Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Governor’s reference to ‘dual citizenship’ triggers a debate
There is no sanction in the Constitution, say experts

08/01/2020, T. RAMAKRISHNAN

Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s address on the first day of the Assembly session on Monday.R. RaguR. Ragu

Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s address to the Assembly on Monday, in which he advocated dual citizenship for Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka living in Tamil Nadu, has triggered a debate on the advisability of such a proposal.

According to Prof. V. Suryanarayan, founding Director of the Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras, the Governor could have avoided the reference in his customary address. Prof. Suryanarayan, who has been studying the subject for years, points out that there is no sanction in the country’s Constitution for dual citizenship. The Centre may never agree to the idea, he feels.

It is for the first time that the matter was included in the Governor’s address, even though it was floated by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in April 2016 during her campaign for the Assembly elections. But, the issue did not figure in the address of Governor K. Rosaiah in June 2016 to the Assembly, despite Jayalalithaa retaining power. However, it was included in the memorandum submitted by Jayalalithaa to Prime Minister Narendra Modi around the same time.

The rationale behind the demand is to help the refugees get employment or run businesses in the country “without any hindrance.” Since then, the issue has been raised by her successors, O. Panneerselvam and Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

In the light of recent criticism by the Opposition on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act excluding from its ambit the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, Mr. Palaniswami raised the issue during his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah.

To substantiate his position that the Governor should have avoided the reference, Prof. Suryanarayan recalls instances wherein Governors of other States did not toe fully with the text of what their State governments had prepared. To illustrate a few cases, in March 1969, the then West Bengal Governor Dharma Vira skipped portions of the address to the Assembly. In January 2018, Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam left out certain portions of his address which, he felt, used a strong language used against the Central government.

Naturalisation option

However, the academician strongly supports the idea of giving Indian citizenship to refugees who prefer it. He suggests: “If the Central government withdraws its instruction to the State government — issued first in 1983 and reiterated in 2007 — not to entertain applications for citizenship from the refugees, a large number of willing refugees will be eligible to apply for citizenship, under the option of naturalisation.” Differing with him, former Madras High Court judge K. Chandru, says Governors can communicate objections to the governments if they feel certain references are not proper. However, once the text is approved finally, there is not much choice left for them.

Asked whether it is proper on the Governor’s part to refer to a matter, which falls exclusively under the domain of the Union government, Mr Chandru says that even on foreign policy or matters of international implications, the Tamil Nadu Assembly in the past adopted resolutions, some of which got included in the Governor’s addresses too. Recently, the Kerala Assembly adopted a resolution, calling upon the Centre to repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Two prominent jurists, wishing to remain anonymous, say there is nothing wrong in such a reference, as such an address reflects “aspirations” of the State government. After all, the demand for dual citizenship is “only a recommendation” of the government, they add.
4 Nirbhaya case convicts to be hanged on Jan. 22

Court issues death warrants on a plea by victim’s parents

08/01/2020, SOIBAM ROCKY SINGH,NEW DELHI



All four convicts in the December 16, 2012, Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case will be hanged on January 22 at 7 a.m. inside Tihar jail, a Delhi court ordered on Tuesday.

Additional sessions judge Satish Kumar Arora issued the death warrants for convicts Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar Singh and Pawan Gupta on a plea by the victim’s parents to expedite their execution.

Before passing the order, the judge conducted a video conference call with the convicts, who are lodged in Tihar, to hear their side of the argument.

The victim’s mother, who was present in the court when the verdict was pronounced, said the decision would restore faith of women in the judiciary.

On December 18 last, the Supreme Court dismissed a review petition filed by convict Akshay Kumar Singh against its 2017 judgment upholding his death penalty.

In July 2018, the top court dismissed the review petitions of Mukesh, 30, Gupta, 23, and Sharma, 24, saying no grounds have been made by them for a review of the 2017 verdict.

A juvenile convict in the case has been released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term. One of the accused in the case, Ram Singh, died earlier in Tihar Jail.
Panel gives green signal to 150 pvt trains on 100 routes

Dipak Dash & Sidhartha TNN

New Delhi:08.01.2020

A high-powered panel has cleared the road for rolling out nearly 150 private trains on 100 routes, including Mumbai-Delhi and Howrah-Delhi sectors, which will compete with Rajdhani.

While two Tejas trains have been handed over for running by Railways-controlled IRCTC on the Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad routes as an experiment with the “private sector”, the committee’s report is expected to pave the way for a massive competition to the services currently being offered by the state transporter.

The panel was set up by railway minister Piyush Goyal after Railway Board chairman VK Yadav flagged private trains in the government’s 100 days’ agenda.

The recommendations put out for stakeholder consultations have proposed that Indian as well as global players, with experience in railway or travel and tourism sectors be permitted, provided they have a minimum net worth of ₹450 crore. Other performance parameters, such as a maximumpermissible 15-minute delay, beyond which passengers will have to be compensated, have been proposed. On the IRCTCoperated Tejas trains, a similar facility has been offered.

The routes have been divided into seven clusters with a clear plan to develop infrastructure in less-utilised stations such as Panvel near Mumbai and Tilak Bridge and Okhla in Delhi for running long-distance trains.

The train routes have been primarily identified on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata routes as the railways is hopeful of freeing up tracks by December 2021, when both Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors will become fully operational and take over the burden of handling goods traffic. The railways has also approved the plan to improve the existing tracks on these two routes to allow trains to run at 160 kmph, which has been proposed as the speed limit for private trains.

Full report on www.toi.in

Interim relief for Tamil University VC as HC stays order

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:08.01.2020

A division bench of the Madras high court has granted an interim stay on a single-judge order which set aside a government order (GO) that appointed G Balasubramanian as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Tamil University at Thanjavur.

Balasubramaniam, in his petition stated that he was appointed as the VC of the university on October 5, 2018. A candidate K Ravindran who applied for the post of VC filed a petition before the high court Madurai bench challenging the GO on ground that he did not possess the required qualification in conducting not less than one international level event as per clause 5 of the eligibility criteria.

Balasubramaniam stated that Ravindran also raised another ground that the senate nominee and syndicate nominee of the search committee who were holding positions earlier in the university are ineligible to be members of the search committee as per provisions of the UGC regulation and as per Section 12 of the Tamil University Act, 1982. He said that the single judge had allowed the petition and quashed the GO appointing him as VC on December 20, 2019, citing that the senate and syndicate nominee of the search committee were earlier holding positions as syndicate member and VC of the university by misinterpreting Section 12 (2) of the Act.
NEONATAL HEALTH
TN TAKES A GIANT LEAP IN OFFERING BETTER NEONATAL HEALTHCARE

More Babies Are Being Saved In TN Than Earlier Due To Institutional Interventions

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

08.01.2020

Nano babies weighing less than half a kg and sumo babies weighing a little more than 5kg are not uncommon in neonatal units of Tamil Nadu. What is uncommon is how the state’s healthcare infrastructure is helping fragile newborns recover and get back home safe and sound.

While risks such as low birth weight, preterm births, high risk delivery and infections have risen due to a combination of factors including poor lifestyle, more babies born in the state are now able to survive, said several neonatologists.

The infant mortality rate – number of child deaths per 1,000 live births – in Tamil Nadu has been on a steady decline. Tamil Nadu recorded the second lowest IMR in the country in 2017 with 16 deaths per 1,000 live births. Kerala registered the lowest, 10. The number of underweight babies being brought in for intensive care in the state has gone up both in private and government tertiary care units.

“More babies are being saved in TN now than earlier,” said director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy. But it wasn’t long before some districts in Tamil Nadu reported higher number of infant deaths owing to inadequate human resources and healthcare infrastructure. There weren’t enough doctors or trained nurses, transport facility for babies or adequate number of intensive care units, said Dr Kolandaswamy, who is also the registrar of births and deaths in the state.

While most private hospitals have managed to set up facilities with advanced equipment in bigger cities like Chennai and Coimbatore, the state administration has taken intensive care to the rural areas by establishing 73 neonatal care units. These units provide intensive care for newborns in medical colleges, district headquarters and subtaluk hospitals. Each of these intensive care units have at least four paediatricians. “Unlike many other states, 65% of deliveries in TN take place in government hospitals and almost 98% of deliveries are institutionalised. Enhancing care in government hospitals would mean keeping out-of-pocket expenditure low,” said K Senthil Raj, director of National Health Mission (Tamil Nadu).

In 2018, the state had 1.11 lakh admissions to its neonatal units, of which 6,000 infants had died, a 1% decline in deaths from what the state-run units saw in 2017, said Dr S Srinivasan, coordinator, State Nodal Centre-National Rural Health Mission. “This year, the mortality has dipped further,” he said.

To match what Kerala has achieved, the state has to push itself further to monitor every pregnancy, identify high risk groups and ensure early care. The state has taken some pro-active steps including protocols to tag high risk pregnant women. Every pregnant woman is registered with the state government. Those visiting government hospitals are categorised as red (high risk), yellow (moderate risk) and green (safe). Those in high risk category are advised to deliver only at a government-run tertiary care centre.

Apart from state-led institutional interventions, doctors said the health of the mother needs to be improved too in order to achieve low infant mortality levels. Increase in hyperte4nsion, gestational diabetes and anaemia among women are some of the leading factors for pre-term births and conditions such as birth asphyxia. As part of maternity benefits, women living below the poverty line are being given protein supplements, multi-vitamin syrups and dry fruits in two trimesters. These supplements help boost haemoglobin levels in the blood. Doctors said at least a quarter of pregnant women have anaemia, and an equal number of them have pregnancy-related diabetes.

“These can impact the health of a child. Earlier, we used to see the average underweight baby was around 2kg, now it’s between 900gm and 1,200gm,” said Dr Rahul Yadav, a neonatologist at Rainbow Childrens’ Hospital. It may not be easy to save them, but with resources that Tamil Nadu has built in neonatal childcare, saving them is no more a tall order.



Unlike many other states, 65% of deliveries in Tamil Nadu take place in government hospitals and almost 98% of deliveries are institutionalised

K Senthil Raj | DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION, TAMIL NADU
Madras univ students continue to protest
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.01.2020

More than 50 students of University of Madras and its affiliated colleges protested for the second consecutive day on Tuesday demanding the arrest of perpetrators of attack on students and faculty members of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

They also demanded the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and urged the Centre not to undertake the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizen (NRC).

“First, the students of Jamia Milia and Aligarh Muslim University were attacked and now, JNU students were targeted. If these attacks are allowed to continue, any protesting student could become a target. The Union government should immediately arrest the perpetrators,” a student said.

Expressing solidarity with JNU, students from IIT Madras, University of Madras and Presidency College had protested on Monday. Students, academics and activists also held a candle light vigil.
2.65kg gold worth ₹1.10cr seized at city airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.01.2020

Customs officials seized 2.65kg gold worth ₹1.10 crore from six passengers at Chennai airport on Monday night and Tuesday.

On Monday night, Ashaff Ali Khan, 51, of Sri Lanka, who arrived from Colombo by a Sri-Lankan Airlines flight (UL123), and Mohamed Azarudeen, 21, and Kalandar Abbas, 36, of Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Colombo on an IndiGo flight (6E 1204), were intercepted and questioned. Ten bundles containing gold in paste form were recovered from them.

On Tuesday morning, Mohamed Ramzeen, 51, of Sri Lanka, and Thajilamin,41, of Ramanathapuram, who arrived from Colombo by a SriLankan Airlines flight (UL125) were intercepted and questioned. Seven bundles containing gold paste were recovered.

In another case on Tuesday, Nagoor Gani, 22, of Chennai, who arrived from Sharjah on an Air India flight (AI 968), was intercepted. Two gold cut bits weighing 60g were recovered from his pants pockets. Three bundles of gold paste were hidden in his rectum.
MBA holder who won local polls dies as truck hits bike
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.01.2020

A 27-year-old MBA graduate, who was elected a ward member of Mela Muthalambedu village panchayat near Gummidipoondi at the local body election, died in an accident on Sunday before he could take charge in his new role.

P Arun Pandian’s organs were harvested as per his parent’s request. He was an MBA holder and also had a Bachelor in Law degree. He was practising law in the Tiruvallur court. He had contested at the village panchayat and won the election in ward number 2 of the Mela Muthalambedu panchayat. He had celebrated his victory with his family members and the villagers on January 2.

On Friday, Arun had travelled to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to write his entrance exam to study Masters in Law. At Arambakkam near the Tamil Nadu border, a truck hit his two-wheeler from behind, police said. He was taken to the Government Hospital in Tada and was later transferred to Rajiv Gandhi Government hospital in Chennai. On Sunday, he succumbed to injuries. Arun had donated his organs at the age of 18. After getting approval from his mother Lakshmi, the doctors of the Rajiv Gandhi Government hospital removed his organs and preserved them in thestorage bank.

Rajiv case: HC grants 15 days leave to convict Ravichandran

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.00 AM IST

Madurai: Ravichandran, a life convict in the former Prime Minister (PM) Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been granted 15 days ordinary leave by the Madras high court from January 10. P Rajeswari of Aruppukottai taluk in Virudhunagar district, mother of Ravinchandran in her petition had stated that her son, who was awarded life sentence in the case had completed nearly 28 years of imprisonment.

Though she had submitted several representations and moved the high court seeking leave for her son, it was not granted. Recently, she moved the high court, which on October 15, directed the state to consider her representation within three weeks. Subsequently, the superintendent of Madurai Central Prison passed an order on November 13 rejecting her claim on the ground that Virudhunagar superintendent of police had submitted a report stating that there was a possibility of life threat to her son and it would not be possible for the police to provide escort as police selection process and local body elections were to be announced. Hence, Rajeswari moved the high court Madurai bench seeking to grant one-month ordinary leave to Ravichandran to enable him settle the family after his release.

When the petition was taken up for hearing on Monday, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that recently ordinary leave was also granted to few other convicts in the case including Nalini Sriharan, Perarivalan and the same could also be extended to Ravichandran.

The additional advocate general K Chellapandian submitted that since more than 20 police officials are required for the convict’s escort and the same would not be possible due to the intervening local body elections, the representation seeking ordinary leave was rejected. He further submitted that the state would consider the ordinary leave plea after Pongal festival.

Taking note of the submissions, a division bench of justice T Raja and justice B Pugalendhi observed that the convict had been earlier granted ordinary leave five times since 2001 - four times based on the order of the high court and once based on the order of the prison authorities to attend the final rites of his father.

The judges observed that on all five occasions when ordinary leave was granted, the life convict had surrendered before prison authorities without causing any inconvenience. They further observed that the state in its counter had mentioned that his leave application had been rejected due to local body elections and it would not be able to provide sufficient protection for the convict.

The judges observed that even though the local body elections were completed, the government’s contention that it would consider the ordinary leave plea after Pongal festival is not acceptable. Hence, the judges granted 15 days leave to Ravichandran and observed, “Let him spend time with his family on this Pongal.” The judges directed him to surrender before the prison authorities after the completion of 15 days ordinary leave. The matter has been posted to January 28 for reporting compliance.
HC stays single judge order against Tamil univ VC posting

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.00 AM IST

Madurai: A division bench of the Madras high court has granted interim stay on a single judge order which set aside a government order (GO) that appointed G Balasubramanian as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Tamil University at Thanjavur.

Balasubramaniam, in his petition stated that he was appointed as the VC of the university on October 5, 2018. A candidate K Ravindran who applied for the post of VC filed a petition before the high court Madurai bench challenging the GO on ground that he did not possess the required qualification in conducting not less than one international level event as per clause 5 of the eligibility criteria.

Balasubramaniam stated that Ravindran also raised another ground that the senate nominee and syndicate nominee of the search committee who were holding positions earlier in the university are ineligible to be members of the search committee as per provisions of the UGC regulation and as per Section 12 of the Tamil University Act, 1982.

He said that the single judge had allowed the petition and quashed the GO appointing him as VC on December 20, 2019, citing that the senate and syndicate nominee of the search committee were earlier holding positions as syndicate member and VC of the university by misinterpreting Section 12 (2) of the Act.

The appellant submitted that Section 12 of the Act states that “The person nominated shall not be a member of any of the authorities of the university or shall not be connected with the university or any college or any recognised institution of the university.” He cited that the word ‘shall be’ only denotes ‘at present’. He further submitted that the senate and syndicate nominees of the search committee are no way connected with the university at present.

He noted that though Ravindran was well aware of the earlier positions held by the search committee members, he submitted his application before the same committee and merely because he was not selected, he cannot question the constitution of the search committee.

Hence, the appellant filed an appeal before the high court Madurai bench seeking to grant interim stay on the single judge order. When the appeal was heard on Tuesday, a division bench of justice M Duraiswamy and justice T Ravindran granted interim stay and adjourned the case to January 10 for further hearing.
Disabled man petitions collector alleging bias in MBBS admission

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.15 AM IST

Madurai: After more than two years of ongoing court battle over being denied an opportunity to write the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam, a differently-abled man has now petitioned the district collector Dr T G Vinay seeking his help.

Arunkumar G, 27, from Villapuram wrote the NEET exam in 2018 and secured above the cut-off mark for the differently-abled persons quota. However, he was not given a chance in counselling that year despite being declared fit and issued a certificate of disability by the regional medical board in Chennai. Arunkumar had lost three of his fingers, including his thumb, after being injured during an accident in 2008. After his complaint to the director of medical education (DME) did not receive any reply, the 27-year-old took the matter to court. “As it was argued that my fitness certificate was only valid for 2018, the court ordered me to appear before a panel of doctors from the regional medical board, Chennai again in 2019. They declared me fit. However, I was not called for counselling that year also. I felt betrayed and filed for contempt of court,” said Arunkumar.

During the hearing of the case, the defendant’s advocates argued that since the differently-abled man had written the NEET exam only in 2018, he cannot be called for counselling in 2019 just on the basis of the fitness certificate.

On Monday, he petitioned the district collector alleging wrongful discrimination against differently-abled persons on the basis of physical appearance when it comes to providing jobs and education of their choice and driving licence, which is basic for commuting. “It is very common for such discrimination to happen. Despite availability of quotas, rarely do people from our community get a job that is equal to their educational qualification and paid on a par with those without disability,” said S Raja, district secretary, differently-abled welfare association.

Arunkumar has a diploma in medical laboratory technology from Madurai Medical College. “I’m able to handle equipment and I cleared both theory and practical exams during my course. However, wherever I go, I’m being denied jobs just because of my missing fingers.”
Tamils in Australia share woes as bushfire smothers nation

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.23 AM IST



CHENNAI: Most Tamils living in Australia are among those most affected by the bushfire as they live in Sydney and Melbourne. The continent is home to about one lakh Tamil migrants, of whom 50% are from Tamil Nadu. The rest are from Sri Lanka.

G Kiruthiga from Chennai, who is residing in western Sydney, about 100km from the epicentre of bushfire, said carbon emissions were bad.

“I can still feel the smoke and have breathing difficulties. We would airdry clothes in the balcony and find black powdery specks on them the next day,” she said. The Indian community is assisting with relief work, she added.

According to media reports, the deadly southern-summer fires have destroyed more than eight million hectares of bushland in Australia, killing at least 24 people. The disaster has also taken a heavy toll on wildlife, charring thousands of birds and animals to death.

Anagan Babu, president of Tamil Arts and Culture Association in Australia, said Tamils largely reside in Sydney and Melbourne.

“This is the largest drought that the residents of Sydney have faced in the past two decades. Water is being rationed and restricted for domestic use,” he told TOI from Sydney on Monday. Soaring temperatures breached new record due to the inferno last week, he added.

The devastating bushfire has also taken a heavy toll on tourism sector, with a section of city residents who had plans to tour Australia putting it off. Manish Kriplani of Outbound Tour Operators Association of India, said approximately 50,000 tourists from South India fly to Australia every year.

“Those planning to travel to Australia in the next two to three weeks have cancelled their trips following the bushfire. However, we are bullish that the development will not hit the upcoming season starting from May,” he added.

Tourism is an important sector for Australia. “In fact, Australian authorities went ahead with the annual fireworks event on the eve of New Year despite protests as the event in Sydney draws international tourists, generating 130 million Australian dollars revenue,” Anagan Babu said.

Tourism industry sources said people are looking for alternate destinations. Chairman of tourism sub committee of Travel Agents Association of India, Sriharan Balan, said European destinations such as Georgia and Hungary are being suggested as alternate destinations to those who have already explored northern Europe and the US.
Horizontal quotas are defeating purpose of reservation, says Madras high court

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.57 AM IST

CHENNAI: Madras high court has observed that horizontal reservations such as disability, destitute women, ex-servicemen and for persons whose land were acquired for public propose are causing a lot of confusion in public employment.

Cautioning that they may defeat the very purpose of vertical, caste-based reservation in public employment, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said: “This list (horizontal reservation) keeps increasing day by day and at a particular point of time, this will virtually eclipse the rights of the persons who will be otherwise entitled under the vertical reservation.”

The judge was passing the orders after denying reservation for persons whose land had been acquired for a public purpose. Holding that the ‘priority certificate’ issued to such land-losers is not a constitutional right, Justice Anand Venkatesh dismissed a plea seeking preferential recruitment by Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB).

A petitioner, R Abdulkadhar, cited a December 18, 1978 order which added one more horizontal reservation for the members of the family whose lands had been acquired by government for a public purpose. Such persons were issued priority certificates to claim such reservation. While all recruitments for government service provided such a reservation, it was been denied in a recent TRB recruitment, he alleged.

Justice Venkatesh said: “The government thought it fit to create such a reservation only to ensure that persons whose lands have been acquired and who lost their livelihood by virtue of such acquisition must be given some preference. This cannot be mechanically applied in all cases, since, the persons whose lands are acquired are paid compensation.”

“The petitioner cannot insist that TRB must necessarily provide for the reservation for persons having priority certificate. This is not some constitutional right guaranteed for the candidates. It is always left open to the recruiter concerned depending upon the nature of post. They cannot be compelled to provide reservation for all the heads under the horizontal reservation in every recruitment,” Justice Anand Venkatesh said.
Chennai: Velachery quack held for sex determination test

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 06.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: A quack who revealed sex of fetus to at least 500 women in the last one year was arrested and his clinic, Chennai Scan Centre, in Velachery was sealed on Monday. The ultrasound machine he was using in the clinic was also sealed.

Health department officials who raided the scan centre said the quack, K Sivasankaran, with an MSc in zoology, had been operating the clinic since 2014. “We were able to pull out only 500 reports, but he scanned at least 10 women daily,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Thomas Prabhakaran. The health department received complaints about the illegal clinic recently from a network of doctors and patient groups in the area.

On Monday, officials from the Directorate of Medical Services sent a woman, who was five months pregnant, as a decoy. The department trains volunteers to work as decoys to trap doctors and quacks resorting to sex determination and sex selective abortion, which are prohibited by the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994. After the scan on the decoy, Sivasankaran told her she was carrying a male child and charged her ₹1,200.

Health officials led by joint director Dr A Vishwanathan conducted further inquires. His ultra sound machine was not registered with the nodal agency and his scan centre was not registered as per the TN Clinical Establishment Act. “He told us that ever since a radiologist quit the centre in 2014, he has been doing the scans. The entire operation has been videotaped and will be produced in court as evidence,” said vigilance team superintendent M Kamalakannan. Although the team has been cracking down on illegal clinics and quacks through the year, this is the first time in the last three years the team has been able to crack down on a clinic in Chennai.

Since 2016, the overall sex ratio at birth in the state has gone up from 932 (girls born for every 1,000 boys) in 2016 to 933 in 2018 and 936 until October 19. Chennai and Kancheepuram along with seven other districts such as Ramanathapuram, Tiruvallur and Ariyalur, recorded a fall between 35 and 48 points. Chennai, which had a sex ratio at birth of 960 in 2018 recorded a 23 point drop to 937 till October 2019. Kancheepuram also recorded a 14 point fall in the last one year. Joint director Vishwanathan said human intervention plays a huge role in tilting the sex ratio at birth. Sivasankaran was arrested by J7 police station for violation of the PCPNDT Act, for practising medicine without medical degree, cheating and impersonation.

Can’t release Rajiv Gandhi killers: Centre to Madras HC

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.08 AM IST

CHENNAI: The Centre on Tuesday informed the Madras high court that the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to release seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, including Nalini Sriharan, has been rejected by it in April 2018 since it would lead to “international ramifications”.

Additional solicitor general G Rajagopalan made the submission on behalf of the home ministry on the plea moved by Nalini seeking to declare her detention as illegal since the governor had failed to act upon the recommendation of the state cabinet to release the seven convicts.

Recording the submissions, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice R Pongiyappan impleaded the Union home ministry as party respondent and directed it to file a counter by January 28.

In the rejection order produced by the solicitor general, the home ministry had stated: ‘The case involves assassination of a former prime minister of the country who was brutally killed in pursuance of diabolical plot carefully conceived and executed by a highly organised foreign terrorist organisation. Sixteen innocent lives were lost and many sustained grievous injuries in the gruesome, inhuman, uncivilised, and merciless bomb blast which was successfully enacted with active help and participation of these convicts and others who were LTTE militants or its staunch supporters.”

“The CBI has opposed the state government’s proposal to release the convicts in the interest of justice. The case has been reviewed, scrutinised by various forums of the judiciary and executive and both the highest judicial forum as well as the executive forum has elevated the case and decided the matter. Releasing the four foreign nationals who had committed the gruesome murder of former PM in connivance with three Indian nationals will set a very dangerous precedent and lead to international ramifications by other such criminals in the future,” the order said.
Senior docs to be given honorary posts

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.57 AM IST

Chennai: The directorate of medical education is planning to appoint ‘honorary’ professors who will mentor doctors, perform state-of-the art surgeries and offer guidance to medical college students. These professors are mostly retired government doctors or renowned medical professionals who have served in the private sector in India or abroad and are below the age of 70.
Deans of government medical colleges across the state have asked heads of departments to give their opinion about the need for honorary professors. “The idea is to have experts on campus to help patients and guide doctors,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayana Babu. Doctors retire from service at the age of 58 compared to 65 in the central government services. “They have an abundance of experience and they can really help our patients,” he said.

For instance, a city medical college hospital has stopped doing sex reassignment surgeries after one of the senior surgeons retired. “Getting that professor back into college will benefit a lot of patients. More doctors will also get themselves trained so they can continue doing the surgery,” Dr Narayana Babu said. Deans have also been asked to look out for retired professors with administrative skills for managing activities to acquire and maintain NABH accreditation.

These doctors will not be on government rolls or enjoy benefits such as provident fund or health insurance. “They will not be paid a salary, they will be given a designation of honorary professor,” he said. Health department is yet to decide if they should pay an honorarium.

Senior doctors say the concept of honorary professors isn’t entirely new. In the early 80s, many colleges had professors who were not on government rolls. “They all came to the hospital for surgery, did their routine rounds and took classes for student. These professors did not have to adhere to working hours, many of them came even on Sundays. In those days, holding a honorary position in a government hospital was a matter of pride,” said Kilpauk Medical College dean Dr Vasanthamani P. “Many senior doctors including corporate hospital owners joined and retired as honorary professors,” she said.

So far, the state has a signed memorandum of understanding with doctors in the private sector to conduct high-end surgeries. For instance, liver transplant surgeon Dr Mohamed Rela and his team visits Stanley Medical College to conduct liver transplant surgeries, while senior cardiologist Dr AB Gopalmurugan conducts high-end cardiac procedures at the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Omanduarar. “If this proposal is cleared, we will have more such experts to inspire our students,” Dr Narayana Babu said.
16,000 Pongal special buses to operate from city to clear extra rush

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 04.59 AM IST

Chennai: The state transport department will operate more than 16,000 buses from various locations in Chennai to tackle the holiday rush during Pongal week.

Around 10,000 special buses will operate in other districts from January 12 to 14, said transport minister M R Vijayabhaskar. “More than eight lakh passengers are expected to travel during this time as it has a long weekend,” he added.

As many as 17 ticket reservation counters will be opened at Koyambedu Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus (CMBT), Tambaram MEPZ and Poonamalle Bus Stand. Tickets can also be booked online on www.tnstc.in or on apps such as RedBus, Paytm, Make My Trip and BusIndia. All passengers will get a text with information about the boarding point and time, and travel duration.

Temporary bus stands will be set-up at different locations in the city for smooth operation of special buses.

Buses taking passengers to Thanjavur and Kumbakonam via Vikravandi, Panruti will depart from the temporary bus stand at Tambaram.

Poonamalle bus stand will be the origin for buses going to Hosur, Arcot, Vellore, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore, and Chidambaram buses (via Puducherry) will depart from KK Nagar bus stop.

Buses to Andhra Pradesh will leave from Madhavaram. Only south-bound buses will depart from CMBT.

“Temporary traffic diversions, introduced four years ago, will be followed this year too. Also, to avoid chaos at toll plazas, one lane has been earmarked only for special buses,” Vijayabhaskar added.
Madras University to hire faculty after 5 years

TNN | Jan 8, 2020, 06.37 AM IST

CHENNAI: After a gap of five years, University of Madras has called for applications to fill 30 teaching positions, including six professors and 18 assistant professors, in its departments.

Two years ago, the government had imposed the ban to get other universities in the state to absorb excess staff from Annamalai university, but they have been reluctant because of doubts about their qualifications. Last year, the ban stayed in place after the UGC directed states to freeze recruitment in view of the case in the SC on whether the reservation policy should apply to hiring for an institution as a whole or to separate departments. Recently, the state government lifted the ban on recruitment.

The university is on the verge of losing UGC's grant and special assistance because of vacancies in faculty positions. "Many departments in the university get aid from the central government, but UGC rules prescribe a minimum faculty strength. So, these posts are being filled on priority basis," a senior professor from the university said.
Death of TN woman due to cotton wad left in abdomen: SHRC issues notice

TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 08.31 PM IST

CUDDALORE: The State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about the death of a woman due to an infection caused by a cotton wad left in her abdomen by doctors in Vriddhachalam Government Hospital in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.

The commission issued a notice on Tuesday to Cuddalore district joint director (medical services) P N Ramesh Babu directing him to submit a detailed report within two weeks. The report should also have details of action taken against the erring officials.

The commission said it would list the case after two weeks and directed the joint director to submit the report by post without fail. The commission warned that it would initiate appropriate action as it deems fit and proper if he failed to submit a report.

R Priya, wife of V Rajkumar, 26, from a village near Vriddhachalam died due to an infection caused by a cotton wad left in her abdomen by doctors in Vriddhachalam Government Hospital.

Police said Priya developed labour pain on December 27 and was rushed to hospital. Doctors performed a Caesarean section the same night, and she gave birth to a girl.

Priya, however, complained of a severe stomach pain post-surgery. On December 31, after she took seriously ill, doctors referred her to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry.

A team of doctors in Jipmer suspected that she might be suffering from severe sepsis, a serious condition due to the presence of foreign particles in the body and the body’s response to it. The team performed surgery in the abdomen (laparotomy) and found a mass of inflated tissues filled with pus. The team removed the pus and found a foreign body (cotton wad) in her abdomen. She died on January 1.
JOSHI-ABHYANKAR MURDER CASE
Four students who turned serial killers executed same day in 1983

Gang’s Run Had Created Fear, Panic In Pune In Mid-70s


Vishwas Kothari, Manjiri Damle & Asseem Shaikh | TNN

08.01.2020

Pune: The hanging of as many as four convicts on death row in one day has happened only once in the country after Independence — in Pune on October 25, 1983.

Rajendra Jakkal, Dilip Sutar, Shantaram Jagtap and Munawar Shah — the first three from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya in the city and Shah a friend of theirs studying in a commerce college — were hanged at the Yerawada central jail for the murder of 10 people in the mid-1970s.

The impending execution of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya case would be the second instance of as many hangings on the same day in one case.

The Pune gang killed three members of the Joshi family at their Vijaynagar colony home and five members of the Abhyankar family at their bungalow on Bhandarkar road. They also killed two youths in separate incidents.

The killings, which came to be known as the Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders, remain one of the most intriguing sagas in the annals of crime  in Pune, then a sleepy pensioner’s paradise.

Old-timer Punekars recall the murders as much for the heinous manner in which they were committed as also for the deep panic, fear and helplessness that had gripped them in those days.

“People would simply desert the streets after 6 pm,” recalls former assistant commissioner of police Balkrishna Agashe. “Except for policemen blowing their whistles and the sound of patrolling boots, a cloak of silence would hang over the city.”

“Like most Punekars, we used to be tense every new moon night as all the murders were committed on those days,” recalls Subhash Pawar, who used to teach advertising and graphic design at the Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya.

“The four were well-behaved and polite. We never suspected that they had criminal tendencies. We were shocked to read in the newspapers about their involvement,” recalls Pawar.

“There were times when people would keep night-long vigils. On days like new moon nights, scared citizens would keep calling the police control room seeking reassurance,” said another old-timer.

The killing of noted Sanskrit scholar Kashinath Shastri Abhyankar, then 88, and four others at his bungalow had come as a shock to Pandit Vasant Gadgil. The 90-year-old Gadgil told TOI, “The entire state was angry over the murders. Shastri was my guru. I felt helpless and realised no one was truly safe.”

The killings had left Pune police baffled for over a year and had put their investigative skills to the test. Then police chief VV Chaubal had constituted a special team under assistant commissioner of police Madhusudhan Hulyalkar and inspector Manikrao Damame, both now deceased.

As the police probe later revealed, the gang employed a peculiar modus operandi of stripping some of their victims naked and using a nylon rope with a particular knot to strangle them to death.



Noted Sanskrit scholar Kashinath Shastri Abhyankar, his wife, two grandchildren and their maid were killed by the gang at their bungalow, ‘Smruti’, on Bhandarkar Road on December 1, 1976
Nirbhaya rapist-murderers to hang at 7am on Jan 22: Court

‘Enough Time Given To Exhaust Legal Remedies’

Aamir.Khan2@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:08.01.2020

The 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case finally moved towards closure when a city court on Tuesday ordered the hanging of the four death row convicts at 7am on January 22, saying they had been given “sufficient time and opportunity” to exhaust their legal remedies.

The order to execute the death sentence of the convicts—Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur—comes six years after another trial court had sentenced them to death.

Nirbhaya’s mother had filed a plea in Delhi’s Patiala House courts, through her advocates, seeking death warrants against the four convicts on December 13, 2018.

In his order, additional sessions judge Satish Kumar Arora observed that the convicts had either exhausted their remedies or hadn’t exercised some of them despite being given sufficient time and opportunity. “In these facts and circumstances, when reasonable time and opportunity has been afforded to them, there is nothing to delay passing of orders on the applications seeking issuance of death warrants,” held the court.

During the hearing, the lawyers appearing for the convicts sought time to file curative petitions before opting for a mercy plea. The lawyersamicus curiae Vrinda Grover appearing for Mukesh and Vinay, and A P Singh for Pawan and Akshay—submitted they were in the process of filing curative petitions. They, therefore, sought time to exhaust this remedy before a mercy plea. Grover submitted that documents required to be relied upon for filing of a curative plea were yet to be supplied to her by the jail authorities.

The submissions were opposed by the lawyers appearing for the victim’s mother and special prosecutors Rajiv Mohan and Irfan Ahmed.


Copy of death warrants to be sent to Tihar

They said that there was nothing pending before any court and the execution of death warrants could be ordered. The prosecutors submitted that all the four convicts could keep exercising their legal rights even after an order to that effect had been passed.

It also came on record that after the last hearing on December 18, 2019, the Tihar jail authorities had informed the convicts about the remedy of filing a mercy petition. This notice, however, was objected to by the convicts on the ground that they still had the remedy of filing a curative petition before the SC.

A status of their legal remedies till now showed that the review petitions of all convicts had been dismissed.

Judge Arora noted that it was “apparent” that the convicts had already been extended sufficient time and opportunity to exhaust legal remedies. And as a result, the court disposed of the plea of Nirbhaya’s mother and that of the state seeking issuance of the death warrants. “Copy of this order with the death warrants to be sent to the Tihar jail superintendent,” it said.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

வன்முறைக்களமாகும் பல்கலைக்கழகங்கள்!

By வ.மு. முரளி | Published on : 07th January 2020 02:48 AM

கடந்த 2019ஆம் ஆண்டு, நமது பல்கலைக்கழகங்களுக்கு போதாத காலமாக அமைந்திருந்தது என்றே சொல்லலாம். அரசியல் சதிராடிய காரணத்தால் பல்வேறு பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் அமைதியின்மை கோலோச்சி, நமது உயர் கல்வித் துறைக்கு பெரும் களங்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியது.

குறிப்பாக, தலைநகர் தில்லியிலுள்ள ஜவாஹர்லால் நேரு பல்கலைக்கழகம் சர்ச்சைகளின் மையமாகவே மாறிவிட்டது. இடதுசாரி மாணவர் சங்கங்களும் ஆசிரியர் சங்கங்களும் வலுவாக உள்ள இந்தப் பல்கலைக்கழகம் பாஜக ஆட்சிக்கு வந்ததிலிருந்தே அமைதியிழந்து காணப்படுகிறது. இதனைக் கட்டுப்படுத்த மத்திய அரசு பல முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொள்வதும் அதற்கு மாணவர்கள் தரப்பில் கடும் எதிர்ப்புக் கிளம்புவதும் வாடிக்கையாக இருந்து வருகிறது. இந்தப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் துணைவேந்தராக ஜெகதீஷ்குமார் 2016 ஜனவரியில் பொறுப்பேற்றபோது கடும் எதிர்ப்பைச் சந்தித்தார். அதன் பிறகு அரசுடன் மாணவர்களின் மோதல் தொடர்ந்து, 2019-இல் உச்சத்தைத் தொட்டது.

ஜேஎன்யு பல்கலைக்கழக விடுதிகளில் தங்கியிருந்த மாணவர்கள் அல்லாதவர்களை வெளியேற்ற துணைவேந்தர் கொண்டுவந்த கட்டுப்பாடுகள், விதிமுறைகளை எதிர்த்தும், உயர்த்தப்பட்ட விடுதிக் கட்டணங்களை மறுபரிசீலனை செய்யக் கோரியும் மாணவர்கள் தொடர் போராட்டங்களில் ஈடுபட்டனர். கடந்த 2019 நவ. 11-இல் பல்கலைக்கழகம் சார்பில் ஏஐசிடிஇ வளாகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவின்போது மத்திய மனிதவள மேம்பாட்டுத் துறை அமைச்சர் ரமேஷ் பொக்ரியால் நிஷாங்கை சுமார் 6 மணிநேரம் முற்றுகையிட்டு சிறைப் பிடித்தனர் மாணவர்கள்.

இந்தப் போராட்டங்களின்போது பல்கலைக்கழக வளாகத்திலிருந்த சுவாமி விவேகானந்தர் சிலை அவமதிக்கப்பட்டது. பல்கலைக்கழகச் சுவர்களில் எழுதப்பட்ட மோசமான வாசகங்கள், நாம் பயிற்றுவிக்கும் கல்வி மாணவர்களைப் பண்படுத்துகிறதா, பாழ்படுத்துகிறதா என்ற அச்சத்தை ஏற்படுத்துவதாக அமைந்தன.

குடியுரிமை திருத்தச் சட்டத்துக்கு எதிராக தில்லியிலுள்ள ஜாமியா மிலியா பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்கள் டிச.15-இல் நடத்திய போராட்டம் வன்முறை வடிவெடுத்ததால், பல்கலைக்கழகத்துக்குள் காவல் துறையினர் நுழைந்து மாணவர்களைத் தாக்கினர். இந்தச் சம்பவம் நாடு முழுவதும் எதிர்ப்பலைகளை உருவாக்கி, மத்திய அரசுக்கு எதிராக மாணவர்களின் போராட்டம் வலுக்கக் காரணமானது.

ஆனால், பல்கலைக்கழக வளாகத்திலிருந்து காவல் துறையினர் மீது நடத்தப்பட்ட தாக்குதல் குறித்து யாரும் கவலைப்பட்டதாகத் தெரியவில்லை. இந்தக் கலவரத்தின்போது 14 பேருந்துகளும் 20 தனியார் வாகனங்களும் எரிக்கப்பட்டன; 31 காவலர்கள் உள்பட 70 பேர் பலத்த காயம் அடைந்தனர். இந்த வன்முறை தொடர்பாக காவல் துறையினரால் கைது செய்யப்பட்ட 10 பேர் மாணவர்களே அல்லர் என்பது தெரியவந்தது.

உ.பி. மாநிலத்திலுள்ள அலிகர் முஸ்லிம் பல்கலைக்கழகமும் குடியுரிமை திருத்தச் சட்டத்துக்கு எதிராக வன்முறைக்களமாக மாறியது. டிச. 15-இல் நடந்த வன்முறையால் பெருமளவு பொதுச் சொத்துகள் சேதப்படுத்தப்பட்டன. இங்கு, மாணவர்கள் ஆயிரம் பேர் மீது வன்முறை வழக்கு பாய்ந்துள்ளது.
மேற்கு வங்க மாநிலத்திலுள்ள ஜாதவ்பூரில் நடந்த நிகழ்வுகள் மிகவும் வெட்கக்கேடானவை. அங்கு மாநிலத்தை ஆளும் முதல்வர் மம்தா பானர்ஜிக்கும் ஆளுநர் ஜகதீப் தன்கருக்கும் ஆரம்பத்திலிருந்தே மோதல் போக்கு நிலவி வருகிறது. இதன் காரணமாக கல்வித் துறையிலும் இந்த மோதலின் மோசமான விளைவுகள் தென்படுகின்றன.

ஜாதவ்பூர் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் டிச. 24-ஆம் தேதி நடைபெற்ற பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவுக்குச் சென்ற பல்கலைக்கழக வேந்தரும் மாநில ஆளுநருமான ஜகதீப் தன்கர், விழாவில் கலந்துகொள்ள விடாமல் தடுக்கப்பட்டார். திரிணமூல் காங்கிரஸ் ஆதரவுள்ள பல்கலைக்கழகப் பணியாளர் சங்கத்தினர் ஆளுநரை முற்றுகையிட்டு, பட்டமளிப்பு விழா அரங்கினுள் செல்லவிடாமல் தடுத்தனர். விழாவில் கலந்துகொள்ளாமல் ஆளுநர் திரும்பினார்.

மேற்கண்ட நிகழ்வுகள் சில எடுத்துக்காட்டுகள் மட்டுமே. நாடு முழுவதிலும் உள்ள பெரும்பாலான பல்கலைக்கழகங்களிலும் உயர் கல்வி ஆராய்ச்சி மையங்களிலும் வெறுப்பு அரசியல் பெருகி வருகிறது. இது கல்வியின் உயர்வுக்கு வழிவகுக்காது. பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் அரசியல் ஆதிக்கத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தத் துடிக்கும் சில கட்சிகளுக்கும், உயர்கல்வி நிலையங்களைத் தன் பிடிக்குள் கொண்டுவர முயற்சிக்கும் மத்திய அரசுக்கும் இடையிலான பலப்பரீட்சை மைதானமாகக் கல்விக்கூடங்கள் மாறி வருகின்றன.

இந்த நிலையில், ஜவாஹர்லால் நேரு பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமையன்று இரு தரப்பு மாணவர்களிடையே நடைபெற்ற மோதல் மிகவும் மோசமான சூழலில் நமது கல்வி நிறுவனங்கள் இருப்பதை வெளிப்படுத்தியுள்ளது. இந்த மோதலின்போது முகமூடி அணிந்த கும்பல் தாக்கியதில் 40க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் காயமடைந்துள்ளனர். தேர்வுக்குப் பதிவு செய்யச் சென்ற மாணவர்களும் தாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்; அலுவலகக் கணினிகள் சேதப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. இந்த மோதல் குறித்து இருதரப்பு மாணவர்களும் பரஸ்பரம் புகார் கூறுகின்றனர். ஆனால், கல்வி நிலையத்தில் வன்முறை கோலோச்சுவதை யாராலும் நியாயப்படுத்த முடியாது.

கல்வி என்பது மானுட வளர்ச்சியின் அடையாளமாக இருக்க வேண்டும். குறைந்தபட்ச நாகரிகம்கூட அற்றவர்களாக, வன்முறையில் நாட்டமுள்ளவர்களாக மாணவர்களை மாற்றுவது நல்லதல்ல என்பதை இப்போதேனும் அரசியல் கட்சிகள் உணர வேண்டும். கல்வி நிலையங்களை விட்டு அரசியல் தலையீடு வெளியேற வேண்டும். 

"சிறந்த குணத்தை உருவாக்குகின்ற, மன வலிமையை வளர்க்கின்ற, அறிவை விரியச் செய்கின்ற, ஒருவனை சொந்தக்காலில் நிற்கச் செய்கின்ற கல்வியே தேவை; மனிதனைப் பண்படுத்தி அவனை பரிபூரண நிலைக்கு இட்டுச் செல்வதே கல்வி' என்ற சுவாமி விவேகானந்தரின் கருத்தைத்தான் இங்கே நினைவுபடுத்த வேண்டி இருக்கிறது.
வைகுந்த ஏகாதசி விழாவைப் புறக்கணித்த காஞ்சிபுரம் அறநிலையத்துறை அதிகாரிகள்

By DIN | Published on : 06th January 2020 11:42 PM



அஷ்டபுஜப் பெருமாள் கோயிலில் சொா்க்கவாசல் வழியாக உள்ளே செல்ல முயன்ற பக்தா்களை சமாளிக்க முடியாமல் திணறிய போலீஸாா்.

காஞ்சிபுரத்தில் திங்கள்கிழமை நடைபெற்ற சொா்க்க வாசல் திறப்பு விழாவின் போது கோயில் நிா்வாக அதிகாரிகளை போலீஸாா் கோயிலுக்குள் அனுமதிக்க மறுத்ததால், இருதரப்பினருக்கும் இடையே வாக்குவாதம் ஏற்பட்டு அறநிலையத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் விழாவைப் புறக்கணித்து கோயிலை விட்டு வெளியேறினா்.

காஞ்சிபுரம் அஷ்டபுஜப்பெருமாள் கோயிலில் திங்கள்கிழமை அதிகாலையில் சொா்க்கவாசல் திறப்பு நடைபெற இருந்த நேரத்தில், குமரகோட்டம் சுப்பிரமணிய சுவாமி கோயில் நிா்வாக அதிகாரி ந.தியாகராஜன் கோயிலுக்குள் செல்ல முயன்றாா்.

அப்போது அங்கு பாதுகாப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த காவலா் ஒருவா் அவரை கோயிலுக்குள் செல்ல அனுமதிக்கவில்லை.

நான் சென்றுதான் சொா்க்கவாசல் கதவைத் திறக்க வேண்டும் என்று சொல்லியும் அவா் அனுமதிக்கப்படவில்லை. பின்னா் கூட்ட நெரிசலில் சிக்கி மிகவும் சிரமப்பட்டு கோயிலுக்குள் வந்து சோ்ந்தாா்.

இதையடுத்து, இந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை உதவி ஆணையா் கி.ரேணுகாதேவி கோயிலுக்கு வந்தபோது கோயில் நிா்வாக அதிகாரிகளான ஆ.குமரன், வெள்ளைச்சாமி, ந.தியாகராஜன் ஆகிய மூவரும் அவரை பாதுகாப்புடன் கோயிலுக்குள் அழைத்துச் செல்ல முயன்றனா்.

அப்போது போலீஸாா், அதிகாரிகள் 3 பேரையும் கோயிலுக்குள் செல்ல அனுமதிக்காததால் போலீஸாருக்கும், அதிகாரிகளுக்கும் இடையே வாக்குவாதம் மற்றும் தள்ளு முள்ளு ஏற்பட்டது.

இதனால் அதிருப்தியடைந்த கோயில் நிா்வாக அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் இந்து சமய அறநிலையத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் விழாவைப் புறக்கணித்து கோயிலிலிருந்து வெளிநடப்பு செய்தனா். பின்னா் காவல்துறை உயா் அதிகாரிகள் அவா்களை சமாதானம் செய்தனா்.
நீட் தோ்வு: 16 லட்சம் போ் விண்ணப்பம்

By DIN | Published on : 07th January 2020 05:20 AM |

எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ் உள்ளிட்ட இளநிலை மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளுக்கான தேசிய தகுதிகாண் நுழைவுத் தோ்வுக்கு (நீட்) நாடு முழுவதும் 16 லட்சம் போ் விண்ணப்பித்திருப்பதாகத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

தமிழகத்தில் மட்டும் ஒன்றரை லட்சம் விண்ணப்பங்கள் சமா்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதாகத் தெரிகிறது.

அரசு மற்றும் தனியாா் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் உள்ள எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ், சித்தா, ஆயுா்வேதம், யுனானி, ஹோமியோபதி உள்ளிட்ட இளநிலைப் படிப்புகளுக்கான நீட் தோ்வு மே மாதம் 3-ம் தேதி நடைபெறுகிறது. அதற்கான விண்ணப்பப் பதிவு கடந்த டிசம்பா் 2-ஆம் தேதி தொடங்கியது. நீட்டிக்கப்பட்ட காலஅவகாசம் திங்கள்கிழமை நிறைவடைந்தது.

கடந்த ஆண்டைப் பொருத்தவரை, மொத்தம் 14 லட்சத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்டோா் நீட் தோ்வினை எழுதியிருந்தனா். தமிழகத்தைப் பொருத்தவரை மொத்தம் 1.23 லட்சம் போ் தோ்வெழுதியிருந்தனா். அவா்களில் 59,785 போ் தோ்ச்சி பெற்றனா்.

தமிழ், ஆங்கிலம், ஹிந்தி, தெலுங்கு, கன்னடம், குஜராத்தி, மராத்தி, ஒடியா, அஸ்ஸாமி, வங்கம், உருது ஆகிய 11 மொழிகளில் நீட் தோ்வுகள் நடைபெற்றது நினைவுகூரத்தக்கது.
18 arrested in Thanjavur for locking stores run by people of 'other states'
According to sources, on Sunday morning, a sweets and savories shop at RR Nagar near the New Bus stand, a hotel, and two granite tiles sales depot at the new bus stand were found locked.

Published: 06th January 2020 08:12 PM

By Express News Service

THANJAVUR: Police arrested 18 members of the Tamizh Desiya Katchi for allegedly locking down commercial establishments run by people from other states in Thanjavur and Pattukkottai.

According to sources, on Sunday morning, a sweets and savories shop at RR Nagar near the New Bus stand, a hotel, and two granite tiles sales depot at the new bus stand were found locked. Also, the posters by the party pasted on the shops demanded North Indians to get out of Tamil Nadu. It alleged that due to the influx of people from other states, the locals were deprived of job opportunities.

Similarly in Pattukkottai town, five shops located on the stretch from Thalayari street to Aranthangi mukkam which were run by people from other states (particularly from Rajasthan) were found locked and posters pasted.

Following these incidents, members of Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai, led by State-Vice President Punniyamurthy and the affected shop owners, lodged a complaint with the Thanjavur Medical College Police. Based on it, the police registered cases and arrested five persons - R Tamil Nesan (46) State President of Tamil Desiya Katchi, I Senthilkumar (37) of Nanthavanapatti, L Kumar (35) of Budalur, A Premkumar (22) of Sengippatti and P Sabapathy (26) of Orathanadu.

The police arrested 13 more people, including D Karthikeyan (32) of Pappanadu, district in-charge of Tamil Desiya Katchi. All the suspects were booked under Sections 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A(1)(a)(promotes or attempts to promote disharmony on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony) of the Indian Penal code.
‘Priority certificate alone does not guarantee right for job preference’

On Monday, the Madras High Court held that having a priority certificate alone would not guarantee a constitutional right for preference in government jobs.

Published: 07th January 2020 05:38 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The government issues priority certificates to candidates seeking jobs under certain quotas -- such as those whose lands have been acquired for government projects, destitute women, and ex-servicemen among others. However, often, it’s not easy securing a job despite having such a certificate.

On Monday, the Madras High Court held that having a priority certificate alone would not guarantee a constitutional right for preference in government jobs. “It is always open to the authority concerned to decide on the reservations (horizontal reservation) that are given to them depending upon the nature of post,” justice N Anand Venkatesh observed.

He was dismissing a write petition filed by R Abdulkadar, whose land was acquired for a government project with the promise of giving him a government job, through a priority certificate. He had appealed to the court to pass a direction to the Teachers Recruitment Board, to consider him for a teacher’s post.

The judge noted that by GO dated December 18, 1978, the government had added one more reservation for the members of the families, whose lands were acquired by government. “The government thought it fit to create such a reservation only to ensure that the persons, whose lands had been acquired and who lost their livelihood by virtue of such acquisition, must be given some preference.”

“This cannot be mechanically applied in all cases, since, the persons whose lands are acquired are paid compensation by the government. Therefore, if the lands of a wealthy person is acquired, that does not mean that a member in that family, shall be given priority in public employment. This defeats the very concept of reservation in public employment,” the judge said. while adding that horizontal reservation was causing “a lot of confusion and chaos in public employment.”
Retired parents of married government staff entitled to medical reimbursement, says HC

The judge quashed an order dated April 25, 2019 of the Additional Chief Secretary for Finance (Salaries) disallowing his claim for reimbursement and directed him to re-consider Kathiravan’s claim.

Published: 07th January 2020 06:37 AM 


Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a significant judgment, the Madras High Court has held that retired and aged parents, more specifically sick parents of married government employees, are also eligible for reimbursement of medical expenses.

“Clause 4(iii) of the Medical Insurance Scheme, introduced in 2016, states that parents of the employee will also be covered only till the employee remains unmarried. If this clause is read literally, on the face of it, it would sound illegal and illogical. The parents of an employee will not cease to be parents after the marriage of the employee,” Justice N Anand Venkatesh observed on January 2 while allowing a writ petition from R Kathiravan, an Assistant Agricultural Officer.

The judge quashed an order dated April 25, 2019 of the Additional Chief Secretary for Finance (Salaries) disallowing his claim for reimbursement and directed him to re-consider Kathiravan’s claim. “After satisfying himself that his father is dependant on him, the authority should reimburse the medical expenses running to `5.7 lakh, due to Apollo Sepciality Hospital, within four weeks,” the judge said.

“The object of the Health Insurance Scheme introduced in 2016 is to help the employee tide over the crisis faced by him due to a sudden and emergent medical emergency. The government had thought it fit to appoint the United India Insurance Company Limited for the implementation of the scheme and for the disbursement of medical reimbursement. It becomes important to take note of annexure-I in a G.O. dated June 30, 2016. Under clause 4 of the annexure, ‘family members’ are defined. Clause 4(iii), if it is read literally, on the face of it, sounds illegal and illogical. Unfortunately, even though this society is moving towards a state where the parents are disregarded after marriage, this court does not expect the government to give a similar treatment for the parents of government employees, who get married,” the judge said.

“This clause cannot be read in isolation and it cannot be given a literal meaning, since it will end up with disturbing consequences. The only way to read this clause is that the parents will continue to be treated as family members till they continue to be the dependants of the government employee.

If this clause is not assigned this meaning, the poor parents will be left in lurch during the evening of their life,” the judge said.

Consider plea for Rs 1 cr compensation: HC

Chennai: A division bench of the Madras High Court has directed the State government to consider within four weeks a plea for compensation of `1 crore from father of young woman who was killed in a road accident after a banner fell on her at Pallikaranai in September last. The direction came after a petition by R Ravi, father of the deceased.
CBI probes transfer of ₹1,038.34 cr. to Hong Kong

48 firms, three persons and unknown officials of banks booked

07/01/2020, , DEVESH KUMAR PANDEY,NEW DELHI

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against 48 Chennai-based companies, three individuals and unknown officials of various banks for having allegedly transferred ₹1,038.34 crore in unaccounted cash to Hong Kong in 2014-15.

Bank accounts opened in the names of these companies were allegedly used to receive money from a large number of accounts in different parts of the country and divert it to the accounts of several firms in Hong Kong.

The three individuals have been identified as Mohammad Ibramsa Johny, a resident of Sivaganga and Zinta Midhar and Nizamuddin from Chennai.

The case is based on information received from a source about the transfer of black money through foreign remittances, mostly by residents of Chennai, in connivance with bank officials.

In all, 51 current accounts for the 48 firms were opened in four branches of the Bank of India, the Punjab National Bank and the State Bank of Mysore for transferring the funds, the FIR alleged. As many as 24 of these accounts were used for outward remittances in foreign currency — valued around ₹488.39 crore back then — on the pretext of advance payment for import of goods, while the other accounts were used for outward transfers totalling ₹550 crore, purportedly for foreign travel by Indian tourists. It is alleged that the companies had submitted identification papers and certificate of import-export codes issued in the name of 25 firms, of which only 10 had made imports in small quantities. The value of the imported goods was much lower than that which was declared in the invoices submitted by the companies to the banks concerned at the time of transferring the funds abroad.

The persons who facilitated the transactions were paid commissions, and bank officials were bribed. Most of the transactions were made in the second half of 2015. The annual turnover of the firms was shown in lakhs, while the funds sent abroad were in crores.
Rajini’sDarbar to release in 4,000 screens across India

The ₹200-crore Pongal release has tie-ups with 15 brands

07/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,CHENNAI


The film is expected to open big as it is releasing solo for the Pongal holidays between January 9 and 19. File Photo

Actor Rajinikanth’s next film, Darbar, directed by A.R. Murugadoss and releasing on January 9, will be screened in 4,000 screens in India alone, said R. Kannan, COO, Lyca Productions.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Kannan said that the film, rumoured to be made on a whopping ₹200-crore budget, is also scheduled to release in places where Tamil films have not released yet.

“The film will release in 7,000 screens across the world. We are planning to release it in a few islands to reach out to the maximum number of people,” he said.

“We are spending ₹7-8 crore to promote the film. The marketing investment for this film is one of the highest in Tamil cinema,” he said, adding that the trade is expecting a super hit.

Mr. Kannan said that around 15 brands such as SpiceJet, Cadbury’s, BookMyShow and Airtel have tied up with the film.

With recent films such as Karthi’s Thambi and Sivakarthikeyan’s Hero declared flops, exhibitors are expecting this film to bring audiences back to theatres. Udeep Reddy, managing director, Mayajaal, said that the film would eventually open big as it was releasing solo for the long Pongal holidays between January 9 and 19.

“It looks like the film will do well for everyone in the trade,” he said.
JNU students, staff want V-C removed

Blame game begins between ABVP and JNUSU over violence on the campus that left 34 injured

07/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,NEW DELHI

United in protest: JNU students staging a demonstration on the campus on Monday against the brutal attack by masked goons on Sunday night.R.V. Moorthy

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Monday demanded the immediate removal of JNU Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar following the brutal attack by masked goons on the university campus on Sunday night.

Under fire for allowing the violence to continue, the Delhi police said an FIR had been registered against “unknown persons” for rioting and damage to property. No arrests have been made so far.

34 treated for injuries

Thirty-four persons injured in the attack, who were brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Sunday night, were discharged after treatment. One teacher was taken to Safdarjung Hospital and later discharged, an official said.

“Several students had broken limbs and head injuries. They were discharged after first aid,” said a senior official at the AIIMS.

“I was specifically targeted on Sunday during a peace march on the campus. Around 20-25 masked persons disrupted the march and attacked me with iron rods,” said JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh at a press conference, her arm in a cast and bandages on her head — she required at least 15 stitches following the attack.

The BJP’s student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), denied it was behind Sunday’s attacks, as alleged by both the JNUSU and the JNUTA.

The outfit, in turn, blamed Ms. Ghosh’s left-wing union for orchestrating the violence. It also claimed that many of its activists were injured, but did not present any to the media.

The JNUSU and a number of faculty members have accused the Delhi police of being bystanders to the violence and allowing the attackers to leave the premises after going on the rampage for several hours.

‘A shameful episode’

“The violence that happened on Sunday is the result of the desperation and frustration of the V-C and his cronies. But the chronology of events that unfolded is a shameful episode for the Delhi police who gave a safe passage to ABVP goons imported from outside. For days now, the administration has been unable to break our protest. Since 4th January, ABVP people were directed as henchmen of the V-C to come and beat up students. They used lathis and pipes on that day,” JNUSU alleged in a statement.

In a separate development, the JNUTA has written an open letter to President Ram Nath Kovind on the connivance between the attackers and the JNU administration.
Singapore to be placed on destination wedding map for Indians

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.01.2020

Singapore Tourism is looking at attracting more visitors by promoting the island as a destination for weddings, cruises and overseas excursions this year.

G B Srithar, regional director, India, Middle East and South Asia of Singapore Tourism Board said, “We will focus on these elements to encourage more visitors. We used to promote school excursions years ago.” Destination weddings are becoming a thing among Indians, he said, adding, “We want people from Tamil Nadu to hold their weddings in Singapore.”

In a bid to promote educational institutions to take up excursions, Singapore tourism will encourage travel agents to offer incentives, he added. Singapore Tourism Board conducted a roadshow in the city where officials interacted with around 100 travel and tour operators.

“South India is an important region for us with direct flights available from nine cities, including Chennai, Trichy and Coimbatore,” he said.

Cruise tours are a great hit among Indians as they’ve hopped aboard cruises to the island most. “This makes it important for us. Indian cruise travellers are the youngest, with an average age of less that 30 years against the global average of 40. A good number of people who take cruise tours also stay in Singapore.”

Similarly, Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018.

Till October 2019, 1.19 million tourists from India visited Singapore.



Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018
Rail to link Velachery with Tambaram soon

U.Tejonmayam@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.01.2020

Residents of areas between Tambaram and Velachery may soon have a faster and comfortable mode of transport for daily commute, with the government planning a transit system, most probably a metro rail or a light metro line. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), which now operates a 45km rail network in the city, will conduct feasibility studies and prepare a detailed project report.

In his customary address on the floor of the assembly, on Monday, governor Banwarilal Purohit said, “To address increasing traffic congestion on the Tambaram-Velachery corridor, the government will establish a rail-based transit system for a total of 15.5km and Chennai Metro Rail Limited will prepare a feasibility report.” Sources said the line will come up along Velachery Main Road, which was one of the routes proposed to be linked by monorail between Velachery and Vandalur via Madipakkam, Pallikaranai, Medavakkam, Selaiyur and Tambaram. “These localities are fast developing and if this link is connected, commuters can reach Tambaram to travel to Guduvanchery and beyond,” an official said.



Centre participation for phase-2 project sought

However, the decision to operate a rail service may depend on the investment the government is ready to make as well as the potential passenger traffic along the corridor.

The feasibility study will involve collecting extensive data on public transport users and private vehicles on the route. Based on the existing passenger traffic, a forecast for the coming decades and peak hour traffic will be assessed before the type of rail system suitable for the stretch is decided.

CMRL had earlier proposed lining a part of Kathipara-Poonamallee corridor, suggested for monorail, to the 118.9km metro phase-2. While Kathipara is linked to Alandur in phase-1, the remaining areas like Porur, SRMC Hospital, Iyyappanthangal, Kattupakkam, Kumananchavadu and Karayanchavadi are now part of phase-2.

The decision to build a metro rail network on the planned monorail route was made after CMRL conducted a comprehensive study on the passenger flow along the route and found that the high traffic density between Porur and Poonamallee could only be handled by metro rail.

The governors said the state had decided to extend the metro rail corridor by 15.3km from Chennai Airport to Kilambakkam, where a new mofussil bus stand is coming up.

On the three-corridor 118.9km phase-2 project, which is estimated to cost ₹69,180 crore, the governor said JICA had agreed to fund a stretch of 52.01km and the first tranche of the loan agreement has been signed. Multilateral assistance from Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank is being availed of for the remaining stretches. “I urge the Government of India to accord early approval for their participation in the phase-2 project on a 50:50 equity sharing model adopted for phase-1,” he said.

He also said the phase-1extension line up to Thirvottiyur/ Wimco Nagar will be completed by mid-2020.
SC: Govt can regulate selection of students in minority institutes
‘Art 30 Is Not An Absolute Right’


AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:07.01.2020

In a ruling with significant implications for minority institutions, the Supreme Court on Monday held that Article 30(1) does not confer an absolute right to them to run their affairs as per their choice as they need to regard merit while selecting students and teachers.

The SC said government has a role in ensuring quality of education in a case regarding a West Bengal law setting up a commission for appointing teachers to madarsas which receive government funding. The law was struck down by the high court but the decision has now been reversed by the SC. A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit said any such regulative measures is not only in the interest of the minority educational institution, but of the public and nation as a whole. Such measures must necessarily apply to all educational institutions, whether run by majority or minority communities, even as it added that government regulations cannot destroy the minority character of an institution.

9-judge SC bench to hear Sabari case

A nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear from January 13, the issue of allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Kerala’s Sabarimala temple along with other contentious issues of alleged discrimination against Muslim and Parsi women. Last November, a five-judge bench in a 3:2 verdict had referred to a 7-judge bench, the pleas seeking review of its 2018 ruling allowing women and girls of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple. P10

Merit must be the governing criterion: SC

The bench said, “The decision in TMA Pai Foundation case, rendered by eleven judges of this court, put the matter beyond any doubt and clarified that the right under Article 30(1) is not absolute or above the law and that conditions concerning the welfare of the students and teachers must apply in order to provide proper academic atmosphere, so long as they did not interfere with the right of the administration or management.” Article 30 says that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

The question of procedures and appointments has arisen frequently in the context of the state’s role when it aids such institutions.

Referring to another verdict of the apex court, Justice Lalit, who penned the judgment, said merit-based selection is in the interest of the nation and this strengthens national welfare and must not be ignored.

“Selection of meritorious students has been accepted to be in national interest. A minority institution cannot in the name of right under Article 30(1) of the Constitution, disregard merit or merit-based selection of students as regards professional and higher education. The right to take disciplinary action against the staff has also not been accepted to be an unqualified right,” the court said.

The court said excellence and merit must be the governing criteria in national interest if the right has not been accepted as absolute and unqualified. “Any departure from the concept of merit and excellence would not make a minority educational institution an effective vehicle to achieve what has been contemplated in various decisions of this Court.

Further, if merit is not the sole and governing criteria, the minority institutions may lag behind the non-minority institutions rather than keep in step with them,” it said.

“An objection can certainly be raised if an unfavourable treatment is meted out to an educational institution established and administered by minority,” it said.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Centre’s panel gives nod for four new govt medical colleges in Tamil Nadu

The new colleges at Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Kancheepuram districts will each have 150 MBBS seats once the executive committee gives its approval. 


Published: 06th January 2020 03:19 AM

By Sinduja Jane


Express News Service

CHENNAI: Union health ministry’s technical evaluation committee (TEC) has given its nod for four new government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, at its meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

The new colleges at Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Kancheepuram districts will each have 150 MBBS seats once the executive committee gives its approval.

With this, the number of government medical colleges in the State will increase to 37. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of government medical colleges in the country.

An official source told Express that TEC has sent the file to executive committee, a meeting of which is scheduled for this week.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on December 2 had announced that the State had applied with Union Health Ministry for four more medical colleges and it was Amma (the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa)’s vision to establish one medical college in every district.

In October last, the Centre had approved six new medical colleges at Tirupur, The Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram, Namakkal, Dindigul and Virudhunagar districts.

In November, it gave nod to set up three medical colleges in Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam and Krishnagiri districts, taking the sanction of new medical colleges in the State to nine in one year.

Health Secretary Beela Rajesh, Director of Medical Education (in-charge) R Narayanababu and other senior officials attended the TEC meeting in New Delhi and convinced the committee with a detailed report seeking sanction of four new medical colleges.

The State Government is planning to lay foundation for the first sanctioned six medical colleges soon.

Where are the colleges?

The colleges are to be built in Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Kancheepuram districts.

They will have 150 MBBS seats each, once the executive committee approves. With this, the number of medical colleges in the State will increase to 37

    A taste of Tiruchy in Chennai

    We were at the inauguration of Cholan Mess, a restaurant brand that traces its origin to the 1950s in Tiruchy.

    Published: 06th January 2020 04:12 AM 



    Cholan Mess was inaugurated at OMR on Sunday (Photo | Debadatta Mallick, EPS)

    By Express News Service

    CHENNAI: On an overcast Sunday morning at Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, the beats of western snare drums and trumpets met the grooves of traditional Karagattam, and the scrumptious notes of Tamil Nadu mess food met vintage aesthetics.

    We were at the inauguration of Cholan Mess, a restaurant brand that traces its origin to the 1950s in Tiruchy.

    As we stepped into the eatery covered with checkered flooring, popular Tamil songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s blared through the retro loudspeakers.

    Walls caked in warm mustard yellow and refreshing teal adorned illustrative portraits of women in Tamil households from a bygone era.

    Adjacent to a swinging door that looked right from a Mexican cantina, a vibrant wall tastefully painted with posters of Tamil blockbuster films including the 1964 classic Server Sundaram, Aayirathil Oruvan (1965) and Vasantha Maligai (1972) caught our attention.

    “To recreate the 1980s era was our main goal. Everything — from the interiors to the menu — has been curated in such a way that it evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth in customers,” said Praveen Antony, founder and MD, adding that the brand has only been “refound”.

    “Cholan Mess was originally established in 1953. The Mess has a strong presence in Tiruchy and after so many years, it’s still tasting success. After the idea to start an eatery in Chennai took different shapes, I decided to narrow it down and bring Cholan Mess to Chennai,” said the restaurateur who opted to keep the origin story of the brand under wraps.

    Praveen opened the first outlet of the Mess in Mogappair in September 2019. The brand will soon open its doors in Ashok Nagar too.

    After a low-key inauguration, the restaurant was all set to serve the customers a virundhu (feast) of delicacies from down south — from seeraga samba biryani, nalli fry, prawn thokku, goli soda to milk sarbath.

    “The seeraga samba biryani is our specialty. We follow heirloom recipes for all our dishes and being authentic is our USP. We serve food in banana leaves,” he added.

    The eatery boasts a sizeable menu comprising wholesome meals, biryani, tiffin, drool-worthy gravies, and Indo-Chinese options. The restaurant doesn’t serve idli or dosa for breakfast, instead, they serve a traditional Neeragaram or Pazhaya soru served with chinna vengayam, chilli, more milagai, maavadu and maasi karuvadu.

    “We will be adding more traditional dishes to the menu in the future. The idea is to make the brand national,” he shared.

    The dishes start from Rs 20 onwards. Cholan Mess is located in HIG-I-104, Nolambur Main Road, Mogappair West, TNHB Phase I, Nolambur, Ambattur Industrial Estate, and Vinayak Avenue, First Main Road, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, OMR.
    7 flights diverted as fog hits air traffic

    For the second day on Saturday flights were diverted from Chennai International Airport due to poor visibility caused by extreme fog.

    Published: 05th January 2020 06:39 AM 


    Sunish P Surendran, EPS)

    By Express News Service

    CHENNAI : For the second day on Saturday flights were diverted from Chennai International Airport due to poor visibility caused by extreme fog. Seven flights, both international and domestic, which were to land in Chennai, were diverted to Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Coimbatore due to poor visibility. Similarly, 40 flights were delayed due to poor visiblity which lasted till 10 am. The schedule of air passengers went haywire.

    Air India’s flight from Muscat and British Airways flight from Heathrow, were diverted to Hyderabad. The other flights that were diverted to Hyderabad include Air Australia flight from St Denis Rolland Garos Airport in Australia, Indigo flight from Delhi and Oman Air flight from Muscat. Indigo flight from Pune was diverted to Coimbatore and Ethihad flight from Shanghai to Chennai was diverted to Bengaluru.
    Over 100 infants died in two Jodhpur hospitals: report

    The report was prepared by S.N. Medical College

    06/01/2020, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,JODHPUR

    Over 100 infants died in two government hospitals in in December last year, a report has found amid growing outrage over infant deaths in a Kota hospital.

    While a total of 146 children died in Umaid and MDM hospitals in Jodhpur in December, 102 deaths were reported in the neo-natal intensive care unit.

    The figures of infant deaths in Jodhpur were given in a report prepared by the S.N. Medical College in the light of casualties in Kota’s J.K. Lon Hospital.

    Over 100 infants have died in the government-run hospital in Kota.

    S.N. Medical College principal S.S. Rathore, however, said the figure is in the range of international standards of infant mortality.

    “A total of 47,815 children had been admitted to the hospitals in 2019 and of this, 754 children died,” said Dr. Rathore.

    In December, 4,689 children had been admitted to the hospitals of which 3,002 had been admitted to NICU and ICU and 146 of them died. Dr. Rathore said most of the children who died were those referred from other surrounding districts in a critical condition.

    The hospitals here have to bear the load of patients from entire western Rajasthan and children were also referred from hospitals like AIIMS, he said.

    He added the critical care unit of the hospitals have been adjudged best in the State for two consecutive years and attributed it to their best practices and care. Though Dr. Rathore denied any shortage of resources at the hospitals, there have been reports that many senior doctors have been running their own private hospitals.
    Doctors attacked by mob outside university campus

    ‘They surrounded ambulance, threw stones’

    06/01/2020, SOIBAM ROCKY SINGH,NEW DELHI

    A group of nine doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other hospitals was attacked by a mob outside Jawaharlal Nehru University’s main entrance gate on Sunday night.

    The doctors, who had come in an ambulance with medical supplies to help the injured students, were not allowed to enter the campus.

    “Around 100 masked goons attacked our ambulance with stones and lathis when we tried to enter the campus,” said Praveen, a general surgeon at Maharishi Valmiki Hospital.

    Another doctor, who had come on his own as a volunteer to treat the students, said: “The police remained a mute spectator while our ambulance was being surrounded and attacked by the mob.”

    Dr. Praveen added that the mob broke a window of the ambulance. “The mob even tried to drag and pull one of the doctors out of the ambulance’s window,” he said, pointing towards the doctor, who had received injuries.

    A visibly rattled woman doctor in the group said, “The goons were wearing masks and helmets. I could smell that they were drunk. They even tried to take our mobile phones as we were taking videos.”

    “There is no safety even for ambulance and doctors,” another doctor.

    After some policemen intervened, the ambulance was allowed to leave the premises after half-an-hour, the doctors said.

    NEWS TODAY 21.12.2024