Kerala entrance results likely in a fortnight

Kerala entrance results likely in a fortnight

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.25 AM IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala engineering and pharmacy entrance examination results are likely to be announced by September 15. The state entrance examinations were held on July 16, braving the pandemic.

Sources said that the office of the commissioner for entrance examination (CEE) may unlock the online student portal in a day or two for the candidates to cross-check and confirm the marks they scored in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics in their qualifying Plus Two examinations conducted by different boards. “Unlike in the past, the CEE may not first release the score obtained by candidates in the entrance examinations. Instead, the CEE website would first capture the Plus two results of candidates and make it available for the confirmation of the students. Once the anomalies, if any, in the qualifying examination result is rectified, the final result would be ready for announcement by September 15,” sources said.

The state government has obtained permission from AICTE for the extension of procedure for admission to BTech courses this year. As per the current plans, the allotment of seats would start only after the first allotment of JEE is over, sources said.

Following the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that followed, the state government had to postpone the entrance examinations for selection of candidates eligible for admission to engineering and pharmacy courses, originally scheduled for April 20 and 21. The test was later held in two schedules on a single day on July 16. Around 85 lakh students had attended the state entrance examination.

Sources say that there was some delay in obtaining the mark list of candidates who had cleared Plus two examinations by some national education board. This delay was one of the many practical reasons that slowed down the evaluation and allied process. The restrictions demanded by the state health department on New Delhi-based technicians, entrusted with the maintenance and repair task of advanced scanning machines used for reading the OMR sheet of candidates, was another major reason that delayed the entire process.

Outstation candidates stay back in city to self-isolate

Outstation candidates stay back in city to self-isolate

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.11 AM IST

Lucknow: Outstation candidates who appeared for the Joint Entrance Examination (Mains) in the city on Wednesday have opted for self-isolation as a precautionary measure to avoid carrying the virus back home to their families if they are infected.

One such candidate, Advik Pandey, said, “I have a two month-old niece and a joint family. Since I used public conveyance, I was exposed to the crowd and I don’t want to take any risk. I will self-isolate before returning home.”

He added, “I have stayed in Lucknow earlier to prepare for the exam and had requested the landlord for a room on rent with food for 10 days for which I have paid Rs 3,000.”

Like him, a number of candidates who had attended city-based coaching centres or those who had acquaintances here have arranged for rooms or booked a hotel.

“My senior in an engineering college here arranged a room with tiffin service for me. I could have returned the same day but one of my relatives will be arriving with his own vehicle to take NEET,” said Akhil Singh, who came from Ambedkarnagar. He said “I will return with him instead of using public transport again.”

Bahraich engineering aspirant Arpita Sengar is living at her family friend’s place in Aliganj as a paying guest and will leave after a week. “My aunt lives on the ground floor and was kind enough to give me a room on the first floor. I arrived two weeks before the examination. Now when I am done with the examination I will stay a week more.” She said it will not only help in self-isolation but would be a better option in case she gets infected as health facilities were better here.

“I have come from Siddharthnagar and am planning to stay in a hotel for a week in self-isolation. I don’t want my family to land in trouble,” said Ankur.

83% JEE aspirants turn up on Day 2, but tricky questions leave examinees puzzled

83% JEE aspirants turn up on Day 2, but tricky questions leave examinees puzzled

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.12 AM IST

Lucknow: The second day of the Joint Entrance Examination (Mains) for admission to the engineering course in IITs and NITs witnessed a better attendance of 83.5% aspirants in comparison to the first day when 44% had skipped the Bachelor of Architecture examination.

According to district administration officials, 2,917 candidates from various districts of UP had enrolled for the test and chosen Lucknow centre, of which 2,439 appeared for the test at the nine centres in the city on Wednesday.

Most aspirants said the JEE (Main) examination was tougher than the first one held in January. The candidates also shared that the weightage of questions from the class 11 syllabus was more than that of class 12 in all the three sections of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Even at the time of the pandemic, the number of candidates skipping the engineering examination this year was almost like in previous years.

In the first shift of 1,457 candidates, 1,243 (85%) were present, while in the second shift of 1,455 candidates 1,196 (82%) were present. However, on the first day of the architecture examination, the attendance was less than 60% in both the shifts.

On Tuesday, of the 1,065 candidates at the three centres, only 597 appeared for the test, while 469 preferred to drop out. In the first shift, 224 (42.4%) out of 528 candidates skipped the exam, while the second shift saw 245 (45.6%) absentees though 537 candidates were supposed to appear. In previous years, the absentee rate used to be just 15-20%.

“The first JEE (Main) examination held in January was comparatively easier, this one was lengthy and unlike the set format, questions from class 11 syllabus were more as compared to from intermediate. The chemistry part was too tricky with an indirect question, while the other two papers were tough too,” said Samridhi Agarwal.

Another candidate, Shrestha Singh said, “It was not an easy paper, mathematics was tough and lengthy while physics and chemistry also didn’t have questions that were asked often in the last five years. The model papers solved didn’t work much.” “We focused more on the class 12 syllabus, but only those who have studied class 11 will stand a good chance to make it to IITs and NITs,” said Arvind Sinha.

The examination was held smoothly following Covid-19 norms at all centres. Mask was given to the candidates who didn’t wear one at the centre itself, while thermal scanning and sanitization were also taken care of.

ACB searches on SRO, tahsildar, town planning offices

ACB searches on SRO, tahsildar, town planning offices

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.30 AM IST

Vijayawada: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted state-wide searches on tahsildar, sub-registrar and town planning offices and noticed several irregularities on Wednesday. According to officials, the ACB recovered unaccounted money in all the offices they raided and found that employees were not maintaining personal cash register properly.

In Srikakulam, officials raided Santhakaviti tahsildar office and found 30 pattadar pass books that were not distributed for the last three months. Other irregularities include 15 pending Spandana petitions, 242 Meeseva petitions and staff having Rs 22,810 unauthorised cash.

In Krishna district, officials raided Ibrahimpatnam tahsildar office and found unaccounted money of Rs 2.28 lakh from 10 employees. They found 12,687 applications received in Meeseva, out of which, 9,900 applications were approved and 885 of them were rejected without assigning reason.

Around 1,669 applications are within SLA (service level agreement) and 40 of them set to lapse in 24 hours. “On verification of the attendance register for the year 2020, it was found that the names of only 11 staff were entered. Some members had signed and some did not sign up to August 2020 and the register for the month of September not yet opened,” ACB official said.

Officials also raided the sub-registrar office in Jaggaiahpet in Krishna district and found Rs 11,180 cash from M Lakshmana Rao, a private person. The officials stated that Rao is engaged by the sub-registrar to collect bribes. Similar offences were noticed at sub-registrar offices in Kadapa and Chittoor. The officials also raided the town planning office at Gudur municipality in Nellore district and found eight petitions regarding layout regularisation scheme and 140 petitions regarding public grievances were pending. They also found lapses in collecting tax dues of advertisement hoardings till date.

Spouses cite Covid-19 hardship to bypass maintenance payments

Spouses cite Covid-19 hardship to bypass maintenance payments

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.37 AM IST

Vijayawada: Women dependent on maintenance from their husbands are among the worst-hit by Covid-19, a study by a city-based NGO has shown. The number of divorced women seeking redressal through grievance portals has increased after their former spouses stopped paying maintenance citing financial constraints due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 and Section 23(1) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, women can claim maintenance from their spouse.

Allegations of spouses defaulting on maintenance payments have grown recently. “The domestic violence (DV) court in March 2019 ruled in my favour and directed my husband to pay me a monthly maintenance of Rs 6,800. He paid it for two to three months and then stopped. I used to work in an Auto Nagar industry as a daily labourer and earn some money but the lockdown changed that and I lost my job. Maintenance is the only source of income for me and my children,” said K Sandhya Rani (name changed), a resident of Prasadampadu.

In its study, Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM), the NGO that conducted research on 151 women who are supposed to receive maintenance, showed that none of 151 women have been receiving regular payments. The court had ruled in favour of all the women. Polisetty Subhashini, legal counsellor at VMM said, “Not even five per cent of women are getting paid maintenance regularly. Husbands are utilising legal privileges to avoid payment of maintenance. The situation of these women has become pathetic after the lockdown and most of them are not in a position to feed their families.”

Advocates agree that legal loopholes have worsened matters for women. “A woman can only complain in a court when she does not receive mainentanance for 12 months at a stretch. The husband can pay the dues in court or simply accept a one-month-long imprisonment to waive off dues. Many husbands are doing this. We have started a fight against this and are circulating petitions. We will soon move the Supreme Court, challenging Acts that worsen the plight of women,” said senior advocate Neeru Mishra.

Tamil Nadu has 52,000 active cases; Sivaganga worst fatality rate

Tamil Nadu has 52,000 active cases; Sivaganga worst fatality rate

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.31 AM IST

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu added 5,990 cases on Wednesday taking the case tally to 4,39,959. The state reported 98 deaths that took the cumulative death toll to 7,516. There were 52,380 people still under treatment on Wednesday.

The recovery rate was more than 86%, after 5,891 people were discharged in the past 24 hours. While an average of 11% of the people was still under treatment across the state, there were 33.6% of active cases in Erode, 31.5% in Salem and 30.8% in Tirupur. Coimbatore had around 25% of its patients still under treatment, compared to 9% in Chennai and 5% in Madurai. Perambalur (107) , Dharmapuri (168), and Sivaganga (249) had the lowest number of people under treatment.

The state tested more than 73,883 people and 75,829 samples between Tuesday and Wednesday. The average positivity rate is 9.2% in the state and around 15% in Chennai. While Ranipet has around 15.4% positivity rate, Chengalpet and Cuddalore have 13% each. The fatality rate was 1.7% in the state. Sivaganga (2.6%) had the highest fatality rate followed by Madurai (2.5%), Ramanathapuram (2.2%) and Chennai (2%).

Chennai, the worst affected district, recorded 1,025 new cases and 19 deaths. Neighbouring Chengalpet (390), Kancheepuram (133) and Tiruvallur (285) together clocked 808 cases and 18 deaths. The Chennai region had 1,833 fresh cases and 37 deaths, pushing active cases in the region to 18,558, including 12,537 in Chennai. The seven other northern districts together reported 1,247 cases and 16 deaths.

After the northern districts, the eight districts in the West together reported 1,375 cases and 16 deaths. Coimbatore reported 579 cases and Salem recorded 403 cases, followed by Erode (106), Tirupur (87) and Namakkal (83). The number of active cases in the zone was 11,543, including 4,269 in Coimbatore and 3,724 in Salem.

Though the southern districts had fewer cases than the west, it reported 21 deaths. The ten districts together reported 858 cases, while the central zone recorded 664 cases and eight deaths. There were 7,805 people under treatment in the south and 5,558 in the central districts. Of the 98 people whose deaths were reported on Wednesday, five had no comorbid conditions.

Navi Mumbai: Woman loses Rs 1.4 lakh to e-SIM fraud

Navi Mumbai: Woman loses Rs 1.4 lakh to e-SIM fraud

TNN | Sep 1, 2020, 10.53 AM IST

NAVI MUMBAI: A 47-year-old interior decorator from Kharghar has been cheated of Rs 1.46 lakh by an e-fraudster, who contacted her over mobile posing as representative of a mobile service provider.

The caller said that the company was activating an e-SIM card for customers and sent her a message from the cellular network company’s central helpline and told her to share the OTP for e-SIM verification.

After she shared the OTP, her SIM card was blocked for a day when the fraudster carried out three fraudulent transactions of a total of Rs 1.38 lakh on her credit card and one transaction of Rs 8,000 from her savings bank account.

Covid-19: Puducherry to recruit doctors, nurses and others on contract basis

Covid-19: Puducherry to recruit doctors, nurses and others on contract basis

Sep 2, 2020, 02.53 PM IST

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government has proposed to recruit 153 general duty medical officers, 125 nursing officers, 92 auxiliary nurses and midwives and 24 sanitary workers (health) on a short-term contract for 90 days to strengthen the healthcare machinery in the fight against Covid-19.

The candidates who are native/resident of the territory can attend a walk-in-interview at the directorate of health and family welfare services in Puducherry, Karaikal collectorate, regional administrators' offices in Mahe and Yanam. Interviews will be held from September 3 to 5 (between 10am and 5pm).

Candidates must bring all original certificates and one set of self-attested photocopies of their qualifications and details of experience along with two photographs and signed curriculum vitae.

Candidates with MBBS, who have registered with the Medical council of India and are aged below 45 years, can attend the interview for the post of general duty medical officer. The selected candidates will be paid a remuneration of Rs 40,000 per month.

The candidates with BSc nursing/diploma in nursing registered with the Indian Nursing Council and aged below 40 years can attend the interview for the post of nursing officer. The selected candidates will be paid a remuneration of Rs 15,000 per month.

The candidates with diploma in auxiliary nursing and midwifery who have registered with the council and are less than 40 years of age can attend the interview. The selected candidates will be paid a remuneration of Rs 12,000 per month.

The candidates who have cleared SSLC and are aged below 40 years can attend the interview for the post of sanitary worker (health). The selected candidates will be paid a remuneration of Rs 10,000 per month.

SRMIST extends free education to students in Perambalur

SRMIST extends free education to students in Perambalur

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.46 AM IST

Trichy: SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur, will offer free education to 300 students in Perambalur parliamentary constituency for a second year in a row. Students from the Perambalur Lok Sabha segment, who wish to pursue engineering, arts and science, horticulture, management, and health sciences can apply for the same.

It was announced by SRMIST’s founder chancellor and Perambalur Lok Sabha MP T R Paarivendhar last year and is being followed this year too. Keeping his promise of giving free seats in higher educational institutions to students from his constituency, the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) leader launched a free higher education scheme last year.

Applicants from economically weaker sections will be selected based on their performance in their respective board examinations. These 300 students, 50 each from the six assembly constituencies in the LS constituency would be given free education at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology. In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, hostel facilities will not be provided this time.Paarivendhar asked students to utilize this opportunity to pursue higher studies. He assured that deserving students would get suitable placements.Those eligible in his constituency need to submit the applications online on or before September 10. For further details, applicants can contact the office of director (admissions), SRM Nagar, Potheri, Chengalpet district - 603203.Applications can be filled on www.ijkparty.org and www.srmist.edu.in. Applicants can contact helplines: 044-27417011/7006, 044-27455510/ 47437500.

Lockdown relaxations in Tamil Nadu: Inter-district bus and passenger train services to resume

Lockdown relaxations in Tamil Nadu: Inter-district bus and passenger train services to resume

Sep 2, 2020, 02.23 PM IST

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday announced that inter-district public and private bus transport and passenger train services within the state will be permitted from September 7.

The state government resumed bus transport within districts on Tuesday. In an official statement, the chief minister said there were requests from the public to recommence the operations for inter-district travel for work and business-related activities.

“Permission is granted to resume inter-district public and private bus transport following the standard operating procedure,” Palaniswami said.

There were media reports about ordeals faced by the commuters to travel to other districts as the state transport corporations stop the services quiet away from the district boundaries, compelling the commuters to take a walk to enter the neighbouring district to get another bus.

The chief minister also said passenger trains would also be allowed in the state adhering to the standard operating procedure.

Palaniswami said despite the government extended relaxations, the public would have to follow the safety precautions, including wearing masks, washing hands with soap and maintaining social distancing norms, to prevent the virus spread.

“I urge the public to extend full cooperation to the government’s efforts,” he said.

NEET impersonation: HC reserves orders on plea by students

NEET impersonation: HC reserves orders on plea by students

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.41 AM IST

Madurai: The Madras high court on Wednesday reserved orders on a plea moved by two students who were involved in NEET impersonation, seeking to return their original certificates for them to pursue their college education.

Justice R Pongiappan reserved the orders after the counsels for the petitioners sought to return the certificates on sympathetic grounds.

In one of the cases, the petitioner, a resident of Chennai had obtained a medical seat in Theni Government Medical College in 2019. The petitioner, who was arrayed as first accused was arrested and subsequently released on bail.

The petitioner moved the high court Madurai bench seeking to return his Class X and XII marksheets, transfer and community certificates to pursue an undergraduate course in an arts and science college in Chennai.

Similarly, another student who was arrested in connection with NEET impersonation also moved the HC seeking to return his certificates. During the previous hearing, the court had directed the registry to send a letter to the Theni judicial magistrate (JM) to ascertain as to whether any certificates were produced before the JM court by the Theni district CB-CID officials.

Univ registrar booked after sexual harassment complaint by prof

Purpose of suspending employee defeated if he draws salary: HC

TNN | Sep 3, 2020, 04.41 AM IST

Madurai: The very purpose of placing an employee under suspension is defeated if he is conveniently getting 50% of his salary as subsistence allowance without doing any work, due to delay on part of the officials in initiating disciplinary proceedings, the Madras high court has said. The observation came as the court took a serious view of the delay on the part of the authorities in initiating proceedings against an employee who was suspended for failing to attend Covid-19 duty in Trichy district. Justice R Suresh Kumar observed that of late, it has become a practice among the authorities to place erring employees under suspension for months or years and even decades together in some cases. However, no disciplinary proceedings are initiated by issuing charge memo against such erring officials.

The court was hearing a petition filed by P Poomani, who had challenged his suspension order issued by the district social welfare officer on April 10. The petitioner claimed that due to lack of transport facilities during the lockdown period, he was unable to attend office and hence sought to treat his period of absence on duty.

Justice R Suresh Kumar observed that the petitioner is permanently residing at Perambalur district and used to attend the office by taking a bus which takes a total travel time of five hours everyday. The petitioner has not thought of shifting his residence to a nearer place to reach office early or in time. If the authorities speed up the disciplinary proceedings by issuance of charge memo and conduct inquiry and complete the same in the manner known to law, the wastage of money from government exchequer could be avoided. Since for more than four months, no further action against the petitioner in this case, the judge sought explanation from the district social welfare officer on the reasons for delay in initiating disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner.

Maharashtra: Final Year MBBS student goes missing, father blames depression

Maharashtra: Final Year MBBS student goes missing, father blames depression: Maharashtra: A final year MBBS student of BJ Medical College has gone missing under mysterious circumstances after blending in the crowd gathered at the Ganpati temple to celebrate Ganeshotsav...

Docs appointed to Covid centres quit over salary cuts in Kerala

Docs appointed to Covid centres quit over salary cuts in Kerala

870 Medics Say Will Not Work After Sept 10, Seek Vijayan’s Intervention

Rajiv.G@timesgroup.com

Thiruvananthapuram:  02.09.2020

Nearly 870 doctors appointed to Covid first-line treatment centres (FLTCs) across Kerala have tendered their resignation over deductions in their salary. They were among the 1,080 MBBS graduates who passed out of government medical colleges this year and appointed on Covid duty on a temporary basis.

While they were promised ₹42,000 a month, what each finally gets is ₹27,000. “From the amount, ₹8,400 was deducted in the name of the government’s salary challenge, apart from TDS and professional tax. Now, we are getting only ₹27,000,” said Dr Ousam Hussain KP, state president of Kerala junior doctors association 2020-21.

The association has fired letters to the chief minister and health minister seeking their urgent intervention. In the letter, they stated they will not be available for service after September 10 if their grievances are not settled.

“The government in its order had made it clear that salaries of doctors appointed under NHM should not be cut in the name of salary challenge. We were also appointed as temporary medical officers for Covid duty, but there is a different set of rules for us,” said Dr Krishnapriya TS, general secretary of the association.

The appointment was for a period of three months and a few who joined in May have completed this tenure. “The government is likely to extend the service of these doctors since there is huge demand for healthcare workers, particularly with the caseload increasing in the state. However, we are being forced to resign since the government is not ready to listen to our grievances,” said Dr Hussain.

Even though these doctors were appointed in May and June, they started getting their salaries in August after they decided to approach the high court. “We had given several representations against the salary cuts to the authorities concerned. But there has been no response,” said Dr Hussain.

WHO’S THERE? People wait outside Kochi’s Aluva General Hospital for Covid test on Tuesday

No pay, perks for Palakkad dist hosp staff

Palakkad:

More than 100 temporary employees of the district hospital in Palakkad, under the Hospital Development Council, have not received their salary and Onam bonus due to alleged lapses on the part of the hospital administration.

The Kerala Government Hospital Development Employees Union, affiliated to the CITU, has alleged that bills were not prepared by the administration staff before the bank holidays. Due to the fall in hospital income following the pandemic the state government had allotted Rs 30 lakh from the CM’s relief fund for the purpose, union officials said.

Hospital superintendent Dr K Remadevi however said she had not received any complaint about non-payment of salary and bonus till August 27. TNN

TN: Final yr students to write exams in person after Sept 15

TN: Final yr students to write exams in person after Sept 15

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.09.2020

The Tamil Nadu government is making arrangements for college students to write final year exams in person after September 15, higher education minister K P Anbalagan said on Tuesday. Nearly 4 lakh students are yet to take their final year exams in arts, science and other professional courses, including engineering, due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“The final semester exams for students in state universities and polytechnic colleges will be held after September 15. The details of exam schedule and exam centres will be released later. Arrangements are being made for all final year students to write exams in person,” the minister said in a statement. He asked students to begin preparations for the tests.

With the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) underway and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) scheduled for September 13, the state’s decision to also conduct final year exams in person has surprised many universities given that the higher education department has been consulting with state varsities on conducting online exams.

“When the government can conduct physical exams for all final year students, why don’t they conduct arrear exams in a similar way,” former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy asked.

Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi urged the state to give some leverage to final year students by conducting exams online. “When other students are exempted from semester exams, final year students alone are asked to write exams in person. Anna University is ready with the technology required for conducting online exams. They should conduct online exams for engineering students and maybe consider offline exams for others,” he said.

The higher education minister also added that candidates can apply for BArch admission from September 7 on www.tneaonline.org

The final semester exams for students in state universities and polytechnic colleges will be held after September 15. The details of exam schedule and exam centres will be released later

K P Anbalagan | HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER

Govt’s ban on inter-district bus services hits common man hard

Govt’s ban on inter-district bus services hits common man hard

Newly Resumed Intra-Dist Buses See Few Takers

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.09.2020

S Satish, an employee at a wholesale provisions store in Tambaram, would frequently travel to Tindivanam. Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, he would just walk across GST Road, board a TNSTC bus and reach his destination in two hours.

On Tuesday, when Tamil Nadu permitted resumption of intra-district public transport service after months of lockdown, he was told buses would ply only up to Thozhupedu, about 80km from Tambaram, where Chengalpet district limit ends. He would have to get down and walk some distance to enter Villupuram district and then board another bus to reach his destination, which is still around 25km away. Satish decided against the travel.

Such stories are found aplenty around the state as the absence of inter-district bus services has hit people hard, especially those from low-income groups. While private stage carriers have decided to stay off the roads for at least another month or until state government permits inter-district operations, the TNSTC is limiting services to mostly town buses with most mofussil buses remaining in sheds.

“Previously, I had to take just one bus to reach Tiruvarur. Now, I have to take two apart from covering a certain distance between the districts by walk. Those who can afford it prefer cabs, but we rely on public transport,” M Paranjothi, a traveller to Tiruvarur from Trichy central bus stand, said.

As expected, patronage too was poor. “Only after the resumption of inter-district services, we can expect more people to travel,” a TNSTC official said.

In the case of MTC buses, which used to frequent neighbouring Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts, authorities opted to allow services only up to the Greater Chennai Police limits. An employee working in a factory in Sriperumbudur and depending on public transport now has to get down at Poonnamallee and board another bus to reach to his factory. MTC buses too reported poor collections.

“It is not economically viable to operate buses with 25 passengers. At least earlier, the government had grouped three or four districts under each zone and permitted bus operators to ply on those routes. While even that had to be stopped for viability reasons, we have now decided to wait one more month for things to turn better,” a representative of private bus operators’ federation for Kancheepuram – Chengalpet districts said.

(With inputs from P Oppili in Chennai and Deepak Karthik in Trichy)

Pvt operators urge NHAI not to hike toll fee

Private bus and lorry operators urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to forego the annual hike of toll fee to help the transport industry bounce back from the lockdown-induced financial crunch, saying the hike will ultimately affect the common man as price of commodities would increase. Toll fee would be increased from ₹5 to ₹30 for different categories of vehicles from September 1in 22 of 48 plazas in TN. “This step would destabilise the transport sector. At this juncture, we are pleading with the NHAI to refrain from increasing the toll fee. But there is no response,” said S Yuvaraj, president of TN State Lorry Owners’ Welfare Federation. However, a senior NHAI official said no such representation has been made and added, “... it is not feasible to hold back the increase in toll fee.” TNN

Final exams: Madras univ seeks preferences of students, colleges

Final exams: Madras univ seeks preferences of students, colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:2.09.2020

In view of the diversity of opinion on the method of conducting final year exams, Madras University has sought details like the number of students preferring online or offline mode and whether colleges are ready to conduct exams in offline mode to all students.

The decision came at a virtual meeting convened by vice-chancellor S Gowri with principals of all colleges under the university’s jurisdiction. The higher education department had decided to conduct final year exams online following the Supreme Court’s order and sought suggestions from the various universities on various issues including the mode of questions, duration of the exam.

The opinion was divided, with many affiliated colleges demanding that the exams be held offline, citing a lack of access to digital devices among a majority of the students and connectivity issues. “We have suggested conducting offline exams to final year students and that the exam be two hours long,” said M G Ragunathan, principal of Guru Nanak College.

Some institutions, which have students from remote areas of the country and even from foreign countries, preferred the online mode. “It is not possible for us to conduct offline exams within a month. So, we have asked for separate protocols from the university for offline and online exams due to the diversity among our students,” said P Wilson, principal of Madras Christian College. The college administration has not been able to reach out to at least 5% of its students during the lockdown due to connectivity issues.

Institutions like Ethiraj College for Women also said they preferred the offline mode exams and would prepare for them if the government gave permission. “If it is not possible, we will prepare for online exams,” said S Kothai, principal of Ethiraj College for Women.

R Ganesan, principal of DG Vaishnav College at Arumbakkam which now functions as a Covid care centre, echoed her view. “Right now, we are preparing ourselves to conduct online mode exams. If we get our premises back, then we can conduct offline exams,” he said

A virtual meeting between vicechancellor S Gowri and principals of colleges under the university discussed the online and offline modes

Judges are also bound by ethics, code of conduct: SC

Judges are also bound by ethics, code of conduct: SC

The bench went on to explain how the right of freedom of speech and expression can’t be misused.

Published: 01st September 2020 02:36 AM |

Prashant Bhushan addresses the media in New Delhi on Monday | Shekhar yadav

By Kanu Sarda

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In its Monday sentencing, the apex court on Monday had a word of advice for judges and lawyers — judicial norms, ethics, and code of conduct are sacrosanct.“Truth can be the defence to the Judges also, but they are bound by their judicial norms, ethics, and code of conduct,” said a three judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra.

The top court touched on the unprecedented press conference in 2018 when four SC judges spoke to the media regarding their differences with the CJI. “We hope it was the first and the last occasion that the judges have gone to the press, and God gives wisdom to protect its dignity by internal mechanism, particularly, when allegations made, if any, publicly cannot be met by sufferer judges.”

The bench went on to explain how the right of freedom of speech and expression can’t be misused. “Though there is a freedom of speech, freedom is never absolute because the makers of the Constitution have imposed certain restrictions upon it. Particularly, when such freedom of speech is sought to be abused, and it has the effect of scandalising the institution as a whole and the persons who are part of the said institution and can’t defend themselves publicly, the same can’t be permitted in law.”

“The court can’t abdicate its duty and has to be uninfluenced by the statements published in various articles published in the media and opinions expressed therein. It has to decide the case uninfluenced by such opinions,” the bench said.

Flying to India for NEET amid COVID-19 risk stressful, impractical: Aspirants in Gulf nations

Flying to India for NEET amid COVID-19 risk stressful, impractical: Aspirants in Gulf nations

Some of them have decided the skip the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) altogether this year.

Published: 01st September 2020 08:36 AM 

Students being checked for temperature before appearing for the JEE entrance exam at a centre in New Delhi on Tuesday. 

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Travelling to India to write the medical entrance exam NEET is not only stressful but also impractical, several candidates in Gulf countries have said, citing the risk of contracting COVID-19 and the need to undergo a mandatory quarantine, among other issues.

Some of them have decided the skip the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) altogether this year.

"What choice do I have? It is impractical," said Royston Mendonca, who is based in Dubai.

Several Indian students like her said the Supreme Court's refusal to allow exam centres for the NEET in Gulf countries has left them the lurch.

Many of these students have their JEE Main exam in the Gulf and the NEET in India.

While exam centres have been set up abroad for JEE Main, there is no such plan for NEET.

Reaching India in time to be able to complete the mandatory quarantine period before the exam, arranging a stay before taking a flight back home, additional expenses, the risk of contracting COVID-19 and being quarantined again back home, are among several concerns on the mind of the aspirants.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts medical and engineering entrance exams, has decided to hold NEET on September 13 and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains from September 1 to 6.

Mendonca said, "Even if I take the next possible Vande Bharat flight, I will not be able to finish my quarantine period by then.

And how can one appear for such a crucial exam amid this much stress," he told PTI over phone from Dubai.

Shailaja Vishwanathan, a Doha-based candidate, said, "I had contacted the Indian embassy here and I have been told that though I had not applied earlier, I would be accommodated in the next Vande Bharat flight. But it is too much of a hassle right before an exam for which I have been preparing for two years. I wish I was able to take the exam in Doha, but I don't have much choice. I will go anyhow."

Jonathan Vergis, who resides in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has to write both these exams, the JEE-Main in Dubai on September 3 and the NEET in India 10 days later.

"If I leave after this exam (JEE Main), I will not be able to finish the quarantine period before September 13, when the NEET exam is scheduled," he said.

However NTA officials said the JEE exam centre in such cases can be shifted to India and the students should reach out to the agency.

NEET candidate Jasim, a resident of Saudi Arabia, said, "This is very impractical. I have not travelled alone before this. If my parents fly with me, we will have to bear extra cost which is an added burden at the moment. The time taken to complete the quarantine, appearing for exam and then completing quarantine here once back, will require a lot of leaves from work for them too. We are still working out what to do."

Another candidate based in Oman, who did not wish to be identified told PTI, she has decided not to appear for the exam this year.

"I think I will take the exam next year now. I know a year is precious but it is just not feasible to travel to India for the exam now. I was really hoping that they either postpone the exam or set up centres in Gulf countries too," she said.

On Monday, the Supreme Court of India declined to pass direction to the Central government to hold NEET in Gulf countries.

The court directed the government to allow students to come through Vande Bharat Mission flights to write the exams.

The SC was hearing a plea filed by parents of nearly 4,000 NEET candidates, who alternatively had sought to postpone the examination until the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

The parents of these candidates, who reside in Doha, Qatar, Oman and the UAE, had approached the apex court challenging the High Court of Kerala order which had dismissed their plea in June.

The NTA informed the Supreme Court that it had duly consulted the MCI (Medical Council of India) on the students' demand for overseas test centers.

However, the MCI had clarified that since the exam is conducted in pen and paper mode, it will not be feasible to have a different pattern for Gulf countries or establish a centre there amid the pandemic situation.

Among Indian states too, there has been a growing chorus for postponing the two exams in view of a spike in COVID-19 cases.

However, the Ministry of Education has clarified the exams will be conducted on schedule in September as any further delay now can lead to a zero academic year.

These exams have already been deferred twice in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The JEE-Main was originally scheduled to be held from April 7-11, but was postponed to July 18-23, the NEET-UG was originally scheduled for May 3, but pushed to July 26.

They were postponed again and are now scheduled in September.

MTC buses to be operated only within Chennai police limits in bid to prevent congestion

MTC buses to be operated only within Chennai police limits in bid to prevent congestion

Commuters plying to Kovalam, Mamallapuram, Siruseri, Thiruporur, Chengalpattu and Guduvanchery will have to get down at the border bus stands in Chennai police limits and board another bus

Published: 31st August 2020 08:00 PM 

By B Anbuselvan 

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Thousands of daily wage workers who lost their livelihoods during the COVID-19 lockdown can heave a sigh of relief as public transportation is set to resume in Chennai.

After the state government relaxed the lockdown curbs, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) will resume bus services from Tuesday. The buses will ply in areas covered under Chennai police limits. Beyond that, commuters can use mofussil and town services.

The buses in the northern part of the city will be operated till Ennore and on the east side till Kanathur and Chemmanchery. Similarly, buses will run upto Thirunindravur on the western suburbs and Peerkankaranai on the south western outskirts.

Hence, commuters plying to Kovalam, Mamallapuram, Siruseri, Thiruporur, Chengalpattu and Guduvanchery will have to get down at the border bus stands in Chennai police limits and board another bus.

“About 3000 buses are ready to go into service on Tuesday. The bus services will be resumed completely depending on public patronage,” said a senior MTC official.

On Monday, as part of preparations for resuming the services, buses have been disinfected at depots. “The batteries have been inspected. Fuel condition, air pressure and other mandatory checks have been carried out for the buses. The buses will be provided with hand sanitisers,” said the MTC official adding that commuters without masks will not be allowed into the bus.

As part of the COVID-19 containment measures, the government restricted the carrying capacity of the buses to 60 percent. The 55-seater mofussil bus can carry up to 32 passengers, while 40-seater town buses are allowed to carry up to 24 passengers.

The conductors have been briefed about social distancing and precautionary measure to be taken during travel. Sources said drivers and conductors had been advised not to run the buses, if they are overloaded.

Restricting the transportation within the police limits is aimed at preventing congestion in buses. “The buses will drop the passengers at the last bus stop at the borders where the Chennai

police limits end. From there, mofussil and town buses will be operated to Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts,” explained the official.

Bus services across the state were suspended on March 23 on account of the lockdown. After 68 days, on June 1, 50 percent of buses resumed operations in 33 districts, except Chennai,

Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu.

The state was divided into eight zones, each comprising three to seven districts, to ease transportation. But curbs were again imposed within 25 days owing to a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the districts. Since June 25, bus services have remained suspended till August 31.

[Breaking] "Can JEE MAIN Exams Be Postponed For For Students From Flood Affected Areas?" Asks Bombay HC, Hearing At 8.30 AM

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He walked 7km-8km and wrote his diary even on the day he fell sick

He walked 7km-8km and wrote his diary even on the day he fell sick

Abhishek Singhvi

01.09.2020

Anyone who interacted with Pranab Mukherjee —Pranabda to so many of us — came back with a lasting impression about this remarkable man. In public life and in politics, my earliest interactions, after those with Madhavrao Scindia, were with Pranabda. The former took me to meet the latter. I came back marvelling at this encyclopaedic intellect blessed with an elephantine memory. I frequently told Pranabda that politics’ gain was the loss of so many disciplines—constitutional law, the legal profession, academia, historical research and so on. Few could rival his precise precedentbased approach, plucking accurately from the air an anecdotal event which usually fit the problem at hand like a glove.

Just last year he regaled me for over an hour with the historical evolution of West Bengal politics, greeting me as the new West Bengal MP! Typically, he would rattle off precise figures of political parties’ relative strengths during each WB assembly election since Independence, with names and facts 50 years old!

Few could match his iron discipline, from his morning constitutional to his late-night diary entries, followed with unfailing and uninterrupted continuity. My access to him allows me to disclose that the very day he suffered the brain injury late at night, he had completed his 7 or 8 km walk (split into morning and evening segments) and written his treasured diary before retiring — early by his standards — at 11pm.

Opening the Parliamentary debate on Budget 2011for the Treasury benches, I had coined an acronym for the budget, each letter of which applied equally to its author, Pranabda. In my acronym ‘DIRECT’, D stood for discipline, I for inclusive, R for reform-oriented, E for expenditure & growth reduction, C for creative and T for transformative.

The real USP of Pranabda was his rock-like solidity. He had humongous and unmatched experience, a middle-ofthe-road approach on economic issues, which leveraged the virtues of a historically licensed and currently liberalising economy with the benefits of a free market approach, without becoming starry eyed or being swayed by either. His elephantine memory, a unique mix of political grip with technocratic expertise and an unprecedented mastery of procedures, rules, convention, practices and precedents, set him apart.

Singhvi is a Congress MP and eminent jurist

A left-of-centre centrist who was a master storyteller

On each of four vital criteria available for any individual’s evaluation, Pranabda scored highly and in different ways. His talent was legendary. There are few, if any, who possessed his in-depth knowledge and easy familiarity with the intricacies of policymaking on totally unrelated subjects. He was a man for all seasons and I cannot think of any occasion when he failed to deliver.

Secondly, his ideological commitment was clear and consistent: he was a slightly left-ofcentre centrist, with a balanced approach on social and economic issues, but consistent with the socialist context of a transforming and unequal economy like India and with the inclusive philosophy of the party he represented.

Thirdly, his temperament, criticised by some as short and hot, was fully understandable for a man heavily pressed for time, who had no time for small talk or idle political gossip. But catch him with time or in a relaxed mood (like a flight to Kolkata or elsewhere, as happened with me more than once), and you would be treated to a delightful experience of old-world charm, anecdotal treasures, deep and incisive analysis and a childlike simplicity.

Finally, his commitment to his convictions was strong, honest and sincere: he was incapable of pretensions and came across as he was, without hypocrisy or camouflage.

In a 2012 article before Pranabda was even selected as the Presidential nominee by diverse parties, Inder Malhotra quoted an unnamed writer who described Pranabda as a “front person, reference point, troubleshooter, lightning rod, live wire, fulcrum, flywheel, and, indeed, the very heart and soul of the government”. Malhotra added: “This was a mind boggling... stupendous achievement for someone with most modest beginnings... who had to walk a few miles to the nearest school.” He was the go-to man for everything in UPA I and II and the number of EGOMs/GOMs he headed was testimony to this.

In our late-night meetings, he would tell me how Ajoy Mukherjee, a fine leader, expelled unfairly by Atulya Ghosh, formed the Bangla Congress, starting Pranabda’s political career in 1967. Bangla Congress sent him to Rajya Sabha, where, Indira Gandhi, impressed with his industry and analysis, started relying on him and appointed him commerce minister of India at the age of 42. After his exile (he named the persons responsible for it), Rajiv himself appointed him spokesperson. He would frequently tell me (whilst I would deny) that he had two failings because of which he could not aspire to be PM — his lack of fluency in Hindi and the fact that he was never elected to Lok Sabha (cured later for one term).

India was fortunate in having the indefatigable spirit, the unending zest for sincere hard work, the sagacious counsel and anchor-like stability of a wise philosopher and guide like Pranab Kumar Mukherjee.

Singhvi is a Congress MP and eminent jurist

INDISPENSABLE: Mukherjee was described as the go-to man for both the UPA governments

In A Select Club

Pranab Mukherjee is one of only three people (PMs holding portfolios excluded) who have held three or more different portfolios in the Cabinet Committee on Security, which is the key decision-making body of the Cabinet — in his case finance, defence and external affairs. Y B Chavan is the only one to have held four — finance, defence, home and external affairs — while R Venkataraman held the finance, defence and home portfolios at different points. Like Mukherjee, Venkataraman also went on to become President.

PIL urges govt to take over, manage finances of pvt edu institutions

PIL urges govt to take over, manage finances of pvt edu institutions

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.09.2020

A public interest writ petition filed in the Madras High court has urged the state government’s treasury to take over the finances of private educational institutions so that salaries could be disbursed to teachers and professors, besides keeping fee reasonable for students.

A division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha issued notice to the authorities, returnable by four weeks.

In his petition, Trichy-based activist K M Karthik wanted the state government to reduce the fee structures of private schools and colleges after a detailed audit by the income tax department. “Unfortunately in some private schools, the wages of teachers are as little as ₹5,000 a month,” the petitioner stated.

Stating that there is no legislation which specifies salary structure of teaching faculty in private educational institutions, he said teachers are left to the mercy of the managements for their salary. With the labour department staying away from monitoring and controlling management of institutions citing interim orders of courts, a majority of managements of private educational institutions under-paid the teachers for a long time. Noting that the income tax department had seized more than ₹1,000 crore from just three chains of private educational institutions in the past six months, he said it is an example of how largescale malpractices were happening in the finances of private schools and colleges. There is no proper mechanism either to verify the earnings of private educational institutions through fees or the expenditure they incurred towards salaries, the PIL said.

Curbs eased, TN Covid count may go up: Officials

STEADY CLIMB

Curbs eased, TN Covid count may go up: Officials

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.09.2020

After crossing the 6,000 mark for two days, fresh Covid-19 cases in the state dropped to 5,956 on Monday while 91 deaths were reported. At the end of the day, there were 52,578 people still under treatment.

In August, the state reported 1,82,182 cases and 3,387 deaths compared to 1,55,692 cases and 2,289 deaths in July.

Officials say, cases are likely to increase as the state is opening more business and entertainment activities. "The only way to stop this is to wear masks and maintain social distancing. The state will ensure there is aggressive testing and isolation of positive cases,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan.

The state has also urged Covid-19 patients with comorbidities to report to a hospital for early treatment. "At least 32% of patients who succumbed to the infection had both diabetes and hypertension, while 24% of them had just diabetes. In most patients where these two disorders are not under control, there are severe complications," he said.

While fresh cases in Chennai are plateauing, the curve in western district is now going up. On Monday, Coimbatore had 589 cases, and Salem 497. Like fresh cases, Coimbatore also had the most deaths, 14, after Chennai, 19.

Chennai reported the maximum number of fresh cases, 1,150 fresh cases, and the adjoining three districts Chengalpet (347), Kancheepuram (187) and Tiruvallur (299) together added 833 cases and 16 deaths.

The seven other northern districts added 985 cases – with 307 cases in Cuddalore followed by 176 in Villupuram, 140 in Thiruvannamalai, 125 in Vellore and 124 in Ranipet. Vellore reported eight deaths.

The ten districts in the south reported 887 cases. While 129 were reported from Dindigul, 127 were from Madurai, 111 from Tuticorin and 98 from Kanyakumari.

Among the 656 cases in the central districts, there were 125 in Thanjavur, 113 in Thiruvarur, 105 in Nagapattinam, 95 in Trichy, 86 in Pudukottai and 75 in Ariyalur.

[Breaking] SC To Pronounce Sentence In Contempt Case Against Prashant Bhushan On August 31

[Breaking] SC To Pronounce Sentence In Contempt Case Against Prashant Bhushan On August 31: The Supreme Court will pronounce on Monday(August 31) the sentence in the contempt case against Advocate Prashant Bhushan. On Aug 25, a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra had reserved orders on...

Supreme Court Weekly Round Up

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Singer Lata Mangeshkar’s building sealed due to Covid-19

Singer Lata Mangeshkar’s building sealed due to Covid-19

Mumbai:  31.08.2020

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar’s building has been sealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The 90-year-old singer resides in Prabhukunj building at Peddar Road in south Mumbai. The Mangeshkar family, in a statement, said the building was sealed as it houses many senior citizens.

“We have been inundated by calls all evening enquiring whether Prabhukunj is sealed. The Building Society and the BMC have sealed it from the onset of the epidemic as we have senior citizens at home and in the building and it is mandatory to take these precautions.

“Even our usual festive Ganesha celebrations was a simple familial one this time to co-operate and support social distancing,” the statement read.

There were reports that some residents of the building had tested positive for Covid-19 but the family asked well-wishers to not indulge in any speculations. “Please do not react to any hearsay on the health of our family members especially. We, as a building society in unison, are taking utmost caution, care and co-operating to ensure the well being and safety of all the senior citizens especially and all the other residing members as well. PTI