High Court slams Maran brothers

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI, MARCH 21, 2019 00:00 IST

The case of the prosecution was that the former Minister had abused and misused his office when he was holding the post between 2004 and 2007

Warns of remand over dilatory tactics

The Madras High Court on Wednesday said it would be open to a special court for CBI cases in Chennai to remand to judicial custody former Union Telecommunications Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his elder brother Kalanithi Maran of Sun TV Network if they adopt any more dilatory tactics in the illegal BSNL telephone exchange case.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh of the High Court also criticised the Maran brothers, as well as three other co-accused, for having initiated several rounds of litigations before the High Court as well as the Supreme Court in order to ensure that the proceedings before the special court do not cross the beginning stage of framing of charges.

“This court cannot interfere with the proceedings of the trial court at each and every step,” the judge said and directed the special court to complete the trial within four months.

“In a case where the prosecution has levelled allegations bringing out all ingredients of the charges levelled and have placed material before the court,prima facie evidencing the truthfulness of the allegations levelled, trial must be held,” the judge remarked.

Prosecution’s case

The case of the prosecution was that the former Minister had abused and misused his office when he was holding the post between 2004 and 2007, in connivance with six other accused and caused a loss of Rs. 1.78 crore to the public exchequer by installing a private telephone exchange at his Boat Club and Gopalapuram residences in Chennai.

It was alleged that more than 700 high-end telecommunication lines of BSNL were installed in the residences and they were used for business transactions of Sun TV Network.

Observing that “the entire attempt of the petitioners seems to be to again conduct the case as if this court is considering their case for discharge,” Justice Venkatesh dismissed the present petitions as devoid of merits.

Jet pilots look to board SpiceJet as crisis deepens

Press Trust of India

MUMBAI, MARCH 21, 2019 00:00 IST

The harried pilots of Jet Airways, which is on the brink of shuttering operations, have now approached SpiceJet seeking employment.

Jet Airways pilots had earlier been wooed by IndiGo with compensation for their pending salaries and other benefits, leading to murmurs of protests from its own pilots. The airline has been facing acute shortage of cockpit crew, leading to cancellation of hundreds of its flights last month. The Gurugram-based SpiceJet, which has all its 12 Boeing Max planes grounded following the crash of an Ethiopian Airline plane early this month, is looking to hire pilots for its expansion plans.

LONDON BANK’S CLERK CALLED THE POLICE

Nirav got rude shock as he had already fixed ‘appointment for arrest’

Naomi Canton

London:  Times of India 21.03.2019

Wanted diamantaire Nirav Modi knew an arrest warrant has been issued for him and had hoped to be arrested in a less dramatic manner. He had an appointment on Monday, March 25, at a central London police station at 9am. The date and time had been arranged through his lawyer Anand Doobay of Boutique Law, who happens to be the same solicitor another fugitive from the Indian law, Vijay Mallya, uses.

This was how Mallya had done it. On April 18, 2017, at 8.30am, the former liquor baron had appeared at a central London police station by appointment. He had known about it in advance. There were no handcuffs. He was fully cooperative and was simply driven to Westminster magistrates’ court in a police car.

But Nirav Modi’s arrest did not go as he had planned. Instead, uniformed police swooped down on him inside a London bank on Tuesday.

George Hepburne Scott, the barrister representing Modi at Westminster magistrates’ court on Wednesday, said on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 19, the 48-year-old had gone to Metro Bank in Holborn to open a bank account with a revoked Indian passport and his council tax bill as his ID. When he got there, the bank clerk, aware of the publicity surrounding his case, called the cops. Uniformed police turned up and

his passport, which was revoked by the Indian government, was seized and he was arrested and taken to police cells. He spent the night in a cell before being produced at the Westminster magistrates’ court at midday local time

(5.30pm IST) on Wednesday.

Scott explained, “On March 12 the extradition squad contacted Doobay, and Doobay requested an arrest appointment. The extradition squad called back on March 13 and the date of the arrest by appointment was fixed for March 25, 2019. My understanding is the extradition squad had fixed this up with both the CPS (crown prosecution service) and the court.”

In several ‘sick’ hospitals, doctors are first casualty

Of 23 Pvt Medical Colleges In Kerala, Only 5 Pay Docs On Time

Preetu.Nair@timesgroup.com

Kochi:21.03.2019

Wedged between corporate hospitals with deep pockets and a vastly improved public healthcare system, mid-level private hospitals across Kerala are either not paying their doctors on time or forcing them to accept drastic pay cuts. In some hospitals, they are even retrenching doctors. The most affected are 50 to 100-bed hospitals. Private medical colleges too are in this unenviable position — of the 23 private medical colleges, only about five are at present paying their doctors on time.

“It is true that many hospitals are unable to pay their doctors on time. Even senior specialist doctors are affected”, Indian Medical Association (IMA) state secretary Dr N Sulphi said. According to IMA Kerala estimates, of the 800-odd 50 plus-bedded healthcare institutions in the state, around 100 hospitals spread across all districts, are facing severe financial crisis and unable to pay their doctors’ salaries.

Ironically, Kerala’s remarkably high doctor-to-population ratio — WHO prescribes a doctor-population ratio of 1:1000, while in Kerala the ratio is 1:300 — could be at the root of the problem. There are around 70,000 doctors registered with Travancore Cochin Medical Council (TCMC) in Kerala, of around 55,000 are practising in Kerala. Of the 55,000, almost 50% are specialist doctors and get on an average ₹1.25 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh salary per month. There are around 1,200 super-specialist doctors registered in the state and on an average, they get anything between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹3 lakh per month. In a good hospital that has been in existence for more than 4 to 5 years, the doctor’s salary constitutes 20% of the total cost.

“Unlike in the past, when hospitals were after doctors, now the whole thing has reversed. Some are even forced to take a salary cut while taking a new job,” Dr Sulphi said. With almost 60% to 70% doctors working as consultants, they don’t even have proper leave facility. They are paid for the service they give and there are no social security measures in place. With more doctors losing jobs, IMA has intervened in the matter and asked hospitals to at least honour contracts.

“We spend crores of rupees to set up speciality units but often doctors are unable to live up to the expectation and we don’t even get enough money to repay loans. Then we are left with only two options, either reduce doctor’s salary or close down the unit,” said Kerala Private Hospitals Association (KPHA president Dr P K Mohamed Rasheed.

“The minimum wage rollout has created economic stress for everybody in the system. To pay salaries, the hospitals were forced to raise their tariff and patients who couldn’t afford to pay have shifted to other hospitals resulting in lack of volume for these hospitals,” said Dr Harish Pillai, president, AHPI – Kerala Chapter Association of Healthcare Providers (India).

Health experts said that the healthcare scenario in Kerala is undergoing major changes now and the private hospitals that came up when government healthcare system had stagnated is now struggling to survive with increased competition from corporate hospitals and now improved facilities in the government sector.

Kerala State Planning Board member Dr B Eqbal said, “With facilities in the government hospitals improving, people are opting to go to the government hospital for treatment and definitely this has reduced the rush of patients to private hospitals. From just 25 % patients availing healthcare services at government hospitals in the past, now it is jumped to 40 %. Our target is to reach 60 % of the population. If this happens, the private hospitals will further be affected”.

More foreigners coming to study at TNAU

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:21.03.2019

In a bid to improve its global ranking, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is aggressively trying to collaborate with more foreign institutions on research and student exchange programmes. The number of foreign students visiting the varsity has increased, while it has also increased the number of universities with which it has tie-ups.

TNAU is 28th in the National Institutional Ranking Framework, but is yet to make it to the top 50 in any global ranking system.

While the university conducted a three-day networking workshop on climate, biodiversity and food security in association with Queen’s university, England, earlier this week, last week it decided to collaborate with the International Rice Research Institute on digital agriculture. “We have tie-ups with many institutes across the world including Ivy league institutions,” said international student collaboration in charge, T Raguchander. “Every year, two to three students go to the US for study, research or fellowships through our tie-ups.”

The bigger focus is on getting more international students to visit TNAU and pursue research, studies or fellowships. “The number of international students visiting TNAU has been increasing from hardly two or three before 2013 to almost 16 to 17 students a year in the last couple of years,” he said. “The students mainly come from countries like Bhutan, Afghanistan, Rwanda, Nepal among others. We have had a few from Canada too,” he added.

The university now has a student from Dalhousie University’s Agricultural campus, Nova Scotia, Hannah Arseneault, studying nematode identification techniques. “The plant pathologist in my university, Dr Prithviraj suggested I train in TNAU on identification of nematodes, their types and ways to manage it. It has been a valuable experience learning about plant parasitic nematodes, ways to collect soil samples, roots to check for infestation among others,” she said.

The number of students visiting from Western countries seems low. “It is because their cropping pattern is different and they have more temperate region crops compared to our tropical climate,” said Prabhakaran, director, plant protection studies. “They still come for our expertise in nanotechnology, nematology, etc.”

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore

Pvt college officials held for misbehaviour

Correspondent, Two Directors Arrested

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:21.03.2019

The correspondent and two women directors of a private paramedical college in Kanyakumari district were on Wednesday arrested by police on charges of misbehaving with women staff and students and outraging the modesty of a staff member.

The incident came to light on Tuesday after the relatives of a staff member and students staged a protest at the Jacob Memorial College of Paramedical Sciences and Research at Erachakulam seeking action against the accused. The college had around 80 boys and girls studied and 10 staff members.

The accused were identified as correspondent Ravi, 35, , director Nalini, 30, and assistant director Kala, 28. They were booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506(ii) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Sources said the behaviour of the correspondent, who allegedly used double entendre, made the students and even the women staff uncomfortable. The women directors reportedly were hand in glove with Ravi. Some staff even quit as they were unable to tolerate the acts of indecency, the sources added.

G Jawahar, assistant superintendent of police of Nagercoil subdivision, said there were quite a few allegations against the correspondent. Jawahar, who conducted a preliminary inquiry into the incident, talking to those affected and other staff and students, told TOI that a couple of days ago, the correspondent had tried to misbehave with a staff member at the college but she managed to escape.

She went home in tears and informed her family members. On Tuesday, her agitated relatives went to the institution and staged a demonstration seeking action against the correspondent and the women directors. Students too joined the protest, following which police promised action. The same night, Ravi was picked up for questioning. The two women were picked up on Wednesday morning.

“After inquiries with the affected staff and a few students, we arrested the trio on Wednesday. We will conduct further inquiries into the incident and record the statements of other staff and students,” the ASP said.

Police sources said inquiries would also be conducted to check if there had been incidents of sexual abuse or harassment of students and staff in the past. If so, the case would be modified and appropriate sections added to it, they said.

The arrest of the college management representatives, including the two women directors, took place on a day that tainted professor Nirmala Devi of Virudhunagar district, accused of luring girl students into extending sexual favours to higher officials, was released on bail.

Against the backdrop of the Pollachi sex abuse scandal, this incident has left the student community shocked .

Protests continue in Pollachi case

Coimbatore:

Government Law College students continued their sit-in protest for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, demanding that police withdraw the FIR against 167 students for seeking justice in the Pollachi sexual harassment case.

“How fair is it to file a case against students who protested seeking justice in the sexual harassment case? The students have done nothing wrong to invite a police case. Some of the students are in the final year and an FIR against them would create a black mark,” said S Jaisurya, one of the students who filed a petition with Superintendent of Police P Pandiyaraj on Wednesday.

Jaisurya sought the intervention of court to form a special team to investigate the case without bias as there were allegations regarding the involvement of police officers and local leaders in the case.

“As the SP had revealed the identity of the victim, no other victim has come forward to lodge a complaint. Condemning this, we have sought the removal of the SP from the case,” the student said. TNN

BATTLEGROUND TAMIL NADU

MANIFESTO: TOOL FOR POPULISM & VOTER BRIBING

Parties Have Turned The Document Promising Infrastructural Change Into Lure For Voters

Jaya.Menon@timesgroup.com  21.03.2019

Tamil Nadu politicians can be credited with many things – the noon meal scheme, free rice and loads of goodies for the poor. It was former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa who first rolled out promises that seemed incredible, even impossible. Packaged in poll manifestos that are meant to showcase policies and people’s aspirations in the runup to elections, they are now tools for competitive populism.

Rivals outdo each other their offers of freebies and doles, some of which remain unfulfilled. Over the years, since the 2006 assembly elections to be precise, the AIADMK and the DMK have honed populism to a fine art of voter bribing. Manifestos are meant to be promises to provide basic infrastructure and jobs in return for votes, a carefully prepared and crowdsourced wish list. But political parties, especially those in Tamil Nadu, are crafting manifestos that are, voter inducements.

“Earlier, political leaders prepared manifestos that were not so long. It had a crisp text of their ideologies to promote Tamil culture and language,” said former state Congress leader and likely Trichy candidate S Thirunavukkarasar. The clarion calls for Dravida Naadu and secessionism too found their way into manifestos. But, for today’s politicians, they are commercial channels to lure voters. So much so, the public declarations of free colour TVs, grinders, mixers or ceiling fans are now critical to a party’s campaign strategy.

The Election Commission of India, the poll watchdog, has been a helpless spectator. “Many ar-reaching changes have been initiated only by the Supreme Court. The problem is there is no adjudicating body in the election process,” said former CEC N Gopalaswami. For long the SC has been asking for the freebie culture to be stopped. In 2013, the apex court, while pointing out that since there was no enactment that “directly governed” the contents of the manifesto, the EC should frame guidelines for such legislation in consultation with all recognized parties. It said a set of guidelines for preparing a manifesto should be included in the Model Code of Conduct.

Three years later for the May 2016 assembly election, Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK got away with an overdose of populism in its manifesto. It promised waiver of all farm loans, free laptops with internet for Class X and XII students, 50% subsidy for two-wheelers for women and one sovereign gold to brides and free cellphones for all ration card holders.

A few days after the election which AIADMK won, the EC issued show-cause notices to the party and its rival DMK, seeking an explanation for not complying with its guidelines, the rationale behind the promises made in their manifestos and “to indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirement”. The EC found their replies unsatisfactory. “They are not mere freebies. Whatever we promise is within the budgetary allocation. All the finances are worked out carefully,” said DMK spokesman and Rajya Sabha member T K S Elangovan.

The manifesto committees of political parties claim to get inputs from various sectors. “It is supposed to be a feedback from the people,” said Thirunavukkarasar. But thanks to the magnanimity of the DMK’s 2006 manifesto for the assembly election, freebies are now par for the course. “Voters are also to be blamed. Those who don’t need it are the first to stand in the queue,” said Gopalaswami.

But professor M Vijayabaskar of Madras Institute of Development Studies had a different take on the bulging basket of goodies that are dangled before the voter. “Tamil Nadu has been growing as per all indices, so spending on freebies is not really a waste of money,” said the professor. “Many of the state’s welfare schemes have accounted for 45% of poverty eradication in rural areas shows the human development report five years ago,” he said. This, he said, has not hindered its development in any way.

The SC, while pointing to the need for a separate law to govern political parties, however, observed that freebies “shake the root of free and fair elections to a large degree”. But, there’s no stopping the parties. On Wednesday, the ruling AIADMK did it again, promising a ₹1,500 dole for the poor.

BOUQUET OF GOODIES:

Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa distributes fans and grinders in 2011

‘This election is all about money’

Times of India 21.03.2019
A medical practitioner and pioneer in vanilla cultivation, Pollachibased R Mahendran, for years, had been glued to agriculture, promoting contract farming and helping people find markets for their produce across the globe. Now, as vicepresident of actor Kamal Haasan’s fledgling political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), he speaks to D Govardan about his strategy for the electoral battle ahead. Excerpts:

From a medical practitioner involved in farming to politics – what enticed you to make the shift?

Inside four walls, one can remain happy and contended if self-sufficient. Once you step out, if you have any concern for society, you find a lot of things that have to be set right. In business, we call it corporate social responsibility. Likewise, there is individual social responsibility. But you need the right vehicle, right people and the right platform to do that. Kamal sir is a great leader with a great vision. In his party, I found an opportunity to serve society.

Is the MNM the right vehicle?

It is a great vehicle. Though I have been with it from the beginning, I was just an ordinary member. After becoming a functionary and getting involved in implementing the vision, I regret that I could not start it earlier. There is passion to work, right from the top to the grassroots. Many are salaried, earning just about ₹10,000 a month.

What does the MNM stand for?

We are here to bring about a change. One can write books on the muchneeded change. Every sector, whether it be industry or agriculture or health care, needs change. Tell me about one vertical that is good in the country. Some make comparisons between states to claim that one is better than the other. It is like an African country claiming it is not the poorest, most corrupt and most impoverished.

Does the MNM have a grassroots network to reach out to people?

Of course, we have. Our decision to contest polls was taken after hours of analyzing our strengths in each district. There are 3.85 lakh streets in Tamil Nadu and we have more than four lakh functionaries. We have achieved our target of having one functionary in every street.

Is money going to play a major role in this election?

If there is an agreement among all of us, it is on that one thing. This election is all about money. What a shame! That is the level the two major parties have brought this state to. Their alliance talks were also conducted like business deals. It makes the MNM look better in the eyes of the people, because we will never do such things. But for our presence, the scenario would have looked worse. This is our biggest contribution.

With two strong alliances, will the MNM end up fighting for a 5% vote share?

No. We are aiming for much more. We want to win seats and not just keep looking at percentage of vote share. Of course, political analysts say that achieving 5% is great. That, anyway, is not difficult to achieve.

Email your feedback to southpole.toi @timesgroup.com

R Mahendran, vice-president of MNM

Anna univ fires 37 zonal staff for exam malpractice

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.03.2019

Anna University has fired 37 temporary staff for exam malpractice.

Earlier this year, allegations pertaining to malpractice in semester exams conducted in November/December 2017 surfaced. After receiving similar complaints during subsequent arrear exams in February/ March 2018, the university formed a committee to probe the issue. The committee found that students and faculty members colluded with staff at zonal offices to take out answer scripts.

Each candidate had paid ₹15,000 to ₹40,000 for the scripts to zonal office staff, the committee said in its report.

Answer scripts of the students who had paid the sum were taken out from the bundle and the students or someone entrusted by them were allowed to write on them outside the exam hall. Later, the same was inserted back into the bundle before being sent for evaluation.

This game usually happened a day or two after payment is received. The money was shared among staff, the committee said. Based on this report, the university syndicate fired 37 zonal office staff.

Last year, former controller of examinations S Uma was suspended for her alleged involvement in the re-evaluation scam.

But no action was taken against top officials this time and only peon, clerical assistants and drivers from Madurai, Salem and other zones are in the line of fire.

4 yrs on, accident victim gets STC bus, no relief

Insurance Cess Fund Launched In 2018 Lies Idle

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.03.2019

“What will I do with a seized government bus?” asked T Gowthami, daughter of 45-yearold Govindammal who lost one of her legs in an accident involving a government bus four years ago.

Despite a direction from the motor vehicle accident tribunal, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), Villupuram, has refused to pay the ₹20 lakh compensation to Govindammal.

The order specified that the bus be seized and returned only after the victim received the compensation. After five failed attempts, the victim’s family was finally allowed to seize the bus this week.

“I had to sell my jewellery to pay ₹10,000 for parking the bus at a private site till I receive the compensation amount,” said Gowthami. She was to get married in early 2015. But, when her mother Govindammal was hit by a government bus plying towards Ponneri, her plans were put on hold.

A tailor, Govindammal could not work after the accident and the family’s financial burden fell on Gowthami’s shoulders. She found employment at a local petrol bunk for a monthly salary of ₹11,000. After work, she had to shuttle between the court, police station, hospital and TNSTC office to get the accident compensation so her mother could get a prosthetic leg. “The one she uses now causes frequent infections,” she said, expecting a response from TNSTC Villupuram. General manager of the corporation Ganesan refused to comment.

This is not an isolated case. At least 6,700 were killed and 8,000 suffered injuries in accidents involving government buses over the last five years.

Advocates V S Suresh and Dhivakar said there was no point in seizing government buses as it is almost impossible to resell them or obtain permits to operate them. To expedite the accident claim settlement, the government in January 2018 began collecting an accident cess from all passengers. According to official data, more than ₹30 crore has been collected as cess every month. Consumer rights’ activist K Kathirmathiyon said, “RTI replies show that not a single accident victim in Coimbatore received compensation from the corpus fund created using cess. No one monitors this fund.”

“Victims have a long wait despite cess collection as transport corporations go on appeals and finally release compensations only in installments,” Suresh added.

17 dists get drought-hit tag ahead of TN polls
State & Central Aid May Follow

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.03.2019

Bracing itself for a drinking water crisis this summer, the Tamil Nadu government has declared 17 districts, including Chennai and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, and 38 blocks in seven other districts as drought-hit.

These districts recorded deficit rainfall ranging between 19% and 59% last year. The four reservoirs that supply drinking water to Chennai have a combined storage of only 17% and water supply has been erratic in several places across the city. Dharmapuri tops the list in water shortage, followed by Krishnagiri with 57% and Chennai 55%.

Revenue and disaster management department had issued the order just ahead of poll notification on March 10. “The declaration of drought is a prerequisite for central and state governments announcing relief for the affected, and waiver of crop loan in cooperative banks,” revenue minister R B Udayakumar told TOI.

‘Drinking water supply can become precarious’

The declaration reveals a sense of urgency on the part of ruling AIADMK, which is confronted with the challenges of poor supply of drinking water in rural and urban areas of the poll-bound state. Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had sanctioned in January ₹158 crore to Metrowater and Twad to tackle the summer water crisis.

The rainfall received during southwest and northeast monsoons ensures recharging of groundwater and replenishing of sources of water supply schemes. They ensure sufficient supply until next year’s northeast monsoon. But the deficiency of rainfall forced the government to declare hydrological drought (shortage of water resources) in Karur, Salem, Vellore, Trichy, Perambalur, Tiruvallur, Namakkal, Virudhunagar, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Dindigul, Erode, Pudukottai and Sivaganga districts.

While northeast rainfall was normal last year in seven districts, including Thanjavur, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanthapuram, annual rainfall deficiency was reported in 38 blocks. “As a result, the surface water and groundwater resources are fast depleting and the districts/ blocks are already experiencing drinking water problems. They would be affected further due to drought in the ensuing summer,” the commissioner of revenue administration said in a communication to the government. The block-wise assessment was done based on the seasonal rainfall of more than 10 to 15 years.

The rural development has indicated that14,333 habitations will be affected in March this year, 20,212 in April and another 25,993 in May. “We have declared hydrological drought in districts where drinking water can become precarious. Issues may arise depending on whether we receive rainfall in the coming monsoon. We have summer rains as well. So the situation has to be watched very closely by the districts concerned,” said a senior revenue official.

Stillborn’s head severed during delivery at PHC

Pushpa Narayan & A Selvaraj TNN

Chennai:21.03.2019

The head of a fetus got separated, leaving the rest of the body in the mother’s womb, when a staff nurse and midwives at a primary health centre at Koovathur near Chennai attempted to facilitate a natural delivery on Wednesday. Doctors said the fetus had been dead in the womb for at least 48 hours and that the “accidental decapitation” could have happened because it was underweight, undernourished and macerated.

The 26-year-old mother, Bommi T, was rushed to the government Chengalpet Medical College and Hospital with the rest of the fetus stuck inside her body. Doctors there removed the fetus.

Earlier this year, the head of a fetus was stuck in a womb of a mother in Rajasthan. Medical literature shows a similar case in a London hospital, where an Indian doctor working for the NHS, was suspended for accidental decapitation. “The fetus was alive in both these cases when the women went into labour. But in Koovathur, the fetus was dead,” said Dr Kumutha, national health mission consultant and neonatologist, who has been assigned to probe the case.

“The fetus did not have skin on some parts of the body. We don’t yet know if there were any congenital or genetic disorders. Since the fetus was tiny, doctors managed to save the mother,” Dr Kumutha said.

WOMAN STABLE

No docs at PHC, allege kin, authorities blame poor health of woman

The condition of mother, wife of a daily-wage labourer Thiyagarajan, is stable.Hospitaldean Dr Usha Sadasivam said, “The mother is very weak. She is anaemic and underweight. We are monitoring her closely.” Bommi’s relatives, meanwhile, protested outside the hospital and lodged a complaint with the Koovathur Police station alleging medical negligence.Her uncleDDhanushsaid nurses ignored her requests for pain relief and went ahead with a vaginal delivery. “There were no doctors at the PHC. They should have referred her to a bigger hospital,” he said.

Bommi, who was in the 36th weekof pregnancy,had movedto her mother’s place in Koovathur from Tiruvallur on Monday. She came to the PHC at 6.30am with labour pain on Wednesday. She told the nurse that she had been experiencing “watery discharge”for nearly a day.“Her water broke and fluid had been draining for nearly a day. She was in active labour and tests showed absence of fetal heartbeat. There was no time. Nurses informed the family of her condition and rushed her to the labour ward because the fetus was already crowning,” said deputy director of health service Dr V K Palani.“Anydelaycouldhaveled to maternal death,” he said.

The PHC, which has about five beds and a labour ward, had three staff nurses on duty at that time. Director of Public health Dr K Kolandaisamy said Bommi had told doctors that she conceived this baby two months after an abortion. “The gap between the pregnancies is too short. She gainedjust6kg during her pregnancy. The fetus weighed1.4kg againsttheexpected weight of at least 2.7kg. The umbilical cord was narrowed  with depleting nutrition supply. The placenta was less than half the required weight,” he said.

The inquiry panel has suggested postmortem on the fetus. Meanwhile, based on the complaint of relatives, the Koovathur police registered a case of unnatural death. Police conducted inquiries with staff nurse Muthukumari. “She has told us that alldecisionsweretaken basedon instructionsfrom duty doctor Dr Arulmozhi. Bommi had to be shifted out of the PHC before the doctor could arrive. Investigations are on,” the police said.

Man runs fake diploma institute, held

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.03.2019

Police arrested a 42-year-old man for running a fake diploma institute and cheating youngsters to the tune of ₹40 lakh on Wednesday. The arrested suspect, K Thirugnanam, was remanded in Puzhal prison later in the day.

The bogus institute was exposed after one of the duped students, T Sandhya, 18, of Avadi, lodged a police complaint against Thirugnanam.

Police said Thirugnanam rented a building in Chepauk and ran a polytechnic institute from it for the past three months. He had not obtained permission from the government agencies concerned to run the institute. “He had advertised in a few vernacular newspapers about his institute and believing his attractive offers and promise of diploma, jobs, at least 40 students approached him,” a police officer said. Thirugnanam collected ₹40,000 from each student for course material.

Though daily classes were scheduled, the students were left idle most days. When questioned about the classes, Thirugnanam said teachers did not turn up, police quoted the complainant as saying. Following this, the student lodged a complaint.

Jet crisis pushes up airfares to Mum
Cancelled Flights See Starting Fares Rise To Nearly ₹10,000

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.03.2019

The Jet Airways crisis has caused an increase in airfares on the Chennai-Mumbai route as the airline has cancelled more daily services. Now four flights have been cancelled on the Chennai to Mumbai sector.

The one-way airfare on the route has increased by ₹5,000 on an average. Fare for booking a week in advance is in the range of ₹6,245 to ₹17,000, while it generally costs between ₹3,500 and ₹6,000.

Jet Airways services have been cancelled after planes were grounded following financial trouble faced by the airline. As more aircraft are being grounded, the shortage of seats on the route is expected to affect travellers planning trips in April and May.

There is good demand for seats on the Chennai to Mumbai route because many travellers fly to Mumbai to board flights to international destinations.

The starting fare on direct flights on the route is ₹7,873 for travel on Friday and Saturday, ₹9,787 for Sunday, ₹8,687 for Monday. The cancellation also has an impact on peak hour flights, because the airline has cancelled services during morning peak hours when demand is high on Tuesday, said an airport official.

The fares are high on most other routes, like Delhi, Pune, Coimbatore because Jet Airways has cancelled around 19 flights to different destinations from Chennai this month.

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said fares are usually high around this time due to summer holidays, but the withdrawal of flights has increased the fares further. “The fares are high mostly on the Mumbai route. There is a mild increase on the Delhi route.” “Airfare will increase further next month as more people travel domestically during school holidays. There will be an increase in the number of international travellers flying to Mumbai to board connecting flights as well,” he added.

Airfares on domestic trunk routes connecting metro cities are already high because IndiGo grounded its B737 Max 8 plane following the Ethiopian air crash.

Dip in dollar makes overseas travel cheaper this summer
Yogesh Kabirdoss & V Ayyappan TNN

Chennai:21.03.2019

Travellers who are yet to plan their international holiday for summer has hit a bonanza — strengthening of rupee against dollar and euro has made packages cheaper.

In the last six months, rupee has strengthened against all major currencies. For instance, the rupee has appreciated against USD by 7.5%, the UK pound by 7.8%, the Euro by 10% and the Swiss Franc by 9.4%, making it an attractive period to book before prices surge close to April and May.

This means travellers will be able to spend more money while visiting abroad especially in Britain, Europe and the US while they may not have to spend less to book hotel rooms and tours in other countries.

The favourable change in forex rate has come at a time when bookings are usually expensive for one to two month’s advance booking.

Chennai-based outbound tour operator Sriharan Balan said, a 10-day US trip from the city would be cheaper by ₹30,000 and a four to five night Thailand tour package has become cheaper by ₹3,000 per head for summer.

Cox & Kings Ltd said the rupee’s gaining streak has a lot of opportunities for Indian travellers looking to book travel to long-haul destinations like the UK, Europe and the US. Karan Anand, head—relationships, Cox & Kings Ltd said, “For those who have already booked will have additional funds with them when on tour. A 4% to 5% change in rupee would easily save around ₹8000 –₹10,000 per person depending on the destination.”

Rajeev Kale, president & country head, leisure travel, MICE & Visas at Thomas Cook (India) Limited said that travellers would be able to spend on additional sightseeing tours, experiences, attractions, dining, etc. "Our forward bookings are on a healthy trajectory with an increase of about 22% for the summer vacation season," he added.

The scene was bleak last year. Sriharan Balan said, “Last October, the US dollar rates appreciated up to ₹74 making foreign travel dearer. But, the rupee has strengthened in the last couple of weeks paving the way for reducing price for tour packages for last minute bookings,” he said. About 1000 corporate customers cancelled their plans because strengthening of US dollar that made international travel expensive last year, he added.

IndiGo to add 14 new flights from next mth

Chennai:21.03.2019

IndiGo has announced the launch of 14 flights, including direct flights daily from Chennai to Raipur, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram, starting next month.

Three of the 14 flights will cover new routes — Chennai to Raipur, Hyderabad to Gorakhpur and Kolkata to Gorakhpur.

The airline will also add flights on its existing routes — Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru–Mangalore, Bengaluru –Udaipur and Bengaluru–Chennai. TNN

Nirav arrested from UK bank while opening a/c

Termed ‘Flight Risk’, In Custody Till March 29

Naomi Canton

London:21.03.2019

A court here on Wednesday rejected the bail application of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and termed him a flight risk after he was arrested a day earlier from a London bank while he was trying to open an account. The police’s move came as a surprise for Nirav and his lawyers. He appeared in the Westminster magistrates’ court after spending a night in a police cell on being charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

At the Westminster magistrates’ court, district judge Marie Mallon remanded him in custody till March 29, when he will appear for a preliminary hearing before chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot, the same judge who oversaw the Vijay Mallya trial. The arrest clears the way for India to start its effort to get the fugitive diamantaire back home and face the law, but the return of Nirav could be a long-drawn affair.

George Hepburne Scott, extradition barrister representing Nirav, put forward an application for bail of £500,000 (₹4.5 crore) and proposed his client could report to his local police station. “He has done everything he can to be visible to demonstrate his keenness to fully cooperate. He is paying his council tax and has a National Insurance (NI) number and he is living openly,” Scott said.

Like Mallya, Nirav too says case is politically motivated

His properties in India worth ₹1,873 crore have already been attached .The worth of overseas attachments has been estimated at₹970 crore.

Significantly, Nirav Modi won’t be able to delay the proceedings by arguing that charges against him are “politically motivated” and “conditions of Indian jails are inhuman”, as these two were rejected by the UK court while ordering Mallya’s extradition in December last year.

Modi’s barrister said in court on Wednesday that Nirav will argue that the case against him is politically motivated and the prison conditions in India will breach his human rights and that he will not get a fair trial in India.

Mallya had also taken the same plea after his arrest on April 18, 2017. His extradition trial took a longer time. He had a series of case management hearings before his trial commenced on December 4, 2017. The trial did not end until September 12, 2018 when the closing oral submissions were made. The judgment was finally handed down one year after the trial on December 10, 2018. On February 3 this year, UK home secretary Sajid Javid signed the order for Mallya’s extradition. On February 14, Mallya lodged his application for leave to appeal in the high court. No decision has been reached yet. The high court has indicated that it may take months.

India’s extradition request against Modi to the UK, sent on July 31 last year, is also backed with “evidence” of his illegal activities spread over different countries— Armenia, Belgium, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, UAE, US, Hong Kong, Singapore and Switzerland— something which will boost the trial, officials said.

Keep your skin safe as you play Holi

— Ismat.Tahseen@timesgroup.com

21.03.2019

The vibrant festival of Holi is here. It’s time to splash that gulal on friends, have a fun water fight and indulge in thandai as well as other traditional sweets and savouries. But while the fun is set to be in full swing, it’s also a good idea to take care of the skin and hair as some colours contain chemicals and metals that can cause pimple breakouts, acne flare ups, frizzy hair and more.

EXPERTS SHARE TIPS TO FOLLOW TODAY…

Says consultant dermatologist Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, “Holi is the favourite festival of colours. But with all the fun plans, let’s take out some time to protect our precious skin from harsh colours and water.” She shares a few pre and post-Holi tips (box)…

WATCH OUT FOR DERMATITIS

Dr Satish Bhatia, MD Dermatology and skin surgery, Indian Cancer Society, says that the most common reaction with Holi colours is ‘Irritant Contact Dermatitis’. He explains, “People develop some kind of eczema due to the high amount of petroleum or viscosity in the oil, which causes this irritation contact reactions. They develop blisters and can get a rash, which can last for a few days, so always play with water soluble colours. Another common reaction, which is seen due to a few colours are acne or pimples in minor forms, such as whiteheads or blackheads. Again, if the irritants are strong enough owing to the involvement of carbons inside, they may develop pustules or nodular acne.”

He adds, “Also, because of dermatitis, the patient should apply non-steroidal creams. They should opt for calming creams, which are commonly available over the counter. In case the allergic reaction is very severe and does not come down with topical applications, consult a dermatologist.”

Toxic colours can harm your skin

PRE-HOLI TIPS


Smear organic oil: Choose any oil available (coconut, almond, olive) and smear it all over the body and hair to form a protective coating. Oil is emollient, plus water repellent, which will make your skin ready to brave water colours.

Use a broad-spectrum sunblock: Since you will be out all day playing with colours and dancing, it’s a wise idea to protect skin and hair from sun damage.

Cover the hair and skin: Braid your hair to prevent breakage and, if you can go an extra mile, just wrap a scarf around head. It will make you look chic and act as a cover for the hair. Wear full-sleeved, synthetic clothes to prevent extra water retention.

Paint those nails: Paint nails in vibrant colours or clear nail paint to prevent the colours from getting into minute nail corners and irritating the nail folds.

Lip barrier: Don’t ignore your lips. Apply lip balm that contains SPF, which will protect your lips from sun damage and colour damage.

POST-HOLI TIPS

Rub off dry colour: Use an oil/ mild scrub to gently rub off the dry colour before getting into the shower, since dry colours disperse more in water.

Mild soap: Use a soap-free pH balanced cleanser/mild soap since you may need to use it thrice to take off rigid colours.

Conditioning hair: Apply a thick layer of conditioner to the hair, wait for two minutes then wash it off, to nourish the hair and detangle it in a mess-free way.

Thick layer of moisturiser: Apply a deep moisturising lotion all over the body to hydrate it as well as repair the barrier function and soothe irritated skin.

Drinks tons of water: Remember to drink lots of water throughout the day to combat the sun, dehydration and exhaustion.

Be ready to spend more this summer as airfares zoom post cancellations

Aparna.Desikan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.03.2019

Summer is around the corner and most people will be looking forward to travelling. While it could be relaxing, it may also burn a hole in your pockets. With air fares going up following cancellations by major airlines, be ready to shell out 30% higher on your vacation this season.

An average price increase of 28% for passengers travelling after a week of booking and a 45% rise for same day or next day travel — compared to last year — rates is weighing down travellers, says Balu Ramachandran, head, air and distribution, ClearTrip.

Subsequent to the fare rise the industry has been witnessing since the last month, there is seen to be a average of 10%-20% increase in fares compared to last week. The rise is more acute between major cities and more impact is seenfor last minute bookings (less than 7 days). For instance, Pune-Bangalore last-minute fares are up by 44%, Pune-Mumbai up by 24%, Delhi-Mumbai up by 14% and Mumbai Bangalore up by 30%,”he added. Travel portals attribute cancellation of key carriers — including 60 carriers form Jet Airways, 13 flights from Spice Jet and 20-30 from Indigo — to raise the prices.

Key routes see over a 70% increases in rates. Data from travel portal Ixigo shows a 100% increase in the Delhi-Mumbai last minute flight fare this March. “Demand normalisation after the Holi season will also temporarily stabilise sectoral fares, but not for long as summer travel season is just around the corner,” said Aloke Bajpai, CEO, Ixigo.

Even for travel during April, passengers have to shell about 30% more if tickets are booked on Wednesday, shows data from Yatra.com. However, this has not deterred summer vacations, observe travel portals. “People compensate for the rise in air fare by cutting down on accommodation. The usual growth we see every summer still prevails,” said Sharat Dhall, COO, B2C, Yatra.

Vacationers also move towards train travel following the cancellation. Portals have seen a 15%-20% surge in train searches. “Train searches in February and March saw a spike mostly by leisure travellers given that many airlines cancelled or grounded their aircrafts. Business travellers though will still rely on flights and will also be the ones to be impacted the most by high last minute fares,” added Bajpai of Ixigo.

DAMPENED TRAVEL PLANS?

Around 260 jet Air pilots appear for SpiceJet interview

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.03.2019

Almost 260 Jet Airways’ pilots, who fly Boeing 737, appeared for an interview conducted by low-cost carrier SpiceJet in Mumbai Wednesday. Among the pilots were 150 captains. SpiceJet also operates the B737, which was the mainstay of Jet’s operations till a crippling financial crunch virtually grounded two-thirds of its fleet.

Jet’s pilots, aircraft engineers and senior management have not been paid for three months. Airline’s pilots have said they will stop flying from April 1 unless their dues are cleared or a letter of intent is signed that the same will be cleared. IndiGo has also gone all out to hire Jet’s pilots and is learnt to have given lucrative offers. Apart from pilots, several of Jet Airways’ grounded Boeing 737s (not Max but previous generation) could soon be flying for SpiceJet. Many of these planes have been grounded by unpaid lessors beginning last month. Barring a handful, lessors have not deregistered these aircraft from Jet’s name, repossessed and flown them out of India.

“Last Saturday, three companies that leased Boeing 737 NG (new generation, not Max) to Jet and grounded them for non-payment, met SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh. The aircraft are in India and in terms of processes it is easier to deregister them from Jet’s name and lease them to SpiceJet so that they can start flying the planes at the earliest,” said sources. Globally, 371 B737 Max aircraft were grounded last week following fears over its safety after two crashes within 5 months, one in Indonesia and other in Africa, that claimed 346 lives. SpiceJet, which has up to 205 of the planes on order, had to ground 12 B737 Max. Apart from these the future delivery schedule of rest of the planes is also uncertain now, affecting the low cost carrier’s growth plans. This has led to spurt in demand for B737 NGs.

“We have to make good the 12 grounded Max so these many planes we will like to have on board as early as possible. The grounded B737s are being offered for dry lease (without operating crew) for one to 3 years at good rates. The overall lease rentals for B737 NGs has gone up since the grounding of the Max due to which everyone is now looking for the non-Max B737s. Once

Airline’s pilots have said they will stop flying from April 1 unless their dues are cleared or a letter of intent is signed that the same will be cleared

Jet Air slips to 4th place on cash woes
SpiceJet, Air India Fly Ahead In February

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:21.03.2019

From being the second largest domestic airline for years, Jet Airways officially slipped to the fourth slot in February due to its cash problems, with SpiceJet and Air India overtaking it, data released by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday showed.

Now, one in nine Indian passengers flies Jet that ruled the skies until private sector rival Indigo and the now defunct Kingfisher appeared on the scene in 2005-06. At its peak, it accounted for lion’s share of the domestic market with founder and chairman Naresh Goyal being the king of the aviation sector. But his inability to bring money on the table has resulted in a steep descent of Jet in the aviation sweepstakes.

With bank accounts running empty, Jet’s fleet is now down to 41 from 119 as unpaid aircraft lessors started repossessing their planes. With the fleet size expected to drop to 35 in next few days, market players expect the airline to close the financial year with a single digit market share. “Lessors (because of dues) are giving 72-hour notices to Jet for grounding planes. The flight schedule for the airline is now being cleared on a daily basis,” said a source.

Airlines with lower domestic market share in February — GoAir and Vistara — have firm orders for planes and AirAsia India is also expected to do the same. Jet, on the other hand, faces an uncertain future.

While IndiGo became the domestic market leader by a huge margin, Jet in last few years — especially after its tie-up with Etihad in 2013 — focused on international expansion. The Jet-Etihad combine was the market leader in terms of flying people in and out of India. But Jet’s financial crunch since February has led to grounding of both narrow and wide body planes, impacting its international traffic too.

The government is now looking at giving Jet’s unutilised slots to other airlines, which have been asked to add up to 25 planes by next month to tide over the sudden crunch caused by Jet. “Airlines will also try to utilise their aircraft more to avoid inconvenience to passengers,” aviation secretary P S Kharola said on Wednesday. The DGCA is finalising summer schedule, which will be effective monthend, without considering the schedule given by Jet.

11 months on, Nirmala Devi walks out of Madurai prison

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:21.03.2019

Tainted assistant professor of Devanga Arts College in Aruppukkottai, Nirmala Devi, on Wednesday walked out of Madurai Central Prison after 11 months.

She was arrested in April 2018 for allegedly luring girl students to extend sexual favours to unnamed higher officials of Madurai Kamaraj University. An audio tape of the alleged incident went viral on social media and led to her arrest.

While a case was initially registered with the Aruppukkottai Town police, it was soon transferred to CB-CID. Nirmala Devi was suspended by the Devanga Arts College following her arrest.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High court granted bail to Nirmala Devi on March 12.

However, she could not immediately come out as even her close relatives hesitated to come forward to give surety.

Nirmala Devi’s counsel S Pasumpon Pandian alleged that it was due to pressure by officials of the CB-CID to prevent her from coming out of prison.

With necessary procedures completed, Nirmala Devi walked out of the prison around noon. She refrained from talking to media representatives as per the bail conditions.

However, speaking to the media, Pasumpon Pandian said that the case had been falsely foisted on Nirmala Devi and that they would deal with it legally.

Pasumpon Pandian said that there was pressure from many quarters, including political circles, against her release on bail. Nirmala Devi will cooperate with the police till the end of the case, he said.

The Madurai bench of the Madras high court has given bail to her based on humanitarian grounds since even murder accused are coming out on bail in 60 days. In her case, it took 11months to secure bail, he said.

TEMPORARY RESPITE:Nirmala Devi coming out of Madurai central prison on Wednesday

Paris, Singapore and Hong Kong tie for world’s most expensive city

Times of India  20.03.2019
Move over Singapore — the world’s most expensive city has two new rivals. After topping the Economist Intelligence Unit’s ‘Worldwide Cost of Living Survey’ for five years, Asia’s Lion City has been joined by Paris and Hong Kong in a tie at the top of the table. It is the first time in the survey’s 30-year history that three cities have shared the top spot.

The annual index compares prices of everyday items in 133 cities around the world, including recreation, education and utility bills. According to the survey, a woman’s haircut in Singapore, Paris and Hong Kong costs $96.01, $119.04 and $112.10 respectively. While parts of Asia remain the most expensive places, the continent also makes several appearances at the bottom of the list. “Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi and Karachi feature among the 10 cheapest locations,” the EIU said. AGENCIES

Cash-for-vote menace big challenge for election officials

ManuAiyappa.Kanathanda@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:20.03.2019

Many candidates evidently feel every vote has a price tag depending on the constituency, community and ferocity of the electoral battle: With less than a month to go for the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, the cash-for-vote menace is getting bigger even as it goes under the radar.

According to statistics provided by the chief electoral officer, poll-related seizures in cash, liquor, jewellery and other items have already crossed Rs 18 crore — an alarming figure given that the election process is just picking up and total seizures in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections amounted to Rs 28 crore.

With the announcement of the poll schedule on March 10, police began conducting random inspections of vehicles at checkpoints and offices across the state with the help of the income tax department and excise officials.

The checks were supposed to start only from Tuesday, after the issue of election notification. Not surprisingly, the police have so far recovered Rs 3 crore in cash alone.

Though the Election Commission has fixed an upper limit of Rs 70 lakh on the expenditure of a candidate in the parliamentary elections, various reports indicate that some candidates are prepared to spend in excess of Rs 10 crore, particularly in constituencies where the electorate is small contest close. The price per vote reportedly ranged between Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 in the 2018 assembly election.

According to sources, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru Central, Mandya, Hassan, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Ballari, Davanagere, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur, Bengaluru Rural, Koppal, Haveri and Chikkodi are constituencies where candidates will have to spend Rs 10 crore or more.

Sources said targeted vote buying — candidates distributing money and liquor directly to voters on the eve of polling day — is no longer prevalent.

Now it is all “mass vote buying” in which contestants target clusters of voters in social and religious organisations, Dalit colonies, slums, minority groups, labourers and self-help groups, the sources said.

Most of the money is distributed well ahead of filing of nominations.

“We have to give organisations or leaders of communities Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for their support,” a Congress MP said. A BJP MP said he spent about Rs 2 crore to corner the support of four crucial organisations in his constituency. He distributed the money to voters in the presence of leaders of all castes who pledged their votes in front of a local temple.Contestants spend smaller amounts of money on individual voters only a couple of days before polling.

An election commission official said candidates are distributing money to voters via digital wallets. There are other types of innovations. “In last year’s bypoll in Ballari, voters were each given a Rs 50 note with a particular marker. After voting, they could exchange the Rs 50 note for Rs 2,000,” the official said.

Though the EC has fixed an upper limit of Rs 70 lakh on expenditure of a candidate in Lok Sabha elections, reports indicate that some candidates are prepared to spend in excess of Rs 10 crore, particularly in constituencies where the contest is close.

High court issues notice to law univ vice-chancellor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:20.03.2019

The Madras high court on Tuesday ordered notice to the vice-chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University Tamma Suryanarayana Sastry on a plea seeking direction to show under what authority he is holding the post.

Justice S M Subramaniam passed the interim order on the plea moved by advocate M K Gauthaman, a resident of Tiruvannamalai.

According to the petitioner, Sastry has usurped the office, as he does not fulfil the requisite qualifications as per his appointment. The university is established under the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University Act, 1996.

“The objective, as apparent from the act, is to impart quality legal education and, in that context, a vice-chancellor is a pivotal person. Such a situation is distinguishable from a multi-discipline university, where the vice-chancellor can be of any of the disciplines. Thus, a vice-chancellor of the law university must be possessed of sufficient attributes of law and legal education to make him entitled for appointment to the post,” the petitioner said.

Sastry, during his course of teaching in Pondicherry University from November 1, 1988, to March 14, 2006, never made any substantial contribution in law or any course of law that makes him eligible for the post, he alleged.

“The university being exclusively for law, the rules of legal education laid down by the Bar Council of India would be applicable, more specifically Rule 16, which says that there shall be a principal for each constituent or affiliated centre of legal education of a university and a dean for the university department, who shall have minimum prescribed qualification in law as prescribed by the UGC for respective position or a professor of law to hold deanship, as the case may be,” the petitioner pointed out.

The VC of a law university must be possessed of sufficient attributes of law and legal education to make him entitled for appointment to the post

M K Gauthaman

Stanley hosp marks World Kidney Day

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:20.03.2019

Five days after World Kidney Day, doctors at Stanley Medical College and Hospital decided to go ahead with an awareness programme on the hospital campus to spread awareness.

Doctors, nurses, students and staff took out a procession on campus with various posters on diseases, causes and prevention. Worldwide, 850 million people are estimated to have kidney diseases from various causes. Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) cause at least 2.4 million deaths a year and are now the sixth fastest growing cause of death.

“Tamil Nadu has a large number of patients who suffer from end stage renal failure,” said hospital dean Dr Ponnambala Namasivayam. “Regular control of blood sugar, blood pressure, active lifestyle, healthy food habits help prevent renal failures. In addition people should stop smoking and avoid taking over-thecounter medicines,” he said.

The hospital started the nephrology department in 1984 offering free care and services to poor people. Besides, outpatient services cater to more than 200 patients on weekdays. Wednesdays are reserved for reviews and follow-up of renal transplant patients.

In-patient services are provided round-the-clock to around 40 patients affected by various kidney ailments. Besides haemodialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis services are also being provided to patients. The hospital has so far done 828 transplants have been performed.

Won’t fly from April 1 if not paid dues: Jet pilots

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:20.03.2019

Troubled airline Jet Airways is now not even a pale shadow of its former self. The airline, which was a few weeks ago had 119 aircraft, is now flying only 41 of them. This number may have further nosedived as Jet late on Tuesday night informed Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that it has grounded six more planes due to non-payment of rentals. As a result, the airline is currently scheduled to operate about 140 flights a day — a far cry from the figure of 600 till a few months ago.

In Mumbai, the airline’s pilots union met on Tuesday and decided not to fly from April 1 unless their salary dues of the last three months were cleared or at least a letter of intent was signed for clearing dues by March 31. “About 300 pilots will do a silent march at the airline’s Mumbai HQ at Siroya,” said a senior pilot.

Meanwhile, Jet founder Naresh Goyal is now trying to get investment from others like Qatar Airways after Etihad reportedly refused to pump in money.

Lenders to tell Goyal to pledge shares

Lenders may ask Jet founder Naresh Goyal to pledge his entire promoter shareholding in the airline in order to raise capital for infusion into the airline. As a precondition to releasing additional funds and converting debt into equity under a restructuring plan, banks have asked the airline’s promoters to bring in at least ₹750 crore. P 14

Jet has only 41 aircraft available for flying, more attrition likely: DGCA

Tuesday started on a bad note for Jet with its engineers writing to the DGCA about safety fears of the airline’s aircraft, a charge they withdrew later in the day. Soon after the complaint, aviation minister Suresh Prabhu directed aviation authorities “to hold an emergency meeting on grounding of flights by Jet, advance bookings, cancellation, refunds and safety issues, if any.” The minister’s directive came as Jet had been cancelling an increasing number of flights in the past few days at the last minute due to non-availability of resources, including aircraft. And many passengers had complained about not getting refunds on time.

The DGCA had a detailed meeting with Jet officials. “We reviewed the performance of Jet on operational, airworthiness and passenger facilitation. Current availability of aircraft in the fleet for operation is 41 and accordingly a schedule for 603 domestic flights and 382 international flights per week has been drawn. However, it is a dynamic situation and there may be further attrition in coming weeks,” a senior DGCA official said.

In winter 2016-17, Jet had 3,517 weekly domestic flights and in the current winter 2018-19 schedule, the figure is down to just 603, a drop by 83%. Before the crisis hit Jet, it used to operate 4,200 flight (domestic and international combined) weekly or 600 daily flight. The combined flight schedule is now down by 76.5%.

The DGCA has asked Jet to comply with all relevant rules on timely communication (about flight delays or cancellations), compensation, refunds and providing alternate flights wherever applicable. “We are ensuring that all aircraft in the fleet whether in operation or on ground are maintained… Jet has been directed to ensure that no pilots/cabin crew/aircraft maintenance engineer be rostered on duty who had reported stress of any nature,” the DGCA official said, adding the regulator says it is “continuously monitoring overall situation and will take appropriate steps by the end of the month if needed”.

Though Suresh Prabhu has asked DGCA to ensure the safety of Jet planes and the airline avoid last-minute cancellation or change in schedule to minimise passenger inconvenience, grounding of more aircraft may only worsen the situation unless the airline gets some funds quickly. “DGCA must ensure that affected passengers are duly adjusted or get refund as per relevant regulations,” said an official.

The DGCA-Jet meeting came after the airline engineers on Tuesday morning raised a question mark on the safety of the planes being flown by the cash-strapped airline. Jet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Welfare Association’s (JAMEWA) Amit Kelkar wrote a letter saying: “…to apprise you of the precarious conditions with respect to flight safety for general public at large. Engineers who inspect, troubleshoot and certify the public transport aircraft for airworthiness are in tremendous stress due to non-payment of salaries… As of now, three months' salaries are overdue to us, arduous to meet financial requirements, which have adversely affected psychological condition of aircraft engineers at work and therefore the safety of airplanes flown by Jet across India and the world is at risk.”

Later in the day, the association retracted this complaint in another letter to the DGCA saying: “We assure you and public that Jet planes are safe to fly and being maintained at the highest levels of safety standards for the last 25 years. We have an impressive technical dispatch reliability of 99.5%, one of the highest in the industry.”

Pledge entire shareholding to raise capital for infusion into airline, lenders may tell Goyal
Mumbai:

Lenders may ask Naresh Goyal to pledge his entire promoter shareholding in Jet Airways in order to raise capital for infusion into the airline. As a precondition to releasing additional funds and converting debt into equity under a restructuring plan banks have asked the airline’s promoters to bring in at least Rs 750 crore. Getting Goyal to pledge shares is the new line of thinking among lenders after Etihad refused to step in as promoter. The Abu Dhabi-based airline has expressed willingness to sell its 24% stake in the airline at a marked down price of ₹150.

Goyal family has a 52% stake in Jet Airways. At the current market price of ₹229, the airline has a market capitalisation of ₹2,600 crore. Even considering a marked down price of ₹150, the airline would be valued at around ₹1,700 crore. Once the promoter brings in ₹750 crore, lenders led by SBI and PNB will convert some of the outstanding debt to equity. The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund would also invest in the carrier. TNN

VIPs give Visvesvaraya Technological University convocation a miss

TNN | Mar 19, 2019, 04.12 AM IST

BELAGAVI: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and governor Vajubhai Vala did not attend the 18th annual convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) on Monday due to the national mourning announced following the death of Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

VTU had made elaborate arrangements for the Vice-President’s welcome by spending around Rs 2 crore on the convocation’s stage and pandal. It was the first-time, that the convocation programme was being held outside the auditorium.

On Monday morning, university authorities came to know that Naidu had cancelled the trip to Belagavi due to the mourning. There were no guests for the gala event as governor Vajubhai Vala too remained absent.

In the absence of both the dignitaries, vice-chancellor Karisiddappa inaugurated the convocation and along with registrar (evaluation) Satish Annigeri distributed medals and certificates to rank holders. As per protocol, VTU a government university should not hold the convocation at the time of mourning. However, as the convocation is an academic programme and students from different parts of the country and abroad had arrived to collect their degree certificates, VTU decided to go ahead with the programme as a low key affair.

Since the past one-week, police and the district administration were busy with security arrangements in the backdrop of the Vice-President’s visit. On Monday, traffic on a majority of roads entering the city was diverted and SSLC students too were urged to reach their respective examination centres before 8am to clear the roads for Venkaiah Naidu’s convoy.

Meanwhile, V-C Karisiddappa conferred doctor of science honorary degree on Padma awardee B Girish Bharadwaj, popularly known as Bridge Man. So far, Bharadwaj has built 137 suspension foot-over-bridges across rivers in Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Golden girls

Suchitra N of Jain Institute of Technology, Davanagere bagged nine gold medals, the highest this year. She secured the first rank and the highest marks in Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures in 6th semester and also stood first in BE Civil Engineering.

Suchitra said she used to study for six to eight hours every day, adding that the cooperation from her parents, friends and faculty helped her to score more. Suchitra is now studying M.Tech and intends to become a lecturer.

Madhushree S R of Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Davanagere and Meghana Prakash of Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysuru, bagged six gold medals each. Madhushree secured the highest marks with 1st class, scored the highest in UG/BE among SC/ST students and got the highest marks in BE Civil Engineering. She said she was preparing for public service examinations.

Meghana Prakash, who secured the first rank in Electronics and Communication Engineering and got the highest marks among rank holders in any batch of BE, said she is working in a private company and plans to go for higher studies. She said smart studies for one hour every day helped her score well.

மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்கள் பணியில் மேற்படிப்பு முடித்தால் 5 மடங்கு ஊக்கத்தொகை...!!

மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்கள் பணியில் மேற்படிப்பு முடித்தால் 5 மடங்கு ஊக்கத்தொகை...!!

மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்கள் பணியில் இருந்துக்கொண்டே  மேற்படிப்பு முடித்தால் அவர்களுக்கு ஒரே முறை 5 மடங்கு ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படும் என அரசு ெதரிவித்Editதுள்ளது. மத்திய பணியாளர் நல அமைச்சகம் கடந்த 1999ம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் மாத ஊக்கத்தொகை தொடர்பாக உத்தரவை பிறப்பித்தது.

இதன்படி மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்கள் பணியில் இருக்கும்போது மேற்படிப்பு படித்து புதிய தகுதியை  பெற்றால் அவர்களுக்கு குறைந்தபட்சம் ₹2000 முதல் அதிகபட்சமாக ₹10,000 வரை ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படும். இந்நிலையில் இந்த ஊக்கத்ெதாகையை 5 மடங்காக உயர்த்தி வழங்குவதற்கு மத்திய பணியாளர் நலத்துறை  உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

இந்த உத்தரவின்படி, குறைந்தபட்ச ஊக்கத்தொகை ₹10 ஆயிரமாகவும், அதிகபட்சமாக ₹30 ஆயிரமாகவும் உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

 இதன்படி மூன்று ஆண்டு அல்லது அதற்கு குறைவான கால அளவில்  பட்டப்படிப்பு அல்லது  டிப்ளமோ படிப்பை முடித்திருந்தால் ₹10 ஆயிரம் ஊக்கத்தொகையாக வழங்கப்படும்.

3 அல்லது அதற்கு மேற்பட்ட ஆண்டு கால பட்டப்படிப்பு, டிப்ளமோ படித்திருந்தால் அவர்களுக்கு ஊக்கத்தொகையாக ₹15 ஆயிரம்  வழங்கப்படும்.

ஒரு ஆண்டு அல்லது அதற்கு குறைவான கால  முதுகலை பட்ட மேற்படிப்போ அல்லது டிப்ளமோவோ முடிந்திருந்தால் ₹20 ஆயிரம் வழங்கப்படும். ஓரு ஆண்டுக்கும் மேலான முதுகலை பட்டமேற்படிப்பு  படித்திருந்தால் அவர்களுக்கு ₹25 ஆயிரம் ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படும்.

பிஎச்டி அல்லது அதற்கு சமமான படிப்பை முடித்தால் அந்த ஊழியர்களுக்கு ₹30 ஆயிரம் ஊக்கத்தொகையாக தரப்படும் என்று குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

 கலை  மற்றும் இலக்கியத்தில் மேற்படிப்பு முடித்தால் அவர்களுக்கு ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்பட மாட்டாது. ஊழியர்கள் பணிபுரியும் துறை ரீதியான பாடப்பிரிவில் மட்டுமே  மேற்படிப்பு படித்திருக்க வேண்டும்.

Posted by SSTA

’ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும்...’ ; ‘மாங்குயிலே பூங்குயிலே...’; இசையே ஏமாற்றுவேலைதான்’ - ரகசியம் உடைத்த இளையராஜா

Published : 17 Mar 2019 13:32 IST

வி.ராம்ஜிசென்னை




ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும் பாடலையும் மாங்குயிலே பூங்குயிலே பாடலையும் அந்த மெட்டுக்கு இந்தப் பாட்டு இந்த மெட்டுக்கு அந்தப் பாட்டு என்று மாற்றிப் பாடினார் இளையராஜா. இசையே ஏமாற்றுவேலைதான் என்று ரகசியம் உடைத்தார். மாணவிகள் கரவொலி எழுப்பினார்கள்.

சென்னை கிண்டியில் உள்ள செல்லம்மாள் மகளிர் கல்லூரியில் இளையராஜா 75 விழா நடைபெற்றது.

இதில் கலந்துகொண்டு பல பாடல்களைப் பாடினார் இளையராஜா. விழாவில், ‘ஜனனி’ பாடலைப் பாடித் தொடங்கினார். அடுத்து மாணவி ஒருவர், ‘தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது’ பாடலைப் பாடுங்க ஐயா’ என்று கேட்க, ‘அவதாரம்’ படத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற ‘தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டுபோது என்ன வண்ணமோ’ பாடலைப் பாடினார். அந்தப் பாடலைக் கேட்டு, மாணவி ஒருவர் கரகரவென கண்ணீர் வழிய அழுதார்.

அவரைப் பார்த்து, ‘ஏன் அழறே?’ என்று கேட்டார் இளையராஜா. ‘இந்தப் பாட்டுங்க ஐயா’ என்றார் அழுதுகொண்டே. ‘எத்தனைபேருக்கு இப்படி அழுகை வந்திருக்கு?’ என்று கேட்டார் இளையராஜா. பிறகு அவர், ‘நிறைய பேர் அடக்கிக்குவீங்க’ என்றார்.

பிறகு அந்த மாணவி, ‘தென்பாண்டிச் சீமையிலே தேரோடும் வீதியிலே’ பாடலைப் பாடுங்க ஐயா’ என்று கோரிக்கை விடுத்தார்.

அதன் பிறகு, ‘நாயகன்’ படத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற ‘தென்பாண்டிச் சீமையிலே தேரோடும் வீதியிலே’ பாடலைப் பாடினார். ‘வளரும் பிறையே தேயாதே. இனியும் அழுது தேம்பாதே. அழுதா மனசு தாங்காதே’ என்று பாடிய போது அந்த மாணவி மீண்டு அழத் தொடங்கினார்.

அதையடுத்து, ‘உங்கள் அம்மாவைப் பற்றிச் சொல்லுங்களேன்’ என்று மாணவி ஒருவர் கேட்டார். ‘என் அம்மாவைப் போல் உலகிலேயே யாருமில்லை. நானும் அண்ணனும் சென்னைக்குக் கிளம்ப காசு கேட்டோம். 800 ரூபாய் மதிப்புள்ள ரேடியோவை 400ரூபாய்க்கு விற்று வந்து, பணம் கொடுத்தார். ‘நான் 200 ரூபா வீட்டுச்செலவுக்கு எடுத்துக்கறேன்’ என்று அம்மாவும் கேட்கவில்லை. ‘எல்லாத்தையும் எங்களுக்குக் கொடுக்கறியேம்மா. ஒரு அம்பது ரூபாயாவது வைச்சுக்கோ’ன்னு நாங்களும் சொல்லலை. அந்த அளவுக்கு பெருந்தன்மையா அம்மா, எங்களை அனுப்பிவைச்சாங்க. அந்தப் பண்பை எந்தக் கல்லூரியும் கத்துக்கொடுக்காது. எந்தப் பல்கலைக்கழகமும் சொல்லித்தராது’ என்றார்.

பிறகு, ‘ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும் தாமரைதான் பெண்ணோ...’ பாடலை ‘மாங்குயிலே பூங்குயிலே’ பாடல் மெட்டிலும் இந்தப் பாடலை ‘ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும்’ மெட்டிலும் பாடிக்காட்டினார். ‘ரெண்டுமே ஒரே ராகம்தான். ஆனால் அதை எடுத்துக் கையாண்ட விதம்தான் வேறு வேறு. இதெல்லாம் ஏமாற்றுவேலை. இசை என்பதே ஏமாற்றுவேலைதான்’ என்றார்.

ஓபிஎஸ்ஸை நம்பி வந்த ஒருவருக்கு கூட மீண்டும் சீட் இல்லை: நிராயுதபாணியாக நிற்கும் ‘தர்மயுத்த’ எம்.பி.க்கள்

Published : 19 Mar 2019 07:45 IST

அதிமுகவில் சசிகலா தலைமையை எதிர்த்து துணை முதல்வர் ஓ.பன்னீர்செல்வத்துடன் ‘தர்மயுத்தம்’ நடத்திய அவரது ஆதரவு எம்.பி.க்கள் 10 பேரில் ஒருவருக்குக்கூட மீண்டும் ‘சீட்’ வழங்காதது சலசலப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

ஜெயலலிதா மறைவுக்குப் பிறகு, முதல் வராக இருந்த ஓ.பன்னீர்செல்வம் பதவி விலக சசிகலா தரப்பு நெருக்கடி கொடுத் தது. இதில் அதிருப்தி அடைந்த ஓபிஎஸ், முதல்வர் பதவியை ராஜினாமா செய்து விட்டு அதிமுகவில் சசிகலாவுக்கு எதிராக ‘தர்மயுத்தம்’ தொடங்கியுள்ளதாக தெரிவித் தார். அப்போது அவருக்கு பக்கபலமாக 10 எம்.பி.க்கள் நின்றனர்.

சசிகலா சிறைக்குச் சென்றதால், அவரால் முதல்வராக்கப்பட்ட கே.பழனிசாமி, பிறகு ஓபிஎஸ்ஸை அழைத்துக் கொண்டார். ஓபிஎஸ் துணை முதல்வர் ஆனார். அவரது ஆதரவாளர்களுக்கும் கட்சியில் பொறுப்பு கள் வழங்கப்பட்டன.

ஈபிஎஸ் - ஓபிஎஸ் இருவரும் ஒரே அணி யாக நின்று சசிகலாவையும், டிடிவி தின கரனையும் ஓரங்கட்டினர். கட்சியின் பெயர் மற்றும் ‘இரட்டை இலை’ சின்னத்தை ஈபிஎஸ் - ஓபிஎஸ் அணிக்கே தேர்தல் ஆணை யம் வழங்கியது. கட்சி ஒருங்கிணைப் பாளராக ஓபிஎஸ், துணை ஒருங்கிணைப் பாளராக கே.பழனிசாமி பொறுப்பேற்றனர்.

கட்சியின் முக்கியப் பொறுப்பில் இருக் கும் ஓபிஎஸ், இத்தேர்தலில் தனது ஆதர வாளர்களுக்கு கணிசமான இடங்களை வாங்கிக் கொடுப்பார் என்றும் எதிர்பார்க்கப் பட்டது.

ஆனால், அவரது ஆதரவு எம்.பி.க்கள் 10 பேரில் ஒருவருக்குகூட மீண்டும் சீட் வழங்கப்படவில்லை. மாறாக, ஓபிஎஸ் உட்பட பல அமைச்சர்கள், எம்எல்ஏக்க ளின் வாரிசுகளுக்கு சீட் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து அதிமுக மூத்த நிர்வாகிகள் சிலர் கூறியதாவது:

அதிமுகவின் 37 எம்.பி.க்களில் 27 பேர் ஈபிஎஸ் அணியினர்; 10 பேர் ஓபிஎஸ் அணியினர். இதில், ஈபிஎஸ் அணியை சேர்ந்த தம்பிதுரை (கரூர்) டாக்டர் வேணுகோபால் (திருவள்ளூர்), டாக்டர் ஜெயவர்தன் (தென் சென்னை), மரகதம் குமரேவல் (காஞ்சிபுரம்), மகேந்திரன் (பொள்ளாச்சி), செஞ்சி சேவல் ஏழுமலை (ஆரணி) ஆகிய 6 பேருக்கு மட்டுமே மீண்டும் சீட் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஓபிஎஸ் அணியை சேர்ந்த சுந்தரம் (நாமக்கல்), அசோக்குமார் (கிருஷ்ணகிரி), சத்தியபாமா (திருப்பூர்), வனரோஜா (திரு வண்ணாமலை), கோபாலகிருஷ்ணன் (மதுரை), செங்குட்டுவன் (வேலூர்), மருத ராஜா (பெரம்பலூர்), ஜெயசிங் தியாக ராஜ நட்டர்ஜி (தூத்துக்குடி), பார்த்திபன் (தேனி) உள்ளிட்ட 10 பேரில் ஒருவருக்குக் கூட மீண்டும் வாய்ப்பு வழங்கப்படவில்லை.

விழுப்புரம் எம்.பி. ராஜேந்திரன் விபத் தில் இறந்துவிட்டார். அவரது குடும்பத்தில் ஒருவருக்கு சீட் வழங்கப்படும் என எதிர் பார்க்கப்பட்டது. அதுவும் வழங்கப்பட வில்லை.

ஏற்கெனவே, தனது தம்பிக்கு ஆவின் சேர்மன் பதவி வாங்கித் தந்த ஓபிஎஸ், தற்போது அவரது மகனுக்கு சீட் கிடைத்தால் போதும் என்று, ஆதரவாளர்களை கைவிட்டு விட்டார்.

இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறியுள்ளனர்.

ஓபிஎஸ்ஸை இன்னமும் விட்டுக் கொடுக்காத அவரது ஆதரவாளர் ஒருவர் கூறும்போது, ‘‘ஆட்சியையும், கட்சியையும் காப்பாற்ற வேண்டிய பொறுப்பு, தலை மைப் பொறுப்பில் இருக்கும் ஓபிஎஸ்ஸுக்கு உள்ளது. அதனால், ஆதரவாளர்களுக்கு சீட் வாங்கித் தர முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட் டிருக்கலாம். அதற்காக, தன்னை நம்பி இருந்தவர்களை கைவிட்டுவிட்டார் என்று கூறமுடியாது’’ என்றார்.

ஆசிட் வீசுவோருக்கு கருணை காட்டக் கூடாது: சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்

Updated : மார் 19, 2019 05:39 | Added : மார் 19, 2019 05:34

புதுடில்லி: 'ஆசிட் வீசி தாக்குவது என்பது, நாகரிகமற்றவர்கள் செய்யும் கொடூர குற்றம். இந்த குற்றம் செய்வோருக்கு கருணை காட்டக் கூடாது' என, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் கூறி உள்ளது.

ஹிமாச்சலப் பிரதேசத்தை சேர்ந்த, 19 வயது இளம்பெண் மீது, ஆசிட் வீசியது தொடர்பான வழக்கில், கீழ் கோர்ட்டில், குற்றஞ்சாட்டப்பட்ட இருவருக்கு, தலா, 10 ஆண்டுகள் சிறை, தலா, 5,000 ரூபாய் அபராதம் விதிக்கப் பட்டது.

ரூ.25 ஆயிரம்:

இதை எதிர்த்து தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்ட மனுவை விசாரித்த, ஹிமாச்சல் உயர் நீதிமன்றம், தண்டனை காலத்தை ஐந்து ஆண்டுகளாக குறைத்து, அபராதத் தொகையை, தலா, 25 ஆயிரமாக உயர்த்தி, தீர்ப்பு அளித்தது. இதை எதிர்த்து, ஹிமாச்சலப் பிரதேச அரசு தொடர்ந்த வழக்கை, நீதிபதிகள், ஏ.எம்.கன்வில்கர், அஜய் ரஸ்தோகி அடங்கிய, உச்ச நீதிமன்ற அமர்வு விசாரித்தது.

இந்த வழக்கில், அமர்வு அளித்துள்ள தீர்ப்பில் கூறியுள்ளதாவது: ஆசிட் வீச்சால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் அடையும் மனவேதனையை, இழப்பீடு மற்றும் தண்டனை வழங்குவதால், ஈடுசெய்ய முடியாது.அதே நேரத்தில், இது போன்ற குற்றங்களில் ஈடுபடுவோருக்கு கருணை காட்டக் கூடாது; இது, நாகரிகமற்ற, இதயமல்லாதவர்கள் செய்யும் கொடூர குற்றமாகவே பார்க்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

இந்த வழக்கில், உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உறுதி செய்த, ஐந்து ஆண்டு சிறை தண்டனையை அனுபவித்ததால், குற்றவாளிகள் இருவரும், கடந்தாண்டு டிசம்பரில், சிறையில் இருந்து விடுதலை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர். அதனால், அவர்களது தண்டனை குறித்து விவாதிக்க வேண்டியதில்லை.

ரூ.1.50 லட்சம்:

அதே நேரத்தில், பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பெண்ணின் மனவேதனையை உணர வேண்டும். இந்த இருவரும், அந்த பெண்ணுக்கு, தலா, 1.50 லட்சம் ரூபாயை, கூடுதல் இழப்பீடாக வழங்க வேண்டும். மேலும், பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பெண்ணுக்கு உரிய இழப்பீட்டு தொகையை, ஹிமாச்சலப் பிரதேச அரசும் வழங்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு தீர்ப்பில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அனுமதியின்றி விடுப்பு: டாக்டர்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை

Added : மார் 19, 2019 03:12


கோவை: அனுமதியின்றி விடுப்பு எடுக்கும், அரசு டாக்டர்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க, மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரகம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில் அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி மருத்துவமனைகளில், 5,000க்கும் அதிகமான டாக்டர்கள் பணிபுரிகின்றனர். முன்னறிவிப்பு இன்றி, இவர்கள் விடுப்பு எடுப்பதாக எழுந்த புகார் உண்மை என தெரிய வந்ததால், நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சுகாதாரத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் கூறியதாவது:டாக்டர்கள் பணிக்கு வராமல் இருப்பதால், நோயாளிகள் நேரடியாக பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றனர்.இரு நாட்களுக்கு மேல் விண்ணப்பம் வழங்காமல், விடுப்பு எடுக்கும் டாக்டர்களை, உடனடியாக பணியில் இணைய கடிதம் வழங்க வேண்டும். ஒரு மாதத்துக்கு மேல் மருத்துவ விடுப்பு எடுக்க முயலும் டாக்டர்களது உடல்நிலை குறித்து உறுதிப்படுத்த, மருத்துவ குழுவுக்கு அனுப்பி பரிசோதிக்க வேண்டும்.

குழு பரிந்துரையின்றி, விடுமுறையை அங்கீகரிக்க இயக்குனரகத்துக்கு பரிந்துரைக்கக்கூடாது. இரு மாதங்கள் பணிக்கு வராத டாக்டர்கள், ஓய்வு பெறும் நாள் வரை பணிபுரிய வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் இருப்பின், முதுநிலை, உயர் மருத்துவ சிறப்பு படிப்பின்போது அரசு வழங்கிய, 'ஸ்காலர்ஷிப்' தொகையை. வட்டியுடன் அரசு கணக்கில் செலுத்த வேண்டும் என, உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.மேலும், இரு மாதங்களுக்கு மேல் பணிக்கு வராமல் உள்ள, டாக்டர்களை பணியிட மாற்றவும் உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளதுஇவ்வாறு, அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

Iruttu Kadai near the centuries-old Nellaiappar temple is said to be the birthplace of Tirunelveli alva.

Navin Sigamany 

Monday, March 18, 2019 - 14:48

I finally made it to Iruttu Kadai to sample one of Tamil Nadu's most iconic foods. Established in 1900, locals agree that this shop is the originator of the Tirunelveli alva. Iruttu Kadai is so popular that they remain open for a mere three hours each day from 5 pm to 8 pm, during which they sell out the day’s supply.

The Iruttu Kadai as it nears 8pm and the day’s supply is nearing its end.

We made a quick stop there on the way to the railway station to catch a train back after a quick sojourn in southern Tamil Nadu after a wedding shoot at Tiruchendur. There was a frenetic energy inside the small shop, as the assistants made 500-gram packets of the delicacy. Two cashier-salesmen collected money and dispensed the single product to a steady stream of people who all seemed to know the process. You step up, announce the quantity you want in a clear voice, hand over the exact change, collect your parcel and leave quickly. The quantity was important because it was available in only two pre-packaged variants - the 500-gram takeaway cellophane pack, and the 100-gram slurp-immediately banana leaf pack.

There is a great disturbance in the force if you do things like ask for 250 grams, don't give exact change, take photos or do anything that is not in the above-mentioned process. This disturbance manifests as minor grimaces from your fellow patrons, who will then proceed to flow around you and continue following the process. These patrons were all locals - other less savvy visitors than me had already fallen by the wayside, lured by the literally hundreds of other shops selling ‘authentic,’ ‘real’ and ‘original’ Tirunelveli alva. The locals, however, converged unerringly on the original shop, which in all its boardless glory was easily discernible if you followed common sense: It was the darkest of the sweet shops. After all the Iruttu Kadai, or Dark Shop.

I must say a few words about the surroundings of this little legendary shop. The gopuram of the centuries-old Nellaiappar temple dominates the street, and immediately in its vicinity, you see hundreds of shops selling Tirunelveli alva. Now, a friendly Tirunelveli local who you meet in any other part of the world might give you some sort of advice like, “As you exit the temple, turn left and it’s the seventh shop on your left.” This is absolutely useless information, as it’s virtually impossible to tell which is the seventh and which the seventeenth. I was absolutely amazed by the sheer number of shops that are peddling this delicacy, and even more amazed to see how many people were going to shops other than Iruttu Kadai. But, following my father’s advice to always be charitable in ascribing motives, I can only conclude that most of these people had tastes that differed from mine and my fellow-patrons of the real Iruttu Kadai.

Portraits of the founders adorn the Iruttu Kadai

As I approached the Iruttu Kadai, I was torn between the desire to eat some alva right then and to shoot some pictures and take in the general atmosphere. The all-important task of acquiring the alva had already been self-allocated to my partner, who diligently followed the set process without creating any waves. In an act of great self-sacrifice, I delayed my alva-eating to get a few pictures of the shop, and sticking my head into the interior to witness the logistics of the packing and stacking.

Following the strict code of conduct while acquiring alva

In the dim recesses of the shop stood a team of assistants, four or five of them, in banians and lungies, busily packing fresh alva into 500-gram packets. These they then stacked within arm’s reach of the the two public facing officials who did the all-important task of exchanging these for the money of the patrons. Given the steady stream of customers, this whole process was performed with the precision and solemnity of a German-made prasad-distributing machine in a major temple. All this I accomplished in the space of about sixty seconds - even my persistent determination could not take more than this much pressure to make way for the stream of devotees.

I turned around just in time for my partner to hand me a portion of slurpable alva on a piece of banana leaf. This 100-gram piece was pure heaven, and perfectly portioned. The smell of ghee wafted gently to my nose, sending already-stimulated salivary glands to battle stations. This all-hands-on-deck situation made sure that the moment the alva landed in my mouth, it was ready for transport to the throat without any contact with the teeth. Which was just as well - it is definitely a bit sticky, and you don’t want to waste even a tiny bit of it stuck between your teeth! As I polished off the little bit, I wanted to get more. Unfortunately, the crowd had grown, and my train would not wait for me. I had to clutch my precious 500-gram cargo of takeaway alva and only dream about it till I got back home.