மருத்துவ மாணவி தற்கொலை முயற்சி

Added : ஆக 17, 2019 23:54

சென்னை, திருமண செலவிற்கு பணம் கிடைக்காததால், மருத்துவ மாணவி, கடலில் குதித்துதற்கொலைக்கு முயன்ற சம்பவம், பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.தஞ்சாவூர் மாவட்டம், மன்னார்குடியைச் சேர்ந்தவர் அபிநயா, 25; மருத்துவம் படித்துள்ள இவர், குரோம்பேட்டையில் உள்ள தனியார் மருத்துவமனையில், எம்.டி., பயிற்சி மேற்கொண்டு வருகிறார். இவருக்கு, செப்., 12ல் திருமணம் நடக்க உள்ளது. திருமண தேவைக்கான பணம் கிடைக்காததால், நேற்று மாலை, மெரினா கடலில் குதித்து, தற்கொலைக்கு முயன்றார்.இதைப்பார்த்த, கீழ்ப்பாக்கத்தைச் சேர்ந்த வினோத்குமார், பிரபு ஆகியோர், அபிநயாவை காப்பாற்றி, உழைப்பாளர் சிலை அருகே இருந்த, ரோந்து போலீசாரிடம் ஒப்படைத்தனர்.இதுகுறித்து விசாரித்த அண்ணா சதுக்கம் போலீசார், அபிநயாவை எச்சரித்து, அவரது உறவினர், மேற்கு மாம்பலத்தைச் சேர்ந்தமருதவாணனிடம் ஒப்படைத்தனர்.

மோசடி போன் அழைப்பு எஸ்.ஐ.,யே ஏமாறலாமா

Added : ஆக 17, 2019 23:28

துாத்துக்குடி, வங்கியிலிருந்து பேசுவாதக கூறி, எஸ்.ஐ.,யிடம், 30 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் பண மோசடி செய்யப்பட்டது குறித்து, போலீசார் விசாரிக்கின்றனர்.துாத்துக்குடி மாவட்டம், திருச்செந்துார் காவல் நிலையத்தில், சிறப்பு, எஸ்.ஐ., ஆக இருப்பவர், பாபு ராஜ். 31ம் தேதி, இவரது மொபைல் போனுக்கு வந்த அழைப்பில், ஹிந்தி கலந்த தமிழில் பேசிய, மர்ம நபர் ஒருவர் பேசினார்.அவர், திருச்செந்துாரில் உள்ள, அரசுடமையாக்கப்பட்ட வங்கியிலிருந்து பேசுவதாக கூறியுள்ளார். பின், 'உங்கள் வங்கி கணக்கில், ஆர்தர் எண்ணை இணைக்க வேண்டும்' எனக் கூறிய மர்ம நபர், அவரிடம் இருந்து, ஓ.டி.பி., என்ற, ஒரு முறை கடவு எண்ணையும், கேட்டுள்ளார்.அதை நம்பிய, எஸ்.ஐ., தன் மொபைல்போனிற்கு வந்த, கடவு சொல் எண்ணை தெரிவித்துள்ளார். இதைத் தொடர்ந்து, எஸ்.ஐ.,யின் வங்கிக் கணக்கிலிருந்து, 30 ஆயிரம் ரூபாயை, மர்மநபர், 'அபேஸ்' செய்துள்ளார்.இதனால் அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த, எஸ்.ஐ., பாபுராஜ், மாவட்ட குற்றப்பிரிவில் புகார் தெரிவித்தார். இதுகுறித்து, போலீசார் விசாரணை செய்து வருகின்றனர்.

சென்னையில் விடிய விடிய மழை

Added : ஆக 18, 2019 07:04

சென்னை: சென்னையிலும் பறநகர்ப்பகுதியிலும் விடிய விடிய மழை பெய்தது. வண்டலூர், தாம்பரம், குரோம்பேட்டை, கிண்டி, வடபழனி, போனற பகுதிகளிலும் கனமழை பெய்தது.

விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம் திருக்கோவிலூர் மற்றும் சுற்றுவட்டார பகுதிகளிலும் மழை பெய்தது. வேலூர், காஞ்சிபுரம், தர்மபுரி மாவட்டங்களின் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளிலும் இரவு முதல் விட்டு விட்டு கனமழை பெய்தது.

அதிக மதிப்பெண் பெற்ற மாணவியரை ஆகாயத்தில் பறக்க வைத்த மக்கள்!

Updated : ஆக 18, 2019 01:50



நாமக்கல், அரசு பள்ளியில், அதிக மதிப்பெண் எடுத்த மாணவியரை, தலைமையாசிரியரோடு, விமானத்தில், சென்னைக்கு, கல்விச் சுற்றுலா அனுப்பியுள்ளனர்.

நாமக்கல் மாவட்டம், காவேட்டிப்பட்டியில், ஊராட்சி ஒன்றிய நடுநிலைப்பள்ளி செயல்படுகிறது. தலைமை ஆசிரியராக, கயல்விழி, 50, உள்ளார். அப்பள்ளியில், 110 மாணவ - மாணவியர் படிக்கின்றனர்.

அங்கு, 2018 - 19ம் கல்வியாண்டில், எட்டாம் வகுப்பில், ஜெய்சிகாஸ்ரீ, 14, என்ற மாணவி, முதல் மதிப்பெண்ணும், சல்மா, 14, என்ற மாணவி, இரண்டாம் மதிப்பெண்ணும் பெற்றனர்.அவர்களை பாராட்டும் விதமாகவும், நடப்பாண்டு, மாணவ - மாணவியரை ஊக்குவிக்கும் வகையிலும், முன்னாள் மாணவர்கள், பெற்றோர் - ஆசிரியர் கழகம் மற்றும் ஊர் பொதுமக்கள், இரு மாணவியர் மற்றும் தலைமை ஆசிரியரை, விமானத்தில், சென்னைக்கு கல்விச் சுற்றுலா அனுப்ப முடிவுசெய்தனர்.

இதையடுத்து அவர்கள், நேற்று காலை, 11:00 மணிக்கு, சேலத்திலிருந்து, விமானத்தில், சென்னை வந்தனர். கவர்னர் மாளிகை, அண்ணா நுாலகம், வள்ளுவர்கோட்டம், கடற்கரை மற்றும் ஐ.ஐ.டி., ஆகியவற்றை பார்வையிட்டனர். நேற்று இரவு, ரயிலில், சேலத்திற்கு திரும்பி சென்றனர்.

கல்வி சுற்றுலாவிற்கான அனைத்து ஏற்பாடுகளையும், ஊர் மக்கள் செய்துள்ளனர். மாணவியர் மற்றும் தலைமையாசிரியரை விமானத்தில் பயணிக்க செய்து, கல்வி விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்தி கிராம மக்களை, சமூக ஆர்வலர்கள் பாராட்டினர்.

நவஜோதிர்லிங்க சுற்றுலா ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி., அழைப்பு

Added : ஆக 17, 2019 23:47

கோவை, இந்திய ரயில்வேயின், ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி., சார்பில், 25ம் தேதி, நவஜோதிர்லிங்க யாத்திரை சுற்றுலா ரயில் இயக்கப்படுகிறது.திருச்சியில் இருந்து புறப்படும் ரயிலில், சென்னை பெரம்பூர் வழியாக, நவஜோதிர்லிங்க யாத்திரை சுற்றுலா, 'ஏசி' ரயில் இயக்கப்படுகிறது.மகாராஷ்டிராவில் பீம்சங்கர், திரையம்பகேஸ்வரர், குருஸ்ணேஸ்வரர், அவுங்நாக்நாதர், பார்லி வைத்யநாதர், உஜ்ஜெயினில் மகாகாளேஸ்வரர், ஓம்காரேஸ்வரர், குஜராத்தில் சோம்நாத், ஆந்திராவின் ஸ்ரீ சைலத்தில் வீற்றிருக்கும் ஸ்ரீமல்லிகார்ஜூனசுவாமி என, ஒன்பது ஜோதிர்லிங்கங்களை தரிசிக்கலாம்.மொத்தம், 12 நாட்கள் யாத்திரைக்கு, 39 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் முதல், 53 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் வரை கட்டணம் நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.விபரங்களுக்கு, 90031 40655, 82879 31965 ஆகிய அலைபேசி எண்களிலும், www.irctctourism.com எனும் இணையதள முகவரியிலும் தொடர்பு கொள்ளலாம் என, ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி., முதுநிலை செயல் அதிகாரி, மாலதி ரத்தினம் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

Chennai: Thousands of govt doctors get reprieve

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published  Aug 17, 2019, 2:18 am IST

The doctors who were aggrieved by circular have filed number of petitions and the judge had on June 4 granted the interim orders.

Madras high court

Chennai: In a major relief to thousands of government doctors, whose transfer/posting/promotion counseling was stalled due to interim orders, the Madras high court has vacated its earlier interim orders and directed the authorities to recommence the counseling exercise for the present year immediately and complete the same on the basis of the recommendations of the committee within three weeks.

Disposing of a batch of 62 petitions from doctors, Justice V.Parthiban said as far as doctors who already participated in the counselling are concerned, who were not affected by the challenges, consequential orders were not issued in view of the interim orders passed by this court, it is now open to the authorities to go ahead and issue appropriate consequential orders.

The entire litigation has its present origin when the government has issued an order dated February 15, 2019, sanctioning the posts department wise and colleges wise as per the norms of the MCI in Tamil Nadu Medical Service including teaching posts in Directorate of Medical Education. 

The government by the said order has taken a comprehensive decision in regard to streamlining of transfer/posting/promotion of doctors belonging to various categories of posts of medical officers in the state. Pursuant to the GO, a circular was issued on May 24, 2019, in regard to specialty transfer counselling for medical officers in the cadre of Assistant Professor /Senior Resident /Tutor /Junior Resident who were under the control of the DME in Tamil Nadu Medical Service. The counselling was scheduled to be held between May 30 and June 6. The doctors who were aggrieved by circular have filed number of petitions and the judge had on June 4 granted the interim orders (injunction). However, after the judge suggested forming a committee, the government formed a committee, which after receiving objections from the stakeholders submitted a report. However, when the cases came up for hearing on August 14, counsels including G.Sankaran, appearing for the petitioners had expressed certain reservations about the overall recommendations of the committee.

The judge said this court has gone through the recommendations and find that the Committee has considered the objections of the doctors objectively by taking into consideration the ground realities in the matter of transferring, posting and promoting the doctors belonging to different posts/categories with a paramount view of upholding the interest of patient care. From the recommendations, as found in the report of the committee, this court finds that the committee has come up with equitable criteria which cannot be faulted with by giving undue consideration to certain individual grievances of the doctors, the judge added.

The judge said according to the committee's report, this was the first time such revamping exercise has been done in the medical administration of the state in line with the norms fixed by the MCI. When such exercise was undertaken in order to overhaul the cadre restructuring in the medical service, it may give rise to certain teething issues/problems. But such problems cannot be magnified by the so-called aggrieved individual doctors in order to stall the entire process of the counseling for this year.

Any exercise of restructuring of cadre and revamping of the medical administration, the effect of revamping or restructuring will always affect a miniscule group of individual doctors, but that by itself cannot give rise to challenge by those individual doctors and seek to derail the entire process of counseling exercise to be undertaken by the government for this year. In fact, as per the report of the committee, 95 percent of the qualified doctors whose posts and qualifications were not in dispute would get promotions. The aggrieved per centage of the doctors in the state was only 5 percent. Therefore, at the instance of such a wafer-thin group of doctors, the transfer/posting/promotion of the medical officers cannot be kept in abeyance, the judge added.

Medicated oil applied on Athi Varadar

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J V SIVA PRASANNA KUMAR

PublishedAug 18, 2019, 1:57 am IST

The medicated oil was applied on the Lord using a cloth.

According to Srivatsav Bhattar of Sri Devaraja Swamy temple, they had applied about 500 litres of medicated oil to the Lord and also the pedestal during the 48-day festival, which had commenced on July 1.

CHENNAI: After 48-days of hectic activity wherein politicians, bureaucrats, film stars and a criminal who made headlines, thronged the Sri Devaraja Swamy temple for darshan of Athi Varadar, the Lord returned to His abode underneath the Ananthsaras tank on Saturday night following the conduct of elaborate rituals.

At about 10 pm the Lord's image made of fig tree wood was brought from the Vasantha Mandapam and placed deep inside the Ananthasaras tank in sayana kollam (reclining position) following the conduct of Aranadhan and pradana naivedyam. He was adorned with silk robes and decorated with flowers and anointed with medicated oil before He retired to the Ananthasaras.

His head was placed facing west while His feet faced east. above His head is serpent Adiseshan.

According to Srivatsav Bhattar of Sri Devaraja Swamy temple, they had applied about 500 litres of medicated oil to the Lord and also the pedestal during the 48-day festival, which had commenced on July 1.

“The medicated oil comprises Elakai, jadikai, jadi patri, lavangam, pachai karupuram, kungumapoo, vettiveru sambrani and chandanadi thailam. Once heated, the combination will neither be solid or liquid. Each vial costs Rs 25,000 and it was gifted by a donor,” he says.

The medicated oil was applied on the Lord using a cloth.

It was meant to protect the image from any insects from flowers used to adorn Him during the festival. Also, the oil acts as preservative.

“This procedure was followed in 1937 and even in1979. Though the Lord was to have been brought out in 1977, He was brought out of the Ananthsaras in 1979 after consecration of the Rajagopuram,” Srivatsav Bhattar said.

He added, “I am seeing the Lord for the first time. This time in 2019 (on June 28) I was the first to touch the Lord while bringing Him out. There was silt around - covered up to one foot over the image. But a pleasant whiff emanated from the chamber due to medicated oil applied in 1979. The oil was intact for 40 years. We gave the silt as prasadam to devotees.”

Today also three bottles were applied in the morning, afternoon and another four vials were applied before He was placed in the pond.

The procedure of applying medicated oil is followed for Sri Ranaganathaswamy in Srirangam, Veeraraghavar in Tiruvallur, Thirukovilur Ulagalantha Perumal, twice a year, as no abishekam is performed to these images.

With Saturday being a restricted for public darshan, the rituals were entirely performed by priests at the temple. The Lord would be brought out again after four decades in 2059.

Kamal Haasan can become CM only in films, says Sellur Raju

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedAug 18, 2019, 2:18 am IST

‘Kamal Haasan is not a popular leader of masses’

Kamal Haasan

CHENNAI: Cooperation minister Sellur K. Raju sarcastically remarked that Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) leader Kamal Haasan could become chief minister only in film but not in reality, as people who are real custodians of democracy have not accepted him as their leader.

“Kamal Haasan is not a popular leader enjoying the support of the masses. This was proved by the recent Lok Sabha election results. People still consider him as an actor. If he wants, he can become chief minister in films,” Sellur Raju said on Saturday and added that people decide who should be their leader.

On earlier occasion too. Raju had flayed Kamal saying people never understood what Kamal speaks and sometimes Kamal himself does not understand what he speaks.

The minister, who is known for making u-turns, had even criticised veteran actor Rajinikanth and later withdrew his remark after the members of the Karaikudi Nagarathar Sangam sought an apology from him for his comments on women from Karaikudi. While speaking on actor Rajinikanth's political career, the Minister had said, “Rajini may capture Karaikudi Aachi. Capturing Tamil Nadu politics is in the hands of the people.”

Speaking to reporters after participating in the Bhoomi Pooja for laying tar road for Rs. 39. 55 lakh at HMS Colony in Madurai on Saturday, the minister said about 1,535 tanks and ponds in and around Madurai are being desilted. Also, steps would be taken to desilt and renovate the temple tanks, which serve as rainwater harvesting structures. “These measures will ensure the harvesting of rainwater,” Raju said.

Asked about MNM's political ambition of making Kamal the CM in 2021 Assembly election, the minister replied that every party has its own stand. “It is nothing wrong on the part of MNM workers to decide on making him CM. But will it happen? Everything is in the hands of people who are the masters and custodians of democracy. If there's any government that reflected the feelings of the people, it is the Amma's government and the schemes brought by her,” Raju said.

Dismissal of noon-meal staff for swindling stock upheld by HC

The Madras High Court has upheld the orders of the government dismissing a noon meal worker in Villupuram district from service.

Published: 17th August 2019 04:44 AM

Madras High Court 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has upheld the orders of the government dismissing a noon-meal worker in Villupuram district from service.

The petitioner C Masilamani, a noon meal organiser, was held responsible for the shortfall of 205 kg of rice, 19.5 kg of dal and 500 eggs out of 800, which are meant for supply to students. Since he did not defend his case effectively and had committed a serious misconduct, he was foisted with the order of dismissal, which has been confirmed by the appellate authority.

As the petitioner had involved in misappropriation, the disciplinary and appellate authority had rightly come to the conclusion that the charges were proved. The petitioner’s contention that the students had not been examined, itself, is an ample proof that there was an enquiry and therefore, the defence taken herein by him, that there was no enquiry at all, cannot be accepted.

“When there is a prima facie case made out and the authorities have rendered a finding of fact, in the considered opinion of this court, the writ petition is liable to be dismissed and the petitioner is not entitled to any relief,” judge said.

‘TN opposing NEXT from beginning’
Meanwhile, the Indian Academy of Paediatrics has requested the government to pass a resolution to treat all children up to 18 years in children’s hospitals.

Published: 17th August 2019 04:44 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The State government right from the beginning has been opposing the National Exit Test (NEXT), a common test for final-year MBBS students, proposed in the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, said Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 44th Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Paediatrics- Madras Pedicon 2019, Vijaya Baskar said, “The State is also against the term ‘Community Health Provider’ proposed in the NMC Bill. The Community Health Provider was proposed as there is shortage of doctors in the country. According to WHO guidelines and Medical Council of India norms, for a population of 1,000, there must be one doctor. But in Tamil Nadu, for around a population of 700 itself, there is one doctor.”



Meanwhile, the Indian Academy of Paediatrics has requested the government to pass a resolution to treat all children up to 18 years in children’s hospitals.

Technicality blocks tribal student’s dream of pursuing veterinary course
Meanwhile, NGO Sudar — the organisation that helped Chandran get education — has moved the High Court; the petition has been admitted.

Published: 17th August 2019 04:56 AM 

By Baranidharan C

Express News Service

ERODE: Mere technicality has robbed Chandran, hailing from the remote hamlet of Sundaipodu in Bargur Hill near Andhiyur, from being the first tribal boy to pursue a course at TANUVAS and becoming a veterinarian. Despite having cleared class XII with a good score and emerging first among tribal students this year, he could not get a seat at the university as the reservation norms has reduced the number of seats in his category to 0.18.

TANUVAS has 340 seats for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science course. This includes the 18 seats (5 per cent) for students of the vocational stream. Chandran had taken up this stream in higher secondary classes and, hence, applied under this category. However, as per norms, only one per cent of the reserved five per cent is allotted for students of the ST community. This means that there is only one seat for an ST student of the vocational stream for every 100 seats. With TANUVAS having only 18 seats under the category, one per cent of that would be 0.18 seats. Hence, the university is unable to allot a seat to Chandran.

When Chandran did not get a seat last week, Tamil Nadu SHRC member and judge Durai Jayachandran took up the issue as a suo motu case and sent a notice to TANUVAS. Meanwhile, NGO Sudar — the organisation that helped Chandran get education — has moved the High Court; the petition has been admitted. Sudar Director S C Nataraj said, “He is one among 11 children of the tribal family in Sundaipodu hamlet. He worked hard and qualified for the seat at TANUVAS. However, citing technical reasons, he has been denied a seat. Why could he not be given a seat outside the quota, given he has enough marks in class XII and on the merit list?”

Odisha government toughens service bond for doctors

As per the revised policy, students pursuing MBBS, Post-Graduation and Super Specialisation medical courses in Government colleges will have to serve for minimum two years in the State.

Published: 17th August 2019 08:38 AM |

Odisha Health and Family Welfare MinisterNaba Kishore Das (
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Friday revised service bond policy for medical students in order to stop brain drain of doctors. The new policy will be applicable from next academic session.

As per the revised policy, students pursuing MBBS, Post-Graduation and Super Specialisation medical courses in Government colleges will have to serve for minimum two years in the State. Those who fail to adhere to it will be penalised. If any candidate does not serve the State for the period after completion of MBBS course, he/she will have to pay Rs 50 lakh. While compensation against the bond for PG students is Rs 1.5 crore, those pursuing super-specialty courses will deposit Rs 2 crore.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das said the decision to revise the bond policy was taken to prevent students from leaving the State after completion of their medical courses.Earlier, the bond amount was Rs 36 lakh for both PG and students pursuing super-specialty courses.

“We have decided to increase the penalty amount from Rs 36 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore for medical PG and Rs 2 crore for super-specialty students,” Das told reporters.The bond is compulsory for all candidates taking admission in Government medical colleges, either under state quota or the all-India quota. The bonds would be signed by candidates, two sureties (parents or guardians), the dean and the principal of the institutions concerned.



The policy will, however, lapse on its own if the State Government fails to provide employment to a candidate within six months of completing the course. The State has more than 2,500 posts of doctors at different levels lying vacant due to shortage of medicos.

“The State is spending huge amount of money for the medical students and they should serve the State for at least two years. The move will help serve the interest of the people and check brain drain,” the Minister said.

Only 6 out of 16 colleges of Anna Univerity managed to fill 90 per cent seats
Some of the constituent colleges of Anna University in interiors areas have filled only half of their seats in the recent counseling for admission to engineering colleges.

Published: 18th August 2019 06:27 AM


Anna University 

By Binita Jaiswal

Express News Service

Chennai: The problem of vacant seats is not only haunting the private engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. Even the premier Anna University has a reason to worry as only six of its constituent colleges, out of 16, have managed to fill 90 percent or above of their seats in the recently concluded counseling for admission to engineering colleges.

The data provided by the university reveals that the University College of Engineering at Coimbatore is the only constituent college of Anna University to have registered a 100 percent enrolment of students this year. The college has a sanctioned strength of 240 and all the seats have been filled up during counseling this year. The Tiruchirappalli campus has recorded an enrolment of 98.85 percent this year while Madurai campus has filled up 97.91 percent of its seats followed by Tirunelveli which stands at 97.08 percent. The Kancheepuram and Villupuram campuses have reported 96.66 percent and 95.83 percent of enrolment respectively.

Apart from these six constituent colleges, the remaining 10 have failed to attract students. The enrolment figures in Ariyalur, Thirukkuvalai and Ramanathapuram is really a cause of concern for the varsity authorities. The three colleges have a sanctioned strength of 300 each but this year only 85 seats have been filled in Ariyalur while in Thirukkuvalai and Ramanathapuram the number is 73 and 76 respectively.

Thoothukudi, Panruti, Pattukkotai and Dindigul colleges have reportedly managed to fill only 56 percent, 52 percent, 54.33 percent and 48.66 percent of its seats respectively. However, things are somewhat better at Tindivanam, Arani and Nagercoil as over 70 percent of seats in these colleges are filled.



The varsity officials have different views about the scenario. Some have attributed the vacancies to the declining popularity of engineering courses while some others have blamed the location and infrastructure lacunae at the colleges for students not choosing it. “Some of the constituent colleges lack basic infrastructure like well-equipped laboratories, experienced faculty, and even their location is so interior that students don’t prefer to study in such colleges,” said a faculty of Anna University.

However, the vice-chancellor of the university M K Surappa has claimed that measures are being taken to tackle the problem. “We have sought funds from the state government to upgrade laboratories and hostels and other required infrastructure in the constituent colleges. Besides, we will send faculty from the main campus to the constituent colleges to boost the morale of students and faculty there,” said Surappa.

Vacant seats worry constituent colleges of Anna University
Data shows, out of 16, only 6 colleges have managed to fill 90 per cent or more of their engineering seats this year

Published: 18th August 2019 05:12 AM |

University officials blame declining popularity of engineering courses and infrastructure lacunae for poor enrolment | Express

By Binita Jaiswal

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The problem of vacant seats is haunting not only private engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. Even the premier Anna University has a reason to worry as only six of its constituent colleges, out of 16, have managed to fill 90 per cent or above of their seats in the recently concluded counselling for admission to engineering courses.

Data provided by the university reveals that the College of Engineering at Coimbatore is the only college to have registered a 100 per cent enrolment of students this year. The college has a sanctioned strength of 240 and all the seats have been filled during counselling this year. The Tiruchirappalli campus has recorded an enrolment of 98.85 per cent this year while Madurai campus has filled 97.91 per cent of its seats followed by Tirunelveli which stands at 97.08 per cent.

Kancheepuram and Villupuram campuses have reported 96.66 per cent and 95.83 per cent of enrolment respectively. Apart from these six constituent colleges, remaining 10 have failed to attract students. The enrolment figures in Ariyalur, Thirukkuvalai and Ramanathapuram are really a cause of concern for the varsity authorities. The three colleges have a sanctioned strength of 300 each, but this year only 85 seats have been filled in Ariyalur while in Thirukkuvalai and Ramanathapuram the number is 73 and 76 respectively.


Thoothukudi, Panruti, Pattukkotai and Dindigul colleges are said to have managed to fill only 56 per cent, 52 per cent, 54.33 per cent and 48.66 per cent of its seats respectively. However, things are somewhat better at Tindivanam, Arani and Nagercoil as over 70 per cent of seats in these colleges are filled.

Varsity officials have different views about the scenario. Some attribute the vacancies to declining popularity of engineering courses. Some others blame the location and infrastructure lacunae in colleges for students not choosing them. However, Vice-Chancellor M K Surappa claimed that measures are being taken to tackle the problem.

POOR SHOW IN 3 COLLEGES

The enrolment figures in Ariyalur, Thirukkuvalai and Ramanathapuram are a cause of worry. The three colleges have a sanctioned strength of 300 each. This year only 85 seats have been filled in Ariyalur, 73 in Thirukkuvalai and 76 in Ramanathapuram

Madras HC refuses to stay sexual harassment probe against college faculty
Justice S Vaidyanathan, in the order on August 13, said that there is no justifiable ground to interfere with the probe.

Published: 17th August 2019 06:09 AM

By Express News Service

The Madras High Court has declined to quash a showcause notice issued to a teaching faculty member of the Madras Christian College (MCC) who is facing sexual harassment charges from at least 34 female students.

Samuel Tennyson, an assistant professor in the Zoology department of the college, in a writ petition had sought to quash the fact finding report of the college's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) dated April 17, 2019. The report had stated that Tennyson had sexually harassed female students. He also sought to quash the consequential second show cause notice dated May 24, 2019.

Besides the probe, the college management had issued him a warning and barred him from paper-evaluation work and internal examinership for the end semester 2018-2019. He was also barred from accompanying students for tours for three years.

Tennyson argued in the court that the ICC did not given him certain documents and statements he had sought to defend himself. The college and the committee said that sufficient opportunity was given to him to defend.


Disposing the petition, Justice S Vaidyanathan, in the order on August 13, said that there is no justifiable ground to interfere with the fact finding report as well as the second show cause notice. However, the judge, without going into "the question of who is at fault in the present case", observed that the government should think of amendments to laws meant for women protection "to prevent its misuse so as to safeguard the interest of the innocent masculinity too."

The court also observed, "we have to ask a question for ourselves as to whether those laws are invoked by women with genuine reasons."

The judge felt it appropriate to point out that Christian missionaries are always attacked as there are several accusations against them for indulging in compulsory conversion of people of other religions into Christianity. Now, there is a general feeling amongst the parents of students, especially female students, that co-educational study in Christian institutions is highly unsafe for the future of their children even though they impart good education and preach morality to students. "As long as a religion is practiced in streets in lieu of its worship places, like temple, mosque and church, such devastation, as in the present case, does occur and will be mushrooming."

Noble cause: 87 cadaver organ donations so far in TN this year

A total of 377 organs and 197 tissues harvested from donors have been utilised

Published: 16th August 2019 06:13 AM

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu, the pioneer State in organ donation programme, has so far received 87 cadaver donations this year and utilised a total of 377 organs harvested from the donors, according to data accessed by Express from the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu.

The data for January to August 13 showed among harvested organs, 377 organs and 197 tissues were utilised.

The cadaver transplant programme started in 2008 with seven donations. The number increased from 59 in 2009 to 87 in 2010. Then, it decreased to 70 in 2011. However, donations increased from 83 in 2012 to 185 in 2016. But, due to controversies over the preference given to foreign patients, the numbers witnessed a dip and total came down to 160 in 2017 and 140 in 2018.



Transplant surgeons and others attributed the decrease in 2018 to the controversy. However, health department officials denied it, saying that the number is still high.


Meanwhile, speaking to Express, Dr R Kanthimathy, member-secretary, Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu, said, “The government is organising various programmes to increase awareness and we see good response, especially college students. The awareness is good. So, the donations are expected to increase further as the year is yet to end.”

Dr Kanthimathy said the officials were doing awareness programme including skits, rangoli competition and others involving students. “In Pudukottai district also an awareness marathon is organised on August 17. Not only in the districts, but in Chennai also, the department is conducting programmes,” she said.

Power shutdown in parts of Chennai on August 19, check list here

Power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Monday from 9 am to 4 pm in Avadi, Rajakilapakkam and Taramani areas.

Published: 17th August 2019 08:33 PM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Monday from 9 am to 4 pm in these following areas. According to a statement from Tangedco, power supply will be resumed before 4 pm if work is completed.

AVADI: SS Nagar, Vallalar Nagar, Anna Street, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Moorthi Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar, Padmavathi Nagar, STV Nagar, Subramani Nagar.

RAJAKILAPAKKAM : Velachery Main Road Part, Bharathi Park Street, IOB Colony, Muthalamman Koil St, Karnam St, Kulakkarai St, Rajeshwari Nagar and Extension, Kamarajar St, VGN Milano, Manimegalai St Extension, Ramakrishnapuram Thangakarai St Area.

TARAMANI: Velachery Road, Venkatapuram.

Heavy rain lashes drought-prone areas

170 mm of rain recorded in Vellore; many areas flooded

18/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,VELLORE

A caring owner:A woman carries her dog to safety in knee-deep water at Indira Nagar in Consalpet of Vellore district on Saturday. C. Venkatachalapathy C. Venkatachalapathy

The drought-prone areas of Polur and Kalasapakkam in Tiruvannamalai district and Vellore town received heavy rainfall on Friday night.

Water stagnation and power shutdowns disrupted life in most areas.

In Vellore, it rained for about three hours on Friday evening causing floods at several places. It soon turned into a downpour early on Saturday which has brought the temperature in Vellore down significantly since the last fortnight.

Water entered houses in Indira Nagar, Kansalpet, and Auxilium School in Katpadi. People had to spend sleepless nights because of the incessant downpour. In the past 24 hours, Vellore recorded the highest rainfall of 170 mm while Katpadi recorded 110 mm. “This is surely a boon to water-starved areas, but it highlighted lack of infrastructure in the municipal corporation areas,” said Selvam, a trader from Salavanpet. There were incessant rains in Alangayam, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Arakkonam and Kaveripakkam. The average rainfall in the district was recorded to be 40.59 mm. In Tiruvannamalai district, Kalasapakkam received the highest rainfall of 190 mm.

The break-up of rainfall was given as Polur 100 mm, Tiruvannamalai 50 mm, Kilpennathur 60 mm, Chetpet 7.5 mm, Sathanur Dam 40.60 mm, and Chengam 40.40 mm. The average rainfall in the district was 58.88 mm.

Vellore district administration declared a holiday for schools and colleges due to rain on Saturday.

There were reports of heavy rain in many other districts, including Cuddalore, Ariyalur and Villupuram.

Athi Varadar collections soar, but expenses abound

Temple administration has spent ₹4.5 cr.; municipality seeking ₹19 cr. from govt.

18/08/2019, T. RAMAKRISHNAN,CHENNAI

The Police Department is expected to seek reimbursement for the amount it has spent over and above what had been earmarked for it. S.R. Raghunathan

The Athi Varadar festival has made the Devarajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram richer by at least ₹11.5 crore.

As per an initial estimate, of the overall amount, around ₹7.5 crore has been earned through collections in the temple’s hundials; ₹2.5 crore through the online booking of tickets; and ₹1.5 crore through the Annadanam scheme, according to a senior official monitoring the conduct of the 48-day festival, which came to an end on Saturday.

As for the expenditure, a total of ₹29 crore, allotted by the government originally towards the arrangements to be made by departments and agencies like the Public Works, Highways and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), is said to have been spent. Besides, expenses were incurred in making extra arrangements for cleaning and providing drinking water, toilets and sheds.

Already, the Kancheepuram municipality has approached the government, seeking ₹19 crore towards expenses incurred during the festival.

The temple administration has spent ₹4.5 crore.

The Police Department is expected to seek reimbursement for the amount it has spent over and above what had been earmarked for it. As per a conservative estimate, around ₹45 crore may have been incurred additionally, which includes salary for the temporary staff hired.

An official said the “overwhelming response” of the devotees had forced the authorities to make more arrangements than originally planned.

The maximum number of devotees expected to visit the temple on auspicious days like Ekadasi was one lakh. But on an average, every day, 1.5 lakh devotees turned up.

Swelling numbers

In the first 17 days, around 22 lakh people visited the temple. But in the subsequent 30 days, the number of devotees was almost four times this figure. After the idol was placed in a standing position from August1, the devotees’ figure rose further. As per a conservative estimate, around 50 lakh people visited the temple since the beginning of this month. All these aspects provided justification for the additional expenditure, the official explained.

Business model of newspapers has become strained, says N. Ram

‘Centre has stopped providing advertisements to The Hindu following the publication of articles exposing irregularities in Rafale deal’

18/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

N. Ram, Chairman, THG Publishing Private Ltd., handing over a souvenir to K. Ranganathan, Assistant Vice-President (Retd.) Advertisement, The Hindu, at the first anniversary celebration of The Hindu Retired Employees’ Welfare Association in Chennai on Saturday. M. VEDHANM_VEDHAN

The business model of newspapers is strained, and obtaining advertisements in general is a challenge today, N. Ram, Chairman, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited, said on Saturday.

The Central government had stopped providing advertisements to The Hindu following the publication of articles exposing irregularities in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, he added.

Addressing the one year anniversary celebration of The Hindu Retired Employees’ Welfare Association (THREWA), he said, “It is no secret. The Central government has stopped advertisements. Some of the public sector companies have also stopped.” He added that the newspaper had not approached the Centre over the issue as it was not right to do so.

He said that though there was growth, the print circulation among the younger generation was stagnant. He stressed the importance of organisations like the Alliance for Media Freedom and the Madras Union of Journalists, which is part of the alliance and is providing support to THREWA in safeguarding the rights of journalists.

Appreciating the efforts of THREWA, he said that employees of The Hindu, who were loyal, hard-working and skilled, were the mainstay of the organisation. “Without them, The Hindu would not have become India’s most-respected newspaper,” he added.

All the former employees who spoke at the event recollected how democratic the workplace was and how The Hindu took exemplary care of its employees.

Mr. Ram said one of the biggest achievements of the organisation was helping the families of its employees in getting their children educated and facilitating their personal development. “Thirty percent of the credit for this should go to management while 70% should go to the employees themselves,” he said.

He released a souvenir brought out by THREWA.

‘Why is a law graduate’s natural choice not the legal profession?’

18/08/2019, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,NEW DELHI

Ranjan Gogoi

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has said there is a need to look at the role and functioning of lawyers and understand why a law graduate’s natural choice is not the legal profession in spite of great attractions and opportunities.

The CJI, who was speaking at the seventh annual convocation of National Law University in New Delhi on Saturday, said the purpose of law schools was to bring out lawyers who would serve the country as prospective leaders of the bar, adjudicators on the Bench and educators and teachers.

He said it was time to analyse whether the five-year law course, a combined degree in law and arts, had met its objectives. The course was aimed at developing socially conscious lawyers who serve society by developing skills in the field of advocacy, legal aid, legislation or reforms, he said.

CJI Gogoi also spoke about the hefty fee structures in law schools and said “if the existing fee structure acts as economical barrier to education, then in a country like ours, it is nothing short of a tragedy”.

Athi Varadar idol set for immersion
It will remain inside tank for 40 years

18/08/2019, DEEPA H. RAMAKRISHNAN,KANCHEEPURAM

The utsava idol of Sri Devarajaswamy next to the idol of Athi Varadar on Saturday. B. Velankanni Raj

The idol of Athi Varadar is set to return to its underwater chamber inside the Ananthasaras tank at the Sri Devarajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram late on Saturday, after 1 crore devotees flocked to it for darshan over the past 48 days.

The idol, made of fig wood, was brought out of the tank after 40 years and placed in the Vasantha Mandapam for devotees to have darshan. Once immersed, it will remain inside the tank for another 40 years. The chamber inside the tank has a brick floor and granite walls, and the idol will be kept in sayana kolam (reclining posture), facing east.

At 6 p.m., the utsava idol of Sri Devarajaswamy was brought out to the Vasantha Mandapam, where it stayed for 10 minutes near Athi Varadar. After this, the doors to the mandapam were closed to allow the priests to apply 60 kg of sandhanadhi thailam, containing various herbs, on the idol. This was done to prevent pest and fungus attacks on the idol.

Temple gets ₹11.5 crore

The Athi Varadar festival has made the temple richer by at least ₹11.5 crore.

As per an initial estimate, of the overall amount, around ₹7.5 crore has been earned through collections in the temple’s hundials; ₹2.5 crore through the online booking of tickets; and ₹1.5 crore through the Annadanam scheme, according to a senior official monitoring the conduct of the 48-day festival, which came to an end on Saturday.

Massive exercise

As for the expenditure, a total of ₹29 crore, allotted by the government originally towards the arrangements to be made by departments and agencies like the Public Works, Highways and the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), is said to have been spent.

Besides, expenses were incurred in making extra arrangements for cleaning and providing drinking water, toilets and sheds. The temple administration has spent ₹2 crore.

Already, the Kancheepuram municipality has approached the government, seeking ₹19 crore towards expenses incurred during the festival.

The temple administration has spent ₹4.5 crore.

The Police Department is expected to seek reimbursement for the amount it has spent over and above what had been earmarked for it. As per a conservative estimate, around ₹45 crore may have been incurred additionally, which includes salary for the temporary staff hired.

Luxury car runs over two foreign nationals in downtown Kolkata
Deceased were from Bangladesh; accused driver arrested

18/08/2019, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,KOLKATA

Two foreign nationals were killed and one person was injured when a speeding luxury car hit them in downtown on Saturday. The luxury car hit the three victims after being rammed by another car, said the police.

The luxury car also damaged a traffic signal outpost.

The incident happened around 1.50 a.m. near the crossing of the Shakespeare Sarani and Loudon Street, said a Kolkata Police official.

One injured

The car hit three pedestrians, including two Bangladeshis: Kazi Mohammed Mainul Alam (36) and Farhana Islam Tania (30).

Kazi and Farhana were declared brought dead by the State-run SSKM Hospital while the injured person is undergoing treatment, said the police.

The occupants of the car that hit the victims also received minor injuries.

The person driving the other car fled after the mishap but was later arrested, an official said. “Both the vehicles have been impounded. We are checking CCTV footage,” he said.

The arrested accused is the son of the owner of a city-based restaurant chain, he added.

Other incidents

Eight persons were injured in two other road accidents on Saturday in different parts of the city, which is being lashed by heavy monsoon rain.

A motorcyclist and a person riding pillion were injured when the two-wheeler skidded on Eastern Metropolitan bypass near Captain Fishery at around 1.40 a.m., said the police.

Six occupants of a four-wheeler were injured when the vehicle’s driver lost control while crossing the Maa flyover and it fell on its side around 5.45 a.m.

Man makes hoax bomb call to IGIA to stop wife from flying abroad, held

Accused often fought with her as she wanted to go out of country and earn money

18/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,NEW DELHI

Nasrudeen.Special Arrangement

A 28-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly making a hoax bomb call to IGI Airport a week before Independence Day, the police said on Saturday.

He allegedly told that police that he wanted to stop his wife from leaving the country for work, they said.

DCP (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said Nasrudeen from Bihar’s Sitamarhi and a resident of Chennai was arrested from Bawana Industrial area. On August 8, at 9 p.m., a call was received at Delhi International Airport Limited’s call centre in Gurugram. The caller said he was speaking from Chennai and that one Zabina, who has reached the Delhi airport, could cause an explosion in a Dubai or Saudi Arabia-bound flight. “The call was forwarded to airport security officials, police stations, IGI Airport and other agencies, including the Special Cell. The Airport Operations Control Centre [AOCC] contacted the caller who confirmed that Zabina, who has reached Delhi, was planning to leave for abroad. He also shared her contact number,” Mr. Yadav said.

The police then called the woman who confirmed that she was in Delhi and was planning to leave the country. However, after further questioning, it was found out that the bomb threat was a hoax, the police said.

Tracing the caller

A case was registered at Gurugram’s Udyog Vihar police station and teams started tracing the caller. On Independence Day, the police claimed to have received a tip-off that the caller, Nasrudeen, was in Bawana. The mobile phone along with the SIM, used in making the call, was recovered from him, they said.

During interrogation, Nasrudeen said he moved to Chennai in 2008 and started stitching bags for a living. He fell in love with one of his employees, Zabina, a mother of two who had separated from her husband.

“Nasrudeen married Zabina in 2017 but the two fought frequently over financial issues. In July this year, Nasrudeen left for Bihar when Zabina planned to go abroad to earn money,” Mr. Yadav said.

The police said Nasrudeen was on his way back to Chennai on August 8 when he got a call from Zabina who told him that she was leaving for Delhi from where she would depart to a Gulf country for work. He tried to stop her but she didn’t agree. “When Nasrudeen reached Chennai, he went to Zabina’s maternal house and was informed that she had left for Delhi. He then planned to make the hoax call to stop her. He googled IGIA’s number,” the officer added.

Travel agency told to pay over ₹1 lakh to client

18/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,NEW DELHI

A district consumer disputes redressal forum here has directed travel agency Thomas Cook to compensate a complainant by paying over ₹1 lakh after it was alleged that the agency charged an extra amount for rescheduling a trip. Observing that the additional amount of ₹1.34 lakh charged by the agency was “uncalled for”, the consumer panel observed, “The travel agency has not placed any document to show that the booking of hotel premises and other tour facility abroad in the name of the complainant had been arranged.”

“Further, the travel agency has not placed on record the itinerary and the air tickets and onus to prove the same was on the agency,” the Bench added.

The directions came when the panel was hearing a complaint moved by a city resident who stated that despite paying ₹3.17 lakh for a trip to Europe, the agency demanded an extra charge following delay in the issuance of visa.

Woman chided for 4th child dies in labour
No doctor attended to her, says family
18/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,GHAZIABAD

Indra Vikram Singh

A pregnant woman who was chided by the Shahjahanpur District Magistrate for conceiving a fourth child died during labour on Saturday.

In a video that went viral on Friday, Rekha, a resident of Singha village in the district’s Mirzapur area, was seen complaining to DM Indra Vikram Singh against the government hospital administration for not admitting her. In turn, Mr. Singh derided her for expecting her fourth child. “Tumhe sharm nahin aati (Don’t you feel ashamed),” the official was heard saying. When the local media approached him for a comment, Mr. Singh is reported to have said that he didn’t believe in answering impromptu questions.

On Saturday, Rekha passed away during labour. Her family members claimed that despite the DM’s intervention, no doctor had come to see her after she was admitted at the government hospital. “She felt disheartened and said that she should be taken out of the hospital,” said the woman’s brother-in-law Mukesh.

Pooja Pandey, the spokesperson for Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil Memorial Hospital is reported to have told local journalists that the pregnant woman hadn’t visited the hospital to get admitted. The hospital, however, had admitted her after the DM intervened. Ms. Pandey said that as per the woman’s ultrasound report the delivery was due on August 28 and that as she was anaemic, the hospital had asked her family members to arrange for blood. However, the relatives had insisted on taking her away, she said.

11 lose sight after cataract surgery
Govt. revokes Indore hospital’s licence

18/08/2019, , SIDHARTH YADAV,BHOPAL

A view of the hospital in Indore. Special Arrangement

The Madhya Pradesh government on Saturday revoked the licence of a private hospital in Indore where 11 elderly persons, who underwent cataract surgeries on August 8, suffered significant impairment of vision due to infection.

“As a result of the loss of eyesight of 11 patients who underwent cataract surgeries at your hospital on August 8, this is to inform you of the cancellation of your licence under Section 6(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Upcharyagriha Tatha Rujopchar Samabandi Sthapnaye (Registrikaran Tatha Anugyapan) Adhiniyam, 1973,” District Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Pravin Jadia wrote in a letter addressed to the Director of the Indore Eye Hospital.

District Collector Lokesh Kumar Jatav, however, told The Hindu that the patients had not lost their sight completely but were suffering from “blurry vision” due to infection after the surgeries. “They have been shifted to the best eye hospital in the city and will undergo corrective surgeries. A team from Sankara Nethralaya from Chennai will perform the procedure. At this stage, we don’t know what caused the infection.”

Under the Union Health Ministry’s National Programme for Control of Blindness, 14 persons aged between 45 and 85, 10 from Dhar district and four from Indore, underwent the surgeries on the day. Later, 11 of them complained of blurry vision. They have been shifted to Choithram Hospital and Research Centre in the city.

The private hospital had conducted 386 cataract surgeries under the programme from April to August 8. A three-member team comprising the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and two government ophthalmologists had been constituted to inquire into the case, said Mr. Jatav.

A district health official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Private hospitals get paid on the basis of the number of successful surgeries.”

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced a compensation of ₹50,000 for each of the affected persons.

“Our priority is to save their vision at this point,” Jitu Patwari, Higher Education Minister, told reporters. “The operation theatre has been sealed. Those responsible for negligence will be punished. Even the doctor who underestimated the extent of the infection will be punished,” he said.

Special trains

18/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,VIRUDHUNAGAR

Southern Railway will run following special trains: Train No.06085 Thiruvananthapuram – Velankanni will leave Thiruvananthapuram Central at 7.45 p.m. on Wednesdays - August 28 and September 4, and reach Velankanni at 10.05 a.m., the next day. Train No.06086 Velankanni – Thiruvananthapuram will leave Velankanni at 11.45 p.m. August 29 and September 5 - and Thiruvananthapuram Central at 1.15 p.m. the next day.

Supreme Court asks govt. to set up law academy

18/08/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

Justice R. Banumathi of the Supreme Court on Saturday urged the State government to support the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTNP) financially and otherwise in establishing a world-class law academy.

After administering the oath of office to 25 newly elected members of BCTNP here, the judge made a fervent request to Advocate General Vijay Narayan to follow up the matter with the government and ensure that land as well as funds required were made available at the earliest.

Arun Jaitley put on life support, says AIIMS

18/08/2019

Mr. Jaitley has been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit after he was admitted to the AIIMS with complaints of uneasiness, weakness and breathlessness.

Dr. Vardhan said on Friday: “Doctors at AIIMS are doing the best they can.”

AIIMS officials have noted that Mr. Jaitley was now stable and recovering. The 67-year-old leader is under the care of a team of endocrinologists, nephrologists and cardiologists.

Mr. Jaitley has been put on ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), also known as extracorporeal life support. This is an extracorporeal technique of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to persons whose heart and lungs are unable to provide an adequate amount of gas exchange or perfusion to sustain life.

Woman gets alimony after 27-year fight

18/08/2019, SATYASUNDAR BARIK,BHUBANESWAR

Twenty-seven years after filing a case seeking maintenance from her estranged husband, a woman in Bhubaneswar now sees a glimmer of hope of getting regular alimony.

In the long court battle, the woman not only had to justify her rightful claim for an allowance, but also had to establish the identity of her husband as the man she was really married to.

The curious case of Sabita Chand, now 56, and her estranged husband Ashok Kumar Das alias Ashok Kumar Chand has hopefully come to an end, with a family court in Bhubaneswar directing immediate release of a maintenance fee to her.

Ashok Kumar Chand, who worked in the Indian Railways, had married Ms. Chand in 1985 by concealing his identity.

In 1992, Ms. Chand filed a case in the court seeking maintenance. Earlier this month, the court directed the bank manager to transfer one-third of his pension to Ms. Chand.

Other States

Kancheepuram slowly returns to normalcy post festival
Curbs on movement eased on most roads; 4.5 lakh devotees visited on Friday

18/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,KANCHEEPURAM

Police personnel leaving Kancheepuram following the conclusion of the Athi Varadar festival.S.R. Raghunathan

Residents of Kancheepuram town breathed easy on Saturday after the Athi Varadar festival at the Sri Devarajaswamy temple came to a close with police lifting the restrictions on movement on most roads. There was also a drastic reduction in the influx of devotees. There was not much police presence on the roads. Many devotees were seen leaving by bus at the Central bus stand.

Maharajan, a tourist car driver, said he had been to the temple town at least 15 times over the 48 days and movement of vehicles was very much restricted as there were devotees everywhere. “The roads look empty after a long time. It took me just five minutes to reach the central bus terminus from near the district collectorate,” he said.

T.V.Singarachari, a resident, said that though many did face a lot of difficulties, the festival went off smoothly and the various government departments had handled the crowds in a very good manner.

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department Commissioner K. Phanindra Reddy said that on the 47th day, which was the last day for public darshan of Athi Varadar, a total of 4.5 lakh devotees had visited the temple and the final darshan was at 4 a.m. on Saturday morning.

“Our initial estimates showed we would get only about 25,000 per day and one lakh during weekends but the numbers just grew and we were pushing 25,000 per hour during peak times. The number of hours of darshan per day went up to 23 hours,” he said.

District Collector P. Ponniah said that the removal of barricades and road restoration would be done within 2 -3 days.

“We are planning to bio mine the garbage collected during the festival, which was 30 tonnes per day. A total of nine FIRs have been filed against individuals for printing fake VIP passes during the festival,” he said.

Aavin milk to cost ₹6 extra per litre
18/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

The State government has increased the selling price of Aavin milk by ₹6 per litre while hiking the procurement rates.

According to a press release, the revised price will come into effect on Monday. The government has decided to increase the procurement price following a demand from milk producers, citing a rise in the price of cattle feed in the past four years.

As many as 4.6 lakh milk producers in the State are expected to benefit from the rise in the procurement price. The procurement price of cow milk has been increased from ₹28 to ₹32 per litre. The State government has decided to procure buffalo milk at ₹41 per litre, increasing its price by ₹6 per litre.

The government said the increase in the selling price of Aavin milk would ensure that consumers continue to get quality milk products.

Athi Varadar festival draws to a close

Once immersed, the idol will remain in a chamber within the tank for 40 years

18/08/2019, DEEPA H. RAMAKRISHNAN,KANCHEEPURAM

The utsava idol of Sri Devarajaswamy next to the idol of Athi Varadar on Saturday. B. Velankanni Raj

The idol of Athi Varadar was set to return to its underwater chamber inside the Ananthasaras tank at the Sri Devarajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram in the wee hours of Sunday, after 1 crore devotees flocked to it for darshan over the past 48 days.

The idol, made of fig wood, was brought out of the tank after 40 years and placed in the Vasantha Mandapam for devotees to have darshan. Once immersed, it will remain inside the tank for another 40 years. The chamber inside the tank has a brick floor and granite walls, and the idol will be kept in sayana kolam (reclining posture), facing east.

At 6 p.m., the utsava idol of Sri Devarajaswamy was brought out to the Vasantha Mandapam, where it stayed for 10 minutes near Athi Varadar. After this, the doors to the mandapam were closed to allow the priests to apply 60 kg of sandhanadhi thailam, containing various herbs, on the idol. This was done to prevent fungus attacks.

Vaishnavite scholar Akkaarakani T. A. Srinidhi said that it is believed that in Kali yuga, aadhi seshan does puja to Sri Devarajaswamy and to Athi Varadar. Inside the chamber, there is a nagapasam stone near the head of the idol, held in place by more naga stones.

Chennai Rain

Persistent mouth ulcers can lead to mouth or neck cancer

18.08.2019

Nearly 57.5 per cent of global head and neck cancers occur in Asia, especially in India. Head and neck cancers in India account for 30 per of all cancers, say experts.

Head and neck cancer begins in the mouth, nose, throat, larynx, sinuses, or salivary glands. Smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol consumption and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) enhance one’s risk of head and neck cancers.

Common symptoms associated with head and neck cancer include:

Ulcer on the tongue Trouble swallowing, speaking, or moving the tongue A lump in the neck However, the commonest cause for any ulcers in the tongue or mouth region is deformed teeth or vitamin deficiency, which can be corrected by a course of vitamin supplements. However, if these problems persist for more than three to four weeks or get worse in spite of treatment, one should immediately consult an oncologist. Seeking expert opinion is the best option in these cases because as with many forms of cancer, early detection means higher possibility of being fully cured.

Diagnosis of head and neck cancer requires biopsy for confirmation and imaging for identifying the extent of the disease. After appropriate staging, all cases require multidisciplinary team management which includes medical oncologist, surgical oncologist and radiation oncologist.

Treatment for head and neck cancer involves one or more of the following:

Surgery to remove the cancerous growth Radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells.

Chemotherapy — medicines to kill cancer cells.

Most of the head and neck cancers are curable if detected early and treated appropriately. Post-treatment rehabilitation and smoking cessation play an important role in improving the quality of life and preventing second malignancy.

Dr.Arun Seshachalam Medical Oncologist GVN Hospital, Trichy

*(Procedures given are based on the expert’s understanding of the said field.)

Dr.Arun Seshachalam

‘Bomber’ hoax to stop wife gets city man jail

Somreet.Bhattacharya@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:18.08.2019

Nasrudeen tried to clip his wife’s wings. It cost him his own freedom on Independence Day. Zabina, whom he had courted and charmed out of her first marriage only two years ago, wanted to work in Dubai for a better life. He first dissuaded, then forbade her. But on August 8, while he was on a train to Chennai, his place of work, she called him to say she was flying out of Delhi airport.

It was around 9pm. A livid Nasrudeen googled the airport number and left a message: Zabina, who was flying to Dubai or Saudi Arabia, was a fidayeen bomber who would blow up the plane midair.

Chaos followed at the airport. Police called Zabina’s number and spoke to her. She confirmed she was travelling to the Gulf for a job. The plane was emptied. A team from the special cell was also called in to investigate. At the airport, Zabina was frisked again but found clean.

Puzzled, police called Nasrudeen on his number. He insisted Zabina was a bomber, but they couldn’t find anything suspicious on her.

Man didn’t want wife to go to Dubai

So, they started tracing him after registering a case under sections of criminal intimidation at the Udyog Vihar police station. Nasrudeen was caught when he came back to Delhi on August 15.

“A team led by ACP Sanjay Dutt tracked him down to a location in the Bawana Industrial Area. We recovered the phone from which he had made the calls,” Sanjeev Yadav, DCP (special cell), said.

During interrogation, Nasrudeen told police Zabina had left home in a huff as she was determined to take up a job in Dubai, while he was equally determined to keep her under his thumb.

Nasrudeen is a school dropout who left Sitamarhi in Bihar to work in Chennai 10 years ago. He met Zabina at a leather bag factory where they worked. She was married with two kids, but he persuaded her to divorce her husband and marry him, in 2017.

Their relationship soon became strained over money matters. She had applied for a job in Dubai and wanted to move there, leaving the children behind with him. He had hoped that police would detain her after his call, but could now face life-imprisonment under the stringent new anti-hijacking law.

TN prof & wife found dead on NIT-Rourkela campus

Rourkela:18.08.2019

An assistant professor in National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, and his wife were found dead at their residence on the institute campus here on Saturday, police said.

The bodies of R Jayabalan and his wife Malvi Kesavan, who hailed from Tamil Nadu, were recovered after police broke open the door of their flat, a police officer said.

Police suspect that the couple committed suicide as a suicide note written both in English and Tamil was recovered from the flat of the childless couple, who were married for nine years.

The family members of the couple are expected to arrive on Sunday. As the door of the flat was locked from inside for the last two days, neighbours informed the campus security on Friday night.

Police was also informed and they broke open the door of the flat on Saturday morning in the presence of senior officials and higher authorities of NIT-Rourkela. The bodies of the two, in their mid-thirties, were found inside.

The body of the woman was on the bed, while that of the husband was in the bathroom, both of them had vomited before dying, Rourkela superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi said.

The suicide note mentioned that no one was responsible for their death, the SP said. “Prima facie, it looks like a case of suicide. We are yet to ascertain the exact reason and investigation is in progress,” the SP said. Forensic and scientific experts and others examined the site as part of the probe. The bodies were sent for postmortem, the police said.

Registrar of NIT Rourkela P K Das said, “They were a wonderful couple and very friendly. Jayabalan was liked by the students and his colleagues. He would involve himself in all the activities of the department. He was also very good at his subject, life science.” PTI

Police suspect that the couple committed suicide, as a suicide note, written both in English and Tamil, was recovered from the flat of the childless couple, who were married for nine years

Veteran DD News anchor Neelum Sharma no more

New Delhi:18.08.2019

One of the founding anchors of DD News and Nari Shakti awardee Neelum Sharma died on Saturday, the public broadcaster said. According to reports, she was battling cancer.

A DD News tweet said Sharma was a founding anchor with over 20 years of association with the broadcaster.

The anchor of programmes such as ‘Badi Charcha’ and ‘Tejasvini’ was recently awarded with the Nari Shakti Puraskar.

Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar offered condolences to the bereaved family members on behalf of the organization.

Prasar Bharati chairman A Surya Prakash also tweeted, “We have lost our ‘Tejaswini’.” PTI

Trichy auto drivers launch app, to ply at govt tariff

Deepak.Karthik@timesgroup.com

Trichy:18.08.2019

To compete with appbased transport service providers, a group of autorickshaw drivers in the city has launched an exclusive mobile application to book rides charging fares in accordance with the tariff fixed by the state government. Unlike other app-based transport services which deduct charges, the autorickshaw drivers functioning under the banner ‘Trichy Meter Auto’ claimed the entire profit will go only to the particular auto driver.

While fleecing by a section of autorickshaw drivers has forced the public to opt for app-based rides that charge nominal fares, the autorickshaw drivers who ply for the cab aggregators claimed that their profit margin was very low. To overcome this, the group comprising 383 autorickshaws have launched the android mobile application ‘Trichy Meter Auto.’ Developed by a Trichy-based IT firm, people can book rides on the app after checking the tariff for the ride. “We have been charging a minimum fare of ₹40 per ride. The entire fare calculated in the mobile app will go to the particular driver,” Trichy Meter Auto coordinator A Mohammed Aliyar said.

To join the group, organisers said the autorickshaw drivers have to pay a monthly membership fee of ₹200 and agree to comply with the fare chart fixed by state government. “The mobile application for Trichy Meter Auto will be constantly upgraded. For now, the radius of autorickshaws available to book is kept at 1.5km. It will be increased from next week, making booking simpler,” said K Santhosh Kumar, co-founder of Opus Spark Technologies, the firm that developed the application.

The mobile application has been designed to book autorickshaw rides through phone calls if there is a delay in booking rides online. The application, launched on August 15, has seen 15-20 bookings in the last three days. The auto group said promotions for the mobile app will begin this week as they are in the process of inviting more autorickshaw drivers to their fold.




PLAYING IT FAIR:Autorickshaw drivers say the ‘Trichy Meter Auto’ is a win-win for both drivers and passengers. While passengers get to travel at nominal fares fixed by the government, drivers will get the whole charges for their trips, something other app-based cab aggregators deny them

Athi Varadar fest rakes in ₹8cr
More Than One Crore Thronged The Shrine
Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.08.2019

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department has earned ₹8 crore in ‘hundi’ collection at the Sri Devarajaperumal temple in Kancheepuram where the 47-day Athi Varadar festival ended on Friday with the deity being taken back to the tank on Saturday.

More than one crore devotees thronged the shrine during the period. “This is a record for the temple,” HR&CE commissioner Phanindra Reddy told TOI. The Dhandyuthapani temple at Palani in Dindigul district, the largest revenue earner in the state, has an average monthly collection of around ₹2.5 crore and ₹6 crore during festivals.

There were donations from several VIPs during the festival. “We received ₹1.5 crore for annadanam (free feast) alone, as part of which mostly variety rice, was distributed,” Reddy said.

Sale of darshan tickets brought in another ₹2.5 crore. “Online sale of tickets was introduced and many purchased special tickets. Several lakhs of tickets were sold.”

A series of pujas were performed since morning. “Forty-eight varieties of ‘prasad’ (offerings) were placed before the deity. At 4pm, the utsava idol of Lord Devarajaperumal was brought to the one of Athi Varadar at the Vasantha Mandapam, arathi was performed and preparations commenced for immersion of Athi Varadar in the Anantasaras (tank),” said a priest.

Before the immersion, oil made from sandal and medicinal herbs was applied to the staue of the deity made of a fig tree. “We do this to prevent it from decaying and ageing. This is a practice followed for long,” said the priest. A plaque containing dates on which the statue was taken out and dates of other important occasions during the past 48 days, was placed near the tank.

More than 12,500 police personnel, at least 2,500 municipal workers and officials, revenue officials, thousands of HR&CE officials were involved in manning the huge crowds during the festival.

Initially, sources said, only DIGs were heading the police force at the temple before IGs and later two ADGPs were roped in to control the surging crowd.

RECORD-BREAKING: Apart from the hundi collections, ₹1 crore was received for annadanam (free food)

Commuters enjoy free metro ride as ticket machines fail

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.08.2019

Passengers who walked into metro stations on Saturday morning were given free rides after the ticketing systems conked out due to a technical glitch. Commuters also complained that electronic information boards malfunctioned, displaying wrong schedules. CMRL said it rectified the problem around 10.30am.

Ticketing vending machines, computer systems and the automatic fare collection (AFC) gates started malfunctioning around 8am. Commuters trying to recharge smart cards or buy tokens at ticket vending machines couldn’t operate the kiosks.

As a team began identifying the fault, station staff immediately took control by opening the AFC gates and allowing commuters to walk in without paying the ticket fare. Passengers were issued a manual paper ticket to pass through the AFC gates.

Shankaran, a government employee who commutes regularly between Anna Nagar and LIC, said he clocked in late at work as the glitch disrupted his travel plans. “The display boards had been showing wrong train timing since Friday. The train from Anna Nagar to Central arrived late and I missed the connecting train at Central towards LIC. I ended up going late to work,” he said.

A metro rail official said the fault was with a master clock which controls the telecommunication and ticketing systems across all metro stations, including the ticket vending machines, computer systems at the ticket counters and the automatic fare collection (AFC) gates where smart cards are swiped for payment.

“One of the clocks automatically turned to its default settings throwing all the systems out of gear,” an official said.

A few metro rail staff members said Saturday’s incident would have resulted in CMRL losing revenue due to free rides, as weekend footfalls in the stations usually touch an average of 90,000.


CMRL said the problem was sorted after more than two hours

I-T dept to change the way it communicates, be friendlier
Non-Threatening SMS, Not Scary Notices, To Be First Response

Sidhartha & Rajeev Deshpande TNN

New Delhi:18.08.2019

In a significant change in approach, notices will not be the first response of tax authorities to individuals and companies with regard to queries relating to expenditure or information that may have skipped a taxpayer’s attention or was omitted while filing returns.

The income-tax (I-T) department is set to adopt ‘nonthreatening’ language that asks whether an expense has been accounted for or not rather than the more intimidating officialese that quotes I-T sections under which a notice has been issued. With data mining being systems-driven, authorities are working on ways to ensure the department makes information — such as large-cash deposits or high-value transactions available to taxpayers well in time for filing of tax returns.

This, sources told TOI, can be done using tools such as text messages to taxpayers, much like those related to tax deducted at source (TDS) deposits.

On the lines of reminders for filing returns, messages could point to transactions while stating that they be ignored if accounted for. “We can tell people if TDS is due and if it has been deposited or not so that they can also take it up with the depositor,” explained an official.

FM on 8-city tour to keep ear to ground

FM Nirmala Sitharaman will hold eight meetings across India for an assessment of the economic situation and to sensitise tax officers on dealing with taxpayers. On Tuesday, the FM is headed to Varanasi where she will talk to local businesses and industry bodies. She will follow it up with meets in Pune, Mysuru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kanpur & Mumbai.

Officials advised to approach taxpayers only if they detect major discrepancy

The proposed changes are part of an overall strategy to position the I-T department as a non-adversarial agency amid repeated concerns that authorities often deal with issues in an intrusive and arbitrary manner. On Friday, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and revenue secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey met senior income tax and indirect tax officers in Ahmedabad, where the minister underlined the need for a mindset change and pushed for faceless assessment by relying on technology.

Some of the proposed changes will also require changes in the current processes and technology so that information on large property transactions, foreign exchange remittances and cash deposits and withdrawals can be made available faster, much like the system for GST. Currently, information from property registration agencies flows after a lag and often a tax demand is raised after two years.

Tax officials are being advised to approach taxpayers only if they detect major discrepancy or find concrete evidence. But even then, the first option should not be to issue a notice. Instead, the idea is to give taxpayers time to rectify the mistake, which may be due to oversight.

Even the language of communication regarding filing of tax returns and verification is proposed to be reviewed so that the department does not intimidate taxpayers. For instance, a simple mail saying “intimation under Section 143

(1)” of the Income Tax Act often spooks taxpayers until they read it to realise that it is about preliminary assessment of all returns. Authorities are revising such communications to see if they can be simpler and do not create any confusion or apprehensions.

FM to hold 8 more meets for eco review

After Ahmedabad, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has lined up at least eight meetings across the country for a first hand assessment of the economic situation and also sensitize tax officers on dealing with taxpayers better.

On Tuesday, the FM is headed to Varanasi, PM Narendra Modi’s constituency, where she will interact with local businesses and industry bodies. She will follow it up with meetings in Pune, Mysuru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kanpur and Mumbai.

The meetings come after consultations with representatives from Indian industry, MSMEs and real estate and automobile sectors apart from stock market participants and bankers amid fears of a slowdown. After meeting bankers, Sitharaman had indicated that the government may announce measures to address the concerns. TNN

Court news

High Court wants erring VAOs to be dealt with seriously

17/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER , MADURAI

After a Village Administrative Officer endorsed an agreement of divorce for solemnising a second marriage without verifying facts as to whether the divorce was valid or not, the Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday asked whether such certificates were issued by VAOs at their whims and fancies or under extraneous considerations.

Justice S.M. Subramaniam observed that there were already large-scale allegations in the public domain that VAOs were demanding and accepting bribes.

Taking cognisance of the situation, the court directed the Secretary to the Revenue Department and the Secretary to the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department to ensure that such VAOs are dealt with effectively.

The court directed the respondents to constitute a rule committee for the purpose of amending the Discipline and Appeal Rules suitably to ensure corrupt VAOs as well as government officials are given punishment for the charges proved. For the purpose of monitoring, the DVAC shall conductinspections at VAO offices.

Court News

HC asks firm owner to appear before cops

TNN | Updated: Aug 15, 2019, 8:53 IST

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has ordered the proprietor of a firm to appear before the TP Chathiram police after he failed to pay a firm he hired to install 20 CCTV cameras at Dr MGR Medical University.

The court issued the direction when Jacob Praveen Kumar, 32, owner of J S Enterprises which won the contract for the work, filed an anticipatory bail petition on Wednesday in the cheating case. The court has also directed the investigating officer to file a report.

The complaint stated that Jacob Praveen Kumar after being awarded the contract told an agency which had worked for him earlier to install the cameras at its cost and promised to pay Rs 3.93lakh but failed to do so

Feroz Khan, who works for Chennai-based Naz Technology, in his complaint said that the firm completed the work and got the cheque from the university for the project on March 27, 2019, and handed it over to Jacob Praveen Kumar. He, however, not only failed to give the money due to Naz Technology for installing the CCTV cameras and using its technicians but also threatened the staff of the company when asked for the payment.

The complaint also stated that the arrangement between the companies was that J S Enterprises would give the money to Naz Technology after deducting its share and GST.

The total cost of the project was Rs 4.64lakh.

Feroz also stated in his complaint that the case was filed because J S Enterprises encashed the cheque but failed to pay the company inspite of repeated requests. Feroz had agreed to do the job after getting permission from his company.