HC overturns acquittal of civic officials in graft case

TNN | Mar 28, 2019, 02.42 PM IST

MADURAI: Chiding a trial court for acquitting a municipality executive officer and his subordinate under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court called the judgment perverse and convicted the two government staff to one year imprisonment for demanding bribe to make arrangements for water supply connection to a citizen.

The court was hearing an appeal by the Trichy vigilance and anti-corruption wing police against the acquittal of then Thanthoni municipality executive officer, M Kathirvel and V Sekar, a water supply helper in Karur district. In 2007, B Vanitha, a resident of Thanthoni municipality had approached the government office to get water connection for her house. After receiving the application, Sekar had demanded Rs 1,500 extra apart from the charges involved. Sekar reportedly told the woman that it was on the instruction of the executive officer and when the woman confronted the officer about it, he too asked her to pay the money and refused to give water connection without her paying the extra amount.

The woman filed a complaint with the DVAC and a trap was set up. The woman handed over chemically soiled notes to the helper, which he received, according to the prosecution.

After a trial lasting five years, the lower court acquitted the two citing that if at all the money was received as illegal gratification by the first accused, he would definitely keep the amount in his pocket or on his table drawer, but the same was placed on the table and also agreed with their submission that the collected sum was for military / flag day donation.

Justice M Dhandapani after perusing the trial documents and the submissions made during the trial observed that the court is unable to understand the view taken by the trial court and that even if the amount taken was for flag day donation, no register was submitted to establish the same. “It can be stated that none of the reasonings given by the trial court for concluding that the prosecution case is not reliable is not based upon any evidence available in this case, but the entire finding of the trial court is thoroughly based upon misreading of the evidence,” the court said and convicted the two.

Inexperienced advocates: HC suggests exam similar to SC

TNN | Mar 28, 2019, 12.01 PM IST

MADURAI: How about a Supreme Court-type advocate-on-record (AOR) examination for lawyers practising in Madras high court as well? A suggestion to this effect was made by a division bench, which said such filtering mechanism and minimum years of practice before trial courts ahead of appearing in the high court were necessary to improve the quality of advocacy.

The bench of justice N Kirubakaran and justice S S Sundar suggested that the Bar Council also take steps to prescribe at least three years of experience in trial courts to qualify to appear before the high court and five years’ experience in high courts for appearing before the Supreme Court.

The observations were in response to a petition by an advocate, A Kannan, who wanted the court to direct its registrar-general to make appropriate rules to make it compulsory to pass the advocate-on-record examination to allow new advocates to file cases on their own.

The judges, making it clear that they did not underestimate the newly enrolled advocates, said their suggestions were to tone up the justice delivery system and to safeguard it. “Only when advocates are well experienced in drafting, conducting trials and appreciating evidence, would they be in a better position to appear before high courts,” the bench said and adjourned the matter to April 10 for further hearing.

“It requires at least three to five years’ experience in a senior’s office for young lawyers to be able to know from the seniors as to what are the particulars to be collected from clients and how a petition should be drafted and how a case should be presented before the court,” the bench observed. “Otherwise, it becomes very difficult for courts to render justice effectively,” the judges remarked, adding that the right of the clients got adversely affected once and for all if a case was presented without enough details or preparations, and got dismissed in courts.

Broken education system causing courts to be overburdened: Madras HC judge

TNN | Mar 31, 2019, 07.53 AM IST

TRICHY: Expressing concern about the overburdened judicial system in India, Madras high court judge Vineet Kothari blamed the education system for not creating good citizens, here on Saturday.

“All the disputes which arrive are because of wrong thinking. It is wrong because you don’t have the right education. Problems actually emanate from wrong education or lack of education. Before you are talking about any law, you must first become good citizens,” said justice Vineet.

He was speaking at the awareness programme on family welfare laws, organised by the district legal service authority at the Bishop Heber College.

“We are nothing but producing unemployable youths. Somewhere down the line, the education system has lost its status of creating good citizens. We are creating engineers who seek peon jobs and MBAs seeking clerical jobs. It is the joint and collective responsibility of all of us to put the education system back on track. I call upon people and institutions like you to devote your attention, time, energy and resources to create good citizens,” he said.

Saying that justice itself would be a mirage and won’t satisfy both the parties, he appealed the people to avoid disputes in the first place by respecting each other and not to endure the pain of going through the lengthy legal process.

“The number of appeals, revision, remedies and tiers of the legal system which India provides is nowhere in the world. The court system in developed countries is not overburdened. India has the most overburdened judiciary. The size of judiciary is one hundredth of what is required now,” he said, adding that mediation would be the best way to resolve a dispute.

“I feel 90% of the problems will be solved through mediation,” justice Vineet said, while appealing with advocates, para-legal volunteers and mediators to guide people through mediation and show them the right path.

On the role of the women in the family, he said, “If a woman wants peace to be maintained in the family, it is peace. If the woman wants it to be in pieces, it is in pieces. Women are the most powerful.”

He also interacted with students and para-legal volunteers during the event. Member secretary of state legal service authority K Rajasekar, district principal judge S Kumaraguru and others spoke.

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101 MBBS students at loggerheads with BHFUS over fee hike

TNN | Mar 31, 2019, 08.05 AM IST

PATIALA: Around 101 MBBS students of the 2014-15 batch, who had been shifted to the three government medical colleges in Punjab following the shutting down of Chintpurni Medical College and Hospital about two years ago, are now at loggerheads with Baba Farid University of Health Sciences over ‘revision’ of fee.

At that time these students had been shifted to the government medical colleges in Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot after taking permission from the Medical Council of India. The students deposited an annual fee of Rs 28,350 at the existing rate under government quota. However, the university demanded that they should pay as per the fee structure of government quota in private medical colleges, which was around Rs 1.25 lakh per annum.

As the university held back their roll numbers for delay in depositing the fee in accordance with the government quota in private medical colleges, the parents moved the Punjab and Haryana high court. The court ordered a stay and directed the university to allow the students to take their examinations after depositing Rs 28,350. While the students were allowed to take their final exam, their results were held back by the university in absence of which they will not be able to join their mandatory rotatory internship.

Even as the matter is still pending in the high court, the university on Friday issued a notification asking the students to deposit the fee of Rs 3.32 lakh in order to continue with their internship.

Arun Batra, father of an MBBS student, said last evening they received the notification issued by the university, asking them to deposit the remaining amount of Rs 3.32 lakh (with penalties) or else their wards will not get their final results and they will not able to join their mandatory internship starting on April 1.

He said under the circumstances it has become difficult for many parents to arrange Rs 3.32 lakh. “More shocking is the fact that there is already a stay ordered by the Punjab and Haryana high court, which had directed the university to issue roll numbers to these students so that they can take their exams and there is no break in their curriculum,” he said.

Some other parents said last year the Director Research and Medical Education (DRME) through a letter had directed the colleges to take annual fee as per the government quota. However, now the students have been told that in case they fail to deposit the pending dues, they will not be allowed to continue with their mandatory internship. They further said the sudden notification issued by the authorities had put them in a fix.

Meanwhile, health and family welfare minister Brahm Mohindra said as the matter was sub judice, so he would not be able to comment on the matter. However, he assured that he would have the matter looked into and would ask the authorities to consider the case of these parents sympathetically.

“We are now considerate towards any issue that the students were facing and and I’ll have the matter looked into to find the best possible solution,” Mahindra said.

When these MBBS students were shifted from Chintpurni Medical College and Hospital to other government medical colleges in Punjab they were supposed to pay fee under the government quota. However, the university decided that they should be charged fee under government quota for private colleges. The parents had moved the Punjab and Haryana high court and the matter is still pending there.

Parents are demanding that since the matter is still pending in court, the university should not issue notifications on depositing the entire amount. In case the stalemate continuous the students will lose one year of their course as they will not be able to complete there internship.

மருத்துவத்துடன் சமூக பங்களிப்பும் அவசியம்

Added : மார் 31, 2019 02:33




 
மதுரை: "மருத்துவத்துடன் சமூக பங்களிப்பிலும் டாக்டர்கள் அக்கறை செலுத்த வேண்டும்" என தமிழ்நாடு எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலை முன்னாள் துணைவேந்தர் ராஜா வலியுறுத்தினார்.

மதுரை வேலம்மாள் மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரியின் முதலாமாண்டு பட்டமளிப்பு விழா தலைவர் முத்துராமலிங்கம் தலைமையில் நடந்தது. டீன் ராஜா முத்தையா வரவேற்றார். கண்காணிப்பாளர் சோமசுந்தரம், துணை முதல்வர் மொகந்தி மற்றும் துறை பேராசிரியர்கள் பங்கேற்றனர்.

முத்துராமலிங்கம் பேசுகையில், "டாக்டர்கள் சிறந்த மருத்துவமனைகளை தேர்வு செய்வதில் கவனம் செலுத்த வேண்டும். ஒழுக்கத்தை கடைபிடித்து பெற்றோருக்கும், நாட்டிற்கும் நன்றியுள்ளவர்களாக இருக்க வேண்டும்" என்றார்.

முன்னாள் துணைவேந்தர் ராஜா பட்டமளிப்பு உரையாற்றியதாவது:தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள 20 மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகளில் வேலம்மாள் கல்லுாரி குறிப்பிடும் பெயரை பெற்றுள்ளது.
அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களை தவறவிடும் திறமையான மாணவரின் டாக்டர் கனவை நிகர்நிலை பல்கலை மற்றும் தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் நிறைவேற்றுகின்றன.டாக்டர்களுக்கு ஓய்வு என்பது இல்லை. உயிரை காப்பாற்றும் பணியில் அவர்கள் மனதிருப்தியடைகின்றனர். பட்டம் பெறுவோர் நல்ல டாக்டராக, நல்ல பெற்றோராக, நல்ல மனிதராக விளங்க வேண்டும். சமூக பங்களிப்பில் அக்கறை செலுத்த வேண்டும் என்றார்.
விழாவில் 141 பேருக்கு பட்டங்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டன.

How the media turned Saravana Bhavan Annachi’s crime into salacious gossip

In 2001, the Tamil media went on a slut-shaming spree from the moment the story of the murder emerged.

• G Babu Jayakumar 
•  
• Saturday, March 30, 2019 - 18:30

Jeevajothi. That was a name that captured the imagination of the public in Tamil Nadu in 2001, invoking different feminine personas for her. It was an eventful year for the state as J Jayalalithaa had to step aside from the Chief Minister’s chair and name O Pannerselvam for the post. It was also the year that saw the statue of Kannagi, an epic heroine from Tamil literature who epitomized an avenging wife, being removed from its pedestal on Marina in Chennai, rather surreptitiously, raising a public outcry.

If the 20-year-old Jeevajothi was likened by some to Kannagi for taking to task an extremely rich restaurant owner, P Rajagopal, then 54 years old, for murdering her husband, it was the kindest of all epithets heaped on her. For otherwise, the Tamil media went on a slut-shaming spree from the moment the story of the murder emerged. Till then, Rajagopal was a man with humble beginnings who rose to dizzying heights in business. His story was portrayed as a rags-to riches success tale in newspapers. But Jeevajothi turned that exalted image upside down, prompting Tamil magazines to investigate the salacious side of the rapacious restaurant chain owner.

Media trial of Annachi and Jeevajothi

Soon, skeletons started tumbling out of Rajagopal’s closet. The media found out that he had a second wife, living in a posh bungalow, and that she was once the wife of an employee. One of the magazines even tracked down the former husband, then doing some menial work somewhere far away from the humdrum of Chennai. The story was well received as details around ‘Saravana Bhavana Annachi’ and his intimate affairs hit the public domain. (Annachi, meaning elder brother in Tamil, is a sobriquet given to businessmen, particularly grocers, from the Nadar community).

Till then, the newspaper reader only knew Annachi as an astute businessman and a strict disciplinarian, who took care of his workers and their families kindly, even arranging foreign trip as incentives for good work. He was known for his simplicity, benevolence, religiosity – he was an ardent devotee of Kirubananda Variar, whose photograph adorned the wall of every restaurant he owned – and his culinary knowledge, all of which had been written about extensively. So, when new insight was given to his private affairs, the public turned voyeuristic.

It was in that process that Jeevajothi’s name too was sullied. She was portrayed as a Saravana Bhavan employee’s young daughter who had given in to Annachi’s demands, and that he was unable to let her go because he had fallen for her. There was another theory that he wanted to take her as his third wife as per an astrologer’s advice that forecast a glorious future in business. But the dominant trope of the day was that he fell for Jeevajothi’s charms.

Rumours circulated that there were many more employees’ relatives who were being specially cared for by Annachi, which besmirched the reputation of every worker in his restaurants. Footfalls started declining for the first time.

The manner in which Jeevajothi’s past was recounted in the pages of the Tamil newspapers and magazines also highlighted the arrogance and sense of entitlement that Annachi had displayed after making money in abundance. For he had refused to take ‘no’ as an answer from the young woman and even conspired to eliminate her husband, Prince Santhakumar, whom she had married against her parents’ wishes.

A business empire which stood strong

Till then, Saravana Bhavan was the No. 1 restaurant brand, patronised by the middle and even upper-middle class. Its popularity, in part, stemmed from the perceived hygienic surroundings in which the vegetarian food was prepared and the cleanliness of the staff, which Annachi was apparently very particular about. The quality of the food served was highly rated by diners, who would flock to the restaurants. Finding a table during peak hours was a challenge, but they would not mind waiting. Most neighbourhoods in Chennai had their own branch, besides multiple towns and cities, and even overseas where patrons started casting suspicious looks at the bearers and other staff.

When the story unfolded, it became clear that Annachi had the police in his pocket. It was an open secret at that time that policemen were not charged at his restaurants – it was a common sight to see men in uniform placing their orders, finishing their meals and leaving without paying the bill. So Jeevajothi’s complaints were not entertained by the police, and Prince Santhakumar was killed and the body was dumped in Kodaikannal. But by the time the case was heard by a court in Poonamalee and the verdict was delivered in 2004, the Tamil magazines and newspapers had lost interest in the story of Annachi.

The salacious stories of his secret pursuits had been enough for people to make up their minds about him. He was demonized and the women who were named were slut-shamed as one publication after another vied to get the next big newsbreak in 2001. Apart from depending on police inputs, many publications went about their own investigations, tracking down people who would tell a story. Say, like how Annachi, who started out as a cleaner at a restaurant after dropping out of Class 7 in an obscure town, reached Chennai to start his own restaurant, and veered away from his path of business growth to cast his eyes on his employees’ wives.

The media narrative had been so engrossing and curious that The New York Times revisited Annachi’s life in 2014 and published a story under the title ‘Masala Dosa To Die For.’ By then, New Yorkers had become familiar with the vegetarian fare that he had been serving Chennaiites since 1981. Between 2001 and 2019, his business empire has been taken to further heights by his two sons who have started several branches overseas, though the restaurants in Chennai have lost to many newcomers.

Annachi has led a normal life for the past 18 years, except for some brief periods of incarceration. As he is locked up at the age of 71 for his crimes, Jeevajothi has reason to rejoice. She has moved on with her life, and has settled into her own married life. But not much is known about the other woman, the second wife, whose photograph had appeared in the newspapers at that time. It seems like the media has also moved on, for we still don’t know what happened to the other characters who were key figures in the media circus 18 years ago.

Views are the author's own.

G Babu Jayakumar is senior journalist living in Chennai.

Widespread Corruption In Judiciary; Corrupt Judicial Offices Are To Be Declared As Anti-Nationals, Says Madras HC Judge [Read Order]

Widespread Corruption In Judiciary; Corrupt Judicial Offices Are To Be Declared As Anti-Nationals, Says Madras HC Judge [Read Order]: 'Corruption becomes way of life which is deep-rooted almost in all levels.'

Chennai: Facing corruption from birth to death 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Mar 29, 2019, 2:04 am IST

The worst form of corruption is that different bribe amount is demanded for male child and female child.

The worst form of corruption is happening in the burial ground and we the people are able to tolerate even the corruption in the burial ground. (Representional Image)

Chennai: Every common man, in our nation, is facing corruption from his/her birth to death.

For instance, a pregnant woman is admitted in a public hospital for delivery. Her family has to bribe the staff members of the hospital and on few occasions the doctors also. If you are honest, you may not get proper attendance, adequate medical facilities, decent accommodations etc., in public hospitals.

The worst form of corruption is that different bribe amount is demanded for male child and female child. The gender bias in corruption is also prevails.

After birth, the parents have to bribe the educational authorities for getting admissions in schools. Thereafter, to the colleges and for professional courses, in reputed institution. People are forced to bribe the officials in order to secure their rights. Even in examinations, evaluation of answer sheets, providing internal marks, everywhere bribe to the officials are common. It is painful and unfortunate to state that sexual favours are demanded in lieu of bribe in educational institutions and public offices and what else can be the worst situation than this in public administration.

For employment youths are struggling and in rural areas, parents are forced to dispose their properties for bribing the officials in order to secure employment. The worst form of corruption is happening in the burial ground and we the people are able to tolerate even the corruption in the burial ground. Unless public servant in the burial ground maintained by the state or local bodies, are bribed, the dead body will not get appropriate timings for burial. The right to decent burial is also denied.

Madras University faces financial collapse 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | A RAGU RAMAN

Published Mar 31, 2019, 1:59 am IST

The university could not pay any retirement benefits to staff members retired last year. 


University of Madras

CHENNAI: The 161-year old University of Madras is on the verge of financial collapse. The senate of the university was informed on Saturday that the university will seek a bailout package from the state government to tide over the current financial crisis.

The university could not pay any retirement benefits to staff members retired last year.

If the help does not arrive in two or three months, the world famous university which has produced six former Presidents and two Nobel Laureates and many other distinguished alumni will struggle to even pay the salary for the faculty members.

The university has presented Rs 203 crore budget for 2019-20 with the deficit of Rs 84.92 crore. The deficit is largely due to the increased financial burden after implementing seventh pay commission scales of pay for teaching, non-teaching staff, pensioners.

“Due to the implementation of seventh pay commission, our expenditures increased by about Rs 3 crore per month which resulted in a huge deficit in university’s non-plan account,” P.Duraisamy, vice-chancellor of Madras University, informed members of senate on Saturday.

“We will seek financial support from the state government for payment of pension and retirement benefits of our staff in the old pension scheme,” the vice-chancellor added.

Members of the senate appreciated vice-chancellor Duraisamy for managing the financial crisis successfully so far.

They also urged him to take measures to receive full salary grant from the state government.

Tamil Nadu: New Tambaram-Tirunelveli train proposed

Currently, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari daily expresses operated in Chennai - Tirunelveli section are overcrowded.
 
Published: 31st March 2019 04:40 AM |

 
Image of a train used for represenational purpose only

By B Anbuselvan 

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The high cost Suvidha special trains between Chennai and Tirunelveli will soon be a thing of the past. Within a month after increasing the frequency of Chennai - Nagercoil weekly express into tri-weekly and introducing the regular daily express train between Tambaram and Kollam, the mechanical wing of Southern Railway has sanctioned approval for introducing a new overnight weekly train between Tambaram and Tirunelveli.

The move is expected to decongest Chennai - Tirunelveli route on weekends thereby putting an end to Suvidha trains. The existing infrastructure facilities which were so far used for Suvidha trains at Tirunelveli have been earmarked for the proposed weekly train, according to official documents.

Presently, Nellai and Kanniyakumari daily expresses operated in Chennai - Tirunelveli section are overcrowded. Particularly, during festival seasons, the railways operates the highest number of special trains between Chennai and Tirunelveli as the route has a huge passenger demand.


Aiming at utilising the idling rolling stock effectively, Madurai division has proposed a new overnight weekly train between Tambaram and Tirunelveli. The Tirunelveli - Dadar weekly express rake is to be used for operating the train.

The proposal which has been approved by the Indian Railway Time Table Committee (IRTTC) two months ago, recently received the nod from the mechanical department of railways. The LHB rake will undergo primary maintenance at Tirunelveli.

According to documents, the proposed weekly express will leave Tirunelveli at 6pm on Sundays and reach Tambaram at 8.20am the next day. In the return journey, the train will leave Tambaram on Mondays at 5pm and reach Tirunelveli at 8.30am the next day.

Taking advantage of huge passenger demand the railways has been operating Suvidha trains whose fare gets increased as the tickets get sold. It costs somewhere between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 from Tiruneveli to Chennai in 3rd AC class in Suvidha trains.

According to official records, Chennai division operated over 1,500 special trains a year in the past three years, registering the ticket revenue growth up to 10 per cent. A senior official said the new train is likely to get introduced after the elections.

Allow graduates to apply for pharmacist posts: HC

The bench, however, said that this arrangement is subject to the outcome of the writ petition. 

Published: 31st March 2019 01:48 AM | Last Updated: 31st March 2019 04:34 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Director of Medical Education (DME) to reopen his portal and include in it the degree qualification to enable the degree holders to apply for the post of pharmacists. A division bench gave the direction while passing interim orders on a PIL petition from one Naveenkumar, a degree holder in B Pharm, praying for a direction to declare the clause related to educational qualification for the post of pharmacist as illegal and null and void.

It is not disputed by the Additional Government Pleader that the post of pharmacist is a paramedical one. Thus, it could be seen that for recruiting paramedical and technical staff, degree holders and diploma holders are also eligible to apply. But in clause 7 of the notification, which dealt with procedure of selection, it was stated that diploma in pharmacy is the only minimum educational qualification required for the post. From the above it could be deduced that though the rules of procedure for medical recruitment are applicable to subordinate services too, eligibility is now restricted only to diploma holders. A prima facie case is made out by the petitioner, the bench said and passed the interim order.


The bench also directed the Director of Medical Recruitment Board to extend the deadline for applications to April 4, to enable degree holders to apply for the post. The bench, however, said that this arrangement is subject to the outcome of the writ petition.

Jet Airways says can't clear pilots' dues immediately

A source in the pilots' community said around 200 pilots had written to the CEO flagging concerns about non-payment of salaries. 

  Published: 31st March 2019 12:19 AM

 
Image of Jet Airways aircraft used for representation. (File photo | Reuters)

By PTI

MUMBAI: Struggling private carrier Jet Airways has expressed inability to clear salary dues of its pilots, saying it could pay only the balance 87.50 per cent of December pay, amid the looming threat of halting of operations from April 1.

Meanwhile, the airline's pilots body, the National Aviators Guild (NAG), has called an `open house' of its members in New Delhi and Mumbai Sunday.

The pilots, who along with engineers and senior staff have not been paid for almost four months now, have said they will not fly from April if dues were not cleared and a roadmap on future payment was not provided by March 31.

"The board of directors and the management team are working as fast as possible to implement the resolution plan agreed with the consortium of Indian lenders to quickly restore the much-needed stability to our operations and build a sustainable future for the airline.


"These are complex processes and it has taken longer than we had expected and as such we are only able to remit your remaining salary for December 2018," Jet Airways chief executive officer Vinay Dube said in a communication to pilots Saturday.

Last week, SBI-led consortium of lenders became the owner of Jet Airways after its founder-chairman Naresh Goyal along with his wife Anita stepped down from the board under a debt-rejig plan. Goyal also quit the chairman's post.

In the last few months the airline has witnessed exceedingly challenging times in the organisation, Dube said, adding, "We understand the hardship, anxiety and uncertainty which each of you have endured.

"We realise that this remittance does not lift the financial hardship that each of you are facing... we continue to work on additional funding on an urgent basis and shall advise you about the release of the remaining salary arrears as the funds come in," he added.

Earlier Friday, around 200 pilots had written individually to the Jet CEO, threatening to go on "leave of absence".

A source in the pilots' community said around 200 pilots had written to the CEO flagging concerns about non-payment of salaries.

HC: Return original certificates 

Staff Reporter 
 
March 31, 2019 00:00 IST

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Dean of the Madurai Medical College to return the original certificates submitted by four post graduate students and issue their transfer and conduct certificates, which were withheld after they failed to discharge a bond obligation executed towards serving the government.

Justice G. R. Swaminathan observed that the certificates cannot be withheld on the ground that they have not fulfilled their obligations in terms of the agreement bond. They do not constitute marketable items in terms of Section 171 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. It has been consistently held that the educational certificates of the candidates cannot be retained for whatever reason.

However, the court said that it was left open to the college to sue the petitioners for recovery of the bond amount. Four post graduate students of the medical college had executed an agreement bond in favour of the college to serve the government for a certain period on completion of the course and if they failed to discharge the bond obligation, they would pay the bond amount.

DVAC books case against former HR&CE official 

Special Correspondent 
 
CHENNAI, March 31, 2019 00:00 IST

For corruption in regularising services of temporary staff

The Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has filed a case against a former Joint Commissioner of the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) for allegedly indulging in corruption in regularising services of temporary staff in five temples.

DVAC officials said M. Pugazhendran had served as a Joint Commissioner of HR&CE, Coimbatore region, between November 3, 2011 and January 31, 2013.

Temples

The five temples — Avinasilingeswarar temple in Avinashi, Anumantharaya Swamy temple at Idugampalayam, Arudra Kapaleeswarar temple at Erode, Mariamman Angalamman temple and Ayappa Swamy temple in Pollachi were under his control.

Without obtaining a sanction order from the commissioner of HR&CE, Mr. Pugazhendran issued orders for pay fixation for 46 temporary temple staff who were recruited on the daily wages basis, DVAC officials said.

This was in violation of the rules and regulations of HR&CE. By abusing his official position, he passed orders for the claim of pay arrears and other benefits apart from the regular pay for the above said 46 employees and thereby caused undue pecuniary advantage to them and monetary loss to the tune of Rs. 19.21 lakh to the exchequer, the DVAC charged.

Chennai Metro services now available from 4.30 a.m. 

Staff Reporter 
 
CHENNAI, March 31, 2019 00:00 IST



Timely extension:There will be a train every 30 minutes from 4.30 a.m. to 6 a.m. and from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.File photo

Last train will depart from terminal stations at 11 p.m.

Starting today, Chennai Metro timings have been extended. At the four terminal stations of the Chennai Metro, which include Chennai Central, Chennai Airport, St. Thomas Mount and Washermanpet, the first trains will leave at 4.30 a.m. and the last ones will depart at 11 p.m.

But passengers have to note that there will be a train every 30 minutes from 4.30 a.m. to 6 a.m. and from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. That apart, in the regular peak hours and non-peak hours, there will be services every seven minutes and every 14 minutes respectively.

Manpower arranged

The Hindu reported in January that the Chennai Metro had planned to add few more hours of train services. But this plan was put off for some time due to various reasons.According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), more recently, they realised additional manpower had to be arranged for the security of the stations, if services were to be extended.

A meeting was convened on Friday to resolve the issue and they decided to begin additional services from Saturday itself. “The frequency during early morning and late night hours may increase if a lot of people take this service,” an official said.

CMRL had carried out a study sometime back and had seen that extension of services was necessary, as it would help passengers take trains from Chennai Egmore and Chennai Central and flights from Chennai airport.

The frequency during early morning and late night hours may increase if a lot of people take this service

Official

CMRL

Improve varsity’s finances: senate 

Special Correspondent 
 
CHENNAI, March 31, 2019 00:00 IST

Professors raise issue of Madras University’s deficit budget

Senators of the University of Madras wanted the Vice-Chancellor to find ways to improve the finances of the institution.

At the senate meeting on Saturday, many senior professors raised the issue of deficit budget of the institution and urged the V-C, an economist by training, to find solutions. For the financial year 2019-20, the University has posted an estimated Rs. 84.92-crore deficit budget, against the revised estimate of Rs. 61.02 crore in 2018-19 and Rs. 60.36 crore in the financial year 2017-18.

The debate was set in motion by S. Karunanidhi, head of Psychology department, who wanted to know the status of work done by the various centres the institution had set up over the years. For years, University professors had maintained that many of the centres were in name only. The University Grants Commission had refused grants to many of them for non-compliance.

Vice-Chancellor P. Duraisamy said: “Some of the decisions we have taken are within our statutes and Acts and not in the purview of the government orders. The government has approved of posts sanctioned before 1.1.96. Whatever posts that we have created after that, the (payment of) salary has been disallowed.”

The University had transferred faculty from various departments to the newly created centres against the UGC norms, resulting in funds cut by the Commission. According to him, while the expenditure had increased, the University had not revised the examination or course fee for nearly 15 years, leading to a stagnation of revenues.

சென்னை சுற்று வட்டார பகுதிகளில் இருப்பவர்கள் மரம் நட இடமிருந்தால் அணுகலாம்...!!

சென்னை சுற்று வட்டார பகுதிகளில் இருப்பவர்கள் மரம் நட இடமிருந்தால் அணுகலாம்...!!

சென்னை சுற்று வட்டார பகுதிகளில் இருப்பவர்கள் மரம் நட இடமிருந்தால் சொல்லுங்க, பள்ளமெடுத்து மகத்தான நாட்டு மரங்களை நட்டு தருகிறோம், கட்டணமில்லை

1. மஹோகனி
2. வேங்கை
3. தான்றிக்காய்
4. கடுக்காய் மரம்
5. ஜாதிக்காய்
6. தான்றிக்காய்

7. மாசிக்காய்
8. கருங்காலி
9. நீர்மருத
10. மலைவேம்பு
11. அரளி மஞ்சள்
12. மகிழம்
13. சரக்கொன்றை
14. செண்பகம்
15. ஃபாரஸ்ட் பிளேம்
16. வில்வம்
17. வேம்பு
18. சொர்க்கம்
19. புங்கன்
20. இயல்வாகை
21. இலுப்பை
22. நெல்லி
23. நாவல்
24. நாகலிங்கம்
25. பலா
26. நெல்லி 5
27. மாதுளை
28. கொய்யா
29. எலுமிச்சை
30. நாவல்
31. மாமரம்
32. புளியமரம்
33. கொடிபுளிக்காமரம்
34. யானை குன்றிமணி
35. பெரிய நெல்லி

*சென்னை சுற்று வட்டார பகுதிகளில் இருப்பவர்கள் மரம் நட இடமிருந்தால் சொல்லுங்க, பள்ளமெடுத்து மகத்தான நாட்டு மரங்களை நட்டு தருகிறோம், கட்டணமில்லை.*

Contact :
Eshwar +91 98410 85484

Posted by SSTA

Doctors: Valve replacements being done without open heart surgeries

TNN | Mar 31, 2019, 04.27 AM IST

Chennai: Replacement of almost all four valves of the heart, especially among patients deemed unfit for surgery, is increasingly being done without an open heart surgery. Backed by results of global studies, doctors say these procedures, like angioplasty, are done in cath labs and offer better outcome and reduce complications, tempting doctors to recommend some of them to even patients with lower risk.

Unlike in developed countries, the non-surgical replacement called ‘transcatheter heart valve replacement’ is yet to take over conventional heart surgeries, because of the cost. While the average cost of an open heart surgery is Rs 5 lakh, the cheapest valve comes for Rs 5 lakh. The cost of imported valves varies between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh, says senior cardiac surgeon Dr KM Cherian, chairman & CEO of Frontier Lifeline Hospital.

At present, the only Indian valve available is being used by doctors to replace all the four diseased heart valves. Across the globe, the procedure is widely used to replace the aortic valves. “With its success, we are using the same valve to replace tricuspid, mitral and pulmonary valves. The only problem with the other valves is that unlike the aortic valve, these don’t have space for anchorage. So we use them in patients who have undergone valve replacement at least once. The new valve is sent through a catheter in the groin and placed inside the synthetic valve. Sometimes, we use stents as an anchor,” said interventional cardiologist Dr G Sengottuvelu.

Doctors at Frontier Lifeline recently replaced the pulmonary valve — the one that stops deoxidised blood flowing out of the atrium into the lungs, to return to the heart — using the transcatheter valve replacement.

On Saturday, when a 24-year-old patient had come to the hospital for a check-up after undergoing surgery at the St Gregarious Cardiovascular Centre, Parumala in Kerala, cardiologist Dr Rajaram Anantharaman said she had recovered quickly. “People, like this patient, with congenital heart disease or structural heart disease undergo multiple cardiac surgeries in their lifetime to restore pulmonary blood flow. This results in many health complications. The minimally invasive technology allows them to return home the following day,” he said.

The research wing of the hospital at Dr K M Cherian Heart Foundation, Frontier Mediville Science Park, is working on developing these valves in Chennai’s backyard. “If we do this, we must be able to make this accessible and affordable to most of our patients,” he said.

Fewer PG medical applicants this year

Times News Network | Mar 31, 2019, 04.40 AM IST

Chennai: The rank list for admission to postgraduate medical courses released by the state selection committee on Saturday had several surprises — fewer students had applied compared to 2018 in spite of more seats. Admission is also likely to get tougher as the number of students with high scores are more. 

There were 10,297 candidates compared to 10,576 in 2018. While Dr C R Arunkumar with 1007.5/1200 and Dr V Tamilarasu with 1001.25/1200 got four digit scores, more than 22 had scores above 900, 240 above 800 and more than 1000 had more than 700. The rank list was published on www.tnhealth.org and www.tnmedicalselection.org and counselling will begin on Monday.

Incentive marks – up to 30% of NEET score were given to in-service candidates based on geographical area of work as per recommendation of the Justice A Selvam committee. Those in hilly areas will get up to 10% for each year, those in “difficult plain areas” 9%, those in remote areas 8%, and government doctors in rural areas 5%.

All three toppers are from in-service candidate list, 9 among the top 20 and 27 in top 100. “Toppers will have a big advantage. Many would have been allotted seats in round 1 of all India counselling.

And they have time till April 3 to join. They can come to state counselling to see if they have a chance of getting better course or college,” said selection committee secretary Dr G Selvarajan.

However, those joining colleges through all India counselling can’t participate in state counselling.

On March 11, the state uploaded prospectus for counselling. The state attempted to take the process online, but the selection committee has decided counselling will be off line. Courses will begin by May 1 and admissions closed by May 31.

This year there will be 899 PG medical seats and two diploma seats in the state bouquet apart from 177 seats in self-financing colleges and institutions.

Doctors still not ready to serve in rural areas: Madras high court

TNN | Mar 31, 2019, 05.45 AM ISTCHENNAI:

 The Madras high court has observed that doctors are hesitant to serve in villages even after 70 years of independence, and efforts by the government to encourage doctors to serve in the rural areas have gone in vain.

“Though India has developed and modified the healthcare in rural areas by establishing primary health centres (PHC), many of them are without doctors, manned by nurses and paramedical staff or with just one doctor and paramedical staff. From these PHCs, patients are being referred to district headquarters hospitals, which are supposed to have all facilities required for managing at least 90% of the cases,” Justice Puspha Sathyanarayana said.

Adding that getting admission in a government medical college is a Himalayan challenge, the court said, “Like any other profession, a busy practice and an affluent life would be the dream of every medical student. Therefore, rural practice is also becoming remote, especially in India, where we have our native medicines like siddha, ayurveda and naturopathy.”

Noting that doctors in multi-speciality hospitals and government hospitals in the city are provided with multifarious equipment and are depending on laboratory reports, the court said, while there is no harm in using such facilities, doctors in these classified areas feel helpless, as they get only a little experience in clinical skills. The internship training given to those doctors expose them to the real world. But now that has become a casualty service in the case of postgraduate medical students, the court said.

As the doctor to people ratio is very low, the government can consider posting two doctors to each PHC, so that the willingness to work will be there, Justice Puspha added.

The court made the observations while disposing of a batch of pleas moved by service candidates seeking direction to the state to declare their areas also as remote and difficult.

சரவண பவன் நிறுவனருக்கு ஆயுள்: ஜீவஜோதி வழக்கில் தண்டனையை உறுதி செய்த உச்ச நீதிமன்றம்

Published : 29 Mar 2019 11:52 IST

புதுடெல்லி


சரவண பவனில் வேலை பார்த்த ஊழியரைக் கொலை செய்த வழக்கில், ஓட்டல் நிறுவனர் பி.ராஜகோபாலுக்கு (அண்ணாச்சி) ஆயுள் தண்டனையை உறுதி செய்து உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் இன்று உத்தரவிட்டது.


ஜீவஜோதி கணவர் சாந்தகுமார் கொலை வழக்கில் சரவணபவன் அதிபர் பி.ராஜகோபாலுக்கு விதிக் கப்பட்ட ஆயுள் தண்டனையை உறுதி செய்து உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் தீர்ப்பளித்துள்ளது.

திருத்துறைப்பூண்டி பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ஜீவஜோதி. இவர் தனது கணவர் சாந்தகுமார் மற்றும் பெற்றோருடன் வேளச்சேரியில் வசித்து வந்தார். ஜீவஜோதியின் தந்தை சென்னையில் உள்ள சரவணபவன் உணவகம் ஒன்றில் பணிபுரிந்து வந்தார்.

கூலிப்படை உதவியுடன்

ஜீவஜோதியை மூன்றாவதாக திருமணம் செய்ய எண்ணிய சரவண பவன் அதிபர் பி.ராஜகோபால், கடந்த 2001-ம் ஆண்டு அக். 26 அன்று ஜீவஜோதியின் கணவர் சாந்தகுமாரை கொடைக்கானல் பெருமாள்மலை பகுதிக்கு கடத்திச் சென்று கூலிப்படையினரின் உதவியுடன் கொலை செய்தார்.

இந்த கொலை சம்பவம் தொடர் பாக ராஜகோபால் உள்ளிட்ட 9 பேர் மீது வேளச்சேரி போலீஸார் கொலை வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்தனர். இந்த வழக்கை விசாரித்த பூந்தமல்லி சிறப்பு நீதிமன்றம், கடந்த 2004-ம் ஆண்டு ராஜகோபாலுக்கு 10 ஆண்டுகள் சிறை தண்டனை மற்றும் ரூ.55 லட்சம் அபராதம் விதித்து தீர்ப்பளித்தது. மேலும் இந்த வழக்கில் தொடர்புடைய எஞ்சிய 8 பேருக்கு 9 ஆண்டுகள் சிறை தண்டனை விதித்தது.

இந்த தீர்ப்பை எதிர்த்து ராஜ கோபால் மற்றும் அவரது கூட்டாளி கள் சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் மேல்முறையீடு செய்தனர். அந்த மேல்முறையீட்டு மனுவை விசாரித்த சென்னை உயர் நீதி மன்ற நீதிபதிகள் பி.கே.மிஸ்ரா, ஆர்.பானுமதி ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய அமர்வு கடந்த 2009-ம் ஆண்டு அளித்த தீர்ப்பில், ‘‘குற்றவாளி களுக்கு கொலைக் குற்றத்தைக் கருத்தில் கொண்டு தண்டனை வழங்காமல் கீழமை நீதிமன்றம் தவறு இழைத்துவிட்டது.

ஆயுள் தண்டனையாக அதிகரிப்பு

இந்த வழக்கில் கொலைக்குற்றம் ஆதாரப்பூர்வமாக தகுந்த சாட்சியங் களுடன் நிரூபிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவர்கள் தெளிவான நோக்கத்துடன் பயங்கர குற்றம் இழைத்துள்ளனர். இதை மன்னிக்க முடியாது என்பதால் குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்ட ராஜகோபால் மற்றும் பட்டுராஜன், ஜனார்த்தன், டேனியல், தமிழ் என்ற தமிழ்செல்வன், கார்மேகம் ஆகிய 6 பேருக்கு கீழமை நீதிமன்றம் விதித்த தண்டனையை நாங்கள் ஆயுள் தண்டனையாக அதிகரித்து உத்தரவிடுகிறோம்’ என தீர்ப்பளித்து இருந்தனர்.

இந்த தீர்ப்பை எதிர்த்து ராஜகோபால் உள்ளிட்ட 6 பேரும் உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மேல்முறையீடு செய்தனர். இந்த வழக்கு விசாரணை கடந்த 2009-ம் ஆண்டு முதல் உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் நிலுவையில் இருந்து வந்தது.

இந்நிலையில் இந்த வழக்கு விசாரணை நீதிபதிகள் என்.வி.ரமணா, மோகன் எம்.சாந்தன கவுடர், இந்திரா பானர்ஜி ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய அமர்வில் நடந்து வந்தது. அப்போது தமிழக அரசு தரப்பில் சிறப்பு வழக்கறிஞர் எம்.யோகேஷ் கண்ணா ஆஜராகி குற்றச்சாட்டுகளை நிரூபித்து வாதிட்டார்.

அதையடுத்து நீதிபதிகள் பிறப்பித்துள்ள தீர்ப்பில், ‘‘இந்த வழக்கில் எவ்வித சந்தேகத் துக்கும் இடமின்றி அரசு தரப் பில் சரியாக குற்றச்சாட்டு நிரூபிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. முக்கிய ஆதாரமாக பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட காரில் தான் கொலை செய்யப்பட்ட சாந்தகுமாரை, குற்றவாளிகள் கடத்திச் சென்றுள்ளனர்.

பழனியில் உள்ள பெட்ரோல் பங்கில் அந்த காரை நிறுத்தியது முதல் கொடைக்கானல் மலைக்குச் சென்றது வரை சாட்சியங்கள் தெளிவாக உள்ளன. அதன் அடிப்படையில்தான் சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்ட ராஜகோபால் உள்ளிட்ட 6 பேருக் கும் ஆயுள் தண்டனை விதித்து தீர்ப்பளித்துள்ளது. அந்த தீர்ப்பில் எவ்வித தவறும் இல்லை என்பதால் நாங்கள் அதில் தலையிட விரும்பவில்லை.

எனவே மேல்முறையீட்டு மனு தள்ளுபடி செய்யப்படுகிறது. சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் பிறப் பித்த தீர்ப்பு உறுதி செய்யப்படு கிறது. ஆயுள் தண்டனை விதிக் கப்பட்ட பி.ராஜகோபால் உள்ளிட்ட 6 பேரும் வரும் ஜூலை 7-ம் தேதிக்குள் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நீதிமன்றத்தில் சரண் அடைய வேண்டும்’ என தீர்ப்பளித்துள்ளனர்.

நீதி மீண்டும் வென்றது

இந்த தீர்ப்பு குறித்து தமிழக அரசு தரப்பில் ஆஜராகி வாதிட்ட வழக்கறிஞர் எம்.யோகேஷ் கண்ணா கூறும்போது, ‘‘இந்த வழக்கைப் பொருத்தமட்டில் நீதி மீண்டும் நிலைநாட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. கொலைக் குற்றவாளிகளான 6 பேருக்கும் எதிராக திரட்டப்பட்ட சாட்சியங்களையும் சாட்சிகளின் வாக்குமூலங்களையும் எடுத்துரைத்து உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் வாதிட்டோம்.

ஒரு பெண்ணுக்காக அவரது கணவரை கொலை செய்த இந்த வழக்கில் சரவணபவன் அதிபர் ராஜகோபால் மட்டுமின்றி எஞ்சிய நபர்களுக்கும் ஆயுள் தண்டனை உறுதி செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஆயுள் தண்டனை என்பது வாழ்நாள் முழுமைக்கான தண் டனை என்பதை உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் முத்துராமலிங்கம் (எதிர்) தமிழ்நாடு அரசு வழக்கில் கடைசியாக உறுதி செய்துள்ளது. பொதுவாக ஆயுள் தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்ட நபர்கள் 14 ஆண்டுகள் கழித்து தங்களின் தண்டனையை குறைக்குமாறு அரசிடம் குற்றவியல் நடைமுறைச் சட்டம் பிரிவு 433(ஏ) பிரிவில் உரிமை கோரலாம். ஆனால் அதை ஏற்பதும், ஏற்காததும் அரசின் கையில்தான் உள்ளது. இந்த வழக்கைப் பொருத்தமட்டில் தமிழக அரசுதான் கடைசி வரை போராடி குற்றத்தை நிரூபித்துள்ளது’ என்றார்.‘இப்பதான் என் மகள் நிம்மதியா இருக்கா’

ஜீவஜோதியின் தாயார் தவமணி உருக்கம்

"என் பொண்ணு இப்பதான் நிம்மதியா இருக்கா" என்று ஜீவஜோதியின் தாயார் தவமணி தெரிவித்தார்.

ஜீவஜோதியின் கணவர் பிரின்ஸ் சாந்தகுமார் கொலை செய்யப்பட்ட பிறகு பல்வேறு இன்னல்களுக்கு ஆளான ஜீவஜோதி, மறுமணம் செய்துகொண்டு கணவர், மகனுடன் தஞ்சாவூரில் குடியேறினார். ஜீவஜோதியின் தாயார் தவமணி அவருடன் உள்ளார்.

தஞ்சாவூரில் பெண்களுக்கான தையல் கடையும், தாயாருடன் சேர்ந்து சைவ உணவகமும் நடத்தி வருகிறார்.

ஹோட்டல் சரவணபவன் உரிமையாளர் ராஜகோபாலுக்கு கொடுக்கப்பட்ட ஆயுள் தண்டனையை உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் உறுதி செய்து தீர்ப்பளித்தது குறித்து ஜீவஜோதியிடம் கேட்பதற்காக அவரது வீட்டுக்குச் சென்றபோது, அவர் சென்னைக்கு சென்றுள்ளதாக தெரிவித்தனர்.

பின்னர் உணவகத்தில் இருந்த அவரது தாயார் தவமணியை அணுகி, ஜீவஜோதி இல்லையா என்று கேட்டபோது, "இப்பதான் அவள் எல்லாவற்றையும் மறந்து விட்டு நிம்மதியாக வாழ்கிறாள். தீர்ப்பு குறித்து நான் எதுவும் சொல்ல முடியாது. ஜீவஜோதிதான் சொல்லணும். தீர்ப்புக்காகத்தான் கடைக்கு விடுமுறை விட்டுவிட்டேன். வழக்கறிஞருடன் ஆலோசனை செய்துகொண்டிருக்கிறார். அதன் பிறகு தீர்ப்பு குறித்த தன் கருத்தை தெரிவிப்பார்" எனக் கூறினார்.

வரவிருக்கும் விசேஷங்கள்


ஏப்ரல் 01 (தி) புதுக்கணக்கு துவக்கம்

ஏப்ரல் 06 (ச) தெலுங்கு புத்தாண்டு

ஏப்ரல் 10 (பு) வசந்த பஞ்சமி

ஏப்ரல் 13 (ச) ஸ்ரீராம நவமி

ஏப்ரல் 13 (ச) ஷீரடி சாய்பாபா பிறந்த நாள்

ஏப்ரல் 14 (ஞா) தமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு

Include ESI dispensaries for incentive marks: HC

TNN | Mar 28, 2019, 10.19 AM IST

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Wednesday directed the state government to include ESI dispensaries located in hilly/remote/rural areas in the list of institutions eligible for awarding incentive marks to in-service candidates for admission to post-graduate medical courses.

Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana passed the direction while allowing a plea moved by 10 ESI in-service candidates, including M Sathya.

The petitioners sought the court to quash the government order dated March 6, which excluded ESI dispensaries coming under ESI scheme in Tamil Nadu for the purpose of categorisation of remote/ difficult/rural areas for awarding incentive marks to the in-service candidates for admission to Post Graduation Medical Courses as per Regulation 9(iv) of Post Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2000.

Allowing the plea, the judge said, “If the authorities are of the opinion that there is a disparity between doctors in ESI dispensaries and PHCs in terms of workload, it is a separate issue to be addressed by the government. When the categorisation of areas is based on geographical classification, the ESI dispensaries cannot be left out in extending the benefits of incentive marks.”

Moreover, for categorising the doctors, the nature of the duties being performed by them cannot be the criteria and only classification permitted by the regulation is the geographical difficulty and / or remoteness of the areas, the court added.

The court then directed the state to include the ESI dispensaries located in the classified areas as has been done in the previous academic year and draw the merit list, as scheduled, thereafter and extend the benefit of incentive marks to the doctors working in ESI dispensaries, including the petitioners, if the same are located in the classified areas.

Airports authority gears up for summer rush

TNN | Mar 27, 2019, 07.22 AM IST

CHENNAI: With summer vacation nearing, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is gearing up to face an increase in passenger traffic at the Chennai airport. Steps are being taken to prevent congestion at check-in counters and at security check during peak hours. There is an increase in domestic passengers during extended weekends and officials expect an increase in April and May.

An airport official said, “We have been seeing an increase in passenger movement during an extended weekend and during weekends in the last few months. So we are taking steps to prevent congestion at check-in and at the security check. Though the same number of counters and personnel are available, we have told airlines to inform passengers to report early.”

Staff to monitor check-in and security check, more counters, new passageways or crowd control measures are being taken to cut long queues.

These steps are needed as the airport does not have an inline baggage screening system, which would have let passengers check in without screening their check-in luggage.

He also said that there are more passengers at the domestic terminal because airlines have started flights to smaller towns. There are direct flights to Jaipur, Bhopal, Lucknow and others and these flights will be on demand during the summer vacation.

Airlines are also monitoring flight movement and passenger density during the peak hour and are posting staff to assist people at check-in and also at the security check. “staff will be deployed to assist passengers at baggage scanning and security counters so that the departure process can be speeded during the peak hour,” said an official. Similar measures were taken during extended weekends earlier in the year.

The flights to smaller towns in addition to those to Udan destinations have led to an increase of 15% in total passenger traffic. However, the infrastructure inside the terminal and on the airside where plane parking bays and taxiways are located is not enough.

The domestic terminal alone handles around 10,000 to 15,000 passengers a day — especially during the peak hour in the early morning and late evening.

An official said there would be a surge in passengers when airlines offer low fares to fill the seats which were not sold due to high fares triggered by high demand. “The fare is high because of the demand and majority of the seats have been filled because of the holiday travel. There is a chance that offers can be introduced to sell the rest of the seats. This will add more passengers at the airport on domestic routes,” said an airline official.

An AAI official said that work was on to add a terminal so that the passenger capacity can be increased to 30million a year, which was double the numbers handled by the airport including international passengers. “Inline baggage system will be introduced at both the international and domestic terminals soon. Once this work is over, the congestion will go down. Till then, the temporary measure will be continued to ease passenger inconvenience,” said an official.

Madras high court: Declare all corrupt babus, judicial officers anti-nationals

TNN | Mar 29, 2019, 06.51 AM IST

CHENNAI: In a rare admission, the Madras high court has said even the judiciary is not exempt from the clutches of corruption and that corrupt judicial officers and public servants should be declared anti-nationals.

Justice SM Subramaniam, in scathing remarks on Thursday, observed that corruption in the judiciary was the greatest enemy of the Constitution and that the judiciary must also initiate drastic measures to control corruption in various forms. Noting that bribing public authorities starts right from the child in the mother's womb, the judge said officials had to be bribed even for getting the benefits of government welfare schemes.

"They are anti-nationals because they are obstructing the development of this great nation. Terrorists are declared as anti-social elements. Thus, persons corrupt and acting against the developmental activities of our nation are also to be declared as anti-nationals. These anti-nationals do not care about the development of this country but are only interested in their self-development," Justice Subramaniam said.

"It is painful and unfortunate to state that sexual favours are demanded in lieu of bribe in educational institutions and public offices and what else can be worse than this in public administration," Justice Subramaniam said.

The worst form of corruption was happening at burial grounds and we people tolerate even that. Unless public servants at burial grounds maintained by the state or local bodies are bribed, the dead body will not get an appropriate timing for burial. The right to decent burial is also denied, the judge added.

Coming down heavily on poll-related corruption, the judge said, "these representatives of the people are not only accountable but also responsible for enactment of laws. If they indulge in such corrupt activities like bribing voters, the very foundation of democratic principles is shaken."

The court made the observations while dismissing a plea moved by P Saravanan, a village administrative officer (VAO), who was suspended from service on allegations of corruption. Saravanan wanted the court to quash his suspension and direct the authorities to reinstate him in service.

Doctor surrenders Rs 60 lakh after IT survey

By Daily Excelsior

-29/03/2019

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 28: A renowned doctor today surrendered Rs 60 lakh after survey by Income Tax Department in his clinic situated in Gujjar Mandi area of Rajouri.

Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that a team of Income Tax Department led by ITO Rajouri Ramesh Sharma conducted survey in the clinic of Dr Abdul Rashid Choudhary and impounded a number of documents.

The preliminary scrutiny of the documents revealed that Dr Rashid, a General Physician was suppressing the number of patients visiting his clinic in order to conceal the income. It also came to the fore that doctor was utilizing the concealed income in the construction of a hotel near Darhali Bridge, which is almost complete now.

Finding himself in the trouble, the doctor surrendered Rs 60 lakh as undisclosed income.

“Even after surrender of such a huge money, detailed scrutiny of the impounded documents will be conducted by the Income Tax Department”, sources said while disclosing that more doctors, who fall in the list of habitual tax evaders will be targeted by the Income Tax Department in the coming days.

Read more at Education Medical Dialogues:

 NEET PG Counselling 2019 Round 2: MCC asks NRI candidates to submit documents by April 1 

https://education.medicaldialogues.in/neet-pg-counselling-2019-round-2-mcc-asks-nri-candidates-to-submit-documents-by-april-1/

Read more at Education Medical Dialogues: 

NEET PG Counselling 2019: MCC issues notice regarding Free Exit https://education.medicaldialogues.in/neet-pg-counselling-2019-mcc-issues-notice-free-exit/

Don’t use elections as an excuse, say Maharashtra resident doctors

Suyash Karangutkar

MUMBAI, MARCH 29, 2019 00:42 IST

Resident doctors of KEM Hospital put up fruit stalls outside a college campus to protest stipend irregularities.

MARD to launch State-wide protest if issue of stipends not resolved

The Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) on Tuesday appealed to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) and the State Health minister, Deepak Sawant, to not use elections and model code of conduct as excuses in releasing the stipends of resident doctors and hiking them.

The Central MARD has stated in a letter issued on Thursday that they will launch a State-wide agitation if the issue of stipends is not cleared in the coming days.

Resident doctors from Maharashtra have been protesting against stipend irregularities for several months. In December last year, doctors from medical colleges in Nagpur and Aurangabad staged a silent protest by sporting black ribbons on their arms. Showing solidarity, resident doctors from Sion and KEM Hospitals in Mumbai, set up fruit stalls outside college campuses. Doctors from J.J. and Nair Hospitals sported black ribbons as well.

“In a meeting on January 1 with the State Minister for Medical Education and Water Resources, Girish Mahajan, we were promised an assurance letter regarding the hike in our stipend, but we have not received that either. We are being told that the hike will take place only after the elections,” Dr. Kalyani Dongre, president, Central MARD said.

According to the association, doctors from the government medical colleges in Nagpur, Akola, Latur and Ambejogai have not received their stipends for over three months. “The cumbersome nature of [a medical professional’s] work is poorly awarded considering the heap of work and efforts taken by residents doctors. [The authorities] are challenging our patience and taking us for granted. We are not beggars, We are demanding what is ours, what we deserve and what is promised,” the letter read.

“Stipends of resident doctors from peripheral colleges have not reached them. Many have families to run and have to send money back home. This is putting immense financial and psychological strain on doctors,” Dr. Dongre said.

The doctors said that the college administrations and the DMER have been passing around the buck. “While the colleges say they do not have funds, the DMER has been giving us the same reason, and that of the model code of conduct. What we do not understand is that if the administration has no funds, how are the other doctors and hospital staff getting their salaries?Why do only resident doctors have to suffer?” she said.

Meanwhile, Tatyarao Lahane, director, DMER said, “The funds we were receiving have fallen short due to an increase in the number of doctors. We are trying to resolve this at the earliest. About the stipend hike, since the model code of conduct has been applied, we cannot make the appeal to the government before May 23.”

Have an odd-hour flight or train? Take a metro

TNN | Mar 30, 2019, 06.41 AM IST

CHENNAI: Beginning Saturday, metro trains will be available from 4.30am to 11pm as Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is extending operations after months of running trials. A train will be available every 30 minutes from 4.30am to 6am and from 10pm to 11pm, while the existing schedule will be followed between 6am and 10pm. The extension of services will benefit early birds, morning joggers, late shift workers and commuters heading to railway stations or the airport to catch late night and early trains/ flights.

“We have arranged sufficient security and staff required to operate services from 4.30am. We expect the extension of services to attract and benefit more commuters,” a metro rail official said.

At present, metro trains are available from 6am to 10pm. In the new schedule, the first train from Washermenpet, Airport, Chennai Central and St Thomas Mount will depart at 4.30am and the last train at 11pm.

During peak hours — 8am to 11am and from 5pm to 8pm — trains will be available every five minutes across both the corridors from Washermenpet to Airport and from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount. Every alternate train would be a direct service from Chennai Central to Airport.

During non-peak hours, trains will be operated every seven minutes. The new extended timings will be followed from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the existing time table will be followed with services from 7.58am to 10pm, officials said.

CMRL has been conducting trial runs for the past six months, operating trains from 4.30am to 11pm, while the actual operational hours continued to be from 6am to 10pm. The trials were done to synchronise operations, duty hours of staff members, requirement of additional manpower at stations and daily maintenance of trains after operational hours. “We have been making station controllers and staff who work on shifts to begin their duty at 4.30am to check for smooth daily operations,” an official said. “We also had to check if our daily maintenance of trains was feasible within the reduced time left after the extension”.

Metro rail was also working to make security arrangements to cover the extended hours. At present, outsourced private security personnel and state police guard metro stations in the city. “Based on the response, we will increase the frequency in the early morning hours,” an official said.

With folded hands', Madras HC appeals to motorists to drive carefully

TNN | Mar 30, 2019, 09.01 AM IST

CHENNAI: Deeply moved by a case in which the father of a girl was killed in a road accident when she was still in the womb of her mother, Madras high court appealed with 'folded hands' to motorists to be careful while driving, as not only their lives but that of other innocent people on the road were in their hands.

"This case should be an eye-opener for vehicle drivers to drive at a normal speed, and follow road rules and regulations. Any violation of road rules like drunken driving, reckless driving and speaking over mobile phone while driving would not only cause death or injuries to third parties, but also cause injuries or death to the driver. The drivers should understand that they are capable of causing death or injury to others due to their rash and negligent driving," a division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and R Pongiappan said on Friday.

The bench made the observation on an appeal moved by Oriental Insurance Company Limited challenging the quantum of compensation awarded to dependants of Ragu, who was killed in a road accident on December 10, 2012.

Rejecting the appeal by the insurer, the court enhanced the award from 18.88 lakh to 25.30 lakh.

Empathising with the daughter of the deceased, the bench said, "Is it a sin to be born as daughter to a woman, who lost her husband in a road traffic accident, due to the negligence of a third party? Given the conservative nature of our society, the answer is in the affirmative, as the girl, who was an unborn child at the time of the accident, could not even see her father's face. He passed away when she was in her mother's womb, thereby casting a stigma on her, even before her arrival in this world." The girl was not only born fatherless, but with a stigma that she, in a way, was responsible for her father's death, as our conservative society would always try to find a scapegoat to fix the blame for an ill-fated tragedy that happened in the life of someone, the judges observed.

Lok Sabha elections: Chitalapakkam residents list out issues for their candidates

TNN | Mar 30, 2019, 11.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: Residents of Chitalapakkam, which comes under Sriperumbudur parliamentary constituency, have formed a group - Chitalapakkam rising - and listed out issues that they expect their candidates to resolve.

The residents want the candidates to sign a memorandum which comes with an assurance of finding solutions to several issues that the town panchayat faces. The locality is on the southern periphery of the city, sandwiched between Old Mahabalipuram road and the Chennai-Trichy highway.

For instance, the Chitalapakkam lake is a thorny issue, on which the residents have been agitating for many years now. “We have demanded that the candidate should recover, restore and rejuvenate the lake. The candidate should also ensure that Selaiyur and Sembakkam lakes are restored,” said Sunil Jayaram from the group.

Chitalapakkam has around 39,000 registered voters in the Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha constituency which has around 12 lakh voters.

The group has already met DMK candidate TR Baalu who has promised to look into the memorandum. They are scheduled to meet PMK candidate Vaithilingam tomorrow morning. Talks are also on with the MNM and Naam Tamizhar Katchi candidates, Jayaram said. The other issues include adequate drinking water supply, underground drainage system, better access to public transport and implementation of underground cabling for electricity transmissions. The voters feel that this is the ideal time for them to highlight the long-pending issues as all candidates would be soliciting votes. “We are also in touch with the local DMK MLA Raja to co-ordinate on these issues,” Sunil said.

Government bus drivers told not to halt at hotels in suburbs

TNN | Mar 30, 2019, 11.18 AM IST

CHENNAI: The State Express Transport Corporation has instructed drivers not to halt at eateries or hotels located on the Chennai-Villupuram and Villupuram-Ulundurpet highway stretches.

At present, more than 1,200 buses are operated by the corporation across Tamil Nadu. Of this, 450 are operated daily from Chennai to Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Thanjavur and Nagercoil.

The SETC has received complaints from passengers stating many buses halt at eateries as they near Chennai for more than 15 minutes. They said that drivers and conductors are either given free meals or incentives to halt at these private food outlets. In a letter dated March 25, the SETC has stated that no permission has been granted to halt at these eateries. It only increases travel time and decreases passenger footfall.

The letter has instructed respective branch managers to take action against erring drivers.

Drivers, in response, have rejected allegations pertaining to incentives and claimed that they hardly get 15-20 minutes break during the 8-10 hour journeys to southern or western districts of Tamil Nadu and it is unfair to expect us to overcome fatigue without breaks.

Marriage hall trust to pay Rs 1.73L for not returning advance

The forum then directed the trust to provide a compensation of Rs 1,73,540 for the maintenance and the mental agony caused.

Published: 28th March 2019 02:45 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For failing to pay the advance amount collected while booking a marriage hall, to a Chennai resident, a consumer forum directed the Chennai-based bank trust that manages the marriage hall, to provide a compensation of Rs 1.73 lakh to the resident. K Raman, a resident of Mylapore, had booked a marriage hall belonging to the trust in Mylapore by paying in advance and changed the dates by four months due to the auspiciousness.

A petition filed by K Raman, submitted that in 2012 he had paid Rs 2,68,540 for his daughter’s wedding, however, after consultations with the astrologer, it was decided that the dates be postponed to January 2013.

Raman approached the marriage hall manager and again booked the hall for the same amount after the staff of the hall assured him that the previous advance will be paid in a few weeks, he submitted.

However, the staff in a letter to K Raman, responded by saying, “As per the terms and conditions of the trust, cancellation of the hall will not be entertained under any circumstances and the matter may be treated as closed,” thus submitting a petition at the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai ( South), seeking a compensation of Rs 4.08 lakh. Denying the allegations, the counsel for the trust said the complainant might have cancelled the booking for some unexpected reason, yet the terms and conditions, and rules pertaining to the booking, do not provide a refund and this was made clear to the complainant during the time of booking.

Considering the oral and documentary evidence, the forum presided by M Mony observed that the trust has not produced any document to show that the hall has not been booked by another party in the date that was cancelled and the amount of Rs 1,68,540 for the maintenance has not been utilised.
The forum then directed the trust to provide a compensation of Rs 1,73,540 for the maintenance and the mental agony caused.

School correspondent held for branding class IV boy with hot wax

Tirupur: Years after corporal punishment was banned in educational institutions, a 22-year-old correspondent of a private school here was arrested for punishing a Class IV boy for not completing his homework. Forgoing the usual cane, the correspondent had used a candle to brand the child with hot wax. It was when the boy returned home on Tuesday evening with burns on his hand that the parents got to know about the incident and filed a complaint with the North Police. After an interrogation with the child and his parents, the police arrested the correspondent. After being produced before the judicial magistrate, the accused was lodged at Coimbatore Central Prison.

Postal official told to pay Rs 30000 for delayed delivery to Chennai resident
A petition filed by K Palanikumar said he had applied for personnel talent management in Ministry of Defence, and was expecting hall ticket on August 8, 2012.

Published: 29th March 2019 03:41 AM |

India Post image used for representation. (Photo | PTI)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For failing to deliver hall tickets at the stipulated time to a resident of Poonamalee, a consumer forum directed the Chief Postmaster General of India Posts to provide a compensation of Rs 30,000. K Palanikumar complained that his hall ticket for the examinations conducted by the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi, was delayed by the postal authorities and petitioned the forum of deficiency in service.

A petition filed by K Palanikumar said he had applied for personnel talent management in Ministry of Defence, and was expecting hall ticket on August 8, 2012. But it was received only three days earlier despite the letter being sent on July 16. The Chief Post Master General of India Posts, Poonamallee, said an enquiry committee was appointed as soon as the complaint was received and also sought for K Palanikumar’s appearance for which he did not co-operate.

However, the forum presided by M Mony observed that the date of despatch shows July 16, 2012, and the backside having the seal shows the date as August 8, 2012 proves that the letter was delivered only on August 8.

Madras Christian College initiates probe into sexual harassment allegations
This move has been welcomed by students, who are happy the management has finally woken up to the situation.

Published: 29th March 2019 02:04 AM |

Madras Christian College campus. Express Photo

By Samuel Merigala

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Following Express report on the alleged sexual harassment of girl students of Madras Christian College by their professor during a department trip, the institution has initiated an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) probe. This move has been welcomed by students, who are happy the management has finally woken up to the situation.

“We have passed on the matter to the ICC and met with representatives of the Zoology department on Thursday morning to inform them about this development,” said A Duraisamy, principal-in-charge. 

It is learnt that the ICC will conform to UGC norms and will be headed by a senior female faculty member and will begin its hearings shortly.”The victims should use this opportunity to voice their grievances so the committee can ensure the college is a safe environment for women,” said a former ICC member, assuring utmost confidentiality in the hearing process.

Alumni speak up

While it was unclear whether the professor in question, had prior allegations of sexual harassment, Express’ story triggered a series of allegations from alumni of the Zoology department, some of which are two decades old.

“We had complained to our head of department when our juniors told us this professor had harassed them during the department trip and the disciplinary action taken against him. Even I had faced harassment by him but our class boys were very protective so he wasn’t able to trouble us,” said Bridget Mary, a student of the Department of Zoology (vocational stream) between 1997 and 2000, who wanted to go on record. Another woman student from the 2006-2009 batch, also reached out with allegations of harassment. “Back then we (I) didn’t have the guts to speak up. I am happy that now girls are speaking up. He is not fit to be a professor,” the victim said.

Students in the Zoology department were overwhelmed by the allegations. “Our Head of the Department had told us that we had filed the first complaint against this professor. Repeat offenders should not be spared,” a representative said, warning of protests if the management backtracks on its promises.

Many medicines not available at GRH

Pon Vasanth B.A

MADURAI, MARCH 29, 2019 00:00 IST

Sick and tired:Patients coming to Government Rajaji Hospital make many trips to check availability of medicine.R_ASHOK

Steps being taken to ensure there is no shortage from April 1: Dean

Patients visiting Government Rajaji Hospital complain of non-availability of many medicines at the hospital dispensary.

According to a section of patients, not all the medicines prescribed by the doctors are given to them at the dispensary, raising concerns over lack of supply to the hospital and possibility of irregularities or leakage. K. Mangai, a 41-year-old woman from Periyakulam in Theni district, who underwent a cardiac surgery at the hospital more than a year before, said that she was denied one of the drugs for the past four months.

“Doctors say that I must take one-and-half tablets every day at 6 p.m and I carry the risk of developing blocks again in the blood supply to the heart otherwise,” she said, adding that she had been visiting GRH all the way from Periyakulam for the past four months in vain.

Ms. Mangai, a single mother of two children, who has stopped working at the textile mill after her surgery, said that she had to spend Rs. 700 every month to buy the medicine from pharmacies outside. “If I check at the government hospital in Theni, they ask me to go to GRH since I was operated here,” she said. Another elderly person from Karimedu, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that he faced similar problems. “I also underwent an open heart surgery at GRH. I argued with the personnel at the dispensary yesterday and raised the issue with the Resident Medical Officer as well on Wednesday. However, nothing much happened,” he said.

N. Sridhar, whose mother is treated at GRH as an outpatient for arthritis, said that every month she was denied at least three or four medicines. “The doctors prescribe seven to eight tablets for my mother. Some are to be taken daily and some once a week. However, we end up getting only four or five medicines every month,” he said. “When we argue with the staff at the dispensary, they say that they did not have adequate supply,” he added.

When contacted, a senior staff working at the dispensary denied allegations of irregularities. “The purchasing limit set for a day is grossly inadequate for the number of patients we handle at GRH,” he said.

Dean K. Vanitha said that steps were being taken to ensure from April 1 that there were no shortage of any medicines.

Senior citizen conned at CMBT

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, MARCH 29, 2019 00:00 IST

A senior citizen was conned by a few persons posing as police personnel in CMBT, who robbed him of Rs. 10,000 and four sovereigns of gold jewellery.

Police said Ganapathy, 67, a resident of Mogappair East went to Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus to board a bus to Nagapattinam on March 22.

While he was waiting for the bus, a 30-year-old woman approached him and started a conversation.

Then four persons came there and introduced themselves as police personnel.

In an intimidating tone, they told him that they would arrest him for teasing the woman in public. Ganapathy believing them to be police personnel decided to bribe them to be let off. When Ganapathy told them that he had no money with him, they snatched his wallet and forced him to use his ATM card to withdraw Rs. 10,000 from a nearby machine.

They then took him to a jewellery shop in Thirumangalam where they made him pay for four sovereigns of gold jewellery.

After collecting the gold, they abandoned him and escaped from the scene.

Government doctors to be sensitised on how to handle cases falling under POCSO

STAFF REPORTER

CHENNAI, MARCH 29, 2019 00:00 IST

The Director of Medical Education said it was key to create awareness, given the frequency of sexual offences.

Two-day conference to bring them up to speed on guidelines

Government doctors across the State will soon be sensitised on the guidelines for examining survivors and victims of sexual offences, and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

In a bid to create awareness on how to identify and manage victims/survivors of sexual offences, the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has planned to organise a two-day conference for doctors during June.

“This is mainly for government doctors from the level of primary health centres to government medical colleges. The focus will be on crimes against women and children, and will particularly look at child sexual abuse. We will be elaborating on the provisions of POCSO Act, and telling the doctors how to identify victims of sexual abuse, how to report cases, how to certify such cases and also what the limitations are of medical practitioners,” said A. Edwin Joe, Director of Medical Education.

A necessity

With cases of sexual offences being reported frequently from across the State, including from Chennai, it has become a necessity to sensitise doctors. Doctors should identify victims of sexual offences early to prevent the offence from being repeated, he said. “We consider this very important as many cases go unreported. If a doctor does not identify abuse during examination, there are chances that the offence is repeated and exposed after several years. This has a tremendous effect on the mental health of a child. So we will be sensitising doctors not to miss cases and pick up early,” he said.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had laid down guidelines and protocols on medico-legal care for survivors/victims of sexual violence, a doctor said. “These protocols should be followed by doctors while examining a survivor or victim. Awareness of these protocols has not reached the grassroots level; for instance, to a doctor working in a taluk hospital,” he said.

The protocols state how doctors should report, inform police, collect trace evidences and how to send samples to laboratories and get the opinions, he said. Dr. Joe added that this would be a national-level conference and would also discuss medical ethics, negligence and mental health.

Awareness of these protocols has not reached the grassroots level; for instance, to a doctor working in a taluk hospital

Doctor