1945-2020

Speaker with ‘sky-high powers’ passes away
Politicos Pay Homage To P H Pandian

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:5.1.2020

Former speaker of Tamil Nadu assembly and senior AIADMK leader P H Pandian died here on Saturday after a prolonged illness. He was  74.

An acolyte of former chief minister M G Ramachandran, Pandian is known for exercising “sky-high powers” during his tenure as speaker. He represented erstwhile Cheranmahadevi assembly segment for four consecutive terms, beginning 1977. He was deputy speaker from 1980 to 1984. “His death is a big loss to the party,” said chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, showering encomiums on the leader’s contributions in his five decades of public service. Pandian was a legal advisor of the AIADMK led by O Panneerselvam and Palaniswami after the merger of the erstwhile factions.

Pandian made headlines as speaker of the assembly between 1985 and 1989 when 10 DMK MLAs, including party general secretary K Anbazhagan were disqualified for burning copies of the Constitution during an agitation by the party against the imposition of Hindi as official language by the Union government. During this term as speaker, Balasubramanian, editor of Tamil weekly Ananda Vikadan, was sent to jail for alleged breach of privilege and contempt of the House. “Pandian excelled extremely well as speaker. He refused to accept the orders of even the Supreme Court. For him, speaker and assembly are independent constitutional authorities, which was applauded in the all India speakers’ conference,” former law minister C Ponnaiyan said.

A founding member of MGR’s AIADMK, Pandian stood by MGR’s wife Janaki Ramachandran when the party suffered its first split after the founder’s death. The disqualification saga continued when Janaki sought vote of confidence on January 28, 1988. “The

House witnessed pandemonium when Pandian began declaring disqualification of 33 AIADMK MLAs (of the Jayalalithaa faction) one after another… He was an authority of his own and stood loyal to the party till his death,” said former Kangeyam MLA K C Palanisamy, who was a first-time MLA then. Interestingly, Pandian was one of the two MLAs who emerged victorious in the Janaki faction in the subsequent elections.

During the fag end of Jayalalitha’s first term from 1991 to 1996, Pandian joined hands with Subramanian Swamy to launch Nallaatchi Iyakkam (Good Governance Movement). AIADMK stalwarts like Rajaram and Thirunavukkarasu stood with him.

Ending his strained relationship with Jayalalithaa, Pandian represented the leader when she was arrested by the DMK government in 1996 and moved bail at the time of remand at justice A Ramamurthy’s residence. He went on to become Tirunelveli MP in 1999 and also became the parliamentary party leader of the party. AIADMK leaders recalled that the first voice of dissent came from Pandian against elevation of Jayalalithaa’s close-aide V K Sasikalaa as general secretary of the party after Jayalalithaa’s demise. In a fully-packed hall at his Anna Nagar residence in February 2017, Pandian dropped a bombshell by raising suspicion over the death of Jayalalithaa. “There is no need for post-mortem, even circumstantial evidence is enough,” he said, demanding a probe into the events that took place ahead of Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation. He was one of the MGR loyalists who stood by O Panneerselvam when he launched a ‘dharmayudham’ against the Sasikalaa family.

BIDDING ADIEU: DMK president M K Stalin pays tribute to P H Pandian in Chennai on Saturday

Bus crash: SETC told to pay ₹17L to amputee

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:5.1.2020

An accident claims tribunal in Kancheepuram has directed the Tamil Nadu State Express Transport Corporation to pay ₹16.56 lakh to a woman whose limb had to be amputated after a rashly driven SETC bus hit a truck, leading to injuries to passengers.

S Nirmala of Villivakkam stated in her petition that she was traveling in a SETC bus from Trichy to Chennai in September 2014, when she met with the accident. According to her petition, the bus was driven rashly and tail-ended a truck. Nirmala’s leg got stuck amid vehicle parts in the collision and she sustained grievous injuries. Her leg was amputated subsequently. She sought a compensation of ₹61 lakh from the transport corporation.

The transport corporation denied the allegations and stated that the bus driver had handled the vehicle with due care and it was the truck that halted all of a sudden, leading to the accident. The transport corporation that it was not liable to pay compensation.

After perusing the submissions and going through the contents of the FIR, the tribunal judge noted that the documents show that the accident happened only due to the rash and negligent driving by the SETC bus driver.

The tribunal took note that Nirmala was 42 years old at the time of the accident and was working as a nursing tutor, a profession she still pursues. However, her disability due to amputation needs to be compensated and after computing other factors, the tribunal said ₹16.56 lakh was to be paid by SETC to the woman.

Citing poor teaching, parent wants law exams deferred

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:5.1.2020

Imagine a government law college where the post of principal is lying vacant since 2004, and physical education teacher vacancy lying unfilled since 2000. Also, of the sanctioned faculty strength of 18, only nine are available to teach students. This is Dr Ambedkar Government Law College in Puducherry for you.

The issue came to light when a student’s father moved the Madras high court to postpone the first semester examination saying the five-year LLB course students had not been taught much during the year. The examination, scheduled to commence on Monday will, however, go on as the court has refused to stay the examination. It, however, directed the authorities concerned to furnish details of the vacancy in faculty positions by January 8.

Justice P D Audikesavalu passed an interim direction to this effect on a petition filed by a Puducherry-based advocate, S Subramanian, whose son is studying first year LLB in the college.

The petition said though the first year classes commenced with a lecture on August 23, 2019, regular classes began only at the end of September. Not having enough faculty members in the college deprives students of the right to equip themselves for the semester examinations, the petition said, adding that even temporary faculty members were not available due to a low salary offered of ₹10,000 a month.

Stating that the college has to comply with the mandatory rules of the Bar Council of India under the Advocates Act, which clearly mentions the requirement of faculty and other infrastructure, the petitioner said the college had admitted students for the academic year 2019-20 without complying with the rules.

He prayed for a direction to restrain the college from conducting the semester examinations for first year LLB students and a direction to fill the vacancies of faculty members within a time frame.

Dr Ambedkar Government Law College in Puducherry has only nine faculty members to teach students against the sanctioned strength of 18

`எங்களுக்கே வேலை இல்லை, இவர்கள் எதற்கு?!' -தஞ்சையில் பூட்டு போடப்பட்ட வடமாநிலத்தவர் கடைகள்

கே.குணசீலன்ம.அரவிந்த்  vikatan

தஞ்சாவூரில் இருக்கும் வெளிமாநிலத்தவர்கள் உடனே வெளியேற வேண்டும் என ஓர் அமைப்பினர் திடீரென பூட்டு கொண்டு பூட்டியதுடன், நோட்டீஸ் ஒன்றையும் ஒட்டி விட்டுச் சென்றதால் பரபரப்பு ஏற்பட்டது.

தஞ்சையில் கடைகளுக்கு சீல்

தஞ்சாவூரில் தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கட்சி என்ற அமைப்பைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் நள்ளிரவில் புதிய பேருந்து நிலையம் பகுதியில் உள்ள வெளி மாநிலத்தவர்கள் கடைகளுக்குப் பூட்டு போட்டு பூட்டியுள்ளனர். அத்துடன் கதவில் நோட்டீஸ் ஒன்றையும் ஒட்டிவிட்டுச் சென்றுள்ளனர்.

அதில் `தமிழக அரசே, வந்து குவியும் வட மாநிலத்தவர்களை வெளியேற்று. தமிழகத்தில் அதிக அளவில் வெளிமாநிலத்தவர்கள் உள்ளதால் தமிழர்களின் வேலைவாய்ப்பு பறிக்கப்படுகிறது. மேலும், அவர்கள் இங்கு அதிக அளவிலான கடைகள் நடத்தி வருவதால் தமிழர்கள் உரிமைகளும் வாழ்வாதாரங்களும் பறிக்கப்படுகின்றன.

தஞ்சையில் கடைகளுக்கு சீல்

தரகர்கள் சிலர் வடமாநிலத்தவர்களை இங்கு வேலைக்காக இறக்குமதி செய்கின்றனர். அவர்களுக்கும் எச்சரிக்கை செய்கிறோம். நாங்களாகச் சொல்லும்போதே கிளம்பிப் போ இல்லை என்றால் நாங்கள் அடித்து விரட்டுவோம்' என்ற வாசகங்கள் அந்த நோட்டீஸில் அச்சடிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.

இன்று காலை வழக்கம் போல் கடைகளைத் திறக்க வந்த வட மாநிலத்தவர்கள் பூட்டு போடப்பட்டிருப்பதையும் நோட்டீஸ் ஒட்டியிருப்பதையும் கண்டு அதிர்ச்சியடைந்தனர். பின்னர், இது தொடர்பாக போலீஸாருக்குத் தகவல் கொடுத்தனர். இதுகுறித்து போலீஸார் விசாரணை செய்து வருகின்றனர்

இதுகுறித்து தமிழத் தேசியக் கட்சியை சேர்ந்த தமிழ்நேசன் என்பவரிடம் பேசினோம். `` அரசு வேலை தொடங்கி தனியார் வேலை வரை அனைத்திலும் வட மாநிலத்தவர்கள் ஆதிக்கம் செலுத்தி வருகின்றனர். தமிழகம் முழுவதிலுமே வட மாநிலத்தவர்கள் ஏராளமான கடை மற்றும் வணிக நிறுனங்களை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர். பஞ்சு மிட்டாய் தொடங்கி பஞ்சு மெத்தை வரை அவர்கள்தான் விற்பனை செய்து வருகின்றனர்.

அதுமட்டும் இல்லாமல் தமிழர்களின் நிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் கடைகளிலும் வட மாநிலத்தவர்கள்தான் வேலை செய்து வருகிறார்கள். இதனால் தமிழர்களின் வாழ்வுரிமை பறிக்கப்படுகிறது. தமிழர்களில் பெரும்பாலானவர்கள் வேலையில்லாமல் தவித்து வருகின்றனர். தமிழ்நாட்டின் வளமும் சுரண்டப்படுகின்றன. இப்படியே போனால் தமிழகமும் வட மாநிலமாகிவிடும் சூழல் உண்டாகும்.

தமிழர்களின் வணிகம் அனைத்தும் வட மாநிலத்தவர்கள் கைக்கு சென்றது கொடுமை. அதனால் தமிழக அரசு வடமாநிலத்தவர்களை வெளியேற்றுவதற்கான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். வட மாநிலத்தவர்கள் அவர்களாகவே திரும்பி செல்ல வேண்டும் என அமைதியாக சொல்லி வந்தோம். ஆனால் இனி அப்படியெல்லாம் சொல்ல மாட்டோம். இதனை சுட்டிக் காட்டும்விதமாகத்தான் தஞ்சை, புதுக்கோட்டை ஆகிய மாவட்டங்களில் உள்ள வட மாநிலத்தவர் கடைகளுக்குப் பூட்டு போட்டோம்" என்றார்.

ஒளி நகல் ஜெராக்ஸ் ஆனது ஏன்? இந்த விஷயம் அமெரிக்காவுக்கு தெரியுமா? #MyVikatan

விகடன் வாசகர்

இந்தியாவில் இது, ஜெராக்ஸ் (Xerox) இயந்திரம் என அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. இதற்கான காரணம் என்ன?

பொறுப்புத் துறப்பு : இந்தக் கட்டுரை வாசகரின் படைப்பு. கட்டுரையில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ள தகவல்களுக்கும் கருத்துகளுக்கும் அதன் ஆசிரியரே பொறுப்பாவார். கட்டுரை சம்பந்தமாக உங்களுக்கு ஆட்சேபனை இருந்தால், my@vikatan.com-க்கு மின்னஞ்சல் அனுப்புங்கள்!

சிந்தனைகளை பல தலைமுறைக்கு கடத்தும் வாகனமாக இருப்பது எழுத்துகள். மனிதன் கல்லில் எழுதினான். துணியில் எழுதினான். பனை ஓலையில் எழுதினான். இவை நம்மில் எல்லோருக்கும் தெரிந்தவையே. தமிழர்கள் தாமரை மடலில் எழுதியது தொடர்பான குறிப்புகள் சிலப்பதிகாரத்தில் இருப்பதாக ம.தி.மு.க-வின் பொதுச்செயலாளர் வைகோ பேசியதன் மூலம் அறிந்தேன்.

காகிதத்தில் எழுதும் பழக்கம் வரும் வரை, எழுத்து என்பது குறிப்பிட்ட சிலருக்கானதாகவே இருந்தது. காகிதத்தில் பென்சில் மற்றும் பேனா வைத்து எழுதும் முறை, எழுத்தறிவை பலருக்கு புகட்டியது. காகிதத்தில் ஒருவர் எழுதுவது மூலப்பிரதி. அதன் நகல் வேண்டுமென்றால், மூலப்பிரதியைப் பார்த்து மீண்டும் எழுத வேண்டும்.

கார்பன் காகிதங்கள் நகல் எடுப்பதில் ஒரு முன்னேற்றத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியது. ஒரு காகிதத்தின் கீழே ஒரு கார்பன் காகிதத்தை வைத்து இன்னொரு காகிதத்தை அதன் கீழே வைத்து எழுதினால், ஒரே நேரத்தில் மூலமும் அதன் நகலும் கிடைக்கும்.

இந்த முறையில் அழுத்தி எழுதி இரண்டு மூன்று நகல்கள் கூட எடுக்க முடியும். வழக்கம்போல, நகல் எடுக்கும் முறையில் மிகப்பெரிய மாற்றத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியது ஒரு இயந்திரத்தின் கண்டுபிடிப்பு. அதுதான் ஒளி நகல் இயந்திரம் (Photo Copier Machine). ஒரு காகிதத்தில் எழுதியவற்றை ஒளி நகல் இயந்திரத்தைப் பயன்படுத்தி பல ஆயிரக்கணக்கான நகல்கள் எடுக்க முடியும். இந்த நகலை எடுப்பதற்கு ஒளியை பயன்படுத்துவதால், இது ஒளி நகல் இயந்திரம் என்று உலகெங்கும் அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.

இந்தியாவில் இது, ஜெராக்ஸ் (Xerox) இயந்திரம் என அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. இதற்கான காரணம் என்ன? ஒளி நகல் இயந்திரத்தைக் கண்டுபிடித்தது அமெரிக்காவில் உள்ள ஜெராக்ஸ் (Xerox) என்ற நிறுவனம். அவர்கள் கண்டுபிடித்த ஒளி நகல் இயந்திரத்தை `ஜெராக்ஸ்' என்று அழைப்பது விநோதமானதே.

உதாரணமாக, மோட்டோரோலா (Motorola) நிறுவனம் கண்டுபிடித்த செல்போனை (Cellphone), செல்போனை எடுத்து வா என்று சொல்கிறோம். மோட்டோரோலாவை எடுத்து வா என்று சொல்வதில்லை. அப்படிச் சொன்னால் விநோதமாக இருக்குமில்லையா? ஆனால், ஒளி நகல் எடுத்து வா என்று சொல்வதற்குப் பதிலாக, ஜெராக்ஸ் எடுத்து வா என்று சொல்கிறோம். இது விநோதமானது மட்டுமல்ல, தவறும் கூட.

எனவே, இனிமேல் ஒளி நகல் எடுத்து வாருங்கள் என்றோ ஒளி நகல் எடுக்கச் செல்கிறேன் என்றோ சொல்லிப் பழகுவோம்.

Seven flights diverted due to heavy fog, 30 delayed

Air traffic was disrupted due to dense fog and poor visibility. Flight schedules went haywire with around 30 flights being delayed and seven diverted to other airports.

Published: 04th January 2020 06:41 AM |

Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Air traffic was disrupted due to dense fog and poor visibility. Flight schedules went haywire with around 30 flights being delayed and seven diverted to other airports. The airport was put under Low Visibility Procedure (LVP). The diverted flights include SpiceJet flight from Hyderabad (SG3706), GoAir flight from Mumbai (G8 305), Air India flights from Sharjah and Mumbai (AI570), AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur (AK11), Emirates flight from Dubai (EK544) and Indigo flight from Pune (6E159). The LVP was withdrawn at 8.50am. Chennai airport, on its official Twitter handle, apologised for inconvenience caused to passengers.

Rain forecast

The sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Light rain is likely to occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 32 and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively

Monsoon would withdraw by January 8

CMDA website delayed again for one more year

This is time consuming for a developer and sometimes the process takes more than six months to a year for approval.

Published: 04th January 2020 06:44 AM 

By C Shivakumar

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Development of a software with the help of IIT-Madras and a software company, which will ensure approval of buildings through online single window system, has been delayed by more than a year.
Sources in Tamil Nadu e-governance agency told Express that initially SofTech Engineers should have implemented all software modules by October 3 last year as per the contract. However, till now, the work is yet to be completed even as a fresh deadline for some modules by the company lapsed by the beginning of this year.

The software modules, which will formulate a seamless and hassle-free environment for ‘Web- enabled Single Window Online’ submission, processing and disposal of planning permission applications, building permit application, completion certificates and occupancy certificates by integrating the existing system, could not meet the deadline due to introduction of Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules of 2019 and also changes to implement the Ease of Doing Business.

Officials told Express that the company took additional time for modifying the software for new parameters as such it could not adhere to the deadline. SofTech officials could not be contacted for comment.

It is learnt that during a review meeting held on November 7, 2019, the firm had given a schedule to complete 10 modules, which include completion certificate, enforcement completion (processing and petition), layout, dashboard etc among others by the end of this year and a module for legal cell and appeal by February 1, 2020. Sources said work is yet to be completed.

Usually, a developer for carrying out any development activity has to obtain planning permission from CMDA and also building permit from local bodies like corporation or municipality or town panchayat or village panchayat. Although planning permission and building permit are inter-related, their processing involves multiple agencies and multiple activity. This is time consuming for a developer and sometimes the process takes more than six months to a year for approval.

AI Red Eye flights from Jan. 15

04/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,COIMBATORE

Air India will introduce week-long Red Eye flights between and Delhi from January 15.

Girija Ramesh, Station Manager, Air India, said that Flight AI548 would leave Coimbatore at 1.10 a.m. and reach Delhi at 4.10 a.m. This would provide connections for cities across the world including major European cities such as Paris, London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Madrid and Vienna, along with Moscow, Tel Aviv, Shanghai, Singapore, Colombo and Sydney.

Air India introduced these Red Eye flights from Coimbatore in November 2019, but were operated only for three days a week, Ms. Ramesh said. An afternoon flight from Delhi to Coimbatore was also available. Flight AI539 would leave Delhi at 3.05 p.m. and arrived at Coimbatore at 4.15 p.m. she said. Red Eye flights generally depart late at night and arrive at its destination early morning. The nickname comes from the reddening of eyes due to travelling late at night.

Special court cannot function with staff hired on ad hoc basis: HC

04/01/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,BENGALURU

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday observed that the special court for land-grabbing cases cannot, prima facie, function effectively and smoothly when some staff are appointed on ad hoc basis from amongst retired government employees and some are working on outsource basis.

The court also found that the State government had not found time to frame rules for appointing staff for the special court as per Section 12 and 18 of the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011, which came into force with effect from October 9, 2014, and even after the special court was constituted in August 2015.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Hemanth Chandangoudar made the observations while hearing a PIL petition filed by M.N. Venugopal and others in 2018.

The petitioners questioned the legality of appointing 18 retired government servants for the special court contrary to the government’s 2016 circular prohibiting appointment of retired government officers to various vacant posts on ad-hoc or contract basis. The petitioners also pointed out that 19 of the staff members were working on outsource basis.

As the government counsel said that rules had not been framed for laying down the method of recruitment of staff for the special court, the Bench said that due to failure of the State government to do so, prima facie there was no effective implementation of the Act while pointing out that the purpose of enacting the law itself was gets defeated when it was not implemented substantially.

The court adjourned hearing till January 24, while directing the government to spell out the outer-time limit within which rules should be framed.

President accepts Allahabad University V-C’s resignation

Rattan Lal Hangloo faced allegations of misconduct

04/01/2020, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,NEW DELHI

President Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation of Allahabad University Vice-Chancellor Rattan Lal Hangloo and ordered an enquiry into allegations of financial, academic and administrative irregularities against him, said officials of Ministry of Human Resource Development on Friday.

Mr. Hangloo had resigned on Wednesday.

“The President has directed to conduct an enquiry into the allegations of financial, academic and administrative irregularities, including the recommendations contained in the interim report of the National Commission for Women regarding alleged misconduct against Mr. Hangloo,” an HRD Ministry official said.

Mr. Hangloo has been under the scanner since 2016 for alleged financial and academic irregularities. He was also summoned by the National Commission for Women last week over allegations of improper handling of sexual harassment complaints and lack of grievance redress mechanism for women students.

“I resigned because baseless enquiries were initiated against me. On several occasions it was proved that there was no substance in the complaints,” Mr. Hangloo said in a statement.

He had earlier served as Vice-Chancellor of Kalyani University in West Bengal.

However, Mr. Hangloo quit the post following a series of spats with the State government and university employees.

Passport office asks police to check if ‘Nepali-looking’ sisters are Indians

Santosh, Heena have been issued passports ‘provisionally’

04/01/2020, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,CHANDIGARH

The Regional Passport Office here on Friday said it has asked the Ambala police to check if the two sisters from Haryana, who were allegedly denied passports for their “Nepalese appearance”, are Indian citizens.

Santosh and Heena have been issued passports “provisionally” on the request of the Ambala Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh Regional Passport Officer Sibash Kabiraj said.

The sisters, who had applied for passports, were allegedly refused the same and it was written on their documents that “applicant seems to be Nepali”.

‘Standard comment’

However, Mr. Kabiraj, an IPS officer, clarified that the passports were not denied to them, but were kept on hold, and said officers have been asked to write “Citizenship Questionable” as a standard comment on official documents rather than about the “appearance” of an applicant .

The sisters’ citizenship is still “questionable”, he said, adding, “we have ordered an inquiry to the Ambala SSP (to find out) whether these girls are Indian citizens or not”.

Don’t punish a child for marrying a female adult: SC

‘Child Marriage Act is meant for punishing male adult’

04/01/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The anti-child marriage law does not intend to punish a male aged between 18 and 21 years for marrying a “female adult,” the Supreme Court held in a recent judgment.

A Bench led by Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar was interpreting Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which says: “whoever, being a male adult above 18 years of age, contracts a child marriage shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both.”

The court said neither does the provision punish a child for marrying a woman nor a woman for marrying a male child. Its sole objective is to punish a man for marrying a minor girl.

The case at hand concerned a boy who married a 21-year-old woman when he was 17 years old. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had set aside its own order providing protection to the couple, and initiated prosecution against the boy for contracting a child marriage. The Supreme Court set aside the HC order, saying the law was not to punish a child for contracting a child marriage.

3 yrs in jail if state govts’ staff decline Census work
Refusing NPR Duty To Invite Up To ₹1K Fine

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:05.01.2020

State government and local bodies’ staff tasked with aiding the Census Commissioner and Registrar General of Citizen Registration, in conduct of Census and NPR exercise respectively are bound by the Census of India Act and Citizenship Rules to serve accordingly, government sources said on Friday.

An officer underlined that it is mandatory for government staff drafted under the Census of India Act and Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, which provides for preparation of a National Population Register (NPR), to carry out their assigned duties of collecting the database for census and NPR exercises. This is applicable both to enumerators tasked with houselisting phase, who will simultaneously capture NPR data, as well as census officers.

As per Census of India rules, the state governments and UT administrations, for carrying out census within their jurisdiction, must appoint officers that include principal census officer (district magistrates/collectors), district and sub-district census officer, charge officer, supervisor and enumerator.

Section 11of theCensusof India Act lays down penalties — imprisonment up to three years and/or fine — for government or any other staff declining to aid in conduct of census. Similarly any refusal to perform NPR duty may invite up to Rs 1,000 fine under Rule 17 of Citizenship Rules, 2003. The errant staff may also face disciplinary action, said an officer.

Given that NPR is to be carried out alongside houselisting phase of Census 2021 from April to September this year, the teachers and other staff drafted as enumerators have to make themselves available for collecting data for both the exercises. This will be the case in West Bengal as well, even though the state administration claims to have put the NPR process there on hold.

Section 4(2) of the Census of India Act, 1948 states that “the state government may appoint persons as census officers to take, aid in, or supervise the taking of the census within any specified local area and such persons, when so appointed, shall be bound to serve accordingly”.

Prez accepts UP univ VC’s resignation; HRD sets up panel for probe
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:05.01.2020

President Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation of Allahabad University vice chancellor Rattan Lal Hangloo on Friday, even as he ordered an inquiry into allegations of financial, academic and administrative irregularities against him.

Following the order, ministry of human resource development set up a threemember committee under the chairmanship of UGC chairman D P Singh to probe the allegations. The other members include Prakash Mani Tripathi, VC, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak and Rama Shankar Dubey, VC, Gujarat Central University.

Hangloo submitted his resignation on December 31, 2019 after he was summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW) over alleged misconduct. Earlier, the commission’s chief Rekha Sharma said NCW will continue with its inquiry into the matter.

In his order for the probe, the President directed inclusion of the recommendations contained in the interim report of the NCW which point at serious irregularities in the university including inappropriate handling of complaints of sexual harassment against Hangloo.

Hangloo was under the scanner since 2016 over alleged irregularities. He was also summoned by the NCW last week over allegations of improper handling of sexual harassment complaints and lack of grievance redressal mechanism for female students.

“I resigned because baseless enquiries were initiated against me. On several occasions it was proved that there was no substance in the complaints. I resigned because I was totally fed up,” Hangloo had said in the statement announcing his resignation. He was appointed as VC in 2015. He had earlier served as VC of the Kalyani University in West Bengal.

Earlier, Sharma told TOI that the commission received a complaint against the VC and decided to conduct an inquiry since the allegations being levelled were grave.

PhD students to mandatorily learn about research and publication ethics

TNN | Dec 30, 2019, 04.04 PM IST

 

UGC has made a two-credit course compulsory at the PhD level looking at the increasing cases of plagiarism and publication misconducts

With an increase in researches, maintaining quality remains a concern for Indian universities. To introduce students to the basics of research, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved a two-credit course on research ethics and publication misconducts.

All the PhD students will have to mandatorily pursue the 30-hour course from the academic session 2020-21. The course is divided into six units focussing on the basics of philosophy of science and ethics, research integrity, publication ethics and hands-on sessions to identify research misconducts and predatory publications.

"In the last 15 years, the number of cases related to unethical practices such as plagiarism, pay and publish have increased. The course follows the management principle known as Corrective and Prevention Actions (CAPA), which will help students identify and stay away from the predatory publishers and dubious journals," says Bhushan Patwardhan, vice chairman, UGC.

Earlier in 2009, the UGC had mandated a 12 credit course on research methodology with a few chapters on research ethics. But, the two-credit course is a more focussed approach to make students aware about the research ethics and the consequences of meddling with the rules, says Raja Shekhar Bellamkonda, director, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), University of Hyderabad.

Students pursuing MPhil study about the research methodology as part of the coursework but those who pursue PhD after masters do not get similar exposure. "It will be a bridge for the students who are directly opting for research after pursuing postgraduate courses. Students will also get to learn about the tools to check plagiarism and importance of citations, which will pave the path for authentic research," he adds.

Errors in merit order remain ahead of Nagpur University’s 107th convocation

TNN | Dec 27, 2019, 04.34 AM ISTNAGPUR: 

Some colleges have confirmed that the Nagpur University (NU) doesn’t have any mechanism to keep the merit order for convocation error free unless the students themselves point it out. They also said objections have gone unresolved even after six to eight months.

The colleges have come forward following a TOI report of December 9 which pointed that the merit list for the upcoming 107th convocation next month had glitches though the NU administration claimed there was coordination among exam departments to check for errors.

 

The convocation is scheduled on January 18 at Suresh Bhat Auditorium where Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde is likely to be the chief guest.

With a few days left for the cut-off date for all types of revision in the merit list, colleges and students leaders have questioned the exam officials who “failed to remove discrepancies in the last one year.”

A college principal said that the exam officials have all the records nearly a year in advance. “What have they been doing? They have the actual result and the revaluation marks, yet they ask students to bring it to their notice. For months, our letters remain pending,” the principal said.

Some letters written to director of exam mentions that the colleges too were not aware and it was the students who pointed out to them.

Two years ago, the NU was left red-faced when an aggrieved student had confronted the merit list in front of Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit who was the chief guest during the 105th convocation. Within months, the NU had tweaked its merit list policy but seems to have overlooked the coordination part.

During the last two months, some colleges have written to the exam director informing that students have objected to the merit list. In all cases, the declared topper’s CGPA and marks were less than of those students who wrote to the colleges.

The colleges then forwarded copies of marklists of these aggrieved students to the exam section.

On December 8, acting pro-VC Vinayak Deshpande had said that there was coordination among different exam departments. On Monday, he said he will check.

NEET PG Admit Card 2020 released, here’s how to check 

NEET PG 2020 computer-based examination is scheduled to be conducted on January 5, 2020. education Updated: Jan 01, 2020 12:08 IST

Nandini
 
Hindistan Times, New Delhi NEET admit cards are out. (HT File)

National Board of Examination has released the admit card for the NEET PG entrance examination 2020 today on its official website nbe.edu.in.

Candidates who have successfully registered for the NEET PG examination can download the admit card from nbe.edu.in.

NEET PG 2020 computer-based examination is scheduled to be conducted on January 5, 2020. The result for which will be declared on January 31, 2020.

“Candidates are required to paste their latest photograph in the prescribed space in the Admit Card and report to the examination centre within prescribed time along with documents as mentioned in the Admit Card and Information Bulletin,” reads the official notification.

How to download NEET PG Admit Card:

• Visit the official website at nbe.edu.in

• Click on the NEET PG 2020 tab

• A new page will appear

• Click on applicant login link

• A login page will appear

• Key in your registration number and password and submit

• Your admit card will be displayed on the screen

வறுமையிலும் விடாமுயற்சியால் சாதனை; குரூப்-1 தேர்வில் பட்டாசு தொழிலாளி மகள் வெற்றி: துணை ஆட்சியர் பதவிக்கு தேர்வாகிறார் 



03.01.2020

பட்டாசுத் தொழிலாளி மகள் மகாலட்சுமி வறுமையிலும் விடாமுயற்சியுடன் குரூப்-1 தேர்வில் வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளார். இவர் துணை ஆட்சியர் பதவிக்கு தேர்வாகிறார்.

சிவகாசி அருகே உள்ள திருத்தங்கலைச் சேர்ந்தவர் கருப்பசாமி. இவரது மனைவி ராஜேஸ்வரி. இருவரும் பட்டாசுத் தொழிலாளிகள். இவர்களது மகள் மகாலட்சுமி. இவர் தமிழ்நாடு அரசுப் பணியாளர் தேர்வாணையம் நடத்திய குரூப்-1 தேர்வில் வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளார். 362 பேர் கொண்ட தரவரிசைப் பட்டியலில் இவர் மாநில அளவில் 4-ம் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளார். இதன் மூலம் மகாலட்சுமி துணை ஆட்சியராகத் தேர்வாக உள்ளார்.

சிறு வயது முதல் மகாலட்சுமி படிப்பில் மிகுந்த ஆர்வம் கொண்டவர். சமூக சேவையிலும் ஈடுபாடு உள்ளவர். வறுமை காரணமாகப் பட்டாசு மூலப் பொருளான பைப் தயாரிக்கும் தொழிலில் தானும் ஈடுபட்டு குடும்பத்துக்கு உறுதுணையாக இருந்துள்ளார்.

இவரது அண்ணன் மகேந்திரன் டாஸ்மாக்கில் பணிபுரிகிறார். குடும்ப வறுமையைப் போக்கத் தானும் தினமும் சுமார் ரூ.150 வரை சம்பாதித்துக் கொடுத்துள்ளார். படிப்பைத் தொடரக் கல்விக் கடன் பெற்று சிவகாசி அருகே உள்ள ஒரு பொறியியல் கல்லூரியில் பி.டெக். முடித்துள்ளார்.

இதைத் தொடர்ந்து பெற்றோர் திருமண ஏற்பாடு செய்தபோது தான் போட்டித் தேர்வுக்குப் பயிற்சி பெற வேண்டும் எனக் கூறி தொடர்ந்து 4 ஆண்டுகள் பயிற்சி பெற்றார் மகாலட்சுமி. முதல் முயற்சியில் தோல்வி அடைந்தாலும், தனது விடா முயற்சியால், தமிழ்நாடு அரசுப் பணியாளர் தேர்வாணையத்தால் நடத்தப்பட்ட குரூப்-1 தேர்வில் தேர்ச்சி பெற்று மாநில அளவில் 4-வது இடத்தைப் பெற்றுள்ளார். இதன் மூலம் துணை ஆட்சியர் பணியை மகாலட்சுமி தேர்வு செய்ய உள்ளார்.

இது குறித்து அவர் கூறும்போது, "கல்வி கற்பதற்கும், வெற்றி பெறுவதற்கும் விடாமுயற்சி இருந்தால்போதும். வறுமையிலும் துணிச்சலோடு வாழ்க்கையை எதிர்கொள்ள வேண்டும். வெற்றிபெற வேண்டும் என்ற லட்சியம், சமூகத்தில் பெரிய பொறுப்புக்கு வர வேண்டும் என்ற உந்துதல் என்னை வெற்றி பெறச் செய்தது. அரசுப் பணிக்கு தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டால் மக்களுக்கு நன்மைகளைச் செய்வேன். வரும் 6-ம் தேதி சென்னையில் கவுன்சலிங் நடக் கிறது. இதில் பங்கேற்று துணை ஆட்சியர் பணியை தேர்வு செய்ய உள்ளேன்" என்றார்.

ஏப். 30 வரை இலவச சுற்றுலாவிசா: இலங்கை அறிவிப்பு

By DIN | Published on : 02nd January 2020 07:45 PM

 

கொழும்பு: குறிப்பிட்ட நாடுகளில் இருந்து இலங்கைக்கு சுற்றுலா வருவதற்கான நுழைவு இசைவை (விசா) வரும் ஏப்ரல் மாதம் 30-ஆம் தேதி வரை இலவசமாக வழங்கவிருப்பதாக அந்த நாட்டு அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து மத்திய சுற்றுலாத் துறை அமைச்சா் பிரசன்ன ரணதுங்க வியாழக்கிழமை கூறியதாவது:

கடந்த ஆண்டு நடைபெற்ற ஈஸ்டா் தின பயங்கரவாதத் தாக்குதலுக்குப் பிறகு, இலங்கையின் சுற்றுலாத் துறை மிகவும் வீழ்ச்சியடைந்துள்ளது. எனவே அந்தத் துறையை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கான முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொண்டு வருகிறோம்.

அதன் ஒரு பகுதியாக, இந்தியா உள்ளிட்ட 48 நாடுகளிலிருந்து இலங்கைக்கு சுற்றுலா வரும் பயணிகளுக்கு, அதற்கான விசாக்களை கட்டணமின்றி வழங்க முடிவு செய்துள்ளோம்.

வரும் ஏப்ரல் மாதம் 30-ஆம் தேதி வரை இத்தகைய இலவச சுற்றுலா விசாக்கள் விநியோகிக்கப்படும்.

ஏற்கெனவே அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட இந்த திட்டம் இடையில் நிறுத்திவைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. எனினும், சம்பந்தப்பட்டவா்களின் வேண்டுகோளை ஏற்று, இந்தத் திட்டத்தை மீண்டும் அமல்படுத்தவிருக்கிறோம் என்றாா் அவா்.

இலங்கையில் கடந்த ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் மாதம் நடத்தப்பட்ட ஈஸ்டா் தின தற்கொலைத் தாக்குதலுக்குப் பிறகு, இலவச சுற்றுலா விசா திட்டம் நிறுத்திவைக்கப்பட்டது நினைவுகூரத்தக்கது.

பதிவான வாக்கு 13.. அதிலும் ஒன்று செல்லாத வாக்கு: வேட்பாளர் கண்ட சுவாரஸ்ய வெற்றி!

By DIN | Published on : 02nd January 2020 10:17 PM

திருச்செந்தூர்: திருச்செந்தூர் ஊராட்சி ஒன்றியத்துக்குட்பட்ட பிச்சிவிளை ஊராட்சியில் ஊர் மக்கள் தேர்தலை புறக்கணித்ததையடுத்து மொத்தம் பதிவான 13 வாக்குகளில் 10 வாக்குகள் பெற்றவர் வெற்றி பெற்றார்.

திருச்செந்தூர் ஊராட்சிக்குட்பட்ட 11 ஊராட்சிகளில் 6 வார்டுகளைக் கொண்டது பிச்சிவிளை ஊராட்சி ஆகும். இங்கு மொத்தமுள்ள 785 வாக்காளர்களில் 6 பேர் மட்டுமே பட்டியல் இனத்தவராவர். இச்சூழலில் சுழற்சி அடிப்படையில் தலைவர் பதவியைப் பட்டியல் இனத்தவர்க்கு தேர்தல் ஆணையம் ஒதுக்கீடு செய்தது. இதற்கு அப்பகுதியினர் எதிர்ப்புத் தெரிவித்து தேர்தலைப் புறக்கணிக்கும் நோக்கில் ஊரட்சியிலுள்ள 6 வார்டு உறுப்பினர் பதவிகளில் ஒருவர் கூட வேட்புமனுத் தாக்கல் செய்யவில்லை.

ஆனால், தலைவர் பதவிக்கு பிச்சிவிளை சாமுவேல் நகரைச் சேர்ந்த ராஜேஸ்வரி (32) மற்றும் மறவன்விளையைச் சேர்ந்த சுந்தராச்சி (50) என்ற இருவர் மட்டுமே வேட்புமனுத் தாக்கல் செய்தனர்.

இந்நிலையில், தேர்தலைப் புறக்கணிப்பதோடு, தங்கள் எதிர்ப்பினை பதிவு செய்திடும் வகையில் அப்பகுதி மக்கள் பிச்சிவிளை கிராமத்தில் கருப்புக்கொடியும் கட்டியிருந்தனர். இதையடுத்து அவர்களிடம் அதிகாரிகள் பேச்சுவார்த்தை நடத்திய போதிலும் உடன்பாடு எடப்படவில்லை.

பிச்சிவிளையில் 13 பேர் வாக்குப்பதிவு :

இதையடுத்து, கடந்த 27-ம் தேதி நடந்த வாக்குப்பதிவில் பிச்சிவிளை தலைவர் பதவிக்கு ஏற்கெனவே வேட்புமனுத் தாக்கல் செய்திருந்த சுந்தராச்சி மற்றும் ராஜேஸ்வரி ஆகியோரும், அவரைச் சார்ந்தவர்கள் என மொத்தம் 6 பேர் மற்றும் ஊர் மக்கள் 7 பேர் என மொத்தம் 13 பேர் மட்டுமே வாக்களித்திருந்தனர்.

இந்நிலையில், வியாழக்கிழமை நடந்த வாக்கு எண்ணிக்கையில் பதிவான 13 வாக்குகளில் ஒரு வாக்கு செல்லாத வாக்கு ஆகும். மீதமுள்ள 12 வாக்குகளில் 10 வாக்குகள் பெற்று ராஜேஸ்வரி வெற்றி பெற்றார். இதையடுத்து, வெற்றி பெற்றதற்கான சான்றிதழை ராஜேஸ்வரியிடம் தேர்தல் நடத்தும் அலுவலர் சந்தோஷ் வழங்கினார்.

New appointments: Punjabi varsity draws flak from PUTA 

What is the point of giving additional charges of the important departments to the same people when there is availability of others, ask senior professors chandigarh Updated: Jan 02, 2020 06:19 IST

Navrajdeep Singh
 
Vice-chancellor Prof BS Ghuman said the additional appointments have been made on a temporary basis.(HT FILE)

The Punjabi University has made fresh appointments on top posts of the varsity administration by following the age old trend of giving additional charges to senior professors who are already holding additional charges.

The move draws flak from the Punjabi University Teachers’ Union (PUTA) and senior professors, who claimed that the varsity management is following the trend of centralisation of powers within a few people.

As per the fresh appointment, Dr GS Batra, who is holding charge of dean (academic affairs), has been given additional charge of dean (research).

Likewise, Prof Yograj, head of the Punjabi language development department, has been given additional charge of dean director (planning and monitoring). He is already appointed as the additional dean (college development council) and is holding the post of co-ordinator of University Grants Commission’s Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC). Prof Satnam Singh Sandhu has been given the charge of dean (languages).

Kesar Singh Bhangoo, a senior professor from the economics department, said instead of decentralising power, the university is hell-bent on ensuring that it rests with just a handful of people.

“What is the point of giving additional charges of important departments to the same people when there is availability of other senior professors,” Bhangoo said.

He added that instead of changing the pattern that was started a decade back, the university management is following the stereotypes and favouring the favourites.

“The appointments have been made in anticipation of approval from the Syndicate body, which again is illegal,” he added.

PUTA president Jaswinder Singh Brar said that filling of post of dean academic affairs on the basis of additional charge is patently illegal as the decisions taken by him will not be tenable in the court of law.

He added that giving multiple charges to selected few individuals is a wrong practice. “Concentration of power in a few hands is responsible for academic, administrative and financial problems of the university,” he claimed.

Brar added that PUTA requests the chancellor to immediately intervene in the matter so that the rule of law can be upheld.

Meanwhile, vice-chancellor Prof BS Ghuman said that the additional appointments have been made on a temporary basis.

“We will make full-fledged appointments of senior professors in the posts that are presently filled on additional charges basis. Moreover, we have ensured that important departments such as research and planning and monitoring get full-fledged in-charges,” Prof Ghuman said.

Tamil Nadu rural panchayat polls: AIADMK and DMK in close contest 

While the DMK maintained a lead in the Union Block Panchayat Wards (DMK 694, AIADMK 578), the two parties are neck-and-neck in the more powerful District panchayat wards (AIADMK 160 and DMK 158). south Updated: Jan 03, 2020 04:23 IST



MC Rajan

Hindustan Times, Chennai In this election, ballot papers were used instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). (PTI Photo)

Counting of votes in the recent civic elections for rural panchayats in Tamil Nadu began on Thursday, with the state’s ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and main opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) engaged in a close contest, people familiar with the matter said.

In this election, ballot papers were used instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

While the DMK maintained a lead in the Union Block Panchayat Wards (DMK 694, AIADMK 578), the two parties are neck-and-neck in the more powerful District panchayat wards (AIADMK 160 and DMK 158).

Those familiar with the matter said counting of votes was taking time as each voter had to cast four votes, for ward member, president, block panchayat ward councillor and district panchayat ward councillor and those needed to be segregated. Declaration of complete results will be further delayed, said sources in the State Election Commission (SEC).

Meanwhile, the DMK has turned to the Madras high court alleging delay in announcing the results where the party nominees had won and a conspiracy to deny victory to the party. Chief Justice AP Sahi has acceded to the plea for an urgent hearing in the matter.

NEET UG 2020: Last date for registration extended till Jan 6 

National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date for registration for NEET UG 2020. The deadline to online register for NEET undergraduate 2020 was December 31 which has been extended to January 6, 2020. education Updated: Jan 02, 2020 15:57 IST

Nandini
 
Hindustan Times, New Delhi  

NEET UG 2020 registration (NTA NEET)

National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date for registration for NEET UG 2020. The deadline to online register for NEET undergraduate 2020 was December 31 which has been extended to January 6, 2020 till 11:50 pm. NEET stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

The last date for online submission of fees has been extended from January 1 to 7, 2020.

The date of correction in particulars in Online Application Form remains the same ie., January 15, 2020 to January 31, 2020 (upto 11.50 pm).

Candidates can register for NEET UG online at ntaneet.nic.in.

Important Dates:

•Date of examination: May 3, 2020

•Successful Transaction of Fee through Credit Card/Debit Card/NetBanking/UPI: December 2, 2019 to January 1, 2020

•Correction in Particulars of Application Form on NTA Website: January 15-31, 2020

•Admit card: March 27, 2020

•Declaration of Result on NTA Website: June 4, 2020

Click here to apply online for NEET UG 2020

How to apply:

1.Visit the official website

2.On the home page, click on New Registration tab

3.A new page will appear on the display screen

4.Read the instructions carefully and proceed

5.Fill in all the requisite information and submit

6.Once your registration id is created, go back to the candidate login section

7.Key in your credentials and log in

8.Application form will appear on the display screen

9.Fill in all the required information and upload all supporting documents

10.Make payment

11.Download the application form and take its print out for future reference.

CBSE mandates 75% attendance for 10th, 12th board exams 

The CBSE in its latest notice has directed all schools to calculate attendance of students who have to appear for class 10 and class 12 board exams this year as on January 1, 2020. education Updated: Jan 02, 2020 17:36 IST


Indo Asian News Service


Students should have a minimum 75 per cent attendance to be able to appear for the 10th and 12th examinations to be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

The CBSE in its latest notice has directed all schools to calculate attendance of students who have to appear for class 10 and class 12 board exams this year as on January 1, 2020.

Students whose attendance will be calculated less than 75 per cent will not be allowed to appear for the exams, as per the rule mandated by the CBSE.

The CBSE board exams will commence from February 15 and admit cards will be released only for students who are eligible by all means including that of mandatory attendance. The list of candidates with short attendance will reach regional offices and the final decision will be taken on or before January 7.

If a candidate has a genuine reason behind the shortage of attendance, they will have to submit the supporting documents with the authorities by January 7. As per the circular, no case will be considered post the deadline and all the standard operating procedures for calculation of attendance will have to be followed.

Several new methods will kick in the CBSE board exams from 2020 including two-level maths to a lesser number of questions.

The question paper will also have 33 per cent options and more questions on higher-order thinking skills in comparison to questions based on rote memorisation. Instead of being of 100 marks, the theory exams will be for 80 marks. Internal assessment will amount to 20 marks in total in subjects where there is no practical assessment.

HC allows prisoner to undergo surgery

03/01/2020 , Staff Reporter, Madurai

Hearing the plea of a woman seeking adequate treatment for her husband who sustained a fracture in his left leg, the Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday granted permission to the man to undergo a surgery at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in .

In her petition, R. Muthumari from Madurai said that her husband M. Rajeshkumar alias ‘Appalam’ Raja, a history-sheeter lodged in Madurai Central Prison required urgent medical attention. Though he was receiving treatment at the GRH, she wanted her husband to be transferred to a private hospital for better treatment.

Taking into account the medical emergency, Justice A.D. Jagadish Chandira observed that the man required treatment as he was a patient. The court directed the Dean of GRH to see to that the surgery on the man to treat his fracture shall be conducted on Saturday.

The court said that following the surgery, the man can be moved to the post operative care in the General ward of the GRH for further treatment. The wife and children of the man alone shall be permitted to visit him during the treatment, the court said. The case was adjourned to January 13 for further hearing.

Private hospitals threaten to stop cashless facility from Feb. 1 

‘₹1,200 crore pending in dues under CGHS, ECHS’ 

03/01/2020 , Special Correspondent, Bengaluru

With dues to the tune of ₹1,200 crore pending for treatment of patients under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), private hospitals across the country have threatened to stop cashless facility under the scheme from February 1.

If implemented, it will impact around 36 lakh Central government employees, including their dependants, and pensioners under CGHS and over 52 lakh ex-servicemen and dependants covered by ECHS in over 1,000 empanelled hospitals and nursing homes in 71 cities. Of these, over 1.23 lakh beneficiaries are from Bengaluru.

Two weeks time

“We have given the Centre a deadline of two weeks and are hoping for a response. Our dues have accumulated since 2014 and if not cleared at the earliest, we will be constrained to suspend cashless services,” Alexander Thomas, president of Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI), told The Hindu.

A letter flagging pendency of bills was sent to the Union Ministry of Finance in July 2019. But not much has moved since then, prompting the hospitals to take a call on stopping cashless services.

A majority of the empanelled hospitals are in Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

Hospital representatives claimed that the pendency had worsened since the launch of Ayushman Bharat or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana healthcare scheme.

Giridhar Gyani, APHI Chief Executive Officer, said the healthcare industry was on the brink of financial unsustainability due to pendency of dues.

Kavalan app: personal safety at a click, but what about data? 

While the police tout the app as a must-have for women, privacy concerns persist over its demands for information
 
03/01/2020 , R.Sivaraman, M. Soundariya Preetha, 
CHENNAI/COIMBATORE 



In the wake of the rape and murder of a 26-year-old veterinarian in Hyderabad, the Kavalan SOS app of the Tamil Nadu Police has seen a huge jump in downloads. An intensive campaign conducted by the police across the State has also contributed to the spike.

The app is being promoted by the police especially amongst women and children. Anyone who feels vulnerable or threatened can press an alert button for police personnel to reach them at the earliest, they claim.

As on date, the number of downloads has touched 9.5 lakh. Post the Hyderabad incident and a promotional burst, an average of 10,000 people are reportedly downloading the app every day.

And, after filtering the test alerts, the State police control attends to 150-200 complaints from the alerts triggered by the Kavalan SOS app.

Data security

Some people have expressed apprehensions over the need to give the app access to personal details on the phone, and have even complained of difficulties in downloading the app/ accessing services. Mobile numbers of close relatives or friends and email IDs are collected while registering.

A.S. Fathima Muzaffer, a social worker, said, “Allowing access to phone calls and device location is not an issue for me. But recording audio, accessing storage, media files and accessing contacts — that seems to be intruding into the privacy of an individual.” Without allowing such access, it will not be possible to use the app at all, she added.

A technologist, who is closely associated with the back-end of the app, said this does pose a risk to privacy of the user and claimed that the data of the app is maintained by a private party.

“The registered person provides an alternative mobile number, location access, and address details. Hence, there is no need to ask for access to media files. If the download reaches 15 lakh to 20 lakh, it will become huge data and can be mined for various purposes. The app should be designed in such a way that the data is secure and there is no need to provide access to media or contact files,” he said.

Since the collection of information is for a specific purpose by a law enforcement agency, it would be exempt from privacy laws. “The department should have adequate measures in place to keep the information secure. Police department should have a data protection policy,” said Na.Vijayashankar, an expert in cyber law.

Chennai City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan said contact details of relatives or close friends as emergency numbers are optional and these are taken so that police personnel can alert them.

Fears allayed

“Moreover, all details collected will be stored in the secure server of the police department, which is handled by Technical Services. These details are collected only for the purpose of providing safety to citizens. The information is collected only for the purpose of reaching out or securing the person in distress.”

A senior police officer of Technical Services of Tamil Nadu Police clarified that no third party can access the information and there was no chance of misuse. “After collecting the details, we do not read any data on anybody’s mobile phone. Moreover, we are not collecting any background information,” he said.

He added that any technical glitches while downloading would be attended to duly and the application would be updated after receiving feedback from users.

Another officer said that in order to simplify the registration process, the app had been modified to support the latest Android version. The gathering of alternative numbers, email and work location had been done away with after users flagged privacy issues, he added.

Quick response

Once the person in distress triggers an alert, staff in the control room which is manned by a private firm receives a message and pass it on to police officers. The police locate the nearest patrol vehicle, police officer or police station to reach out to the victim.

The call centre staff also alert close relatives or family members if numbers are available.

During emergency, pressing the SOS button on the home page will automatically send the current location of the person in trouble along with a video to the Kavalan team.

Within a minute, the team will contact the person. Simultaneously, the location will also be sent to pre-registered emergency contacts as SMS alerts.

Shahnawaz Khan, Director of AMTEX, which handles the software and call centre support for the app, said, “We cannot go beyond a limit while invoking privacy. The details we ask for are absolutely for people’s own safety. All these details are stored in a very secure server. People are sharing everything on Facebook and Instagram these days. When it comes to safety, we need to be a little more cooperative.”

AIADMK suffers a setback in rural local body polls 

DMK ahead in panchayat unions, district panchayat wards
 
03/01/2020 , T.K. Rohit, CHENNAI

The ruling AIADMK suffered a setback in the rural local body polls held in 27 districts with the DMK racing ahead in panchayat unions and district panchayat wards as per results/trends available around 11.30 p.m. on Thursday.

Crowdsourced trends were available only for 350-odd of the 515 district panchayat member posts and 2,900-odd of the 5,090 panchayat union ward posts, while the State Election Commission declared the results for much fewer posts. The complete tally of results is expected to be available only by Friday evening.

The DMK had won in 727 of 1,632 seats the results of which were declared for the post of panchayat union ward members as of 11.30 p.m. The AIADMK was lagging by nearly 170 seats, as its candidates had won only in 556 seats.

The AIADMK’s defeat at the hands of its arch rival DMK, that too in the rural areas, considered the ruling party’s main vote bank from the time the party was founded nearly five decades ago, came as a shock to the establishment with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami taking stock of and deliberating with senior leaders in the evening.

The victory, even if not so huge, is likely to be a huge boost for the DMK ahead of next year’s Assembly elections, as the party has remained out of power for the last two terms.

At the time of going to print, the DMK’s gains in panchayat unions came largely from Tiruchi with 109 seats, Thanjavur (72), Pudukottai (48) and Dindigul (47). The largest tally for the AIADMK was from Thoothukudi with 43 seats, Thanjavur (40) and Theni (38).

The DMK’s allies, the Congress and the CPI, won 39 and 24 seats respectively in panchayat unions. The AIADMK’s allies, the DMDK and the BJP, won in 33 and 24 seats, respectively.

There are a total of 5,090 seats for the post of panchayat union ward members across the 27 districts where polls were held.

The DMK also won 15 seats for the post of district panchayat ward members, while the AIADMK won 6. The BJP, the CPI and the CPI (M) won one seat each out of the total tally of 24 for which results were announced. There are a total of 515 seats in this category. Except a few districts, the two parties were neck and neck with the counting continuing well past midnight.

DMK president M.K. Stalin complained that the results were deliberately being delayed.

Man flies home from Singapore to cast vote in Tamil Nadu local body polls

You might remember the scene from the movie Sarkar, in which Vijay, who is an NRI, comes to India on the day of the elections, just to cast his vote.
 
Published: 31st December 2019 05:41 AM |

By Sowmya Mani

Express News Service

PUDUKKOTTAI: You might remember the scene from the movie Sarkar, in which Vijay, who is an NRI, comes to India on the day of the elections, just to cast his vote. In a small village of Vadakadu in Pudukkottai, a man working in Singapore came to his village to cast his vote.

Tamizh (26) is working in a construction company in Singapore. For the election, he specially flew down to India on 28th December and is flying out in two days. “It is our duty as a citizen to vote. I feel proud to be an Indian and will do anything to exercise my right to vote,” said Tamizh.

He spent almost Rs 50,000 to ensure that he votes. He says his bosses were very cooperative and sanctioned his leave. He hopes that everyone follows his lead. “If I can come from Singapore, people can travel a few kilometers to vote,” he adds. He also came down for the Lok Sabha elections in April 2019.

Attendance system to keep NEET fraud at bay?

The Health Department is planning to introduce biometric-enabled attendance system linked with Aadhaar card for medical students.

Published: 01st January 2020 05:27 AM |

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Health Department is planning to introduce a biometric-enabled attendance system linked with Aadhaar card for medical students. In the backdrop of the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking permission from the Centre to use Aadhaar data for NEET in 2020, the move is expected to keep a check on impersonation and ensure that those who take the test are the ones who attend classes.

Earlier, the Directorate of Medical Education was working to introduce biometric attendance system linked with Aadhaar number for teaching faculty, following an order from the Medical Council of India’s Board of Governors to prevent duplication of teaching faculty.

However, in the wake of impersonation cases surfacing, the Health Department is planning to introduce the new system for MBBS students from the first year. The Aadhaar-inked biometric fingerprint attendance machines will be installed at all hospitals and institutions of the Directorate of Medical Education, Directorate of Public Health, Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services. However, a few doctors are sceptic of the proposal. “We are not sure how much fool-proof it will be. As of now, a few medical colleges have biometric attendance for faculty but, a majority of doctors fake fingerprints. A few doctors have also raised objections to the proposal,” said a government doctor.

Madras HC refuses TNSTC to disburse penal interest for delay in pension benefits

Justice M S Ramesh was passing orders on petitions filed by several retired employees, seeking direction to the TNSTC to pay the said penal interest. 

 ublished: 02nd January 2020 12:13 PM

By Express News Service

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, in separate cases, refused to permit the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to disburse the penal interest for delay in settling pension benefits to its employees in monthly instalments. The interest, accrued at a rate of six per cent, should be paid within three months.

Justice M S Ramesh was passing orders on petitions filed by several retired employees, seeking direction to the TNSTC to pay the said penal interest. He said that he is not in agreement with the representation made by the standing counsel of the TNSTC, who prayed the court to permit the TNSTC to disburse the interest on the belated payment in liberal monthly instalments citing the financial burden cast on the TNSTC.

The judge said that there already was a duty cast upon the TNSTC to pay the terminal benefits on the date of retirement itself. Since the belated disbursement of the benefit already put the retired employee to serious prejudice, entertaining the present request for disbursement of the interest on the belated payment in instalments could cause further prejudice to the retired employee.

Cuddalore: Woman dies as surgical sponge left inside stomach?

According to the Virudhachalam police, Priya, wife of Rajakumar of Kalarkuppam near Virudhachalam, was admitted to the Virudhachalam Government Hospital on December 27.

Published: 03rd January 2020 05:55 AM | Last Updated: 03rd January 2020 05:55 AM By Nirupa Sampath

Express News Service

CUDDALORE: A 24-year-old woman, who had a stomach infection after caesarean delivery at the Virudhachalam Government Hospital on December 27 and was brought to JIPMER in Puducherry, died on Wednesday night. Her relatives staged a protest outside Virudhachalam Government Hospital on Thursday, alleging that the doctors there had left a surgical sponge inside her stomach during the surgery, leading to her death.

According to the Virudhachalam police, Priya, wife of Rajakumar of Kalarkuppam near Virudhachalam, was admitted to the Virudhachalam Government Hospital on December 27. She had undergone a caesarean and delivered a baby girl the same night. However, after two days, she complained of severe pain and was referred to JIPMER hospital in Puducherry on December 31, a police officer inquiring into the case said.

Speaking to Express, a source from the JIPMER management said, “The patient, while visiting the hospital on December 31, had severe infection and pus in the abdomen area. So we requested her relatives to file a medico-legal case before performing any procedure. Subsequently, she was operated upon and a surgical sponge was found in the stomach that might have been left during the caesarean. The patient died at 8 pm on Wednesday.”

When her relatives were informed about this, they staged a protest outside the Virudhachalam hospital, demanding action against the doctors. ACP Elogovan and tahlisdar Kaviarasu promised to take action, after which the protesters left.

Docs at GH shift blame to JIPMER

Doctors at the Virudhachalam hospital refused to take responsibility for the death, saying, “The victim was taken to another hospital, and she died due to failure of treatment there. The doctors here cannot be held responsible.”

On the other hand, PN Ramesh Babu, Joint Director, Health Services, Cuddalore, said, “We have asked for a detailed report from JIPMER and will take action accordingly. However, the patient requested that she be referred to JIPMER. On that day, she did not have any infection.”

A police officer said, “An autopsy has been conducted at JIPMER. We will inquire into the case and take appropriate action.”

Consumer forum orders KPN travels to pay Rs 30k for bad service

The forum, presided by M Mony and member R Baskarkumaravel said the travels itself admitted the fault and hence ordered compensation.
 
Published: 02nd January 2020 06:35 AM 

 By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A district consumer forum has directed KPN Travels to pay Rs 30,000 to a passenger as compensation for mental agony suffered by him during journey. K Mathan Sundaram of Kottivakkam submitted that in August 2015 he paid `1,150 to travel from Tenkasi to Chennai. Ten minutes after the bus started, he and other passengers started feeling suffocated.

When asked, the driver replied the AC was not working and since the bus was completely there was no air circulation. Despite repeated complaints, the problem was not rectified and the bus made it till Tiruchy with a window left open. After he and fellow passengers filed a police complaint in Madurai, a spare bus was made available at Tiruchy.

After reaching Chennai, he issued a lawyer’s notice to the travels firm. As there was no reply, he filed a complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South). Denying the allegations, the firm’s counsel submitted that the A/C did not work due to electrical problem in the air compressor and it could not be rectified by the driver. However, the driver safely put all passengers in another bus. The forum, presided by M Mony and member R Baskarkumaravel said the travels itself admitted the fault and hence ordered compensation.

Power shutdown in parts of Chennai on January 4

Power supply will be suspended in few areas by TANGEDCO on January 4 from 9 am to 5 pm.
 
Published: 02nd January 2020 07:13 PM |

By Express News Service

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

The following places will be affected:

SOTHUPERUMBEDU: Sothuperumbedu, Karanodai, Athur and Devaneri, Solavaram and Angadu, Sirunium and Nallur, Orakadu and Budur, Gnayeru and Nerkundram, Kummanur and Angadu, Part of Arumanthai and Vichur.

CHEMBARAMBAKKAM: Entire Nazarathpet area, Meppur, Varatharajapuram, Bangalore Trunk road, part of Chembarambakkam, part of Thirumazhisai, part of Malayambakkam, Agaramel.

AYYAPAKKAM: Abarna Nagar, V.G.N Platina, Chennai Garden city, M.G.R Nagar, K.S.R Garden.

VYSARPADI: EH Road, B V colony, Sastri Nagar, Indira Gandhi Nagar, Stepensan road, Vyasar Nagar, Shanthi Nagar, Mpm st, Vysarpadi market area, Vysarpai industrial estate, Pudu Nagar, East, West, Central, Cross area, A, B, C, Kalyana Puram area, Sathyamoorthy Nagar, 1 to 25 and 42 to 48, Sameyar thottom, Palla st 1 to 3, Udaya Suryan Nagar, SA colony area Sharma Nagar Quarters, Gandhi Nagar.

ST THOMAS MOUNT: Mangaliamman Koil area, North Parade road, Mount Poonamalle road, Indira Nagar, Karaiyar Koil, Nazerethpuram, Officers Training Academy, Naval, Naval Residence area, Woodcreek country, Thulasingapuram, Meenambakkam and Airport area, Mariyapuram, Burma colony, Mathiyas Nagar, European line, Bazaar road, Mettu st, Kalainyar Nagar, Seven wells st, Arcot Pattai, Raman Koil street, West Mada street, Bajanai Koil Street, Pandiyan street, Morrison 1st to 5th street.

CMDA yet to act against officials facing corruption charges

Sources in the MAWS department said that the DVAC had launched preliminary enquiry against the officer under Section 17 (a) (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
 
Published: 03rd January 2020 06:46 AM | Last Updated: 03rd January 2020 06:46 AM

By C Shivakumar

Express News Service

CHENNAI : The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is yet to act against a senior planner after the Directorate of Vigilance and Corruption (DVAC) put him under the scanner for alleged irregularities pertaining to local bodies. The DVAC sought permission from the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department to conduct preliminary enquiry against the planner on February 18, 2019, and MAWS accorded permission for it on July 10 by issuing a Government Order (GO), which was forwarded to CMDA member secretary on September 10 for necessary action. However, till now no action has been initiated.

Sources in the MAWS department said that the DVAC had launched preliminary enquiry against the officer under Section 17 (a) (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The order to prosecute tainted officials under this section should be given within three months as per the strictures laid by the Supreme Court, official sources said.

Sources say that several State departments delay enquiries initiated by DVAC against officials by keeping the cases in abeyance and saying that the cases are ‘under consideration of the department’.
Though nearly six months have passed after the GO was issued, the senior planner is dealing with many files pertaining to local bodies despite a senior government official assuring that action would be taken against him and he may be transferred from the post.

In another development, a planner who was suspended on charges of irregularities has now been promoted as a senior planner, that too, after new allegations cropped up against him and a petition was sent to top officials. Sources told Express that the planner was receiving a senior planner’s salary but performing duties of a deputy planner.

When contacted, top officials of the CMDA and the Housing Department refused to comment on the issue. According to information available with Express, 11 CMDA officials, including two deputy planners, were under the DVAC scanner for cases pertaining to irregularities, including regularising illegal buildings and disproportionate accumulation of assets. However, the charges have now been dropped.

It is learnt that State departments, while passing final orders, rarely update the DVAC. Some months ago, the Vigilance Commissioner had to pass an order making it mandatory for State departments to send final orders on vigilance cases to the DVAC and Vigilance Commission.Official sources said the government has been actively pursuing the cases that have been pending for years.

No more queuing-up at Chennai airport

At a cost of Rs 58 crore, eight state-of-the-art CTX scanners -- four each at international and domestic terminals -- have been put to use.
 
Published: 03rd January 2020 06:47 AM | Last Updated: 03rd January 2020 06:47 AM 

 By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Passengers will no more have to queue up at the international departure terminal in Chennai Airport to register their baggage before dropping them at check-in counters as an in-line baggage screening system with CTX (Computer Tomography X-ray) scanners was made operational on Thursday. The new facility is expected to enhance aviation safety and security infrastructure at the terminal, a release said.

At a cost of Rs 58 crore, eight state-of-the-art CTX scanners -- four each at international and domestic terminals -- have been put to use. The in-line scanning at the domestic terminal is currently under trial and will be commissioned shortly. The CTX 9800 DSi Scanner is capable of handling up to 1,800 bags per hour. On a weekly basis, the system will process more than 75,000 bags at each terminal.

HC stays hiring of temporary teaching staff by Anna univ

TNN | Jan 2, 2020, 04.08 AM ISTChennai: 

The Madras high court has stayed the process begun by Anna University to hire guest lecturers and visiting fellows for its affiliate colleges across the state on a temporary and hourly basis.

Vacation judge Justice V Parthiban passed the interim order on the plea moved by G Arutperumjyothi – a temporary teaching fellow of the university challenging the recruitment.

According to the petitioner, the registrar of the university issued an advertisement dated December 19, 2019 calling for applications to the posts of guest lecturers and visiting fellows on hourly basis.

“While there are already 518 such temporary faculties employed by the university for its affiliate colleges for several years, the university has called for applications for fresh appointments without regularising the existing temporary staff,” the petitioner said. He said the university engaged faculties on temporary basis with impunity and without any approval in total violation of established principles of law enunciated by the Supreme Court and the high courts.

“Time and again courts have come down heavily upon engagement of faculties on temporary basis without identifying the actual workforce required for teaching. Besides this, there is no category of appointment as teaching fellows in the UGC Regulations, 2010,” he said.

Relying on the AICTE regulations, the petitioner said the rules were very clear that there shall be only three designations in respect of teachers — assistant professors, associate professors and professors. There is no other nomenclature for appointment as teaching fellows/ visiting fellows/guest lecturers.

The petitioner said that only 10% of the teaching staff are employed on regular basis by the university for its constituent colleges. All other teaching faculties are engaged only on temporary basis.

'நீட்' தேர்வு மதிப்பெண்ணில் மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு சலுகை

Added : ஜன 02, 2020 21:00

சென்னை: 'நீட்' தேர்வில் மதிப்பெண் சலுகை உள்ளதால், அதிகமானோர் பங்கேற்கும்படி, மாற்றுத் திறனாளி மாணவர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தப் பட்டுள்ளது.

பிளஸ் 2 முடிக்கும் மாணவர்கள், மருத்துவ படிப்பில் சேர, தேசிய அளவிலான நீட் நுழைவு தேர்வில் தேர்ச்சி பெற வேண்டும். நடப்பு கல்வி ஆண்டில், பிளஸ் 2 மாணவர்களுக்கான நீட் தேர்வு, மே, 3ல் நடக்கிறது. இதற்கான ஆன்லைன் விண்ணப்ப பதிவு, டிசம்பர், 2ல் துவங்கியது. பதிவுக்கான அவகாசம், டிசம்பர், 31ல் முடிய இருந்த நிலையில், ஜனவரி, 6 வரை நீட்டிக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது. இந்நிலையில், அனைத்து பள்ளிகளுக்கும் மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகள் நல இயக்குனரகம் அனுப்பியுள்ள சுற்றறிக்கை:மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகளுக்கான உரிமைகள் தொடர்பான சட்டத்தின்படி, அவர்களுக்கு உயர்கல்வியில், 5 சதவீத இட ஒதுக்கீடு வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

இதன்படி, மருத்துவ படிப்பில் மாற்றுத் திறனாளி மாணவர்கள் சேரும் வகையில், அவர்களுக்கு, நீட் தேர்வு மதிப்பெண்ணிலும் சலுகை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இச்சலுகையை மாணவர்கள் பலர் பயன்படுத்தாததால், 5 சதவீதத்துக்கும் குறைவான மாணவர்களே, மருத்துவ படிப்பில் சேர்வதாக, மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரக ஆய்வில் தெரியவந்துள்ளது. எனவே, மாற்றுத் திறனாளி மாணவர்களுக்கு, அவர்களுக்கான சலுகைகளை தெரிவித்து, நீட் தேர்வில் அதிகம் பங்கேற்க, தலைமை ஆசிரியர்கள் விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

RGUHS mulls bringing out app for its flagship Jeeva Raksha programme

TNN | Jan 2, 2020, 08.29 AM IST

MANGALURU: Bengaluru-based Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences' (RGUHS) flagship life skills saving programme - Jeeva Raksha will be rolled out as a mobile app. With first batch of around 6000 students trained in this programme set to pass out at the end of current academic year, the university will create their online data base, geo-tag their phones as a precursor to rolling out the app that will endeavour to provide real time help to the needy.

Shivanand Kapashi, registrar of RGUHS told TOI that the Jeeva Raksha programme launched in 2014 has been made compulsory for graduates undergoing their internship. With the first batch of trained students passing out this year, Kapashi said the university will have to wait for at least two-more years before it can have sizable number of trained first responders who can react to a medical emergency that gets flagged to them via the app.

The university is toying with the idea of rolling this App, that is presently at a conceptual stage, on a trial basis in Bengaluru and Mangaluru that has sizable number of medical colleges and will present the perfect pool for trained manpower to roll out this service. The idea is to ensure that a person trained in life saving skills can reach the emergency site within 15 minutes, which in a place like Bengaluru might be a bit hard to achieve, he surmised.

With geo-tagging of a trained life saver, the app will flash the emergency on to their cell phones and a person nearest to the site could go over and help the person, he said. The advanced lifesaving course mandatory for medical students and basic lifesaving course that others including those opting for allied health sciences courses study deals with topics such as burns, ingesting poison, snake bites, respiratory issues and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, he said.

Dr S Sacchidanand, vice-chancellor, RGUHS said the university spent the first three years in developing around 250 master trainers for this programme who in turn trained teachers of medical colleges in the state. Students are made to study the techniques in simulation labs that are being set up in government medical colleges, he said, adding the union government, NITI Aayog has appreciated the RGUHS model and marked it for replication across India.

Court News

COURT RELIEF

HC asks govt to reinstate staff accused of swindling money

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:01.01.2020

Setting aside the dismissal order of a sales woman of a cooperative society, Madras high court directed to authorities concerned to reinstate the petitioner who was dismissed on charges of misappropriation of money, citing that the co-delinquent in the case was reinstated back in service based on the earlier order of this court.

The petitioner Jeyachitra along with another woman Sheela Devi were working as sales women at the Pullampadi primary agricultural cooperative credit society limited at Trichy.

The petitioner and Sheela were placed under suspension as they were involved in misappropriation of money from the cooperative society and a criminal case was also registered against them in the year 2016.

Following these charges, the president of the imposed a punishment of stoppage of increment for one year to the duo. After remitting back the amount which was misappropriated, the petitioner submitted a representation to the authorities concerned seeking to revoke her suspension, however, an order dated June 16 2017 was passed dismissing her from service. In the meantime, the petitioner and Sheela were acquitted from the criminal case by a lower court.

On perusal of the submissions made on either side, Justice M S Ramesh observed since the co-delinquent Sheela was reinstated back in service by the earlier order of this court in the year 2018, the same decision would also squarely apply to the petitioner.

“There is yet another aspect to the present case in hand. Originally the petitioner was imposed with the punishment of stoppage of increment for the period of one year and subsequently, the order of dismissal was passed. A perusal of the dismissal order does not reveal the fact that the earlier punishment of stoppage of increment for a period of one year was recalled or set aside. Without doing so, the petitioner cannot be subjected to two punishments and the same is illegal,” observed the judge.

Hence, the judge set aside the dismissal order and directed the authorities concerned to reinstate the petitioner to service with all consequential and monetary benefits.

NEET 2020

மூன்று நாட்களாக ‘சர்வர்’ முடக்கம்; நீட் தேர்வுக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்க முடியாமல் மாணவர்கள் தவிப்பு: கால அவகாசம் நீட்டிக்கப்படுமா?

By இ.ஜெகநாதன்

Published: 31 Dec, 19 04:42 pmModified: 31 Dec, 19 04:42 pm

   

நீட் தேர்வுக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்கும் இணைய பக்கத்துக்கான சர்வர் மூன்று நாட்களாக முடங்கியதால் பல மாணவர்கள் தேர்வுக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்க முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால் கால அவகாசத்தை நீட்டிக்க வேண்டுமென மாணவர்கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

பிளஸ் 2 முடித்த மாணவர்கள் மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் சேர நீட் தேர்வில் தேர்ச்சி பெற வேண்டும். இதேபோல் ஆயுர்வேதா, யோகா, யுனானி, சித்தா, ஹோமியோபதி உள்ளிட்ட ஆயுஷ் படிப்புகளிலும் சேர நீட் கட்டாயமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நீட் தேர்வு மே 3-ம் தேதி நாடு முழுவதும் நடைபெறுகிறது. தமிழ், ஆங்கிலம், இந்தி, உருது, கன்னடம், அசாமி, ஒடியா, குஜராத்தி உள்ளிட்ட 9 மொழிகளில் எழுதலாம். தேர்வு எழுத, டிச.2 முதல் டிச.31-ம் தேதி வரை www.ntaneet.nic.in என்ற இணையதள முகவரியில் விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டுமென, தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

நாடு முழுவதும் 16 லட்சத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் விண்ணப்பித்துள்ளனர். தமிழகத்தில் மட்டும் 1.8 லட்சத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் விண்ணப்பித்துள்ளனர். மேலும் நாடு முழுவதும் ஒரேசமயத்தில் ஏராளமானோர் விண்ணப்பித்ததால் மூன்று நாட்களாக ‘சர்வர்’ பிரச்சினை ஏற்பட்டது.

இன்றுடன் காலஅவகாசம் முடியும் நிலையில், பலர் விண்ணப்பிக்க முடியாத நிலையே உள்ளது. இதனால் விண்ணப்பிப்பதற்கான கால அவகாசத்தை நீட்டிக்க வேண்டுமென, மாணவர்கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

இதுகுறித்து பிளஸ் 2 மாணவர்கள் கூறுகையில், ‘தமிழில் நீர் தேர்வு நடப்பதால் அரசு மற்றும் உதவிபெறும் பள்ளிகளில் பயிலும் மாணவர்கள் கூட விண்ணப்பிக்கின்றனர். ஆனால் ஒரு வாரமாகவே ‘சர்வர்’ மெதுவாக செயல்பட்டது. விண்ணப்பித்ததும் 10 நிமிடங்களுக்கு பிறகே ‘பாஸ்வேர்டு’ வருகிறது. அதை பதிவு செய்தால் ‘டைம்அவுட்’ ஆகிறது. விண்ணப்பிக்கும்போதே நின்றுவிடுவதால், பல முறை முயற்சிக்க வேண்டியுள்ளது. இதனால் ஏராளமானோர் விண்ணப்பிக்க முடியவில்லை, என்று கூறினர்.

Tamil Nadu

Darling of underprivileged, service is a way of life for this young Tamil Nadu lecturer

Serving the underprivileged is considered a leisure by some, but is a way of life for a few.

Published: 29th December 2019 05:24 AM |

Manisha spends time convincing destitutes move to a home | express

By Chandhini RExpress News Service

ERODE: Serving the underprivileged is considered a leisure by some, but is a way of life for a few.

K Manisha (22), a lecturer and resident of Surampatti in Erode, is tirelessly pursuing what her heart wants to. She has rescued and rehabilitated about 150 destitutes, beggars, diseased and drug addicts in the last two years.

“Since childhood, I was inclined towards helping the needy. Whenever I found beggars or homeless people on my way back from school, I used to give them food. When I became financially independent, I started rehabilitating the underprivileged. Everyone deserves to lead a decent life with three square meals a day, clothing and shelter. To see people on the streets without any of these is disturbing. Hailing from a middle class family - my father, a butcher and my mother, a homemaker - it is not easy for me to rehabilitate people because my parents feel I should concentrate more on my career. I hope to convince them soon,” she adds.

Every day after completing her duty at Nanda Nursing College in Perundurai, Manisha goes to different places, identifies the homeless and spends time with them building a rapport. ‘‘I have contacts with rehabilitation homes in different parts of Tamil Nadu. People from various districts contact me when they find a homeless or deprived person on road,” a beaming Manisha says.

Court News

No pension if staffer resigns, says SC

It says voluntary retirement is different

31/12/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT, NEW DELHI

An employee who has resigned from service is not entitled to pensionary benefits due to a worker who has voluntarily retired, the Supreme Court held.

A Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hrishikesh Roy, in a recent judgment, referred to the past verdicts and said resignation and voluntary retirement, though voluntary on the part of an employee, operated differently and had dissimilar consequences.

“One of the basic distinctions is that in the case of resignation, it can be tendered at any time, but in the case of voluntary retirement, it can only be sought for after rendering the prescribed period of qualifying service,” the judgment said.

“Another fundamental distinction is that in the case of the former, normally retiral benefits are denied but in the case of the latter, the same is not denied. In the case of the former, permission or notice is not mandated, while in the case of the latter, permission of the employer concerned is a requisite condition,” the court said, referring to a past judgment.

‘Distinct consequences’

Justice Chandrachud, who authored the verdict, said “The decision to resign results in the legal consequences that flow from a resignation under the applicable provisions. These consequences are distinct from the consequences flowing from voluntary retirement and the two may not be substituted for each other based on the length of an employee’s tenure.”