS Admissions Done Beyond Cut-Off Date: Possibility Of Resolution With Centre, Karnataka Tells Supreme Court

MDS Admissions Done Beyond Cut-Off Date: Possibility Of Resolution With Centre, Karnataka Tells Supreme Court

'Be Careful In Future': Supreme Courts Lets Off 9 TN Govt Officers In Contempt Case After Implementing Directions

'Be Careful In Future': Supreme Courts Lets Off 9 TN Govt Officers In Contempt Case After Implementing Directions: The Court said that it deprecated the stubbornness of the officers.

Covid row: Biden suspends 44 flights to China in tit-for-tat

 Covid row: Biden suspends 44 flights to China in tit-for-tat

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23.01.2022

The US government suspended 44 scheduled Chinese airline flights from the US to China in response to restrictions placed on American carriers over Covid testing protocols. The US department of transportation on Friday issued restrictions against four Chinese airlines in a dispute that has been percolating since the pandemic erupted in 2020. China in recent months had suspended flights on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines. citing an effort to block Covid transmission, something US authorities say is a violation of a treaty on flight access. The action by the US government is the latest sign of tensions between the two nations over issues ranging from trade policy to alleged spying.

BLOOMBERG

 

India in touch with US & Canada over family that froze to death along border

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23.01.2022

After a family of four Indians, including an infant, were found dead near the US-Canada border, government sources in New Delhi said Indian missions are in touch with Canadian authorities for ascertaining the details of the tragedy and that the post-mortem of the victims is likely to be carried out on January 24.

US authorities have detained seven people without proper documentation, as well as one US citizen, for allegedly being involved in human smuggling activity from Canada to the US, they said.

“US authorities have detained seven people without proper documentation, as well as one US citizen, for allegedly being involved in human smuggling activity from Canada to the US,” a source said. The consulate general of India in Toronto sent a consular team to Manitoba, which is now liaising with local authorities to render any consu- lar help regarding the four dead people, the sources said.

The consulate general as well as the High Commission in Ottawa are in touch with Canadian provincial and federal authorities for ascertaining details of this tragedy, they said. In the US, the consulate general of India in Chicago has sent a consular team to Minneapolis. They have sought consular access to the detained people, sources said.

The consulate and the embassy in Washington DC are also in touch with the US department of justice, and the US customs and border Police. Indian missions and posts will continue to extend all assistance, the sources said.

PTI

Death caused by stress: HC tells employer to compensate

 Death caused by stress: HC tells employer to compensate

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TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: The Bombay high court this week directed an employer and insurance company to pay out compensation to the kin of a 54-yearold truck driver who had died in 2003, saying the death was “accelerated on account of stress and strain associated with long-distance driving for almost 18 days in trying circumstances. ”

“Any other view of the matter would defeat the beneficial object of the provisions contained in Section 3 of the Employees Compensation Act,1923,” held the HC bench on January 17. The post-mortem report had termed it a natural death due to heart disease.

The HC noted that the truck had left Mumbai for Ranchi17-18 days prior to his death. The driver was headed back to Mumbai when the incident occurred. The employer said it was not due to work pressure. “The distance covered was around 1,800km. There was no second driver. These circumstances deserve adequate consideration,” said the HC, noting the “enormity of the situation which a driver faces on account of long and arduous journey for almost 18 days, uninterrupted. ” The judgment said, “The long distance driving for about 3,600km can be expected to generate stress and strain. . . ”

The HC allowed an appeal filed by the driver’s widow and other family members. The court directed the employer and insurerto jointly and severally pay out a compensation of almost Rs 3 lakh with12% interest per annum since December 2003. The HC told the employer to pay Rs 25,000 penalty.