As corruption cases idle, higher edu slips into old, bad ways
Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:28.07.2019

It has been 539 days since the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) arrested then vicechancellor of Bharathiar University, A Ganapathi, while taking bribe. The unprecedented move sent shock waves across academic circles in the state, as he was the first vicechancellor to be arrested while holding office. But, nothing much has happened since then, and the DVAC is yet to file a chargesheet against him.

Bharathiar University’s former VCs G James Pitchai and C Swaminathan also have corruption cases pending against them. But, no action has been initiated against them so far. The DVAC raided the premises of M Rajaram, former VC of Anna University. Again, no action has been launched against him.

The long delay in taking action has actually dampened the drive against corruption in higher education department. “Unless you take action against erring academicians, other vice-chancellors will continue to do the same. Proceedings in cases pending against vice-chancellors should be expedited and immediate action should be taken. It would prevent others from involving in corrupt activities,” said E Balagurusamy, former vice-chancellor of Anna University.

N Pasupathy, president of Association of University Teachers, said many of the VCs facing corruption charges had the temerity to re-apply for VC posts since there was no action against them.

“The state government should expedite action against corrupt officials, so that they would be debarred from seeking reappointment as VCs,” he said.

Criminal proceedings pertaining to the revaluation and mark sheet scam unearthed at Anna University have also been put in a cold storage. “There was no movement in these two cases despite strong evidence presented against former controller of examination GV Uma. She was raided and case was registered, but beyond that little happened. The delay in filing chargesheets will only favour those accused in the corruption cases,” sources said.

The composition of the new search committee for Bharathiyar University too has dissatisfied the academia, as instead of opting for reputed academicians to head it, the authorities have appointed former higher education secretary and retired IAS officer K Ganesan as its convener. C Subramaniam, former VC of Tamil University, and S P Thyagarajan, former VC of Madras University, are members of the committee.

“I don’t agree with the appointment of Ganesan as convener of the search committee. Instead of appointing a retired IAS officer, the state government should have nominated an eminent academician as convener of the search committee,” Balagurusamy said, adding that all search committees should have only academicians and educationists.

Pasupathy said Bharathiar University needed an honest and efficient person as the new vice-chancellor more than ever, as three former VCs of the university are facing corruption charges.

The state government also nominated S Subbiah, former vice-chancellor of Alagappa University to the search committee of Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University. Jawaharlal Nehru University’s former VC M Jagdesh Kumar and Periyar University’s former VC T Balakrishnan are the other members of the committee.

“When the state government wants to clean up the mess and select vice-chancellors based on merit, it should first nominate persons with high integrity. These nominations will not inspire the confidence of the professors,” they said.

Rlys to pay NRI family ₹4L for baggage loss  Jewels, Rolex Watch, Costly Clothes Stolen
Srikkanth.D@timesgroup.com

Chennai:28.07.2019

The district consumer disputes redressal forum, Chennai (north), has directed Southern Railway to compensate₹4 lakh to a non-resident Indian (NRI) family whose luggagewas allegedly stolen from a second AC compartment of Tamil Nadu Express in 2015. The family said they were on their way to a wedding in New Delhi from Chennai and the luggage contained valuables worth more than ₹10 lakh, including expensive clothes, gold and diamond jewellery and a Rolex watch among others.

In their petition, Kamal Kumar Maheshwary and MeenakshiMaheshwary statedthat they travelled by the Tamil Nadu Express that left Chennai on January 20, 2015. They had kept their two suitcases with the valuables under their berths. On January 22, when they awoke at Agra station,theduofoundboth suitcases missing after which they lodged a complaint with the travelling ticket examiner (TTE). According to their complaint, both attendants who were on duty from the beginning of the journey were gone when the luggage went missing and a co-passenger, a bank manager, informed them and the TTE that he witnessed a person alighting from the second AC coach with the said luggage.

“It is very clear that unauthorized persons were allowed to enter the second AC compartment by the attendants and the TTE,” the petitioners said and addedthatthelossof luggage resultedin mental agonyfor them. They statedthatthey paid about ₹4,800for thetickets andthe negligence on part of the railway staff causedthem mental agony apart from the financial loss.

Southern Railway said the security of passengers and their baggage is the responsibility of Government Railway Police anditdoes nothave any connection with the policing work of GRP.Railwayscannotbeheld responsible for the negligence of the complainants, it said.

After examining both sides, the DCDRF bench comprising president K Lakshmikantham and member P V Jayanthi held there was negligence on part of the railways and the passengers havetobecompensatedfor their material loss.

The forum directed the railway authorities to compensate ₹3 lakh for their lost baggage and ₹1 lakh for the stress, hardship and mental agony.

Both attendants who were on duty from the beginning of the journey were gone when the luggage went missing

மருத்துவ தேர்வு தேதிகள் மாற்றம்

Added : ஜூலை 26, 2019 23:39

சென்னை, ஆக. 5ல் நடைபெற இருந்த மருத்துவ தேர்வுகள் வேலுார் லோக்சபா தேர்தலையொட்டி வேறு தேதிக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளன.இதுகுறித்து தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். மருத்துவ பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் சுதா சேஷய்யன் கூறியதாவது:

வேலுார் லோக்சபா தொகுதிக்கான தேர்தல் ஆக. 5ல் நடைபெற உள்ளதால் அன்றைய தினம் நடைபெற இருந்த தேர்வுகள் மாநில முழுவதும் வேறு தேதிகளுக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளன. இதன்படி மருத்துவம் பல் மருத்துவம் இந்திய மருத்துவம் மற்றும் ஒமியோபதி மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் நடைபெற இருந்த தேர்வுகள் ஆக. 6 மற்றும் 7ல் நடத்தப்படும்.இதுதொடர்பான விவரங்கள் www.tnmgrmu.ac.in என்ற இணையதளத்தில் தெரிந்து கொள்ளலாம். அனைவரும் ஓட்டளிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கத்தில் மருத்துவ பல்கலையின் கீழ் வரும் அனைத்து கல்லுாரிகளுக்கும் தேர்வு தேதிகள் மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளன. மேலும் 'பப்ளிக் ஹெல்த் ஜர்னலிசம்' என்ற ஓராண்டு படிப்பு துவங்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. விரைவில் அதுகுறித்து அறிவிக்கப்படும். புதிய பாட திட்டத்தின்படி நோயாளிகளிடம் நடந்து கொள்ளும் முறை சிகிச்சை விபரங்களை தெரிவிக்கும் முறைகள் குறித்தும் மாணவர்களுக்கு கற்பிக்கப்படும்.இவ்வாறு சுதா சேஷய்யன் கூறினார்

HC dismisses plea seeking to declare ‘Vande Mataram’ national anthem or national song

PTI

NEW DELHI:, JULY 26, 2019 12:02 IST

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar said it finds no reason to entertain this petition while exercising its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution.


The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to declare “Vande Mataram” the national anthem, on par with “Jana Gana Mana”, or the national song.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar said it finds no reason to entertain this petition while exercising its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution.

“We see no reason to give direction to the respondent (Centre) to declare Vande Mataram as national anthem or national song,” the bench said.

The plea, filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, wanted “Vande Mataram”, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, be given the same respect as the national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana” penned by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Madras high court acquits two life convicts in murder case

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published  Jul 26, 2019, 1:31 am IST

The prosecution case was that the deceased Vinoth Kumar was a mason contractor.

Madras high court

Chennai: Pointing out that in a case based on circumstantial evidence, there has to be cogent evidence to connect the accused that it is the accused who has committed the crime and none else, the Madras high court has set aside an order of a trial court convicting and sentencing two accused to life imprisonment in a murder case, on the ground that the circumstantial evidence let in is inconsistent.

A division bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and M.Nirmal Kumar allowed the appeals filed by the accused Shankar and Nithithiyaraj.

The prosecution case was that the deceased Vinoth Kumar was a mason contractor. The first accused was a tenant in the house of the deceased and due to some bad association between the first accused and the deceased the wife of the deceased asked the first accused to vacate the premises. The accused 1 and 2 are brothers. On April 22, 2011 at 8.30 a.m. a prosecution witness (PW-4 who works under the deceased) met both the accused and deceased near Iyyappanthangal bus stop. Thereafter, the deceased asked him (PW-4) to go for the work and informed him that he will join him by 11 a.m. But even after 1.00 pm the deceased did not come to the place of work. It was stated that the accused have taken him near the Jayavinayagar temple at Retteri lake, Porur. The deceased Vinoth Kumar was attacked by the accused and his head was dashed against the temple wall and thereby caused his death. To conceal the same, the appellants had thrown the body of the deceased in the lake, the prosecution added.

After perusing the materials available on record, the bench said this court finds that the witnesses were contrary to each other and unbelievable. The wife of the deceased admits that she was informed by PW-4 that her husband was thrown in the lake at about 1.pm and also states that she was informed about the same at about 2.30 pm by PW-4. It was seen that the complaint was lodged at 5.30 pm. Further, the mother and brother of the deceased has sated that they came to know about the incident only through the wife of the deceased. Hence, the genesis of the case itself has become highly doubtful, the bench added.

The bench said it was seen that the complaint came to be registered at about 5.30 p.m. that her husband was missing and thereupon a man missing case was registered. However, it was the case of the prosecution that the wife of the deceased was informed by PW-4 at about 2.p.m. about her husband being assaulted and thrown in the lake by the appellants and if that version of PW-4 informing the wife of the deceased was true, then the genesis of the case was false. PW-4 (mason), PW-5 (watchman of the building where the deceased was working, PW-6 (passerby who has seen the fight between the deceased and the appellant) and PW-8(supervisor of the building) were all very certain that the accused and the appellants were in drunken state and taking advantage of the drunkenness of the deceased, he was done to death, and his body was thrown in the lake. But in the viscera report and the postmortem certificate it was stated that alcohol was not present in the body of the deceased. “The chain of events are not inter connected and does not inspire to place reliance on the evidence available. The circumstances should lead to the sole inference that the accused is guilty of the offence. However, in the case on hand, the circumstantial evidence let in is inconsistent. The evidence of the prosecution cannot be said to be reliable evidence”, the bench added.

Chennai: Who’s to be blamed for this?

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published  Jul 26, 2019, 1:51 am IST

One of the students can be seen with both his legs in the air as he is unable to get to the footboard.

The seniors at high schools are getting to be just as bad, though they are not known to brandish swords as the college students do.

Chennai: Only on Wednesday did Joint Commissioner (East) Sudhakar issue a stern warning to the student community that they would face stiff punishment if they violated the law. He also issued an appeal to the bus crews to stop the vehicles if any student(s) indulged in rowdyism and disrupted public order.

The officer had said just a phone call to the police control room would rush a patrol vehicle in less than five minutes to the spot. His warning came out loud and clear in the TV news bulletins amid the horrid visuals of the students of the Pachaiyappa’s College rampaging with aruvals on the Poonamalee High Road at
Arumbakkam.

The police should not stop with focusing only on the rowdyism of college heroes.

The seniors at high schools are getting to be just as bad, though they are not known to brandish swords as the college students do. These ‘kids’ in the picture, sent to DC by a worried reader, are riding on the footboards of a bus, some of them hanging precariously from a thin rod fixed to the bus’s windows, which could come off in the rain or if it is already rusted.

Obviously the police’s stern warnings have not sunk into them. But what about the bus crew? Why didn’t they stop the bus and report to the police, instead of allowing the kids to ride so precariously by the window bars.

One of the students can be seen with both his legs in the air as he is unable to get to the footboard.

The bus - route M9M from T’Nagar to AG’s Colony, bearing registration number TN-01-N-8098 - was followed by the reader down the Raj Bhavan Road, the turn towards Guindy railway station down the bridge and beyond.

He could click a few shots on his mobile phone while travelling in the passenger’s seat next to the driver in a car. It was about 3.30 pm; peak time for the educational institutions to ‘set free’ their students for returning home. Safely.

So whose fault is it that scenes such as seen in this photograph are still enacted on Chennai roads? These students in their school uniform could ‘graduate’ to patta-katthis and aruvals when they get into college, unless they are stopped now from this brand of rowdyism performing dangerous circus on and off the bus footboards. It’s sad that JC Sudhakar’s police patrol cars were missing throughout the 30-40 minutes that the bus was on the road with its dangerous load of unruly kids.

It’s just as sad that the government transport corporations do not have enough buses to accommodate the students during the morning and evening peak hours, and let their crews let the students hang on footboards - some of those kids even climbing on to the side of the buses and cling to the window rods.

...

In APJ Abdul Kalam’s memory: 10,000 saplings planted in 3-minutes in Kovai

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | LAKSHMI L LUND

Published    Jul 26, 2019, 2:29 am IST

Through this initiative, we are creating yet another Miyawaki urban forest in the city: source from BU.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

COIMBATORE: ‘Bharathi Vanam’, an afforestation project was launched in partnership with ‘Siruthuli’ and with sponsorship of ZF Wind Power Coimbatore Pvt. Ltd at the at Bharathiar University (BU) campus on Thursday.

Under the ambitious initiative, students and volunteers planted as many as 10,000 saplings in a span of less than five minutes at the university campus located on the Marudhamalai road. A source from BU said “through this initiative, we are creating yet another Miyawaki urban forest in the city.” “This is a dedication in fond remembrance of our late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his fourth death anniversary.” Siruthuli said in a press release. Students of colleges affiliated to the BU participated in the drive.

During the inauguration ceremony of the initiative Vanitha Mohan, managing trustee of ‘Siruthuli’, in her address quoted Dr APJ Abdul Kalam having said that “he is alive amongst us at Bharathiar University in the form of trees, blessing the students for their successful future.”

With the fullest support of volunteers from NSS cell of various affiliated colleges of BU and NGOs, this became reality.

Verify, enter spouse names in service records of public servants: Madras High Court

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedJul 27, 2019, 1:57 am IST

The judge said uniformed service in this state is undoubtedly sensitive.

Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the state government to issue consolidated instructions/guidelines as well as procedures to be followed to all government departments and government organisations across the state of Tamil Nadu to enter the names of the spouses in the service records of public servants after ascertaining the genuinity of the nominations and after conducting proper verification in order to protect the interest of the legally wedded spouse of the public servants in the government departments.

Justice S.M.Subramaniam also directed the state government to enter a clause in the instructions by stating that in the event of identifying any misconduct or the offence of bigamous marriage or otherwise, as the case may be, departmental disciplinary proceedings will be instituted and a criminal case also will be registered under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The judge was rejecting a plea from R.Thenmozhi, the second wife of a police officer (since deceased) , which sought a direction to the authorities to pay the death cum retirement benefits of her husband including provident fund, family pension, gratuity, leave salary etc equally to her and first wife Muthulakshmi.

According to petitioner, her husband joined as constable in the police department and promoted up to the level of sub-inspector. Due to mutual understanding, she and the deceased police officer got married during the year 1982 at Murugan temple in Usilampatti town. The marriage was solemnized between her and the deceased police officer. She lived with him for a long time. Only during the year 1994, she came to know that her husband had already married Muthulakshmi and has got three children at Madurai.

On account of the difference of opinion arose between her and the deceased police officer, a complaint was lodged before the Usilampatti police station, where a mediation was conducted and the husband promised that he would live with her as second wife and he would maintain the second family also. Her husband died while in service on March 1, 2011. Under these circumstances, she should be paid half of the pensionary benefits from the pensionary benefits already paid in favour of Muthulakshmi, she added.

The judge said it was a great surprise for this court in respect of the second marriage of a police officer the police station was conducting mediation. Such a situation was not only painful but illegal. On what basis, these police officials on duty were conducting mediation in respect of the second marriage by a public servant, more specifically, police officer.

In such an event, it was to be construed that the competent officials themselves were indirectly and impliedly encouraging such bigamous marriages under the pretext that such second marriages were common amongst the public servants, the judge added.

The judge said uniformed service in this state is undoubtedly sensitive. The uniformed service personnel were the law enforcing authority. If they were allowed to commit the offence of bigamous marriage, then it would be very difficult for such law enforcing agency to maintain the law and order, morale and discipline in the society at large.

These police officers were openly solemnizing the second marriages in temples and in some isolated places.

These police officials were solemnizing the second marriages even with the knowledge of their relatives, however, without the knowledge of the first wife.

Under these circumstances, the authorities competent as well as the higher officials in the police department, on information of any such offence of bigamous marriage, must immediately act and initiate all further actions against the public servants. In the event of initiating swift actions, the evil consequences of such bigamous marriages can be brought down to the extent possible, the judge added.

The judge said in the present case, admittedly the petitioner was the second wife and Muthulakshmi was the first wife of the deceased police officer.

When the name of Muthulakshmi had already been entered as nominee in the service records of the deceased police officer, the department has rightly settled the pensionary benefits and family pension in favour of Muthulakshmi and there was no infirmity as such, the judge added.

Bigamous marriages are offence under IPC: Madras High Court

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published  Jul 27, 2019, 2:02 am IST

It is duty mandatory on the part of the state to ensure that the interest of women is also to be protected and after the death of the public servants.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has observed that in spite of the conduct rules stating that bigamous marriages is a misconduct and an offence under the IPC, authorities competent of the various departments across the state of Tamil Nadu are absolutely insensitive towards such issues.

Justice S.M.Subramaniam further said the consequences of insensitiveness in these issues resulting denial of livelihood to the other woman, who married the public servant as the second wife, without even understanding the consequences and the other service conditions.

In many number of cases, illegal marriages were not identified, when the public servants were in service and in most of the cases, the counter claims were arising only after the retirement of the public servants or in the event of the death of the public servants, the judge added.

The judge said, “It is duty mandatory on the part of the state to ensure that the interest of women is also to be protected and after the death of the public servants, the pension benefits as well as the family pension are unable to be settled in large number of cases and the civil litigations instituted in this regard are also pending very long years. Ultimately, the poor widows became dependents of their children or relatives. While the public servants were in service, they lead a decent life and suddenly, they are affected on account of such counter claims. Thus, an effective mechanism is to be provided for the purpose of controlling the bigamous marriages amongst the public servants”.

The judge said when the offences relating to marriages were declared as offences against the state, how the state government employees can commit such offences and such offences committed were taken lightly by the authorities competent. When it was established that the offences against the marriages were punishable under the IPC and public servants were committing such offences against the State, they were left without any action in many number of cases.

The concept of social acceptance or otherwise cannot be pleaded in such type of cases whether such nature of offences were already punishable under the IPC. The acceptance has no legal validity in the eye of law.

Thus, the public servants on entering into the second marriage during the lifetime of the first wife or contracted with any other woman for marriage were all to be prosecuted under the provisions of criminal law. Under these circumstances, the department officials on receipt of any such complaint or information from any source must conduct an enquiry and investigation, if necessary and accordingly, institute actions against public servants both under the discipline and appeal rules as well as by registering a police complaint under the IPC, the judge added.

Super Speciality courses 2019-20

Act against govt staff resorting to bigamy: HC

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:27.07.2019

If any public servant is found to have indulged in bigamy, authorities concerned must initiate disciplinary proceedings and register a criminal case, as bigamy is not just a misconduct, but also a punishable offence carrying seven-year imprisonment, Madras high court has said.

"Authorities competent as well as the higher officials, on information of any such offence of bigamous marriage, must immediately act and initiate all further actions against the public servants. In the event of initiating swift actions, the evil consequences of such bigamous marriages can be brought down to the extent possible," observed Justice SM Subramaniam.

He was passing orders on a petition filed by R Thenmozhi, who is the second wife of a deceased police officer. She had moved the Madurai bench of the court in 2014 staking claim over retirement benefits and other terminal monetary benefits of her deceased husband.

She said that though she married him in 1982, only in 1994 did she come to know that her husband was already married. When she lodged a complaint with Usilampatti police, they conducted a ‘mediation’ and it was ‘agreed’ that her husband would also ‘maintain’ his second family. After his death in 2011, she moved to the court saying she should be paid at least half of the pensionary benefits.

Justice Subramaniam, wondering as to how a police station could conduct ‘mediation’ in respect of the second marriage of a police officer, said, “such a situation is not only painful but also illegal.”

Marrying again during the lifetime husband or wife is an offence punishable with an imprisonment upto seven years and fine under Section 494 of IPC. Section 495 of IPC entails the same offence with concealment of former marriage from a person with whom subsequent marriage is contracted.

The judge also lamented that in a number of cases, illegal marriages were not identified when the public servants concerned were still in service. In most of the cases, counter-claims arise only after the retirement of the public servants or in the event of their death, he said.

All vet science seats filled in TANUVAS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.07.2019

All 260 seats in bachelor of veterinary science and animal husbandry (BVSc and AH) have been filled during the first round of counselling at Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) on Friday. Animal husbandry minister Udumalai K.Radhakrishnan has issued the allotment letters to the top 10 rank holders.

“We have called 789 students and 463 students attended the counselling. At the end of day, we have filled all the 260 seats in veterinary science,” officials said.

The admission is based on class 12 board marks. The cutoff for OC category was 193 marks out of 200. For BC category, 190 marks, 190.5 for MBC, 187 for SC and for ST it is 176.5.

On Saturday, the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University will conduct counselling for B.Tech courses. The university is offering B.Tech. in food, diary and poultry technology.


The University called 789 students, out of which 463 attended counselling. The admission is based on class 12 board marks

High court relief for MBBS aspirant hit by nativity rule

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

27.07.2019

The Madras high court has ruled that the communal or nativity status issued to a person by the government cannot be rejected by another wing of the government without a valid reason. Giving relief to an MBBS aspirant whose candidature was rejected due to nativity rules, the court directed the state government to grant him admission after verifying his communal status within three days.

The government had contended that the candidate’s father was born in Sri Lanka and that he studied in various institutions in Karnataka. Additional advocate general stated that the petitioner’s parents are not from Tamil Nadu and therefore nativity cannot be claimed by the petitioner. Justice R Suresh Kumar pointed out that the birth certificate was issued to the petitioner by the Tuticorin municipality while the tahsildar of Tuticorin issued the community certificate as SC in 2009.

“As far as the issue of nativity is concerned, without being a native person of this state, the permanent communal status could not have been conferred by the competent authority. If one wing of the authority of the state conferred a communal status and nativity status to a person, another wing of the state cannot reject it without any valid reason,” observed the judge.

Rejecting the contentions of the government and on perusal of the fact that the petitioner was born and completed his school education in Tuticorin, the judge directed the selection committee to grant medical admission to the petitioner as per the communal ranking obtained by him based on Neet marks in any of the colleges for the academic year 2019-20 after verifying his communal status.

The petitioner, P Karuppasamy, a resident of Tuticorin, had moved the high court this year challenging his inclusion in the list of candidates not eligible due to nativity and for having studied in another state. His candidature was rejected on the ground that he is not a native of Tamil Nadu and therefore, of the SC category in which he was ranked with 408 in communal ranking. The counsel of the petitioner submitted that the petitioner had studied up to Class XII in Tuticorin and he has been given community certificate that he belongs to Supreme Court.

Airport to handle 100 more flights
Two Rapid Exit Taxiways To Be Completed By Year-End

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.07.2019

The city airport will be able to handle around 100 more flights by the end of the year as two rapid exit taxiways, which are being constructed, are expected to be ready by then. Currently, the airport handles around 400 flights per day. The taxiways will help planes exit the runways soon after landing and move to the taxiway so that air traffic controllers will be able to allow more planes to take off and land from the main and the second runway, thereby increasing the flight handling capacity of the airport.

Sources said the work, which is part of phase two expansion of the airport, is crucial to handle more aircraft. The airport’s capacity will go up to 450 to 500 if the rapid exit taxiways are ready. As the airport does not have rapid exit taxiways, aircraft take around 10 minutes to vacate the runway. In the case of the second runway, it takes longer as planes that land on the second runway have to taxi down and cross the main runway to reach the terminals. “The rapid exit taxiways are planned so that planes that land on the main runway move out quickly and the distance between planes that approach the airport can be reduced. The work is currently underway and around 50% is complete. The rest will be ready by the end of the year. The work is progressing well to meet the deadline,” an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said.

As the main runway of the airport does not have a rapid exit taxiway, air traffic controllers have to allocate more space between planes so that there will be enough time for one aircraft to move out before the next lands. The rapid exit taxiways are linked from the main runway to the taxiway that runs parallel to the runway. The taxiways are designed in such a way that they may be used by small as well as larger planes.

“We are also working to straighten a taxiway that leads to the Guindy end of the main runway and plan to build a taxiway parallel to the west side of the main runway. Work is also on to connect a taxiway that runs parallel to the second runway to the main runway so that planes that land on the second runway can reach the terminal faster. This taxiway is crucial because we are using the second runway for landing and takeoffs on Tuesdays and Saturdays when the main runway is closed for maintenance,” the official said. As the second airport for the city is getting delayed, AAI is looking at expanding facilities at the airport to ensure that more planes can be handled and the air side capacity can be augmented to meet the targeted 30 million passengers annually in a few years.


CAPACITY ADDITION: The airport currently handles around 400 flights a day. The number is expected to increase to 450 to 500 a day once the rapid exit taxiways are ready

Two health dept officials set to retire during med admissions

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.07.2019

At least two senior officials in charge of medical admissions, director of medical education (DME) Dr A Edwin Joe and selection committee secretary Dr G Selvarajan, are scheduled to retire on July 31 amid the MBBS/ BDS admissions for the 2019-20 academic year.

The selection committee under the directorate of medical education, conducts the single window online counselling for medical admissions based on merit in NEET and 69% rule of reservation. Almost all seats in the state run medical colleges and self financing colleges for MBBS were taken during the first round of counselling. The seats that fell vacant in government colleges until Thursday will come into the state’s matrix for the second round of counselling.

The details of the new schedule weren’t available till late on Friday. The state committee said it has sent letters to deans of colleges seeking information on the number of vacant seats. “We have asked all colleges for details of students who have not joined after the state and central counselling. We will update the seat matrix once we have the data,” said Selvarajan.

The state is yet to make an official decision on adopting the 10% quota for the economically weaker section, but health department officials said they have received a request for the extension of the service of selection committee secretary until the admission process for MBBS and BDS is complete. “The letter is under consideration. Nevertheless, we will be able to continue the counselling without any hassle,” he said. The health department also shortlisted three senior doctors for the post of DME. “Usually a dean of a medical college takes over as a DME,” a senior official said.

Nandanam Jn made four-way again  Was Closed To Facilitate Metro Work
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.07.2019

The fourth light in the traffic signal at the busy Nandanam junction finally began blinking on Friday evening, seven years after it was delinked to facilitate metro rail work on Anna Salai. Motorists can now travel from Venkatanarayana Road in T Nagar to RA Puram in Mandaveli via Chamiers Road (Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Devar Salai) without having to take a detour. A TOI report on March 29 had said that Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) officials had given the go-ahead for reverting to the old arrangement at the junction and that police had begun preparations.

A traffic police officer said, “We have made this a four-way junction, operated manually by our personnel. We will monitor the situation to see if it works. We will also talk to road users and see if there are any pile-ups.”

That it will take some time for motorists to adjust to the situation was evident after the old system came back. S Ramanathan, a software engineer, said vehicles stretched for half a kilometre on all sides. “It took at least 20 minutes to cross the signal.”

As part of the preparation, a traffic enforcement team in March supervised construction of a 200-metre-long median and closed one side of the road. The next month, they allowed traffic on both sides from Cenotaph Road to Anna Salai but had to go back to the old system after complaints of pile-ups.

Police have made North Boag Road, from GN Chetty Road to Residency Towers on Theyagaraya Road, a two-way stretch, erecting barricades in the middle of the road. However, the lack of signboards and police personnel to regulate things have led to many road users continuing to treat North Boag Road as a one-way stretch.

Similarly, Mayor Sundararao Road, linking Anna Salai and GN Chetty Road, has been reversed for vehicular movement. Earlier, only vehicles from GN Chetty Road were allowed to proceed towards Anna Salai via Mayor Sundararao Road. Now, motorists from Anna Salai can also proceed along the road and join GN Chetty Road.



FREE FLOW: Motorists can now travel from Venkatanarayana Road in T Nagar to RA Puram in Mandaveli via Chamiers Road. (Right) Police have also made North Boag Road a two-way stretch

Opened in Feb, this govt hospital has no beds, labs

Srikkanth.D @timesgroup.com

Chennai:27.07.2019

Greater Chennai Corporation’s 24-hour hospital at Kannagi Nagar off OMR, inaugurated by the chief minister on February 27, has little to offer. The corporation is yet to provide beds or medical facilities and doctors and nurses appointed do not serve after evening, said residents.

The hospital, built at ₹9.82 crore, is located in one of the largest resettlement colonies in the city. More than 1.25 lakh people reside in the 23,700 tenements of Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board and belong to low-income groups, said T C Karuna, a former ward councillor.

TOI visited the hospital on twice this week and found that there were hardly any patients. The wards and labs on the first floor are not functional.

“The hospital is as good as non-existent. People have to travel more than 10km to reach a government hospital during emergencies,” Karuna said. The nearest government hospital is Voluntary Health Services near Madhya Kailash. The other options, in case of serious illness or injuries, are government hospitals in Chromepet and Royapettah, about 20km from Kannagi Nagar.

On Friday, except for a dozen expectant mothers who had come to the hospital to avail nutrition kits provided by the government, there were no visitors for more than two hours. A doctor on duty said the facility received around 100 patients a day. But residents disputed the claim and said they had to visit other government hospitals located elsewhere.

“My 10-year-old son fell down while playing at school in May and sustained injuries on his forehead. We had to take him to Royapettah for two stitches as there is no facility here,” said K Sumithra who works as a domestic help. V Chinnadurai, a 60-year-old man, had to go to another hospital for treatment after a stray dog bite earlier this month.

A medical officer with the corporation blamed the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections for the sorry state of affairs.

Deputy commissioner (health) P Madusudhan Reddy did not respond to questions.


OF LITTLE HELP: The corporation hospital at Kannagi Nagar has no facilities for patients

High score & fee push students to med schools in Russia, China
OC Cut-Off Up From 430 Last Year To 524

Ragu.Raman @timesgroup.com

Chennai:27.07.2019

More and more students from Tamil Nadu are applying to medical universities in Russia, China, and the Philippines as the cut-offs in medical colleges in the state have risen by 100 marks this year. The much lower fee in the medical schools abroad is an added attraction.

At the end of the first round of admission counselling, the cut-off for OC category was 524 marks against 430 last year and BC category was 474 against 375 in 2018. C Ravichandran, managing director, StudyAbroad Educational Consultants, said that as against 60 students last year, the number of students from Tamil Nadu opting for medicine courses abroad rose to more than 180 this year. Even students who had scored 450 marks in NEET this year are opting to study abroad.

“A student belonging to OC category has got 450 marks in NEET and we are sending the candidate to Russia this year. The proposed NEXT test has increased the interest among candidates as all students including those studying in India and abroad, have to clear the exam to practise in India,” said R Sureshkumar, managing director, Truematics, Chennai. The exam would also serve as entrance test for PG courses.

“After round two of medical counselling, the number of students opting for foreign universities would be much more,” Sureshkumar said.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has made clearing NEET mandatory for even students studying abroad from this year.

Foreign univs cheaper than Indian pvt colleges

Many expected that it would bring down the number of students opting for medical courses in Russia. But high scores in NEET 2019 had the opposite effect. “Though foreign universities will not insist on NEET, students without NEET qualification cannot practice in India. So, they need to be careful while joining foreign universities,” Ravichandran said.

Students and parents said the low tuition fee is one among the main reason for choosing foreign universities. “In deemed universities and private colleges here, a student has to pay 1 crore to 1.25 crore as fees under management quota. Quality universities in Russia and China are charging only around 30 lakh,” a student said.

N.G. Harish from Old Washermanpet has secured 355 out of 720 in NEET 2019. But the first round cut-off for BC category students has increased from 375 to

474 . He has now secured an MD seat in a six-year degree programme in Volgograd State Medical University in Russia.

ராஜினாமா செய்தால் ஓய்வூதியம் இல்லை உயர்நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவு 

 
Added : ஜூலை 24, 2019 22:39

மதுரை, ஆசிரியர் பணியை ராஜினாமா செய்தவருக்கு ஓய்வூதியம் வழங்க உத்தரவிட முடியாது என உயர்நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை தள்ளுபடி செய்தது. 

மதுரை திருப்பரங்குன்றம் ஆரோக்கியமேரி தாக்கல் செய்த மனுசென்னையில் ஒரு பள்ளியில் 1967 ஜூலை 1 முதல் 1978 செப்.,30 வரை இடைநிலை ஆசிரியராக பணிபுரிந்தேன். 1978 செப்.,30 ல் ராஜினாமா செய்தேன். விதிகள்படி ஓய்வூதியம் பெற எனக்கு தகுதிகள் உள்ளன. ஓய்வூதியம் கோரி தமிழக நிதித்துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளர், பள்ளிக் கல்வித்துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளருக்கு பல முறை மனு அனுப்பினேன். நிராகரிக்கப்பட்டது. ஓய்வூதியம் வழங்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு ஆரோக்கியமேரி மனு செய்தார்.

நீதிபதி எஸ்.எம்.சுப்பிரமணியம் உத்தரவு ராஜினாமாவிற்கும், விருப்ப ஓய்விற்கும் வேறுபாடு உள்ளது. அரசியல் கட்சியில் சேர மற்றும் தேர்தலில் போட்டியிடும் நோக்கில் சுய விருப்ப அடிப்படையில் உடனடியாக ராஜினாமா செய்கின்றனர். அதை ஏற்று பணியிலிருந்து விடுவிக்கப்படுகின்றனர். விருப்ப ஓய்வு சில நிபந்தனைகளுக்கு உட்பட்டது. ஒரு ஊழியர் விருப்ப ஓய்விற்கு விண்ணப்பித்தால், 3 மாதங்களில் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நிர்வாகம் முடிவெடுக்கும். மனுதாரர் கருணை அடிப்படையில் படி வழங்க கோருகிறார். அது சில சிறப்பு சூழ்நிலைகளில் வழங்கப்படுகிறது. மனுதாரரின் ராஜினாமாவை அரசு ஏற்றுக் கொண்டுள்ளது. அவர் ஓய்வூதியத்தை உரிமையாக கோர முடியாது. மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்கிறேன் என்றார்.

பி.ஆர்க்., சேர்க்கை விண்ணப்ப பதிவு நாளை நிறைவு

Added : ஜூலை 25, 2019 01:12

சென்னை:பி.ஆர்க்., படிப்பில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கைக்கான, 'ஆன்லைன்' விண்ணப்ப பதிவு, நாளை முடிகிறது.அண்ணா பல்கலை இணைப்பில் உள்ள, 'ஆர்கிடெக்ட்' கல்லுாரிகளில் மாணவர்களை சேர்க்க, தமிழக அரசின் சார்பில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கவுன்சிலிங் நடத்தப்படுகிறது. இந்த ஆண்டுக்கான கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்க உள்ள மாணவர்களுக்கு, ஆன்லைன் பதிவு, ஜூலை, 15ல் துவங்கியது. இந்த பதிவு, நாளையுடன் முடிகிறது.மாணவர்கள், tneaonline.in என்ற இணையதளத்தில், விபரங்களை பதிவு செய்யலாம். மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கவுன்சிலிங்குக்கு முந்தைய, அசல் சான்றிதழ் சரிபார்ப்பு பணி, மாவட்ட வாரியாக அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள சேவை மையங்களில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட உள்ளது. விளையாட்டு பிரிவுக்கான சான்றிதழ் சரிபார்ப்பு மட்டும், சென்னையில் நடத்தப்படுவதாக, தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி இயக்குனரகம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.***

தனியார் பல்கலை அரசாணை வெளியீடு

Added : ஜூலை 24, 2019 23:53

சென்னை,:தமிழகத்தில், தனியார் பல்கலைகள் துவங்குவதற்கான அரசாணையை, அரசு வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில், அரசின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் உள்ள பல்கலைகளை தவிர, பல்கலை மானிய குழுவான, யு.ஜி.சி.,யின் அங்கீகாரத்தில், பல்வேறு நிகர்நிலை பல்கலைகள் உள்ளன. இவை, பல்கலைகளுக்கு நிகரான கல்வி நிறுவனம் என்ற வகையில், அங்கீகாரம் வழங்கப்படுகிறது. 

இந்நிலையில், நேரடியாக பல்கலை என்ற அங்கீகாரத்துடன், தனியார் பல்கலைகளை துவங்குவதற்கு, தமிழக அரசு, புதிய சட்டம் இயற்றியுள்ளது. இதன்படி, தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள், தனியாக பல்கலைகள் துவங்குவதற்கு, அனுமதி அளிக்கப்படும் என, அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கான வழிமுறைகள் அடங்கிய அரசாணையை, தமிழக உயர் கல்வி துறை, நேற்று வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

முடிந்துபோன கனவாகிறது செங்கோட்டை 'அந்தியோதயா'

Added : ஜூலை 24, 2019 22:38

ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்துார் தென்மாவட்ட மக்கள் நீண்டகாலமாக எதிர்பார்த்த தாம்பரம்-செங்கோட்டை அந்தியோதயா ரயில் நடப்பாண்டு அட்டவணையிலிருந்தே நீக்கபட்டுவிட்டது. எனவே அந்த ரயில் மீண்டும் இயக்க வாய்ப்பு குறைந்துள்ளது.கன்னியாகுமரி, திருநெல்வேலி, துாத்துக்குடி, விருதுநகர், சிவகங்கை மாவட்டத்தை சேர்ந்த பலர் சென்னையில் வசிக்கின்றனர். சென்னையில் இருந்து தென்மாவட்ட ரயில்களில் எப்போதும் இட நெருக்கடி நிலவுகிறது.இதனால் 2017ல் தாம்பரத்திலிருந்து விழுப்புரம், கும்பகோணம், தஞ்சாவூர், திருச்சி, காரைக்குடி, மானமதுரை, விருதுநகர், ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்துார், சங்கரன்கோயில், தென்காசி வழியாக செங்கோட்டைக்கு பகல்நேர அந்தியோதயா ரயில் இயக்கப்பட்டது. முழுதும் முன்பதிவில்லா பெட்டிகளை கொண்ட இந்த ரயிலில் குறைந்த கட்டணத்தில் சென்னைக்கு பயணிக்கும் வசதியை தென்மாவட்ட மக்கள் பெற்றிருந்தனர்.2017 ல் சில மாதங்கள் இயக்கப்பட்ட இந்த ரயில் நிரந்தர தினசரி ரயிலாக ரயில்வே நேரஅட்டவணை பட்டியலிலும் இடம் பெற்றது. ஆனால் முன்னறிவிப்பின்றி 2018ல் இந்த ரயில் நிறுத்தப்பட்டது. இருப்பினும் ரயில் மீண்டும் இயக்கப்படும் என்ற நம்பிக்கை இருந்தது.இந்நிலையில் தற்போது வெளியிடபட்டுள்ள தெற்கு ரயில்வே நேர அட்டவணை புத்தகத்தில் தாம்பரம்-செங்கோட்டை அந்தியோதயா ரயில் முற்றிலும் நீக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதன் மூலம் இந்த ரயிலின் இயக்கம் இனிமேல் இருக்காது என்ற நிலையை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.தென் மாவட்ட எம்.பி.,க்கள் குரல் கொடுத்து, தாம்பரம்-செங்கோட்டை ரயிலை மீண்டும் பெற்றுத்தர வேண்டும் என்பது தென்மாவட்ட மக்களின் எதிர்பார்ப்பாக உள்ளது.

சித்தா மருத்துவ படிப்பு மாணவர் சேர்க்கை குறையும்

Added : ஜூலை 24, 2019 22:28

காலதாமத அறிவிப்பு மற்றும் கவுன்சிலிங் காரணமாக, சித்தா மருத்துவ படிப்பில், இந்தாண்டும் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை குறைய வாய்ப்புள்ளது.நாடு முழுவதும், எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - பி.டி.எஸ்., போன்ற, அலோபதி மருத்துவ மாணவர் சேர்க்கை, 'நீட்' நுழைவு தேர்வு அடிப்படையில் நடைபெறுகிறது. அதேபோல், 'சித்தா, ஆயுர்வேதா, ஓமியோபதி, யோகா மற்றும் இயற்கை மருத்துவம் உள்ளிட்ட, இந்திய மருத்துவ முறை படிப்புகளும், 2018 - 19ம் கல்வியாண்டு முதல், நீட் நுழைவு தேர்வு அடிப்படையில் நடைபெறும்' என, மத்திய ஆயுஷ் அமைச்சகம் அறிவித்தது.

இதுகுறித்து, அனைத்து மாநிலங்களுக்கும், மத்திய ஆயுஷ் அமைச்சகம் சுற்றறிக்கை அனுப்பியது. ஆனால், 2018 - 19ம் கல்வியாண்டு மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை, பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண் அடிப்படையிலேயே, தமிழக அரசு நடத்தியது.இந்தாண்டு, 'யோகா மற்றும் இயற்கை மருத்துவ படிப்பை தவிர, சித்தா, ஆயுர்வேதா, யுனானி, ஓமியோபதி ஆகிய படிப்புகளுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை, நீட் நுழைவு தேர்வு அடிப்படையில் நடத்த வேண்டும்' என, மத்திய அரசு உத்தரவிட்டது.பிளஸ் 2 அடிப்படையில் நடத்த அனுமதி கோரிய, தமிழக அரசின் கோரிக்கையை, மத்திய அரசு நிராகரித்தது. ஆனால், இதுகுறித்த அறிவிப்பை, தமிழக அரசு வெளியிடவில்லை. அதற்கு மாறாக, கடந்தாண்டுபோல, பிளஸ் 2 அடிப்படையில் நடத்த நடவடிக்கை எடுத்து வருவதாக கூறி, மாணவர்களை நம்ப வைத்தது.நீட் நுழைவு தேர்வு, மே மாதம் நடந்தது. தமிழகத்தில், ஒரு லட்சத்து, 23 ஆயிரத்து, 78 பேர் எழுதினர். இவர்களில், 59 ஆயிரத்து, 785 பேர் தகுதி பெற்றனர். இவர்களில் பெரும்பாலானோர், அலோபதி மருத்துவ படிப்பில் சேரவே, நீட் தேர்வு எழுதினர்.

இந்நிலையில், நீட் தேர்வு முடிவுகள் வெளியான பின், சித்தா உள்ளிட்ட மருத்துவ படிப்புகள், நீட் தேர்வு அடிப்படையில் நடைபெறும் என, சுகாதாரத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகின்றனர்.இதனால், சித்தா மருத்துவ படிப்பில் சேர நினைத்த, மாணவர்கள் ஏமாற்றம் அடைந்தனர்.மேலும், காலதாமத அறிவிப்பு மற்றும் கவுன்சிலிங் காரணமாக, இந்தாண்டும் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை பாதிக்கப்பட உள்ளதாக, கல்வியாளர்கள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். - நமது நிருபர் -

அரை மணி நேரத்தில் அத்தி வரதர் தரிசனம்

Updated : ஜூலை 25, 2019 03:06 | Added : ஜூலை 25, 2019 02:57 |

காஞ்சிபுரம் : காஞ்சியில், அத்தி வரதரை தரிசிக்கும் கூட்டம், நேற்று குறைந்து காணப்பட்டது. இதனால், பக்தர்கள் நெரிசலின்றி, அரை மணி நேரத்தில் சுவாமி தரிசனம் செய்தனர்.



வி.ஐ.பி., தரிசன வழியில், ஆட்களை அழைத்து செல்வோர் குறித்து, வருவாய் துறை அதிகாரிகள் கணக்கெடுக்கின்றனர். காஞ்சிபுரம், வரதராஜ பெருமாள் கோவில், வசந்த மண்டபத்தில், அத்தி வரதரை தரிசனம் செய்வதற்கு, தினமும் லட்சக்கணக்கில் பக்தர்கள் வந்தபடி உள்ளனர். தமிழகத்தில் மட்டுமல்லாமல், பிற மாநிலத்தவரும், மிகுந்த ஆர்வத்துடன் தரிசனம் செய்ய வருகின்றனர். சனி மற்றும் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமைகளில், கூட்டம் கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டது.

இந்நிலையில், நேற்று முன்தினம், முதல்வர், இ.பி.எஸ்., கோவிலுக்கு வருவதாக செய்தி வெளியானதால், மக்கள் கூட்டம் குறைந்திருந்தது. அதேபோல, நேற்று காலையில் இருந்து, பொது தரிசனத்தில் சென்றவர்கள், 30 நிமிடங்களில் சுவாமி தரிசனம் முடிந்து வெளியில் வந்ததாக பக்தர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.வி.ஐ.பி.,க்கள் செல்லும் வழியில், எப்பொழுதும் கூட்டம் அதிகமாக இருக்கும். உயர் அதிகாரிகள், அரசியல்வாதிகள், காவல் துறையினர் குடும்பங்கள், அந்த வழியில், தங்கள் செல்வாக்கை பயன்படுத்தி உள்ளே சென்றனர்.





இதனால், வி.ஐ. பி.,க்கள் செல்லும் வழியில், தினமும் பிரச்னை, தள்ளுமுள்ளு ஏற்பட்டது. அந்த வழியில், யார் மூலம், எத்தனை பேர் தரிசனத்திற்கு அழைத்து செல்கின்றனர் என, விபரம் சேகரிக்கப்படுகிறது. இதனால், வி.ஐ. பி.,க்கள் வழியிலும் கூட்டம் குறைந்து இருந்தது. மேலும், நேற்று, மக்கள் கூட்டம் குறைந்ததற்கு காரணம், அரசியல் கட்சிகளின் முக்கிய தலைவர்கள், 24ம் தேதி கோவிலுக்கு வருவதாக, சமூக வலை தளங்களில் தகவல் பரவியதால், பலர் கோவிலுக்கு செல்வதை தவிர்த்திருக்கலாம் என, அதிகாரிகள் தரப்பில் கூறப்படுகிறது.

ஆடிப்பூரம்

இன்று முதல் ஆடிப்பூரம் உற்சவம்அத்தி வரதர் வைபவம், 1ம் தேதி முதல் சிறப்பாக நடைபெற்று வருகிறது. அத்தி வரதர் வைபவம் இடையே, கோடை உற்சவம், ஆனி கருட சேவை, ஆடிப்பூரம், ஆளவந்தார் சாற்றுமுறை, ஆடி கருடசேவை போன்ற உற்சவங்களும் நடைபெறுகின்றன. இன்று, ஆடிப்பூரம் உற்சவம் துவங்குகிறது. இன்று துவங்கும் உற்சவம், ஆகஸ்ட் 4ம் தேதி வரை நடைபெறும். மாலை, 6:00 மணிக்கு, உற்சவர் புறப்பாடு நடைபெறும்.



கோவிலில் இருந்து புறப்படும் சுவாமி, ஆஞ்சநேயர் கோவில் வரை சென்று, மீண்டும் கோவிலுக்கு திரும்புவார். ஆடிப்பூரம் உற்சவம் காணவும் ஏராளமான பக்தர்கள் கோவிலுக்கு வருவர் என, எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகிறது.

துணை ராணுவ பாதுகாப்பு

அத்திவரதர் வைபவத்திற்கு, துணை ராணுவப் படை பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் வரதராஜ பெருமாள் கோவிலை திறக்க கோரி, தொடரப்பட்ட வழக்கு, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில், இன்று விசாரணைக்கு வருகிறது.உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில், காஞ்சிபுரத்தை சேர்ந்த சீனிவாசன் தாக்கல் செய்த மனு: அத்தி வரதரை தரிசிக்க, லட்சக்கணக்கான மக்கள், தினமும் வருகின்றனர்.



இந்த நிகழ்வுக்கு, முறையான பாதுகாப்பு வழங்காததால், நெரிசலில் சிக்கி, 27 பேர் உயிரிழந்துள்ளதாக, உள்ளூர் மக்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர்.ஆனால், நான்கு பேர் இறந்துள்ளதாக, மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் கூறுகிறது. கூட்ட நெரிசலையும், பொது மக்கள் பாதுகாப்பையும் கருத்தில் வைத்து, துணை ராணுவப் படை பாதுகாப்பு வழங்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும். மேலும், அத்திவரதர் வைபவத்திற்காக, வரதராஜ பெருமாள் கோவில் மூலஸ்தானத்தை மூடிய, மாவட்ட நிர்வாகத்தின் முடிவையும், ரத்து செய்ய வேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறு, மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. பக்தர்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பு கோரி, ஏ.ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் என்பவர் தாக்கல் செய்த மனுவுடன் சேர்த்து, இதுவும், இன்று விசாரணைக்கு வருகிறது.

HC suggests special package to dependents of deceased UP government officials instead of job

The High Court bench comprising Justice Pankaj Mittal and Justice Prakash Pahadia batted for equal opportunity in government service to competent persons.

Published: 25th July 2019 12:38 AM 

Allahabad High Court (File | EPS)

By Namita Bajpai

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: In a historic move, Allahabad High Court, on Wednesday, suggested the Uttar Pradesh government to make a law for giving a special package to the dependents of deceased government servants who die during their service period instead of giving them a job on compassionate grounds.

Passing the order, the High Court bench comprising Justice Pankaj Mittal and Justice Prakash Pahadia batted for equal opportunity in government service to competent persons so as to balance it with social justice.

The bench, however, dismissed the petitions of one Ankur Gautam and others in this connection.


The court suggested that in the wake of a large number of dependents of deceased government servants and paucity of jobs, the government should find a way to appoint competent persons through open competition to the vacancies resulted due to the death of government servants.

On the other, it should adopt a policy to accord a special package to dependents for sustenance and ensure social justice to them.

The court also advised the government to frame a law through which the dependents should be given an amount equal to the total salary of 3-5 years of the deceased that he would have got if alive and in service.

This would lead to the appointment of a competent workforce through fair competition while the dependents would get adequate financial support.

However, the court upheld the law providing 5 per cent reservation to dependents in police department direct recruitment quota.

The court issued directives to all government departments to frame a social justice law and send a copy to the state chief secretary.

A triple murder that left three victims alive

Mariammal’s daughters, namely Veeralakshmi, Jothilakshmi and Rajeswari, are studying Class XI, X and IX respectively, here in a private school.

Published: 25th July 2019 05:09 AM |

Mariammal’s daughters | Express

By Thinakaran Rajamani

Express News Service

TIRUNELVELI: While the police are yet to make a breakthrough in the triple murder that rocked Tirunelveli on Tuesday, the three daughters of one of the murder victims are now forced to live without parental support. Mariammal, who worked as a housemaid, was killed along with former Tirunelveli mayor Uma Maheswari and the mayor’s husband. Mariammal’s death orphaned the children as their father had died of illness ten years ago.

Mariammal’s daughters, namely Veeralakshmi, Jothilakshmi and Rajeswari, are studying Class XI, X and IX respectively, here in a private school. As the breadwinner of her family, Mariammal raised her daughters by working as a housemaid in three houses, including the house of the former mayor.

Mariammal’s neighbours said she hardly earned Rs 8,000 a month and had always ran short of it to pay her children’s school fee. “Irrespective of her bad health condition, she sleeplessly worked hard for her children’s future,” a neighbour said. K Sankar, a neighbour of Mariammal said, “Though she was uneducated, she encouraged her daughters to take up civil services examination.”


He added that the district administration should take steps to get these children adequate compensation for running their life and pursuing their higher education. A professor, residing in the same street as Mariammal, said, “We planned to submit a petition to opposition leader MK Stalin on behalf of the children. However, Stalin returned to Chennai after paying tribute to the former mayor and her husband. We are disappointed over his ignorance towards the family.”

‘Thief cannot legitimately rob a dacoit’
Rejecting the contention, the judge pointed out that it was the accused, who selectively filed an application under Sec.

Published: 25th July 2019 06:19 AM |

By Siva Sekaran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Holding that a thief is not entitled to legitimately robbing a dacoit, the Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with the orders of a lower court convicting former Congress MP A Anbarasu and another in a cheque bounce case and sentencing them to two years’ imprisonment.

When the criminal revision petitions from Anbarasu and P Mani of Rajiv Gandhi Memorial and Educational Charitable Trust came up last week, their senior counsel told Justice P N Prakash that the late financier S Mukanchand Bothra, who had allegedly lent `35 lakh to the accused in 2002, had not produced his income tax returns to show that the amount was given as loan to the Trust and had not paid tax for it. Hence, the contract (promissory notes) entered into between the lender and the borrower itself is void. He also cited Sec. 23 of the Contract Act to support his claim.

Rejecting the contention, the judge pointed out that it was the accused, who selectively filed an application under Sec. 91 of the CrPC, for production of the income tax returns of Bothra and his sons, leaving out the income tax returns of the other family members. In this connection, Gagan Bothra, one of the sons, had clearly explained that the other members of their family had pooled in their resources to mobilise Rs 35 lakh.

When a person wants loan from another, he is not required to investigate into the means by which his creditor has amassed wealth. If the accused in these cases had wanted to be puritans, they should have told Mukanchand at the threshold itself that being puritans, they would obtain loan only from a person who is also a puritan and who has disclosed all his earnings to the Income Tax Department, the judge said.

“In the opinion of this court, after having obtained a loan, it does not behove of the debtor to repudiate it on the ground that the creditor had earned the money through illegal means. In other words, after having borrowed from a compassionate harlot, can the borrower deny repayment of loan on the ground that she had earned the money immorally and illegally?

The answer to this question can only be an emphatic “No” and nothing else. In short, a thief is not entitled to legitimately robbing a dacoit,” the judge said and dismissed the petitions and confirmed the orders of the lower courts passed in 2015 and 2017. Anbarasu issued two cheques in 2002, which were bounced when submitted for realisation.

Case registered against Arappor Iyakkam for ‘misuse of police logo’
A senior police official, under whose jurisdiction the case was registered, said, “Conducting meetings indoors is out of context in this case.

Published: 25th July 2019 06:19 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Based on a complaint lodged by K Rakesh, a 35-year-old resident of GKM Colony, Peravallur, police registered a case against Chennai-based citizen rights group Arappor Iyakkam for allegedly misusing the police logo.In his complaint, Rakesh said that when he was registering for Arappor’s ‘Know your rights’ programme that was to be held on July 14, he found the Tamil Nadu police logo in the registration page. “The page said that they were inviting the city Police Commissioner and other officials to create awareness about how to approach police to file a complaint. However when I went there, no such event was held,” he said.

Responding to the complaint, Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of Arappor Iyakkam, said that the police had stopped the organisation’s ‘Know your rights’ programme that was supposed to be held on July 7. Following this, the organisation had extended a public invitation to top police officials to attend the event on July 14 for which they used the logo. “It may be called misuse only if we had used the logo for commercial purposes or for other benefits. We have not used it for any such purposes,” Jayaram told Express.

Meanwhile, Arappor Iyakkam released a copy of a letter allegedly sent by the Inspector of Peravallur station to the owner of the hall where the ‘Know your rights’ event was supposed to be held on July 14. The letter said the owner Mathiazhagan should not allow the indoor meeting unless necessary permission was granted by police officials concerned.

A senior police official, under whose jurisdiction the case was registered, said, “Conducting meetings indoors is out of context in this case. While anyone can conduct an indoor meeting, there is no provision in the law that allows the public to use any government emblem for the promotion.”



“The emblem should be used by organisations only when a representative of the government is present at the event. Once the emblem is placed in a website or put up in posters, it is considered an official gathering. It is under this provision we had to file an FIR against the organisation,” the official added.

KU recommends action against college officials

STAFF REPORTER

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

Lapses by University College officials in the conduct of examinations

The University of Kerala has recommended punitive action against officials of University College here for lapses in the conduct of examinations.

A formal recommendation has been submitted to the Principal Secretary (Higher Education) and the Director of Collegiate Education following an inquiry into the recovery of answer sheets from a student’s house.

Following the instruction by Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel, the university has commenced steps to improve its examination system which has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of the University College controversy.

As part of the ongoing measures, the varsity has called a joint meeting of the Principals and chief superintendents of all affiliated government, aided and unaided colleges on Thursday.

Reports denied

In an official statement on Wednesday, the university denied reports that it has failed to adopt remedial measures to address the lacunae in the examination system. The Syndicate subcommittee constituted to probe the lapses has conducted several sittings in the university and the college within a short period. Besides, the Registrar has sought an explanation regarding the undetected loss of answer sheets from the college Principal.

The university has also obtained the details of some of the answer sheets confiscated from the house of the prime accused in a stab case, following a formal request made to the Cantonment police.

The inquiry revealed that these answer sheets had been supplied to the college during the period from 2015 to May 2018.

On the basis of the finding, a formal complaint to initiate criminal proceedings was submitted to the Cantonment station house officer on Monday. A separate complaint was also submitted seeking a probe into the forged seal of the Director of Physical Education.

University has commenced steps to improve its examination system which has come under intense scrutiny .

Ex-VC should take blame: Jaleel

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

The Vice Chancellor and the Syndicate appointed by the previous government cannot shrug off their responsibility in the incident where Kerala University answer sheets were recovered from the house of an SFI leader, according to Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel.

The answer books in question date back to 2015-16, which follows that the then Vice Chanceller and Syndicate are also accountable, Dr. Jaleel told reporters here on Wednesday.

On LDF convener A. Vijayaraghavan's remark that unused answer sheets have only the value of blank paper, the Minister said the remark will not affect the investigation. “But I am not aware of the context in which he made the remark,” he added.

The Minister promised strong measures to check examination hall malpractices. The government will ensure that halls are equipped with surveillance cameras for college and university exams, he said.

Steps will also be taken to ensure that answer books and additional sheets issued in examination halls are properly accounted for.

A road trip from Kottayam to Russia in 55 days

STAFF REPORTER

KOTTAYAM, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

Jomet Mani Poozhikunnel, who will set out on a road trip to Russia from Kottayam on August 5.

A businessman from Kottayam with seven others will begin the journey on Aug. 5

Two cars, eight members, five countries in two months.

On August 5 this year, Jomet Mani Poozhikunnel, a 36-year-old businessman from Kottayam, will set out on an inter-continental road trip from Kottayam to Saint Petersburg in Russia. Over the next 55 days, he will explore and experience the length and breadth of five countries, covering a distance of 20,944 km in the process.

Seven others also

At Coimbatore, Mr. Jomet will join seven other fellow travellers, including four women, who will then proceed in two cars. “The journey will be taken up in two legs — from Coimbatore to China via Nepal and Tibet and then from Vladivostok to Saint Petersburg along the Trans-Siberian Highway. It will never be a straightline drive as we plan to hit some of the key destinations en route, including the base camp of Mount Everest,” Mr. Jomet said.

After spending a few days in Russia, the team will return by flight while their cars will be shipped back later.

The journey is being coordinated by Meenakshi Sai, a native of Coimbatore, who had earlier undertaken a similar road trip across 24 countries to London from her home town.

Social media

The group members, all hailing from different States, started chalking out the trip on a social media platform and decided on making their way to Russia after a thorough research of the route and rules for each country. The hardships, challenges, adventures and excitement they will endure on the drive will be updated through various social media platforms.

During the journey, the team will also also organise awareness campaigns on cervical cancer. “We are planning this trip on a shoestring budget but still it will cost around Rs. 12 lakh per person. The expenses will be met personally while the funds to be raised through donation will be expended towards YESTE, a charity institution in Kottayam,” Mr. Jomet said.

Sabu Thomas, Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, will flag off the journey on the varsity campus at Athirampuzha on August 5 morning. From Kottayam, Mr. Jomet will proceed up to Coimbatore via Kanyakumari in his own vehicle.

HC seeks State’s response to grace marks

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

KOCHI, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the State government on an appeal seeking to implement fully the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development’s recommendations, including limiting awarding of grace marks to borderline cases and showing marks for extracurricular activities separately on the mark list in the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations.

The appeal was filed by Roshan Jacob from Pathanamthitta and two others against a single judge’s verdict declining to issue a directive to implement the recommendations. The petitioner said a single judge had only directed the State government to implement the recommendation regarding doing away with the practice of awarding moderation marks in examinations.

Though the recommendations were made in 2017, the State government was yet to implement them. In fact, all other States had implemented the recommendations.

If the marks given for extracurricular activities were shown separately on the mark list, these could be seen from the mark list.

As a result, all students, whether they came from State boards or the CBSE, would get an equal opportunity for getting admission to higher studies based on their academic excellence. The admission to higher studies would not depend on the grace marks awarded at the whims and fancies of the state board authorities, the petitioners contended.

Foreign banks cannot engage recovery agents: High Court

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

KOCHI, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

Says they can initiate action via diplomatic channel

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has held that foreign banks or financial institutions cannot engage recovery agents for realising the defaulted loan amount from a borrower in the country.

The Bench of Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice V.G. Arun observed on Wednesday that if the failure on the part of the borrower to pay back amounted to a criminal offence in a foreign country, the bank could initiate criminal action against the borrower through the diplomatic channel.

Saudi-returned nurse

The court made the observation while disposing of a writ petition filed by a woman from Kollam who had returned after working as nurse in Saudi Arabia against attempts by the recovery agent of Al-Rajhi Bank, Saudi Arabia, to intimidate her and compel her to pay the defaulted amount. The petitioner said two persons of an agency had threatened her that she would be arrested and taken to Saudi Arabia.

The State Police Chief informed the court that all District Police Chiefs had been instructed to ensure that no unauthorised agents of foreign banks functioned in the State.

High Court rejects pension claim

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday ruled that when an employee has resigned and the same was accepted, he or she cannot claim pension benefits or compassionate allowance.

Justice S.M. Subramaniam said that when an employee resigned and it was accepted by competent authority, Rule 23 of the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978 operates against him/ her and it means forfeiture of service. Such an employee cannot claim benefit under rules. Even compassionate allowance cannot be granted which is provided under Rule 40. A government servant who is dismissed or removed from service shall forfeit his pension and gratuity.

In case of special consideration, the competent authority may sanction compassionate allowance not exceeding two-thirds of pension or gratuity or both, which would be admissible. The same cannot be provided to employees who have resigned their jobs.

For instance, an employee removed or dismissed from service in view of allegations of unauthorised absence, which is not grave, then the competent authority can decide on compassionate allowance taking family circumstances into account. The same cannot be considered on allegations of grave charges.

The court was hearing a writ petition filed by P. Arokiyamary. She said that after rendering service as a Second Grade Assistant teacher for 11 years, she resigned in 1978. She claimed she was entitled to pension for having served for over 10 years. Her claim was rejected, she said.

Special Government Pleader S. Srimathy submitted that the petitioner was not entitled to pension as she had resigned job, which was accepted by the competent authority. Pension rules contemplates that resignation amounts to forfeiture of service. So, she was not entitled to relief and dismissed the writ petition.

Madurai Bench completes 15 years

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

Turning point: Judges cutting a cake to mark celebration of 15th anniversary of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Wednesday.R. Ashok

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, inaugurated on July 24, 2004, completed 15 years on Wednesday.

The Bench has delivered a number of landmark judgements. It has seen a significant infrastructural development over the years. It had been declared as a plastic free zone.

A pet bottle shredding machine was inaugurated recently to improve the situation further. Woman friendly toilets, equipped with sanitary napkin vending machines and incinerators, were installed recently. A fire station was inaugurated earlier this year. It has a police station. Justice Clock, an LED board that displays status of cases, will soon become operational.

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Bar Association organised an event to commemorate the occasion. Sitting Judges at the High Court Bench, Justice S.S. Sundar, Justice G.R. Swaminathan, Justice B. Pugalendhi, Justice K. Ravichandrabaabu and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy and advocates participated in the event.

Senior Advocate N. Krishnaveni, president of MMBA, welcomed the gathering. Its general secretary N. Ilango proposed a vote of thanks.

Bench to decide teachers’ plea seeking exemption from TET

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

Court impleads Secretary in Ministry of Human Resource Development

After a number of writ petitions filed by teachers, who were employed prior to the order that mandated Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) as a criterion for appointment, sought an exemption from the test, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday placed the batch of cases before a Division Bench to decide on the issue.

Justice D. Krishnakumar said the court was inclined to place the writ petitions before a Division Bench of the court to decide whether granting exemption to teachers appointed prior to the amended notification dated July 29, 2011 was in consonance with Section 23 (1) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

The Central government enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Therefore, without impleading the government as a party in the writ petitions, whether the writ petitions filed by the teachers seeking approval of appointment without insisting TET and to grant relaxation for appointment to teachers in the absence of any provision under the Act, was maintainable is what the court wants to know.

The court suo motu impleaded the Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development as a respondent in the petitions. The court is of the view that on reading Section 23 of the Act, it clearly shows that teachers appointed must possess minimum qualifications, as laid down by the Academic Authority authorised by the Central and the State Government.

Thus, the teachers appointed on the date the Act came into force have to acquire the necessary minimum qualification to clear TET within the time prescribed by the Central government. A teacher who does not possess minimum qualification at the commencement of the Act shall acquire the minimum qualification within a period of five years as per the Act, the court said.

The State government issued an order in 2011 stating that as per Section 23 (1) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) was appointed as the Academic Authority by the Central government.

The Academic Authority indicated to all the States that teachers recruited in future should have passed TET, in accordance with the guidelines framed by the NCTE.

Pay IT on time, tax payers told

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

COIMBATORE, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

B. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, speaking at Income Tax Day celebrations in the city on Wednesday.S. Siva SaravananS_SIVA SARAVANAN

Tax payers should remit the Income Tax on time, urged Durga Charan Dash, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Coimbatore, at Income Tax Day programme here on Wednesday.

According to a press release, Income Tax is a major source of revenue in the country to create basic infrastructure for the public. The tax paid comes back to the people in the form of various government schemes. High income people should join hands with the Department and support it by paying the tax on time.

The Chief Commissioner added that the Department is fully computerised and the tax payers can upload online their grievance, applications, and demands. There is a system to track if the grievances are addressed on time.

Income Tax Day is celebrated every year to create awareness among the public on the need to pay Income Tax. This year, competitions were held for school students recently and saplings were planted on July 23. A blood donation camp was organised as part of the programmes on Wednesday in which over 100 people took part. At a meeting later in the day, B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore, addressed the participants and the top tax payers were felicitated.

DME declares 4 candidates ineligible

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has declared four more students ineligible for counselling. While one students was declared as a candidate of another nation, another candidate’s class XII results were not yet released. Two other candidates were said to be ineligible as they had not studied Biology and Physics.

The DME has extended counselling for self-financing dental college seats till Thursday. It has asked all candidates who have qualified in NEET to participate.

At the end of the extended round of first phase of counselling on Wednesday, 271 seats were available under management quota in dental colleges.

Selection secretary G. Selvarajan has sought details of vacancy from principals of self-financing institutions.

‘President can impose conditions while granting clemency to death convicts’

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

HC dismisses plea of trio under incarceration for 24 years

Answering a significant question of law, the Madras High Court on Wednesday held that the President, while granting clemency to death convicts, can impose a condition that they should be imprisoned till their death, without being accorded the benefit of remission for any reason whatsoever by the State government concerned.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh held so while dismissing individual writ petitions filed by three death convicts — A. Sheik Meeran, C. Selvam and V. Radhakrishnan — who had been incarcerated for the last 24 years and had therefore questioned the condition imposed by the President while granting them clemency in February 2012.

Conducting the case for the petitioners, their counsel M. Radhakrishnan argued that a plain reading of Article 72 of the Constitution did not state that the President was empowered to impose conditions while granting pardon and suspending or remitting sentences in cases such as those in which capital punishment had been imposed. He contended that the very fundamental principle of criminal law, which was to reform and rehabilitate the guilty, would pale into insignificance if convicts were not allowed to step out of prisons even after they stood reformed. He also contended that any scheme for premature release of convicts should be made available to all convicts without discrimination.

The counsel also argued that the condition imposed by the then President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, while granting clemency to the three petitioners, was arbitrary, unfair, unreasonable and in violation of fundamental rights under Articles 14 (right to equality before law) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution.

Rejecting all contentions, the judge concurred with Additional Solicitor General (ASG) G. Rajagopalan that the sovereign power conferred on the President, to grant pardon without wiping out the conviction by a court of law, was of the widest amplitude and that judicial review on the merits of the President’s decision was ordinarily impermissible.

There was a succinct distinction between the judicial power to pass sentence and the executive power to grant pardon, Justice Venkatesh said and added that while granting State pardon, the President acts on a completely different plane and therefore he/she was entitled to go into the merits of individual cases though they had been judicially concluded. The scope of judicial review of a decision taken by the President under Article 72 was very limited and narrow. “What falls within judicial review is only the decision making process in a given case and not the decision per se. If a court does not find that the process was not arbitrary or unreasonable, the decision taken by the President cannot be interfered with,” he said.

The judge said, as rightly argued by the ASG, the pardon as well as the condition come as a package. “It has to be taken either as a whole or it must be dropped as a whole. The convicts cannot be permitted to take the beneficial portion of the pardon in their favour and at a later point of time, turn around and question the condition that comes with the pardon,” he concluded.

In so far as the present case was concerned, the three petitioners had been awarded death sentence by a trial court in 1998 for murdering Ayyavoo, a notorious gangster, in front of a Judicial Magistrate inside a court hall at Nagercoil in December 1994. The High Court as well as the Supreme Court had confirmed the punishment in 1999.

SpiceJet Mangaluru-Delhi flight service from Aug. 4

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

MANGALURU, JULY 25, 2019 00:00 IST

Air passengers from Mangaluru will now be able to travel easily to a host of other cities both domestic as well as international via multiple onward connections.FILE PHOTO

SpiceJet will introduce a daily direct flight service between Delhi and Mangaluru on August 4. The flight SG 8642 will leave Mangaluru at 6.15 a.m. and reach Delhi at 8.55 a.m. A pairing flight SG 8643 will leave Delhi at 8.30 p.m. and arrive in Mangaluru at 11.15 p.m. The airlines will deploy its Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the new route. Bookings for the flight are open now, the airlines announced on Wednesday.

“To celebrate the launch of the new sector, the airlines is offering tickets at an all-inclusive introductory fare of Rs. 5599 on Mangaluru-Delhi route and Rs. 5499 on the Delhi-Mangaluru route,” the airlines said in a release.

The enhanced connectivity to Mangaluru will give passengers travelling between the two cities more convenience and flexibility.

Starting on April 1, SpiceJet had announced close to 130 new flights, including 78 connecting Mumbai, 22 connecting Delhi and 10 flights between Mumbai and Delhi, among others, it said.

With the introduction of the new flight service, passengers from Mangaluru will be able to easily travel to a host of other cities both on SpiceJet’s domestic as well as international network via multiple onward connections from Delhi, the release said.