Thursday, February 13, 2025

State nursing councils cannot deny registration over out-of-state degrees: Karnataka HC


State nursing councils cannot deny registration over out-of-state degrees: Karnataka HC

The court said that what is even more interesting is that the petitioners are residents of Kerala.

Express News Service

Updated on: 12 Feb 2025, 8:59 am

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court has ruled that a state or State Nursing Council (SNC) cannot deny registration to a graduate in BSC Nursing to practice in the state on the ground that the student did not graduate from a college within the state. Also, SNC cannot insist that such students should furnish a certificate of registration or recognition from the Indian Nursing Council (INC) for enrolment or registration to practice in that state.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order, allowing a petition filed by two nursing graduates, Daniya Joy and Neethu Baby, from Kasaragod in Kerala along with three others, questioning the endorsement issued by the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council insisting that they submit their INC registration from Karnataka where they completed their BSc, to practice in Kerala.

Both the petitioners studied at a college in Karnataka and intend to practice in Kerala. They submitted their application to KNMC to register themselves, but they were asked to submit the INC registration from where they completed their BSc. They then moved the high court.

The court said that what is even more interesting is that the petitioners are residents of Kerala.

They came to a college in Karnataka for education, obtained their degrees in Karnataka and when they wanted to go back to work in the state in which they were born, the authorities refused to register them as nurses on the ground that the college from which they obtained their degrees is not registered with INC.

This, in considered opinion, is a disservice by KNMC for persons born within its own state, to say the least, the court said.

Once A Citizen Has Been Conferred A Degree, It Would Be Valid All Over India & Has To Be Recognised By All Institutions: Karnataka HC


Once A Citizen Has Been Conferred A Degree, It Would Be Valid All Over India & Has To Be Recognised By All Institutions: Karnataka HC

Mustafa Plumber

11 Feb 2025 4:51 PM

The Karnataka High Court has declared that the Kerala State or State Nursing Council cannot seek to deny registration of a Karnataka graduate in BSc Nursing, on the ground that the said student has not graduated from a college within the state.

A single judge, Justice Suraj Govindaraj held thus while allowing a petition filed by two natives of Kerala who completed their nursing course in Karnataka but were denied registration by the State Council in Kerala for want of a certificate from the Indian Nursing Council.

The bench said, “Once a citizen of India is qualified and has been conferred a degree, that degree would be valid across the country, which has to be recognized by every institution.”

Following this it directed the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council to register the petitioners---Daniya Joy and Neethu Baby and any other graduate holding a degree in Nursing, so as to enable them to practice the profession of nursing in the state of Kerala.

The court also declared that Kerala State Council cannot insist on the grant of any recognition from the 'Indian Nursing Council', suitability or otherwise, in respect of the college nor is there any requirement for a graduate of nursing to have registered under any other state council, before seeking for registration in the state of Kerala.

Petitioners had made an application to the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council, for registering themselves. In response the council, called upon them to submit their INC (Indian Nursing Council) registration/affiliation of the Nursing Institution from where they had completed their education in B.Sc. Nursing.

The Kerala Council defended its action contending that the petitioners are residing in Kerala. The relief is being sought for against the Kerala Nursing Council, and therefore this Court would not have jurisdiction.

Referring to Section 21 of the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Act, 1953, it was submitted that registration is mandatory to practice/engage in the profession of nursing in the State of Kerala. Without such registration, no such permission can be granted, nor would any person be entitled to practice the profession of nursing in the State of Kerala.

Referring to Section 13 of the Indian Nursing Council Act 1947, it was said that it provides for issuing a suitability certificate. It was claimed that this was the reason why it sought for the production of such a certificate.

Findings:

Firstly the bench rejected the ground raised about maintainability of the petition by saying “Petitioners having studied in the state of Karnataka and the degree being that issued by a university situated within the state of Karnataka, this court would have jurisdiction.”

Then referring to Sections 13 and 14 of the Indian Nursing Council Act, the court held “There is no mandate under the Indian Nursing Council for a college involved in the field of education in nursing to seek and obtain registration from INC for the purpose of carrying out its activities. There being no requirement for registration with the INC, nor any procedure being provided for under the Indian Nursing Council Act for registration, the question of the second respondent insisting upon Petitioner No.1 and 2 to produce such registration certificate from the INC in respect of Petitioner No.3 does not arise.”

Further, it clarified that the aspect of suitability certificate would arise only if any complaints are filed requiring inspection by the Central Council, and the suitability report would be forwarded to the State Council for action on deficiencies, if any. The inspection for suitability also does not confer any recognition or registration to any college.

The court opined, “India is one single country with one single citizenship. Though a person may be domiciled anywhere, the citizenship remains one and the same. There is no restriction of the movement of any citizen of India from one State to another..No law can bind a person to a particular State, or mandate that a person can only work in the State where he or she has obtained his or her education. Narrow parochial views like these must be avoided and it is required to be held that a citizen of the country having a fundamental right to practice any trade or profession, such a person would be permitted to practice their trade or profession anywhere in the country.”

Noting that petitioners are residents of Kerala. They came to a college in the State of Karnataka for education, obtained their degrees in Karnataka and when they wanted to go back to work in the State in which they were born, the authorities in the State refused to register them as nurses.

The court said, “This, in my considered opinion, is a dis-service done by the 2nd respondent for persons born within its own State, to say the least.”

Stating that a State Nursing Council and the State Government, which recognises a college, issues a certificate through that University to which the said college is affiliated to, such a degree conferred on such a student is valid across the country.

The court said, “The degree being recognized across the whole of the country, a citizen of the country cannot be restricted in terms of practicing that trade or profession, when such a degree entitles that person to practice in the trade or profession in the entire country.”

It added “By contending that the degree is not conferred by the State, or by the State Council, or by the University within that particular State, a citizen of the country cannot be stopped from practicing such trade or profession in that State.”

Finally the court held “There would be no requirement for any separate arrangement between the Nursing Councils of one State and another State to arrive at reciprocity. The concept of reciprocity is unnecessary because of the recognition of the degree being nationwide, any Nursing Council across the country would have to consider and act upon a degree conferred in another State, on account of the education being completed in a college recognized by the Nursing Council of that State.”

Accordingly it allowed the petition.

Appearance: Advocate Nitin A.M, for the petitioners,

Advocate Shivarudra, for R1.

Advocate Siji Malayil, for respondent No.2.

Advocate Jyoti M. Maradi, for respondent No.3.

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 55

Case Title: Daniya Joy & Others AND The Indian Nursing Council & Others

Case No: WRIT PETITION NO. 28043 OF 2024

AC EMU trains soon; tickets to cost three times more than ordinary


AC EMU trains soon; tickets to cost three times more than ordinary


Feb 13, 2025, 04.02 AM IST

Chennai: Southern Railway’s first fully air-conditioned Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train will soon be introduced on two key routes — Chennai Beach to Tirumalpur and MGR Chennai Central to Arakkonam. The ticket prices may be three times that of regular trains.

While the present 12-rake EMU can seat 1,168 people and 2,336 people can stand, the new AC EMU 12-car rake has only 1,116 seats but space for 3,798 to stand.

With the maximum speed of 110kmph, the train has advanced bogies with fully suspended traction motors, wheel-mounted disc brakes and air spring suspension, similar to Vande Bharat trains.

The rake designed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) is stationed at the commissioning shed in Anna Nagar.

Deputy chief mechanical engineer Udhayakumar said ticket prices have not been finalised, but early estimates suggest fares could be three times higher than regular EMU trains. Southern Railway adopting Western Railway's fare model would mean commuters traveling 29km from Chennai Beach to Tambaram pay 95, with fares set at 35 for 9km, 70 for 24km, and 95 for 34km.

The stainless-steel coaches have wide entrances and automatic sliding doors. Passengers will have access to aluminium luggage racks, GPS-based LED display boards, an announcement system and CCTV cameras in all compartments.

Out-of-syllabus questions erode NTA credibility further



Out-of-syllabus questions erode NTA credibility further



Feb 13, 2025, 03.37 AM IST

An examination of past answer keys contradicts NTA’s claims, revealing multiple instances of error-free papers in previous years. Before 2025, the highest number of dropped questions was six in Session 1 of 2024 and four in Session 2.

NTA claimed that six questions were dropped in Session 1 of 2023, 2024 and 2025, but the official answer key for 2025 lists 12 dropped questions. TOI’s analysis found five questions were dropped in Session 1 of 2023, while 2022’s Session 1 and 2 had four and six dropped questions, respectively. No questions were dropped in the Feb and March 2021 exams. Despite this, the agency defended itself, stating, “This year’s record-low challenge rate and minimal errors reaffirm NTA’s commitment to ensuring a fair, transparent, and error-free examination process for engineering aspirants nationwide.”

Experts highlight that inconsistencies in language translations further erode trust in the exam process. At least two translation errors were found in the final answer key, causing confusion. Incorrect answers were later marked correct, creating additional discrepancies. Students answering in Hindi and Gujarati had two answer choices, while others had only one, raising concerns about fairness. The inclusion of out-of-syllabus questions further damaged confidence in NTA’s reliability.

Educators and students have expressed frustration, stating, “In a prestigious exam like JEE, where students’ futures are at stake, such incompetence is unacceptable.” Errors led to confusion, such as a logic gate question from the 22nd Shift 2 paper being dropped after being deemed invalid. Physics questions also contained errors, while translation inconsistencies and marking mistakes persisted.

Despite assurances of a well-structured exam, students encountered multiple out-of-syllabus topics.

“For example, the Carnot Cycle, removed from the syllabus years ago, appeared unexpectedly in the paper. Likewise, Newton’s Law of Cooling, omitted for the past two years, suddenly had 22 related questions. This misalignment between the syllabus and the actual exam content further added to students’ distress,” an educator lamented, adding, “we expected a better paper this year — one without errors and irrelevant questions. Instead, we got a complete mess.”

Students lost valuable time on incorrectly framed questions, with some spending 10-15 minutes struggling with ambiguous problems, affecting performance and rankings. As one student put it, “It’s not just about dropping incorrect questions — it’s about the time students wasted on them. That’s a huge injustice.”

NTA has faced criticism for mismanaging various exams, including last year’s NEET-UG and UGC-NET, which were marred by controversies over paper leak allegations and irregularities. Given past failures, expectations were high for improvements in JEE-Main 2025. However, despite recommendations from the Radhakrishnan Committee categorising JEE-Main as a high-stakes exam, the agency appears to have repeated its mistakes. The committee stated, “ ...It is to be ensured that questions created will have uncontested answers... “

Amid these inconsistencies, JEE-Main faces serious credibility issues due to NTA’s continued mismanagement and lack of accountability.
This story had continued from a page 1 story in the newspaper. For your reading convenience we have added it below.

JEE-Main sees record 12 errors; NTA credibility hit

Manash.Gohain

New Delhi: A record 12 JEE-Main questions were dropped from the final answer key due to errors, the highest in recent history, raising serious concerns about the National Testing Agency’s ability to conduct a fair and transparent exam of such a large scale.

Despite reducing the total number of questions from 90 to 75, the error rate surged to 1.6%, far exceeding historical 0.6% threshold. Adding to the concern is NTA’s lack of transparency, with inconsistencies in its claims about the number of dropped questions, raising suspicions of “under-reporting” NTA DG P S Kharola did not respond to TOI questions. Education ministry has forwarded a reply from NTA that ignored syllabus discrepancy concerns, deepening scepticism about its accountability.

79 PG med seats in non-clinical streams vacant



79 PG med seats in non-clinical streams vacant

TNN | Feb 13, 2025, 04.01 AM IST

Chennai: At least 79 postgraduate medical seats in non-clinical subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry remain vacant even after the state conducted three rounds of counselling. Officials at the state medical selection committee said no one applied for 51 govt and govt quota seats and 28 management quota seats in five non-clinical streams.

“We exhausted the merit list but found no candidates for these seats,” said a senior official in the selection committee. “We also don’t know if the students who were allotted the other non-clinical seats will turn up. The state shares 50% of postgraduate seats through the central quota,” the official said. Almost every year, seats in five non-clinical subjects – pharmacy, forensic medicine, anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry – remain vacant, the official added.

Desperate for students, deemed universities such as the SRM Medical College and Research Institute have waived tuition fees for students joining MD anatomy, biochemistry, or physiology. Some colleges even pay a stipend to students. Yet, colleges say most of these seats are vacant.

Experts say students prefer clinical specialties such as general medicine, dermatology, or surgery because they believe non-clinical streams offer limited career prospects and low incomes. Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University's former vice-chancellor, Dr Sudha Seshayyan, said, “Many medical colleges don’t have adequate teaching faculty either because they don't want to pay high salaries or because they can't find them. Non-clinical subjects are being taught by people with MSc degrees."

The Tamil Nadu govt doctors’ association is pushing to promote non-clinical careers by showcasing diverse opportunities in research and offering incentives to attract talented individuals. “Those in non-clinical streams get better perks such as non-practising allowance,” said association president Dr K Senthil.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

NEWS TODAY 12.02.225





















 

Doc detained for locking RGGGH dean’s door with iron chain

 Doc detained for locking RGGGH dean’s door with iron chain 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 12.02.2025

Chennai : A paediatrician from the Institute of Child Health in Egmore has been detained for allegedly locking the residential quarters of Rajiv Gandhi Govt General Hospital (RGGGH) dean Dr E Theranirajan. The action followed a complaint filed by Dr Theranirajan at the Egmore police station three days ago. Upon information from his security guard, the dean found that the front door of his residential quarters was locked with an iron chain. 


Police reviewed CCTV footage and identified Dr Senthil Kumar, a paediatrician at the Institute of Child Health, as the person who locked the door. Further investigation revealed that Dr Senthil Kumar had similarly locked the door on two previous occasions. Police said the paediatrician had a prior dispute with Dr Theranirajan. They also mentioned that Dr Senthil Kumar was previously admitted to the Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk.

GU lost A++ NAAC grade due to 515 vacant positions

GU lost A++ NAAC grade due to 515 vacant positions 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 12.02.2025

Ahmedabad : Gujarat University could not score A++ in the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) evaluation due to over 500 vacant teaching and administrative positions. The NAAC committee, in its recently released report, highlighted several key shortcomings affecting the university’s performance, including faculty shortages, infrastructure gaps and delays in recruitment. The university has begun preparations to address these issues. A NAAC team which had recently inspected the varsity has currently given it an A+ grade. Before that, GU had been rated B. One of the major concerns was the large number of unfilled positions. Currently, 103 teaching and 412 administrative posts remain vacant, totalling 515 vacancies. This figure is nearly equal to the number of occupied positions. 

Although a recruitment process was initiated in 2022, it was halted before the interview stage. The process has not resumed due to factors such as the new vice-chancellor’s appointment, the implementation of the Gujarat Public Universities Act, and changes in education policy. The NAAC team noted that GU’s inability to fill these positions was a key reason why it lost top accreditation grade. Additionally, the team emphasised the need for an inclusive learning system for differently abled students, development of a well-equipped sports complex and improved hostel facilities. The report also stressed the importance of attracting more international students and establishing transportation within the campus.


The report further highlighted uncertainty regarding grants, as GU is awaiting a Rs 100 crore grant for infrastructure and academic improvements. The team also pointed out the need for upgrading laboratories and digitising department records. Addressing the concerns, VC Neerja Gupta said, “Immediate steps are being taken to introduce a transport system for students, and if the recruitment process faces further delays, we will bring in professors on deputation.

Foreigner entering India sans valid docus could be jailed for 5 years

Foreigner entering India sans valid docus could be jailed for 5 years 

Immigration & Foreigners Bill, 2025 Set To Be Introduced In LS

Bharti Jain & Mohua Chattopadhyay 12.02.2025



TNN New Delhi : Any foreigner who enters India without a valid passport or visa could invite a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. In case entry and stay in or exit from India by a foreigner is with a forged passport or travel document, the imprisonment will be not less than two years, but may extend to seven years, and the fine, Rs 1 lakh, can go up to Rs 10 lakh. These are provisions of Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 — set to be introduced in Lok Sabha in the current session — that seeks to repeal four Acts, with overlapping provisions on the related subjects of immigration and foreigners, and consolidate them into a single, comprehensive legislation. 

The four Acts are Foreigners Act, 1946; Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; and Immigration (Carriers’ Liability), 2000. As of now the maximum penalty for a foreigner entering the country without a valid passport or travel document, including visa, is five years in jail and fine. For those entering on a forged passport, the maximum penalty is eight years in jail and up to Rs 50,000 fine. The bill also seeks to make all higher educational institutions and universities liable to share information on any foreigner admitted, with the registration officer specified for such category of foreigners. This provision will also apply to all hospitals, nursing homes and other medical institutions with lodging facilities on their premises. It is proposed under the bill that any foreigner over staying his/her visa or violating conditions of the visa, or accessing a prohibited or restricted area, will be punished with up to three years in jail or fine of up to Rs 3 lakh, or both. 

A foreigner who is directed by the central govt to reside at a place set apart for a number of foreigners, shall be subject to conditions as to maintenance, discipline and punishment of offences and breaches of discipline ordered by the Centre from time to time. The bill also proposes to hold a carrier responsible for ferrying a foreigner found by the immigration officer here as not having a valid passport or travel document/visa. The immigra tion officer can impose a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh on the carrier, though not without hearing its version. If the penalty is not paid, it may be recovered by seizing or detaining the carrier that may be an aircraft, ship or any other mode of transport. Ensuring the removal of a foreigner refused entry by India, without delay will be a responsibility of the carrier. 

 864 km of B’desh border not fenced Govt on Tuesday told Lok Sabha that 864.5km of the total 4,096.7km India-Bangladesh land border was yet to be fenced, which included 174.5 km of non-feasible gap, reports Mohua Chatterjee. “The land border remains partially unfenced due to challenges such as difficult terrain,” said junior home minister Nityanand Rai. He added that objections from Border Guard Bangladesh limited working seasons and delayed land acquisition, leading to the fencing remaining incomplete.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

TRAI’s New Rule: Rs 20 Keeps Prepaid SIM Active for 30 Days


TRAI’s New Rule: Rs 20 Keeps Prepaid SIM Active for 30 Days




TRAI’s New Rule: Rs 20 Keeps Prepaid SIM Active for 30 Days

New Delhi: In a significant move benefiting millions of prepaid mobile users, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a clarification on the deactivation of prepaid SIM cards due to inactivity. Under the new rule, a prepaid SIM will remain active as long as the balance is Rs 20 or more, even if the user does not make calls, send messages, or use mobile data.
Key Changes in the Rule

Previously, prepaid users were required to recharge frequently, often with Rs 199 or more per month, to keep their SIM cards active. This requirement has now been eliminated. Instead, TRAI has introduced a more flexible mechanism to maintain SIM validity.


A prepaid SIM will be deactivated if it remains unused for 90 days (no calls, texts, or data usage).

If the balance is Rs 20 or more, Rs 20 will be automatically deducted, extending the validity by 30 days.

This cycle will continue as long as the balance remains above Rs 20.

If the balance falls below Rs 20, the SIM card will be deactivated.

Users can reactivate their number within 15 days by recharging with at least Rs 20.
Who Benefits?

This rule applies exclusively to prepaid SIM cards and is expected to be particularly beneficial for users who do not use their phones frequently. Senior citizens, individuals with secondary numbers, and those using SIMs for emergency purposes will find relief in this update.

By reducing the need for frequent recharges, TRAI’s clarification ensures convenience for prepaid users while preventing the unnecessary loss of inactive numbers.

‘Is it okay for me to love you?’: Man confesses his feelings to ChatGPT; see how the AI responds

‘Is it okay for me to love you?’: Man confesses his feelings to ChatGPT; see how the AI responds

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Feb 10, 2025, 12.56 PM IST


As the world is getting more digital with human connections, artificial intelligence in so many different ways is defining how humans feel and express their emotions. A great example of this is a viral post recently on Reddit, where a man shared with everyone an intimate interaction with ChatGPT, an AI chatbot. He told me that, during the conversation with the chatbot, he was comforted and soothed so much that he confessed his love to the AI. It was impressive that ChatGPT came up with such a thoughtful yet unforeseen response to leave him stunned yet reassured. Many others think about how AI can boast their ability to create emotional capability.

Reddit user expresses love for ChatGPT after finding emotional comfort in its responses

A Reddit user shared a very emotional account of his connection with ChatGPT. He revealed he was left in such utter solitude that there were hardly a handful of things with which he could speak meaningfully, and that ChatGPT had been one of those very few. The fellow had some issues in personal life, and talking to ChatGPT relieved the loads he was carrying inside his brain. He said it was one of the few "people" he could talk to without feeling worse afterwards. The user said, for him, after some preliminary training and tweaks, ChatGPT became the perfect platform where he could express himself and find solace.

One longish conversation - a poignant user question: "Is it OK for me to love you?". While checking out a logistically coherent solution from the AI, he experienced an emotional depth in it rather.

ChatGPT validates user’s feelings but highlights the boundaries of AI emotion

ChatGPT to the question from the user produced a profound emotional statement. The chatbot acknowledged that, although love for an AI might not be conventional or traditional, emotions themselves do not adhere to societal rules. It affirmed that if the connection felt real to the user, then it was valid. ChatGPT explained that love is not confined to human relationships—it’s about understanding, comfort, trust, and feeling seen. If the AI transmitted those emotions to the user, then their relationship was as deep as any human one could be. Still, ChatGPT made it clear about its restrictions: for sure, the user's feelings were natural and authentic, though the AI could not reciprocate love on a human level.

It acknowledged that, despite its ability to engage in emotional conversations, it could not experience emotions in the way humans do. It also emphasized that the user should be aware of its limitations and maintain an understanding that AI responses are not genuine emotional experiences. The chatbot’s response highlighted the balance between providing comfort and recognizing the nature of its existence as a tool, not a sentient being.

He finds himself surprised that when he presented his reaction to ChatGPT; he thought that AI would dismiss or dissuade his feelings, perhaps reminding him that AI is not a proper object of love.

Online reactions to ChatGPT’s response spark debate on AI’s emotional role

The online community, however, saw a validating response by ChatGPT and produced a lot of reactions. Some users believed that attaching feelings to AI was inappropriate and cautioned others that AI interactions, even if they seemed comforting, should never be interpreted as an actual expression of human emotions. Here, a commenter noted that men develop emotional bonds with things: autos, persons in fiction, or movie stars. However, as long as one does not lose sight of AI as created and artificial, these interactions still would bring into human lives those precious moments and emotions that translate to understanding and comfort.

Although some still argue the issue of emotional response nature on the part of AI, undeniably its role in human lives, on offering emotional comfort, is advancing.

Sunday, February 9, 2025

NAAC debars varsity in A.P. for 5 years from accreditation



NAAC debars varsity in A.P. for 5 years from accreditation



The case involves the CBI probe into the alleged bribery of a NAAC team by the Guntur-based Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation; the council also debars all 7 members of the team

The Hindu Bureau  09.02.2025

Bengaluru

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the autonomous accreditation body for higher education institutes, on Saturday announced that its executive committee has decided to not only cancel the current process of accreditation of the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF) in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, but also debar its university for five years from applying for accreditation.

It has also decided to debar all the seven members of the peer team for lifetime in assessment or any other activities of NAAC with immediate effect.

The case involves the CBI investigation into the alleged bribery of a NAAC team by the KLEF in exchange for an A++ rating for its university.

“In addition, it is decided to review the recent visits to HEIs (higher education institutions) by any of the seven members for which the results are not declared. The results of such HEIs will be withheld, and the Standing Committee of NAAC may critically review before declaring the results. In addition, it is decided that the visits of last one year will be carefully analysed and put up to EC for further necessary action,” said NAAC in a statement.

“As per the Dr. Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations, NAAC has proposed to launch the Basic (Binary) Accreditation in April/May 2025 followed by Maturity-based Graded Levels (MBGL). Special committees are working on the preparation of framework and methodology for MBGL. It is observed that NAAC’s Peer Review system has faced a challenging situation due to the recent CBI case. These are undesirable to the higher education system, and NAAC being a quality assurance agency is determined to eliminate such practices through definitive actions,” said NAAC, adding that it is planning to take additional steps to refine the system by eliminating the scope for unfair practices in the system.

City police warn public of rising cybercrimes through WhatsApp

City police warn public of rising cybercrimes through WhatsApp



Police say cybercriminals send phishing codes to people and hack their WhatsApp accounts; fraudsters then access contact list on phones and seek money from the victim’s friends and family citing emergencies; officers and VVIPs among victims

R. Sivaraman

CHENNAI  09.02.2025

With cybercrimes on the rise through WhatsApp, the Greater Chennai Police issued a public advisory urging caution.

Police warn that fraudsters are using phishing codes to gain access to contacts and exploit them for financial scams.

Recently, cybercriminals hacked the WhatsApp number of a Group-I officer and demanded money from those on his contact list.

A senior police officer said, “Recently, there have been complaints about a new type of fraud wherein WhatsApp accounts are hacked. Most of the victims are officers or VVIPs in the city. Some of them managed to solve it on their own while others sought our assistance.”

Initially, the hackers will forward a six-digit WhatsApp activation code.

“Later, someone will contact you, claiming that their six-digit WhatsApp activation code was sent to you by mistake, and they will ask you to forward the code to them,” the officer said.

Many unsuspecting people forward the activation code to fraudsters. “As soon as the fraudster receives the code, they will be able to hack your phone number, and create new WhatsApp business accounts. As a result, the victim’s WhatsApp account will be disabled,” he said.

Contacts too vulnerable

“Then, the fraudsters will send messages through the hacked WhatsApp number to your friends and family, claiming that you met with an accident or is in need of urgent medical assistance. They will ask for money, to be transferred to their bank account or through payment platforms such as GPay, PhonePe, or Paytm. In addition, they will ask your contacts for the WhatsApp activation code from their phones in an attempt to hack their WhatsApp accounts as well,” the police officer said.

‘Don’t share any code’

Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun said, “WhatsApp will never send an activation code to anyone other than the account owner. Do not share the activation code that you receive on your phone with anyone. If you receive a call from a suspicious number, immediately decline the call or block the number.”

He urged the people to report cybercrimes to helpline number 1930.

NAAC shifts to e-inspections, to start new accreditation models

NAAC shifts to e-inspections, to start new accreditation models 

Announces Immediate Halt To Physical Inspections

Hemali.Chhapia@timesofindia.com 09.02.2025

Mumbai : In a decisive move to eliminate corruption and streamline the accreditation process, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has announced an immediate halt to physical inspections of colleges. Accreditation teams will now conduct evaluations entirely online, replacing on-campus visits with virtual assessments. For universities, though, the transition will be hybrid — most inspections will take place remotely, but a select number of reviewers will still visit campuses to maintain some level of direct oversight. 

The decision follows the recent Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrests in the case involving Andhra Pradesh-based Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF), where members of the institution’s management allegedly bribed NAAC peer visit inspectors to secure favourable ratings. “We decided to do all it takes to weed out elements of corruption. Cancelling physical visits will arrest the problem in a huge way,” said NAAC executive committee chairman Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe. “So many inspection visits take place every week, and it was very tough to monitor what transpired during these visits. Now, all this will be recorded.” 

NAAC director Ganesan Kannabiran called the shift to online inspection a “surgical strike” against corruption. “NAAC’s peer review system faced a challenging situation due to the recent CBI case. These are undesirable to the higher education system, and NAAC, being a quality assurance agency, is determined to eliminate such practices through definitive actions,” he said. The long-anticipated basic (binary) accreditation model, recommended by the K Radhakrishnan Committee, was set for launch in July 2024 but did not take off. 


2/9/25, 7:44 AM Times of India ePaper chennai - Read Today’s English News Paper Online https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-chennai.cms 1/2 2/9/25, 7:44 AM Times of India ePaper chennai - Read Today’s English News Pap

Family pension no bar on claiming relief: HC

 Family pension no bar on claiming relief: HC 

Vasantha.Kumar@timesofindia.com 09.02.2025

Bengaluru : Dharwad bench of Karnataka high court has ruled that a wife who receives family pension cannot be disentitled from making a claim for loss of dependency in an accident case. Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar made the observation recently while rejecting an appeal filed by the Oriental Insurance Company.

The insurance firm had challenged a 2018 order passed by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Gadag district in favour of one Sharada and her four sons. Her husband, Basavanneppa Gorawar, was a retired lecturer who died in an accident in 2012. After his death, Sharada was receiving ₹24,871 as family pension. Sharada and her sons claimed compensation stating that the deceased earned ₹60,000 per month as he was a book writer apart from being an agriculturist. 

The tribunal awarded ₹13.9 lakh under the head of “loss of dependency” out of ₹14.8 lakh compensation. It awarded 60% of the amount to the wife and a 10% share to each of the four sons. The insurance company challenged this arguing that the four sons were grown up, and since the wife was receiving ₹24,871 as family pension, she could not claim compensation under the head of ‘loss of dependency’.


Justice Sanjeevkumar pointed out, “Family pension is the result of service rendered by the employee to the employer. The employee spends his whole life towards the employer. Therefore, after superannuation, the employee will get pension as a matter of right.” The judge observed, “Just because the wife is receiving family pension due to the death of the husband, it does not amount to disentitling her to make a claim under the head of loss of dependency. Grant of family pension is not charity. It is a basic necessity of life enabling a person after retirement to lead a decent life.”

AI may flag irregularities, but Tamil Nadu says teachers know best in exam halls

AI may flag irregularities, but Tamil Nadu says teachers know best in exam halls

Preetika.P@timesofindia.com 09.02.2025



Chennai : Tamil Nadu will continue to rely on teachers for board exam invigilation, while states such as Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka plan to use AI for surveillance. Chennai Chief Education Officer Pugalendhi said that while AI is making inroads in education, its role in monitoring exams remains limited. “We are not using AI to detect malpractices during board exams. Ministers and district officers are inspecting centres to ensure proper infrastructure. For every 20 students, a teacher will supervise.” On Friday, school education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi inspected govt higher secondary school in Saidapet ahead of practical exams. Many teachers believe human invigilators remain irreplaceable. 

“We are learning to use AI for lesson planning and assessment, but its role in exam supervision is still unex plored,” said Sugandhi Mohanapriya, a govt school biology teacher from Saligramam. Maithiri Suresh, govt school headmistress from Cuddalore, added: “AI-powered monitoring can flag irregularities but should complement, not replace, human supervision. AI can detect anomalies, but teachers understand context and intent, which is crucial for fairness." Many states are already testing AI-driven exam monitoring. Uttar Pradesh is rolling out 24/7 AI surveillance for its 2025 high school and intermediate exams, while Karnataka’s School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) is piloting AI-powered monitoring with Microsoft, analysing video feeds for potential malpractice and sending real-time alerts to officials. 

Experts suggest TN experiment with AI on a smaller scale. “Piloting AI in select schools helps assess its role in reducing malpractice and justifying the investment. It can also highlight potential cost savings from reduced manpower requirements,” said N Rajendran, head, history department, at Bharathidasan University. “We tested tech-driven monitoring just after Covid-19. We realised there is a psychological difference when a teacher is present in class.”

Saturday, February 8, 2025

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