NEWS TODAY 09.01.2025

 

Jan 5 not my real birthday, says Didi ‘OFFICIAL AGE WRONG’

Jan 5 not my real birthday, says Didi ‘OFFICIAL AGE WRONG’

Tamaghna.Banerjee@timesofindia.com  09.01.2025

Kolkata : Three days after she was wished on her birthday, CM Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that Jan 5 was not the day she was born but just a random date that her father had put in the school records. The date, therefore, got mentioned in her certificates. Banerjee explained that she was a “home delivery product” (born at home) and did not know her real birthday. She added that she did not like her name either. “Many people celebrate and wish me on my birthday (Jan 5). But I believe I was born later. There is a poem that goes, ‘jonmo hobe sedin, ei prithibi theke bidaay nebo jedin’ (I will be born on the day I leave this world) — that’s my viewpoint,” 

Banerjee said while attending a Students’ Week event at Dhono Dhanyo auditorium on Wednesday. Banerjee said: “We are home delivery products... I did not choose my name, age or surname. Many people wish me happy birthday on Jan 5, but I do not like that day at all. It’s just what my parents put on the certificate. When I was in college, my brother once told me, ‘do you know how dad decided your age?’ He said there was a six month difference between our ages on the certificate. I asked how. My brother said that when our father went for my school admission, he asked the headmaster, who was also his friend, to write down any age. This was a common practice in the past for those like us born at home — home delivery.” “So, the real age remains hidden, and the fake age on the certificate is what people assume to be true. I could share this story today because my brother is here. My age is five years off and when I found out, I tried a lot to correct this. I even wrote about it in a book called ‘Ekante’. Even my name is not to my liking, but it happened anyway.” Banerjee, in her memoir ‘Ekante’ (1995), wrote that she was born during Durga Puja

CM: UGC draft rules blow to federal system

CM: UGC draft rules blow to federal system

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  09.01.2025

Bengaluru : CM Siddaramaiah condemned the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2025 draft regulations which give governors sweeping powers to appoint vice-chancellors (VC) in state universities, insisting that it is another blow to federalism and ‘betrayal’ of Kannadigas. 

Currently, the state constitutes a search committee comprising four members — one each picked by the chancellor, UGC, state govt and the syndicate to appoint VCs. But the draft University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, released Monday, revised selection processes, proposing handing authority to chancellors or visitors to constitute a three member committee to appoint VCs. The governor and the Siddaramaiah-led govt have been on a warpath for some time now. During the winter session of the legislature last year, the assembly passed Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University (Amendment) Bill, 2024, removing the governor as head of the university. An amendment to Karnataka State Universities Act is also in the works and is expected to curb powers of the governor. The draft UGC norms have thus not gone down well with the state. 

‘Unnecessary interference’ “Ever since the NDA govt led by Narendra Modi came to the helm at the Centre, governors have been unnecessarily interfering in the appointment of VCs in state universities, often ignoring the state govt’s recommendations and imposing their choices,” Siddaramaiah said. “The management of the education sector is a prerogative of the sta te govt, and unnecessary interference could lead to conflicts between the central and state govts. The state govt will not tolerate actions that undermine the federal system. Discussions will be held with non-BJP states to decide the next steps.” He pointed out that the draft regulations state advertisements to appoint VCs should be placed in national newspapers, inviting applications. “This poses the risk of non-native individuals occupying VC positions in state universities, which were previously limited to scholars from the respective states,” Siddaramaiah said. He also opposed the proposal on eligibility of VCs. The draft states VCs can be experts from fields other than academia, such as public and private sector entrepreneurs and public policy administrators. “This is a betrayal to Kannadigas,” the chief minister said.

Attempt to snatch autonomy: AIDSO There has been opposition to the draft from other quarters as well. All-India Democratic Students Organisations (AIDSO) has urged UGC to immediately withdraw “the undemocratic draft”. “This is an attempt to snatch autonomy and democratic rights of universities and hand over the administration of universities to businesspersons, officials and govt representatives who have no connection with students or universities and are only capable of profit-loss calculations,” it said on the proposal to open up VC posts to non-academicians.

Those going abroad to get degrees early VNSGU Board Grants Approval

Those going abroad to get degrees early VNSGU Board Grants Approval

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 09.01.2025

Surat : In an important move, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) decided to award early degrees to students planning to pursue higher studies or jobs abroad. This aims to ease the longstanding challenges faced by students who waited for convocation to receive their degrees. On Wednesday, the university board gave in-principle approval to amend statute-63, enabling the Vice Chancellor to confer degrees before convocation. However, these degrees will still be formally notified during the convocation by the registrar. 

The rule will benefit not only Indian students but also international students studying at VNSGU. VNSGU vice-chancellor Dr Kishorsinh Chavda told TOI that students previously endured delays, as convocations are typically held within 120 days of the results. With the proposed amendment, degrees could be awarded within 30 days of the announcement of results, potentially by the end of May or early June, once all formalities are completed. 

Under the new statute 63(A), students who fulfil academic and financial requirements and submit required theses or disserta -tions will be eligible for early degrees. International students, too, can avail of this provision if they can prove the necessity to return to their home country before the convocation date. To apply for ane arlydeg ree, students must submit a formal application, pay the prescribed fees, and provide supporting documents. 

This streamlined process aims to save students up to a year in their academic and professional pursuits. Previously, students received their degrees during convocations held in Sep, followed by a three- month wait for govt formalities. This often caused them to miss international academic year intakes starting in Jan, forcing them to wait an entire year. The early degree initiative will allow students to complete govt of India formalities by Aug-Sep, enabling them to start their 
admission processes in time for the January academic term abroad

Flight from Kuwait leaves behind half of luggage

Flight from Kuwait leaves behind half of luggage

Jan 9, 2025, 03.55 AM IST 

Chennai: Many Air India Express passengers from Kuwait were in for a shock when they landed in the city on Monday as the airline had left behind their luggage to maintain air haul. weight.

The flight with around 176 passengers landed in Chennai around 6.30am. Most of them could not find their check-in luggage on the conveyor belt.

Only when they confronted the airline's ground staff were they told that some of the luggage had been held back to maintain the flight's air haul weight. The staff assured the passengers that the remaining luggage would reach Chennai on Wednesday and Thursday and be delivered at their doorsteps.

"Due to payload restrictions, some checked-in baggage could not be uplifted on one of the flights operating on the Kuwait-Chennai sector on Monday. We regret the inconvenience caused to our guests. Arrangements have been made to deliver the affected baggage to the residences of the guests at the earliest, at the airline's expense,” an Air India Express spokesperson said.

A retired airline official, though, said it was a clear mistake on the part of the "An aircraft cannot always take the full load of passengers, and in aviation, it is called regulated take-off weight (RTOW). It is the duty of the airport manager to plan well ahead to keep the weight within the RTOW limits .Temperature, time of operation and distance to cover (sector) play a vital role in deciding RTOW the number of passengers and luggage an aircraft can handle. In this case, the airport manager should have restricted the passengers to 120 140,” he said was not allowed to separate passengers from their check-in luggage. "Also, making delivery arrangements will put an additional burden on airlines," he said.

UGC draft norms limit states' role in selecting university V-Cs, says CM MK Stalin

UGC draft norms limit states' role in selecting university V-Cs, says CM MK Stalin

Currently, in Tamil Nadu state universities, the VC search panels are formed as per the statutes of the respective universities.

UGC

Binita Jaiswal

08 Jan 2025, 8:44 am

CHENNAI: The draft regulations released by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday regarding the appointment of vice-chancellors (V-Cs) and faculty in higher education institutions, including universities, could pose a serious concern for the Tamil Nadu government which is already at loggerheads with the governor-chancellor over the inclusion of a UGC nominee on VC search panels.

The draft – UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025 – proposes changes in the composition of committees formed to select V-Cs.

While the state government had so far taken the position that the UGC's regulations are not binding until formally adopted by the state in the respective Acts governing the universities, the UGC, in the new regulation, has recommended stricter punitive measures including debarring of institutions from offering degree programs for violating the regulation.

As per the UGC draft, the VC search panel will have three members — the governor-chancellor's nominee, the UGC's nominee, and the third member nominated by the apex body of the university like the senate or syndicate.

Currently, in Tamil Nadu state universities, the VC search panels are formed as per the statutes of the respective universities. Most universities have a three-member panel of governor-chancellor's nominee, a nominee of the senate and syndicate, and a nominee of the state government.

No Employee Should Be Retired With Pending Disciplinary Proceedings Unless Compelling Circumstances/Very Serious Charges: Allahabad High Court

No Employee Should Be Retired With Pending Disciplinary Proceedings Unless Compelling Circumstances/Very Serious Charges: Allahabad High Court

Upasna Agrawal 8 Jan 2025 10:35 AM 

While granting interest on delayed payment of post-retiral dues to a Nagar Palika employee, the Allahabad High Court observed that unless there are compelling reasons or serious charges, an employee should not be retired with disciplinary proceedings pending against him. Imposing cost of Rs. 10,000 on the Executive Officer, Nagar Palika Parishad, Seohara, Bijnor for delaying the payment of retirement dues of the employee despite no conclusive charges against him, Justice JJMunir held 

"No employee should be allowed to retire, with disciplinary proceedings pending against him, unless these are commenced virtually on the eve of his retirement, for very compelling reasons, or the charges are so serious and facts so complicated that the process of inquiry would certainly extend beyond the employee's superannuation.” The Court took note of the affidavit of the Commissioner, wherein the delay in disbursing the post retirement benefits could be seen as 2 years Executive Officer of the Nagar Palika nor the Commissioner of the Division spared a thought to it, because, obviously, they were not suffering the predicament. It was the petitioner. Factual Background Petitioner, born on 01.06.1959, was a Revenue Moharir in the employ of the Nagar Palika Parishad, Seohara, Bijnor. After that, on 15.02.1977, he was appointed a Naib Moharir with the Nagar Palika for a period of 2 months on temporary basis. Again on 14.04.1977, the petitioner was appointed to work as Naib Moharir for 2 months, which was extended till December, 1977. Subsequently, the petitioner was regularized wef 01.06.1982. A complaint was lodged against the petitioner alleging that he was appointed before attaining majority. 

Upon inquiry in 2018, it was found that at the time of his first appointment as Naib Moharir, the petitioner was aged 17 years 8 months and 14 days. Subsequently, the petitioner was suspended by the Executive Officer. Inquiry report was submitted on 18.01.2019. Since the petitioner was set to retire on 31.05.2019, he moved an application to the Executive Officer to take action in the pending disciplinary proceedings. After his retirement, the petitioner approached the officers for release of his post-retirement dues, however, no action was taken.

The Writ Court ordered that the disbursal of retirement dues shall be based on the outcome of disciplinary proceedings which shall be done within a month. Since the order of the writ Court was not complied with, the petitioner filed a Contempt Application wherein another opportunity was granted to the Authorities to comply with the writ Court order.

Certain amounts were released to the petitioner, however, due to non-payment of the remaining amount the petitioner filed a complaint on the Chief Minister's jansunwai portal. The complaint by the petitioner was closed stating that leave encashment dues were paid, other post withdrawal dues were delayed due to overload on the department.

After another complaint and a second contempt application, the petitioner approached the Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Nagar Palika for payment of interest on delay payment of arrears. The application by the petitioner was rejected, consequently, he approached the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

High Court Verdict

The Court held that once the employee is placed under suspension, pending disciplinary inquiry and is set to retire soon, it is upon the employer to conclude the disciplinary proceedings before the retirement. It was held that the suspension was lifted after his retirement upon severing the employer-employee relationship.

The Court observed that once the decision was taken to pay the petitioner his entire post-retiral dues, it meant that he was exonerated of charges. It was observed that the inquiry report exonerating the petitioner or holding him guilty was never placed before the Court.

Further, the Court observed that the stand taken by the Commissioner of the Division as well as the Deputy Director, Local Fund Accounts Department, UP, Moradabad in their affidavits filed before the Court was very insensitive.

Observing that the inquiry against the employee on the verge of retirement ought to have been conducted swiftly, the Court held that

“It took the Executive Officer of the Nagar Palika and the Commissioner as well, the nudge of a writ of this Court to galvanize them. into action, conclude the inquiry after the petitioner's retirement and based on findings, reach a decision on 21.09.2019, when the inquiry report was submitted that after all, the petitioner's post-retiral benefits had to be paid in full. Why this was not done before the petitioner's retirement, as already said, is thought both by the Executive Officer and the Commissioner of the Division something so trivial as not to beg an answer.”

The Court held that once the statutory authority for disbursal of the dues was the Commissioner, the file of the petitioner ought not to have been sent to the District Magistrate, Bijnor. It was noted that this added to further delay in the proceedings. Noting that there was a delay of upto 3 years in disbursing all retirement dues, the petitioner was entitled to interest of the delayed payment.

The Court relied on State of Kerala and others v. M. Padmanabhan Nair, where the Supreme Court upheld the levy of interest on the State Government for delayed payment of retirement dues due to neglect on their part.

Further reliance was placed on Smt. Nazma Khatoon v. State of UP and others where the Allahabad High Court imposed 8% interest on delayed payment of gratuity. The bench therein had held that “Even otherwise, we are of the opinion that interest is a necessary corollary to the retention of money by another person. It is neither compensatory nor penal in nature and in that regard matter has been adjudicated upon by the Division Bench of this Court in the case of Smt. Ranjana Kakar Vs. State of UP and others reported in 2008(10)ADJ 63(DB).”

Justice Munir held that the orders passed by the Supreme Court and the High Court did not influence the authorities and penalty in such cases is necessary.

Accordingly, the Court imposed a cost of Rs. 10,000 on the Executive Officer, Nagar Palika Parishad, Seohara, Bijnor and directed payment of 6% simple interest on delayed payment of post retirement dues from 2019.

Case Title: Pramod Kumar v. State of UP and Others [WRIT - A NO. 16300 OF 2024]