Now, track MTC buses on phone with ‘Chalo’ app

It Provides Info On Nearest Stop, Next Five Buses

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.03.2020

Just like Ola and Uber, passengers can now live track government buses in the city using ‘Chalo’ app.

The app provides details on nearest bus stops and next five Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses scheduled to arrive at any selected stop in both online and offline modes. Users can also search timings of buses along specific authorised routes. For instance, for route 570 (Kelambakkam to Koyambedu CMBT), the app will show the source, destination and list of bus stops on the route. Also a live map, showing the present location of buses plying on the route, will be displayed for users. By selecting one of the buses, passengers may get to know when it would reach the nearest bus stop (based on GPS).

Another common confusion among passengers is route numbers. Unlike Madurai or Coimbatore, Chennai operates more than 650 routes. So, remembering route numbers is tricky. To eliminate this, the app provides the list of bus numbers between any two points. If a commuter is in T Nagar and wants to go to Nanganallur, all he/she needs to do is to enter the source and destination in the appropriate search boxes. Within seconds, the app will display information that 129C, 9M, 79 and 155A are the available options from T Nagar to Nanganallur along with approximate ticket fare in each of the buses.

By this, passengers may get to plan their travel better. “People need not rush to bus stops with uncertainty or fear of missing the next bus if we get to know when the bus will reach and where the bus is now,” said S Rengachari, a transportation activist. Also, they need not wait for a long time at bus stops. Instead, they can leave home or office after calculating the time taken for reaching the bus stop, he said.

A senior MTC official said the app is a beta version (or test-run) of the soon-to-belaunched government’s Locate My Bus App (LAMB). More than 90% of the total 3,300 MTC buses were fitted with GPS devices and brought under the app’s ambit. It will be expanded soon to other buses based on response from the public and correcting internal errors if any, he said and added, “We hope this will encourage more passengers to opt for MTC buses over cabs or share autos”. Accuracy will be within a margin of 1 minute or 10% of predicted time.

TECH HELP: A screengrab of ‘Chalo’ app and (R) buses at a terminus in the city

NEET PG 2020 counseling schedule released, check important dates here

TOI-Online | Updated: Mar 4, 2020, 08:38 IST

NEW DELHI: The Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) has released the schedule for online counseling (allotment process) for NEET 50% AIQ/Deemed/Central Universities/AFMS (MD/MS/Diploma and MDS) Seats – 2020 on its official website - mcc.nic.in.

The candidates who qualified the NEET PG 2020 exam are advised to visit the official website of the MCC to check and download the counseling schedule. The candidates can also click on the link provided below to check and download the NEET PG 2020 counseling schedule:

NEET PG 2020 Counseling 1st Round

The NEET PG 2020 First Round of Counseling Registration and Payment facility will be available from March 12 to 22, 2020. Choice Filling/ Locking option will be available from March 16 to 22, and Processing of Seat Allotment will he held from March 23 to 24. The result will be announced on March 25 and candidates need to report from March 26 to April 3, 2020.

NEET PG 2020 Counseling 2nd Round

The registration and payment facility for the NEET PG 2020 Counseling Second Round will be available from April 7 to April 12, 2020. Choice Filling/ Locking option will be available from April 9 to 12 and Processing of Seat Allotment will be from April 13-14, 2020. Result will be declared on April 15 and reporting will be held from April 15 to 22, 2020.

Transfer of Non Reporting & Non Joining /Vacant seats to State Quota (Only 50% All India Quota) will happen at 6:00 PM on April, 22, 2020.

Display of Seats Matrix for Mop-up round for Central/Deemed Universities will happen on May 11, 2020. The candidates can register and make payment from May 12 to 17, 2020. Choice Locking will be available from May 14 to 17. Processing of Seat Allotment will begin on May 18 and the result will be declared on May 20. Reporting will be held from May 20 to 26, 2020.

Transfer of Non Reporting & Non Joining /Vacant seats to Deemed/Central Universities will happen on May 27, 2020. Conduction of Stray Vacancy Round by Deemed/Central Universities will be held from May 27, 2020 to May 31, 2020.

533 Medical Colleges Offering MBBS Courses In The Country: Health Ministry
261 medical colleges are under private management.

Education Edited by Shihabudeen Kunju S Updated: March 04, 2020 04:45 pm IST

NEET 2020: The ministry said a total of 533 medical colleges are offering MBBS courses in the country.

New Delhi:

The health ministry informed the Parliament on Tuesday that a total of 533 medical colleges are offering MBBS courses in the country, including 261 medical colleges under private management. there are 436 Medical Colleges providing MD/MS etc. courses of studies. Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey also said there are 436 medical colleges in the country which are providing MD, MS etc. courses of studies.

The minister added that to increase the PG seats in medical colleges, the government has revised the ratio of teachers to students for Professor from 1:1 to 1:2 for all MD/MS disciplines and from 1:1 to 1:3 in all clinical subjects in government funded medical colleges and in private medical colleges with 15 years standing. 

"Further, for Associate Professor, the said ratio has been revised from 1:1 to 1:2 and 1:3, if he/she is a unit head in all clinical subjects in Government medical colleges and in Private medical colleges with 15 years standing. This has resulted in increase in number of PG seats in the country," he said. 

Mr Choubey also said the government is in the process of strengthening or up-gradation of state government medical colleges for starting new PG courses or increase of PG seats. 

"By amending the regulations, it has been made mandatory for all medical colleges to start PG courses within 3 years from the date of their MBBS recognition/ continuation of recognition," the minister said. 

"Colleges are allowed to apply for PG courses in clinical subjects at the time of 4th renewal it will serve to advance the process for starting PG courses by more than one (1) year," he added.

MBBS admissions are done through the all India NEET UG exam conducted by the National Testing Agency or NTA while the while the PG admissions are done through NEET PG entrance examination.

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கரோனா பீதி: டெல்லி அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு பயோமெட்ரிக் வருகைப்பதிவேடு தற்காலிக ரத்து

புதுடெல்லி 06.03.2020

கரோனா வைரஸ் பீதி காரணமாக டெல்லியில் அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு பயோமெட்ரிக் வருகைப்பதிவேடு தற்காலிகமாக ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சீனாவை உலுக்கி வரும் கரோனா வைரஸுக்கு (கோவிட் -19) அந்த நாட்டில் இதுவரை 3000 பேர் உயிரிழந்துள்ளனர். 80 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். இதுதவிர இத்தாலி, தென் கொரியா, ஈரான் ஆகிய நாடுகளிலும் கரோனா வைரஸ் வேகமாகப் பரவி வருகிறது. உலகம் முழுவதும் 25-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட நாடுகளில் கரோனா வைரஸ் தாக்குதல் பரவியுள்ளது.

டெல்லி மற்றும் தெலங்கானாச் சேர்ந்த இருவருக்கு கரோனா வைரஸ் தாக்குதல் இருப்பதை மத்திய அரசு உறுதி செய்தது. டெல்லியைச் சேர்ந்தவர் சமீபத்தில் இத்தாலி சென்று திரும்பியுள்ளார். தெலங்கானாவைச் சேர்ந்தவர் துபாய் சென்று திரும்பியுள்ளார். இரு நோயாளிகளின் உடல் நிலையும் சீராக இருக்கிறது இதையடுத்து, இருவரும் வெவ்வேறு மருத்துவமனைகளில் தனி அறையில் தீவிர கண்காணிப்பில் வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

இந்தியாவில் 28 பேருக்கு கரோனா வைரஸ் பாதிப்பு இருப்பதை மத்திய அரசு உறுதி செய்துள்ளது. இந்தியாவில் கரோனா வைரஸ் பரவிவிடக்கூடாது என்பதற்காக முன்னெச்சரிக்கையாக மத்திய அரசு சில அதிரடி நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுத்துள்ளது. அதன்படி இத்தாலி, ஈரான், தென் கொரியா மற்றும் ஜப்பான் நாடுகளில் இருந்து வருவோருக்கு விசா ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதனிடையே கரோனா வைரஸ் குறித்து பல்வேறு வதந்திகள் பரவிய வண்ணம் உள்ளது.

இந்தநிலையில் கரோனா வைரஸ் பரவுவதை தடுக்க டெல்லி மாநில அரசும் பல்வேறு நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுத்துள்ளது. தலைநகர் டெல்லிக்கு வெளிநாட்டினர் அதிகம் வர வாய்ப்பு இருப்பதால் தேவையான முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்கும்படி மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறையும் எச்சரித்து இருந்தது.

இதைத் தொடர்ந்து டெல்லி தொடக்கப் பள்ளிகளுக்கு மார்ச் 30-ம் தேதி வரை விடுமுறை வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மேலும் டெல்லி மாநில அரசு ஊழியர்கள், மாநகராட்சி ஊழியர்கள் அனைவரும் பயோமெட்ரிக் முறையில் வருகைப்பதிவேடு தற்காலிகமாக ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதற்கு பதிலாக கையெழுத்திடும் பதிவேடு பின்பற்றப்படும் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நாமக்கல் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிக்கு முதல்வா் நியமனம்

By DIN | Published on : 06th March 2020 05:35 AM 

சாந்தாஅருள்மொழி

நாமக்கல்: நாமக்கல் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிக்கு முதல்வராக மருத்துவா் சாந்தாஅருள்மொழி நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளாா்.

நாமக்கல்லில் புதிய அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிக்கான அடிக்கல் நாட்டு விழா வியாழக்கிழமை நடைபெற்றது. ஏற்கெனவே, மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி அறிவிக்கப்பட்டவுடன், திருப்பூா் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி முதல்வா் நிா்மலா, பொறுப்பு முதல்வராக நாமக்கல்லில் பணியாற்றி வந்தாா். இந்தநிலையில், புதிய மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி அடிக்கல் நாட்டப்பட்டதைத் தொடா்ந்து, கோவை அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில், மயக்கவியல் துறை நிபுணராக பணியாற்றி வந்த சாந்தா அருள்மொழியை, நாமக்கல் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிக்கு முதல்வராக நியமித்து தமிழக அரசு அண்மையில் அறிவிப்பு வெளியிட்டது. இதைத்தொடா்ந்து, அவா் வியாழக்கிழமை பொறுப்பேற்றுக் கொண்டாா்.

நிர்பயா' குற்றவாளிகளுக்கு 20ல் தூக்கு; புது தேதி அறிவிப்பு

Updated : மார் 06, 2020 00:27 | Added : மார் 06, 2020 00:25 |

புதுடில்லி: மருத்துவ மாணவி, 'நிர்பயா' பாலியல் பலாத்கார வழக்கின் குற்றவாளிகள் நான்கு பேருக்கும், வரும், 20ல் துாக்கு தண்டனையை நிறைவேற்றும்படி, டில்லி நீதிமன்றம் புதிய தேதியை அறிவித்துள்ளது.

டில்லியைச் சேர்ந்த மருத்துவ மாணவி, நிர்பயா, 2012ல், ஒரு கும்பலால் பாலியல் பலாத்காரத்துக்கு ஆளானார். மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட மாணவி, சிகிச்சை பலனின்றி இறந்தார். இந்த வழக்கில், முகேஷ் குமார் சிங், 32, பவன் குப்தா, 25, வினய் சர்மா, 26, அக் ஷய் குமார் சிங், 31, ஆகியோருக்கு துாக்கு தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்டது.

டில்லி திஹார் சிறையில் அடைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள இவர்களுக்கு, முதலில், ஜன., 22ம் தேதியும், பின், பிப்., 1, மார்ச், 3 ஆகிய நாட்களிலும் துாக்கு தண்டனையை நிறைவேற்ற தேதி குறிக்கப்பட்டது. நான்கு பேரும், கருணை மனு, சீராய்வு மனு என, மாறி மாறி, தங்களுக்கு உள்ள சட்ட வாய்ப்புகளை பயன்படுத்தியதால், தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றுவது தள்ளி வைக்கப்பட்டது. இந்நிலையில், குற்றவாளிகளில் ஒருவரான பவன் குப்தா தாக்கல் செய்த கருணை மனுவை, ஜனாதிபதி ராம்நாத் கோவிந்த், சமீபத்தில் நிராகரித்தார்.

டில்லி மருத்துவ மாணவி கற்பழித்துக் கொல்லப்பட்ட வழக்கில் 4 பேரையும் ஜனவரி 22ம்தேதி தூக்கிலிட தேதி குறிக்கப்பட்டது. ஆனால் நால்வரும் மாறி மாறி மனுக்களை போட்டு மூன்று முறை தூக்கு தேதியை ஒத்திப்போட வைத்து விட்டார்கள். குற்றவாளி பவன் குப்தாவின் கருணை மனுவை ஜனாதிபதி ராம்நாத் கோவிந்த் புதனன்று நிராகரித்தார். இதன்மூலம் குற்றவாளிகளின் அனைத்து சட்ட வாய்ப்புகளும் முடிந்துவிட்டன.

இதையடுத்து, குற்றவாளிகள் கருணை மனு தாக்கல் செய்வதற்கான சட்ட வாய்ப்புகள் அனைத்தும் முடிவடைந்தன. இது குறித்த தகவலை, டில்லி மாநில அரசின் வழக்கறிஞர், டில்லி செஷன்ஸ் நீதிமன்றத்தில் நேற்று தெரிவித்தார். குற்றவாளிகள் தரப்பு வழக்கறிஞரும், கருணை மனுவுக்கான சட்ட வாய்ப்புகள் முடிந்து விட்டதாக தெரிவித்தார். இதைத் தொடர்ந்து, குற்றவாளிகள் நான்கு பேருக்கும், வரும், 20ம் தேதி அதிகாலை, 5:30க்கு துாக்கு தண்டனையை நிறைவேற்றும்படி, டில்லி திஹார் சிறை நிர்வாகத்துக்கு, நீதிபதி தர்மேந்திர ராணா, 'வாரன்ட்' அனுப்ப உத்தரவிட்டார்.

மார்ச் 23ல் விசாரணை:

'நிர்பயா வழக்கின் குற்றவாளிகள் நான்கு பேரையும் தனித் தனி தேதிகளில் துாக்கிலிடக் கூடாது; ஒரே நேரத்தில் தான் தண்டனையை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்' என, டில்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றம் ஏற்கனவே உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது.

மனு தாக்கல்:

இதை எதிர்த்து, மத்திய அரசு சார்பில் உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டிருந்தது. இந்நிலையில், உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் நேற்று, நீதிபதிகள் ஆர்.பானுமதி தலைமையிலான அமர்வு முன் ஆஜரான சொலிசிட்டார் ஜெனரல் துஷார் மேத்தா, குற்றவாளிகளுக்கு, வரும், 20ல் தண்டனையை நிறைவேற்றும்படி, டில்லி நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்துள்ளதை சுட்டிக் காட்டினார்.

அப்போது அவர் வாதிட்டதாவது: இந்த வழக்கில் நான்கு குற்றவாளிகள் உள்ளனர். இவர்களே, இரண்டு மாதங்களுக்கு மேலாக, தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றுவதை இழுத்துடித்து விட்டனர். எதிர்காலத்தில், ஒரு வழக்கில், 20 குற்றவாளிகள் இருந்தால், அவர்கள் மாறி மாறி மனு தாக்கல் செய்தால், தண்டனையை எப்படி நிறைவேற்ற முடியும். குற்றவாளிகள் தங்களுக்கு உள்ள சட்ட வாய்ப்புகளை பயன்படுத்தி, நீதிமன்ற நடவடிக்கைகளை கேலிக் கூத்தாக்குகின்றனர்.

எனவே, ஒரு வழக்கில் ஒருவரது சட்ட வாய்ப்புகள் முடிவடைந்து விட்டால், அவருக்கான தண்டனையை உடனடியாக நிறைவேற்ற அனுமதி அளிக்க வேண்டும். அந்த வழக்கில் தொடர்புடைய அடுத்த குற்றவாளியின் சட்ட வாய்ப்புக்காக காத்திருக்க கூடாது. இவ்வாறு, அவர் வாதிட்டார்.

சந்தேகம்:

இதையடுத்து, இந்த விவகாரம் குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்யவுள்ளதாக கூறிய நீதிபதிகள், இந்த மனுவை, வரும், 23ல் விசாரிப்பதாக உத்தரவிட்டனர். மீண்டும் இந்த வழக்கு ஒத்தி வைக்கப்படாது என்றும் உறுதி அளித்தனர். மார்ச், 20ல், குற்றவாளி களுக்கு துாக்கு தண்டனையை நிறைவேற்ற தேதி அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில், இது தொடர்பான வழக்கு ஒத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதால், திட்டமிட்டபடி தண்டனை நிறைவேறுமா என்ற சந்தேகம் மீண்டும் எழுந்துள்ளது.

'துாக்கில் தொங்குவதை நேரில் பார்க்க ஆசை'

மாணவி நிர்பயாவின் தாய் ஆஷா தேவி கூறியதாவது: என் மகள் சாகும்போது, 'குற்றவாளிகள் தண்டிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்' என்றாள். குற்றவாளிகளுக்கு துாக்கு தண்டனை நிறைவேறும் நாளில் தான், எங்களின் பொழுது விடியும். எனக்கு வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்தால், குற்றவாளிகள் நான்கு பேருக்கும் தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றப்படுவதை, நேரில் பார்ப்பேன். எனக்கு அதற்கு அனுமதி கிடைக்குமா என, தெரியவில்லை. இதற்கு மேலும், குற்றவாளிகளுக்கான தண்டனை நிறைவேறுவது, தாமதமாவதை ஏற்க முடியாது. இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

பவுர்ணமி கிரிவலத்துக்கு உகந்த நேரம் அறிவிப்பு

Added : மார் 05, 2020 22:52

தி.மலை: திருவண்ணாமலையில், பக்தர்கள் கிரிவலம் செல்ல, உகந்த நேரத்தை, கோவில் நிர்வாகம் அறிவித்துள்ளது.திருவண்ணாமலை, அருணாசலேஸ்வரர் கோவிலில், பவுர்ணமி தோறும் லட்சக்கணக்கான பக்தர்கள் கிரிவலம் சென்று, சுவாமி தரிசனம் செய்கின்றனர்.மாசி மாத பவுர்ணமி திதி, 9ம் தேதி அதிகாலை, 2:09 மணி முதல், 10ம் தேதி அதிகாலை, 12:04 மணி வரை உள்ளது. அந்த நேரத்தில், கிரிவலம் செல்ல உகந்த நேரம் என, கோவில் நிர்வாகம் அறிவித்துள்ளது.

DMK, PMK flay Guv move on V-C selection

Stalin said the appointment of Jagadesh Kumar was the worst precedent. In the name of ensuring transparency in education, the Governor had resorted to such activities.

Published: 06th March 2020 05:34 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: DMK president MK Stalin and PMK founder S Ramadoss on Thursday condemned the appointment of Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar as chairman of the search committee for selecting an academician as Vice-Chancellor of Madras University.

Stalin said the appointment of Jagadesh Kumar was the worst precedent. In the name of ensuring transparency in education, the Governor had resorted to such activities. By appointing Jagadesh Kumar, he had insulted Tamil Nadu at the national level and attempted to create an impression that a suitable person for heading the search committee was not available in Tamil Nadu. 

In his tweet, Ramadoss said, “It seems the appointment has been made only with a view to appointing a person from some other State as vice-chancellor. Already, Anna University is getting ruined after a person from outside State was appointed as Vice-Chancellor,” he alleged. “State Governor Banwarilal Purohit should give up this attitude and Tamil Nadu government should not allow this to happen,” he said.

Explore medical science to help astronauts: Ex-ISRO chief

“We need to create specialised courses as well as institutions to impart education with necessary simulation and training infrastructure for our own astronauts,” he said.

Published: 06th March 2020 05:54 AM 

Governor Banwarilal Purohit handing over degree to a student at the convocation of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University on Thursday | Ashwin prasath

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: With India’s plans for human space mission-Gaganyaan, a new dimension needs to be created in medical education to deal with physiological and psychological effects on astronauts, said K Kasturirangan, a former Chairman of ISRO, here on Thursday. Delivering the address during the 32nd convocation of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, he said practice of yoga helps in maintaining core and neck strength besides helping overcome problems of space motion sickness and psychological problems arising from spending long duration in isolated space environments.

“We need to create specialised courses as well as institutions to impart education with necessary simulation and training infrastructure for our own astronauts,” he said. Speaking about National Medical Policy 2020, Kasturirangan, who headed National Education Policy drafting committee, said medical education component of NEP will need considerable discussion with National Medical Commission before finalising the overall strategy, including regulatory aspects.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit presided over the function and Sudha Seshayyan, Vice-Chancellor, presented the annual report. A total of 17,500 under faculties of medical, dental, AYUSH, and allied health science courses were awarded degrees and 724 received degrees in person.

Kiran Bedi-Cabinet standoff bad news for U.T., says HC

Judges hope the differences of opinion will be resolved amicably

06/03/2020, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over a series of disagreements between the Council of Ministers and the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Puducherry Kiran Bedi resulting in many litigations before the court. The court said: “The repeated stand-off/acrimony between the said two high constitutional functionaries may not augur well for the governance of the Union Territory, especially the people.”

A Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and R. Hemalatha made the observations while dismissing a case filed by Local Administration Minister A. Namassivayam challenging the L-G’s decision to reject a decision taken by the Cabinet to appoint T.M. Balakrishnan as the State Election Commissioner and instead fill up the post through a selection committee by calling for applications from across the country.

It held that the appointment of Mr. Balakrishnan was not in consonance with the rules and that there was nothing wrong in L-G’s decision to follow a transparent mechanism to fill up the post. However, observing that the Cabinet as well as the L-G must also be aware of the consequences of frequent disagreements between them, the judges said: “This court hopes and trusts that whatever be the reasons for the difference of opinion, they will be resolved amicably.”

The judges pointed out that Section 9A(1) of the Puducherry Village and Commune Panchayats Act of 1973 states that the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for the conduct of all elections to the panchayats shall be vested in the Election Commission consisting of an Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Administrator (L-G) and laid emphasis on the word Administrator used in the legislation.

Further, Section 9A(2) of the Act states that subject to the provisions of any law made by the Legislative Assembly of the UT, the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Election Commissioner shall be such as the Administrator may by rule determine and pointed out that the appointment of Mr. Balakrishnan had not been approved by the L-G and therefore such appointment could not be sustained in law.

‘No need to panic over COVID-19’

06/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey urged the public not to panic over COVID-19 and stated that the Central government was fully prepared to tackle any situation.

Addressing mediapersons here on Thursday, Mr. Choubey said that the Union government started conducting meetings through videoconferencing with State officials well in advance.

The Minister said that 29 people in India had tested positive for coronavirus till March 4.

As a preventive measure, the government had suspended visas granted to people from Italy, Iran, China, South Korea and Japan.

There were 15 laboratories across the country to conduct the test for COVID-19. Another 19 laboratories would be established soon, he added.

Assistant Professor booked for sexual harassment

06/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,TIRUNELVELI

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, in a bid to fulfil the direction of Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, has filed a complaint against an Assistant Professor in the Department of History five years after students levelled sexual harassment charges against him.

Based on the complaint preferred by Registrar S. Santhosh Baboo, Pettai police have registered a case against Vinod Vincent Rajesh. When a good number of girl students charged that Vinod Vincent Rajesh was sexually harassing them in 2015, the administration did not take any punitive action against him, forcing the students to launch a series of protests on the university premises.

As the protests continued despite intimidation by a few people in the administration, the MSU was forced to constitute an internal inquiry committee to probe the sexual harassment charges.

After the committee, comprising R. Kala of the Department of Mathematics, P. Madhava Somasundaram of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and a few others, inquired the affected students and the witnesses, it recorded in its report that Vinod Vincent Rajesh had used “unprofessional statements” in the classroom.

Since the committee’s findings confirmed the charges levelled by the students against the Assistant Professor, the MSU administration placed him under suspension for a few months and then reinstated him. As he was allowed to work in Nagalapuram Mano College, the affected students objected the move.

Adding fuel to the fire, the MSU Internal Committee, which should have forwarded a complaint against Vinod Vincent Rajesh to the jurisdictional police after a prima facie case existed, did not fulfil the legal obligation, forcing the affected girl students to approach the court that directed the MSU to file a complaint with the police against the accused.

Dr. Santhosh Baboo filed the formal complaint on Wednesday and the police registered the case late in the night.

Courses offered by medical varsity without MCI nod illegal, says HC

CJ’s Bench concurs with decision taken by a single judge of the court in June

06/03/2020, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The first Division Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday confirmed an order passed by a single judge of the court in June last declaring as illegal a host of courses offered by Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University without obtaining necessary approval as required under Section 10(A) of the Indian Medical Council (MCI) Act of 1956.

Chief Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Justice Subramonium Prasad concurred with the decision taken by Justice S.S. Sundar, who had restrained the university from continuing the illegal courses either directly or through medical colleges affiliated to it. The Bench recorded the submission of MCI counsel V.P. Raman that it had not approved the courses.

However, the Bench struck off the costs of ₹5 lakh imposed by the single judge on the State-run university for having run medical courses in violation of the law, along with a directive to pay the money within four weeks to the School Education Department so that it could be used for improving the infrastructure of needy government schools.

Giving reasons for striking off the order imposing costs, which had not been paid since the university preferred an appeal, Chief Justice Sahi said it only appeared that the varsity had conducted those courses not with a mala fide intention but only on a misconception that it could offer such courses without the approval of the Union Health Ministry and the MCI.

Apart from the directive related to imposition of costs, “we find no reason to take a different view than what had been taken by the learned single judge... There is no material to find fault with the findings of the learned single judge,” the Bench said while dismissing the writ appeal preferred by the university last year and pending since then.

Ruling upheld

Justice Sundar had declared the courses illegal while allowing a writ petition filed by Doctors’ Welfare Association of Tamil Nadu (DWAT), represented by its general secretary K. Srinivasan, in May last year. The judge agreed with the petitioner’s counsel, P. Ebenezer Paul, that even a State-run university should follow the requirements of a Central law.

In its petition, the association had urged the court to prevent the university from offering one-year fellowships in HIV medicine, occupational health, clinical immunology, palliative medicine and sexual medicine.

It wanted the university to be prevented from offering two-year courses in medical genetics, critical care medicine, clinical diabetology, ultrasound (obstetrics and gynaecology) or any other unauthorised PG degree, diploma, certificate or fellowship in medical sciences course for which an MBBS degree is the requirement for admission.

Opposing the writ petition, the university had claimed that the courses were started only after clearance by its governing council and that it was empowered to offer the courses in medical sciences, depending on the need for such courses, even without obtaining the approval of the Centre or the MCI.

Rejecting the contention, the judge had said Central enactments would prevail over State laws and that a Division Bench of the High Court in Dr. V. Balaji versus Union of India (2008) had stressed upon the need for every medical course to have been approved by the Centre and MCI.

AIIMS Madurai will be opened by Sept. 2022, says MoS

06/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

The loan agreement between the Union government and the Government of Japan for the construction of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai will be signed in September. The hospital will be inaugurated in September 2022, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey said here on Thursday.

Addressing mediapersons, Mr. Choubey said the government was also planning to commission the medical college by 2021.

Mr. Choubey said three government hospitals in Tamil Nadu were upgraded to multi-speciality hospitals under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Also, the Centre had granted permission for establishing 11 new medical colleges in the State, the MoS added.

Increase in seats

He said that under the BJP government at the Centre, the number of medical seats in the country had increased by 28,000, and that it currently stood at 80,000. The government aimed to increase it to 1,00,000 by 2022-2023, Mr. Choubey said.

The Minister of State was in Madurai to inaugurate the Ramayan Express. He also addressed BJP cadre on various issues.

BJP State secretary R. Srinivasan and other functionaries of the party were present on the occasion.

At site of Shanti theatre, a complex to house offices

06/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER, CHENNAI

The family members of veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan and real estate developer Akshaya Private Limited came together to announce the launch of ‘Akshaya Shanti’— office suites for businesses and enterprises at the Shanti theatre complex on Anna Salai.

Nearly four years ago, the family members of the late actor had announced that they were going to shut down the theatre, a landmark building on Anna Salai, and redevelop the property.

Shanti theatre, built by G. Umapathy and D. Shanmuga Raja, was originally inaugurated in 1961 and later bought by actor Sivaji Ganesan.

“While there were initially several options as to how to redevelop the property, we worked with Akshaya and ultimately decided to go with state-of-the-art office suites which will be unique to this area. We had our initial apprehensions about the redevelopment since this is a building that my father bought, but the builders have ensured that they will retain something to remember him by, here,” said actor Prabhu.

The gate to the building as well as the walls leading up to the entrance have the names of Sivaji Ganesan’s most memorable films.

The grade A project can either house a single big corporate office or multiple mid-sized corporate offices spread across six floor plates. There is also a gymnasium, landscaped terrace gardens, and car park with a capacity of 134 vehicles and a cafeteria planned.

T. Chitty Babu, Chairman and CEO of Akshaya Pvt Limited said that the facility was gold-certified by the Indian Green Building Council.

Many international flights cancelled following scare

FRROs told to liaise with airport authorities and screen flyers

06/03/2020, S. VIJAY KUMAR,CHENNAI

The flow of passengers in the international terminal has come down in the last few days, says an official.

Amid escalating threat of COVID-19, at least three international flights to Chennai scheduled to land late on Wednesday night were cancelled, sources in the intelligence agencies said on Thursday.

With few passengers, mostly Indian nationals returning home and foreigners on compelling trips landing at Chennai International Airport since Tuesday after the COVID-19 scare spread across South Asian countries, the Frankfurt-Chennai-Frankfurt Lufthansa flights LH-758/759, Bangkok-Chennai-Bangkok Thai Airways flights TG 337/338 and Hong Kong-Chennai-Hong Kong Cathay Pacific flights CX 631/632 were cancelled.

While airline officials refused to comment on the reasons for the cancellations, airport sources said these flights had announced operations as per schedule on Thursday.

“The flow of passengers in the international terminal has drastically come down in the last few days. There have been many cancellations after the spread of COVID-19. Adequate immigration and health officials have been deployed for conducting medical screening of all passengers irrespective of their nationalities,” a police official told The Hindu.

While the medical screening was made compulsory for passengers arriving from 12 countries on Monday, the Government of India extended it to cover all passengers irrespective of their nationalities and country of origin.

All Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs) were told to liaise with airport authorities and carry out medical screening of passengers. While foreigners refusing to cooperate with the authorities in the screening or sharing details of their stay would be denied entry, Indians shall be compulsorily quarantined, police sources said.

“It may be ensured that the phone number, address of all passengers (Indians and foreigners) coming from these destinations may be compulsorily collected. Those Indians who do not divulge the information may be cautioned of compulsory quarantine and those foreigners who do not provide information may not be given entry,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a note to FRROs.

These measures will be in addition to passengers giving an undertaking that they don’t have symptoms of COVID-19. Sources in the Chennai Port Trust said that the Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, reviewed through video conferencing the measures taken to prevent COVID-19 with port officials across the country. “Instructions have been issued to start 100% screening of all the crew and passengers of foreign vessels irrespective of the country on arrival,” a port official said.

Southern Railway issued an alert to all major stations on the preventive steps to be taken and announcements were made informing passengers that they could contact the respective Train Captains or Station Managers in case of any COVID-19 symptoms. Travelling Ticket Inspectors were told to keep a watch on sick passengers.

‘Yoga therapy can help deal with effects of space travel’

Former ISRO chief speaks at medical university convocation

06/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the convocation on Thursday. From left, Sudha Seshayyan, K. Kasturirangan and R. Chidambaram are seen. S.R. RaghunathanS.R. Raghunathan

With India aiming for human space missions, a new dimension needs to be created in medical education to handle the physiological and psychological challenges the country’s astronauts have to face, K. Kasturirangan, former chairman, ISRO, said on Thursday.

Delivering the convocation address at the 32nd convocation of the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, he said that yoga therapy could help deal with the physiological and psychological effects on human beings surviving in space.

He added that even Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to travel to space, had spoken about performing yoga while in space.

He said that a number of changes happen in the human body under microgravity conditions in space.

While counter measures in dealing with some of these effects include exercises, he said that India’s very own valuable heritage in this connection was yoga therapy. He said that yoga therapy helped maintain core and neck strength, besides helping overcome the problems of space motion sickness and the psychological impact.

“We need to create specialised courses as well as institutions to impart education with necessary simulation and training infrastructure in this connection,” he said.

Arguing that the quality of medical education and the aspects of governance in India leave much to be desired, Mr. Kasturirangan, who headed the committee that drafted the National Education Policy (NEP), said that the NEP and the newly-formed National Medical Commission had tried to address many of these issues.

R. Chidambaram, former Chairman, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, said that artificial intelligence and machine learning were expected to be more useful in diagnosis and drug development.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit presided over the convocation. Sudha Seshayyan, vice-chancellor of the university, presented the annual report.

A total of 17,590 graduates from medical, dental, AYUSH, and allied health sciences received their degree.

For the first time since the inception of the university, the convocation was conducted on the university premises, the V-C said.

SC to step in if Nirbhaya convicts are not hanged on March 20

It will decide govt. appeal for nod to hang them separately

06/03/2020, KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL,NEW DELHI

Nearing justice: Asha Devi, mother of the victim, coming out after the hearing on Thursday. Bibek ChettriBibek Chettri

The Supreme Court on Thursday made it clear that any delay in the execution of the death sentence of the four Nirbhaya gang-rape case convicts on March 20 will see the court itself step in on March 23 to decide the government’s appeal for permission to separately hang them.

The assurance from a three-judge Bench, led by Justice R. Banumathi, came while it was addressing the government’s apprehension that chances were high that one or other of the convicts might turn up in court before March 20 with a new plea and further delay the execution.

‘No astrologer’

“I am no astrologer... but they [the convicts] will find something to delay the March 20 execution... I am not in a hurry to execute them, but the system is suffering when the punishment keeps getting postponed. The convicts have been taking the system for a ride... Even now, it has been over two years since their review petitions were dismissed by the Supreme Court,” Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta submitted.

At this juncture, Justice Banumathi turned to the convicts’ lawyers to come prepared on March 23 as the court would not entertain any request for adjournment.

No rang barse this year?: Coronavirus scare results in cancelled Holi events

TNN | Mar 6, 2020, 01.00 AM IST

No rang barse this year?: Coronavirus scare results in cancelled Holi events

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s official handle tweeted that “experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme.” Soon, several other political leaders also said that they are skipping Holi gatherings. Later, President Ram Nath Kovind’s office informed that the Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold the traditional Holi gatherings as a precautionary measure. However, even before these announcements came, many people were already cancelling Holi parties and gatherings as a precaution against coronavirus. From large-scale events to smaller society gathering – the virus has impacted all Holi celebrations. Dilli Haat calls off Holi event, Holi Moo to refund tickets

Delhi Tourism’s annual Holi events, which were supposed to take place at Dilli Haat, INA, and Dilli Haat, Janakpuri, have been cancelled. A Delhi Tourism official tells us, “Our annual Holi event has been cancelled due to measures taken by the Delhi Government to contain the coronavirus outbreak.”

Several large-scale parties across NCR are organised for Holi, but this year, the coronavirus threat looms large over them. Holi Moo, which is organised in Asiad village in Hauz Khas, has been cancelled due to the same reason. Anshuman Gulati, Festival Director at Holi Moo, issued a statement that they’ve cancelled Holi celebrations due to coronavirus scare. He said in a statement, “We have decided not to go ahead with the festival this year. The safety and security of all our patrons is always a matter of paramount importance to us. For all those who have already purchased tickets to the festival, be rest assured, your transaction amount will be refunded within 10 working days.”

NCR RWAs cancel Holi Milan as residents fret over coronavirus

Following the sudden rise in coronavirus cases in NCR, many residential societies are cancelling their Holi events. In Delhi, URJA – United Residents Joint Action, the apex body of RWAs, has issued an advisory to all residents’ associations to not hold “public engagements” or Holi programmes.

Raja Puri, Secretary, N Block RWA GK-1, says, “We had organised Holi Milan in our society on March 10, but after the news of the party hosted by a coronavirus patient came out, we started getting calls from our society members asking to cancel the event. They don’t want to take a risk by participating in any public event, so we had to cancel it. People are not sending kids to schools if they don’t have exams, so celebrating Holi in a big event seems out of question.”

After Defence Colony residents wrote to the Defence Colony Club, asking to cancel their Holi celebrations, a meeting was organised and the Holi function was called off. Several other societies, including Malviya Nagar, GK-1, South Ex-II, Geetanjali Enclave also cancelled their Holi celebrations.

Ruby Makhija, RWA president, Navjiwan Vihar, says, “On Wednesday, we informed our society members with regret about our decision to cancel our annual Holi lunch. We’re aware that this year no gathering could be organised because of coronavirus. Safety comes first, and that’s why we’ve cancelled the celebrations. I have also written to all the RWAs to cancel their events as well. Rajiva Singh, president, Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Association, says, “A couple of societies in Noida and Gr Noida have informed us that they have cancelled Holi celebrations in their societies. In other societies, the celebrations are going to very different this year. For instance, there won’t be rain dances. While we have issued a health advisory to all societies, we have not issued an advisory to cancel Holi events yet. We’re monitoring the situation and we will take a decision within the next two-three days.”

SC defers hearing on plea over separate hangings

TNN | Mar 6, 2020, 04.59 AM IST

New Delhi: In view of the fresh warrant issued by a trial court to execute the death sentence of Nirbhaya case convicts on March 20, the Supreme Court on Thursday deferred hearing on the Centre’s plea to allow separate execution where there are more than one death row convict. The court posted the matter for March 23.

A bench of Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna said it would examine whether separate execution could be allowed in cases where more than one person was convicted and awarded death sentence. It rejected the plea of Nirbhaya case convicts to grant them a hearing before March 20.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Delhi government, said the Nirbhaya case convicts had taken the judicial system for a ride and separate execution of sentence should be allowed.

“There is no anxiety on our part to hang somebody. Nobody likes this. Our anxiety is that credibility of the system is at stake,” Mehta said. He added that there may be a case tomorrow in which 10 or 20 people are convicted and they may again delay execution by moving separate forums at different times.

Mehta said there was no statutory provision, which said convicts had to be executed simultaneously. He urged the court to direct the Nirbhaya case convicts to file whatsoever they wanted in court before March 20. The bench did not pass any order on the issue and adjourned the case.

GRH dean directed to perform postmortem on accident victim

TNN | Mar 6, 2020, 04.30 AM IST

Madurai: Madras high court has directed doctors of the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) to perform postmortem on a person who succumbed to injuries in a road accident and hand over the body to his family members. The court said this after taking cognizance of the fact that the body was not handed over to the family as police officials did not give requisition for performing postmortem.

Justice G R Swaminathan passed the order while hearing a plea moved by the victim’s son, S Abilash, seeking for a direction to the Madurai city police officials to give requisition to the dean of GRH for performing postmortem and hand over his father’s body.

The judge observed that the petitioner’s father, Selvaraj, who was doing business at Bengaluru met with an accident on February 23 when he was riding his two-wheeler. He was admitted in the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) and thereafter shifted to a private hospital.

He was discharged from the private hospital and admitted to the GRH on February 29. Selvaraj, who was in a comatose condition passed away on March 4 at 5pm and his body is kept in the mortuary.

The judge observed that the postmortem was not performed as the inspector of police of Madhichiyam police refused to give requisition stating that the accident did not take place within their jurisdiction. When the petitioner approached the jurisdictional police station at Karnataka, the inspector of police stated that the petitioner’s family did not lodge any complaint immediately after the accident took place and the death did not take place with their jurisdiction.

“The body of the petitioner’s father is still in mortuary. The petitioner and other members of his family are anxious to perform the final rites. I can understand the agony and pain of the petitioner’s family. This is not a matter in which one can adopt a technical approach as it appears to be a case of natural death,” observed the judge.

Taking cognizance of the submission by the petitioner’s counsel stating that no claim would be made against the police in Madurai in the future and the stand of the police, the judge directed the dean to make arrangements to conduct postmortem and hand over the body to the petitioner’s family on Thursday itself.

MD and MS admissions: Jipmer begins online registration

TNN | Mar 5, 2020, 05.59 PM IST

PUDUCHERRY: Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) has begun online registration for admission to doctorate of medicine (MD), master of surgery (MS) and master of dental surgery (MDS) courses (June session) and post-doctoral fellowship (PDF) and post-doctoral certificate (PDC) courses (July session). The institute will close online registration for all courses at 5pm on April 9.

The institute will hold entrance examinations online to select candidates for admission into MD, MS, MDS, PDF and PDC courses on May 16.

The candidates appearing for MD, MS and MDS entrance examinations can download their hall tickets from Jipmer website www.jipmer.edu.in from 11am on April 28 to 8am on May 16 while the candidates appearing for PDF and PDC entrance examinations from 11am on April 29 to 8am on May 16.

The institute will publish the merit list of candidates on or before May 26. It will verify the certificates of the candidates who cleared MD, MS and MDS entrance examinations on June 10. It will hold the first counselling tentatively on June 11 and will announce the date of last counselling later.

The institute will verify the certificates of candidates, who cleared PDF and PDC entrance examinations, on June 9. It will complete all admission-related formalities for all the five courses by June 29 and issue admission letters on June 30. The courses will commence on July 1. The institute will close admissions into all five courses on August 31.

Jipmer offers MD courses in 19 specialities, including anesthesiology, anatomy, forensic medicine, nuclear medicine and radio diagnosis and MS courses in five specialities including obstetrics & gynaecology and orthopaedic surgery. It offers MDS courses in two disciplines - orthodontics & dentofacial orthopaedics and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Jipmer offers PDF courses in eight disciplines, including cardiac electrophysiology and pacing and obstetric medicine, and PDC courses in 11 disciplines, including critical care (anesthesiology) and diabetology.

Top court awards family pension to second wife who took care of hubby
Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:06.03.2020

A five-year-old fight for family pension between two wives of a deceased Sikkim government servant ended with a surprising result in the Supreme Court, which validated the man’s second marriage during subsistence of his first marriage and entitled the second wife to receive family pension.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and Naveen Sinha upheld the validity of the second marriage as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1956, was enforced in Sikkim only from May 1, 1989, two years after the government servant married for a second time. It also found that the man had exclusively nominated the second wife as the recipient of family pension as she took care of him during illness.

One Ram Chandra Nirola had married Tulsa Devi and had two children, who are adults now. During subsistence of the first marriage, Nirola married Radha on May 9, 1987, and had three children with her.

In 2008, he executed a settlement deed dividing moveable and immoveable properties between the two wives before his retirement on May 30, 2009. He died on April 13, 2015. The first wife wanted a share of the family pension but was denied. She moved the SC after losing her case in the high court.

Writing the judgment for the bench, Justice Sinha said, “The deceased was exclusively taken care of by Radha during his illness, including the expenditure incurred on his treatment. In view of the statutory rules, it is not possible to accept the argument that Radha was nominated only for purpose of receipt of family pension and per force was required to share it equally with Tulsa Devi.”

Full report on www.toi.in

85% seats in new med colleges will be for TN students: CM

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Namakkal:06.03.2020

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said 85% of seats in the 11 new government medical colleges will be given to students from TN, while the rest will be admitted under the all-India quota.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for a government medical college to be built at ₹338.76 crore at Nallipalayam in Namakkal on Thursday, the chief minister said, “Students from the state who clear Neet will also be eligible under all India quota.” All candidates have to clear Neet to be eligible to get into medical colleges. While 15% of seats are given to the Centre for admission under the all-India quota, admission for 85% seats takes place through single window counselling done by the state selection committee. These seats are given to students from TN.

On DMK chief M K Stalin’s comment that the new medical colleges would be of no use to students from the state as students from other states would enter these colleges by clearing Neet, EPS said Stalin was spreading wrong information.

The chief minister promised to construct a barrage across river Cauvery at the cost of ₹65 crore to tide over water crisis in Namakkal and Karur districts. Union minister for state for health and family welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey and deputy CM O Panneerselvam also participated in the function. The CM laid foundation stones for eight other projects, inaugurated a government arts and science college in Senthamangalam and a seven-storey building constructed at ₹155.80 crore on the government medical college hospital premises at Sanapiratti in Karur district.

‘Indian astronauts can fight space blues with yoga’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.03.2020

Yoga could be an integral part of the daily routine of the Indian astronaut who is sent into the space in the next two or three years, Indian Space Research Organization former chairman K Kasturirangan has said.

With India’s plans for human space mission — Gaganyaan — a new dimension needs to be created with respect to medical education that involves understanding and dealing with physiological and psychological effects on human beings in space and to adopt the necessary counter measure, he said to young doctors, nurses and paramedics at the 32nd annual convocation of the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University here. The convocation was declared open by the chancellor and TN governor Banwarilal Purohit.

The convocation was held on the university campus for the first time. Students, graduates, doctors, paramedics and professors attended the event.

Kasturirangan said in space human beings face micro-gravity conditions that affect flow of body fluids and body mass. Although the cardiovascular system adapts to the new environment, an astronaut in space experiences 3.2% of average bone loss after nearly 10 days of weightlessness, primarily through the excessive secretion of calcium and phosphorus in urine. The loss of calcium in urine may produce stones in the bladder which may cause severe pain. Counter measures include onboard exercise with treadmill and ergometer, he said. India’s spaceman Rakesh Sharma, he said, found benefits in yoga to beat the blues in space. “We need to create specialized courses as well as institutions to impart education with necessary simulation and training infrastructure for our future astronauts,” he said.

Kasturirangan gave away the degrees and awards to 724 students, including 328 medical, 84 dental, 58 AYUSH and 254 in allied health services. In addition 16,866 were given the degrees in absentia. The university will give away 130 endowment medals and cash awards to students. There are 62 endowment gold medals, 8 endowment silver medals and 60 university medals.

He urged young graduates to combine ancient Indian wisdom with modern science.

Earlier, BARC former chairman R Chidambaram spoke about artificial intelliegence in medicine. A match between debating campion Harish Natrajan and a female voice AI system nicknamed Ms Debater proved how the machine can never win against human without emotional intelligence.

“We have robotic surgery in India, but I don’t expect to see an independent doctor robot to emerge in the foreseeable future,” he said. He, however, said machines had a large role to play in the medical field.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit confers a degree on a student of MGR Medical University during the 32nd convocation here on Thursday as former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan looks on

Anna University moves up 24 places in QS rankings

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:06.03.2020

Anna University has moved 24 places to 373rd rank in engineering technology category in the QS World University Rankings.

It is the only state university to feature on this list, which features institutes such as IITs, IISc Bangalore and University of Delhi.

IIT Madras moved seven places to 88th rank in the same category and is the fourth best institute in engineering and technology category. IIT-Bombay, IIT-Delhi and IIT-Kharagpur bagged the top three ranks at country level.

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), has been ranked in the bracket of 401-450 in the rankings and was holding placed 11th in engineering and technology category at all India level.

Anna University's research output has been rated as “very high”. The university secured more points for two indicators of its research output, including a score of 72.7 for H-index citation and 76.5 for citations per paper.

“Our score for citations per paper is equal to top IITs like IIT Madras and IIT-Guwahati. But we need improvement in academic reputation,” said M K Surappa, vicechancellor of Anna University.

Professors of the university said if it receives the Institute of Eminence (IoE) status, it could invest more on cutting-edge research in emerging areas and can improve its ranking in the coming years.

After shortlisting Anna University for IoE status, the MHRD has sought the letter of commitment from the state government in August last year. But, state government is yet to give its letter of commitment to give its share of funds for Anna University to attain eminence status. The university would receive up to ₹1,000 crore and more autonomy from MHRD.

If Anna University receives Institute of Eminence status, it could improve its rankings

WB starts talks on one ticket for bus, train, metro

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:06.03.2020

A common ticketing system for suburban trains, metro rail and buses in Chennai may finally take off.

On Thursday, World Bank initiated a meeting between officials of Southern Railway, Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) to lay the groundwork for a common ticketing system.

A senior official said this was part of a plan to have a common card for all modes of transport in every major city in India. Along with this, the World Bank also wants a seamless connectivity between all modes of transport, with digital boards showing all timings. For instance, Dr MGR Chennai Central station should have timings of the next metro train leaving Chennai Central towards airport, Washermenpet and St Thomas Mount and the metro station should have timings for the next bus and suburban trains.

This development comes at a time when a similar plan under the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) floated by the Tamil Nadu government has not taken off.

Official sources who were present at the meeting said the preliminary focus was on collection of primary data of the type of passenger flow. “World Bank has asked us to collect data on how many commuters leave suburban trains and take buses and how many take metro. We have been asked to map this data on a real-time basis. However, we don’t have the resources to do this,” said a senior official who was part of the meeting.

Senior railway officials who have been part of unified ticketing discussion in the past said Southern Railway’s commercial wing has shown great interest in bringing out such a card for the past seven years. However, the finance department wants exact accounting procedures to be followed. For example, it has stated that money accrued by railways from a multi-modal passenger should be deposited in railways account on the same day; but other agencies have objected to it as the accrual will only come after a day or two.

“However, these are minor issues which can be resolved in this digital age very easily,” a railway official said.

4 Nirbhaya convicts may hang on Mar 20

Aamir.khan2@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:06.03.2020

A court on Thursday set March 20 as the date for executing the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. The court noted that it has an obligation to set the date, and there was no legal bar.

The latest ruling follows three postponements of the hanging and adds a sense of finality in a sensational case in which the four had received the death sentence in 2013. “Death warrants issued by this court with respect to condemned convicts Mukesh, Pawan, Akshay and Vinay shall now be carried into effect by hanging the convicts by the neck until they are dead on March 20 at 5.30 am,” said additional sessions judge Dharmender Rana. Special prosecutor Irfan Ahmed, who had moved a plea seeking setting the date of hanging, told the court the convicts had exhausted all legal remedies.

Hearing on separate hanging on Mar 23

The SC on Thursday deferred to March 23 the hearing on the Centre’s plea to allow separate execution where there are more than one death row convicts. The apex court rejected the Nirbhaya convicts’ plea for a hearing before March 20.

‘No legal hurdle before judge Rana to set date of hanging’

Convict Pawan Gupta was the last convict in the case to exhaust the legal remedy of the President’s mercy. Rejection of his mercy plea brought an end to all judicial, Constitutional and administrative remedies to which a prisoner is entitled as a right before execution of death sentence.

Appearing for Pawan, Vinay and Akshay, advocate A P Singh said he would be meeting Pawan and then challenge the rejection of mercy plea. While he also wanted to meet Akshay to “discuss with him the future course of action”, he conceded that there was no legal obstacle before judge Rana to set the date of hanging. He also prayed that the jail authorities be directed to permit the convicts to meet their counsels.

When it was urged that Akshay be informed about the status of his second mercy petition, the court stated that the jail superintendent was duty-bound to do it. Judge Rana was of the view that the lawyers were at liberty to meet their clients as per the standard procedure of jail after complying with the formalities.

Zoho, Cognizant tell staff to work from home

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

06.03.2020

New Jersey-headquartered Cognizant on Thursday temporarily shut one of its Hyderabad offices and advised all employees there to work from home even as several other tech companies encouraged their staff across India to rely on remote working and telecommuting options wherever possible to maintain business continuity till the Covid-19 threat eases.

Hyderabad has already seen attendance in offices of multinational and Indian tech companies housed in Building 20 at Raheja Mindspace down 30% to 40%, sources said. Building 20 houses offices of companies like Facebook, Parexel and RealPage. Chennai-headquartered Zoho said it had adopted the work-from-home model as its “default” option for offices worldwide, though no member of its staff has tested positive for Covid-19 yet.

“Our employees are encouraged to come to the office only when absolutely essential. We will continue this policy until the virus threat passes,” Zoho’s founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu tweeted.

In Mumbai, Tata Communications issued a statement on how the company’s flexible working policies and a variety of unified collaboration technologies were helping employees stay safe in their homes.

Sikkim bars entry of foreigners

To insulate itself from Covid-19, Sikkhim has banned entry of foreigners, leading to concern among tour operators and hoteliers in Darjeeling that bookings would be cancelled. A ban has been issued for permits to visit Nathu La that borders China.

India-EU summit in Brussels deferred

India and the EU postponed a bilateral summit scheduled for March 13 in Brussels after health authorities advised against travelling, MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday.PM Modi was scheduled to attend the summit. P12

27% of companies have no risk mitigation plan, says survey

VP (unified communications & collaboration product management) Peter Quinlan said, “While we have introduced certain travel restrictions in the current scenario, employees have taken this in their stride since collaboration with remote colleagues was already the norm, and our teams are quite comfortable leveraging chat, voice, video and collaboration tools to get their jobs done.”

On Wednesday, Paytm had advised its employees to work from home after an employee in Gurgaon tested positive for the virus.

Tech Mahindra, too, has asked employees to rely on technologies like tele-presence and videoconferencing to fulfil their responsibilities without putting health at risk.

Godrej group has suspended all business-related international travel, moved meetings that can’t be postponed to videoconferencing and created a taskforce comprising senior employees to closely monitor the situation. A survey by HR consulting firm Mercer has revealed that around 27% of companies do not have a business continuity plan in place for risk mitigation during global emergencies. Nearly 24% are currently in the midst of drafting one.

Sikkim bars entry of foreigners over virus fear

Darjeeling/Kolkata: Sikkim has decided to ban entry of foreigners to insulate itself from the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), leading to widespread fears among tour operators and hoteliers in Darjeeling that bookings would be cancelled. A blanket ban has been issued for permits to visit Nathu La that borders China.

“Darjeeling and Sikkim are inter-linked tourist destinations. Overseas tourists usually spend four-and-a-half days in Sikkim and two-and-a-half days in Darjeeling. Now that they will not be able to travel to Sikkim, they are likely to cancel the Darjeeling leg of their trips and go elsewhere for week-long holidays,” said Amit Periwal, proprietor of Clubside Tours & Travel, who spent most of Thursday, informing his clients in the US and Europe about the development. TNN