'மனித நேயம் மிக முக்கியமானது': மூக்குக் கண்ணாடி திருடப்பட்ட விவகாரத்தில் உயர்நீதிமன்றம் கண்டனம்

'மனித நேயம் மிக முக்கியமானது': மூக்குக் கண்ணாடி திருடப்பட்ட விவகாரத்தில் உயர்நீதிமன்றம் கண்டனம்

09.12.2020

மும்பை தலோஜா சிறைச்சாலையில் அடைக்கப்பட்ட சமூக ஆா்வலா் கௌதம் நவலகாவின் கண்ணாடி திருடப்பட்ட விவகாரத்துக்கு கண்டனம் தெரிவித்த மும்பை உயா்நீதிமன்றம், மனிதநேயத்தை உணா்த்தும் வகையில் சிறைத்துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு பயிற்சி பட்டறை நடத்த வேண்டிய அவசியம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதாக கருத்து தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

எல்கா் பரிஷத்-மாவோயிஸ்ட் இணைப்பு வழக்கில் கௌதம் நவலகா குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்டு மும்பை தலோஜா சிறையில் கைதியாக அடைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளாா். இவரது கண்ணாடி கடந்த நவ. 27-ஆம் தேதி சிறைச்சாலைக்குள் திருடப்பட்டதாக நவலகாவின் குடும்பத்தினா் தெரிவித்துள்ளனா். கண்ணாடி இல்லாமல் நவலகா 'கிட்டத்தட்ட பாா்வையற்றவராக'வே இருப்பாா் என்பதால், அவருக்கு ஒரு ஜோடி புதிய கண்ணாடிகளை கூரியா் தபால் மூலம் அவரது குடும்பத்தாா் இம்மாத தொடக்கத்தில் அனுப்பி வைத்தனா். இந்த தபாலை ஏற்க மறுத்த சிறை அதிகாரிகள், அதனை திருப்பி அனுப்பி விட்டனா்.

கண்ணாடி இல்லாததால் நவலகா கடும் மன உளைச்சலுக்கு ஆளானதாகவும், அவரைச் சுற்றி நடக்கும் விஷயங்களைக் காண முடியாததால் ரத்த அழுத்தம் அதிகரித்து விட்டதாகக் கூறி திங்கள்கிழமை மாலை நவலகாவின் வழக்குரைஞா்கள் மும்பை உயா்நீதிமன்றத்தில் நவலகாவின் மனைவி சஹ்பா ஹுசைன் சாா்பில் மனுத்தாக்கல் செய்தனா்.

இந்த வழக்கை செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை விசாரித்த உயா்நீதிமன்ற நீதிபதிகள் எஸ்.எஸ். ஷிண்டே, எம்.எஸ்.காா்னிக் ஆகியோா் அடங்கிய அமா்வு கூறுகையில், சிறைச்சாலைக்குள் நவலகாவின் கண்ணாடிகள் திருடப்பட்டிருப்பது ஆச்சா்யம் அளிக்கிறது. அவரது கண்ணாடிக்கு பதிலாக அவரது வீட்டாா் கூரியா் மூலம் அனுப்பிய கண்ணாடியை ஏற்காமல் அதிகாரிகள் திருப்பி அனுப்பியுள்ளனா்.

'மனிதநேயம் என்பது மிக முக்கியமானது. இதனையொட்டியே மற்ற அனைத்தும் பின்பற்றப்படும். நவலகாவின் பாா்வை குறித்த பிரச்னையை நீதிமன்றம் புரிந்து கொண்டுள்ளது. சிறை அதிகாரிகள் மனித நேயத்துடன் நடந்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். அவா்களுக்கு ஒரு பயிற்சிப் பட்டறை நடத்த இதுவே சரியான நேரம்.

இந்த சிறிய பொருளை மறுப்பதன் மூலம் எல்லாம் மாறி விடுமா? இதுபோன்ற மனிதாபிமான உதவிகளை அளிக்க அதிகாரிகள் மறுக்கக் கூடாது' என்று சிறைத்துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு நீதிபதிகள் கண்டனம் தெரிவித்தனா்.

கடந்த 2017-ஆம் ஆண்டு டிச. 31-ஆம் ஆண்டு மகாராஷ்டிரத்தின் புணே மாவட்டத்தில் எல்கா் பரிஷத் மாநாடு நடைபெற்றது. இந்த மாநாட்டிற்கு மாவோயிஸ்ட்டுகள் நிதியளித்ததாக போலீஸாா் குற்றம் சாட்டி கௌதம் நவலேகா மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்தனா். இந்த வழக்கை விசாரித்த என்ஐஏ முன்னிலையில், கடந்த ஏப். 14-ஆம் தேதி நவலகா சரணடைந்தாா்.

Dailyhunt

Disclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Dinamani

சென்னை - சேலம் எட்டு வழிச் சாலைக்கு அனுமதி!

சென்னை - சேலம் எட்டு வழிச் சாலைக்கு அனுமதி!

Updated : டிச 08, 2020 23:13 | Added : டிச 08, 2020 22:59 |

சென்னை: சென்னை - சேலம் எட்டு வழிச்சாலை திட்டத்திற்கு, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளது. இத்திட்டத்தை எதிர்த்து தொடரப்பட்ட மனுக்களை தள்ளுபடி செய்த நீதிபதிகள், நிலம் கையகப்படுத்துதல் உள்ளிட்ட, இத்திட்டம் தொடர்பான நடவடிக்கைகளை, மத்திய அரசும், தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையமும் தொடரலாம் என, பச்சைக்கொடி காட்டியுள்ளனர்.

சென்னை - சேலம் இடையே, 277 கி.மீ., துாரத்துக்கு, எட்டு வழி பசுமை சாலை திட்டத்தை, 1௦ ஆயிரம் கோடி ரூபாய் மதிப்பீட்டில் செயல்படுத்துவதற்கு, நிலங்கள் கையகப்படுத்த, மத்திய அரசு அறிவிப்பாணை வெளியிட்டது.

மக்கள் நலன்

இதை எதிர்த்து, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில், விவசாயி பி.வி.கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி, காங்., வழக்கறிஞர் ஏ.பி.சூரியபிரகாசம், பா.ம.க., - எம்.பி., அன்புமணி, வழக்கறிஞர் சுரேஷ்குமார் உள்ளிட்டோர் மனுக்கள் தாக்கல் செய்தனர்.மனுக்களை விசாரித்த நீதிபதிகள் சிவஞானம், பவானி சுப்பராயன் அடங்கிய, 'டிவிஷன் பெஞ்ச்' பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு: தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலையாக கட்டமைக்க, பராமரிக்க, நிர்வகிக்க, காலியிடங்களை கையகப்படுத்த, மத்திய அரசுக்கு போதிய அதிகாரங்கள் உள்ளன.

தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை திட்டத்துக்காக, நிலங்களை கையகப்படுத்துவதற்கு முன், சுற்றுச்சூழல் ஒப்புதல் தேவையில்லை என்ற, மத்திய அரசு வழக்கறிஞரின் வாதங்களை, நாங்கள் ஏற்கவில்லை. பொருளாதார நலனை விட, சுற்றுச்சூழல் பாதுகாப்புக்கு, அதிக முக்கியத்துவம் உள்ளது. விவசாயத்தை பாதுகாப்பதும், மக்கள் நலன் தான் என்பதை, மறந்து விடக்கூடாது. எனவே, சுற்றுச்சூழல் ஒப்புதல் இன்றி, திட்டத்தை அமல்படுத்த அனுமதிப்பது, அரசியலமைப்பு சட்டத்தை மீறுவதாகும்.இந்த திட்டத்தை அமல்படுத்த வேண்டும் என, மத்திய அரசு இன்னும் கருதினால், தேவையான நடைமுறைகளை கண்டிப்பாக பின்பற்ற வேண்டும்.

கருத்து கேட்பு

சுற்றுச்சூழல் பாதிப்பு குறித்த விரிவான ஆய்வை, மத்திய அரசு மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும். சுற்றுச்சூழல் ஒப்புதல் கோருவதற்கு முன், பொது மக்கள் கருத்து கேட்பும் அவசியம்.எனவே, நிலம் கையகப்படுத்தும் நடவடிக்கைகள் ரத்து செய்யப்படுகின்றன. தனியார் நிலங்களை, அரசு நிலங்களாக, வருவாய் ஆவணங்களில் குறிப்பிட்டிருந்ததை மாற்றி, புதிய உத்தரவை பிறப்பிக்க வேண்டும். அதை, நில உரிமையாளர்களுக்கு தெரிவிக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, டிவிஷன் பெஞ்ச் உத்தரவிட்டது.இதை எதிர்த்து, உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில், மத்திய அரசும், தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையமும் மேல்முறையீடு செய்தன. பாதிக்கப்பட்ட விவசாயிகள், அன்புமணி தரப்பிலும், மனுக்கள் தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டன.

இம்மனுக்களை, நீதிபதிகள் ஏ.எம்.கான்வில்கர், பி.ஆர்.கவாய், கிருஷ்ணா முராரி ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய அமர்வு விசாரித்தது. சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்ற உத்தரவில் மாற்றம் செய்து, மூன்று நீதிபதிகள் அடங்கிய உச்ச நீதிமன்ற அமர்வு, 140 பக்கங்கள் அடங்கிய உத்தரவை பிறப்பித்தது.

தீர்ப்பின் முக்கிய அம்சம்:

தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை அமைப்பதற்காக, நிலங்கள் கையகப்படுத்துவதற்கான அறிவிப்பாணை பிறப்பிக்கும் வரை, சுற்றுச்சூழல் மற்றும் வனத்துறையின் ஒப்புதலை, மத்திய அரசோ, தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையமோ பெற தேவையில்லை.தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையம், சாலை அமைக்கும் பணிகளை துவங்குவதற்கு முன்னே, சுற்றுச்சூழல் துறையின் ஒப்புதல் பெற வேண்டும். நிலம் கையகப்படுத்தும் நடவடிக்கைகள் முடிந்து, தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையத்திடம் நிலம் ஒப்படைக்கும் வரை அல்லது ஒப்படைத்த பின்னே, இது நடக்கும்.

எனவே, நிலத்தை மத்திய அரசு ஒப்படைத்த பின்னே, தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையம் பணிகளை துவக்க முடியும். அவ்வாறு நிலம் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்ட பின், சுற்றுச்சூழல் மற்றும் வனப் பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தின் கீழ், உரிய அனுமதி பெறுவதற்கு, தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையம் விண்ணப்பிக்க முடியும்.

அதனால், நெடுஞ்சாலை அமைப்பதற்கான இடத்தை கண்டறியும் வரை, சுற்றுச்சூழல் மற்றும் வனப்பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தின்படி அனுமதி கேட்டு, விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற, கேள்வி எழாது.

சுற்றுச்சூழல் மற்றும் வனப் பாதுகாப்பு சட்டப்படி அளிக்கப்பட்ட விண்ணப்பத்தை பரிசீலித்து, தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையத்துக்கு, அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த அனுமதி செல்லுமா, சரிதானா என்பது பற்றி, நாங்கள் எந்த கருத்தும் தெரிவிக்கவில்லை.

ஏனென்றால், இதுகுறித்த பிரச்னையை, உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் வைக்கவில்லை. அதனால், உரிய நீதிமன்றத்தில், இதுகுறித்து கேள்வி எழுப்புவது, பாதிக்கப்படுபவர்களை பொறுத்தது.

எனவே, நிலம் கையகப்படுத்துவது தொடர்பான அறிவிப்பாணையை எதிர்த்த மனுக்கள் தள்ளுபடி செய்யப்படுகின்றன. தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை அமைப்பதற்காக, நிலம் கையகப்படுத்தும் நடவடிக்கைகளை சட்டப்படி, மத்திய அரசு, தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையம் மேற்கொள்ளலாம்.

அறிவிப்பாணை பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டதால் மட்டுமே, அரசு வசம் நிலங்கள் வந்து விடாது. நிலம் கையகப்படுத்தும் நடவடிக்கைகள் முடியும் வரை, நிலங்களை அரசு வசம் எடுக்கும் வரை, வருவாய் துறை ஆவணங்களில் மாற்றம் செய்ததை ஏற்க முடியாது என்ற, உயர் நீதிமன்ற உத்தரவில், நாங்கள் உடன்படுகிறோம். இதில், குறுக்கிட தேவையில்லை. நில உரிமையாளர்களின் மனுக்கள் தள்ளுபடி செய்யப்படுகின்றன.இவ்வாறு, நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

போராட்டம் தொடரும்!

எட்டு வழிச்சாலை திட்டத்துக்கு எதிராக, போராட்டத்தை தொடர, விவசாயிகள் முடிவு செய்துள்ளனர்.சென்னை - சேலம் எட்டு வழிச்சாலை திட்டத்தை மறுவரையறை செய்து செயல்படுத்த, நேற்று உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் அனுமதி வழங்கியது. இந்த தீர்ப்பு, விவசாயிகள் மத்தியில் அதிர்ச்சியை ஏற்படுத்தியது. சேலம், ராமலிங்கபுரத்தில், எட்டு வழிச்சாலை திட்ட எதிர்ப்பு விவசாயிகள், நேற்று மதியம், அடுத்த கட்ட நடவடிக்கை குறித்து ஆலோசனையில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.பின், விவசாயிகள் கூறியதாவது:தீர்ப்பு தற்காலிகமாக மகிழ்ச்சியை அளித்தாலும், மறைமுக ஆதரவு அளித்தது போன்றே உள்ளது.

ஏற்கனவே, சேலம் - சென்னை இடையே, பல்வேறு சாலைகள் உள்ள நிலையில், இந்த திட்டம் தேவையில்லாதது.மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள், இந்த திட்டத்தை, ஒருபோதும் செயல்படுத்தக் கூடாது. விவசாயிகளின் நலன் கருதி, நீதிமன்றமும் இதில் தலையிட்டு, விவசாயிகள் நலனை காக்க வேண்டும். இந்த திட்டத்துக்கு எதிராக, தொடர் காத்திருப்பு போராட்டம் மேற்கொள்ள முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. விரைவில், கவன ஈர்ப்பு ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் நடத்த உள்ளோம்.

இவ்வாறு, அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

திருப்பதி லட்டு பிரசாதம் 'டோர் டெலிவரி'யா?

 திருப்பதி லட்டு பிரசாதம் 'டோர் டெலிவரி'யா?

Updated : டிச 09, 2020 04:49 | Added : டிச 09, 2020 04:46

திருப்பதி: ஏழுமலையான் லட்டு பிரசாதத்தை உலகம் முழுதும், 'டோர் டெலிவரி' செய்வதாக, சமூக வலை தளங்களில் விளம்பரம் வெளியாகும் போலி இணையதளம் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க உள்ளதாக, தேவஸ்தான அறங்காவலர் குழு தலைவர் சுப்பாரெட்டி தெரிவித்தார்.

திருப்பதி, திருமலை ஏழுமலையான் லட்டு பிரசாதத்திற்கு என தனி சிறப்பு உள்ளது. திருமலையில் கோவிலுக்குள் தயாரிக்கப்படும் பிரசாதத்திற்கு மதிப்பும் உள்ளது. அதனால், ஏழுமலையான் தரிசனத்திற்கு அடுத்தபடியாக, அனைவரும் வாங்கி உண்டு, மற்றவர்களுக்கும் வழங்குவது லட்டு பிரசாதம்.தற்போது, திருமலையில் இந்த லட்டு பிரசாதத்தை, பக்தர்கள் தேவையான அளவில் வாங்கி கொள்ளும் வகையில் தேவஸ்தானம் ஏற்பாடு செய்துள்ளது

.இந்நிலையில், இந்த லட்டு பிரசாதத்தை உலகத்தின் உள்ள மூலை முடுக்குகளுக்கும் டோர் டெலிவரி செய்வதாக, www.balaji prasadam.com என்ற போலி இணையதளம் குறித்த விளம்பரங்கள் சமூக வலைதளங்களில் பரவி வருகிறது. அதனால், அந்த இணையதளத்தின் மீது தகுந்த நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும்படி, தேவஸ்தான அறங்காவலர் குழு தலைவர் சுப்பாரெட்டி, கண்காணிப்பு துறைக்கு உத்தரவிட்டு உள்ளார்.

தேவஸ்தானத்தின் தொழில்நுட்பத்துறை வாயிலாக, இந்த இணையதளத்தை முடக்க வேண்டும் என்றும், அதில் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். பக்தர்கள் இதுபோன்ற போலி இணையதளங்களை நம்பி ஏமாற வேண்டாம் என்று அவர், வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளார்.

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 பொருட்கள் வாங்காத கார்டுகளை அரிசி கார்டாக மாற்ற வலியுறுத்தல்

Added : டிச 08, 2020 23:29

சென்னை:எந்த பொருளும் வாங்காதோர், தங்கள் ரேஷன் கார்டுகளை, அரிசி கார்டாக மாற்றித்தரும்படி, தமிழக அரசுக்கு கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

தமிழகத்தில், முன்னுரிமை, முன்னுரிமை அந்தியோதயா, முன்னுரிமையற்ற அரிசி, முன்னுரிமையற்ற சர்க்கரை, எந்த பொருளும் வாங்காதது என்ற பிரிவுகளில், ரேஷன் கார்டு வழங்கப்படுகின்றன. அவை, விண்ணப்பதாரரின், விருப்பத்தின் பேரில் வழங்கப்படுகிறது.எந்த பொருளும் வாங்காத கார்டுதாரர், ரேஷன் கார்டை முகவரி சான்றாக மட்டும் பயன்படுத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

தற்போது, 5.80 லட்சம் சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்கள், இலவச அரிசி பெறும் வகையில், அரிசி கார்டாக மாற்றிக் கொள்ள, தமிழக அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளது.அதற்காக, சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களிடம் இருந்து, விண்ணப்பங்கள் பெறப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. இந்நிலையில், எந்த பொருளும் வாங்காத, 50 ஆயிரம் கார்டுதாரர்களும், தங்களின் கார்டை, அரிசி கார்டாக மாற்றி தரும்படி, அரசுக்கு கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

இது குறித்து, எந்த பொருளும் வாங்காத கார்டுதாரர்கள் கூறியதாவது:நல்ல வருவாய் ஈட்டும் நிலையில் இருந்து, எந்த பொருளும் வாங்காத கார்டை வாங்கினோம். ஓய்வு பெற்றதால் வருவாய் குறைந்து, ஏழைகளாகி விட்டோம். எனவே, சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களை போல, எந்த பொருளும் வாங்காத கார்டுதாரர்களையும், அரிசி அல்லது சர்க்கரை கார்டாக வகை மாற்றம் செய்ய, அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

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எஸ்.சி., - எஸ்.டி., பிரிவுக்கு 11ல் மருத்துவ கவுன்சிலிங்

Added : டிச 09, 2020 00:03

சென்னை:பட்டியல் இனத்தவர்கள்; பழங்குடிஇனத்தவருக்கான மருத்துவ படிப்பு மாணவர் சேர்க்கை, வரும், 11ம் தேதி துவங்குகிறது.

மருத்துவ படிப்புகளுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கவுன்சிலிங், சென்னை நேரு உள் விளையாட்டு அரங்கில் நடந்து வருகிறது. நேற்றைய கவுன்சிலிங்கில், பொது பிரிவில், 594 மாணவர்கள் அழைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தனர். அதில், 502 பேர் பங்கேற்று, அரசு கல்லுாரிகளில், 46 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - 19 பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்களை பெற்றனர். சுயநிதி கல்லுாரிகளில், 116 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - 17 பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்களில் மாணவர்கள் சேர்ந்தனர். மொத்தம், 198 இடங்கள் நிரம்பின.

தற்போது, அரசு கல்லுாரிகளில், 367 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - 78 பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்கள்; சுயநிதி கல்லுாரிகளில், 314 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - 949 பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்களும் உள்ளன. பொது பிரிவினருக்கான கவுன்சிலிங், நாளை முடிய உள்ளது.இதைத் தொடர்ந்து, பட்டியலினத்தவர்கள், அருந்ததியினர், பழங்குடியினருக்கு, 11, 12, 14ம் தேதிகளில் கவுன்சிலிங் நடைபெறும் என, அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Four more cases at secretariat, tally 97

Four more cases at secretariat, tally 97

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:  09.12.2020

The number of corona positive cases in the secretariat rose to 97 on Tuesday. Employees of 30 departments in the secretariat have contracted the infection so far. Senior bureaucrats are also among the 97 who have tested positive so far.

The latest cases pertain to two home department employees and two people of other departments, including a woman employee. Before this week, a woman employee of the panchayat department and an employee attached to the energy department were found corona positive.

At least 22 employees in the secretariat have been found corona positive in November. The month-wise trend of employees being detected positive in the secretariat shows that the rate of employees getting corona positive had slightly gone down in October, but shot up again in November.

July and November witnessed the highest corona positive cases in the secretariat with 22 cases in the months.

September witnessed the second highest number of corona positives with 20 people testing positive. The first corona positive case was reported in May in the secretariat. Only one positive case was found in May. In June, the number of corona positive cases rose to 8 while it shot to 22 in July. Eight employees were found corona positive in August and 20 in September. Over 12 employees tested positive in October and 22 in November. Three employees have been found corona positive this month.

Almost all the big departments have witnessed corona positive cases. Departments in which corona positives have been found in all three Vallabh Bhavan buildings are the commercial taxes department, urban administration department, energy department, CM secretariat, health department, finance department, law department, medical education and home department.

Of the total found corona positives in three buildings of Vallabh Bhavan, two employees have lost lives due to corona so far. Sudhir Nayak, president of the Mantralayin Karmachari Sangh said, earlier the corona test of all employees who came in contact with a corona positive employee was conducted, but now, employees are told that test would be conducted only if they get corona symptoms.

NO RESPITE

IMA stir on Friday against surgery nod for Ayurveda docs

IMA stir on Friday against surgery nod for Ayurveda docs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:  09.12.2020

Indian Medical Association (IMA) Greater Bhopal Chapter held press conference opposing the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) decision to allow Ayurveda practitioners to perform surgeries, here on Tuesday. IMA has called for withdrawal of all non-essential non-Covid services between 6 am to 6 pm on Friday, December 11 to protest the move.

“We demand the withdrawal of a recently issued notification allowing incoming Ayurveda practitioners do general surgeries (like ophthalmology and dental procedures),” said IMA Greater Bhopal Chapter secretary and RKDF medical college associate professor, Dr Dr Sudeep Pathak.

IMA has earlier opposed gazette notification by union government that allows Ayurveda doctors to perform surgeries. As per decisions of 224 emergency CWC Meeting of IMA held on November 29, the doctors association has deemed the order as ‘predatory poaching on modern medicine’.

Some doctors at the press conference linked the measure to quackery, allowing other traditional medicines (Ayurveda) to practice allopathy. IMA greater Bhopal is opposed to the gazette notification in which Ayurveda doctors are being prepared and authorised to perform 58 different kind of surgeries including general surgery orthopaedics, ophthalmology, ENT and dental procedures and surgeries.

During the one day stir, emergency services including casualty, labour rooms, emergency surgeries will not be affected, IMA clarified. Inpatient services including ICUs, critical care and others will function as normal.

No exam till class 8? Not binding on our online tests, say CBSE schools

No exam till class 8? Not binding on our online tests, say CBSE schools

‘Following Central Board’s Guidelines, Going Ahead With Internal Exams’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:  09.12.2020 

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced on December 4 that there won’t be any examination up to class 8. Is it binding on all schools, or just those affilitated to the state board?

Private schools affiliated to CBSE are preparing for online exams for all the classes. “CBSE schools are not bound by the state government’s decision, but follow CBSE guidelines. The state government may decide that they will take only tuition fees during the lockdown period. They may also decide to keep the schools closed, but they can’t stop us from taking online exams. They may decide this for government schools, but not unaided private schools affiliated to CBSE,” said Vini Raj Modi, vice-president of Association of Unaided Private Schools of MP.

Pointing out that there were online half-yearly exams in both private and government schools, he questioned why final exams cannot be held in the same mode if schools remain closed during the remainder of this academic session.

Modi said that there is a big difference between the class 5 and class 8 exams organised in the CBSE schools and those affiliated to MP Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE). The CBSE exams of the two classes are internal exams while MPBSE exams of class 5 and 8 are board exams.

Shantanu Sharma, who runs a private school, Sanskar Bharti Vidya Peeth, at Katara Hills, said: “The chief minister has announced that students of up to class 8 would be evaluated on the basis of project work, but I don’t think the state government has any objection if schools organise online exams for their students, much in the same way as they have been doing throughout the year.”

The proprietor of another private school blamed the “adhocism” of the state government for the confusion prevalent among schools, students and parents.”The state government didn’t allow the schools to open, creating an impression among the students that there would either be general promotion this year or they will be promoted to the next class based on their performance in internal tests or their past performance in the previous classes. Now, they are saying there would be exams, from class 9 to class 12. They allowed schools to charge tuition fees and asked for online teaching. Now, the schools logically want to see how well the students have adapted to online teaching. What is wrong in it?”

Pankaj Sharma, whose two daughters study in Delhi Public School in class 4 and 7, said: “There would be online exams of not only students of class 5 and 8, but all the classes.”

‘Exam or no exam, nobody will fail’

When asked whether there would be exams of classes of up to 8th in private schools, district education officer, Nitin Saxena, said, “You call it exams or project work or anything, but students will not be let go without exams — whether in private schools or government schools. The prospect of facing exams keeps students engaged in studies. They will be evaluated based on the project work if that’s the decision if a school takes exams in the name of project work. Let there be exams or no exams, nobody will fail in his class, that’s the crux of the matter.”

AIIMS says virus or pesticide may’ve landed over 500 in hospital in Andhra

AIIMS says virus or pesticide may’ve landed over 500 in hospital in Andhra

Samdani.MN@timesgroup.com

Amaravati   09.12.2020

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said on Tuesday that water contaminated by a virus or pesticide might have triggered the “mystery” disease in Eluru town, even as a leading private lab in Vijayawada found high levels of pesticides, including DDT, in the drinking water.

A separate report by AIIMS Mangalagiri showed high levels of lead and nickel in the blood samples collected from patients.

A team comprising experts from AIIMS Delhi, National Institute of Virology, Pune, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, and National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, is zeroing in on the causative agent — a pesticide or virus, or a combination of both — that led to the hospitalisation of about 500 people in the last three days.

The mysterious sicknesses began on December 6 when a number of people were hospitalised with symptoms that resembled those of epilepsy. More cases were reported from other parts of Eluru and nearby areas.

Eluru is served by two irrigation canals that are interlinked. While one canal originates in Rajahmundry, another takes birth in Vijayawada. Pesticides and fertilisers used by farmers en route are dumped into these canals, which serve as drinking water sources for thousands of villages as well as Eluru city.

The expert team will collect samples from patients and send them to NIV Pune and other laboratories to find out why people were suffering sudden seizures.

Earlier, AIIMS (Mangalagiri) medical superintendent Rakesh Kakkar visited Eluru on Sunday and studied the case sheets of the patients and analysed possible reasons for the sudden illness. Patients exhibited seizures, convulsions, vomiting, foaming and tremors.

The AIIMS team found that a majority of the cases were reported from areas which have common sources of drinking water supply from Pumpula Cheruvu supplied by Eluru municipal corporation.

“Most of the 20 patients interviewed said there was a change in the colour and taste of the water. Some reported that there was a greenish/muddy discolouration of the household water supply,” AIIMS said in its preliminary report to the state government.

“Water/food contamination with virus or heavy metals or organo-compounds could be a suspected cause of the outbreak,” the AIIMS report concluded.

The mysterious sickness in Eluru town began on December 6 when a number of people were hospitalised with symptoms that resembled those of epilepsy

Waiving interest for all during moratorium not viable: Centre

Waiving interest for all during moratorium not viable: Centre

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  09.12.2020

The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that waiver of interest during the moratorium period for all borrowers would not be in the larger national economic interest as it would be not viable and may trigger collapse of the entire banking system.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah that waiver of interest on all loans for the moratorium period would cause loss of more than Rs 6 lakh crore to banks and financial institutions.

“If the banks were to bear this burden, it would necessarily wipe out a substantial and a major part of their net worth, rendering most of the banks unviable and raising a very serious question mark over their survival. This was one of the main reasons why waiver of interest was not even contemplated and only payment of instalments was deferred,” the Centre said.

Explaining the adverse impact on the financial health of the banks, the government contended that waiver of six months’ interest would completely wipe out over half of the net worth of SBI, the country’s largest bank.

The Centre said it was even impossible for banks to bear the burden resulting from waiver of compound interest without passing this on to the depositors or thus affecting their net worth adversely.

“The only solution, under the circumstances, was that the government bear the burden resulting from waiver of compound interest to the defined category of borrowers. This Hon‘ble court would be satisfied that the government bearing this burden would naturally have an impact on several other pressing commitments being faced by the nation,” the Centre said.

School bags can weigh up to 10% of body weight, suggests new policy

School bags can weigh up to 10% of body weight, suggests new policy

Says No Homework Till Class II

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  09.12.2020

School bags should not be more than 10% of the body weight across classes I to X and there should be no homework till Class II. The new ‘Policy on School Bag 2020’ of the Union ministry of education also recommends that the weight of the bag needs to be monitored on a regular basis in schools. They should be light-weight with two padded and adjustable straps that can squarely fit on both shoulders and no wheeled carriers should be allowed as these may hurt children. The policy even recommends that the weight of each textbook may come printed on them by the publishers.

The recommendations have been arrived based on various surveys and studies conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The policy stated that data collected from 3,624 students and 2,992 parents from 352 schools, which include Kendriya Vidyalayas and state government schools were analysed. The surveys found that children upto class IV are carrying bags of weight 2 to 3 kg more than the universally accepted practice of weight which is 10% of the body weight. And the burden of bags increases as children move to higher classes.

The survey findings highlighted that items like textbooks (500 gms to 3.5 kg), notebooks (200 gms to 2.5 kg, lunch box (200 gms to 1 kg), and water bottles (200 gms to 1 kg) are found contributing to excessive load. The weight of the empty bag was also found to be varying from 150 gms to 1 kg. Based on these and other findings, the ‘Policy on School Bag 2020’ made 11 recommendations on the weight of the bags. Apart from restricting the overall weight of the bags to 10% of the body weight of the student, the policy recommended adequate good quality mid-day meal and potable water to all the students.

The policy also recommended that children with special needs (CWSN) be provided a double set of textbooks, through book banks in schools and lockers in classes installed for students with disabilities for storing and retrieving books and other items. Recommending a class-wise school bag weight, the policy stated that there should be no bags in pre-primary. For classes I and II the bag weight range should be between 1.6 kg to 2.2 kg. Likewise it should be 1.7 kg to 2.5 kg, 2 kg to 3 kg, 2.5 to 4 kg, 2.5 kg to 4.5 kg and 3.5 kg to 5 kg for classes III to V, classes VI and VII, class VIII, classes IX and X and classes XI and XII respectively.

The surveys also found that homework too varies class wise from 0 to 2 hours daily for classes I-II, to 2 to 5 hours from classes III onwards. Recommending that total study time should be accounted for while planning the syllabus or course of study for students, especially in higher grades, the policy stated that while there should be no homework upto class II and a maximum of two hours per week for classes III to V, the homework duration for classes VI to VIII should not exceed one hour a day and two hours a day for classes IX and above.

While sharing the report, the MoE in November last week had also requested state governments to adopt relevant suggestions of the School Bag Policy and National Education Policy (NEP 2020).

The policy suggests that school bags should be light-weight with two padded and adjustable straps that can squarely fit on both shoulders

65 overstaying Bangladeshis, 16 Nigerians extradited from K’taka

65 overstaying Bangladeshis, 16 Nigerians extradited from K’taka

Home Min: Govt Acting Tough To Curb Drug Menace

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  09.12.2020

Sixteen Nigerians and 65 Bangladeshis, who were residing in Karnataka illegally, have been extradited to their respective countries in the last few months.

Replying to a question by Congress member Eshwara Khandre on steps taken by the government to curb drug menace, home minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said the government is waging a war against drug peddlers and users, and has taken several stringent measures.

According to him, Nigerians involved in drug business were happy to be arrested as they would get a chance to continue their stay in the state despite the expiry of their visas. “The government, therefore, has decided to send them back to Nigeria. This is the first time so many Nigerians and Bangladeshis have been sent back to their countries,” he added.

Bommai claimed that a record number of cases against drug peddlers and consumers were booked ever since the BJP came to power last year. “In 2019, there were 1,660 cases. This year till now, 3,852 cases have been registered; chargesheets have been filed in 2,085 cases. The number of cases in 2017 and 2018 stood at 1,126 and 1,031, respectively,” he added.

Since the handling capacity of the forensic lab in Bengaluru was very low, there used to be an inordinate delay in narcotic tests. “We have upgraded the facility now and 51 samples can be tested at a time,” he said. Plans are afoot to upgrade forensic science laboratories in Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Mysuru and Hubballi-Dharwad too.

'Drug seizure gone up'

The seizure of drugs, LSD strips and other narcotic substances has also gone up as police have stepped up vigil. “ This year alone, police have seized 5,049 strips of LSD, which is a record. Police have also been successful in tracking 21 darkwebs and arresting suppliers and buyers,” he said.

The minister claimed that as police have been building watertight cases, the accused are not getting bail easily. “A hacker, who was arrested recently, managed to get bail in two days when he was nabbed last time,” he added.

“The government is working on strengthening the rules under the NDPS Act. We’ve asked the national law school to prepare draft rules,” he added.

Khandre and Congress MLA Priyank Kharge alleged the home department is giving licences to recreational clubs in Kalaburagi and Bidar districts, which have been turned into gambling and betting dens.

BJP MLA Nagendra urged the government to curb hookah bars. Congress MLA Prasad Abbayya said in Hubballi-Dharwad, youngsters are using whitener available at stationary shops as drugs. “Not just whitener, French polish is also being used. The government is committed to curbing all sorts of drug menace,” Bommai said.

PhD scholar ends life over not getting any employment

PhD scholar ends life over not getting any employment

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Rajkot:  09.12.2020

A 28-year-old PhD scholar woman of Saurashtra University ended her life on Monday evening due to depression over not being able to find a job.

Gunjan Khara, a native of Porbandar living on University Road in Rajkot, was found hanging from ceiling fan when her flatmates returned home around 7pm on Monday.

Khara was living in the paying guest accommodation for the past three years and was looking for jobs. Her suicide note stated that as she was not finding a job, she was forced to take the extreme step.

“Addressed to her parents, the woman wrote that despite studying so much, she has failed as she has neither been able to secure a government job nor one in private sector,” said a police official.

Khara’s flatmates told cops that they took the duplicate key from the owner of the house, who lived next door and found her hanging. The flatmates also told police that she seemed fine after returning from her house in Porbandar a week ago.

On Tuesday, the body was handed over to her parents after the post-mortem and necessary legal procedures. Khara’s father Amar works as a lawyer in Porbandar while the mother is a homemaker.

Gunjan Khara from Porbandar was living as paying guest for the past three years and was looking for jobs

Docs prescribe their virtual wedding

Docs prescribe their virtual wedding

INSTEAD OF POSTPONING THE DAY, THE DUO DECIDED TO GO ONLINE

Melvyn.ReggieThomas@timesgroup.com

Surat:  09.12.2020

Belonging from a well to-do family in Surat city and MD pathologist herself, Dr Neha Pokharna had always dreamt of grand wedding with her would-be doctor husband from Mumbai. But, the coronavirus pandemic greeted her with the unexpected gifts — lockdown, quarantine, social distance and restrictions on the guests. So, Pokharna decided not to cancel the wedding planned on December 9 in Surat and convinced both her families for a ‘virtual wedding’.

Dr Pokharna and Dr Prabodh Garg, MD, Pulmonary, in Mumbai will have an online wedding on Wednesday which will be attended virtually by their close friends and relatives. For this, Pokharna and few of his family members travelled to Mumbai where the virtual wedding has been planned at a resort.

The guests were sent out wedding invitations on the WhatsApp with the simple message ‘considering the current pandemic, we seek your precious blessing and virtual presence by being kind enough to access the wedding with the virtual Youtube link’.

Over 2,000 guests are likely to attend the wedding online.

On Tuesday, they also held an online mehendi, and a sangeet ceremony which was performed according to the Hindu custom which was streamed online.

“Being a pathologist, I understand the seriousness of the pandemic. To set an example, I let go of my dream for a grand wedding and made it a simple family affair through a virtual wedding. For me, health and safety of my family and relatives is the most important,” said Pokharna.

“This is a message to the society that the pandemic is going to stay and we have to live with it. Once it is over, may be we can plan a grand reception,” she added.

Dr Garg told TOI, “Coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives from good to bad, but we have to accept and move on. Grand marriage is everyone’s dream, but considering the potential danger Covid-19 poses, we felt that a virtual wedding is a better option than not having a wedding at all.”

Pokharna’s brother Yuvraj Pokharna, who is an academician in Surat told TOI, “We had decided to cancel the marriage initially, but then we thought of a virtual wedding. An invitation was sent to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, who also has blessed the couple.”

Dr Pokharana with her fiance

Intern doctors want stipend hiked, threaten strike

Intern doctors want stipend hiked, threaten strike

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:09.12.2020

Intern doctors on Covid duty at government hospitals since April have threatened to go on strike if their monthly stipend is not increased from the present Rs 12,800 per month to Rs 20,000.

The intern doctors, who have completed their MBBS and are serving in teaching hospitals of government colleges wrote to the deans, superintendents and Covid-19 nodal officer, saying their demand for an increase in their stipend be fulfilled immediately. They stated that either the government announces an increase in their stipend by December 14, or they will assume they have been relieved from their duties by the authorities.

In a letter addressed to the authorities, the intern doctors stated that they have been serving in Covid-19 wards since April, and have been discharging all duties. Nearly 150 intern doctors have been infected by Covid-19. They underwent isolation and resumed work enthusiastically.

They said that alongside senior faculty members, resident doctors and paramedical staff, they have been discharging their duties in Covid-19 wards. They are proud to have been respected as corona warriors and are grateful to the government and the people for this. However, the remuneration they are getting is not enough, compared to corona warriors in Gujarat and other states, including the medical students who have been ordered by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to work as ‘Covid Sahayaks’.

UP IN ARMS: The intern doctors said if the government does not announce an increase in their stipend by December 14, they will assume they have been relieved from their duties

SANDIP UNIVERSITY NOTIFICATION

 

Bharat bandh gets lukewarm response across the country

Bharat bandh gets lukewarm response across the country

Normal Life Disrupted Only in T’gana, Andhra Pradesh & Odisha

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

09.12.2020

The Bharat Bandh called on Tuesday in support of farmers got a lukewarm response across the country, with reports of disruptions to normal life from only a few states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

While there were no reports of violence in Punjab, movement of vehicles, including buses, was affected due to closure of roads at various places by farmers. Though government offices were open, attendance was thin as many of the employees joined the protest.

Haryana remained peaceful as farmers sat at various places on state and national highways carrying their tractor-trolleys and hookahs. No political leader was allowed to address the gathering of farmers.

A 32-year-old farmer reportedly died on Tuesday near Sonipat border where farmers are camping for the protest. He reportedly died due to a heart attack while a 58-year-old died during a chakka jam on the Jind-Patiala national highway due to cardiac arrest.

In Odisha, normal life was affected as offices, shops, commercial establishments remained largely closed in the forenoon. All state government offices were closed for the day. Buses remained off the road. At least three trains got halted for around one hour in Bhubaneswar station as members of Left parties staged a symbolic rail roko.

However, Chhattisgarh, where the Congress and chief minister Bhupesh Baghel came out in support of the bandh, saw widespread impact of the bandh call. Business and establishments stayed shut till 2pm. Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the state chapter of Confederation of All India Traders extended support to bandh.

In Bihar, opposition party leaders and supporters held demonstrations, put up road blockades and disrupted rail and road traffic across the state to register their protest. At some places like Ara in Bhojpur, Araria and Jehanabad, the bandh supporters clashed with the police. In Patna, protesters overpowered constables manning traffic, burnt the effigies of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar.

In western Uttar Pradesh, farmers blocked all major highways leading to Delhi, including Yamuna Expressway and NH2 in Mathura, Aligarh-Palwal road in Aligarh and Pilibhit-Basti national highway in Pilibhit on Tuesday, but allowed operation of all emergency services. The bandh evoked mixed response in Madhya Pradesh too. Many cities felt the impact in the morning as markets were closed. AAP activists held a demonstration at the bungalow of Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar and were arrested. All the main markets of Bhopal were open.

Scores of TRS ministers and MLAs along with leaders blocked national highways, towns in Telangana and in Hyderabad. Businesses were shut and traffic went off the roads for a large part of the day. Hundreds of IT employees on Tuesday took part in a demonstration organized by the Forum of IT professionals and took out a rally from Raidurg metro station to TCS Deccan Park and also blocked roads at Lemon Tree Junction.

Normal life was affected in Andhra Pradesh as the state government cancelled public transport services till 1 pm. Government offices also remained closed till 1 pm in support of the farmers. Schools and colleges did not function. The ruling YSRCP, though did not directly extend support to the Bharat bandh, the state government kept its offices closed in the morning.

Farmers raise slogans during a protest in Amritsar on Tuesday

PIL seeks pension to be paid at doorstep

PIL seeks pension to be paid at doorstep

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:09.12.2020

The Karnataka high court has asked the Centre to clarify whether senior citizens are entitled to receive their pension at home during the prevailing pandemic.

A division bench led by chief justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka made this oral observation while hearing a PIL filed by Akhila Karnataka Vayovrudhara Okkoota (Aikyata), an organisation which represents senior citizens seeking enhancement of pension.

The organization’s counsel told the court that the guidelines issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) says citizens above 65 years and those with comorbidities have been advised to stay at home.

Considering this, the bench said the state cannot expect citizens to go to banks to collect their monthly pension and the issue needs to be addressed by the government by the next hearing. Under the Sandhya Suraksha Yojana and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, pension was increased from ₹600 to ₹1,000 for people above 65 years, effective from November 1, 2018.

The petitioner argued, “A senior citizen has no other means of livelihood during the pandemic. It is imperative that to adequately comply with its duties and secure the living conditions of senior citizens in cities like Bengaluru, the pension amount needs to be increased from a mere ₹1,000.”

In addition, the association also urged the court to order the directorate of social security and pensions, Karnataka, to release pension due to senior citizens since January this year with immediate effect and pay it at their doorsteps. It also sought a direction to the body to ensure it regularly releases pension amounts by the second week of every month through the agreed upon mode of payment and also ensure holding of monthly ‘pension adalats’.

The petitioner claimed that despite lockdown guidelines stipulating disbursement of pensions be continued, several beneficiaries did not receive their pensions.

Parties miffed over SC nod for Salem-Chennai expressway

Parties miffed over SC nod for Salem-Chennai expressway

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.12.2020

The DMK and the PMK have expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court verdict that has come in favour of the₹10,000 crore Salem – Chennai expressway project. They urged the state government to drop the project.

In a statement DMK president M K Stalin said the SC verdict, in favour of the expressway, has come on a day when farmers are holding protests to safeguard their livelihood. It is disappointing to both farmers as well as environmental activists. “The failure of the AIADMK government to put forth its views strongly to protect the livelihood of farmers and the determination with which the Centre argued about implementing the project are the two main reasons for such a verdict,” Stalin said.

“The two parties, which are together, in working against the interests of the farmers in the name of development may have succeeded in their plans in the Supreme Court. But the people’s court is sure to give them a fitting verdict,” Stalin said. “The farmers, who opposed the project, were subjected brutal police atrocities for the sake of the rulers’ gain from implementing the expressway. Will chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at least now come out in support of the farmers,” Stalin asked.

Reminding the CM that he cannot escape responsibility by stating it is a project being implemented by the Centre, Stalin asked Palaniswami to drop the project.

Expressing disappointment over the verdict, PMK youth wing president Anbumani Ramadoss, who was one of the petitioners against the project, urged the state to withdraw the project. Since there are two national highways connecting Chennai and Salem cities via Ulundurpet and Vellore-Krishnagiri and a third NH being laid via Tindivanam-Krishnagiri, the fourth road project connecting the two cities is unnecessary. “This was the stand of our party,” Anbumani said in a statement. PMK is an ally of BJP-AIADMK in TN. More than 10,000 families of farmers would lose their livelihood as the state would acquire around 7,000 acres of land for the 2,77.3km road project, he said.

Meanwhile in Salem, farmers vowed to continue to protest. “Farmers in Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram will continue to protest until the project is withdrawn. We will not allow the project to be implemented,” P Mohanasundaram, a farmer, said.

As farmers continue protest, DMK and PMK criticise expressway project terming, it unnecessary and anti-farmer

Two leaves’ symbol on OP slips at govt hospital in Pudukottai sparks row

‘Two leaves’ symbol on OP slips at govt hospital in Pudukottai sparks row

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:09.12.2020

The outpatient slips issued at a government hospital in Pudukottai district with ‘two leaves’ symbol on the back created a row on Tuesday. The slips are used by doctors to write basic details of patients coming to the hospital.

The hospital authorities withheld the slips after DMK functionaries created an uproar over the incident. While dubbing it a coincidence, deputy director of health services (DDHS) Aranthangi Vijay Kumar has sought clarification from the doctors on the incident. A few patients who went to the government hospital at Malaiyur village near Karambakudi were taken aback after noticing the ‘two leaves’ symbol, the poll symbol of the ruling AIADMK, on the back side of the slips. In a few slips, the symbol was mentioned as victory symbol seeking votes. Some of the patients approached the doctor raising the issue.

The slips were procured from a nearby printing press after the primary health centre ran out of slips. But the hospital staff had failed to notice the symbol and issued it to the patients. The slips were in use for the last two days.

DMK Pudukottai north district secretary K K Sellapandian said that doctors could have avoided the incident. Saying that the incident is very serious, he said a government hospital cannot campaign for a particular party by having its poll symbol on the outpatient slips.

The hospital authorities withheld the slips after DMK functionaries created uproar over the incident

Selection panel has no clue about seats vacant in state-run colleges

Selection panel has no clue about seats vacant in state-run colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 09.12.2020

Hours after the MBBS seats surrendered by Tamil Nadu for admission under all-India quota were returned to the state, the selection committee in-charge of admissions did not know the number of seats that were vacant in state-run colleges after two rounds of centralised counselling.

Aspiring medical students, who are awaiting admission and upgrades to college of their choice, were disappointed. “Every year, the centre announces the last date well in advance. The state has to collect vacancies from its colleges and give a count at the end of the day. It is never done,” said Rakesh S, a student counsellor. “The selection committee has to add these into the matrix. We don’t know if it will be done when counselling resumes on Wednesday,” he said.

Each year, every state surrenders15% of MBBS seats in state-run colleges for admission of students from across the country. This year, TN surrendered 548 seats. Counselling for AIQ seats is done online by the medical counselling committee of the directorate general of health services. Students from across the country are allowed to lock choices and allotment is done based on merit in NEET 2020.

“The last date for students to join colleges allotted to them during the second round ended on December 8. If students don’t join colleges they are allotted to, the seats will be considered vacant and returned. We have asked deans from all government colleges to give us the number,” said selection committee secretary G Selvarajan.

Officials closed the counselling with 367 MBBS seats in government colleges and 314 in self-financing colleges. There were 78 BDS seats in government colleges and 948 in self-financing colleges.

Sharing of newspaper PDFs illegal, say experts

Sharing of newspaper PDFs illegal, say experts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

09.12.2020

Early on in the lockdown, many who missed their morning newspaper or had safety concerns took to reading PDFs of The Times of India ePaper shared on social media groups. But even after studies have shown that newspapers are safe and do not spread the coronavirus, many are still continuing with these illegal downloads despite warnings from experts that this could invite legal action against admins of such WhatsApp groups and members.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Pavan Duggal points out that circulation of paid content without permission violates the law.

‘Circulation of digital edition sans owner’s nod a violation’

Duggal added, “If a digital edition is being circulated without the permission of the owner, it is a violation of the Copyright Act as well as the Information Technology Act Section 43 which clearly says that if any attempt is made to destroy, delete or alter any information residing in a computer resource, or diminish its value or utility, it is illegal. This person will be liable to pay damages by way of compensation to the person so affected.”

This way of reading newspapers is also risky because it opens up the possibility of someone tampering with the content in the newspaper. A third party circulating the paper without permission may even manipulate and alter the content. This can lead to a whole host of legal and credibility issues, and could make one more susceptible to reading the very fake news that newspapers diligently work to avoid. This practice not only impacts the readers by opening them up to inaccurate or tampered information, it also negatively impacts newspapers and the state of journalism as well.

Newspapers are in the business of audience aggregation through newspaper content. But if this content is available outside newspapers, it can hurt the business of journalism and the jobs of many hard-working reporters, editors, photographers, designers and countless others who work to produce the newspaper.

So if you don’t want to devalue the hard work that goes into creating this credible and diverse content or invite civil and criminal charges, make sure you don’t click on that PDF.

If a digital edition is being circulated without owner’s permission, it’s a violation of Copyright Act as well as IT Act Sec 43, which says if any attempt is made to destroy, delete or alter any information residing in a computer resource, or diminish its value or utility, it is illegal

— Pavan Duggal | Senior SC lawyer

'Doctors Not Even Going Near Bodies. Such Shabby, Unscientific Autopsy Reports Will Collapse Criminal Justice In Country': Madras HC Issues Guidelines [Read Order]

'Doctors Not Even Going Near Bodies. Such Shabby, Unscientific Autopsy Reports Will Collapse Criminal Justice In Country': Madras HC Issues Guidelines [Read Order]: Noting that in most of the medico-legal cases, the outcome of the criminal case depends upon the findings in the autopsy certificate and also the Doctor's evidence, the Madras High Court has expressed...

High Courts Weekly Round Up [Nov 30 - Dec 06]

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TN Appointment On Preferential Basis Related Bill - Tamil Medium Students Suffering Due To Non Granting Of Governor's Assent: Madras High Court

TN Appointment On Preferential Basis Related Bill - Tamil Medium Students Suffering Due To Non Granting Of Governor's Assent: Madras High Court: While suo-moto impleading the Secretary to the Governor of Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) on Friday (04th December) directed the State to get instructions as to when a decision...

[Breaking] Supreme Court Upholds Land Acquisition Notifications For Chennai-Salem 8 Lane Expressway

[Breaking] Supreme Court Upholds Land Acquisition Notifications For Chennai-Salem 8 Lane Expressway: The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the notifications issued for acquiring land for the Chennai-Salem eight-lane greenfield expressway project.Partly allowing the appeals of the Union of India and the...

Public Examinations: Supreme Court Deprecates Practice Of Re-evaluation And Scrutiny Of Answer Sheets By Courts

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Supreme Court Directs Medical College In Telangana To Pay 10 Lakh Compensation To PG Medical Course Aspirant For Illegally Denying Admission

Supreme Court Directs Medical College In Telangana To Pay 10 Lakh Compensation To PG Medical Course Aspirant For Illegally Denying Admission: The Supreme Court has directed a medical college in Telangana to pay Rupees Ten Lakh as compensation to a PG Medical Course aspirant for illegally denying admission in the college.The bench comprising...

Paramedical admissions: 10k seats still vacant

Paramedical admissions: 10k seats still vacant

08.12.2020

Ahmedabad: The admission committee has decided to hold the third round of admission for paramedical courses for physiotherapy and nursing at the under-graduation level after the admission process for medical and dental courses is completed. After the second round of admission, there are 9,963 seats that have still remained vacant. There are 34 colleges offering physiotherapy and nursing courses, which have received approval while 37 colleges are still awaiting approval. The admission committee began the first round of admission for 23,207 seats in different colleges across the state. TNN

IMA to protest ‘mixopathy’ changes today

IMA to protest ‘mixopathy’ changes today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 08.12.2020

Taking part in nation-wide demonstrations against the proposed amalgamation of allopathy with ayurveda, homoeopathy and other medicinal disciplines, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) will hold demonstrations at three spots in the city on Tuesday.

Dr Mukesh Maheshwari, coordinator of the media committee of IMA Gujarat, said there will be demonstrations at the IMA headquarters on Ashram Road and two other spots from noon to 2pm, where doctors will raise awareness about the issue and demand a rollback of the ‘mixopathy’ due to the proposed amendment in the IMCC Act.

“We are not against ayurveda or any other treatment procedures, but the move will dilute the essence of every discipline. It will not be in the interest of patients and thus we will be protesting against this with all Covid-19 protocols in place,” he said, adding that IMA has also called for closure of non-emergency medical services across India between 6am and 6pm on December 11.

Nurses oppose draft bill, seek removal of some categories

Nurses oppose draft bill, seek removal of some categories

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 08.12.2020

Nurses’ associations in Karnataka have raised objections to the Centre’s draft National Nursing, Midwifery Commission (NNMC) Bill, 2020 and demanded that categories like ‘nursing assistant’, ‘midwifery associate’ and ‘home-based care personnel’ be excluded from its abmit as they are not equivalent to nurses.

December 6 was the last date to file objections to the draft legislation, and the Trained Nurses Association of India, Karnataka chapter, has sent them. Karnataka is among the states with a large number of nursing colleges; at least 50,000 nurses come out of 1,200 institutions per year.

Girijamba Devi, general secretary, Trained Nurses’ Association, Karnataka chapter, said the draft bill has led to various concerns. “A midwife is a nurse, but not a midwifery associate. Similarly, a nursing assistant can’t be called nurse. If the bill continues to have such terms, it misleads the public,” she added.

“By coining these terms, we are afraid the system may end up having cheap labourers hired as nurses. A qualified nurse who deserves a better salary package will not be recruited. This can only dilute the profession,” another nurse told TOI.

These candidates have lower qualification than current nursing levels and bring down the quality of healthcare, nurses said, adding that creating the said cadres of nursing personnel creates confusion and they must be removed. The association members also say the draft bill doesn’t mention the salary package for Indian nurses. “While we are battling in the Supreme Court for a fixed salary of Rs 20,000 in the beginning of a nurse’s career, the draft is silent over the issue. Nurses are working for less than Rs 10,000 in many places,” the nurses said.

The draft bill has seen objections from across the country, including the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF). “While drafting the bill, the ministry of health and family welfare should have listened to and taken the views of all stakeholders. Nearly 95% of nurses work in clinical, public health domain and their view should not be overlooked in the process of drafting the bill. A few nursing educators can’t decide the future of the whole profession in India,” say AIGNF members.

The federation in its letter of objections mentions that the patient’s welfare and steady growth of the nursing profession are missing in the draft. Though AIGNF is a big stakeholder in the nursing profession, no member was included in the committee for drafting the bill, federation members say.

The nurses added that the proposed National Nursing and Midwifery Commission, which will have no election for its members, will be totally controlled by central government nominees. “No elected members and no representation from clinical nurses and public health nurses means no democracy,” the nurses said, adding it must have elected members.

Girijamba Devi, general secretary, Trained Nurses’ Association, Karnataka chapter, said a midwifery assistant may have done a skill-based course but should not be mistaken for a nurse, who deals with patients in the best interest of public health