Within days of reopening, 97 students positive in 2 HP schools

Within days of reopening, 97 students positive in 2 HP schools

Of These, 92 From A Tibetan School Are Asymptomatic

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Shimla:08.11.2020

Within days of schools reopening in Himachal Pradesh, 97 students in Mandi district tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. Of these, 92 are from a Tibetan school in Sojha and five are from a government school in Kot. On Friday, 27 school teachers had tested positive in the district.

At the Tibetan school, all 92 students who tested positive are asymptomatic. However, as a precautionary measure, the entire campus is being turned into an isolation centre. As Tibetan schools are governed under the rules of Central Tibetan Administration, students of classes X and XII had reached the campus between October 26 and 31from Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Nepal.

Five students at Kot school have also tested positive. The HP government started regular classes for students of classes IX to XII on November 2. However, physical attendance is not must and those coming to school will do so only with the written consent of parents. Online education is also continuing for the students.

Mandi deputy commissioner Rugved Milind Thakur said all precautionary measures are being taken and students have been kept in isolation and under regular monitoring of doctors. If needed, they will be shifted to covid care centres and hospital for treatment. “We are keeping a close watch on schools and monitoring the situation on a daily basis,” he added.

Director of higher education, Amarjeet Kumar Sharma said the government had allowed private educational institutions to function with strict adherence to safety protocols. There are 3.25 lakh students in classes from IX to XII and only around 22% of them attended school on Saturday, he said. So far, only 30 students have tested positive for coronavirus in schools under the education department, he said. Tibetan schools are governed under the rules of Central Tibetan Administration, he added.

Maintaining that the figure is not alarming, he said of the 50,000 employees in the state, only 200 have tested positive so far. “It shows that the situation is very much under control and there is nothing to panic about. Still, we have directed all deputy directors to monitor educational institutes under their control and decide on closing them in case positive cases are detected to break the spread chain of coronavirus,” he added.

State education minister Govind Singh Thakur has also been admitted in Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, for Covid treatment after he was detected with low oxygen level. He had tested positive a day after the cabinet decided to reopen schools and other educational institutions in the state.

Firefighters and locals attempt to douse a fire that broke out in a showroom at Lower Bazaar in Shimla on Saturday

Even after Covid recovery, seniors may face heart risks

Even after Covid recovery, seniors may face heart risks

Ambika Pandit & Sushmi Dey

TNN

New Delhi:  08.11.2020 

Patients infected with Covid-19 — mainly those above 50 and those with co-morbidities — may be at higher risk of heart disorders, prompting doctors to advise proper monitoring of blood parameters during the infection and even after recovery.

While a recent editorial in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR) says around 60-70% patients infected with the viral disease have cardiac involvement or injury, doctors say it is more common among high-risk groups like those above 50 years of age or with co-morbidities. Besides, those who have higher DDimer during infection may face blood clotting even after recovery.

“Heart disorders are not that significantly high if we look at overall infection numbers but there are certainly significant number of cases with cardiac problems and even heart attacks in patients in the high-risk group – which means people above 50 years of age and especially those with pre-existing heart disease, diabetes or kidney disorders,” says Dr J P S Sawhney, chairman, cardiology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Even among young people, if the D-Dimer (a blood parameter) is high during the infection and a blood thinner has not been administered, the patient is likely to face a heart disorder in future – even months after recovery from Covid-19. Dr Sawhney emphasised the need to monitor blood parameter D-Dimer even in case of patients with mild symptoms and being treated in home isolation.

However, all the complications may not be long lasting. “Major cardiac involvement like heart attacks and heart failure complicate Covid in under 5% cases while several patients may have mild or sub clinical myocarditis, the long-term effects of which are yet to be seen,” says Dr Atul Mathur, director – interventional cardiology and chief of cath labs at Fortis.

In the IJMR editorial, authors call for a baseline, focused clinical screening with routine laboratories and troponin testing in all individuals with documented Covid-19 infection. In an editorial titled “Covid cardiomyopathy: Is it time to involve the cardiologists?”, the authors state that recent literature demonstrates the worse overall outcomes in patients with cardiac involvement. They recommend that cardiologists need to play an important role in both the shortand long-term management of these patients.

They further explain that symptomatic individuals typically present pulmonary complaints that range from minor flu-like disease to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Full report on www.toi.in

Doctors say cardiac involvement or injury is more common among high-risk groups infected with Covid, like those above 50 years of age or with co-morbidities

Once, Taj would see 25K tourists a day. Now, it is less than 4,000

Once, Taj would see 25K tourists a day. Now, it is less than 4,000

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesgroup.com

Agra:08.11.2020

The coronavirus pandemic has cast its shadow over the daily footfalls at the Taj Mahal, with the number of tourists visiting the monument not even touching the 5,000 mark — a daily limit of visitors fixed by the cultural ministry — since the mausoleum reopened on September 21 after the Covid lockdown.

As figures indicate, the number of tourists visiting the Taj reached, at the most, just over 4,000 only on five occasions that too on weekends in the past one and a half months in sharp contrast to the average daily footfall of 25,000 during pre-Covid days.

According to officials of the Archaeological Survey of India, though all 5,000 tickets are sold on weekends, the tourists’ footfall is not corresponding. Citing the reason, said an official, most of the people are scared of coming out of their home due to Covid-19 and the few willing to visit the Taj end up cancelling.

Besides, a few travel agents and tour operators buy tickets in bulk with the hope of making a profit by reselling to weekend tourists, but that’s not happening as of now.

Full report on www.toi.in

BLURRED MEMORIES

Issue provisional degree certificate to medical student: HC

DELAYED CONVOCATION

Issue provisional degree certificate to medical student: HC

Vasanth.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:08.11.2020

Because of the ‘conspiracy of circumstances’ such as the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become difficult to maintain the regularity and periodicity of convocation ceremonies. Universities have to devise viable alternatives to mitigate the likely hardships their students/alumni are put to.

The high court made this observation while coming to the rescue of Lanson Brijesh Colaco, a medical student from Kurunji Venkataramana Gowda Medical College and Hospital, Sullia, Dakshina Kannada.

“Aggrieved students can’t be asked to wait in silence for an indefinite period since it will have many repercussions like time bar for admission to a course, non-compliance of conditions of recruitment and age bar for employment,” Justice Krishna S Dixit pointed out.

The judge directed Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) to issue a provisional degree certificate for MBBS to the petitioner within two weeks. It must contain a specific certification that it should be treated on a par with the awarding of degree, for all practical purposes. In his petition, Lanson had claimed there’s a delay in awarding degree certificates as the RGUHS convocation is being deferred, and the same is affecting his study as well as employment prospects.

During the hearing, the panel advocate for RGUHS informed the court there’s a provision in the statute of the health university for providing graduates a provisional degree certificate, followed by awarding of degree in the convocation. He added a specific text will be introduced in the certificate or by way of an annexure to the effect that it should be treated on a par with awarding of degree.

The court expressed hope that university authorities, when requested by students/ alumni like the petitioner, address appropriate communication to other varsities/employers for easing difficulties.

If RGUHS fails to comply within two weeks, it will have to pay Rs 5,000 per week as cost to the petitioner, which should be recovered from the erring officers, the judge said

Nurse who would be doctor!

Nurse who would be doctor!

TRAINED AT CIVIL, POISED TO FINISH PHD IN GERMANY

Parth.Shastri@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:  08.11.2020 

Come 2021, and Krupali Patel, a native of Vadodara, who was trained as a nurse at Civil Hospital, will receive her doctoral degree from University of Bonn in Germany! Krupali is currently working on her thesis on zoonotic diseases and understanding the transmission of superbugs such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from animals to humans and vice versa.

Patel, the daughter of a lab technician and homemaker in Vadodara, recently connected with students and researchers at her alma mater, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar (IIPHG), in a webinar, sharing her experiences.

“I got interested in the healthcare sector and pursued a diploma in nursing, followed by a BSc degree,” recounts Krupali. “But I wanted to go beyond the routine and got an opportunity to work on a project linking WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) with maternal mortality rate (MMR) in India and Bangladesh.”

The project got her interested in public health and she enrolled in the Master in Public Health (MPH) course at IIPH-G. Her interest in zoonotic diseases (diseases spread from animals to humans) and drug-resistant bacteria continued even after her graduation, as she got selected in a very competitive process for a doctoral study at the Centre for Development Research at University of Bonn.

“My focus is on MRSA and factors affecting it such as weather conditions. I collected the samples from 300 households in Ahmedabad keeping cattle in different seasons and studied the distribution pattern,” she said. “The data analysis is on, and I am hopeful of submitting my findings soon.”

Deepak Saxena, a professor at IIPH-G and mentor to Patel, said that she’s working in a field less explored. “In India and elsewhere, the superbug study model is primarily hospital-based. But she has taken the community health approach where she has taken samples from animals and humans to understand the spread pattern of the drug-resistant bacteria,” he said. “I am sure it would add a new dimension to how we look at the subject in the context of India.”

Krupali Patel

Change student’s name, it’s his right, HC tells DU

Change student’s name, it’s his right, HC tells DU

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  08.11.2020 

Delhi High Court underscored that to have a name and to express the same in the manner one wishes is a part of the right to freedom of speech and expression and liberty under the Constitution of India.

The high court’s observation came while directing Delhi University to change the name of one of its students without insisting on a change in his CBSE records. The high court said such a requirement amounted to “asking for the impossible” as “the right to change a name is a protected right.”

Justice Jayant Nath said the student passed Class XII in 2018 and was seeking a change in his name in 2019, while he was studying in the university. “Asking him to first get the CBSE records changed was ‘a misplaced requirement’ and cannot be accepted”, the court noted.

The bench was hearing a plea by Rayaan Singh, who sought change of name to Rayaan Chawla in the university records. He challenged Delhi University’s notification of 2015, which mandates that for change of name in the varsity records, it has to be first effected in the certificate issued by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

According to the plea, after his parents separated in 2007 and got divorced in 2015, Rayaan wanted to adopt his mother’s surname as he “never enjoyed a constructive relationship” with his father. He had already published a declaration regarding the change of name in two newspapers and the Gazette of India.

Delhi University had opposed the plea on the grounds that he had adequate time to get his name changed after his parents’ divorce, as he passed Class XII only in 2018. But the court did not agree.

“When CBSE issued the documents, the petitioner had the original name Rayaan Singh. The same cannot be changed now, as in 2018, when the petitioner completed his Class XII, he was known as Rayaan Singh,” it observed. It added that since the change of name was with effect from August/ September 2019, i.e., much after the Class X and XII certificates issued by CBSE, Delhi University could not in these peculiar facts and circumstances insist that he should also get the name changed in the records of CBSE.

“It would be appropriate that respondent No.1/ University of Delhi may change the name of the petitioner in its records/in the degree that may be given in the future to the petitioner....Such a course of action will avoid any confusion in the two names, which will be seen on the records of CBSE and of University of Delhi/appropriate documents issued by the said entities,” the court observed.

DELHI HIGH COURT SAYS

It would be appropriate that University of Delhi may change the name of the petitioner in the degree that may be given in the future to the petitioner... Such a course of action will avoid confusion in the two names, which will be seen on the records of CBSE and of DU

FASTags must for 4-wheelers from next year

FASTags must for 4-wheelers from next year

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:08.11.2020  

The road transport ministry has made it mandatory for all four wheelers and bigger vehicles to have a valid FASTag for renewal of third party insurance from April 1.

Moreover, the FASTag has also been made mandatory for all commercial vehicles — cars and above — for renewal of fitness certificate from January 1. Violation of this can attract a penalty of ₹300 to ₹500.

While all four wheelers and above sold after December 2017 come with factory fitted tags from the dealers, a large number of vehicles sold earlier don’t have these.

The ministry in a statement said the notification would be a major step in ensuring that the payment of user fees reaches 100% at toll plazas through electronic means and vehicles pass seamlessly.

However, there are still reports from different parts of the country where vehicles having FASTags are facing congestion at toll plazas despite having exclusive lanes.

At 81, man bags engg doctorate

At 81, man bags engg doctorate

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:08.11.2020 

Among those who received their doctorate degrees at the NIT convocation was an 81-year-old physician and general medical practitioner who sought to blend medicine and engineering through his work. The oldest candidate to receive a PhD from NIT Trichy, Dr G Ganapathy’s research involved developing detection models for breast cancer and low back pain. “Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among women. Low back pain affects the quality of life irrespective of the gender and it is heavily influenced by age and activity factors,” Dr Ganapathy told TOI.

Family living inside temple tower finally evicted

Family living inside temple tower finally evicted

Gokul.rajendran@timesgroup.com

Trichy:08.11.2020

Imagine an ancient, intricately carved temple rajagopuram for a roof for your house! A family has been residing inside the rajagopuram of Thopparankatti Vinayagar templein Thanjavur by converting it into a house for several decades before public protests forced the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department to evict them andset right a wrong they committed by permitting it.

Thopparankatti Pillaiyar temple was one of the several temples coming under the Thanjavur Big Temple administration. About 60 years ago, the administration rented out approximately 430square feet of the mandapam in the rajagopuram to a temple employee named Sabapathi Pillai through a tenancy agreement. Pillai’s son Jayaraman, 75, and his wife Shyamala, 70, were the last tenants residing in the ‘house’.

There is no trace of the temple at the place now and only Shyamala was living in what looked like a house every bit inside the rajagopuram. Legally however, the family could not have been called encroachers till January 2019 when they were handed out the eviction order by the HR & CE officials after local people raked up the matter.

“They remained tenants until the order of termination of tenancy was issued by HR&CE, after which they were considered as encroachers,” said HR&CE department advocate V Chandrasekar. Asked how temple premises could have been rented out to an individual, Chandrasekar said, “It happened nearly 60 years ago, when the temple trustees took decisions without consulting the executive officers of the temple. Now, the issue was taken up seriously and the solution was found by evicting them.”

Big Temple executive officer S Madhavan told TOI they had asked the family to vacate the place, but they stayed put. Acting on the eviction order dated October 20 from the joint commissioner of HR&CE department, Thanjavur division, G Thennarasu, a team of officials carried out the anti-encroachment drive.

Thennarasu said the door frame (Nilai) put up at the entrance of the rajagopuram as the main door of the house was removed by the tenant Shyamala herself as she was evicted.

BACK WITH HR&CE: The family, which had been living in the rajagopuram of Thopparankatti Vinayagar temple in Thanjavur for 60 years, had even built a door frame at the house’s entrance (seen in photo on left)

I-T dept raids city firm, unearths unaccounted ₹1k cr

I-T dept raids city firm, unearths unaccounted ₹1k cr

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.11.2020  

The income tax department searched five locations in Chennai and Madurai on November 4 in a case pertaining to a Chennaibased IT infrastructure group. Unaccounted income to the tune of ₹1,000 crore was found, an official release by the income tax department stated.

The I-T department said it unearthed evidence relating to investments in a Singapore-registered company. The shareholding of the particular company is held by two others. One of them is the group which was raided while the other is a subsidiary of a major infrastructure development and financing group. The I-T department said the company raided had a 72% shareholding despite investing a nominal amount. The rest was held by the infrastructure major. “This resulted in benefit of almost seven crore Singapore dollars or ₹200 crore and wasn’t disclosed,” it said.

“Proceedings will be initiated under Black Money Act, 2015. The present value of the investment exceeds ₹354 crore,” the I-T department said. It also stated that five shell companies had been acquired by the group which were used to siphon off ₹337 crore from the main group company by raising bogus bills. The I-T department said it found evidence regarding allotmentof preference shares worth ₹150 crorein 2009 in the group company bypassing accounting entries to project inflated capital to obtain funds from banks. Allotment of another ₹150 crore worth preference shares in 2015 from funds from group companies, who in turn took loans/entries, is being examined.

During the search, officials found the group borrowed from banks on interest and diverted them to other group firms free of interest for investments in properties. The total interest disallowance on this count was about₹423 crore, the release said.

The search also revealed the group had purchased about 800 acres of land, in the names of various shell companies from the funds providedby the main group.Applicability of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 to these transactions is being examine

Results without exams: Plea to stop 22 univs

Results without exams: Plea to stop 22 univs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 08.11.2020 

A lawyer has approached the Madras high court seeking to restrain 22 universities in the state from publishing results of first year to pre-final year students without conducting arrear exams.

According to advocate B Ramkumar Adityan, even while the decision of the state government in cancelling the arrear exams has not come to a logical conclusion, three universities including University of Madras have published the results without conducting exams.

“Exempting students from writing semester exams is one thing and cancelling failed students’ arrear exams and making them pass is entirely a different thing,” he said.

If this cancellation is adhered to, there would not be any difference between a student who has arrears and the other who had worked hard and cleared all the papers without arrears, he added.

Announcing results without conducting examination for arrears papers violates the principle of equality in education, the lawyer contended.

கட்சி துவங்கும் விவகாரம்: தந்தை'காமெடி'- தனயன் சரவெடி

கட்சி துவங்கும் விவகாரம்: தந்தை'காமெடி'- தனயன் சரவெடி

Updated : நவ 05, 2020 23:36 | Added : நவ 05, 2020 23:27

மாப்ளை அவர்தான்; ஆனா, சட்டை அவரோடது இல்லை : நடிகர் விஜயின் தந்தை சந்திரசேகர் 'காமெடி' : தந்தைக்கு எதிராக தனயன் சர வெடி

சென்னை,:அரசியல் கட்சி துவங்கும் விஷயத்தில் இயக்குனர் எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகருக்கும் அவர் மகனும் நடிகருமான விஜய்க்கும் இடையே இருந்து வந்த கருத்து வேறுபாடு நேற்று பகிரங்க மோதலாக வெடித்தது.விஜயின் மக்கள் இயக்கத்தை அரசியல் கட்சியாக்க முயன்ற இயக்குனர் எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகருக்கு விஜய் கடும் எதிர்ப்பு காட்டினார்.தந்தையின் அரசியல் கட்சிக்கும் தனக்கும் தொடர்பு இல்லை எனவும் தன் பெயர் படம் இயக்கத்தைப் பயன்படுத்தினால் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் எனவும் விஜய் அதிரடியாக எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளார்.நடிகர் ரஜினிக்கு அடுத்து திரளான ரசிகர் பட்டாளத்தை கொண்டவர் நடிகர் விஜய்.

விஜய்க்கு இருக்கும் ரசிகர் பலத்தை பயன்படுத்தி அரசியல் கட்சி துவங்கி அதிகாரத்தை அடைய வேண்டும் என்பது எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகரின் நெடுங்கால விருப்பம்.இதற்காகவே பல ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பே ரசிகர் மன்றத்தை விஜய் மக்கள் இயக்கம் என பெயர் மாற்றி அதன்மூலம் நோட்டு புத்தகங்கள் பேனா பென்சில் வழங்குவது போன்ற நலத்திட்ட உதவிகளை செய்து வந்தார்.ஆயினும் இதை தமிழகத்தின் இரு பெரும் திராவிட கட்சிகளுமே விரும்பவில்லை. இதன் காரணமாகவே விஜயின் காவலன் பட வெளியீட்டிற்கு அன்று கருணாநிதி தலைமையில் இருந்த தி.மு.க. அரசு நெருக்கடி கொடுத்தது.

இந்த அதிருப்தியில் இருந்த விஜய் 2011 சட்டசபை தேர்தலில் தன் தந்தையின் ஆலோசனைப்படி 'மக்கள் இயக்கம் அ.தி.மு.க.வுக்கு ஆதரவு அளிக்கும்' என அறிவித்தார்.இதற்கு பிரதிபலனாக தனக்கு விருகம்பாக்கம் தொகுதியில் சீட் வேண்டும் என சந்திரசேகர் கேட்க அப்போதைய முதல்வர் ஜெயலலிதா 'நோ' என திட்டவட்டமாக மறுத்து விட்டார்.ஏமாற்றத்தில் உடைந்து போனார் எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர்.

தேர்தலில் ஜெயலலிதா வென்றதும் 'இந்த வெற்றிக்கு விஜயின் மக்கள் இயக்கமும் அணிலாக உதவியது' என எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர் கூற விஜயகாந்த் கூட்டணியால் வெற்றி கிட்டியது என்பதையே ஏற்காத ஜெயலலிதா இதை மனதின் ஓரத்தில் பதிய வைத்து கொண்டார்.இதையடுத்து விஜயின்தலைவாபடத்தில் 'டைம் டு லீட்' என்ற துணைத் தலைப்பு வைக்கப்பட்டது. அதைக் கண்ட ஜெயலலிதா ஆக்ரோஷம் அடைந்து படம் வௌியாவதற்கு 'கட்டை' போட்டார். ஒருவழியாக ஜெயலலிதாவிடம் 'சரண்டர்' ஆகி படத்தை வெளியிட்டனர்.அதன்பின் ஜெயலலிதா உயிருடன் இருந்தவரை மவுனமாக இருந்த சந்திரசேகர் அவர் மறைவுக்குப் பின் விஜய்க்கு அவ்வப்போது அரசியல் துாபம் போட்டபடி இருந்தார்.அதற்கு விஜய் பிடி கொடுக்காமல் நழுவி வந்தார். சினிமாவில் மட்டும் கவனம் செலுத்தினார். படத்திற்கு படம் அவரது சம்பளமும் கோடிகளில் எகிறியபடி இருந்தது.

தற்போது சட்டசபை தேர்தல் நெருங்கிவிட்ட சூழலில் பெரிதும் எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்ட ரஜினி ஒதுங்கி விட கமல் மட்டும் களத்தில் குதித்துள்ளார். ரஜினி வராத வெற்றிடத்தை விஜய் கட்சியை இட்டு நிரப்பலாம் என சந்திரசேகர் திட்டமிட்டுள்ளார்.இதனால் அதிரடியாக 'அகில இந்திய தளபதி விஜய் மக்கள் இயக்கம்' என்ற பெயரில் அரசியல் கட்சி ஒன்றை தேர்தல் கமிஷனில் பதிவு செய்துள்ளார்.இதற்கான விண்ணப்பத்தில் கட்சித் தலைவராக பத்மநாபன், பொதுச் செயலராக எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர், பொருளாளராக ஷோபா என குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளதாக தகவல் வெளியானது.

இது வெளியான சில நிமிடங்களிலேயே விஜய் 'டுவிட்டரில்' ஒரு தகவல் வெளியிட்டார். அதில் கூறப்பட்டதாவது:இன்று என் தந்தை எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர் ஆரம்பித்த அரசியல் கட்சிக்கும் எனக்கும் நேரடியாகவோ மறைமுகமாகவோ எந்த தொடர்பும் இல்லை. அவர் அரசியல் தொடர்பாக எதிர்காலத்தில் மேற்கொள்ளும் எந்த நடவடிக்கையும் என்னை கட்டுப்படுத்தாது.என் தந்தை கட்சி ஆரம்பித்துள்ளார் என்பதற்காக என் ரசிகர்கள் அவர் கட்சியில் சேரவோ பணியாற்றவோ வேண்டாம். அக்கட்சிக்கும் நமக்கும் நமது இயக்கத்திற்கும் எந்த தொடர்பும் கிடையாது.மேலும் என் பெயரையோ படத்தையோ என் அகில இந்திய தளபதி விஜய் மக்கள் இயக்கத்தின் பெயரையோ தொடர்புபடுத்தி ஏதேனும் விவகாரங்களில் ஈடுபட்டால் அவர்கள் மீது தக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்.இவ்வாறு விஜய் கூறியுள்ளார்.

தன் மகனிடம் சொல்லாமலேயே துவக்கப்பட்ட கட்சிக்கு மகன் எப்படியும் சம்மதம் தெரிவிப்பார் எனக் கருதிய சந்திரசேகருக்கு இது கடும் அதிர்ச்சியை அளித்தது.'சட்டை கிழிஞ்சிருந்தா... தைச்சு உடுத்திரலாம்; நெஞ்சு கிழிஞ்சிருச்சே... எங்கே முறையிடலாம்' என பாடாத குறையாக விரக்தியின் விளிம்பிற்கே சென்று விட்டார்.இதனால் 'என் கட்சிக்கும் விஜய்க்கும் சம்பந்தமில்லை' என அவர் அறிவித்தார்.

ரஜினி சினிமா பட காமெடி போல் 'மாப்பிள்ளை அவர் தான்; ஆனால் அவர் போட்டுள்ள சட்டை அவருடையது இல்லை' என்ற நிலை தற்போது ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.இதுவரை கட்சி துவங்குவது தொடர்பாக தந்தை மகன் இடையே வீட்டுக்குள் மட்டும் நடந்து வந்த பனிப்போர் தற்போது பகிரங்க மோதலாக வெடித்து விட்டது.இது விஜய் ரசிகர்கள் மத்தியில் அதிர்ச்சியையும் குழப்பத்தையும் ஏற்படுத்தினாலும் விஜய் நடித்து தீபாவளிக்கு ரிலீஸ் ஆகும் என எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்ட மாஸ்டர் படம் தற்போதைக்கு வௌிவராத குறையைப் போக்க நேற்றைய சம்பவம் விஜயின் ஒரிஜினல் படத்தைப் பார்த்த திருப்தியை ஏற்படுத்தி விட்டது!

சட்டசபை தேர்தல் நெருங்க நெருங்க இதுபோன்ற நிஜ காமெடி காட்சிகளை இனி அடிக்கடி பார்க்கலாம்!

மோதலின் பின்னணியில் ஜோதிடர்கள்

நடிகர் விஜய் அவரது தந்தை எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர் இடையே ஜோதிடர்களால் மோதல் உருவானதாக விஜய் மக்கள் இயக்கத்தினர் கூறுகின்றனர்.விஜய் மக்கள் இயக்கத்தின் மாநில நிர்வாகிகள் கூறியதாவது:நடிகர் விஜய் மற்றும் அவரது தந்தை எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர் ஜோதிடம் வாஸ்து மீது மிகுந்த நம்பிக்கை கொண்டவர்கள். சமீபத்தில் விஜய் நண்பர்கள் சிலர் டில்லியை சேர்ந்த பிரபல ஜோதிடர் ஒருவரிடம் விஜய் ஜாதகத்தை காண்பித்துள்ளனர்.

'குருபெயர்ச்சிக்கு பின் ஆறு மாதங்களில் தமிழக முதல்வராக விஜய் பதவி ஏற்கும் விபரீத ராஜயோகம் உள்ளது. இந்த அதிசயம் நடக்கும்' என அந்த ஜோதிடர் கூறியுள்ளார்.இதையறிந்த எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர் வரும் சட்டசபை தேர்தலுக்கு முன் கட்சி துவக்க திட்டமிட்டு தேர்தல் கமிஷனில் கட்சி பெயரை பதிவு செய்துள்ளார்.

அடுத்ததாக கட்சியின் பெயர் கொடியின் நிறம் கட்சி துவக்குவதற்கான தேதியை குறித்து தரும்படி கோரி விஜய்க்கு நெருக்கமான கடலுார் மாவட்ட ஜோதிடரை விஜய் மக்கள் இயக்க நிர்வாகிகள் சந்தித்தனர்.அந்த ஜோதிடரோ 'தற்போது விஜய் அரசியலில் குதிக்க வேண்டாம். அவருடைய பூசம் நட்சத்திரத்தால் பணம் உழைப்பு எல்லாம் விரயமாகி விடும்' என கூறியுள்ளார்.

இதையடுத்து 'என் பெயரில் கட்சி துவக்க வேண்டாம். 2026ல் சட்டசபை தேர்தலை சந்திக்கலாம்' என தந்தையிடம் விஜய் கூறியுள்ளார். ஆனால் எஸ்.ஏ.சந்திரசேகர் பிடிவாதமாக இருந்து மகனின் பேச்சை மீறி கட்சிக்கான அறிவிப்பை வெளியிட வைத்துள்ளார்.தந்தை - மகன் இருவருக்கும் இடையே ஜோதிடர்களால் மோதல் உருவாகி திரையுலகம் மற்றும் அரசியல் வட்டாரத்தில் பெரும் சலசலப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

Not party time yet: Director-dad S A Chandrasekar proposes, actor-son Vijay disposes

Not party time yet: Director-dad S A Chandrasekar proposes, actor-son Vijay disposes

The Vijay development comes just a week after a letter surfaced suggesting that Rajinikath would not enter politics due to health concerns.

Published: 05th November 2020 10:11 PM 

‘Thalapathi’ Vijay 

By S Kumaresan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Forget Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, it was buzz about ‘Thalapathi’ Vijay that dominated the headlines on Thursday as news emerged that a political party had been registered in the actor’s name. 

However, excitement among his lakhs of fans and consternation among pundits was quelled by evening when it came to light that the party was registered by his father, director SA Chandrasekar. 

Vijay disavowed the party in a statement and made it clear he had learnt of the development through media reports.

The development comes just months before Assembly elections are due in Tamil Nadu. While Vijay has made no secret of his political aspirations -- his recent movies being littered with political references -- his entry into the field was not expected in 2021. Yet, Chandrasekar, who launched Vijay in films, forged ahead and submitted papers with the Election Commission of India to register a political party in the name of “Akila India Thalapathi Vijay Makkal Iyakkam”. 

The party has applied for registration listing R Padmanaban as president, Chandrasekar as general secretary and Vijay’s mother Shoba Sekar as treasurer.

​

RK Raja alias R Padmanaban, a former Rajini fan and former Vijay fans association president of Tiruchy district unit, admitted that he was part of the effort to apply for registration of the party. ''But, Vijay doesn’t have any link with this,” he said.

Soon after the news emerged, Vijay issued a firm statement stating that he had learned of his father’s actions only through media reports and that he had no direct or indirect connection with the party registered by his father. 

Addressing his fans he said, “Just because it has been started by my father, my fans need not join the party or work for it. That party has nothing to do with us or our organisation.” He further warned that anyone undertaking any efforts using his name, images or the name of his Akila India Thalapathi Vijay Makkal Iyakkam would face appropriate action.

Responding to Vijay’s opposition to the use of his name and images, Chandrasekar told The New Indian Express that he was the actor’s first fan. 

“I started the Vijay fans association in 1993. He should have prevented me on that day. Later, I nurtured the association and trained the youth with social consciousness. Now, I want to serve society in a more elaborate manner and recognise the youth who joined the association. So I have created this platform. Those who want to serve the society can use the platform and I welcome all,” he said. 

For former members of the actor’s fan clubs, the development was hardly unexpected. 

“Over the last 10 years, SA Chandrasekar has repeatedly told us that the fans’ association will one day will become a political party and capture the government through elections. Hence, now he has taken the steps to register the political party, I think,” a former functionary of the association said. However, he wondered how the party would succeed without Vijay’s support. 

Meanwhile, it was a confusing day for the actor’s fans. Initially, when news broke of a political party being formed, many welcomed it but after the actor’s statement disavowing the party, they started to share the statement widely.

The Vijay development comes just a week after a letter surfaced suggesting that Rajinikath would not enter politics due to health concerns. Rajini later denied the authenticity of the letter but admitted the section about his health condition was true. On the other hand, actor-turned-politican Kamal Haasan formally launched his Makkal Needhi Maiam’s poll campaign on Thursday.

Vacate educational institutions being used as Covid centres before reopening: TN VCs to minister

Vacate educational institutions being used as Covid centres before reopening: TN VCs to minister

Following this, the minister directed the registrars to send formal requests to the departments concerned.

Published: 05th November 2020 10:44 PM 

Minister for Higher Education KP Anbalagan. 

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Vice-Chancellors across Tamil Nadu requested the Higher Education Minister K P Anbalagan to close the Covid care centres functioning out of educational institutions before their reopening. 

Following this, the minister directed the registrars to send formal requests to the departments concerned.

The Vice-Chancellors were participating in a meeting with the Higher Education Department, along with Registrars, regarding the reopening of higher educational institutions in the State. 

Sources said that the VCs and registrars raised the functioning of Covid care centres on the premises of educational institutions as a point of concern. 

"In view of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, all educational institutions across the state have been kept closed but hostels have been converted as Covid care centres. Some patients are still being treated there. They must be vacated so the rooms can be disinfected before the arrival of hostel students,” sources said. 

Once the centres are vacated, another meeting will be held to decide the date of college reopening, sources added.

WhatsApp adds ‘disappearing’ messages feature

WhatsApp adds ‘disappearing’ messages feature

It Will Ensure Messages Are Not Saved Forever

Anam.Ajmal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:06.11.2020

WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called “disappearing messages”, which would allow users to ensure that their messages are not saved on the instant messaging platform forever. The ‘self-destruct” automated feature will roll out for users through this month.

“When “disappearing message” is turned on, new messages sent to a chat will disappear after 7 days, helping the conversation feel lighter and more private. In a one-to-one chat, either person can turn disappearing messages on or off. In groups, admins will have the control,” WhatsApp announced in a press release.

According to the Facebook-owned company, the new feature will allow people to speak more “freely” and also strengthen privacy. Users will still be able to take screenshots of the messages or preserve it in other ways, even after they have opted for the “disappearing messages” feature. The feature has to be enabled separately for each individual chat window or group chats.

Responding to a TOI query about what would happen if a sender has switched on the feature, but the receiver hasn’t, WhatsApp said each message sent by the user will disappear (on the receiver’s phone).

“Either party in a 1:1 chat can enable it or disable it at any time. If you turn it on for a given chat, each message sent in that chat while the setting is enabled will disappear after 7 days. If a disappearing message is forwarded to a chat with disappearing messages off, the message won’t disappear in the forwarded chat,” WhatsApp said.

WhatsApp said they started with a shelf life of seven days because it “offers peace of mind that conversations aren’t permanent, while remaining practical so you don’t forget what you were chatting about”.

According to the Facebook-owned company, the feature will allow people to speak more “freely”

Man poses as PhD scholar to marry woman

Man poses as PhD scholar to marry woman

Ahmedabad:06.11.2020

A man was booked on Wednesday for allegedly concealing his first marriage and posing himself as a PhD scholar from Australia to woo a woman for marriage.

In her complaint with Ghatlodia police station, Zeel Choksi (32), a resident of Jawaharkunj Society on Ashram Road, alleged that the accused, Priyank Choksi, had claimed to have got a PhD degree from an Australian university in his bio-data in order to impress her for marriage in 2011. According to police, the victim was introduced to Priyank through a family friend. Impressed with his educational qualification, Zeel decided to marry him. The couple got married on December 7, 2012. After she moved to his place in Ghatlodia, Zeel chanced upon a family album that had pictures of Priyank with another woman. “Priyank claimed that they were pictures of his engagement with another woman in the past. However, upon investigation, Zeel found that Priyank had earlier married a woman named Mamta Patel in 2008 which he had concealed from Zeel,” said an official from Ghatlodia police station.

When Zeel took up the issue with Priyank, Priyank walked out on her on April 21, 2015. She then filed a court complaint against Priyank. The couple separated two years ago. TNN

More flights operate, but passenger footfalls stay low

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:06.11.2020

Even though the number of flights operating from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad has risen, with more domestic and international routes opening, passenger footfalls at the airport have remained low. Aircraft capacity continues to be underutilized, according to data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Some 2.74 lakh passengers used SVPI airport in Ahmedabad in September 2020, against 9.21lakhin September 2019.This means passenger footfalls declined by 70%.

Travel agents said footfalls havedeclinedduetowidespread apprehensions among people about travel due to the pandemic. “Airport passenger movement has improved marginally in September, but with restrictions on international travel and limited leisure travel, the number of travellers is really low,” said a city-based tour operator.

Corporate travel has also been affected asseveralentitieshave imposed travel restrictions on employees. This segment contributed about 40% of all travellers. Only people who have to address emergencies are travelling, tour operators in the city said. The four major airports in the state — Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara andRajkot—saw passenger footfalls decline by an average of 78% this August, against the same month last year.

Things are likely to improve marginally in October and November due to the festival season, sources said.

“Holiday inquiries for the festive season are good. Even though most people are reluctant to travel by air, inquiries for certain destinations are coming in and this will improve passenger footfalls,” said Manish Sharma, secretary, Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI), Gujarat.

The travel and tourism business has taken a major hit and many players have turned to alternative businesses.

UGC leaves it to VCs and state govts to decide on reopening of classes on campus

UGC leaves it to VCs and state govts to decide on reopening of classes on campus

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:06.11.2020 

The UGC on Thursday notified guidelines for reopening of higher education institutions, leaving it to the vice-chancellors (VC) and heads of the centrally funded institutions to take decision on resumption of physical classes on campus while respective state governments will have to take call with regard to state universities and colleges.

The guidelines on reopening of campuses, closed since March due to the pandemic, suggest a six-day schedule, reducing class size, setting up isolation facilities on campus and Covid-19 screening of students, faculty and staff, among other things.

The universities and colleges have been asked to plan the opening of campuses in a phased manner, with such activities that adhere to Covid-19 protocols, including social distancing, use of face masks and other protective measures. The commission said universities and colleges may consider breaking classes into multiple sections to maintain physical distancing and depending on availability of space, allow up to 50% of students on a rotation basis to attend classes.

“For centrally funded higher education institutions, the head should satisfy herself or himself regarding the feasibility of opening of physical classes and decide accordingly,” the guidelines stated, “For all other institutions, including state universities, private universities, and colleges, opening of physical classes to be done as per the decision of the respective state governments.”

“The universities and colleges shall only be allowed to open if they are outside the containment zones. Further, students and staff living in containment zones will not be allowed to attend the colleges ... The faculty, staff and students of the university and college should be encouraged to download ‘Aarogya Setu App’,” the commission said.

Full report on www.toi.in

WhatsApp launches ‘disappearing messages’ option

WhatsApp launches ‘disappearing messages’ option

Sindhu.Hariharan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:06.11.2020 

Amid recent concerns around privacy of WhatsApp chats, the messaging app now wants to give users more control over their conversations.

WhatsApp has introduced a ‘Disappearing messages’ feature for its chats, which is being rolled out worldwide across both Android and iOS starting Thursday.

When the feature is turned on in a chat, messages part of the particular chat will disappear after seven days, helping keep the conversation more private.

In one-to-one chats, either person can turn the disappearing messages feature on or off, and in groups, the admins will have the control.

Photos, videos and other media files shared in the chats will also disappear if this feature is enabled, but they will still be saved on the phone if auto-download is on.

In a significant move, the feature of disappearing chats also extends to the chat backups.

A spokesperson for the app told TOI that if a user creates a backup before a message disappears, the disappearing message will be included in the backup, but the next time they back up their chats, the expired message is removed from the backup. “But it will still be there between the time it expires and when a user next backs up,” the person said. WhatsApp said it decided to start with a seven-day window since the timeline “offers peace of mind that conversations aren’t permanent, while remaining practical so you don’t forget what you were chatting about.”

As per WhatsApp’s FAQ page, this won’t work if a user forwards the message to a chat window that has disabled the feature, or takes a screenshot of a disappearing message and save it before it disappears. Similarly, if you reply to a disappearing message by quoting it, the quoted text might remain in the chat even after seven days.

The concept of making digital conversations short-lived and fleeting was earlier popularized by WhatsApp’s rival Telegram and social network platform Snapchat, who have had this feature for a few years now.

Over 100 from TN, Pondy ranked among world’s top 2% scientists

Over 100 from TN, Pondy ranked among world’s top 2% scientists

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

06.11.2020

medicine. The report was based on a data-set of one lakh top scientists from 22 main fields and 176 sub-fields. Based on various indicators, mainly the impact of the scientists in terms of citations of their publications, the Stanford team has identified the world’s top 2% scientists.

Specialist doctors, researchers and teaching faculty from more than a dozen premier institutions Puducherry: More than 100 experts from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have featured in the top 2% of scientists worldwide, in a report by Stanford University. The Stanford report was published in the October issue of PLOS, a nonprofit and an open-access publisher empowering researchers to accelerate progress in science and including Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Trichy, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Madurai Kamaraj University, Bharathiar University and Bharathidasan University in Tamil Nadu, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) and Pondicherry University in Puducherry, are among the top 2%.

The list includes N Kumarasamy (virology) from Chennai Antiviral Research and Treatment Clinical Research Site, Jipmer director Rakesh Aggarwal (gastroenterology & hepatology), former Jipmer director S C Parija (tropical medicine) and S A Abbasi (strategic, defence & security studies) from Pondicherry University among others.

Kumarasamy is the chief and director of the centre at Voluntary Health Services (VHS) Hospital in Chennai, an advisor and expert panel member for WHO - ARV treatment guidelines committee and a clinical advisor to Clinton Health Access Initiative. Parija has two patents, authored 16 books and more than 350 papers both in the national and international journals of repute.

Actor Vijay denies entry into politics

Actor Vijay denies entry into politics

Chennai:06.11.2020 

Actor Vijay clarified on Thursday he had no connection with the political party registered by his father with the election commission of India and has urged his fans not to join or work for it just because the party was started by his father S A Chandrasekar.

The actor released a statement shortly after his father and film director S A Chandrasekar said a political party in the name of ‘All India Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam’ has been registeredwiththeElection Commission of India. “I got to know through the media that my father has started a political party. I statecategorically to myfans andthe public that I do not have any connection, directly or indirectly,withthe political party started by my father,” he said. He urged his fans not to join the political party just because his father started it. “I request my fans to not join the political party or workfor itjustbecause it was started by my father. I like to inform you that there is no connection between that party and our ‘Iyakkam’,” he said. TNN

MNM is third front in TN, says Kamal Haasan

MNM is third front in TN, says Kamal Haasan

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:6.11.2020 

The two-year-old Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has emerged as the third front in the Dravidian land, its president Kamal Haasan, claimed on Thursday. Pointing out that he would seek the support of his good friend and actor Rajinikanth, the actor-turned-politician said this would be only if the 71-year-old actor did not launch his own party.

Asserting that the MNM would be a serious contender in the 2021 polls, vice-president R Mahendran announced that Kamal would kick-start the election campaign on November 26 and 27 in Trichy and Madurai districts and would travel to Coimbatore and Salem districts on December 13 and 14.

“The party’s top priority is to weed out corruption,” Kamal Haasan said. “We will invite upright people (politicians) to be part of the party,” he said, adding that he got a lot of positive inputs from functionaries during a recent threeday meeting.

The party infrastructure has been strengthened and functionaries in 68,000-odd booths digitally connected. The party is in the process of selecting candidates, he said, asserting that “the voice of MNM” would be heard in the assembly after the polls. He would also be in the fray, he said.

Welcoming TN’s decision on the BJP’s Vel Yatra, Kamal said “Vellai (employment) is important now, not Vel”. Despite repeated questions, he refused to be drawn into the row over Manusmriti, saying, “It is not in practice now. So, it's not apt to talk about it.”

HC to hear plea to extend 7.5% med seats quota

HC to hear plea to extend 7.5% med seats quota

Madurai:6.11.2020 

The Madras high courton Thursday agreedtohear a plea which sought to extend the benefit of the GO passed by the state government providing 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students who had cleared NEET for admission in medical courses, to the students of government aided schools as well.

On Thursday morning, an advocate I Pinaygash made the mention before the court to hear a petition filed in this regard. A division bench of justices N Kirubakaran andBPugalendhisaid that they would take up the petition for hearing on November 9, Monday.

The petitioner V Preethi, a resident of Tirunelveli district, stated that she had passed Class XII from a government aided school and had appeared for NEET exam.

She stated that most students studying in government aidedschools are alsofrom humble backgrounds aspiring to get into medical education. Hence, the petitioner sought to quash the GO for excluding aided students and sought to extend the benefit to them as well. TNN

Ensuring social distancing will be difficult, say colleges

Ensuring social distancing will be difficult, say colleges

UGC Releases Detailed Set Of Guidelines

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:6.11.2020 

The government has said colleges can reopen on November 16, but institutions are worried about ensuring social distancing on crowded campuses. Some plan to accommodate only science students in hostel, while others mull allowing only final year students on campuses.

The higher education department is yet to release any standard operating procedures, but the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday released a detailed set of guidelines for universities and colleges.

As per the guidelines, institution have been urged to reopen in a phased manner, not to allow more than 50% of the students on campus at any given point of time and to give preference to research scholars, postgraduates and final year students.

But, many colleges have more than 5,000 students in two shifts. Thomas Amirtham, principal of Loyola College which has around 10,000 students coming in the mornings and evenings, said it would be tough. “We conducted a survey among students and more than 60% of them are not willing to come back. Students from north-eastern states and outside the country may not be able to return in the absence of regular flight and train services,” he said, adding that the ideal time to reopen would be in January after the festival season.

The management of the college, which was a Covid care centre, is the process of being handed back the buildings from the corporation. “They [corporation officials] are in the process of removing the mattresses. After that, we will disinfect buildings,” he said.

Madras Christian College plans to allow only science students who need lab classes in hostels and in classrooms. “We have more than 8,000 students in both shifts and will finalise the plan after getting SOPs from the government,” said principal Paul Wilson.

He said the college also needs to set up a mini hospital or clinic to isolate the students with fever and other symptoms.

Ethiraj College for Women, with 8,200 students, wants only 50% of students on the campus at any given time. “The rest will attend classes online,” said principal S Kothai. The college is converting four-bed rooms to two-bed rooms in hostels and plans a fever ward.

Women’s Christian College principal Lilian Jasper said it would be difficult to accommodate all 70 students in a class at the same time. “We are thinking of getting third year students first.”

Guru Nanak College, with 8,400 students, plans only practical classes after reopening as theory classes were completed online. “It would be difficult to maintain social distancing during breaks,” said principal M G Ragunathan. He further said teachers would find it difficult to teach for five hours wearing masks.

Engineering colleges, which almost completed classes for students online except freshers, have a bigger challenge as many of their students are hostellers.

“Parents are not willing to send their wards to colleges in this situation. If a student gets infected, it could spread fast,” said RM Kishore, vicechairman, RMK Engineering College. Most colleges situated are in far-off places and canteens are necessary. “Canteens or hostels could become Covid hotspots. We cannot have full strength,” said B Chidambararajan, principal of SRM Valliammai Engineering College.

EWS applications keep officials on their toes

EWS applications keep officials on their toes

Huge challenge in ascertaining assets and caste of beneficiaries

Published: 02nd November 2020 03:07 AM 

For representational purposes

By B Anbuselvan 

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The issuance of income and asset certificates to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) of forward communities has been keeping the revenue officials on their toes. About 33 per cent of applications received for EWS certificates have been rejected by revenue authorities across the State since May 2019. 

Ground reality

A visit to the taluk offices in Chennai revealed that the issuance of EWS certificate poses a huge challenge to authorities as both assets and caste of beneficiaries are ascertained. Applications of other State people settled in the city have been returned, said revenue officials. During securitisation, verification of assets owned by parents of applicants remains a laborious task for officers. Undivided assets owned by grandparents of applicants were excluded while calculating the income. Thus, a person who is legal heir for several crores of assets still qualifies to get EWS. 

Who are deemed eligible?

The government norms mandate that annual income of EWS applicant’s family should be less than `8 lakh per annum. In addition, the beneficiary should not own five acres of agricultural land, residential flat of 1,000 sq feet, residential plot of 100 sq yards in municipalities and residential plot of 200 sq yards in areas other than notified municipalities. The earnings of applicant, parents and siblings aged above 18 are accounted for while assessing the gross annual income. 

Aspirants explain the other side of EWS quota

For example, a woman owns an undivided property worth `15 crore in Pallavaram. If her only son’s annual income is less than `8 lakh and meets the conditions laid by the government, then his children are eligible for the EWS quota. “Though her son is the only legal heir for her property, his children are eligible for quota since the ‘undivided’ property has not been included while calculating the family’s income,” said a UPSC aspirant in Chennai. 

When asked, Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration K Phanindra Reddy said, “The asset earned by an individual need not necessarily be transferred to his/her legal heirs. The property owner can donate it to some ‘charity’ or give it to another individual. Hence, such properties are not accounted for, while assessing the applicant’s asset.”

According to official data, of the 4,688 applications seeking EWS certificates received till the third week of October, 2,203 (46 per cent) were given income and asset certificates. “As many as 1,391 applications were rejected and 173 returned back to applicants. About 921 applications are in different stages of scrutiny, said Phanindra Reddy. He added that inter-State and intra-State migrants can apply for EWS in respective native places only. “This is to ensure that OBC or other caste members are not given EWS.” 

‘Can be easily misused’

Arun Kumar, faculty, Shankar IAS Academy, Chennai, said economic condition is a dynamic factor which can change any time, unlike caste. “Except those employed in State and Central governments and its undertakings and a few private companies, all others can claim EWS quota by forging documents. Given that earnings through agriculture not brought under ambit of income tax and assets documents largely remaining on papers, EWS quota can easily be misused.”

Cut-off marks

UPSC job aspirants and those preparing for NEET, JEE can apply for EWS certificates. With cut-off marks for EWS lower than other categories in competitive exams, revenue officials said applicants must ascertain their caste by providing school transfer certificates.

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