HC directs State to convene meeting on doctors’ demands

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, JANUARY 31, 2019 00:00 IST

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the State to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to resolve the demands put forth by government doctors.

A Division Bench of Justices K. K. Sasidharan and P. D. Audikesavalu directed the State to convene a meeting of Health and Family Welfare department and the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association to resolve the issues of pay parity and time-bound promotions. The court sought an action taken report on the meeting on February 18.

The State had informed the court that it was looking into the recommendations of the working committee that had earlier convened a meeting to discuss the demands of State government doctors.

They have demanded pay parity with Central government doctors and other State doctors. The doctors also demanded that the process for time-bound promotions for doctors be expedited.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by S. Mohamed Yunnis Raja of Madurai, who sought a direction to restrain the TNGDA from going ahead with its strike.

Convicted ex-Minister takes part in government function

P.V. Srividya

HOSUR, JANUARY 31, 2019 00:00 IST



Convicted ex-Minister Balakrishna Reddy along with Krishnagiri MP Ashok Kumar at the flower marketing building stone-laying ceremony in Hosur on Wednesday.

Balakrishna Reddy was sentenced to jail in a case of rioting

The prominence accorded to a convicted former minister at a government department’s event has raised questions of propriety. Former Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Balakrishna Reddy, who was recently convicted and sentenced to three years’ jail in a case of rioting and destruction of government property, was accorded the centre-stage, to co-preside over an event by the Agriculture Department here on Wednesday.

The sentence has been suspended as he had gone on an appeal. But, that he had been stripped of his ministerial berth, and had to even vacate his MLA seat (Hosur) in view of the conviction, seemed to have been lost on those who organised the event.

On Wednesday, the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business organised a bhoomi puja for a flower marketing complex here.

Mr. Reddy was given the pride of centre-stage at the event, with the district officials also present.

Sporting a garland and in the company of Krishnagiri MP K. Ashok Kumar, District Revenue Officer S. Shanti and Hosur Sub Collector K.Vimal Raj, Mr. Reddy held a digging bar, symbolic of the stone laying ceremony.

“Why does this surprise us, when straightforward questions of propriety over the continuance of Jayalalithaa’s portrait or a mausoleum for her were raised in view of her conviction, they were normalised and received sanctions from the courts themselves?”asked Hosur-based writer Aadhavan Deetchanya.

When The Hindu contacted the DRO she was in a meeting and said she would revert. But, she did not.

“We had invited the MLAs, and maybe the local MP invited him (Mr. Reddy). This is political, and we do not know anything,” said Ramamurthy, Deputy Director of Agricultural Marketing, who was in Chennai and did not attend the event.

HC expresses shock over case of discharged accused getting convicted

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI, JANUARY 31, 2019 00:00 IST



Says all stakeholders should hang their heads in shame

“Our legal system has made life too easy for the criminals and too difficult for law-abiding citizens. A touch here and a push there, India may become ungovernable in the present constitutional set-up, said eminent jurist N.A. Palkhivala, and the facts of this case validate his sagely prophecy.” This is how the Madras High Court began one of its verdicts on Tuesday.

Justice P.N. Prakash penned the prelude after coming across a shocking case of a trial court having convicted and sentenced a person in a criminal case though he had already been discharged. When an explanation was sought, the judicial officer replied that he had ‘inadvertently’ convicted and punished the first accused instead of the second accused.

What’s more, an appeal was preferred in the name of the discharged accused and the High Court too had suspended the sentence imposed by the trial court. Neither the special public prosecutor concerned nor any other advocate had brought the anomaly to the notice of the court, Justice Prakash lamented.

Long road to trial

He recalled that the case dated back to May 2, 2000, when Shivshankar, a Dalit, lodged a police complaint accusing Nanjappan and Saravanan of having abused him using his caste name and assaulting him. In 2004, a Sessions Court in Krishnagiri district discharged Nanjappan from the case, and that order was not challenged either by the prosecution or the complainant. In the meantime, a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against Saravanan since he was absconding. It took more than eight years for the police to arrest the absconding accused, and eventually, he was made to face trial in the case in 2008.

Finally, on August 26, 2011, a Sessions Court convicted and sentenced Nanjappan instead of convicting Saravanan.

The trial court had convicted Nanjappan under Section 323 (causing hurt voluntarily) of the IPC and sentenced him to one year of rigorous imprisonment, apart from imposing a fine of Rs. 1,000. Assuming that the punishment had been imposed only against him, Saravanan paid the fine amount and instructed his lawyer to prefer an appeal.

Accordingly, an appeal was preferred in the High Court in the name of Nanjappan in 2011 and the sentence got suspended. The appeal was gathering dust for the last seven years until Justice Prakash took it up for final hearing recently.

“The tragedy is that for the occurrence that took place in the year 2000, the system has not been able to properly acquit or punish the offender till 2019, for which all the stakeholders should hang their head in shame,” the judge said..

Later, the judge remitted the matter to the Dharmapuri Sessions Court for passing judgment afresh within a month.

A smooth ride soon from Tidel Park to ECR

Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI, JANUARY 31, 2019 00:00 IST

Work on Thiruvanmiyur grade separator to commence in six months

The decade-long wait for a grade separator in Thiruvanmiyur seems to be coming to an end, with the State government recently notifying the lands required for the proposed 1.3-km-long facility.

Around 8,500 sq. m of land is required for the 4-lane facility that was initially proposed by the Chennai Corporation, but later given up. The Highways Department then decided to take up the work due to increase in traffic on East Coast Road (ECR).

A total of Rs. 54 crore has already been sanctioned for land acquisition by the State government.

Smooth ride

“The grade separator will take off 100 m from the Buckingham Canal at Tidel Park junction on West Avenue and end at the RTO junction on the ECR. It will allow motorists from the Tidel Park side to cross at least four junctions without stopping,” explained an official in the Highways Department. On completion, motorists, who now take over 20 minutes during peak hours to travel the distance, will be able to sail through.

“Since the Thiruvanmiyur bus terminus is on the ECR, on the right, the entry and exit of buses delays traffic. Added to this is the traffic coming in from small roads that join the ECR and buses to Puducherry and beyond that wait near the Marundeeswarar temple,” said M. Ramesh, a resident of Thiruvanmiyur.

Many vehicles avoid this stretch and take internal roads instead, to reach their destinations.

The grade separator will run along the median most of the way. “At the curve, we will take a deviation to the right and then again get onto the median,” explained an engineer associated with the project.

Awaiting valuation

The valuation of lands has to be done and that is likely to take 3-4 months, after which, compensation has to be paid to the 83 landowners.

There are also parcels of government lands that will be alienated.

“After that, tenders will be called for the construction. Work is likely to commence in about six months’ time,” an official said.

It will allow motorists from the Tidel Park side to cross at least four junctions without stopping

DVAC blows lid off school education scam

S. Vijay Kumar

CHENNAI, JANUARY 31, 2019 00:00 IST

Registers case against top officials on charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery and corruption

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption on Wednesday exposed serious irregularities in the implementation of major educational projects aimed at enhancing the competency of teachers and learning capabilities of students in 31,322 government and panchayat union primary and middle schools across Tamil Nadu.

The agency registered a case against G. Arivoli, Director, Tamil Nadu State Council of Educational Research and Training; R. Latha, Director, Non-Formal Education; Sangeetha, Asst. Professor, TNSCERT; and others on charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery and corruption.

Govt. staff suspend strike

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JANUARY 31, 2019 00:00 IST




Duty calls:A teacher is back at work in a government school in Mogappair West, Chennai.M. VedhanM_VEDHAN 

31.01.2019

Jactto-Geo cites upcoming exams, CM’s appeal as reasons


In a relief to students of State-run schools, the general public as well as the government, the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (Jactto-Geo) on Wednesday announced its decision to “temporarily postpone” its indefinite strike, which has been on since January 22.

Temporary halt

“In view of the upcoming examinations and practical tests for Class 10, 11 and 12 students and in consideration of the welfare of students and the sentiments of their parents, directions of the High Court as well as the appeal of the Chief Minister and other political leaders, we have decided to temporarily suspend our indefinite protest. Our demands remain,” A. Vincent Paulraj, a Jactto-Geo coordinator and Tamil Nadu Teachers Federation General Secretary, announced.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had on Tuesday appealed to the striking employees and teachers to prioritise welfare works over their rights and return to work. DMK president and leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin too appealed to striking teachers on Wednesday to return to work in view of the examinations.

Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association (TNGEA) general secretary and Jactto-Geo coordinator M. Anbarasu said that the association was still hopeful that the CM would hold talks with them to resolve issues.

Does Knee Pain Keep You Away from what You Love?

Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery, one of the first of its Kind in Tamil Nadu

toi 31.01.2019

Millions of people suffer from osteoarthritis, which occurs when there is a breakdown in the cushioning cartilage between joints, such as the knee. When this cartilage wears down, bones begin to rub against each other causing pain, swelling, stiffness and damage to other parts of the knee. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, partial or total knee replacements are the common surgical options available today. Robotic Total Knee Replacement Surgery is the latest advancement in the way orthopaedic surgeons perform partial and total knee replacement. Every Robotic procedure has an individualized plan based on each patient’s unique anatomy. The system works in conjunction with the surgeon’s skilled hands to achieve precise positioning of components during surgery. This level of accuracy can help improve the function, feel and potential longevity of the knee implant.

Robotic knee replacement surgery has many definitive benefits over traditional joint replacement surgery: one being, a bone conserving technology as it helps in preserving natural anatomy. It enables the surgeon to operate with enhanced precision even during the most complex procedures and difficult cases. Enhanced precision and lesser bone removal leads to less blood loss, reduced pain, faster and better post-operative outcomes for the patient. Robotic assisted joint replacement is at a much higher level with regards to Patient satisfaction parameters than traditional joint replacement surgery.

Institute of Orthopaedics at SIMS Hospital recently performed two back-to-back successful Robotic total knee replacement surgeries, for the first time in Tamil Nadu on 65 years old patients, both with severe knee pain for over 5 years. These surgeries were done using the NAVIO PFS Robotic surgical system, the latest advanced generation Robotic intervention in joint replacement (developed in the USA) and to the delight of the families, enabled these patients to walk without significant pain within approximately 4 hours of the surgery itself.

Fo more information contact- Dr. Vijay C. Bose, Joint Director & Senior Consultant, Institute of Orthopedics SIMS Hospital 

www.simshospitals.comMobile: 9600133000; Ph. 49211455, Email: enquiry@simshospitals.com

It’s the office canteen that is making you fat

Times of India 31.01.2019

Eatables People Get At Work Generally High In Empty Calories, Salt, Fat And Sugar: Study

Foods eaten in US workplaces — whether purchased in cafeterias, or available to employees for free — are usually unhealthy, say experts.

A survey of what working adults ate over the course of a week found that one in four people got food at work one or more times, and that it was generally high in empty calories, salt, fat and sugar.

These treats included pizza, soft drinks, cookies, brownies, cakes, pies and candy. They added up, on average, to nearly 1,300 calories per week, the study authors report in the ‘Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’.

“The majority of this is not from cafeterias or vending machines but offered for free at social events and meetings,” said lead study author Stephen Onufrak.

Onufrak’s findings are drawn from a nationally-representative sample of 5,200 employed adults who took a survey from the US Department of Agriculture in 2012-2013, which asked what people ate over a seven-day period.

They found that 23% of workers obtained food at work during the week, including 17% who got food for free and 9% who bought food. Among the top contributors to calorie totals in both cases were soft drinks, sandwiches, tortilla and other types of chips, donuts or pastries and candy.

As measured by a standard known as the 2010 Heathy Eating Index (HEI 2010), the workplace foods got an average score of 48.6, which is about the average score found in analyses of menu items at fast food restaurants.

While food obtained at work doesn’t represent the largest part of most people’s diets, about 11% of workers obtained food at work three times per week, and 5% of workers did so five or more times per week. That means millions of employees eat a large number of calories at work regularly, and it could be a significant part of their diet, the authors point out. “Some workers may grab a snack, but others may be relying on work as a major component of their diet,” Onufrak said.

Researchers are now looking at characteristics of worksite wellness programmes and how they can affect nutrition. For example, future worksite policies could create a “healthy meeting rule” that includes healthy options alongside pizza or cake, Onufrak said.

“It would be interesting to know more about the worksite food environment . . . and if worksites do offer more healthful choices but most workers are choosing the less healthful foods,” said Simone French, a researcher at University of Minnesota. 

REUTERS

UNHEALTHY CALORIES

No IoE tag for new institutions till elections

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:31.01.2019

No new institution will get the institute of eminence (IoE) tag, at least till the next elections. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought the Centre’s clarification on whether the expert panel’s proposal, which increases the number of institutes of eminence to 30, the process will get delayed as there is “no time left for consultations” in the run-up to the general elections, sources in the HRD ministry said.

The Commission in its meeting on Tuesday discussed extension of IoE tag to 30 institutions, 10 more than initially decided. The UGC decided to ask for a clarification after the Empowered Expert Committee’s (EEC) recommended 19 more universities for IoE status in December 2018, making the list go up to 30.

The government’s original plan was to accord the IoE status to 10 public and 10 private institutes to develop them as worldclass institutions. The 10 government institutions, in addition to autonomy, will also get ₹1,000 crore each from the HRD ministry to achieve world-class status.

In a first, SC orders prosecution of Bhopal medical college dean for perjury

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:31.01.2019

In a first of its kind case, the Supreme Court has ordered prosecution of the dean of Bhopal-based RKDF Medical College for presenting false evidence, which carries a maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment, on the institution’s infrastructure, faculty and other facilities to trick the apex court into directing the Centre to permit it to admit 150 students in the MBBS course.

A bench of Justices S A Bobde, L Nageswara Rao and R Subhash Reddy also imposed a penalty of Rs 5 crore on the medical college, which had moved Madhya Pradesh HC, Delhi HC and the SC at various stages and different years to challenge Medical Council of India’s inspection report which found gross deficiencies and recommended rejection of permission for admission to the MBBS course for 2015-16, a year after the college was set up in 2014.

Repeated inspections were ordered by the SC, Delhi HC and Madhya Pradesh HC as the college, after presenting fabricated documents, managed to get provisional nod for admitting 150 students to the second MBBS batch. However, the tricks up its sleeve were exhausted when the time came for admissions to the third batch of MBBS students for the academic year 2017-18.

The SC was informed by senior advocate Vikas Singh and counsel Gaurav Sharma, who appeared for MCI, that the college had repeatedly fudged records and an inquiry had shown that many faculty members purportedly on the payroll actually had their private practice or were working in private hospitals.

The college attempted to wriggle out by tendering an unconditional apology, which was rejected by the bench. Writing the judgment for the bench, Justice Rao said, “S S Kushwaha, dean of RKDF Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, is liable for prosecution under Section 193 IPC. The secretary general of this court is directed to depute an officer to initiate the prosecution in a competent court having jurisdiction in Delhi.” The bench barred the college from admitting any student for two years. It was also directed to pay Rs 1 lakh to each student.

The SC was informed by senior advocate Vikas Singh and counsel Gaurav Sharma, who appeared for MCI, that the college had repeatedly fudged records and an inquiry had shown that many faculty members purportedly on the payroll actually had their private practice or were working in private hospitals

AICTE to cut 40K seats in govt engineering colleges

Aditi.Gyanesh@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:31.01.2019

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to cut 40,000 seats in government colleges across the country. The move comes after state-run engineering colleges have failed to ramp up infrastructure and fix their staff shortage problem.

“The decision to reduce seats has been taken after seeing the lackadaisical attitude and negligence of state governments in changing the condition of state-run engineering colleges. They have failed to recruit faculty and provide proper infrastructure,” Anil Sahasrabuddhe, AICTE chairman, told TOI.

He warned that the seat cut will continue if states are not able to act fast and work on the staff crunch and infrastructure problem at the earliest. “About eight states have already taken some action; we’re waiting for the others,” he added.

However, the seat-cut is not just because of inadequate action by colleges. The demand for engineering course has also been sliding. Across India, 50% engineering seats were vacant in 2018. AICTE has also decided not to approve any new engineering colleges for next two years.

However, approval for additional seats and new programmes in existing institutions will be granted based on capacity utilization.

The AICTE is also forming a review committee to look into pharmacy colleges. The accreditation body has seen a boom in applications from states to open new ones every year. Sahasrabuddhe hinted at the similar measure for management schools too.

Every year, about 10 lakhs engineering seats are available across India.

The move comes after state-run engineering colleges have failed to ramp up infrastructure and fix their staff shortage problem

UGC directs colleges to pay ₹50,000 to guest faculty

Sambath.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Trichy:31.01.2019

While the state government is yet to adopt a decade-old guideline of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to enhance the monthly honorarium of guest faculty members in arts and science colleges up to ₹25,000, the commission has now doubled the honorarium in its new guidelines issued on Monday.

Guest faculty across university-run constituent arts and science colleges and government arts colleges in TN get a monthly salary of ₹15,000. There are about 2,400 guest faculty in 41 constituent colleges and more than 1,600 in government arts colleges. Their salary has remained the same for years.

“UGC must make adoption of guidelines mandatory for getting funds,” said A Senthil Kumar, general secretary, TN government constituent college guest lecturers’ association. He raised concern over a UGC move allowing superannuated teachers to be hired as guest faculty up to 70 years. This would affect the prospects of existing guest faculty, he said.

“We have been pleading for salary hike for several years,” said another guest faculty member of a constituent college under Bharathidasan University. “Manonmaniam Sundaranar University pays ₹20,000 a month to guest faculty in its constituent colleges. Other state universities, including Bharathidasan, refuse to do so,” he said.

TN Government College Teachers Association vice-president G Ramesh said, “We were informed that the state is to increase the honorarium to ₹25,000 in a few weeks. We will ask the state to increase the honorarium further as teachers cannot be exploited.”

Woman’s leg stuck in toilet on train, freed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31.01.2019

There was a flutter at Chennai Central Railway Station on Tuesday evening when a woman’s leg got stuck in the steel commode of a western toilet on a train. Soon, police, railway workers and paramedics rushed into the toilet of the Hyderabad-bound Charminar Express, cut open the commode and freed Bejjenki Bharathamma.

After her ‘rescue’, the 40-year-old, a native of Andhra Pradesh who lived in the city and was on a visit home, decided to cancel her trip. The train, which was scheduled to depart at 6.10pm, finally left after a delay of around 35 minutes, police said.

Preliminary inquiries by police revealed that Bharathamma had boarded the train well ahead of its scheduled departure and decided to use the toilet when the accident occurred. She got on to the commode when she slipped and her leg got stuck. The woman, despite being caught in an uncomfortable position, managed to open the door and began screaming for help. A few of her co-passengers called the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.

Immediately, an RPF team and some Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel along with some Southern Railway technicians rushed to the spot after alerting the paramedical staff at the Apollo Emergency Care Centre at the station.

“It was a task for the paramedical staff as the steel commode had to be removed without damaging the woman’s leg that was trapped inside,” said a police officer.

Using power equipment, the paramedics removed the commode after cutting the sheet covering it in a 10-minute operation. The woman was later taken to the Apollo Emergency Care Centre and administered first aid.

The incident happened on Hyderabad-bound Charminar Express

It was a task for the paramedical staff as the steel commode had to be removed without damaging the woman’s leg that was trapped inside

POLICE OFFICER

17-yr-old sans licence rides bike, run over

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31.01.2019

A Class XII student, who was riding his motorbike without a licence and a helmet, was run over by an MTC bus near MMDA Colony on Wednesday morning after being hit by another two-wheeler.

Police who identified the deceased youth as A Alagu Sundaram said he was going to an ATM kiosk when the accident occurred.

Sundaram usually took a bus to school. On Wednesday morning he asked his friends to wait at the bus stop while he went to the ATM booth near his house. He was 200 metres from hishouse, at MMDA Colony Main Road junction, when a biker rammed his two wheeler.

He lost control of the bike, fell down and came under the rear wheels of a MTC bus (15G). He died on the spot. The MTC driver abandoned the vehicle and fled. A few passersby informed the Anna Nagar traffic police who sent his body to the Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital for postmortem.

The Anna Nagar police registered a case of causing death due to negligence against the unknown biker and the MTC bus driver and launched a hunt for both. “We checked the CCTV camera footage and found the involvement of both biker and MTC bus,” said an investigating officer.

“Sundaram was a state-level chess champion and often travelled to Delhi and Kolkata for competitions,” said Manimekalai, one of his teachers. Sundaram’s father Amuthan, a native of Karaikudi, runs a hotel in the MMDA colony

Three offer auto ride to senior citizen, rob her
Suspects Warn Her Against Going To Police
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31.01.2019

Three women attacked and robbed an elderly woman after offering her a ride in an autorickshaw at Mylapore on Tuesday. The victim Kasturi, a resident of Pallavan Street in Abiramapuram, was headed to the Mundaga Kanni Amman temple in Mylapore when the trio who came in an auto made small talk with the woman to trap her.

They began by asking the route to a place in the locality. They also asked Kasturi where was she going and offered her a ride till the temple. Even though a little reluctant at the beginning, Kasturi eventually accepted the offer.

The women made her sit inbetween them in the auto. As the autorickshaw crossed Gramani Street, the women threatened the elderly woman and snatched her four and a half sovereigns gold chain.

They then dropped her near the temple and threatened her with dire consequences if she lodged complained to the police.

Later, the woman lodged a complaint at the Abiramapuram police station. Based on her complaint, police have registered a case and launched a hunt for the suspects and the autorickshaw driver, who is believed to have colluded with the women.

Similar cases have been reported in recent months where the modus operandi has been to offer ride to unsuspecting pedestrians and then make away with their valuables.

The victims in most cases are elderly people.

Earlier on January 24, another elderly woman Padmavathi was robbed off in a similar fashio in Kellys. Police are verifying if the same gang operated in Abiramapuram too.

1. The three-women gang comes in an autorickshaw and approaches Kasturi waiting for transport to a temple in Mylapore.

2. Though hesitant, she gets into the auto and sits, flanked by the women. They then threaten and snatch her gold chain.

3. The gang then leaves Kasturi near the temple in Mylapore and flees

Court frames charges against Maran brothers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31.01.2019

Wednesday was a long day for former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran and his elder brother Kalanithi Maran, who spent most of it at the special court for CBI cases in the Madras high court premises in connection with the decade-old illegal telephone exchange case. At the end of the day, the court framed charges against the brothers and five other accused, which included criminal conspiracy and offences under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.

At around 4 pm, the XIV additional judge for CBI cases R Vasanthi said offences under section 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) read with 409 (criminal breach of trust), 467, 471and 477 of IPC and sections13(2) read with13 (1)(c) and 13(1)(d) of the PC Act are framed against A1– Dayanidhi Maran.

The case was list for hearing on Wednesday at10.30 am as the first item in the day’s list. When the court commenced proceeding, counsel for the accused produced a copy of the high court order and submitted that the trial court should hear the submissions of all seven accused individually and that charges should not be framed without hearing them.

When the judge asked whether all the accused are present, counsel said that Maran brothers were a bit late and would reach the court anytime.

When the brothers entered the court hall, the judge said she was adjourning the hearing to noon so that she could ‘apply her mind’ and go through the high court order.

When the case was taken up at noon, Dayanidhi appeared in person and submittedthattheentire casewas politically motivated, and that the CBI had no material evidence to prove he had abused his powers as minister.

Kalanithi, who also presented his submissions in person, said that in the 6000-page chargesheet there was not a single mention of his name and that he was dragged into the case only because he was Dayanidhi’s brother. “I am being made a scapegoat in the case. The intention is to destroy my TV channel,” he said.

After hearing all the seven accused, the judge once again adjourned the hearing to 3 pm to ‘apply her mind’ on the submissions made.

At 3 pm, she read out the charges framed against all the accused and asked for their reply. As the accused unanimously pleaded not guilty and‘opted for trial’, the court posted the case to February 19 for commencement of trial. According to the CBI, Dayanidhi as union minister misused his office and installed a private telephone exchange at his residence in Chennai and utilised the facility for business transactions of Sun TV causing a loss of 1.78 crore to the exchequer.

Kalanithi Maran (L) and Dayanidhi Maran leaving the CBI court on Wednesday

Angiogram cath lab opened at Kilpauk Medical College

Chennai:31,01.2019

A new single-plane digital subtraction angiogram cathlabwasinaugurated at the cardiology department of Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) on Wednesday by C Vijaya Baskar, minister for health and family welfare department. During the inauguration, the minister announced that the lab was one among 11 such facilities sanctioned for government hospitals in the state at a cost of Rs 45.92 crore.

“More than 2,000 patients with cardiac problems have been attended to at state-run hospitals in the past six months and the treatment was done free of cost,” he said. The government plans to set up similar cath labs in Dharmapuri, Kanyakumari, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Thuthukodi and Theni districts in the coming months at , he said. TNN

Girls sexually abused in TN home photographed, filmed

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

Chennai:31.01.2019

Several girls of a government authorized home in Tiruvannamalai were sexually assaulted for years. They were also photographed and videographed by the home manager, the victims, aged between 6 and 17 years and rescued two months ago, told Tiruvannamalai district authorities.

The shocking disclosure was made by the victims to the district child protection officer, D Kokila, when she accompanied collector K S Kandasamy during an inspection at three homes registered under the Juvenile Justices Act.

The victims rescued from Mercy Adaikalapuram Missionary Home for Children said they were videographed and photographed, Kandasamy told TOI. “We checked the home’s computer, but there was no evidence. We suspect it was deleted. We are waiting for police to retrieve the lost data,” he said. Tiruvannamalai Superintendent of Police M R Sibi Chakravarthy said the hard disk seized was in the custody of the mahila court and police would obtain the court’s permission to send it to a forensic laboratory to retrieve data.

Authorities failed to regularly check well-being of kids

The authorities had sealed three homes and rescued 88 children, 77 girls and 11 boys, over the last six months. Most of the orphaned girls, in the 14-17 age group, had been sexually assaulted repeatedly for years. “The girls were videographed and photographed while they were bathing. None of the bathrooms in the homes had doors,” the Tiruvannamalai probationary officer said, quoting the traumatized girls rescued from the Mercy Adaikalapuram Missionary Home for Children in November 2018.

Luban Kumar, 65, a retired teacher who ran the home, installed CCTV cameras in rooms, in the hall and the verandah. Luban, his wife Mercy Rani, 55, and her brother Justin Manavalan, 50, were booked under the Pocso Act and IPC and also under the Goondas Act.

When the girls complained against Luban for sexually abusing, his wife and her brother beat them, the officer said.

The home has been functioning for more than eight years and the children were sexually assaulted repeatedly. “It went unnoticed as authorities failed to conduct periodical checks or make inquiries about their well-being,” said child rights activist and former Kancheepuram child welfare committee member Zaheeruddin Mohamed.

Orphans and not children of single parents in these homes were targeted for a long time, said the probationary officer. During Tuesday’s inspection at Arunai home for children, a laptop and desktop were seized. G Vinod Kumar, manager, was booked under sections 354 (A) of IPC read with 8, 11, 21 (2) of Pocso Act 2012. “He forced the girls to watch pornography films and forced them to enact it,” said an official who spoke to a 17-year-old girl.

Officials said girls rescued from Rainbow Home four months ago were also sexually assaulted. “The home was permitted to accommodate nine children, but it had 23, including 11 boys. Boys and girls in adolescent age should not be kept on the same premises,” said the probationary officer. Two of the boys were arrested under Pocso Act for sexually abusing the girls. Those running the home were also arrested.


IN SAFE HANDS: As many as 77 girls and 11 boys, were rescued over the last six months

Decision put off on Institutes of Eminence

Priscilla Jebaraj

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 30, 2019 00:28 IST

The University Grants Commission has deferred a decision on which institutions should be granted the prestigious Institutes of Eminence tag as an expert committee has recommended more names than the government scheme allowed for.

“The expert committee recommended 30 names, 15 in each category. But the government scheme said we had to select ten in each category [of public and private institutions],” UGC member Sushma Yadav told The Hindu after the Commission’s meeting on Tuesday.

“It is not just a question of naming institutions, but there is also a ₹1,000 crore grant [for the public institutions]. So we decided to refer back to the government, whether they want to expand the scheme,” she said, adding that the committee had not put its list of names in any preferential order or ranking.

The scheme is aimed at developing world-class institutions which would put India on the global education map. Institutions were offered greater autonomy and freedom to decide fees, course durations and structures. The 10 selected public institutions would also receive a grant of ₹1000 crore, while the 10 private institutions would not receive any financial assistance.

The empowered expert committee headed by former Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami had initially recommended 11 institutions for the tag in July 2018. Of those, the Centre had actually bestowed the tag on six institutions, three public — IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and IISc Bangalore – and three private — BITS Pilani, Manipal University, and the yet-to-open Jio University. In December, the committee recommended 19 more names, taking the total list to 30.

The UGC has now thrown the ball back into the Human Resource Development Ministry’s court, to clarify whether the scheme will be expanded to accommodate all 30 recommendations, or whether the original limit will remain.

Dr. Yadav also said there had been no mention or discussion of any report or input from the Intelligence Bureau regarding the proposed institutions.

தலையங்கம்

மாணவர்களுக்கு ஏற்பட்டுள்ள பெரிய பாதிப்பு



‘‘இரண்டு யானைகள் சண்டைபோட்டால் காலடியில் உள்ள புல்தான் பெரும் பாதிப்புக்குள்ளாகும்’’ என்பது ஆப்பிரிக்க நாட்டின் பழமொழி. அதுதான் இப்போது தமிழ்நாட்டிலும் நடந்துகொண்டிருக்கிறது.

ஜனவரி 29 2019, 04:00

ஆசிரியர்கள் சங்கங்கள் மற்றும் அரசு ஊழியர் சங்கங்களின் கூட்டமைப்பான ஜாக்டோ–ஜியோ கடந்த ஒருவார காலமாக காலவரையற்ற போராட்டத்தை நடத்திவருகிறார்கள். அரசு பணிகள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டாலும், ஓரளவிற்கு அதை ஈடுகட்டிவிடமுடியும். ஆனால், கடந்த ஒருவார காலமாக பள்ளிக்கூட ஆசிரியர்கள் நடத்திவரும் போராட்டத்தால் மாணவர்கள் பெரும் பாதிப்படைந்துள்ளனர். அரசு கடும்நடவடிக்கை எடுத்து சஸ்பெண்டு மற்றும் கைது நடவடிக்கைகளை தொடங்கியுள்ளது. தற்காலிக ஆசிரியர்கள் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். இன்று அவர்கள் பணியில் சேர்கிறார்கள்.

வேலைநிறுத்தத்திற்கு காரணமாக 1–4–2003–க்கு பிறகு அமலுக்கு கொண்டுவந்த பங்களிப்பு ஓய்வூதிய திட்டத்தை கைவிட்டுவிட்டு, பழைய ஓய்வூதியதிட்டத்தை அமல்படுத்தவேண்டும். இடைநிலை ஆசிரியர்களுக்கு மத்தியஅரசுக்கு இணையான ஊதியம் வழங்கவேண்டும். 21 மாத ஊதியமாற்ற நிலுவைத்தொகையை உடனடியாக வழங்கவேண்டும். சிறப்பு காலமுறை ஊதியம் பெற்றுவரும் சத்துணவு, அங்கன்வாடி பணியாளர்கள் தொகுப்பு ஊதியத்தில் பணியாற்றும் சிறப்பு ஆசிரியர்கள் ஆகியோருக்கு வரையறுக்கப்பட்ட காலமுறை ஊதியம் வழங்கப்படவேண்டும் என்பது உள்பட 9 அம்ச கோரிக்கைகளை ஆசிரியர்கள் முன்னெடுத்து வேலைநிறுத்தம் செய்துவருகிறார்கள்.

செயல்படுத்தமுடியாத கோரிக்கைகளை வலியுறுத்தி போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபடவேண்டாம். உடனடியாக பணிக்கு திரும்புங்கள் என்று அரசு தரப்பில், அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கும், ஆசிரியர்களுக்கும் வேண்டுகோள் விடப்பட்டுள்ளது. புதிய ஓய்வூதியதிட்டம் என்பது 2003–ம் ஆண்டிலேயே சட்டம் இயற்றப்பட்டு அமலுக்கு வந்துள்ளது. தமிழ்நாட்டில் மட்டும் தனியாக நடைமுறையில் இல்லை. 174 நாடுகள் மற்றும் இந்தியாவில் மேற்குவங்காளம் தவிர, அனைத்து மாநிலங்களிலும் புதிய ஓய்வூதிய திட்டம்தான் அமலில் இருக்கிறது. ஊதியஉயர்வு நிலுவைகள் எல்லாம் உடனடியாக வழங்கமுடியாது. அரசின் வருவாய் பற்றாக்குறை அதாவது, அரசுக்கு கிடைக்கும் வருவாயைவிட கூடுதல் செலவு இந்த ஆண்டு ரூ.24 ஆயிரம் கோடியாக இருக்கிறது. அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு ஊதியநிலுவை வழங்கவேண்டுமென்றால் ரூ.20 ஆயிரம் கோடி கூடுதல் செலவாகிறது. இதை சமாளிக்கவேண்டுமென்றால், பொதுமக்கள்மீது கூடுதல் வரிச்சுமையை திணிப்பது ஒன்றே வழியாகும். இதைசெய்ய அரசு தயாராக இல்லை. இதுபோல, மற்ற கோரிக்கைகளையும் நிறைவேற்ற அரசிடம் பணம் இல்லை என்று மிகத்தெளிவாக அறிவித்துவிட்டது. மாணவர்களை பொறுத்தமட்டில், அடுத்த 2 மாதங்களில் இறுதித்தேர்வு எழுதவேண்டும். இந்த ஒருவருட உழைப்பும் தற்போது ஆசிரியர்கள் நடத்தும் போராட்டத்தால் பெரும் பாதிப்புக்குள்ளாகிவிட்டது. நேற்று மதுரை ஐகோர்ட்டில் அரசு ஊழியர்கள், ஆசிரியர்கள் போராட்டம் ஏற்கத்தக்கதல்ல. தமிழக அரசும், சங்கங்களும் பேசி முடிவெடுக்க வேண்டும் என்று நீதிபதிகள் சசிதரன், சுவாமிநாதன் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளனர். போராட்டம் நடத்துவதற்கு தேர்வுகாலம்தான் சரியான நேரமா?, தேர்வு நேரத்தை கருத்தில் கொண்டு ஆசிரியர்கள் மட்டும் பணிக்கு திரும்பமுடியுமா? என்பதை இன்று பிற்பகலில் ஜாக்டோ–ஜியோ தெரிவிக்க வேண்டும் என்று சென்னை ஐகோர்ட்டில் நடந்த வழக்கு விசாரணையின்போது நீதிபதி என்.கிருபாகரன் கேட்டு இருக்கிறார். இந்தநிலையில், அரசும், ஆசிரியர்களும், மாணவர்களின் நலனை மனதில் நினைத்து, இந்தப்போராட்டத்தை ஒரு முடிவுக்கு கொண்டுவரவேண்டும். மாணவர்களின் தேர்வுமுடிந்து விடுமுறைக்காலத்தில் இந்தப்பிரச்சினையை இருதரப்பும் கையில் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளலாம். இப்போது உங்கள் மோதலால் இளந்தளிர்களான எங்களை நசுக்கிவிடாதீர்கள் என்பதுதான் மாணவர்களின் கோரிக்கையாகும்.

மாநில செய்திகள்

பேச்சுவார்த்தைக்கு அரசு அழைத்தால் மட்டுமே பணிக்கு திரும்ப முடியும் ஐகோர்ட்டில் ஜாக்டோ-ஜியோ அமைப்பு திட்டவட்டம்



பேச்சுவார்த்தைக்கு அரசு அழைத்தால் மட்டுமே பணிக்கு திரும்ப முடியும் என உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் ஜாக்டோ-ஜியோ அமைப்பு திட்டவட்டமாக தெரிவித்து உள்ளது.

பதிவு: ஜனவரி 29, 2019 17:35 PM
சென்னை

ஜாக்டோ-ஜியோ அமைப்பினர் கடந்த முறை நடத்திய போராட்டத்தில் பங்கேற்ற திருவண்ணாமலை மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்த பள்ளி ஆசிரியர் ஒருவர் பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டார்.


இதை எதிர்த்து அவர் கடந்த 2017-ம் ஆண்டு சென்னை ஐகோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடர்ந்தார். அந்த வழக்கில், ஆசிரியர் சங்க நிர்வாகிகள், ஜாக்டோ-ஜியோ அமைப்பு எதிர்மனுதாரர்களாக சேர்க்கப்பட்டு இருந்தனர். இந்த வழக்கு நீதிபதி என்.கிருபாகரன் முன்பு நிலுவையில் உள்ளது.


இந்தநிலையில், இந்த வழக்கு நீதிபதி என்.கிருபாகரன் முன்பு நேற்று பிற்பகலில் விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அப்போது, சரமாரியாக நீதிபதி பல்வேறு கேள்வி எழுப்பினார்.

தேர்வு நேரத்தை கருத்தில் கொண்டு ஆசிரியர்கள் மட்டும் போராட்டத்தை இந்த கல்வியாண்டு முடியும் வரை தள்ளி வைக்க முடியுமா? என்று இன்று பிற்பகலுக்குள் தெரிவிக்க வேண்டும்’ என்று நீதிபதி கூறினார்.

அதன்படி இன்று பிற்பகல் இந்த விசாரணை நடைபெற்றது விசாரணையின் போது இரண்டு முறை நீதிமன்ற அறிவுறுத்தலை ஏற்று போராட்டதை தள்ளி வைத்தோம். கோரிக்கையை நிறைவேற்றுவதாக அரசு அளித்த உத்திரவாதத்தை செயல்படுத்த தவறியதால் தான் மீண்டும் போராட்டம்.

பேச்சுவார்த்தை நடத்த முதல்வரை அறிவுறுத்தவும். பேச்சுவார்த்தைக்கு அரசு அழைத்தால் மட்டுமே பணிக்கு திரும்ப முடியும்- ஜாக்டோ-ஜியோ அமைப்பு உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் திட்டவட்டமாக கூறியது.

ஆண்டுக்கணக்கில் நிறைவேற்றப்படாமல் இருக்கும் கோரிக்கைகளுக்காகவே போராட்டம். வேறு எந்த உள்நோக்கமும் ஆசிரியர்கள் சங்கங்களுக்கு இல்லை. விரும்பிய இடத்தில் பணியிடமாறுதல் என்ற சலுகை வழங்கி போராட்டத்தில் நீர்த்து போக செய்ய அரசு முயற்சி என ஆசிரியர்கள் தரப்பில் வாதிடப்பட்டது.

90% ஆசிரியர்கள் பணிக்கு திரும்பியுள்ளதாக உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் தமிழக அரசு தகவல் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. ஓரிரு நாளில் இயல்பு நிலை முழுமையாக திரும்பி விடும் என பள்ளிக்கல்வித்துறை தரப்பில் விளக்கம் அளிக்கப்பட்டது

உயர்நீதிமன்றம் விடுத்த வேண்டுகோளை ஏற்று ஆசிரியர்கள் பணிக்கு திரும்பியது மகிழ்ச்சி என நீதிபதி தெரிவித்தார்.

மாநில செய்திகள்

இன்றிரவு 7 மணிக்குள் பணியில் சேராத ஆசிரியர்களின் பணியிடங்கள் காலிப்பணியிடங்களாக கணக்கிடப்படும் என அறிவிப்பு



இன்றிரவு 7 மணிக்குள் பணியில் சேராத ஆசிரியர்களின் பணியிடங்கள் காலிப்பணியிடங்களாக கணக்கிடப்படும் என அறிவிப்பு வெளியாகியுள்ளது.

பதிவு: ஜனவரி 29, 2019 18:38 PM

ஜாக்டோ - ஜியோ அமைப்பின் கீழ் கடந்த 22–ந்தேதி முதல் ஆசிரியர்கள் பல்வேறு கோரிக்கைகளை வலியுறுத்தி காலவரையற்ற வேலை நிறுத்தத்தில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர். இதனால் மாணவ மாணவியரின் கல்வி பாதிப்படைந்து உள்ளது. இந்த நிலையில், ஆசிரியர்கள் பணிக்கு திரும்ப வேண்டும் என சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டு இருந்த கெடு முடிவடைந்தது. எனினும் போராட்டம் தொடரும் என அவர்கள் அறிவித்தனர். இதற்கிடையே பணிக்கு திரும்புமாறு தமிழக அரசு எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்தது. இருப்பினும் போராட்டம் தொடர்ந்தது. இந்நிலையில் 90% ஆசிரியர்கள் பணிக்கு திரும்பியுள்ளதாக தமிழக அரசு தகவல் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

Printed from

Times of India 

University goof-up leads to cancellation of MBBS second year exam

TNN | Jan 29, 2019, 06.57 AM IST

WARANGAL Examination of second year MBBS students in Telangana was cancelled by the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) on Monday after different sets of question papers were dispatched by the authorities to few colleges.

The MBBS second year students were set to appear for Pharmacology paper on Monday. According to university officials, some medical colleges receives Set A and others receives Set B thereby causing confusion among college managements. Realizing the goof-up made on part of the university authorities, the examination staff alerted the higher authorities.

Negligence by the university authorities resulted in anguish among students as the goof-up was only detected after all the students appeared for the paper. “There should be a single set of paper that has to be distributed by the university. While three sets are printed, only one has to be dispatched to all colleges. However, one set was dispatched to Osmania Medical College and the other Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences in Karimnagar resulting in massive confusion,” said G Srinivas, advisor of Telangana Junior Doctors Association.

The university issued a circular to all colleges declaring that the Pharmacology paper 1 will be reconducted on February 12, 2019 from 10 am to 12 pm. Terming it a “technical error”, the university stated that all colleges must “inform students concerned by notification and take their signatures on the notice.”

However, a section of students have refused to re-appear for the examination. In a complaint registered with the VC, the students squarely blamed the university controller of examination and refused to reappear for the exam. “We students studying in MBBS 2nd year (2016) batch are not ready to write the reexamination of Pharmacology paper 1. We want this exam to be reconsidered and not cancelled. In our opinion reexamination should be conducted when the paper gets leaked. It might be because of technical issues but we are the ultimate suffferers,” read the letter issued by MBBS second year students to the university authorities.

Telangana: 2 different papers given in MBBS exam

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedJan 29, 2019, 1:18 am IST

The students showed the two sets of papers which the health university had given to different colleges.

The students gave the exam in the morning and received a message in the afternoon that it had been cancelled. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: Two different sets of Pharmacology Paper-1 were given to second year MBBS students for their final exam on Monday, which led to the cancellation of the exam. Students said they were not willing to write the exam again.

The students showed the two sets of papers which the health university had given to different colleges. The students gave the exam in the morning and received a message in the afternoon that it had been cancelled.

Student Arvind P. said, “This is the final pharmacology exam and we are not willing to write a re-exam. It is not the fault of the students. They must not force us for a re-exam.”

The Telangana Junior Doctors Association stepped in and conducted a poll where all students wanted the papers to be corrected and no one voted for a re-exam. Medical students of Osmania, Gandhi, Nizamabad, Warangal, Mahbubnagar, Adilabad, Medicti, Apollo and SVS participated in the poll.

The Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences in its message to colleges and students said the exam had been cancelled for technical reasons but did not elaborate.

Income Tax sleuths raid 74 Saravana Stores, Lotus Group properties in Tamil Nadu
A total of 74 places are being covered as part of the raids and a team of 70 tax officials are undertaking the operation with police assistance.

Published: 29th January 2019 10:17 AM 

Saravana Stores. (Photo | Store website)
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Income Tax (IT) department conducted raids at 74 locations linked to G Square/ Lotus Group realtors and Saravana Stores on Friday morning.

Seventy-two of these locations are in Chennai, and the two others are in Coimbatore, said a top Income Tax source.

G Square Realtors Private Limited is a Private incorporated on October 12, 2012. It is classified as Non-govt company and is registered at Registrar of Companies, Chennai. Its authorized share capital is Rs. 100,000 and its paid-up capital is Rs. 100,000. It is involved in Building completion. Similarly, Lotus Ventures & Infrabuild Private Limited is a Private incorporated on September 13, 2012. Both the companies are located in Century Business Centre in TTK Road in Alwarpet.


Both the companies have similar share capital and the directors are Krishnan, Sreejith, Rangaswamy Ramajayam and Sreekala. The details of the directors could not be known. Similarly, there have been similar companies floated by the directors in Harrington Road and other areas also. The Income Tax department has also targetted Saravana Stores and raids are going on.

The premises of Saravana group's owner Yogirathinam Pondurai are also being covered as part of the action, they said. A team of 70 tax officials are undertaking the operation with police assistance, they added.

The department had last month conducted large-scale raids on a number of popular eateries of the state including Saravana Bhawan outlets.

(With inputs from PTI)

97 per cent of striking Tamil Nadu government teachers return to work

Temporary appointments will be made to fill the vacancies created by teachers who are still participating in the strike or have been suspended.

Published: 29th January 2019 04:38 PM


JACTTO-GEO members stage protest in front of Thiruvalluvar statue in Madurai. (Photo | K K Sundar/EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A week after teachers from Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) started their indefinite strike, 97 per cent have returned to work, said Rameswara Murugan, the Director of School Education, speaking to reporters on Tuesday.

"Most teachers have returned to work after the public fear that government schools cannot be trusted with. The situation is close to normal now," he said.

He further added that temporary appointments will be made to fill the vacancies created by teachers who are still participating in the strike or have been suspended.


"Disciplinary action will not be taken on those who have returned to work. It will be taken only on those who are yet to return," he said, adding that the seats of teachers who are still in the strike, will be treated as vacancies and be given to teachers who are seeking transfer.

He emphasised that even elementary school teachers, who were the most active during the strike, have returned to work.

The association has a nine-point demand list in which they urged the government to repeal the new pension scheme and revert to the old one, settle 21-month pay arrears according to the new pay commissions guidelines, settle pay anomalies for secondary teachers and regularise the jobs of part-time staff and teachers working at Anganwadis.

In addition to these, the association has asked the government to not employ elementary school teachers in Anganwadis.

BSNL exchange case: Charges against Maran brothers and five others may be framed on Wednesday

The court is expected to frame charges against the seven accused afresh after some of them had challenged the earlier proceedings of the trial court.

Published: 29th January 2019 01:58 AM 

Former Union Telecom and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran (File | PTI)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A CBI special court here has directed former union minister Dayanidhi Maran, his business magnate brother Kalanidhi Maran and five others accused in the BSNL illegal telephone exchange case to appear before it on Wednesday.

The court is expected to frame charges against the seven accused afresh after some of them had challenged the earlier proceedings of the trial court. The Supreme Court had recently ordered charges to be framed again, based on the petitions of the accused.

The alleged multi-crore scam was first reported in The New Indian Express in 2011, based on a preliminary investigation report prepared by the Central Bureau of Investigations. Subsequently, the CBI in December 2016 filed a charge-sheet which said that Dayanidhi Maran, during his tenure as union telecom minister between 2004 and 2007, set up an illegal telephone exchange at his residences at Chennai and New Delhi and caused a loss of Rs 1.79 crore to BSNL, a government-run telecom company.

The trial of the case since then dragged as the accused had filed many petitions challenging the trial and the procedures of the trial court. After the recent order of the Supreme Court to yet again frame the charges in the case afresh, the trial court judge R Vasanthi on Monday ordered all seven accused to be present in the court on Wednesday for framing of the charges in the case.K B Brahmadathan and M P Velusamy, then senior officials of the BSNL, were also among the accused in the case.

77 breast cancer cases detected in Kilpauk Medical College Hospital

The State Health Department also launched the exclusive Breast Clinic at the hospital, the first-of-its kind facility in the government sector in the State on January 3.

Published: 29th January 2019 01:53 AM 

Digital mammogram machine at the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. |

Express Photo Services
By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In less than a year of the launch of digital mammogram machine at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, 77 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the data shared by the hospital.

“In June, the State Health Department launched Rs 3.2-crore 3-D mammogram, a new breast imaging procedure machine, was installed at the hospital. From June to January till date, the hospital screened 1,868 women for breast cancer, out of whom 77 were diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Dr P Vasanthamani, Dean, Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.

Speaking to Express Vasanthamani said, “On an average, monthly we are seeing 10 breast cancer positive cases. From June till date, we did biopsy for 140 suspected cases out of which 66 were diagnosed with benign lesion and 77 with malignancy. It will take just less than 15 minutes to tell the result if there is no problem. But, it will take one or two days to confirm if it is cancer,” she added.

After the launch of mammogram, the State Health Department also launched the exclusive Breast Clinic at the hospital, the first-of-its kind facility in the government sector in the State on January 3. The facility was inaugurated by Dr V Shanta, chairperson, Adyar Cancer Institute, in the presence of Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar.

“The Breast Clinic is getting less referral cases and most cases come on their own. The facility is helping in diagnosing the breast cancer in early stage,” said Vasanthamani.

According to doctors, the machine will detect even 4-mm-size lesions also accurately. This will help diagnose breast cancer in the initial state itself and remove the lesion.

It will also save extensive therapeutic procedures.

The procedure is covered under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. The mammogram is recommended only for high-risk group. High-risk groups are people who would have family history of cancer, chronic diabetes and high blood pressure.

Madras University gets Rs. 50 crore MHRD grant

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JANUARY 29, 2019 00:00 IST

Quality enhancement to be priority: V-C

The University of Madras has received Rs. 50 crore from the Ministry of Human Resource Development for upgrading their research capabilities. It is among the 150 universities and colleges chosen for the project across the country.

A total of 10 universities belonging to category I will get Rs. 100 crore and 17 universities falling into category II will receive fund of Rs. 50 crore.

Madras University Vice-Chancellor P. Duraisamy told The Hindu the grant was for “research, innovation and quality improvement” under phase 2 of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan.

“About Rs. 15 crore will be used for improving employment opportunities of students and entrepreneurship development. The rest, Rs. 35 crore, will be used for innovative research and collaboration with a top foreign university,” he said.

The V-C further added, “The MHRD has identified 15 top Universities like Harvard, MIT and UC Berkeley. We will identify one or two Universities in due course depending upon our research strength and collaborate.” The digital launch of the programme will be held on February 3 through video conferencing.

Suspend strike till the end of academic year: judge to teachers

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI, JANUARY 29, 2019 00:00 IST


Refusing to relent:Members of Jactto-Geo protesting in Chennai on Monday.R. Ragu

Jactto-Geo asked to respond to Justice Kirubakaran’s appeal today

Justice N. Kirubakaran of the Madras High Court on Monday made a fervent appeal to government school teachers to suspend their strike till the end of the current academic year.

The judge asked the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (Jactto-Geo) to respond to his appeal by Tuesday.

During the hearing of a related case, he was informed that a Division Bench, led by Justice M. Sathyanarayanan, had on Wednesday directed the teachers to return to work forthwith and adjourned a PIL petition to February 18. Similarly, a Bench, led by Justice K.K. Sasidharan, at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, had simply adjourned a case to February 18.

Making it clear that he, as a single judge, did not want to encroach upon the powers of the two Division Benches, which were already seized of the matter, Justice Kirubakaran said his endeavour was only to see to it that students did not suffer due to the ongoing strike, especially when the annual examinations were round the corner.

“Teachers are not mere workmen. They are like Godly figures. I studied in a government school and named my Class I teacher during my oath-taking ceremony. Such is the stature of teachers. How can they go on strike? Will they accept if teachers of their children in private schools go on strike?” the judge asked G. Sankaran, counsel for a teachers’ association.

Greater responsibility

He pointed out that government school teachers should bear greater responsibility as only children from marginalised sections of society and those in rural areas study in government schools. “They must also realise that at least they have a job [at a time] when the country is facing an acute unemployment problem, with even engineers willing to work as sweepers,” he said.

The judge also disapproved of the demand of Jactto-Geo for the withdrawal of the new contributory pension scheme and the implementation of the old pension scheme. Stating that the new pension scheme had been implemented even for Central government employees, the judge wondered whether it was fair on the part of the State government employees to demand a return to the old pension scheme.

Poser to protesters

“If the students fail in their public examinations due to your strike and then file a civil suit seeking damages from their teachers, what will they do?” the judge asked. In his reply, Mr. Sankaran said it would be the responsibility of the State government, and not individual teachers, to compensate the students in such a scenario.

Disagreeing with the submission, the judge asked, “Why should the State pay compensation when you are on strike?”

He also took exception to some union leaders, affiliated to different political parties, using inappropriate language while referring to government officials during meetings held to address Jactto-Geo members. Seeking to know what the government had done so far to bring the strike to an end, the judge directed Special Government Pleader C. Munusamy to get instructions from the School Education Department by Tuesday.

Passport-seekers affecting TN’s sex ratio
Large No. Of Adults Seeking Jobs Abroad Registering Births Every Year Cited As Reason

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com 29.01.2019

Tamil Nadu’s alarmingly low sex ratio at birth of 840 in 2016 according to the civil registration system could be due to a large number of adults registering their birth in recent years in a bid to get passports made. According to National Health Mission officials in Tamil Nadu, if only the births in a particular year are considered, the state’s sex ratio at birth was a much healthier 932 in 2016.

Ever since it became mandatory to produce a birth certificate in order to get a passport made, a large number of adults seeking jobs abroad have been registering their births every year. Most of these are men. In 2016, for instance, registrations done more than a year after birth accounted for 1.42 lakh in Tamil Nadu. Of these, over a lakh were males and less than 41,000 were females.

This skew in registrations which gets counted in the total civil registration of births in a year, the officials explained, is what is depressing the sex ratio of births in the CRS. Including such registrations done after the first year in total birth registrations in a year and calling the ratio derived from it “sex ratio at birth” has led to the misleading statistic.

According to the state’s Health Management & Information System, the actual sex ratio at birth after dipping steadily from 923 in 2012-13 has been going up from 2016 onwards.

“The practice of Lok Adalats issuing direction for birth registration to be issued also led to a large number of men getting their births registered through this route. In 2015, this practice was stopped by the courts and it was decided that birth certificates will be issued only after an enquiry by the revenue department. Thus, the process has become more stringent and this is reflected in the sudden fall in registration of births after one year in 2017. From more than one lakh such registrations in a year it has fallen to just over 31,000,” explained a senior official of the National Health Mission in Tamil Nadu.

He added that his department was closely monitoring second trimester abortions to prevent sex selective abortions and cracking down on errant ultrasound clinics.

“By cracking down on the errant ones we are allowing the good ones to run without any hindrance. This is important for maternal health as timely ultrasound also helps bring down maternal mortality, which is also one of our important targets,” he explained. He added that Tamil Nadu’s sex ratio at birth is expected to touch 950 by 2021, close to the natural sex ratio of 952 girls for every 1,000 boys born.

TNSTC bus conductor cheers passengers, wins hearts online
Pratiksha.Ramkumar@timesgroup.com

Coimbatore:29.01.2019

A majority of those e who frequently travel to Madurai from Coimbatore on a government bus always look for Shivashanmugam to be their conductor.

The lucky ones take photos or selfies with him to upload on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Videos of Shivashanmugam welcoming passengers with a ‘vanakkam’ and giving a pep talk on keeping the bus clean and rattling out fares for different destinations have gone viral on social media.

He also asks passengers to inform him if any of them feels like throwing up. “I can give you a bag or tamarind candy,” he says. “I also request you to pay us in change as much as possible. Last but not the least, the TNSTC, the bus and I wish you a happy journey and pray that whatever you aim to do in Madurai or Coimbatore is pleasurable, successful and victorious,” he says in the video.

Shivashanmugam has never travelled in a plane if you think he has taken a cue from flight attendants. “Earlier, being on the town bus, I used to be stressed because of the pressure to issue tickets and tear them before a stop. I used to even get into arguments. To stop all this and make work a pleasure to myself and a ride happy for the passengers, I attended drivers and conductors training school in Pollachi, where they told me about a conductor in Mettupalayam who would recite Thirukkural verses before a journey,” he said. “I felt shy initially, but slowly formulated my dialogue. I was encouraged by the response.”

Shivashanmugam says many passengers strike up conversations with him. “School children like me because I always wait for them to get on safely. I also recognize a regular child in colour dress that it’s his/her birthday and give a sweet or a small gift,” he adds.

Shivashanmugam runs a small organization that helps fulfil educational needs of people.

‘Employees should realize their jobs are secure, income high’

Senthil Arumugham 29.01.2019  TOI

The ongoing protest is a result of vote bank politics of the two Dravidian parties over the past 50 years. They did not adopt a rational approach and ended up emptying the government’s coffers. Of the ₹2 lakh crore annual budget for seven crore people, Tamil Nadu spends almost 40% on government teachers and employees’ salaries and pension. So, government employees should realize that their jobs are secure and income three to five times higher than other sectors.

The primary demand put forth by Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) now is scrapping of the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and revival of the old pension scheme. In the old scheme, pension component was completely state-funded, and 50% of the last drawn salary was paid as monthly pension. In the new scheme, introduced in 2003, 10% is funded by the state and 10% is employees’ contribution. The employees, who had joined after 2003, agreed to this condition but are now voicing their protests.

Till 15 years ago, the salary scale was low and the state was able to bear the expenses. But now, the pay scale has increased manifold and hence it is not financially feasible for the government to adopt the old pension policy. The government is already spending ₹25,000 crore annually towards this component and it can’t afford to spend more.

On one hand, they don’t want a new pension scheme as suggested by the Centre, but they demand their present monthly salaries should be on a par with the new pay scale for central government employees. While central government employee can be transferred anywhere in the country, state teachers are not willing to move to nearby districts and often bribe to ensure their choice of place of transfer.

Another demand presented by JACTTO-GEO is payment of 21 months of ‘arrears’. The protestors are misleading the public by using the phrase ‘pending arrears’ on their pamphlets and posters. The seventh pay commission due for implementation in 2016 was introduced in the state only in October 2017. But the government order (GO No. 303) issued in connection with this state that the change will come into force notionally from January 2016, but with monetary benefit from October 2017. The phrase ‘pending arrears’ can be used only if the government gave a commitment. So, JACTTO-GEO can criticize the policy and demand can arrears but can’t claim it as their right. Also, there is no mandate for the state government to implement pay commissions with immediate effect. For instance, in Tripura only the fourth pay commission is in existence.

The strike highlights the need for a prudent promotion policy. Rather than mechanically providing pay hikes based on experience, the government should monitor performances and give promotions based on it.

(Senthil Arumugham is general secretary of Satta Panchayat Iyakkam) (As told to Ram Sundaram)

Email your feedback to southpole.toi@timesgroup.com

UNWARRANTED

Striking teachers leave students in lurch
65% Of Govt Schools Hit; Exam Prep Disrupted

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.01.2019

Students in government schools across the state have been left in the lurch as 1.7 lakh government school teachers continued their agitation for better pay for the seventh day on Monday. The functioning of 65% of government schools has been affected.

With their annual practical exams scheduled for next week, higher secondary students are wondering what to do. It’s not just them. Children in other classes too are worried about finishing their portions as they have already lost a significant number of working days due to extended Pongal holidays and the year-end vacation. Children in areas hit by cyclone Gaja are worse off as they had gone without classes for even longer.

Ezhil, a Class XI student at Villivakkam Government School, said the strike had taken a toll on preparations for the annual exam. “This is the most crucial part of the academic year as teachers rush to complete the syllabus and revise content taught in earlier terms. We will definitely be running short of time this year and I don’t think we will have time for revision tests,” he added.

To make matters worse, the government had changed the exam duration and question pattern for Class XII this year. The new question pattern contains fill-in-theblanks and logical reasoning questions. S Mani of state parents’ welfare association said there was no one to help students prepare for these questions. VC 

Rameswaramurgan, director, school education department, said temporary teachers would help overcome the shortage. But students protested in some parts of the state, including in the city suburbs, against this move, claiming that temporary teachers were not going to help them prepare for board exams.

Besides higher secondary grades, primary classes were the worst hit. Of the 1.5 lakh primary teachers, more than one lakh were absent till Monday. Government has filled 450 posts that fell vacant after teachers were suspended for participating in the protests. Teachers who don’t return to work on Tuesday, will lose their jobs, the government has warned. Cold comfort for the children.

Students across state hold protest against teachers’ strike

Villupuram/Vellore/Coimbatore:

Students across many parts of the state on Monday held protests against the ongoing stir by government school teachers. More than 200 Class X and XII students of Ulundurpet Government Girls Higher Secondary School staged a sit-in in front of the school, protesting appointment of temporary teachers. The Ulundurpet education officer and police went to the spot and managed to convince the students to withdraw the stir. In Vellore, parents of around 70 students from Ammur Panchayat Union Primary School made their kids sit in front of the school, demanding opening of the school. Walajapet tashildar rushed to the spot and opened the school. More than 30 students of Annaimalai Panchayat Union Elementary School along with their parents staged a road roko between Pollachi and Sethumadai Road. Eleven of 85 government elementary schools in Pollachi educational district remained closed since the start of the strike. TNN

Lakh applicants, posting to begin today, says government

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.01.2019

More than one lakh applicants thronged the chief education offices in the districts over the last two days even as the state government toughened its stand and geared up for appointments of temporary teachers from Tuesday. With members of JACTTO-GEO refusing to give up their protests, personnel and administrative reforms minister D Jayakumar said the government employees were intimidating the government and not the other way round.

Against the backdrop of the Madras high court on Monday declining to pass orders on the ongoing strike, the school education department has set a fresh deadline for teachers to resume work. “The primary and middle section teachers will have to approach the district educational officers by 9am on Tuesday, while the rest can contact chief educational officers. They can reach out by phone, SMS or WhatsApp expressing interest to resume work, failing which, the posts will be treated vacant and temporary staff will be appointed immediately,” said a senior education department official.

The plan is that temporary staff, whose contact numbers have been obtained by the department, will be intimated immediately. At least 1.7 lakh teachers, constituting 50% of the workforce boycotted work until Monday morning, but the overwhelming response from the retired teachers/qualified teachers (TET pass for secondary grade/BEd and minimum qualification for PG) in the neighbourhood for temporary posting prompted the government to begin recruitment. “We cannot keep the schools shut, risking the future of students. As temporary staff will be on a monthly pay, we can run the schools without any hassle for a month also,” another official said. The teachers will be allowed to work in the same school if they meet the Tuesday deadline.

Jayakumar said the state government had clarified its position clearly to the teachers, given the financial constraints in running the administration. The state spends ₹88,370 crore towards salaries, pension and administrative expenses annually. “We are forced to act (against the staff)… There is no need for us to intimidate anyone. Are we terrorists? A democratically-elected government has to maintain equality of all sections. The state is transparent in admitting the fiscal status,” he said, urging the protesting teachers to resume work for the welfare of students.

Govt teachers aren’t labourers to agitate on roads, says HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.01.2019

Pulling up the protesting government teachers who are on indefinite strike along with other government employees, the Madras high court on Monday said being in a noble profession they must not barge onto roads to stage agitations like labourers.

Justice N Kirubakaran also wondered whether the teachers would accept if the court prohibited teaching for their children who are predominantly in private schools as long as they continued their strike. The judge then asked the JACTTO-GEO (Joint Action Committee of Teachers’ Organisation–Government Employees Organisation) to inform the court by Tuesday noon whether its members were willing to resume work in the interest of students.

Justice Kirubakaran made the observations while hearing a plea moved by a government teacher from Tiruvannamalai challenging his suspension from service.

“Consider giving up the agitation, at least till the exams are over,” the judge said, adding the court is refraining from passing any directions in connection with the protest since two other division benches of the court were already seized of the matter.

Noting that the protesting teachers should compare their salaries with that of their counterparts working for private institutions, the court pointed out that even for the posts of sanitary workers and office assistants in the high court several degree and postgraduate degree holders are applying. The salaries for the posts are just around ₹6,500 and ₹18,000 respectively, he added.

The court observed that it is also not wise on part of the government for not attending to the longstanding problems of the teachers. The state must consider their demand and start dialogue with them, the court observed.


The HC wondered whether the teachers would accept if the HC prohibits teaching to their children who are predominantly in private schools

Probe indicts several staff for HIV+ blood transfusion

New Rules Planned For Blood Banks

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai  29.01.2019

The state government has decided to take strict action against the healthcare professionals responsible for the mix-up that led to a pregnant woman being given HIV-infected blood in a Sivaganga hospital and to formulate rules that will clearly fix responsibility for every step of the blood collection, storage and transfusion process.

The six-member inquiry committee headed by the additional director of medical services, Dr S Madhavi, indicted the district blood bank professionals, staff and voluntary testing centre counsellor in Sivakasi, and the Chennai-based monitoring officers working with the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society.

A senior health official said, “We have an existing guideline which tells blood bank professionals what they should do. The new one will fix responsibilities on who should conduct camps, who should draw blood and who should maintain cold chain.”

“We have suspended two lab technicians, Valarmathi and Ganesh Babu, along with lab counsellor Ramesh. We also found that the seniors they reported to, including senior blood bank officials and district monitoring officials, were negligent. We will be initiating action against all of them,” said a senior official.

The counsellor was aware of the HIV status of the donor in 2016 but did not persistently call the donor or escalate the case to higher officials when unable to get in touch with the donor. District monitoring officials, who should have sought regular status reports from the counsellor, did not follow up on the case.

Lab technicians say they tested the blood before labelling it as safe, the committee said and added that the kits used by the government were provided by National AIDS Control Organisation and did not fail quality tests.

“In this case, we have reason to believe that the tests were never done and the blood bank managers too failed to monitor blood safety,” the official said.