Accused was ‘fed up’ with lockdown

GOTA MURDER CASE

Accused was ‘fed up’ with lockdown

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  03.11.2020  

Nearly a week after she killed her mother-inlaw in a Gota flat, the woman revealed various facets of the case. She told police that she was ‘fed up’ with the lockdown and the victim’s diktats of taking bath every time she went out and also to remain indoors.

A Sola police station official said that the accused, Nikita Agrawal (30), who is onemonth-pregnant, stated that she was frustrated with her mother-in-law and deceased Rekha Agarwal’s instructions of not crossing the boundary walls of her house.

“She told us that she had barely gone outside from their house around five to six times as her mother-in-law ordered her to stay indoors. Besides, whenever she went out or met anyone, her mother-in-law would force her to take bath,” said an official from Sola police station. The official said that the elderly woman was suffering with obsessive compulsive disorder for which she was taking treatment from a city-based psychiatrist. Due to her mental illness, she could not mix up with her daughter-in-law. Nikita, who is originally from Beawar in Rajasthan, killed Rekha as the latter suspected that Nikita’s pregnancy was the result of her illicit relationship with her father-inlaw Ramniwas Agrawal.

She said that her mother-in-law tried to hit her with an iron rod which she snatched from her hand and hit on her head, resulting in her death.

Nikita was sent to judicial custody after her remand was over on Saturday.

The woman killed her mother-inlaw in a flat near Gota

Fed up with traditional methods, youth puts up flex board seeking bride

Fed up with traditional methods, youth puts up flex board seeking bride

Jaikrishnan.Nair@timesgroup.com

Kottayam: 03.11.2020

A youth from the district has put up a flex board seeking a woman’s hand in marriage. Aneesh Sebastian erected a huge flex hoarding in front of a sawmill he owns in Kanakkary near Ettumanur. The 35-year-old has also posted the picture of the board on his Facebook page. The board says that the man has no demands and gives importance to good values in life. The flex board carries a huge photograph of the youth, along with his mobile/ WhatsApp number and email ID.

According to Sebastian, such an idea struck him as he was already late to marry, and was fed up of searching for a match with conventional methods of arranged marriages. “We face hundreds of issues while trying to find a match through arranged marriage. Now, most marriages happen over other means like internet,” he said. He said that people even in his locality have realized that he was still a bachelor. “In the beginning people thought that it was just a joke. But they now know that I am serious about it,” he added. Sebastian found it a good alternative for finding a bride since travelling and visiting houses is difficult during the Covid-19 situation.

Ever since the flex was put up, Sebastian has been receiving several inquiries, even from parents of women working abroad.

WHAT AN IDEA SIRJI: Aneesh Sebastian erected a huge hoarding at Kanakkary in Kerala

Money trail in Kerala gold smuggling case brings CM’s office under scanner

Money trail in Kerala gold smuggling case brings CM’s office under scanner

Pradeep.Thakur@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.11.2020 

The money trail in the Kerala-UAE gold smuggling case has brought Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office in focus with Enforcement Directorate tracking alleged payoffs of ₹4 crore in the CM’s Life Mission project— a housing scheme for the flood displaced and landless citizens— to his former principal secretary M Sivasankar and associates.

Sivasankar has been arrested and is presently in ED custody. He is being questioned on the alleged bribes received in the project and contract awarded to Kochi-based Unitac builders, according to sources. The anti-money laundering agency is tracking the IAS officer to a ₹60 lakh recovery from SBI’s Thiruvananthapuram branch.

The huge cash is alleged to be part of payoffs deposited in the bank account jointly operated by gold scam main accused Swapna Suresh and Sivasankar’s chartered accountant Venugopal. The questioning of other accused have revealed that Sivasankar had escorted Swapna Suresh to his CA Venugopal’s residence and office twice and operations to launder the “proceeds of crime” are being scrutinised.

“On the day Unitac Builders got a contract for a housing project under the Life Mission, messages were exchanged between Sivasankar and Swapna Suresh over WhatsApp,” sources said. The ED has collected the evidence as part of its probe against the gold smuggling accused and the alleged involvement of the CM’s office in the bribery case.

The probe has now been widened to other flagship schemes of the Kerala government where Sivasankar’s involvement has been found putting the Left Democratic Front government in a spot as the opposition parties in the state have alleged corruption in Life Mission and other key projects.

The agency is also probing involvement of UAE’s Red Crescent in the funding of the project. The probe has also revealed that the CM’s ex-principal secretary had been in touch with three of the four accused in the UAE gold smuggling case.

On July 5, the Customs had seized 30 kg gold from a UAE diplomatic baggage worth ₹15 crore smuggled by misdeclaring the consignment. under investigation.

Pinarayi Vijayan’s office in focus with Enforcement Directorate tracking alleged payoffs of ₹4 crore in the CM’s Life Mission project to his former principal secretary M Sivasankar and associates

Impermissible for judges to pass ‘filmi’ orders: AG tells SC

Impermissible for judges to pass ‘filmi’ orders: AG tells SC

‘Gender Sensitisation Of Judicial Officers Urgently Needed’

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

03.11.2020 

New Delhi: Attorney general K K Venugopal on Monday told the Supreme Court that a Madhya Pradesh high court judge’s decision to grant bail to a person accused of outraging the modesty of a woman on the condition that he gets a rakhi tied by her was nothing but a script straight out of a Bollywood film which had no sanctity in criminal law jurisprudence.

“The judge seems to have gotten carried away by the script of a film. Judges, while dealing with crimes against women, need to restrict themselves to the confines of criminal laws and not resort to dramatic orders. Gender sensitisation of judges in the high courts and trial courts are the need of the day. State judicial academies can be asked to regularly hold lectures on this issue to sensitise them. They must know what is permissible and what is not,” Venugopal said.

The AG was responding to a PIL filed by social activists led by advocate Aparna Bhat, who questioned the condition of bail imposed by the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh HC. Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Sanjay Parikh told a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna that such comments from constitutional courts tended to trivialise crimes against women.

The petition said, “Observations impugned herein are antithetical to the law and principles that govern India and may encourage other HCs as well as trial courts that fall within the jurisdiction of the MP HC to pass such regressive orders. The bail condition in question amounts to further victimisation of the survivor in her own house. In the context of Raksha Bandhan being a festival of guardianship between brothers and sisters, the said bail condition amounts to gross trivialisation of the trauma suffered by the complainant in the present case.”

The Justice Khanwilkarled bench asked the AG to submit a comprehensive note detailing suggestions for gender sensitisation of HC and trial court judges. It asked the petitioners and intervenors to also submit compact notes on this issue. The bench listed the matter for further hearing on November 297 and said, “Proper orders will be passed.”

Full report on www.toi.in

Times View

Every modern and progressive state has certain key markers. Gender sensitivity is one of them. Lack of understanding on the subject could lead to gender-biased decision-making. It is indeed true that there is a pressing need to sensitise the lower reaches of the judiciary to these issues. The recognition of this reality is welcome.

NO SANCTITY: Attorney general K K Venugopal

HC refuses to close deputy speaker’s ₹1cr defamation suit

HC refuses to close deputy speaker’s ₹1cr defamation suit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.11.2020 

The Madras high court has refused to reject a civil suit moved by Tamil Nadu assembly deputy speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman against DMK chief M K Stalin’s son-inlaw V Sabareesan, Kalaignar TV and Nakkheeran, seeking ₹1 crore in damages for linking his name with the Pollachi sexual assault case.

Dismissing applications to reject the plaint as being devoid of merits, Justice P T Asha directed those accused to file their written statements to the suit.

Though the suit was filed against DMK chief M K Stalin and Junior Vikatan as well, only Sabareesan, Kalaignar TV and Nakkheeran moved the application to reject the plaint.

Jayaraman wanted the court to direct Stalin and others to pay him ₹1 crore jointly for having damaged his reputation. He accused Stalin of having made public speeches linking him with the crime, which were telecast on Kalaignar TV. He further added that the two Tamil magazines published false and defamatory news reports intended to tarnish his reputation.

The deputy speaker also sought a permanent injunction restraining Stalin and others from making or publishing false and defamatory statements against him in any manner.

Pointing out news reports published in the magazines, Jayaraman submitted that the reports made false claims of his son being involved in the Pollachi sexual assault case and that he attempted to bail him out from the case.

Adding that he had been holding the post of deputy speaker of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly since May 16, 2016, Jayaraman said he had come up in life by stint of hard work and was held in high esteem by friends, family, well-wishers and among right thinking sections of society.

TN assembly deputy speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman sought ₹1cr in damages from Stalin, his son-in-law Sabareesan and three news houses for linking him with the Pollachi sexual assault case

Chennai-born Keralite is NZ’s 1st desi minister

Chennai-born Keralite is NZ’s 1st desi minister

03.11.2020 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, a first-generation immigrant, became New Zealand’s first-ever Indian-origin minister on Monday after PM Jacinda Ardern inducted five new ministers into her executive, two weeks after a landslide victory in the general election.

“Today has been an incredibly special day. I’m feeling a lot of things including an overwhelming sense of privilege to become part of our government,” the 41-year-old Labour Party member said. The new minister for diversity, inclusion and ethnic communities was born in Chennai but her family is from Paravur in Kerala, reports Binu Karunakaran. She went to school in Singapore before moving to New Zealand to further her education. Her Left-leaning greatgrandfather C R Krishna Pillai, a doctor, had played a major role in shaping the literary and cultural sensibilities of the state.

Radhakrishnan with PM Arden

NZ PIO min’s great-granddad was a Left leader in Kerala

Priyanca Radhakrishnan was brought up in Singapore, where her father Raman Radhakrishnan worked as an engineer before returning to India to set up his own engineering company and settle in Chennai. “I come from a politically active family; a family that is dedicated to doing their part to make the world a better place. My great-grandfather, Dr C R Krishna Pillai, was involved in Left-wing politics in India and was instrumental in the formation of Kerala,” she had written in 2014.

Radhakrishnan has spent her work life advocating on behalf of people whose voices are often unheard – women survivors of domestic violence and migrant workers who have been exploited. First elected to New Zealand’s parliament as a Labour Party representative in 2017, the new minister has also been given charge of the ministry for the community and voluntary sector, and been made associate minister for social development and employment.

She had travelled to Kerala twice last year following the death of her mother Usha. G K Nair, a grand uncle of Radhakrishnan who resides near Kalady, said she owes her political genes to her maternal great-grandfather, who had once contested an election against former Union finance minister T T Krishnamachari.

(Inputs from agencies)

Now, book Covid test while booking an IndiGo ticket

Now, book Covid test while booking an IndiGo ticket

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:03.11.2020

IndiGo has tied up with a healthcare firm that will enable passengers to book a Covid test, for a fee, while booking flight tickets. This service will be for both international and domestic passengers and be available in other countries, including UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

“…IndiGo has partnered with Stemz Healthcare to enable Covid-19 RT-PCR test at affordable rates for passengers travelling on domestic and international flights. To book a test, customers can take appointment online on IndiGo website through a co-branded URL page based on their travel date. Customers can opt for a home visit or choose a lab visit with over 200+ collection centres in India. The service is also available in other countries, including UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia,” the airline said in a statement.

IndiGo chief strategy and revenue officer Sanjay Kumar said: “As per travel guidelines, several states and countries require a Covid-19 RT-PCR test to be undertaken within a stipulated time frame before a customer boards a flight. We are pleased to introduce the option to book a test along with the flight, enabling an easy access to get the tests done before travelling.”

Odisha guv, wife test Covid +ve

Bhubaneswar: Odisha governor Ganeshi Lal, his wife Sushila Devi and four other family members tested positive for Covid-19 here on Monday.

The governor tweeted about his Covid test result and advised those who had come in contact with him to get themselves tested. Government sources said Lal and his family members had been admitted to SUM Covid Hospital here. Lal, who is 78, underwent the test following mild fever. His condition is stable. Others in the family are asymptomatic. TNN

K’taka HC: Can’t try kin named casually in marital disputes

K’taka HC: Can’t try kin named casually in marital disputes

Vasantha.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:03.11.2020

In cases of matrimonial dispute, family members named without allegation of active involvement cannot be proceeded against on casual reference, the Karnataka high court has said, quashing proceedings against the mother-in-law, sister-inlaw and brother-in-law of a woman who had lodged a dowry harassment complaint. Proceedings against the husband will continue, it said.

The court noted that there was a tendency to involve all family members of a household in matrimonial disputes. Mere casual reference of names of the family members in a matrimonial dispute, without allegation of active involvement in the matter, would not justify taking cognisance against them, the court said in a judgment delivered last week.

The complainant, who married on on April 13, 2008, alleged that her in-laws were constantly instigating her husband to demand more dowry from her. She alleged that her husband had “extracted” more than 450gm of gold from her, which was in the custody of her sister-inlaw. On December 15, 2013, she said, when she and her parents demanded return of the ornaments, her husband along with the petitioners abused them in filthy language.

The complainant’s mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law approached the court, challenging the proceedings initiated against them before a JMFC court at Udupi under section 498A and other IPC sections as well as Dowry Prohibition Act. The petitioners said there was no specific allegation against them and there was a delay in lodging the complaint as well.

Court notice on plea against NEET aspirants removing thaali

Court notice on plea against NEET aspirants removing thaali

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.11.2020

The Madras high court has ordered notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts NEET, on a public interest writ petition to restrain it from demanding women candidates to remove jewellery including thaali and metti (toe ring).

Admitting the plea on Monday, a division bench of Justice M MSundresh and Justice D Krishnakumar directed the NTA to file its response in four weeks.

According to petitioner, advocate S Aravind Raj, who was represented by senior advocate A Thiyagarajan, such a demand was unconstitutional and arbitrary. The rules stipulated by NTA for students writing NEET are very vague, leaving students, particularly in Tamil Nadu, in great agony in the name of frisking to prevent malpractice, he said.

“Just before the stressful examination even calm and composed students are pushed to a very uncomfortable and disturbed state of mind,” the petitioner said. Married women were forced to remove thaali, metti, studs, nose stud that are sacramental ornaments for Hindu women, he said, adding that the rules are liable to be declared as unconstitutional, unreasonable and violative of the fundamental rights.

Monsoon to gain pace from tomorrow, city set for soaking

Monsoon to gain pace from tomorrow, city set for soaking

Early Morning Spells Could Mark Start Of Wet Phase

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.11.2020 

The brief lull in the northeast monsoon may be over in a day.

The season would pick up pace over the state by incoming strong easterlies as weathermen have forecast thunderstorms and moderate spells over the city during late nights or early mornings followed by day spells in interior districts starting from November 4. Weather enthusiasts said the intermittent and widespread rainfall, which would continue over many parts of the state including Chennai till November 8 will be followed by remnants of cyclone Goni and the global climate phenomenon called Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) are likely to keep monsoon season active through the month.

While the city skies are likely to be partly cloudy on Tuesday, monsoon could pick up pace on Wednesday as IMD has forecast, “The sky condition is likely to be partly cloudy. Thunderstorms with light rain are likely in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 34°C and 25°C for the next 48 hours.”

“This is likely due to a cyclonic circulation which is closer to Tamil Nadu coast and southwest Bay of Bengal,” an IMD official said.

While interior and western districts like Madurai, Dindigul, Coimbatore and Theni are likely to get thunderstorm with light to moderate rain on Tuesday, IMD has forecast similar rainfall pattern to occur at many places over south Tamil Nadu, interior Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Puducherry and Karaikal area on November 4 and  5.

Weather enthusiasts said an easterly wave or an elongated area of low air pressure moving from east to west could bring regular early morning spells to the city when low level winds enter the trough this wave and converge resulting in rainfall. As the easterly wave penetrates interior areas during the day, winds will converge bringing rainfall to interior districts. This may last between November 4 and 8.

Blogger Pradeep John said the next round of spells will be likely around November 10 when remnants of Cyclone Goni, dubbed as the world’s strongest cyclone in 2020, which slammed the Philippines, would enter Indian region bringing rainfall. By that time, MJO- the eastward moving disturbance of clouds, rainfall, winds and pressure that travels across the tropics and returns to its starting point in 30 to 60 days- will enter phase-2 and 3. In this phase, enhanced convective rainfall moves slowly eastwards over Africa, Indian Ocean and parts of the Indian subcontinent. “It will enter this region in the second week of November. Monsoon will stay active through this month and most of December,” he said.

WET DAYS AHEAD: While the city skies are likely to be partly cloudy on Tuesday, monsoon could pick up pac

Masks, vacant seats will be the norm for now at cinema halls

Masks, vacant seats will be the norm for now at cinema halls

03.11.2020

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

When cinema halls open on November 10 after more than seven months, you will have to wear masks throughout the show. There will be empty seats on either side. And big-budget releases are unlikely, at least for a while, as the industry will wait to see how many people turn up.

If you go as a family, you may get to sit next to one another, but not otherwise. So what if you turn up with your significant other? Hope for the best. Theatre owners are clear that they will observe the government’s rules on sanitation and social distancing. Only food and beverages in packets will be sold and toilets will be cleaned frequently. All seats will be wiped after each show. That’s what the more than 200 cinema halls in Chennai and suburbs have planned.

According to Abirami Ramanathan, Chennai city president of Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association, most cinema halls will reopen next week. Ticket prices won’t be hiked though only half the seats can be sold for a show, he added. In Chennai, the seating capacity of theatres ranges from 300 to 1,200.

Unlike previous Diwalis, movies of popular stars may not hit the screens this time, opening the window for small budget movies. Co-Founder of Qube Cinema Senthil Kumar said films produced with a budget under Rs 4 crores are likely to hit the screens. “Had the cinema halls reopened a little earlier, the prospects of big budget movies being released this Diwali would have been brighter,” he said.

However, a producer, who also owns a theatre, said release of big budget movies cannot be delayed much more as producers pay huge interest paid on loans. “If a leading artist’s movie is screened, it will be a boost for their fans and they will flock the cinema halls,” he added.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON: Cinema halls will open across the state on November 10

Reopening of schools: Students excited, but parents cautious

CONCERNS REMAIN

Reopening of schools: Students excited, but parents cautious

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

03.11.2020 

Fourteen-year-old S Nithya is excited after hearing the news of schools reopening this month as she has been longing to meet her friends. However, her mother Prathiba Selvaraj is worried.

“It is not safe. We are sure that children won’t be able to wear masks for such a long time and teachers cannot focus on their safety. If the schools ask us our consent, we will say no but if left with no option, we will send them,” she said.

Epidemiologist Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, mother of a teenager, said continued enforcement of protocols will be the key. “The number of cases has reduced and this is the right time to run a trial by opening schools and give children the opportunity to have lessons with teachers. But the government should ensure that standard operating procedures are followed at schools. Outdoor classes should be an option, hours should be fewer. And if cases rise, schools can be closed,” she said.

Corporation and government school teachers said about 75% of the students were willing to attend school. “We are happy as we haven’t been able to reach every student. We have begun preparations to reopen schools. We are awaiting government confirmation on guidelines. We were given one set of SOPs in September and are following it. We will provide mid-day meal as well and ensure children are nourished,” said assistant education officer of Greater Chennai Corporation V Munian.

Online classes may be more convenient for students in private schools, but those in rural areas and slums have little or no access to them, said V Sridhar, a former corporation school teacher. “However, constant vigil is required as government and corporation schools lack facilities,” he said. He said facilities of government schools should be audited before reopening and many don’t have functional fans and proper ventilation.

Experts said non-ventilated spaces spread the virus faster and teachers could turn spreaders if schools reopen. Anuradha Prasad, a parent, said studies have revealed that children harbour more Sars Cov 2 virus than adults.

“Even if it doesn’t affect them, they will become carriers and infect the elderly at home. And in winter other viral infections, dengue cases and respiratory illness are common. So the timing may not be right,” she said.

‘Decision to open schools ill-advised’

‘Decision to open schools ill-advised’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

03.11.2020

In a letter to state chief secretary K Shanmugam, former IAS officer Ashok Vardhan Shetty said the “decision to reopen schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu in two weeks is ill-advised”.

Shetty said it may “set at naught all the good work done so far”. Terming the move as a case of ‘haste makes waste’, Shetty said, “From the images of the milling crowds of Diwali shoppers, it is evident that a spike in Covid-19 cases is just around the corner. This is likely to be the case till all the festivals including Christmas and Pongal are over.”

Shetty cited the latest lockdown in the UK and said, “India/ Tamil Nadu cannot afford a second lockdown after what we have seen of the disastrous consequences of the first.

Moreover, November-December is the season for northeast monsoon and possible floods when schools and colleges may have to be closed for some of the days. It is also the season for various winter illnesses.”

Shetty said reopening of schools may be deferred “till after Pongal next year”.

Graft in paddy buying: Hang corrupt officers, says Madras HC

Graft in paddy buying: Hang corrupt officers, says Madras HC

Kaushik.Kannan@timesgroup.com

Madurai:03.11.2020

In a strong observation against corruption, the Madras high court on Monday said corrupt officials should be hanged, and only a death penalty would weed out corruption.

Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice B Pugalendhi of the Madurai bench of the HC became furious when they were informed that farmers were at the mercy of officials at paddy procurement centres and that corruption by more than 100 officials was identified during inspection. “Corruption is like cancer and is fast spreading. Officials involved in corrupt practices should be hanged. Death penalty should be awarded to weed out corruption,” the judges observed, expressing shock at officials demanding bribe from poor farmers.

HC asks about revisiting anti-corruption laws

When a public interest writ petition of activist-advocate A P Suryaprakasam highlighting corruption at the government’s paddy procurement centres in delta districts came up for further hearing on Monday, first the government flatly denied any irregularities at these centres.

However, a counter-affidavit filed by managing director of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) stated officials were demanding ₹30 to ₹40 per bag for procurement of paddy. The affidavit said six special teams had conducted 1,725 inspections at procurement centres and action was taken against 105 officials found indulging in corrupt practices.

The judges pointed out the contradiction in the government stand and directed it to file a detailed affidavit explaining the nature of corruption of the 105 officials, number of FIRs registered against them and money seized from them.

Citing media reports that ₹2 lakh unaccounted cash was seized from a procurement centre in Tiruvallur district, the judges said the raid and seizure would prove the contention of the PIL-petitioner, who stated that officials were demanding bribe for procurement.

In his PIL, Suryaprakasam sought a direction to the state government to establish adequate number of paddy procurement centres across the state so that the produce could be procured from farmers without any delay.

During the previous hearing, the court shot a series of queries and sought details such as the number of paddy procurement centres in the state, whether temporary shelters have been put up to safeguard paddy during rains and the number of paddy bags damaged in rains. The court also sought to know whether or not officers demanded bribe from farmers and whether the authorities were procuring paddy from private traders instead of genuine farmers.

Adjourning further hearing by a week, the judges said based on Justice A K Rajan Commission’s report, the state had passed a GO in 2010 on holding officials at every level accountable. They directed the state government to explain the steps taken with regard to the GO. They also sought the Centre’s response on revisiting the Prevention of Corruption Act provisions, so as to award higher penalty to officials involved in corrupt practices.

The court also asked the state for details of the 105 officials who sought bribe and money seized from them

Don’t need IoE status for Anna University, TN govt tells Centre

Don’t need IoE status for Anna University, TN govt tells Centre

‘VC’s Proposal On Finance Unsustainable’

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:3.11.2020

Rejecting a financial proposal submitted by vice-chancellor M K Surappa regarding Anna University, the state government has informed the Centre that the university, the premier engineering institution of the state, does not require Institute of Eminence (IoE) status. Tamil Nadu has also withdrawn its proposal submitted to the Centre in 2017 regarding the status, highly placed sources said.

A five-member ministerial committee constituted to study the issue of IoE status for the university and the the institution’s financial sustainability in December last year, has recommended against conferring the status recently. This comes in the wake of an uproar over Surappa’s proposal to the Centre that the university can generate revenue through its own resources. “The state government conveyed to the Union education ministry (erstwhile HRD ministry) on Thursday the ministerial committee’s final report. The government also said Surappa’s proposal is not financially sustainable, since there is no chance of the institution generating revenue on its own,” a source said.

Will do with our own funds, what IoE status can do, says TN govt

Anna univ running on deficit budget

Higher education minister K P Anbalagan told TOI, “We will do with our state funds whatever the IoE status can do. Don’t forget that the Centre has offered IoE status to Anna University because of its reputation,” When contacted, Surappa said he had no clue about the state’s rejection of his proposal. “I don’t know about it,” he said. Surappa had written to the Centre on June 2 that the varsity could generate ₹314 crore per year (₹1,570 crore in five years) through internal resources. The varsity will not be indenting for extra grants other than its annualblock grants and additional grants and therefore the IoE status should be retained, he said.

The state sought an explanation from the VC after controversy erupted over his financial proposal. “The state informed the Centre that the amount Surappa had talked about, included surplus of affiliation and examination feefrom affiliatedcolleges. This cannot be diverted for the IoE status, it said. The varsity is run on a deficit budget estimated at₹349.74croreduring the last fiscal,” the source said.

OCI Card Issued To Foreigner On Spouse Basis Liable To Be Cancelled Upon Dissolution Of Marriage; Bombay HC Rejects Canadian Woman's Plea

OCI Card Issued To Foreigner On Spouse Basis Liable To Be Cancelled Upon Dissolution Of Marriage; Bombay HC Rejects Canadian Woman's Plea: The Bombay High Court earlier this week held that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card issued to someone of foreign origin is liable to be cancelled upon dissolution of marriage by a competent...

VC appointee relieved of responsibility

VC appointee relieved of responsibility

Executive Council Of DU Approves Probe Against Tyagi

Shradha.Chettri@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  30.10.2020

A day after the President, the visitor of Delhi University, ordered an inquiry against vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi, the Executive Council approved the probe on Thursday. It also constituted a fact-finding committee to ascertain the facts of the recent tussle over top posts. The EC also resolved that P C Jha, appointed interim registrar and director of South Campus by Tyagi, would not hold any administrative position till the completion of inquiry.

On Wednesday night, Jha reportedly responded to the memorandum issued to him on October 24 by the other contending registrar, Vikas Gupta. Jha said that he would abide by all the instructions and directions given by the appropriate authorities. Jha reply states, “I was under the impression that as per DU Act and statutes and ordinances, I have to obey instructions given to me verbally or written by the vice-chancellor. Therefore, I replied to all the letters communicated at the appropriate time and issued various notifications. I understand there were contradictory communications amongst the academic community which led to some scale of confusion.” This response was also placed before the EC.

The Union education ministry had also directed Gupta to ascertain if Jha was a DU employee and to act against him for replying to the ministry’s letter as the registrar. Jha was first asked to refrain from issuing notifications and working in contravention of the university’s statutes on October 24. He was given three days’ time to reply. After Jha continued to issue notifications, another notice was sent to him on October 27 giving him 24 hours to respond.

Rajesh Jha, elected EC member, said, “For the events since October 21, Dr Geeta Bhatt has also been issued a memo and the administration will decide on the action on the basis of her reply.” Bhatt was appointed pro-vice-chancellor by Tyagi in place of incumbent acting vicechancellor P C Joshi, the provice-chancellor.

The proposal of J L Gupta to have one university representative in the visitorial inquiry panel under Section 7A, Clause 3 of the DU Act was accepted. Ashwini Shankar, chairman of teachers’ group INTEC, said, “Natural justice warrants the constitution of a fact-finding committee to enquire into the entire episode of October 21, 22, and 23 which has been a blot on the prestige of the university.”

National Democratic Teachers Front described the probe against Tyagi as a “muchneeded step to prevent the nearly century-old university slipping into an existential crisis”. Its president AK Bhagi said, “The government gave professor Tyagi many chances to streamline functioning and end adhocism. It is obvious the VC’s main aim was to cause turmoil and disaffection against the central government and UGC through his negative actions.”

CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Viceregal Lodge

High cut-off for medical admissions expected as scores in NEET soar

High cut-off for medical admissions expected as scores in NEET soar

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  30.10.2020

The cut-off marks of NEET for admission to undergraduate medical courses are set to rise steeply this year with a huge increase in the number of top scorers.

Comparison of data on NEET-UG scores for the two years, accessed by TOI, revealed that 111 candidates scored 700 and above out of a total of 720 marks this year, compared to just three in 2019. The number of those in the 650-699 score range is 3,903 this year against 1,022 last year. This year, there are 16,167 candidates scoring in the range of 600-649 while the figure was 6,892 in 2019.

37,500 more aspirants scored 500+ marks in NEET this yr

Counselling for registration and choice-filling by candidates for 15% all-India quota seats, conducted by the directorate general of health services (DGHS), is on. Most states are likely to conduct their counselling for admission to MBBS/BDS courses by the second week of November.

Total number of MBBS seats under NEET 2020 has increased with AIIMS and JIPMER (Puducherry) also coming under it to admit students to undergraduate courses. In all, a little over 80,000 MBBS and 38,000 BDS seats will be available for the aspirants this year, including nearly 42,500 seats in government-run institutions, including AIIMS and JIPMER. There will be an additional 10% seats under quota for economically weaker sections (EWS).

Compared to 2019, there are 37,512 more candidates scoring 500 marks or more this year compared to 2019. A total of 87,093 aspirants scored 500 marks or more in NEET-UG 2020 compared to 49,581 in 2019. And 56,857 more candidates scored 400 marks and above this year.

Kerala, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana witness a significant increase in the number of top-scorers. Kerala leads the way with 643 candidates scoring 650 and above against 115 in 2019.

From Rajasthan, the number of candidates scoring 500 and above marks increased from 7,659 in 2019 to 11,698 in 2020. Maharashtra also saw a significant jump in the number of high scorers, with 220% increase in the number of candidates scoring 600 and above marks this year. Tamil Nadu witnessed the highest jump in number of candidates scoring 600 and above marks — 1,029 this year against 146 in 2019.

“These are surprising numbers and will impact the cut-offs for undergraduate admissions this year. The toppers used to be predominantly from Rajasthan as it has become the capital of coaching where students are treated like they are in military camps. I have personally visited Kota to see this regimental coaching. Kerala is also surprising,” said Dr S Kumar, chancellor, Sri Devaraj Urs University, Kolar.

Air travel has lower Covid risk than grocery shopping, eating out

Air travel has lower Covid risk than grocery shopping, eating out

Manju.V@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:  30.10.2020

The risk of getting infected by coronavirus is lower on board an aircraft than say during grocery shopping or eating out, according to a study published by Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health. There are caveats to this though. Passengers should wear face masks, aircraft air conditioning/filtration systems should function well, cabin surfaces should be disinfected and appropriate ventilation should be maintained from gate to gate at the departure and arrival airports.

The big takeaway was the importance of layered risk mitigation strategies. The recently released report has presented scientific evidence on the effectiveness of various non-pharmaceutical interventions—like wearing face masks—to control the transmission of the virus on board aircraft. The strategies included consistent operation of ventilation systems, disinfection of surfaces, consistent wearing of face masks, and procedures during boarding and deplaning to maximise social distancing among passengers and crew members. The study did not look at the effectiveness of any single strategy and proposed using layered risk mitigation strategies.

When the aircraft cabin conditioning system is fully operating, the mask-wearing passenger in the nearest seat to a masked infectious person will have a substantially reduced exposure, the study said. “The estimated dose inhaled by an adjacent passenger over a few hours of exposure is likely to be less than the amount necessary to cause a secondary infection,” it found.

In fact, aircraft ventilation offers enhanced protection for diluting and removing airborne contagions in comparison to other indoor spaces with conventional mechanical ventilation and is substantially better than residential situations, the study said.

With more NEET toppers, high cut-off likely for medical seats

With more NEET toppers, high cut-off likely for medical seats

37,500 More Aspirants Scored 500+ Marks In NEET This Year

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  30.10.2020

The cut-off marks of NEET for admission to undergraduate medical courses this year is set to be very high with a huge increase in the number of top scorers as compared to 2019.

Comparison of data on NEET-UG scores for the two years, accessed by TOI, revealed that 111 candidates scored 700 and above out of a total of 720 marks this year as compared to just 3 in 2019. The number of those in the 650-699 score range is 3,903 this year as compared with 1,022 last year.

This year, there are 16,167 candidates scoring in the range of 600-649 while in 2019, the figure was 6,892. Counselling for registration and choice-filling by candidates for the 15% all-India quota seats, conducted by the directorate general of health services (DGHS) is already under way.

Most states are likely to conduct their counselling for admission to MBBS/BDS courses by second week of November. Total number of MBBS seats under NEET 2020 has increased with AIIMS and JIPMER (Puducherry) also coming under it to admit students to undergraduate courses. In all, a little over 80,000 MBBS and 38,000 BDS seats will be available for the aspirants this year, including nearly 42,500 seats in government-run institutions, including AIIMS and JIPMER. There will be an additional 10% seats under quota for economically weaker sections (EWS).

Compared to 2019, there are 37,512 more candidates scoring 500 marks or more this year as compared to 2019. A total of 87,093 aspirants scored 500 marks or more in NEET-UG 2020 as compared to 49,581 in 2019. And 56,857 more candidates scored 400 marks and above this year.

Kerala, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana witnesses a significant increase in the number of top-scorers. Kerala leads the way with 643 candidates scoring 650 and above as compared to 115 in 2019.

From Rajasthan, the number of candidates scoring 500 and above marks increased from 7,659 in 2019 to 11,698 in 2020. Maharashtra also saw a significant jump in the number of high scorers, with 220% increase in the number of candidates scoring 600 and above marks this year. Tamil Nadu witnessed the highest jump in number of candidates scoring 600 and above marks—1029 this year as compared to 146 in 2019.

“These are surprising numbers and will impact the cut-offs for undergraduate admissions this year. The toppers used to be predominantly from Rajasthan as it has become the capital of coaching where students are treated like they are in military camps. I have personally visited Kota to see this regimental coaching. Kerala is also surprising,” said Dr S Kumar, chancellor, Sri Devaraj Urs University, Kolar.

Total number of MBBS seats under NEET 2020 has increased with AIIMS and JIPMER (Puducherry) also coming under it to admit students to undergraduate courses

Loot in the name of people of soil

SCAM CENTRAL

Loot in the name of people of soil

In This Fourth Part Of A Series On Scams In Tamil Nadu, TOI Takes A Look At PM Kisan Scheme Where Govt Officials, Contract Employees And Internet Owners Colluded To Divert Money To Fake Beneficiaries

Team TOI  30.10.2020 

On October 7, a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice B Pugalendhi observed that though there were several schemes meant for farmers, the status of the farming community remains the same as the benefits of the schemes do not reach them.

The judges then sought from the state government details of Union and state government schemes for farmers welfare, particularly Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, the number of ineligible beneficiaries enrolled, cases registered, people arrested for malpractices and monitoring mechanism put in place.

The PM Kisan scam has not only turned out to be a telling example of how funds routed to the states for welfare work was being looted but also a reminder for putting in place checks and balances to prevent such misappropriation.

The scheme provides ₹6,000 per year in three instalments for small farmers to procure farm inputs like fertilizers to ensure that yield does not drop because of fund crunch midway through cultivation. A network of junior agriculture department officers, contract staff in agriculture offices and internet centre owners joined hands to siphon off the money by enrolling non-farmers, making multiple entries and enrolling family members of farmers.

More than 5.5 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, mostly non-farmers, swindled more than ₹110 crore from the exchequer. Middlemen, who facilitated the fraud, got at least ₹50 crore as their share from the beneficiaries, investigations reveal. There were multiple beneficiaries in many families and there were also instances of migrant workers being enrolled as TN farmers under the scheme. The CB-CID has arrested more than 100 people so far in the case.

The state government has claimed to have recovered more than ₹100 crore and is figuring out ways and means to plug the loopholes in implementation of the schemes. Of the 5.5 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, there were 70,000 in Cuddalore district of northern Tamil Nadu alone who received upto ₹13 crore under the scheme. The government has recovered ₹11.5 crore so far. In neighbouring Villupuram and Kallakurichi districts, epicentres of the scam, more than ₹30 crore was disbursed illegally to more than one lakh ineligible beneficiaries. The CB-CID sleuths have arrested close to 40 temporary staff members posted at agriculture department and at common service centres in the two districts.

Initially, the beneficiaries were identified by both revenue and agriculture departments and the details were uploaded in the PM-Kisan portal. The uploaded data were validated through their Aadhaar cards and their account numbers were verified using the public finance management system by the Centre. The procedure was followed from December 2018 to March 2019.

The Centre introduced a new provision in April 2019 authorising self-registration through the ‘farmers’ corner’ on the portal. The Centre again authorised common service centres to implement the scheme last November.

During the initial period, the joint directors of agriculture verified and approved the farmers’ registration by logging on to the district-level login page. The Centre subsequently gave provision to block-level users to approve the selfregistered farmers and CSC-registered farmers to reduce processing time. It was then that the ineligible people managed to upload their details on the portal and get their applications approved and started receiving the financial assistance of ₹2,000 every trimester.

The state government blamed the pandemic, which forced much of the government officials to focus on Covid battle giving room for touts and agri staff to exploit the gaps in the self-registration process. “But we have acted swiftly in detecting the irregularities, recovering the money and bringing to book the violators,’’ agriculture minister R Doraikannu said last month.

Agri officials are also upbeat that they could go behind perpetrators of the scam without any political influence. “The follow up action has been a role model,’’ said a senior agriculture officer. Soon after the irregularities were detected state agriculture secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi held video conferences with district collectors every week, while other top bureaucrats in the department tracked the follow up action on a daily basis.

But there are questions that still remain unanswered. Only contract staff of the agri department and internet centre owners have been arrested. There are no answers yet from the government to the question if a scam of this scale would happen without the knowledge if not connivance of agri officials.

Several north Indian guest workers were included as beneficiaries in districts like Salem and Dharmapuri. Though their accounts have been frozen, recovery of money from them has not happened since they have left for their hometowns due to lockdowns. Officials are yet to figure out a way to recover money from them. “We have informed the state officials about this situation. We don’t know how to proceed,’’ said an agri officer from Salem.

The next instalment is scheduled for December/January and almost 40 lakh eligible farmers are expected to get the money in their bank accounts. At the same time there are complaints from the farming community that in several places genuine farmers have been left out of the scheme. The onus is now on the government to ensure a flawless selfregistration process to enrol genuine beneficiaries and ensure they get the benefits before December.

Email your feedback to southpole.toi@timesgroup.com

7.5% quota: HC hopes not to question delay in governor’s decision

7.5% quota: HC hopes not to question delay in governor’s decision

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:  30.10.2020

The Madras high court has expressed hope that an occasion would not arise for it to question the governor and seek an explanation for delay in taking decisions. The court was hearing the issue of the delay in governor’s assent to the bill ensuring 7.5% quota in MBBS seats for government school students in Tamil Nadu.

When Tamil Nadu advocategeneral Vijay Narayan told a division bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and B Pugalendhi that a governor is not answerable to any court for exercise of powers and duties, the judges said: “The protection under Article 361has been given by the framers of the Constitution with hope and trust in the appointees that they would perform their constitutional functioning promptly, and there would not be any situation, wherein they would be called for to give explanation or they will be questioned by the court of law.”

“When situation changes and a present kind of situation arises, a different approach has to be taken by the courts in the interest of the public. It is a well settled law that extraordinary situations require extraordinary remedies,” the judges said, adding that when public interest requires, the court has to do its constitutional duties. “However, this court is of the opinion that such a situation would not arise to pass any order in the matter.”

The judges pointed out that the Bill was passed by Tamil Nadu assembly unanimously on September 15 and sent to governor the same day for assent, and is pending since. Agreeing that Article 361 of the Constitution gives protection to the constitutional authority, they said, “However, in the given circumstances, a decision has to be taken as soon as possible as provided under Article 200 of the Constitution, by considering the future of the government school students, who are invariably from marginalized and poor sections.”

EPS, Stalin take same flight, Covid protocol keeps it incident-free

EPS, Stalin take same flight, Covid protocol keeps it incident-free

Chennai/Madurai:  30.10.2020

When chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and leader of opposition M K Stalin were scheduled to take the same Indigo flight from Chennai to Madurai on Thursday, there was an air of expectation on how things would pan out during the journey.

Though political rivals, Stalin had recently made it a point to personally call on Palaniswami at his residence to condole the passing away the latter’s mother. Hence, while no one expected any political turbulence during the flight, there was curiosity over at least exchanging pleasantries.

But Covid protocol in place put to rest all expectations. “Thalaivar (Stalin) completed all formalities and got himself seated, much before the CM, who arrived just in time for the flight. Both were seated afar. With everyone forced to wear masks and face shield, one could hardly recognize anyone on the flight to even share a smile, let alone exchanging pleasantries,” said a source in the DMK who was also on the flight.

On landing in Madurai, CM got off the aircraft first and Stalin a little later. “But we were the first to leave the airport and were taken out through a separate gate,” the DMK source said.

Palaniswami and Stalin will be visiting Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district to garland Muthuramalinga Thevar statue on his Jayanthi on Friday.

Hundreds of AIADMK and DMK cadres were waiting outside the Madurai airport and physical distancing norms were thrown to the wind. TNN

Repeat students, an easy question paper up top scorers in NEET 2020

Repeat students, an easy question paper up top scorers in NEET 2020

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:30.10.2020

Several repeat students, an easy question paper and more time due to the lockdown have all resulted in a huge surge in top scorers in NEET-2020 from Tamil Nadu this year, with the number of students with above 400 marks rising by 100% over 2019.

A total of 11,978 scored above 400 marks against 5,634 students last year. This year, for the first time, seven students scored above 700 of 720 marks. About 205 students scored above 650 marks and 1,029 students above 600 marks; last year, 135 students got above 600 marks. This year, 4,211 got between 500 and 599 against 1,194 in 2019.

“The lockdown gave more time for students to prepare and the question paper was also simple,” said Chandan Chand, regional director of Aakash Institute. In the past few years, coaching centres have come up even in tier-2, tier-3 cities like Salem and Namakkal.

B Pavan Kumar, deputy director, FIITJEE, Chennai, said earlier, only students in northern states used to drop one year and prepare for entrance tests. “In Tamil Nadu, the number of students dropping one year and trying for NEET again has increased in the last 2-3 years.”

Of 4,202 students who joined MBBS last year, 2,916 were old students — two from the 2010 batch and 2,371 from the 2018 batch. “The old students were able to prepare better. By the time the lockdown was announced, they had already moved to mock tests,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

The revised textbooks for Classes XI and XII covered 97% of the questions. However, even after syllabus revision, TN state board students still need quality coaching to score high marks, say experts. “Our staff are not able to train students for NEET. We hired faculty members from Andhra Pradesh and this year more than 100 students from our school scored above 500 marks,” said P Swaminathan, secretary, SRV Schools in Trichy and Namakkal.

Some schools were also hiring faculty members from Kerala and those who worked in coaching institutes in Kota, Rajasthan, Chaitanya and Allen coaching institutes, he said.

UGC, TN spar over axing arrear exams

UGC, TN spar over axing arrear exams

Commission Opposes Blanket Pass For Students With Arrears

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:30.10.2020

The Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to grant blanket pass in all arrear papers of college students citing the pandemic has run into rough weather with University Grants Commission (UGC) opposing the decision.

The UGC told the Madras high court on Thursday that it is not in tune with the decision of the Tamil Nadu government in cancelling arrear exams for college students.

The submission was made amidst chaos and confusion caused by students who thronged the virtual court of a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha. The bench had to warn students, who kept disrupting the proceedings, of dire consequences. Some, who logged into the virtual court through random IDs, repeatedly asked the court to cancel the exams.

On its part, the UGC initially desisted from expressing its stand clearly, but chose to go on record against the state government’s order after the court upong the central agency.

The issue pertains to a batch of pleas, including one moved by former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy, challenging the GO cancelling arrear exams. When the plea came up for hearing, the judges pulled up the UGC for filing a counter-affidavit and explaining its stand on final semester examinations, while the issue before the court was about cancelling arrear exams and not about final semester examinations.

At one point during the hearing, the bench wondered as to whether the UGC really went through the GO passed by the state government before finalising the counter.

As counsel for UGC V Sudha sought time to clarify its stand, the court asked, “Why cost should not be imposed on the Commission for failing to appropriately assist the court?”

This apart, pointing out the stand of the state government that the GO has been passed considering the welfare of the students, the bench asked special government pleader E Manoharan as to why the state has not considered the welfare of others.

“Is it not the state duty bound to consider everyone’s welfare? If you were able to conduct final exams to college students through online mode, why not for arrear exams too,” the judges wondered.

In its counter-affidavit, the UGC submitted that it has insisted upon all the Universities to complete final year examinations alone before September 30 and that the Supreme Court too had ruled in favour of its decision.

“Our guideline dated June 7 issued to the universities was challenged before the Supreme Court on the ground that it discriminates against final year students and others. However, the apex court rejected the contention,” the UGC said.

The submissions were made amid chaos as students thronged the virtual court, leading the bench to warn those who kept disrupting the proceedings of dire consequences

More rain likely after November 3

More rain likely after November 3

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

30.10.2020

After the record breaking downpour early on Thursday, IMD has forecast more intermittent thunderstorms with heavy rainfall over some areas in the city on Friday. But weather enthusiasts said Chennai is likely to see a brief neardry spell, with a few isolated showers, till November 3 after which the monsoon would pick up pace and bring widespread rainfall to the city, coastal belt and interior districts without long breaks.

On Thursday morning, Nungambakkam received 13.34cm of rain, the highest 24-hour rainfall in October since the 16.19cm recorded on October 18, 2014.

For the next 24 hours, IMD has forecast intermittent thunderstorms, with moderate rain and heavy rainfall in some areas.

The cyclonic circulation over southwest the Bay of Bengal off the north Tamil Nadu coast, which brought the intense spells of rain on Thursday, lies over north Tamil Nadu¬ and south Andhra Pradesh coast and neighbourhood.

After Thursday’s downpour, the Nungambakkam station has recorded 6.5cm excess rain in October. It has registered 31.1cm of rain since October 1 while Meenambakkam has a 96.2% deficit with only 15.5cm rainfall recorded this month.

Weather enthusiasts said November could bring more rain records. Weather blogger Pradeep John said an easterly wave or an elongated area of low air pressure moving from east to west could bring regular early morning rain to the city. “The present cyclonic circulation could fizzle out. Around November 3 or 4, we could expect easterly waves or a circulation bringing us rain almost daily,” he said.

Weather watchers said MJO or Madden Julian Oscillation, a climate phenomenon, likely entering phase 2-3 could act in favour of the monsoon and help bring stronger weather systems possibly in the second half of November. MJO is an eastward moving disturbance of clouds, rainfall, winds and pressure that travels across the tropics and returns to its starting point in 30 to 60 days. “For the next four or five days, the intensity of rainfall is going to become light,” said Skymet Weather in its online post.

CHENNAI IS LIKELY TO SEE A BRIEF DRY SPELL BEFORE RESUMPTION OF RAINFALL