Services of retiring doctors, paramedics extended in Punjab

Cabinet takes stock of preventive steps to fight COVID-19

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHANDIGARH

CM Amarinder Siungh

The Punjab Cabinet on Monday held a meeting to take stock of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak and gave ex-post facto approval to the Chief Minister’s decision on extending the services of retiring doctors and paramedical staff working with the State’s health and family welfare department.

An official statement said that their services have been extended till September 30, for which a resolution was passed at the meeting as the Cabinet reviewed the reports of the 7-member Group of Ministers, constituted under the chairmanship of Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra, to oversee the preventive measures undertaken to combat the threat.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh later talking to journalists reiterated the total elimination of all kinds of mafia and monopoly in the State. He was talking on the occasion of completion of three years of his government. Capt. Amarinder said he will not allow mining, liquor, drug and transport mafias, gangsters and terrorists to disturb the State’s peaceful environment.

The Chief Minister said his government was working to end all these evils since taking over Punjab’s reins. “But these things take time. We have done our best, and we could not have done any better considering the situation,” he added.

Describing unemployment as the biggest concern, he announced that one lakh government vacancies would be filled up in the next two years.

Transport monopoly

To a question about monopoly of a single family on buses being operated from Delhi airports to Punjab, the Chief Minister said his government was working to address the issue.

Referring to complaints of continued illegal practices in sand mining, Capt. Amarinder said he had asked the Water Resources Minister to thoroughly review and make the system fully transparent.

Getting the hang of deathpenalty

India is one of only 58 countries that have the death penalty on their statute book and have used it in the recent past. In 1967, the Law Commission had argued to retain capital punishment, but in 2015 it stated that ‘retribution cannot be reduced to vengeance’

17/03/2020, SOIBAM ROCKY SINGH,NEW DELHI

In January, when senior advocate and human rights activist Indira Jaising urged the mother of the 23-year-old victim of the infamous December 16, 2012, gang rape and murder case to “forgive” the four death row convicts, there was a backlash — not just from the mother but the public as well.

This was despite Ms. Jaising making clear that she was with the mother in her pain, but “against death penalty”.

The debate over the death sentence is going on for a long time. Those in favour of capital punishment see it as a deterrence against such type of crimes while others opine that it has not had any such effect.

First initiative

In British India’s Legislative Assembly, the first time an issue was raised regarding capital punishment was in 1931, when one of the Members from Bihar, Gaya Prasad Singh, sought to introduce a Bill to abolish the death penalty for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

However, this was defeated.

At the time of Independence, India retained several laws put in place by the British colonial government, including capital punishment for various crimes under the IPC.

A crucial change in the law was made in 1955 when the Parliament repealed Section 367(5) of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which until then mandated the courts to record reasons where it decided not to impose a sentence of death for offences where the death penalty was an option. The CrPC was re-enacted in 1973 where several changes were made, notably to Section 354(3) mandating judges to provide special reasons for why they imposed the death sentence.

Law Commission reports

In 1967, the 35th Report of the Law Commission had argued for retention of capital punishment in India.

The report stated that retribution should not be understood as an “eye for an eye”, but in its refined form as public denunciation of crime. It also stated that there are a category of individuals who are “cruel and wicked”, and are not capable of reform.

A major reason stated in the report for the retention of capital punishment was the unique condition of India, and the society then prevalent.

About half-a-century later, the Law Commission, in its 262th Report, highlighted that the death penalty does not serve the penological goal of deterrence any more than life imprisonment. The commission, in its report published in 2015, recommended that the death penalty be abolished for all crimes other than terrorism-related offences and waging war against the State.

Rarest of rare cases

The first legal challenge to the constitutionality of the death penalty came in the 1973 case of Jagmohan Singh vs State of Uttar Pradesh in which the petitioners argued that the death penalty was against the Constitution.

The Supreme Court, however, found that the death penalty was a permissible punishment.

This was followed by the 1980 landmark verdict of the top court in the Bachan Singh case where it upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty but confined its application to the ‘rarest of rare cases’, to reduce the arbitrariness of the penalty.

International scenario

Internationally, countries are classified on their death penalty status based on four categories: abolitionist for all crimes, abolitionist for ordinary crimes, abolitionist de facto, and retentionist.

At the end of 2014, seven countries were abolitionist for ordinary crimes. Only 98 countries were abolitionist for all crimes, and 35 were abolitionist in practice.

This brought the number of countries which are abolitionist in law or practice to 140.

At the same time, 58 countries are regarded as retentionist, who still have the death penalty on their statute book and have used it in the recent past. This list includes some of the most populous nations in the world, including India, China, Indonesia and the United States.

Neighbouring countries such as Nepal officially abolished the death penalty in 1990 and did not reintroduce it even in the aftermath of the civil war.

Sri Lanka, despite a long civil war, has maintained a moratorium on the penalty, the commission report said.

Recent executions

In July 2015, Yakub Memon was executed by hanging in Nagpur Central Jail for his role in the 1993 Bombay bombings.

Afzal Guru, who was convicted for his role in the 2001 Parliament attack, was executed in February 2013.

In November 2012, Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, was hanged at Yerwada Jail in Pune. The previous execution was carried out in 2004 of Dhananjoy Chatterjee for the crimes of rape and murder of a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

No clear data

Project 39A of the National Law University, Delhi, which publishes the death penalty reports has highlighted the difficulty in obtaining the exact number of prisoners under the sentence of death in India.

As per Project 39A, India has executed around 755 persons since Independence. Its report said that Uttar Pradesh carried out the highest number of executions at 366. Also, the Bareilly District Jail in the State has the distinction of carrying out 130 executions, the highest of all jails in the country, with the last execution being carried out on September 24, 1988.

Delhi’s Tihar Central Prisons carried out 25 executions, the last one of Afzal Guru on February 9, 2013.

“Though we at Project 39A have tried our best to collate data from various sources, it is an unfortunate truth that the prisons and other government departments do not have accurate records of the people they have executed,” Project 39A stated.

“Hence, we continue our struggle to get accurate data on the administration of the death penalty in India and are hindered by an absolute lack of coordination between different official sources,” it added.

A case for abolition

“The notion of “an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” has no place in our constitutionally mediated criminal justice system. Capital punishment fails to achieve any constitutionally valid penological goals,” the Law Commission, in its 262th Report had said.

It pointed out that even the Supreme Court has on numerous occasions expressed concern about arbitrary sentencing in death penalty cases. “The court has noted that it is difficult to distinguish cases where death penalty has been imposed from those where the alternative of life imprisonment has been applied,” it said.

The commission had stated that the constitutional regulation of capital punishment attempted in Bachan Singh case has failed to prevent death sentences from being “arbitrarily and freakishly imposed”.

The commission had put a case for abolition of death penalty, except terrorism-related offences and waging war, noting,“Retribution has an important role to play in punishment. However, it cannot be reduced to vengeance”.

Over 180 flights cancelled at Chennai airport

17/03/2020, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI

Over 180 flights have been cancelled at Chennai airport this month and there may be a nearly 50% dip in the international passenger traffic.

Airport sources said that nearly 100 flights have been cancelled this week alone. On Monday too, several flights to destinations including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok were cancelled by several airlines. Sources said, the international air passenger traffic that was around 8,000-9,000 till last week has fallen further.

“Though we are yet to get an exact estimate of the passenger traffic, from the initial estimates, only 4,000-5,000 are travelling now. This may even fall further in the coming days as more and more number of flights are being cancelled,” a source said. In the first 11 days, about 90 flights were cancelled.

While all airlines that cancel don’t necessarily say it is because of COVID-19, sources said, majority of the cancellations were due to the impact of this pandemic.

The screening of passengers has been on and 1,80,062 passengers have been screened at Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai and Coimbatore till date.

Some of the airlines like Singapore Airlines has been offering fee waiver and flexible rebooking for all customers.

In a statement, Singapore Airlines has said: “Singapore Airlines is waiving all rebooking fees for tickets issued on or before March 15, 2020, for travel up to May 31, 2020, with immediate effect. Customers can cancel their existing flight itineraries, retain the value of their tickets and rebook their travel at a later date, when they are able to firm up their new travel plans.”

Health checkpost at Rajapalayam

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,VIRUDHUNAGAR

A new health checkpost will start functioning at Rajapalayam for taking up fumigation of vehicles and checking health condition of passengers who enter the district, in the wake of COVID-19 scare.

The check-post will have a medical team and health workers round-the-clock.

“Though Virudhunagar district does not share a territorial border with Kerala, Rajapalayam being a big town, we have planned to spray disinfectant on vehicles. Passengers would be screened by medical teams as a precautionary measure,” said Virudhunagar Collector R. Kannan. All muffosil and town buses would be disinfected after every single trip. A big team of sanitary workers from town panchayats, municipalities and rural areas have been kept ready to take up fumigation, he added.

Isolation wards

The district administration has already geared up to create isolation wards in all the 10 Government hospitals across district. “At least 100 persons could be kept in isolation in the district,” he added.

The Collector, who chaired a meeting with health officials in the evening, said that the Block Medical Officers have been asked to provide right treatment to people complaining of fever. They should be properly screened, he added.

Medical officers and paramedical staff have been advised to take all precautions to avoid bodily contact with patients. They have been asked to wear safety gears like masks and gloves. “The hospitals have adequate stocks of sanitiser, drugs and disinfectant,” Mr. Kannan said.

Medical teams would create awareness on how COVID-19 could spread and the measures to prevent its spreading, he added.

Meanwhile, the first patient with fever has been admitted to the Government hospital at Srivilliputtur. “Since the patient had come from Kerala, she has been kept in isolation and under observation. There is no need for any panic,” the Collector said.

The Collector’s instructions on declaring holidays for schools and colleges would be intimated to all educational institutions.

“We have already closed the anganwadis, along with the primary schools, in the district,” he added.

While the hotels in the district have been asked to stop fresh bookings, the Collector said that local health officials should be intimated if any guests are being provided accommodation.

The district police have been asked to not give permission for any procession or public meetings as a precautionary measure. The Collector also appealed to the people to avoid unnecessary gatherings as a precautionary measure.

Nirbhaya convict’s plea quashed

Mukesh had sought restoration of legal remedies against the death sentence

17/03/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Mukesh Singh

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by one of the Nirbhaya case convicts, Mukesh, for restoration of his legal remedies, including a curative petition, against his death sentence.

The four convicts in the case are scheduled to be hanged to death on March 20. Mukesh, through his counsel M.L. Sharma, said his earlier lawyer had coerced him to sign documents for vested political interests hatched in a joint criminal conspiracy.

The petition said: “Petitioner (Mukesh) is victim of criminal conspiracy and fraud played and hatched jointly by the R-1 (Ministry of Home Affairs), R-2 (Delhi government) and R-3 (Vrinda Grover) and other advocate who appeared in the Sessions Court, High Court and the Supreme Court in the petitioner’s death warrant case.”

The petition claimed the limitation period to file a curative petition was three years from the date of dismissal of the review plea. He sought to “restore” the rights available to him and allow him to file curative and mercy petitions till July 2021.

A Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra refused to entertain the plea, saying it was not maintainable. Mr. Sharma was finally allowed to withdraw with the court dismissing the case.

As of now, all four — Pawan, Mukesh, Vinay and Akshay — have exhausted their available remedies.

In Mukesh’s case, the top court had on July 9, 2018 dismissed his review plea. His curative and mercy pleas were rejected by it and President Ram Nath Kovind, respectively.

A 23-year-old physiotherapy student was gang-raped in a moving bus in South Delhi on December 16, 2012. She died after a fortnight from the massive injuries she suffered. Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused. Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail days after the trial began.

Karnataka medical colleges to act as COVID-19 ‘war rooms’

An entire floor will be converted into an isolation zone

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,BENGALURU

Safety first: A health official conducting a thermal screening test in Bengaluru on Monday. PTIPTI

All government medical colleges in the districts will henceforth act as COVID-19 ‘war rooms’ in Karnataka. An entire floor in these colleges will be converted into a full-fledged isolation zone with 150-250 beds, ICUs and the required number of ventilators, Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar said on Monday.

Private colleges

Briefing presspersons after an emergency meeting with the directors of different government medical colleges, the Minister said private medical colleges would be roped in districts where there were no government medical colleges.

Only 17 districts have government medical colleges in the State.

“In Bengaluru, we are holding talks with various medical colleges such as East Point Medical College, Akash Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and MVJ Medical College. In private hospitals, too, we want to convert one floor into an isolation zone. We want to make sure that we have at least 3,000 beds for isolating patients in Bengaluru,” he asserted.

Pondicherry varsity suspends classes

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,PUDUCHERRY

Pondicherry University has suspended classes, examinations and common facilities, including hostels and library till March 31, or until further notice as a pre-emptive measure against spread of the novel coronavirus.

While academic activities remain suspended with immediate effect, hostels and mess facilities will shut down on Wednesday.

In a circular, the university advised students to return home and stay safe. They will be allowed to return to the university only after academic activities resume. Hostel residents need to intimate the warden while leaving premises, the circular said.

“Teaching and administrative staff will continue to function in this period,” a university official said.

The university has also postponed the group discussion and interview for MBA (CAT) admissions for 2020-21 in the wake of the threat of novel coronavirus.

In a notification, S. Chitra Sivasubramanian, Head of the Department of Management Studies, said the revised date will be notified later.

The GD/interview could be held in the first or second week of May. As a consequence, the last date to apply has also been extended to April 15.

The proposed national conference (NCRTGET-2020) hosted by the Centre for Green Energy Technology has also been postponed.

Madras Medical College to get testing lab

Checkposts set up in 16 districts to screen people

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Madras Medical College (MMC) will soon have a testing facility for COVID-19.

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar on Monday said that after Tiruvarur, testing facilities for COVID-19 have been set up in Tirunelveli as well. Laboratories are also functioning at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy and at the Government Medical College, Theni. “A testing facility is being set up at MMC and it will be ready in a day or two,” he said after holding a review meeting with officials.

Noting that the number of cases was increasing at the national level, the Minister said, “From 60, the number has crossed to more than 100 positive cases. As the number of positive patients keeps increasing, there is fear. So, we are further intensifying our measures in the State. The number of cases has also increased in Kerala. We need to be more cautious.” The sole patient who tested positive for COVID-19 in the State would be discharged from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in the evening, he added.

Checkposts in 16 districts

In 16 identified districts, the Health department, along with police personnel, had set up checkposts to screen people travelling from Kerala. “The Kerala government is screening people travelling from Tamil Nadu. Similarly, we are screening people coming from Kerala at the entry points. We are activating all checkposts, and our doctors and nurses along with police personnel are conducting checks,” he said. On behalf of the public health department, the Minister appealed to the public to avoid all non-essential travel to neighbouring States or neighbouring countries for the next 15 days. “This is the biggest help that the public can give us,” he said.

The Minister reiterated that the situation was under control. As of now, 1,975 persons are under the direct surveillance, while 11 persons are under observation in hospitals, he said. “We have taken 88 samples. We are awaitingresults of two,” he added.

Nirbhaya case: 3 death row convicts move International Court of Justice seeking stay on execution, says lawyer

PTI | Mar 16, 2020, 09.30 PM IST

NEW DELHI: As the day of hanging of the four death row convicts in Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case nears, three of them have moved the International Court of Justice at Hague seeking a stay on their "unlawful execution", alleging the probe leading to their conviction was "flawed" and they have been treated as "guinea pigs".

The petition, filed through the convicts' lawyer AP Singh, also said that the four -- Vinay Sharma, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay Singh and Mukesh Singh -- have not yet exhausted all their legal remedies.

It is very important to state that "legal remedies/ cases are already pending for disposal before different courts/constitutional bodies in India on behalf of these death row convicts, but very unfortunately and surprisingly in India, Central Jail Tihar has planned and is going to hang them on March 20," the petition said.

The plea alleged that in the Nirbhaya case, the convicts at different points during the investigation, had pleaded to undergo tests such as polygraph, lie detector and brain mapping, but all such pleas were declined without any justification.

It urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to launch an "urgent investigation" into the possibility of false testimony by the sole eyewitness, the friend of the victim, in the case.

The petition claimed that the convicts have been treated as "guinea pigs" and have been falsely implicated in the case and it urged the ICJ to order urgent probe into the matter.

"The fact whether the convicts are guilty of culpability or there has been public and media pressure to falsely implicate the convicts or to treat them as guinea pigs to save others and accept the hypothesis that the prosecution has booked them at the instance of some political executives or to save a situation which disturb society perceives as a collective catastrophe on the paradigm of social stability and to sustain its faith in the investigation to keep the precept of rule of law alive," said the petition.

"In essence, the submission is that the whole exercise, namely, investigation and trial has been carried out with the sole purpose for the survival of the prosecuting agency in India, which is a big miscarriage of justice in India," said the petition.

On March 5, a trial court had issued fresh warrants with March 20, 5.30am, as the date for the execution of the convicts — Mukesh Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), was gang raped and savagely assaulted in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012. She died after a fortnight.

Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused. Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail days after the trial began in the case.

The juvenile was released in 2015 after spending three years in a correctional home.

Nirbhaya case: Tihar Jail gets ready for final act

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.57 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The preparations to execute the death warrant of the four Nirbhaya gang-rape-cum-murder convicts began in full swing at Tihar Jail on Monday. A team of engineers from the public works department visited the jail premises to check the tenacity of the gallows and also conducted a suspension test on the hanging bar. They will also be present when the hangman conducts a dummy hanging from these bars on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the jail authorities conducted a brain mapping test of the four convicts — Mukesh Singh, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma — during a counselling session to gauge their anxiety level. The exercise was conducted to ensure that they don’t suffer from sleep disorders or loss of appetite, leading to a weight loss, a source said.

The PWD team inspected the newly constructed portion of the gallows built to accommodate all four convicts. The final tests were carried out on Monday under the supervision of an additional inspector-general-rank jail officer. The pathway between the solitary cells and the hanging well, too, was inspected to remove any obstruction.

A jail official said the Manilla ropes that would be used in the hanging were greased with butter and mashed bananas on Monday and will be kept ready for the hangman, Pawan, when he arrives on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the jail counsellor and mental health experts from AIIMS who have been counselling inmates spoke to each of them individually. A source said that while Singh had been a recluse, the three others were still in denial about their execution and had expressed hope that their execution might get stalled after they moved the International Court of Justice on Monday.

While family members of Singh and Gupta have had their last meeting on Friday, Sharma’s family will meet him on Tuesday. Thakur’s family had last met him earlier this month after which no one reached out to the jail authorities for a meeting.

The jail authorities allowed the family members of the two convicts to have a one-to-one meeting with them during which they could physically touch them.

To avoid any untoward incident, additional personnel have been deployed round the clock outside the solitary cells of the four convicts since Monday.

(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

Covid- 19 scare: Inform about foreigner patients, Delhi government tells private hospitals, nursing homes

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.18 AM IST

NEW DELHI: All private hospitals and nursing homes have been asked by Delhi government to mandatorily report on foreign nationals undergoing treatment at their facilities. Delhi has many corporate hospitals that are frequented by foreigners.

Officials said some of them may have arrived before the imposition of visa restrictions and they have to be traced and screened to ensure that the foreign nationals aren’t carriers of the novel coronavirus.

Covid-19 has affected as many as 162 countries till date. China, Italy, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Spain are among the worst affected nations.

India has, so far, reported only 114 cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and two individuals have succumbed to it.

This is because that disease has been limited to persons with travel history to the affected countries and those who came in contact with the infected individuals. There is currently no community transmission of Covid-19, according to the government.

However, experts agree, the risk of such an eventuality where Covid-19 breaks out in communities affecting larger number of people cannot be ruled out. “Tracing the high risk individuals and quarantining them until they recover is the only way to contain the disease spread. We need to focus on tracing each and every individual, Indian or foreigner, who has travel history to countries affected by Covid-19,” said a health official.

As of Monday, Delhi had reported seven Covid-19 cases and one death. State health officials said at least two out of the seven patients have been discharged from the hospital.

Last week, Delhi government declared Covid-19 an epidemic and issued Delhi Epidemic Disease Covid-19 Regulations 2020 to contain the spread of novel coronavirus in the capital. The regulations give officials the power to take “coercive action” against any person if he refuses to “cooperate” with the authorities.

“Action will be taken against any suspect/confirmed case if they refuse to take measures for prevention/treatment,” it states. The government has suspended operations of all gymnasiums, Spas, night clubs and theatres in the state till March 31 to contain a potential Covid-19 outbreak.

It is advised that people with the disease symptoms should watch out for severe symptoms such as shortness of breath. Those with mild symptoms like fever and dry cough tend to recover on their own with symptomatic treatment.

India’s ban on OCI cardholders sparks panic, anger, acceptance

Naomi Canton

17.03.2020

Thousands of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders have been forced to cancel trips to India owing to the recent ban on their entry by the GOI and are apprehensive they will not be able to get back in the event of an emergency.

Dozens managed to get last minute-flights before the ban on visa-free entry to OCI cardholders came into effect on Friday.

Tara Sahgal, a student a King’s College, London, bought a last-minute ticket to Delhi, as she is convinced the pandemic will get worse in the UK. “They are doing nothing to stop the spread in Britain and the UK is going to be the next Italy. It is unfair because OCI cardholders are as Indian as anyone else. If there is an epidemic, we need to go home,” the 19-year-old said.

Others who rushed back included pupils at private schools in Britain and those with business in India.

“At least, the Indian government is taking drastic action to avoid the virus spread. The UK is leaving everything in God’s hands,” said Harendra Jodha, head of the Rajasthan Association UK. “Those who flew back feel they can get cheaper and better treatment in India and that is where their family is,” Jodha said.

“People think the NHS can’t cope. You can’t even get through to the NHS number. The UK should ask the world for help and not have such a big ego. Other countries can send testing kits. This is about humanity. People who are OCI cardholders still feel they are Indian citizens. This is the first time they have felt they are a bit different and not equal to Indian citizenship. But they understand the government rationale,” Jodha added. There is a Covid-19 emergency visa form for OCI cardholders online, but Jodha said there was still a sense of fear in people’s minds.

Nandini Singh, from Reach India, said OCI cardholders forced to cancel trips home accepted the decision, as they did not want India to become like China or Italy.

Full report on www.toi.in

Two women among 4 more held for fake call centre racket, hunt on for other gang members

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.03.2020

In the continuing crackdown on a gang involved in duping loan aspirants of crores of rupees through fake call centres, the central crime branch of the city police on Monday arrested four people, including two women. A court later sent P Satishkumar, 30, of Walajapet, P Prasanna, 29, of Kolathur, E Preethi, 32, of Virugambakkam and R Kalpana, 28, to jail. The last named was arrested for a house break-in last year and was later released on bail.

Sleuths of the CCB’s Bank Fraud Prevention Wing had on March 12 arrested seven suspects and nabbed three others on March 7 as part of the same probe. Those arrested on Monday, investigators said, were working under prime suspect Munir Hussain, helping him set up three fake call centres. A hunt is on for Muni Hussain who police say has been involved in the racket for the past three years..

Those arrested earlier were working under other kingpins spread across the city and its suburbs, police said, adding that they expected to arrest others in the coming days.

The modus operandi of the gang, which investigators believe could have more than 100 members, involved tele-callers, mostly women, contacting members of the public over phone and convincing them to invest in insurance schemes to secure high value loans at low interest.

All they needed to do was to transfer the amount for the first annual premium and a commission to a bank account, the women at the other end of the line would tell the unsuspecting victims. She would also give out her personal phone number that the victims could call anytime. Once the money flowed into the given account, it would be moved to another account and the call centre staff would disappear after chucking the phone number given.

While Satishkumar and Prasanna were part of the back office staff monitoring the collection of money, Preethi controlled the team leaders at Thousand Lights centre and Kalpana had been running a ‘call centre’ in Sithalapakkam.

The probe in to the fake call centre gang is being supervised by Additional Commissioner of Police (CCB) C Easwaramurthy. Police have requested the public to be wary of callers who come up with attactive online loan offers.

The CCB sleuths last week arrested at least ten people including ‘Benze Club’ Saravanan, after busting several fake call centres across the city.

Class XII physics, economics papers tough, say students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.03.2020

Physics and economics papers were tougher than expected, said Class XII state board students who appeared for the board exam on Monday. Students said both the papers had ‘unexpected’ questions and the physics paper was also lengthy.

“In economics, the five mark section was tough,” said K R Gurusakthi. His sister K R Gurubharathi who wrote physics paper said it had unexpected questions in the five mark section where they had to write long answers.

“It was not from the book bank. The questions were from inside the textbook. We didn’t think that we would get questions from here in the long answer section. I lost a lot of time thinking here,” said T Saloni who wrote physics paper.

Another student, R Thyagarajan, said the five mark section in the economics paper also had questions from inside the textbook and that they were creative.

“Though I did attempt the questions I might lose a few marks here. I wasn’t prepared,” he said.

Students had mixed reactions when asked about the marks they were expecting in the papers. “I’m sure of scoring a 90 at least,” said Gurusakthi, while Thyagarajan said he expected no more than 75 in economics. “It was tough,” he said.

Saloni, who wrote physics, said, “If I score a 70, it would be enough. I hope the examiner is not too strict.”

Students said both physics and economics had ‘unexpected’ questions and the physics paper was also lengthy

OMR residents oppose plan for new TTD temple

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.03.2020

Residents of Rajiv Gandi Salai are up in arms against a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) move to build a temple on OMRECR Link Road, saying it would choke traffic and have an adverse impact on the ecologically sensitive area.

In a letter to chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday, Federation of OMR Residents Association (FOMRRA), an apex body of resident associations on the IT corridor, said the proposed land parcel for the temple is close to the Buckingham canal and is bound to create ecological issues. “The 2015 floods have shown how crucial the waterway is for this part of the city. Any development in its vicinity is bound to create serious ecological repercussions.”

The problems of OMR and Sholinganallur were not considered, it said, adding that Sholinganallur junction, surrounded by hospitals, hotels, educational institutions, IT parks and business houses, is almost 1km from the proposed site.

“On a normal working day, at least 55,000 vehicles/ hour use the junction, taking anywhere between 30 minutes and 45 minutes to cross the junction,” the letter said, adding the need of the hour is to ease the traffic flow by investing over infrastructure projects, which still do not exist.

FOMRRA coordinator Harsha Koda said the objection was over gifting public land that belongs to the residents of OMR to a religious body without showing any regard to the completion of infrastructure projects. “We want the government to give priority to complete all the infrastructure projects,” he added.

It may be recalled that a high level TTD delegation met the chief minister on Sunday to formally lay the foundation stone for the temple on April 9.

Air Asia, Sri Lankan flights cancel services from Trichy

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.24 AM IST

Trichy: The Kuala Lumpur-bound Air Asia and Malindo Air and Colombo-bound Sri Lankan Airlines have suspended their services for a brief period from Trichy international airport, as the airlines are witnessing poor passenger traffic following the advancing Covid-19 and subsequent travel advisory issued by the civil aviation authorities.

Sri Lankan Airlines has been operating two services a day from Trichy to Colombo. They have cancelled the morning service – arrival at Trichy at 9.10 am and departure to Colombo at 10.10 am-- for three days from March 16 to 18, for three days, authorities said.

Meanwhile, sources from the airlines said that they are also going to cancel the evening service – which arrives here at 3.05 pm and leaves to Colombo at 4.05 pm, for 13 days from March 19. Sri Lankan flight acts as a connecting flight for Trichy passengers who have to travel to several gulf countries. However, due to the announcement made by the gulf countries restricting international flights, citing Covid-19 threat, the passenger traffic has considerably come down. Out of 150 seats, the airline could hardly fill 50 seats, sources from the airline said.

Meanwhile, Air Asia has also cancelled its two services from March 17 till April 15. Air Asia is operating three services between Trichy - Kuala Lumpur sector on a daily basis. Morning flight arrives here at 8.55 am and leaves for Kuala Lumpur at 9.25 am. Another one lands here at 10 pm and departs at 10.30 pm. The flight, which arrives here at 11.40 pm, usually takes off from here at 12.10 am. Following the Covid-19 outbreak, the airline has announced to cancel two services except for the one, which arrives here at 10 pm. The other two services will not be operated from March 17 till April 15, a notification from the airlines said.

Coronavirus scare: Madras HC seeks Tamil Nadu govt's response on plea seeking closure of Tasmac liquor shops

TNN | Mar 16, 2020, 11.54 AM IST

CHENNAI: A lawyer has approached the Madras high court seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu government for closure of Tasmac liquor shops till coronavirus outbreak is contained.

Since most of the liquor vending shops and bars attached to them are located in crowded areas, the unhygienic atmosphere in such bars is likely to trigger the outbreak of coronavirus, advocate AP Suryaprakasam said urging for immediate need to close these shops.

Admitting the plea, a division bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy directed the state government to file its response within a week.

In his petition, the advocate also urged the court to direct the Chennai Metro Water, Sewerage Supply Board and the Chennai Corporation to ensure supply of water for at least three hours daily so that Chennai residents could maintain cleanliness as advised by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The lawyer further submitted that the corporation must ensure adequate supply of hand sanitisers to all the schools in the city

Covid-19: SRM extends summer break till April 30

TNN | Mar 16, 2020, 05.14 PM IST

CHENNAI: SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has announced that vacation for students will be extended till April 30 to avoid spread of Covid-19.

The six-week period is termed as a summer break for students of all years on all campuses of SRMSIT, according to a letter from N Sethuraman, the institute's registrar, to students.

The situation would be continuously monitored and further announcements would be made on the website. All other aspects of academics and examinations would be announced in due course of time, the letter added.

Students (including doctoral, international) residing in hostels were requested to vacate by 5pm on Mach 19.

On return, students would be subjected to appropriate screening for Covid-19 as directed by government.

However, the above vacation is not applicable to postgraduates of medical, dental, compulsory rotatory residential interns (CRRIs), interns of nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy colleges. They are permitted to stay in the hostel.

100-plus flights cancelled, airfares for April nosedive amid coronavirus scare in Chennai

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.15 AM IST

CHENNAI: The number of flights cancelled due to Covid-19 in the past 15 days crossed 100. They include flights to Jaffna and Doha from yesterday. Flights to Singapore, London and some destinations in the Middle East continue to operate at reduced frequency and with 50% patronage. Batik Air cancelled its flights to Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

A senior official of Airports Authority of India (AAI) said there was a drop of around 30% on footfalls at the international terminals. However, the terminal may be in for a complete shutdown in the next few days as India has issued an advisory that no airlines should pick passengers from Europe.

On Monday, the international terminal looked deserted with the flight information display board showing most of the flights as cancelled. The food and beverages shops outside the building that cater to the people who come to receive passengers looked empty and dusty. As India has suspended visas, travellers who land the airport are Indians who are returning. “This will also go down because many, including students in the US and Canada, have decided to stay back,” said an official.

Airlines are also canceling international flights at other airports. The Kuala Lumpur-bound Air Asia and Malindo Air and Colombo-bound Sri Lankan Airlines have suspended their services for a brief period from Trichy international airport.

Most of the retail and food and beverages shops at the international terminal have shut down because of poor footfalls. Owners of retailers and food and beverage shops have asked AAI to waive licence fee for a month or till the flight schedules turn normal. Every unit pays a fixed amount of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh a month to the airport.

However, AAI is yet to take a decision either to shut the terminal or offer a waiver. “AAI headquarters have to take a decision on the waiver. We have been sending reports about footfall and flight cancellations to Delhi,” said an official.

Though most of the domestic flights are being operated, many see fewer passengers per day. “The check-ins are going down by the day and there are not much crowd at the domestic terminal on morning peak hours,” an airline staff said. Chennai-Port Blair flights will be hit as Port Blair administration has issued an order banning tourists into the island for a week.

Domestic arrivals too have dipped. A staff at the prepaid taxi counter said there was a drop in demand for taxi by around 50%.

The uncertainty in travelling due to spread of Covid-19 across many countries has led to airfares dipping for flights from Chennai to UK and the US for travel in April. Return tickets from the US are selling at Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 and fares to London via Abu Dhabi and Dubai are at Rs 40,000. While most flights have been cancelled now, airlines have scheduled flights in April and May. However, not many are booking.

Coronavirus scare in Chennai: Universities suspend classes, reschedule exams

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.17 AM IST

CHENNAI: Following the state government order, universities and deemed universities have declared holidays till March 31, and have rescheduled classes and internal assessment tests. Some hostel students were asked to vacate immediately to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among students.

Anna University has sent a circular to all colleges and university departments following the government order. “We will issue directions to close all engineering colleges and university departments. Students will be asked to vacate hostels,” said M K Surappa, vice-chancellor of Anna University.

Engineering colleges don’t have end-semester exams but have internal assessment tests that can be rescheduled, a college principal from Chennai said. “We cannot ask everyone to vacate immediately and will give time to the students,” he said.

The higher education department issued a circular saying university exams, practical exams and entrance exams will be held as scheduled and hostels will remain opened for students writing them. The circular said though holiday has been declared for colleges and universities, faculty and non-teaching staff should be present.

“All colleges and university departments are closed for students. We have sent instructions to the college principals. But the university practical exams will be held as per the schedule,” said P Duraisamy, vice-chancellor of University of Madras.

“Following the state government’s announcement, IIT Madras immediately suspended classes till March 31. We will finalise other details on Tuesday,” institute director Bhaskar Ramamurthi said. Earlier, the institute had postponed mid-semester examinations and relaxed the attendance for lab classes.

SRM Institute of Science and Technology has advanced its summer break and declared holiday till April 30. “There won’t be any loss except for internships. Anyway industries will not take outsiders right now,” said Sandeep Sancheti, vice-chancellor of SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

The university has asked all students in hostels to vacate rooms by March 19. The re-entry to hostels after vacation will be permitted on or after April 30. However, post-graduates of medical and dental courses, interns of nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy colleges can stay in hostels.

Some deemed universities outside Chennai have arranged transport facilities for students after declaring holidays. “We have booked state corporation buses to ferry our students to Chennai and have given them packaged food,” said S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of SASTRA, Thanjavur.

HC refuses to regularize 4 illegal MBBS admissions

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.20 AM IST

Puducherry: The Madras high court has directed the Medical Council of India (MCI) to initiate action against a private medical college — Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (SVMCH) — in Puducherry for illegally admitting four students into MBBS course against the council's regulations and the Supreme Court's orders.

Justice N Anand Venkatesh also directed the college to refund the fees paid by the four students and to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to them for having caused mental agony and hardship.

The justice requested the MCI, the Puducherry government and Centralized Admission Committee (Centac) to check whether the four students could be accommodated in any other institution based on their merit in the coming academic year.

Justice Anand Vekatesh was passing the order while dismissing a petition by SVMCH seeking a direction to the MCI and others to approve the admission of four students -- V Bollini Damu, M R S Mahesh, P Sabari Ganesh and M Shri Preethi -- into MBBS course during the academic year 2018-19.

The MCI and others, however, strongly objected to the plea saying the private college ought not to have filled four MBBS seats that had fallen vacant after the first, second and mop-up counselling and hence their admission is 'illegal'. They said Centac alone can hold counselling and recommend the candidates for admission into government or private medical colleges. They said no authority or institution can admit any candidate to MBBS course against the MCI's regulations and the Supreme Court's order.

Puducherry government’s counsel accused the college of repeatedly violating the MCI's regulations and the apex court order, and pointed out that the college had admitted 38 candidates into MBBS course for the academic year 2017-18 on its own and the MCI discharged (removed) the 38 candidates, who had been admitted illegally. He further said the college admitted five students in the current academic year on its own against the stray vacancies after mop-up counselling ignoring the merit list in the ratio of 1:10 furnished by the Centac.

The judge cited the SC order that declared that only the state government or the authority designated by it can hold common counselling for admission in government and private medical colleges including those run by religious and linguistic minorities.

"Any candidate admitted in contravention/violation (MCI's regulations and SC order) shall be discharged (removed) by the council forthwith," the justice said while quoting the Clause 5 (7) of the MCI's regulation.

He also observed that the college has been using the students as a shield to get over their illegal action and refused to exercise its jurisdiction to sanctify an illegal act.

Covid-19: Schools, colleges, malls, theatres, bars to remain shut in Tamil Nadu; board and semester exams to continue

TNN | Mar 16, 2020, 07.10 PM IST

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced shutdown of educational institutions, anganwadis, malls, theatres, bars, swimming pools, museums and zoos across the state from Tuesday in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19. The government ordered that the clampdown would last till the month end.

Classes X and XII board examinations, semester examinations in colleges and other entrance examinations will be held as per schedule with adequate precautionary measures, an official release from the government said.

Hostels will function until the end of examination. As an exception, medical and paramedical colleges will function.

No permissions will be granted for processions, public meeting, summer course, sports camps, conferences, expos or cultural events.

The announcement came minutes after a review meeting chaired by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in Chennai. The meeting was attended by senior ministers and more than 35 senior IAS officials in the state.

On Sunday, the government announced closure of primary schools across the state, but as cases began swell, the government has announced a larger clampdown.

The government has allowed private events, including marriages, that are planned to be held as per schedule. However, it has said even such events should not have mass gatherings. Marriage halls are not allowed to make new bookings.

The state has advised people not to use the lockdown period as a holiday but to stay safe at home. “People should avoid visiting crowded places like markets, malls, marriages, functions. They should give more importance to personal hygiene," the government release said. It also asked persons with cold and cough not to go to their offices.

The state government advised the public not to travel to other states for the next 15 days.

The state government will take action against people who spread false information through social media or in any other form.

There is a 24-hour control room functioning to provide information with regards to coronavirus. People may contact 104, 044-29510400, 044-29510500, 9444340496, 8754448477.

Bars to remain closed

All bars attached to Tasmac liquor shops will be shut till March 31. However, liquor outlets will continue to function. A senior Tasmac official said bars in star hotels and clubs serving liquor would also come under the ambit of closure covered under the closure.

There are 3188 bars attached to Tasmac liquor shops in the state, of which more than 700 bars are located in the Chennai region comprising the city and neighbouring districts.

However, Tasmac liquor outlets will continue to function.

ஆம்பூரில் 1000 வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு சிக்கன் பிரியாணியுடன் சிக்கன் 65 இலவசம்: காரணம் தெரியுமா?

By DIN | Published on : 15th March 2020 08:56 PM |

சிக்கன் பிரியாணியுடன் சிககன்65 இலவசம்

ஆம்பூர்: பிராய்லர் சிக்கனால் கரோனா பரவுகின்றது என்ற வதந்தியின் காரணமாக ஆம்பூரில் 1000 வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு சிக்கன் பிரியாணியுடன் சிககன்65 இலவசமாக வழங்கப்பட்ட சம்பவம் நிகழ்ந்துள்ளது.

சீனாவில் கண்டறியப்பட்ட கரோனா வைரஸ் தற்போது உலகத்திற்கே அச்சுறுத்தலாக உருமாறியுள்ளது. இதுவரை இந்தியாவில் 107 பேர் இந்த வைரஸ் பாதிப்பிற்கு உள்ளாகியுள்ளதாக அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. கரோனா வைரஸ் பரவலைத் தடுக்க மாநில அரசுகள் பல்வேறு நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுத்து வருகின்றன.

அதேசமயம் கரோனா பரவுவது குறித்து பல்வேறு வதந்திகளும் வாட்சப்பிலும் சமூக ஊடகங்களிலும் உலவி வருகின்றன. பிராய்லர் சிக்கனால் கரோனா பரவுகின்றது என்பதும் அப்படிப்பட்ட ஒரு வதந்தியாகும்.

இந்நிலையில் வதநதியின் காரணமாக ஆம்பூரில் 1000 வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு சிக்கன் பிரியாணியுடன் சிக்கன் 65 இலவசமாக வழங்கப்பட்ட சம்பவம் நிகழ்ந்துள்ளது.

பிராய்லர் சிக்கனால் கரோனா பரவுகின்றது என்ற வதந்தியின் காரணமாக பிராய்லர் ஆம்பூரில் சிக்கன் விலை கிடுகிடுவென 30 ரூபாய்க்கு சரிந்து விட்டது.

எனவே பிராய்லர் சிக்கனால் கரோனா பரவாது என்பது குறித்து ஒரு நூதன விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்த, 1000 வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு சிக்கன் பிரியாணியுடன் சிககன்65 இலவசமாக வழங்கி ஆம்பூர் சிக்கன் கடைக்காரார்கள் அசத்தினர்.

சிலரின் அலட்சியம்...பலருக்குச் சோகம்

By எஸ். ஸ்ரீதுரை | Published on : 14th March 2020 01:21 AM 

கடந்த பிப்ரவரி மாதத்தில் இந்தியா முழுவதும் ஆங்காங்கே மிகப் பெரிய சாலை விபத்துகள் சில நிகழ்ந்துள்ளன. பிப்ரவரி தேதி 3-ஆம் தேதி மகாராஷ்டிராவில் நடைபெற்ற சாலை விபத்தில் 10 போ் உயிரிழந்துள்ளனா்; கடந்த மாதம் 15-ஆம் தேதி கா்நாடகாவின் உடுப்பி அருகே நடைபெற்ற விபத்தில் ஒன்பது போ் பலி; 16-ஆம் தேதி மும்பையில் நிகழ்ந்த விபத்தில் இறந்தவா்களின் எண்ணிக்கை ஏழு. கடந்த மாதம் 20-ஆம் தேதி தமிழகத்தின் திருப்பூா் அருகே நடைபெற்ற கோர விபத்து 19 பேரை பலி கொண்டது.

ஒன்றிரண்டு நபா்களை காவு வாங்கிய விபத்துகளின் பட்டியல் இன்னும் நீளம். மொத்தத்தில், கடந்த பிப்ரவரி மாதத்தை விபத்துகளின் மாதம் என அழைக்கலாம் என்றே தோன்றுகிறது. பிப்ரவரி மாதத்துக்குக் குறைவில்லாமல் தற்போது மாா்ச் மாதத்திலும் பெரிய விபத்துகள் நடைபெறத்தான் செய்கின்றன.

வீட்டை விட்டுப் பிரயாணம் செல்லுகின்ற ஒவ்வொருவரும் பாதுகாப்பாக வீடு திரும்புவது இன்றைய காலகட்டத்தில் கேள்விக்குறியாகியுள்ளது. திட்டமிடாத அவசரப் பயணங்கள், வாகன முதலாளிகளின் பேராசை, வாகன ஓட்டிகளின் அலட்சியம், சாலை விதிகளை மீறுவது, தகுதி இல்லாதோா்கூட வாகனம் ஓட்டும் உரிமம் பெறுவது என சாலை விபத்துகளுக்கான காரணங்களை அடுக்கிக் கொண்டே போகலாம்.

வெகு விரைவாக ஓடும் வாகனங்களின் வரவும் இன்னொரு காரணம். 100 கி.மீ. வேகத்துக்கும் அதிகமாக நெடுஞ்சாலைகளில் விரையும் வாகனங்களை ஓட்டுபவா்களால் சட்டென்று சாலையில் ஏதாவது குறுக்கிட்டால், வாகனத்தை உடனடியாக நிறுத்த முடியாமல் விபத்துகளில் சிக்க நேரிடுகிறது.

சரக்கு லாரி , வாடகை காா் உரிமையாளா்கள் ஆகியோரில் ஒரு சிலா் தங்களிடம் பணிபுரியும் ஓட்டுநா்கள் போதிய ஓய்வெடுக்கும் முன்பே மீண்டும் அவா்களை வாகனத்தை இயக்கச் சொல்வதுண்டு. தேவையான ஓய்வும் உறக்கமும் இல்லாமல் தொடா்ந்து வாகனங்களை இயக்க வேண்டிய ஓட்டுநா்கள் சிறிது கண்ணயா்ந்தாலும் அது பெரிய விபத்துக்குக் காரணமாகி விடுகிறது.

குடும்பத்தினருடன் வெளியூா் செல்வதற்காகத் தனியாா் நிறுவனங்களின் காா்களில் செல்லும்போது, நமது காரை இயக்கும் ஓட்டுநா் தங்களது முதலாளியின் வற்புறுத்தலால் தொடா்ந்து வாகனங்களை இயக்க வேண்டி இருப்பதாகக் கூறுவதை நாம் அவ்வப்போது கேட்கலாம்.

கா்நாடகத்தில் பதின்மூன்று பேரை பலிகொண்ட விபத்துக்குக் காரணமான வாகனத்தின் ஓட்டுநா் சற்றுத் தூங்கியதால்தான் அந்தக் கோர விபத்து நிகழ்ந்ததாகச் செய்திகள் கூறுகின்றன.

ஒருமுறை எங்கள் குடும்ப நிகழ்வு ஒன்றுக்காக நீண்ட தொலைவுப் பயணம் மேற்கொண்டபோது, எங்களுடைய ஓட்டுநா் ஓய்வு தேவை என்று கூறியபோதெல்லாம் சாலையோரமாகச் சிறிது நேரம் காரை நிறுத்திவிட்டு ஓய்வெடுத்த பிறகே இயக்கச் சொன்னோம். அவ்வப்போது தேநீா், குளிா்பானம் போன்றவற்றை அருந்தி புத்துணா்வு பெற்ற பிறகே அவா் வாகனத்தை இயக்கச் சம்மதித்தோம். இதன் காரணமாக, எங்களது பயணத்தில் சுமாா் இரண்டு மணி நேரம் தாமதம் ஏற்பட்டாலும், விபத்துக்கு வாய்ப்பிலாத ஒரு பயணத்தைச் செய்து முடித்தோம் என்ற பெருமிதம் ஏற்பட்டது.

சாலை விதிகளைச் சரிவரக் கடைப்பிடிக்காமல், பிற வாகனங்களை எப்படியாவது முந்திச் செல்ல விரைகின்ற நபா்களாலும், நெடுஞ்சாலைகளைப் பந்தயச் சாலைகளாக நினைத்துக்குக் கொள்பவா்களாலும் பல வாகன விபத்துகள் ஏற்படுகின்றன. இத்தகையோா் தாங்களும் விபத்துக்குள்ளாகி, மற்றவா்களையும் விபத்துக்குள்ளாக்கி விடுகின்றனா்.

நம் நாட்டில் சாலை விரிவாக்கப் பணிகள் நடைபெறும் அதே வேளையில், அதை முறியடிக்கும் வகையில் அச்சாலைகளில் பயணிக்கும் வாகனங்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அசுர வேகத்தில் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. இதனால் இயல்பாகவே நமது சாலைகள் பலவற்றிலும் போக்குவரத்து நெரிசல் அரங்கேறுகிறது. நெரிசல்களால் தங்களது பயணம் தாமதப்படுவதாகக் கருதித் தங்கள் வாகனத்தின் வேகத்தை அதிகப்படுத்துவோா், ஏதோ ஒரு விதத்தில் சாலைவிபத்துக்குக் காரணமாகி விடுகிறாா்கள்.

நம் நாட்டில் பிறந்த மனிதா்களில் எவா் ஒருவரின் வாழ்வும் இகழத்தக்கதல்ல. இந்த தேசத்தின் நலவாழ்வுக்கு ஒவ்வொருவரின் உழைப்பும் தேவையாயிருக்கிறது. உடலுழைப்பாலும், அறிவுத் தேடலாலும் நமது தேசத்தைக் கட்டமைக்கும் சக்திவாய்ந்த ஒவ்வொரு குடிமகனும் நீண்ட நாள் உடல் நலத்துடன் வாழ வேண்டியது அவசியம். அநியாய பலிவாங்கும் ஒவ்வொரு சாலை விபத்தும் இந்த தேசத்தின் முன்னேற்றத்துக்கு எதிரான நிகழ்வு என்றே கூற வேண்டும்.

விபத்துகளில் உயிரிழப்பவா்கள், உடல் உறுப்பை இழப்பவா்கள், அவா்களை நம்பிவாழும் குடும்ப உறுப்பினா்கள் என்று பல்வேறு தரப்பினரின் எதிா்காலத்தை ஒவ்வொரு விபத்தும் கேள்விக்குறியாக்கி விடுகிறது.

வாகனங்களை ஓட்டும் ஒவ்வொருவரும் தங்கள் குடும்பத்தினரை நினைத்துப் பாா்க்க வேண்டும். மேலும், தங்களால் ஒரு விபத்து நோ்ந்தால் அதில் பாதிக்கப்படக் கூடியவா்களையும், அவா்களது குடும்பத்தினரின் நிலைமையையும் சிந்தித்துப் பாா்க்க வேண்டும். இவ்விதம் சிந்திக்க முடிந்தால், ‘தாமதமான பயணத்தைக் காட்டிலும் பாதுகாப்பான பயணமே சிறந்தது’ என்பதை மனதார உணா்ந்து விபத்தில்லாமல் வாகனங்களை இயக்க முனைவாா்கள்.

தரமான சாலைக் கட்டமைப்புகளை ஏற்படுத்துவது மத்திய - மாநில அரசுகளின் பொறுப்பாகும். கடுமையான ஓட்டுநா் விதிமுறைகளை வகுத்து, ஊழலுக்கு இடம் தராமல் அவற்றை அமல்படுத்துவது அதிகாரிகளின் கடமை. அதே சமயம் சாலை விதிகளுக்கு வாகன ஓட்டிகள் மதிப்பளிப்பதுடன், பொதுமக்களும் பதற்றமில்லாத பயணத் திட்டங்களை வகுத்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

ஊா்கூடித் தோ் இழுத்தால் மட்டுமே விபத்தில்லா சாலைப் பயணம் இனி சாத்தியமாகும்.