NEWS TODAY 21.09.2024

 

MBBS: HC declines to award 5 grace marks

MBBS: HC declines to award 5 grace marks 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 22.09.2024 

Bengaluru : The HC recently dismissed a batch of petitions filed by several medical students, seeking the award of 5 grace marks in the course attempted in (MBBS) RS4 Examinations of Jan 2024. Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav also rejected their prayer, seeking the quashing of the “Ordinance/Notification governing Central Assessment Programme (CAP) for Theory Paper Assessment of all Undergraduate Health Science Courses of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences” dated Sept 5, 2022. 

The petitioners claimed that the Undergraduate Medical Education Board guidelines issued on Aug 1, 2023, specifically do away with the award of grace marks, the benefit granted under the 2019 Regulations. They also sought a direction to conduct a fresh evaluation of the failed subjects of MBBS (RS4) Examinations of Nov 2023. However, after perusing the regulations and the guidelines, Justice Yadav noted that the standards of examination as well as such standards in the courses are a dynamic system that keeps changing and that the effort for elevating the standard of education is a continuous process and can be linked to the objective of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. 

“It is but a natural process of any education system to constantly re-invent the course and examination patterns in order to produce high-quality professionals. If that were to be so, the promulgation of guidelines from time to time as regards examination must be looked at in the context of changes in the course and examination,” the judge said. “The provision of grace marks under the 2019 Regulations framed under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, would have to give way to new standards of examination and evaluation as provided under the Guidelines framed in 2023 in exercise of power under Section 24 (1) (e) of the NMC Act, 2019 by the UGMEB. 

In light of the above discussion, the contention of the  petitioners that the benefit of grace marks, as was prevalent under the 2019 Guidelines has remained and cannot be accepted,” the judge further observed, while dismissing the petitions.

NEWS TODAY 20.09.2024

 

RG Kar ex-princy no longer a doc as medical council cancels registration

RG Kar ex-princy no longer a doc as medical council cancels registration 

Ghosh Couldn’t Contest As He Was Behind Bars When Notice Was Served

Sumati.Yengkhom@timesofindia.com 20.09.2024

Kolkata : Former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh ceased to be a doctor on Thursday with the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) cancelling his medical practitioner registration on Thursday, as it had said it would. Ghosh, an orthopaedic surgeon, will no longer be able to practise unless the cancellation is revoked. The striking off of Ghosh’s name happened on a day when various doctors’ organisations demonstrated in front the council’s office demanding cleansing of the council, which is mired in controversy. “We have cancelled the registration of Sandip Ghosh as he failed to reply to the showcause notice even after 13 days,” said a WBMC official. Council registrar Manas Chakraborti had told TOI on Wednesday that a decision on Ghosh’s removal from the council’s registration as a medical practitioner had been taken and that the official notice would be issued by Thursday.

 Ghosh, at present in prison, was served on Sept 6 a showcause notice by the council asking him to reply within three days. At the time he was already in CBI custody. He was arrested first on Sept 2 on financial irregularity charges, to which the investigation agency added evidence destruction charges on Sept 14. Thursday’s notice said Ghosh’s registration had been cancelled according to provisions under Section 25(a)(ii) of the Bengal Medical Act, 1914, and Sec 37 (iii) of the Code of Medical Ethics adopted by the council. Since Ghosh was already behind bars when the notice was issued, sources said he could contest the cancellation later as he was not available when the showcause was served. 

In a letter signed by its president, Dilip Kumar Dutta, and honorary secretary Sanatnu Sen, IMA West Bengal had sent a strongly worded letter to WBMC asking why it was delaying cancelling Ghosh’s registration. The medical fraternity has been alleging that WBMC is the origin of corrupt practices. Various doctors’ organisations held an agitation at the council’s office demanding the dissolution of the council and conducting fresh polls to elect new members.

Tirupati laddu ghee had pig & beef fat, fish oil: Lab report released by AP govt

Tirupati laddu ghee had pig & beef fat, fish oil: Lab report released by AP govt

 Sandeep.Raghavan@timesofindia.com

 Tirupati : A laboratory analysis of samples of cow ghee, supplied to the Tirumala temple trust for making its famous Tirupati laddu prasadam during the term of the YSRCP govt in Andhra Pradesh, has revealed presence of foreign fats including lard (clarified pig fat), tallow (beef fat) and fish oil. The report was made public by the TDP govt on Thursday. The samples also contained fats from vegetable sources like coconut, linseed, rapeseed and cottonseed. 

The analysis was conducted on July 23 after the govt received complaints of change in taste of the laddu prasadam. Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu had sparked a controversy on Wednesday when he told NDA allies that animal fat had been found in the ghee supplied for the laddus when YSRCP governed the state. YSRCP had reacted angrily, denying the allegations and claiming it to be one of Naidu’s political stunts. The analysis by the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), however, comes with a caveat — there can be chances of false positive results in certain circumstances. 

The report has listed several conditions where a result could go wrong, including in cases like overfeeding cows with feed rich in vegetable oils, underfeeding cows or the milk being subjected to technological treatments like removal of cholesterol. The report is silent whether the adulterants were deliberately added or crept in through feeding conditions and other factors. Naidu’s allegation and the NDDB’s report have shocked millions of devotees of Lord Venkateswara across the globe as the Tirupati laddus are considered Maha Prasadam and carry a high sentimental value. 

The TDP govt had in June appointed senior IAS officer J Syamala Rao as the new executive  officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple complex. As part of streamlining measures, an inquiry was ordered into the alleged poor quality, taste and texture of the laddus. TTD constituted an expert committee to look into the quality of the prasadam. Apart from suggesting several measures to TTD to restore the taste and quality, the committee also sent samples of the ghee to NDDB in Gujarat. The lab reports, issued in July, confirmed the presence of foreign fats. TTD returned the ghee stocks supplied by AR Dairy Foods, Dindigul, in Tamil Nadu and blacklisted the contractor. Then, TTD selected Karnataka Milk Federation to supply the ghee

TN govt: Have already taken possession of MRC premises

TN govt: Have already taken possession of MRC premises 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  20.09.2024 

Chennai : Tamil Nadu govt has told Madras high court that it took possession of the 160.8 acres leased out to Madras Race Club (MRC) on Sept 9 and sought to modify advocate-general P S Raman’s earlier submission that the state had issued only termination notice to the club and not taken possession of the land. The submissions were made on Thursday, when a civil suit moved by MRC challenging the termination of the lease came up for hearing. 

The club moved another application seeking time to hand over possession of the land to the govt. The club wanted the court to consider its application on an urgent basis since Sept 24 is the last date to hand over possession of the land. However, when the suit was taken up for hearing, senior advocate P Wilson representing the revenue department submitted that there was no urgency in the issue as the land had already been taken possession of by the govt. To this, senior advocate P H Arvind Pandian pointed out to the court a submission made by the AG before a division bench on a plea moved by the club challenging the action of the govt that the possession was yet to be taken. 

Recording the submission, Justice R M T Teekaa Raman wondered whether the revenue department is disputing the submission made by the AG, who is a constitutional authority. To this, additional advocate-general J Ravindran and Wilson informed the court that a modification petition had been filed before the division bench to modify the submission made by the AG, which is yet to be listed. Recording the submissions, Justice Teekaa Raman said: 

“You (govt) wanted to tie the hands of the division bench by AG’s submission and now you want the submission to be lifted.” The court then adjourned the hearing of the suit to Sept 23, for the department to file its counter. 

Over 1K MBBS students’ fate uncertain 3 Pvt Univs Don’t Have UGC Approval

Over 1K MBBS students’ fate uncertain 3 Pvt Univs Don’t Have UGC Approval

Pushpa.Narayan@timesofindia.com 20.09.2024 

Chennai : The academic fate of at least 750 existing MBBS students, plus another 450 preparing to join this year, is hanging by a thread, as three ‘state private universities’ do not have the mandatory University Grants Commission (UGC) approval. These universities are not listed under the UGC and, hence, they may not be able to confer degrees, said UGC officials. 

According to the UGC’s charter, a state must establish auniversity, be it state-run or private, through a separate Act or proper amendment to the existing Tamil Nadu S tate Private Universities Act, 2019. It cannot be done through a mere notification, as has been done in the case of the private universities – Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences affiliated with Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University and Sri Venkateswaraa Medical College under Sri Venkateshwaraa University. However, the Tamil Nadu state selection committee is allotting MBBS seats to students at three medical colleges. Admission to Kanyakumari Medical Mission and Research Institute, which began this year, was withdrawn after round 1 of counselling following a land dispute petition in the Madras high court. 

“All these colleges were added to the seat matrix because they were approved by the National Medical Commission. The govt asked us to include it in the matrix,” said a senior official at the selection committee on condition of anonymity. “We don’t know if UGC has approved the university,” the official said. While the Tamil Nadu govt gave them a stamp of approval by taking the amendment route, instead of creating them by a dedicated Act, the National Medical Council (NMC) has allowed  them to be included in the seat matrix and enabling admission of students, even though the UGC is yet to approve their existence. On her part, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Supriya Sahu said the issue would be under the purview of the higher education department. However, Higher Education Secretary Pradeep Yadav did not respond to messages or calls. 

When contacted, UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar told TOI that certain aspects of the establishment of private universities in Tamil Nadu were not fully aligned with the UGC Act and Regulations. “UGC followed up the matter with relevant state govt departments and requested them to establish the universities through a separate act or through amendments in the existing relevant state govt Act,” he said. The issue extends to seven proposed universities in Tamil Nadu. “The inclusion of these universities in the UGC list is pending since the passage/amendments of the Act in the state assembly is awaited,” he said. “The stipulated period given to the universities is still to end and we are expecting a resolution as early as possible,” he said. 

The UGC’s preliminary nod given to two of the seven proposed universities – Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University and Jeppiar University – will remain if the reply from the state is satisfactory, he said. “If not, the initial approval will be withdrawn,” he said. Following communication from the UGC, the state higher education minister K Ponmudy introduced a Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2019 on Oct 10, 2023, “to protect the welfare of the student community.” The Bill, passed by the assembly, proposed to include the names of the university in its schedule. It is, however, yet to receive the governor’s assent. Legal experts say admissions to medical, engineering or any other courses in these ‘private universities’ will be void as these institutions are yet to be conferred the status of a “private university.”