Advocate moves Madras HC against removal of 'thali' and 'metti' during NEET exams

Advocate moves Madras HC against removal of 'thali' and 'metti' during NEET exams

When examination halls are fitted with CCTV cameras and invigilators are always present to ensure the proper conduct of the exams, there is no necessity for such frisking, said the petition

Published: 30th September 2020 07:26 PM | Last Updated: 30th September 2020 07:26 PM 

NEET exam hallMedical aspirants and their parents waiting outside a NEET examination hall in Chennai. (File photo | Express)By Harish MuraliExpress News Service

CHENNAI: An advocate has moved the Madras High Court seeking to restrain the National Testing Agency and Medical Council of India from forcing the removal of sacred ornaments such as 'thali' and 'metti' of candidates who are taking part in the NEET. The petitioner stated that the rules are in violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The petitioner said, "According to Hindu customs, it should be removed only after the death of the husband. That is the reason even in all international airports all over the world, 'thali' is not required to be removed during the security check as it is a religious symbol for the sacramental bond."

In the name of ensuring fairness in the examination, the students are put to all kinds of stress due to the dress they wear, said S Aravind Raj.

When examination halls are fitted with CCTV cameras and invigilators are always present to ensure the proper conduct of the exams, there is no necessity for such frisking, said the petition.

Chapter 8 of the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test 2020 relating to wearing of metal or ornaments is in violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India. Hence it is liable to be declared as unconstitutional and unreasonable, he added.

Students miss NEET: Three teachers suspended in MP

Students miss NEET: Three teachers suspended in MP

TNN | Sep 29, 2020, 12.03 PM IST

KHARGONE: Khargone district education officer (DEO) has suspended three teachers in the case of nine students failing to appear in NEET. Apart from this, a proposal has been sent to stop the increments of two officers.

As per official information, Khargone DEO KK Dongre has suspended Dasnaval primary teacher Prince Gupta, Segav middle school teacher Durgavati Gupta and Kelly primary teacher Geeta Bhatnagar with immediate effect.

A proposal has been sent to divisional commissioner to stop two increments of Segav block education officer ML Verma and Segav excellence school principal Sandeep Kapadnik.

Due to negligence in duty, nine students could not attend NEET held on September 13.

They were entrusted with the responsibility of arranging a bus to ferry students to the exam centre in Indore and bring them back.

Khargone collector Anugraha P, taking cognizance of the case, had directed action against the guilty after meeting with the deprived students, their parents and government officials. She had also instructed to arrange coaching for the students.

Univ sits on proposal to set up Ambedkar studies department - The Times Of India

Univ sits on proposal to set up Ambedkar studies department - The Times Of India

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

Chennai:1.10.2020 

Thirteen long years have passed since the Thiruvalluvar University (TU) got the nod to establish the department of Dr B R Ambedkar Studies and a chair in Ambedkar’s name.Theuniversity,however, is yet to set them up.

The proposal to establish the department of Dr Ambedkar Studies was placed before the university in December 2006. The syndicate discussed and approved the proposal following which it was sent to the governor. The governor’s nod came in February 2007. Things stand there till now.

Meanwhile, the assent of Dr Ambedkar Foundation under the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment to create Dr B R Ambedkar Chair with a seedfundof ₹50lakhhad been pending since 2005 as the university made no efforts to set it up. “Since 2005, we have been reminding every vicechancellor to establish the chair and starting the department (Dr Ambedkar Studies)but not much has been done,” said I Elangovan, former syndicate member of the university and president of Thiruvalluvar University Employees’ Union.

The previous vice-chancellor, K Murugan, constituted a seven-member board of studies to frame the syllabus and come up with other requirements. But the task was not accomplished, he said.

He added that apart from the seed money, Dr Ambedkar Foundation was ready to provide additional financial support to sustain the activities if the university was ready to allocate a separate building or a wing of a building to run the chair. “Till 2010, the university was functioning on the premises of Vellore Fort and did not have sufficient infrastructure. However, no steps were taken after the university moved to a new campus at Serkadu,” he said.

Professor K Anthony Baskaran, one of the serving syndicate members, had raised the issue in the first meeting held after the new VC Thamaraiselvi Somasundaram took over last year. She had assured to take necessary steps. “Though the present VC launched a number of new courses, she did not take this department forward,” Baskaran said.

Thamaraiselvi, when contacted,saidshewasunawareof the board of studies formed by the former VC. She said, “We will form a committee soon and take necessary steps to establish the department of Ambedkar Studies and the chair. Getting the approval is easy but funding is a difficult task.”

HC stays G.O. requiring deemed varsities to obtain NOC for agriculture courses

HC stays G.O. requiring deemed varsities to obtain NOC for agriculture courses

30/09/2020

Mohamed Imranullah S. CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Tuesday stayed the operation of a Government Order issued on July 28 directing all deemed universities to obtain no objection certificates (NOCs) from the government within six months for conducting agriculture or allied courses and not to admit new students until such NOC was obtained.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh granted the interim stay on petitions filed by SRM Institute of Science and Technology and Vellore Institute of Technology challenging the G.O. on the ground that the State government had no authority to force the deemed universities to obtain NOCs from it.

Senior counsel G. Masilamani and Chitra Sampath told the court the G.O. had been passed by referring to the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations of 2004 and 2016, though all deemed to be universities across the country were now actually governed by the UGC (Institutions deemed to be universities) Regulations of 2019.

Mr. Masilamani contended that the regulations in vogue do not require the deemed universities to obtain NOCs from the State government. Central Government Senior Panel Counsel B. Rabu Manohar, representing the UGC, also told the court that there was no necessity for institutions deemed to be universities to obtain clearance from the State governments.

He brought it to the attention of the court that an association of self-financing agricultural colleges had already filed a writ petition seeking a direction to the government to implement the G.O. and prevent all nine deemed universities, that were offering agriculture and allied courses, from admitting students this year. The UGC had prepared a counter affidavit to that petition taking a stand that the government had no role to play in conduct of agriculture and allied courses by deemed universities, he said.

Jipmer won’t conduct MBBS entrance test from current year

Jipmer won’t conduct MBBS entrance test from current year

Admissions will be made through NEET, says director

01/10/2020

Special CorrespondentPUDUCHERRY

The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) will not conduct the MBBS entrance examination from the current year, with the admission process being handled by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Directorate-General of Health Services, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In a press note, the Jipmer Director made it explicit in the wake of rumours circulating in relation to admission counselling for MBBS seats that from the current year, Jipmer’s own MBBS entrance test had been discontinued and all admissions at the institute would be made through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). Hence, counselling for the candidates who have qualified in NEET 2020 would be conducted by the MCC.

The allotment of seats on the Puducherry and Karaikal campuses would be done as per Jipmer’s existing policies for reservation and domicile regulations. The details are available on the Jipmer’s official website www.jipmer.edu.in

MD/MS admissions

In keeping with a communication from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, admissions to the postgraduate courses (MD/MS/DM(6 years)/M.Ch (6 years)/MDS) at Jipmer, Puducherry, for the January 2021 session will be made through a Combined Entrance Examination for Postgraduate Courses at Institutes of National Importance (CET-INI), along with those for seats at the AIIMS, New Delhi, PGIMER, Chandigarh, and NIMHANS in Bengaluru.

The test will be conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, on November 20 at several centres around the country. Interested candidates are advised to visit the website, www.aiimsexams.org for online registration (the last date is October 12).

All applicants are required to visit the website regularly since all subsequent corrigenda, addenda and updates will be available there.

No convocation

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure the safety of all stakeholders and to abide by the restrictions imposed by the Central and Puducherry governments under the Epidemic Act, Jipmer will not conduct its annual convocation this year.

All degree certificates will be sent to the registered addresses of the students.

All the eligible students have to register themselves in the format available on the Jipmer website.

T.N. decision cancelling arrear exams not right’

T.N. decision cancelling arrear exams not right’

G.O. declaring all students as passed without an assessment is against Act: AICTE

01/10/2020

Mohamed Imranullah S. CHENNAI

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has told the Madras High Court that an order issued by the State government on August 26, cancelling the arrear examinations for all arts and science, engineering and MCA students except those pursuing the final year of their course, was not in accordance with its guidelines.

In a counter-affidavit filed in response to a public interest litigation petition preferred by professor and former vice-chancellor of Anna University E. Balagurusamy, the AICTE said, “The Government Order declaring all the students as passed without an assessment by way of examination is against the AICTE Act.”

The counter, served on the litigant’s counsel, E. Vijay Anand, went on to state that the AICTE is a statutory body which has to lay down norms and standards for technical courses, curricula and physical as well as instructional facilities. It also prescribes the staff pattern, their qualifications and the assessment pattern for students.

“A degree cannot be awarded to a student who has failed in a large number of courses. This is not acceptable to industry too.

‘Against guidelines’

In view of the said G.O., all students, even those who have paid fees for arrear examinations, have been declared as passed, which is totally against the guidelines,” read the counter-affidavit signed by M. Sundaresan, southern regional officer of AICTE, on behalf of the council.

In his affidavit, Mr. Balagurusamy stated that he had chosen to file the PIL petition to save the quality of education, the future of students and the reputation of universities.

He said the government’s decision had demoralised meritorious students who had cleared all papers without any arrears.

“The G.O. will definitely lower the educational standards of students and universities,” Mr. Balagurusamy said.

Railway Board approves operation of 7 special trains

Railway Board approves operation of 7 special trains

Four will be intra-State, while three will go to Kerala

01/10/2020

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

After getting approval from the Railway Board on Tuesday, Southern Railway will operate four intra-State and three inter-State trains on a daily basis from Friday.

In a press release, Southern Railway said it would operate Nellai Express (Egmore-Tirunelveli), Podhigai Express (Egmore-Sengottai), Tejas Express (Egmore-Madurai) and Rameswaram Express (Egmore- Rameswaram).

Nellai Express will begin its first trip from Tirunelveli on October 2 and from Egmore on October 5. Podhigai Express will be operated from the city on October 3 and from Sengottai on October 4.

Similarly, Tejas Express will start from Egmore on Friday with the return trip slated for 3.15 p.m. the same day.

Rameswaram Express will start on Friday from Rameswaram railway station.

Southern Railway will also operate three inter-State trains to Kerala. These will be the Alappuzha (Alleppey) SF Express (Central-Alapuzha), the Ananthapuri Express (Egmore to Kollam) and the Karaikal-Ernakulam Express.

All of the trains, except the Tejas Express, have been proposed to be run on a daily basis.

‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ in State from Oct. 1

‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ in State from Oct. 1

01/10/2020

The Tamil Nadu government is set to launch the Centre’s ‘One Nation, One Ration  Card’ scheme on Thursday. The scheme will allow  ration cardholders to collect their monthly entitlements from any public distribution system (PDS) outlet  in the State.

Neonatal screening is a must to rein in deafness, say doctors

Neonatal screening is a must to rein in deafness, say doctors

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

30.09.2020

Nearly 6,000 children in Tamil Nadu have been given cochlear implants to help replace a damaged inner ear free of cost. But several children continue to be deprived of the treatment due to delayed screening and parents consulting quacks.

Cochlear implants are provided under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme in the state.

Dr Mohan Kameswaran, senior ENT consultant and managing director of Madras ENT Research Foundation, said all hospitals that deliver babies must have compulsory screening for newborns.

Mandatory screening will identify 95% of cases who need a cochlear implant. “The test is simple and hardly takes five minutes. It can also be done by the hospital nurse,” he said.

The state has set up six satellite centres in rural areas so that families don't need to relocate to the city to get their child treated for hearing loss.

Senior officials from the health department also said that they have been raising awareness about the importance to screen babies within a month after they are born.

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.

 

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