Singapore based man arrested for harassing girl to marry him in Tamil Nadu
Subramanian, who is married and has a daughter, had been blackmailing the student into giving in to his desires with a picture they took during a trip.

Published: 22nd February 2020 11:35 AM |

Subramanian worked as supervisor in Singapore-based IT 

Company.

By Antony Fernando

Express News Service

NAGAPATTINAM: The long arms of law stretched till Singapore to bring to justice a 35-year-old  married man who had been harassing a student to accept his advances.

R. Subramanian hailing from a village near Vedaranyam was arrested for compelling a 21-year-old paramedical student to marry him.

Subramanian, who is married and has a daughter, had been blackmailing the student into giving in to his desires with a picture they took during a trip.

“Subramanian was obsessed with the girl, forced her to sign a paper giving consent for their marriage. He then posted the picture on social media and was threatening her. Through his posts, we tracked his whereabouts in Singapore. We convinced the management of the company he worked to terminate him. We made the girl to ask him to return so that they could marry and arrested him as soon as he landed,” said A Safiullah, deputy Superintendent of Police, Vedaranyam.

Subramanian worked as supervisor in Singapore-based IT Company.

The girl is from an underprivileged family and studying fourth-year physiotherapy in Cuddalore. Subramanian had known the girl for over one year as they were relatives.

He took her to Karaikal during his recent visit and the two took photographs. He then visited her in college and used to force her into marrying him. When she refused, he threatened the girl of leaking the picture in social media, and demanded her signature in a white paper as an ‘evidence of marriage’.

The girl, unable to withstand the harassment, and concerned about her future, had signed. Subramanian went to Singapore and posted her picture on Facebook earlier this month, and ‘declared’ that they were married.

The girl learnt about Subramanian’s post, and narrated her ordeal to her parents. They approached Nagapattinam SP S Selvanagarathinam who directed Safiullah to investigate.

Safiullah and team communicated with the company where Subramanian worked, and told the company that he was wanted in India. The company terminated him citing unlawful activities in India. Meanwhile, police hatched a parallel plot to bring him to India.

They took the help of the girl in convincing him to come to India in the pretext of ‘marriage’. Subramanian, who was left without a job, became ‘joyous’ with the girl’s ‘change of mind’.

He arrived at Coimbatore International Airport on Thursday. The police team secured him at the airport and brought him to Kariyapattinam Police Station near Vedaranyam.

He has been booked for criminal intimidation and produced before magistrate on Friday and was remanded to judicial custody to Nagapattinam Subjail.

‘Cannot make reasons to deny medical insurance for elderly’

The Madras High Court has pulled up the authorities concerned for refusing to pay the full cost for treatment taken at a non-network hospital.

Published: 23rd February 2020 06:05 AM 

Madras High Court 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has pulled up the authorities concerned for refusing to pay the full cost for treatment taken at a non-network hospital. “Admittedly, in this case the petitioner is a contributory to the general insurance scheme and the contributions are being deducted from his monthly pension. The pensioners at that age cannot afford to spend huge amounts towards medical expenses and therefore, they are wholly dependent on the General Insurance scheme,” said justice Anand Venkatesh.

“This Court has repeatedly held that a claim can never by rejected on the ground that the treatment/operation was undergone in a non-network hospital. When a person is facing emergency, it will be too much to expect the person who is undergoing agony and his family to choose a hospital which is listed under the government order. At that crunch moment, everyone will be more focused on saving the life of the person concerned than searching for listed hospitals,” he said.

“In every case, it looks as if authorities are trying to find some reason to either reject the claim or to arbitrarily fix some amount as against the actual claim made. A welfare State is gauged in the manner in which it treats its senior citizens. If the senior citizens are going to be treated in this manner, it will portray the State in a very poor light. This Court is pouring its agony on a daily basis in cases of this nature with a fond expectation that the authorities will act upon such claim for medical reimbursement in a more humane manner,” the judge added.

The judge was allowing a writ petition from A Shanmugam seeking to quash an order of the Finance (Pension) department dated October 3, 2019 refusing to settle the medical bill raised by him fully, on February 14. The judge set aside the part payment order, and directed the authorities to settle the balance amount of Rs 2.16 lakh due to the petitioner within four weeks.

Speed-up regularisation process: Guest lecturers

Guest lecturers attached to various government arts and science colleges have urged the government to fast-track the process of regularising them into permanent jobs.

Published: 23rd February 2020 06:46 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI : Guest lecturers attached to various government arts and science colleges have urged the government to fast-track the process of regularising them into permanent jobs. The demand comes after the State Higher Education Minister KP Anbalagan spoke on the issue at the Assembly recently. “I had submitted a representation from the guest lecturers to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who has assured to consider the proposal. The Higher Education Department will soon discuss the matter and implement the regularisation,” Anbalagan had said. Venkatesan Thangaraj, a member of Tamil Nadu All Government College UGC Qualified Guest Lecturers Association, said despite the payhikes existing on paper, the government is yet to implement them.

No relief for Nirbhaya case convict Vinay

23/02/2020

The court said that “general anxiety and depression” in a death row convict “is obvious” and noted that adequate medical treatment and psychological help had been provided to the condemned convict. “The jail superintendent is once again directed to ensure adequate care of the convicts as per rules.”

The court noted the submissions by Dr. Vivek Rustogi and Dr. Akash Narade, both working in Tihar Jail, that though the convict was observed to be anxious, agitated and restless, he had responded well to the supportive therapy conducted by the specialist psychiatry.

“It is categorically observed that according to his psychological assessment, no behavioural abnormality was noted. It is reported that the conduct of the convict is suggestive of deliberate disruptive behaviour,” the court said. The convict was found to have dramatic and superficial demonstration of mental illness, it noted. “No objective signs of psychological distress were observed. The convict desires himself to be falsely diagnosed ‘mentally ill’,” it said. “Overall impression of his psychological condition is reported to be that of ‘malingering’. It is reported that the general condition and vitals of the inmate are stable and satisfactory,” the court observed.

The court noted that in the CCTV footage, the convict was seen conversing with his counsel and family members and the “apparent tone and tenor of the convict is not suggestive of any abnormal behaviour; rather, it convincingly corroborates the opinion of the medical experts”.

In their submissions, the jail authorities termed the plea “a bundle of distorted facts” and the convict was not only being provided regular medical care but also regular supportive therapy by the specialist psychiatry.

Defence counsel said the convict had a plastered hand that showed he had fractures and it was not a superficial injury.

The jail authorities opposed the submission and said it was wrong to say he had a plastered arm and it was not a fracture.

University told to translate NCERT books into Tamil
Information Commission says it will benefit those writing competitive exams
23/02/2020, S VIJAY KUMAR, CHENNAI

The Tamil University has been asked to upload the contents of the translated books on its website.

The Tamil Nadu Information Commission has directed the Tamil University, Thanjavur, to translate into Tamil the Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Economics and Mathematics books published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in English and Hindi from 6th to 12th Standards.

If implemented, the order is expected to go a long way in benefiting students from Tamil medium appearing for the national competitive examinations like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for which question papers are based on NCERT syllabus.

Passing orders on a petition filed by R. Chander of Chennai, State Information Commissioner S. Muthuraj directed the varsity to translate the books of six subjects from 6th to 12th into Tamil and upload the content on its website under the provisions of Section 4 of the Right to Information Act. The Public Information Officer was asked to send a compliance report to the Secretary, Tamil Development Department, and Secretary, School Education Department, Chennai.

In his petition, Mr. Chander contended that most of the competitive examinations for admissions or recruitment conducted by the Centre were based on the NCERT syllabus of Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Economics, Mathematics subjects from 6th Standard to 12th Standard, for which books were available only in English and Hindi.

Translation errors

Students from Tamil Nadu who completed their school education with Tamil as a medium of instruction and aspiring to get into Central government jobs or educational institutions were finding it difficult to study NCERT books as they were not available in Tamil. Though most of these examinations were conducted in Tamil as well, students found it difficult to score owing to translation errors in question papers. He petitioned the Tamil University under the RTI Act to take steps for translating the NCERT books into Tamil. Since there was no reply from the Public Information Officer and the First Appellate Authority, he moved the Commission.

Appearing for the university, the PIO/Deputy Registrar stated that under Section 2(f) of the Act, information could be provided as available in the records and that there was no provision of translating the information and providing the translated version to the applicant.

The main objective of the Tamil University’ Department of Translation was to translate Tamil literature into other languages and vice-versa. Hence, the Department of Translation was accountable to translating the NCERT books under the Act, Mr. Muthuraj said.

Govt. cautions against travel to Singapore

23/02/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Indians have been advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Singapore after the country registered a rise in the number of coronavirus cases recently.

The decision was announced after the Cabinet Secretary chaired a high-level meeting to review the action taken and preparedness of the States and the Union Territories to handle novel coronavirus (COVID19) on Saturday.

“...in addition to the universal screening as per earlier advisories, universal screening at airports is now being planned for flights from Kathmandu, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia,” a release said.

Errant students make amends by cleaning hospital in Tiruchi

High Court ordered corrective measure following violence on campus

23/02/2020, KATHELENE ANTONY ,TIRUCHI

Cleaning up their act: College students clearing garbage on the premises of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi. M. Moorthy

Students of a private college in the city took to cleaning the premises of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital on Saturday following a Madras High Court directive.

Twenty-eight students were ordered to clean the hospital premises as a corrective measure after they were arrested in connection with a case of campus violence involving beer bottles and wooden logs on July 28, 2019. At least five students sustained injuries in the incident. The order was issued by Justice A.D. Jagadish Chandira of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court after the students submitted a plea to quash the FIR registered against them.

K. Vanitha, dean, MGMGH, said the students, belonging to Oxford Engineering College, had undergone an hour of counselling at the Department of Psychiatry before undertaking the cleaning work.

“They have understood their mistakes and have shown regret. To show them the uncertainty of life, I also took them to meet some patients of road accidents admitted to the ICU,” she said.

The students began cleaning the campus of dried leaves and garbage and will also clean the general ward later in the day, Dr. Vanitha said.

“They have also shown interest in donating blood. We will make arrangements to do that at the blood bank in the evening,” she said.

Your plane seat not a sleeper berth, says aviation ministry

New Delhi:23.02.2020

The debate on reclining seats in aircraft, sparked by a viral video of a passenger punching a reclined seat in front of him on a domestic flight in the US recently, has been picked on Indian shores with the aviation ministry adding its two cents.

“A little bit of basic good manners and respect are always worth a thumbs-up. Your seat is not a sleeper berth. Don’t be inconsiderate of other people’s space,” the aviation ministry tweeted on Saturday. It advised: “With the limited space you have, if you must recline, do it carefully. Always think about the people around you because no one wants your head in their laps.”

“It is a good initiative by the ministry to tweet this. While reclining economy seats are an issue globally, authorities must tackle a very common practice in India — passengers standing up as soon as aircraft come to a halt after landing. Our crew has to keep announcing during taxi to terminal, asking passengers to remain seated and not to open overhead bins to take out their bags as that could hurt other flyers,” a senior pilot said. TNN

Court junks Nirbhaya convict’s ‘illness’ plea

Aamir.Khan2@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:23.02.2020

A court on Saturday dismissed a plea filed by a Nirbhaya convict seeking better psychological treatment. The CCTV footage submitted by the Tihar Jail authorities was not suggestive of any anomaly in his behaviour, the court observed, adding that general anxiety and depression were obvious in case of a death-row convict.

Additional sessions judge Dharmender Rana was hearing a plea by Vinay Sharma, one of the four death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. Sharma had sought better treatment owing to his mental condition, including schizophrenia, and head and arm injuries.

After the hearing, the judge ordered, “I do not have any plausible reason to disbelieve the report of two responsible medical experts. I have also seen the CD provided by the jail authorities where the convict is seen conversing with his counsel and family members.” Sharma’s “apparent” tone and tenor was not suggestive of any abnormal behaviour; rather it convincingly corroborated the opinion of the medical experts, he added.

Sharma’s counsel, advocate A P Singh, had claimed his client couldn’t recognise people, including his mother. While visiting Sharma on the request of his family, Singh told the court, he had found that the convict had a grievous head injury, a plaster in his right arm due to a fracture, and was suffering from “insanity”, “mental illness” and “schizophrenia”.

Handing over the CCTV footage to the court, special prosecutor Irfan Ahmed, however, said Sharma had “self-inflicted superficial” injuries and was not suffering from any psychological disorder. Refuting the claim of him being unable to recognise people, Ahmed said, “Sharma had already spoken to his mother and his counsel over the phone. So that submission is wrong.”

Psychiatrist Dr Vivek Rustagi, who was present in the court, said he was meeting all convicts every day. A report by Dr Rustagi and Dr Akash Narade showed that the convict had occasionally shown anxiety, agitated behaviour and restlessness. The court was also informed that Sharma’s conduct was suggestive of deliberate disruptive behaviour.

The medical opinion also highlighted that the convict was asking for the specialist psychiatry for legally favouring himself to get the death sentence commuted.

Dismissing Sharma’s plea, the court directed the Tihar Jail superintendent to ensure adequate care of all convicts as per rules.

The court had on February 17, for the third time, issued fresh death warrants for March 3 to hang the four deathrow convicts — Mukesh Singh

(32), Pawan Gupta (25), Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) — in the Nirbhaya case.

11 engg colleges seek to shut down over poor admissions

7 Institutes Seek to Stop New Intake

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:23.02.2020

After enduring poor admissions over the last few years, 11 engineering colleges in the state have applied to Anna University to close down from the 2020-21 academic year, while seven others have sought to stop new admissions.

The total number of engineering colleges under Anna University including standalone institutions offering architecture, MBA and MCA courses is now down to 537 from 557 in 2019-20. The fate of two colleges is not known as they are yet to communicate their decision to the authorities.

College principals in the city said more than 60 institutions with less than 10% new admissions were also in danger of closure. “A college without at leat 50% admissions cannot break even. Those with fewer admissions cannot hire good faculty and provide facilities like labs. The trend of colleges closing down will continue for at least the next two years,” said one.

Last year, after the end of engineering counselling, more than 80 colleges had recorded less than 10% admissions. Several others decided to trim intake in core courses like civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. “They surrendered around 8,000 seats in these branches including 1,400 in civil engineering,” said an official. Many also sought permission to start new courses in artificial intelligence and data science with an intake of around 6,000 seats.

Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi said admission in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering streams was poor last year. “While reducing the intake in these courses, colleges also will reduce faculty strength in these streams.” Production engineering and automobile engineering are also likely to be closed in a few colleges following industry automation and lack of jobs.

Anna University vicechancellor M K Surappa said reducing intake in core courses is not a happy situation. “We need engineers to build smart cities and smart homes. The curriculum needs to be redesigned to train non-computer science graduates in areas such as artificial intelligence and robotics.” Specialised courses like BTech (artificial intelligence) should be offered only after ascertaining the demand and future workforce details, he added.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has allowed universities to offer courses in areas such as cyber security, data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence. With around 50% of seats vacant, the council said it would not accept applications for setting up new colleges for next two years.

Underground sewage work disrupted in Mannady locality

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.02.2020

Last week’s protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Mannady Street in George Town have disrupted underground sewage work being carried out by the Chennai Metro Water and Sewerage Supply Board (CMWSSB), leading to sewage overflow on a few streets, say residents.

Protests against CAA intensified after February 14, spread to other parts of the city including Mannady, Pudupet and Alandur. “Work for the underground drainage had begun last Wednesday. But, because of the protest the contractors are not visiting and there is sewage stagnation on nearby Nainiappan Street, Sembudoss Street and Jones Street,” said a resident.

A junior engineer said pumping vehicles could not be pressed into service last week due to the protests. “We are laying sewer lines in Mannady. One stretch is complete. By tonight, all stagnated sewage will be pumped out. After ensuring that there will be no more protests, we will begin work on the other stretches to ensure the work is completed without any hindrance,” he said.

But another Metrowater officialsaidtherewasonly minor inconvenience because of the protests and admitted that it was not the only reason for the sewerage stagnation. “Work can happen only during the night and we have to wait until evening to begin pumping. That is why there is stagnation. We have the machinery in place and the pumping work has begun,” the engineer told TOI.

Some other residents said the protests were being used as an excuse. “We know how government machinery works.Itis unfortunate that protesters are being tainted,” said Ramiz Raja, who runs a shop in Mannady.



MUCK ON THE ROADS

MCI yet to amend rules, interns still wait for stipends

On February 5, 2019, the MCI board of governors issued a public notice proposing to make it compulsory for private colleges to pay stipends on par with the state or central governments’ remuneration.

Published: 19th February 2020 06:53 AM |

By Chetana Belagere

Express News Service

BENGALURU: It has been a year, and the Medical Council of India (MCI) is still ‘waiting’ for suggestions and comments on the amendment to the regulations of ‘Graduate Medical Education, 1997’, which would make MBBS interns of private colleges eligible for stipends like postgraduate medical students. Interns at most private medical colleges are forced to work for free or paid very little, while they do equal amount of work as their PG counterparts.

“We were quite hopeful when the MCI put out a public notice way back in 2019 stating that it is considering an amendment to the regulations. However, nothing has come through. Why is MCI sitting on this proposal,” asked Priyadarshini B K, an MBBS student from one of the private colleges in Bengaluru.
This is an issue not only in Karnataka, but also in several states, including Kerala and Odisha. Medical experts feel that it can be sorted out only if MCI makes it mandatory and passes a rule.

On February 5, 2019, the MCI board of governors issued a public notice proposing to make it compulsory for private colleges to pay stipends on par with the state or central governments’ remuneration. The board said that it was considering amending the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997 to include a provision to this effect. It had sought comments and suggestions within 15 days.

Dr Babu K V, a Kerala-based activist and founder-member of the Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare (ADEH), told TNIE that it has been a long wait and he had, in fact, appreciated the MCI move when it was announced last year. “The plight of MBBS interns was brought to the notice of MCI way back in 2016, but we were very disappointed with their answer. This is a burning issue in many states and it was brought to the attention of the Travancore Kochin Medical Council, which transferred it to MCI in 2016,” he said.

But the MCI at its executive meeting in 2017 washed its hands of the issue, even in cases concerning Karnataka interns, he explained. “The Executive Committee did not approve the recommendations of the Academic Committee as GME Regulations do not provide for payment of stipend to interns and said the issue is beyond the purview of MCI,” he said. Dr Veerabhadraiah T A of KMC said, “In the coming meeting, we will discuss this issue with our chairman. It can be sorted out if MCI makes it compulsory.”

Stipend amount ranges from Rs 20,000-25,000 in various states

PG students are paid anywhere between
Rs 30,000 and
Rs 40,000
Central government PG students are paid above Rs 25,000

மதுரையுடன் அறிவித்த பிற மாநில ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைகளில் ‘எம்பிபிஎஸ்’ மாணவர் சேர்க்கை தொடக்கம்: தமிழகம் புறக்கணிக்கப்பா?

மதுரை 21.02.2020

மதுரையுடன் அறிவித்த பிற மாநில ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைகள் கட்டுமானப்பணிகள் இன்னும் முடியாதநிலையிலும் இந்த ஆண்டு முதலாம் ஆண்டு எம்பிபிஎஸ் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடத்த மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளது. ஆனால், மதுரைக்கு மட்டும் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடத்த மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கவில்லை.

தமிழகத்தில் 2015-ம் ஆண்டில் அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனை மதுரை அருகே தோப்பூரில் ரூ.1,264 கோடி செலவில் அமைகிறது. பிரதமர் மோடி அடிக்கல் நாட்டிய இந்த மருத்துவமனை கட்டுமானப்பணி தற்போது வரை தொடங்கப்படவில்லை.

இந்த மருத்துவமனையுடன் அறிவித்த இந்தியாவின் பிற ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு மத்திய அரசே நேரடியாக பட்ஜெட்டில் நிதி ஒதுக்கி பணிகள் நடக்கின்றன. ஆனால், தமிழகத்திற்கான மதுரை ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைக்கு மட்டும் ஜப்பான் நாட்டின் ஜெய்கா(JICA- Japan International Cooperation Agency) நிறுவனத்தின் நிதியுதவியுடன் பணிகள் தொடங்க மத்திய அரசு திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது.

‘ஜெய்கா’ நிறுவனம், தற்போது வரை மதுரை ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைக்கு நிதி ஒதுக்கவில்லை. மத்திய அரசு, ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைக்கு ஒதுக்கிய இடத்தைச் சுற்றி வேலி அமைப்பது, நான்கு வழிச்சாலையில் இருந்து சாலை வசதி அமைப்பது உள்ளிட்ட பணிகளுக்காக மட்டும் மத்திய அரசு ரூ.10 கோடி நிதி ஒதுக்கி, அதற்கான பணிகள் நடக்கிறது. ஆனால், ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ கட்டுமானப்பணிக்காக நிதி ஒதுக்கப்படவில்லை.

இந்நிலையில் மதுரை ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனையுடன் அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட பிற மாநில ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துமவனைகள் கட்டுமானப்பணிகள் நடந்தாலும் இன்னும் மருத்துவமனை தொடங்கப்படவில்லை. ஆனால், அந்த மாநில ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைக் கல்லூரிகளுக்கு இந்த ஆண்டு ஆகஸ்ட் முதல் முதலாம் ஆண்டு எம்பிபிஎஸ் மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்க தொடங்குவதற்கு மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கி உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. ஆனால், மதுரை ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைக்கு மட்டும் தற்காலிக கட்டிடத்தில் வைத்து மாணவர் சேர்க்கை தொடங்க உத்தரவிடப்படவில்லை.

இதுகுறித்து மதுரை எம்பி சு.வெங்கடேசனிடம் கேட்டபோது, அவர் கூறியதாவது:

மதுரை ஏய்ம்ஸ் மருத்துவமனை 2023-ம் ஆண்டு தொடங்கப்பட வேண்டும். அதனால், அதற்கான மருத்துவ மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை இப்போதே தொடங்கியிருக்க வேண்டும்.

மதுரையோடு சேர்த்து அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட ஜம்மு எய்ம்ஸ் மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி மாணவர் சேர்க்கை இந்த ஆண்டு ஆகஸ்டு மாதம் தொடங்கப்பட உள்ளது. அதேபோன்று மங்களகிரி மற்றும் பீபீ நகரில் அமையவுள்ள எய்ம்ஸ்க்கான மருத்துவக்கல்லூரிகளில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை ஏற்கெனவே தொடங்கப்பட்டுவிட்டது.

‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவக்கல்லூரி மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை தொடங்குவதற்கு தற்காலிக தனி கட்டிடம் மற்றும் 300 படுக்கைகள் கொண்ட ஒரு மருத்துவமனை இணைப்பு தேவை. அதற்கான வாய்ப்புகள் மதுரையில் அதிகம் உள்ளது. எனவே உடனடியாக மருத்துவ மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை தொடங்குவதற்கு மாநில அரசு முன்முயற்சி எடுக்கவேண்டும்.

தமிழக முதல்வரும் சுகாதாரத் துறை அமைச்சரும் உடனடியாக தலையிட்டு ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனைக்கு ஒரு தனி அதிகாரியை நியமித்து அடுத்த ஆண்டாவது மருத்துவ மாணவ சேர்க்கையை தொடங்க உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவேண்டும்.

‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனையும், மருந்துசார் கல்வி மற்றும் ஆராய்ச்சிக்கழகமும் (NIPER) மதுரை வளர்ச்சியின் இரு கண்கள். இவை இரண்டையும் திட்டமிட்டபடி கொண்டுவர தொடந்து முயற்சி செய்து கொண்டு இருக்கிறேன், ’’ என்றார்.

ஏற்கெனவே மதுரை ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனையின் நிர்வாகப்பிரிவு அலுவலகம், டெல்லியில் தொடங்கப்படும் நிலையில் நோயாளிகள் வருகை, தற்காலிக கட்டிட வசதியிருந்தும் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை தொடங்க மதுரைக்கு அனுமதி வழங்காதது, ‘எய்ம்ஸ்’ மருத்துவமனை விவகாரத்தில் மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகளுக்கு இடையே ஒருங்கிணைப்பு இல்லை என்பதை அம்பலப்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

Medical M.Sc Welcome MCI, Health Ministry Decision On Lab Reporting, Call It Valentines Day Gift 

By Medical Dialogues Bureau

Published On 20 Feb 2020 11:00 AM 

 Shri Arjun Maitra, Secretary NMMTA said it was like Valentine's Day gift given by the ministry to the Clinical Scientist with Medical MSc /PhD community.

 New Delhi: The recent decision of the Medical Council of India (MCI) to allow clinical scientists including Medical Msc / Phd to sign technical lab reports and corresponding amendments by the health ministry has indeed created stir in the medical community. 

While doctors and pathologists have openly opposed the move, clinical scientists have now come out welcoming the move and stating that this was long-awaited 

Also Read - Stripped of specialist tag, 1700 PGDCC Doctors write to Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan 

 Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in its latest gazette notification regarding Clinical Establishment (Central Government) Amendment Rules 2020 on 14/02/2020 made it official that, professionals with MSc degree in Medical Microbiology or Medical Biochemistry with three years of laboratory experience can become authorized signatory in diagnostic laboratory for tests respective to their specialization without recording any opinion or interpretation of lab results. A PhD in Medical Microbiology or Medical Biochemistry shall be required for Medium & Advanced Laboratories.

 Also Read - Attendance relaxation for pregnant, nursing women: HC asks MCI, UGC, others to respond 

 Read Also:MBBS doctors, Medical Mscs can run Basic Laboratories: Health Ministry notifies new Clinical Establishment Rules 

This notification came after the Board of Governors in supersession of MCI gave its decision regarding the role of the authorized signatory to the ministry.

 Read also : Can Medical Msc sign Lab Reports? MCI BOG gives its decision The move has been welcomed by Medical Mscs under the banner of National MSc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA). 

 Dr Sridhar Rao, President NMMTA welcoming this move of the ministry said, "it was indeed a long battle to win back our rights. Signing authority was snatched from us and many of our members lost jobs or demoted at workplace and faced a lot of hardships". He thanked the Board of Governors and the central Health Ministry for restoring the signatory rights by giving due consideration to the NMMTA's detailed representations. "Clinical scientists signing laboratory reports is practiced all over the world, including the US, the UK, the European Union, Middle East countries, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Nepal etc. In fact, the West Bengal government had included the clinical scientists in its Clinical Establishments Act guidelines. 

With the Union government clearing the way, rest of the states must adopt these guidelines", he added. Shri Arjun Maitra, Secretary NMMTA said it was like Valentine's Day gift given by the ministry to the Clinical Scientist with Medical Msc/PhD community. "We were waiting for this day for long. From 2014 we were fighting for our professional dignity and the opportunity to work in the field of our specialization.

 Appropriately trained clinical scientists will compensate the acute deficiency of doctors specializing in laboratory medicines ", he said. "Since the knowledge and skills regarding the techniques used in the laboratory tests are acquired in the postgraduate course (medical M.Sc) itself and the fact that PhD doesn't confer any additional knowledge or skill in routine diagnostics, the requirement of PhD for medium and advanced laboratories may be omitted. NMMTA has always asked for the restoration of signatory authority based on the PG qualifications, with or without PhD." he added Read Also: Pathologists up against MCI decision allowing Medical Msc to sign Technical Lab reports

https://medicaldialogues.in/news/health/mci/medical-msc-welcome-mci-health-ministry-decision-on-lab-reporting-call-it-valentines-day-gift-63290

Attendance relaxation for pregnant, nursing women: HC asks MCI, UGC, others to respond

Attendance relaxation for pregnant, nursing women: HC asks MCI, UGC, others to respond: The court issued notices to the Bar Council of India (BCI), Medical Council of India (MCI) and the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) seeking their stands before the next date of hearing...

மத்திய பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் கல்விக் கட்டணத்தைக் குறைக்க வலியுறுத்தி வரும் 25 ஆம் தேதி போராட்டம்: மாணவர் கூட்டியக்கம் அறிவிப்பு

புதுச்சேரி 21.02.2020

மத்திய பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் கல்விக் கட்டணத்தை குறைக்க வலியுறுத்தி, புதுச்சேரியில் வரும் 25 ஆம் தேதி போராட்டம் நடத்த உள்ளதாக மாணவர் கூட்டியக்கம் அறிவித்துள்ளது.

அனைத்து மாணவர் அமைப்புகளின் கூட்டியக்கம் சார்பில் இந்திய மாணவர் சங்க புதுச்சேரி மாநிலத் தலைவர் ஜெயபிரகாஷ், திமுக மாணவரணி அமைப்பாளர் மணிமாறன், மாணவர் கூட்டமைப்பு நிறுவனர் சுவாமிநாதன், ஏஐஎஸ்எப் துணைத் தலைவர் முரளி, இந்திய ஜனநாயக வாலிபர் சங்கத் தலைவர் ஆனந்தன், இந்திய தேசிய இளைஞர் முன்னணி தலைவர் கலைப்பிரியன் உள்ளிட்டோர் கூட்டாக செய்தியாளர்களைச் சந்தித்தனர்.

அப்போது அவர்கள் கூறியதாவது:

புதுச்சேரி மத்திய பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் 2019-20 ஆம் கல்வி ஆண்டில் 225 சதவீதக் கட்டணம் உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளதைக் குறைக்க வேண்டும். புதுவை மாணவர்களுக்கு 25 சதவீத இடங்களை அனைத்து பாடப்பிரிவுகளிலும் வழங்க வேண்டும். புதுவை மாணவர்களுக்கு 20 ஆண்டுகளாக இயக்கப்பட்ட இலவசப் பேருந்து சேவையை ரத்து செய்யக் கூடாது. இந்தக் கோரிக்கைகளை வலியுறுத்தி புதுவை பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர் பேரவை இன்று 15-வது நாளாகப் போராடி வருகிறது.

இந்நிலையில் கட்டணத்தைக் குறைக்க நிர்வாகம் தரப்பில் போராடி வரும் மாணவர் பேரவை நிர்வாகிகள் மற்றும் பல்கலைக்கழகப் பேராசிரியர்கள் கொண்ட குழு அமைக்கப்பட்டது. அக்குழு நிதி நெருக்கடி காரணமாக பல்கலைக்கழக நிர்வாகம் தரப்பில் உயர்த்திய கல்விக் கட்டண உயர்வை நியாயப்படுத்தியுள்ளது. இது கடும் கண்டனத்திற்குரியது.

தற்போது நாடு முழுவதும் இயங்கி வரும் மத்திய பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் மிக அதிக கட்டணக் கொள்ளையில் ஈடுபடுவது புதுச்சேரி பல்கலைக்கழகம் மட்டுமே. குறிப்பாக, திருவாரூரில் 2009 ஆம் ஆண்டு தொடங்கப்பட்ட தமிழ்நாடு மத்திய பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் உள்ளூர் மாணவர்கள் உயர் கல்வி வாய்ப்பை வழங்க இலவசப் பேருந்து வசதி ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

பிற பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் கலை மற்றும் அறிவியல் சார்ந்த துறைகளில் கல்விக் கட்டணம் ஆண்டுக்கு 10 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் குறைவாகவே உள்ளது.

எனவே, புதுச்சேரி மாணவர்களின் கல்வி உரிமையைப் பாதுகாத்திடக் கோரி அனைத்து மாணவர் அமைப்புகளின் கூட்டியக்கம் சார்பில் வரும் 25-ம் தேதி லாஸ்பேட்டை நேதாஜி சிலை அருகில் அனைத்துக் கல்லூரி மாணவர்களும் வகுப்புகளைப் புறக்கணித்து கருப்புக் கொடியுடன் ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் நடத்தவுள்ளோம்''.

இவ்வாறு மாணவர் சங்கத் தலைவர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

விபத்துக்கு காரணம் டிரைவர் மட்டுமா?

Added : பிப் 20, 2020 21:53

நள்ளிரவு தாண்டி, அதிகாலை வரையிலான நேரம், டிரைவர்களை அசதிக்குள்ளாக்கும் தருணம். இதனால், தன்னையறியாமல் டிரைவர் துாங்கி விடுவதுண்டு. இதனால், சுங்கச்சாவடி அல்லது உகந்த இடங்களில் வாகனங்களை நிறுத்தி, ஓய்வெடுத்து, டீ உள்ளிட்ட பானங்களை அருந்தி, சோர்வு நீங்கிய பின், வாகனங்களை மீண்டும் இயக்க வேண்டும் என, டிரைவர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

ஆனால் இதை, டிரைவர்களும் பின்பற்றுவதில்லை; வாகன உரிமையாளர்களும் அறிவுறுத்துவதில்லை.நேற்று கோர விபத்து நேர்ந்தபோது, நேரம், அதிகாலை, 3:30 மணி. உயிர்களைப் பலிவாங்கிய கன்டெய்னர் லாரி, கொச்சியில் இருந்து புறப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. பெங்களூருவுக்கு வேகமாகச் செல்லும் எண்ணத்தில், கன்டெய்னர் லாரி டிரைவர் ஹேமராஜ் ஓய்வின்றி இயக்கியுள்ளார்.விபத்துக்கு காரணமான டிரைவர் மீது, விபத்து என்று, சாதாரண பிரிவில் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

டிரைவர் மட்டுமல்லாது, கன்டெய்னர் லாரியின் உரிமையாளர் மீதும், வழக்கு பாய வேண்டும். அப்போது தான், எதிர்காலத்தில், இது போன்ற கோர விபத்துகளுக்கு முற்றுப்புள்ளி வைக்க முடியும் என, சமூக ஆர்வலர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

விடைத்தாளில் ரூ.100 'ஐடியா' தந்த தலைமை ஆசிரியர் கைது

Updated : பிப் 21, 2020 01:48 | Added : பிப் 20, 2020 20:35

லக்னோ : உத்தர பிரதேசத்தில், 'விடைத்தாளுடன், 100 ரூபாய் வைத்து தந்தால், தேர்வில் வெற்றி பெறலாம்' என, மாணவர்களிடம் கூறிய பள்ளி தலைமை ஆசிரியர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார். உ.பி.,யில், முதல்வர் யோகி ஆதித்யநாத் தலைமையில், பா.ஜ., ஆட்சி நடக்கிறது.

இங்கு, நேற்று முன்தினம் முதல், 10 மற்றும் பிளஸ் 2 பொதுத் தேர்வுகள் துவங்கி நடைபெற்று வருகின்றன. அதற்கு முன், மாவ் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள ஒரு தனியார் பள்ளியின் தலைமை ஆசிரியர், பிரவீன் மால் என்பவர், மாணவர்கள், பெற்றோர் கூட்டத்தில் பேசியுள்ளார். மொபைல் போன்அதன் விபரம்:நம் பள்ளி மாணவர்கள் யாரும் தேர்வில் தோல்வி அடைய மாட்டார்கள் என்பதை சவாலாக கூறுகிறேன்.

தேர்வில் ஒருவருக்கொருவர், தொடாமல் பேசி, விடைகளை எழுதுங்கள். விடைத்தாளை திரும்பக் கொடுக்கும் போது, அதில், 100 ரூபாய் நோட்டை இணைத்து கொடுங்கள். உங்கள் விடைத்தாளை திருத்தும் அரசு பள்ளி ஆசிரியர்கள், கண்ணை மூடிக் கொண்டு மதிப்பெண் போட்டு விடுவர். அவர்கள் அனைவரையும் எனக்கு தெரியும். நீங்கள் விடையை தவறாக எழுதினாலும், நான்கிற்கு, மூன்று மார்க் கொடுத்து விடுவர்;பயப்படாதீர்கள். இவ்வாறு அவர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். 'அட இது நல்ல, 'ஐடியா' வாக உள்ளதே' என, மாணவர்கள் கிசுகிசுத்தாலும், சிலர், தலைமை ஆசிரியரின் பேச்சை, மொபைல் போனில் ரகசியமாக படம் பிடித்து, சமூக வலைதளங்களில் பதிவிட்டனர்.

ஒரு மாணவன், யோகி ஆதித்யநாத் அலுவலக வலைதளத்தில், குறை தீர்ப்பு பிரிவில், இந்த 'வீடியோ'வை பதிவேற்றினான். கண்காணிப்பு கேமராஅதை கண்டு அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த முதல்வர் அலுவலக அதிகாரிகளின் உத்தரவின் படி, போலீசார், பிரவீன் மாலை கைது செய்தனர். உ.பி., அரசு, தேர்வு முறைகேடுகளை தடுக்க, 7,784 தேர்வு மையங்களில், கண்காணிப்பு கேமராக்களை பொருத்திஉள்ளது. தேர்வின் போது, அதிரடி சோதனை நடத்த, இரண்டு லட்சத்திற்கும் அதிகமானோர் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

Apollo docs conduct cartilage procedure on elderly woman

Doctors at Apollo Hospital performed one-step minced cartilage procedure on a 69-year-old American woman, recently.

Published: 21st February 2020 06:55 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Doctors at Apollo Hospital performed one-step minced cartilage procedure on a 69-year-old American woman, recently. According to a release, “Sarah Hasseler, who works as a teacher in an international school in Chennai, was diagnosed with grade 3 osteoarthritis. In this procedure, a portion of healthy cartilage from the same knee is transplanted through a keyhole incision along with a bioactive material, to the damaged portion of the cartilage.”

APSRTC to ply 2,555 spl. buses for Sivaratri

21/02/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,VIJAYAWADA

To cater to the transport needs of devotees visiting Shaivite temples on the occasion of Sivaratri, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) will operate 2,555 special buses across the State on Friday and Saturday (February 21 and 22).

Corporation’s Executive Director (Operations) Brahmananda Reddy said 792 special buses would be plied to the famous Shaivite temple Kotappa Konda and 850 personnel (officials, supervisors and security staff) had been posted to monitor their movement.

Srisailam being a major destination for Shiva devotees, 466 buses from different districts in the State would ply on this route, and 75 buses from Krishna and Guntur districts towards Amaravathi.

Measure mental illness through IQ levels, says CBSE

Disability activists say many students with mental illness may have high IQ scores

21/02/2020, , PRISCILLA JEBARAJ,NEW DELHI

A circular issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education on the eve of the Class 10 and 12 board examinations has asked for students with mental illnesses to provide medical certificates using their IQ scores to measure their disability level, in order to avail concessions in the examinations.

Disability activists and psychologists have pointed out that this is an inaccurate way to evaluate mental illness and also does not comply with the guidelines of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

“Clinical depression, personality disorders, specific learning disorders, autism — many of these will not show low IQ score, but children may still require examination support of various kinds,” said Seema Lal, a Kochi-based psychologist. She also noted that emotional and social skills and adaptive behaviour also needed to be taken into account.

When contacted, CBSE Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj told The Hindu that the circular had been issued the day before examinations began because the Board had received a number of last minute requests from parents and students claiming learning disabilities, and demanding concessions.

“To avoid misuse of the concessions, we wanted to ensure that they give us certificates with the specific levels of disabilities, as stipulated by the Gazette notification issued by the Social Justice Ministry. Otherwise, there is a rush of people coming last minute with incomplete certificates claiming their child has dyslexia and demanding extra time,” said Dr. Bhardwaj.

Kamal Haasan, Lyca Productions announce compensation
Actor stresses on need for safe working conditions, protection for technicians

21/02/2020, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

Film actor Kamal Haasan at the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in Chennai on Thursday. B. Velankanniraj

Actor Kamal Haasan announced ₹1 crore compensation for families of the technicians who died, as well as for those injured in the accident on the sets of Indian 2 on Wednesday night.

Speaking to mediapersons at KMC Hospital on Thursday, Mr. Haasan said that he was not there as a representative of a film production but as a concerned family member. “I have been in this profession since I was a child. This is yet another incident which proves that this industry does not have the level of safety which is expected of it,” he said.

Stating that the compensation he offered should be viewed only as a first-aid, Mr. Haasan said that the industry should come together and take steps to ensure protection and insurance for technicians. “We boast about big budget films but it is shameful that we are not able to protect our technicians,” he said. He stressed on the responsibility of any profession including the cinema industry to ensure that technicians are protected and insured. “This is not an appeal I am making to the film industry. It is our responsibility and duty, and I am merely reiterating it,” he said.

Mr. Haasan said that it had been a narrow escape for him as well, as he was under the same canopy with the actress of the film, sometime before the crane collapsed. “The director and the cameraman had a narrow escape as they moved from there just about four seconds before the accident,” he added. Speaking about Mr. Krishna, the assistant director who was killed in the mishap, the actor said that the youngster used to work with him as an assistant. “It was only day before yesterday that he came and told me that he had joined the sets of Indian 2,” he said. Mr. Krishna is the son-in-law of cartoonist and film critic Madhan.

Director Shankar and Lyca Productions founder Subaskaran Allirajah also met the families of the deceased at KMC. Tamil Kumaran, CEO of Lyca Productions, said that they were giving ₹2 crore to the families of the deceased and those who were injured. “We will take care of all the medical expenses,” he added. Reacting to questions about safety on set, Mr. Kumaran said that they had taken adequate precautions and that the accident had been “sudden and unfortunate”.

75 free bone marrow transplants in six years in Odisha hospital
Major milestone for SCB Medical College and Hospital
21/02/2020, SATYASUNDAR BARIK,BHUBANESWAR

Dr. R.K. Jena, the man behind the unique endeavour.Special arrangement

The SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Thursday achieved a major milestone by performing its 75th bone marrow transplant – the highest in any State government-run hospital in the country.

The Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit of the hospital extends the treatment free of cost – a pioneering effort in the country. Of the 75 cancer patients who have undergone the complex transplant procedure, 70 have been found to be healthy while five have passed away.

“The bone marrow transplant, which a poor patient cannot dream of availing, is extended free of cost in our facility. The Health and Family Welfare Department of Odisha bears the cost of the treatment. Probably no government-run hospital in eastern India has performed so many BMTs,” said R.K. Jena, head of Clinical Haematology Department in S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital and the man behind this unique endeavour.

A BMT unit started functioning in the hospital on February 26, 2014. In the last six years, Dr. Jena and his team have been conscientiously trying make life better for cancer patients.

Expensive procedure

BMT is a procedure to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. In private sector hospitals, a patient has to cough up about ₹10 lakh for a BMT. In the SCB facility, the cost incurred on each BMT ranges between ₹70,000 and ₹1 lakh. Of the 75 patients, 65 belong to below poverty line. Now, around 30 patients are waiting to avail of BMT at SCB.

Dr. Jena, who was also former president of Indian Society of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, said only private hospital Tata Medical Center, Kolkata, had done higher number of BMTs than SCB Medical College.

All BMTs have been carried out through Stem Cell Apheresis procedure. “In all cases we have successfully mobilised and collected adequate stem cells by a single procedure, unlike other centres needing one to three procedures. Restricting to one procedure reduces cost,” he observed.

Of the 75 cancer patients, five were above 65 years and conducting BMT on them was no mean achievement. As per Indian Journal of Cancer, very few hospitals in the country have attempted BMT involving elderly persons. Dr. Jena said, “We conducted BMT on one patient who was 74 years old.”

Swiggy workers stage protest in city, demand restoration of old wages

Rate per delivery has been reduced from ₹40 to ₹35

21/02/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,NEW DELHI

Workers of online food delivery platform, Swiggy, have been staging a protest in south Delhi’s Madangir area demanding that their old wages be restored.

A worker who did not wish to be identified said that hundreds of them have been gathering outside the Pushp Vihar office for the last two days. Explaining the problem, they said, earlier, they used to get ₹40 per delivery which was subsequently reduced to ₹35.

“However, the company is hiring new people who are paid ₹15 per order. Most of the orders now directly go to them and not us. They have also reduced our extra night charges from ₹20 to ₹10,” he said.

Another worker complained that they have no grievance redressal mechanism in the company. “Who should we speak to in case if there is a problem? If we meet with an accident or we are robbed, there is no one we can contact because everything is online,” he said.

The protesters demanded that the older rates (₹35) be restored for every worker.

When contacted, Swiggy did not comment on the matter.

Government’s think tank gets new V-C

21/02/2020, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,NEW DELHI

Jasmine Shah has been re-appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Dialogue and Development Commission, a think-tank of the Delhi government.

After his appointment, Mr. Shah met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here. “Honoured to be appointed by the Cabinet as the Vice Chairperson of @DDC_Delhi for the next term of AAP govt. Met CM @ArvindKejriwal and discussed with him various ways in which DDC can assist in his vision to transform Delhi into a 21st century city [sic],” he tweeted.

NEET applies to UG courses too, says SC

21/02/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the validity of applying the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to under-graduate courses under the Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).

The Court agreed with the government that admissions to BAMS, BUMS, BSMS and BHMS would require candidates to score minimum qualifying marks for NEET.

The court declared this in a judgment challenging notifications issued by the Central Council of Indian Medicine and Central Council of Homoeopathy prescribing an-all India NEET for admission to the under-graduate courses (BAMS, BUMS, BSMS and BHMS) and minimum qualifying marks in the examination from the academic year 2019-2020.

However, as one-time measure and in view of the admission of a large number of students to the AYUSH, the court has permitted them to continue provided they were admitted prior to the last date of admission, i.e., October 15, 2019. The same direction is applicable to students admitted to the post-graduate courses before October 31, 2019.

Survivors of Kerala RTC bus accident left in a state of shock
They say local people came to their rescue

21/02/2020, G. KRISHNAKUMAR,KOCHI

Mangled remains: The KSRTC bus that met with an accident on the outskirts of Tiruppur on Thursday. M. PERIASAMY

Charishma K. woke up on hearing a loud thud and found that the right side of the bus in which she was travelling was completely open.

A passenger in the Garuda Volvo bus of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation that met with a major tragedy at Avinashi on the Coimbatore-Salem highway early on Thursday, Ms. Charishma boarded the bus from Bengaluru and was on the way to her cousin’s house in Ernakulam. “My seat number was 3 and it was on the left side of the bus. I found that the right side of the bus was completely damaged when I suddenly woke up. It was all over in flash. I am still in a state of shock.” she told The Hindu over the phone.

“We could not get out through the main exit door as it got jammed. Locals, who rushed to the spot immediately, broke the glasspanes of windows and rescued us,” she said.

Ms. Charishma, a bank employee in Bengaluru and a resident of Kannur, said she was not injured.

The images of bodies lying on the road refuse to leave Sreelakshmi Menon, who was seated in the first row of the bus on the left side.

“I was asleep and woke up after experiencing a huge jerk. I still do not know how I got out as the exit door was stuck. It was only after watching the news later that I realised that a trailer had rammed our bus as I could not spot it after coming out,” she said. An employee with an e-commerce company in Bengaluru, Sreelakshmi was en route to her residence near Thrissur. “I was taken in an ambulance along with a few others to Revathi Medical Centre in Tiruppur, where I was administered first aid. An X-ray was also taken and doctors advised that I could leave,” she said.

Rajiv case convicts: T.N. Cabinet advice has ‘zero’ value, says Centre

‘Home Ministry had decided not to release any of them and informed Governor’

21/02/2020, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The Union Home Ministry on Thursday asserted before the Madras High Court that its approval was absolutely essential for releasing the seven life convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and since it had already decided not to grant remission to any of them, the effect of a recommendation made by the State Cabinet to the Governor on September 9, 2018 to set them free was nothing but “zero.”

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) G. Rajagopalan told a bench of Justices R. Subbiah and R. Pongiappan that the Centre had also communicated to Governor Banwarilal Purohit a decision taken by it in April 2018 against releasing the seven convicts. On his part, State Public Prosecutor (SPP) A. Natarajan told the court that the Council of Ministers had only made a recommendation and it was up to the Governor to take a call.

Expressing shock over such a stand taken by the Centre and the State, M. Radhakrishnan, counsel for one of the convicts S. Nalini who had filed a habeas corpus petition seeking her immediate release, said, “There is a difference between an executive power and a sovereign power. The Union of India cannot even be allowed to speak in this matter because it relates to advice given by the council of ministers in the State to the Governor.

“It is unfortunate that such submissions are being made by the Additional Solicitor General. The State Public Prosecutor too is wrong in submitting that the Governor is the final authority. Ours is a quasi federal country where the Governors act as per the aid and advice of the council of ministers in every State but the submissions made now probably show the State government here is being run on the aid and advice of the Union Home Ministry.”

After hearing all of them, the judges reserved their verdict on the petition filed by Nalini who had sought her release on the ground of long delay on the part of the Governor in taking a decision on the Cabinet’s recommendation. Stating that the advice given by the council of ministers was binding upon the Governor and he would have no option but to accept it, the petitioner said, her detention since the date of recommendation should be considered illegal. Petitioner’s counsel cited a 1980 Supreme Court verdict in the famous Maru Ramu case and contended that the Governor’s signature was not mandatory for her release.

The SPP said the petitioner’s detention since September 2018 could not be termed illegal since she had been lodged in prison as per orders passed judicial forums. Stating that the Council of Ministers had only made a recommendation to the Governor for releasing the seven convicts, he said: “The government’s duty ends with making a recommendation. Unless the Governor passes an order on the recommendation, there is no question of illegal detention.”

SBI launches ‘combo card’ for students in university

An ATM/ ID card, it can be used to enter restricted areas

21/02/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

One card will do: State Bank of India’s ‘combo card’ being launched in Madurai Kamaraj University on Thursday.G. Moorthy

State Bank of India’s (SBI) ‘combo card’ for students, a multi-purpose card, was launched at Madurai Kamaraj University here on Thursday. This card can be used to withdraw money from automatic teller machines, as an identity card, to access the library and for inter-departmental access for students.

SBI Deputy Managing Director (Strategy) J. Swaminathan, Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan, SBI Chief Manager (Payments and Special Project) Pankaj Kumar and Chief General Manager (Chennai Circle) Vinay M. Tonse were present during the launch of the ‘combo card.’ A memorandum of understanding was also signed between MKU and SBI.

These ‘combo cards’ will be initially given to about 1,400 postgraduate students. Research scholars will get them next.

Mr. Swaminathan said that the card will benefit the students, the university, the bank and the nation. “This is a step towards digitisation. It will also help in reducing carbon footprint and contribute towards ecological conservation,” he said.

The VC said that it was a student-centric initiative which will also help the university to document every activity digitally. “The university is in the process of applying for the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) ranking. Currently, documentation of records is poor. These combo cards, for instance, will help in documenting data about the students who used the library,” he said. He also added that the card can be used for all financial transactions inside the university.

‘Ajinomoto safe for consumption’

21/02/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Stressing the nutritional benefits of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Dietician Dharini Krishnan said that MSG was safe for human consumption, at a press meet organised by the Japanese food and biotechnology corporation, Ajinomoto, here at Courtyard by Marriott on Thursday.

“Monosodium Glutamate is safe for human consumption. Glutamic acid is found in breast milk also and is very safe. It is prepared from natural ingredients”, she said.

Managing Director of Ajinomoto India Atsushi Mishuku said that Ajinomoto (MSG) was extracted from natural products like sugarcane, corn and tapioca.

Ajinomoto was the first company to produce MSG on a commercial scale, Mr. Atsushi Mishuku said.

Regarding the negative perception that the MSG had garnered, he said that, “only imitation products that come from China without regulatory approval are harmful”.

Manager-Marketing of Ajinomoto India Govinda Biswas said, “We have successfully been countering the misconception regarding Ajinomoto.”

He added that due to their regular efforts in this regard there was an increase in the sale and consumption of the product.

Driver-conductor pair had a commendable track record

21/02/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,KOCHI

V.R. Baiju

V.D. Gireesh

The driver-cum-conductor pair, who lost their lives in the accident, had a commendable track record, with their humanitarian ways winning them accolades from within the organisation and from passengers.

In July 2018, the KSRTC’s then Chairman and Managing Director Tomin Thachankery issued a special commendation letter to V.D. Gireesh from Perumbavoor and V.R. Baiju from Piravom after they pro-actively intervened to save the life of a woman passenger. Kavitha Warrier, a passenger, had seizures while the KSRTC Garuda Volvo bus was passing through Hosur. The driver took a U-turn and drove 3 km to the nearest hospital. With the hospital insisting that there had to be a bystander, they contacted the KSRTC officials, who suggested that Baiju stay back at the hospital, till her relatives arrived.

Aliyar, an office-bearer of Kerala State Transport Workers Union, spoke of how the duo also helped rush a child, who suffered from epileptic fit while travelling to Bengaluru, to a hospital.

Six Nepal pilgrims killed in van-bus collision in Salem

TNN | Feb 21, 2020, 04.40 AM IST

SALEM: Six pilgrims from Nepal, two of them women, were killed and 25 others injured after an omnibus rammed a minibus near Omalur here in the early hours of Thursday.

District superintendent of police (SP) Deepa Ganigar said they had alerted the kin of the deceased through Nepal embassy in Chennai and they were expected to reach the city on Friday morning to receive the bodies.

According to the officer, the accident took place when the minibus, with a total of 34 Nepalese on board, was heading to Rajasthan via Salem after visiting Kanyakumari. “They had come down to the country to visit Hindu temples.”

When the minibus reached Naripallam on Salem-Bengaluru National Highway around 1am on Thursday, the officer said, passengers asked the driver to stop the vehicle for them to refresh.

Beemla Chowdry, 40, one of the passengers said, “We were travelling continuously for more than 10 hours and we wanted to take rest for a while. So, we asked the driver to park the vehicle near a stone mandapam belonging to a Kalilamman temple on the highway.”

Driver Gowlram Chowdhari subsequently parked the minibus on roadside and a few of them approached the night security at the temple, seeking permission to stay there for a few hours.

The SP said, “After obtaining permission from the security guard, they asked the driver to come to the stone mandapam. Chowdhari moved the minibus without noticing the omnibus that was coming in from the opposite direction. While the omnibus driver tried his best to avoid collision with the minibus, he didn’t succeed and hit the bus carrying the pilgrims at the centre, killing four of them on the spot and injuring others.”

She said the omnibus was heading to Kerala from Bengaluru and the passengers in that vehicle escaped unhurt.


When alerted by other motorists on the stretch, the Omalur police took the injured to the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital. The SP also reached the accident spot and oversaw the investigation.

“While Ber Bathur Rai, 46, Tikaram, 50, Gopal Taman, 53 and Bodhini, 50 died on the spot, Bulkari Cowdhri, 50, and Vishnu Thangal, 55, died in the hospital without responding to the treatment. The remaining passengers are out of danger,” the officer said.

Collector S A Raman, meanwhile, visited the injured at the government hospital and consoled them.

The Omalur police have registered a case under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 304 (a) (causing death by negligence) of Indian Penal Code and further inquiry is on. They are, however, yet to make any arrest.

Nirbhaya convict is back in court, this time with mental illness plea

TNN | Feb 21, 2020, 04.04 AM IST

New Delhi: A court on Thursday sought a reply from the Tihar Jail authorities on a plea by Vinay Sharma, a death-row convict in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, that he be given better treatment due to his mental condition, including schizophrenia, and head and arm injuries. Additional sessions judge Dharmender Rana directed the authorities to file its reply on Saturday.

According to prison officials, Sharma injured himself by banging his head on his solitary cell wall in jail number 3 on Sunday afternoon. He suffered minor injuries and was treated on the Tihar premises, they said.

Advocate A P Singh, appearing for Sharma, told the court that “it was a serious matter” that the convict couldn’t recognise people, including his mother and lawyer. The lawyer claimed that while visiting his client on the family’s request, he had found Sharma had sustained a grievous head injury, had a plaster in his right arm due to a fracture, and was suffering from “insanity, mental illness and schizophrenia”.

Singh also claimed that the jail records would prove that Sharma had attempted suicide thrice in Tihar and was treated for depression.

The prosecution, however, opposed the plea arguing it was not maintainable. It termed the plea as a delaying tactic.

Meanwhile, according to an IANS report, Sharma’s counsel also moved the Election Commission of India challenging the rejection of his mercy petition. The rejection was suggested by Delhi government and signed by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia when the model code of conduct for the assembly elections was in force. The code made him “ineligible” to do so, Singh said, adding that a WhatsApp screenshot was sent instead of Sisodia’s digital signature while forwarding the plea to the lieutenant governor of Delhi.

After the LG sent it to the Union home ministry, it went to the President of India, who rejected the plea after considering the MHA’s suggestion.

Thursday’s petitions were filed after the court, on February 17, for the third time, issued death warrants for March 3 to execute the four convicts. Besides Sharma, the other convicts are Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur.

Any further delay in their execution will be “sacrilegious” to the rights of the victim and for justice, the court had noted while fixing the new date.

MKU-SBI smart card enables students to mark attendance, withdraw money

TNN | Feb 21, 2020, 04.16 AM IST

Madurai: Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) and State Bank of India (SBI) on Thursday launched a multi-purpose identity card which will enable students to get access to various department buildings, mark attendance and be used as a regular debit card.

“Ever since noticing that many rural families are still far from digitalisation, I wanted to introduce this card at our university which mainly caters to students in rural and remote areas. This card has been issued free of cost to the students. We would also be able to collect and document data of students and the university’s activities more easily,” said MKU vice-chancellor Dr M Krishnan. The university is currently in the process of achieving complete automation of its academic and administrative activities. It had recently introduced MKU-Mobile app / Web app as a platform for digital learning management system.

The MKU VC and the deputy managing director, SBI, J Swaminathan, launched the smart combo ID card and distributed it to students. About 1,500 PG students will first be making use of the cards. An MoU was signed for five years between the university and the bank to implement the project with SBI investing a total of Rs 20 lakh initially. “We are trying to promote electronic system of recording and reduce cash. We don’t see it as expenditure but rather an investment whenever we are working with educational institutions,” Swaminathan told the students. MKU is the fourth educational institution in the country to collaborate with SBI for issuing such combo cards.

Surat women clerks forced to stand naked for med test

Yagnesh.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Surat:21.02.2020

Barely a week after 68 students of a Bhuj girls’ college were lined up and forced to strip to prove they weren’t menstruating, female trainee clerks of the Surat municipal corporation were on Thursday allegedly made to stand naked at a state-run hospital for a long time while lady doctors subjected them to a gynaecological finger test and asked personal questions.

According to a complaint lodged by the SMC Employees Union with the municipal commissioner, around 100 employees got a rude shock when they reached the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research for their mandatory fitness test.

“Female employees were forced to stand naked together in groups of around 10 in a room where they did not have any privacy. The door was not properly closed and the only thing blocking the view from outside was a curtain,” said a senior SMC employee in whom one of the women confided.

Besides being subjected to the controversial finger test, even unmarried women were allegedly asked if they had ever been pregnant. Some of the women accused the lady doctors who conducted the gynaecological tests of also behaving rudely with them.

Male trainees had to undergo a general fitness assessment that included eye, ENT, heart and lung tests, besides an overall check-up. The fitness test is mandatory for confirmation of an employee’s service on completion of the three-year probation.

Ashwin Vachhani, head of the gynaecology department at the hospital, said, “We have to examine women physically since it is mandatory as per the guidelines. I don’t know if such tests are done on men, but in case of women we follow rules to find out if they have any specific illness.”

Full report on www.toi.in

Centre tells HC TN resolution to free Rajiv convict has no effect without guv order

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.02.2020

The central government on Thursday told the Madras high court that the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu government to release Rajiv Gandhi assassination life convict Nalini Sriharan has zero effect without the governor's order.

Additional solicitor general G Rajagopal made the submission when the habeas corpus plea filed by Nalini came up for hearing.

Behind the bars for more than 27 years, Nalini is the longest serving woman prisoner in the country.

In her plea, Nalini sought to declare her detention illegal since the governor failed to order her release based on the recommendation of the state cabinet dated September 9, 2018.

The central government submitted that it informed the Tamil Nadu governor that it is not inclined to release of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts.

When the petition came up on Thursday, Nalini’s counsel argued that the council of ministers had advised the Governor as early as September 2018 to release Nalini under Article 161 of the Constitution, by which the governor can issue clemency.

The additional solicitor general argued that the resolution passed by the council of ministers was sent to the governor and only the governor has the powers to pass it as an order, until when the resolution will hold ‘zero effect’ Recording the submissions, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice R Pongiappan reserved orders on the plea after hearing submissions from the state government and the centre.

Last week, the state government had clarified to the Madras high court that it had only recommended the release of all seven life convicts in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination as it lacks power to order such release.

“The state cabinet has only made a recommendation to the governor.

The governor has to take a decision. He cannot be questioned by the state for not acting on its recommendation,” public prosecutor A Natarajan had said.

AICTE asks univs to hire faculty in 2 yrs
Move Follows 1:15 Faculty Student Order

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.02.2020

After fixing a 1:15 faculty-student ratio for deemed universities and autonomous colleges, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has given the institutions two years to recruit faculty members and create infrastructure.

While engineering colleges welcomed the move, faculty members say recruitments may not be made due to the relaxation in time.

“Institutions deemed to be universities, institutions having accreditation/autonomous status shall have a faculty-student ration of 1:15 in UG level in engineering and technology and maintain a better cadre ratio in order to achieve excellence in technical education,” the AICTE had said in its approval process handbook for 2020-21that was released on February 5.

On Wednesday, in a corrigendum, it said, “Considering the time required to complete the procedure for recruitment of faculty, receive block grants from state governments, all such institutions shall have to create the necessary faculty, infrastructure and other facilities within two years to fulfil the norms and an affidavit for the same shall have to be submitted to AICTE.”

A principal from autonomous engineering college near Chennai said at least one year would be needed to recruit more faculty members. “We need to recruit 30% more members to achieve 1:15 ratio. It is not possible within a such short span. AICTE now has made a right move by issuing a corrigendum,” he said. A few colleges said the new move would also increase expenditure by 30% per year.

But, faculty members said the AICTE had diluted its order by giving more time. K M Karthik, founder of All India Private Colleges Employees Union (AIPCEU), said, “Once again AICTE has yielded to the pressure from engineering colleges and deemed universities.” The council did not care about the faculty members when it brought down the faculty-student ratio from 1:15 to 1:20 and now it is heeding to pleas of managements of engineering colleges, he added.

Former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy said colleges needed time to recruit faculty but that two years was too long. “AICTE should have given a year. Unlike affiliated colleges, deemed universities and autonomous colleges need to focus on conducting exams and research. They can only do it by having a 1:15 ratio,” he said.

Faculty members said AICTE had diluted its order by giving time

Ex-VC of MKU elected to Madras University VC search panel

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.02.2020

P Maruthamuthu, former vice-chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University, was elected senate nominee to the Madras University’s vice-chancellor search panel on Thursday.

With his nomination, now the search panel has two former VCs. The governor-chancellor has to appoint his nominee to complete the search panel for selecting the new vice-chancellor.

Last week, the Madras University syndicate had nominated P Ramasamy, former vice chancellor of Alagappa University, to the search panel.

During the special senate meeting convened to elect a nominee to the search panel, the two associations in Madras University — professors forum of Madras University and Madras University teachers association (MUTA) — nominated Maruthamuthu and M Anandakrishnan, former vice-chancellor of Anna University, to the search panel. Following the two proposals, the senate conducted voting to choose its nominee. “Out of the 87 votes polled on Thursday, Maruthamuthu got 65 votes and Anandkrishnan got 21. One vote was not valid,” a senate member said.The three-year tenure of vice-chancellor P Duraisamy is coming to an end in May.

In 2016, following the disappearance and non-cooperation of R Surendira Prasad, former member of the Madras University VC search panel, the state government had brought an amendment fixing minimum qualification for search panel members and time limit to shortlist VC candidates.

SCAM IN TNUSRB HIRING PROCESS

High court stays recruitment for 8,888 firemen posts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.02.2020

The Madras high court on Thursday ordered an interim stay in the recruitment of more than 8,000 posts in Tamil Nadu fire and rescue services in response to a petition that sought a CBI probe into alleged malpractices in the recruitment by Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB).

Expressing displeasure, Justice N Anand Venkatesh, before whom the petition came up, observed that people will lose confidence in the state if there is fraud in every public service examination.

As many as 15 people had moved the court seeking probe by the central agency even as ripples created by the TNPSC recruitment scam are yet to settle down in the state.

“About 1,019 candidates have been selected from Vellore district and another 763 were chosen from exam centres in Villupuram. All of these candidates were declared to have secured more than 72 marks in the exam. Most of those selected from Vellore are from Sigaram Tuition Centre,” according to the petition.

A notification was issued by TNUSRB in 2019 for filling 8,888 vacant posts of grade-II constables, firemen and jail wardens. Written exams were conducted on August 25 last year and physical examination and endurance tests were held in November 2019.

According to the petitioners, the board published a provisional selection list on February 4 in which their names did not feature, though they had cleared the written exam and physical test. The petitioners contended that most of the candidates selected had secured 69 marks and the highest seems to be 88 marks by a candidate for the post of fireman. Expressing shock that cut-off marks were not published for any category, the petitioners sought the court’s intervention in the matter.

Besides irregularities in the selection process, 20% reservation for people who studied in Tamil medium has

not been provided in the recruitment, the petitioners said.

The petitioners had wanted the court to call for the records of the provisional list and quash the same besides ordering a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities.

As an interim relief, the 15 petitioners had requested the court to direct the board to produce their OMR answer sheets.

On Thursday, when the petition came up for hearing, Justice N Anand Venkatesh ordered that the entire selection shall be kept in abeyance for a period of one week considering the allegations made. Directing the recruiting body to respond on the matter, the court adjourned the petition to March 5.

Platform ticket price at Central to be ₹15

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.02.2020

The cost of a platform ticket at Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR Chennai Central is set to be increased from ₹10 to ₹15 for period of 3 months, starting from April 1. An official release said this was done keeping in view the peak summer traffic expected to begin from April 1 and with the objective of decongesting platforms and facilitating movement of originating and terminating passengers.

In March 2015, the Railway Board had increased the price of a platform ticket from ₹5 to ₹10 and empowered the various divisions to increase the price beyond ₹10 in order to regulate rush during any specific requirement. The latest price increase is done in accordance with power delegated by the board.

Southern Railway said platform tickets are available for passengers at booking office at Moore Market Complex, at the end of platform 1 (on Walltax Road side) and at an exclusive platform ticket counter near gate 5 at Central.

The increase will be effective till June 30.

19 killed, 25 injured after truck jumps median, rams bus in TN
‘Driver Dozed Off At Wheel, Lost Control’
Subburaj.A@timesgroup.com

Coimbatore:21.02.2020

Nineteen people, including a bus driver and five women, were killed and 25 other injured when a container truck rammed a Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus near Tirupur in Tamil Nadu early on Thursday.

Police said the bus with 48 passengers collided with the truck at 3.40am near Avinashi in Tirupur district on Avinashi-Salem bypass road. The Garuda Volvo bus was on its way to Ernakulam from Bengaluru. The container truck carrying 25 tonnes of floor tiles was going to Bengaluru from Kochi. According to police, truck driver K A Hemaraj, 37, from Kollathumkundil at Ottapalam near Palakkad, dozed off and lost control of the vehicle. The truck hit the 30-cm-high median and crossed over to the other side of the lane. In the impact the container got detached and tore down the right side of the bus, killing most people seated on the side.

Survivors were trapped as the front portion of the bus was completely mangled in the collision. Passing motorists informed the Tirupur city police who rushed to the spot. Fire and rescue services personnel started rescue work with the public joining them in breaking open the glass panes of the bus and helping passengers come out.


DEADLY CRASH: The container got detached after the truck hit the median, crossed to the other lane and ripped the right side of the bus | P 7

Kerala to give ₹10 lakh each to families of dead

Tirupur collector K Vijayakarthikeyan said a regional transport officer inquiry has been ordered as two reasons were given for the accident — the driver was asleep and burst of truck tyres. The Kerala government, meanwhile, has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh each to the bereaved families, and ₹30 lakh each to KSRTC employees under staff insurance scheme. Condition of 25 injured passengers admitted to various hospitals is set to be stable. P7

Truck driver lost control of vehicle after dozing off

The bodies were sent to the Avinashi Government Hospital and then to the Tirupur Government Hospital for postmortem. Rescue work was completed around 8.30 am. Police had blocked the stretch on the Avinashi-Salem NHAI road and diverted vehicles.

With the help of two earth movers, the bus was taken to a spot and 3 km away. The public were seen at the spot clicking photographs.

Tirupur city police commissioner Sanjay Kumar said the truck driver who was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police said he had dozed off and lost control of the vehicle. The rear tyres were damaged after they hit the centre median.

The container truck driver was booked under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code.

V K Sreekandan, Palakkad MP, D Balamurali, Palakkad collector, G Shiva Vikaram, Palakkad superintendent of police, and other police officials were at the accident spot coordinating the rescue work.

Kerala transport minister A K Saseendran and agriculture minister V S Sunilkumar visited the spot and consoled relatives of the deceased. The transport minister announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh to the family of each passenger and ₹30 lakh each to the drivers.

Officials from the regional transport office visited the accident spot and checked the KSRTC bus and the container truck.

Following the postmortem, the bodies were handed over to the family members.

In major change, govt may include salary to decide OBC ‘creamy layer’

Subodh.Ghildiyal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.02.2020

Proposing a major change in the concept of ‘creamy layer’ for OBCs, the government may rule that ‘salary’ be considered a part of ‘gross income’ to decide if a backward class individual is eligible to avail of Mandal reservations in public employment and education.

Top sources in the ministry of social justice and empowerment said inclusion of salary in calculating the creamy layer for OBCs was decided as per the recommendations of an expert committee. A proposal to this effect is likely to be moved for the government’s consideration.

If the move goes through, it will significantly raise the bar to qualify for the 27% quota benefits as more are likely to be excluded as ‘creamy layer’ — the cut-off that rules an OBC as affluent.

As per the guiding 1993 Office Memorandum on creamy layer, ‘salary’ and ‘agricultural income’ are not included in ‘gross income’ which only comprises ‘income from other sources’. In contrast, factoring in salary would make it much easier to qualify an OBC as affluent. Observers believe the decision will be controversial with the backward castes.

While the 1993 OM is clear on the subject, confusion arose after the Centre, over the last six years, started including salary in case of OBCs from PSU backgrounds while continuing to exclude it for those working in state and Union governments.

Social justice min to review income ceiling for creamy layer

It lowered the bar for disqualification from quota in case of the first category and triggered court battles. Madras and Delhi high courts termed the practice “discriminatory” and asked the Centre to remedy the situation in favour of OBCs from PSU backgrounds.

An expert committee was appointed in March 2019 to resolve the situation. As reported by TOI, the panel suggested that the Income Tax Act be made the benchmark to calculate the creamy layer cut-off for all OBCs across the board. The I-T Act includes ‘salary’ and ‘other sources’ but leaves out ‘agri income’.

According to sources, the social justice ministry has also decided to review the income ceiling for creamy layer, as is mandatorily done every three years and was last effected in 2017.

The expert panel is learned to have recommended that income ceiling should be ‘indexed’ to a fixed parameter to decide the quantum of raise, as against the subjective revision done till now.

Sources said the income ceiling could be increased from the present ₹8 lakh per annum to above ₹11lakh.