Tamil Nadu government hospitals raided after bribery complaints

The officials also conducted raids at Government Chengalpet Medical College Hospital a few days ago.

Published: 08th December 2018 05:36 AM |

A photo of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital
By Express News Service

CHENNAI : The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption officials conducted raids at government hospitals across the State, allegedly following complaints of hospital workers demanding bribes from patients, on Friday. In Chennai, the raids were conducted at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children.


According to sources at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, the officials entered the hospital around 10. 30 am and searched the premises including the hospital kitchen and provisions storeroom. 

At Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children, the officials inspected wards, kitchen, storerooms, scan centre and searched the premises.

The officials also conducted raids at Government Chengalpet Medical College Hospital a few days ago. “We have given a strict warning to workers not to take bribe from the patients and are monitoring them. We also alerted our hospital staff following the raid at Government Chengalpet Medical College Hospital recently. However, the officials did not come to our hospital on Friday,” said a hospital official.

Female students bear brunt of unchecked moral policing on Chennai campuses

Arts and science colleges across Chennai have women’s hostel curfew at 7 pm, with a few colleges even capping it at 3 pm.

Published: 09th December 2018 05:05 AM |

Image for representational purpose only

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Two weeks ago, an hostel warden in the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras put up in the notice board, among other things, the number of ‘used condoms’ they found in a dustbin in the hostel room of a student. The incident caused much outrage among the student community over what they see as moral policing of the students. When Express spoke to students of many other colleges in the city, the stories students shared were far more regressive. Often, mundane everyday activities of students, particularly female students, comes under scrutiny and starts defining their character.

The students are questioned for speaking to students from the other gender and sometimes sent out of the classrooms when the teacher thinks the dress of a female student is too revealing. Swarna*, a student in a women’s arts college in the heart of the city, says she was reprimanded by her hostel warden once for accidentally dropping a cover with sanitary napkins in front of her hostel room.

“She said that I need to start acting like an adult woman now. How can I be so shameless? The warden said that my character was questionable,” she recalled. Swarna said that day, she saw her roommate carrying a suitcase she had brought from home after holidays, and rushed to help her way through the staircase. “I dropped the cover with the pad outside my room and went to help my friend, when the warden walked through the corridor,” she said. The warden had asked Swarna to enlist the possible outcomes, if a gardener or a another male casual worker in the hostel saw it instead.

It was an all girls college with men doing only small clerical jobs. “The Head of my Department used to go around the campus during the inter-collegiate cultural events we hosted, and take pictures of girls, if they were seen casually chatting with boys,” said Rupal* from the English Literature department of another all-women college in the city. The teacher would allegedly call these girls later and ask them if these boys were their boyfriends and threaten to inform their parents.

One day Samir* was talking to a few female friends on college, when a teacher stopped and allegedly commented, “He’s a Muslim. He can have four wives. That’s why he talks to women.” In Anna University for example, there are no strict restrictions on what girls wear within the hostel, but when they go to the mess for dinner, they should wear full pants as boys would be there. “When hostel girls wear leggings to classes, some teachers ask the girls to go back and change,” said Kavya*, a second-year student from the varsity. MK Surappa, the Vice-Chancellor of the university said that there should be no regulatory mechanism to prevent students from wearing what they want. “Different people have different tastes. It will be retrograde to control them,” he said.

A student from another college in Coimbatore said that her teacher had lined up all the girls who wore leggings to stand out of the class and asked other students what they looked like with such skimpy clothing. In another women’s college in the city, the hostel warden asked a student to explain why she was wearing laced underwear, pointing to her clothes hanging on the laundry line. “I didn’t think any explanation I gave would make sense to her,” said Sneha*.

Discriminatory hostel curfews is another issue. Arts and science colleges across Chennai has women’s hostel curfew at 7 pm, with a few colleges even capping it at 3 pm. However, men do not have any such restriction. Even though colleges have a curfew for men’s hostel on paper, most do not enforce it.

“There were no restrictions on when boys moved in and out of college. But girls were not allowed to go out after 6:30 pm. Let alone leaving the campus, we weren’t even allowed outside the hostel” said Madhu* , a recent political science graduate in an arts and science college in the outskirts of the city. “The warden asks “How will I know what all you do outside?”

“The safety of these students are in our hands. The girls may be bold, but if somebody does something to them outside the college, we are responsible for it. Which is why we have different curfews for girls and boys,” said the warden of one of the girls’ hostel blocks in the college.However, in the same college, a student from the chemistry department was slapped by a male classmate in broad daylight, said Madhu adding that the victim had fallen down injuring her head. “When students asked the college to take action on the boy, the dean of women students had allegedly asked the girl to not only consider his future,” she rued.

While these are only a few examples, girls who wear shorts or sleeveless clothing, hug boys, go out with boys, go for weekend trips, stay on the phone for long or behave friendly with male workers on campus are often treated differently, say students. (Names of all students changed)

Former V-C appears before suicide probe team

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SALEM, DECEMBER 09, 2018 00:00 IST

C. Swaminathan, former Vice-Chancellor, Periyar University, appeared for an inquiry before the Salem City Central Crime Branch police in connection with the death of K. Angamuthu, former Registrar, who committed suicide.

Angamuthu was the Registrar of Periyar University from 2012-15 and later after relinquishing office continued as Physical Education Director of the university, till he committed suicide in his native Perundurai in Erode district in December last year.

The Perundurai Police, based on the details found in the suicide note, registered a case against a few persons, including Dr. Swaminathan, for abetting his suicide.

Later, the case was transferred to the Salem City Central Crime Branch police.

The Central Crime Branch police issued summons to 15 persons to appear for an inquiry in connection with the suicide of Angamuthu. Dr. Swaminathan appeared before the Central Crime Branch police on Saturday, sources said.

MKU professor faces harassment charge

Pon Vasanth B.A

MADURAI, DECEMBER 09, 2018 00:00 IST

Ph. D scholar files plaint against guide

A full-time research scholar at Madurai Kamaraj University’s Centre for Film and Electronic Media Studies has filed a harassment complaint against her research guide and Head of the centre K. Karnamaharajan. But he has denied the charges.

In the complaint submitted to the Registrar of MKU, the scholar, a native of Kerala, has accused the professor of abusing her and demanding that she do everything he suggested, including sexual favours, if she wanted to obtain her Ph. D degree.

The scholar accused him of taking Rs. 2 lakh to admit her as a full-time scholar.

According to the complainant, he checked her daily schedule and attendance in the hostel. Recently, he issued a memo for being absent and threatened to cancel her Ph. D registration.

Refuting her allegations, Mr. Karnamaharajan said the research scholar, who completed her M. Phil in MKU and joined as a full-time scholar a year before, regularly absented herself without prior information and failed to complete her research-related tasks.

“I have messages, email communications and other records that will prove my innocence,” he said. The research scholar also submitted a complaint with the Convenor’s Committee of MKU that met at the campus on Saturday. While MKU Registrar V. Chinniah could not be reached for a comment, university officials said that the scholar had been asked to appear before a committee set up to enquire into the issue on Wednesday.

TNPSC Group I exam results delayed again

Aloysius Xavier Lopez

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 09, 2018 00:00 IST

Morale dipping after two-year wait: candidates

The declaration of results of the Group I examination by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has been delayed. While the Combined Civil Services I examination was notified on November 25, 2016, the results of the main examination are yet to be released, over two years on.

Candidates have requested the TNPSC to declare the results, alleging that the delay was causing a dip in the morale of thousands of candidates who have been working hard for the competitive examination.

The TNPSC notified the Combined Civil Services I examination (Group I) for filling up 29 vacancies in the post of Deputy Collector, 34 vacancies of Deputy Superintendent of Police, eight posts of Assistant Commissioner in Commercial Taxes Department, one post of District Registrar, five posts of District Employment Officer and eight posts of District Officer in Fire & Rescue Services.

Preliminary exam

The preliminary examination was held on February 19, 2017. A total of 1.37 lakh candidates appeared for the examination.

The number of applicants admitted to the Main written examination held on October 13, 14 and 15 in 2017 was more than 50 times the number of applicants to be recruited. Most of the 4,602 candidates who were shortlisted for the main examination have requested the TNPSC to quicken the process of declaration of results.

Hidden cameras found in women’s hostel bathrooms in Chennai, owner arrested

TNN | Dec 4, 2018, 01.42 PM IST

CHENNAI: The Adambakkam police on Tuesday arrested a man who runs a women’s hostel in Thillai Ganga Nagar after inmates found hidden cameras in bathrooms, halls and other places. The cameras were hidden in electrical sockets, bulbs, rods and other places.

The police said seven young IT professionals were staying in the hostel run by Sampath Raj, 48, in Thillai Ganga Nagar first street.

The women grew suspicious about the activities of Sampath after he had made frequent visits to the hostel claiming to check the rooms. He allegedly placed the cameras in the name of carrying out renovation work in the rooms.

The women checked the rooms and the bathrooms thoroughly and found hidden cameras.

Hidden cameras were found in electrical sockets and other places.

A police officer said Sampath had kept changing the position of the hidden cameras until he “got a proper view.”

The police seized the hidden cameras and footages. Further investigations were on.

Tiruvannamalai govt schoolteacher sentenced to rigorous 

imprisonment for sexual assault of orphan girl

TNN | Dec 4, 2018, 07.25 PM IST

TIRUVANNAMALAI: A fast track mahila court in Tiruvannamalai on Monday sentenced a 38-year-old government schoolteacher to seven years rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old orphan girl.

The victim was a Class VIII student at Adi Annamalai Panchayat Union Middle School in Tiruvannamalai in 2013. Her English teacher, N Soundararajan, who was married and has two children, sexually assaulted her several times.

The victim was an inmate of a children’s home on the Girivalam path. She was admitted to the home by her elder brother and elder sister when she was three years old after their parents had died.

Special public prosecutor G Archana said, “The accused, who was initially molesting the girl in the staff room while he was alone, later started taking her to his home when his wife and children were away. The sexual assault came to light on February 20, 2013 after Soundararajan, who was 33 then, forcibly took her home the previous night by threatening to fail her in English paper in the annual examination.”

“He sexually assaulted the girl the whole night and dropped her near the children’s home situated on the Girivalam path in Tiruvannamalai in the early hours of February 20,” Archana said.

The in-charge of the children’s home questioned the girl and came to know about the sexual assault she had suffered. The in-charge alerted the girl’s sister who was married and living about one kilometre away from the home.

The sister filed a complaint with the Tiruvannamalai all-woman police. The police booked him under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences ( POCSO) Act and the IPC. Police sources said Soundararajan was the first person to be booked under the POCSO Act in Tiruvannamalai district after the law came into force in November 2012.

On Monday, magistrate S Natarajan sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of 10,000 on him. The magistrate also directed the district legal service authority to assist the girl in getting a victim compensation of Rs 4 lakh under the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) scheme.

Government moves SC against extension for Pon Manickavel

TNN | Dec 5, 2018, 05.42 AM IST

CHENNAI: Four days after the Madras high court quashed a Tamil Nadu government order transferring all idol theft cases to the CBI while appointing inspector general of police Pon Manickavel as special officer for a year from the date of his retirement on November 30, the Tamil Nadu government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.

The state assailed the high court verdict on the quashing of the GO as well as the extension granted to Manickavel. Government sources told TOI that the special leave petition was yet to be numbered by the apex court.

Interestingly, the state appointed Abhay Kumar Singh, an additional director-general of police as idol wing chief on Manickavel's superannuation. The HC, however, made it clear that Pon Manickavel would head the force.

Eight Bharathiyar varsity syndicate members face contempt in HC

TNN | Dec 5, 2018, 12.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: The entire syndicate of Bharathiyar University, including the director of collegiate education and directors of medical education and technical education, are staring at contempt for deliberate violation of a high court ruling that prohibited the university from permitting distance education study centres.
Justice N Kirubakaran, slamming all the eight syndicate members for having adopted a resolution violating his order, said: “Are the court orders so ineffective to be violated or are they paper orders to be ignored? If this case is understood properly, one gets the impression that officials are not scrupulously following the orders of the court. On the other hand, they are going against the order or violating the orders.”

He then summoned R Sarumathi, director of collegiate education, Dr A Edwin Joe, director of medical education, represented by Dr Rajasekar, Vivekanandan, director of technical education, G Singaravelu, head of the department of education technology, Bharathiyar University, N Jeyakumar, head of the department of bioinformatics, Bharathiyar University, Ravichandran, head of the department of social science, Annamalai University, M Saravana Kumar, dean, Anna University, Coimbatore, and Chinnadurai, principal, Kamban College of Arts and Science, Tiruppur.

On December 8, 2017, the university gave an undertaking to the court that it would not operate distance education study centres and would not grant affiliation and recognition relating to distance education outside Tamil Nadu from the academic year 2018-19. Recording it, Justice Kirubakaran had prohibited the university from running study centres.

However, on November 28, 2018, the university syndicate adopted a resolution permitting spot admission cum learning centres for the academic year 2018-2019 as a special case. It also allowed them to submit examination applications along with second and third year candidates.

A livid Justice Kirubakaran stayed the resolution and wondered how could candidates admitted in the middle of an academic year be allowed to write examination along with second and third year candidates.

Treating all the eight syndicate members are contemnors, Justice Kirubakaran said, “the syndicate members, who voted in favour of granting of permission are also prima facie liable for violation of the court order.” He directed all of them to be present in court on January 7, 2019.

Electronic version of driving licence enough, Centre tells HC

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 12.35 AM IST

CHENNAI: It is official. Drivers of motor vehicles need not carry the hard copy of the original driving licence all the time, and that it is alright if they show the electronic version of the driving licence.

The Centre has brought about an amendment to this effect by a notification dated November 2, 2018, Madras high court was informed on Wednesday.

It all began with a memorandum issued by additional director-general of police, state traffic planning cell dated August 24, 2017 stating that drivers found not carrying the original driving license would be prosecuted under Sections 130 and 171 of Motor Vehicle Act.

Assailing this, a batch of PILs, including the one filed by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy and All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Association, were filed.

When the cases came up for further hearing before a division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice Anitha Sumanth on Monday, a copy of the central government notification dated November 19, 2018 addressed to the DGPs and secretaries of all states and union territories were furnished. The notification amended Rule 139 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 with regard to production of license and certificate of registration of vehicles.

The bench, disposing of the case, said: “In view of the amendment brought by union of India on November 2, 2018, the writ petitions have become infructuous.”

Recruitment lapse: DVAC starts probe against Manonmaniam Sundaranar University VC

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 07.31 AM IST

CHENNAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has begun investigation into allegations of irregularities in recruitment during the tenure of K Baskar, the vice-chancellor of Tirunelveli-based Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU).

Sources told TOI that the DVAC sent a letter to the university registrar in the first week of November asking for 30 documents pertaining to the recruitment conducted in 2016 immediately after Baskar took charge. The agency has started its preliminary inquiry, sources said.

The probe concerns irregularities in recruitment of 35 professors in August 2016. A copy of the notice is with TOI. Baskar’s term will end in February 2019. The DVAC had asked for details including a copy of the advertisement indicating the vacancies, documents pertaining to the scrutiny committee, various syndicate resolutions approving the advertisement and the final selected candidates, permissions from the government, finance committee and approval for filling the posts.

Sources said the DVAC had also asked for details such as which candidates were interviewed, the panel members who vetted them, the selection criteria and other criteria that the selection process should adhere to.

When contacted, Baskar told TOI that due process was followed while conducting the recruitment and all records for the same were available. MSU registrar professor Santosh Babu said all the details as demanded by the DVAC have been furnished to them. “We sent the reply 10 days ago. There is no violation of procedures,” he said.

IIT-Madras professor eats poisonous seeds, dies

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 07.42 AM IST

CHENNAI: A woman assistant professor of IIT Madras who on Tuesday consumed seeds of a poisonous plant in a suicide bid, died in a private hospital early on Wednesday. Police said Aditi was battling depression.

Police said Aditi Simha, 45, an assistant professor in the department of physics, was a PhD holder from IISc, Bengaluru. Aditi lived on the IIT-M campus and visited her mother Neelima in Bengaluru often, police said.

Neelima told police that she had spoken to Aditi at 11 am on Tuesday, when she said she’d be visiting in a few days. Her calls to Aditi after that went unanswered, Neelima told police, adding that she had asked Aditi’s colleague to check on her.

Around 8pm, the assistant professor was found in an unconscious state and was rushed to Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road, where she died at 4am on Wednesday. Doctors said Aditi had consumed seeds of a poisonous plant, which she might have picked from IIT-M’s campus.

Police said Aditi suffered from depression since separating from her husband two years ago. If anyone is in mental distress or have suicidal thoughts, call 104 for the State health departments helpline or call Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre at 2464 0050.

Chennai collector fixes December 31 deadline for hostels to register

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 07.45 AM IST

CHENNAI: Setting December 31 as the deadline to register hostels in the city, Chennai collector A Shanmuga Sundram has warned the owners of such unregistered facilities of criminal action. The warning comes a day after a women’s hostel in Adambakkam was found bugged with nine hidden cameras by a 48-year-old man who ran it.

A WhatsApp number has also been dedicated for memebrs of the public to lodge complaints on any discrepancies over hostels after the deadline ends. TOI on Wednesday reported that the state government does not have any data on hostels in the city. Though the social welfare department had directed the Chennai district collectorate to enumerate the list of hostels, the latter is yet to begin the process.

In a press release, Shanmuga Sundram said owners of unregistered hostels could be sentenced up to two years of imprisonment. “All hostels for children and women in Chennai should be registered with the district collector by December 31, 2018,” the release said. It said complaints could be filed against erring hostels through WhatsApp (number 9444841072) after the December 31 deadline. So far, only eight hostels have sent their applications seeking registration with the district collector, he added.

“Children and women are advised not to stay in unregistered hostels,” Shanmuga Sundram added. He further said hidden camera detector mobile apps could be used for locating spy cameras in hostels, based on which complaints could be filed.

Tamilisai's husband among 41 eyeing Tamil Nadu medical University VC post

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 09.19 AM IST

CHENNAI: At least 41 people including BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan's husband, nephrologist Dr P Soundrarajan, former and present directors of medical education, deans and vice-chancellors have applied for the post of vice-chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University.

The search committee convenor Dr Sithyathiya Munavarah published names of 41 applicants on the university web page on November 30, last day for the submission of application form. Candidates have filled up a 10-page form with personal details, academic qualification, administrative and research experience, along with 100-word description about their strengths and 500-word statement on the vision for the university.

Several senior doctors in government service, retired professors, deans and directors of medical education below 70 have applied. Names of former vice-chancellor Dr Mayil Vahanan Natarajan, former registrars Dr Sudha Seshayyan and Dr Balasubramanian T, director of medical education Dr A Edwin Joe, his predecessor Dr Vimala and joint director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam were in the list.

There were three outstation candidates - Dr Bharat Mansukhlal Mody (Vadodara, Gujarat), Dr Kameshwara Rao A S (Kakinada, AP) and Dr Venkatakrishna Murali R (Bangalore). The search committee is now scrutinising the application forms to ensure they meet the criteria of the government order that defined the qualification of the vice-chancellor.

A two-page order on October 23, "prescription of educational qualification experience for the post of the vice chancellor of the Tamil Dr MGR Medical University," under the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai (Amendment) Act 2018 said every person recommended by the search committee should have a post-graduate degree in the field of medical sciences, should have published at least five research papers in indexed or national journals. And also have at least 20 years of experience as medical practitioner and 10 years teaching experience as professor.

One more ticket booking office opened at Avadi station

Dec 6, 2018, 07.45 PM IST

CHENNAI: Member of Parliament P Venugopal on Thursday inaugurated the second entry passenger ticketing centre (booking office) at Avadi railway station here.

Built at a cost of Rs 20 lakh, the second entry passenger ticketing centre will have three counters to cater to the increasing passenger footfalls at the station.

Avadi station is being developed as an Adarsh Station now. Apart from serving more than 20 villages around, the station also serves the Armed Vehicle and Ammunition Depot of India, Tube Products of India, Avadi Railway Car Shed and other industrial establishments.

Tamil Nadu minister K Pandiarajan, Chennai divisional railway manager Naveen Gulati and others were present during the inauguration.

Panel on more marks for government doctors in interiors meets

TNN | Dec 7, 2018, 06.19 AM IST

CHENNAI: The seven-member state committee headed by retired judge Justice A Selvam formed to decide on the remote, difficult and rural areas of Tamil Nadu for which in-service candidates would be given incentive marks for PG medical admissions met for the first time on Thursday.

The committee, framed as per court directive, will seek information from all districts collectors before their second meeting which is likely to be scheduled within a week. The committee members include Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation chairman P Umanath, directors of medical services, public health and medical education, selection committee secretary and a demographer from the University of Madras. “We are planning to come out with a comprehensive report before the prospectus is issued,” said a senior official.

In 2018, a six-member committee under Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation chairman P Umanath used “hybrid” methods to work out difficult and remote areas based on terrain, doctor-patient ratio and vacancies in the government hospitals. Postings were divided into three categories of which two groups received benefits. Category A will receive 100% of the maximum permissible incentive marks – 10% of marks over and above their NEET score for every year, not exceeding 30%. The second group, category B, will receive 40% of the maximum permissible incentive marks – 4% of marks over and above their NEET score for every year, not exceeding 30%.

However, several in-service doctors and government doctors’ associations moved court against the implementation of the recommendation. The court later directed the state to set up a committee under a retired judge and release the recommendations before 2018 admissions.

This year, students will appear for PG 2019, NEET examination on January 6 and results are expected on January 31. Counselling for admission under the state quota will begin after at least one round of counselling by the directorate general of health services under the all-India quota. “We have adequate time to publish recommendations before the prospectus is published,” said one of the members.

Death probe panel to soon quiz OPS, minister , health secretary

TNN | Dec 8, 2018, 08.49 AM IST

CHENNAI: Inquiry by the Justice (retd) A Arumughaswamy commission may have reached the final stage as it is prepared to examine state health secretary J Radhakrishnan, deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, health minister C Vijayabaskar, deputy speaker of Lok Sabha M Thambidurai and senior AIADMK leader C Ponnaiyan, pertaining to the circumstances surrounding former CM J Jayalalithaa’s death.

Sources said the commission has initiated the process to summon the five important personalities and check their availability. Tentative dates have been sought from V K Sasikala’s legal team, which would be cross-examining the witnesses. The commission plans to submit the final report on Jayalalithaa’s 71st birthday on February 24, 2019, sources said.

Radhakrishnan has been asked to appear next week, but since he is busy with the rehabilitation work of Cyclone Gaja-ravaged Nagapattinam district, he is unlikely to appear, sources said. “I’ll be appearing before the commission as and when I’m called,” Radhakrishnan told TOI, adding that it was an eventuality as he played a key role in co-ordinating Jayalalithaa’s treatment from the government side.

Among the politicians OPS, Vijayabaskar and Ponnaiyan are likely to be summoned in the third week of December, sources said. Thambidurai would also be called around the same time, but sources said permission from the Lok Sabha would be needed. The commission is also likely to examine Dr Richard Beale, the expert from UK who attended to Jayalalithaa, via video-conferencing, sources said.

The commission also plans to visit the Parappana Agrahara jail in Bengaluru to question V K Sasikala, which is likely to occur around January 15, sources said.

On Friday, senior doctor and cardiologist Dr Girinath was quizzed for around three hours. The deposition of two other senior cardiologists Y V C Reddy and Sridhar could not take place. Sources said Dr Girinath was asked questions about the fee paid for his consultation made on September 27, 2016 when he saw Jayalalithaa’s health records. He also said the vegetation on her heart valve did not need surgery.

Delay in filing chargesheet will be a big setback for graft case involving former BU vice-chancellor, PMK leader says

TNN | Dec 8, 2018, 03.59 PM IST

COIMBATORE: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss on Saturday slammed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for not filing chargesheet against the suspended vice-chancellor of Bharathiar University, A Ganapathi, even 10 months after his arrest in a bribery case.

In a statement on Saturday, Ramadoss said it did not seem a natural happening that a chargesheet had not yet been filed in the case.

Ganapathi was arrested on February 3 this year for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30 lakh from an assistant professor aspirant. He was suspended from his vice-chancellor post on February 7.

Observing that it had been 310 days since Ganapathi was arrested, Ramadoss said it was shocking because just like in criminal cases, in graft cases too chargesheet should be filed within 90 days.

“Usually, when DVAC sleuths nab someone in a graft case, there would be a government witness. DVAC has only to gather evidences which they would complete in a few days. So in such cases chargesheet can be filed very soon,” he said in his statement and added that if in such cases chargesheet was not filed in time, they could face a setback.

Citing news reports which said the DVAC had stated that the procedures had been delayed as it was waiting for documents from the governor’s office, Ramadoss said, “The governor has been saying university administrations have been cleaned up due to the measures he had taken. If it is true that he has not given the documents needed to file chargesheet in this case, it will be a big misdeed.”

He also said there was also a chance for Ganapathi to seek the VC post again as there has been no chargesheet against him so far.

Meanwhile, academicians said there were several roster violations in appointments done in the university during the 11th and 12th plan periods and it called for an independent inquiry.

The appointments made in violation of the roster during the 11th plan period were also regularised later, which was another violation, said C Pichandy, former general secretary of Association of University Teachers (AUT).

“Appointments made during both the plan periods need to be investigated. The state should appoint a retired judge to do it,” he said.

Court orders Karnataka to produce V K Sasikala on December 13

TNN | Dec 8, 2018, 06.27 AM IST

CHENNAI: A special Enforcement Directorate cases court in the city on Friday directed the Karnataka prison authorities to produce ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala on December 13 in connection with Foreign Exchange Regulation Act violation cases.

The issue pertains to payments in US and Singapore dollars to foreign firms for hiring transponders and uplink facilities for Jaya TV in 1995-96.

In July 2017, the court allowed Sasikala to appear through video conferencing from Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru. With her personal appearance required to sign documents and complete framing of charges, the authorities were asked to produce her on November 30. Since the prison authorities failed to produce her due to health reasons, the court issued the order on Friday.

Court orders Karnataka to produce V K Sasikala on December 13
TNN | Dec 8, 2018, 06.27 AM IST

CHENNAI: A special Enforcement Directorate cases court in the city on Friday directed the Karnataka prison authorities to produce ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala on December 13 in connection with Foreign Exchange Regulation Act violation cases.

The issue pertains to payments in US and Singapore dollars to foreign firms for hiring transponders and uplink facilities for Jaya TV in 1995-96.

In July 2017, the court allowed Sasikala to appear through video conferencing from Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru. With her personal appearance required to sign documents and complete framing of charges, the authorities were asked to produce her on November 30. Since the prison authorities failed to produce her due to health reasons, the court issued the order on Friday.

Why are men more hurt by breakups than women?

times of India  09.12.2018

The end of a relationship is never easy. Both men and women hurt when the familiar feeling of happiness is suddenly snatched away due to a breakup. Now, a British study has claimed that men suffer more long-lasting pain from breakups than women. The question is: why is this so? How and why are men hurting more when it is they who usually seem to move on from breakups faster and more painlessly? According to a previous study, men struggle more after a breakup than women because emotionally, men often react badly to major life upheavals. Moreover, men’s methods for dealing with changed circumstances are not always helpful. Researchers found out that going to the pub was named the best way to ‘get over’ a split while one third of those polled said the jilted party would be better off if he acts unbothered. Right there, is one of the reasons why men suffer — the unwillingness to face what happened and come to terms with reality. On the other hand, women are more comfortable finding a shoulder to cry on and letting it all out. Women also have a wider circle of friends and will confide to family in a way most men wouldn’t countenance. That explains why they come to grips with reality and find the strength to close a chapter and move on.

Another reason why women don’t suffer as much as men after a breakup is because they do the breaking up more times than men. What this means is that, women have more time to start processing the pain ahead. By the time they are done with that phase, the man may just be beginning his.

— Agencies

This is how many French fries you should be eating

Chelsea Ritschel  TOI 09.12.2018

A Harvard professor said it would be “nice” if an order of fries only contained six — to which people have reacted with outrage and disbelief.

Despite being one of the most delicious foods, French fries are understandably frowned upon by doctors and nutritionists - who are keen to make people aware of the health risks associated with consuming sliced, fried potatoes.

And in a recent New York Times article, Professor Eric Rimm, a nutrition professor in Harvard University’s School of Public Health, who described potatoes as “starch bombs,” suggested it would be better if people ate them in six-fry increments — as higher consumption is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Apart from heart disease, obesity and diabetes, the study referenced by the New York Times also found people who ate fries didn’t live as long as people who didn’t indulge.

Currently, Americans are consuming potatoes more than any other vegetable, with two-thirds in the form of French fries, chips, or other processed potatoes, according to the Agriculture Department.

The ever-increasing portions of food are also the problem — with an order of French fries now averaging just under 200 grams, according to Beth Fontenot, MS, RD, LDN.

According to Dr Rimm, portion control could help.

“There aren’t a lot of people who are sending back three-quarters of an order of French fries,” he said in the article, which describes the country’s voracious appetite for potatoes, especially fried ones, and the health risks associated. “I think it would be nice if your meal came with a side salad and six French fries.”

The advice, if realistic, would be beneficial — but on social media, Dr Rimm’s suggestion was jokingly ridiculed.

“Who is this hostile alien they are interviewing?” one person asked.

Another said: “What kind of MAD MAN would want six French fries? I get it, they are bad for you, but eating SIX sounds like torture. I’d rather not have them at all. But we all know that’s not going to happen.”

If you are going to exercise control when it comes to French fries, Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, a registered dietician in New York City, told The Independent that you should avoid “french fries that are doused in toppings like gravies, cheese, aiolis or heavy, salty seasoning” in favour of baked fries, and “as a rule of thumb, regardless of the type of potato, ask for the fries without salt and if you wish, salt them yourself at the table.”

She advises pouring the salt in your hand “before sprinkling them onto your fries to prevent oversaturating your meal with salt.”

And while Beckerman “generally recommends consuming fried foods as seldom as possible,” if you do eat the fries, “Try extra hard at your next meal to eat an arrangement of antiinflammatory foods like lean proteins, cruciferous vegetables and beans.” THE INDEPENDENT


SMALL FRY: Professor Eric Rimm was mocked on social media for suggesting a healthy serving should only contain six fries

3,474 varsity students to earn credits on e-platform
92 Universities OK Credit Transfers From Swayam

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.12.2018

In a first, 3,474 regular students across 20 universities are set to to earn credits through the online-learning platform Swayam. With 92 universities, including some of India’s best like University of Hyderabad, Central Universities of Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, besides Jamia Millia Islamia and Anna University having approved credit transfers, scholars of these universities can now learn from home and earn as much as 20% of the total credit through this online-learning-platform.

Swayam offers courses from class 9th to post graduate level where regular school or university students can register and learn online. Students can earn credits for some of the Swayam’s UG/PG level courses by taking the credit test conducted by NTA. This credit will get added to the total credits needed by a student to complete his course in his parent university. This is convenient and allows the scholar flexibility both in terms of time as he can pace his study and also provides a wider choice in terms of subjects.

According to R Subrahmanyam, secretary, higher education, ministry of human resource development, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted computer-based tests for 90 Massive Open Online Courses of undergraduate and post graduate courses for Swayam candidates on December 1 and 2. The tests were conducted at 87 centers in 61cities and 3,474 candidates were in attendance.

“As many as 92 universities, which includes central, state, deemed and private universities, have come on board in accepting credit transfer for courses done through Swayam platform. It’s an encouraging beginning with over 3,800 students registering for the credit exams. More universities are to come on board,” said Subrahmanyam. So far majority of the credit courses accepted by the universities are for the optional papers, while a few are also accepting core papers for credit transfer. “In sync with the semester system, the credit exams are to be conducted by the NTA and certificates of credit will be issued. Students then will submit the certificate of credits to their parent universities,” added the secretary.

2 poll officials suspended for misplacing EVM

Jaipur/Kota:09.12.2018

Two polling officials were suspended on Friday night by the returning officer of Kishanganj in Baran district for “negligence”. Of the 12 machines the two were ferrying from the store to the warehouse, one fell off on the way, the Baran collector said. It was, officials say, an “unpolled” back-up unit-.The machine was later found on NH-27 near Mugawali Road in Shahabad area of Kishanganj assembly constituency.

The two officials suspended are Abdul Rafique and Naval Singh Patwari, said Kishanganj returning officer Chandan Dubey.

“It was an unpolled ballot unit, which is kept in the reserved category. They (officials) were bringing 12 machines from the store to the warehouse for submission. One of those fell off from their vehicle and they did not realise it and are suspended with immediate effect for negligence,” said Baran collector Satyapal Singh Bhadia.

Rafique, ILR employee at Shahabad tehsil, and Singh, will report at the district headquarters during the suspension period, said the order issued by the collector late on Friday night. TNN

PhD scholar in MKU files complaint against guide

Madurai:09.12.2018

A full-time PhD scholar of Madurai Kamaraj University has lodged a complaint of harassment against her guide with the registrar of the university. Apart from harassment, she has claimed that the guide took her as a full-time research scholar after obtaining 2 lakh from her.

However, K Karnamaharajan, the guide and head of the department of the centre for film and electronic media studies, rubbished the complaint as “absolutely false and fabricated”. He suspected that it was a motivated complaint at a time when he had issued a showcause notice to her for taking unauthorized leave. “I am planning to meet the registrar to seek his permission to conduct a press meet, where I will come out with the evidences,” he said. TNN

SCHOLARSHIP ISSUE

SC/ST students to get ₹984cr in arrears  HC Order To Benefit 1.4L TN Students
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 09.12.2018

In a reprieve to more than 1.4 lakh SC/ST students who were denied the central government scholarship, the Madras high court has directed the Centre to release scholarship arrears to the tune of ₹984 crore in two months.

A division bench of Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad passed the order while allowing a PIL moved by advocate D Ashokkumar based on a news report — 1.4 lakh students denied hall ticket over unpaid fees — published in TOI on December 18, 2017.

“Though the Centre’s department of finance is not a party to this lis, allocation of funds has to be made as per the scheme, promptly. Therefore, the director of the department is directed to disburse the arrears of ₹822.91 crore, representing the postmatric scholarship to SC students up to 2016-17, within two months, along with ₹162 crore, for the 2017-18 year,” said the bench.

According to the petitioner, students from SC/ST communities whose family income is below ₹2 lakh per annum are eligible for scholarships to pursue higher education. As per the scheme,

which was introduced in 2012, tuition fees for higher education including in self-financing colleges, would be borne by the state under the central government post-matric scholarship programme.

While so, on August 11, 2017 the state issued a GO reducing the scholarship amount provided for students studying in self-financing colleges. As per the new GO, students who joined courses under the management quota in self-financing colleges, could get scholarship amount only as much being charged for the students under the government quota fixed tuition fees.

“Now, for the academic year 2017-18, for which fees has been fixed as ₹85,000 for engineering courses, only ₹50,000 will be borne by the government under the scheme. Remaining ₹35,000 has to be paid by the students. Earlier, medical students from SC/ST communities, can get up to ₹12.5 lakh as scholarship. Now, as per the new GO, they can get only a meagre amount of ₹4 lakh and the remaining ₹8 lakh should be paid by the students. Similarly, for BDS course students have to pay up to ₹3.5 lakh from their own funds,” the petitioner said.

The petitioner also referred to a media statement released by the state government in which it had claimed that the central government had not released ₹1,546 crore meant for distribution of postmatric scholarship and the situation was cited as the reason for reduction of scholarship provided for such students. In its response, the state government submitted that due to the delayed and inadequate release of central assistance, a burden is caused on the state's exchequer.

Madras HC sets aside transfer order to differently-abled 
headmistress 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Nov 30, 2018, 6:18 am IST

Updated Nov 30, 2018, 6:18 am IST 

The judge directed the authorities to post the petitioner within a week, as headmistress in the Thazhancheri HC, which is situated near her residence. 


Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has set aside an order of the authorities transferring a differently-abled headmistress to a far away school.

“When the law is so concerned for the disabled persons and makes provision, it is the obligation of the law executing authorities to ensure implementation in quite promptitude”, said Justice S. Vimala while disposing of a petition from R.Thamaraiselvi, a differently-abled woman.

The judge directed the authorities to post the petitioner within a week, as headmistress in the Thazhancheri high court, which is situated near her residence.

According to Thamaraiselvi, she was appointed as a teacher and posted in a high school in Korkai in 1997. Subsequent to her promotion as headmistress in 2018, despite her 50 percent disability and request to post her in a high school in Thazhancheri, which was just 10 km away from her residence, she was offered the high school in Periathumbur, which was 104 km away, during counseling. Therefore, she filed the present petition, she added. The judge said the transport system and the population using it were alarming and accidents were escalating each day. The population traveling over the top of the bus cannot be forgotten while considering the transfer request of a disabled person. Normally, place of posting was left to the discretion of the administrators, but in this case, this court did not have the hope that the administrators would take care of the interest of the differently abled person namely the petitioner, the judge added and gave the above directive.

Faulty medical devices cause for deaths and injuries 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Dec 1, 2018, 2:47 am IST

The researchers said that eight percent of all implants had no evaluated evidence due to the lack of a proper regulation process.

The high failure rate of implants highlighted the need for an adequate evidence base for medical implants.

Chennai: A report led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and its partner news organizations. The British Medical Journal and BBC Panorama revealed that 83,000 deaths and 1.7 million injuries were associated with faulty medical devices. The safety regulations do not keep up with the advancements in med tech, raising the need of a better regulatory system on the medical devices.

One of the earlier reports by the BMJ revealed that hip replacement surgeries use implants with no readily available evidence related to their safety and effectiveness. The researchers said that eight percent of all implants had no  evaluated evidence due to the lack of a proper regulation process.

The high failure rate of implants highlighted the need for an adequate evidence base for medical implants. Many implants are available to surgeons without an evidence of clinical effectiveness to support their use.

The report highlighted that governmental authorities do not review medical devices before they reach the market. Instead, medical device companies seek approval from notified bodies for approval. Though the scenario was based on the European market and med tech industry mainly, various countries such as India are main consumers of the same.

The report said that safety and efficacy of medical devices are not subject to the same transparency rules as medicines; so much so that surgeons performing these procedures don’t always see the evidence related to the devices.

Responding to the report, UK’s Royal College Of Surgeons demanded drastic  regulatory changes in the way medical devices are evaluated. Medicos say that all implant devices should be registered and tracked to monitor efficacy and patient safety in the long term.

ID cards: Stick to SC fiat on Aadhaar, citizens tell MTC

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Dec 2, 2018, 1:51 am IST

Senior citizens have demanded that MTC officials do not ask for copy of Aadhaar. 


MTC should make do with a copy of ration card alone, from this time onwards. Officials should instruct all depots in this regard accordingly, they added.

Chennai: As free travel coupons for senior citizens for the period January, February and March 2019, comes up for renewal sometime during the middle of this month, senior citizens have demanded that MTC officials do not ask for copy of Aadhaar.

In line with the apex court verdict on use of Aadhaar, which stated that banks, telecom units and private entities, should not demand Aadhaar number of customers, the MTC also should strictly comply with the order, and refrain from asking for Aadhaar numbers, the citizens noted.

MTC should make do with a copy of ration card alone, from this time onwards. Officials should instruct all depots in this regard accordingly, they added.

President of T. Nagar Welfare Association, Jayaram Sivaram, said, "MTC issues identity cards affixing the photograph of the beneficiary every year. Details of the coupons are also properly recorded to ensure travel only by the beneficiary to whom the coupons are issued."

"Such IDs will become invalid by December 2018 and has to be re-issued. In December 2017, while issuing the new cards for 2018, MTC had asked senior citizens to surrender their old identity cards. When questioned, the counter staff said that old ID cards were asked to be surrendered as per orders from top officials," the civic activist said, adding that one does not understand the logic behind such an order.

Retention of the old ID of a beneficiary by the MTC defies all logic, and the corporation should therefore, instruct all depots not to retain the old IDs, said another citizen. A senior MTC official said that the MTC has instructed all branch managers not to ask for Aadhaar when applying for coupons. "Action would be taken against officials who ask for unnecessary documents and we will look into the issue of retention of the old IDs," the official added.

Offer college seat to child prodigy: Madras High Court 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published Dec 2, 2018, 2:11 am IST

16-year-old had recited 1,330 Tirukkural couplets in LKG. 


Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy to permit a 16-year-old meritorious girl student, who recited all 1,330 Tirukkural couplets while studying in LKG itself, to take part in the counselling for the B.A.M.S course and, if she is found eligible in the counselling, admit her in Maria Ayurveda Medical College in Kanyakumari district.

Justice T.Raja gave the directive while disposing of a petition from the girl student Yazhesy Tha, who was not considered for selection on the ground that she has not completed 17 years as on December 31, 2018, as per clause 45 of the prospectus issued by the Director, Indian Medicine and Homeopathy Department.

According to Yazhesy Tha, after passing plus-2, she applied for BSMS/ BAMS/ BNYS/BUMS/BHMS courses for the year 2018-19. Though she has scored 157.25 cut off marks and her rank falls in between 1648 and 1666, she was not considered for selection on the ground that she has not completed 17 years as on December 31, 2018, as per clause 3 of the prospectus, she added.

The judge said it was an admitted fact that the petitioner is a meritorious student who evidently proved her memory and intelligentsia as she started reciting all 1,330 Tirukkural couplets, even from LKG itself and she was awarded a certificate by Deiveeka Sidhantha Ilakiya Mandram on August 2, 2006. She was also conferred title “Tirukkural Maamani by Thalainagar Tamizhasangam on July 24, 2011.

Further, the World Tamil Research Centre, Thramani also awarded certificate on the 66th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, certifying that she had participated in Tirukkural recitation competition while studying 8th standard.

Besides several other awards conferred on her clearly show that the petitioner is a highly talented student and also a child prodigy. The difficulty faced by her at the hands of the authorities shows that as she has applied for the said courses and she also secured 157.25 marks, for the simple reason that she is below 17 years as on December 31, 2018, the authorities have denied permission, the judge added.

Pointing out the eligibility criteria as per the amended notification, the judge said when the petitioner has admittedly complied with the admission qualifications, as per the amended notification dated November 7, 2016, the authorities cannot rely upon the old notification dated October 13, 2006 issued for Siddha by citing the age factor that she has not completed 17 years of age as on December 31. This court finds no impediment on the basis of the latest amended notification to allow the petitioner to take part in the counseling. Additional advocate general A.Kumar submitted that on the basis of her cut off marks, she may not be able to get admission in government colleges for Siddha but she can be considered for admission in private colleges and since counseling was presently going on and there was vacancy in Maria Ayurveda Medical College, she will be considered in the said college, the judge added and gave the directive.

Microsoft gives 25 offers to IIT-M students on day 1 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Dec 2, 2018, 3:07 am IST


Apple and Goldman Sachs are other major recruiters with eight and seven offers respectively on the first session. 


IIT Madras

Chennai: Software giant Microsoft has offered as many as 25 offers to students from IIT Madras on day 1 of the placement season.

Apple and Goldman Sachs are other major recruiters with eight and seven offers respectively on the first session.

The placement season at IITs began on Saturday. During the first session, 19 top companies including Apple and Google gave 85 offers including 6 international offers to the students from top engineering institute in the country.

The top three global consulting majors McKinsey, The Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Co. have participated in the first session and accounted for 13 offers.

Isro and ONGC have already recruited 7 candidates from IIT Madras taking the total offers to 92 in the first session which was held from 7 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

Professor Manu Santhanam, advisor, Training and Placement, IIT Madras said that finance and analytics sector also gave a high number of offers on the first session with 29 offers received from these companies.

More than 1,300 students are registered for placement this year from IIT Madras and over 326 companies have expressed interest to recruit the students.

Alekhya Reddy from Computer Science and Engineering Department got selected for Redmond campus of Microsoft in the US. She expressed a sense of satisfaction after attending interviews of software giants and answering nerve-wracking coding questions.

Health cover from Tamil Nadu government raised from Rs 2 Lakh to Rs 5 Lakh

The new insurance cover will come into effect from December 1, he said in an official release.
 
Published: 01st December 2018 01:27 AM |

 
Image for representational purpose only.

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has hiked the health insurance cover, under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced on Friday.

The new insurance cover will come into effect from December 1, he said in an official release.

Under the CMCHIS, 1.58 crore families are covered for 1,027 procedures for Rs 1 lakh per annum and for 154 procedures for up to Rs 2 lakh per annum, P Uma Maheswari, Project Director, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, explained.

However, under the Pradhan Mandri Jan Arogya Yojana Scheme, which the TN scheme is linked from September, beneficiaries selected based on level of deprivation in rural regions and on occupation in urban regions get a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per annum.


“People who don’t fall into those categories are not eligible for the central scheme,” she said.

“The State decided to raise the cover under CMCHIS to Rs 5 lakh to ensure that all benefit equally, regardless of whether they are covered under the central health insurance scheme or not,” she added.

Families covered under the scheme can utilise it without paying any fee, the CM said.

I-T dept asked to keep mum on noon meal scheme probe

Justice T Raja granted the injunction while passing interim orders on a petition from Christy Friedgram industry, by its proprietor T S Kumaraswamy in Andypalayam in Namakkal district on Tuesday.

  Published: 30th November 2018 02:16 AM 

 
Madras High Court (File photo | EPS)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Income-Tax officials at various levels, including its Director-General at Nungambakkam, have been restrained by the Madras High Court from divulging anything to the print and visual media on the ongoing investigation into the allegations against a private firm in Namakkal district, which supplied food materials for the State government’s noon meal scheme.

Justice T Raja granted the injunction while passing interim orders on a petition from Christy Friedgram industry, by its proprietor T S Kumaraswamy in Andypalayam in Namakkal district on Tuesday.

“In the light of the observations of the Supreme Court, as well as Rule 11 of the Central Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, since the IT department cannot directly or indirectly communicate and provide any information on the pending inquiry of any government servant or any person, more particularly any sub judice matters, the respondents (IT officials) are directed not to divulge any information or undertake media trial with regard to the investigation of the inquiry being conducted against the petitioner company till further orders,” the judge said and posted the main petition for further hearing after three weeks. Petitioner alleged that IT officials had purposely leaked out incorrect information with regard to his company’s dealings with the government.

Tamil Nadu government offices in villages to have free WiFi in a year

The wifi will be protected by an emergency response team that will prevent hackers from stealing data, said Santhosh Babu, State Information Technology Secretary.
 
Published: 01st December 2018 05:44 AM 

 
For representational purposes (File | PTI)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: All government establishments in villages will be enabled with free Wi-Fi within a year with around 50,000 km of cable being laid across the State. The wifi will be protected by an emergency response team that will prevent hackers from stealing data, said Santhosh Babu, State Information Technology Secretary, on Friday.

Speaking at the International Computer Security Day conference, he said “While our nation has a Computer Emergency Response Team India (CERT-In), a national nodal agency to resolve computer security problems, we are striving to build a Computer Emergency Response Team- Tamil Nadu( CERT-TN). At a cost of Rs 29.39 crore, we are also creating a Cyber Security Architecture, that will detect unwanted intrusion and stop stealing of information, he said.

Warning about information being sold he said, “Information is a commodity that is bought and sold in the grey market. Most of us do not understand the seriousness of our identity being stolen. Citizens should be aware about cyber crimes and should take necessary steps to secure the data at our level.”

Any information shared on the internet reaches the servers in the United States of America before it reaches us, he said. With the upcoming Cyber Security Architecture, any information that is shared will be scanned and prevented, if the content is of high value, before it reaches the open space in the server.


“Cable wires will be laid over 50,000 km of landscape across Tamil Nadu to provide high speed internet connectivity through free wifi at village level. The wi fi will be provided at all government establishments like hospitals and police stations,” he said.

He also said the office of the Director-General of Police here is being transformed into a ‘paperless e-office’ towards which many officers are striving.

Applauding the work of the State cyber crime police officers, Santhosh Babu said the officers are managing to resolve any intrusion in CCTNS website which is vulnerable and anyone can place an FIR inside.

He said it is a must to warn people about the bitcoin transactions and any other usage that goes through the dark web. “Security on the cyberspace is not a necessity, it’s a national security issue,” he said.

City police commissioner A K Viswanathan said about 10,254 complaints were lodged in the cyber crime cell in the last five years and 399 cases were solved.

Tamil Nadu officials asked to produce list of teachers transferred in 2018

While teachers working away from their home district for more than 10 years were not given transfer to their districts, transfer orders were issued to juniors within a few months of their joining.

Published: 01st December 2018 01:41 AM 

 
Madras High Court. (File Photo | Express Photo Service)

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Admitting a PIL seeking inquiry into corruption in the transfer counselling conducted for teachers, the Madurai Bench directed the Secretary and Director of School Education Department to produce the list of teachers transferred this year and mention the reasons.

KK Ramesh of Madurai submitted in his litigation that the authorities issued transfer orders to a lot of teachers, citing administrative grounds by collecting bribe from them during the general transfer counselling in 2018.

While teachers working away from their home district for more than 10 years were not given transfer to their districts, transfer orders were issued to juniors within a few months of their joining, stated the litigant, questioning the transparency of the method.

These practices result in an imbalance in vacancies. This is evident from the statement made by the government during the counselling that teachers should not be transferred from southern to northern districts, Ramesh stated and prayed the Court to direct an inquiry into such irregularities.


Hearing the plea, a bench comprising K K Sasidharan and P D Audikesavalu issued a notice to the department with specific directions to its Secretary and Director to submit a report on the list of teachers transferred during this year’s counselling.

The report should contain relevant details with regard to the earlier period of service of the teachers and reason for their transfer, the judges added and adjourned the case to December 11.

8000 students graduate from SRM Institute of Science and Technology More than 50 students received gold medals and 53 received PhD degrees which were given away by the chief guest for the event, V K Saraswat, member of NITI Aayog.

  Published: 02nd December 2018 07:43 AM 

 
Image used for representational purpose only. 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Around 8,000 students of SRM Institute of Science and Technology got their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees during its 14th convocation day, on Saturday at Kattankalathur campus.


More than 50 students received gold medals and 53 received PhD degrees which were given away by the chief guest for the event, V K Saraswat, member of NITI Aayog. He said that for India to climb higher in the global innovation index science and technology innovation, eco-system must be altered.

“In the present approach, engineers wrap up the process after a design is seen on the computer, using imported design and simulation tools. This is not good for innovation. The process must involve design, simulation, building, testing, evaluation and validation till the product goes to the market,” he added.

Maharashtra farmer gets Rs 1,064 for 750 kg of onion; sends money to PM Modi in mark of protest

The money order was sent on November 29 from the Niphad office of India Post. It was addressed to "Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India".
 
Published: 02nd December 2018 07:27 PM |

 

PM Modi (File Photo)

By PTI

MUMBAI: An onion-grower from Maharashtra who had to sell his produce for little over Rs 1 per kg has sent his earnings to the Prime Minister to mark his protest.

Sanjay Sathe, a resident of Niphad tehsil in Nashik district, was among the handful of `progressive farmers' selected by the Union agriculture ministry for an interaction with then US president Barack Obama when he visited India in 2010.

Speaking to PTI on Sunday, Sathe said, "I produced 750 kg of onion in this season but was offered a rate of Rs 1 per kg at Niphad wholesale market last week.

"Finally I could negotiate a deal for Rs 1. 40 per kg and received Rs 1,064 for 750 kg," he said.


"It was painful to see such paltry returns on four months of toil. Hence I have donated Rs 1,064 to the Disaster Relief Fund of the PMO as a protest. I had to pay additional Rs 54 for sending it by money order," he said.

"I do not represent any political party. But I am angry because of the government's apathy towards our woes," he added.

The money order was sent on November 29 from the Niphad office of India Post.

It was addressed to "Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India".

Nashik district in north Maharashtra accounts for 50 per cent of onion production in India.

Asked about his meeting with Obama eight years ago, he said, "I have been using a voice-based advisory service (run by a telecom operator) for farmers for a long time. I used to call them and get information about weather changes, and thus succeeded in increasing my production."

"I had also been invited to speak about my experiments in agriculture on local radio stations of AIR. So the agriculture ministry selected me to set up a stall at St Xavier's College in Mumbai when Obama visited it. I could speak to him for a couple of minutes through an interpreter."

Cyclone Gaja: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to give 12 lakh coconut seedlings to delta districts by October 2019

If they are left without proper care, future yield would be affected. Our team is concentrating on the problem,” said the vice-chancellor.

Published: 02nd December 2018 07:24 AM 

 
A family checking the remains of their coconut trees that were entirely levelled by cyclone Gaja at Ambalapattu in Thanjavur. (Photo |EPS) 

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has informed the government that it can provide up to 12 lakh coconuts seedlings for the delta districts, where Cyclone Gaja uprooted 31 lakh coconut trees, according to government estimates. However, it will need time till October 2019 to produce them.

“After assessing the sources, we wrote to the government that TNAU can produce up to 12 lakh seedlings by October 2019. If the government wants us to do it, we will proceed with the plan to produce them,” Vice Chancellor N Kumar told Express. Meanwhile, using satellite technology and drones, the TNAU Department of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System is making an accurate count of the number of coconut trees uprooted in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Pudukkottai districts. When the work is completed, a report will be submitted to the Agriculture Department, he added.

As there is also the risk of the palms being affected by diseases, the TNAU has sent a team from its Pathology Department to make a study and suggest preventive steps needed immediately. “Partially affected trees just 3-5 years old are very vulnerable. The cyclone would have loosened and damaged their roots and affected their steadiness. If they are left without proper care, the future yield would be affected. Our team is concentrating on the problem,” said the vice-chancellor.

Give Tamil medium certificate, Madras HC tells State Board of Technical Education and Training

Preference was given to those who had completed the Polytechnic course through Tamil medium. 

  Published: 02nd December 2018 08:14 AM |

 
Madras HC (File | EPS)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has directed the State Board of Technical Education and Training to consider representation from a candidate, who sought issue of a certificate that he has studied Diploma in Civil Engineering in Tamil medium, to allow him to apply for the post of Draughtsman.


The petitioner, A Gopalakrishnan, said he completed Diploma in Civil Engineering in Tamil medium. TNPSC has issued a notification dated October 30, 2018, calling applications for the post of Draughtsman, Gr.III in the Town and Country Planning Department. Preference was given to those who had completed the Polytechnic course through Tamil medium.

While State Board of Technical Education and Training didn’t issue a certificate to that effect to enable him to apply for the post, Justice T Raja said there was no impediment for the State Board of Technical Education and Training to consider the case of the petitioner.

Treated as servants by accused, say sex abuse victims in Tiruvannamalai According to the investigation officer, there were 49 children at the orphanage. Only two children were boys while all of them were between the age group of 6 and 17 years.

  Published: 01st December 2018 01:39 AM
Image used for representational purpose only 

By Express News Service

TIRUVANNAMALAI: With the arrest of four people in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of orphan children at Merci Children’s Home at Thiruvalluvar Nagar on Thindivanam road here, the victims have revealed that they were made to work as servants at the orphanage and the accused people had treated them very badly.

The owners of the orphanage -- Luban Kumar (65) and his wife Merci Rani (57) -- were arrested along with the third accused, Justin Manavaalan (60), on November 26 under the Juvenile Justice Act and section 6 and 8 of the POCSO Act after a case was registered at the All Women Police Station here. Following an inquiry, the fourth person, Jhansi Rani (60), was arrested on Wednesday.

According to the investigation officer, there were 49 children at the orphanage. Only two children were boys while all of them were between the age group of 6 and 17 years. When the children were questioned, it was revealed that four girl children were sexually abused by Luban Kumar and Justin Manavaalan. The third accused, Justin Manavaalan, had allegedly made the children clean the houses, and wash dishes and clothes. They were also forced to cook food for themselves. The officer said that the children had been treated badly and made to do menial tasks.

Corporation chided by Madras HC for vague submissions in Vadapalani building mishap

The corporation had filed a status report in June 2017 stating that action had been initiated against the officials and the owner of the building and that they were asked to pay the demolition cost.

  Published: 30th November 2018 02:05 AM 

 

Madras High Court. (File Photo | Express Photo Service)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has indicted Greater Chennai Corporation for filing a vague affidavit with regard to the unauthorised multi-storey building at Vadapalani in which four persons died due to a major fire accident two years ago and similar buildings at other places in the State.

After perusing the affidavit filed by the civic body, a bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and Anita Sumant said that the affidavit was very vague and bereft of facts.

Earlier, the corporation had filed a status report in June 2017 stating that action had been initiated against the officials and the owner of the building and that they were asked to pay the demolition cost. Now, the corporation says the violated portions were demolished in September last.

What happened in the interregnum, is not mentioned in the affidavit. Besides this, the prosecution launched, if any, against the officials, who had erred, and the result has not been mentioned. Moreover, with regard to compensation, the corporation had earlier stated that it was not liable to pay. But it had paid Rs 1 lakh as an ex-gratia from CM’s Relief Fund.


“Is it a charity?” the bench asked.

Additional Advocate-General Rajagopal said disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the officials.

When the bench asked what the result of the inquiry was, the AAG said he did not have the details.

Chennai has highest number of new HIV cases reported in Tamil Nadu

Chennai tops the list with the highest number of new cases, shows data shared by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society. 

Published: 30th November 2018 05:12 AM 

 
For representational purposes (File | PTI) 

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The number of new HIV positive cases detected in the State decreased from 11,775 in 2016-2017, to 10,527 in 2017-2018. However, Chennai tops the list with the highest number of new cases, shows data shared by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society.

Next to Chennai, Salem and Tiruchy reported a high number of cases. Those reported from Salem are 751, and Tiruchy 623. Experts say the reason for these districts having reported more cases could be because of a higher floating population. However, activists urge for segregated data collection to know the actual reasons.

“Chennai is a big city where almost 20 per cent of the State’s population lives. Moreover, being an urban area, it receives floating population like migrant workers and others. They get tested here, so the numbers indicate the population. Similarly, Salem and Tiruchy are bigger districts with more area to cover,” Dr K Senthilraj, Project Director, State AIDS Control Society told Express.


Asked about cities like Coimbatore and Madurai reporting lesser number of cases when compared to the above mentioned districts, Senthilraj said, Salem and Tiruchy have a greater area to cover than Coimbatore and Madurai. However, a source in the department said, “The number of cases reported from areas like Tiruchy and Salem, have been higher for the last two decades. It could be because of people from other districts coming to the tertiary care centres here and getting tested. But, again, we don’t know the actual reason why these districts continue to report more number of cases. To know so, every individual case record should be tracked,” he added.

Collecting mere data is not enough, the officials should analyse the reason for the increase for better programme planning. “The increase in numbers could also be attributed to better data collection in these districts and better reporting. But, we really don’t know the actual reason. Complete detail of the cases and also the reasons for the person coming to the particular centre for screening and their background, should be collected.

Officials should plan their control and prevention programme based on the same for better results,” said P Kousalya, President, Positive Women Network.