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Friday, January 17, 2025

WB suspends 12 docs over C-section death, orders CID probe

Dwaipayan Ghosh & Debashis Konar | TNN 17.01.2025

Kolkata : Bengal govt suspended Thursday 12 doctors of Midnapore Medical College and Hospital and ordered a CID probe into allegations that their criminal negligence caused the death of a 32-year-old woman within a few hours of giving birth by caesarean section. The suspensions came eight days after Mamoni Ruidas’s death 12 hours after giving birth. She was among five new mothers whose health deteriorated after C-section procedures. Mamoni allegedly died of septic shock while three others were shifted to a Kolkata hospital.

The suspended doctors include vice principal of MMCH, head of obstetrics and gynaecology, and three colleagues. CM Mamata Banerjee termed Mamoni’s death due to suspected medical negligence “shocking, unacceptable and avoidable”. She said the kin of the deceased had every reason “to question us”. The CM announced a state govt job for one member of the bereaved family and compensation of Rs 5 lakh

Initial probe suggested that a senior doctor who was supposed to be at the OT during the allegedly botched caesarean was working in a private nursing home. “Those who were negligent, those who left C-sections to trainees, must be booked. I am sympathetic to doctors. But I must also consider people’s well-being when there is wrongdoing,” the CM said

‘Why wasn’t banned IV fluid stocks withdrawn? Following the death of a woman during childbirth at a Bengal hospital, allegedly after administration of intravenous fluid Ringer’s lactate, Calcutta HC on Thursday questioned Bengal health dept, asking it why it had not taken steps to withdraw existing stocks of Ringer’s lactate made by Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical as soon as Directorate of Drugs Control ordered the pharma company to stop manufacturing it on Dec 10, 2024....the high court said.

Report caste discrimination plaints, UGC directs colleges

Nirupa.Vatyam@timesofindia.com 17.01.2025

Hyderabad : After the Supreme Court asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) about the data on caste discrimination complaints in higher education institutions, the commission directed colleges to submit details about complaints received, resolved, and pending since the 2019-20 academic year.

“Higher education institutions are requested to establish an Equal Opportunity Cell and SC/ST Cell to ensure the effective and transparent redressal of grievances of the disadvantaged groups. To assist this initiative, the UGC is preparing a database of important aspects, which are crucial to the protection of the rights and interests of the disadvantaged groups and addressing their complaints and grievances. You are therefore requested to submit the requisite information in prescribed format,” read a circular sent by the commission.

At the state level too, the Telangana SC/ST commission is not maintaining any such data as they told TOI that they get complaints from individuals or groups, but not from universities or colleges. While SC/ST cells at universities said they mostly deal with complaints about the allotment of rooms or guides for PhD students or service related issues from staff, colleges are now forming various cells so that they can send information to UGC. “We don’t get any data from universities or colleges about complaints received from SC/ST students or faculty,” said Telangana State Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes chairman Bakki Venkataiah, adding that a majority of complaints they receive are related to land or service-related issues.

Officials from various universities also said that more than students complaining about caste discrimination, they receive more complaints from staff over promotions or being ignored for a post despite having the required qualifications

Questions raised over PhD offered by private universities in state

17.01.2025

Ahmedabad : There are reports indicating that numerous private universities in Gujarat are accepting PhD candidates without proper evaluation. Some institutions stand accused of selling doctoral degrees, while others have developed a reputation for inappropriately awarding PhDs. The UGC regulations stipulate that universities must conduct entrance examinations for PhD admissions, followed by additional steps including group discussions. Candidates holding MPhil degrees may be exempt from entrance tests, and institutions must implement reservation category guidelines.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has established detailed guidelines for PhD admissions across Indian universities, which require institutions to implement entrance examinations for admitting students. The UGC consistently monitors the doctoral admission procedures at various universities to ensure compliance. Following a recent investigation, the UGC discovered violations of regulations in PhD admissions at three private universities in Rajasthan, leading to the termination of their doctoral programmes. The UGC imposed a five-year ban on these institutions from conducting PhD programmes. The universities facing action include OPJS University, Churu, Rajasthan, Sunrise University, Alwar, Rajasthan, and Singhania University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. TNN

Fast-track immigration system launched at Chennai airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 17.01.2025

Chennai : City airport has launched the long-awaited fast-track immigration system that will allow flyers registered under the Trusted Traveller Programme to bypass long queues at immigration clearance. Union home minister Amit Shah inaugurated the programme virtually on Thursday from Ahmedabad, at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Chennai simultaneously.

At Chennai airport, eight exclusive gates have been set up — four for departing flyers and four for those arriving from different destinations. Passengers can scan their passports and boarding passes at the gates to get past the immigration clearance. “The facility is functional from the time of inauguration. All registered passengers can make use of the facility,” a senior FRRO official said.

“Passengers who want to register afresh can visit Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore airports after completing the online application procedure to record their biometrics. Immigration officers will guide them,” the official added. Registered passengers will be subjected to two-stage verification under the fast track immigration programme. At the first e-gate, a passenger’s passport and boarding pass are scanned. Once verified, the person can proceed to the next e-gate, where his/her face is scanned. If verified, the passenger will then be authenticated as a trusted traveller, and the immigration/emigration process will be completed. Immigration officials said that more than 1,000 people registered at Chennai’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office under the Trusted Traveller Programme. The system was first launched at Terminal 3 of the IGI Airport in New Delhi in June 2024, and Chennai was among the seven other airports selected to implement the programme. The fast-track immigration has been planned for 21 airports across the country in a phased manner

90,000 salaried individuals withdraw Rs 1,070 cr worth wrongful tax deduction claims

ECONOMIC TIMES PTI 16.01.2025

Around 90,000 employees from PSUs and private sectors have withdrawn false tax deductions claims amounting to Rs 1,070 crore as of December 31, 2024, due to incorrect ITR lings. After investigations, the Income Tax Department discovered widespread mismatches in claimed deductions. Outreach programs are being launched to promote voluntary tax compliance and awareness among employers.

As many as 90,000 salaried individuals, both from PSUs and the private sector, have withdrawn wrongful tax deductions claims totalling Rs 1,070 crore as of December 31, 2024, government sources said on Thursday. During various search & seizure and survey operations conducted by Income Ta Department, it has come to notice that various individuals are claiming incorrect deductions, under sections 80C, 80D, 80E, 80G, 80GGB, 80GGC, in their ITRs, leading to reduction of tax payable to the government. During investigation, it was revealed that such individuals are employees of organisations operating in diverse fields including PSUs, big corporations, MNCs, LLPs, Private Ltd Companies, etc, sources said. Also, most of them who claimed wrongful deductions were working in the same company.

Analysis of the information with the department showed that there is a vast mismatch between total deductions under section 80GGB/80GGC claimed by taxpayers in their ITRs as against the total receipts shown by the donees in their ITRs. Similarly, deductions claimed under sections 80C, 80E, 80G also appear to be suspicious in nature, sources said.

They said, a list of common employers (TDS deductors) has been identied and tax department would be reaching out to as many persons as possible who are suspected to have claimed bogus deductions under section 80E, 80G, 80GGA, 80GGC and other deductions. "Further, verication has revealed that certain unscrupulous elements have misguided taxpayers for claim of incorrect

Sources said the department has been conducting outreach programmes with employers to spread awareness about the consequences of claiming incorrect deductions in the ITRs and corrective measures which can be taken by the taxpayers to rectify the errors of omission or commission.

"Till 31st December, 2024, approximately 90,000 taxpayers have withdrawn incorrect claim of deductions amounting to Rs 1,070 crore approx in their ITRs and have paid additional taxes," a source said.

As per the provisions of Income-ta Act, 1961, taxpayers can file updated returns on payment of some additional tax rectifying the errors within two years from the end of the relevant assessment year, for AY 2022-23 to 2024-25. In order to intensify the eorts of the department of promoting voluntary ta compliance and reducing litigation, outreach programme with employers is being launched, sources added.

90,000 taxpayers withdraw incorrect deductions worth Rs 1,070 crores

WRONGFUL INCOMETAX DEDUCTIONS

90k salaried individuals withdraw Rs 1,070 crore worth wrongful tax deduction claims During various search & seizure and survey operations conducted by Income Tax Department, it has come to notice that various individuals are claiming incorrect deduc...