FALL OF AN EMPIRE

A GLOBAL DOSA STARTUP, WITH A SIDE OF MURDER
P Rajagopal Charted A Remarkable Success Story, Until The Law Caught Up With Him
Jayaraj.Sivan@timesgroup.com  19.07.2019

If the dosa almost has the status of national dish today, some of the credit goes to P Rajagopal, a school dropout who started as a cleaner in a restaurant and went on to establish India’s answer to McDonalds. Saravana Bhavan, his restaurant chain which now extends from Madras to Manhattan, became a global startup when few were even aware of the term. However, there was as much masala in his life as the crispy dosas his outlets dished out. When he died in a hospital in Chennai on Thursday, the 72-year-old was serving a life sentence for murder.

The drama unfolded in 2001 when Rajagopal decided to take a third wife. The only problem: the woman he intended to marry, Jeevajothi, daughter of Rajagopal’s manager, was already married to Prince Shanthakumar. Rajagopal went to the extent of engaging a black magician to make Jeevajothi hate her husband, and tried everything from lavish gifts to threats. When all that failed, Rajagopal arranged for one of his employees to take out Shanthakaumar. “Either being besotted with Jeevajothi or being advised by astrologer, P Rajagopal had evinced keen desire to marry her as his third wife, even though she was already married to Prince Santhakumar” — This opening sentence quoting the FIR, set the tone for the high court’s damning verdict imposing a life sentence on Rajagopal in 2009. However, till July 18, 2019, the ‘dosa king’ had not spent a day in prison.

In March, the apex court confirmed the life term, giving him time till July 7 to surrender. Rajagopal made a last-ditch effort to stave off prison when he moved the Supreme Court again on July

8. By then, he had lost so much credibility that the court trashed his request, saying his ‘illness’ was not raised before the court during the hearing of the appeal. Left with no option, Rajagopal was brought on a stretcher for surrender on July 9, and was taken to Stanley Government Hospital instead of jail on health grounds. There was scepticism when his son Saravanan again moved the high court seeking permission to take Rajagopal to a private hospital for treatment saying doctors at Stanley had changed his medication, owing to which his condition had worsened. The court allowed him treatment at Vijaya hospital where he met his end.

A farmer’s son, Rajagopal left his native village Punnaiyadi (now rechristened Punnai Nagar) as a young boy. After a few months as a cleaner at a restaurant in Valparai in Coimbatore district, he joined his uncle’s grocery shop in Mylapore, Chennai, as a helper. Later, he worked at a utensil shop. He then tried his luck at business – first with a small grocery shop in Ashok Nagar in the 1970s and then a departmental store. Four years later, Rajagopal, who was from the Nadar community, made a foray into a turf Brahmins considered their own — vegetarian food. The first Saravana outlet came up at KK Nagar in Chennai in 1981. Today, it has 27 branches in India, with 20 of them in Chennai alone. The group has branches in 23 other countries such as the US, UK and Australia, giving the diaspora a familiar taste of home.

Rajagopal’s involvement in the murder not only led to his downfall, but cast a shadow on his business as well. Crowds started thinning at the oncefamous buffet at Sarvana’s Peter’s Road branch, which perhaps boasted of the best vegetarian spread at that price in Chennai. Two years ago, the outlet was sealed by the corporation for lack of adequate parking facility. With competition catching up, Saravana Bhavan’s heyday may be over.

For his employees, Rajagopal was Annachi — elder brother. “Annachi’s biggest contribution was standardising taste of food across all outlets,” said G Selvaraj, who worked with Rajagopal for 37 years. “He called himself the prime worker, and could handle every department of the restaurant, though he never sat at the cash counter. Apart from salary, which was always higher than the competition, he paid us rent, education allowance for our wards and medical allowance for us and our parents,” added Selvaraj.

(With inputs from A Subramani and Rajesh Chandramouli)

MANY FACES OF A MAN: 1. Saravana Bhavan in Paris is among the 23 branches across the world apart from 27 in India;

2. P Rajagopal was Annachi (elder brother) to his employees;


3. Rajagopal being arrested in the Shanthakumar murder;


4. with his sons P R Sivakumar (right) and P R Saravanan

Tambaram and Pallavaram could be part of Chennai dist
Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Chennai:19.07.2019

With the formation of Chengalpet district, Tambaram and Pallavaram taluks, which are currently under Kancheepuram district, could be annexed to Chennai district, sources said. Chengalpet, Sriperumbudur, Tirukazhukundram and Uthiramerur taluks will be part of Chengalpet district, said sources. The government is, however, yet to take a decision regarding annexing Pallavaram and Tambaram to Chennai district.

Until 1997, Chengalpet was a district headquarters and Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur taluks were under it. But when the district was bifurcated and Tiruvallur was carved out as a separate district, Chengalpet lost the district headquarters status to Kancheepuram.

Tenkasi district is likely to have Tenkasi, Sengottai, Sivagiri, Sankarankoil and Veerakeralampudur taluks. As per the 2011 census, Tenkasi and Chengalpet have a population of 70,545 and 62,569. Tenkasi is an assembly constituency as well as a Lok Sabha constituency and is a major tourist attraction as Courtallam falls is just 5km away.

Tirunelveli district formed in 1790 is being divided for the second time. In 1986 it was split to form Tuticorin district. The present Tirunelveli district, which measures 6,759sqkm, is one of the biggest in terms of area. Welcoming the creation of the new district, people of Tenkasi felt it could attract industries and generate more jobs.

Meanwhile, people of Kumbakonam have been upset that their demand for a separate district has been ignored yet again. In terms of revenue, population and heritage, Kumbakonam stands on top of the table, former secretary of Thanjavur District Small and Tiny Industries Association, A Giri, said. Revenue minister R B Udayakumar said the government would soon make an announcement about formation of Kumbakonam district.

Officials will visit areas, redress grievances

Chief minister Palaniswami on Thursday said a new grievance redressal mechanism – chief minister’s special grievance redressal scheme — would be put in place by August. Under the scheme, officials would visit urban and rural areas to redress grievances of people. District collectors would announce the dates of officials’ visits to each region. Officials from rural development, revenue, municipal administration/ corporation and other departments would take part. They will collect petitions from people and resolve them within a month, he said. TNN

Dental student becomes doctor sans internship

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:19.07.2019

A dental student, who did not complete her oneyear compulsory internship as she was on maternity leave, was conferred a BDS degree by the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University.

Going by the records of Priyadarshini Dental College, the woman worked in the hospital on the day of her C-Section and months that followed without a break. Irked by the serious lapse, the university asked the college to return her degrees in March. The degrees haven’t been returned and Karishma Irfan continues to remain on the rolls of the Tamil Nadu Dental Council registry, which permits her to practise legally. No action has been taken against the college that issued “false” completion certificate.

In February, university officials found that Irfan’s application for “condonation of break” in compulsory rotatory internship due to maternity was pending. But by then, the college declared her fit to receive BDS degree. “The internship is done in the college and the certificate is given by them. At least 10 department heads sign the attendance and give remarks on performance. The records show that a day after her delivery she has been transferred to the department of periodontics. She worked there for a month and the department has marked her performance as ‘excellent’,” an official said. Irfan was awarded the degree last July.

The university registrar Parameswari Srijayanth, on March 11, sought an explanation from the college chairman V G Rajendran, also the Tiruvallur MLA, on how he gave Irfan completion certificate dated September 30, 2017, when he had signed an application for condonation of break in internship due to her maternity leave in March2017. The medical certificates attached to request for break in internship said she delivered on March 30, 2017, and required five months of rest.

“It is unfortunate that the signatory in compulsory rotatory internship certificate and covering letters for condonation is the same dean, by name M K Venkat Prasad. It is surprising to note a candidate who had a C-Section on March 30 was able to do her internship on the same day and around the perinatal period,” Srijayanth’s letter said. She had asked for an explanation and for return of Irfan’s degree certificate and provisional pass certificate.

Hospital dean Dr Venkat Prasad did not comment. But college sources said the dean appeared before the vice chancellor Dr Sudha Seshayyan and explained the “clerical error”. Sources said the college had written to the university on June 12 that it tried to contact the candidate “requesting” her to return the certificate but she wasn’t able to because she had met with an accident. “We have applied for a revised schedule for her internship,” a college source.

Dental Council of India member S M Balaji said state authorities should ensure this was an isolated case. “It is important for the university and state dental council to verify the log book of every student before giving them degrees,” he said.

UNDER SCANNER

Four killed in stampedes as crowd control fails at Athi Varadar fest

A.Selvaraj@timesgroup.com

Chennai:19.07.2019

Four people died in minor stampedes that broke out as huge crowds flocked to Kancheepuram for darshan of Athi Varadar on Thursday, considered especially auspicious as it was the day after the lunar eclipse.

The stampedes were triggered by rumours that the authorities planned to cut darshan timings. People waiting in queues on narrow roads started pushing and shoving in their bid to get ahead, said witnesses.

Police said Narayani, 60, from Avadi, and Anandavel, 47, from Salem were stepping out after worshipping the deity when they got caught in a stampede near the temple’s east tower. Stampedes near the west temple tower left Natarajan, 60, a resident of Triplicane, and Ganga Valli, 60, from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh dead. Lakshmi Narayanan, 60, from Karnataka was injured and hospitalized. Huge crowds have been visiting the Devarajaswamy temple since July 1 when the idol made from the wood of fig tree (athi) was brought out from an underground water tank. The idol, displayed every 40 years for 48 days, was last seen in 1979.

From the beginning, pilgrims have been complaining about poor facilities such as insufficient loos and food and water. They’ve also had to wait for eight hours or more for darshan, especially on the weekends. On Thursday, there were also unconfirmed reports that adozen people had fainted after waiting in long queues.

Rumours about plan to cut darshan timings sparked the stampedes

CM gives ₹1L solatium, Stalin faults state govt

A police officer said, “Two of the four died of natural reasons, as they suffered cardiac and other problems.”

Pattabiram-based T Sadagopan, who had to stand in line for three hours to reach the eastern tower, said, “Around 1pm, an ambulance drove through the queue to rescue a devotee requiring immediate medical attention on the temple premises. As the vehicle was moving amid the crowd, people fell over each other creating panic,” he said. This led to a nearstampede situation, where at least 40 people fainted, he added.

“The irony was that none from the district machinery came to our rescue. After we realized that it would be dangerous to continue the pilgrimage, we returned to the temporary bus terminus by shelling out ₹500 to a two-wheeler to drop us there,” he added. Sadagopan charged that crowd mismanagement was the key reason for Thursday’s episode. Despite repeated attempts, TOI could not reach Kancheepuram collector P Ponniah for his reaction.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a solatium of ₹1 lakh each to the families of the four deceased. He said all the four who died had darshan and left the temple when they developed health complications and were taken to the temporary medical camps nearby. “They were brought dead, with three of them having ‘high BP history’ and one person suffering from convulsions (fits). Another devotee died on July 3, after falling down the steps of the main temple.” he said.

Earlier, DMK chief M K Stalin accused the government of botching things up and not making proper arrangements for the oncein-40-years pilgrimage.

(With inputs from Yogesh Kabirdoss in Kancheepuram)

ஏழை மாணவியின் மருத்துவ கனவு நனவானது

Added : ஜூலை 18, 2019 04:13 |



திருக்கோவிலுார்: மருத்துவம் படிக்க இடம் கிடைத்தும் பணமின்றி தவித்த மாணவிக்கு 'தினமலர்' நாளிதழ் வாசகர்களின் உதவியால் அவரது கனவு நனவானது.

விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம், திருக்கோவிலுார், கணக்குப் பிள்ளை வீதியைச் சேர்ந்தவர், ஸ்ரீதேவி, 18; இவரது தந்தை 10 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் இறந்து விட்டார். தாய் ராணி தையல் தொழில் செய்து மகள் ஸ்ரீதேவி, மகன் புகழேந்தி, 16; ஆகியோரை படிக்க வைத்து வருகிறார். ஸ்ரீதேவி திருக்கோவிலுார் பெண்கள் மேல்நிலைப் பள்ளியில் 2015-16ம் கல்வி ஆண்டில், 10ம் வகுப்பு தேர்வில், 492 மதிப்பெண்கள் பெற்று, அரசுப் பள்ளிகள் வரிசையில், மாவட்ட அளவில், இரண்டாம் இடம் பெற்றார்.

இதேபோல் பிளஸ் 2 தேர்வில் 1,131 மதிப்பெண்களுடன், நீட் தேர்வில் 462 மதிப்பெண் பெற்றார். மருத்துவ கலந்தாய்வில், திருச்சி எஸ்.ஆர்.எம்., மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரியில் இடம் கிடைத்தது. கல்லுாரியில் சேர்வதற்கான கடைசி நாள் வரை கல்விக் கட்டணம் செலுத்த வழிதெரியாமல் தவித்து வந்தார். இதுபற்றிய செய்தி கடந்த 13ம் தேதி 'தினமலர்' நாளிதழில் வெளியானது. அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து 'தினமலர்' வாசகர்கள், 'வாட்ஸ் ஆப்' குழுவினர், தொழில் அதிபர்கள், அரசியல் பிரமுகர்கள் என பலரும் முன்வந்து உதவிக்கரம் நீட்டினர்.

இதுகுறித்து மாணவியின் தாய் ராணி கூறுகையில், 'கல்லூரியில் இடம் கிடைத்தும் கட்டணம் செலுத்த முடியாமல் மருத்துவ படிப்பு கனவாகி விடுமோ என்ற அச்சத்தில் பரிதவித்தோம். 'தினமலர்' நாளிதழ் முன்வந்து எங்களின் நிலையை வாசகர்களுக்கு எடுத்துக் கூறியது. இதன் மூலம் நல்உள்ளம் கொண்ட வாசகர்கள், தொழிலதிபர்கள், சமூக வலைதளங்களில் பார்த்தவர்கள் பலரும் உதவிக்கரம் நீட்டினர். இதன்மூலம் மகளின் இந்த ஆண்டுக்கான கல்வி கட்டணம் செலுத்தப்பட்டு விட்டது. எங்களுக்கு சமயத்தில் உதவிய 'தினமலர்' நாளிதழ் நிர்வாகம், வாசகர்கள் மற்றும் பல்வேறு வகைகளில் உதவிய அனைத்து உள்ளங்களுக்கும் நன்றியை தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்' என்றார்.

சி.ஏ., சான்றிதழ்களுக்கு பிரத்யேக எண்

Added : ஜூலை 18, 2019 01:33

திருப்பூர், 'சார்ட்டர்ட் அக்கவுன்டன்ட்'கள் அளிக்கும் சான்றிதழ்களுக்கு, பிரத்யேக எண் நடைமுறை அமலுக்கு வந்துள்ளது. இதன்மூலம், போலி சான்றிதழ் முறைகேடுகளைத் தடுக்க முடியும்.வருமான வரி தாக்கல்நிறுவனங்களின் வரவு - செலவு கணக்கு, கடன் தகுதி, தணிக்கை சான்றிதழ் மற்றும் வங்கி நடைமுறை, பங்குச் சந்தை, வருமான வரி தாக்கல் உள்ளிட்ட, பல்வேறு நிதி தொடர்பான விஷயங்களுக்கு, சார்ட்டர்ட் அக்கவுன்டன்ட்கள் - சி.ஏ., மூலம் அளிக்கப்படும் ஆவணங்கள், ஏற்புடையவையாக கருதப்படுகின்றன. நாட்டில், 1.5 லட்சம்,முழுநேர தொழில் முறை, சி.ஏ.,க்கள் உள்ளனர்.இந்திய சார்ட்டர்ட் அக்கவுன்டன்ட்கள் இன்ஸ்டிடியூட் - ஐ.சி.ஏ.ஐ., - செயலர் ஜலபதி, நமது நிருபரிடம் கூறியதாவது:ஐ.சி.ஏ.ஐ., பிரத்யேக அடையாள எண் - யு.டி.ஐ.என்., - திட்டத்தை அமலாக்கியுள்ளது. சி.ஏ., ஒருவர் மூலம் சான்றளிக்கப்படும் மற்றும் அட்டெஸ்ட் செய்யப்படும் ஒவ்வொரு ஆவணத்துக்கும், இந்த எண் வழங்கப்படுகிறது.சான்றளிப்புபிப்., 1 முதல், சான்றளிப்புகள், ஏப்., 1 முதல், ஜி.எஸ்.டி., மற்றும் வரி தணிக்கை அறிக்கைகள், ஜூலை, 1 முதல் அனைத்து அட்டெஸ்ட் நடவடிக்கைகளுக்கும், இந்த பிரத்யேக எண், நடைமுறைக்கு வந்துள்ளது.உதாரணத்துக்கு, 19304576AKTSBN1359 என்ற அடையாள எண்ணில், முதல் இரண்டு இலக்கங்கள் - ஆண்டின் இறுதி இரண்டு இலக்கங்களையும், 304576 என்பது, ஐ.சி.ஏ.ஐ., உறுப்பினர் எண்ணையும், AKTSBN1359 என்பது, ரேண்டம் முறையில், தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்ட எண்ணையும் குறிக்கும்.இந்த எண்ணின் உண்மைத் தன்மையை, வங்கிகள் சோதித்துக் கொள்ளலாம். சான்றுக்கு கையெழுத்திடும் போது, இந்த எண், உருவாக்கப்படுகிறது. முழுநேர சான்றளிப்பு நடைமுறையில் செயல்படும், சி.ஏ.,க்கள் மட்டுமே, 'யு.டி.ஐ.என்., போர்ட்டல்' மூலம், பிரத்யேக எண்ணைப் பெற முடியும்.நடவடிக்கைஇதுதொடர்பாக ரிசர்வ் வங்கி, இந்திய பங்குச்சந்தை உள்ளிட்ட நிதி ஒழுங்குமுறை அமைப்புகள், யு.டி.ஐ.என்., சான்றிதழ்களை கட்டாயம் கேட்டுப் பெறலாம். யு.டி.ஐ.என்., எண் இல்லாமல், சான்றிதழ் வழங்கினால், சி.ஏ., க்கள் மீது ஒழுங்கு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்.இவ்வாறு, ஜலபதி கூறினார்.

பி.டி.எஸ்., கவுன்சிலிங் 172 இடங்கள் நிரம்பின

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2019 23:38

சென்னை, தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில் நேற்று 172 இடங்கள் நேற்று நிரம்பின.தமிழகத்தில் அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு 1070 பி.டி.எஸ். இடங்கள் உள்ளன. ஏற்கனவே சென்னை அரசு பல் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில் மாநில அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில் உள்ள 85 இடங்களும் நிரம்பின.தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில் 234 இடங்கள் நிரம்பின. மீதமுள்ள 751 இடங்களுக்கான கவுன்சிலிங் ஒமந்துாரார் அரசு பல்நோக்கு மருத்துவமனை வளாகத்தில் நேற்று துவங்கியது.கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்க 1660 மாணவர்கள் அழைக்கப்பட்ட நிலையில் 253 பேர் தான் பங்கேற்றனர். அவர்களில் 172 பேருக்கு பி.டி.எஸ். இடங்கள் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டன. பொதுப்பிரிவினருக்கான கவுன்சிலிங் இன்று நடைபெறுகிறது.

ரயில் கால அட்டவணை புத்தகம்

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2019 23:39

சென்னை, தெற்கு ரயில்வேயின், புதிய ரயில் கால அட்டவணை புத்தகம் விற்பனைக்கு வந்துள்ளது.தெற்கு ரயில்வே 2019 - 20க்கான புதிய ரயில் கால அட்டவணை இம்மாதம் 1ம் தேதி முதல் நடைமுறைக்கு வந்துள்ளது. சென்னையில் இருந்து புறப்படும்; வந்து செல்லும் 49 ரயில்கள் 5 நிமிடங்கள் முதல் 25 நிமிடங்கள் வரை வேகம் அதிகரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.சென்னையில் இயக்கப்படும் 117 புறநகர் ரயில்களின் நேரம் 5 நிமிடங்களில் இருந்து 45 நிமிடங்கள் வரை மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளது. அரக்கோணம் - செங்கல்பட்டு; காஞ்சிபுரம் - செங்கல்பட்டு - தாம்பரத்திற்கு, தலா, இரண்டு புறநகர் மின்சார ரயில்கள் புதிதாக இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.தெற்கு ரயில்வே எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் மற்றும் பயணியர் ரயில்களின் கால அட்டவணை மட்டும் இணைய தளத்தில் வெளியானது. ரயில் கால அட்டவணை தயாரிப்பு தாமதத்தால் விற்பனைக்கு வைக்கப்படவில்லை. தற்போது தெற்கு ரயில்வேயின் புதிய ரயில் கால அட்டவணை புத்தகம் விற்பனைக்கு வந்துள்ளது.இதில், தெற்கு ரயில்வே, தென்மேற்கு ரயில்வே, தென் மத்திய ரயில்வே மற்றும் கொங்கன் ரயில்வேயில் இயக்கப்படும் ரயில்கள் விபரம் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளது. புத்தகத்தின் விலை 40 ரூபாய். ரயில் நிலையங்களில் டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு மையங்களில் கிடைக்கும்.சென்னை புறநகர் மின்சார ரயில்களின் கால அட்டவணை ரயில்வே இணையதளத்தில், நேற்று வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. அட்டவணை புத்தகம், இன்னும் ஒரு வாரத்தில், 5 ரூபாய் விலையில் விற்பனைக்கு கிடைக்கும்.

இயற்கை மருத்துவ படிப்புக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்க நாளை கடைசி சித்தா படிப்புக்கு எப்போது

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2019 23:30

சென்னை, யோகா மற்றும் இயற்கை மருத்துவ படிப்பிற்கான விண்ணப்பம் பெற நாளை கடைசி நாள். சித்தா உள்ளிட்ட மருத்துவ படிப்பிற்கு இன்னும் விண்ணப்பம் வழங்கப் படவில்லை.யோகா மற்றும் இயற்கை மருத்துவ படிப்பிற்கு அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில் 60; தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் மாநில அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டிற்கு 358; நிர்வாகஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு 192இடங்கள் உள்ளன. பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண் அடிப்படையில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடைபெற உள்ளது.இயற்பியல், வேதியியல், உயிரியல் அல்லது தாவரவியல், விலங்கியல் பாடங்களை படித்தவர்கள் விண்ணப்பிக்கலாம். விண்ணப்பங்கள் சென்னை - அரும்பாக்கம்; திருநெல்வேலி - பாளையங்கோட்டை; மதுரை - திருமங்கலம்; நாகர்கோவில் - கோட்டார் ஆகிய நான்கு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் வினியோகிக்கப்படுகிறது.மேலும் www.tnhealth.org என்ற இணையளத்திலும் பதிவிறக்கம் செய்து கொள்ளலாம்.இதுவரை 2000க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் விண்ணப்பங்களை பெற்றுள்ளனர். விண்ணப்பங்கள்பெற நாளை கடைசி நாள்.சித்தாவுக்கு எப்போது?இந்நிலையில் சித்தா ஆயுர்வேதம் யுனானி ஓமியோபதி ஆகிய படிப்புகளுக்கு இன்னும் விண்ணப்பங்கள் வினியோகம் செய்யப்படாதது குழப்பத்தை ஏற்படுத்திஉள்ளது. இதுகுறித்து இந்திய மருத்துவம் மற்றும் ஓமியோபதி துறை அதிகாரிகள் கூறியதாவது:சித்தா ஆயுர்வேதா உள்ளிட்ட மருத்துவ படிப்புகள் 'நீட்' நுழைவு தேர்வு அடிப்படையில் நடைபெற உள்ளது. இதனால் எம்.பி.பி.எஸ். - பி.டி.எஸ்.கவுன்சிலிங் முடிந்த பின் சித்தா படிப்பிற்கான விண்ணப்பங்கள் வினியோகித்து கவுன்சிலிங்நடத்தப்படும். இவ்வாறு அவர்கள்கூறினர்.

இன்ஜினியரிங் 4ம் சுற்று கவுன்சிலிங் கட்டணம் செலுத்தும் தேதி மாற்றம்

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2019 22:49

சென்னை, இன்ஜினியரிங் கவுன்சிலிங்கில், நான்காம் சுற்றுக்கான, கட்டணம் செலுத்தும் கால அவகாசம் மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளது.தமிழ்நாடு இன்ஜினியரிங் ஆன்லைன் கவுன்சிலிங் நடவடிக்கைகள், ஜூலை, 3ல் துவங்கின. மொத்தம், நான்கு கட்டங்களாக ஆன்லைன் கவுன்சிலிங் நடத்தப்படுகிறது. 'கட் ஆப்' மதிப்பெண் அடிப்படையில், மாணவர்கள், நான்கு சுற்றுகளாக பிரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.மொத்தம், ஒரு லட்சம் பேர், இந்த கவுன்சிலிங்கில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

முதல் மற்றும் இரண்டாம் சுற்றுக்கான கவுன்சிலிங் நடந்து முடிந்து உள்ளது. மூன்றாம் சுற்று மாணவர்களுக்கான விருப்பப் பதிவு, இன்று துவங்க உள்ளது. வரும், 20ம் தேதி, மாலை, 5:00 மணிக்குள், விருப்ப பாடங்கள் மற்றும் கல்லுாரிகளை பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும்.அதேபோல், நான்காம் சுற்றில் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ள மாணவர்களுக்கு, இன்று முதல் கட்டணம் செலுத்த, அவகாசம் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. தற்போது, தர வரிசை அடிப்படையில், கால அவகாசத்தில் மாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. மாணவர்களின் தரவரிசை அடிப்படையில், இன்று முதல், 22ம் தேதி வரை கட்டணம் செலுத்தலாம் என, கவுன்சிலிங் கமிட்டி அறிவித்துள்ளது.முறைகேடு இல்லை'இன்ஜினியரிங் ஆன்லைன் கவுன்சிலிங்கில், எந்த முறைகேடும் நடக்கவில்லை' என, உயர்கல்வி துறை அறிவித்துள்ளது.இதுகுறித்து, தமிழக தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி இயக்குனர், விவேகானந்தன் வெளியிட்ட செய்திக்குறிப்பு:இன்ஜினியரிங் ஆன்லைன் கவுன்சிலிங், 100 சதவீதம் வெளிப்படை தன்மையுடன் நடக்கிறது.
பல்வேறு பல்கலைகளில் அனுபவம் பெற்ற பேராசிரியர்கள் இணைந்து நடத்துகின்றனர். இதில், எந்த முறைகேடும் நடக்கவில்லை. மாணவர்களுக்கு பிரச்னைகள் இருந்தால், 044 - 2235 1014, 044 - 2235 1015 என்ற எண்ணில் புகார் தெரிவிக்கலாம்.கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்கும் மாணவர்கள், தங்களுக்கான, 'யூசர் ஐடி' மற்றும் பாஸ்வேர்டை, வேறு நபர்களிடம் தர வேண்டாம். ஆன்லைன் கவுன்சிலிங்கில் சந்தேகங்கள் இருந்தால், அருகில் உள்ள இன்ஜினியரிங் கவுன்சிலிங் கமிட்டியின் சேவை மையத்தை அணுக வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதே நாளில் அன்று

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2019 21:48





ஜூலை 18, 2013 கவிஞர் வாலி:

திருச்சி மாவட்டம், ஸ்ரீரங்கம் அருகே, திருப்பராய்துறையில், ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் ஐயங்கார் -- பொன்னம்மாள் தம்பதிக்கு மகனாக, ௧௯௩௧ அக்., ௨௯ல் பிறந்தார். ஓவியராக வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தில், சென்னை வந்த அவர், மலைக்கள்ளன் படம் மூலம், பாடலாசிரியராக அறிமுகமானார். 15 ஆயிரம் பாடல்களுக்கு மேல் எழுதியுள்ளார். பொய்க்கால் குதிரை, சத்யா, ஹே ராம், பார்த்தாலே பரவசம் போன்ற படங்கள், 'கையளவு மனசு' என்ற, 'டிவி' தொடரிலும் நடித்துள்ளார்.கடந்த, 1973-ல், பாரத விலாஸ் படத்தில், 'இந்திய நாடு என் வீடு' என்ற பாடலுக்காக தேசிய விருது பெற்றவர். ஐந்து முறை, மாநில அரசின் விருது, 2007ல், பத்மஸ்ரீ விருதும் பெற்றார். இவர் எழுதிய, 'பாண்டவர் பூமி, கிருஷ்ண விஜயம்' ஆகிய கவிதை தொகுப்புகள், புகழ் பெற்றவை. 2013 ஜூலை, 18 ல் காலமானார்.அவர் இறந்த தினம் இன்று.

வருமான வரி கணக்கு தாக்கல்: 31ம் தேதி கடைசி நாள்

Updated : ஜூலை 18, 2019 07:37 | Added : ஜூலை 18, 2019 03:48 

சென்னை : கடந்த 2018 - 19ம் நிதியாண்டுக்கான அபராதமின்றி வருமான வரி கணக்கு தாக்கல் செய்வதற்கான அவகாசம் ஜூலை 31ல் முடிகிறது.

கடந்த 2018 - 19க்கான வருமான வரி கணக்கு தாக்கல் செய்வதற்கான அவகாசம் ஏப்ரலில் துவங்கியது. ஆண்டுக்கு 2.5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் உச்சவரம்பை தாண்டும் அனைவரும் வருமான வரி கணக்கு தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டியது அவசியம்.வரி ஆதாய நடவடிக்கையில் ஈடுபட்டு வருமான வரி உச்சரவரம்புக்குக் குறைவாக இருந்தாலும் கணக்கு தாக்கல் செய்வது கடந்த ஆண்டு முதல் கட்டாயம் ஆகியுள்ளது. இதற்கான அவகாசம் ஜூலை 31ல் முடிகிறது.

வருமான வரி அதிகாரிகள் கூறியதாவது: கடந்த 2018 - 19ம் நிதியாண்டின் அபராதமின்றி வருமான வரி கணக்கு தாக்கல் செய்வதற்கான அவகாசம் ஜூலை 31ல் முடிகிறது. இதற்கு பின் வருமான வரி கணக்கு தாக்கல் செய்வோர் அபராதம் செலுத்த வேண்டும். ஆண்டுக்கு 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வரை வருவாய் ஈட்டுவோர் 1000 ரூபாய், அபராதமும், ஐந்து லட்சம் ரூபாய்க்கு மேல் வருவாய் ஈட்டுவோர் டிச. வரை 5000 ரூபாயும், ஜன. முதல் மார்ச் வரை 10 ஆயிரம் ரூபாயும் அபராதம் செலுத்த வேண்டும்.

மேலும் ஆண்டுக்கு 5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வருவாய் ஈட்டுவோருக்கு வருமான வரி விலக்கு அளிக்கப்படவில்லை. வரி ஆதாயத்திற்கு பின் 2.5 லட்சம் முதல்5 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வருவாய் இருந்தால் 2.5 லட்சத்திற்கு மேல் உள்ள தொகைக்கு வருமான வரி உண்டு. ஆனால் அந்த வரித் தொகையை தள்ளுபடி செய்வதற்கான சலுகை தான் நடப்பு 2019 - 20ம் நிதியாண்டில் இருந்து நடைமுறைக்கு வருகிறது. இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

தேசிய மருத்துவ கமிஷன் அமைக்க மத்திய அமைச்சரவை ஒப்புதல்

dinamalar 18.07.2019

நாட்டின் மருத்துவ கல்வியை சீரமைப்பதற் காக, தேசிய மருத்துவ கமிஷனை அமைக்க, பிரதமர் மோடி தலைமையில் நேற்று கூடிய, மத்திய அமைச்சரவை முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. இதற்கான புதிய மசோதாவுக்கு, கேபினட் ஒப்புதல் அளித்துள்ளது.

அமைச்சரவை கூட்டத்திற்கு பின், பத்திரிகை யாளர்களை சந்தித்த, மத்திய தகவல் மற்றும் ஒலிபரப்புத்துறை அமைச்சர், பிரகாஷ் ஜாவடேகர் கூறியதாவது: தேசிய மருத்துவ கமிஷனை ஏற்படுத்த, மத்திய அரசு
திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது. மருத்துவ கல்வியை சீரமைப்பதற்கான இந்த நடவடிக்கை, தற்போது செயல்பாட்டில் உள்ள, இந்திய மருத்துவ கவுன்சிலை மாற்றி அமைக்கும்.

இதற்காக தயாரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மசோதாவில், பல அம்சங்கள் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளன. குறிப்பாக, எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., படிக்கும் மாணவர், இறுதி ஆண்டில், 'நேஷனல் எக்சிட் டெஸ்ட்' எனப்படும், 'நெக்ஸ்ட்' தேர்வு எழுத வேண்டும்.அது, இரு வித குறிக்கோள் களை கொண்டுள்ளது. ஒன்று, இதில் வெற்றி பெறுபவர்கள் தான், இந்தியாவில் டாக்டராக பணியாற்ற முடியும்.இரண்டாவது, இந்த தேர்வில் பெற்ற மதிப்பெண்களே, முதுகலை மருத்துவம் படிப்பதற்கான தகுதியாக கருதப்படும்.

மேலும், வௌிநாடுகளில் மருத்துவம் படித்த மாணவர்களுக்கும், இந்த தேர்வு, சோதனை தேர்வாக இருக்கும். இந்த தேர்வில் வெற்றி பெற்ற பிறகு, இந்தியாவில் மருத்துவ சேவை புரிய, தனியாக தேர்வு எழுத தேவையில்லை. அதே நேரத்தில், 'நீட்' தேர்வு, பொதுவான கவுன்சிலிங் மற்றும் 'நெக்ஸ்ட்' தேர்வு மூலம் தான், 'எய்ம்ஸ்' மருத்துவமனை யில் படிக்க முடியும்.இவ்வாறு, பிரகாஷ் ஜாவடேகர் கூறினார்.

- நமது சிறப்பு நிருபர் -

Medical Council of India secretary general re-employed till 2020: Government order

Rakesh Kumar Vats, a 1986 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, has been re-employed on contract basis till September 25, 2020.

Published: 18th July 2019 12:08 AM

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-employment of Secretary General of Medical Council of India Rakesh Kumar Vats for over one year, according to a government order.

Vats (now retired), a 1986 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, has been re-employed on contract basis till September 25, 2020, it stated.

"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-employment of Rakesh Kumar Vats...as Secretary General, Board of Governors, Medical Council of India on contract basis beyond the date of his superannuation June 30, 2019 up to September 25, 2020 or until further orders, whichever is earlier," the order stated.

The MCI acts as regulator of medical education in India for establishing "uniform standards of higher qualifications" in medicine and recognition of medical qualifications in India and abroad.

Tamil Nadu government-aided school NEET topper gets MBBS seat in SF college
Meanwhile, according to the Selection Committee data, this year 31,353 eligible candidates applied for medical counselling 2019-2020.

Published: 18th July 2019 04:08 AM

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: M Keerthana, who secured the highest NEET score among government and government-aided school students this year, secured a government quota MBBS seat in a self-financing college in the first phase of counselling.

According to Directorate of Medical Education officials, Keerthana, who studied in a government-aided school secured a seat in self-financing medical college in the State during the first phase of medical counselling which ended on Friday. Keerthana secured 453 in NEET.

Speaking to Express, her father N Muthurathinam, said, “Keerthana secured 551 marks in Standard XII and studied at Savitri Vidyasala Hindu Girls Higher Secondary School, a government-aided- school in Tiruchy. Her NEET score was 453. She got a government seat at Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College at Perambalur”.“Keerthana who completed her Standard XII this year prepared at home for NEET reading CBSE books,” he said.



Meanwhile, according to the Selection Committee data, this year 31,353 eligible candidates applied for medical counselling 2019-2020. Among them, 17, 618 are old students. Also, among the total eligible students, 23,291 are from State Board.

According to the School Education Data, 2,557 candidates from government and government-aided schools cleared NEET. Only four students secured above 400 in NEET and 28 candidates secured between 300 and 400.

Meanwhile, Selection Committee officials are yet to provide data on the total number of government and government-aided school candidates who secured medical seat this year. The State conducted NEET coaching classes for government and government-aided school students.

File report on MBBS admission of PwD: HC

Madurai Bench directed the government to inform the petitioner of the second counselling date and adjourned the case to August 7 for filing a compliance report.

Published: 18th July 2019 04:56 AM |

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Following an undertaking given by the State government that it would allot MBBS seat to a visually-challenged medical aspirant from Tirunelveli, the Madurai Bench on Tuesday adjourned a contempt petition filed by the aspirant to August 7 for filing compliance report.

The Secretary of Selection Committee of the Directorate of Medical Education submitted in his report said that after the Supreme Court, on July 8, dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by them challenging an order passed by the Bench last year granting medical seat to the petitioner Vibin, he was allowed to participate in the medical counselling on July 12.

“However, he was not allotted seat in the counselling and was put on wait list as all seats under BC category were already filled,” the secretary added. He gave an undertaking that after the Central government surrenders the medical seats under All India Quota on July 23, Vibin would be allotted a seat in a government medical college under BC category.

Recording the same, a Bench directed the government to inform the petitioner of the second counselling date and adjourned the case to August 7 for filing a compliance report. Vibin had secured 285th rank under physically-challenged category in NEET last year.

Karnataka government orders transfers of 2,000 officials in 10 days

The mass transfers from various departments - including Public Works Department, Forest, and Social Welfare, were cleared. More than 1,300 transfers have been approved in July alone.

Published: 18th July 2019 04:19 AM

By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The political drama in the last 10 days has put a question mark on the very survival of the coalition government. But this has not stopped transfers of about 2,000 officials in this period.

This is considered “not normal” because as per guidelines of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), such mass transfers are done in May and not in July, and certainly not when the government is hanging by a thread.

The mass transfers from various departments - including Public Works Department, Forest, and Social Welfare, were cleared. More than 1,300 transfers have been approved in July alone.


On Friday, 131 policemen were transferred, including Police Inspectors and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs). DG and IGP Neelamani Raju issued an order too. But within a few minutes, the order was cancelled.

“There was an order from Governor Vajubhai Vala to the Chief Secretary wherein he stated no important decisions can be taken at a time when the government is unstable. This is why it was withdrawn,’’ a senior IPS officer, on condition of anonymity, said. However, on Wednesday, 146 police inspectors were transferred across Karnataka.

According to political analyst Prof Sandeep Shastri, mass transfers happen in government.

“But when the government is shaky, like now, such transfers are unusual and raise questions. In such a situation, employees are not sure how long the government will last. When such mass transfers happen during a period of uncertainty, if a new government comes, then there are chances that these transfers will be revoked,” he said.

An official source from DPAR said such transfers do happen off-season, but many go unnoticed. There is huge money involved in transfers and many government employees have turned into ‘transfer agents’.

“This time the number is a little high and it is abnormal as it is being done in July, rather than in May,’’ said the official on anonymity.

“It is difficult to get the exact number of transfers. In some cases, mass transfers lists are visible, but in many cases, to avoid catching attention, transfers are done in smaller numbers, 10 or 20 at a time, so these numbers will not be visible,’’ the official said.

Speaking to TNIE, B Manjegowda, former president, Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association, said transfers cannot be done now.

“It shows that one has paid huge amounts to senior officials or ministers to get transferred in July (off-season transfers). Looks like government authorities want to make as much money as possible before it (the government) collapses,’’ he alleged.

According to Gowda, one has to pay Rs 5 lakh onward and it goes up to even Rs 1 crore.

Some of the transfers (department-wise)

Secretariat 105 (July 6)

Social Welfare 39 (July 8)

KAS officers 81 (July 8)

Forest 108 (July 9)

PWD 826 (July 9)

KAS officers 14 (July 11)

Revenue 28 (July 12)

KAS officers 13 (July 15)

Police 146 (July 17)

Road Transport Corporation:

More than 350 ( 1 week)

ATMs: Look before you use

With a customer recently finding a skimmer device at an Ayanavaram kiosk, police have urged public to be extra cautious.

Published: 18th July 2019 03:18 AM

By Sahaya Novinston Lobo

Express News Service

CHENNAI: City police have asked public to be watchful while using ATM machines as a customer recently found a data skimmer and micro camera installed at a kiosk in Ayanavaram. He alerted the bank officials and police, who removed the devices. The bank fraud wing of Central Crime Branch has launched a hunt for the suspects.

Police say 45-year-old R Gopi Krishna went to an SBI ATM on Constable Road Tuesday night. “His ATM card got stuck in the machine. When he tried to pull it out, the skimmer got dislodged,” said assistant commissioner Balamurugan. “Realising there should be a camera, he looked around and found a small metallic strip above the keypad and a micro camera attached to it.” amit bandre

HOW THEY WORK
Skimmer is a small device which, when installed over an ATM card slot, can record secret details coded in the magnetic strip of cards. The camera, meanwhile, will record the user’s PIN when they enter it to withdraw cash. “Skimmer machines record ATM card details as binary codes,” says an official from the bank fraud division.

“The information is stored along with the time when the card was inserted. Later, the criminals return to the ATM centre and collect the skimmer and camera. They run the data through a software which will decode the card number and other details. They will get the corresponding PIN from video recordings,” the official added.

BIG RACKET?
Police say that usually, a group of techies are involved in the next stages, producing more duplicate cards. The network is usually big and the person making the card would seldom know the person withdrawing cash. If the card has interna tional access, it will be sent to other countries where they have members of the racket. Cards that do not have international access is used in other cities are States.

In most such cases, an official said, cards are used by criminals from other States. “They ensure to do it this way because it increases the response time of customers and banks. By the time a customer realises he has lost money, lodges complaint, and the bank seeks permission from other banks in other states to get details of those who accessed the card, it’s too late.”

Officials say criminals usually target ATM kiosks which do not have a fulltime security personnel. They note the type of machine used and make specific skimmers and cameras. “It takes them not more than 10 seconds to install the devices.” Officials are now scanning CCTV visuals recorded over the last one month to identify the culprits.

FIR against cop for trying to coerce woman
Chennai: An FIR has been filed against a police constable for allegedly trying to force a woman to marry him. The victim, working as a nurse in a government hospital, was in a relationship with the police constable, Vignesh. “Both the families opposed the relationship and the duo decided to part ways. However, Vignesh contacted the victim again and threatened her to marry him,” said an officer.

Dad ‘attacks’ youth over girl’s love affair Chennai: The Ambattur police have arrested a 48-year-old man for allegedly attacking a youngster with a knife after the latter refused to marry his daughter after living with her for over three months. While the accused Sakthivel has been remanded in judicial custody, the victim, D Lawrence (25) has been admitted at a private hospital.

CB-CID probe ordered into student suicides in Chennai's SRM Institute

In the first case reported on May 26, 23-year-old Anupriya, a biomedical engineering student allegedly jumped off the tenth floor of her college hostel.

Published: 18th July 2019 03:23 AM | Last Updated: 18th July 2019 03:23 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After three students of SRM Institute of Science and Technology committed suicide for personal reasons inside the premises in a span of 60 days, Director-General of Police J K Tripathy on Wednesday ordered that the cases be transferred to CB-CID. The cases were hitherto handled by Maraimalai Nagar police.


In the first case reported on May 26, 23-year-old Anupriya, a biomedical engineering student allegedly jumped off the tenth floor of her college hostel. However, in her suicide note she had mentioned that she was frustrated that her parents restricted her, a police officer said.

The next day, another first year student, Aneesh Chowdary (19) of Jharkhand who was staying in the college hostel also allegedly jumped off the fifth floor of his hostel building. The latest incident was on July 15, when S Raghavan, a final year IT student allegedly jumped off from the second floor. The order copy was not given to the media.

Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadu’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.

Tambaram's subway is now a playground for miscreants

Residents call for action as the subway connecting residential localities of East Tambaram to West Tambaram lacks illumination and is a hotspot for crimes.

Published: 18th July 2019 02:51 AM |

Due to lack of illumination, the public, especially women, are hesitant to use the subway even in mornings. 

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Broken alcohol bottles, garbage-strewn in every nook and cranny, a leaking roof and an unbearable stench surrounds the subway connecting East and West Tambaram. Built at a cost of Rs 3.85 crore and opened just six months ago, the subway has become a hotspot for crime and anti-social activities. Due to lack of illumination, the public, especially women, are hesitant to use it even in the mornings. Commuters have requested the officials
to have a security guard posted at the
subway  P Jawahar

A visit to the subway, maintained by the Southern Railway exposed the sorry state of affairs. “At night, people from the Tambaram market and other miscreants come here to drink and then they break the bottles and create a ruckus. Recently, a glass piece protruded into a six-year-old boy’s leg and there was blood everywhere,” said Sriram, a resident of Tambaram.

The subway was primarily aimed at connecting the residential localities of East Tambaram like Ganapathy Puram, MEC Road to West Tambaram. Previously, the residents would jaywalk on the railway tracks to reach East Tambaram. “Two of my sons were attacked by tipplers in the night when they crossed the subway. We feel walking on the tracks is less risky compared to the subway,” said Gomathy Elavarasan, one of the residents.

As the subway is not sufficiently illuminated, many pedestrians avoid it on grounds of safety. “We take a one-kilometre roundabout or take a bus to avoid the subway. Pickpocketing is also very common in the subway. One cannot cross it without using the torch in their mobile phone, which makes it very convenient for the miscreants to snatch mobiles. We have already witnessed five such cases recently. This is such a waste of tax payers’ money,” said Narayanaswamy Subbaraman, another resident.

Commuters have requested the officials to have a security guard posted at the subway or to come up with a solution. The Southern Railway officials could not be contacted for their comment on the issue.

BDU gets fund to set up entrepreneurship hub

R. Krishnamoorthy

TIRUCHI, JULY 18, 2019 00:00 IST

Bharathidasan University (BDU) has received the first tranche of Rs. 3 crore out of Rs. 15 crore sanctioned under Rastriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) to establish its Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Career Hub.

An incubation centre will be established in the entrepreneurship hub. A plan of action has been formulated to foster innovative entrepreneurship among its students and affiliated colleges, Vice-Chancellor P. Manisankar said.

To be known as Bharathidasan University Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Career Hub (BECH), the entity is expected to start off its activities with awareness programmes for students.

Entrepreneurship and career hubs in seven State universities chosen for RUSA funding of Rs. 50 crore each were digitally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year. The entrepreneurship hubs are required to organise programmes, seminars and guidance workshops for informing students about emerging professional trends and events, career options, job profiles, leadership roles, entrepreneurship, market needs and risks and implementation of national socio-economic policies and impart training in soft skills.

The initiative will first cover post-graduate students and subsequently extended to UG students. In all, there are 2.3 lakh students in the ambit of the university, sources said.

A think tank has mooted inclusion of Innovative Entrepreneurship as a component of compulsory study for students, similar to the integration of value education and environmental education in the curriculum, Director in-charge of BECH M. Ravichandran said. The students will be motivated to think differently and take risks in their pursuit of entrepreneurship. Deputy Director of BECH N. Prasanna was also involved in readying the proposal for the entrepreneurship hub.

The initiative envisages taking students on industry visits and facilitate them to generate ideas, and arrive at innovative products through trial and error approach at the incubation centre that would be coming up, he said.

Students suicides: DGP shifts probe to CB-CID

CHENNAI, JULY 18, 2019 00:00 IST

The Director General of Police J.K. Tripathy has ordered the shifting of probe into suicides of three students of a private college near Kattankulathur to the CB-CID, according to a statement from DGP’s office.

DoTE cautions candidates

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 18, 2019 00:00 IST

DoTE has advised engineering candidates to not share their user ID number and password, issued to them for online counselling, with anyone.

The candidates may approach TNEA facilitation centres if they have a problem or doubt regarding the same, according to a release. Candidates and parents have been asked to give an undertaking that they will not share their ID or password.

Cheque bounce cases: HC clarifies on trial courts’ powers

Legal Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 18, 2019 00:00 IST

But trial courts to give reasons for their decisions, says HC

The Madras High Court on Tuesday clarified that trial courts hearing cheque bounce cases can order payment of interim compensation of up to 20% under the newly inserted Section 143A of the Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881 even in cases pending for long.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, however, ordered that the discretionary power granted to the trial courts should be used with care and that they should give valid reasons for either ordering or not ordering payment of interim compensation by the accused to the complainant.

The judge passed the ruling while setting aside an order passed by a Judicial Magistrate in Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai district on April 11.

Reasons

The order was set aside because the magistrate had failed to give reasons for having passed such an order.

‘Circulate order’

Justice Venkatesh directed the High Court Registry to circulate his order to all trial courts across the State through the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy so that the presiding officers could be educated with regard to the position of law and other legal requirements. He pointed out that Section 143A was brought into effect only from September 1, 2018 and the debate that took place on the legislation in Parliament and the reply given by the then Minister highlight the importance of the provision.

With two more days to go, no takers for 750 dental seats

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 18, 2019 00:00 IST

253 attend counselling on Wednesday

Of the 1,660 candidates called for counselling, only 253 attended on Wednesday.

There were 757 seats available in self-financing dental colleges at the end of the session.

There are still two more days to go for the first phase of counselling. This year only one student from a government school and another from an aided school have made it to medical college.

A student, who passed Class XII last year, cleared NEET this year and was admitted to Madras Medical College on the first day of counselling for State quota. Another girl was allotted a seat in a self-financing institution, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College, on the fourth day of counselling. She had studied in an aided school.

On Wednesday, the Directorate General of Health Services announced the results of the second round of counselling for All India Quota seats and seats in deemed universities.

Many candidates who had been allotted seats to colleges other than Madras Medical College in the State have opted for an ‘upgrade’.

HC slams UGC for failing to keep tab on universities

Legal Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 18, 2019 00:00 IST

Issue pertains to franchise accord with pvt. coaching centres

The Madras High Court on Wednesday criticised University Grants Commission (UGC) for merely issuing circulars since 2013 prohibiting State universities from offering their programmes through franchise agreements with private coaching centres and not following up on the issue seriously to ensure that the instructions were implemented in letter and spirit.

Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana expressed her displeasure over the inaction of UGC while dismissing a batch of cases seeking a direction to Bharathiyar University in Coimbatore to conduct examinations for students admitted in various courses offered through private educational institutes in Chennai, Madurai, Thoothukudi, Salem, Erode and Krishnagiri.

“It is to be stated that the responsibility of the UGC does not end with issuing circulars and public notices but it extends to the follow-up action also as the same concerns the life of the students. But, in the instant issue, though the UGC had issued circulars and public notices, it failed to take follow-up action with the university.

“The university also, unmindful of the circulars, emboldened to renew the franchise with institutions like the petitioners. In the result, the students, who are in the mid-way of their academic courses, are stranded.

“The UGC should have more responsibility in its deeds. It is apathetic that the UGC had turned blind eye to the misdeeds of the university,” the judge said.

She pointed out that the UGC as well as the Supreme Court and various High Courts across the country had frowned upon the State universities time and again for continuing the practice of entering into franchise agreements with private institutes outside their territorial limits and offering courses mostly through distance eduction programme.

In so far as Bharathiar University was concerned, the Act under which it had been established in 1981 clearly stated that its territorial jurisdiction extended only to areas within Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Erode districts. Therefore, the Memorandum of Understandings signed with institutes in Chennai, Madurai and other places could not be accepted, the judge added.

The petitioner institutes had admitted students in courses such as BBA and B.Com (professional accounting).

Ready for special Assembly session on NEET, says CM

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 18, 2019 00:00 IST

DMK leader M.K. Stalin emerging from the Assembly on Wednesday.

‘No point drafting another resolution without knowing why Bills were rejected’

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday said a special Assembly session could be convened if the Centre does not respond to the Tamil Nadu government’s request for clarification on the reasons for the President’s decision to reject the two Bills seeking exemption from NEET for the State.

Responding to Opposition leader M.K. Stalin, who urged the State government to adopt another resolution seeking exemption from NEET and send it to the Centre, the Chief Minister said there was no point in passing a resolution without knowing the reasons [behind the rejection of the Bills], since nothing could be done if the Centre decides to reject such a resolution again.

“A solution could be found only if we find out the reasons behind the rejections and make appropriate amendments to the resolution to be adopted in the House,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said the President had withheld assent for the Bills under Article 201 of the Constitution, and that it would amount to rejection. “It was rejected on September 22, 2017, and the message has been conveyed to the Madras High Court. Another resolution should have been sent within six months, but the State government has not done anything for the last 21 months. I openly allege that you have failed to use the powers of the Assembly that reflects the sentiments of 7.5 crore people,” he said.

Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam said the State government had sent 12 reminders to the Centre, seeking to know the reasons behind the rejection of the Bills, so that the issues could be rectified. He said though the “Legislature could pass the Bills again with or without any amendment and present them again to the President for consideration”, the Centre had not explained the reasons for the rejection of the Bills so far.

‘Issue raised with PM’

When Mr. Stalin alleged that the Chief Minister had failed to bring pressure to bear on the Centre on the subject despite having met Prime Minister Narendra Modi many times, Mr. Palaniswami said he had indeed brought the issue to the notice of the Prime Minister, and the memorandum submitted to him had also included the issue of exemption from NEET.

“We have been telling the Prime Minister that NEET should not be conducted in Tamil Nadu since it has affected the poor and students from rural areas. The press release issued to the media clearly conveyed the issue,” he said.

Mr. Shanmugam said senior counsels were appearing in the case on behalf of the State, and the T.N. government will approach the court for relief after sending one more reminder to the Centre.

Another resolution should have been  sent within six months, but the government has not done anything for the last 21 months

M.K. Stalin

Arappor Iyakkam coordinator booked

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 18, 2019 00:00 IST

He is accused of spreading false information

The Semmenchery police on Monday filed a case against Arappor Iyakkam coordinator Jayaram Venkatesan for spreading false information against the police and trying to create division in the society.

The first information report (FIR) was filed against the social activist for accusing the Police Department of encroaching the Thamarakeni lake in Sholinganallur for constructing a police station. According to the FIR, the police officials, during patrol duty, found Mr. Venkatesan, along with a group of people, taking a video unauthorisedly of the police station under construction last Thursday. Later, it was found that the environment activist had uploaded the video, portraying the police in bad light, on social media. The video was also an attempt to create division among the community at a time when there was water crisis, the police said.

Arappor Iyakkam office-bearer P. Nakkeeran said Mr. Venkatesan had gone to the Thamaraikeni lake based on information received from the CMDA through an RTI that said the place where the new police station was being constructed was a waterbody. He said the CMDA had reclassified the waterbody and handed over the “land” to the Police Department in March 2019.

எம்பிபிஎஸ் நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டு கலந்தாய்வு நிறைவு
By DIN | Published on : 17th July 2019 02:55 AM |

எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ் படிப்புகளில், தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டில் நிரப்பப்படும் 463 எம்பிபிஎஸ் இடங்கள், 665 பிடிஎஸ் இடங்கள் ஆகியவற்றுக்கான கலந்தாய்வு செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை நிறைவடைந்தது. இதில் ஒரே நாளில், மொத்தம் 374 பேருக்கு இடங்கள் ஒதுக்கீடு செய்யப்பட்டன.

இதையடுத்து, தனியார் பல் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் உள்ள அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கான பிடிஎஸ் இடங்களுக்கு புதன்கிழமை முதல் கலந்தாய்வு நடைபெற உள்ளது. அதற்காக 1,815 பேருக்கு அழைப்புக் கடிதம் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளதாக மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்குநரக வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவித்தன. வரும் 19-ஆம் தேதி வரை இந்தக் கலந்தாய்வு நடைபெற உள்ளது.

8 பிள்ளைகளை பெற்றும் பரிதாபம் சாலையில் இறந்து கிடந்த மூதாட்டி

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2019 06:45

சேலம் : எட்டு குழந்தைகளின் தாய், அனாதையாக சாலையில் இறந்து கிடந்தது குறித்து, போலீசார் விசாரிக்கின்றனர்.சேலம், கடைவீதி, குமரன் தெருவைச் சேர்ந்த, குழந்தை என்பவரின் மனைவி லட்சுமி, 80.

இவருக்கு, தலா, நான்கு மகன்கள், மகள்கள் உள்ளனர். அனைவருக்கும் திருமணம் செய்து வைத்து விட்ட நிலையில், அவரவர், தனித்தனியாக வசிக்கின்றனர். கணவர், 2009ல் இறந்த நிலையில், பிள்ளைகள் யாரும், லட்சுமியை, தங்கள் வீட்டில் தங்க அனுமதிக்காததோடு, உணவும் கொடுக்கவில்லை.இதனால், அம்மாபேட்டை பகுதியில் உள்ள, கோவிலை சுத்தம்செய்து, அதில் கிடைத்த வருவாயில், சிறு அறையை, வாடகைக்கு எடுத்து தங்கி வந்தார். 2018ல், உடல் நிலை பாதிக்கப்பட்டதால், கோவில் சுத்தம் செய்யும் பணியை செய்ய முடியாமல், மக்கள் வழங்கும் பணத்தை வைத்து, உயிர் வாழ்ந்து வந்தார். 

அந்நிலையிலும், அவரது பிள்ளைகள் யாரும், லட்சுமியை, தங்கள் வீட்டுக்கு அழைத்துச்செல்லவோ, உணவு வழங்கவோ ஏற்பாடு செய்ய முன்வரவில்லை. நேற்று முன்தினம் இரவு, 8:00 மணிக்கு, இரண்டாவது அக்ரஹாரத்திலுள்ள, தனியார் மருத்துவமனை எதிரே, அவர் இறந்து கிடந்தார். அப்போதும், பெற்ற பிள்ளைகள் யாரும் வரவில்லை. பின், அப்பகுதி வியாபாரிகள், போலீசாருக்கு தகவல் கொடுத்தனர். இதையடுத்து, லட்சுமியின் மூத்த மகன் கண்ணன் மற்றும் உறவினர்கள், உடலை எடுத்துச் செல்ல முயன்றனர். ஆனால் போலீசார், உடலை வழங்க மறுத்து, சாவில் மர்மம் இருப்பதாக கூறி, அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்து விசாரிக்கின்றனர்.

அத்திவரதர் - மதுரை ரவுடிக்கு முதல் மரியாதை

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2019 02:34

சென்னை : அத்திவரதர் தரிசனத்தில் பிரபல ரவுடி வரிச்சியூர் செல்வத்திற்கும் அவரது ஆட்களுக்கும் முதல் மரியாதை தரப்பட்ட சம்பவம் போலீஸ் பாதுகாப்பை கேலிக்குரியாக்கி உள்ளது.

காஞ்சிபுரம் வரதராஜர் பெருமாள் கோவிலில் அத்திவரதர் காட்சி அளித்து வருகிறார். 40 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின் இந்த வைபவம் நடைபெறுவதால் லட்சக்கணக்கானோர் பல மணி நேரம் காத்திருந்து அத்திவரதரை தரிசித்து வருகின்றனர்.இந்நிலையில் மதுரை வரிச்சியூரைச் சேர்ந்த பிரபல ரவுடி செல்வம் முக்கிய பிரமுகர்கள் வரிசையில் எந்த தாமதமும் இன்றி குடும்பத்தினர் மற்றும் கூட்டாளிகளுடன் சென்று அத்திவரதரை தரிசித்தார்.

முக்கிய பிரமுகர்களுக்கு அளிக்கப்படும் முதல் மரியாதை அவருக்கும் அவரது கூட்டாளிகளுக்கும் அளிக்கப்பட்டது. அத்திவரதர் முன் அமர வைக்கப்பட்டு பரிவட்டம் கட்டி வரிச்சியூர் செல்வத்தை அங்கிருந்த அர்ச்சகர்கள் கவுரவித்த காட்சி சமூக வலைதளத்தில் வீடியோவாக வெளியாகி உள்ளது.கொலை, கொள்ளை, ஆள் கடத்தல் என பல வழக்குகளில் சிக்கிய செல்வத்திற்கு கோவில் நிர்வாகத்தார் மரியாதை அளித்து சிறப்பு செய்தது சர்ச்சையை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.

இது போலீசாரின் பாதுகாப்பு குளறுபடியை அம்பலப்படுத்துவதாக பக்தர்கள் புகார் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர்.ரவுடி செல்வம் மற்றும் அவரது கூட்டாளிகளுக்கு வி.வி.ஐ.பி. நுழைவு சீட்டு கிடைக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்தது யார்; அனுமதி அளித்த போலீசார் யார் என்பது குறித்து டி.ஜி.பி. அலுவலக உயர் அதிகாரிகள் விசாரித்து வருகின்றனர்.

தேர்தல் பயிற்சிக்கு வராத 937 பேருக்கு, 'நோட்டீஸ்'

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2019 02:32

வேலுார், : தேர்தல் பயிற்சி வகுப்புக்கு வராத, 937 பேருக்கு, 'நோட்டீஸ்' அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது.

வேலுார் லோக்சபா தேர்தல், ஆக., 5ல் நடக்கிறது. இதற்காக, 1,553 ஓட்டுச்சாவடி மையங்கள் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.தேர்தலில் பணியாற்ற, ஆசிரியர்கள் மற்றும் அரசு ஊழியர்கள், 7,757 பேர், குலுக்கல் முறையில் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டனர்.இவர்களுக்கு, பயிற்சி முகாம், 14ல், ஆறு இடங்களில் நடந்தது. இதில், 937 பேர் பங்கேற்கவில்லை.

இதற்கு விளக்கம் கேட்டு, 937 பேருக்கும், கலெக்டர், சண்முகசுந்தரம், 'நோட்டீஸ்' அனுப்பி உள்ளார். அதில், 24 மணி நேரத்தில், விளக்கம் அளிக்க வேண்டும் என, குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.இதற்கு, அவர்கள் அளிக்கும் விளக்கம் ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளப்படா விட்டால், பணியிட மாற்றம் செய்யப்படுவர் என, தேர்தல் அதிகாரிகள் கூறினர்.

பிறப்பு, இறப்பு தாமத பதிவு கட்டணம் ஆண்டுக்கு ரூ.500 ஆக உயர்வு

Added : ஜூலை 16, 2019 23:17

சிவகங்கை : ''பிறப்பு, இறப்பை தாமதமாக பதிவு செய்தால் தாமத பதிவு கட்டணம் ஆண்டுக்கு ரூ.500 என உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளதாக'' சிவகங்கை சுகாதார துணை இயக்குனர் யசோதாமணி தெரிவித்தார்.
அவர் கூறியதாவது : பிறப்பு, இறப்பு நிகழ்ந்த 21 நாட்களுக்குள் அந்தந்த பகுதி வி.ஏ.ஓ., அல்லது சுகாதார ஆய்வாளரிடம் பெயரை பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும். அதன் பிறகு பதிவு செய்ய தாமத பதிவு கட்டணம் செலுத்த வேண்டும்.பிறப்பு, இறப்பு நிகழ்ந்து 21 நாட்களுக்கு பின் பதிவு செய்தால், தாமத பதிவு கட்டணம் 2 ரூபாயில் இருந்து 100 ரூபாயாகவும், ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு மேல் தாமத பதிவு கட்டணம் 5 ரூபாயில் இருந்து 200 ரூபாயாகவும், ஒரு ஆண்டிற்கு மேல் தாமத பதிவு கட்டணம் 10 ரூபாயில் இருந்து 500 ரூபாயாக உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பிறந்த குழந்தையின் பெயரை ஒரு ஆண்டிற்குள் இலவசமாக பதியலாம். அதற்கு மேல் பதிவு செய்ய தாமத கட்டணமாக 200 ரூபாய் செலுத்த வேண்டும். சரியான பிறப்பு, இறப்பு தேதியை குறிப்பிட்டால் சான்றுக்கான தேடுதல் கட்டணம் கட்ட தேவையில்லை. சரியாக குறிப்பிடாத பட்சத்தில் பிறப்பு, இறப்பு தேதியினை தேட கட்டணம் ஆண்டுக்கு 100 ரூபாய் கட்ட வேண்டும். 2019 மார்ச் 4 ம் தேதி முதல் பிறப்பு, இறப்பு சான்றினை ஆன்லைனில் இலவசமாக பதிவிறக்கம் செய்யலாம்.
பரிட்சார்த்தமாக 2018 மற்றும் 2019 ல் பதிவு செய்த பிறப்பு, இறப்பு சான்றுகளை ''crstn.org'' என்ற வெப்சைட்டில் இலவசமாக பதிவிறக்கம் செய்து கொள்ளலாம். எனவே கூடுதல் பதிவு கட்டணத்தை தவிர்க்க பிறப்பு, இறப்பு நடந்த உடன் அவற்றை உரிய அதிகாரிகளிடம் பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும், என்றார்.

Madras HC allows jailed Saravana Bhavan founder to shift to private hospital

PTI

PublishedJul 16, 2019, 8:39 pm IST

Rajagopal's son claimed his father's condition worsened after he was admitted to Stanley hospital, following his surrender.

While upholding the life sentence awarded to Rajagopal for murdering an employee in October 2001 to marry his wife, the Supreme Court had ordered him to surrender in the trial court on July 7. (Photo: File)

Chennai: The Madras High Court Tuesday permitted Saravana Bhawan founder P Rajagopal, who has been admitted to a government hospital here after he surrendered to serve life sentence in a murder case, to shift to a private facility for further treatment.

Passing an interim order on a petition filed by Rajagopal's son, a bench comprising justices M M Sundresh and M Nirmal Kumar directed the state government and the prison authorities to transfer the hotelier from the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital to the Vijaya Hospital here. "Considering the medical reports and the condition of the detenu, we are inclined to permit the transfer," the bench said.

The petitioner would have to bear the cost of treatment, the bench said, adding the transfer and treatment would be subject to the compliance of conditions as per the prison manual.

Referring to a report filed by authorities of Stanley hospital that Rajagopal had already suffered two episodes of cardiac arrest and shifting him was risky, the court said the transfer and treatment were at the risk of the petitioner and authorities cannot be held responsible.

Recording an undertaking by the petitioner that all steps would be taken with due care at his own cost for both transferring and the requisite treatment, the bench posted the matter to August 6 for further hearing. In his petition, Rajagopal's son claimed his father's condition worsened after he was admitted to Stanley hospital, following his surrender in a sessions court on July 9.

The founder of popular South Indian food chain Saravana Bhavan had surrendered along with another accused to serve life term after the Supreme Court rejected his plea seeking more time on grounds of ill-health.

While upholding the life sentence awarded to Rajagopal for murdering an employee in October 2001 to marry his wife, the Supreme Court had ordered him to surrender in the trial court on July 7.

Tamil Nadu hospitals may be fined for breaking medical waste rules

Central Pollution Control Board said Tamil Nadu had not completed undertaking an inventory of bio-medical waste generating healthcare facilities.

Published: 17th July 2019 03:25 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has found several shortcomings in implementation of Biomedical Waste Management (BMW) Rules, 2016, and proposed hefty fines in the form of environment compensation and even closure of health care facilities for continued violation.

The State has been asked to carry out an inventory of the number of healthcare facilities, biomedical waste generation, its collection, treatment and disposal, within three months, CPCB said in a report filed with the National Green Tribunal.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has been submitting contradicting figures on the number of healthcare facilities and quantum of waste generated during the last two hearings before NGT in the case filed by social activist Jawaharlal Shanmugam. In April, TNPCB said there were 4,307 healthcare facilities generating 17,226 tonnes of bio-medical waste per annum. But, the latest submission says there are 7,651 healthcare facilities. 

CPCB said Tamil Nadu had not completed undertaking an inventory of bio-medical waste generating healthcare facilities, not issued authorisation to non-bedded healthcare facilities like clinics, laboratories, completely. Besides, barcode system was yet to be implemented and details on coverage of Common Bio Medical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBMWTM) have not been submitted.

In view of this, CPCB asked Tamil Nadu to evolve a mechanism for monitoring compliance by healthcare facilities. Meanwhile, CPCB, based on certain key performance indicators, prepared a scale of compensation to be recovered from the violators of BMW Rules, according to which healthcare facilities found in violation can attract hefty fines and closure beyond 60 days from the compliance target date by CPCB and State pollution control boards. While disposing off the case, the green bench has tagged the Tamil Nadu case to pan India case on BMW currently being dealt by the NGT Chairman bench.

‘Hold AYUSH counselling along with other courses’

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, JULY 16, 2019 00:00 IST

PIL plea says delay in the process forces students to join other courses

When counselling for admission to all professional courses ends by July, the one for AYUSH is to be held only in November. Even those candidates willing to join AYUSH courses would pick other professional courses instead of waiting with uncertainty, complained a public interest litigation petition filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, on Monday.

The petitioner, R. Appu Nadesan of Kanniyakumari, a former MLA and founder of Shree Ramakrishna Group of Institutions, Kulasekharam, complained that with counselling for AYUSH courses conducted belatedly in November, aspirants for these courses were not willing to wait till the last moment and instead chose other courses, fearing losing a year in case of non-admission.

For the past three academic years this was the case. With NEET not being a requirement to join AYUSH courses, if counselling was held at the same time as that of the other professional courses, aspirants, particularly those from rural background, would benefit, the petitioner said.

A Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and B. Pugalendhi summoned Joint Director in the Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Chennai, and adjourned the case till July 30.

Medical aspirants seek fresh counselling

B. Tilak Chandar

MADURAI, JULY 16, 2019 00:00 IST

Say no reference to nativity in prospectus for management quota seats

Pointing out that the prospectus for management quota for admission to MBBS/ BDS in the State had no reference to the nativity of applicants, four aspirants moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday, claiming that this would allow students from other States to participate in the counselling, denying an opportunity to local candidates.

G. Somnath, K. Neya, V.C Ajithvass and A.M. Srilaya, in separate petitions, said out of the 3,250 medical seats in the 23 medical colleges 15 % or 506 seats were reserved under the all-India quota.

Under the State quota, 2,744 seats were available in government colleges. The government quota in private medical colleges was 977 seats and 562 seats were to be filled up by the college managements and 260 seats came under the NRI quota. If the NRI seats were not filled up, the seats would revert to the management.

While the prospectus for government quota mandates that candidates should be a native of Tamil Nadu, the one for management quota had no mention about the nativity of applicants, which would allow entry of other State students, the petitioners said.

Other State candidates

They claimed that the counselling conducted for government seats this year was not proper as 218 candidates from other States had already taken part in it.

Even in 2017, several candidates from other States participated in the counselling and were allotted seats from the 85% quota meant for native candidates.

Allowing students from other States to take part in the counselling would defeat the government policy to accommodate native students. Domicile preference should be extended to management quota also, they said.

The petitioners sought a direction to restrain the Selection Committee from going ahead with counselling for the management quota, which began on July 15, and to quash the counselling conducted for government quota on July 8.

Instead, a fresh counselling should be held, the petitioners said.

Hearing the plea, Justice R. Suresh Kumar sought a response from the State and adjourned the hearing to July 22.

Athi Varadar may be shifted out of Vasantha Mandapam to a larger space

T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI, JULY 16, 2019 00:00 IST

HR&CE mulling over feedback on crowd management at Kancheepuram temple

The authorities are considering shifting the Athi Varadar idol out of the Vasantha Mandapam to a more spacious place within the precincts of the Sri Devarajaswamy temple, Kancheepuram.

This follows feedback received by the temple administration that devotees, who have to stand in queues at least for three to four hours, find it hard to negotiate the narrow path near the Vasantha Mandapam. Besides, the temple has been receiving the devotees in large numbers.

Ever since the once-in-40-years festival commenced on July 1, one lakh devotees have been visiting the temple daily on an average. On July 13, over two lakh people turned up.

If the authorities find a better spot, they are confident that the crowd management will be more organised, indicates a senior official of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. Before the administration takes a final decision, it may consult religious scholars.

The festival will go on till August 17. The idol, now kept in a reclining position (referred to as sayana kolam in Tamil), will be kept in standing position later. Originally, it was decided to keep it in sayana kolam for 24 days and in standing position for the remaining 24 days.

Now, the authorities are considering extending the duration of sayana kolam . The exact date of change in the position will be announced shortly, another official says.

Govt medical colleges are ‘selling’ seats now
NRI Quota Provides Easy Entry Route For Those With Moolah

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com
17.07.2019

If you’re a resident Indian with poor NEET scores, getting admission in a government medical college is a pipedream, but if you are an NRI, you have a good shot at it.

The reason is that it is not just private colleges commercializing medical education, but some state governments too have joined the bandwagon in the name of making their colleges self-financing. So, 3%- 15% seats are set aside for NRIs and some even have “management quotas”.

Five states — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh — and Puducherry have government medical colleges with NRI quotas. Unlike caste-based quotas, which are to compensate for historical deprivation and backwardness, the NRI quota is for being able to charge lakhs as fees.

Most states claim the quota is to mobilize funds for maintenance and infrastructure, something that would earlier have come from the health budget. Gujarat has the highest number of NRI seats, 241, followed by Rajasthan with 212, Punjab with 41, Puducherry with 22, Himachal Pradesh with 20 and Haryana with 15 seats. NRI seats are open not only to NRIs but also those they sponsor. Thus, many can use this quota if they have a brother, sister or parent who is an NRI willing to give an undertaking to sponsor the entire course fee.

If a student has no parents or is taken as a ward by near relatives, even NRI uncles, aunts or grandparents can be sponsors. There have been several cases of candidates faking eligibility, prompting greater scrutiny of candidates’ NRI claims. A look at over 1,900 NRI candidates admitted in 2016 shows that almost three-quarters were unreserved category students, barely 3% belonged to SC/STs and rest were OBCs.

While the average NEET score of government quota students including reserved SC, ST and OBC seats in 2016 was 472.5, that of NRI candidates in private colleges was 220.8 and of those in government colleges was 339.6. The NRI quota fees in government colleges range from ₹14 lakh to almost ₹20 lakh per annum.

While this is very high compared to the fee charged for the other government seats in most of these colleges (₹25,000 to ₹1 lakh per annum), it is much cheaper than the ₹30 lakh per annum charged by most private colleges for NRI seats.

Andhra Pradesh too earlier had NRI seats in government colleges, but has discontinued this. Madhya Pradesh had about 28 NRI seats in government colleges till 2016, but discontinued the practice in the face of public protests.

Last year, the Karnataka government had toyed with the idea of starting an NRI quota in government colleges, but dropped the idea after student organizations threatened agitations.

Former vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and eminent cardiologist Dr KS Ravindranath explained that the reason for opposing NRI quota in Karnataka government colleges was because it would encroach on seats for poor meritorious students.

The government ought to allocate more, but there are never sufficient funds to provide facilities for sports, research, simulation lab etc, he added. Former joint director of medical education in Madhya Pradesh, NM Shrivastava questioned the concept of using NRI seats to generate funds to improve the college.

“The money earned from NRI seats was small in comparison to the resources required for running a college. Moreover, government colleges are meant for public welfare, for poor to get free treatment and for meritorious students. They are not meant to make money. Free education is the government’s job in a democratic welfare state. That’s why the government decided to put an end to NRI quota in MP,” explained Shrivastava.

(with inputs from Bharat Yagnik in Ahmedabad, Initshab Ali in Jaipur, Shimona Kanwar in Chandigarh and Pushpa Narayan in Chennai)

St Joseph’s College bags top NAAC grade

Trichy:17.07.2019

St Joseph’s College has become the first autonomous arts and science college in the country to secure the prestigious A++ rank for the fourth cycle of accreditation. College principal Rev Dr M Arockiasamy Xavier said the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has rated the institution A++ with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.58 of 4 in the new format with 70% quantitative and 30% qualitative metrics.

Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, he said it has added one more feather to the institution at a time when its 175th year celebrations areon. The principal said the institution enjoysthe privilegeof being the only college with “special heritage” status from the University Grants Commission in Tamil Nadu.

“We applied for the IV cycle of NAAC accreditation process in March after seven years. A team visited the college for assessment of its human, infrastructural and financial resources besides its yeoman service,” Dr Arockiasamy said. The achievement will help students of the college to get due recognition from institutions when they go for higher studies and organisations when they go for a job, he said. TNN

ROAD SAFETY DRIVE
Students to get learners’ licence at their colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.07.2019

The state transport department will soon reach out to college students all over the state to issue them learners’ licence (LLR). Authorities from Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across Tamil Nadu will visit students at their doorsteps and explain various rules to be followed while driving vehicles to create more awareness on road safety.

At the end of these sessions, LLRs would be issued at the college campus. The announcement was made by transport minister M R Vijayabaskar while moving the demand for grant for the department on Tuesday.

An estimated amount of ₹63 lakhs has been sanctioned towards procuring laptops, printers and data cards towards this process, he said, adding, this was an attempt to reduce driving without licences.

“Ashok Leyland (a private automobile manufacturer) has agreed to operate two e-buses (battery-operated) on voluntary basis and it will be launched in a week or two. Discussions are underway to finalise charging point locations,” said Vijayabaskar, replying to a question on pollution caused by

government buses.

This would be a pilot project and most likely a swapmodel in which fullycharged batteries can be changed at the end of every trip, according to a TOI report on March 19.

Besides this, the government has planned to procure 2,000 electric buses with German assistance. Some of them will be added to Metropolitan Transport Corporation's (MTC) fleet and the corporation has sought assistance from Centre too under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME)-II Scheme.

The minister also announced that electrically-operated hydraulic wheelchair lifts would be fitted to doors of government buses soon so that differently-abled passengers can board or get down easily. The same was reported by TOI on June 5.

Other announcements include common mobility card for different modes of public transport, CCTV cameras in buses and depots, diagnostic tools to detect repairs in buses, construction of driving testing tracks and buildings in various RTOs. Vijayabaskar admitted that around 1,400 government bus services were stopped as a part of the route rationalisation approach. However, every village with at least 500 people was connected to the nearest hub by buses, he said.

Campuses ban mobiles, UGC wants selfies with ‘gurus’
Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:17.07.2019

City colleges are in a dilemma over a circular from the University Grants Commission (UGC) asking them to encourage students to take selfies with their teachers on Guru Purnima on Tuesday. Most colleges have banned the use of cell phones on campuses.

Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had on Monday launched a campaign ‘#SelfiewithGuru’ inviting all to post their selfie with their teachers on social media on Tuesday. Rajnish Jain, secretary of UGC, has sent a circular asking students of universities and colleges to participate in the campaign and to share their selfies on social media.

“Following the circular from Madras University, we have banned the use of mobile phones inside the campus from last year. If any student is caught using mobile phones, they would be fined,” said Reverend Thomas Amirtham, principal of Loyola College.

But, UGC has given a circular that would encourage the students to use mobile phones on campuses. Though the principal said the college will try to abide by UGC’s directions, taking selfies is contradicting existing rules.

Even women’s colleges also do not allow the students to use mobiles on campus. “Due to safety concerns, we allow the students to carry the phone. But, using it is prohibited,” said Lalitha Balakrishnan, principal of a college.

Many engineering colleges do not allow students to even carry their mobile phones. “We cannot encourage the students to take selfie with female faculty members as many would not feel comfortable. It is difficult to implement the rule,” a principal from a city engineering college said.

Anna University vicechancellor M K Surappa did not agree with UGC’s “dictum” on taking selfies. “The main job of universities and higher educational institutions is knowledge creation. Taking selfies is in no way an academic activity. Students and teachers should be kept out of these kind of activities,” he said.

Senior academician and former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy said taking selfies with gurus is not a good idea. “The UGC has many better things to do to improve the quality of higher education instead of advising students to take selfies with their gurus. Taking a selfie is not giving respect to the guru. There are many other ways to respect them. We normally take selfies with friends and family,” he said.

He further said the commission was an autonomous body and should not simply follow the MHRD’s instructions.


Union HRD minister had on Monday launched a campaign ‘#SelfiewithGuru’ inviting all to post their selfie with their teachers on social media

Supreme Court orders Medical Practitioner to plant 100 trees for offence committed as Juvenile

 Murali Krishnan July 14 2019 

The Supreme Court has ordered a medical practitioner to plant 100 trees as punishment for an offence committed by him in 2004 when he was a Juvenile.

The order was passed by a Bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta.

The petitioner was convicted by the trial court under Section 307 IPC and sentenced to three years imprisonment. The order of conviction and sentence was affirmed by the High Court.

This led to the appeal in Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, an application under Section 9(2) of the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act, 2015 (Juvenile Justice Act, 2015) was filed by the petitioner seeking a declaration that he was a Juvenile on the date of the offence in the disposed of Special Leave Petition.

The Supreme Court, therefore, directed the District and Sessions Judge, Berhampore, Murshidabad, West Bengal to conduct an enquiry under Section 9(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 regarding the Juvenility of the petitioner on the date of offence i.e. August 28, 2004 and submit a report.

Pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court, enquiry was conducted and a report of District and Sessions Judge, Berhampore, Murshidabad was placed before the Court.

As per the report, the petitioner was 16 years 7 months and 28 days on the date of offence. The Court also noted that school records have been verified and found to be genuine and there was no other evidence to show that the school records cannot be relied upon.

The Court, therefore, accepted that the petitioner was a Juvenile at the time of the commission of offence. In such a scenario, the usual course adopted is to refer the matter to the Juvenile Justice Board to be dealt with as per Juvenile Justice Act.

However, since fifteen years had passed since the commission of the offence and the petitioner was currently 32 years old and a medical practitioner, the Court felt that it is not appropriate to send the petitioner to be dealt with by the Board.

Instead, the Court stated that it was of the opinion that the ends of justice would be met by directing the petitioner to perform community service.

The counsel for the state suggested that this obligation of performing community service could be met with by a direction to the petitioner to plant trees.

The Court accepted the same and directed the petitioner to plant 100 trees within a period of one year.

The sentence of imprisonment against the petitioner was also set aside and the Court ordered that he be released forthwith.