Bulbul leaves city warm, rain may return next week

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:9,11,2019

Tropical cyclone Bulbul moving towards West Bengal-Bangladesh has left Chennai warm and dry with daytime temperature peaking at a record 35.1°C. But all is not lost, as weathermen said monsoon rain might be back to Chennai by mid next week due to a low atmospheric pressure after the cyclone makes a landfall.

“We can expect some rainfall in the city from November 15 or 16 due to an easterly trough. Till then, the weather will be dry,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD. Easterly trough is an elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure.

He said Bulbul might make landfall after weakening and was unlikely to influence the rainfall that might begin along the southeast coast including Chennai later next week.

IMD has forecast that the sky condition is likely to be partly cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 33°C and 26°C for the next 48 hours in the city.

As Cyclone Bulbul is gathering strength over the bay pulling away all northeasterly winds, the city has been witnessing a change in wind direction with north-northwesterly winds or dry land breeze blowing towards the east coast leading to warmer day.

On Friday, the Nungambakkam station recorded 35.1°C and Meenambakkam registered 34.7°C, 5.4°C and 4.8°C above normal. The city’s temperature has never touched 35°C in November in the last10 years. The maximum daytime temperature for this month was 34.7°C recorded on November 5, 2016.

Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at Skymet Weather, said after the cyclone made a landfall, there would be a change in wind direction once again as southeast coast of India including Chennai would get back the northeasterly winds resulting in rainfall. “But it may be only scattered rainfall, not heavy rain,” he said.

Bulbul is expected to make a landfall near the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast after weakening into a severe cyclonic storm from very severe cyclonic storm.

SC to rule on 70-year-old Ayodhya land case today

Verdict To Be Pronounced At 10.30am

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:9.11.2019

In dramatic fashion, the Supreme Court notified at 9pm on Friday that Saturday will be judgment day for the 70-year-old Ayodhya dispute involving ownership claims by Hindu and Muslim parties over an area of 1,487sq yards in the UP town.

A bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer decided to deliver the verdict on a court holiday, hours after the CJI and Justices Bobde and Bhushan met the UP chief secretary and the DGP to take stock of security arrangements in Ayodhya and the state. The Delhi police too beefed up security at the judges’ houses.

The announcement sharpened the suspense on the verdict, keenly awaited by both sides. The Ayodhya dispute has been central to national politics, marking an ideological cleavage between BJP and its “secular” opponents. Several Hindu and Muslim organisations have called for calm ahead of the ruling while the Centre and states are on alert.

Security personnel stand guard on a street in Ayodhya ahead of the temple verdict

Maintain harmony after verdict: PM

PM Narendra Modi on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya would not be a victory or defeat for anyone, and appealed to all citizens to maintain harmony after the judgment. P2

There will be more than one judgment in the case: Sources

The notification merely said the five-judge constitution bench would deliver judgment at 10.30am on Saturday in two cases, Shia Central Board of Waqf, UP vs Sunni Central Board of Waqf, UP; and the Ayodhya land dispute case involving four suits — filed by Gopal Singh Visharad in 1950, by Nirmohi Akhara in 1959, Sunni Waqf Board in 1961 and deity Ram Lalla Virajman through next friend in 1989. The deity and Sunni Waqf Board are locked in litigation over complete ownership over the disputed land, while Nirmohi Akhara seeks priestly rights.

The claim of Gopal Singh Visharad is to continue worshipping the deity at the place where it sits at present.

The SC notification did not indicate if the judgment will be unanimous, or by three to two, or four to one majority. However, sources told TOIthat there will be more than one judgment in the case. The centre stage on Saturday will be taken by the SC’s decision on the four suits, which were decided by the Allahabad High Court on September 30, 2010.

An interesting facet will be whether the SC takes into account the mediation panel’s October 16 report informing the court about a settlement reached between parties through negotiation.

The settlement’s main point was that the Sunni Waqf Board had agreed to give up its claim over the disputed site if certain other conditions, including restoration of two dozen mosques in Ayodhya and opening up of several other mosques under ASI control for offering of prayers.

The HC had divided the 1,487 square yards of disputed land into three equal parts, allotting the area under the central dome of the now demolished Babri Masjid to Ram Lalla, the Kaushalya (Sita) Rasoi and Bhandara area in the outer courtyard of the demolished mosque to Nirmohi Akhara and the rest to Sunni Waqf Board.

CMC Vellore Study: High incidence of latent TB in healthcare workers, nursing staff more vulnerable’ 

The risk of infection was higher among nursing students who remain in close proximity to patients for longer durations than doctors, the study found.

Written by Tabassum Barnagarwala | Mumbai | Published: November 7, 2019 9:18:37 am

The CMC study found that latent tuberculosis was present in 52 per cent nursing students as opposed to 27 per cent MBBS students in the medical college.

INCIDENCE OF latent tuberculosis may be higher among healthcare workers, more so in nurses than doctors, a study by Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, has found. The study underlines the need for regular screening of healthcare workers not just for active tuberculosis (TB), but also latent TB bacteria.

Latent TB means the bacteria is lodged inside a person’s body in a dormant stage, waiting for poor immunity and low diet to get activated. Healthcare workers tending to patients remain at five times higher risk of getting infected than normal population, the pulmonary department of CMC has found.

In India, about 35-40 per cent population is estimated to be infected by latent TB, and one in every 10 people infected by the bacteria is likely to get active tuberculosis infection.

“Currently, India’s Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) has a screening policy for only children aged up to six for latent TB,” Yogesh Patel, consultant with RNTCP, said. No screening for latent TB, however, is provided for adults and healthcare workers.

The CMC study found that latent tuberculosis was present in 52 per cent nursing students as opposed to 27 per cent MBBS students in the medical college.

In 2017-18, 278 MBBS students were screened of which 27 per cent had latent TB. Of them 42 students, who got recent exposure to bacteria, were put on preventive treatment of prophylaxis for 3-12 months. “The risk of getting TB is maximum for two years after exposure to the bacteria. We targeted those people for intervention,” Dr DJ Christopher, head of pulmonary department, CMC Vellore, said.

The risk of infection was higher among nursing students who remain in close proximity to patients for longer durations than doctors, the study found. Of 436 nursing students undergoing postgraduate, diploma and undergraduate courses who were screened at CMC between 2007 and 2011, at least 52 per cent had latent TB. The incidence of infection was higher among postgraduate (MSc) and diploma students at 72.7 and 84.2 per cent respectively.

“We found that the risk of exposure increased with postgraduate students because they are exposed for longer duration,” Christopher said.

The study also indicated the need to regularly screen healthcare workers and put them on preventive treatment. Currently, tuberculin skin test and Interferon-Gamma Release Assays test are the most methods of diagnosing latent TB.

 In Mumbai, the TB control office will soon launch a pilot project to test people in close contacts of TB patients for latent TB bacteria.

Helene-Mari Van Der Westhuizen, working in South Africa to control TB epidemic, said they have already begun preventive therapy for health workers. “They are at the first point of risk. If we have to control the infection, we must protect their health.”

In Group of TB Hospital in Mumbai, India’s largest TB hospital, tests are only conducted among staff to screen active TB, not the latent bacteria. “Preventive drug therapy is also associated with toxicity. Instead we look at other preventive measures,” superintendent Dr Lalitkumar Anande said, adding that staffers were given banana, milk and protein-laden food.

Court Cannot Quash Disability Certificate Issued by a Medical Authority: Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

Court Cannot Quash Disability Certificate Issued by a Medical Authority: Delhi HC [Read Judgment]: Delhi High Court has held that when a disability certificate is issued by a competent medical authority, the plea demanding the quashing of such certificate cannot be granted by the court of law. ...

ரூ.200க்கு பதில் ரூ.500 வாரி வழங்கிய ஏடிஎம்: குஷியில் குவிந்த வாடிக்கையாளர்கள்

By DIN | Published on : 08th November 2019 09:51 AM 

சேலம் மாவட்டம் ஓமலூர் அருகே எஸ்பிஐ ஏடிஎம் இயந்திரம் ஒன்றில் ரூ.200க்கு பதில் ரூ.500 வந்ததால் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் குழியில் போட்டி போட்டு பணம் எடுத்துள்ளனர்.

சேலம், ஓமலூர் பண்ணப்பட்டியில் எஸ்பிஐ வங்கிக்கு சொந்தமான ஏடிஎம் மையம் உள்ளது. இங்கு நேற்று மாலை சுமார் 5 மணியளவில் இருந்து ரூ.200க்கு பதில் ரூ.500 வந்துள்ளது. இதனால் குஷி அடைந்த வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் போட்டி போட்டுக்கொண்டு பணம் எடுத்துள்ளனர்.

தகவல் அறிந்து விரைந்து வந்த வங்கி அதிகாரிகள் பணம் மாறி வந்த ஏடிஎம் மையத்திற்கு பூட்டு போட்டனர். ரூ.200 வைக்க வேண்டிய ரேக்கில் ரூ.500 வைக்கப்பட்டதே பணம் மாறி வந்ததற்கான காரணம் என்றும், பணத்தை மாற்றி வைத்த தனியார் நிறுவனமே பண இழப்புக்கு பொறுப்பு என வங்கி அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

Supreme Court Monthly Roundup – October 2019

Case BriefsSupreme Court (Monthly Roundup)
 
Published on November 1, 2019

 By Prachi Bhardwaj

TOP NEWS

AYODHYA HEARING| 40-days hearing comes to an end; Verdict reserved

The Court had, though, initially set October 18 as the deadline for completion of all arguments in the protracted land title dispute. If speculations are to be believed, the Ayodhya verdict will be out by mid-nov.

“Can’t treat all of them as a liar”: SC while partially setting aside the 2018 SC/ST Act verdict

The 3-jduge bench of Arun Mishra, MR Shah and BR Gavai, JJ has held that some portions of the verdict in Dr Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra, 2018 SCC OnLine SC 243 were against the concept of protective discrimination in favour of down­trodden classes under Article 15(4) of the Constitution and also impermissible within the parameters laid down by this Court for exercise of powers under Article 142 of Constitution of India.

In a big blow to the Telecom Sector, SC refuses to change AGR definition

The definition of revenue has been taken in a broad, comprehensive, and inclusive manner to pose fewer problems of interpretation, and exclusion of certain items was avoided.

Land Acquisition Hearing| Why Justice Arun Mishra said his recusal would be a grave blunder

Recusal is not to be forced by any litigant to choose a Bench. It is for the Judge to decide to recuse. if he recuses, it will be a dereliction of duty, injustice to the system, and to other Judges who are or to adorn the Bench/es in the future.

INX MEDIA CASE|SC grants bail to P. Chidambaram

Being the Member of Parliament and a Senior Member of the Bar has strong roots in society and his passport having been surrendered and “look out notice” issued against him, there is no likelihood of his fleeing away from the country or his abscondence from the trial.

SC sets aside Delhi High Court stay on proceedings against Gautam Khaitan under Black Money Act

Setting aside the Delhi High Court order any staying any action against Gautam Khaitan in a case relating to the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, the 3-judge bench of Arun Mishra, MR Shah and BR Gavai, JJ said that the interim order passed by the High Court is not sustainable in law.

Poll Affidavit Case| SC quashes clean chit; Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to face trial

A contesting candidate is mandated to furnish information concerning the cases in which a Competent Court has taken cognizance along with the cases in which charges have been framed. 

MORE NEWS

Aarey Forest Politics| Forest Bench to hear the matter on Oct 21; status quo to be maintained

The Special Bench was constituted to hear the plea against the cutting of trees in Mumbai’s Aarey colony for the city’s metro rail project after a group of law students wrote to Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi seeking Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter and the cutting of trees to be suspended immediately.

Women who missed 2018 Bihar Police PET due to pregnancy should be considered for appointment

It was brought to the Court’s notice that the total number of ladies who claimed extension of PET on the basis of pregnancy or injuries is stated to be 78 in all, out of which 73 are on account of pregnancy.

Online RTI Portal| SC seeks Centre’s response on Pravasi Legal Cell’s plea

The Court has asked the Centre and State Governments to file reply on a plea seeking direction to establish Right to Information(RTI) web portals in all states to enable citizens, especially those living abroad, to file RTI applications online.

Bhima Koregaon case| SC extends Gautam Navlakha’s interim bail

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra allowed him to approach trial court for pre-arrest bail. Navlakha has to apply for pre-arrest bail in the meantime.

State Legislature cannot enact a law providing a direct appeal to the Supreme Court

State cannot enact a legislation providing an appeal directly to the Supreme Court. That would amount to entrenching upon the jurisdiction of the Union, which the State Legislature does not have.

Geomapping is the answer to the increasing menace of illegal construction

Geomapping can be done by satellite, drones or vehicles. Once one has the whole city geomapped it would be easy to control illegal constructions.

SC quashes trial against a man in a sexual assault case of a 6-year-old

The involvement of other persons on the statement of the child of impressionable age does not inspire confidence that the appellant is liable to be proceeded under Section 319 of the Code. In fact, it is suggestive role of the family which influences the mind of the child to indirectly implicate the appellant.

Mere change of address in IT return is not enough; Assessing Officer must be specifically intimated

In absence of any specific intimation to the Assessing Officer with respect to change in address and/or change in the name of the assessee, the Assessing Officer would be justified in sending the notice at the available address mentioned in the PAN database of the assessee, more particularly when the return has been filed under E­Module scheme.

SC transfers Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela to MP on deputation

The Court has ordered the transfer of Assam NRC coordinator, Prateek Hajela, to Madhya Pradesh on deputation. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, however, did not specify the reason, behind transferring Hajela to Madhya Pradesh.
IN OTHER NEWS

President signs a warrant appointing Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde to be the 47th Chief Justice of India

Read more at Education Medical Dialogues: Appearing for NEET PG 2020: View Exam pattern here 
 https://education.medicaldialogues.in/neet-pg-2020-exam-pattern/

Read more at Education Medical Dialogues: Appearing for NEET PG 2020: View Exam pattern here https://education.medicaldialogues.in/neet-pg-2020-exam-pattern/

Rape & murder of a 10-year-old & her brother: SC refuses to review it’s 2:1 verdict awarding death sentence

Case Briefs  Supreme Court
 
Published on November 7, 2019By Prachi Bhardwaj

Supreme Court: In a ghastly case involving rape and murder of 2 children, the 3-judge bench of RF Nariman, Surya Kant and Sanjiv Khanna, JJ has refused to review their verdict in Manoharan v. State, (2019) 7 SCC 716, upholding the conviction of the accused. In the said judgment, the bench had unanimously upheld the conviction, but gave 2:1 verdict on quantum of punishment.

While Nariman and Surya Kant, JJ awarded death penalty, Khanna, J did not think that this case was fit for a death penalty and hence, commuted it to imprisonment for life i.e. till convict’s natural life with a stipulation that he would not be entitled to remission under Sections 432 and 433 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. 

FACTUAL BACKGROUND
In October 2010, accused Mohanakrishnan & Manoharan kidnapped a 10-year-old girl & her 7-year-old brother while they were preparing to leave for school.

The children were taken to a remote area and rape was committed on the girl.

Attempt was made to kill both the children by feeding them poisonous cow dung powder mixed in milk. However, the children took only a small amount of the milk and didn’t die.

The children were then thrown away alive in the Parambikulam-Axhiyar Project canal.

Both the accused were arrested but Mohanakrishnan was later shot dead in an encounter. 

MITIGATING FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE COURT IN THE REVIEW PETITION

Lack of adequate opportunity to place on record material/evidence of mitigating circumstances

After re-visiting the mitigating circumstances against aggravating circumstances, as well as a report commissioned by this Court during the course of appeal and submitted by the jail superintendent, the Court held that the conduct of the Petitioner is merely satisfactory and he has not undertaken any study or anything else to show any signs of reformation.

Backward socioeconomic circumstances

There is nothing to support the arguments that the accused is a helpless, illiterate young adult who is a victim of his socioeconomic circumstances. Far from being so, it is clear through the version of events that the accused had the presence of mind to craft his own defence and attempt to retract his confession through an elaborately written eleven page letter addressed to the Magistrate and had further received adequate legal representation.

Remorse

Accused’s advocate argued that the retraction letter shows that he stopped the co-accused from committing rape and this is evident of the fact that he has remorse which entitles him to commutation, if not acquittal. The Court, however, held that the retraction was extremely belated and only a defence to shield himself. Further, medical evidence has proved that rape was committed on the deceased girl. It is hence factually incorrect to state that the Petitioner prevented the co-accused from raping the girl and is nothing more than a belated lie at the end of the trial.

Young age and aged parents

Mere young age and presence of aged parents cannot be grounds for commutation. Such young age poses a continuous burden on the State and presents a longer risk to society, hence warranting more serious intervention by Courts.

Criminal Record

The Court refused to give leeway of the lack of criminal record, considering that the current crime was not just one offence, but comprised of multiple offences over the series of many hours.

The bench held that the present case is essentially one where two accused misused societal trust to hold as captive two innocent school-going children, one of whom was brutally raped and sodomised, and thereupon administered poison and finally, drowned by throwing them into a canal. It was not in the spur of the moment or a crime of passion; but craftily planned, meticulously executed and with multiple opportunities to cease and desist.

Nariman and Surya Kant, JJ, hence, held

“We are of the view that the present offence(s) of the Petitioner are so grave as to shock the conscience of this Court and of society and would without doubt amount to rarest of the rare.”

While Khanna, J agreed with his learned brothers on the dismissal of review petition and upholding of the conviction of the accused, on the question of sentence, he held,

“I do not see any good ground and reasons to review my observations and findings in the minority judgment.”

[Manoharan v. State, REVIEW PETITION (CRL.) NOS. 446-447 OF 2019, decided on 07.11.2019]

உயர் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களில் ரொக்க பரிவர்த்தனைக்கு தடை

Added : நவ 07, 2019 23:25

சென்னை: அனைத்து கல்லுாரி மற்றும் பல்கலைகள் போன்ற உயர் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களில், ரொக்க பண பரிவர்த்தனைக்கு தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நாடு முழுவதும் உள்ள, வர்த்தக நிறுவனங்கள், வங்கிகள் மற்றும் அரசு நிறுவனங்களில், நிதி பரிவர்த்தனைகளை, 'ஆன்லைன்' வழியாகவும், மின்னணு முறையிலும் மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும் என, மத்திய அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

இதை பின்பற்றி, அனைத்து கல்லுாரிகள் மற்றும் பல்கலைகளுக்கு, பல்கலை மானிய குழுவான, யு.ஜி.சி., சார்பில் சுற்றறிக்கை அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:கல்லுாரிகள் மற்றும் பல்கலைகளில், ரொக்க பண பரிவர்த்தனைகளை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டாம். தேர்வு கட்டணம், கல்வி கட்டணம், மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கட்டணம் உள்ளிட்டவற்றை, 'ஆன்லைன்' வழியே பெற வேண்டும்.அதேபோல், பல்கலையின் உள்கட்டமைப்பு மற்றும் பராமரிப்பு செலவுகள் உள்ளிட்ட அனைத்தையும், 'டிஜிட்டல்' வழியிலேயே மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

திருக்குறள் சொல்லுங்க பிரியாணி மெல்லுங்க

Added : நவ 08, 2019 01:36 |

திண்டுக்கல், :நவ.14-ம் தேதி குழந்தைகள் தினம் கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. அன்று குழந்தைகளின் சிந்தனையை துாண்டும் வகையில் திண்டுக்கல்லை சேர்ந்த முஜிப் பிரியாணி கடை புதுமை போட்டியை அறிவித்துள்ளது. அதன்படி திருக்குறள் ஒப்பிக்கும் 133 குழந்தைகளுக்கு இலவசமாக அரைபிளேட் பிரியாணி வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது.

உரிமையாளர் ேஷக்முஜிபுர் ரஹ்மான் கூறியதாவது: ''மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பதறிவு'' என்ற தலைப்பில் இளைய தலைமுறையின் சிந்தனைக்கு வித்திடும் வகையில் நவ.14 அன்று 'குழந்தைகள் தின பிரியாணி'யை அறிவித்துள்ளோம். இக்காலத்திற்கேற்ப 5 நிமிடங்களில் 5 திருக்குறளை ஒப்புவிக்க வேண்டும்.ஒன்று முதல் 8 ம் வகுப்பு வரையான மாணவர்களே பங்கேற்கலாம். வெற்றி பெறும் குழந்தைக்கு அரை பிளேட் சிக்கன் பிரியாணி வழங்கப்படும். நடுவர்களாக 5 தமிழாசிரியர்கள் பங்கேற்கின்றனர். குழந்தைகள் பள்ளிக்கு செல்வதால், மாலை 4:00 மணிக்கு மேல்தான் போட்டி நடைபெறும், என்றார்.

Got 3 Neet impersonation complaints: CBI

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedNov 8, 2019, 2:01 am IST

In response to the same, Srinivasan referred to the communication received from the CBI dated November 6, 2019.

Madras high court.

Chennai: The CBI has informed the Madras high court that it has received three complaints relating to Neet impersonation and other malpractices and the two complaints from Chennai have been referred to the Medical Council of India and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the other complaint received from Cochin, Kerala is under scrutinisation of the CBI.

K.Srinivasan made the submission when the appeal filed by S.Dheeran, an aspiring medical students, which sought to set aside an order of a single judge, dismissing his petition, challenging the selection process for the 207 seats that got reverted to the management quota owing to not getting filled up under the NRI quota, came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Justices N.Kirubakaran and P.Velmurugan on Thursday.

The bench had on November 4 directed K.Srinivasan, counsel for CBI to verify as to whether CBI has got any complaint with regard to impersonation or other malpractices in the NEET examination to get admission in the medical colleges in other states.

In response to the same, Srinivasan referred to the communication received from the CBI dated November 6, 2019 and submitted that the Chennai Zone of CBI has received two complaints from Chennai and one complaint from Cochin, Kerala. As far as the two complaints received from Chennai were concerned, they have been referred to the MCI and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the complaint received from Cochin was under scrutinisation of the CBI, he added.

Recording the same, the bench said Special government pleader J.Pothiraj submitted that so far 16 students who have failed to give fingerprints to the CBCID would be giving their fingerprints before November 8 and the same will be informed to this court on the next date of hearing. Assistant solicitor general G.Karthikeyan has filed an affidavit by the Under Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The same was taken on file. He further assured that in the next hearing he will submit as to whether the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has received any complaint regarding malpractice in NEET examination, including impersonation or not, the bench added.

The bench said M.Velmurugan, counsel for the appellant submitted that the appellant has obtained 303 marks, whereas except seven students the other students who have got admission under the surrendered NRI lapsed quota to the private medical colleges have got marks lesser than the petitioner. One of the candidates who was admitted under NRI lapsed quota got 107 marks only and therefore, he submitted that there was no transparency in the admission under NRI lapsed quota and the private medical colleges have not followed the guidelines as laid down by the Supreme Court in Dar-Us-Salam Educational Trust case, while admitting the students in medical colleges. V.P.Raman, counsel appearing on behalf of MCI submitted that they will get proper instructions so that this kind of problems would not arise in future, the bench added.

The bench said it was brought to the notice of this court that the names of the candidates who were alleged to have impersonated have also been sent to Dr.M.G.R.Medical University for registration. However, Abdul Saleem, counsel appearing on behalf of the Selection Committee submitted that the names of the students who were alleged to have impersonated have been deleted from the list. The same was recorded, the bench added.

The bench said since the selection committee has sent the selected candidates for registration to Dr.M.G.R.Medical University, it was also a necessary party to this proceedings and hence this court suo motu impleads the Registrar, Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University as party respondent to this proceedings.

D.Ravichander, counsel takes notice on behalf of the newly impleaded respondent. He assures that on the next date of hearing, he will produce the list of candidates sent by the selection committee, the bench added and posted to November 21, further hearing of the case.

3 plaints of NEET fraud: CBI
The complaints from Chennai had been referred to Medical Council of India (MCI) and Union Health Ministry.

Published: 08th November 2019 05:44 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation told the Madras High Court on Thursday that its Chennai zone has received two complaints from Chennai and one from Kochi alleging impersonation in NEET.

The complaints from Chennai had been referred to Medical Council of India (MCI) and Union Health Ministry. The one from Kochi is under scrutiny of CBI, its counsel told a division bench of Madras High Court comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and P Velmurugan when a PIL petition from K Dheeran of Coimbatore praying for a directive to government to undertake proper counselling and mop-up procedure to fill-up 207 management quota seats available due to non-filling of NRI quota seats, came up again.

Assistant Solicitor-General G Karthikeyan filed an affidavit of Union Health Ministry, which was taken on file by the bench. He also assured that in the next hearing he will submit as to whether the Union Health Ministry had received any complaint of malpractice in NEET, including impersonation.

Counsel representing various medical colleges and universities submitted that they would obtain the fingerprints of the left out students and forward the same to the authority concerned, soon. Advocate M Velmurugan submitted that his client had obtained 303 marks, whereas except seven students, the other students, who had got admission under the surrendered NRI lapsed quota to the private medical colleges, had got marks lesser than his client.

One of the candidates who was admitted under NRI lapsed quota got only 107 marks and therefore, Velmurugan alleged there was no transparency in admission under the quota and private medical colleges had not followed guidelines as laid down by Supreme Court.MCI’s senior counsel VP Raman submitted he will get proper instructions so that this kind of problem will not recur.

It was also brought to the notice of judges that the names of candidates, who were alleged to have impersonated, had also been sent to Dr M G R Medical University for registration. However, selection panel counsel Abdul Salem told court that names of students who were alleged to have impersonated had been deleted from the list. The matter has been adjourned till November 21.

Now, Chennai-Jaffna flights for less than Rs 4,000 from Nov 11

The Alliance Air will now be flying to Jaffna and back, from November 11, with fares less than Rs 4,000.

Published: 08th November 2019 05:49 AM |

The inaugural Alliance Air flight from Chennai was the first to land at the new international airport in Jaffna. (Photo | Twitter)
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Alliance Air will now be flying to Jaffna and back, from November 11, with fares less than Rs 4,000. The Chennai to Jaffna fare will cost Rs 3,990 plus applicable government taxes and levies. Similarly, the return fare is priced at Rs 3,190 plus applicable government taxes and levies.

This flight is special in many ways. Apart from being Alliance Air’s maiden international foray, it connects Chennai to Jaffna after a gap of 41 years. Flyers coming into Chennai from Delhi, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Dubai, Trivandrum and Muscat, now have the option of connecting onwards to Jaffna over Chennai, making air travel more convenient.

There will be direct flight operations connecting the two destinations on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Flight 9I 101 will depart from Chennai at 1035am and arrive in Jaffna at 1200pm.  Flight 9I102 will depart from Jaffna at 1245pm and arrive in Chennai at 14:10 pm.

Panel to go into complaint against MKU professor

08/11/2019

A four-member committee, led by R. Lakshmipathy, Syndicate member, was formed on Thursday to look into the complaint of Registrar in-charge of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) R. Sudha against a professor, V. Kalaiselvan, for allegedly using unparliamentary language and verbally abusing her.

The panel was constituted at a meeting of the Syndicate held here. It was asked to submit its report in 15 days.

On Wednesday, Ms. Sudha lodged an official complaint with Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan regarding Mr. Kalaiselvan's behaviour which was a result of an internal tussle for space at the School of English and Foreign Languages.

According to university sources, the Syndicate meeting also finalised the names of seven members for the panel to interview applicants shortlisted for the post of Registrar.

The meeting also asked the Vice-Chancellor to remove unqualified candidates from their teaching posts, as per norms of the University Grants Commission.

A member of the Madurai Kamaraj University administration said that such candidates had already been relieved of their posts.

Advocate S. Vanchinathan who met the press on Thursday said that ‘provisional selection’ of two candidates for interview to the post of Registrar was not in accordance with rules.

Bar Council lodges complaint against law graduate, lawyer

08/11/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTNP) has lodged a police complaint against a law graduate, an advocate and another individual for attempting to influence its members and having collected bribe money by misusing their names to get the graduate enrolled as an advocate in the council.

According to the complaint initiated at the instance of K. Balu, chairman of the Enrolment Committee of BCTNP, the application of one B. Vipin, 59, of Villivakkam in Chennai was rejected by the council since he had undergone law degree between 2015-18 while serving in the Southern Railways.

The applicant did not relent and instead appeared to have paid bribe money of ₹25,000 to a lawyer and his accomplice who had promised to get him enrolled by exercising their influence with the Bar Council members.

After making such payment, the applicant continued to pressurise the members to enrol his name.

Irked over his attitude, BCTNP chairman P.S. Amalraj asked the council’s secretary C. Raja Kumar to lodge a police complaint against all the three individuals.

Accordingly, a First Information Report was registered against the trio in the High Court police station and the prime accused was picked up for the investigation.

Don’t transfer doctors in mid-academic year: Judge
‘It may affect their performance’

08/11/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Justice N. Kirubakaran of the Madras High Court on Thursday disapproved of the State government’s move of transferring government doctors, including those heading various crucial departments in government hospitals, from one district to another in the middle of an academic year.

While hearing a case related to medical admissions along with Justice P. Velmurugan, the judge said, the government doctors may not work properly if they get transferred in the middle of the academic year. He batted in favour of providing better wages to doctors as well as policemen.

The senior judge clarified that during the last hearing of the case, he had compared the salary paid to the doctors with that of college faculty and not schoolteachers.

Unacceptable pay

He said, it was unacceptable to pay ₹57,000 a month to a newly appointed government doctor when such amount was received even by college faculty.

Also stating that he had respect for all professions, the judge said, that some professionals such as doctors as well as policemen required to be paid better given the nature of work performed by them and the number of hours that they had to work every day.

NEET impersonation: more cases likely

One complaint received from Kochi; several students yet to submit fingerprints

08/11/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

An exercise undertaken by the Madras High Court to dig deep into the issue of impersonation in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) might lead to many skeletons tumbling out of the closet as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) disclosed that it had received one complaint from Kochi in Kerala, apart from Chennai.

Justices N. Kirubakaran and P. Velmurugan were also informed that though they had ordered cross-checking of fingerprints of all students who had got admitted in MBBS course this year, about 16 of them were yet to give their fingerprints, citing reasons of ill health and one of them rushed to court seeking anticipatory bail.

The counsel for Sree Balaji Medical College in Chennai stated that two of its students were yet to give fingerprints since they were not in station. The Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute said two of its students were bedridden due to viral fever and hence they were unable to give their fingerprints to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department.

SRM Medical College said that one of its students was yet to give his fingerprint. Though all the private institutions assured that their students would give their fingerprints at the earliest, Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute said one of its students failed to give his fingerprint and he had instead filed an anticipatory bail petition.

Counsel for Meenakshi Medical College stated that three of its students were yet to give their fingerprints and that they shall give it at the earliest.

After recording their submissions, Justice Kirubakaran suggested that the Selection Committee of Directorate of Medical Education itself could obtain fingerprints at the time of admissions from next year.

They also recorded the submission of K. Srinivasan, special public prosecutor for CBI cases, that the two complaints received by it from Chennai were forwarded to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well the Medical Council of India (MCI) whereas the complaint from Kochi was still under its consideration.

The judges directed Assistant Solicitor General G. Karthikeyan to find out from the Ministry by November 21 as to whether the complaints of impersonation in NEET were received from other States. The directions were issued during the course of hearing of a writ appeal related to alleged misuse of NRI quota seats in medical admission.

Appellant’s counsel M. Velmurugan said his client could not secure a medical seat despite scoring 303 marks in NEET, while nearly 200 students who had scored less than him got admission in private medical colleges under the lapsed NRI quota seats that were sent back by the Selection Committee to the respective colleges. Finding that Dr. MGR Medical University was a necessary party to the litigation, the judges suo motu included it as one of the respondents and adjourned the case to November 21 for submission of report by CB-CID.

Andhra CM under fire for sanctioning ₹73L for house
Amaravati:08.11.2019

The Andhra Pradesh government’s order sanctioning ₹73 lakh for doors and windows of chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s residence here has come under flak from the opposition.

Leading the attack is N Chandrababu Naidu, who himself was target of the ruling YSR Congress Party over living in an alleged illegal house.

“YSR Jagan’s government has allotted a whopping ₹73 lakhs to fix windows for his house! Now that’s one super expensive view at the expense of state exchequer! This comes at a time when AP is grappling with fiscal mess caused by mismanagement in the last 5 months. Truly cringe-worthy!” tweeted Naidu.

Naidu’s son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh accused Jagan of hypocrisy for sanctioning such a large amount while claiming that “he takes home ₹1 as salary”.

The order, issued by Roads and Buildings Department on October 15, accorded administrative sanction for ₹73 lakh afor supply and installation of aluminium windows/doors and miscellaneous works in camp residence and office block of the chief minister. IANS

Now, T’gana revenue officials get threat calls

Sushil.Rao@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:08.11.2019

Days after a tehsildar was burnt alive inside her office, several revenue officials in Telangana are claiming to have been receiving threats from unidentified persons. While a worried tahsildar has gone on leave, a revenue divisional officer (RDO) filed a complaint with police after a cop threatened him that he would meet the same fate Vijaya Reddy faced on November 4 in her office.

K Rajendra Kumar, RDO of Kamareddy district, approached police on the very same day on which Vijaya was set on fire, after receiving a call from an unknown person who threatened him that he too would be burned alive if he did not resolve his land dispute.

SP K Swetha Reddy told TOI on Thursday that after a preliminary enquiry, they have identified the person who made the call as armed reserve (AR) constable Srinivas Reddy. “We have taken the complaint and put up the matter before the court,” she said. The SP said an FIR would be filed under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Meanwhile, revenue employees at Maripeda tehsildar office in Mahabubabad district were allegedly threatened by a farmer who came to the office with petrol in a bottle. He kept it on the table and shouted at them. He apparently wants them to solve his land issue.

Suicide note by deceased valid as ‘will’: Haryana revenue court
If In Own Writing, Admissible Even Without Attestation
Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:08.11.2019

A revenue court of Haryana has held that ‘will’ of a person expressed in suicide note is admissible as valid even if it was not testified by two witnesses as required by law.

“If the suicide note is scribed by the deceased in his own writing, it will be a valid ‘will’ even when it is without the signature of the testator or attestation by two witnesses,” observed the revenue court of Ashok Khemka, financial commissioner, Haryana.

“Technical considerations cannot nullify the substance of the will, especially where it is virtually impossible to seek compliance with the rigors of law,” observed Khemka.

The court was of the view that in such dire circumstances, compelling a technical adherence of procedure would violate the maxim ‘Lex Non Cogit Ad Impossibilia’ (law does not compel one to do the impossible).

“A suicide is an act in desperation and during the period immediately before committing suicide, the situation is extremely emergent, where the testator thinks and believes his death to be imminent. He does not have the inclination or the time to think or act in leisure. He is a man seized, who wishes to make a last and final declaration of his intention with respect to his property, which he desires to be carried into effect after his imminent death,” said the court.

Khemka made these observations while hearing a revision petition against the order dated December 19, 2018, of the commissioner, Ambala division, and the order dated March 22, 2017, of the assistant collector (first grade), Bilaspur (Yamunanagar). The petition, filed by Rupinder Singh, 20, a resident of Kot Basawa village in Yamunanagar district, was regarding mutation of land owned by deceased Inderjeet Singh, his elder brother.

The petitioner’s brother committed suicide on November 3, 2015, and left behind a suicide note in which his property was willed in Rupinder’s favour. An FIR for abetment to suicide was registered against Inderjeet’s widow on Rupinder’s complaint. The suicide note was sent for forensic examination and a final report is awaited.

Meanwhile, revenue officials transferred the deceased’s property to his widow and two minor daughters, they being his legal heirs.

An objection was made by the petitioner on the basis of the suicide note, arguing that in the note, the deceased had willed that he did not want to give any property to his wife and that after his death the petitioner would be the owner in possession of all the properties left by the deceased. The petitioner claimed the suicide note was his brother’s ‘will,’ which he wrote before his death.

The commissioner, Ambala division, however, upheld the decision of the revenue officials entering the mutation of land in favour of the deceased’s wife. Aggrieved by this, the petitioner approached the revenue court, challenging the commissioner’s order.

Deciding the matter pending the forensic report, the revenue court set aside the orders passed by the revenue officials as well as the commissioner, Ambala division, and ordered that the entire property be entered in the names of both the minor daughters of the deceased in equal share.

Regarding the right of the petitioner in the property, the court said it would await the forensic report, which would determine whether the suicide note was in the writing of the deceased, and adjourned the matter.

The court was of the view that in such dire circumstances, compelling a technical adherence of procedure would violate the maxim ‘Lex Non Cogit Ad Impossibilia’ (law does not compel one to do the impossible)

Uber to compensate disabled activist for discrimination by its drivers in Chennai
Prabin.Kalita@timesgroup.com

Guwahati:  08.11.2019

Taking suo motu cognisance of a Facebook post detailing how two Uber drivers in Chennai refused to ferry a person with 80% locomotor disability in June, the Delhi state commissioner for persons with disabilities has ordered the app-cab aggregator to compensate the victim for the discrimination and harassment he suffered that day.

Commissioner TD Dhariyal said in his order, issued on Tuesday, that Uber must introduce training modules for its employees and driver partners on the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and strictly impose strong penalties for non-compliance.

The order was in response to a Facebook post by Arman Ali, executive director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People, narrating how he missed a flight from Chennai to Bengaluru in June because of back-to-back refusals by Uber drivers to ferry him along with his wheelchair.

“While the cab arrived, the driver refused to carry me because I was in a wheelchair. After repeat episodes, I missed the flight and had to spend ₹14,000 on a fresh ticket,” Ali, who is from Assam, said.

While the incident occurred in June, it wasn’t until August that commissioner Dhariyal found a valid Uber address to which he could send the notice seeking a reply. Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd filed a written reply on October 30, expressing “sincerest regrets for the inconvenience experienced by Mr Arman Ali during his interactions with driver partners registered on the Ether technology platform”.

Uber said its policy of nondiscrimination was already part of the onboarding process and “disability sensitisation programmes” were being regularly conducted. On Ali being refused a ride, it said: “Uber does not have actual onground control of the driver partners, and the decision to accept booking on the Uber app rests solely with the driver partners.” Ali told TOI on Thursday the commissioner for persons with disabilities taking up his case based on a social media post was the most heartening thing to come out of the episode.

The order was in response to a Facebook post by Arman Ali, narrating how he missed a flight to Bengaluru because of refusals by Uber drivers to ferry him along with wheelchair

I-T searches on Jeppiaar institutes

Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.11.2019

The Income Tax department on Thursday commenced searches at 25 places belonging to Jeppiaar Educational Trust, which runs many engineering colleges and schools.

A senior official in the I-T investigation wing said searches began on Thursday early morning and could continue for a few days. “We have specific information with evidence about tax evasion. Around 150 I-T officials have been drafted for the searches,” he said.

“The I-T department has received a specific tip-off about cash transactions carried out by the trust and members of Jeppiaar family,” said the official.

The trust manages 12 technical institutes, a CBSE school and a matriculation school.

A spokesperson of Satyabhama University said, “Exams are going on in the college, but income tax officials entered the college premises in the morning and started searches. The office staff have been locked inside. We have not been able to reach them”.

HC: PIL seeks 8-hour duty shift time for PG doctors

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.11.2019

A doctors’ association has approached the Madras high court to implement a fixed eight hour duty shift system for post graduate medical students in government medical college hospitals, instead of the current 24-hour duty shift.

Moving the plea as a PIL, Dr GR Ravindranath, general secretary of Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE) said that even though the state government had issued a notification in 2015 to regularise duty time of PG students and UG CRRI (Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship) candidates, the same is yet to be implemented.

TOI IMPACT

Tainted MBBS students off varsity list

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.11.2019

A day after TOI reported on how medical education authorities had asked state medical university to approve the admission of two tainted MBBS students, the selection committee has withdrawn their names saying the names got included by ‘oversight’. The two medical students were caught impersonating in NEET 2019 examination.

On Wednesday, selection committee secretary Dr G Selvarajan wrote to TN Dr MGR Medical University stating that the names of two candidates were sent due to “oversight”. The two students were suspended from their respective government medical colleges before they were arrested by the CB-CID.

TOI had reported that the Directorate of Medical Education had sent their names along with those of other students for registration to TN Dr MGR Medical University on Monday. sOnce registered, the students would have become eligible to write the university examinations for undergraduate medical degree, officials had cautioned.

NEET SCAM

16 MBBS students are yet to submit their fingerprints

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.11.2019

The NEET impersonation scam just got bigger, after it emerged that at least 16 MBBS students of deemed universities are yet to submit their fingerprints to CB-CID for identity verification.

When the matter was taken up by a division bench of Madras high court on Thursday for further hearing, it was submitted that at least two of the students who have not given their fingerprints are “bedridden due to viral fever” and two others are “out of station”.

A student of Sri Ramachandra Medical College  and Research Institute has applied for anticipatory bail, instead of submitting his fingerprints.

A bench comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice P Velmurugan has now asked police to verify if students attending the colleges had written NEET 2019 examinations. Since September, CB-CID police have arrested five students suspected of impersonation in this year’s NEET.

On Thursday, advocates of at least six deemed universities conceded before the bench that some of their students could not submit fingerprints.

Meanwhile, CBI counsel K Srinivasan said the Chennai zone of CBI has received two complaints from Chennai and one complaint from Kochi, Kerala. Two complaints received from Chennai were referred to the Medical Council of India and the Union health ministry. The complaint received from Kochi is presently under CBI scrutiny, he said.

Two students from Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital were “out of station” and Chettinad Medical College said two students were bedridden due to fever.

Besides these, there were six students from Sri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, two from SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Institute and three others from Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute. Special government pleader J Pothiraj said the students will appear before CB-CID for submission of fingerprints before the next hearing.

This apart, the CB-CID informed the court that it would require at least 90 days to verify the fingerprints for impersonation. Wondering why the agency needs so many days to verify the samples in this digital era, the bench posted the plea to November 21 for further hearing.

Earlier, M Velmurugan, counsel for a student, said his client had obtained 303 marks in NEET, whereas except seven students, the other students who got admission under the NRI lapsed quota in private medical colleges have got less marks than him. A candidate admitted under NRI lapsed quota got 107 marks only.

“There is no transparency in the admission under NRI lapsed quota and the private medical colleges have not followed the guidelines as laid down by the Supreme Court,” Velmurugan said.

City engg college issues wrong question paper, may face action

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.11.2019

A city engineering college may face action from Anna University as it wrongly issued to students a question paper meant for afternoon exam session in the morning session on Wednesday.

Following the mistake, the university had to change the question paper throughout the state for the afternoon exam.

The semester exams for engineering students started on Wednesday. On the first day, students wrote arrear exams — engineering chemistry 1 in the morning and engineering chemistry 2 in the afternoon.

After the exam started in the morning, a city-based engineering college alerted the university saying they have wrongly issued engineering chemistry 2 paper in the morning.

The university sent a message to all affiliated engineering colleges not to start afternoon exam until it issued a new question paper for the engineering chemistry 2 exam.

“On Wednesday morning, we got a message from the university not to start the engineering chemistry 2 exam. Then, we received a new question paper through online around 2.30pm and conducted the exam,” a principal from a city-based engineering college said.

Following incidents of question paper leaks in the previous semester exam, the university has decided to conduct online revaluation and decided to send question papers directly to the colleges to prevent the leaks.

“The college has wrongly given the afternoon question paper in the morning. To rule out any leaks, we have quickly replaced it with a new question paper and sent to all colleges online,” officials from Anna University said. “We have conducted inquiry at the college on Thursday regarding the incident. Based on the report, we may initiate action against the college,” they added.

Perarivalan gets 30-day parole

Chennai:08.11.2019

A G Perarivalan, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been granted 30 days parole in view of his father’s poor health.

Though DIG (prisons) A Murugesan issued the notification on November 5, Perarivalan has not been released from prison yet as the authorities have sought police protection for him while he is on parole.

This is the second time Perarivalan, who has been in prison for 28 years, is being granted parole. The first time was in 2017 when his initial 30 days parole was extended by another 30 days following a request from his mother, Arputham Ammal. She has been relentlessly campaigning for his release for years, petitioning the governments at the Centre and in the state. TNN

Coimbatore rape: SC upholds death

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:08.11.2019

Holding that mere young age and presence of aged parents cannot be ground for commutation of sentence, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to review its verdict to award death sentence to a convict who had raped and murdered a 10-year old girl and her seven-year-old brother in Coimbatore in 2010.

Although a three-judge bench of Justices R F Nariman, Sanjiv Khanna and Surya Kant was unanimous in dismissing the review petition of the condemned prisoner, Justice Khanna differed from his colleague judges on awarding death sentence.

The same apex court bench had in August upheld the conviction of Manoharan in the case but Justice Khanna at that time too differed with other two judges on the quantum of punishment. While Justices Nariman and Kant had awarded death sentence, Justice Khanna held that the convict should be directed to suffer sentence for life till his natural death, without remission/commutation. The convict thereafter sought review of the verdict.

‘Mere young age cannot be ground for commutation’

Dismissing the review petition, the majority verdict said no leniency could be shown to the convict in view of the severity of the offence and sentence could not be commuted merely on the ground of his young age and that he has aged parents.

“The present case is essentially one where two accused misused societal trust to hold as captive two innocent schoolgoing children, one of whom was brutally raped and sodomised, and thereupon administered poison and finally drowned by throwing them into a canal. It was not in the spur of the moment or a crime of passion; but craftily planned, meticulously executed and with multiple opportunities to cease and desist. We are of the view that the present offence(s) of the petitioner are so grave as to shake the conscience of this court and of society and would without doubt amount to rarest of the rare,” the court said.

“Mere young age and presence of aged parents cannot be grounds for commutation. One may view that such young age poses a continuous burden on the state and presents a longer risk to society, hence warranting more serious intervention by courts. Similarly, just because the now deceased co-accused Mohanakrishnan was the mastermind whose offence was comparatively more egregious, we cannot commute the otherwise barbarically shocking offences of the petitioner. We are also not inclined to give leeway of the lack of criminal record, considering that the current crime was not just one offence, but comprised multiple offences over many hours,” it said. Justice Khanna, in his one paragraph judgement, said, “On the question of sentence, I do not see any good ground and reasons to review my observations and findings in the minority judgement.”

According to prosecution, Manoharan along with prime accused Mohanakrishnan, former van driver of the children, abducted the siblings on October 29, 2010 with the aim of demanding ransom from their father, a textile merchant. However, they raped the girl and murdered her and also her brother who was a witness to the crime. They later threw the bodies in a canal near Pollachi. Mohanakrishnan was shot dead by police in an alleged encounter when he tried to escape after his arrest.

டாக்டர்கள் இடமாற்றத்தை ரத்து செய்ய முடியாது

Added : நவ 06, 2019 23:39

சென்னை: 'போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்ட டாக்டர்களின் பணியிட மாற்ற ஆணையை, ரத்து செய்ய முடியாது' என, அரசு தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

பல்வேறு கோரிக்கைகளை வலியுறுத்தி, அனைத்து அரசு டாக்டர்கள் சங்க கூட்டமைப்பினர், ஏழு நாட்களாக தொடர் வேலை நிறுத்த போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர். அவர்களில், 70 பேரை, பணியிட மாற்றம் செய்து, சுகாதாரத்துறை உத்தரவிட்டது.இந்த உத்தரவை பரிசீலிக்க வேண்டும் என, அனைத்து டாக்டர்கள் சங்க கூட்டமைப்பினர், சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சரை சந்தித்து கோரிக்கை வைத்தனர்.

ஆனால், டாக்டர்களின் இந்த கோரிக்கை ஏற்கப்படவில்லை.இது குறித்து, சுகாதாரத்துறை உயர் அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகையில், 'டாக்டர்கள் மீது ஒழுங்கு நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதில், சுகாதாரத்துறை பின்வாங்காது. 'பணியில் இருந்து வெளியேற்றுவது மட்டுமே, ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது; பணியிட மாற்ற ஆணை ரத்து செய்யப்படாது' என்றனர்.

ஆறு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் அமைக்கும் பணி துவக்கம்

Added : நவ 06, 2019 23:32

சென்னை: ''தமிழகத்தில் புதிதாக, ஆறு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் அமைப்பதற்கான பணிகள் துவங்கப் பட்டுள்ளன,'' என, மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனர் நாராயணபாபு கூறினார்.தமிழகத்தில், 26 அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், 3,500க்கும் மேற்பட்ட, எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., இடங்கள் உள்ளன.

இதன் வாயிலாக, நாட்டிலேயே அதிக, எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., இடங்கள் கொண்ட மாநிலங்கள் பட்டியலில், தமிழகம் முதலிடத்தில் உள்ளது.இந்நிலையில், தமிழகத்தில், அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி இல்லாத விருதுநகர், ராமநாதபுரம், திண்டுக்கல், நாமக்கல், திருப்பூர், நீலகிரி ஆகிய ஆறு மாவட்டங்களில், மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி அமைக்க, மத்திய அரசிடம், தமிழக அரசு கோரிக்கை வைத்தது.

கோரிக்கையை பரிசீலித்த மத்திய அரசு, ஆறு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் அமைக்க, அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளது.அதன்படி, ஒவ்வொரு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியும், மத்திய அரசின், 195 கோடி ரூபாய்; மாநில அரசின், 130 கோடி ரூபாய் என, மொத்தம், 325 கோடி ரூபாய் செலவில் அமைக்கப்பட உள்ளது.மொத்தம், 1,950 கோடி ரூபாய் மதிப்பில், ஆறு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் அமைக்கும் பணிகளை, தமிழக அரசு துவக்கிஉள்ளது.இது குறித்து, மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனர் நாராயணபாபு கூறியதாவது:மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளை அமைப்பதற்கான, முதற்கட்ட பணிகள் துவக்கப் பட்டுள்ளன. இடங்கள் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டு, தயார் நிலையில் உள்ளது. இதுகுறித்த, அனைத்து விபரங்களும், மத்திய அரசுக்கு அனுப்பப் பட்டுள்ளது.மாநில அரசின் நிதி, தயார் நிலையில் உள்ளது. விரைவில், மத்திய அரசின் நிதி கிடைத்து விடும். அதன்பின், கட்டுமான பணிகள் துவங்கப்படும்.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

ஜப்பான்

ரூ.270 கோடி உதவிஅரசின் பொதுப்பணித் துறை வாயிலாக, அரசு மருத்துவமனை மற்றும் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு, கட்டடங்கள் கட்டப்படுகின்றன. சென்னை கீழ்ப்பாக்கம், கோவை, மதுரை அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லுாரிகளில், இட நெருக்கடியை தவிர்க்க, கூடுதல் கட்டடங்கள் கட்ட, அரசு முடிவெடுத்துள்ளது. இந்த பணிகளுக்காக, ஜப்பான் பன்னாட்டு வங்கி, 270 கோடி ரூபாய் நிதியுதவி அளித்துள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, கீழ்பாக்கத்தில், 90 கோடி ரூபாய்; மதுரையில், 70 கோடி ரூபாய்; கோவையில், 110 கோடி ரூபாயில், கூடுதல் கட்டடங்கள் கட்டப்பட உள்ளன. இதற்கான அரசாணையை, நிதித்துறை வெளியிட்டதும், கட்டுமான பணிகளை, பொதுப்பணித் துறை துவக்க உள்ளது.

அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லூரிகளுக்கு டீன்கள் நியமனம்

Added : நவ 06, 2019 23:29

சென்னை: தமிழகத்தில் புதிதாக அமைய உள்ள, ஆறு அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், விருதுநகர், ராமநாதபுரம், திண்டுக்கல், நீலகிரி, திருப்பூர் ஆகிய, ஐந்து புதிய மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு, டீன்கள் நியமிக்கப் பட்டுள்ளனர். நாமக்கல் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிக்கு மட்டும், டீன் நியமிக்கப்படவில்லை.மேலும், நான்கு டீன்கள் மாற்றப் பட்டுள்ளனர்; 13 பேராசிரியர்கள், டீன்களாக பதவி உயர்வு பெற்றுள்ளனர். இதற்கான உத்தரவை, சுகாதாரத்துறை செயலர் பீலா ராஜேஷ் பிறப்பித்துள்ளார்.

HC remarks should make govt give up Neet: MK Stalin

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | D SEKAR

Published  Nov 6, 2019, 1:59 am IST

The court had posted the next hearing of the case to November 7.

MK Stalin

Chennai: The Madras High court expressing shock at the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam for undergraduate medical and dental courses admissions being cleared mostly by students who can afford coaching classes by spending several lakh rupees, and the court's observation implying that 'NEET' was anti-poor, has prompted a quick, pro-active response from the DMK president M K Stalin on Tuesday.

A division bench of the Madras High court had on Monday, while passing interim orders in a an appeal filed by an aspiring medical student, had said that the expensive coaching classes to prepare for NEET put rural students at a disadvantageous position as they cannot afford it and that the Central government should take note of this fact also.

The court had posted the next hearing of the case to November 7.

Referring to these observations of the High court, Mr. Stalin in a tweet said that, "whenever we pointed out that NEET quashed the medical study dreams of the poor and the economically disadvantaged, the Centre attributed motives to us; but the High court's remarks yesterday only confirmed what we said."

Hence, Mr. Stalin urged that at least now, the Centre and State governments should trod the "path of social justice shown by the High Court" and act accordingly, indicating that it was better that NEET was given up altogether.

The DMK had in its Lok Sabha election manifesto earlier this year had promised to scrap NEET, it may be recalled.

Engineering student stabs hostel warden to death for complaining about bunking classes in TN
According to police, Rahim did not attend the college and was absent from the hostel for four days recently without informing authorities.

Published: 07th November 2019 01:06 AM

By PTI

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: An engineering student allegedly stabbed to death his college hostel warden near here on Wednesday during a quarrel over the latter complaining to his parents about his absence for four days, police said.

G Venkataraman (45) suffered stab injuries in the abdomen and throat and died while being rushed to a hospital.

The student, A.Abdul Rahim of neighbouring Perambalur district and studying in the college at Thuraiyur, about 50 km from here, has been arrested, police said.

According to police, Rahim did not attend the college and was absent from the hostel for four days recently without informing authorities.

After the warden complained about it to Rahim's parents, the student's father had reprimanded him severely.

Upset and angry over it, Rahim picked up a quarrel with the warden in the college campus and at one point of time stabbed him with a knife, police added.

See your doctor on your smartphone

In small towns, accessibility is a problem,” said P Gowthaman, CEO, Doxtro Technologies.

Published: 06th November 2019 06:32 AM 

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: During a medical emergency, a quick response from the doctor is what most patients wait for. Doxtro, a Chennai-based start-up launched in 2017, helps you get doctor consultation anywhere, anytime within minutes — on your smartphone.

The mobile application connects consumers in need with specialists and medical experts instantly via chat or voice call. It also offers comprehensive online health and wellness services including medicine delivery, lab tests and home healthcare services at the user’s doorstep.

“Our mission is to promote fast, affordable and accessible healthcare. In cities, people do not have time to schedule an appointment, travel to a hospital and wait in the queue. In small towns, accessibility is a problem,” said P Gowthaman, CEO, Doxtro Technologies.

Doxtro Genie, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) engine, takes the response from users and assigns them to the right specialist doctors. After consultation, the users can receive e-prescription from the doctors and order for medicines or tests. There is also a 48-hour window for the user to clarify their doubts with the same doctor again at no additional charge.

“The users can also share their health records with the consulting doctors in complete privacy and security. All the doctors on the platform are verified through a three-step on-boarding process before they become active to offer consultations,” he said.

The app is available for both Android and iOS users and can be downloaded for free. Currently, the consultation is available in Hindi and English. Gowthaman said they will soon introduce regional languages including Tamil to the app.

Man offloaded from Chennai-Colombo flight for performing 'yoga' onboard

The crew's repeated requests to the passenger against doing so paid no heed as he caused 'inconvienience' to other passengers.

Published: 06th November 2019 02:36 PM

By PTI

CHENNAI: A seemingly "mentally unstable" air passenger was on Wednesday offloaded from a Colombo-bound carrier, after he caused "inconvenience" to others by performing yoga and exercise onboard, police said.

The crew's repeated requests to the passenger against doing so paid no heed. They said that he had come from Varanasi to the city to proceed to Colombo.

After the passenger created 'inconvenience' to others, he was offloaded with the help of CISF who later handed him over to the police, they said, adding, a part of his ticket cost was also refunded by the private airline.

They added that since there was no formal complaint against the passenger, he was not arrested but was in the process of being handed over to the Srilanka Deputy High Commission here. Police said that he had in his possession both Srilankan and US passports.

This motorbike is fuelled by water

Engineer R Yuvaraj produced alternative fuel for his motorbike from water, which provides more mileage and emits less pollution

Published: 07th November 2019 06:23 AM 

By B Meenakshi Sundaram

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The worldwide exploitation of nature for the last few decades has had a great impact o n t h e environment resulting in converting even water into a commodity sold at shops. A ci ty-based aeronaut ical engineer has introduced water as an alternative fuel for bikes. He even rode his motorcycle fuelled by water for a distance of 110 km and tested his ride even on steep hilly roads. Meet R Yuvaraj, a 33-year old BTech graduate who has been nurturing his passion for automobiles and electronics since his school days. “With my natural interest to know what makes a moped run, in my school days, I would dismantle the carburettor of a TVS 50 and reassemble it at my home.

This made me take up electronics and automobiles as my study and profession,” says the Coimbatore local. Sharing how the alternative fuel is obtained from water, the aeronautical engineer says, “After referring to books and watching YouTube channels, I came across the fact that splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen through electricity creates a gas. I wondered if this gas could be used as fuel for motorbikes and cars, and I experimented using it on my own motorbike Pulsar 150. The 330 ml of water, which produced the alternative fuel called HHO (Hydrogen Hydrogen Oxygen) or Brown’s gas, gave a mileage of 110 km. I also tested the efficiency of the fuel by riding the bike on the hilly roads of Anaikatti. It was as normal as riding the bike on petrol,” he says.

The engineer says that the gas collected in the water tank gets piped to the motorbike’s engine as the fuel. “Hydrogen is the cleanest of all the chemical elements. Petrol and diesel in their respective combustions release nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and methane, which are harmful to the ozone layer. Whereas when hydrogen reacts with oxygen, it releases only water vapour as exhaust, which doesn’t pollute the atmosphere. At the same time, like petrol or diesel, hydrogen cannot fulfil the on-demand requirement of the vehicle’s engine,” he explains. To solve this issue, there is another technology. He set up a refrigerator-like unit at his home, in which, hydrogen is produced and stored in a tank. Then the hydrogen collected is piped to the fuel tank, as done in an auto LPG bunk.

“It acts as the alternative fuel to run the vehicle. Setting up such a ‘hydrogen bunk’ at your home will cost around `1 lakh. Whereas, assembling a hydrogen kit for a motorbike and car will come around `7,000 and `15,000 respectively,” he adds. Yuvaraj says he tested the alternative fuel technology only out of his passion for automobiles, and that it is hardly possible to implement it due to numerous laws and procedures. “Before considering people’s interest, I need to get necessary approval from the government for driving hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. I want to promote and patent this, but obtaining permits from the government comes with a lot of procedures,” he says. Demonstrating the function of his motorbike’s engine on Hydrogen, Yuvaraj says, “Between the engine and the hydrogen kit, I have set up a ‘backfire arrester’, which blocks the flame returning from the engine to the kit. Since the backfire arrester has the water content, the flame returning from the engine is prevented from reaching the hydrogen kit.” The alternative fuel tank is nothing but a water tank with a capacity of storing 600 ml of water. “All you have to do is just refill the tank with water every 200 to 300 km.

The stainless steel concentric rings, which are set up in the tank, enable the production of HHO by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrical energy. If you fill the tank with 600 ml of water, your motorbike will get a mileage of 300 km,” he says. The engineer, who runs his aerospace company Avatar Aviations in the city, is working on orders and projects from the aeronautical departments of engineering colleges like constructing jet engines and dismantling them.

CBI upholds Bengaluru police probe in techie murder case

Gym instructor convicted in the 2010 Payal Surekha case

07/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,BENGALURU

Payal Surekha

Nine years after 29-year-old Dell employee Payal Surekha was murdered, the CBI court on Wednesday upheld the city police’s investigations and convicted gym instructor James Kumar Ray, 36, with a life sentence and a fine of ₹1 lakh.

Payal Sureka was found murdered in her apartment in J.P. Nagar with multiple stab injuries on December 17, 2010.

S.K. Umesh, then Inspector of J.P. Nagar police station, arrested James and recovered a blood-stained knife and a pair of goggles, which the accused had used and later hidden in an isolated place in Puttenahalli before returning to Hyderabad. In the chargesheet, the police stated that revenge was the motive behind the murder and submitted FSL reports to substantiate James’ involvement.

The twist

The case took a twist when Payal’s parents approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI inquiry into the murder of their daughter as they suspected their son-in-law, Anantha Narayan Mishra. Considering their plea, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to investigate the case in August 2013.

Shivanand Perla, Public Prosecutor for the CBI, said the three strands of hair recovered from the crime scene and blood samples corroborated by the DNA expert belonged to James.

James was a trainer at a gym owned by Payal’s husband, who had terminated his employment due to misappropriation of funds and complaints that he had been harassing women. According to the police, Payal, who received the complaints, informed her husband. “James killed Payal and tried to implicate her husband. He was in Cuttack, Odisha, on a business trip, and Payal was alone at home on that day,” said the police.

Hike in hostel fees will force us to discontinue studies: JNU students

JNUSU continues protest against proposed ‘mammoth’ increase in charges

07/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Thousands of students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Wednesday continued their protest against a revised hostel manual that proposes a “mammoth” increase in hostel fees.

Cutting across political affiliations, the students have demanded a roll-back of the fee hike as they feel that several students would have to discontinue their studies if the new rates are introduced.

In a press statement explaining the hike in hostel fees, the university Registrar said that room rent for a single seater has been increased from ₹20 to ₹600; for double seater, the fee has gone up from ₹10 to ₹300 per month.

The one-time refundable mess security deposit has been increased from ₹5,500 to ₹12,000. Utility and service charges will also now be applicable.

The JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) said that the proposed fee hike is unacceptable as a majority of the students come from rural backgrounds, deprived sections, and middle income families, and depend on scholarships to study at JNU.

“More than 40% of students belong to families with annual income below ₹1.44 lakh, the poverty cut-off line, as suggested by the annual reports of JNU. Bachelors and Masters students are dependent on the Merit Cum Means Scholarships, which is ₹2,000 per month, and MPhil and PhD students are dependent on the UGC Non Net Scholarship, which is ₹5,000 per month. How will students survive and pay the amount that is more than their scholarships?” the JNUSU said.

The Registrar said that room rent has been hiked to create better hostel facilities. The university justified the increase in mess security citing increasing defaulters.

“The revision of rates by the Inter Hostel Administration (IHA) committee has been done after more than a decade. The room rents have not been revised in the last three decades. There is no massive hike in hostel fee and the JNU administration appeals to the students not to be misled by rumours that are trying to derail normal functioning of the university,” the Registrar said.

Protesting students said that over the past week they had made several attempts to reach out to the administration but to no avail. Instead, the students said, they have been receiving show-cause notices from the Proctor’s office imposing hefty fines for showing dissent.

“The administration has abdicated any and all sense of responsibility. The IHA meeting on October 28, which passed the draft hostel manual, did not allow the JNUSU, who are members of the IHA committee, to attend the meeting. The elected hostel presidents, who are also members of the panel, were informed about the meeting 10 minutes before it began,” the JNUSU said.

The union also claimed that students are reaching out to hostel wardens and provosts in charge of hostel clusters to reject the revised hostel manual. They also claimed that two provosts had resigned in support of the students. The university administration, however, said that no provosts have resigned.

Man who shot student surrenders

07/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

A 20-year-old man, who shot dead a 19-year-old student at point-blank range in Vengadamangalam village near Tambaram in Kancheepuram district on Tuesday, surrendered before the Chengalpattu court on Wednesday.

The victim, Mukesh, a polytechnic student in Vandalur, had visited the house of his friend Vijay, who was working as a delivery boy for a food delivery service company. It is suspected that the two quarrelled while watching a video on a mobile phone, and Vijay shot Mukesh in the head with a pistol. Mukesh died on the way to the hospital.

The Thalambur police have registered a case and are investigating.

Bullet found

“The suspect will now be remanded to judicial custody and we have to take him into our custody for investigation,” a police officer said.

The officer added that they found a bullet of a smaller calibre than the 9 mm bullet that the police use. “We have sent it for forensic analysis,” the officer said.

New dean for GRH

07/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Professor of General Medicine J. Sangumani is the new Dean of Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital.

The new dean is expected to take charge on November 7.

According to a government order issued by the Directorate of Medical Education on Wednesday, the current Dean, K. Vanitha, has been transferred and posted as Dean, KAP Viswanatham Medical College and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, Tiruchi.

Professor of Cardiothorasic Surgery at GRH A. Rathinavel has been promoted and appointed as Dean, Government Sivagangai Medical College and Hospital.

Complaint of violent behaviour against MKU professor

07/11/2019, SANJANA GANESH

Madurai Kamaraj University Registrar in-charge R. Sudha registered a complaint on Wednesday against Professor and Head of Department, English Language Studies, V. Kalaiselvan, alleging violent behaviour and verbal abuse.

In her letter accessed by The Hindu, the Registrar in-charge said that the professor used abusive language against administrative staff in the department and tried to throw a chair from a higher floor but refrained after realising that he was being recorded on mobile phone. The Registrar in-charge, who was present at the scene, alleged that he used “unparliamentary language.”

The letter stated that staff members of the department had already raised several complaints against Mr. Kalaiselvan in the last four years; particularly, three letters were sent in July 2015. All letters pertained to Mr. Kalaiselvan locking up four rooms and removal of posters from the Department of French from the notice board in the School of English and Foreign Languages.

When contacted by The Hindu, Ms. Sudha said that she had raised the issue with the Vice-Chancellor and hoped that the matter would be resolved.

Refuting all allegations, Mr. Kalaiselvan said that Ms. Sudha had shifted rooms of her department between the School of English and Foreign Languages and School of Indian Languages without seeking his permission. He added that this issue had been recurring for many years. “The Nagamalai Pudukottai police have registered a CSR against Ms. Sudha; Ananth, Engineer; Ragul, Professor of French; Ranjith, Assistant Professor, and Maharajan, a temporary staff, for raising threats against me,” he said.

A total of 65 faculty members from the university also condemned the actions of Mr. Kalaiselvan and said that he be relieved from his current post of Chairman, School of English and Foreign Languages and Director in-charge of Human Resource Development Centre.

Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan said that he had taken cognisance of Ms. Sudha's complaint and would place the issue at the Syndicate meeting to be held on November 7.