2-bedroom flats go out of style as buyers go big

2-bedroom flats go out of style as buyers go big

TNN | Jan 23, 2025, 03.59 AM IST

Chennai: IT professional K Gopinath recently bought a 3.5-bedroom apartment in Porur for 85 lakh. They’re only a family of three, but that did not stop the 30-year-old from going big.

“I work on Anna Salai and could have stayed in the core city. But for the same money, I would have a smaller house. Here, I can enjoy a better lifestyle. I use the smaller room in the apartment for online fitness classes and meetings,” he said.

Two-bedroom apartments are rapidly falling out of favour in Chennai as homebuyers prioritise larger, more personalised living spaces. According to Anarock data, the city recorded a 31% increase in average apartment sizes since 2019. The average flat size in Chennai grew from 1,100sqft in 2019 to 1,445sqft in 2024, with a 15% surge last year.

“Inside the city, two-bedroom apartments are already out of vogue. In developing areas, this trend is catching up fast. Three and four-bedroom apartments are selling more in areas such as Manapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Porur, and Kundrathur,” said P Kruthivas, executive committee member of Credai-Chennai.

This shift aligns with a national trend. Across India’s top seven cities, average apartment sizes increased by 34% over the past six years. Experts attribute this change to post-pandemic lifestyle adjustments. “With remote work and hybrid models becoming the norm, homebuyers want extra rooms for offices, study areas, or online fitness,” said Sanjay Chugh, city head and director (Chennai), Anarock Group.

Rising aspirations and affordability in suburban areas also contribute to the demand for larger homes. “In the suburbs, buyers get more value for their money. Larger homes are more affordable here, catering to the demand for spacious, lifestyle-driven living,” said Chugh.

Strike a success, claims a section of govt. employees and teachers

Strike a success, claims a section of govt. employees and teachers

On the warpath: Members of the CPI-aligned Joint Council of State Service Organisations and Congress-aligned State Employees and Teachers Organisation holding separate protest meets as part

of a Statewide strike, outside the Kozhikode district collectorate on Wednesday.K. Rageshprevnext

The Hindu Bureau 23.01.2025

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

A section of government employees and teachers struck work on Wednesday responding to a strike call by the CPI-led Joint Council and Congress-backed organisations in protest against the alleged denial of benefits by the State government. The State government had issued orders invoking dies non (no work, no pay principle) for unauthorised absence from work on the day.

The organisations called the strike demanding steps for pay revision, reinstatement of the old pension scheme by scrapping the contributory pension scheme and release of benefits including dearness allowance arrears.

The Joint Council-led action committee termed the strike a huge success. The strike affected the functioning of government offices and schools across Kerala and drew enthusiastic participation from the employees, it said. Protest marches and sit-ins were organised under the aegis of the action council across Kerala and in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. More than 65% of employees participated in the strike, giving a fitting reply to sections that tried to sabotage it, according to Jayaschandran Kallingal and O.K. Jayakrishnan, general convener and chairman respectively of the action committee.

The statement by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal regarding employee benefits in the State Assembly on Wednesday does not square with reality, they alleged. The State government is withholding benefits to the tune of ₹ 60,000 crore, according to them. The Congress-backed Secretariat Action Council said that 44% of the employees at the government Secretariat stayed away from work on Wednesday in support of the one-day strike. Citing the attendance register, it said that 2,237 employees struck work. Under the aegis of the council, the employees prepared ‘Pattini Kanji’ in front of the Secretariat Annexe to mark their protest against the government. Secretariat Action Council convener M.S. Ershad inaugurate the protest.

Meanwhile, CPI(M)-backed organisations termed the strike a dismal failure. Employees swept aside the strike call with disdain as it was prompted by narrow interests, they said. The CPI(M)-affiliated Kerala Secretariat Employees Association (KSEA) said that only Secretariat 125 employees were absent from work.

NEWS TODAY 22.01.2025

 

Candidates taking HPSC exams can now view answer sheets

Candidates taking HPSC exams can now view answer sheets

Ajay.Sura@timesofindia.com 22.01.2025

Chandigarh : To ensure greater transparency, the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) on Tuesday decided to allow candidates who have appeared in any competitive examination conducted by the commission to examine their evaluated answer sheets at a fee of Rs 500 per paper. The candidates can examine the answer sheets but will not be allowed to take these away. The HPSC will soon launch a portal for this purpose, where candidates can apply to see their answer sheets. Detailed modalities, however, will be announced by the commission in due course. According to the commission, the move is aimed at sending out a message that the commission has no intention of hiding anything. Till now, candidates who had any doubt about their results, either had to file RTI applications to get status of their performance in the examination or approach the courts to know their performance. 

Giving some indication about the procedure, the HPSC communication said, “Date and time for inspection of answer copies in the commission’s office shall be communicated directly to the candidates.” A senior official said they are flooded with representa

tions from candidates claiming to be toppers in their colleges or universities, and alleging tampering with their papers. “We are clear that there is nothing to hide. We had already started putting up the complete merit list of all candidates who had appeared in any exam, and now they can see their answer sheets also. At least their false claims would be addressed,” he added. Sources in the commission, however, pointed out that such a move may lead to unnecessary litigation in the future, as every candidate, after inspecting his answer sheet, may approach the court to compare it with other candidates.

Foreign MBBS graduates challenge extended internship rule in HC

Foreign MBBS graduates challenge extended internship rule in HC

22.01.2025

Bhopal/Jabalpur : A division bench of the MP High Court has issued notices to respondents in response to a petition filed by a group of MBBS pass-outs from China. They challenged the state govt's decision to extend the period of internship for students who completed their MBBS from foreign universities to three years instead of two. The principal secretary of medical education, director of medical education, National Medical Education Council, and MP Medical Council are respondents to the petition. 

The petition, filed by eight MBBS passouts, stated that they completed their MBBS in China. During the Covid pandemic, they studied online, which was also true for students pursuing MBBS from Indian universities. According to the rules, the internship period for MBBS pass-outs from Indian universities is one year, and for those from foreign universities, it is two years. However, the MP Medical Council, by an order issued on Nov 4, 2024, extended the internship period for MBBS pass-outs from foreign universities to three years. In Nov 2023, they were informed that the internship period would be two years, and as such, their internship would have ended in Mar 2025. They contended that introducing a new rule with retrospective effect was illegal. Following initial arguments, the bench of Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice Anuradha Shukla issued notices to the respondents seeking a response. Senior Counsel Arvind Sanghi appeared in the case for the petitioners. TNN 

MBBS student challenges exam failure in HC 

Bhopal/Jabalpur : A division bench of the MP High Court has issued notices to respondents in a petition filed by an MBBS student at Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur. The student is challenging the decision of MP Medical University, Jabalpur, to fail him in the MBBS first-year exam despite attaining 40 per cent marks. The petitioner, Shoaib Khan from Barwani, stated that he was suffering from a serious illness and has failed the MBBS first-year exam three times already. Failure on the fourth occasion would result in his expulsion from the medical college. TNN

Can’t hold back gratuity without recovery case:

Can’t hold back gratuity without recovery case: 

HC TIMES NEWS NETWORK 22.01.2025

Bengaluru : Without initiating proceedings for recovery, the gratuity amount cannot be withheld from a delinquent employee, the high court observed, while dismissing a petition filed by Central Warehousing Corporation. On Dec 12, 2013, GC Bhat, a corporation employee, was dismissed for misappropriation of funds and misconduct. After seven years, Bhat approached the competent authority, claiming payment of Rs 14 lakh in gratuity dues. On Sept 11, 2023, the authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act directed the corporation to pay Bhat a gratuity of Rs 7.9 lakh with 10% interest from the date of his dismissal from service. The corporation challenged the order, arguing that Bhat’s dismissal was necessitated by misappropriation of funds and causing his employer a loss of Rs 1.7 crore. 

The petitioner, a central govt undertaking, contended that it was entitled to withhold the gratuity and adjust the amounts towards the losses caused. Justice Suraj Govindaraj pointed out that there was further delinquency on the part of other officers as they failed to seek recovery of the losses caused by Bhat. “I’m of the considered opinion that the officers, who were duty-bound to initiate proceedings against Bhat for losses caused to the petitioner, have failed in their duty, abdicated their responsibilities, giving rise to a cause for action to be taken against them for their delinquency in not initiating proceedings against the dismissed employee, who caused losses to the employer,” the judge said. “The corporation could not, without initiating proceedings for recovery, retain the gratuity amount. Without such proceedings being initiated, the contention of the employer that losses have been caused will only remain a contention and is not one which has been adjudicated upon and orders passed,” the judge added. The corporation was directed to settle Bhat's gratuity on or before Jan 31, 2025

New nursing colleges unlikely in 2025-26 Lack Of Infra In Existing Institutions Vexes RGUHS

New nursing colleges unlikely in 2025-26 Lack Of Infra In Existing Institutions Vexes RGUHS 

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 22.01.2025

Bengaluru : Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) is contemplating not inviting applications for starting new nursing colleges for academic year 2025-26. A discussion in this regard was held during a recent syndicate meeting. Over 700 nursing colleges are currently affiliated to the university. “There was a discussion on the condition of existing colleges. When there are so many existing colleges that lack even basic facilities, we should be focusing on improving the quality there. The inspection committees show several lacunae every time they go to colleges. At this rate, why should we permit more name-sake colleges which could further bring down the quality of education?” wondered a member who attended the meeting.

However, vice-chancellor MK Ramesh said no decision was taken in this regard. “There was a preliminary discussion where the pros and cons were discussed. But no decision was taken,” he said. S Shivakumar, president of Karnataka State Association of Managements of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Institutions, said that the university should look at a moratorium for nursing colleges. “There are enough nursing colleges now. The university should look at improving the quality of the existing colleges,” he said. 

“There are around 30,000-35,000 students graduating every year. BSc nursing is still in demand. There was a drop in admissions last year as they were made through the Common Entrance Test (CET),” Shivakumar said. “At the same time, the university should also look at the terms and conditions for approving an increase in intake for medical courses. Colleges that apply for an increase in intake in medical courses get approvals easily without meeting the criteria. There cannot be two approaches for the approval process for different programmes,” he added.

 “RGUHS can sanction new nursing colleges as long as basic norms like a minimum 200-bed parent hospital in urban areas, 100-bed in rural areas, and other basic infrastructure are available. These hospitals must be owned by the same trust opening new nursing colleges,” said Mithesh Kumar Moodukonaje, founder of the National Pre University Students Parents and Teachers Association. “But at the same time, RGUHS must close down illegal nursing colleges which got approval using forged documents and bribing officials, to save the future of healthcare education. Last year itself, about 75 colleges were initially not approved but some of them were later shown to be complying. There should be strict compliance,” Moodukonaje added. In CET 2024, around 31,812 seats were available through Common Entrance Test for counselling. Of this, 15,068 were filled. 

Vice-chancellor’s term ends on Feb 10

With the term of current vice-chancellor MK Ramesh ending on Feb 10, the search committee formed for the purpose is expected to meet soon. Former vice-chancellor of Rani Chennamma University M Ramachandra Gowda, former VC of Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand University Prof TR Thapak, and PS Shankar, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, are the nominees of the state govt, chancellor, and syndicate respectively. The principal secretary of the department of medical education is the convenor of the committee.