NEWS TODAY 10.11.2026

 

Father can’t take children’s custody forcibly, says Madras High Court

Father can’t take children’s custody forcibly, says Madras High Court

Madras HC orders Pondy man to return toddler to wife, a medical doctor staying in Chennai

MADRAS HIGH COURT. (File Photo.)

Express News Service

Updated on:

08 Nov 2026, 7:15 am

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has held that a father, despite being a natural guardian, cannot take forcible custody of his children.

A division bench of justices A D Jagadish Chandira and B Karthikeyan made the observation while ordering a Puducherry man to return his two-and-a-half-year-old child to his wife. The matter pertains to the habeas corpus petition (HCP) filed by the wife who is a medical doctor in Chennai and is currently staying with her mother.

She stated that her marriage was solemnised on January 21, 2021, and that they had two children, born in 2023 and 2024. Later, due to cruelty and harassment, she had separated from him and was staying with her mother. She also said matrimonial dispute cases have been going on.

On August 28, 2026, the husband forced his way into her parental home and took away the toddler, without her consent. Aggrieved by this, she had lodged a complaint with the All Women Police but no action was taken, she alleged.

She filed the HCP seeking a direction to the police to produce the child in the court and return custody of the toddler to her. The bench said, “Though the third respondent (husband) is the father and natural guardian of the child who is just about 2.5 years old, the custody of the minor child cannot be taken by force and it must be sought in accordance with the procedure established by law.”

In view of the above facts and circumstances, the third respondent is directed to hand over the custody of the minor child to the petitioner, the bench ordered.

However, it said the observations made in this order are confined to the disposal of the present HCP and shall not influence the adjudication of any subsequent proceedings initiated by either party before the appropriate forum.

SC: Retirement must be based on assessment

SC: Retirement must be based on assessment

10.11.2026

Justice Manmohan said, “The decision is founded upon the subjective satisfaction of competent authority that the employee’s continued retention in service is no longer conducive to public interest.” Writing the judgment, Justice Manmohan said, “The ultimate assessment as to whether an officer has become ‘dead wood’ or whether his continuance would be detrimental to administrative efficiency falls within the domain of the executive.” Chhattisgarh additional advocate general Rajat Nair said decisions to compulsorily retire the five ‘assistant’ grade officers was arrived at in public interest for maintaining efficiency of administration after a two-tier scrutiny of their performance, efficiency, track records, integrity and annual confidential records. 

“So long as these requirements are satisfied, the court will not substitute its view for that of the authority entrusted with the decision-making process,” the bench said while agreeing with the state govt and rejecting the appeals. It said, “The power to compulsorily retire a govt servant under the applicable service rules is of wide amplitude and is conditional principally by the requirement that the authority must form its opinion bona fide and upon relevant material. 

The mere fact that another officer, who may appear similarly placed, was not compulsorily retired cannot, by itself, constitute a valid defence to an otherwise lawful order of compulsory retirement.”

Adult vaccination remains low, elderly miss cover against flu, pneumonia and shingles

Adult vaccination remains low, elderly miss cover against flu, pneumonia and shingles 

10.11.2026  TIMES BHOPAL

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com New Delhi: 

Despite vaccines being available to prevent several infections that can be particularly serious for older people, adult immunisation remains low in India. Influenza, pneumococcal disease and shingles are among the key vaccine-preventable illnesses that pose a risk to older people, but studies point to poor awareness and low uptake of these vaccines. 

Ahead of World Immunisation Day Tuesday (Nov 10), the findings highlight a significant gap in protection beyond childhood. A multicentre study of 4,998 people aged 60 and above across Chennai, Ballabgarh, Kolkata and Pune found only 1.4% had ever received an influenza vaccine. While just 19.7% had heard of influenza, 35.9% considered vaccines safe and 65.3% were unwilling to pay for vaccination. 

However, uptake rose to 29.7% when vaccines were offered free of cost at community health camps. Published in ‘BMC Public Health’ in 2026, the study highlights gaps in awareness, acceptance and access to vaccination among older people. The disease burden is substantial. A separate study published in ‘Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses’ in April 2026 estimated that influenza among Indians aged 60 and above accounted for 5.3 million respiratory infections, 36,149 hospitalisations and 84,613 deaths in 2021. 

The researchers found that an annual influenza vaccination programme for older adults could be cost-effective under most of the scenarios assessed. “Influenza and pneumococcal infections cause a significant burden among older Indians, accounting for an estimated 1.2 lakh deaths annually. Studies show that influenza vaccination can reduce influenza-associated pneumonia cases by 52% and deaths by 70%, while pneumococcal vaccination can lower hospitalisations by around 27% and deaths by 34%. 

Yet vaccination coverage among the elderly remains very low,” said Dr Neetu Jain, senior consultant, pulmonology, critical care and sleep medicine, PSRI Hospital. “Annual flu and pneumococcal vaccination is particularly important for people above 60 and those with COPD, asthma, diabetes or heart disease, as infections can lead to serious complications, including respiratory failure and prolonged hospitalisation,” she said. 

Evidence is also emerging of the economic value of pneumococcal vaccination. A study published in ‘Infectious Diseases and Therapy’ in Oct 2026 examined the cost-effectiveness of a single dose of the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) for older adults and people at higher risk. It found that the vaccine could be a cost-effective option compared with existing vaccination approaches. Another infection of concern among older adults is shingles, caused by reactivation of the virus responsible for chicken pox. It can lead to prolonged nerve pain, known as postherpetic neuralgia. 

A 2026 paper in ‘Indian Journal of Community Medicine’ noted the lack of robust population-based data on shingles in India, while citing an estimate of around 45 lakh cases annually. An Indian phase-3 trial of the recombinant zoster vaccine, published in ‘Vaccine’ in 2025, reported an immune response in 85.7% of participants aged 50 and above. “Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines can reduce cases of severe illness, hospitalisation and complications, particularly among older people and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and COPD. 

Both are non-live vaccines and can be given to elderly people, including those with multiple conditions,” said Dr Jatin Ahuja, infectious disease specialist, Apollo Hospitals, Delhi. “India also needs to expand adult vaccination to cover shingles. The two-dose recombinant zoster vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and above and offers over 90% protection. Tdap or Td boosters, hepatitis B and, where indicated, Covid-19 and RSV vaccines should also be considered,” he said. Goa has taken a step towards expanding vaccination beyond childhood through its Lifecourse Immunisation Policy 2026-2036, launched in Sept. 

The policy identifies influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccination among its priorities for elderly, those with chronic illnesses, immunocompromised individuals and healthcare workers. 

Return documents of student who quit MD course: HC to BMHRC

Return documents of student who quit MD course: HC to BMHRC

Ashutosh.Shukla@timesofindia.com TIMES BHOPAL 10.11.2026

Bhopal/Jabalpur: The Madhya Pradesh high court has directed Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC), administered by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), to return the original educational documents of a former MD (microbiology) student who quit the course midway. 

The hospital had withheld her marksheets and other papers, demanding a penalty of Rs 25 lakh under a bond signed at the time of admission. A division bench of Chief Justice Alpesh Y Kogje and Justice Pramod Agrawal passed the interim order on Friday on Dr Priyanka Yadav’s petition, subject to its final outcome. 

Yadav, admitted under the OBC quota in 2024-25, alleged excessive work pressure and additional assignments caused symptoms of depression, prompting her to leave. She said she had contemplated suicide on several occasions. Senior counsel Aditya Sanghi said she needed her marksheets, caste certificate and other documents to appear for NEET-PG again, but BMHRC demanded payment before releasing them. 

Citing an earlier high court ruling, Sanghi argued that educational documents were personal assets and could not be withheld. He said Yadav could not afford the penalty and withholding her documents could jeopardise her career. The bench directed the hospital to return the documents pending its final decision.

Anti-cancer drug prices revised; consumers to save 3,540cr/year

Anti-cancer drug prices revised; consumers to save 3,540cr/year 

10.11.2026  TIMES AHEMEDABAD

New Delhi: Revised Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of 1,364 anti-cancer formulations came into effect Monday, a move projected to save consumers an estimated Rs 3,540.38 crore annually, according to an official release. 

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), functioning under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, capped trade margins on the MRP of 137 anti-cancer drugs based on recommendations submitted on Oct 17, 2026, by an Expert Committee constituted by the directorate general of health services (DGHS), ministry of health & family welfare. 

According to the ministry, 85 pharmaceutical companies reported revised MRPs for 1,364 anti-cancer formulations across 121 drugs as of Nov 8, 2026. Price reductions of over 50% have been reported for 679 brands, with the highest price cut recorded at 96.45%, ministry of chemicals and fertilizers: department of pharmaceuticals said in the release. 

The ministry stated that no chemist or hospital pharmacy is permitted to charge more than the revised MRP. Consumers can verify medicine rates via the revised MRP printed on packs, the ‘Pharma Sahi Daam’ mobile application, or the official NPPA website (nppa.gov.in), it said. Consumers can lodge complaints against instances of overcharging or other pricing-related issues through the Pharma Jan Samadhan portal or contact the NPPA helpline at 1800-111- 255, the release added. PTI

SC: Govt has wide powers to compulsorily retire staff to improve efficiency

SC: Govt has wide powers to compulsorily retire staff to improve efficiency

Dhananjay.Mahapatra @timesofindia.com

10.11.2026

New Delhi: Supreme Court has ruled govt has wide powers to compulsorily retire an employee to improve efficiency of administration and that the person aggrieved cannot challenge such a decision on the ground that other similarly placed employees have not met the same fate.

Upholding Chhattisgarh govt’s decision to compulsorily retire five employees, a bench of Justices Manmohan and Shree Chandrashekhar said the principle of “every person must be heard before being punished”, as enshrined in Article 311(2) of Constitution, is not applicable to cases of compulsory retirement because it is neither punitive nor casts aspersion upon an employee’s conduct.

Justice Manmohan said, “The decision is founded upon the subjective satisfaction of competent authority that the employee’s continued retention in service is no longer conducive to public interest.”

Exective holds power to retire ‘deadwood’ officers: Court Writing the judgment, Justice Manmohan said, “The ultimate assessment as to whether an officer has become ‘dead wood’ or whether his continuance would be detrimental to administrative efficiency falls within the domain of the executive.” Chhattisgarh additional advocate general Rajat Nair said decisions to compulsorily retire the five ‘assistant’ grade officers was arrived at in public interest for maintaining efficiency of administration after a two-tier scrutiny of their performance, efficiency, track records, integrity and annual confidential records. 

When such decisions are challenged by aggrieved employees, courts need to re-appreciate or re-evaluate material considered by authorities. “The court is concerned only with whether relevant material existed, whether such material was taken into consideration by competent authority, and whether the conclusion drawn therefrom is one which a reasonable person could have arrived at. So long as these requirements are satisfied, the court will not substitute its view for that of the authority entrusted with the decision-making process,” the bench said