More medical records under scanner  Associations Rally Behind Erring Docs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.03.2019

The state health department will pull out medical records of all patients who have undergone blood transfusion in the last one year in Dharampuri, Krishnagiri and Hosur government hospitals to check for adverse reactions and complications, including death, said director of medical services Dr N Rukmini. The health department has also asked for comprehensive quarterly audits of all blood banks in the government sector, to plug loopholes and improve record keeping.

The detailed review will allow the government to see if there are cases beyond maternal deaths, she said. On Monday, a senior official told TOI that the government has cracked the whip and initiated action against three doctors after 15 maternal deaths, including expectant mothers, were recorded in a span of four months. The mothers were administered ‘lysed’ (spoilt) blood. “Quick and mandatory maternal death audits allowed the government to identify causes of deaths in some cases. We will see if similar incidents have occurred in other cases. We have no such reports so far,” she said.

Meanwhile, state health secretary Beela Rajesh said the government decided to initiate process to ensure blood banks follow protocols. “A committee will supervise the functioning of these banks periodically and submit quarterly audits. We have ensured the blood being used now is safe,” she said.

As per her directives, the directorates of medical services and medical education will serve charges for disciplinary action against erring doctors who were blood bank managers. “There will be a detailed inquiry where all doctors will be given a chance to explain themselves. If the enquiry committee finds them guilty disciplinary action including dismissal may be taken against them,” said director of medical education Dr A Edwin Joe. Criminal action or complaints to state medical council will be made after that, he said.

Government doctors’ associations, meanwhile, have rallied behind erring doctors. In a press statement, the association said the order for criminal action was issued after preliminary inquiry. “Such criminal action is a retrograde step and will make all medical officers in charge to resort to defensive actions,” they said. The release said it did not take into account system failure, including lack of specialists such as microbiologists and pathologists as per Medical Council of India norms in Dharmapuri Medical College, and inadequate training for doctors and paramedical working at the blood bank.

The release, issued by Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association state secretary Dr Ravishankar, argued that death due to transfusion reaction should have been investigated in detail with a team of specialists with a couple of days. “They were no such steps. They did not submit proper reports even after 15 deaths over a period for few months. Now, a belated team branding flaws is not sustainable,” he said, expressing concerns over death of mothers.

The health department has also asked for comprehensive quarterly audits of all blood banks in the government sector

Suspension of 5,790 Tamil Nadu lawyers kept in abeyance

Chennai:27.03.2019

In a reprieve to 5,970 advocates, who were suspended from practice on account of non-payment of subscription fee to the Advocates Welfare Fund, the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry agreed to keep the suspension order in abeyance for two weeks.

However, a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice R Pongiappan said, “If you cannot even pay the fee that comes around ₹3,000 then what is the point in practising.”Understand the purpose for which such funds are created. If you don’t want such benefits, just file an affidavit to that effect, the bench said.

To this, counsel for the advocates contended that they are not opposing the fund or payment of subscription but only the suspension order without even issuing a notice to the advocates.

“The advocates have not committed any professional misconduct or criminal offence to face such action. Moreover, the BCI can suspend a lawyer only on disciplinary grounds and not for failing to pay the subscription,” advocate Giridharan said.

Recording the same, the court posted the plea to April 9 for further hearing. TNN

Madras HC asks govt to consider perils of overqualified staff

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.03.2019

Observing that appointment of overqualified candidates to entry-level posts such as Grade-II constables is contributing to growing indiscipline and insubordination, as they refuse to do certain ‘menial jobs’ resulting in higher officials unable to function effectively, the Madras high court has suggested the state to consider the issues in detail for prescription of requisite and maximum educational qualification for appointment to such posts.

“Even in high courts, the administration is facing these issues and consequences. Postgraduate degree holders are appointed to the post of sweepers/scavengers and office assistants. After joining, they are refusing to perform certain menial jobs, which are the duties and responsibilities prescribed in the service rules. Conflicting situations are arising. Higher officials are unable to function effectively and efficiently for want of adequate support from these employees.

If the situation continues, the same would affect the public administration and solemn functions as a whole. Thus, a review in this regard is warranted,” Justice S M Subramaniam said.

The judge made the observation while dismissing a plea moved by P Muthu, inspector of police, TSP VII Battalion, seeking to quash a desertion order issued against him by his commandant.

“As far as the present writ petition is concerned, the writ petitioner remained in unauthorized absence for more than 21days and even after the order of desertion, the petitioner has not chosen to report before the competent authority by explaining the reasons for desertion. Contrarily, he has chosen to file the present writ petition,” the judge said. The additional government pleader submitted that in order to circumvent the order of transfer, the writ petitioner remained unauthorizedly absent. The court said, “This being the conduct and attitude of the police working in the rank of inspector, this court is of an opinion that there is no reason to consider his case for quashing of the order on desertion.”

Notification for appointment of VC Mumbai

OPERATIONAL ISSUES CITED

Southern Rly cancels special trains

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai :27.03.2019

The following special trains are cancelled due operational reasons.

Train number 06031 Chennai Egmore – Kollam Tri-Weekly Special fare specials leaving Chennai Egmore on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from April 1 to June 28 (total 39 trips) is cancelled.

Also, train number Kollam – Chennai Egmore Tri-Weekly Special (06032) leaving Kollam on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from April 2 to June 30 (total 39 trips) is cancelled.

Due to pre non-interlocking and noninterlocking work between Makalidurga-Devarapalli station in Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway, there would be partial cancellation of Chennai Central - Sri Satya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam Weekly Express (12691) on March 29 and 30, a press release said.

Former MLA fights with toll gate staff, vehicles get free pass

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.03.2019

Vehicles bound towards Chennai had a free ride through the Madurantagam toll gate on Tuesday morning following a tussle between toll employees and T Velmurugan, the founder of the Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi (TVK).

Three toll employees were arrested by police in connection with this incident.

Though reports claim that Velmurugan hurled shoes at the employees, police said there was no confirmation on this.

According to police, Velmurugan, a former MLA from Panrutti, was travelling to Chennai. As he was crossing the Madurantagam toll gate, toll staff asked for fee.

“In response, he showed a pass exempting him from paying the fee at toll plazas across the country. But employees at the toll, who didn’t understand Tamil, refused to accept this pass,” said a senior police official from Kancheepuram district.

This led to a verbal brawl which later turned worse with Velmurugan’s driver punching one of the employees. More men from the car including the ex-MLA engaged in a scuffle, the official added.

As the fight continued, other Chennai-bound vehicles had a free ride until police arrived at the scene to arrest three employees based on Velmurugan’s complaint.

Velmurugan was held by police for ransacking a toll gate at Ulundurpet last May during the state-wide Cauvery protests.

After bomb threat, two F-16s escort Mumbai-S’pore flight

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:27.03.2019

A Singapore Airlines flight from Mumbai with 263 passengers on board received a bomb threat on Tuesday. Responding to the threat call, Singapore Air Force sent two F-16s to escort the aircraft once it entered its airspace. It emerged later that it was a hoax call. Investigations into the incident are on.

“Singapore Airlines confirms there was a bomb threat concerning SQ423 operating from Mumbai to Singapore. The aircraft arrived in Singapore on March 26, at 0800hrs (local time),’’ said a Singapore Airlines spokesperson, adding that the airline was assisting the authorities with their probe.

In a Facebook post, the Republic of Singapore Air Force said two F16C/Ds escorted the SIA aeroplane till it landed safely at Changi airport. A woman and a child on board have been held back for questioning by the local police. According to sources, the airline received the threat call after the plane took off from Mumbai at 11.35pm (local time) on Monday. The caller claimed that there was a bomb on the plane. The plane, a Boeing 777-300ER, had departed Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 11.36pm local time, according to website FlightAware. It arrived in Singapore 31minutes behind schedule, the site added.

6, including grocer, 2 sons, die after inhaling toxic gas

Fumes From A 12-Ft-Deep Septic Tank Take Toll In Sriperumbudur

A Selvaraj@timesgroup.com

Chennai:27.03.2019

A Sriperumbudur resident’s decision to peer into the septic tank at his house led to a tragic turn of events that resulted in six people, including the man and his two sons, falling dead in minutes after inhaling a mix of toxic gases on Tuesday.

Police said V Krishnamurthy, 53, who runs a grocery in front of his house at Chella Perumal Nagar, had engaged a truck to pump out sewage from a 12-foot-deep septic tank. While waiting for the truck that had left with a full load to return, Krishnamurthy decided to check the quantum of sewage left in the tank. As his wife, Latha, 50, watched from a short distance, he peered down through the small opening only to swoon and fall in. His wife raised the alarm and her elder son, Kannan, 23, who was at the shop, rushed to the rescue. But he too swooned and fell into the tank the moment he peered in to check where his father was. The woman’s cries drew her younger son, Karthik, 21, from their house and he too suffered the same fate.

Hearing Latha’s screams, M Lakshmipathi, 21, of Arani, a customer who had come to the shop, rushed to help. He took off his shirt, aiming to enter the septic tank, but as soon as he looked through the manhole opening, he too swooned.

Fresh water was pumped into sump

By then two tenants from the neighbourhood Surata Bai, 30, native of Odisha, and V Paramasivam, 31, of Sriperumbudur — rushed to the scene. But they too suffered the same fate, falling unconscious into the septic tank the moment they peered in. Neighbours then informed police and fire and rescue personnel. A fire officer said, “We pumped in fresh water into the sewage sump and waited for at least 10 to 15 minutes for the gas trapped inside to dissipate.” Fire personnel then got into the sump and pulled out the bodies.

Latha, who had watched helplessly as the tragedy unfolded, blamed herself for her children’s death.

Kancheepuram district SP Santhosh Haidmeni and assistant superintendent of police Rajesh Khanna rushed to the spot and held an inquiry. Khanna said, “The victims did not realise there would be noxious gas formation inside the empty portions of the sump.”

The bodies were sent to the government hospital in Sriperumbudur for an autopsy. The Sriperumbudur police have registered a case and further investigations are on

IIT-Bombay to hold condolence meet for alumnus Parrikar

March 18, 2019      12:16
 
 The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) will hold a condolence meet on Monday evening to pay tributes to their alumnus, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who died after a long illness. The meeting will be held at 5 pm at the institute's P C Saxena auditorium, an IIT-B spokesperson said.

Parrikar, 63, who had also been the defence minister, died on Sunday evening at his private residence in Goa after battling a pancreatic ailment since over a year.

In 2017, he addressed the 55th convocation of the Mumbai-based institute where he told the graduates to take up jobs in social and development sectors.

An alumnus of the famed institute, he also asked students to join politics and the Army, said a former IIT-B student who was present at the convocation ceremony.

"Why can't IIT graduates, who have had the best engineering education in the country, take up academics and run some of these colleges, and transform their quality?" Parrikar had then said. The institute in its condolence message said Parrikar's demise came as a shock to them. -- PTI

மதுரையில் நாளிதழ் அலுவலகம் எரிப்பு வழக்கில் ஓய்வுபெற்ற ஏடிஎஸ்பிக்கு 5 ஆண்டுகள் சிறை தண்டனை

Published : 26 Mar 2019 05:14 IST

கி.மகாராஜன்  மதுரை



மதுரையில் நாளிதழ் அலுவலகத்தில் பெட்ரோல் குண்டு வீசி 3 பேர் கொல்லப்பட்ட வழக்கில் ஓய்வுபெற்ற ஏடிஎஸ்பி ராஜாராமுக்கு 5 ஆண்டுகள் கடுங்காவல் சிறை தண்டனை வழங்கி உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டது.

மதுரையில் உள்ள நாளிதழ் அலுவலகம் ஒன்றில் 9.5.2007-ல் பெட்ரோல் குண்டு வீசப்பட்டது. இதில் ஊழியர்கள் கோபிநாத், வினோத், பாதுகாவலர் முத்துராமலிங்கம் ஆகியோர் கொல்லப்பட்டனர். இது தொடர்பாக அட்டாக் பாண்டி, அப்போதைய ஊமச்சிக்குளம் டிஎஸ்பியாக இருந்த வி.ராஜாராம் (ஏடிஎஸ்பியாக ஓய்வுபெற்றார்) உட்பட 17 பேர் மீது சிபிஐ போலீஸார் வழக்குப் பதிவு செய்தனர். இந்த வழக்கை மதுரை சிபிஐ நீதிமன்றம் விசாரித்து, 17 பேரையும் விடுதலை செய்து 9.12.2009-ல் தீர்ப்பளித்தது.

இதை எதிர்த்து சிபிஐ சார்பிலும், கொலை செய்யப்பட்ட வினோத்தின் தாயார் பூங்கொடி சார்பிலும் உயர் நீதிமன்றக் கிளையில் மேல்முறையீடு செய்யப்பட்டது. இந்த வழக்கை விசாரித்த நீதிபதி பி.என்.பிரகாஷ், பி.புகழேந்தி அமர்வு, அட்டாக் பாண்டி, பிரபு என்ற ஆரோக்கிய பிரபு, விஜயபாண்டி, கந்தசாமி, ராமையா பாண்டியன், சுதாகர், திருமுருகன், ரூபன், மாலிக்பாட்சா ஆகிய 9 பேருக்கும் தலா 3 ஆயுள் தண்டனையும், தலா ரூ.10 ஆயிரம் அபராதமும் விதித்தது. மேலும் தண்டனையை ஏக காலத்தில் அனுபவிக்கவும் நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

நேரில் ஆஜராக உத்தரவு

இந்த வழக்கில் 17-வது எதிரியான வி.ராஜாராம் குற்றவாளி என அறிவித்த நீதிபதிகள், அவருக்கு தண்டனை வழங்குவது தொடர்பான கேள்விக்கு பதிலளிக்க ராஜாராமை நேற்று நேரில் ஆஜராக உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

இந்த வழக்கு நீதிபதி பி.என்.பிரகாஷ், பி.புகழேந்தி அமர்வில் நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அப்போது வி.ராஜாராம் நேரில் ஆஜரானார். அவரிடம் தண்டனை பற்றி என்ன சொல்ல விரும்புகிறீர்கள்? என நீதிபதிகள் கேள்வி எழுப்பினர். அதற்கு அவர், எனக்கு 62 வயதாகிறது. இருதய பிரச்சினை உள்ளது. திருமணமாகாத இரு மகள்கள் உள்ளனர். குடும்பப் பிரச்சினையும் உள்ளது. எனக்கு குறைந்தபட்ச தண்டனை வழங்க வேண்டும் என்றார்.

கடுங்காவல் தண்டனை

இதையடுத்து, இந்த சம்பவத்தில் 3 பேர் கொல்லப்பட்டதை கருத்தில் கொண்டு வி.ராஜாராமுக்கு இபிகோ 217 (பொது ஊழியராக இருக்கும் நபர், சட்டத்துக்கு கீழ்படியாத நபர்களை உள்நோக்கத்துடன் காப்பாற்றுதல்) பிரிவில் ஒரு ஆண்டு கடுங்காவல் தண்டனை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இபிகோ 221 (பார்ட் ஒன்) (பொது ஊழியராக இருந்துகொண்டு வேண்டும் என்றே ஒருவர் தப்பிக்க துணையாக இருத்தல்) பிரிவில் அதிகபட்சம் 7 ஆண்டு சிறைத் தண்டனை வழங்கலாம். ஆனால் ராஜாராமுக்கு 4 ஆண்டு கடுங்காவல் தண்டனை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. தண்டனையை ஏக காலத்தில் அவர் அனுபவிக்க வேண்டும். உடனடியாக அவரை மதுரை மத்திய சிறையில் அடைக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

ராஜாராமிடம் நீதிபதிகள் சரமாரி கேள்வி

நீதிபதிகளிடம் ராஜாராம் கூறியதாவது: சம்பவம் நடைபெற்றபோது அலுவலகத்துக்கு வெளியே பாதுகாப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்தேன். அப்போது அலுவலகத்துக்குள் பணியில் இருந்த காவல்துறை அதிகாரி ராமநாராயணன், அலுவலகத்துக்குள் சிலர் தீவைத்துவிட்டதாகத் தெரிவித்தார்.

உடனே நான் அலுவலகத்துக்குள் சென்றேன். அப்போது ஏட்டுகள் சிலர் அங்கு நின்றிருந்தனர். நான் தீ வைத்தவர்களை விரட்டிவிட்டு, தீயணைப்பு நிலையத்துக்கு தகவல் தெரிவித்துவிட்டு அலுவலகத்துக்கு வெளியே வந்தேன். அப்போது அலுவலகத்துக்கு வெளியே நின்றிருந்த போலீஸாரும், ஏடிஎஸ்பியும் அங்கு இல்லை.

இந்த சம்பவத்தில் என்னை பலிகடா ஆக்கியுள்ளனர். அது குறித்து நீதிபதிகளிடம் தனியாகச் சொல்ல விரும்புகிறேன் என்றார்.

அதை ஏற்க மறுத்த நீதிபதிகள், குற்றவாளிகளை விரட்டி துப்பாக்கியால் வானத்தை நோக்கி சுட்டிருக்கலாமே என கேள்வி எழுப்பினர். அதற்கு துப்பாக்கியை நான் வண்டியில் வைத்துவிட்டுச் சென்றேன். உடன் எடுத்துச் செல்லவில்லை என்றார்.

அதற்கு துப்பாக்கியை பத்திரமாக வண்டியில் வைத்துவிட்டு, அலுவலகத்துக்குள் சென்றுள்ளீர்கள், அப்படித்தானே? என நீதிபதிகள் கேட்டனர்.

தொடர்ந்து, உங்களுக்கு இரு குழந்தைகள் உள்ளனர், அதில் ஒருவர் நாளிதழ் அலுவலகத்தில் பணிபுரிந்திருந்தால் என்ன செய்வீர்கள்? அவர்களை காப்பாற்ற நினைப்பீர்களா? இல்லை அப்படியே விட்டுவிடுவீர்களா? என நீதிபதிகள் கேட்டனர்.

அதற்கு, ‘காப்பாற்ற முயல்வேன்’ என்றார் ராஜாராம். ‘அலுவலகத்தில் பணிபுரிந்தவர்கள் உங்கள் குழந்தைகள் இல்லாததால் காப்பாற்ற முயலவில்லைதானே’ என நீதிபதிகள் கேட்டனர்.

‘இல்லை, காப்பாற்ற முயன்றேன்’ என்றார் ராஜாராம்.

இதையடுத்து ஒரு மணி நேரமாக நீதிமன்றத்தில் ராஜாராம் அமர வைக்கப்பட்டார். பின்னர் நீதிபதிகள் தண்டனையை வாசித்தனர். மாலை 5 மணியளவில் ராஜாராம் நீதிமன்றத்தில் இருந்து மதுரை சிறைக்கு அழைத்துச் செல்லப்பட்டார்.

தலை வணங்குகிறோம்!

நாளிதழ் அலுவலக எரிப்பு சம்பவத்தில் மரணமடைந்த ஊழியர் கோபிநாத்தின் தாயார் திலகவல்லியிடம் இந்த தீர்ப்பு குறித்து கேட்டபோது கூறியதாவது:

தெய்வம் நின்று கொன்றிருக்கிறது. தெய்வங்கள்போல் நின்று நீதி வழங்கியிருக்கும் நீதியரசர்களுக்கு எங்கள் குடும்பம் தலைவணங்குகிறது. முந்தைய தீர்ப்பால் கடும் மன உளைச்சலில் இருந்தோம். தற்போது பெரும் மன ஆறுதல் அடைந்திருக்கிறோம். வலியவர்களை எதிர்த்து, சாதாரண மனிதர்கள் நீண்ட நாள் போராட முடியாத சூழ்நிலையே இருக்கிறது. ஆனாலும், ’நீதி சாகாது’ என்பதை, சிபிஐ விசாரணையும், தற்போதைய தீர்ப்பும் எடுத்துக் காட்டியிருக்கிறது. இந்த வழக்கில் சட்டத்தில் சிக்காமல் தப்பிவிட்ட குற்றவாளிகளையும் நாங்கள் வணங்கும் தெய்வங்கள் நிச்சயம் தண்டிக்கும்.

‘10 litres of brandy free’: Tiruppur independent candidate makes election promise

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | Edited by : DRAKSHA SHARMA

Published   Mar 25, 2019, 4:58 pm IST

Dovood promised to import pure liquor from Puducherry and distribute it among the families.

Sheikh has made 15 announcements in his election manifesto. (Photo: screengrab)

Tirupur: In a bizarre pre-poll promise an independent candidate from Tiruppur Lok Sabha constituency has promised to supply 10 litres of pure liquor per month for each family for free.

AM Sheik Davood, who hails from Anthiyur is a tailor by profession. He made the promise while announcing the contents of his manifesto.

“I will supply 10 litres of pure brandy, which people use as medicine, imported from Pondicherry to each person in a family every month,” The News Minute reported.

When asked about the tall promise, Dovood said, “Nowadays everybody drinks. The problem is with the spurious liquor that’s adversely affecting the health of the consumer. If voted to power, I’ll bring pure liquor from Puducherry and distribute it among the families here,” The Times of India reported.

The 55-year-old candidate's pre-poll promises also included provision of Rs 25,000 to every family each month, bringing drinking water to the district by digging a canal from Mettur to Tiruppur, to provide wedding assistance by giving 10 sovereigns of gold and Rs 10 lakh to the newlyweds, to urge government to not implement total prohibition in Tamil Nadu.

Sheikh has made 15 announcements in his election manifesto.

Ruling AIADMK has fielded former minister MSM Anandan for the constituency, while the DMK has allotted the seat for its alliance party, the Communist Party of India. K Subbarayan has been named for the seat by CPI.

Reptiles seized by customs at Chennai airport, student detained

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedMar 26, 2019, 4:07 am IST

Horned pit viper, 2 rhinocerous iguanas, 22 Egyptian tortoises, 4 Blue tongued skunks and Green tree frogs seized.

On questioning, he was evasive and officials opened his baggage for further examination.

Chennai: Customs officials at the Chennai international airport seized a horned pit viper and other reptiles from a passenger from Bangkok on Monday morning. He was detained and further investigations are underway.

In February, officials had found a passenger trying to smuggle a leopard cub from Bangkok Airport sources said that on Monday, based on specific intelligence that wild animals were likely to be smuggled from Thailand, the officers of Customs’ Air Intelligence Unit went on a special alert at the customs arrival hall to catch the smugglers.

When they noticed a male passenger moving in a suspicious manner on Monday morning, they moved in. The passenger, identified as Mohammad Abdul Majeed, 22, of Chennai a student, had arrived from Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight.



On questioning, he was evasive and officials opened his baggage for further examination. They found nine plastic containers along with some chocolates, gift items and personal clothing. When the sweet boxes were opened the officers found some reptiles.

On questioning, he said he was to hand over the bag to someone outside the airport. To identify the reptile species, the AIU officials called the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) who identified five reptile species - a horned pit viper, two rhinoceros iguanas, the rock iguanas, 22 Egyptian tortoise, four blue-tongued skunks and and the green tree frogs.The horned pit viper is an African venomous snake for which there is no no anti-venom available in India.

The Egyptian tortoise is a critically endangered species and is endemic to Egypt and Libya. The wildlife species were seized under the provisions of Customs Act 1962 read with FT (D&R) Act. The passenger was detained. The wildlife will be sent back to Bangkok.

Madras HC orders to keep in abeyance its interim order against brand of Biscuits

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published   Mar 26, 2019, 5:20 am IST

The said order may be kept in abeyance for a limited period so as to enable them to file a reply and to contest the matter effectively.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered to keep in abeyance, the interim injunction granted against M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt. Ltd in the matter relating to infringement of the trade mark “Arokya”.

Justice S.Vaidyanathan passed the interim order and posted to April 3, further hearing of an application filed by M/s Patanjali Biscuits Pvt.Ltd, which sought to vacate the order of interim injunction, dated February 28, 2019.

Originally, on an application arising out of a suit filed by Hatsun Agro Product Ltd, the judge had on February 28 granted interim injunction against Patanjali Biscuits Pvt.Ltd. Aggrieved, the Patanjali Biscuits filed the present application.

The judge said the foremost contention raised by senior counsel P.S.Raman, appearing for Patanjali Biscuits was that the trademark “Patanjali Aarogya” was registered as early as in 2016 itself and that in the light of section 28 (3) of the Trademarks Act, the suit filed by Hatsun Agro Product was not maintainable and was liable to be dismissed. He has further contended that pursuant to the interim order, the Patanjali Biscuits incurred huge loss and therefore, the said order may be kept in abeyance for a limited period so as to enable them to file a reply and to contest the matter effectively.

In reply, counsel for Hatsun Products has submitted that there was no reason forthcoming on the side of Patanjali Biscuits for the delay in approaching the court and this court, on due satisfaction of the averments made in the applications for interim injunction and the plaint, had granted the interim order. He has further submitted that when the applicant had filed an application for registration of the trademark “Patanjali Arogya”, the Hatsun Products had made several objections to it.

But, however, the applicants had somehow managed to obtain the registration of trademark “Patanjali Aarogya” in the year 2016 irrespective of the fact that the trademark of the plaintiff was registered in the year 1995 itself, the judge added.

The judge said the counsel for the plaintiff further submitted that by deceptively adopting the trademark of the plaintiff, a wrong impression was shown in the minds of the public at large that the products of the plaintiff have been taken over by Patanjali Biscuits, even though they were two different entities as on date. It was the strong case of the applicant that when the registered ownership of the trademark of the Patanjali Biscuits is duly established, the plaintiff cannot proceed against them for the relief of infringement, as the applicant had registered the trademark “Patanjali Aarogya”.

“Coming to the crux of the matter, it is admitted fact that the applicants had duly registered their trademark “Patanjali Aarogya” in the year 2016, which was much later to the registration of the plaintiff’s trademark “Arokya” in 1995. In totality, finding prima facie case and balance of convenience of the applicants, I find justification in the contention raised by the senior counsel for the applicant and the inrim relief granted by this court is liable to be kept in abeyance for two weeks without rendering any opinion on the merits of the suit”, the judge added.

British Airways flight lands in Scotland instead of Germany by mistake

Passengers only found out about the mishap when the pilot said the plane was coming in to land in Edinburgh, which is around 500 miles (800 kilometres) from Dusseldorf.

Published: 25th March 2019 09:12 PM

British Airways planes (File|AP)

By AFP

LONDON: A British Airways plane flew by mistake from London to Edinburgh instead of Dusseldorf in Germany on Monday.

Passengers only found out about the mishap when the pilot said the plane was coming in to land in Edinburgh, which is around 500 miles (800 kilometres) from Dusseldorf.

After the crew realised the mistake, the plane was refuelled and flown to Dusseldorf, landing in Germany with a delay of more than three and a half hours.

"We are working with WDL Aviation, who operated this flight on behalf of British Airways, to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed," a spokesman said.


Twitter user Son Tran, who said he was on the plane, said: "While an interesting concept, I don't think anyone on board has signed up for this mystery travel lottery".

Another passenger, Sophie Cooke, told the BBC that the wait in Edinburgh "became very frustrating".

"The toilets were blocked and they ran out of snacks. It was also really stuffy," Cooke said.

BDU gets ready for third cycle of accreditation

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TIRUCHI, MARCH 26, 2019 00:00 IST

A peer team from NAAC to visit Bharathidasan University today

A peer team of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) will undertake a three-day visit to Bharathidasan University from Tuesday to rate the institution for the third cycle of accreditation.

The university was re-accredited with ‘A’ Grade by the NAAC during 2012. The university scored 3.16 on a four-point scale based on a set of seven parameters: curriculum, teaching-learning and evaluation, research consultancy and extension, infrastructure and learning resources, student activities, governance, and innovative practices.

For the third cycle, the university had submitted an elaborate self-study report with the aim of securing A++ ranking. For this, the CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) must be above 3.76 on the four-point scale, with the parameters remaining the same.

The top ranking became imperative for the university to scale up distance education programme, which has been a major source of revenue, after the Ministry of Human Resource Development decided to permit only those universities with top NAAC ranking to offer distance education programme.

The self-study report encompassed details of UGC SAP/ DST FIST recognitions, H-index, descriptions about uniqueness of the department or centre, their significant achievements in the last five years, best and innovative practices, future plan for one to five years, and future plan for six to 20 years, university sources said.

The peer team is expected to prepare a report on a standard format divided into four sections: general profile of the institution, criterion-wise analysis, overall analysis, and recommendations for quality enhancement of the institution.

The NAAC deputes peer team only after obtaining 'No Conflict of Interest' statement from the members. The NAAC chooses only those who are above board for the accreditation exercise.

With 23 autonomous colleges, 128 non-autonomous colleges in its fold, Bharathidasan University also expects to improve its ranking under the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework).

A report submitted for NIRF 2019 ranking states that there are 529 students pursuing doctoral programme full time and 331 on part-time basis till 2017-18. During 2017-18, 108 full-time and 34 part-time Ph.D. students graduated from the university.

MKU to start anthropology course

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, MARCH 26, 2019 00:00 

‘High time it was started in a culturally and historically significant city’

Madurai Kamaraj University will soon become the first university in Tamil Nadu since independence to offer a masters programme in anthropology.

According to academicians in MKU, the only other university in Tamil Nadu to offer M.A. in Anthropology is University of Madras, where the department was started during the colonial period.

T. Dharmaraj, Professor and Head, Department of Cultural Studies, which will be offering the course, said it was high time an anthropology course was offered by the MKU, which is located in Madurai, a culturally and historically significant city. Though Tamil Nadu had extensive scope and need for anthropological studies, it was unfortunate and ironic that students from the State almost had no opportunity to study the course here. “It is no wonder a majority of the anthropological studies related to Tamil Nadu came from people outside,” he said.

He pointed that even institutions such as the American Institute of Indian Studies had a language centre in Madurai, through which many scholars from abroad came for anthropology-related studies.

With the cultural and historical significance of Madurai and the recent findings in Keezhadi, he said it would be exciting to have MKU offer a course in anthropology. “Moreover, the field of anthropology is now focussing more on multi-species ethnography, which is closer to the concept of ‘ Ainthinai ’ we have in Tamil culture,” he said.

He said that some subjects such as Medical Anthropology would be dealt in collaboration with School of Biological Sciences in the university. The course, to be offered from the coming academic year, would accommodate 20 students. Apart from this, Department of Cultural Studies would also offer a masters course in Cultural Informatics.

Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan said there would be a high demand for the anthropology course, owing to a range of job opportunities available in the government sector.

“Importantly, students aspiring to crack competitive exams such as the Union Public Service Commission prefer this course,” Mr. Krishnan said.

He added that offering these new courses was in alignment with university’s focus on improving student enrolment.

Over one crore absentees in every election in T.N. in the last 30 years

Dennis S. Jesudasan

CHENNAI, MARCH 26, 2019 00:00 IST

Assembly election turnout has been higher than that of Lok Sabha polls

Irrespective of the long and intensive awareness campaigns by the Election Commission of India, on an average, at least one crore electors across Tamil Nadu did not cast their vote in every Parliamentary and Assembly election held since 1989. Meanwhile, the size of the electorate keeps swelling every year.

An analysis of the voting percentage shows the polling percentage during Assembly elections was higher compared to Lok Sabha polls due to various factors, such as interest in local issues and the Assembly being a smaller segment.

During the past 30 years, the highest polling percentage of 78 was recorded during 2011 Assembly elections and the lowest 57.95, during 1998 Lok Sabha polls.

An officer, who has observed elections in Tamil Nadu, argued that the interest of local issues among the electorate could be a major reason behind the trend of more voters exercising their franchise during an Assembly election.

“The electorate sees the work the MLA is doing but in the case of MP, there is his perception that he/she is involved in work that are far away. Also, Assembly segments are smaller and more candidates canvass for voting as against MP where only few are in the fray,” he pointed out.

While regional parties are more active in Assembly polls, the appeal of national parties is not much here, he observed and added that the voting percentage in rural areas has always been better than urban habitations.

Lack of interest

DMK MP and spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan felt the lack of interest among the professionals settled in cities away from their native towns could have contributed to absenteism.

“Also, the challenge of waiting in queues could be a reason that many do not come to booths. While th e middle class and others vote, the trend of not voting is mostly among the upper class,” he contended.

Senior BJP leader L. Ganesan said that lack of awareness could be a reason. “Maybe not many people are thinking that the country’s Prime Minister could be from Tamil Nadu.” If you compare the polling percentage in local body polls, the polling percentage in Assembly polls could be less, he argued.

Many voters told The Hindu that they did not exercise their franchise as they were away from the native place where their names are enrolled in the voters’ list.

But, some skip voting as they are fed up with political parties. “I always had a notion we had to choose a lesser evil and hence did not votes,” said a voter.

“Earlier, I used to vote for a national party, which had great leaders but now even they are corrupt,” said a disenchanted senior citizen from Mogappair West.

With clock ticking down, heavyweights enter the fray

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, MARCH 26, 2019 00:00 IST

Congress’ Vasanth Kumar is the richest, with assets of Rs. 417 crore, among those who have filed their papers so far

With just a day left for filing nominations for the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly by-polls, a number of high-profile candidates filed their papers before the respective returning officers across Tamil Nadu on Monday.

An examination of the net worth of the candidates in the fray so far, based on the declaration made in the nomination papers, revealed that Congress Nanguneri MLA Vasanth Kumar, who is crossing swords with Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan of the BJP in Kanniyakumari, is the richest with declared assets worth Rs. 417.48 crore. His liabilities stood at Rs. 154 crore.

Candidates from across parties, barring the AMMK, filed their nomination papers in their respective constituencies. As of Monday, 610 candidates, including two from the third gender, had filed nominations.

In Thoothukudi, DMK women’s wing leader Kanimozhi and BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan filed their papers. Both have declared assets – including that of family members – of over Rs. 10 crore.

At Sivaganga, Karti Chidambaram, whose candidature had been a matter of speculation till Sunday evening, filed his papers, declaring assets of over Rs. 79.38 crore. BJP national secretary H. Raja too filed his nominations from the constituency declaring assets of over Rs. 2.62 crore and liabilities of Rs. 59.10 lakh

In Karur, AIADMK propaganda secretary and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M.Thambi Durai filed his papers. His principal rival Congress candidate S. Jothimani and former minister V. Senthil Balaji (DMK), engaged in a heated exchange with a police officer at the officer of the Returning Officer. The issue arose when Mr. Balaji and Ms. Jothimani were prevented from entering the RO’s room when Mr. Thambi Durai was filing his papers for over 30 minutes.

In Erode, the MDMK candidate A. Ganesamoorthy, who is contesting on the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol, staged sit-in-protest outside the Returning Officer’s room at the Collectorate for 10 minutes. Mr. Ganesamoorthy said that a police Inspector had informed him over phone that the time was allotted to him was from 1 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.

Though he was waiting till 1.30 p.m., he was not allowed inside the RO’s office, leading him to stage a protest. The candidate took up the issue with the Returning Officer and Collector C. Kathiravan, who informed him that he did not allot any time to the candidates for filing their nominations.

When DMK candidates D.M. Kathir Anand and S. Jagathrakshagan went to file their nominations for Vellore and Arakkonam Parliamentary constituencies respectively, chaos persisted at the District Collectorate for sometime. Though a large posse of policemen were present at the Collectorate and its surrounding areas, they were helpless for more than half an hour as the party cadre who had been advised to stay out of the portico area, forced their entry into the Collectorate and turned it into a ‘free for all’. In the melee, some of the party functionaries accompanied the candidates up to second floor where the nominations took place. This led to a situation in which Vellore MLA, P. Karthikeyan had to fight his way to the Collector’s office.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi founder Thol. Thirumavalavan, former TNCC presidents Su.Thirunavukkarasar and EVKS Elangovan, former Union IT Minister A Raja, Puthiya Tamilagam leader Krishnasamy, DMK South Chennai candidate Thamizhachi Thangapandian and IJK founder Paarivendhar were among those who filed their nominations.

(With inputs from Bureaus)

Business class flyers worst affected as Jet Airways suspends flights

TNN | Mar 25, 2019, 07.58 AM IST

CHENNAI: Flying business class on the domestic sector from Chennai might soon become a thing of the past as Jet Airways, which had the most number of flights to metros, especially during peak hours, have cancelled most of them from Chennai after the airline grounded its planes due to a financial crisis.

The members of Jet Airways frequent flyer programme and also those who have booked business class seats have started cancelling their tickets since there is uncertainty whether the airline would maintain its schedule. Air India is the only alternative, and there is a huge increase in airfare as only a few seats are left on Chennai-Mumbai and Chennai-Delhi flights.

Air India, Jet Airways and Vistara offer business class / first class seats on domestic network. Among these, Jet had the maximum services from Chennai. Air India has only fewer flights while Vistara flies to four cities from Chennai.

Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) national president D Sudhakara Reddy said, “The choice is few for business class travellers. They have no option but to travel by economy.”

M K Ajith Kumar of Asia Pacific Tours said, "Business class options will remain confined to Air India and Vistara apart from few international airlines which may connect some cities. Hence, business class fares are likely to go up unless the fares are capped until the situation stabilizes."

Reddy said Jet Airways had four to five flights to Mumbai and two to three flights to Delhi during peak hours.

"It has a loyal customer base. The airline should try to retain the customers in this time of crisis. They should not be charging cancellation fee from passengers who are cancelling the tickets because they are not sure if the flights are operated."

There could also be an arrangement with other airlines to carry the passengers, he added. "Such measures will help the airline retain its customers," he said.

Jet Airways has cancelled 19 flights outside Chennai in March of which many were during the peak hours.

Poisonous snake found only in Africa seized at Chennai airport along with other reptiles

TNN | Mar 26, 2019, 04.27 AM IST

Chennai: For probably the first time in the country, Customs officials at Chennai international airport on Monday morning seized a horn pit viper, a poisonous African snake, besides several other endangered reptiles from the bag of a passenger who had arrived from Bangkok. 

Apart from the viper, two rhinoceros iguana (cyclura cornuta), three rock iguana (cyclura genus), 22 Egyptian tortoise (testudo kleinmani ), four blue-tongued skink, three green tree frogs (genus hyla), an amphibian species, were found inside plastic containers in the passenger’s bags.

The passenger, a 22-year-old Chennai student, Mohammad Abdul Majeed, had arrived from from Bangkok by Thai Airways flight TG337.

Incidentally, on February 2, a leopard cub was seized by customs officials at the airport from a passenger who had arrived on the same flight.

The Viper is an African venomous snake and there is no anti venom available in India for it. Egyptian tortoise is a critically endangered species and is endemic to Egypt and Libya.

The wild life species were seized under the provisions of Customs Act 1962. The passenger was detained. The seized wild life species will be sent back to Bangkok.

Customs officials received a specific intelligence that wild animals were likely to be smuggled from Thailand.

When the flight arrived in the wee hours of Monday morning, the customs officials zeroed in on Majeed who was behaving in a suspicious manner.

He was questioned and his purple stroller bag was examined. It was found to contain nine plastic containers along with some chocolates, gift items and personal clothing. When the containers were opened, some reptiles were present inside. When he was questioned, he said that he was supposed to hand over the bag to someone outside the airport. He was taken outside but no one turned up to receive the bag even after waiting for a considerable time.

To identify the reptile species, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) officials were called. A team of Veterinary doctors were called from Arignar Anna Zoological Park who inspected and found the animals in healthy condition.

Rajan Chaudhary, commissioner of airport customs, told TOI Bangkok has become a hub from where wild animals were being smuggled to India. Recently, two seizures of 2300 and 4800 red-eared slider turtles were also seized from passengers coming from Bangkok, he said.

Man tries to put Rs 1.94L in ATM, held

TNN | Mar 26, 2019, 04.32 AM IST

Chennai: A 24-year-old man, who was trying to deposit Rs 1.94 lakh at an ATM kiosk in Triplicane was nabbed by police and handed over to the election officer. He was allegedly depositing the money in different accounts.
The Triplicane police detained Arabi, 24 of Mannady, as he was not able to give details about the source of the money.

Police said that a passer-by had alerted them about a man depositing large amounts of cash at a SBI bank ATM. Later when questioned by police, Arabi gave contradictory answers.

The police team found bundles of cash in the denomination of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500, worth Rs 1.94 lakh, in his bag.

Police handed over the cash to Rajmohan, assistant executive election officer, Triplicane.

On March 8, police had caught Rawthar Sahib Malik, a resident of Nainiappan Naicken Street in Mannadiafter, who trying to deposit Rs 17 lakh at an ATM on Anna Salai.

2007 Dinakaran office attack: Former DSP gets four years jail

TNN | Mar 26, 2019, 06.09 AM IST

MADURAI: Days after setting aside the acquittal of then deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Rajaram in the Dinakaran newspaper office arson case that left three people dead in 2007, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court sentenced him to four years imprisonment on Monday.

On March 21, a division bench of Justices P N Prakash and B Pugalendhi sentenced nine people, including ‘Attack’ Pandi, former aide of M K Alagiri, to undergo life imprisonment in connection with the case. At the same time, the judges set aside Rajaram’s acquittal and directed him to appear before the court on March 25 to decide the quantum of sentence. The former DSP who appeared before the court on Monday urged the judges to hear him in the chambers. However, the judges refused, stating that he had already been convicted in the case.

DSP Rajaram to undergo the imprisonment concurrently

The judges then handed him four years jail term under section 221

(1) of the IPC (intentionally omits to apprehend a suspect) and one-year jail term under section 217 of IPC (public servant disobeying law to save a person from punishment). The judges further directed the DSP to undergo the imprisonment concurrently following which Rajaram was taken straight to the jail.

Dinakaran office at Madurai was torched by vandals on May 9, 2007, after it published the results of an opinion poll which suggested that M K Stalin had greater public approval as the political successor to DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi than his elder brother Alagiri. Three Dinakaran staff members — Vinoth Kumar, Gopinath and Muthuramalingam -— were killed in the incident.

The case was later taken over by the CBI, which booked 17 people, including Rajaram, for facilitating the attack.

Jet normalcy in 10 days, sale in 2 months, says SBI chief

Goyal Family Will Do Whatever New Investors Want: Kumar

Mayur.Shetty@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:26.03.2019

State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Rajnish Kumar has said that the new management committee appointed by banks will aim to restore Jet Airways to normalcy in 10 days.

The airline’s outgoing chairman Naresh Goyal’s place is likely to be taken by a former SBI chief — Janki Ballabh and A K Purwar have been tapped for the position. Jet’s day-to-day operations will be looked after by an interim management committee. The panel would be supervised by the board of directors, which will include two lender nominees, with the support of McKinsey & Co.

Speaking to TOI, Kumar said that the Rs 1,500-crore secured emergency funding provided by lenders would help take care of aircraft leases, demands from pressing creditors, along with pilot and staff salaries for two months. According to Kumar, the funds could be used to get grounded aircraft back in the air and cancellations should start coming down.

Lenders will also make efforts to get the grounded planes in the air as quickly as possible since Jet has the rights to many profitable routes. “Banks will hold 50.1% in the airline, which will be sold by June 2019. Goyal’s 25.5% stake will not come in the way as he has signed binding agreements and PNB has a pledge on some shares. They (Goyal family) will do whatever the new investors want,” said Kumar.

The equity conversion does not reduce any debt liability for the airline as the shares have been issued against debt of Re 1. Lenders will sell the airline to any investor who offers to pay the most for the equity and service the largest portion of the debt.

Kumar said that banks did not want to initiate insolvency proceedings against the private airline as this would result in aeroplanes being grounded. “You cannot have a resolution in the NCLT for an airline. This would mean that airline would go into liquidation,” said Kumar.

According to Kumar, the resolution — although being done outside NCLT — would be executed in a very transparent manner. “We will close the expression of interest on April

9. SBI Caps will run the process and we will take the final bids by April 30,” said Kumar.

He said that the process, which began at the beginning of the year, is being completed in record time. “We will complete the process in two months. It is a very good airline, it has very good routes, and a very good second rung of management,” said Kumar.

Stop political slogans on public bldgs: SC to TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 26.03.2019

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu government to take all steps to prevent defacement of natural landscapes and public buildings with political slogans and photographs of political leaders.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi criticised the Tamil Nadu government for filing an affidavit stating that the Madras high court has constituted a committee to look into grievances relating to defacement of natural landscapes and public buildings with political messages and that petitioner-advocate E G Rajendran could move the said committee.

The bench said the counter affidavit filed by the state government was not in the spirit of the March 8 order of the SC, which had expressed serious concern over the issue and wanted the state to take preventive measures.

It then ordered the Tamil Nadu government “to take all steps to prevent disfigurement and defacement of natural features like hillocks and hill faces, rocks as well as public installations and buildings with political slogans and photographs of politicians”.

For NGO ‘In Defence of Environment and Animals’, Rajendran had said political parties were responsible for 90% of defacement done to bridges, central medians of state and national highways and hillocks. He had urged the SC to direct political parties to immediately remove these posters and paintings on natural landscapes or face disqualification of candidates who had indulged in such vandalism.

OVER NON-PAYMENT OF WELFARE FUND

Lawyer moves SC challenging suspension of 5,970 TN advocates

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.03.2019

Advocate Sabarish Subramanian, one among the 5,970 lawyers from Tamil Nadu who were suspended by the Bar Council of India (BCI) for non-payment of subscription towards the advocates’ welfare fund, has approached the Supreme Court challenging the suspension.

He has challenged the suspension order on the ground that the lawyers were not served notice by the BCI before taking such adverse action. He wanted the court to quash the resolution dated March 22. Sabarish further contended that the suspension would affect the practice of advocates who have a standing of 25 years and above.

Similarly, a group of advocates led by G Mohana Krishnan, president of Madras High Court Advocates Association, made an urgent mention before the first bench headed by the Chief Justice of the Madras high court, V K Tahilramani. They wanted the court to grant an urgent hearing on the issue. To this, the bench asked the advocates to file a formal petition to consider their plea.

On March 23, C Raja Kumar, secretary to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, released a communication informing the decision taken by the Advocates Welfare Fund (BCI) Committee. According to the committee, it took action after several notices and warning were given to the lawyers, asking them to clear the dues to avoid such action.

The Supreme Court has made it clear that lawyers who do not subscribe to the fund cannot be permitted to practice before any court in the country. As per Rule 40, Chapter-II, Part VI of the Bar Council of India Rules, every person who enrols as an advocate is

mandated to subscribe for the Advocates Welfare Fund (BCI). The same must be renewed every three years. From 1993, the subscription was converted for a lifetime and was collected mandatorily during enrolment.

However, advocates enrolled before 1993 still continue to pay the subscription on a yearly basis. As the number of defaulting advocates in Tamil Nadu were found to be more than 7000, in November 2018 the bar council issued notices to all such lawyers and released the list of defaulting lawyers in the official website of the state bar council. Despite notices and warning, 5,970 advocates failed to make the pending payment of the subscription within the stipulated time, inviting suspension, a member of the committee said.

45 arts, science colleges apply for launching new courses

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.03.2019

In a strong signal that arts and sciences courses continue to be in high demand from students pursuing under-graduation, around 45 affiliated colleges have applied to University of Madras for approval to start additional courses in the 2019-20 academic year.

Around 1 lakh students pass out from colleges affiliated to University of Madras, including autonomous institutions.

In addition, 15 private trusts have also applied to the university to start new arts and science colleges, sources said. However, documents show that none of them have obtained the Government order (GO) from the state government, which is a mandatory step. The affiliations committee of the university’s syndicate has recommended that affiliation should be granted only if the GOs are obtained before March 31.

Sources said that colleges had asked for starting additional courses for BA Tamil and English, BCom, BBA and BSc Physics, Chemistry and Maths. The syndicate has recommended that due procedure should be followed to check if the colleges have the requisite infrastructure before affiliation is granted. For instance, a college should have one fully qualified teacher for UG major subjects and two for post-graduate subjects.

As for MBA and MCA courses, the syndicate committee has recommended that affiliation should be granted only if the colleges get the necessary approval of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and an NOC from Tamil Nadu government before March 31. Some colleges have also written to the university seeking permission to start courses such as B vocational banking, financial services, insurance, tourism and hospitality and BSc fashion technology.

However, senior university professors say that the most popular courses remain BCom and BSc in basic sciences. “Though there is an increase in the number of students shifting to arts and science, an equal number of good institutions are not coming up. This is why existing colleges want an increase in the number of seats,” a professor said.

Sources said many colleges have applied to the university to relax rules and allow them to run a fourth section. Currently, university rules stipulate that only three sections in undergraduate courses in every stream will be granted provided necessary infrastructure such as classrooms, labs, library and qualified teaching faculty is available.

BIG DEMAND: University of Madras

A ‘panic button’ to help the elderly in emergencies

Aathma Foundation, a city-based non-profit organisation launched the Aathma Panic Button, an SOS device for senior citizens, on Saturday.

Published: 24th March 2019 10:45 PM |

The device has been created in association with Impiger Technologies

By Express News Service

CHENNAI : Aathma Foundation, a city-based non-profit organisation launched the Aathma Panic Button, an SOS device for senior citizens, on Saturday. Talking about the importance of the ‘golden hour’ or the first hour after a traumatic injury, in medicine, D Suresh, founder-member of the organisation said, “The golden hour is extremely important.

It is during this time that emergency treatment is most likely to be successful. Unfortunately, in most scenarios involving elderly patients, help reaches them only after that period. For instance, if they have had a fall inside the washroom and are unable to call for help, giving them medical assistance after a said time becomes a futile attempt. We wanted to devise an instrument that could help them in time of emergencies.”

The idea for a panic button was mooted about two years ago by the founders of the organisation. “We tirelessly worked to create a device which was both — user-friendly and responsive. We are so happy to launch it, and provide it to people who are in dire need,” he shared.

The panic button can be worn at all times, is waterproof and is connected (wireless) to a receiver, which works like a modem. “When the user presses the button, an alert call will be sent to three emergency contacts — all pre-configured in the device. If they aren’t responsive, the ambulance service and Aathma’s control room will be alerted. This will help us reach the patient in time and provide emergency assistance. It also has an intercom facility. We are also planning to enable Bluetooth,” explained Suresh.


The Aathma Panic Button has been created in association with Impiger Technologies. “The cost of the device is `10,000. But, we are donating 100 panic buttons free of cost to underprivileged elderly patients, ” said Suresh.Rajaratnam, an 84-year-old was one of the first beneficiaries of the SOS device. “Aathma has been helping me by providing free medicines. Now, they have given me this panic button, which will be of great use,” he said. For details, call: 26220400

Raymond told to pay Rs 80000 to Chennai bridegroom after his suit tears during wedding reception

Though SA Subramani, purchased a wedding suit on July 2016 at the cost of Rs 12,308, on a quality guarantee from the store owner, he foundthat the right-hand sleeves had ripped off.

Published: 25th March 2019 04:27 AM 

By Harish Murali

Express News Service

CHENNAI : A city consumer forum has directed a clothing store to pay Rs 80,000 as compensation to a city customer after an expensive suit purchased by him for his wedding reception tore in front of the guests. The consumer forum observed that PujyaShri AN Clothing, a Raymond retail shop at Purasawalkam, committed deficiency of service and should compensate its customer SA Subramani, a resident of Kodungaiyur.

According to Subramani’s petition filed before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai North, he purchased a wedding suit on July 30, 2016 at the cost of Rs 12,308, on an assurance from the store owner that it was of good and high quality appropriate for weddings. Initially he had been shown several suits in the showroom, but Subramani was not satisfied with them.

Then, on a suggestion from a sales personnel, he bought clothes there and got them stitched in the same Raymond showroom for the same price. He was assured that the clothes were of so high quality that they would be durable for at least 10 years. However, when he wore it at the wedding reception on September 4, 2016, he found out that the right-hand sleeves had ripped off with stitches coming apart.


Hence, he moved the consumer forum, seeking compensation for mental agony he had suffered and for deficiency in service on the part of the retail shop as well as the retail department of the Raymond headquartered in Maharashtra. Denying the allegations, counsel for PujyaShri AN Clothing submitted that the clothing provided was replaced with another one and also the alleged tearing of coat was due to mishandling or negligence on the part of the customer.

The Raymond retail department in Maharashtra failed to show up at the forum. However, the consumer forum, presided by K Lakshmikantham, observed that the retail shop had committed a deficiency in service by supplying goods that caused humiliation to the complainant. Hence, the forum directed the clothing shop and Raymond firm to jointly or severally pay Rs 80,000 to the complainant.

DMK temporarily suspends actor Radha Ravi for derogatory remarks against Nayanthara

On Saturday, Ravi passed comment on Nayanthara during the trailer launch of her upcoming Tamil film "Kolayuthir Kaalam".

Published: 25th March 2019 12:57 PM |

By IANS

CHENNAI: The DMK has temporarily suspended veteran actor Radha Ravi from the party for his derogatory remarks against actor Nayanthara.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M.K. Stalin on Sunday took to Twitter to upload the suspension notice of the actor.

The DMK said Ravi was acting in a manner that brought disrepute to the party, defying the party discipline and was temporarily suspended from the party.

Stalin said the party upholds the rights of women and Ravi's views about the female movie actors was unacceptable and strongly condemnable.


On Saturday, Ravi passed comment on Nayanthara during the trailer launch of her upcoming Tamil film "Kolayuthir Kaalam".

"Nayanthara has acted as ghost as well as goddess Sita. Earlier, K.R. Vijaya was the most popular choice to play the role of goddess. Today, anyone can be cast to play a goddess. They can cast someone who you want to pray to when you look at them, they can also cast someone you want to call towards you when you see them," Ravi had said.

2 DMK workers get into scuffle with biryani shop employee

TNN | Mar 25, 2019, 04.33 AM IST

CHENNAI: Two men from the DMK allegedly attacked the supervisor of a biryani restaurant in Velachery on Sunday when their demand for free food was turned down. This comes almost seven months after party president M K Stalin had to apologize for a similar incident that took place in a biryani joint in Saligramam.
Police said, Meganathan and Thamizhselvan, the DMK workers from Chennai, entered the restaurant around 8pm. They ordered for chicken when the supervisor, Abdullah, asked them to pay, collect the token and get the food. This angered the two men and they started arguing with Abdullah who cancelled the order.

The two men punched Abdullah on the face, who retaliated and attacked the duo. Two other employees of the restaurant tried pacifying them, after which they fled the spot. Later, Abdullah lodged a complaint with the Velachery police.

Police registered a case of extortion and assault against the party workers. The two men later approached the police and said they were also attacked by the supervisor. “Both parties attacked each other and we have registered a case against both the complainants. We are investigating further,” said an investigating officer.

Police said Meganathan holds a post in the DMK youth wing. Both suffered injuries in the attack.

This is not the first time DMK workers got into a scuffle over food. In August 2018, the Virugambakkam police arrested seven men, including DMK workers K L Yuvaraj and Diwakar, for assaulting the staff of R R Anbu Biryani in Saligramam. The two party workers were later suspended.

The CCTV camera footage of the incident showed the gang beating up a hotel staff after their demand for free biryani for 30 DMK workers, who were waiting at the Kauvery hospital when M Karunanidhi was admitted, was turned down. They also ransacked the eatery. Three people were injured in the incident. The video of the incident had gone viral on social media.

When DMK youth wing members Yuvaraj and Diwakar demanded free biryani, the restaurant’s manager Prakash, who was at the cashier’s table, told them that the shop had closed for the day and there was no food available.

Later DMK president Stalin visited the restaurant and spoke to the owner and employees who were attacked by the party members. He also tweeted an apology, condemning the incident. He promised strict action against the party workers.

In a separate incident, in December 2018, a city-based journalist was injured when he was assaulted by a man near Raj Bhavan. Pramod Madhav, who was covering the protest organised by MDMK founder Vaiko, was allegedly attacked near the protest site by Suresh Babu, a driver. Babu allegedly punched Madhav while he was shooting a video of him purportedly picking up a fight with a tea stall owner when he was asked to pay the food he consumed.

Mumbai businessman arrested for flashing porn clip to woman on flight

TNN | Mar 25, 2019, 06.10 AM IST

CHENNAI: A Mumbai-based businessman, who was caught watching porn in flight sitting next to a woman passenger, was handed over to police on Sunday. He was later let off with a warning.

The incident happened on Saturday night in a Chennai-bound flight from Mumbai which took off around 10.55pm from Mumbai and landed in Chennai around 12.50am, police said.

The woman from Madipakkam was travelling with her child and was returning to the city after visiting her husband. The woman told police that the man watched porn on his mobile phone in such a manner it was visible to her. He kept turning the phone towards her, she said.

She complained to the crew about his act. They asked the passenger to change the seat, but he refused. Later, the flight captain came to sort out the issue. He shifted the woman to another seat.

The captain also informed the air traffic controller at the Chennai airport about the incident and CISF personnel who were alerted detained the man and handed him over to the Airport police.

The woman refused to file a written complaint and asked the police to send him off with a stern warning. Police said that the businessman apologized for his act. "We will ask him to report if the woman lodges a complaint," said an investigating officer.

Chennai: A Mumbai-based businessman, who was caught watching porn in flight sitting next to a woman passenger, was handed over to police on Sunday. He was later let off with a warning.

The incident happened on Saturday night in a Chennai-bound flight from Mumbai which took off around 10.55pm from Mumbai and landed in Chennai around 12.50am, police said.

The woman from Madipakkam was travelling with her child and was returning to the city after visiting her husband. The woman told police that the man watched porn on his mobile phone in such a manner it was visible to her. He kept turning the phone towards her, she said.

She complained to the crew about his act. They asked the passenger to change the seat, but he refused. Later, the flight captain came to sort out the issue. He shifted the woman to another seat.

The captain also informed the air traffic controller at the Chennai airport about the incident and CISF personnel who were alerted detained the man and handed him over to the Airport police.

The woman refused to file a written complaint and asked the police to send him off with a stern warning. Police said that the businessman apologized for his act. "We will ask him to report if the woman lodges a complaint," said an investigating officer.

NEET score valid for three years

NEET score to be valid for three years

New rule will help students aspiring to study medicine in foreign universities as the scorecard will remain applicable for three years

c-Sheetal.Banchariya@timesgroup.com

After making National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) mandatory for students aiming to pursue undergraduate medicine courses in foreign universities, Medical Council of India (MCI) has now put a three-year cap on the validity of NEET score. “The result of NEET shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of declaration of result,” states the official circular issued by MCI. This will grant students more time to prepare and finalise an international university. “This will entitle a candidate to pursue MBBS or equivalent medical course including premedical or language course, if any, followed by MBBS or equivalent medical course,” the statement further adds.

“The average admission process takes 6-12 months to get through in most institutes abroad. Sometimes managing finance and visa procedures also take time. For instance, if a student clears NEET this year but receives admission confirmation in a foreign university next year, there is ambiguity among students regarding eligibility with respect to NEET scores,” says VK Paul, chairman of MCI and member of NITI Aayog. “In the absence of this rule, students might have to go through the trouble of taking NEET all over again,” he says.

Ease of admission, says Paul, is the prime focus of the decision. “MCI wanted to address the issue with a pragmatic approach and hence, we have kept the limit of three years as the standard and format of NEET can change with time,” he adds.

This rule, says Paul, will address the issue of mismatch between the Indian academic sessions and admission cycles of foreign universities. “Unlike India, most of the international universities function on a semester basis and have admission intake twice a year. This will prevent students missing out on their admissions abroad,” he adds

Election 2019

Why government servants fight shy of election duty

Dennis S. Jesudasan

CHENNAI, MARCH 25, 2019 00:00 IST

UPDATED: MARCH 25, 2019 05:39 IST

Lack of basic facilities such as food and transportation a concern

Government employees and teachers, who play a crucial role in the conduct of elections, are wary of poll duty because of a host of challenges they encounter during the exercise. Apart from facing difficulties in reaching polling booths in remote areas, non-availability of food in interior locations is a concern for employees, especially for those who are diabetic.

A Chennai college teacher said that her colleagues are unwilling to go on election work, despite officials from the Taluk office camping in the college.

“We are reluctant to go on election duty as we will know about the polling booth where we have been deputed only a day before the polling date. What if it is an interior place? Not just that, we are expected to find our way there without much help,” she pointed out.

In many cases, family members of government servants and teachers are urging them against going to polling booths since transport to those areas are not taken care by the Election Commission. Officials have to make their own arrangements to reach the booths.

Also, once the polling is completed, vehicles with paramilitary personnel would collect only the EVMs and officials have to find their way back home irrespective of what time the process is completed late in the day.“We are willing to work and it is our duty too but we should be treated properly,” said a government servant.

“Some of us are not used to election work. While we may be open to being trained, the Election Commission does not take care of our travel to the polling booth,” another teacher said.

A. Vincent Paulraj, general secretary of Tamizhaga Aasiriyar Kootani (TN Teachers’ Federation), said those involved in election work after upon being intimated about their duty area, are expected to reach the booth by that afternoon. “From then to till the end of the elections, we are supposed to take care of food though the money would be reimbursed later,” he said.

Since the Election Commission prefers senior government employees and teachers there is an attendant issue that needs to be dealt with. “Most of them have diabetics and heart problems,” said M. Anbarasu, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association and claimed. “It is natural for them to have food on time. But, the Commission doesn’t provide food for them the whole day of polling.”

Court Orders

Madras High Court to the rescue of maths teacher

Mar 25, 2019, 1:31 am IST

Deccan Chronicle. | J Stalin

Nation, Current Affairs

After completing her B.Ed, she registered the same as well in the Employment Exchange.

Madras High Court

Chennai: Coming to the rescue of a teacher, who was appointed 10 years ago, and was served with a notice by the authorities calling upon her to show cause as to why she should not be terminated from service on the ground that she has passed SSLC from the State of Karnataka only securing 33 marks in Science subject, the Madras high court has set aside the orders and directed the authorities to permit her to work and release her salary including arrears immediately.

Justice T. Raja allowed the petition filed by A. Meenakshi, who was appointed as B.T. Assistant 10 years ago after passing the Teachers Recruitment Board Examination held by the state government, and set aside the orders passed by the Salem District Educational Officer and the Joint Director of School Education (Personnel).

According to petitioner, her father was initially employed in Syndicate Bank, Karnataka state and she had her schooling in Karnataka state. Followed by the SSLC, she did her Pre-University course in Karnataka.

Thereafter, her father was transferred to Syndicate Bank, Dharmapuri Branch. Hence she underwent her UG and PG in Dharmapuri district.

At the time of admission to the B.Sc (Maths) course, an equivalent certificate certifying that the PUC in Karnataka state was equivalent to the Higher Secondary course in Tamil Nadu state was issued by the University of Madras. Thereafter, she did her M.Phil (Maths) and registered her name in the Employment Exchange. After completing her B.Ed, she registered the same as well in the Employment Exchange.

Subsequently, she wrote the TRB Examination and secured 76 out of 150 marks. After certificate verification, she was appointed as B.T. Assistant (Junior Graduate Assistant) in Maths at Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Salem and she joined duty on March 1, 2006 in the said post. Nearly after 10 years of service, she was served with the present notice dated December 6, 2016. Aggrieved, she filed the present petition, she added.

The judge said the University of Madras has found the petitioner eligible and at the time of admission to the B.Sc course during 1997, an equivalence certificate certifying that the PUC in Karnataka state was equivalent to the Higher Secondary Course in Tamil Nadu state was issued by the University of Madras.
On the basis of the Equivalence Certificate issued by the University of Madras, the petitioner got admission to the said course and her admission was also approved by the University.

In addition thereto, the petitioner has acquired B.Sc (Maths) course in the year 1999 and again she did her B.Ed degree course in Periyar University, Salem in 2004 and successfully completed the same in 2005 and thereafter she did her M.Sc (Maths) in Annamalai University through two years Correspondence Course and completed the same in December 2008. Later on, she did her M.Phil (Maths) in Vinayaka Mission University, Salem through Distance Education and completed the same in 2009.

“Therefore, it only unjustified to question her eligibility, that too, after 10 years from the date of her appointment to the post of Junior Graduate Teacher. Therefore, I find no merit in the impugned orders. Hence, the impugned orders are liable to be set aside", the judge added and quashed the orders.

HC: Bond service after MBBS not necessary for PG admissions

TNN | Mar 23, 2019, 01.55 PM IST

NAGPUR: MBBS students in government medical colleges (GMCs) will be eligible for admissions to post graduate (MD/MS) courses without completing the one-year bond service, at least for the next three years starting 2019-20.

The Bombay high court has ordered that students who have been admitted to MBBS course up to October 12, 2017, can seek admission to PG courses without fulfilling the requirement of one-year compulsory bond after MBBS course. They will complete their bond service after the PG course.

The HC has clarified that students who have taken admission to MBBS course after October 2017 would have to complete their bond service before seeking admissions to PG. However, such candidates will apply for PG only after completion of their four-year MBBS course, which is not before 2021-22. So, effectively, bond service after MBBS will not be a necessary clause till then.

“We received the court orders and we are considering students for counselling round without insisting upon completion of one-year bond after their MBBS. Instead, we will take a written commitment from these students that they will complete their bond service after PG course. They will do two years of bond service after PG. One year on account of bond for PG course and one year for MBBS,” said Dr Tatyarao Lahane, director of Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).

The DMER controls and regulates administration of all GMCHs along with urban and rural health centres attached to them.

Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had been following up this issue, has welcomed the HC order. “We welcome the order as it gives justice to students. In fact, the government resolution making bond service was released in October 2017. So, it should be implemented for students who sought admissions after this date. The court has ordered the same,” said Dr Anil Ladhad, member of Maharashtra Medical Council.

IMA was demanding that doctors should get opportunity to go for MD and other specializations immediately after MBBS. “This will ensure good talent in PG courses and better doctors will add to the health manpower of state. There are no objections to completing bond service after the PG course,” said Dr Ladhad.

UGC rules not binding on unaided varsities: HC

TNN | Mar 24, 2019, 04.41 AM IST

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana HC has clarified that the University Grant Commission (UGC) regulations are not mandatory for unaided and self-financed varsities. For these institutions, the UGC regulations are directory in nature, it added.

Justice Jaswant Singh of the HC also said additional conditions other than those prescribed under the UGC regulations can always be imposed by such unaided and self-financed universities. The HC also dismissed a petition filed by Jyoti Rani, in which she had challenged the June 7, 2018 decision taken by the Patiala-based Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET)’s board of governors to discharge her from the post of assistant professor (food science & technology). TIET, Patiala is a deemed university.

The petitioner, Jyoti Rani, was selected. It was mentioned that she would be on probation for two years, which may be extended. Her two-year period of probation was extended by a year. However, during the extended period of probationshe was ordered to be discharged from service. Challenging her removal, the petitioner argued before the high court that according to the UGC regulations, the maximum period of probation for employees appointed to permanent posts is two years.The university, however, contended that the petitioner was removed on the basis of her quarterly appraisal report. The Patiala-based varsity also submitted that the extension of probation by one year was an opportunity granted to the petitioner to show improvement.Hearing all the parties, the high court observed that the issue hinges on the question whether the “UGC Regulations 2010” are applicable to the petitioner and whether they prevail over and above the regulations prescribed by TIET, Patiala, an unaided and self-financed deemed university getting no grant in aids from the UGC. The petitioner relied on the “UGC Regulations 2010” and argued that these regulations are mandatory for compliance by the respondent university and the probation clause could not be in derogation of the UGC probation regulations.

However, the high court was of the view that the UGC regulations entail withholding of grants to the university to be made from the UGC funds in case of non-compliance of rules by the institutes. However, TIET, Thapar is an unaided/self-financed ‘Deemed to be University’ and is not receiving any ‘Grant in Aid Funds’ either from UGC, Government of India or the Government of Punjab. The UGC has no power to frame regulations regarding the conditions of service of employees of such universities and the “UGC Regulations 2010” would not be mandatory for such institutes,” held the high court.

School attendance determines success of a student, says Madras high court

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedMar 24, 2019, 12:55 am IST

The judge said class X public examination commenced on March 14 and the boy was away from attending the school till March 12.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has declined to entertain a petition which sought a direction to the authorities to permit a minor student, who was not allowed to write the class X examination due to lack of attendance, to sit for the examination.

Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana dismissed the petition filed by Valli, mother of the student Sujilan, which sought to permit him to write the X standard examination in Balalok Matriculation school, Tharachand Nagar, Virugambakkam, Chennai.

The judge said the school represented that the student has only 31.3 per cent of attendance, which was also evident even from the Medical Certificate that was produced by the petitioner. The said medical certificate makes it clear that the student was absent from the school and was under treatment from October 12, 2018, to March 11, 2019, as he was suffering from jaundice. The seal of the medical officer found in the said medical certificate shows that the treatment was taken in Kottar, Nagercoil, whereas, the student ordinarily resided in Chennai and studied in the Balalok Matriculation School, the judge added.

The judge said class X public examination commenced on March 14 and the boy was away from attending the school till March 12. Normally, it would be tough for any student, who was taking up the public examination for the first time to sit for the same without even undergoing minimum coaching. Though it was argued by the counsel for the petitioner that the boy was well prepared for the examination, he could not be permitted to sit for the same, as he does not even have 50 per cent of the attendance. The progress report card of the student was produced by the School which categorically reveals that the student had attended the school only for one term till the quarterly examination and not passed in 3 subjects. The counsel for the school stated that the student has to either repeat the course in the next academic year or take up the class X public examination privately, the judge added.

The judge said the lack of attendance of the student negatively affects his academic performance. School attendance was a baseline factor in determining the success of a student. In fact, student’s absence also will jeopardize the success of the school. Hence this court was of the view that any indulgence to the minor student, who lacks attendance, would open up the flood gates, that was the reason why harsh punishment like detaining the student in the same class for unexcused absences. Under these circumstances, this court was not inclined to entertain this petition, the judge added.

Electric trains to run between Thanjai, Tiruchy

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | G. SRINIVASAN

PublishedMar 24, 2019, 12:59 am IST

Electric trains will take only 35 minutes to reach Tiruchy.

An electric train with eight coaches and engine was operated between Thanjavur and Tiruchy. Platforms one and two will be used for operating electric trains.

THANJAVUR: With completion of electrification of the double track between Tiruchy and Thanjavur, trial run was conducted by K.A. Manoharan, commissioner of railway safety, Southern railway in the 50-km stretch on Saturday.

An electric train with eight coaches and engine was operated between Thanjavur and Tiruchy. Platforms one and two will be used for operating electric trains. 'Poojas' were performed to the train, which started at 3.30 p.m.

Railway officials said that ordinary passenger trains will take 55 minutes while express trains will take 45 minutes to reach Tiruchy from Thanjavur. Electric trains will take only 35 minutes to reach Tiruchy.

Thus travel time will come down, said officials. Operation of trains will begin in next 20 days, they added.

A 20-kvt sub-station has been put up near Thanjavur railway station to augment power.

Southern Railway took up the project as part of electrification between Tiruchy and Karaikal for a distance of 153-kms at a cost of Rs 250 crore.

Now electric trains will be operated up to Thanjavur from places like Ernakulam and Coimbatore. From here Diesel engines will haul the trains, officials said.

P. Udhayakumar Reddy, DRM, Tiruchy, accompanied the commissioner in the trial run.

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