Athi Varadar: Why this little-known religious event is drawing huge crowds

The temple town of Kanchipuram, 72 km from the heart of Chennai, had been gearing up for this festival for quite a few years. The 48-day festival commenced on July 1 and will go on till August 17.

Written by Janardhan Koushik |Chennai |Updated: July 20, 2019 10:59:18 am

The temple town of Kanchipuram had been gearing up for this festival for quite a few years. The 48-day festival commenced on July 1 and it goes on till August 17. (Express Photo)

The Athi Varadar festival in Tamil Nadu is in the spotlight after four people died in a stampede there on Thursday. The incident reportedly occurred following rumors that authorities were planning to cut short the darshan timings. People standing in queues in a narrow line became impatient and started to push in a bid to move forward.

The temple town of Kanchipuram, 72 km from the heart of Chennai, had been gearing up for this festival for quite a few years. The 48-day festival commenced on July 1 and will go on till August 17.

The massive surge of people from across the country to visit Athi Varadar should have alarmed the Kanchipuram authorities to be better prepared with all necessary arrangements for the festivals. The small town of Kanchipuram certainly couldn’t hold more than one lakh devotees every day. District collector P Ponniah even went on record stating that he was expecting close to 30,000-50,000 devotees per day, but on an average almost double the number is turning up daily.

President Ramnath Kovind and Governor Banwarilal Purohit have also attended the Athi Varadar festival. Durga Stalin, wife of DMK leader Stalin, and Rajathi Ammal, wife of Karunanidhi and mother of DMK MP Kanimozhi, were among those who stood in a queue for a glimpse of Athi Varadar.

There were colorful characters too. Madurai-based don Varichiyur Selvam and his gang members were allowed to sit near the pedestal of Athi Varadar, which created a furor in the state. They allegedly received a VVIP donor pass from local politicians in the area.

The massive surge of people from across the country to visit Athi Varadar should have alarmed the Kanchipuram authorities to be better prepared with all the arrangements. (Express Photo)

Athi Varadar is a nine-feet idol made out of the fig (Athi pazham in Tamil) tree and is brought out from the Anantasaras (the temple tank) in Kanchipuram Vardharaja Perumal Temple once in 40 years. Though there is no written history of when the ritual actually began, people believe it is many centuries old.

Kamala, a resident of Tambaram, feels the grace and excitement is high only this time. “Born in 1954, I had the opportunity to visit Athi Varadar in 79’. There was no rush, no VIP culture; we got the blessings and returned home just like how we come back after visiting other temples. Even in Tamil Nadu, many of them didn’t know this event. But now I hear people even from other states are visiting Athi Varadar daily,” she added.

It is a beeline to the Athi Varadar festival from President Ramnath Govind to Tamil Nadu Ministers to celebrities, as everyone is in line for a glimpse of Athi Varadar. (Express Photo)

Some angry devotees have taken to social media to convey their bitter experience. They have complained about the lack of proper parking facilities, drinking water and toilets as well as what is seen as the rude behavior of some of the staff. Others complained that the authorities and police officers were keen on making sure their family and friends catch a glimpse of the deity ahead of the public.

“It was a terrible experience. And the Irony is that commoners like us wait for a long time and cross all these hurdles to pray before the deity, while others are getting VVIP treatment,” said Ragothaman, a resident of Perungalathur.

UP man gets Rs 128-crore electricity bill for using ‘fan and light’

Asserting that nobody in the electricity office listens to him, the man said, "No one listens to our pleas, how will we submit that amount? When we went to complain about it,we were told that they won't resume our electricity connection unless we pay the bill."

By Express Web Desk |New Delhi |Published: July 21, 2019 9:47:32 am

“We only use fan and light. How can the amount be so high? We are poor. How we will pay such a large amount,” Shamim’s wife questioned. (ANI)

A resident of Chamri village in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur has received an electricity bill of Rs 128,45,95,444, new agency ANI reported.
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Shamim, who lives with his wife Khairu Nisha, said the electricity department has cut off his connection for not clearing the bill. “No one listens to our pleas, how will we submit that amount? When we went to complain about it, we were told that they won’t resume our electricity connection unless we pay the bill,” Shamin told ANI.

“I am running from pillar to post but no one is listening. It seems that the electricity department wants me to pay the bill for the whole Hapur,” he added.

His wife Nisha said the couple use only a fan and light inside their home. “We only use fan and light. How can the amount be so high? We are poor. How we will pay such a large amount,” she said.
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“It seems that the electricity department wants me to pay the bill for the whole Hapur,” the man said.

However, authorities said it was “no big deal” and they would rectify it once the couple provide a copy of the bill

Assistant Electrical Engineer Ram Sharan said, “This must be a technical fault. If they provide us the bill we will issue them an updated one after rectifying the technical fault in the system. This is no big deal. Technical faults do take place.”

Malabika Sarkar appointed Ashoka University’s new VC after Pratap Bhanu Mehta resigns

Malabika Sarkar, who is the third VC of the Ashoka University, said she looked forward to working with the faculty and students to build a world class university.

EDUCATION Updated: Jul 21, 2019 09:30 IST

HT Correspondent

Hindustan Times, New Delhi Malabika Sarkar (HT File)

Ashoka University on Saturday appointed Malabika Sarkar as the varsity’s first female vice chancellor. She has previously served as Principal Advisor (Academic) and former Dean of Faculty and Research at the varsity.

The professor has earlier served as the vice-chancellor of Presidency University in Kolkata and also as the head of English department at Jadavpur University. Sarkar was also a member of the University Grants Commission panel of experts in English and Foreign Languages and a panel member of NAAC.

Sarkar, who is the third VC of the university, said she looked forward to working with the faculty and students to build a world class university.

She succeeds Pratap Bhanu Mehta who stepped down as V-C to focus on his academic ambitions and will continue to teach at the university. “I am personally at a stage where I would like to complete some longstanding academic tasks that I had set myself. Therefore, it seemed an appropriate time to hand over the baton to very competent hands while continuing to play an even more active part in the academic life of the University, ” he added.

“With her experience at the helm of various prestigious institutions, she is well placed to take forward our mission of being a University where the finest minds engage with India’s brightest students,” founding VC and current Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee said.

Disciplinary action against Rajasthan govt school teachers using mobile phones in classes

Reiterating the 2016 order, the state education department has issued a new order to ban mobile phone usage by teachers in the classrooms of the government schools in Rajasthan.

EDUCATION Updated: Jul 19, 2019 18:51 IST

HT Correspondent

Hindustan Times, Jaipur

Reiterating the 2016 order, the state education department has issued a new order to ban mobile phone usage by teachers in the classrooms of the government schools in Rajasthan. (HT file)

Reiterating the 2016 order, the state education department has issued a new order to ban mobile phone usage by teachers in the classrooms of the government schools in Rajasthan.

As per an order by the joint education officer of Bikaner and chief district education officer of Barmer, disciplinary action will be carried out against the teachers who use mobile phones during the classes.

Devlata, joint director, school education, Bikaner said it has been found in numerous inspections by the officials that the teachers are using mobile phones while taking classes in the presence of the students and even use mobile applications in addition to calling and texting while teaching.

“This affects the quality education in schools. Even as an order has been stated in the past, the condition did not change and it became really important to reiterate the order with a warning of disciplinary action,” said Devlata.

Similar concerns were listed in an order by Daluram Chaudhary, chief district education officer Barmer. “As per the inspection by the senior officials, it has been found that often the teachers are indulged in using social media applications due to which the teaching gets affected in classes,” said the notice.

The officials at other districts such as Jaipur, Pali and Udaipur said a similar order will be sent out in these districts as well. “Even after several warning, the teachers kept using phone and therefore disciplinary action against such teachers should be carried out. We are also planning to give a similar order soon,” said Bharat Kumar Mehta, joint director, Udaipur.

Shyam Sunder Solanki, joint director, Pali said that an order similar to the one in 2016 regarding the usage of mobile phones in classes is being issued for the government school in Pali too.

First Published: Jul 19, 2019 18:34 IST

RTI info: VNSGU VC charged twice for irregularities

TNN | Jul 18, 2019, 04.11 AM IST

Surat: Latest revelations about Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) vice-chancellor, Shivendra Gupta, in replies to a Right to Information (RTI) application created ripples in the higher education fraternity in state.

Information received under RTI shows that Gupta was charge-sheeted twice for irregularities during his posting as an assistant engineer in the road and building department. Gupta was charge-sheeted for his unauthorized leaves of 1,038 days between 2002 to 2005. He also faced inquiry for alleged financial and operational irregularities.

RTI applicant Ajit Naik, a retired professor of a college affiliated to VNSGU, had earlier alleged that out of his service of 28 years, Gupta had remained on leave for around eight years. The RTI query also revealed that Gupta who joined R&B department as assistant engineer in 1980 remained on the same post till he took voluntary retirement in 2008. Naik demanded the details as per the service book of Gupta.

Apart from the latest revelations, qualification of Gupta, who was appointed as VNSGU VC in August 2017, are also being questioned. VNSGU did not reply to Naik’s queries about Gupta’s qualification and certificates to support it. Gupta claims he possess PhD in history and has vast teaching experience.

As per University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, a VC should possess at least 10 years of teaching experience apart from being a PhD scholar.

“Gupta was facing inquiry during his job in R&B department and to avoid facing the probe, he remained on long unauthorized leaves. He was charge sheeted twice and punished for the irregularities,” claimed Naik. Naik has already approached the Gujarat High Court challenging Gupta’s appointment.

Praful Desai, a resident from Vadodara, has also approached the high court challenging Gupta’s appointment. The HC is hearing petition of both Desai and Naik jointly.

Despite several attempts, Gupta was not available for his comments.

Once MBBS aspirant, one of Rajasthan’s ‘most wanted’ in police custody now

Virendra Khinchar was arrested for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of another alleged criminal Harish Jhakar.JAIPUR Updated: Jul 18, 2019 11:45 IST

Jaykishan Sharma
Hindustan Times, Jaipur

Vikram Khincha was arrested by Pali police from Jaitaran on Monday, July15, 2019.

From an MBBS aspirant to one of the “most wanted” criminals of Jodhpur range, the story of Virendra Khinchar is a lesson for youngsters on how life could be spoiled in the company of wrong people, said Pali superintendent of police (SP) Anand Sharma.

Khinchar (28), a native of Jhunjhunu district, is in the custody of Pali police for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of another alleged criminal Harish Jhakar (23). Khinchar was arrested by a team of Jaitaran police from Sandiya village in Pali district on Monday.

When police checked his background, they found that Khinchar studied biology, physics and chemistry in Class 11 and 12 and scored 80% marks in higher secondary board examination. He had cleared the national entrance test held for admission to MBBS course as well as a nursing entrance test.

“Khinchar couldn’t become doctor as he walked on the wrong path by choosing the company of wrong people. After Class 12, he left studies and started spending time with people involved in crime. Between 2010 and 2018, more than dozen cases of murder, loot, kidnapping, smuggling, burglary are registered against him across various police stations. A reward of Rs 3,000 was also declared on him by police,” said a police officer, familiar with the case.

The officer said that Khinchar spent the money he earned through committing crimes on living a luxurious life, buying sports bike and expensive cars.

But when his crime graph increased, he started hiding from police and his financial condition also started deteriorating, the officer added.

The Pali SP said that Khinchar was absconding for almost one and a half years. He was declared one of the most wanted criminals of the Jodhpur police range after he was found allegedly involved in the murder of another infamous criminal of the area, Harish Jakhar.

Sharing details of Khinchar’s arrest, Sharma said, “After dropping his aide Ravi Jat in Nagar Pali area on Monday afternoon, he had gone to forest area near Sandiya village when police rounded him up and asked to surrender. Khinchar pointed a pistol on his head and threatened police that he will kill himself. But later he was arrested.

“Khinchar, who was in hiding for last 18 months, spent time in Lakshmupuram area of Chennai and Karnal district of Haryana. In Haryana, he worked as salesman in liquor shop for sometime, where he used to earn Rs 8,000 per month. But because of police fear, he left Karnal and was hiding in various areas of Jodhpur and Pali. Further investigation is on.”

In February last year, a video clip showing Khinchar and his accomplice beating up Harish Jakhar with rods, had gone viral in Barmer.

Khinchar was arrested with his three accomplices, while his five other crime partners are still absconding.

Multiple cases of kidnapping and attempt to murder were registered against Jakhar too across various police stations of Jodhpur police range. Jakhar belonged to a criminal gang involved in the smuggling of weapons and doda post. He was kidnapped from Jodhpur on February 21 last year and his body was found the same day in Barmer.

First Published: Jul 18, 2019 11:39 IST

MBBS intern commits suicide; second such case in Rajasthan in 4 days

TNN | Jul 20, 2019, 09.36 PM IST

JAIPUR: A 23-year-old medical student committed suicide by hanging herself from ceiling of her room in girls’ hostel of government-run SP medical college of Bikaner on Saturday.
It is second such case of a medical student ending her life in the state. On Tuesday, a medical student had committed suicide, who was completing her post graduation (gynaecology) at Zanana hospital attached to Sawai Man Singh medical college.

The incident happened at around 6.30pm. When her hostel mates peeked through the windows of her room, they found her hanging from the ceiling. “Her brother was calling her but when she did not pick up the phone, he called her hostel mates to check why she was not picking his phone. When they looked inside the room through the window, they found her hanging,” said Govind Singh, station house officer, Jai Narayan Vyas Colony colony.

The door was locked from inside. To take her out, they had to break open the door. She was rushed to trauma centre, where she was declared brought dead.

The deceased has been identified as Manisha Kumawat, who was MBBS student and was completing her internship from the SP medical college. She was resident of Anoopshahr of Hanumangarh district.

Sadar circle officer Bhojraj Singh said, “We have deployed policemen at her room and also her room has been locked. We are waiting for her family members to come here to initiate investigation into the matter.”

She was staying in a single room in the girls’ hostel and was staying here for five years, he said.

However, SP medical college principal Dr HS Kumar said, “There are no complaint filed by the medical student who committed suicide and also no complaint is filed against her. The police will investigate into the matter.”

Teachers assigned election duty seek better facilities

STAFF REPORTER

VELLORE, JULY 21, 2019 00:00 IST

Members of All Teachers Association Federation with District Election Officer A. Shanmuga SundramSpecial Arrangement

Demands include payment of arrears, exemption for sick

Representatives of the All Teachers Association Federation, led by convener S.N. Janardhanan, submitted a memorandum to the District Election Officer A. Shanmuga Sundram urging him to enhance the facilities provided to teachers who were allotted election work.

Their main demands include payment of the dues for teachers and government staff for assisting in election duties in April this year, issuing of Election Duty Certificate (EDC), exemptions for those who reported sick and those who were deputed for election duty in April this year.

They also pointed out that teachers and officials should be provided a vehicle to return home after the election duty. Mr. Shanmuga Sundram said that teachers were allowed to take leave during this period for emergency situations and medical conditions.

Pregnant women, mothers with infants, and those who reported sick were already exempted.

Others were not allowed to take leave as they are required as standbys in case of an emergency leading to short of hands, he explained to the office bearers of the associations.

Postal ballot

He assured that the postal ballot of all employees and teachers will be issued soon.

He also assured that Election Duty Certificate (EDC) will be distributed to the concerned employees and teachers in their election class and to their residential address.

State has 92 centenarians drawing govt. pension

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 21, 2019 00:00 IST

100% of their last basic pay is drawn

Tamil Nadu has 92 people, aged 100 or above, drawing pension or family pension from the State government.

What is significant is that they get 100% of their last basic pay drawn. For fixing the pension amount, the basic pay, as revised now, will only be taken into account. Family pensioners are, generally, spouses of government employees who died while in service or after retirement.

As part of a scheme being implemented on the basis of the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations, those in the age group of 80-84 will receive 20% of the revised basic pension/family pension as the additional quantum of pension/family pension; while those aged 85-89 years will get 30%; 90-94 years - 40%; 95-99 years - 50%; and 100 years and above - 100%.

The rationale behind giving additional pension to relatively older pensioners, as stated by the Pay Commission, is that these pensioners require “a better deal because their needs, especially those relating to health, increase with age”.

The State government has 62,392 pensioners aged 80 and above. They are among the overall population of pensioners and family pensioners, who number 7,37,699.

Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam informed the Assembly on Saturday that this year, Rs. 32,395.30 crore was allocated for pension and other retirement benefits, and Rs. 20.42 crore for social security and welfare. This will be equivalent to 16.39% of the total revenue receipts of the government.

What to do when you are molested on a train?

Mumbai:21.07.2019

A young woman from Delhi who was molested on a long-distance train last year has taken to Twitter to make victims aware of how to go about registering a police complaint and follow up on the case in court.

In an exhaustive thread, which has since been retweeted morethan 3,700times, she writes that the common perception that women have to visit a court repeatedly for hearings is just not true. At the same time, she mentions that law enforcement officers might encourage a woman to withdraw her case. “I’m still awaiting court’s order in the caseIfiled.ButIthoughtwriting it all down might be able to help people who are too scared to go through the entire process,” she told TOI.

The 26-year-old woman was travelling out of Delhi in December 2018 when the incident took place. “My co-passenger in a drunken stupor molested me in a full train. First thing you do, scream and alert people around you because they are potential witnesses. Even if they don’t help out, they are aware something like this has happened,” she wrote.

She addedthatonedid not need advocates as the state prosecutor would be fighting the case. “You have to go for just one court proceeding... . It is important to write down everything as seven months down the line, you wont remember things as clearly as you did... ,” she posted. TNN

She took world-class city beyond a slogan

From Flyovers And Metro Launch To Citizen Initiatives, Sheila Oversaw It All

Ambika.Pandit@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.07.2019

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who passed away on Saturday afternoon, is remembered for making “world-class city” more than a slogan. The transformative story plays out in the many flyovers, launch of the Delhi Metro rail network and outreach to the civil society through the Bhagidari movement steered by residents’ welfare associations. The initiatives caught the popular imagination and paid political dividends as she grew in stature.

Sheila’s last political battle was her toughest challenge as she was constantly at odds with party functionaries determined to ally with AAP. She doubted AAP’s desire for an alliance and felt hurt when attempts were made to override her authority. More recently, she was distressed by reports of the party she had served for so long reducing her importance through a series of organisational actions.

She managed to raise hopes of a revival and a better performance in the assembly polls in 2020 and even a better bargain in case negotiations with AAP are renewed. But her death has left Congress without a face and a big void as there is no leader who would be able to generate consensus and become a rallying point in a tired and weather-beaten party.

In an interview to TOIafter the election results in May, Sheila was quick to take responsibility for defeat. On the Congress story, she was hopeful. “You get the kudos and brickbats. This is part of politics. The Congress is in the midst of a challenge but we shall overcome this too,” she said.

She was a spirited fighter with sharp administrative skills and political acumen that could out-think most rivals. Even when the already unmet deadlines for the 2010 Commonwealth Games appeared hard to achieve in the midst of an unrelenting monsoon, Sheila was seen personally overseeing cleaning operations at the Commonwealth Games Village.

But this was also the beginning of a downward slide. There were unrelenting attacks on corruption with the build-up of the Anna Hazare movement and birth of the Aam Aadmi Party. Her one-time success in privatising Delhi’s electricity distribution was also attacked for favouring private firms. Sheila was also at the receiving end of public anger that followed the Nirbhaya gangrape case of December 2012.

Sheila’s infamous dismissal of AAP as “monsoon pests”, clubbed with a strong anti-incumbency and anti-corruption campaigns, ended her innings in the assembly election of 2013. She was ruthlessly ousted as the New Delhi MLA by current CM Arvind Kejriwal. However, Sheila was never publicly bitter about being thrown into the storm again and again by her party.

From her debut in politics as MP from Kannauj in 1984, Sheila’s political journey was nothing short of dramatic, marked by an unprecedented rise, a steep fall and a comeback of sorts where Congress president Rahul Gandhi put his faith in her. Her last battle was fought from the seat that also happened to be her first parliamentary foray in Delhi in 1998. Congress’s success in the assembly in what came to be known as the “onion election” ousted BJP, which is yet to win the city polls since then.

The “outsider” got the better of stalwarts like Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. The opposition was then dominated by heavyweights like former CMs Madanlal Khurana and Sahib Singh Verma. She won her spurs by taking tough decisions on implementing the Supreme Court verdict on relocating polluting industries and then implementing the shift of public transport to CNG. There was a softer side to Sheila too as she focused on mindset-change by greening up the city, ‘say no to firecrackers’ campaign and working to highlight the culture of the city through the now famous “Delhi festivals”.

The years that followed saw her groom leaders as well as part ways with some of them. Former minister Ajay Maken was one of them. There were others who dithered but many stuck by her. She could be decisive in her politics as she decided to cut municipal bosses to size by controversially trifurcating the municipal corporation.

Sidelined after the 2013 election debacle till the January of 2019, Sheila was seen in the shadows of a party that was struggling to find its bearings in the city. That she believed in giving back to her party what she had received comes through in her response to a question TOI asked her before elections. Asked whether being the face of the party worried her, Sheila said, “Life is a risk. Even crossing a road is risky. So, I am not afraid. At this stage of life, I don’t have any personal ambition but I want to do this because I owe it to my party. This party has given me so much. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made me a minister in the Union Cabinet and so much has happened since then.”


SPIRITED FIGHTER: Sheila had sharp administrative skills and political acumen to out-think most rivals

Third rebel MLA returns to AIADMK

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.07.2019

One more rebel MLA, A Prabhu, representing Kallakurichi assembly segment, on Saturday called on chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam at the secretariat. He submitted a memorandum to the CM seeking his intervention in meeting the demands of the constituency.

The other two rebel MLAs, V T Kalaiselvan and E Rathinasabapathy, who had supported AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran in the run up to the recent polls, had returned to the parent party recently.

“People have given me a chance and I have to realize their aspirations in the next two years. It was Amma (J Jayalalithaa) who gave me this opportunity. I will have to deliver the promises made during the elections,” the MLA told TOI. He was appointed AMMK IT wing secretary last year, after he rebelled against the AIADMK leadership.

Prabhu said he did not associate himself with Dhinakaran, after the latter floated a party. “I should in no way harm the government established by Amma. The EPS government has announced a district with Kallakurichi as headquarters. He has implemented many projects, including a fire station, primary health centre and upgradation of four schools, in my constituency. Many more are in the offing,” the legislator said.

All the three rebel MLAs had moved the court against speaker P Dhanapal’s show cause notice to disqualify them.

DVAC raids 20 houses, offices of cops, Tasmac staff

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.07.2019

Two days after Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Kancheepuram, booked 10 police, Tasmac and PEW officials including former DSP of Mamallapuram R Subburaju, the agency’s sleuths on Saturday raided 20 houses and offices linked to the accused in different districts.

The others booked are T Kannan, former Tiruporur inspector, A Ahamed Ullah, former assistant commissioner (excise), Kancheepuram, M Balakrishnan, former assistant commissioner (excise), Kancheepuram, V A Ravichandran, DSP (PEW), Kancheepuram, M Pandi, former Kelambakkam inspector, and M Chiranjeevi, former Mamallapuram inspector.

Several officers on the list had been transferred after Tasmac agent Nellaiyappan of Tiruporur committed suicide in front of the Mamallapuram police station on May 28 after accusing them of demanding huge bribe to run bars illegally.

The house of DSP Subburaju in Palavakkam, former ADSP (Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Kancheepuram) A Manikkavelu’s official quarters in Mylapore, Madurantakam PEW inspector A Arockiaraj’s house in Chidambaram, apart from the office of former district manager (Tasmac) Iyyavu in Kancheepuram were among those raided on Saturday, said DVAC sources.

Gold, cash, fixed deposit receipts and several other crucial documents are said to have been seized. The DVAC first information report (FIR) said only five of the 106 Tasmac bars functioning in Kancheepuram district that includes several Chennai suburbs are legal.

The FIR said Chiranjeevi collected bribe from illegal bar owners between May 2018 and February 2019 and gave it to senior jurisdictional police officers. Manikkavelu recommended that inspector Chiranjeevi be given additional charge of PEW units in Kancheepuram to collect bribes for himself and others, said the FIR.

Inspector Arockiaraj, who held additional charge of PEW Mamallapuram, allegedly allowed illegal bars to sell liquor from other states, it added.

IN THE NET: Gold, cash, fixed deposit receipts and several other crucial documents are said to have been seized

Plan for 1,200sqft bldgs in 30 days

Applications For Permit Pending For Over A Month To Be Deemed As Approved

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.07.2019

Constructions less than 1,200sqft in area awaiting planning permission for more than 30 days will be deemed approved, deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam said on Saturday. This would largely benefit small projects such as independent houses, whose constructions are stalled due to inordinate delay in obtaining the plan sanction.

In the assembly, Panneerselvam, who holds housing and urban development department portfolio, said the move will be applicable for all constructions across Tamil Nadu, including areas under the jurisdiction of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).

While the CMDA has delegated powers to local bodies including Greater Chennai Corporation to provide planning permissions for basic constructions such as ground+one or stilt+two buildings, the respective local bodies issue the permits in rest of Tamil Nadu.

Builders’ Association of India’s Southern Centre chairman, S Ramaprabhu, said the move would speed up the clearance of applications for planning permissions. “If applicants provide all documents required for issuing planning permission but there is a delay, it would be considered as deemed sanction. Independent houses will be the largest beneficiaries,” he said.

The development comes in the backdrop of the government launching a regularisation scheme for unapproved plots in 2017.

As per government data, 3,434 applications were received in Chennai Metropolitan Area, while nearly six lakh applications were filed across rest of the state for regularisation under the amnesty scheme. “Under such circumstances, the new announcement would ease construction in the regularised unapproved plots,” Ramaprabhu added.

The state government has also eased the norms for obtaining planning permission for industrial buildings for a specified area.

Panneerselvam said industries constructing buildings within an area of 25,000sqft and not exceeding the height of 18.30m in approved industrial layouts can self certify the planning permissions.

Applicants need not visit any office after filing their documents for the purpose, he said, adding that orders for the purpose would be issued soon.

Bharath Institute of Higher Education Notification

AFTER 20 YEARS

Boy given HIV+ blood gets ₹20 lakh, govt job

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.07.2019

More than two decades after acquiring AIDS due to wrong transfusion of HIVinfected blood at the government-run Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Chennai, the victim will receive a compensation of ₹20 lakh and a suitable government job, a city court ruled on Saturday.

“The doctors at the hospital who treated the victim are held liable for medical negligence and the hospital is directed to pay ₹20 lakh as compensation together with interest at 6% per annum from the date of filing of the suit till the date of realisation,” XVII additional city civil judge V Thenmozhe said. “This court would like to suggest that the government consider the victim’s case as a special one and appoint him in any post suitable for his educational qualification,” she said, directing the hospital to pay ₹1.5 lakh to the victim as cost of the suit.

In December 1998, the victim, then a six-month-old boy, was admitted to ICH over complaints of diarrhoea.

Hospital failed to prove blood was tested: Court

It was found that his small intestine and large intestine were intertwined and immediate surgery was required to set it right. During the surgery, he received a blood transfusion and was later discharged on March 11, 1999.

Two days after his discharge, he fell ill again and was admitted as an inpatient and treated for a few days. In September 1999, he suffered severe cold and swelling in the neck. ICH doctors advised his parents to take him to Thoracic Medicine Centre in Tambaram Sanatorium.

After several tests, Tambaram Sanatorium Hospital doctors informed the boy’s family that he was infected with HIV. The family moved the high court which suggested it move a civil suit for damages and directed the hospital to pay ₹50,000 towards medical expenses.

Opposing the demand, the hospital contended that blood used for the child was screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and other viruses. As per a SC direction all blood bags were screened for HIV and as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, records were to be destroyed after 5 years, Hence, records of 1999 were not available, it said.

Concurring with P Uma, counsel for the victim, the court said the hospital had not produced any documentary evidence to prove the blood transfused to the boy was tested/ screened to ensure it was not affected by HIV and other virus.

Noting that it is a frequent complaint that government medical institutions lacked adequate and proper qualified staff, equipment and maintenance, the judge said, due to such reasons people are forced to spend on private health care substantially.

No. of girls migrating for edu rising much faster than boys
Rise Fastest In ‘Backward’ States: Census

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com  21.07.2019

Many more girls are moving out of their states in search of education than in the past and the pace at which this is changing is most rapid in the states generally viewed as backward. This heartening trend emerges from just-released census 2011 data.

While the number of boys migrating across states for education in the nine years preceding the census grew by 13% compared to the nine years before the 2001census, the jump for girls was four times higher at 52%.

As a result, girls went from being over a third the number of boys who migrated out of their state for education in 1992-2001 to almost half the number of boys by the 2011 census, which recorded a total of 5.4 million migrating for education within India. This change in the gender skew was highest in states such as Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and UP. Among larger states, in Punjab and Tamil Nadu, girls were over 82% and 74% of the number of boys leaving for education in other states.

Though not as dramatic an increase as that for education, women migrating for work or employment increased by 31% compared to just 10% for men.

More Kerala girls move out for edu than boys

However, their share in the total number of people migrating for work, over six million, was just 12% in 2011, a marginal increase from 10% in 2001.

In Delhi, the number of girls doing so increased by more than one and a half times from less than 9,000 to almost 23,000. Big states, which saw a similar jump, though not as dramatic, were West Bengal, UP and Haryana.

In Bihar, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, the number of girls migrating out of the state for education almost doubled in 2011 over the 2001 numbers.

In Rajasthan, it jumped by 82% and in Uttar Pradesh by 78%.

In both censuses, Kerala was the only state with more girls than boys migrating for education with the skew increasing in 2011.

Bihar was at the bottom, where girls were just 23% of the number of boys leaving for studies. In Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh too this proportion was low, about 36% and 39%, respectively.

Women’s share in those migrating for work was the lowest in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, just over 7% in 2011. The highest share was in Chhattisgarh, with women constituting 29%, followed by Kerala with 25% and Karnataka with 20%.

87% seats vacant after 2nd round of engg counselling

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.07.2019

In a new low, a mere 13% of engineering seats have been filled after two rounds of counselling in Tamil Nadu. Of the 1,66,582 seats, only 21,532 have been filled so far.

A closer scrutiny reveals that only 27 of 494 engineering colleges have been able to fill more than 50% of sanctioned intake. Of these 27 institutions, 12 are government and government-aided institutions. “Usually, more than 40,000 seats are filled by the time cut-off drops to 150 marks from

200. This year, only around 21,000 seats were filled so far. In terms of admissions, this would be one of the lowest in recent years,” a principal from city engineering college said.

Last year, 72,648 seats were filled at the end of counselling. This year, the number is expected to be around 60,000.

But, consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi expects more seats to be filled in the next rounds. “For the third and fourth rounds, 70,164 students were called. More than 40,000 seats could be filled. After completing academic, vocational and supplementary counselling, the total may cross 75,000,” he said. Still, more than one lakh seats could fall vacant adversely affecting colleges.

More than 1L engg seats may remain vacant

Of the 1,51,574 seats available in selffinancing engineering colleges, only 13,379 seats were filled after two rounds. There are only a few takers for seats in Anna University’s constituent and regional campuses. Of 8,840 seats, only 3578 seats were filled, experts said.

P Selvaraj, secretary of Consortium of Self-Financing Professional, Arts and Science Colleges, said it was the continuation of a downward trend over the last few years. “The negative publicity that engineers are not getting jobs is keeping students away. We have taken some measures to create awareness for engineering courses. Hopefully, the trend will reverse from next year,” he said.

After the relaxation of facultystudent ratio by All India Council for Technical Education, more than 22,000 faculty members lost their jobs in 2018. This year, faculty members fear there would be more job cuts.

30 patients in govt hosp fall ill after taking antibiotic drug
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ramanathapuram

Thirty patients, who were administered an antibiotic drug at the Ramannathapuram district government headquarters hospital on Thursday, developed fever with shiveringand itching. Following this, the state health department has instructed the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) to conduct a test on the samples of the antibiotic injection, Cefotaxime.

The medicine is administered regularly to patients to treat bacterial infections. On Thursday, about 50 patients were administered the injection.

Ramanathapuram collector K Veera Raghava Rao who visited the hospital on Thursday night, told reporters that all the 30 who developed health issues were administered the ‘new batch’ of antibiotics.

“The usage of antibiotics from this particular batch has been stopped. All the 30 were immediately provided alternative medication and they are normal, but are being monitored as a precaution,” he added.

Speaking to TOI, health secretary Beela Rajesh said the health department has ordered an inquiry on two fronts: TNMSC to test the quality of the drug which was provided to the patients, and the joint director of health services (JDHS), Ramanathapuram, to check if there was a procedural lapse. “We have asked for the report to be submitted within 24 hours and after that, we will get to know more details,” she said.

Officials from the hospital said that all those who experienced issues were from the general surgery ward (male).

They added that patients in other wards, who were administered the same were completely normal. “We are yet to determine the exact reason. We are investigating the issue,” Ramanathapuram JDHS, Dr A Sakaya Stephen Raj said.

Temple News

One more devotee dead at Aththi Varadar temple
Pilgrims forced to wait for many hours; lack of amenities & rude behaviour add to woes

Published: 20th July 2019 04:07 AM

Due to lack of a separate queue, the differently-abled are forced to join the general queue; crowds throng the Aththi Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kancheepuram for darshan;

By Omjasvin MD  Express News Service

CHENNAI: A septuagenarian died on Friday after visiting the Aththi Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kancheepuram. Earlier on Thursday, four out of 12 persons who fainted while waiting in queue for darshan died. Total death toll at the temple premises since the beginning of the 40-day festival has now risen to seven. The deceased, Arumugam, was from Virugambakkam. He collapsed at the temple around 2.45 pm and was rushed to the Kancheepuram GH, where he was declared as ‘brought dead’.

Crowd & chaos
A little child was also admitted to the hospital on Friday. She fell from a barricade kept at the temple and hurt her leg. Express spoke to devotees,crowds doctors and officials at the temple, and their statements indicate shortcomings in crowd management. “Many senior citizens are visiting the temple though they cannot bear the crowd and congestion,” say medical officials. The general queue enters the premises through the East Mada Street, and people had started queuing there from 5 am.

With thousands flooding the temple for darshan, devotees say it takes them as much as nine hours to see the deity. “There are multiple lines and people coming from all directions,” says 58-year-old P Subramani, who has come from Salem with 27 others. “Many people jump the queue... fights break out... but police don’t seem to care about it. There are so many lines that we got confused.” M Velu from Chennai says the police had been making them run around in circles.

“The general queue has been frozen for hours, but the police are busy help VIPs,” says Velu. “There is no proper ventilation... just small fans. Children and the elderly are finding it difficult to breathe.”
Devotees also complained about bad odour and lack of drinking water in the temple. The authorities have replaced chlorinated water with RO purified water. But there are complaints of tumblers being stolen and the water drums being inaccessible. The e-toilets are also in an inaccessible location, in an open land far from the east gate. There was no water in these toilets when Express visited the place.

Police highhandedness?

Several local people have alleged police harassment, both physical and verbal. “A woman officer called me fat, and said I was taking up space meant for three people,” says 67-year-old N Rajam from Vellore. 

“I had been waiting for five hours in the queue. I was so tired that I could not move. The police officer got irritated and, instead of helping, harassed me,” says Rajam.

Kalaiarasan of Coimbatore says police at the sanctum sanctorum were merciless. “We waited for nine hours for darshan, but were not allowed to pray for even a few seconds. Once we reached the sanctum sanctorum, the pushing and jostling started. Some even tripped and fell.”About 5,000 police personnel have been deployed at the temple. But they seemed helpless as the crowd did not thin even after 5 pm.

“We have deployed personnel all around the temple, to manage parking, traffic diversions and queues,” a senior official said. “There’s limited space here while the crowd keeps swelling.”Kancheepuram Collector P Ponniah was not available for comment. Officials at the collectorate said he was around the temple for the most part of the day, keeping everything in check. The 40-day-long festival will end on August 17.

‘kids, elderly stay away’

The government on Friday issued a public advisory for people visiting the temple. Signed by the Kancheepuram Collector and published in major dailies, the message said the size of crowd thronging the temple was increasing on a daily basis. The minimum waiting time for darshan ranged between 4 and 6 hours. The authorities requested elderly persons, those with health conditions, pregnant women and those with infants to avoid visiting the temple

Devotees say it takes them as much as nine hours to see the deity
There are multiple lines, and as a result, fights break out
Lack of proper ventilation is another concern. Children and the elderly are finding it difficult to breathe Devotees also complained about bad odour and lack of drinking water

Court News

Don’t send govt doctors abroad, suggests Madras HC

There is a dearth of medical professionals in India, observes Madurai bench of Madras HC

Published: 20th July 2019 04:25 AM |
Madras High Court

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Observing that there is a dearth of medical professionals in the country and government doctors should not be sent on deputation out of India, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court suggested the State government to take a policy decision in this regard.

Justice R Mahadevan passed the order while dismissing a petition filed by one T Alexander Devaraj, on behalf of his wife D Lily Manoharan, challenging the punishment of ‘removal from service’ due to her unauthorised absence from duty in Madurai after she completed her foreign medical service in Kuwait. The judge observed, “When the country is facing a dearth of medical professionals... sending a doctor to foreign service is unjustifiable.”

Hence, government must take appropriate steps as a matter of policy to ensure that none of the doctors from our country is deputed to any other country, stated the judge. With regard to the case in hand, the judge noted that Lily had been granted permission to join foreign medical service in Kuwait in 1992 and the same had been extended till 1996. However, she failed to join duty till 2003 and even after that she took several months of unearned leave till February 2004, a month prior to her retirement, he added.

Moreover, Lily, despite claiming that she had been absent due to cardiac illness, could not produce medical records to prove the same nor did she appear for the enquiry proceedings, the Judge pointed out and dismissed the petition. Earlier, the judge directed the health department to avoid lapses in future in taking action against erring doctors.

Court news

Madras High Court rejects doctor's plea against dismissal for overstaying on foreign deputation

The judge said a government servant who is rendering such public service like medicine should not be sent on deputation out of India for any reason.

Published: 19th July 2019 07:28 PM |

Madras High Court

By PTI

MADURAI: The Madras High Court bench here Friday observed that government servants such as doctors should not for any reason be sent on deputation overseas when there was already a dearth of such professionals in the country.

Justice R Mahadevan made the observation while rejecting a plea of Dr

D Lilly Manoharan seeking to quash a government order dismissing her from service for overstaying in Kuwait after being sent on deputation.

The petitioner, who was suspended a day before his retirement and then dismissed, had sought a direction to the officials concerned to sanction pension and other terminal benefits.

The judge said a government servant who is rendering such public service like medicine should not be sent on deputation out of India for any reason.

"It is high time, the government has to take appropriate steps as a matter of policy as they are necessary to ensure that none of the doctors from our country are sent to any other country either on deputation or otherwise, when already there is a dearth of such professionals in our country," he said.

The judge questioned the inaction of officials for long time though disciplinary action was initiated against her way back in 1997.

The doctor was permitted to join foreign medical service for a year from September 1992 which was later extended till September, 1996.

But she did not return and continued there till 2003.

In fact, after issuing show-cause notice in 1997, nothing progressed till 2003, when the doctor was allowed to join duty back home.

However, she remained absent once again.

During this time, the officials should have acted swiftly with departmental proceedings, but they chose to suspend her a day before she was to retire, the judge said.

The inaction on the part of the officials had led to filing of the present petition, he said and directed officials of the health department not to repeat such lapses in future and ensure that steps were taken then and there, when delinquency was committed by a government servant.

Court News

No government doctor must be deputed abroad: Madras high court

Jul 20, 2019, 2:19 am IST

Deccan Chronicle.
|
J Stalin

Doctor is considered as a savior at all times and is highly responsible person, who can save human life.

Madras high court

Chennai: Pulling up the state government for sending a doctor in government service to foreign service, the Madras high court has said the government servant, who is rendering such public services, should not, for any reason, be sent on deputation out of India and it is high time, the government took appropriate steps as a matter of policy, as are necessary to ensure that none of the doctors from our country are deputed to any other country either on deputation or otherwise, when already there is a dearth of such professionals in our country.

Justice R.Mahadevan made the observation while dismissing a petition from Dr.D.Lilly Manoharan represented by her power agent and husband T.Alexandar Devaraj, which sought to quash an order of the state health secretary, removing her from service, for overstaying abroad without permission.

The judge said the petitioner's wife was a doctor by profession and it is not known as to why she should be sent out of India, when she was in government service. When the country is already facing a dearth of medical professional proportionate to attend to those suffering from various ailments, sending a doctor in government service to foreign service is not justifiable. Medical profession is one of the noblest professions among all the professions, through out the world. The responsibilities attached to the post of a doctor are lesser than the privileges they could enjoy. Doctor is considered as a savior at all times and is highly responsible person, who can save human life. It is the most demanding profession throughout the globe, the judge added.

Dismissing the petition, the judge said even though the authorities have initiated disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner’s wife during the year 1997 for her overstay abroad beyond the one permitted, when she came back to India during the year 2002, surprisingly, she was permitted to join duty without any observation as to the continuance of the departmental proceedings against her, even after her joining, during 2003. In fact, after issuing show cause notice during 1997, nothing has progressed till 2003, when the petitioner’s wife was unceremoniously permitted to join duty. Further she once again remained absent and at least at this stage, the authorities ought to have swiftly proceeded with the departmental proceedings. Ultimately, the authorities have suspended her from service on March 30, 2004, one day prior to her retirement and retained their right to proceed against her departmentally. Thereafter, the authorities conducted enquiry and passed an order on January 25, 2015, removing her from service, which was questioned in this petition. “Thus, the inaction on the part of the respondents (authorities) has been given rise to the filing of the present petition by the petitioner claiming equity, which the respondents (authorities) could have avoided. Therefore, this court specifically directs that the respondents (health authorities) herein and all other departments shall not repeat such lapses in future and ensure that steps are taken then and there, when delinquency is committed by the government servant”, the judge added.

Doctors raise doubts over proposed National Medical Commission

One of the major contentions is that the bill does not clearly state if NEXT will be considered the main exam or whether NEET would continue as well.

Published: 18th July 2019 11:50 PM

By IANS

NEW DELHI: Doctors have expressed apprehensions over the proposed PG entrance exam format following Cabinet's approval for setting up a National Medical Commission (NMC) on Wednesday.


One of the major contentions is that the bill does not clearly state if National Exit Test (NEXT) will be considered the main exam or whether National Eligibility cum Entrance test (NEET) would continue as well.

Key features of the bill are: the common final year MBBS exam would be known as National Exit Test (NEXT) and would serve as licentiate exam for entrance to PG medical courses and as a screening test for foreign medical graduates.

The Bill provides that the national entrance test, that is NEET, common counselling and NEXT would also be applicable to Institutes of National Importance (INIs) such as AIIMS to have common standards in the country.

The Federation of Resident Doctor's Association (FORDA) has demanded immediate withdrawal of the proposal of the exit exam and the one allowing people trained in alternative medicine to head or to be a member of the proposed NMC bill and omission of the clauses pertaining to limit members from diverse medicine backgrounds.

"We demand immediate constitution of Indian medical service to take care of healthcare system in India and draft policies based on recent developments on the welfare of the general population. We also want efforts to improve teaching methods and system in college nationwide," said Dr. Sunil Arora, General Secretary, FORDA.

Sumedh, President of Federation of Resident Doctor's Association, said the Bill raises certain doubts. "This (bill provisions) will lead to chaos at postgraduate as well as MBBS level. For instance, how about those who have given NEET and not qualified? Similarly, what happens to someone who has cleared MBBS but is not happy with the PG seat offered and wants a different course?"

Experts said the Bill may lead to favouritism. "It also doesn't mention whether exam will be based on practicals or theory. In case of a practical exam, favouritism can play a role," added Sumedh.

Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, President of the Heart Care Foundation of India, said "They have accepted some demands of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). They have also not mentioned anything about the bridge course".

10 dead in collision between bus, van near Kallakurichi

Ten people died and six others suffered grievous injuries when an omnibus and van collided head-on near Kallakuruchi in the wee hours of Thursday.

Published: 19th July 2019 04:58 AM

Mangled remains of the van that collided with a bus near Kallakurichi in the wee hours on Thursday | Express
By Express News Service

VILLUPURAM: Ten people died and six others suffered grievous injuries when an omnibus and van collided head-on near Kallakuruchi in the wee hours of Thursday. While the bus was on the way to Chennai from Coimbatore, the pick-up van was carrying contract workers, sources said. Police suspect driver of the van might have dozed off, resulting in the vehicle veering to the opposite lane.


According to a police official, Sanakaresawaran of Uthiramerur in Kancheepuram was a manpower agent and had sent 14 workers, hailing from Jharkhand to Kanageyam from Kancheepuram for TNEB work. They were travelling in a van driven by M Manikandan (32) of Deivavinayagapuram in Madurai. K Meenatchi Sundaram (33) of Govindanallur in Virudhunagar district accompanied them as a guide and K Lingam (19) of Deivanayagapuram too joined the workers.

On Thursday morning, the van was plying on the Kallakuruchi bypass road when it collided with the bus. In the accident, bus driver A Rajendiran (56) of Alangulam in Tirunelveli died on the spot and spare driver Ravichandran (28) of Vilanguruchi in Coimbatore suffered injuries.

Similarly, van driver Manikandan, workers K Kharu Rajak (30), K Anon Rajak (19), L Seman Rajak (28), A Chottu Kumar (23), L Raj Ponnia (30) and K Anoj Ponia (35) died on the spot while seven more workers suffered injuries. Based on information, policemen from Kallakuruchi station under inspector S Valli rushed to the spot and sent the injured to the government hospital in Kallakuruchi.

6 die in Thoothukudi as car rams bridge wall
Thoothukudi: Six persons died when their car rammed into the wall of a bridge and fell into a 20-foot-deep pit near Karunkulam in Thoothukudi district on Thursday. Sources said that the deceased were bound for Tiruchendur from Sivakasi. The injured were admitted to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital. ENS

Nalini’s plea to direct Guv on release quashed

The bench pointed out that Article 361 of the Constitution insulates the Governor from being questioned or make him answerable before any court with regard to the discharge of his official duties.

Published: 19th July 2019 04:22 AM

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict Nalini (File | EPS)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A division bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday refused to direct the Governor to affix his approval on the recommendations dated September 9, 2018, of the State cabinet for release of Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Accepting the contentions of Advocate-General Vijay Narayan, a bench of Justices R Subbiah and C Saravanan dismissed the writ petition from Nalini.


The bench pointed out that Article 361 of the Constitution insulates the Governor from being questioned or make him answerable before any court with regard to the discharge of his official duties. It gives complete immunity and privilege to him in the discharge of his constitutional obligations.

“Therefore, questioning the discharge of the act of the Governor or failure to discharge his constitutional obligations cannot be subjected to judicial scrutiny under Article 226 of the Constitution by arraying him as a party to the writ proceedings,” the bench said.

Govt. doctors boycott OP services

STAFF REPORTER

SALEM/NAMAKKAL, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Federation of Government Doctors Association staging a demonstration in Krishnagiri on Thursday.

N.BashkaranN_Bashkaran

Doctors of government hospitals here boycotted out-patient (OP) services for two hours on Thursday pressing various demands.

Close to 200 doctors took part in the protests in Salem and boycotted OP services between 8 a.m and 11 a.m. The protests were held demanding pay hike based on Dynamic Assured Career Progression scheme, counselling to postgraduate service doctors’ posts instead of direct posting, 50% quota in postgraduation studies for government doctors and appointment of doctors according to patient ratio instead of reducing doctor positions according to suggestions by Medical Council of India.

T.Senthil Kumar, convener of Federation of Government Doctors Association, said that patients were attended to after the protests. He added that the government should call them for talks and hear their grievances.

In Namakkal, close to 400 doctors from Namakkal district headquarters hospital and primary health centres took part in the protests. The doctors raised slogans against the government and demanded the government to pay heed to their demands.

In Krishnagiri, members of the Federation of Government Doctors Association staged a demonstration.

PA to Collector dies in accident

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

PUDUKOTTAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Personal Assistant (Accounts) to the Collector, Pudukottai, succumbed to injuries she sustained in a road accident in the town on Wednesday.

The deceased, T. Balachandra, 57, Personal Assistant to Collector, was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by her husband Thirugnanasambandam in the late hours on Tuesday when a two-wheeler rider rammed their vehicle from behind at South Fourth Street in Pudukottai town.

Balachandra fell down along with her husband.

As she sustained head injury, she was admitted to the Pudukottai Medical College Hospital .

On Wednesday morning, Balachandra passed away.

The Pudukottai Town Police have registered a case.

All Nippon Airways to start flights from Chennai to Tokyo from October

STAFF REPORTERCHENNAI

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Direct flights to Tokyo, starting October

Starting October, there will be direct air connectivity between Chennai and Japan, as All Nippon Airways will start flights from the city to Tokyo. Services will begin from October 27 and bookings will open from July 24.

Appointments of V-Cs, faculty must be transparent: Governor

STAFF REPORTER

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Only then education of the desired quality could be delivered, he says

Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Thursday said the selection process of Vice-Chancellors and teaching faculty should be transparent to deliver education of the desired quality.

Delivering the inaugural address at the regional summit on ‘Quality and Sustainable Education’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) along with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the Governor said the country was on the threshold of realising the benefits of demographic dividend with more than half of India’s population below 25 years of age.

“At least 10 million youth enter the country’s workforce every year. The benefits of the demographic dividend will be realised fully when this large workforce finds gainful employment,” he said.

The Governor highlighted that Tamil Nadu had done better in getting more students enrolled for higher education with its Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 46% surpassing even that of China, which was at 39.5%.

Terry Durnnian, Chief Education, Unicef, highlighted the conference’s theme of ‘Realizing the full human potential through inclusive and holistic education,’ and said focus was needed on learning outcomes.

Veterinary counselling from July 25

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Call letters available on Tanuvas website

The counselling for veterinary courses will be held from July 25 to 27. On July 25, in the first session at 9 a.m., counselling will be held for special categories (sportspersons, wards of ex-servicemen and differently able persons).

In the second session at 11.30 a.m, counselling for vocational stream of B.VSc and Animal Husbandry will be held. The counselling for academic stream of B.VSc will be held on July 26 from 9 a.m. and on July 27, counselling will be held for B.Tech (food/poultry/dairy technology).

Candidates may visit the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas) website, www.tanuvas.ac.in, to verify their cut-off marks, rank in the merit list and download call letters.

SMS alerts

Eligible candidates should come to the venue an hour ahead of the scheduled time along with the call letter. Candidates are required to bring the required documents/certificates mentioned in the letters.

Alerts have been sent to eligible candidates by SMS and e-mail, according to the Chairman of the Admission Committee (UG), Tanuvas.

Alerts have been sent to eligible candidates by SMS and e-mail

Governor releases special postal cover on Athi Varadar

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Governor Banwarilal Purohit released a special cover and special cancellation on Athi Varadar at Raj Bhavan on Thursday.

The Tamil Nadu Postal Circle has brought out this special cover to commemorate the ‘Athi Varadhar Festival 2019’ in Kancheepuram based on a proposal from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.

Special UV printing

A total of thousand special covers have been printed with special UV printing and each cover is priced at Rs. 50.

The Department of Posts has also printed one lakh non-UV special covers considering the huge number of devotees thronging the temple.

These covers are available at Rs. 20 each at the Anna Road Head Post Office Philately Bureau as well as at the special stalls, which have already been put up near the Devarajaswami Temple at Kancheepuram. Ganga Jal bottles (250 ml sourced at Gangotri at Rs. 30 per bottle) have also been made available for sale for the devotees visiting the temple.

Chief Postmaster General, M. Sampath, Postmasters General J. Charukesi and R. Anand; Secretary to Governor R. Rajagopal, and Commissioner from Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department K. Phanindra Reddy participated in the event.

A total of thousand special covers have been printed

Relatives attack nursing students as patient dies

STAFF REPORTER

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Fault them for administering an injection to the patient

Five nursing students were reportedly assaulted by relatives of a patient who died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital (KGH) for Women and Children on Wednesday.

The students were pursuing diploma course in general nursing at the School of Nursing, KGH, an associated institution of the Government Medical College, Omandurar Estate. They were attending to an elderly woman admitted with complaints of fever. On Wednesday, the patient reportedly vomited blood and collapsed. The students rushed her to the casualty ward. However, she suffered a cardiac arrest and died.

“Following this, the patient’s relatives manhandled them. They had to be stopped by the hospital staff and security,” K. Boominathan, State president of the Government Trained and Trainee Nurses Association, said. However, they did not sustain injuries. The relatives alleged that the students had administered an injection to the patient. He said there were no duty doctors at the ward at that time, and it was the students, who rushed the patient to the casualty ward in a stretcher.

Police complaint

“The director of KGH and dean of the medical college have not lodged a complaint with the police. All hostel students have been granted three days leave, and told not to leave the hostel,” he claimed. The association demanded that a formal complaint be lodged with the police.

Cannot direct Governor to release Rajiv case convicts: HC

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Nalini Sriharan

Holds as not maintainable a writ petition filed by Nalini

The Madras High Court on Thursday held as not maintainable a writ petition filed by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict S. Nalini seeking a direction to the Governor to “countersign” a recommendation made by the State Cabinet on September 9 for premature release of all seven life convicts.

A Division Bench of Justices R. Subbiah and C. Saravanan said that no such direction could be issued to the Governor since the person holding the office had been insulated, under Article 361(1) of the Constitution, from being questioned or made answerable to courts of law with respect to discharge of his / her constitutional functions and duties.

The judges agreed with Advocate General Vijay Narayan that the immunity so conferred on the Governor of a State was unfettered and it could not be intruded by the High Court in exercise of the power, to issue writs, conferred on it under Article 226 of the Constitution. The personal immunity under Article 361 was clear and specific, the judges said.

‘No judicial scrutiny’

Authoring the verdict, Justice Subbiah observed that neither the discharge of a constitutional duty by the Governor nor the failure to discharge such an obligation could be subjected to judicial scrutiny under Article 226 by arraying him / her as a party to the writ proceedings since Article 361 completely insulates the person holding the office.

“In this case, even assuming that the Governor of the State did not take into account the advice given by the Council of the Ministers, it will not be a ground for the petitioner to file this writ petition and contend that the protection of life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India has been infringed.

“The privileges and immunity conferred on the Governor of the State under Article 361 of the Constitution of India is a clear bar for the petitioner to file the present writ petition. The Governor cannot therefore be equated with government instrumentalities, enumerated under Article 12, who are amenable to the writ jurisdiction of this court,” he said.

He said the Supreme Court had in Rameshwar Prasad versus Union of India (2006) held that a Governor could not be made answerable to the courts.even in cases where allegations of mala fide had been attributed.

SC begins publishing judgments in Tamil

Legal Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Credit must go to DMK president: Wilson

The Supreme Court began publishing its judgments in various languages from Thursday and the first verdict to be translated and uploaded on its website in Tamil was the one delivered on March 29 confirming the life sentence on popular restaurant chain Saravana Bhavan’s founder P. Rajagopal.

The translated versions of the Supreme Court judgments can be accessed by clicking on the link titled ‘vernacular judgments’ on the home page of the court.

Alternatively, English as well as the translated copies of the judgment can be accessed by clicking on the link ‘judgments’ and then carrying out a search using the case number or other details. All translated vernacular judgments carry a condition at the end that they are meant only to help litigants understand the verdict in their language.

It is also made clear that for all official purposes, the judgments delivered in English alone would be taken into consideration.

Elated over judgments being made available in Tamil, senior counsel and Rajya Sabha member P. Wilson said the credit must go to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M.K. Stalin, who sent a delegation of his party MPs to meet Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and impress upon him the need to translate the verdicts in the classical language too.

“Initially, the Supreme Court had not included Tamil among the vernacular languages in which it intended to release its judgements. It was only because of the efforts taken by DMK president that the CJI agreed to release the verdicts in Tamil too,” he asserted.

The translated judgments can be accessed via the link titled ‘vernacular judgments’ on the court’s home page

A school dropout’s recipe for success

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Paying respects:People gather outside Saravana Bhavan owner P. Rajagopal’s residence in K.K. Nagar.K. Pichumani

Rajagopal’s Saravana Bhavan chain is synonymous with quality and taste

P. Rajagopal’s rise from penury to prominence was the stuff of dreams. Born in Punnai Nagar in the erstwhile Tirunelveli district on August 5, 1947, he had to struggle to reach the position he occupied before his death, setting up a chain of eateries that became synonymous with quality and standardisation of taste, hygiene and size of portions.

A school dropout, he was sent to Valparai at a young age, where he worked at an eatery. Thereafter, he moved to Chennai and started working during the late sixties as an errand boy in a Mylapore vessel store. He had to supplement his family income, primarily derived from agriculture. Rajagopal did not let go any opportunity to learn — he learnt the art of management from the vessel merchant. It was at this time that he was attracted to the spiritual discourses of the late Kirubanandha Variyar, who would go on to become his guide later in life.

This was followed by his stint as a trader. He started a grocery store in K.K. Nagar. The idea of starting a hotel struck him when his customers frequently complained about the lack of a good eatery in the vicinity. And soon enough, an opportunity came his way.

The owner of Kamatchi Bhavan, an eatery located close to his shop, declared his intention to give up the place as it was not viable anymore. Acquiring the eatery, Rajagopal and his wife started cooking and serving food at cheaper rates, running it first in the same name, and then renaming it as Saravana Bhavan in 1981.

A senior journalist recalls, “I used to visit the small hotel run by Rajagopal in early 1980s. It earned a reputation for clean and tasty food at affordabale rates. They served a meal for Rs. 3 then.” M.G. Sivagnanam, author of Vetri Meethu Asai Vaithen (I desired success), a biography of Rajagopal, said Rajagopal learnt the art of business from his former employers whom he respectfully referred to asMudhalali .

“He treated his employees very well, and they used to fondly refer to him asAnnachi (elder brother),” Mr. Sivagnanam said. With about 4,000 employees, Rajagopal knew each of them personally. He offered welfare schemes to his employees, unimaginable at the time.

Success mantra

Rajagopal himself shared the secret of his success once with the Hindu : “All you need is proper planning and execution, besides having the mental toughness to face challenges. One should also learn by experience.”

Along with his children, he slowly built branches/franchises across the world, serving a certain kind of South Indian cuisine, nearly identical in its taste everywhere. He expanded the business rapidly after setting up the first offshore restaurant in Dubai. Today, there are 83 Saravana Bhavan units worldwide, with 40 in India.

Travel by sleeper coach may cost you more

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

A quarterly tax of Rs. 4,000 a berth and Rs. 3,000 a seat mooted

The State government tabled a Bill in the Assembly on Thursday to amend Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1974, to levy taxes on omni buses with sleeper facilities.

Through this law, motor vehicles tax could be levied on omni buses with sleeper berth facilities registered both in Tami Nadu and in other States and Union territories. This could lead to higher fares.

The Bill, introduced by Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar in the House, pointed out that at present there was no provision in the Act to levy motor vehicles taxes on omni buses with sleeper berths and those with seats.

“Hence, the government has decided to amend the Act to levy taxes on such omni buses,” the Bill said.

To be called Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Act, 2019, the Bill provides for levying a quarterly tax of Rs. 4,000 a single berth in omni buses registered in Tamil Nadu with sleeper berths and an addition of Rs. 3,000 if the vehicle offered a seat too.

Tax for non-T.N. buses

As for such omni buses registered in other States and Union territories, the tax would be Rs. 800 a seat or Rs. 1,000 per single berth per entry if the temporary licence was for a period not exceeding seven days.

If the temporary licence was for a period exceeding seven days but not exceeding 30 days, the vehicle would be charged Rs. 2,000 a seat or Rs. 2,500 per single berth per entry. If the licence was for more than 30 but within 90 days, it would be Rs. 5,000 per seat or Rs. 5,500 per single berth per entry.

A senior official said the law was primarily aimed at curbing tax evasion by omni bus owners

The Bill was likely to be passed in the House on the last day of the ongoing session on Saturday.

Edappadi announces Tenkasi, Chengalpattu districts

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

Tirunelveli and Kancheepuram districts to be bifurcated, govt. tells House

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday announced the creation of two more districts with Tenkasi and Chengalpattu as their headquarters. With this, the number of districts in Tamil Nadu rises to 35.

Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Mr. Palaniswami said the decision follows requests from Ministers, MLAs and the general public that new districts should be created out of big districts to ensure better administration.

He said Tirunelveli would be bifurcated to create a new district with Tenkasi as the headquarters. Similarly, Kancheepuram would be bifurcated to create a new district. Chengalpattu would be the new headquarters. The Chief Minister said each new district would have an IAS officer as a special officer.

Special allocation

In January, Mr. Palaniswami announced creation of Kallakurichi district, carved out of Villupuram.

Since Villupuram Municipality was celebrating its centenary, the Chief Minister on Thursday allocated Rs. 50 crore for developing infrastructure. The money would be used for providing drinking water, street lights, roads, underground drainage, bus stands, parks, anganwadis, ponds and municipal service centres.

The new Tenkasi district is likely to comprise Alangulam, Tenkasi, Kodayanallur, Vasudevanallur and Sankarankoil Assembly constituencies under its administration.

A few days ago, Mr. Palaniswami had announced in Tenkasi that the government was considering creating a new district.

While welcoming the creation of new districts, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said Vellore district, which had the maximum number of 13 Assembly constituencies should be split into three with Arakkonam and Tirupattur as separate districts.

Final decision awaited

Revenue Minister R.B. Udayakumar, however, said a final decision had not yet been taken on the areas to be covered under the new districts and the special officers would hold public hearings before finalising the jurisdiction.

Asked whether Kumbakonam would be made a new district, he said the local MLA G. Anbalagan had been making the demand and it was under the consideration of the government.

Rajagopal, owner of Saravana Bhavan, dies

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 19, 2019 00:00 IST

P. Rajagopal

He was sentenced in a murder case

P. Rajagopal, 72, owner of Saravana Bhavan restaurants, who was ailing, died in a city hospital on Thursday morning. Last week, he surrendered in a sessions court to serve the life sentence awarded to him for abduction and murder of an employee in 2001. The court later allowed him to be shifted to a private hospital for treatment.

He is survived by two wives and two sons and leaves behind a legacy in the form of the Saravana Bhavan chain of restaurants.

Rajagopal was named the prime accused in the kidnapping and murder of Prince Santhakumar. According to the prosecution, either upon the advice of an astrologer or having become besotted with Jeevajothi, Santhakumar’s wife, he evinced a keen desire to take her as his third wife, and urged her to split up with her husband.

Faced with resistance from her, Rajagopal made several failed attempts, with the help of others, to break the couple up. On his instructions, hired hands kidnapped Santhakumar, killed him and dumped the body in the forest area of Tiger Chola near Kodaikanal, the prosecution argued. After the trial concluded in a special court at Poonamallee, Rajagopal was awarded a 10-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine in 2004.

Univ allows you to improve your exams written 2 decades ago
Rajeev.KR@timesgroup.com

Kozhikode:19.07.2019

Calicut University has come up with an extraordinary solution to help former students, even those who completed their course a quarter of a century ago, to improve their results.

Those who completed their course in 1995 to 2019 can appear for a “special supplementary and improvement examination” to be held by the university. Authorities said the decision would be helpful to students who couldn’t score enough marks in their student days.

Interestingly, the varsity had tried its hands at the improvement examination in the past too but had to stop it in 2015, three years after its commencement, after it ran into controversy over difficulties in revoking the earlier degree certificates and other technical issues.

Syndicate examinations standing committee member K K Haneefa said the decision to conduct the examination was taken on request from former students, mainly those who failed to score the minimum marks of 50 or 55% required to appear for various eligibility tests or for promotions.

“The single-chance exam will be held on the basis of syllabus corresponding to the student’s year of study. The examination wing will make a list of all syllabi and schemes followed by the varsity from 1995 onwards,” a senior official said.

Full report on www.toi.in