Min vows pay hike in 6 weeks, docs end stir
Wanted Perks On A Par With Central Scale

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:28.08.2019

Government doctors across the state, who struck work barring emergencies on Tuesday, backed down after health minister C Vijayabaskar assured them that their demands, including salary hike, would be met within six weeks.

The doctors called off their strike at 10.15pm after talks with the minister that lasted close to 10 hours. The doctors had rallied around six of their colleagues, who were on the fifth day of a fast, demanding promotions and pay hike.

“Doctors want the prospective clause of government order 354 promising time-bound promotion in five, nine, 11, 12 years of service to be implemented. They want us to appoint more doctors and 50% service quota in medical education for government doctors. All this will be considered,” Vijayabaskar said.

The state has appointed Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society project director Dr K Senthil Raj as a special officer to look into the doctors’ demands. “There will be a review once in two weeks and the report will be finalised in four weeks,” he said.

Service doctors and PG Association state president Dr Lakshmi Narasimhan said doctors were hopeful that the government would fulfil their long-term demand in less than six weeks. “We are now withdrawing our strike,” he said.

In the morning, when news about the deteriorating health condition of fasting doctors spread, hundreds of their colleagues took out rallies, held placards and raised slogans. Outpatient units in various districts were deserted and elective surgeries were pushed. By noon, Vijaya Baskar called the Federation of Government Doctors’ Association for talks.

Doctors in the state are demanding pay parity with those at the Centre in addition to special service rules taking into account their nature of work and a higher age of retirement as in the case of central government doctors whose superannuation age is 65. The salary of doctors in state and central services is the same when they join duty, but doctors in central government services receive promotions in four, nine, 13 and 20 years, compared to eight, 15, 17 and 20 years in the state government. Doctors in the state get their first increment with a basic salary of ₹56,900 (₹800 increment from the basic joining salary) in their eighth year of service, by which time a central government employee will earn nearly₹78,800 with two increments. “Every time we strike work they promise to do something. It has never worked out,” said Dr A Ramalingam, convenor of Federation of Government Doctors’ Association. “Today, we were told that a committee that was appointed last time made its recommendation to the state but it was rejected. Now, we want the GO to be implemented,” he said.

The six doctors on a fast since August 23 are being monitored at the intensive care unit of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

Besides cities, the strike had an impact on healthcare services in district hospitals and PHCs. In Tiruvanammalai and Vellore, patients who came for wound dressing, review of surgery and vaccines were sent away.


FOR PAY PARITY: Government doctors stage a protest at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai on Tuesday

Teachers to protest in September against reorganizing schools

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:28.08.2019

Teachers’ associations in Tamil Nadu have opposed the move to restructure government schools saying it would cause confusion and chaos in governance of elementary as well as high and higher secondary schools.

Teachers’ associations under the Joint Action Council for Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees’ Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) have called for a series of protests at block and district levels in September, demanding the withdrawal of government order 145. As per the order, headmasters of government high and higher secondary schools will monitor primary and middle schools within a 5km radius to create clusters of 10 to 15 schools.

“The headmasters will become senior teachers in primary and middle schools. It will render the micro-management of schools ineffective in these schools,” said R Doss, one of the co-ordinators of JACTTO-GEO.

“Though the government claims it is for the improvement of teachers and students, it will create chaos and pose a threat to elementary education in the state,” he added. The associations expressed concern that the order would lead to winding up of directorate of elementary education. “Government order 101made big changes in the monitoring of schools as it abolished district-level elementary education official posts. Government order 145 further removes separate monitoring of elementary schools,” said K Meenatchi Sundaram, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Primary School Teachers Mandram.

Temp teachers to fill vacancies

School education department has permitted headmasters to fill PG teacher posts with temporary teachers till recruitment of teachers. “To help students in government schools preparing for Class XI and XII board exams, the department is giving permission to fill vacancies immediately with temporary teachers. The appointment period should be between August and December 2019,” a circular said.

Why is it ‘provisional’ admission, ask students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:28.08.2019

There were tense moments durng counselling for admission to fill 150 MBBS seats in Muthukumaran Medical College on Tuesday as parents and students wanted the selection committee to explain why it had decided to give ‘provisional’ admission to students when a case against the college was still pending in court. The process had to be paused for nearly half hour in the morning.

A division bench of Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad on Monday passed an interim order stating that admissions through counselling can only be provisional.

The selection committee put out a notice saying that selection and provisional admission accepted by the student shall be at their own risk and any such selection and admission shall be subject to the order of the Madras high court in connection with one of the cases against the college.

On Tuesday, when counselling opened, students seeking re-allotment from other self-financing colleges were told that they may have to lose their seat if Muthukumaran college lost recognition.

“If the new admission is cancelled the student won’t have the right to claim the seat he/she was originally allotted,” selection committee secretary G Selvarajan said.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University had denied affiliation to the college because nearly seven buildings belonging to the medical college including students’ hostels, postgraduate/doctors’ quarters, nursing hostels and libraries that are illegal were facing demolition.

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has asked Tangedco to cut power supply to the seven buildings.

Only on August 19, based on a plea from the college, a single judge of the court had directed the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University to grant affiliation to the institute and include 150 MBBS seats available with the college in counselling.

On Monday, hearing the writ appeal by K M Krishnan challenging the single judge order, the court said parents would have to be warned.

“I am glad we know about this. But why put students’ lives at risk? That too, for a decision to be taken after three months? What were they all doing from January,” asked Ram Narayanan, whose niece was seeking an MBBS seat in the college.

A few other parents wanted to know why the state had handed over NRI seats back to the college after one round of counselling.

“They have allowed the colleges to convert these into management seats, where the fee is lower. But colleges are now demanding capitation because they can admit students to these seats on their on,” said Mohan Kumar, a parent of a medical aspirant.



WORRIED LOT: Students during counselling for MBBS admission in Muthukumaran Medical College at Government Multi-Super-Speciality Hospital on the Omandurar Estate on Tuesday

Kota institute to give free NEET coaching to 200 city students

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:28.08.2019

More than 400 students from 12 government and government aided schools in Tamil Nadu including six in Chennai will receive free online coaching for NEET from EtoosIndia, an institute based in Kota, Rajasthan.

In Chennai, 200 Englishmedium students frm Government Higher Secondary School, MGR Nagar, Lady Sivasami Ayyar Girls Higher Secondary School, Mylapore (government aided), Dr Ambedkar Government Higher Secondary School, Egmore, Dr KK Nirmala Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Ashok Nagar, Government Higher Secondary School, GKM Colony, and St Joseph’s Girls Higher Secondary School, Choolai (government aided) will get the coaching, an official said.

Students of four schools in Coimbatore and two in Erode will also be provided user ID and password, giving them access to video lectures and study material. “They can access study material and lectures given by star trainers,” said Ashish Singh, general manager (business), Etoos Education Private limited. There will be no personal coaching.

“We will conduct periodical tests. Question papers will be sent directly to schools and after evaluation we will give national level ranking for students,” he said. NEET 2020 is scheduled for May 3.

Separately, based on a screening test on August 7, the school education department shortlisted 13,000 students for NEET and JEE coaching which will begin soon. “They will be trained by government school teachers. The department has also instructed officials to conduct weekly tests for the students,” the official added.

Of 19,355 students trained at government sponsored centres last year, only one student got the MBBS seat this year.


GETTING THEM READY: Staff of the Kota-based institute during a programme for government school students in the city on Tuesday

A tech fair to encourage innovation in students

To be held at Codissia Trade Fair Complex from August 29

28/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,COIMBATORE

School and college students from across the country will exhibit 1,200 projects, which they have developed, at the National Science and Technology Fair 2019 here.

The event, organised by the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia) as part of its golden jubilee celebrations, is aimed at connecting the industry and students and encouraging innovations by students.

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Chairman of the Fair C. Muthusami, and Codissia president R. Ramamurthy told presspersons here on Tuesday that the three-day programme from August 29 at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex will have 872 innovations by college students and over 200 projects by school students. “We expected about 500 entries when we announced the Fair. The response we got was 1,300. We have selected 1,200 for display. Almost 75 % of the projects will be exhibited as working models,” said Mr. Muthusami.

Participants

The students are from IIT Madras, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore College of Technology, institutions from Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, and three government schools. “We hope to commercialise at least 25 innovations,” Mr. Muthusami added.

All the micro, small, and medium-scale enterprise (MSME) owners, students and the public will visit the Fair. The students will be supported through mentoring, handholding, and finances to commercialise the innovation.

The MSMEs are looking for innovations. If they are interested in an innovation or project, the Codissia will organise one-on-one meeting between the industry and the students.

Cash prize

The first, second, and third best projects by school and college students will get a total cash prize of ₹2 lakh.

Codissia has invested nearly ₹1 crore in this initiative. The aim is to support students in their innovations and enable MSMEs get new technologies for their operations, said Mr. Ramamurthy. This is a new venture for Codissia and if it is successful, it will be organised regularly, he said.

Corrupt officers have to be dealt with sternly: court

Court says this while handing four-year jail term to police officer for taking bribe
28/08/2019, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,NEW DELHI

Public servants have the inclination to indulge in corruption and this tendency has to be curbed with a stern hand, a Delhi court said on Tuesday while awarding a four-year jail term to a police official for taking bribe.

Special Judge Sanjay Bansal sentenced Sarup Singh to rigorous imprisonment of four years and also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on him.

“It is no more debatable that offences under Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act cannot be treated lightly. The problem of corruption is perhaps the biggest challenge being faced by our country,” he said.

“Public servants still have the inclination to indulge in corruption. This proclivity has to be curbed, and with a stern hand. Considered so, there is no question of imposing lesser sentence of imprisonment than the minimum,” he added.

The case against Singh was registered in 2016 under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 on the basis of a written complaint.

It was alleged that the complainant was renovating his canteen at Lawrence Road Industrial Area and it was stopped by Singh, who was head constable at that time.

According to the complaint, Singh demanded ₹2 lakh bribe to allow renovation work. Following this, the CBI laid a trap and caught Singh red-handed while accepting money from the complainant.

Online coaching for competitive exams to begin at 12 centres
Chennai will have six centres, Coimbatore 4, Erode 2

28/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

The classes will be for students studying in the English medium sections in government and aided schools only.

The School Education Department on Tuesday organised an orientation programme for teachers and students for online coaching for NEET and other competitive exams. The facility will be made available to students in six centres in Chennai, four centres in Coimbatore and two centres in Erode, all located in schools. The classes will be meant for students studying in the English medium sections of government and government-aided schools only.

The department has tied up with ETOOS India, a private company involved in coaching students for competitive exams including NEET. “The centres have been given access to our content through USER IDs and Passwords. They can access video lessons, tests and other material during their classes and students too can contact us for doubts or feedback if needed,” said a representative from the company.

A headmaster from Chennai said at the centre on his school campus, students from the nearby government and government-aided schools would be expected to attend the online coaching classes. “We are yet to receive information on how frequently we should conduct the classes through the week, but we’re hoping to have a minimum of three classes per week,” he added. Teachers from these schools are expected to coordinate the classes and be present to answer students about any queries they might have.

There is a lack of clarity with regard to when full-fledged coaching for government and government aided students will begin this year. The School Education department conducted a screening test to select students to attend the coaching.

A senior official said they short-listed nearly 13,000 students from both classes 11 and 12. “Tests are being conducted across all schools every Friday to prepare students to take up NEET. These tests are for 240 marks and the question papers are being prepared by a team of teachers and sent to all the schools every week,” she added.

Anaesthesiologist vacancies at GRH causing surgery slowdown
MP Su. Venkatesan is seized of the shortage issue

28/08/2019, SANJANA GANESH,MADURAI

Doctors from various departments of the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) stated that though the institution was expanding in size and scale, it lacks anaesthesiologists in the cadre of assistant professors to increase the number of surgeries performed in a day.

A senior professor from the Anaesthesiology department on the condition of anonymity said that at least 40 emergency surgeries are performed in a day.

To cater to these surgeries, only 18 assistant professors are present.

Overburdened

“Regular operation theatre hours stretch between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. On a day without absentees, a total of 14 assistant professors work during this shift. These senior residents become overburdened,” he said.

Although nine senior professor posts were recently filled in the department, they barely make it to day-to-day surgeries, said a senior oncologist.

He added that data regarding deliveries at the GRH were released recently which stated that of the 1,000 deliveries in a month, 440 were caesarean.

“Anaesthesiologists aid in a total of 12-17 surgeries a day. Apart from this they also deal with emergency cases in various other departments like ours which have five such surgeries,” he said.

A senior cardiologist from the GRH said that doctors had been demanding more posts for this speciality for four years now.

‘Need of the hour’

“With a rise in the number of operation theatres and specialities, more assistant professors are the need of the hour,” he said.

The Anaesthesiology professor noted that Medical Council of India had allocated the number of anaesthesiologists according to the number of medical seats which was 150 until 2018 but was increased to 250 this year.

“Considering we are the referral centre for all of Southern Tamil Nadu, we have an extensive workload. The number of surgeries should be taken into account,” he said.

He added that Stanley Medical College which functions with the same capacity has at least 60 anaesthesiologists. “If we have a total of 35, it should be comfortable,” he said.

The issue was recently raised to MP Su. Venkatesan who had inspected the hospital premises. “All doctors have brought this problem up. We will take it to the State government at the earliest,” he said.

GRH Dean K. Vanitha said that a petition had already been submitted to the State government seeking more staff based on workload and number of surgeries.

“The government is likely to act on it soon,” she said.

Eight medical students booked for ragging

Victim lodged a complaint on helpline

28/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,THENI

Eight students pursuing third-year MBBS at Government Theni Medical College have been booked by police for ragging a first year student.

The victim lodged a complaint on the toll-free helpline for ragging on Saturday, following which the anti-ragging committee of the college, headed by Dean A.K. Rajendran, conducted an investigation and forwarded the complaint to Gandamanur Vilakku police station.

The police have registered a case against the eight students.

V. Baskaran, Theni Superintendent of Police, said no arrest had been made so far.

“We have been repeatedly advising students not to indulge in ragging, as they may spoil their future. Sometimes, severe cases of ragging may also result in suicide by victims. Students should understand the severity of ragging and refrain from indulging in it. Though ragging cases have come down, stray incidents like this have to stop. Parents and professors/teachers should also take an active part in curbing ragging on the campus,” said Mr. Baskaran.

Court awards double life term for 10 in Kevin murder case
All convicted for abduction and murder of Dalit Christian youth from Kottayam

28/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,KOTTAYAM

Syanu Chacko, the prime accused in Kevin murder case, being escorted to the principal sessions court in Kottayam.

The principal sessions court here on Tuesday awarded a double life term and imposed a fine of ₹40,000 each on all 10 persons convicted of abducting and murdering Kevin P. Joseph, a 23-year-old Dalit Christian from Kottayam. Judge C. Jayachandran sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 each for offences under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC. He awarded another life term and a fine of ₹15,000 each under IPC 364 A (abduction). The accused have been sent to the Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison to serve the sentence.

The court also awarded an additional term of five years along with a fine of ₹5,000 each to Niyas, Riyas, Manu, Tittu, Fazil, and Shanu under IPC Section 449 (house trespass). They were also sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and asked to pay a fine of ₹5,000 each under IPC Section 427 (causing damage), besides six months’ imprisonment under Section 342 (wrongful confinement). The court also sentenced the 10 accused to undergo RI for three years under Section 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation).

Nishad and Shanu, who were found guilty under Section 323, were awarded six months rigorous imprisonment plus a fine of ₹5,000 each. Shifin, the seventh accused found guilty under IPC Section 201 for causing disappearance of evidence, was handed an additional term of three years plus a fine of ₹5,000.

The court ordered that of the fine amount, ₹1 lakh be given to Aneesh Sebastian, the prime witness in the case, who was abducted along with Kevin, as compensation for the loss and injuries sustained and the rest of the amount should be divided equally between Kevin’s wife Neenu Chacko and his father Joseph alias Rajan.

The court accepted the prosecution's argument that racial prejudice was the motive for the youth's murder, making it the first ever case of honour killing to be reported in the State.

HC asks surgeon to appear for inquiry

28/08/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed Indian born British robotic surgeon M. Senthil Nathan, 60, to appear for inquiry before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in connection with the 2G spectrum case from Thursday and prove his bona fides by cooperating with the investigation.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh passed the interim order after senior counsel Sonia Mathur and Special Public Prosecutor G. Hema accused the surgeon of not having responded to several summonses issued for an inquiry.

He budged and appeared for inquiry only after issuance of a Look Out Circular, they claimed.

Stating that the investigation agency, at the present stage, was not in a position to state whether he was being inquired as an accused or just a witness in the 2G spectrum case, the counsel said he was prevented from flying back to London only because the inquiry with him had not yet concluded.

On the other hand, senior counsel Satish Parasaran, representing the surgeon, said, his client had already been inquired for more than 40 hours and the investigators had full access to his mobile phones and e-mail accounts.

He also questioned the logic behind issuance of a LOC.

2,449 teachers to be engaged on temporary basis

They will be hired on a consolidated pay of ₹10,000 per month from August to December

28/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

The School Education Department has decided to temporarily engage 2,449 postgraduate assistants to fill vacancies of teachers for Classes 11 and 12 in government-run schools.

The instructions sent by Directorate of School Education on Tuesday said the decision was made as the process to fill the vacancies through Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) or promotions was likely to take more time.

According to the government order, the teachers will be engaged on a consolidated pay of ₹10,000 per month for five months from August to December 2019.

The temporary recruitment will be made through Parent Teachers Association for schools having vacancies.

Selection of eligible candidates will be done through a committee comprising the Headmaster, the Assistant Headmaster (in charge of Higher Secondary), and the senior-most P.G. Assistant teacher.

Apart from possessing necessary qualifications, the candidates should ideally be from the same locality or from nearby areas.

The order said the teachers will be recruited for 11 important subjects, including Tamil, English, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. Of the 2,449 vacancies, the maximum is in Vellore (198), followed by Villupuram (186), and Tiruvannamalai (169).

Stop-gap arrangements

Reacting to the decision, K.P.O. Suresh, president, Tamil Nadu Postgraduate Teachers’ Association, said it was yet another instance of the department resorting to stop-gap arrangements at the eleventh hour.

“It has been almost three months since classes commenced. The order says that the teachers will be engaged for five months from August. But August is already over,” he said.

He blamed the government for not taking measures to annually fill the vacancies through TRB. “It is not difficult to calculate the vacancies in advance every year and take steps to fill them. The department is jeopardising the education of government school students with these temporary arrangements,” he alleged.

T.N. bans sex reassignment surgeries in children

28/08/2019

As a result, children are subjected to medically unnecessary and often irreversible interventions that may have lifelong consequences .

Empathising with such children, Justice Swaminathan had pointed out that a World Health Organisation report titled ‘Sexual Health, Human Rights and the Law’ called for deferment of intersex genital mutilation until the intersex persons were old enough to make decisions for themselves. He made the observations in his much-celebrated decision upholding the legality of a marriage between a Hindu man and a transwoman professing the same faith. He had also said that the consent of the parent for sex reassignment surgery cannot be considered as the consent of the child and referred to a judgment by Justice K. Chandru (since retired), where it was observed that “neither the father nor the mother can claim suzerainty over the child and, in the ultimate analysis, the children are not the children of their parents.” Justice Swaminathan stressed the need for the government to launch an awareness campaign to encourage parents to feel that birth of an intersex child was not a matter of embarrassment or shame. “Any intersex child is entitled to and must stay within the folds of its family. The running away from the family to the margins and beyond is a fatal journey that must be arrested.”

Power connections exceed ration cards by 17 lakh
28/08/2019, T. RAMAKRISHNAN,CHENNAI

Officials of the State government, who are concerned about the growing losses of Tangedco, are clueless as to how the number of domestic electricity connections in the State has exceeded that of ration cards by around 17 lakh.

Against 2.05 crore ration cards, there are around 2.1 crore domestic power consumers, besides 11.2 lakh hut connections. Assuming that all households that fall under the hut connection category have ration cards, the total number of domestic power connections in the State comes to around 2.22 crore, hence the difference of 17 lakh.

Officials suspect that a large number of domestic consumers may have resorted to the “splitting of connections” to circumvent tariff slabs and ensure that they remain at the lower end of the slabs so that their power bills are as low as possible. The ‘practice’ is to have more than one domestic connection in one house, even though only one family lives there.

Under the present bi-monthly tariff system, domestic consumers get up to 100 units of free electricity, after which the price is ₹1.5 per unit for consumption of 101 units to 200 units and ₹3 per unit for 201 units-500 units.

For those who consume more than 500 units bi-monthly, the rates go up substantially — for 101 units to 200 units, the rate is ₹3.5 per unit; for 201 units to 500 units, ₹4.6 per unit; and for 501 units and above, ₹6.6 per unit.

The power utility was planning to examine the matter of “splitting of connections” further, officials said.

However, consumer activist T. Sadagopan said it was not correct to take the data of ration cards as the basis for drawing a conclusion that a “large-scale splitting” of domestic connections had taken place. “Very often, many do not take ration cards. There are also instances of individuals having more than one property in the State. In some cases, people have ration cards outside Tamil Nadu but own properties in the State,” he noted. Instead of using the ration card data, Tangedco should take steps for “regularising illegal connections”, if any, he felt.

Doctors call off stir after Minister’s assurance
Demands on pay, promotions to be met by govt., says Vijayabaskar

28/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

With four of the six doctors hospitalised, two continued their fast despite poor health on Tuesday. R. Ragu

After several hours of negotiations on Tuesday, the Federation of Government Doctors Association (FOGDA) withdrew their protest after the Health Minister assured them that their demands for reviewing Government Order 354 and invoking the prospective clause that guaranteed remuneration hikes and promotions in six weeks would be met. With this, the indefinite fast launched by a group of doctors came to an end.

As FOGDA announced a token strike on Tuesday, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar convened talks with its representatives at noon. At about 10 p.m., a consensus was reached, and FOGDA decided to withdraw the protest.

The Health Minister said the government would take a decision in favour of the doctors to review G.O. 354 and invoke its prospective clause in six weeks.

“As stated in the Assembly, the government was already favourably considering the demands raised by the doctors. The other demands such as G.O. 4D -2 will also be considered. We will continue to stress on 50% service quota for PG and super specialty courses with the Central government,” he said.

The demands would be conveyed to the Chief Minister and a favourable decision taken, he said, adding that K. Senthil Raj, project director of Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, would review the process once in two weeks. “It will be taken forward to the CM and the finance department for approval at the earliest,” he said.

A. Ramalingam, convenor of FOGDA, said that they have decided to withdraw the strike following an assurance to review G.O. 354 and invoke the prospective clause. The G.O. was due for review in 2017, he said.

Referring to G.O. 4D-2 that restructured posts of doctors, Lakshmi Narasimhan of FOGDA, said they were demanding that the posts of doctors should not be reduced, and should be maintained according to the patient load. “The government has assured that it will look into this. We have requested that there should be no displacement of doctors,” he said.

Six government doctors had launched an indefinite fast on the premises of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on August 23 to draw the government’s attention to four demands. FODGA has been demanding proper implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progression by reviewing G.O. 354, posting of doctors according to patient load, 50% service quota in postgraduate and super specialty courses and counselling for posting of PGs.

With four of the six doctors hospitalised after their health condition deteriorated, two doctors continued their fast despite poor health on Tuesday evening even as a team of 25 doctors held marathon talks with the government.

Admission to AYUSH courses on NEET score

28/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Admission to undergraduate programmes this academic year in Indian systems of medicines such as siddha, ayurveda, unani and homoeopathy, offered in the State government and self-financing colleges will be through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test score.

Earlier the Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine issued a notification for admission to programmes in yoga and naturopathy and said admission would be through class XII marks. On Monday, the Health Department issued a release stating candidates who had passed the higher secondary course or equivalent board exam (with Science subjects and English) and had the eligible percentile in NEET could apply.

Eligibility criteria are listed in www.tnhealth.org.

Court warning no deterrent for medical aspirants
Many willing to take a risk with Muthukumaran Medical College

28/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Only one seat remained vacant at the end of counselling on Tuesday.

While some of the parents and candidates who came for counselling for seats in Sri Muthukumaran Medical College on Tuesday were concerned about the court’s notice, many were not.

The Directorate of Medical Education officials held counselling for the 150 seats in the college following granting of affiliation by the university.

The college had been denied affiliation after the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority sealed several buildings citing violations. But the college approached the court and the Health Department later relented.

Several students said since it was the government that was conducting the counselling, they were willing to take the risk. A parent said, “It is only violations in building norms. That is of little consequence.” Another parent said the government had called for counselling and their wards were seeking admission to a government quota seat. So, there was no need to fear, he said.

A candidate who had secured a seat under government quota in Mookambika Medical College had wanted to shift to Sri Muthukumaran Medical College as it meant being closer home but decided against it because of the court order. “I am currently travelling 16 hours from here. I am not so sure that I want to change. I am in a good college. It was only the distance. But with such a rider from the court, I don’t want to take a chance,” she said.

At the end of the counselling on Tuesday, only one seat remained vacant — at the SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Tiruchi.

In the previous session, 11 seats in Madha Medical College had remained vacant. However, they were all taken in this round.

Candidates who have been allotted/reallotted seats must join their respective colleges by Thursday. As per the Supreme Court ruling, counselling must be completed by August 31.

Madras HC | Wife falsely alleges husband of sexual assault with their 11-year old daughter; Shook the conscience of the Court

Case BriefsHigh Courts
Published on August 22, 2019 
By Devika
 
Madras High Court: N. Anand Venkatesh, J. while addressing a petition expressed disappointment in respect to the manner in which POCSO Act is being misused, as, in the present case, the wife went down to the extent where she has put up false allegation of sexual assault against her husband with their daughter who is aged 11 years old only with the motive to get custody of her daughters.

“One of those unfortunate cases, where the wife has resorted to giving a complaint against her husband alleging that he has committed sexual assault against their daughter.”

In the present case, the 2nd respondent gave a complaint to the respondent police stating that there is an illicit relationship between the petitioner – father of their daughter. She adds that, she was able to identify and see some bodily changes in her elder daughter and also she had become pregnant. Her pregnancy was terminated through native medicines.

Respondent police had registered an FIR for an offence under Section 6 of the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Petitioner apprehended arrest and approached this Court by filing the Anticipatory Bail Petition. Court summoned the minor girl in order to enquire her in person. She completely denied the allegations made against the petitioner.

Observations made by the Court:

Court categorically found that the de facto complainant lodged a false complaint with an ulterior motive to threaten petitioner and thereby petitioner was granted anticipatory bail.

Present petition is aimed to quash the FIR which is itself an abuse of process of law and is being used to threaten the petitioner to wreck vengeance against the petitioner.

Court on summoning the victim girl noted that, she had narrated the entire incident clearly where it can be seen that the defacto complainant was attempting to take the daughters into her custody and for that purpose, she cooked up a false story against the petitioner. It was also added to the Court’s observation that, the victim girl had taken a very consistent stand both at the time of giving a statement under Section 164 CrPC and at the time when she was personally enquired by this Court.

This case has shocked the conscience of the Court and it is unbelievable that the mother just for the sake of taking custody of her child, can go to the extent of making such serious allegations against her husband.

Court while analysing the seriousness of the false allegation also stated that it is an eye-opener for the Court as now the Court is aware of the extent with which POCSO Act can be misused.

“2nd Respondent without caring for the future of her own daughter, proceeded to give a complaint alleging illicit relationship between her husband and daughter”—This is the worst type of false prosecution a Court can ever encounter.

Therefore, respondent police is directed to immediately proceed against 2nd respondent under Section 22 of the POCSO Act for having given a false complaint and accordingly action to be taken in accordance with the law.

This case should be a lesson for all those who attempt to misuse the provisions of this Act, just to satisfy their own selfish ends.

Thus Criminal Original Petition is accordingly allowed. [N. Chandramohan v. State, 2019 SCC OnLine Mad 3666, decided on 20-08-2019]

Consuming Alcohol In College : Madras HC Directs Expelled Students To Do Community Service For Continuing Course

Consuming Alcohol In College : Madras HC Directs Expelled Students To Do Community Service For Continuing Course: The Madras High Court found a 'pragmatic solution' to deal with students who were expelled from a college for attending a lecture in a drunken state.The Court did not want to spoil their career for a...

3000 journals unfit for academic papers

Only 521 Indian journals, from across disciplines, are on a 'reference list', University Grants Commission notified 

By Basant Kumar Mohanty in New Delhi

Published 27.08.19, 4:04 AM

According to UGC norms that came into force a decade ago, assistant professors and associate professors need to publish research papers or books to be eligible to go further in their careers, while doctoral students are required to publish a paper in a referred journal. (Shutterstock)

The University Grants Commission has found over 3,000 Indian journals unsuitable for academic publication but has allowed higher education institutes to take a call on papers that have already appeared in journals not part of a drastically pruned list it has come up with.

Only 521 Indian journals, from across disciplines, are on this “reference list” the higher education regulator notified on June 14.

“Any paper published in any of the journals on the reference list can be considered a scholarly work. But the reference list does not necessarily mean publications in other journals are worthless. The university awarding a PhD degree or the selection committees concerned (for hiring faculty) would have to take a call on the merit of the publications in journals outside the UGC’s reference list,” Prof. Bhushan Patwardhan, the commission’s vice-chairman, told The Telegraph.

According to UGC norms that came into force a decade ago, assistant professors and associate professors need to publish research papers or books to be eligible to go further in their careers, while doctoral students are required to publish a paper in a referred journal.

Patwardhan said this requirement led to a proliferation of predatory journals where authors get papers published against a fee.

To check such unfair practice, the UGC had in 2017 notified an “approved list” of about 35,000 journals. Papers published in any of these journals were to be accepted at face value.

The list, however, led to complaints of omission, prompting the UGC to allow universities to suggest left-out journals that could be included.

“The universities suggested journals without proper checks, resulting in inclusion of dubious journals in the list. India has been maligned globally because of the predatory journals. Many predatory journals flourished in India during the last ten years,” Patwardhan said.

Earlier this year, the UGC decided to bring out a new reference list and asked all stakeholders to submit names of journals for scrutiny. It set up a Consortium of Academics and Research Ethics at Savitribai Phule Pune University, which went by the content of the journals.

The UGC then notified the new reference list, which kept intact the over 30,000 largely foreign journals mentioned in global databases such as Scopus and Web of Sciences. But the commission made drastic changes to its earlier list of Indian journals.

Among the 1,445 science journals analysed, only 250 made it to the list. The corresponding numbers for social science journals were 1,118 and 177.

Only 83 arts/humanities journals among the 791 analysed made it, while 11 out of 407 multidisciplinary journals were included.

In all, only 521 journals found mention in the latest list among the over 3,800 that were analysed, including 60 with duplicate titles.

Prof. A.K. Mohapatra, who teaches in Jawaharlal Nehru University, said candidates might face problems because of the deletion of journals from the earlier UGC list.

“Now many universities are in the process of recruiting faculty members. Many good journals have been deleted from the latest UGC list. Candidates who have published in earlier journals will face difficulties,” Mohapatra said.

But Patwardhan defended the idea of a reference list of peer-reviewed journals and pointed out that universities have been allowed to take a call on papers published in journals outside the list.

Rajesh Jha, a member of the executive council of Delhi University, said universities or selection panels were unlikely to deviate from the UGC list and consider papers published in other journals.

“Selection panels in most universities will follow the UGC list, which is practically the final list. Thousands of candidates will be victims,” Jha said.

Patwardhan said the onus was also on vice-chancellors and expert panels. “Selection committees for appointments to faculty posts need not just follow the mechanical method of counting the number of papers published by a candidate but look at the quality of work. Good experts should be on the panels.”

Mohapatra said the UGC should rank journals based on their quality.

நகைக் கடையில் சீட்டுக் கட்டும் அப்பாவிகளே! இதையும் தெரிந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்!!

By வாணிஸ்ரீ சிவக்குமார் | Published on : 23rd August 2019 04:55 PM |


சிறுதுளி பெருவெள்ளம்

சிறுகக் கட்டிப் பெருக வாழ்

பணம் பத்தும் செய்யும் என்பதெல்லாம் சேமிப்பை வலியுறுத்தும் பழமொழிகள். ஒவ்வொருவரும் தங்களது ஊதியத்தில் முதல் செலவை சேமிப்பாக வைத்திருக்க வேண்டும் என்பதைத்தான் நம் முன்னோர்கள் வலியுறுத்தினார்கள்.

சேமிப்பு என்பது பலவிதம். வங்கிக் கணக்கில் சேமித்து வைப்பது, முதலீடு, தங்கம் வாங்குவது, சீட்டு கட்டுவது என அதற்கு ஏராளமான வழிகள் உள்ளன. செலவிட இருக்கும் வழிகளோடு ஒப்பிட்டால் சேமிக்கும் வழிகள் குறைவுதான். ஆனால் அதையெல்லாம் தாண்டி நீங்கள் சேமிக்கிறீர்கள் என்றால் அதற்கு நிச்சயம் பாராட்டுகளும், லைக்குகளும் உண்டு.

பெரும்பாலான பெண்கள் தங்கள் வீட்டில் இருக்கும் மசாலாப் பெட்டிகளில் பணத்தை சேமித்து வைத்துக் கொள்வார்கள். அதை வைத்து தங்க நகைகள், வீட்டுக்குத் தேவையான பொருட்களை வாங்குவது வழக்கம்.

இப்படி வீட்டில் வைக்கும் பணத்துக்கு வட்டி கிடைக்காது என்பதால்தான், தங்க நகைக் கடைகளில் சீட்டு சேரும் வழக்கம் ஏற்பட்டது. அவ்வாறு தங்க நகைக் கடைகளில் சீட்டு சேர்ந்து மாதந்தோறும் ஒரு குறிப்பிட்டப் பணத்தை கட்டி வரும் போது, 10 அல்லது 15 மாதங்கள் நிறைவில், நகைக் கடையின் தரப்பிலும் ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட தொகை சீட்டுத் தொகையுடன் சேர்த்து அளிக்கப்படும்.

இந்த சீட்டுத் தொகையை எப்போதும் பணமாகப் பெற முடியாது. அதே நகைக் கடையில் தங்க நகையாக மட்டுமே பெற முடியும்.

சரி, இதில் என்ன தவறு இருக்கிறது என்று கேட்கலாம். இதில் எந்தத் தவறும் இல்லை. ஏன் என்றால் சேமிப்பு என்பது எந்த வகையில் இருந்தாலும் அது வரவேற்கத்தக்கதே. ஆனால், அதில் நமக்கு இவ்வளவு லாபம் கிடைத்தது என்று மகிழ்கிறோமே அங்குதான் ஒரு சின்னக் குறை இருக்கிறது.

தங்க நகைக் கடைகளில் சீட்டுக் கட்டி நகை வாங்கும் போது, நகைக் கடைகள் தரப்பில் கொடுக்கப்படும் ரொக்கம் என்பது உண்மையில் ஒரு ரொக்கமே அல்ல. அது ஒரு கண்கட்டு வித்தை என்பதுதான். அனைத்து தங்க நகைக் கடைகளிலும் இப்படி செய்வார்களா என்று தெரியாது? உண்மையில் சில அல்ல பல நகைக் கடைகளில் நடக்கும் ஒரு மாயாஜால வித்தையைப் பற்றி நமக்குத் தெரிந்த ஒரு விஷயத்தை இங்கே பகிர்ந்து கொள்கிறோம்.

அதாவது, நகைச் சீட்டு கட்டி ஒரு பொருளை வாங்குவதாக இருந்தால், நாம் அந்த நகையை தேர்வு செய்து பில் போடும் போது, அந்த நகையின் கிராம் அளவு மற்றும் செய்கூலி, சேதாரம் ஆகியவற்றை நகைக் கடைக்காரர்கள் கணக்கிட்டுச் சொல்வார்கள். அதுதான் அந்த மாயாஜால வித்தை. நாம் கையில் ரொக்கப் பணத்தை எடுத்துக் கொண்டு ஒரு நகையை வாங்கச் சென்றால், அந்த நகைக்கான செய்கூலி உதாரணத்துக்கு 5% என்றால், அதே நகையை நாம் சீட்டுக் கட்டி எடுக்கும் போது குறைந்தது 8% ஆக இருக்கும்.

எனவே, நகையின் கிராம் விலை 3,000 என்றால் அதற்கான செய்கூலியை உயர்த்துவதன் மூலம் நகைக் கடையில் நமக்குக் கொடுப்பதாகச் சொன்ன அந்த ஒரு சிறுத் தொகையை அவர்கள் கொடுப்பார்கள் ஆனால் நமக்குக் கிடைக்காது.

இதற்குப் பெயர்தான் வரும் ஆனால் வராது. எனவே, நகைக் கடையில் சீட்டுக் கட்டி நகை வாங்கும் போது ஏதோ ஒரு தொகையை நகைக் கடை நமக்குக் கொடுத்துவிட்டதாக நினைத்து ஏமாறாமல், இப்படி நம்மை அவர்கள் ஏமாற்றுகிறார்களா என்று கேட்டறிந்து கொள்வது நிச்சயம் நல்லது.

அப்படியும் இல்லை, அவர்களது கொள்கை இதுதான் என்றால், நகைக் கடையில் சீட்டு கட்டுங்கள். ஆனால் அவர்கள் நமக்காக ஒரு தொகையை செலுத்துகிறார்கள் என்று பரவசம் அடைய வேண்டாம். அவ்வளவே.

ரூ.1 லட்சத்து 44 ஆயிரம் சம்பளத்தில் அரசு வேலை வேண்டுமா?

Published on : 26th August 2019 02:25 PM |



புதுச்சேரி பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் காலியாக உள்ள 179 பேராசிரியர், உதவி பேராசிரியர் பணியிடங்களை நிரப்புவதற்கான அறிவிப்பு வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கு தகுதியும், விருப்பமும் உள்ள இந்தியர்களிடம் இருந்து ஆன்லைன் மூலம் விண்ணப்பங்கள் வரவேற்கப்படுகின்றன.

பணி: Professor
காலியிடங்கள்: 44
சம்பளம்: மாதம் ரூ.1,44,200 - 2,18,200

பணி: Associate Professor
காலியிடங்கள்: 68
சம்பளம்: மாதம் ரூ.1,31,400 - 2,17,100

பணி: Assistant Professor
காலியிடங்கள்: 67
சம்பளம்: மாதம் ரூ.57,700 - 1,82,400

தகுதி: அதிகபட்சம் அனைத்து துறையிலும் வாய்ப்புகள் உள்ளது. யுசிஜி விதிமுறைப்படி சம்மந்தப்பட்ட துறையில் தகுதி பெற்றிருப்பவர்கள் விண்ணப்பிக்க தகுதியானவர்கள்.

விண்ணப்பக் கட்டணம்: ரூ.1000. கட்டணத்தை ஆன்லைன் முறையில் செலுத்தலாம். எஸ்சி, எஸ்டி, மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகள் மற்றும் முன்னாள் ராணுவத்தினர் கட்டணம் செலுத்த தேவையில்லை.

விண்ணப்பிக்கும் முறை: www.pondiuni.edu.in என்ற இணையதளத்தின் மூலம் ஆன்லைனில் விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டும்.

மேலும் முழுமையான விவரங்கள் அறிய http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/sites/default/files/Advertisement-08092019.pdf என்ற லிங்கில் சென்று தெரிந்துகொள்ளவும்.

ஆன்லைனில் விண்ணப்பிப்பதற்கான கடைசி தேதி: 09.09.2019

குமரியில் பிஎஸ்என்எல் 4ஜி சிம்கள் இன்று முதல் இலவச விநியோகம்

By DIN | Published on : 27th August 2019 08:18 AM



கன்னியாகுமரி மேற்கு மாவட்டத்தில் பிஎஸ்என்எல் 4 ஜி சிம்கார்டுகள் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை (ஆக.27) முதல் இலவசமாக வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

இதுகுறித்து, நாகர்கோவில் பிஎஸ்என்எல் முதன்மை பொதுமேலாளர் சஜூகுமார் வெளியிட்ட செய்திக் குறிப்பு: பி.எஸ்.என்.எல். அதிவேக 4 ஜி சேவைகள் நாகர்கோவில் நகர் பகுதியில் அண்மையில் தொடங்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

தற்போது நாகர்கோவில் நகருக்கு 51 எல்.டி.இ. தொழில்நுட்பத்தில் இயங்கும் 4 ஜி சேவை செல்லிடப்பேசி கோபுரங்கள் மூலம் வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

இதன் தொடர்ச்சியாக மார்த்தாண்டம், குழித்துறை , தக்கலை, குலசேகரம், குளச்சல், கருங்கல், களியக்காவிளை மற்றும் கொல்லங்கோடு பகுதிகளில் வசிக்கும் பி.எஸ்.என்.எல். வாடிக்கையாளர்களிடமிருந்து பெறப்பட்ட வேண்டுகோளின்படி, கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டத்தின் இந்தப் பகுதிகளிலும் பி.எஸ்.என்.எல். 4ஜி சேவையை விரைவில் தொடங்க திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தப் பகுதிகளுக்கு 4ஜி சேவையை வழங்குவதற்காக 127 செல்லிடப்பேசி கோபுரங்களில் மேம்படுத்தும் பணிகள் ஏற்கெனவே முடிந்துவிட்டன.

ஏற்கெனவே 3ஜி சிம் பயன்படுத்தி வரும் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் 4ஜி சேவை தொடங்கியவுடன் டேட்டா சேவைகளை பெற வேண்டுமெனில் தற்போதைய 3ஜி சிம் ஐ உடனடியாக 4 ஜி க்கு மாற்றுவது கட்டாயம்.

ஏற்கெனவே தங்கள் ஸ்மார்ட் போன்கள் மூலம் பிஎஸ்என்எல் மொபைல் டேட்டா பயன்படுத்தி வரும் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் பயன்பெறும் வகையில் பிஎஸ்என்எல் சார்பாக, மார்த்தாண்டம், குழித்துறை, குலசேகரம், தக்கலை, நெய்யூர், குளச்சல், கருங்கல் வாடிக்கையாளர் சேவை மையங்களிலும், மேற்கு மாவட்டத்தில் பிற பகுதிகளில் உள்ள தொலைபேசி நிலையங்களிலும், இலவசமாக 4 ஜி சிம் கார்டுகள் ஆக.27 ஆம் தேதி முதல் வழங்க ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன.

வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் இலவசமாக 4 ஜி சிம் கார்டுகளை பெற்றுக் கொள்ளலாம் என்று அந்த செய்திக்குறிப்பில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழக ஒதுக்கீட்டில் மருத்துவ, 'சீட்': வெளி மாநிலத்தினருக்கு எச்சரிக்கை

Added : ஆக 27, 2019 01:10

மதுரை:'மருத்துவப் படிப்பிற்கு, தமிழக ஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ், வெளிமாநிலத்தினர், 126 பேர், 'சீட்' பெற்ற வழக்கில், ஆவணங்கள் தாக்கல் செய்யத் தவறினால், அவர்களுக்கு எதிராக நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க உத்தரவிடப்படும்' என, உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை எச்சரித்துள்ளது.
மதுரை, சோம்நாத் என்பவர் தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:'நீட்' தேர்வில் தேர்ச்சியடைந்தேன். எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கலந்தாய்விற்கு விண்ணப்பித்தேன்.வெளி மாநிலத்தினர், 126 பேர், கலந்தாய்வில் பங்கேற்று, தமிழக ஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர்; விதிமீறல் நடந்துள்ளது.தரவரிசை பட்டியலை ரத்து செய்ய வேண்டும். பிற மாநிலத்தினரை நீக்கி, அரசு மற்றும் நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டிற்கு, புதிதாக கலந்தாய்வு நடத்த உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டிருந்தது.இதுபோல், மேலும் சிலர், மனு தாக்கல் செய்தனர்.
வழக்கை விசாரித்த, நீதிபதி ஆர்.சுரேஷ்குமார் உத்தரவிட்டதாவது:எதிர்மனுதாரர்களாக சேர்க்கப்பட்ட, 126 மாணவர்களும், 6ம் வகுப்பு முதல் பிளஸ் 2 வரை, எங்கு படித்தனர் என்பதற்குரிய ஆவணங்கள், இருப்பிடச் சான்றுகளை, தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும்.தமிழகம் தவிர, பிற மாநில ஒதுக்கீட்டில் விண்ணப்பிக்கவில்லை; கவுன்சிலிங் செல்லவில்லை என, பிரமாண பத்திரம், செப்., 9ல் தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும். தவறினால், அவர்களுக்கு எதிராக நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க, நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட வேண்டிய நிலை ஏற்படும்.இவ்வாறு, நீதிபதி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

பாரதிதாசன் பல்கலைக்கு தேசிய விருது

Added : ஆக 27, 2019 01:17

திருச்சி:நாட்டு நலப்பணி திட்டத்தை, சிறப்பாக செயல்படுத்தியதற்காக, திருச்சி பாரதிதாசன் பல்கலைக்கு, தேசிய விருது அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

திருச்சி பாரதிதாசன் பல்கலையின், என்.எஸ்.எஸ்., என்ற, நாட்டு நலப்பணி திட்டத்தில் நடத்தப்பட்ட முகாம்கள் மூலம், மூன்று ஆண்டுகளில், ஒரு லட்சத்து, 79 ஆயிரம் மரக்கன்றுகள் நடப்பட்டுள்ளன.தன்னார்வ தொண்டர்களிடம் இருந்து, 32 ஆயிரத்து, 502 யூனிட் ரத்த தானம் பெற்று, மருத்துமனைகளுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 972 மருத்துவ முகாம்களும், பல்வேறு விழிப்புணர்வு முகாம்களும் நடத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன.'துாய்மை இந்தியா' திட்டத்தில், வழிபாட்டு தலங்கள், மார்க்கெட் உள்பட, 421 பொது இடங்கள் துாய்மைப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன.
நாட்டு நலப்பணி திட்டத்தை சிறப்பாக செயல்படுத்தியதற்காக, மத்திய அரசின் இளைஞர் விவகாரம் மற்றும் விளையாட்டு துறை சார்பில், திருச்சி பாரதிதாசன் பல்கலைக்கு, தேசிய விருது அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.செப்., 24ம் தேதி, டில்லியில் நடக்கும் விழாவில், இந்த விருது வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது. நாடு முழுவதும் இருந்து, பாரதிதாசன் பல்கலை உட்பட, இரண்டு பல்கலைகள் மட்டுமே, தேசிய விருதுக்கு தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன.

யோகா மருத்துவ படிப்பு கவுன்சிலிங் நாளை துவக்கம்

Added : ஆக 26, 2019 23:41


சென்னை:யோகா மற்றும் இயற்கை மருத்துவ படிப்புக்கான கவுன்சிலிங், சென்னையில், நாளை துவங்குகிறது.

அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், யோகா மற்றும் இயற்கை மருத்துவ படிப்புக்கு, அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில், 358 இடங்கள் உள்ளன; நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு, 192 இடங்கள் உள்ளன. இதற்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை, பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண் அடிப்படையில் நடைபெறுகிறது.இந்த படிப்பில் சேர, 1,688 மாணவர்கள் விண்ணப்பித்தனர். இதில், 1,631 மாணவர்களுக்கான, தர வரிசை பட்டியல் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கவுன்சிலிங், சென்னை, அரும்பாக்கத்தில் உள்ள, அறிஞர் அண்ணா இந்திய மருத்துவமனை வளாகத்தில், நாளையும், நாளை மறுநாளும் நடைபெற உள்ளது.மேலும் விபரங்களை, www.tnhealth.org என்ற இணையதளத்தில் தெரிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

150 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., இடங்களுக்கு சேர்க்கை

Added : ஆக 26, 2019 22:25


சென்னை:முத்துகுமரன் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில் உள்ள, 150 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., இடங்களுக்கு, மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்ககம், இன்று, மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்துகிறது.

போதிய அடிப்படை வசதிகள் இல்லை என, சென்னை, மாங்காடு முத்துகுமரன் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியை, உறுப்பு கல்லுாரிகள் அங்கீகார பட்டியலில் இருந்து, தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலை நீக்கியுள்ளது. இதனால், மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடத்த முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டது.இந்நிலையில், இந்தாண்டுக்கு மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடத்த, உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டு உள்ளது. இதன்படி, மாணவர் சேர்க்கை, சென்னை, ஓமந்துாரார் அரசு பல்நோக்கு மருத்துவமனையில், இன்று நடைபெற உள்ளது.இந்த கல்லுாரியில், மொத்தமுள்ள, 150 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., இடங்களில், அரசு மற்றும் நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு, தலா, 75 இடங்கள் உள்ளன. இந்த கவுன்சிலிங்கில், ஏற்கனவே, விண்ணப்பித்த மாணவர்கள் நேரடியாக பங்கேற்கலாம் என, மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்ககம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

தீபாவளி: பஸ்களுக்கு இன்று முதல் முன்பதிவு

Added : ஆக 27, 2019 05:53


சென்னை:தீபாவளி பண்டிகையை கொண்டாட, வெளியூர் செல்பவர்களுக்கு வசதியாக, அரசு பஸ்களில், இன்று(ஆக.,27) முதல், முன்பதிவு துவங்குகிறது.

தீபாவளி பண்டிகை, அக்., 27ல் கொண்டாடப்பட உள்ளது. இந்த பண்டிகையை கொண்டாட, அக்., 25 முதல், வெளியூர் செல்வோருக்கு வசதியாக, தமிழக அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழகம், இன்று முன்பதிவை துவக்குகிறது. எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் ரயில்களில் முன்பதிவு முடிந்து விட்ட நிலையில், சிறப்பு ரயில்களுக்காக ரயில் பயணியர் காத்திருக்கின்றனர். பஸ்களில் செல்ல விரும்புவோர், தனியார் ஆம்னி பஸ்கள் மற்றும் அரசு பஸ்களில், முன்பதிவு செய்ய காத்திருக்கின்றனர்.

பொதுவாக, அரசு பஸ்களில், 60 நாட்களுக்கு முன், முன்பதிவு செய்யும் வசதி உள்ளது. அதன்படி, அக்., 25ம் தேதி, சொந்த ஊர் பயணிக்க விரும்புவோர், இன்று, www.tnstc.in என்ற, அரசு விரைவு போக்குவரத்து இணையதளத்தில் முன்பதிவு செய்யலாம்.

Tamil Nadu: Four Periyar University principals unqualified

According to an audit report which was tabled in front of the senate, their appointment was in violation of UGC norms.

Published: 27th August 2019 03:36 AM

Periyar University

By M Sabari

Express News Service

SALEM: An audit report submitted by the Regional Joint Director of Local Fund Audit in Salem claimed that principals of four constituent colleges in Edappadi, Harur, Pappireddipatti and Pennagaram were appointed by the Periyar University in violation of norms and guidelines set by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The audit report sought ratification of the senate as the aforesaid principals do not meet the eligibility criteria for the appointment.

The findings

The Periyar University submitted its accounts details for auditing for the academic year 2016-17, which was audited by the Local Fund Audit between March 2018 and June 2018. After a review in October 2018, the audit report was sent to Periyar University. Meanwhile, the senate of Periyar University met in the first week of August this year and the audit report was placed before the members, a copy of which was accessed by TNIE.

The norms

On pages 49, 50, 51 and 52, the auditors raise objections regarding the appointments of principals to Periyar University Constituent colleges in Salem and Dharmapuri districts. As per UGC guidelines, principals must possess the following, among other, qualifications:

The appointees should have a PG with at least 55% marks or equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed by a recognized University

A PhD in concerned/allied/relevant discipline(s) with evidence of published work and research guidance

Should be an associate professor/professor with a total experience of 15 years of teaching/research/administration in universities, colleges and other institutions of higher education

A minimum score as stipulated in the Academic Performance Indicator (API), Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS) as set out in this regulation (appendix-III) for direct recruitment of professors in colleges.

The anomalies

In the academic year 2016-17, two principals – P Karthikeyan (Pappireddipatti College) and G Venkatesan (Harur College) – were appointed by the Periyar University as direct recruitment. The audit department examined service registers of Pappireddipatti Principal P Karthikeyan, who joined on March 2, 2017.

He was the Principal of Thiruvalluvar Teachers Education College, Kurinjipadi in Cuddalore district (private), at the time of appointment. He was not working at any university, college or other government institutions. His appointment was concluded as one done against the norms. The report sought ratification from the senate for appointing an ineligible candidate.

Similarly, Harur Constituent College Principal G Venkatesan (who joined on September 14, 2016) was a professor-cum-HoD of Management studies at Jayalakshmi Institute of Technology at Thoppur in Dharmapuri district. He too was not working at any university, college or other government institutions as per UGC norms.

K Selvavinayagam (joined duty on October 20, 2014 as Pennagaram Constituent College Principal) was the principal-cum-director of Brahma School of Business at Valayapatti in Namakkal district at the time of appointment. R Venkateswaran was appointed as principal of Edappadi Constituent College by the Periyar University and he joined duty on October 20, 2014. At the time appointed, he was working as the principal of Kashtoorba Gandhi College of Education in Namakkal.

What the Vice-Chancellor​ says

Periyar University Vice-Chancellor P Kolandaivel said they had given necessary documents to the audit department. “If the audit department feels the documents are fit, these objections will be removed,” he added. Sources told TNIE that since objection is regarding the appointment of principals, the V-C cannot do anything in this issue.

Madras HC upholds dismissal of judicial magistrate who abused advocate
A judicial officer is required to maintain absolute integrity and honesty, the court observed.

Published: 27th August 2019 04:57 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A division bench of the Madras High Court has upheld the dismissal of a judicial magistrate for contacting over the phone the accused in a case pending before him and abusing an advocate in an inebriated condition.

"We do not see that the punishment (of dismissal from service) imposed on the petitioner is disproportionate. The said punishment does not shock the conscience of this Court," the bench of Justices R Subbiah and C Saravanan in a recent order.

The bench was dismissing a writ petition from KV Mahendra Boopathy, who sought to quash an order dated June 8, 2018 of the Home (Courts-1) Department. He also sought to reinstate him in service with all attendant benefits such as seniority and promotion.

The bench observed that there are ample evidences available against the petitioner to prove the charges that he had spoken to the complainant (also a prosecution witness) and threatened him over the phone. There is also evidence to show that he had abused an advocate in an inebriated condition and thereby contravened the provisions of the TN Government Servants Conduct Rules.

"Therefore, it cannot be said that the conclusion arrived at by the respondents is based on no evidence or the consideration is based on irrelevant material records. In other words, the exercise of power under Article 226 of the Constitution can be invoked to the limited extent to ensure whether the order is passed in accordance with established procedures contemplated under law. When the procedural process preceded the order of dismissal passed against the petitioner, this Court cannot interfere with the same," the bench said.

Rejecting another submission that dismissal from service is unwanted and disproportionate, the judges said that they are not inclined to accede to the same. The petitioner, as a judicial officer, is required to maintain absolute integrity and honesty in discharge of his functions and when the charges levelled are proved and related to his integrity, such submission cannot be sustained, the court said in the order.

Power shutdown in parts of Chennai on August 28, check list here

Power supply will be suspended by Tangedco in Chennai on Wednesday from 9 am to 5 pm in the following areas.

Published: 26th August 2019 07:38 PM


By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Wednesday from 9 am to 5 pm in the following areas. Power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed. Here is the list:

VELACHERY: Part of 100 feet Bypass road, Baby Nagar, Seshathripuram, Sachithanantha Nagar, Park avenue, Ramagiri Nagar.

ADYAR: Venkateshwara Nagar (1st to 5th street), Jeevarathanam Nagar (1st and 2nd st), Karpagam Garden (1st to 7th cross st), 1 st main road Karpagam Garden.

BESANT NAGAR: Beach Home Avenue, Dhamodharapuram, Benco Colony, Customs Colony, Old CPWD quarters 4th Avenue.


K K NAGAR: Part of KK Nagar (1 to 12 Sec), Rajamanar Salai, Ramaswamy Salai, Lakshmanasamy Salai, R K Shanmugam Salai, part of Nesapakkam, part of P T Rajan Salai, Ashok Nagar(1, 9 and 11th) avenue, Kannigapuram, Vijayaragavapuram, 80 feet road (KK nagar).

MATHUR: Vadaperumbakkam, V S Mani Nagar, Kanniamman Nagar, MRH Road, Manjambakkam, Ranga Garden, Vinayagapuram, Anbu Valarmathy Nagar, Chinna Thoppu, Kandasamy Nagar, 200 ft ring road, Manjambakkam.

INJAMBAKKAM: Bharathi Avenue, ECR (Enjambakkam to Akkarai), Sheshadhri Avenue, Iskcon temple road, Vimala garden, Hare Rama Krishna road, Rajiv avenue, TVS avenue, Akkarai village, Gunal garden, Pebble Beach, Jagajeevanram Avenue.

NEELANKARAI: Mahatma Gandhi Nagar, Karpagavinayagar Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Ramaligam Nagar, Bharathi st, Anna st, Narayana Nagar, Gopinath avenue.

SEMBIUM: Kakkanji Nagar, Veerpandiyan st (part), Sathiyavani Muthu Nagar, Thiru-vi-ka st, K V Apartment, Rajaji st, MPM st, Kamaraj st, Nagavalli Amma Koil street, Gopal street, Thirupur Kumaran st, KK Salai.

KODUNGAIYUR: Muthumizh Nagar 4,5,6,7th Block and Industrial area ( Muthamizh Nagar 7 th Block).

Palaniswami to leave tomorrow on fortnight-long foreign trip
CM will visit U.K., U.S. and Dubai to woo investors, interact with Tamil diaspora

27/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will be leaving on Wednesday on a foreign trip covering the U.K., U.S. and Dubai to seek investments in various sectors. He will return on September 10, according to an official press release.

During his visit to London, the State government is expected to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the health sector. He will also inspect the ambulance service and the steps taken to control the spread of Malaria there.

Under an MoU with King’s College London, a unit of the college is expected to be set up in Tamil Nadu, according to an official release. The CM will also visit Suffolk to learn about the renewable energy generated there and the tariff structure for it. He is also scheduled to call on Parliamentarians.

On September 1, he will leave London for New York, where he is scheduled to interact with representatives of Tamil entrepreneurs in the U.S. and the Tamil diaspora. He will also meet officials from Caterpillar and Ford.

In San Francisco, Mr. Palaniswami is expected to meet officials from Foxconn and Lincoln Electric, as well as investors.

The CM will visit an animal husbandry unit in California and take a tour of Bloom Energy in San Francisco.

Special guest

On his way back, Mr. Palaniswami will visit Dubai on September 8 and 9 and will take part as a special guest in a business investors’ meet jointly organised by the United Arab Emirates, the Indian Embassy and the Business Leaders Forum. He will also meet investors and the Tamil diaspora separately before returning to Chennai on September 10.

Power shutdown tomorrow

27/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

There will be a power shutdown in the following areas between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on August 28, Wednesday, on account of Tangedco’s maintenance work at Temple and Arapalayam substations:

East Avani Moola Street, Dhalavai Street, Ezhukadal Agraharam, South Avanimoola Street, East Masi Street, Vengalakkadai Street, Netaji Road, South Chithirai Street, Velliambala Street, East Chithirai Street, North Chithirai Street, South Avanimoola Street, Sungam Pallivasal Street, Yanaikkal, Tirumalairayar Padithurai and North Veli Street.

Puttuthoppu Road, Arapalayam Cross Road, Arapalayam bus stand, Ponnagaram, Azhagaradi, Rajendra Main Road, Mela Ponnagaram Main Road, Kanagavel Colony, Simmakkal, North Veli Street, Raja Mill Road, Scott Road, West Perumal Maistry Street, Tagore Nagar, Ayyanarkoil Main Road, Ahimsapuram and Irudhayarajapuram.

‘Denial of DNT certificate affecting 68 communities’

27/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Members of Mutharaiyar DNT Urimai Pathukappu Iyakkam at the Madurai Collectorate on Monday.G. Moorthy

The Mutharaiyar DNT Urimai Pathukappu Iyakkam submitted a petition at the Collectorate here on Monday seeking community certificates with denotified tribe (DNT) classification for the 68 communities, including Valayars, earlier classified under denotified communities (DNC), as per a Government Order issued to this effect.

Speaking to The Hindu, V. Vaigai Kannan, a functionary of the forum, said that though the Collector had issued an order to issue them certificate with ‘DNT’ classification, it was not complied with by staff manning the e-sevai centres.

“After 1979, when we were classified under denotified communities, we could not avail benefits of Central government schemes. Following a three-year struggle, we were able to get the DNT classification which paved the way for scholarships for our children and reservation of jobs for our youth in railways and postal departments. Only if our people had certificate vouching for the DNT classification could we enjoy the benefits,” he said.

Mr. Kannan said the problem had been raised several times by many communities across the State. Only a universal solution should end the woes of all the 68 communities. If the problem persisted, a protest would be staged, he said.

22 tax officials sacked for ‘graft’

Nine of them were posted as sector officers at a tobacco company in Indore

27/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Union government on Monday announced that the President had ordered the compulsory retirement of 22 more tax officials on charges of corruption and other offences.

In June, the President ordered the compulsory retirement of 27 tax officials.

“The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) has compulsorily retired yet another 22 senior officers of the rank of Superintendent/AO under Fundamental Rule 56 (J) in the public interest, due to corruption and other charges and CBI traps,” a Finance Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a few recent speeches and interviews, highlighted that “some black sheep” in the tax administration had misused their powers and harassed taxpayers, either by targeting the honest assessees or by taking excessive action for minor or procedural violations. Action was being taken against them, he said.

Notably, nine out of the 22 officers compulsorily retired had been posted at different times as sector officers in a single company — Ellora Tobacco Company in Indore. These officers “played the role of facilitating the excess unrecorded clandestine production and clearances of cigarettes”, the Ministry official said. The Director-General of the Central Excise Intelligence had detected clandestine production and clearances and investigated the case. It issued two show-cause notices demanding a duty of ₹1,03,74,648 and another demanding ₹28,39,43,195 from the tobacco firm.

The other officers out of the 22 were implicated in cases of bribery, extortion, smuggling and concealment of evidence.

Doctors seek Ministry’s intervention

27/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA)-India has sought urgent intervention of the Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan to help students get admission to super speciality courses (DM Mch. and DNB).

“August 26 was the last date to receive these letters. But due to technical glitches, some students haven’t received them. Apollo-Delhi, Paras-Delhi and Fortis-Gurugram are some hospitals where website links to obtain these letters are not working. If students do not get them, their seats will be considered forfeited and admission will stand cancelled,” said Dr. Sunil Arora, general secretary, FORDA-India.

FORDA has now requested the Ministry to intervene. “We request you to either postpone the date of reporting or permit offline reporting,” it said in a letter to the Minister.

Man walks into police station with wife’s head

27/08/2019,BHUBANESWAR

A man walked into a police station with his wife’s severed head in Odisha’s Puri district late on Sunday. The victim has been identified as Anupama Behera. The man, Ganesh Behera, is believed to have committed the murder suspecting infidelity. The accused was a small trader in Chennai. The couple had returned to Odisha separately after a recent fight.

Some Apple laptops banned on flights
27/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, ,NEW DELHI

Aviation safety watchdog DGCA on Monday banned passengers from carrying some older Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch laptops, which were recalled by the American multi-national due to fears that their batteries may overheat and explode.

“DGCA requests all air passengers not to fly with the affected models, either as hand-baggage or checked-in baggage, until the battery has been verified/certified as safe or replaced by the manufacturer,” it said on Twitter. The ban will be effective for Indian as well as international carriers.

The affected units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017. MacBook Pro users can use their laptop’s serial number to check on Apple’s website if their device is affected by the ban.

The order from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) follows warnings from the U.S. aviation regulatory body, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and European Union Aviation Safety Agency earlier this month reinforcing their curbs on recalled lithium ion batteries. While FAA bans their carriage as cargo and check-in and carry-on luggage by passengers, EASA requires such devices to be switched off and not used during flights.

In June, Apple Inc. informed users that a limited number of “older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units may overheat and pose a fire safety risk.” It decided to replace the affected batteries free of charge.

On Sunday, Singapore Airlines barred passengers from carrying the affected models on board either as carry-on or checked-in luggage unless their batteries had been verified as safe or replaced by the manufacturer. Three years back, the DGCA had similarly banned Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 after there were instances globally of smoke emanating from some devices.

Take admission at your own risk: HC
27/08/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Monday permitted Sri Muthukumaran Medical College Hospital, which was facing allegations of encroachment and unauthorised constructions at Chikkarayapuram near Mangadu here, to be included in the medical admission counselling session scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

However, it told students that they would have to choose the institution at their own risk since their admission would be subject to further orders to be passed by the court.

Justices S. Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad passed the interim order after granting leave to K.M. Krishnan, a whistle-blower from West Mambalam here, to file a third party writ appeal against a single judge’s August 19 order directing the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University to grant affiliation to the college after obtaining an undertaking to get the constructions regularised by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority within three months.

The judges also recorded the submission of Abdul Saleem, standing counsel for the Selection Committee.

File nativity documents, MBBS candidates told

27/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

The Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed 126 candidates allotted medical seats under the government quota to file their counter affidavits and documents pertaining to their nativity before the court.

After four medical aspirants had claimed that a total of 126 candidates who were allotted seats under the government quota in the NEET counselling were not natives of the State, the court suo motu impleaded the candidates as parties to the case to ascertain their nativity. Justice R. Suresh Kumar observed that some of the candidates had their permanent address outside the State.

However, the court cannot come to a conclusion on these details alone. In order to ascertain the facts, the candidates have been impleaded as the case had to be decided comprehensively.

The court granted the candidates two weeks’ time to file their counter affidavits in the case. All the candidates should file their counter affidavits and documents pertaining to their nativity, the judge said.

Dismissal of magistrate on charge of helping accused upheld
High Court rejects his plea for reinstatement
27/08/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

The Madras High Court has on its judicial side confirmed an order passed by it on the administrative side dismissing from service Judicial Magistrate K.V. Mahendra Boopathi, who was in the eye of the storm in 2016 after the court smelled a rat in the way he was handling the multi-crore illegal granite mining cases in Madurai district.

Justices R. Subbiah and C. Saravanan dismissed a writ petition filed by him challenging a Government Order issued last year dismissing him from service on the basis of a recommendation made by the High Court. They consequently rejected his plea for reinstatement in service with all attendant benefits, including seniority and promotion.

Though Mr. Boopathi had come to the adverse notice of the High Court due to the granite mining cases, he got dismissed from service on two other charges. The first charge was that he abused an advocate on phone in an inebriated mood in March 2016 and the second was that he made a phone call to an accused in a criminal case pending before him.

The Division Bench, led by Justice Subbiah, agreed with advocate M. Santhanaraman, representing the High Court, that it could not exercise powers under Articles 226 (to issue writs) to re-appreciate the material evidence available on record against the petitioner and take a view different from what had been taken by the disciplinary authority.

Palaniswami launches Kalvi TV channel

It is available at number 200 on Arasu Cable network

27/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launching Kalvi TV, an education channel, in Chennai on Monday. M. Karunakaran

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched a dedicated education channel for school students that will be aired on channel number 200 on Arasu Cable. It “will telecast only education-related programmes,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

“Kalvi TV will compete with private channels that operate for profit, and high quality programmes are being produced. Programmes for students from LKG to 12th standard will be covered and programmes to help students prepare for competitive exams, will feature interviews with teachers who teach using new methodologies, education-related news. It will be telecast round the clock,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

The channel will offer exclusive coaching for NEET, IIT, JEE professional course entrance examinations.

The one-hour programme will be aired between 9 pm and 10 pm and repeated between 5 am and 6 am the next day.

Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam exhorted students to make use of the channel and enhance their knowledge.

He said parents should provide support to their children in this effort.

School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan said it was the first exclusive channel for education.

Doctors continue fast

27/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

With the indefinite fast by a group of government doctors entering the fourth day on Monday, the Federation of Government Doctors Association (FOGDA) has decided to go ahead with its token strike on Tuesday. Barring emergency services, doctors would boycott outpatient services, ward management, elective surgeries and classes across the State.

Six doctors, including three women, launched an indefinite fast on August 23 on the premises of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Their demands including grant of pay band-4 at 13 years of service and 50% service quota for post graduation. Two of the doctors on fast were admitted to the hospital after their health condition deteriorated. The remaining four were continuing the fast. Perumal Pillai, one of the doctors on fast, said there was still no response from the government. “We are expecting good response for the token strike,” he said.

Notification 2019

ON GRAFT CHARGES

Govt compulsorily retires 22 tax officers
New Delhi:27.09.2019

The government has compulsorily retired 22 tax officials accused of corruption and other malpractice as it continues to crack down on errant bureaucracy.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) — the agency that overseas GST and import tax collections — compulsorily retired 22 superintendent rank officers under Fundamental Rule 56(J) on corruption and other charges, official sources said.

Since June, this is the third round of sacking of corrupt tax officials.

Previously, 27 high ranking Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers including 12 from CBDT — the direct taxes body, were compulsorily retired using the same rule for government employees.

Sources said the action was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort when he said some black sheep in the tax administration may have misused their powers and harassed taxpayers, either by targeting honest assesses or by taking excessive action for minor or procedural violations.

“We have recently taken the bold step of compulsorily retiring a significant number of tax officials, and we will not tolerate this type of behaviour,” a source said. The officials retired include 11 from Nagpur and Bhopal zone, most of whom are accused of connivance for facilitating clandestine manufacturing and clearance of cigarettes by an Indorebased company.

One official each is from Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Meerut and Chandigarh zones while two each are from Mumbai, Jaipur and Bengaluru zones.

In June, the government had compulsorily retired 15 commissioner-level officials of CBIC on charges of corruption, collecting and giving bribes, smuggling and even criminal conspiracy. Previous to that, the government had compulsorily retired 12 senior IRS officials from the Income Tax department over charges of corruption, sexual harassment, disproportionate assets under Rule 56(j) of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules. PTI

‘Custodial interrogation of PC must to unearth well-crafted money laundering’

ED Accuses Chidambaram Of Trying To Tamper With Evidence & Influencing Witnesses

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:27.08.2019

Accusing former finance minister P Chidambaram of trying to tamper with evidence in the INX Media case with co-conspirators by selling foreign property and closing bank accounts, the Enforcement Directorate told the Supreme Court on Monday that custodial questioning was necessary to complete its probe.

In an affidavit, the agency told the SC that the Congress leader and other accused had bank accounts and properties in Argentina, Austria, British Virgin Islands, France, Greece, Malaysia, Monaco, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Spain and Sri Lanka and transactions were routed through shell companies set up for this purpose.

“Apart from a strong case being in existence for arresting the accused, there are further more reasons to pray for rejection of the present anticipatory bail. It is found that the accused and his coconspirators are not only trying to tamper/destruct evidence but are influencing witnesses. It is submitted that investigation has reached a very crucial stage where evidence requires to be protected and preserved and witnesses are insulated from the influence of the accused who are high and mighty,” the affidavit said.

It also hinted that Chidambaram’s son Karti was in line to be arrested as the ED has approached the SC against a Madras high court order giving him protection. Countering the submission of Chidambaram’s lawyers that he had cooperated in the probe, the ED said the former minister was “completely evasive and non-coperative” when summoned for questioning. The anti money-laundering agency said based on the “cogent evidence” in its possession, it believed Chidambaram “directly and otherwise was connected with proceeds of crime” and was guilty of the serious offence of money laundering.

“It has come on record of the investigation conducted so far that proceeds of the crime, as deposited in a web of shell companies, were used for making deposits in various benami bank accounts and making benami investments in movable and immovable properties both in India and mainly outside India either in the name of shell companies or in the name of close confidants of the petitioner-accused and his co-conspirators whose relationship can be pointed out from the investigation papers,” it said.

The agency said the need to arrest and interrogate Chidambaram was based on evidence and it would be a serious miscarriage of justice if the agency was not permitted to unearth a wellcrafted scheme of money laundering devised by the accused along with his close confidants.


BACK-TO-BACK BLOWS: The Enforcement Directorate hinted that Chidambaram’s son Karti was in line to be arrested as the ED has approached the SC against a Madras high court order giving him protection