Silver ornament makers in Salem struggle to get biz

Silver ornament makers in Salem struggle to get biz

Senthil.Kumaran@timesgroup.com

30.09.2020

The shine of Salem’s silver ornament-making industry seems to have worn off during the pandemic-induced lockdown with orders dwindling, the economy taking a nosedive and less dispensable money in the hands of buyers.

The units in Salem employing nearly 80,000 people directly and indirectly have been facing financial issues for the past six months. “We usually get orders from New Delhi, Kolkata, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala, but since the lockdown we have hardly been getting any orders,” said M Govindan, one of the ornament manufacturers in Shevapet. The kuthuvilakku (lamps), kumkuma chimil (kumkum holder), silver pot, ankle chains, hip chains, metti (toe rings) are their usual bestsellers.

More than 1,500 silver ornaments manufacturing units have been functioning in Tirumalaigiri, Sivadapuram, Vedukathampatty, Panangkadu and its surrounding villages while more than 800 units are functioning at Shevapet, Annadhanapatty and Maniyanur areas in Salem. All these units have not got any orders since March 25. “Every day, each unit faces losses of up to ₹10,000,” said T Manikandan, another manufacturing unit owner from Sivadhapuram.

One of the workers, A Venkatesh, 38, said he used to earn nearly Rs10,000 a month, but has been without work for the better part of the year. “My income was zero during the lockdown period,” he said. With no other skills, Venkatesh had to take up a job as a construction worker to make ends meet when construction work was allowed in June. Though Venkatesh wishes to return to his silver ornament-making work once again, his employers have asked him to wait for another month. “I don’t have any other choice until normal work resumes at my unit,” he said.

According to Salem district silver ankle chains manufacturers, nearly five tonnes of silver trade was affected because of this lockdown and pandemic. “There’s no transport facilities to travel to other states and they also don’t have any option to reach Salem,” said M Parandhaman, a manufacturer, who said the present option of hiring a vehicle or taking flights will hike their production costs. The manufacturers have appealed to the state and Union governments to take steps to operate inter-state buses and trains so that trade can resume again

NOT ALL GLITTER: A file photo of workers at a manufacturing unit in Salem. Several such units have not received orders in past six months

Hospital closed after 6 medical staff test positive

Hospital closed after 6 medical staff test positive

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:30.09.2020

Avinashi Government Hospital (GH) has been closed by the Tirupur health department department after six medical staff, including the chief medical officer, tested positive for Covid-19. The medical officer’s result came on Monday, prompting officials to close the hospital from Monday evening itself. However, outpatient services are being offered by the hospital in a neighbouring building with another doctor and a couple of nurses.

The six staff who tested positive include the 43-year-old chief medical officer, four nurses and a lab technician. All of them tested positive on the same day. The health department has now taken nasal swab samples of 34 other medical personnel working in the hospital, said a Tirupur health department official. The hospital was closed by the Avinashi Town Panchayat officials.

TNSTC told to pay ₹24.2L to clerk wrongly dismissed

TNSTC told to pay ₹24.2L to clerk wrongly dismissed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.09.2020

A labour court in the city has directed the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to pay back wages of ₹24.2 lakh to a clerk, who was reinstated into service after wrongful dismissal. The petitioner stated that he had availed medical leave for treatment for tuberculosis, but was terminated from work.

According to K Ravi, he joined the transport corporation in 1990 as a junior clerk and was working from Vandavasi depot. In 2012, Ravi was affected by tuberculosis and had availed medical leave for two months after informing the branch manager.

However, TNSTC initiated disciplinary action against him and passed dismissal order on April 1, 2014. The petitioner pointed out that the deputy commissioner of labour had cancelled the dismissal order in December 2018, which deems him to be in service and hence, eligible for backwages.

In response, TNSTC contended that a memo was issued to him and since he did not respond despite sufficient opportunity, he was dismissed.

After perusing the documents, the labour court held that the petitioner was eligible for back wages for the period between April 2014 and December 2018 and directed the transport corporation to pay ₹24.2 lakh to the petitioner.

Why not open Marina beach to public, HC asks civic body

Why not open Marina beach to public, HC asks civic body

Says Decision Rests With Authorities Concerned

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.09.2020

Consider reopening the ‘beautiful’ Marina beach for public, the Madras high court on Tuesday told the Chennai corporation. When everything else is being opened up, why not the beach, the court wondered.

A division bench of Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy however, made it clear that it is up to the authorities concerned to take such a policy decision in opening the beach. The beach was closed for public access in view of the pandemic. The bench made the observations while hearing a batch of pleas pertaining to regulating and restricting vending in Marina.

When the pleas came up for hearing, additional advocate general S R Rajagopalan said, tender process to purchase uniform vending carts and other related works have already been commenced and that he would file a status report in a short adjournment. Recording the same, the bench adjourned the pleas to October 5 for the corporation to file status reports. In December last, the corporation informed the court that only 900 vendors would be permitted to carry out vending on the Marina beach and that it has planned to purchase uniform smart vending carts to be distributed to such identified vendors at ₹27 crore.

Apart from the identified hawkers, no one would be permitted to carry out vending on the sands of the Marina. In 2017, a total of 1,544 vendors were enumerated, out of which identity cards were issued to 1,486 vendors. As per the enumeration conducted in 2019, there were 1,962 shops, out of which only 808 shop vendors possessed identity cards, the authorities said. The issue pertains to a plea moved by Fishermen Care, a fishermen rights association, seeking direction to the state government to increase the allowance provided to fishermen community during the fishing ban period. However, the scope of the PIL was expanded, covering regularisation of vendors on the Marina Promenade and Loop Road, and as to the steps taken for beautification of the beach.

MAJESTIC: An aerial view of Marina Beach which has been closed for public in view of the pandemic

More wet days in the offing

More wet days in the offing

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.09.2020

The city could achieve its average rainfall levels for the July-September period, as weathermen have forecast patterns of light rain with thunderstorms to continue in the city for the next 48 hours due to a cyclonic circulation or swirling winds over south Andhra Pradesh and its neighbourhood and the resulting convective activity. Chennai has a 5% deficit so far with 409.3mm rainfall registered against a normal 431.9mm with only a day left for the July to September season to end.

The regional meteorological centre, Chennai has forecast, “The sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Light rain with thunderstorms is likely to occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 34°C and 27°C in the city for the next 48 hours.”

In its five-day forecast for the state, the nodal weather agency has forecast light to moderate rain is likely to occur at isolated places over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Chennai and its neighbours Chengelpet, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur.

Officials said the rainfall is due to the cyclonic circulation over south Andhra Pradesh and neighbourhood between 4.5 and 5.8km above mean sea level, which has merged with another cyclonic circulation between 1.5km and 7.6km over westcentral Bay of Bengal of Andhra Pradesh coast. Cyclonic circulation, where winds swirl in the direction of the earth’s rotation, pulls moist air resulting in cloudiness that may bring rainfall.

Many localities like Kodungaiyur, Madhavaram, Perumbur and Vyasarpadi in the north, Avadi in the west and Velachery in the south registered sharp intense spells on Tuesday. This left 4.6mm in Nungambakkam and 10.1mm in Meenambakkam stations as on Tuesday 8.30pm.

Intense rain spells buffeted city on Tuesday

Anna univ faculty members write to guv, oppose name-change move

Anna univ faculty members write to guv, oppose name-change move

Chennai:30.09.2020

Faculty members of Anna University on Monday wrote to governor Banwarilal Purohit opposing the proposal to change the name of the university and asked him to advise the government to bring suitable amendments to the bill to retain the name.

A bill was passed in the assembly last week to bifurcate Anna University and it was proposed to name the new affiliating university as Anna University. The parent university, consisting of College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG), Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Chromepet, Alagappa College of Technology (AC Tech), Guindy, and School of Architecture and Planning (SAP), will be renamed as Anna Technological and Research University (ATRU).

“For 42 years, CEG, MIT, AC Tech and SAP have gained fame as Anna University, and all their credentials are in the name of Anna University,” the letter from Anna University Teachers Association said. TNN

TN rules out partial reopening of schools

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.09.2020

The Tamil Nadu government has gone back on its decision to allow students of Classes X, XI and XII to go to school voluntarily from October 1 and extended the Covid-19 lockdown to October 31while relaxing several curbs.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday said the government had put on hold its decision to partially open schools considering the views of district collectors and health experts with whom he had a meeting earlier in the day. “A decision will be taken to grant permission at an appropriate time after a review again,” the CM said.

Schools, colleges, other educational and research institutions, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment/amusement parks, auditoriums, assembly halls, beaches, zoos, museums, museums and tourist spots will continue to remain shut. International air travel, except for purposes permitted by the Union home ministry, is prohibited and suburban trains will not run.

Religious congregations remain prohibited

Religious congregations, social, political, entertainment, academic and other gatherings and processions are prohibited. However, tea shops and restaurants will now be allowed to stay open from 6am to 9pm. Takeaway service will be permitted till 10pm. Film shoots with a crew of up to 100 adhering to standard operating procedures will be allowed. But the public are barred from sets.

Chennai airport is permitted to handle 100 flight landings a day from the existing 50. Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Tuticorin and Salem airports will maintain status quo.

Government and government-affiliated training institutes can function following standard operating procedures. Weekly markets in rural and urban areas allowed.

“Even as the state government had extended a lot of relaxations in September, the speediness of virus spread has fallen at a state level. Aggressive efforts are on to reduce further the fatality rate,” Palaniswami said. He also advocated the use of masks and frequent washing of hands with soap at home and workplaces.

The virus spread could be contained if people wear masks, adhere to social distancing norms and avoid unnecessary travel and support the government’s efforts, he said.

Rift widens in AIADMK as OPS skips CM’s review meet

Rift widens in AIADMK as OPS skips CM’s review meet

EPS Supporters Try To Make His Deputy ‘Fall In Line’

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:30.09.2020

Political jousting in the AIADMK gathered pace as O Panneerselvam skipped a video conference Edappadi K Palaniswami called with top officials on Covid management on Tuesday, a day after they sparred over announcing a CM candidate for the 2021 assembly election.

As chief minister Palaniswami attended the conference at the secretariat, some of his supporters made another bid to force his deputy’s hand and persuade OPS to propose EPS’s name for CM. AIADMK deputy coordinator R Vaithilingam and deputy coordinator K P Munusamy called on OPS at his residence to persuade the deputy CM to “fall in line”. AIADMK organising secretary P H Manoj Pandian, among the few OPS supporters, was present too. Talks and mediation are likely to go on for the next few days, with OPS “upset” over the “persistent” demands by EPS loyalists at the executive committee meeting on Monday that the CM candidate be announced at once.

The BJP is also stirring the pot with multiple sources confirming that ministers S P Velumani and P Thangamani, close aides of the CM, had visited New Delhi on Friday last to meet “BJP leaders”. A close associate of OPS said the deputy CM too had long sought a meeting with home minister Amit Shah and is yet to be granted an appointment.

Vaithilingam told reporters his visit to OPS’s residence on Greenways Road here was “apolitical, personal. There is no confusion (over CM candidate).”

VYING FOR THE TOP POST: Some of the CM’s supporters made another bid to force his deputy’s hand and persuade O Panneerselvam to propose Edappadi K Palaniswami’s name for CM

OPS ‘upset’ over mins’ ‘conduct’

In the evening, minister S P Velumani and senior leader Natham R Viswanathan met the CM and minister R B Udayakumar visited the deputy CM. Panneerselvam has, meanwhile, dropped his earlier plan to leave for Theni, his native town.

A sticking point is OPS’s insistence that a 11-member steering committee be constituted for the party. OPS is also “upset” over the “conduct’ of a few ministers, including K A Sengottaiyan, Thangamani, Velumani, R Kamaraj, and some functionaries, who kept insisting that the CM candidate be announced at the Monday meeting. A minister had declared that he would not leave until the announcement was made. And some members had booed party veteran Panruti S Ramachandran when he pushed for “a collective decision taken in a democratic manner”. Ramachandran left the hall shortly thereafter. Palaniswami has opposed the constitution of a steering committee, saying he does not want to choose from a long list of aspirants.

At the Monday meeting, minister Udumalai S Radhakrishnan had shouted at another OPS supporter, J C D Prabhakar, when he rose to object to the way the EPS camp was pushing for announcement of the CM candidate. Panneerselvam was taken aback by the strong reaction from Thangamani, who said that pre-merger of the factions, the EPS camp had agreed to make him deputy CM for this term alone.

Rape - Misconception Of Fact About Promise To Marry Has To Be In Proximity Of Time To The Occurrence: SC [Read Judgment]

Rape - Misconception Of Fact About Promise To Marry Has To Be In Proximity Of Time To The Occurrence: SC [Read Judgment]: The Supreme Court, in its judgment acquitting a man accused of raping a woman on the pretext of marriage, observed that misconception of fact arising out of promise to marry has to be in proximity...

Explained : Changes Brought To Foreign Contributions Regulation Act

Explained : Changes Brought To Foreign Contributions Regulation Act: The Parliament last week passed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 ('the Bill') to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 ('the FCRA or the Act'). As per the...

79% students write CLAT; no glitches

79% students write CLAT; no glitches

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:29.09.2020

About 79% (59,000) of students who had applied for the Common Law Admission Test appeared for it at around 300 centres in the country on Monday.

The consortium of national law universities said the low number could be because of Covid-19, with students who weren’t well prepared deciding to avoid the risk.

Students said the exam was lengthy and was moderate to difficult in nature. No technical glitches were reported. The exam followed a new format, with fewer questions compared to last year but more of those based on passages. “I found logical reasoning easy and the other sections moderate to difficult,” said a candidate. Students said social distancing was maintained at centres. All centres had isolation rooms for students with symptoms.

Graduates flay NLSIU for ₹2k convocation fee

Graduating students took to social media to slam NLSIU for collecting Rs 2,000 as convocation fee for the virtual function on Sunday. “NLSIU deducting Rs 2,000 from graduating students deposits for an absentia convocation. Another example of how the university is trying to extract funds unreasonably in times of financial difficulties,” said a student, who added the batch has written to University Grants Commission, education ministry and the PMO.

NLSIU said: “Convocation charge of Rs 2,000 is not new to this year. It’s applied every year and includes printing of certificates and transcripts and despatch of the same to students. All fees relating to convocation/degrees whether being conferred in person or in absentia apply to all students, including those pursuing distance education.”

CET candidates can upload papers

Candidates who are unable to upload documents for CET 2020 can do so from September 28 to October 1. Those who uploaded them but failed to declare the same can finish the process. Those who got spot ranks due to non-submission of class 12 markscards can also make use of this.

50% fee to be paid during admission

The consortium has resolved that only 50% of the fee shall be paid at the time of admission in national law universities in view of Covid-19 hardships. It has constituted a grievance committee under the chairmanship of Justice Rajendra Babu. CLAT results will be out on October 5.

Medicos to be assessed on Covid duty

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

Medicos to be assessed on Covid duty

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:29.09.2020

Medical students in Gujarat University-affiliated colleges will not be graded in internal exams based on their performance in written test. In fact, this year there will be no written test, as per the decision taken by the varsity authorities at a meeting on Monday.

Medicos will be assessed for the internal exams based on their performance in Covid-19 duty. Former dean of medical faculty, Gujarat University, Dr Mahesh Patel, said a meeting of college principals was held on Monday where this decision was taken.

The move is seen as a token of appreciation by the university authorities for the medical college students who are on Covid-19 duty. The move is likely to be replicated by other medical colleges in the state in the near future, said sources. Presently, a large number of medical students have joined as Covid warriors and are entrusted with the task of treatment of Covid-19 patients.

“To conduct written exams, the university will have to call back the students from their duties. This could lead to chaos and risk the treatment of patients,” said GU sources. As a result, GU has decided not to conduct written test this year, they added. Earlier this month, the state government had issued a circular calling all medical and paramedical students in Gujarat to join Covid-19 duty.

‘Growing confidence of criminals’

‘Growing confidence of criminals’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

29.09.2020

Ahmedabad: Dr Prakash Darji, one of the top nephrologists of the city, was unnerved that the safety of his younger son, Bhavya, was put at stake even at home.

The doctor said that the value of the jewellery robbed on Monday afternoon was of little consequence, but the daring daylight robbery in a plush neighbourhood underscores the growing confidence of criminals in the city.

“This robber has to be arrested. Because if he goes scot-free, he will carry out more such daring attempts which is not good for the society,” said Dr Darji.

“In such cases, robbers can inflict damage on a person or endanger life. Such acts have to be stopped as unlawful elements cannot be allowed to take citizens to ransom,” said Dr Darji.

The nephrologist at Zydus Hospital said that he had come home around 1.15pm and left around 1.30pm after a quick lunch. His driver took his wife to the house of his elder son who has recently become a parent.

“My younger son was reading on the sofa. He must have dozed off. Meanwhile, this man wearing a helmet entered the house from the rear door. Our maid who was working in the backyard had gone to the washroom. He locked her up and went inside. He went straight up. The noise woke my son who followed the robber,” said Dr Darji.

Daylight robbery in doctor’s home

THALTEJ HORROR

Daylight robbery in doctor’s home

Man Walks Into Gated Society, Ties Up Doc’s Son

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:29.09.2020

Law and order is at stake in the city’s tony Thaltej area. This time, a robber barged into a doctor’s house in a residential society behind Zydus Hospital, tied his son — an MBBS student, robbed valuables worth Rs 52,000 and fled on his motorcycle on Monday afternoon.

The incident happened at a time when the area had routine traffic movement and police were deployed at almost all the crossroads on SG Road from where the accused fled from the crime scene. Inspector J P Jadeja of Sola police said the robbery took place at the house in Somvilla Society owned by Dr Prakash Darji, a nephrologist with a private hospital.

“Dr Prakash’s son Bhavya, a final year MBBS student in GCS Medical College in Naroda, was alone at home when the robber, who wore a helmet, tied his hands with a laptop cable and his legs with cellotape, robbed his bracelet and other valuables worth Rs 52,000 from the house and fled,” said Jadeja.

He said that the accused was captured in CCTV cameras installed in the residential society and attempts are on to nab him.

Bhavya told police that he was sleeping on the sofa at around 2.15pm on Monday. At that time, he woke up and went to close the main door of the house and found an unknown person on the first floor of his house.

Before Bhavya could respond, the man, who was around 5 feet 7 inches tall and wearing denim jeans and black Tshirt, pushed him and put a knife to his neck. He robbed him of his bracelet and told him to give other valuables.

Bhavya told cops that the robber took him to a room on first floor where he tied Bhavya’s hands with a laptop cable and his legs with cellotape which the robber had brought with himself.

He sought keys of a cupboard for money but as Bhavya said that he did not have the keys, he tried to break the cupboard. When he was unable to break it, he picked up some silver utensils and fled.

Somvilla Society The doctor’s house where the robbery took place on Monday

The robber caught on camera entering and leaving the society

Insider’s job?

Police officials probing into the robbery case at Dr Prakash Darji’s house suspect that this might be the job of some insider. “The robber struck at a time when Dr Prakash Darji and his wife were not at home and their younger son was sleeping in the house. The robber was well aware of the movements of the house’s residents and he was seen in CCTV footage comfortably entering and leaving the society. His movement indicated that he was familiar with the road and also knew that Dr Darji and his wife were not at home,” said a police officer.

PLUSH AREAS ON TARGET OF ROBBERS:

Just three days after a motorcycle-borne duo robbed two persons at two different locations in Thaltej and Vastrapur, a man carried out the robbery at the doctor’s house. Security is constantly being compromised in the plush areas of the city which were considered safest.

State bound to protect runaway couple even if in live-in, says HC ‘Seeking One’s Protection Is Basic Right’

State bound to protect runaway couple even if in live-in, says HC

‘Seeking One’s Protection Is Basic Right’

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:29.09.2020

The Punjab and Haryana high court has made it plain that a runaway couple is entitled to protection from the court even if one of them is minor and they are in a “live-in” relationship.

"Issue in hand is not marriage or their live-in relationship, but the deprivation of fundamental right of seeking protection of life and liberty. Fundamental Right under Article 21 of constitution of India stands on a much higher pedestal. Being sacrosanct under the constitutional scheme it must be protected, regardless of the solemnization of an invalid or void marriage or even the absence of any marriage between the parties," the HC has held.

Justice Arun Monga of the HC has passed these orders while disposing of a petition filed by Hisar based couple--- the man is aged 24 and the girl 16 years and nine months old.

They claim that had to live together due to circumstances triggered by the parents of the girl, who want to marry her off to a person of their choice. They claim that they are mature enough to know what is good or bad.

Conflict raised in the case was that the enforcement of fundamental rights of the petitioners to seek protection of their "life and liberty" as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India viza-viz a non-marriageable girl as per Section 5 (iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 deciding to be in a live-in relationship.

Hearing the petitioners, the HC observed that the mere fact that one of the petitioners is not of marriageable age in the present case would not deprive them of their fundamental right as envisaged in Constitution of India, being citizens of India.

According to HC the couple is entitled to seek protection of their life and liberty, even if it were a case of a marriage in violation of section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act or merely a consensual relationship.

Without commenting on the legitimacy of the relationship between the petitioners, the HC has directed the SP Hisar to verify the contents of the petition, particularly the threat perception of the petitioners and complaints/representation, and if deemed fit, to take appropriate steps to provide necessary protection of their life and liberty.

HC OBSERVES

It is the bounden duty of the state as per the Constitutional obligations cast upon it to protect the life and liberty of every citizen. Right to human life is to be treated on much higher pedestal, regardless of a citizen being minor or a major

SC clears man held for rape after 4-yr live-in

SC clears man held for rape after 4-yr live-in

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:29.09.2020

No woman, after being sexually assaulted at knife-point, would write amorous love letters to the accused and share a live-in relationship for four years, the Supreme Court said on Monday while acquitting a man of 20-year-old charges of rape and cheating, for which he was convicted by the trial court and the Jharkhand High Court.

The first point of doubt for the bench of Justices R F Nariman, Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee was the woman’s version of her age at the time of the alleged sexual assault in 1995.

Though she claimed to be 13 years, it was found that at the time of lodging the FIR in 1999, before the man was getting married she was 25 years old.

‘Lived like husband-wife’ but later filed rape case

Though she claimed to be 13 years, it was found that at the time of lodging the FIR in 1999, a few days before the man was getting married to another woman, she was 25 years as per medical opinion.

The complainant claimed that she kept quiet for four years from the date of sexual assault as the man promised to marry her and their families had got them engaged. She also said they lived like “husband and wife” and that on coming to know that he was getting married to another woman, she had filed the FIR accusing him of rape and cheating.

The bench sifted through the evidence and found the two belonged to different religions and that was the main constraint for solemnising the marriage — while the girl’s family wanted the wedding in a church, the boy’s family insisted on a temple ceremony.

Writing the judgment, Justice Sinha said, “The man belonged to the Scheduled Tribe while the woman belonged to the Christian community. They professed different religious beliefs in a traditional society. They resided in the same village Basjadi and were known to each other. The nature and manner of allegations, coupled with the letters exchanged between them, make it apparent that their love for each other grew and matured over a sufficient period of time.

“They were both smitten by each other and passions of youth ruled over their minds and emotions. The physical relations that followed were not isolated or sporadic in nature, but regular over the years. The woman had even gone and resided in the man’s house. In our opinion, the delay of four years in lodging the FIR, at an opportune time of seven days prior to the man solemnising his marriage with another girl, on the pretext of a promise to the prosecutrix raises serious doubts about the truth and veracity of the allegations levelled by the complainant.”

The bench further said, “She was conscious of this (religious) obstacle all along, even while she continued to establish physical relations with the man. If he had married her, she would not have lodged the case. She denied having written any letters to him, contrary to the evidence placed on record by the defence. The amorous language used by both in the letters exchanged reflects that the man was serious about the relationship...”

WORLD HEART DAY

WORLD HEART DAY

Have heart condition? Don’t delay check-up even during pandemic

A Central Registry On Heart Failure Needed To Save Lives: Doctors

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

29.09.2020

In the last six months, since the Covid-19 lockdown in the country, non-Covid illnesses have taken a back seat. Even many heart patients have delayed routine check-ups. There have also been instances of patients delaying hospital visits despite complications, leading to exacerbation of the existing condition and even death.

On the eve of World Heart Day, cardiologists say, it is important to make patients aware not to neglect non-Covid illnesses. “I am regularly seeing patients who have delayed their treatment till they are forced to come to hospital at an advanced stage. Some of them may even have succumbed to it,” said Dr Ashok Seth, chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute.

The fear of going to hospital despite worsening of a disease is not the right way because timely treatment saves lives, he pointed out. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), World Health Organization (WHO) says, are the number one cause of deaths globally. It has many causes — from smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity to air pollution, and rare and neglected conditions such as Chagas disease and cardiac amyloidosis.

During Covid-19, WHO adds, CVD patients are faced with a double-edged threat. “Not only are they more at risk of developing severe forms of the virus, but they may also be afraid to seek ongoing care for their hearts,” the UN body states.

Disruption in travel and transport have prevented many people from smaller towns and rural areas from reaching hospitals. While there is no data or analysis to understand what is happening to these patients, Dr D K Jhamb, director and head of the cardiology department at Paras Hospitals in Gurgaon, said it was clear that many of them had not been able to receive medical care and treatment on time.

“Patients with cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and diabetes, among others, are experiencing delay in diagnosis and treatment, which, in turn, will significantly increase the burden of heart disease and preventable deaths,” he added.

Heart failure is the end result of many conditions of the organ, for example, heart attack, valve disease and viral infections of heart, Dr Seth said. “There is no centralised registry for heart failure patients in India. It is needed to make a fair assessment of the burden of the disease and save lives.”

The Times of India has launched Beat Heart Failure in partnership with Novartis to create awareness about timely diagnosis and management of heart failure and the need to create an effective national heart failure registry.

 

Make sure you or your loved ones don’t ignore the common symptoms of heart failure

To take the heart failure symptom checker test, log on to

www.toibeatheartfailure.com

OR scan this QR code

Top court cites love letters, acquits man of rape charges

Top court cites love letters, acquits man of rape charges

Says No Woman After Being Sexually Assaulted Will Be In Live-in Relationship For Four Years

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:29.09.2020

No woman, after being sexually assaulted at knife-point, would write amorous love letters to the accused and share a live-in relationship for four years, the Supreme Court said on Monday while acquitting a man of 20-year-old charges of rape and cheating, for which he was convicted by the trial court and the Jharkhand high court.

The first point of doubt for the bench of Justices R F Nariman, Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee was the woman’s version of her age at the time of the alleged sexual assault in 1995. Though she claimed to be 13 years, it was found that at the time of lodging the FIR in 1999, a few days before the man was getting married to another woman, she was 25 years as per medical opinion.

The complainant claimed that she kept quiet for four years from the date of sexual assault as the man promised to marry her and their families had got them engaged. She also said they lived like “husband and wife” and that on coming to know that he was getting married to another woman, she had filed the FIR accusing him of rape and cheating.

The bench sifted through the evidence and found the two belonged to different religions and that was the main constraint for solemnising the marriage — while the girl's family wanted the wedding in a church, the boy’s family insisted on a temple ceremony.

Writing the judgment, Justice Sinha said, “The man belonged to the Scheduled Tribe while the woman belonged to the Christian community. They professed different religious beliefs in a traditional society. They resided in the same village Basjadi and were known to each other. The nature and manner of allegations, coupled with the letters exchanged between them, make it apparent that their love for each other grew and matured over a sufficient period of time. “They were both smitten by each other and passions of youth ruled over their minds and emotions. The physical relations that followed were not isolated or sporadic in nature, but regular over the years. The woman had even gone and resided in the man’s house. In our opinion, the delay of four years in lodging the FIR, at an opportune time of seven days prior to the man solemnising his marriage with another girl, on the pretext of a promise to the prosecutrix raises serious doubts about the truth and veracity of the allegations levelled by the complainant.”

The bench further said, “She was conscious of this (religious) obstacle all along, even while she continued to establish physical relations with the man. If he had married her, she would not have lodged the case. She denied having written any letters to him, contrary to the evidence placed on record by the defence. The amorous language used by both in the letters exchanged reflect that the man was serious about the relationship, desiring to culminate the same into marriage. But, unfortunately, for societal reasons, the marriage could not materialise as they belonged to different communities.”

They were both smitten by each other and passions of youth ruled over their minds and emotions. The physical relations that followed were not isolated or sporadic in nature, but regular over the years

SUPREME COURT

Sparks fly between EPS & OPS over CM candidature at AIADMK meet

Sparks fly between EPS & OPS over CM candidature at AIADMK meet

Decision To Be Announced On October 7

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.09.2020

Powerplay between deputy chief minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and chief minister and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami over early announcement of CM candidate for the forthcoming assembly election was in full display during the party’s executive committee meeting convened on Monday morning.

After five hours of muscle flexing, arguments, and attempts to reason, deputy coordinator K P Munusamy came out to tell reporters that the CM candidate will be announced “by the leadership” on October 7. Both EPS and OPS neither “agreed nor disagreed” to the final decision, sources confirmed. A total of 276 members out of 294 invited, attended the meeting.

OPS argued he had been chosen to be chief minister by ‘Amma’ (former chief minister J Jayalalithaa) twice and EPS by her aide V K Sasikala. EPS pointed out that his deputy had been picked by Sasiakala too when Jayalalithaa passed away in December 2016. When it came to the subject of CM candidate, OPS and his supporters felt the selection should be made by a steering committee, yet to be constituted. EPS loyalists said the announcement should be made sooner rather than later.

Palaniswami is keen on being projected as the CM candidate, having steered the government for about three years, overcoming challenges thrown his way and showcasing his achievements. Sparks flew at the Monday meeting, after some 20 ministers, leaders and senior party functionaries spoke on the need to decide on the CM candidate soon.

“When OPS detailed his contributions for the party and government -- how he was chosen twice by Jayalalithaa for CM post, and his dharmayudh to rescue the party from the clutches of a family, EPS pointed out how the former had voted against his government in February 2017. He said OPS would have been held responsible if his government had been dissolved,” a senior leader, privy to the meeting said.

Panneerselvam sought to downplay the criticism by stating he and his supporters voted against the EPS government as part of his ‘dharmayudh’ against Sasikala and the chief minister chosen by her, and that at no time did he nurse a personal grudge against EPS.

Palaniswami recalled how Sasikala had told him, ministers P Thangamani and S P Velumani, besides OPS to choose a CM candidate. The trio told her she could go ahead with her choice and she settled for OPS. Panneerselvam said he merged with the EPS faction on the advice of PM Narendra Modi, and that the agreement was that he would be deputy CM for this term alone. For his part, Palaniswami said Modi had congratulated the government for effectively managing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier, OPS supporter and organising secretary, P H Manoj Pandian said, “Both EPS and OPS were like the two leaves and we need both to help the party win the election,” Pandian said.

Coimbatore girl tops TN engg rank list

Coimbatore girl tops TN engg rank list

1.6L Seats Up For Grabs, Online Counselling From Oct 1-30

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 29.09.2020

Sasmitha M S of Coimbatore got the highest cut-off marks in the state at 199.67 in the engineering rank list released on Monday, with centums in maths, physics and near-perfect marks in chemistry. R Navaneethakrishnan of Tiruvannamalai, with the same cut-off, was placed second rank, while R Kavya, C Aditya and Praveen Kumar R with 199.5 were ranked third, fourth and fifth. Higher education minister K P Anbalagan released the list.

Sasmitha said she planned to take up BE computer science at College of Engineering, Guindy. “I then want to get placed in a dream company such as Facebook or Amazon, experience the work ambience for a few years, come back and take up civil services.”

The native of Namakkal, allotted the cut-off by the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) based on the 989/1000 marks in the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education at Hyderabad, now stays in Coimbatore with her uncle, a forest official. She wanted to join an IIT, but unsure of the scores in JEE (Advanced), decided on Anna University.

Praveen Kumar wants to join either electrical engineering or computer science at Anna University.

The TNEA committee awarded ranks to 1,12,406 eligible candidates, using a 10-digit random number for breaking ties for 791 candidates.

Anbalagan said online counseling will be held from October 1 to 30 — for special category from October 1 to 5 and for general category from October 8 to 27.

There are 1,63,154 seats available in 461 colleges, a reduction of just 9,786 seats over last year despite the number of participating colleges coming down to 461 from 479 in 2019-20. Colleges surrendered 27,466 seats, increasing total seats to 1.63 lakh from 1.35 lakh.

On the proposal to change the name of Anna University, the minister said it was made after keeping the interests of all students and colleges in mind. He further said the state government would discuss any implication of name change before the bifurcation.

On reopening of colleges, the minister said the state government would take a call only after assessing the number of colleges needed for Covid-19 care centres. “Still, many colleges are functioning as such centres. We will assess the situation and take a decision,” he said.

2nd phase of Covid vaccine human trial begins in Tamil Nadu

 2nd phase of Covid vaccine human trial begins in Tamil Nadu

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.09.2020

The phase-2 human clinical trials of Covishield, developed by Oxford University, commenced in the state on Monday even as the health department invited volunteers to enroll and participate in the trials. The safety and immunogenicity or the immune response of the vaccine candidate will be studied upon administering shots to healthy volunteers. Two centres in the city are among the17siteschosen for the trials initiated in the country by Serum Institute of India, which has an agreement with AstraZeneca that has collaborated with Oxford University.

A state health department official confirmed that volunteers were given shots of the vaccine candidate on Monday. However, officials did not reveal details on the number of volunteers who were administered the shots. The state health department started calling for volunteers on September 9 through social media.

Earlier Dr T S Selvavinayagam, director of public health and principal investigator of the project, had said, “This phase requires 110 to 150 volunteers. Screening of volunteers to see if they are fit enough for the trials is going on.” In Tamil Nadu, trials will take place at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur.

According to the Clinical Trials Registry India, 1,600 volunteers of more than or equal to 18 years will be enrolled in the study across17 sites in the country. Of them, 400 participants will be part of the immunogenicity cohort. They will be randomly assigned on a 3:1 ratio to receive either Covishield or Oxford/AZ-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. The rest of the 1,200 volunteers from the safety cohort, also randomly assigned in a 3:1 ratio, will receive either Covishield or placebo. Covishield was made from ChAdOx1 virus, a weakened version of a common cold virus that causes infections in chimpanzees that has been genetically changed. Genetic material has been added which is used to make proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 virus called spike glycoprotein. By vaccinating, researchers hope the body will recognise and develop an immune response to the spike protein that will help stop the coronavirus from entering human cells and prevent infection.

Premalatha tests positive for Covid-19

Premalatha tests positive for Covid-19

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.09.2020

Actor and DMDK leader Vijayakant’s wife Premalatha has tested positive for Covid-19. She has been admitted to the same ward where her husband in undergoing treatment, doctors in Chennai’s Miot Hospital said.

Premalatha was asymptomatic but she decided to get admitted because she wanted to take care of Vijayakant, they said.

On September 22, Vijayakant tested positive for the viral infection. “Both of them are doing well and are likely to be discharged in a couple of days,” a doctor said.

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam tweeted wishing Premalatha, who is DMDK treasurer, a speedy recovery.

A medical bulletin issued by Miot on September 24 said Vijayakant was stable and was expected to make a full recovery.

On the same day, the DMDK issued a statement saying Vijayakant had mild symptoms. “Vijayakant undertakes complete health check-up once every six months. When he went to MIOT for check-up this time, it was detected that he had mild symptoms. He has been treated for it,” the party statement said.

Hospital didn’t detain SPB’s body, says son

Hospital didn’t detain SPB’s body, says son

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.09.2020

Three days after the death of S P Balasubrahmanyam, his son S P Charan, said vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu’s daughter did not help his family in settling the bills nor did the hospital detain his father’s body till they paid up.

“We paid for the hospital now and then. Some part of my dad’s treatment was covered by the insurance. After his death we asked the hospital about settlement. Our accountant was there with some cash. But the hospital said the hospital chairman has decided not to take any more money from us,” said Charana, a singer and producer, at a press conference at the hospital along with the doctors. “There were social media messages saying my dad’s body was retained by the hospital. This did not happen,” he said.

SPB, who had tested positive for Covid-19 was admitted to the hospital on August 5. On August 13, when his condition deteriorated he was moved to the ICU. Following expert medical advice he was put on a ventilator and ECMO. Health minister C Vijayabaskar met the doctors at MGM with a medical expert team from the government. The minster had told the media that the state was willing to help SPB.

Charan said he recently called health secretary J Radhakrishnan seeking clarification on what kind of help the state government was willing to offer. He said he was told that the state government had offered to help in whatever way needed. “I asked if they meant financial help as well. Health secretary said he will get back to me at the earliest,” he said.

Earlier, Charan had released a video to scotch the rumours. “This hospital and its doctors have done their best for my father. There is no basis for all these rumours. It is sad that it has to come at a time when we are grieving SPB’s loss,” he said.

Charan said his family has been clearing the air about various rumours ever since the admission. “We kept the press and people updated about my dad’s health. Sometimes we did not reveal some information because we did not want to panic people,” he said. For instance, the family decided not to announce that he had undergone tracheotomy because they were scared people would panic if he couldn't sing.

“My father died because of complications arising out of Covid, not because of Covid. The infection had destroyed the lungs. Doctors tried to help the organ heal, but it did not,” he said.

Online MBBS classes are not valid, says MCI

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.09.2020

In a big setback for medical students attending college through online classes for the past six months in view of the pandemic, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has informed them that such classes are not recognised by the council.

The MCI has made the statement in reply to a representation made by students of SRM College and Hospital, Kattankulathur.

Informing the Madras high court about MCI’s stand, senior advocate R Vaigai said, “The MCI has informed the students that it does not recognise online teaching for medical courses. Students are worried about their future now.”

Vaigai made the submission on the batch of pleas moved by parents of the medical students challenging the college’s demand to pay full fees even for the lockdown period.

When the pleas came up for hearing, senior advocates T Ramanujam and A R L Sundresan, representing the college, submitted that the management has considered the representations of the parents and has decided to permit them to pay the fees in three instalments. “The first instalment of 40% of the total fee shall be paid by October 10 followed by two instalments of 30% each,” they said.

To this, Vaigai said that the MCI through a reply dated August 13 has informed the students that online classes are not recognised by it. The reply has put a question mark over the validity of the classes conducted by the college so far, she added.

Recording the same, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said if the MCI is not going to recognise online classes, then the whole point in conducting such classes becomes null and void.

Vaigai added that of ₹22.5 lakh fee to be paid for the current academic year about ₹3 lakh goes towards development charges and co-curricular activities. Since there is no scope for such activities ₹3 lakh has to be waived and that the college can only claim the tuition fee of ₹19.5 lakh.

“We are ready to pay 40% of the ₹19.5 lakh with the extension of last date to pay such fee from October 10 to 30. The court must also consider fixing 75% of the last annual fee as a fee for the current year as done in the cases of private schools by the court,” Vaigai said.

However, noting that all such issues can be discussed and decided in the due course, the judge said it would be appropriate to start by paying 40% of the actual fee on or before October 29.