HC to hear Puducherry CM’s petition from January 24 

He challenged Centre’s advisory to transfer cash instead of distributing free rice

14/01/2020 , Mohamed Imranullah S., CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Monday decided to commence hearing arguments from January 24, both on the maintainability as well as the merits of a writ petition filed by Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, challenging an advisory issued by the Centre last month for continuing the practice of transferring cash instead of free distribution of rice to ration cardholders.

Justice C.V. Karthikeyan took the decision when the writ petition was listed for admission before him.

Opposing the plea, Additional Solicitor General G. Rajagopalan questioned the very maintainability of the case and claimed that the Chief Minister of a Union Territory was not entitled to file a case against the Centre, since both of them were not distinct entities.

Further, referring to Section 50 of the Government of Union Territories Act of 1963, he said all decisions taken by the Centre were binding upon the Administrator (called as Lieutenant Governor in Puducherry) as well as the Council of Ministers in a Union Territory. Therefore, no Minister, much less the Chief Minister, could challenge such decisions before a court of law. In his petition, Mr. Narayanasamy accused L-G Kiran Bedi of having having made a recommendation for direct benefit transfer (cash deposit) without taking ground realities into account.

‘Good results’

He said the prime objective of distribution of rice and other essentials through public distribution system was to address maladies such as hunger and malnutrition. Hence, after being elected in 2016, his government had increased the distribution of free rice to all ration cardholders from 10kg to 20kg a month. The scheme yielded good results, he claimed.

In the meantime, the Centre brought in the Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules of 2015. The Chief Minister feared that cash transfer would lead to male members in poor families snatching away the money from women and spend it for consuming liquor. Dubbing cash transfer as a “lazy short cut,” he said, it could lead to pilferage at various levels and would not help in achieving the objective of fighting hunger and malnutrition.

Hence, his council of ministers on June 7 last year passed a resolution for continuing free distribution of rice and not to opt for cash transfer. However, Ms. Bedi differed with that decision and referred the issue to the Centre on September 5. Not stopping with that, she ordered implementation of cash transfer till the Centre took a final call on the issue.

Huge turnout of youth for registration of bulls for jallikattu
Officials distribute tokens to bull owners

14/01/2020 , Staff Reporter, MADURAI

Veterinarians checking bulls in Madurai on Monday.

A large turnout of youngsters and bulls from in and around Madurai and nearby district lined up at Avaniyapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur for the registration of bulls on Monday. With jallikattu to be conducted between January 15 and 17, officials from the animal husbandry department gave away tokens to bull owners after scrutinising the health of the bulls.

During the process, bull rearers at Alanganallur relented against officials over the distribution of tokens. The district police who were at the spot had to contain the swelling crowds as a strict cap of only 700 bulls were given tokens.

M. Rajasekaran from Alanganallur said that like him, several other youngsters were turned away by the district administration officials and the police as the tokens were distributed early in the day.

“Although we have been standing in lines from 7 a.m., we could not make the cut,” he said.

Joint Director Animal Husbandry D. Suresh Christopher said that strict instructions had been provided to veterinarians to ensure that the bulls are at least 120 cm tall and are above 2.5 years in age.

“Only bulls with good health which are tough enough to face the crowd of tamers ideally should be allowed, particularly those which are trained. The Kangeyam and the Pulikulam varieties of bulls usually are pretty tall. Umbalacheri which were earlier bred in Thanjavur for the purpose of ploughing may not reach 120 cm but are one of the swiftest breeds. Discretion must be just to approve the bulls,” he said.

In order to tackle the yearly problems faced during jallikattu time in the holding yard, Collector T.G. Vinay had strictly stated that bulls can gather only at 6 a.m.

“Only those with proper certificates and tokens can stand in line unlike last year where bulls recommended by the organising committee were let in,” he said.

Nirbhaya convicts to meet their families last on Jan. 20 

All 4 to be hanged on Jan. 22 at 7 a.m. 

14/01/2020 , SAURABH TRIVEDI, NEW DELHI

The convicts in the Nirbhaya case will meet their family members for the last time on January 20, two days before their scheduled hanging, said an officer with the Tihar jail on Monday.

The convicts — Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma, and Akshay Kumar Singh — who are currently under the close watch of doctors and physiatrists in isolation wards, will be executed together at 7 a.m. in Tihar jail, said another officer.

All the preparations related to the hanging are over, he added. “We asked the convicts about the day and time when they would want to meet their families but they did not reply. In this case, we have scheduled the meetings on January 20,” the officer said. The meeting will be held in separate rooms in the presence of Tihar jail officials. “We have stopped giving newspapers to the convicts and they are on regular diets. Their medical reports are normal with no signs of ‘abnormality’ seen during their psychological screenings,” said the officer.

He added that after the court issued death warrants on January 7, family members of Mukesh, Pawan and Vinay had come to meet them. “Akshay’s family members came to meet him in November last. At present, family members can meet prisoners two times in a week. Mukesh’s mother visited him on Friday,” the officer said.

On Sunday, a team of prison officials performed dummy execution of the convicts. The dummies were created using sacks filled with debris and stones as per the weight of the convicts.

HC rules Musharraf trial illegal

14/01/2020 , Mehmal Sarfraz, LAHORE

In huge relief for Pakistan’s self-exiled former dictator, the Lahore High Court on Monday declared Pervez Musharraf’s trial in the high treason case as “unconstitutional”.

A special court had given death sentence to the ex-Army chief on December 17 for holding the Constitution in abeyance.

Lawyer Usama Malik said the High Court pointed out that Cabinet approval wasn’t given for the formation of the special court and it was only constituted by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Interior Ministry, which is illegal.

(With inputs from PTI)

DGCA provides IndiGo relief, extends deadline 

‘Engines to be replaced in 4 months’

14/01/2020 , special correspondent , NEW DELHI

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has provided relief to IndiGo and extended the deadline for replacing all snag-prone Pratt and Whitney (PW) engines in the airline’s fleet by four months, though the engine maker recently identified a new problem.

In November 2019, the DGCA instructed IndiGo to replace 120 engines on its PW-powered A320neo planes by the end of January 2020, following four instances of mid-air engine shutdowns in the span of a week. However, on December 16, 2019, PW notified a new cause for glitches in the low-pressure turbine in engines — “fracture of Mid Turbine Frame (MTF) Piston seal” — and advised boroscopic inspection of the engines. Following this, another 15 engines were identified for replacement. The watchdog has now said that the airline can replace all its engines by May 31, 2020.

In a statement, the DGCA said that IndiGo will be able to replace only 70% of these engines by the January 31 deadline. “The procurement of modified engines was adversely impacted due to holidays during Christmas and New Year at MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] facilities,” the DGCA reasoned.

Employ architecture college graduates as stapathis: HC
Judge concerned as committee is not meeting frequently

14/01/2020 , Legal Correspondent, CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Monday directed the State government to implement within three months the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Engineering and Subordinate Service Rules. and to give priority to graduates from institutions such as the Government College of Architecture and Sculpture (GCAS) at Mamallapuram while making appointments to the posts of engineers, draftsman and stapathi.

Justice R. Mahadevan issued the direction after finding that the government continued to engage traditional stapathis despite the GCAS having been established in 1957 to create trained hands in designing, building, repairing and resurrecting temple structures as well as idols.

He said with pain that only a handful of graduates from the college had managed to set up studios while others had switched professions.

After recording the submission that a Government Order was issued on August 9, 2019 for setting up a renovation and conservation wing with 175 posts, including 90 posts of Engineer, Draftsman and Stapathy, the judge said that there should be at least one stapathi in each of the 28 blocks of HR&CE department.

All these posts should be filled strictly in accordance with the required qualification, knowledge and experience, he added.

Although Section 7 of the Hindu Religious and Charitable EndowmentsAct of 1959 read with the rules framed thereunder require the constitution of an Advisory Committee, chaired by the Chief Minister, and expect it to meet at least once in six months to take stock of maintenance of temples across the State, “no such meetings are being conducted and as a result, many temples have been left in a lurch,” the judge lamented in his verdict.

He directed the government to constitute the Advisory Committee and in absentia, permit another committee headed by the principal of the Government College of Architecture and Sculpture to give countersign and give opinions on renovation of temples and resurrection of idols, images, paintings, pillars, scriptures or any other matter of ancient or historical importance.

Such committee should invite suggestions from various experts before carrying out the renovation exercise, he said.

‘Reduce services’

Wondering how engineers from the Public Works Department and other allied departments could be used for temple restoration activities, which require deep knowledge of the agama sastra, the judge ordered:

“The services of staff from other departments is to be periodically reduced keeping in mind the period of deputation. In case of any need, their services should be used only for the limited purpose of estimation and civil works.”

Maritime institute in Cuddalore headed by Alagiri de-recognised
It did not have a principal and operated with one faculty

14/01/2020 , Special Correspondent, CHENNAI

The Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, has ordered the withdrawal of approval and recognition to a maritime science and engineering college run by a Trust, of which Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.S. Alagiri is the chairman.

The MTI Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Institute of Maritime Shipping and Engineering, Cuddalore, is run by the Kamalam Sambandan Educational and Charitable Trust. The trustees of the institute are Mr. Alagiri, some of his family members and acquaintances. In its order, the DG Shipping said several complaints were received from students. The institute was given an opportunity to respond to the complaints. The DG found many discrepancies in the replies. It found that the institute did not have a principal and was operating with only one faculty member and two instructors. It also found that “MTI had no faculty members to conduct basic safety courses, clearly showing that the MTI had not conducted any classes and yet issued certificates for completion of course to the candidates. It is a major non-compliance”.

TTDC to organise boating contest on Thursday

14/01/2020 , Special Correspondent, CHENNAI

This Thiruvalluvar Day, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) has planned to make your visit to its boating houses more exciting with various competitions. TTDC’s facilities at Ooty, Kodaikanal, Pykara, Muttukadu and Mudaliarpet will host competitions on rowing and pedalling boats from 11 a.m. on Thursday.

There won’t be any extra charge for participating in the competitions.

Those willing to take part can register on the spot, said a release.

The TTDC will also organise a hop-on, hop-off tour of Chennai city on Thursday.

The bus will take tourists to Island Grounds exhibition, Vivekananda House, Light House and Guindy Children's Park. Ticket fare will be ₹10 per person.

For details call 25333333, 25333444, 25333857, 25333850-54, 180042531111.

Woman student ends life in univ hostel, college mates seek fair probe

TNN | Jan 13, 2020, 04.32 AM IST

Coimbatore: A 23-year-old woman postgraduate student committed suicide at Periyar University’s students hostel in Salem on Friday. Students who found about the incident on Saturday night stopped police from taking her body to a hospital for postmortem. They demanded a fair investigation into the death.

Police identifed the deceased as T Niveditha, 23, of Gopalapuram near Pappireddipatti in Dharmapuri district. She was studying MSc botany. “Niveditha had been staying in her room alone for the past 10 days as her roommates were away on project work. Other students at the hostel last saw her around 7.30pm on Friday. When she did not come out of her room whole day, they checked on her and found her hanging from a ceiling fan on Saturday night,” a police officer said.

Police are yet to find the reason for the death. They found a letter and collection of poems in her room.

Meanwhile, students in the hostel besieged police personnel and stopped them from taking her body to the Salem government hospital for postmosterm. Students said another woman student in the botany department lodged a complaint with the university authorities against a professor in her department for trying to misbehave to her. But she later withdrawn the complaint. In this background, Niveditha, who was also from the same department, committed suicide. Students sought a fair investigation into the death and urged the university authorities and police to question the professor.

Later, the college authorities and police pacified the students. The body was sent to the hospital for postmortem.

Meanwhile, the state higher education minister K P Anbalagan said proper action would be taken after the police investigation.

BU’s physical education programme derecognised

TNN | Jan 14, 2020, 04.31 AM IST

Coimbatore: The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), a statutory body under the Centre that recognises physical education programmes in higher education institutions, has withdrawn recognition to the Bharathiar University’s department of Physical Education for conducting Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed) course from the next academic session.

The decision, NCTE said, was taken a meeting held from January 7 to 9 in New Delhi. The minutes of the meeting said the council had sent a show-cause notice in April last year and the final show-cause notice in October. “The institution did not submit its reply/representation in response to the final notice. Hence, NCTE decided to withdraw the recognition granted to Bharathiar University Department of Physical Education, for conducting B.P.Ed. course with effect from the next academic session.”

Sources pointed out to a NCTE communication in 2015 that said the department consented to come under NCTE’s new regulations and sought to intake 100 students in the programme. For this, it had sought the list of additional staff appointed and approved staff list. It had also directed the university to display all details of the department. Lapses in these could have led to the NCTE action.

Hosp opens network of advanced labs

TNN | Jan 14, 2020, 04.49 AM IST

Madurai: The Madurai-based Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC) has unveiled a network of advanced diagnostic labs in various parts of the state, especially in tier II and III towns and villages, to help more people get timely and accurate diagnosis.

Music director Yuvan Shankar Raja, chairman of Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai, Dr S Gurushankar, and film director Ike Rathe unveiled the logo for the labs at a function held on January 8. The event also marked the inauguration of Meenakshi Labs in Karaikudi, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Mayiladuthurai, Rajapalayam, and Thanjavur.

HC: Sculpture grads must get priority for sthapathi posts

TNN | Jan 14, 2020, 04.26 AM IST

Chennai: Right to employment is a fundamental right and when a special institution is created for a specific purpose, it is the duty of the state to make way for adequate employment opportunities for graduates of such institutions, the Madras high court observed on Monday and directed the government to give ‘first priority’ to graduates from Government College of Architecture and Sculpture while filling the posts of engineers, draftsman and sthapathis.
The posts are for the newly constituted renovation and conservation wing under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department.

Justice R Mahadevan passed the order on a plea moved by D V Murugan seeking direction to the authorities to appoint the sthapathi degree holders from Government College of Architecture and Sculpture, Mamallapuram, in the post meant for assistant engineer in every zonal office or alternately make provisions for appointment of such graduates as sthapathis as done in Andhra Pradesh in each division taking into consideration the number of temples in a particular division under the HR&CE department.

Allowing the plea, the judge said: “The knowledge in civil engineering alone is not sufficient to cater to the needs of renovation of temples including sculpting. Whereas, the students from the sculpting college or any other institution covering the field, who are also taught architecture and design with thorough knowledge in sculpting, would be eligible to be appointed in the HR&CE department.”

The appointment of such successful candidates as sthapathis would lessen the financial burden on the exchequer as they would be in a position to carry out minor repair work on their own with less role from third parties and they could perform twin functions of an engineer and that of sthapathi, Justice Mahadevan added. The court also directed the state to finalise and bring to life the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments engineering and subordinate service rules in three months.

NCW notice to TN college for expelling four girl students who consumed liquor

TNN | Jan 14, 2020, 04.32 AM IST

Chennai: In the wake of a complaint against expelling four girl students of a college for consuming beer during a house party in Nagapattinam district, National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued a notice to the college asking it “to look into the matter and take appropriate action as per law”.

In a letter to the principal of Dharmapuram Adhinam Arts College in Mayiladuthurai, Shyamala S Kundar, member of the commission, citing the complaint by All India Private Colleges Employees Union (AIPCEU) which alleged harassment/indecent representation of women, said, “The action taken in the matter may please be communicated within 30 days from the date of receipt of the letter.”

The students in college uniform were seen celebrating the birthday of one of the girls at her house in Sitharkadu village. The incident came to light when a clip of the celebration was circulated on social media. After disciplinary enquiry, the college administration expelled all four students.

“The punishment is severe and it could end their education. Instead of reforming the students with lighter punishment, the college has taken an extreme step which has jeopardised their future. It amounts to harassment of women,” said K M Karthik, founder of AIPCEU and the complainant. He said the commission is considerate of the fate of the girls and sought a reply within 30 days.

“The entire matter was blown out of proportion. If boys drink and socialise it wouldn’t be an issue at all. It only became an issue as girl students consumed drinks. It was not done on the premises of college for it to take action,” said Sudha Ramalingam, senior advocate and social activist. “This is not the way to treat the students. The college could have reformed and educated them on the evils of drinking. But, to expel them is too harsh a punishment and it’s not for any educational institution to handle students like this. Students should be handled with compassion, caution and care. The intervention of national commission for women is good enough,” she said.

TN cuts road accidents, gets Centre award

TNN | Jan 14, 2020, 04.33 AM IST

Chennai: Tamil Nadu has received an award from the Centre for ‘Best Performance in Road Safety’. Defence minister Rajnath Singh presented the award to state transport minister M R Vijayabaskar on Monday.

The state witnessed a 32% drop in road accident deaths in 2018, compared to the previous year, according to official data. This was after topping India’s state-wise accident chart twice in a row in 2016 and 2017.

The government attributed the decrease to coordinated efforts by various departments and regular reviews by State Road Safety Council headed by Nithin Gadkari, Union road transport and highways minister (MoRTH).

Besides strict enforcement by police in terms of wearing helmets, seatbelts and monitoring patrol vehicles, strengthening emergency care by establishing more trauma care centres, ambulances and responder bikes helped in bringing down deaths.

“Phenomenal levels of commitment by the health team and the introduction of emergency mobile app capturing GPS & GIS for reaching the accident spot faster have also helped in reducing response time,” said a MoRTH official.

Speaking to the media after the award ceremony, Vijayabaskar said it’s impossible to reduce accidents overnight and efforts will continue to cut fatalities further in 2019-20. Nearly one-third of road accidents are reported on national highways.

“Identifying and eliminating black-spots, installing speed-breakers and signage at such accident-prone stretches have drastically reduced the fatalities in the last three years,” said a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official.

Plans are underway to install automated number plate recognition systems and speed monitoring cameras along highway stretches for better compliance with road safety rules. A pilot project is expected to come up on Chennai-Trichy highway.

As far as Chennai was concerned, a major change introduced in 2017-18 was the e-challan system. Fines collected digitally were linked to the government database ‘VAHAN’ and it helped in nabbing repeat offenders, said traffic police.

SpiceJet flight from Varanasi makes emergency landing at Chennai airport

TNN | Jan 13, 2020, 09.48 PM IST

CHENNAI: A SpiceJet flight from Varanasi made an emergency landing at the Chennai airport on Monday evening. 

According to airport sources, the flight was scheduled to land at Chennai airport around 6.45pm. However, soon after the flight came in the range of Chennai air traffic control, the pilot informed that there was a problem in one of the flaps of the aircraft. So the airports authority gave priority for the landing of this aircraft.

Pongal: TTDC to operate 'hop on and hop off' service in Chennai on Thursday

TNN | Jan 13, 2020, 08.34 PM IST 

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) will operate a 'hop on and hop off' service on Thursday, on the occasion of Maatu Pongal. 

People can board 'hop on and hop off' vehicles and travel to eight tourist attractions in Chennai for Rs 10.

A press release here on Monday said that the 'hop on and hop off' would be operated between 9am and 6pm on Thursday, where people can travel to various places including tourist fair at Island Grounds, tourist spots spread across Kamarajar Salai, Annai Velankanni Church, Arupadai Veedu Murugan and Children’s Park. They can board and alight at any of these places using the same ticket.

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பயணத்தை திடீரென ரத்து செய்த கால்டாக்சி நிறுவனத்துக்கு ரூ.25 ஆயிரம் அபராதம்: நுகர்வோர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவு


2020-01-13@ 00:17:47

சென்னை: பயணத்தை திடீரென ரத்து செய்த கால்டாக்சி நிறுவனத்துக்கு ரூ.25 ஆயிரம் அபராதம் விதித்து நுகர்வோர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. சென்னை, பெரம்பூரை சேர்ந்தவர் முத்துகுமார். இவர் திருமணத்துக்கு செல்வதற்காக, கடந்த 2013 ஆண்டு பிரபல கால் டாக்சி நிறுவனத்திடம் அதே ஆண்டு நவம்பவர் 6ம் தேதி திருமணத்துக்கு செல்ல வேண்டி உள்ளது. எனவே, மாலை 5.30 மணிக்கு 13 பேர் பயணம் செய்வதற்காக, டெம்போ டிராவலர் வேன் கேட்டு பதிவு செய்துள்ளார். இதனை உறுதி செய்து கொண்ட நிறுவனம் அதற்காக ரூ.1,670 கட்டணம் தெரிவித்து, சரியான நேரத்துக்கு வருவதாக உறுதியளித்துள்ளனர். ஆனால், பயணத்தை ரத்து செய்துகொள்கிறோம் என்று தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். இதனால், திருமணத்திற்கு தயாராகி இருந்தவர்கள் கடும் மன உளைச்சலுக்கு ஆளாகியுள்ளனர். பின்னர், புதியதாக வேறு ஒரு வாகனத்தை ஏற்பாடு செய்து, இரவு 8 மணிக்கு புறப்பட்டு, சென்றுள்ளனர். அதற்குள் திருமணம் முடிந்துள்ளது.

பின்னர், அங்கிருந்து வீட்டிற்கு வருவதற்கு இரவு 12 மணி ஆகியுள்ளது. இதனால், குழந்தைகள் கடுமையாக பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். இதனால், கால் டாக்சி நிறுவனத்திடம் இருந்து உரிய இழப்பீடு வாங்கி தருமாறு மாவட்ட நுகர்வோர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு தொடர்ந்தார். இந்த வழக்கு நீதிபதி மோனி, உறுப்பினர் பாஸ்கர் குமரவேல் முன்பு விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அப்போது வழக்கை விசாரித்த நீதிபதி, வாகனத்தை திடீரென ரத்து செய்தும், அதற்கு மாற்று வாகனம் ஏற்பாடு செய்து தராமலும் மன உளைச்சலுக்கு ஆளாக்கி உள்ளது உறுதியாகியுள்ளது. எனவே கால்டாக்சி நிறுவனத்துக்கு ரூ.25 ஆயிரம் அபராதம் விதித்து உத்தரவிட்டார்.

விமானங்கள் தாமதம் பயணிகள் அவதி

Added : ஜன 13, 2020 01:05

மதுரை : மதுரையிலிருந்து துபாய் செல்ல நேற்று முன் தினம் மாலை 4.40 மணிக்கு136 பயணிகள் புறப்படத் தயாராக இருந்தனர். ஆனால் துபாயிலிருந்து வரும் ஸ்பைஸ்ஜெட் விமானம் வரவில்லை. பயணிகள் ஸ்பைஸ் ஜெட் நிறுவன அதிகாரிகளுடன் பயணிகள் வாக்குவாதத்தில் ஈடுப்பட்டனர். துபாயிலிருந்து ஸ்பைஸ்ஜெட் விமானம் 17 மணி நேர தாமதத்திற்குப் பின் நேற்று (ஜன., 12) காலை 10:00 மணிக்கு மதுரை வந்தது.

Omni buses and flights cheaper than Suvidha trains this Pongal season

Fares collected by Railways are two and a half to three times higher this Pongal than usual fares during the festival season.

Published: 13th January 2020 05:54 AM

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Fares collected by Railways are two and a half to three times higher this Pongal than usual fares during the festival season.

Omnibuses already charge Rs 600 to Rs 1700 more per ticket than regular fares from Chennai to Madurai, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi. However, in Suvidha trains, a 3rd AC ticket from Chennai to Tirunelveli on Sunday or Monday cost Rs 3,850.

This is Rs 500 more than a flight fare to Thoothukudi. The usual fare for a 3rd AC ticket is Rs 1,005.

Even, sleeper class fare in a Suvidha train touched a whopping Rs 1,445 against the regular fare of Rs 385.

In March 2016, with a view of increasing revenue, Railways gave up the policy of operating special trains at regular fares. Since then only special fare special trains or Suvidha trains are operated to clear extra rush. While special fare trains charge 30 per cent more than the base fare, Suvidha trains use dynamic pricing.

The first 20 per cent of tickets are charged at base rate + tatkal charge (a minimum of Rs 100 for sleeper class and Rs 200 for AC class) and the next 20 per cent of tickets are priced at 1.5 times of base rate + tatkal charge and so on. For the last 20 per cent of tickets, passengers are charged 300 per cent over the regular fare along with tatkal charge.

This has put passengers to hardship. Of the five special trains operated from Chennai to Tirunelveli/Nagercoil from January 10 to 20, four are Suvidhas. P Edward Jeni, general secretary of Kanniyakumari district railway users’ association, said this was a prelude to handing over high-demand sections to private companies.

Chicken bone removed from boy’s food pipe

13/01/2020 , Staff Reporter, HYDERABAD 


 
The two-cm chicken bone that was removed from a 10-year-old’s food pipe.

A 2-cm chicken bone stuck in the food pipe of a 10-year-old boy was removed by doctors at a corporate hospital here in Telangana.

The boy, who hails from Lingampally, was brought to the hospital a fortnight ago with high temperature, two days after he accidentally swallowed the bone.

A hole had got formed at the site where the bone was stuck. A team of doctors led by Raghuram Kondala, consultant medical gastroenterologist at Continental Hospitals, first removed the bone from the esophagus and did endoscopic clipping to seal the hole.

The boy has been discharged.

Any foreign body in the airway may lead to choking and result in death if not removed in time, say doctors. “Such cases must be attended to immediately as delay could increase the risks like food pipe perforation, leading to infection, long-term complications, and in some cases, death. It is important that utmost care is taken while removing the object and stenting to ensure restoration of functionality of the food pipe,” Dr. Kondala said.

This is the jallikattu wish list for bulls, tamers and spectators 

Adequate water and green fodder must be available for bullsPolice strength must be increased at holding yards to prevent chaosBetter collection points to avoid owners spending days in search of bulls

13/01/2020 , P.A. Narayani, MADURAI 


 
For a ringside view: Makeshift spectators’ gallery being put up at Palamedu. G. Moorthy

On Sunday morning, a large number of workers were seen constructing spectator’s gallery in Palamedu, one of the three main venues in Madurai district where jallikattu, a popular bull taming sport held during Pongal, is set to take place.

Similarly, at Alanganallur and Avaniapuram, the other main venues, preparations have started for the conduct of jallikattu, involving the departments of police, animal husbandry, public works, revenue, district administration, and local organising committees.

Following the popular uprising against the ban on jallikattu in 2017 and the subsequent ruling of judiciary and the intervention of the legislature, there is more emphasis on providing sufficient infrastructure for bulls, players and spectators to make the event safe and largely incident-free.

The first and foremost area of focus is the collection points, where the bulls exit the arena. In the past, a large number of accidents had been reported in the collection points. A majority of these accidents involved spectators and those accompanying the bulls. Every year at least 150 bull owners would search for their bulls that exit the arenas, says C. Murugan, a bull owner from Alanganallur. “Sometimes, it takes up to three days for us to locate our bulls after the jallikattu. Hence, strengthening the collection points to solve these issues is important,” he says.

Superintendent of Police N. Manivannan says around 2,000 police personnel would be deployed at each of these venues during jallikattu. An eight-foot-tall double barricading would be installed in the arenas and collection points for the safety of people. “We have also taken measures to ensure that big wells and pits in the surroundings are sealed to prevent the bulls from falling into them,” he says.

An official from the district administration says the ground had been made into a slope beyond the collection point at Palamedu this year to prevent easy escape of the bulls. Two gates are proposed at the collection point to strengthen the security, says Regional Joint Director of Animal Husbandry D. Suresh Christopher. “This will prevent the possible re-entry of the bulls to the arena from the collection point. Also, the bull owners can easily identify and get hold of their animals,” he says.

To ensure additional safety, president of Jallikattu Padhugappu Peravai P. Rajasekar suggests that a few open cargo vehicles can be deployed at the collection points to transport the bulls to their owners. “This method, which is adopted at jallikattu events conducted in Erode, has been successful,” he says.

The other main area of concern is the holding yard, where the bulls, along with their owners, wait behind ‘vadivasal’ (entry point). “Due to fear that their bulls might lose a chance to participate in the event, the bull owners often tend to jump the queue behind vadivasal. Hence, a lot of accidents are reported here,” says S. Marichamy, a bull owner from Madakulam.

Though police are present at the holding yards, their strength has to be increased to avoid chaos, says S. Rajesh Kannan, a member of the organising committee at Alanganallur.

To address this issue, the number of tokens issued after the registration of bulls is restricted between 700 and 750 for each venue, says Collector T.G. Vinay. “This was a unanimous decision taken after consultation with various stakeholders. Now, the bull owners can bring their animals to the venues during the allotted time and this will avoid chaos at the holding yards,” he says.

While safety measures are in focus, it must be ensured that basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets and parking lots are provided for the thousands of people who watch and take part in the events.

It must be ensured that adequate number of drinking water cans are available near the holding yards and arenas, says M. Raja, a bull tamer.

The players also seek arrangements for having food stalls near government schools, where they usually wait. “A large number of bull tamers come from different districts and reach the schools as early as 2 a.m. and rest there. If there are stalls near the waiting areas, we can buy food,” he says.

P. Veluchamy, a bull owner, says authorities must ensure that adequate water and green fodder are available for the bulls at the collection points and holding yards. “There must be at least one tank of water for 50 bulls,” he says.

There must also be sufficient number of mobile toilets at accessible locations to ensure a hassle-free experience for the spectators, says P. Rukmani, a resident of Alanganallur.

The Collector says steps have been taken to ensure that all basic amenities are available during the events.

Drunk woman threatens to blow up aircraft

13/01/2020 , Kolkata

An AirAsia India flight was forced to return to airport on Sunday after a woman passenger claimed that she had explosives and threatened to blow up the aircraft mid-air. The threat turned out to be a hoax, officials said. Preliminary investigation suggested that the woman, Mohini Mondol, was in an inebriated state, they said. PTI

‘Social media posting is a fundamental right’

Tripura HC quashes case against youth 

 13/01/2020 , Syed Sajjad Ali, Agartala

The High Court of Tripura ordered the police to refrain from prosecuting a man who was earlier arrested over a social media post. Chief Justice Akil Kureshi also barred the police from making any further arrest in connection with the case.

The court passed the order on Friday after lawyers moved the court against the arrest and harassment of a Congress youth activist Arindam Bhattacharjee over his post on a social media platform. Mr. Bhattacharjee had on his Facebook page criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party’s online campaign in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

“If you call 8866288662, all your data would go to hackers,” he had commented in his post, prompting the BJP’s IT Cell to respond with a police complaint.

The Chief Justice in his order broadly remarked that posting on social media was tantamount to a “fundamental right” applicable to all citizens, including government employees.

The police then erased Sections 120(B) and 153(A) of the IPC from the First Information Report to quash the case.

Private property is a fundamental right, says SC 

‘Grabbing private land and claiming it as its own makes the State an encroacher’ 

  13/01/2020 , Krishnadas Rajagopal, NEW DELHI

A citizen’s right to own private property is a fundamental right. The State cannot take possession of it without following due procedure and authority of law, the Supreme Court held in a judgment on January 8.

The State cannot trespass into the private property of a citizen and then claim ownership of the land in the name of ‘adverse possession’, the court said, adding that grabbing private land and then claiming it as its own makes the State an encroacher.

In a welfare state, right to property is a human right, said a Bench of Justices Indu Malhotra and Ajay Rastogi.

“A welfare state cannot be permitted to take the plea of adverse possession, which allows a trespasser i.e. a person guilty of a tort, or even a crime, to gain legal title over such property for over 12 years. The State cannot be permitted to perfect its title over the land by invoking the doctrine of adverse possession to grab the property of its own citizens,” said Justice Malhotra.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Vidya Devi, a widow, whose four acres of land was taken over by the Himachal Pradesh government in 1967.

“The appellant [Ms. Devi] being an illiterate widow, coming from a rural background, was wholly unaware of her rights and entitlement in law, and did not file any proceedings for compensation...,” said Justice Malhotra.

When Ms. Devi, 80, learnt about her rights in 2010 from her neighbours, who had also lost their property, she approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court. However, when the HC asked her to file a civil suit in the lower court, she moved the Supreme Court.

Authority of law

Ordering the State to pay her ₹1 crore in compensation, the Supreme Court noted that in 1967, ‘right to private property was still a fundamental right’ under Article 31 of the Constitution.

Property ceased to be a fundamental right with the 44th Constitution Amendment in 1978. Nevertheless, Article 300A required the State to follow due procedure and authority of law to deprive a person of his or her private property, the Supreme Court reminded the government.

Pongal spells peril for Salem’s foxes 

Villagers trap, gag and hobble the animals before racing them in a type of jallikattu 

 13/01/2020 , Vignesh Vijayakumar, SALEM 


A 2018 photo shows a fox trussed up ahead of the race.

With Kaanum Pongal, the fourth and final day of the harvest festival, less than a week away, Forest Department officials in Salem are gearing up to prevent an unusual jallikattu — one that uses foxes instead of bulls.

The jallikattu-like event using foxes, or vanga nari in Tamil, is usually organised on Kaanum Pongal on the outskirts of the district as villagers believe it will bring bountiful rain and good fortune.

According to Forest officials, villagers, mostly from Ranganoor, Chinnamanaikenpalayam and Vadugathampatti in Vazhapadi taluk, trap the foxes and bring them to the village temple.

Regular feature

The animals are muzzled and their hind legs tied with rope. After special rituals are conducted, the hapless animals are chased through the streets, much like bulls in the more conventional jallikattu. After the event, the animals are released into the forest.

Despite a ban, the event has been organised for decades now. District Forest Officer A. Periasamy said, “We have fined the violators earlier for organising the event and trespassing into forest areas and this year too, we will take stern action.” Officials said foxes are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and hunting or capturing them is prohibited.

V. Gokul, president of the Salem Nature Society, said, “The medium-sized Bengal foxes are generally found near agricultural areas. The animal undergoes cruel treatment in the name of this festival. The animal is gagged and the hind legs are tied. Capturing a wild animal itself is an offence, and this helpless animal is tortured in the name of the festival.”

AIIMS Nurses Union alleges gender discrimination in reservation for nursing officers' recruitment

PTI | Jan 12, 2020, 09.01 PM IST
 
NEW DELHI: AIIMS Nurses Union New Delhi has alleged gender discrimination in the new reservation criteria for recruitment of nursing officers in AIIMS across India.

In a letter to Union Heath Minister Harsh Vardhan, the union expressed objections over the implementation of decisions of the 4th Central Institute Body (CIB) meeting on recruitment of Nursing Officers in AIIMS across the country.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the minister and other members of CIB, but the union alleged that no nursing personnel were present as members of the CIB.

It was decided in the meeting that 80 per cent of posts will be reserved for female candidates, while 20 percent will be for male candidates in all categories.

The minutes of meeting stated that the CIB discussed the issue of appropriateness and requirement of female nursing staffs in a number of departments/specialised wards vis-à-vis patient comfort and care.

It was decided that 80 per cent of posts may be reserved for female nursing staff, while the remaining may be filled by male nursing staff, the minutes stated.

"AIIMS Nurses Union strongly opposes this newly introduced reservation criteria based on gender discrimination for the post of Nursing Officer (Direct Recruitment) and also condemns the decisions taken in the 4th meeting of CIB," AIIMS Nurses Union president Harish Kumar Kajla said in the letter.

"This unconstitutional decision taken by the AIIMS CIB members simply shows the gender discrimination to the matter of public employment which is a blatant violation of fundamental rights guaranteed in our Constitution as per Article 16 (1949) which guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment for all Indian citizens," the letter said.

Nirbhaya gangrape case: Dummy execution of four convicts performed in Tihar

PTI | Jan 12, 2020, 11.20 PM IST

NEW DELHI: A dummy execution of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape case was performed at Tihar Jail on Sunday, prison officials said.

A Delhi court had pronounced on Tuesday that the convicts -- Mukesh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31) -- will be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in the Tihar Jail.

A team of prison officials performed dummy execution of the four convicts. The dummies were created using sacks filled with debris and stones as per the weight of the convicts, a senior jail official said.

The execution will take place on in Jail No 3, he said, adding that the UP Prison authority has confirmed that Pawan Jallad from Meerut will be sent to hang the four convicts.

The Tihar authorities had written to the Uttar Pradesh prison authorities, seeking the services of two hangmen from the state to the execution.

All the four convicts are likely to hanged simultaneously.

HC clears 2 candidates who fail TNUSRB height test for cops

TNN | Jan 13, 2020, 04.13 AM IST

Madurai: After reviewing the video recording of the height measurements, Madras high court has overturned the decision of Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) disqualifying two candidates for not fulfilling the height requirement for the recruitment of grade II police constable, grade II jail warden and fireman. 

The court asked the board to proceed with the further selection process, saying both these candidates have passed the height measurement test.

The candidates, K Jansirani and M Ayyambose, had moved the court seeking to quash the TNUSRB order and sought to permit them to participate in the physical endurance test and other recruitment process.

Justice M S Ramesh observed that since the petitioners were aggrieved at the measurement of height conducted by the officials, the court had permitted them to participate in the re-measurement conducted on December 11. Since the petitioners were still not satisfied, the court on December 16 permitted them to view the video recording of the re-measurement in the presence of the registrar (judicial) of the court who also submitted a report the next day.

Justice Ramesh said he had reviewed the video recording and it was seen that the height measurement of Jansirani is between 156.7cm and 156.8cm and that of Ayyambose between 169.7cm and 169.8cm. The judge said the fraction which is over 156.7cm is closer to 156.8cm and that over 169.7cm is closer to 169.8cm.

“Therefore, the height of Jansirani and Ayyambose could be ascertained as 156.8cm and 169.8cm respectively,” observed the judge.

The court said that by applying the guidelines in the GO passed by home department on November 19, 2014, a fraction of 0.2cm could be extended to the petitioners. Hence the height of Jansirani can be determined as 157cm which is the minimum height required for women candidates belonging to scheduled caste community and the height of Ayyambose as 170cm, the minimum required height for male candidates.

Since both the petitioners have passed the height measurement test, the judge directed TNUSRB to subject both these petitioners to further stages of selection process in accordance with procedure laid down in recruitment notification and closed these petitions.

Pongal: Jasmine prices shoot up to Rs 5,000 in Madurai, may rise further in next two days

TNN | Jan 12, 2020, 07.09 PM IST



 

MADURAI: Jasmine prices rose to Rs 5,000 per kilogram in Madurai on Sunday as Pongal is round the corner and supply to the market has dipped.

In the peak season, the Madurai flower market sees a supply of about 10 tonne per day. But it has decreased by 30% - 40% since October mainly due to rain. Rain affected jasmine plants.

Madurai Meenakshi Flower Merchants Association president Pookadai S Ramachandran said jasmine prices, which were around Rs 3,000 per kg on Saturday, went up to Rs 5,000 on Sunday. “It may go up to Rs 7,000 or even Rs 8,000 in the next two days because supply is very low. Just half a tonne jasmine came to the market on Sunday,’’ he said.

During last Pongal, jasmine prices were around Rs 3,500 per kg. In peak flowering season, the prices come down to Rs 50 per kg.

More than 150 trees in MGR univ treated against termite attack

Jan 13, 2020, 04.31 AM IST

Chennai: More than 150 trees of various species found on MGR Medical University campus in Guindy received medication on Saturday.

Sudha Seshaiyan, vice-chancellor of the university, said the campus has termite hills. White ants from these mounds enter the tree via its roots and slowly build a mound around the tree and kill the tree. In order to avoid termite attacks, with advice from experts, the trees were coated with sodium (sunnambu) from the bottom to a height of four feet.

Last year in January, two trees were infected by termites. Despite treatment, only one survived.

Landscaping expert B Ilango said normally, lime mixed with water is painted on the trees to avoid termite attacks. Nowadays several lime-based ointments are also available to protect trees from termite attack.

A few decades ago, trees along the highways used to get a similar coat of lime mixture to avoid termites. With the emergence of new medicines and ointments, this practice was stopped, he explained.

Now, one can mix copper oxychloride with lime and apply it on the tree, he said.

With a fresh coat of lime, the trees will survive long on campus and reduce pollution levels and provide shade, said Seshaiyan.

ரேஷனில் ரூ.1,000 மற்றும் பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்கும் பணி நாளை முடிவு

Added : ஜன 12, 2020 00:28

சென்னை: ரேஷன் கடைகளில், 1,000 ரூபாய் ரொக்கம் அடங்கிய, பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்கும் பணி, நாளையுடன் முடிவடைகிறது.

தமிழக ரேஷன் கடைகளில், 2 கோடி அரிசி கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்கப்படுகிறது. அதில், 1 கிலோ பச்சரிசி, சர்க்கரை; தலா, 20 கிராம் முந்திரி, திராட்சை, 5 கிராம் ஏலம்; கரும்பு, 1,000 ரூபாய் பணம் அடங்கும். 'பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்கும் பணியை, ஜனவரி, 9ல் துவங்கி, 12ம் தேதிக்குள் முடிக்குமாறும், விடுபட்டவர்களுக்கு, 13ல் வழங்கி, அந்த பணியை முடிக்க வேண்டும்' என, அதிகாரிகளுக்கு, உணவு துறை உத்தரவிட்டுஉள்ளது.

அதன்படி, அனைத்து ரேஷன் கடைகளிலும், பொங்கல் பரிசு வழங்கும் பணி, 9ம் தேதி துவங்கியது. ஒவ்வொரு கடையிலும், தினமும், 300 - 400 கார்டுகளுக்கு பரிசு தொகுப்பு வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இதற்காக, 10ம் தேதி, ரேஷன் கடைகளுக்கு விடுமுறையாக இருந்தாலும், அவை செயல்பட்டன. இன்றும், அவை செயல்படுகின்றன. நேற்று மாலை வரை, 1.70 கோடி கார்டுகளுக்கு, பொங்கல் பரிசு தொகுப்பு வழங்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. ரேஷனில், பொங்கல் பரிசு வாங்க, அரசு வழங்கிய அவகாசம், நாளை மாலையுடன் முடிவடைகிறது.

கோவை - சென்னை இடையே தேஜஸ் ரயில்

Added : ஜன 12, 2020 00:20


திருப்பூர்,: 'கோவை - சென்னை இடையே, தேஜஸ் சொகுசு ரயில், பிப்ரவரியில் அறிமுகம் செய்யப்படும்' என, சேலம் ரயில்வே கோட்ட அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

நாடு முழுவதும், 103 வழித்தடங்களில், தனியார் ரயில் இயக்க திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்காக, தமிழகத்தில், 10 வழித்தடங்கள் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. சென்னையை மையமாக வைத்து ஆறு வழித்தடங்களிலும், தாம்பரத்தில் இருந்து புறப்படும் நான்கு வழித்தடங்களிலும், தனியார் ரயில் இயக்கப்பட உள்ளது.இப்பட்டியலில், சென்னை - கோவை வழித்தடமும் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளது.தற்போது, கோவையில் இருந்து சென்னைக்கு இன்டர்சிட்டி, கோவை, நீலகிரி, சேரன் எக்ஸ்பிரஸ், மதியம் சதாப்தி ரயில் இயக்கப்படுகிறது. இவற்றுடன் தனியார் தேஜஸ் சொகுசு ரயிலை, அதிகபட்சமாக, 160 கி.மீ., வேகத்தில் இயக்க ஆலோசிக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது.

சேலம் ரயில்வே கோட்ட தகவல் மைய அலுவலர்கள் கூறியதாவது:தமிழகத்தில், 10 வழித்தடங்களில் ரயில்களை இயக்க, நான்கு தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. ரயில்வே வாரிய தலைவர் தலைமையிலான குழு, இம்மாத இறுதியில், நிறுவனத்தை இறுதி செய்யும்.வழித்தடங்கள் குறித்து, இறுதிக்கட்ட ஆய்வுகள் பணி நிறைவு பெற்று, அனுமதி கிடைத்த பின், கோவை - சென்னை இடையே தேஜஸ் சொகுசு ரயில், பிப்ரவரி முதல் வாரத்தில் இயக்கப்பட வாய்ப்புள்ளது.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

சென்னை மெட்ரோ ரயில் கட்டணத்தில் 50 % தள்ளுபடி

Updated : ஜன 12, 2020 09:44

சென்னை : பொங்கல் பண்டிகையை முன்னிட்டு சென்னை மெட்ரோ ரயில் பயணச்சீட்டில் 50 சதவீதம் கட்டண தள்ளுபடி வழங்கப்பட உள்ளதாக சென்னை மெட்ரோ நிர்வாகம் அறிவித்துள்ளது.

ஜன.,15,16,17 ஆகிய தேதிகளில் சென்னை மெட்ரோ ரயில் பயணச்சீட்டுகளில் 50 சதவீதம் கட்டண தள்ளுபடி வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது. அரசு பொது விடுமுறை நாள் என்பதால் கட்டண சலுகை வழங்கப்படுவதாக மெட்ரோ நிர்வாகம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.



ஜன.,17 அன்று காணும் பொங்கலை முன்னிட்டு மெரினா கடற்கரையிலிருந்து மெட்ரோ ரயில் நிலையம் வரை பயணிகளுக்கு கேப் (CAB) இயக்கப்படும். அரசினர் தோட்டம், டிஎம்எஸ் ரயில் நிலையங்களில் இருந்து மெரினா கடற்கரைக்கு கேப் இயக்கப்படும் எனவும், காணும் பொங்கல் அன்று மெரினாவுக்கு அதிக அளவில் மக்கள் வருவார்கள் என்பதால் கேப் இயக்கப்படுவதாக மெட்ரோ நிர்வாகம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

Namakkal doctor fined Rs 9 lakh for wrong cure

On March 31, 2012, the hospital has also issued a medical certificate clarifying the same, before Shanmugam’s demise.

Published: 12th January 2020 05:13 AM

By Express News Service

NAMAKKAL: District Consumer Redressal Forum slapped Rs 9.75 lakh fine on a doctor for providing wrong treatment to a 72-year-old man, which resulted in his death. Sources identified the victim as P Shanmugam (72). On May 18, 2011, Shanmugam’s son S Ilavarasan took him to Dr L R Balasubramani, working in a private hospital, to treat a wound on his face.

After receiving treatment for four days, Shanmugam had an anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening allergic reaction, and later slipped into a coma. When Ilavarasan approached a private hospital in Erode for the second opinion, his father was told to have died of medical negligence.

On March 31, 2012, the hospital has also issued a medical certificate clarifying the same, before Shanmugam’s demise.

Months after FASTag rolled out, writ petition against it

A writ petition has been filed in Madras High Court to quash a notification dated December 30 of Reserve Bank of India, which introduced collection of fees at toll gates through FASTag.

Published: 12th January 2020 05:20 AM

By Siva Sekaran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A writ petition has been filed in Madras High Court to quash a notification dated December 30 of Reserve Bank of India, which introduced collection of fees at toll gates through FASTag.

The RBI has authorised fee payment system developed by National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) that uses a radio frequency identification tag called FASTag that is mapped to a vehicle registration number and linked to the customer’s bank account for deduction of toll payment.

Petitioner Kabilan Manoharan, an advocate, challenged the notification on the ground that it violated the existing directions of RBI, issued under Sec. 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, which mandated an additional factor of authentication. In the absence of any such authentication, implementation of the system would be an arbitrary exercise of executive power affecting Article 14 of the Constitution. It violated the existing directions of RBI, which mandated additional factor of authentication by customer at the point of transaction. Even for online transactions, banks concerned would issue one time pass-word (OTP) to authenticate the same. No such facility is available in this system, petitioner contended.

He also narrated an incident in which he had to part with `55. There was an unauthorised deduction from his bank account which stands linked to the FASTag purchased by him.Whereas, the petitioner never crossed the plaza.

Don’t take these words with a pinch of salt

Awareness on kidney ailments and promoting kidney health has been Sapiens Health Foundation’s mission since its establishment.

Published: 11th January 2020 06:56 AM |

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s director KN Ramaswamy presented prizes to the students  Kumararaja

By Veena Mani

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Awareness on kidney ailments and promoting kidney health has been Sapiens Health Foundation’s mission since its establishment. Keeping in line with their vision, the prize distribution ceremony — organised to award winners of the essay writing competition on the topic ‘Salt in health & diet’ held by the Foundation in schools of Chennai — on Friday at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan kick-started with a skit. It was presented by Nalamdana Troupe and the topic was akin to the essay writing competition — using less salt to avoid kidney ailments.

After an eye-opening performance, which spoke of a family’s troubles when the head of the family falls victim to kidney disease, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s director KN Ramaswamy presented prizes to the students. A total of five awards were given — the first prize to Anisha Shabnam from Alagappa Matriculation, second prize to Athreya Venkatesh from Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, third prize to K Keerthiga from Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School, and consolation prizes to SK Anirudhh from PSBB, Siruseri, and PB Steven Nishanthan from Alagappa Matriculation, Purusawalkam.

Ramaswamy, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Friday, said, “My daughters are organising a lavish birthday party for me. Half of the money would be spent on sweets. I do not know why we spend so much on sugar which is not good for health. Even in my office people give sweets on birthdays. Salt and sugar are commodities that should be rationalised by people. The government could intervene by tweaking taxes.” Dr Rajan Ravichandran, chairman of Sapiens Health Foundation, said, “We are not targeting only those who suffer from kidney disease, but also those without the disease. Salt is a preservative because it can kill bacteria. If it can kill bacteria, it can kill us too. We need to limit our salt intake.” Earlier this month, the Sapiens Health Foundation also started a campaign to get people to reduce their salt intake.

Winners

The first prize was given to Anisha Shabnam from Alagappa Matriculation, second prize to Athreya Venkatesh from Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School and third prize to K Keerthiga from Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School.

Chennai: Police hand over lost phones to owners

The lost phones were sold in second-hand market by miscreants, said the police.

Published: 12th January 2020 06:38 AM

By Sahaya Novinston Lobo

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Around 160 mobile phones that were lost in Mylapore police jurisdiction were handed over to the owners by Deputy Commissioner of Police on Saturday. The phones lost in 2019 were traced by a special team.

"The ones lost in robbery and snatching are not included. Only those missed while travelling, at shopping complexes or public places are handed over. Many snatched mobiles were traced too but will be handed over after producing in court," said Deshmukh Sekhar Sanjay, DCP (Mylapore). The lost phones were sold in second-hand market by miscreants, said the police.

Search on for leopard in Telangana University

12/01/2020,NIZAMABAD

Search for catching the leopard that strayed into the Telangana University campus at Dichpally continued on the second day on Saturday. Forest officials and university security guards in a jeep and an ambulance criss-crossed the campus searching every place and bushes. They set up a makeshift shelter and installed CC cameras at Koppugutta, which is covered with bushes. However, they found no signs of the animal’s fur or pug marks, according to authorities.

Myeloma app launched

12/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER,HYDERABAD

To help multiple myeloma patients know about government schemes for free treatment, options of treatment and other information, a mobile application titled ‘Care4Myeloma’ was launched on sidelines of The Indian Myeloma Congress-2020, held at Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), on Saturday.

Dr Uday Yanamandra, professor at Army Hospital Research and Referral, who conceived the idea of the app said that it has information on NGOs which are trying to help myeloma patients, government run schemes for free treatment, FAQ on the blood cancer, various insurance schemes (including private) for it, and other details will be available in it.

They can get general queries cleared by doctors. It has separate chat box for patient-to-patient interaction to share treatment experience.

The web application has ‘National Myeloma Registry’. Major cancer centres feed data on patients into the application. This helps to know number of people in the hospitals suffering from the blood cancer.

Dr Uday said that hospitals can feed data investigation reports, date of consultation, and other details into the app. Patients can access the data using secure log in.

People confuse multiple myeloma with other health complications

They slip into stage-II or III form of blood cancer by the time it is diagnosed

12/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER,HYDERABAD

Owing to lack of awareness on multiple myeloma ( a type of blood cancer), people tend to confuse its symptoms with other health complications and they slip into stage-II or III form of the cancer by the time the blood cancer is diagnosed.

Addressing a meet on sidelines of The Indian Myeloma Congress-2020 held at NIMS on Saturday, medical specialists said that one of the agendas of the congress is to raise awareness about multiple myeloma - which affects bone marrow. If haemoglobin levels are low, bones become weak, kidneys fail, infection is detected, people have to suspect multiple myeloma. They can consult a medical oncologist or any cancer care centre for the diagnosis and treatment. People tend to overlook the possibility of the cancer and consult a physician when haemoglobin levels decreases, approach an orthopaedician when bones become weak, and a nephrologist when kidneys fail. Every year, at least 100 new patients suffering from multiple myeloma consult doctors at NIMS. Head of Medical Oncology Department at NIMS, G Sadashivudu said that most of the patients were in stage-II or III of the disease. While prevention is not known, Dr Sadashivudu stressed that early diagnosis will be of help. NIMS Director Dr K Manohar said that bone marrow transplantation is offered free of cost at the institute to people who are beneficiaries of Aarogyasri Health Scheme. From 2017, over 50 people availed the treatment under the scheme at the institute. The treatment costs up to ₹ 10 lakh at corporate hospitals. Speaking at the press conference, Dr Shaji Kumar said that lifespan of blood cancer patients has increased from two to three years, to more than 10 years because of the medicines available for treatment. Medical specialists said that the best medical care available in developed nations is offered in India too.

Kite and Sweet festival from tomorrow

Traditional games to be added attraction at the three-day festival concluding on Sankranti

12/01/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,HYDERABAD

Minister for Excise, Tourism and Culture V. Srinivas Goud and officials posing with kites at a media conference in the city on Saturday.By arrangement

Hyderabad is getting ready to host its popular annual event — the International Kite and Sweet Festival 2020 — coinciding with the three-day Sankranti festival at Parade Grounds from January 13 to 15.

Kite flying is a tradition during the festival and since 2016, the Tourism Department has scaled it up to a major festival by inviting national and international kite flyers from across the globe. It subsequently added Sweet festival from 2018 to popularise traditional sweets prepared by people from different States who have made Hyderabad their home.

Minister for Excise, Tourism and Culture V. Srinivas Goud, sharing details of the festival at a media conference here on Saturday, said the kite festival will have participation from 15 countries with 40 international and 60 national flyers. A special night kite flying event is also scheduled on all three days, he said.

The unique feature this time is that traditional games will be included in the festival and introduced to the present generation. Games like ‘gilli danda’ (game of tip and cat), ‘Taadu Bongaram’ (spinning top), sack race, three-leg race, ‘Thokkudu Billa’(hop scotch), marbles, ‘Isurrayi/thiragali’, lemon and spoon race, ‘Ashta Chemma’ and art like ‘Rangoli’ etc., will be organised at the Gymkhana Grounds during the three-day festival, he said.

Hyderabad has about 1.5 crore population and many will go to their native places to celebrate the festival but for those celebrating the festival in city, the kite and sweet festival with traditional sweets and snacks, prepared by women hailing from different States, will re-create the ambience in the city itself.

About 1,000 varieties of sweets and snacks will be prepared and displayed during the festival by homemakers hailing from Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, apart from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, he said. There would also be food courts with cuisine of Telangana, and stalls showcasing handicrafts and handloom as other attractions.

15 lakh expected

Tourism and Culture Secretary Burra Venkatesham said the festival drew over 10 lakh visitors last time and this time, they were expecting 15 lakh visitors. He made an appeal to public to cooperate with the Department to make the festival eco-friendly and requested them to bring cloth bags to carry sweets and carry their own water bottles and refill them with the water provided at the venue to reduce plastic pollution although bottled water would also be available. The Minister and officials later visited Parade Grounds to oversee the arrangements for the festival.

Committee completes probe into scientific papers

An article in The Hindu had flagged papers published with problematic images

12/01/2020, R. PRASAD,CHENNAI

Shekhar C. Mande

An independent committee, formed in early June 2019, to investigate the issue of image duplication and manipulation in papers published by researchers of the Lucknow-based Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), has submitted its report to Shekhar C. Mande, Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The committee was formed in response to an article published in The Hindu about 130 scientific papers that had problems with images.

Elaborate exercise

According to Dr. Mande, the remit of the committee was expanded to cover four-five CSIR laboratories that had similar problems with images.

“It was a massive exercise as the committee looked into each case of the alleged image duplication and/or manipulation in published.” says Dr. Mande.

The committee had given all scientists an opportunity to defend their case and tell the committee what action they had taken. “The directors of each CSIR laboratory will follow the CSIR administrative procedures and give the scientists an opportunity to defend their case and take action where necessary,” said Dr. Mande.

In June 2019, immediately after the committee was formed, Dr. Mande told The Hindu: “The CSIR has a zero tolerance policy on the issue of scientific integrity ... If anyone is found to be guilty of manipulations, thereby leading to deliberate scientific fraud, the person will face suitable disciplinary action.”

Detained for poor attendance, KMC students stage protest

Warangal medical college authorities decide to revise list

12/01/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,WARANGAL

Students of Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) in Telnagana’s Warangal district staged a protest on the campus after 180 from third year and 80 from second year were detained for poor attendance.

The students demanded revision of the ‘detained’ list, alleging that the head of department (HoD) had submitted it to officials of the Kaloji Narayan Rao University of Health Sciences, to which the college is affiliated, without issuing any notices to students and parents.

As per rules, 75% attendance is compulsory to be eligible to appear for semester exams. A 10% relaxation is given to students upon producing a medical certificate with prior intimation to the principal.

Third year students of KMC, who wished not to be identified, said the HoD unfairly detained the students by preparing a random list and forwarding it to university officials.

“According to rules, authorities need to display the attendance records on the college notice board two months before exams. They neither displayed nor informed parents while detaining students,” alleged a protesting student.

Meanwhile, members of the Junior Doctors’ Association submitted a representation to higher officials about the matter. KMC officials were instructed to conduct a meeting with the HoDs and submit a report. Following the directions, KMC principal Sukaranemi Sandhya held a meeting with the HoDs and staff. The meeting concluded with authorities deciding to revise the list of detained students to be submitted to the university.

‘Non-teacher’ status irks resident doctors in medical colleges

12/01/2020, SATHISH G.T.

Medicos with PG diploma have said that the stand taken by RGUHS is against the guidelines of the Medical Council of India.

A communication from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), terming junior residents and senior residents working in medical colleges with post-graduation diploma as “non-teachers”, has left the community disappointed.

The medicos with PG diploma have objected to the stand taken by RGUHS and said it is against the guidelines of the Medical Council of India (MCI).

The Karnataka Medical Council in a letter recently asked RGUHS its opinion on whether junior resident/PG students are teachers in medical colleges. The KMC had sought clarification because of the on-going elections to members of the board of management of the council.

The RGUHS, in its reply to KMC, on December 24 said: “Junior residents and senior residents are not considered teachers in a medical college as per MCI regulations.” With this letter, faculty with PG diploma working in medical colleges have lost the opportunity to contest in the KMC elections.

Pruthvi Chakravarthy, a medical practitioner with PG diploma, told The Hindu: “This is unacceptable. There are enough directions from the court and MCI to treat PG diploma holders as teachers,” he said. Dr. Chakravarthy, who till recently worked in a medical college, pointed out that with the latest stand taken by RGUHS some of his friends had lost a chance to contest the KMC elections.

G.P. Ramanath, senior resident with Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, said in a notification issued by MCI in August 2019 defined a senior resident as teacher. “Even in the past, the MCI has maintained that junior resident and senior residents are teaching staff. If we are not teaching staff, what else are we?” he asked.

When The Hindu contacted S. Sacchidanand, Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS, he said the KMC, being a part of MCI, should not have asked the university for clarification. “When you ask me to define the job profile, I have to state that junior residents and senior residents work in the hospital, not in the college. The university has said the same,” he said. However, he said he had written to the KMC suggesting that it get the issue clarified from MCI.

AMU V-C seeks security for himself

12/01/2020, ANUJ KUMAR,GHAZIABAD

With Aligarh Muslim University set to reopen on Monday, Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor has sought security for himself and his family from the district administration.

In a letter addressed to the Aligarh SSP, Prof. Mansoor said some ‘antisocial and lumpen elements’ were threatening him and trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the university.

AMU Students’ Union president Salman Imtiaz described the V-C’s claim as “hoax and ridiculous”.

University to undertake security audit of hostels

Administration says classes will begin on January 13

12/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER,NEW DELHI

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration on Saturday said a security audit of all hostels would be conducted through the wardens.

The circular was issued after the Delhi police, in a letter dated January 7, “requested” for a hostel audit “in view of the present scenario”.

The circular reads: “All hostel residents to follow the rules regarding having guests in the hostel rooms as per the procedure and rules of Inter-Hall Administration (IHA)... In case any outsider or unauthorised student or guest is found staying in the rooms, necessary action will be initiated against the hostel residents.”

Manual opposed

However, the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) said it “condemned” such audits. Any audit would be on the basis of the new hostel manual, which was being opposed by the students, it said.

The administration issued another circular that classes and other academic activities would begin on January 13. “ Students who have gone out of station are requested to return to the university in time to pursue their studies and research,” it said.

According to reports, Vice-Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar met a group of students on Saturday. However, the administration did not respond to questions on who these students were.

34 lakh OCI cards issued: Centre

MHA declines to give info on number of persons whose cards were cancelled

12/01/2020


The Union Home Ministry has said more than 34 lakh Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registrations had been done but declined to divulge information relating to the number of persons whose OCI cards had been cancelled, citing non-availability of the figure in a “consolidated form.”

Responding to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by The Hindu, the Ministry said that the information sought remained outside the “mandate and scope of the RTI Act, 2005”.

On November 7, in an unprecedented move, the Ministry announced on Twitter that it would revoke the OCI card of journalist Aatish Taseer over what it claimed was his attempt to “conceal information” that his father, Salman Taseer, was of Pakistani origin.

The Ministry at the time said that Mr. Taseer had failed to dispute a notice that had given him the opportunity to submit his reply/objections regarding his PIO/OCI cards. Asserting that Mr. Taseer had not complied with basic requirements and withheld information, the Ministry ruled that he had become “ineligible to hold an OCI card as per the Citizenship Act, 1955”.

In his reply on September 6 to an August 13 notice, and a subsequent notice dated September 3, Mr. Taseer explained that his parents had never been legally married, and his mother was his sole legal guardian.

Mr. Taseer was criticised by several members of the ruling BJP, as he had authored an essay in May 2019 for Time magazine that accused the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of following divisive policies.

In reply to the RTI application on the number of OCI cards issued from January 1, 2000, to November 26, 2019, the Ministry said: “As per data available, 34,21,337 OCI registration/OCI card have been issued.”

To subsequent questions seeking year-wise data on the number of OCI cards issued or cancelled, the Ministry said: “Information related to year-wise issuance of OCI registration or year-wise cancellation of grant of registration as OCI cardholder is not available in a consolidated form. It may please be noted that the contents of these paras remain outside the mandate and scope of the RTI Act, 2005.”

While responding to another question on major reasons for cancelling the OCI cards, the Ministry replied, “Information sought is not available,” however, it “could be cancelled on grounds mentioned in Section 7(D) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which is available in the public domain.”

Section 7(D) says the OCI registration may be cancelled if it was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or if the overseas citizen of India has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India, or unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy (in case of a war) or has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years within five years after registration as an OCI, or if it is necessary to do so in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India.

The OCI scheme provides facilities such as lifelong visa, exemption from registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office and parity with non-resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural properties. No parity is allowed in the sphere of political and public employment rights.

Debris to be reused for construction

12/01/2020, JOHN L. PAUL , K.A. MARTIN,KOCHI

Almost everything of the over 70,000 tonnes of debris from the apartment blocks brought down through implosion at Maradu will be transported to yards spread over 10.6 acres at Aroor and Chadiroor within 70 days to be reused for construction.

The demolition contractor will be responsible for segregating the debris and retrieving steel (the reinforcements) for reuse in civil works, in the course of the coming 45 days. The rest of the debris will be cut to size ranging from 6 mm to 20 mm, using rubble master, a concrete-and demolition-downsizing machine, and transported to the yards, sources said.

This aggregate can be used to construct roads and solid blocks used for buildings, said Achyuth Joseph, partner of Aluva-based Prompt Enterprises, which bagged the tender to remove the debris for ₹35.16 lakh.

“The rubble master machine, imported from Austria, is expected to arrive in Kochi on January 20. The debris that is sorted to standardised sizes can be used for making floor tiles, hollow bricks, and for paving roads. They would be of better quality than aggregate sources locally, due to their improved adhesive property.”

The debris of H2O Holy Faith and Jain Coral Cove apartments can be fully reused, since they have been built using hollow bricks.

The rubble from Alpha Serene and Golden Kayaloram can be used for filling basement of buildings, since they were built using bricks, which may be tough to be downsized to standardised pieces, he said.

“Overall, we are equipped to remove 300 loads of debris from the five sites every day, in covered trucks. Guidelines issued by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board will be adhered to,” Mr. Joseph added.