When food smells like sewage: A rare after-effect of COVID-19?

When food smells like sewage: A rare after-effect of COVID-19?

Like many others, she too suffered Anosmia – the loss of smell and taste. However, instead of recovering from it, she started experiencing a new one – Parosmia.

Published: 17th December 2020 01:59 AM 

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Imagine if lemons smell like petrol, or dosas like rotten cabbage! Twenty-five-year-old Sanjana (name changed), a doctor pursuing post-graduation in general surgery, is living this nightmare. Even her favourite food items now smell like raw sewage. She was treated for Covid in August-September.

Like many others, she too suffered Anosmia – the loss of smell and taste. However, instead of recovering from it, she started experiencing a new one – Parosmia. This is a disorder that distorts smells, often making them unpleasant.The various flavours she enjoyed smelled strange: mostly putrid or foul and made her nauseous.

Experts say smell dysfunctions are common after-effects of viral illnesses. However, in Sanjana’s case, the conditions persists a good three months after recovery, making her wonder if she will ever go back to enjoying her food again.

"I lost my sense of smell and taste by the end of August and I was on Covid-19 treatment," she said. While most people who develop Anosmia due to Covid-19 experience symptoms for about two weeks, Sanjana's persisted for over six weeks.

"For a few days in mid-October, I started regaining my smell, then suddenly just being around food made me want to vomit," she said, elaborating that then she realised that the problem was not with food but her sense of smell. After a lot of trial-and-error, she has standardised a meal of plain rice, fresh yogurt and select boiled vegetables.

"I have classified all food as only two kinds: One that does not make me vomit or food that smells putrid like sewage or toxic chemicals," she declared saying that she found that fruits like blueberries or pomegranate are not as intolerable as the citric ones.

The big problem that Sanjana is now facing is that she is unable to find an effective treatment for her condition. After consulting several physicians and finding very limited effective treatment, Sanjana found some solace within social media support groups, wherein people who developed Parosmia post-Covid, discuss symptoms and suggest food that doesn’t make them nauseous. The group hosts members who are as young as 10 years old and also those over 60. There are many patients who are unable to consume anything other than water, and for some even tap water smells like petrol. Unfortunately, most members in these groups have not reported recovering from Parosmia, causing worry if the impairment could be permanent.

Normally, people with Parosmia take a few years to regain their sense of smell, says Kilpauk Medical College Dean P Vasanthamani. “No Covid-19 patient in KMC has reported this symptom so far. Anosmia is one of the first symptoms many experience before they get tested for Covid-19. Parosmia could be a very rare offshoot of the viral infection,” she says.

Retired Director of Public Health Dr K Kolandasamy opines that linking Covid-19 and Parosmia needs more investigation. “There are no reported cases in Tamil Nadu so far and it seems like a rare case. It is too early to establish a correlation and it needs further investigation,” he added. Certain smell training programmes have helped some Parosmia patients train their senses to get used to the foul smell and to avoid throwing up. However, the programmes seem to have limited effect on recovery.

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HC: Sex with promise of marriage not always rape

HC: Sex with promise of marriage not always rape

New Delhi: 17.12.2020

Sex with the promise of marriage doesn’t constitute rape if the woman continues to have consensual physical intimacy over a long period of time, Delhi High Court has observed, reports Abhinav Garg.

Quashing a rape case filed by a woman who off and on had a physical relationship with a man for months, the court noted, “A promise of marriage cannot be held as an inducement for engaging in sex over a protracted and indefinite period of time.”

Justice Vibhu Bakhru noted that sexual relationships could be said to be induced on false promise of marriage if the victim fell prey to it momentarily. “In certain cases, a promise of marriage may induce a party to agree to establish sexual relations, even though the party does not desire to consent to the same. Such inducement in a given moment may elicit consent, even though the concerned party may want to say no,” the court explained.

Only in such cases a false promise to marry with the intention to exploit the other party “may vitiate consent and, thus, constitute an offence of rape under Indian Penal Code section 375”, it added.

Full report on www.toi.in

Citizenship Act Indian diaspora's umblical cord; OCI Cardholders to be treated as Indian Citizens for professional course admission: Karnataka HC

Citizenship Act Indian diaspora's umblical cord; OCI Cardholders to be treated as Indian Citizens for professional course admission: Karnataka HC

Such a stance, the Court said, would be in tune with the ancient India thought of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' that is, world is a family.

Rintu Mariam Biju

Dec 16, 2020, 12:31 PM IST

Minor children of Indian citizens born overseas must have the same status, rights and duties as Indian citizens, the Karnataka High Court recently said ruling that Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders should be treated as Indian citizens for the purpose of admission to professional educational institutions.

Such a stance, the Court said, would be in tune with the ancient Indian thought of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' that is, world is a family.

A Division Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and NS Sanjay Gowda, in effect, quashed section 2(1)(n) of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission & Determination of Fee) Act, 2006 to the extent it includes the 'Overseas Citizens of India' or 'Overseas Citizens of India Cardholders' within the definition of "Non-resident Indian" (NRI).

"The impugned Section 2(1)(n) of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission & Determination of Fee) Act, 2006, as amended by Karnataka Act No.22 of 2017, to the extent it includes the ‘Overseas Citizens of India’ or ‘Overseas Citizens of India Cardholders’ within the definition of “Non-resident Indian” is quashed," the High Court said.

The Court also said that the Citizenship Act is the umbilical cord through which the Indian Diaspora the world over have a connection with India—their country of origin.

Factual matrix

The Government of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs, had issued a gazette notification on April 11,2005, conferring further rights on OCI cardholders as per Section 7A of the Citizenship Act.

Subsequently, another notification dated January 5, 2009 was issued conferring certain rights on OCI cardholders entitling them to appear in All India Pre-Medical Test or any other test so as to make them eligible for admission in pursuance of provisions contained in the relevant statutes.

The Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, was enacted in 2006 and this act did not include OCI cardholders for the process of admissions.

The OCI cardholders approached the Karnataka High Court against the State government for not permitting them to participate in online counseling for government/private quota seats for MBBS/BDS/Engineering courses.

The Karnataka High Court disposed of the same by an order in 2017, stating that OCI cardholders shall be entitled to be treated on par with NRIs in the matter of admission to MBBS/BDS course for the academic year 2017-2018.

Pursuant to that, the said petitioners participated in the counseling and selected government seats in Private/ Government Medical Colleges and are pursuing their studies in MBBS/BDS courses.

The State then filed an SLP before the Supreme Court against the High Court verdict but, subsequently, withdrew the same.

For the Academic Year 2018-2019, the Court had, by way of an interim order of 2018, permitted OCI cardholders to participate in the counseling for selection of seats insofar as Engineering and such other courses.

Against the interim order, the State filed writ appeal but no stay was granted in the appeal.

For the Academic Year 2019-2020, the grievance of the OCI Cardholders being the same, writ petitions were filed seeking similar reliefs which were allowed by a single -judge by way of the impugned order dated April 10, 2019.

The single judge considered the definition of NRI under Section 2(1)(n) of 2006 Act in light of both the Central Government Notifications and held that a OCI Cardholder cannot be equated to an NRI in the matter of admission to professional colleges by an interpretation of the aforesaid two Notifications.

It is in respect of this Writ Petition, the State has preferred this appeal while in the connected matter, writ petitioners have sought for prayers similar to the earlier years, for the Academic Year 2019-2020.

Arguments of Parties

The State Government contended the single-judge was not right in interpreting the notification issued by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, dated 05/01/2009 contrary to the provisions of the 2006 Act as well as 2006 Rules of the State Government.

Assistant Solicitor General, appearing for the Centre and Senior Counsel NK Ramesh appearing for the Karnataka Examinations Authority also concurred with the submissions of the State.

The counsel appearing for the respondent – OCI cardholders/students in the writ appeal submitted that said that OCI Cardholders cannot be included in the category of Non- Resident Indian under Section 2(1)(n) of the 2006 Act.

It was further brought to the attention of the Court that even in States of Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the expressions “Non-Resident Indian” and “Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder” have been distinguished, but they may not be entitled to any kind of reservation which is permissible only for Indian nationals.

What the Court held

Referring to statutory provisions under the Citizenship Act and notifications issued thereunder, the court observed that the amendment made to Section 2(1)(n) of 2006 Act is contrary to the central law and therefore, has to be struck down on the ground of repugnancy as per Article 254 of the Constitution.

In this regard, the Court held that,

Therefore, if, on an interpretation of the Notification dated 05/01/2009 it is held that the parity of OCI Cardholders with Non-Resident Indians in the matter of appearance and eligibility for admissions in the Medical/Dental and Engineering Entrance Test is removed, the OCI Cardholders cannot be treated as a Non-Resident Indian. The said Notification having been issued on 05/01/2009, would prevail as it is a Notification issued under the Citizenship Act, which is a Parliamentary legislation and not State law.

The Court added that,

"Thus, an OCI Cardholder cannot be treated on par with the Non-Resident Indian under Section 2(1)(n) of 2006 Act (State law), on account of the interpretation given to Notification dated 05/01/2009 and the State law will have to yield to the Central law, due to applicability of doctrine of occupied field and having regard to the repugnancy under Article 254 of the Constitution."

In its 123 page long judgment, the Bench remarked that, "The Citizenship Act is the umbilical cord through which the Indian Diaspora the world over have a connection with India—their country of origin."

The Court, therefore, held that Rule 5 of the Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institution Rules, 2006, to the extent it prescribes Indian Citizenship, should be interpreted so as to include within the scope of the expression ‘Citizen’, OCI C\cardholders as per Section 4 of the Citizenship Act and as per Notification dated January 5, 2009.

Thus, the court upheld the direction of the single judge to permit petitioners to register for CET-2019 and participate in the ensuing counselling of CET-2020 or subsequent years, for selection and allotment of seats in BE/B.Tech/B.Arch.

Similar direction was also issued for MBBS/BDS course wherein NEET scheme will apply.

Allopathy doctors, avoid professional association with other medicos: MMC

Umesh.Isalkar@timesgroup.com

Pune: 17.12.2020

Maharashtra Medical Council, the governing body of allopathy doctors in the state, on Tuesday issued an advisory to its members to not “professionally associate” with non-allopathy practitioners. The council has also directed postgraduate allopathy doctors to mention the abbreviation of their graduation degree, MBBS, before the postgraduate degrees MS and MD on their clinic boards, letterheads and visiting cards, among others. The postgraduate degrees of ayurveda doctors are MD and MS too.

The move comes in the wake of the recent Union government notification allowing postgraduate ayurveda doctors who have specialized in shalya (surgery) and shalakya (diagnosis and prevention) to perform 58 procedures.

MMC reiterated the ultimate responsibility of treating a patient, where an allopathy doctor is professionally associated with a non-allopathy doctor, lies with the former alone under relevant sections of the law. Besides, allopathy doctors running nursing homes and hospitals should ensure that a non-allopathy doctor working as an assistant does not issue a prescription of allopathy drugs with the latter’s signature.

MMC president Shivkumar Utture said, “This advisory is already there in the Indian Medical Council Regulations and MMC Act. We have simply reiterated it to sensitise our members and safeguard patients’ interests.”

In circumstances where an allopathy doctor has to employ a non-allopathy doctor or work in hospitals run by non-medicos or non-allopathy doctors, the entire responsibility of the patient’s treatment lies with him or her, the advisory stated.

Pune’s senior paediatrician and MMC member Dilip Sarda said, “First, the registered medical practitioners or allopaths should not professionally associate with non-allopaths. If they have to, then the onus of treating a patient lies solely with the allopath.”

Telemedicine could prove a better tool for registered medical practitioners employing non-allopathy doctors as assistants at their clinics, nursing homes and hospitals.

“Digital signatures, prescriptions and telemedicine are valid tools under the law. The allopaths can use them to the fullest while running the operations of nursing homes and hospitals,” said Sanjay Patil, state vicepresident of IMA.

The MMC advisory was issued under the relevant regulations and sections of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, and MMC Act, 1965.

Excluding Married Daughter From Seeking Benefit Of Compassionate Appointment Is Unconstitutional: Karnataka High Court

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மருத்துவ படிப்பு நிர்வாக இடத்திற்கு 19ல் கவுன்சிலிங்

DINAMALAR

மருத்துவ படிப்பு நிர்வாக இடத்திற்கு 19ல் கவுன்சிலிங்

Added : டிச 16, 2020 22:34

சென்னை:மருத்துவ படிப்பில், சுயநிதி கல்லுாரிகளில் உள்ள நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை, நாளை மறுதினம்துவங்குகிறது.

தமிழகத்தில், எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - பி.டி.எஸ்., படிப்புகளுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கவுன்சிலிங், சென்னை, நேரு விளையாட்டரங்கில் நடந்து வருகிறது. அரசு பள்ளி மாணவர்களுக்கான உள் ஒதுக்கீடு, சிறப்பு பிரிவு, பொதுப்பிரிவு மற்றும் இட ஒதுக்கீட்டு என, அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களுக்கான முதற்கட்ட கவுன்சிலிங் முடிந்து, அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில், 921 இடங்கள் காலியாக உள்ளன.

இந்நிலையில், தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகளின் நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டில், 952 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - 695 பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்களுக்கான கவுன்சிலிங், நாளை மறுதினம் முதல், 23ம் தேதி வரை நடைபெற உள்ளது. இடையில் வரும், ஞாயிற்றுக் கிழமை விடுமுறை அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Dates for JEE-Mains 2021 announced

Dates for JEE-Mains 2021 announced

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 17.12.2020

The National Testing Agency on Wednesday announced the dates for all the four cycles of JEE (Main) exam to be held between February and May, 2021. With the addition of Marathi, the computer-based competitive exam for admission to engineering and architecture courses will be held for the first time in 13 languages.

Each cycle will have four two-shift exam days, except May with five. It will be held from February 23-26, March 15-18, April 27-30 and May 24-28. The registration for the exam started on Wednesday and will continue till January 16. Aspirants can register for all four cycles and make payment. In case a candidate does not want to appear in a particular cycle, the fee, if already paid, will be refunded.

Since 2016, JEE (Main) has been offered in English, Hindi and Gujarati. Candidates can now also opt to take the test in 10 other vernacular languages – Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The uncertainty regarding the schedule of Board exams amid the pandemic prompted the agency to offer four cycles from 2021 which, NTA said, “will give multiple opportunities to candidates to improve their scores and reduce the need of dropping a year”.

Full report on www.toi.in

SC seeks Centre’s response on plea for uniform divorce law

SC seeks Centre’s response on plea for uniform divorce law

Also Cautiously Entertains PIL On Maintenance Law

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  17.12.2020

A quarter century after asserting in the Sarla Mudgal case that the country could brook no delay in enacting a Uniform Civil Code, the Supreme Court on Wednesday warily entertained two PILs seeking uniform divorce laws and uniformity in grant of maintenance and alimony to women, and sought the Centre's response.

Appearing for petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, senior advocates Pinky Anand and Meenakshi Arora argued that different modes of divorce and varied means of maintenance and alimony to women provided for under personal laws violated the right to equality and nondiscrimination and were an affront to women's right to dignity, which is part and parcel of their right to life.

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian appeared circumspect about entertaining the plea.

‘How can alimony differ for women of different religions’

The court appeared apprehensive whether doing so would mark an intrusion into the personal laws of religious minorities who are sensitive about what they consider to be a constitutionally guaranteed autonomy.

“Can we remove discriminatory practices against women in various religious communities without encroaching into their personal laws?” the bench asked.

However, the Anand-Arora duo, a strategic choice by Upadhyay to argue his case, made a strong pitch for the court to overcome its hesitancy. Anand reminded the bench that the Supreme Court did tread on personal laws when it declared instant divorce among Muslims through triple talaq unconstitutional.

Arora argued for judicial intervention by stressing that despite the SC’s exhortation in the Mudgal ruling, the Centre had not moved to bring in Uniform Civil Code. “Women and gender equality go hand in hand. How can alimony or maintenance be different for women belonging to different religions?” she asked.

The bench was still not persuaded and said it was not the state which was discriminating between women of different communities. “It is citizens who are discriminating against fellow citizens through use of personal laws,”the CJI asked.

However, Arora said, “It is the bounden duty of the state to ensure equality and dignity to all women irrespective of their religion.” Even when the bench came around to issue notice to the Centre, it clarified that it was doing so “with great caution”, its approach offering a stark contrast with the assertiveness it showed in the Shah Bano case in 1985. “A common civil code will help the cause of national integration by removing disparate loyalties to law which have conflicting ideologies,” the court had unambiguously stated at the time.

Full report on www.toi.in

Soon, you can buy insurance and pension products on WhatsApp

Soon, you can buy insurance and pension products on WhatsApp

Digbijay.Mishra@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  17.12.2020

Consumers would be able to buy sachetsized health insurance on WhatsApp by the end of the year, said Abhijit Bose, India head for WhatsApp.

The Facebook-owned platform, which launched payments recently, is running pilots to enable financial services companies to sell microinsurance and pension products to consumers by using its application programming interface (API). This is the first time the company has given a timeline for launching these products in India.

WhatsApp has partnered with SBI General Insurance for health insurance, and is working with HDFC Pension and pinBox Solutions to offer pension products. Bose, who was speaking at a company organised event, said WhatsApp plans to also run similar projects in education and agriculture to reach its 400 million users in India. “WhatsApp has been proactively working on several pilots to help ensure that every adult has access to basic and critical financial and livelihood services through their mobile device,” he said.

TOI reported earlier this year that WhatsApp was working with partners in financial services to offer micro-loans, pensions and other such products. Previously, Bose had cited examples of pension products targeted at the 300 million self-employed workers in India at the cost of just Rs 50 a day.

By partnering with WhatsApp, the financial services firms are hoping to tap into a large set of users. “Unfortunately, the penetration of health insurance is very low, which means it leaves out a large population that needs access to affordable insurance cover. We are keen to contribute to the county by not just bringing an easy and affordable solution, but also an easy and simple distribution platform for the end users,” said Prakash Chandra Kandpal, MD & CEO, SBI General Insurance.

EXPANDING BIZ

Singapore prepares to plate up lab grown chicken: Technology is driving the environmental and economic future of food

Singapore prepares to plate up lab grown chicken: Technology is driving the environmental and economic future of food

Renuka.Bisht@timesgroup.com

17.12.2020

Food is tradition for us. It is also an unending adventure.

Homo sapiens have shown a distinct ability to create all kinds of new foods and grow to adore them, like chewing gum which we cannot digest and which is made of synthetic rubber. Even the food that is good for us we habitually refashion to an almost unrecognisable extent. We genetically modified wheat well before 8000 BC and in more recent decades we have persuaded chickens to increase their breast size by 35-85%.

Now a whole different chapter of this journey is being scripted, with the Singapore Food Agency giving the stamp of approval to an American startup’s cultured chicken, which is billed as “real, highquality meat created directly from animal cells for safe human consumption.” This is a long way from 2013, when a burger created from cow cells was eaten at a news conference in London, because this time a commercial launch looks imminent, first in the form of nuggets then fillets.

Before science, technology and data collection, innovation is about the mindset. It is about our attitude to change. For many of us, the instinctive response is to resist change. For Indians specifically, the weakness of the welfare net makes the fear of failure and hence the investment in status quo extra intense. We assume change will be for the worse. But this is a vicious circle that we need to break out of, for change is inevitable, and the only question is whether we can make the most of it, or weakly watch from the sidelines while someone else is always taking the driving seat.

As a low-lying island state Singapore is serious in tackling sustainability as an existential challenge. Moving faster than countries like the US, Israel and the Netherlands which are leading in research in lab-grown meats reflects an exploratory spirit combined with an acute desire to strengthen food security in the longer term, where the environmental costs of current farming practices are crying for change. At the same time Singapore’s high standards of regulating food mean that prospects of cultured meats going to markets in other countries have risen dramatically now.

The “I’m lovin’ it” jingle for a fast food chain does put its finger on humanity’s meatloving pulse. And the plantbased meats that are already on many global shelves have drawn complaints on this front, for not being juicy enough, not having quite as enjoyous a texture etc. Meats being cultured from actual animal cells promise to make up this taste shortfall.

It is true that the bioreactors in which all this cooking takes place are very energy intensive, so the greener the energy in the greener will be the meat out. Still, the ethical, economic and environmental case for such meats is unbeatable. No animal need be killed, no tree need be cut, no biodiversity loss, no zoonotic diseases, no antibiotics abuse, no air pollution. And on the other side, there is the pivotal FAO finding that total emissions from global livestock represent 14.5% of all anthropogenic GHG emissions.

As increases in population and prosperity both drive an increase in demand for meat, diverting more land, water and emission footprints to this is a fool’s game – when a much better alternative is at the doorstep. For India, there are special implications. Research suggests that overall vegetarianism is no more than 30% of the population and likely closer to 20%, but low incomes keep regular consumption of animal protein out of reach. Scaling up current farming practices isn’t a rosy option for this when they are already making parts of India unlivable.

Where there is a will there is a way, the super expedited outlay of the Covid-19 vaccine has underlined. Production costs of lab-grown meats have already come down substantially since 2013 and they are headed definitely south like renewable energy. India needs to be looking at such developments proactively. It bears underlining that the kind of petrified hesitancy it has shown with GM food crops has served the country very ill.

Only the lazy or the duplicitous blame the first Green Revolution for all the lack of environmental upgrades that should have followed it, but didn’t. The same principle applies today, except on a whoppingly bigger scale. New food technologies need a lot of smart monitoring. But running away from the job will only mean more malnourishment for our children. We have to decide whether they will be cursing us tomorrow or eating green chicken and lovin’ it.

By contrast, the petrified hesitancy India has shown with GM food crops has served it very ill

Married daughter can claim parent’s job, says K’taka HC

Married daughter can claim parent’s job, says K’taka HC

State Told To Consider Plea On Humane Ground

Vasanth.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 17.12.2020

The Karnataka high court has ruled that married daughters, too, are entitled to seek employment on compassionate grounds as they don’t cease to be part of the family after they enter wedlock, and directed the government to consider the petitioner’s appeal for a job in one of its departments.

“Half the world, and not even half a chance,” the HC said about the plight of Bhuvaneswari V Puranik, from Bengaluru, whose representation for a job on compassionate grounds was rejected because she is married. Her brother, working in a private firm, chose not to seek a government job.

The petitioner’s father Ashok Adiveppa Madivalar, working as a secretary in the office of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee at Kuduchi in Belagavi district, died in 2016 while in service. His daughter’s application for a job on compassionate grounds in 2017 was rejected by the joint director (admin), department of agriculture marketing.

‘Rules seek to discriminate’

Bhuvaneswari challenged the order in the high court, contending it was discriminatory.

The court said married daughters’ exclusion from the ambit of expression ‘family’ under the Karnataka Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 1996, was illegal, discriminatory and unconstitutional, and struck down the rules which said only unmarried daughter is considered a family member.

Stating that “nature bestows so much on women (and) the law cannot bestow too little”, Justice M Nagaprasanna said the rules seek to create discrimination on the basis of gender and, hence, violate Articles 14 and 15 that prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex or gender.

“If the marital status of a son does not make any difference in law to his entitlement for seeking appointment on compassionate grounds, (then) the marital status of a daughter (too) should make no difference. Law cannot make an assumption that married sons alone continue to be a part of the family,” the order said.

Full report: toi.in

If the marital status of a son does not make any difference in law to his entitlement for seeking appointment on compassionate grounds, the marital status of a daughter (too) should make no difference. Law cannot make an assumption that married sons alone continue to be part of family

— Justice M Nagaprasanna

Modi to be 1st PM at Aligarh Muslim varsity event since ’64

Modi to be 1st PM at Aligarh Muslim varsity event since ’64

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesgroup.com

Agra:  17.12.2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at celebrations marking 100 years of Aligarh Muslim University, one of the country’s oldest varsities, on December 22.

“A centenary is a landmark in the history of any university… The entire AMU community and I are grateful to the PM for accepting our invitation,” vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor told TOI on Wednesday.

The last time a sitting PM attended an event at the varsity was in 1964, when Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered the convocation address. “The PM’s presence will be helpful to the growth and development of the university and placement of our students,” Mansoor said.

‘PM’s presence will send strong message to BJP’

Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will also be attending, he added. It does come with a change of plans though. AMU officials had earlier told TOI that President Ram Nath Kovind would be attending the centenary celebrations. Now, however, he has deferred his plan and will be attending in February 2021. All events will be held online, given the Covid-19 restrictions in place.

A senior AMU official told TOI that the PM’s presence would “send a strong message to BJP functionaries who keep attacking the institution.” AMU protests against CAA had led to a backlash last year. Its scholars have been vocal against cases of violence against women in UP and in favour of the ongoing farmers’ protest in Delhi.

The VC did not share the itinerary for December 22, but sources said the PM may inaugurate the newly constructed campus gate, release a postal stamp and a commemorative coffee table book, and attend the burial of a ‘time capsule’ with AMU memorabilia. Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was set up in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, along the lines of what he saw at Oxford and Cambridge.

‘Married daughters can claim job on compassionate grounds’

‘Married daughters can claim job on compassionate grounds’

Vasanth.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  17.12.2020

The Karnataka HC has ruled that married daughters, too, are entitled to seek employment on compassionate grounds as they don’t cease to be part of the family after they enter wedlock.

“Half the world, and not even half a chance,” the court said on Tuesday about the plight of Bhuvaneswari V Puranik from Bengaluru, whose representation for a job on compassionate grounds was rejected because she is married. Her brother, working in a private company, chose not to seek a government job. The court also directed the government to consider the petitioner’s appeal for a job in one of its departments.

The petitioner’s father Ashok Adiveppa Madivalar, who worked as a secretary in the office of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee at Kuduchi in Belagavi, died in 2016 while in service. His daughter’s application for a job on compassionate grounds in 2017 was rejected by the joint director (administration), department of agriculture marketing. Bhuvaneswari challenged the order in HC, contending it was discriminatory.

Full report on www.toi.in

Jobless, young electrical engineer brews tea business

Jobless, young electrical engineer brews tea business

Jobs Offered Just ₹7K, So Chose To Start Tea Biz

Yogesh.Chawda

Ahmedabad:  17.12.2020

A young engineering degree holder is drawing many eyeballs for his tea stall with a catchy name -- ‘engineer ni cha’ (engineer's tea) near the busy RTO circle here.

Ronak Raj (27), who recently opened the chai kitli, holds an electrical engineering degree from Gujarat Technological University (GTU). He says he turned to brewing tea instead after he failed to find jobs which earned him enough to make ends meet.

“My first job after graduation earned me Rs 7,000 per month, which was not sufficient to make ends meet. I chose to become an engineer hoping for a better career and life but guess the degree is no guarantee for a well paying job any more,” said Ronak, a resident of Meghaninagar.

Disillusioned with private pay packages, Ronak decided to secure a government job. He prepared and appeared for many competitive exams between 2016 and 2020 for jobs in the banking sector, state government, staff selection board and the Gujarat high court, among others. “Even though I made it to the merit list a few times, my appointment was not secure,” said Ronak, who was left in a lurch soon after 2020 began as a number of exams got cancelled due to the pandemic.

Ronak Raj (R) at his tea stall near RTO circle in Ahmedabad

‘Tea stall gives good returns’

Finally, Ronak decided to chase the dream of a well-paying job and brew his own concoction of success literally. “I am 27 and it doesn’t feel right to subsist on father's income. After researching many small businesses, I realised setting up a tea stall won’t take too much capital but promised good returns as people of Ahmedabad are tea-lovers,” said Ronak.

Ronak lost his mother a decade ago and lives with his father, a pan shop owner, along with his sister, Mayuri, a diploma engineering graduate who is currently pursuing MBA degree. She helps Ronak run the tea stall.

“Tea is an integral part of Amdavadi culture. of a certain culture in this city. People didn't stop drinking tea even during a pandemic,” said Ronak who pooled Rs 20,000 to start his teastall along with sister and cousin brother.

Ronak serves freshly brewed flavourful tea at Rs 15 a cup with two biscuits alongside. Mayuri runs the stall in the evening after college lectures get over online. Since they started, they did manage to sell around 85 cups of tea each day.

“My tea-stalls name piques the curiosity of many people who ask if we brew some special tea. We share our story proudly and most people come back to support us," said Ronak.

Residents irked as hike in LPG prices burns hole in pockets

Residents irked as hike in LPG prices burns hole in pockets

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 17.12.2020

Hike in LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder prices has created discontent among residents as they now have to shell out ₹100 more for a cylinder than what they paid a fortnight ago.

A 14.2kg domestic gas cylinder now costs ₹710 in Chennai, which was ₹610 before the beginning of this month. With several people managing with limited resources during the pandemic, the hike could not have come at a bad time, say residents.

“Only on December 3, there was an increase of ₹50. Not even 11 days have passed, again an increase of ₹50. It is atrocious in the pandemic situation,” said V Latha of Adambakkam, a housewife.

The income of many middle class families is limping back to normal. In such a situation the Central government should have suspended the automatic increase of prices by oil companies based on international rates, said V Rama Rao, secretary of People Awareness Association.

Many residents pointed out that even during the UPA-2, the price had not exceeded ₹400 and demanded that the government supply 12 LPG cylinders per annum to a household and scrap the DBT (direct benefit transfer) scheme.

DMK leader M K Stalin and DMDK’s Vijayakanth condemned the rise in LPG prices. “When public are reeling under the pandemic, the government’s moves are not helpful. LPG prices should be rolled back or else, the government cannot escape the wrath of the voters,” Stalin tweeted.

Vijayakanth said several small businesses like tea shops and eateries were shut during the lockdown and people are limping back to normalcy. “At such a time, the double price rise is condemnable. The Central government should take steps to roll back prices,” Vijayakanth said in a statement.

Pammal, Anakaputhur to get sewerage system

Pammal, Anakaputhur to get sewerage system

Project Set To Cost ₹162Cr, Another ₹49Cr For STP

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  17.12.2020

In a few years from now, residents of Pammal and Anakaputhur municipalities on the southern fringes of Chennai are likely to get an underground sewerage system.

The municipal administration and water supply (MAWS) department floated tenders worth ₹162crore for establishing the sewerage system including pumping stations and another tender worth ₹49crore for building and operating a 27-millionlitres-per-day capacity sewage treatment plant (STP). The tenders will have to be executed in two years. According to official documents, the STP is likely to be in a location called Kalmaduvu under the Anakaputhur municipality.

At present, residents in these areas dispose their sewage in septic tanks which have to be periodically removed by the municipalities using tanker lorries. There have been many reported incidents of these lorries dumping sewage in water bodies in the vicinity.

According to official documents, population of the two municipalities, which fall in Kancheepuram district, is likely to touch 2.37lakh by 2036 and around 3.17lakh by 2051. The sewerage system would be divided into 10 zones across the two municipalities.

The documents also indicate that these local bodies are likely to be merged with Greater Chennai Corporation in the future. Chennai has an underground sewerage system. The MAWS department is likely to identify a space of around 11acres for the sewage treatment plant. This would have a bio-digester plant which would produce biogas for production of electricity. According to official documents, this is likely to have a lesser operation and maintenance cost compared to other options. Settlements along the Adyar river banks would have to be evicted for the project, the documents also show.

The civic bodies would also explore options to sell the treated water from the plant to industries and conduct a study to calculate the demand from bulk industrial customers.

The local bodies will explore options to discharge the treated sewage in the Adyar river a part of which also falls in the Anankaputhur municipality. Government sources say the sewerage scheme would ensure that pollution of water bodies would be checked. Also, treatment of sewage centrally would ensure prevention of manual scavenging which happens when septic tanks are cleaned.

A sewerage system would also help in improving public health by reducing communicable diseases and prevent pollution to surface and ground water.

Local activist David Manohar said this would have other benefits as well. “Septic tanks take up extra space which will be prevented with an underground sewerage system. Also, people need to shell out a lot of money to private tankers for clearing of septic tanks. This is one of the ways local politicians make money as well,” he said.

Thirupananthal lake at Pammal filled with sewage

6 cases at Anna univ, 8 more in IIT

6 cases at Anna univ, 8 more in IIT

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

17.12.2020

Six hostel students at Anna University’s College of Engineering, Guindy, tested positive for Covid-19 even as eight more cases were reported from neighbouring Indian Institute of Technology–Madras. The case tally in IIT-Madras reached 191.

Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan, who visited both the campuses on Wednesday morning, said Covid-19 tests would be conducted for students residing on campuses across the state. “The positivity rate in Anna University is less than 1%. Most students who tested positive have undergone a battery of tests including blood profile, X-rays and CT scans. They are all doing well,” he said. Sanitation process has been initiated on both campuses.

The infection rate has been coming down steadily both in the city and the state. In the absence of a vaccine, people should continue wearing masks, he said. “Students cannot wear masks in dining rooms, and hence they must ensure they maintain social distancing. Colleges have been asked to offer takeaways for students. A few small mistakes will cause great danger,” he said.

While state has been fining people for not wearing masks, action will be initiated under the epidemic diseases act and the public health act if educational institutions do ensure people’s safety, he said.

Half-yearly exams cancelled for govt school students

Half-yearly exams cancelled for govt school students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Salem: 17.12.2020

State school education minister K A Sengottaiyan on Wednesday announced that half-yearly examinations for students studying in the government and aided schools were cancelled. However, there were no restrictions for private schools to conduct online examinations, the minster told reporters in Erode.

Earlier, participating in an event for unveiling statues in the AIADMK party office and Panneerselvam Park, the minister lauded chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for taking the government on the way shown by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa Citing a recent government order, the minister said the state has provided 3% reservation in government jobs for students who joined through sports quota.

On reducing syllabus, the minister said the students up to Class IX have to study only 50% of the syllabus and for Class X, XI, XII students, it would be 65% of the syllabus.

The minister said the school reopening date will be announced by the chief minister after consulting with parents and educationists.

DOING A CHECK: There are, however, no restrictions for private schools to conduct online examinations

Since Oct, DVAC arrested 33 govt staff for corruption

Since Oct, DVAC arrested 33 govt staff for corruption

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  17.12.2020

In the past two and half months, surprise raids across the state by Directorateof Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) officials has resulted in the arrest of 33 government staff for demanding and receiving bribe. According to an official release, 127 surprise checks were conducted state wide in government offices between October 1 and December 14, in which unaccounted money of ₹6.96 crore, 7.2kg gold, 9.8kg silver, 10.5 carats of diamonds and fixed deposits of ₹37 lakh were seized apart from documents.

Officials were arrested for receiving bribe amount as less as ₹1,000. In Chennai, a sanitary inspector with the city corporation, an estate officer with the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB), a junior assistant with the district revenue office were among those booked by the vigilance department.

Very recently, on Monday (Dec 14), DVAC officials raided the office and residence of Pandian, a superintendent in the state department of environment and seized property worth ₹1.37 crore. The officials found ₹88,500 in unaccounted money from thesuperintendent’soffice at Saidapet’s Panagal Maligai, where all senior environment department officials sit. Search at his residence in Saligramam yielded 3kg gold,10 carats of diamonds, fixed deposits of ₹37 lakh and 18 property documents.

A DVAC official said the superintendent is only a member of the clerical staff, but influential. “Top Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers were also wary of him.Hewouldthreaten totransfer other officials if they did not listen to him,” he said.

Other notable seizure by DVAC sleuths in the past two months was in Vellore, where searches for two continuous days at the office and residences of M Panneerselvam, a zonal officer with the state pollution control board, resulted in seizure of property worth ₹3.5 crore in cash, 450 sovereigns of gold and 6.5kg of silver.

Searches at a senior official in the registration department in Salem resulted in seizure of more than ₹1 crore worth properties.

A majority of raids were conducted at RTO (regional transport office) checkposts acrossthestate andin sub-registrar offices.

Unaccounted money of ₹6.96 crore, 7.2kg gold, 9.8kg silver, 10.5 carats of diamonds and fixed deposits of ₹37 lakh were seized in 127 raids

TN seeks nod to open two new dental colleges

TN seeks nod to open two new dental colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 17.12.2020

Tamil Nadu has sought permission from the Dental Council of India to start two dental colleges in Virudhunagar and Pudukottai for 2021-22 admissions. This is likely to increase the number of dental seats in the state by 200.

Until this year, the state had just one medical college – the Madras Dental College and Hospital in Chennai affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University with 100 BDS seats. “We will add 200 more seatstothe matrix if we get permission from the apex body,” saidhealthsecretary JRadhakrishnan.

Besides offering better and free oral health to people in rural areas, the proposed government colleges will help more studentstotakeup dentistry,he said. Every year, while all seats in government dental colleges are taken, many seats in self-financing dentalcolleges remain vacant. For instance in, 2017-2018, at least 265 seats in self-financing colleges were vacant and the following year it rose to  392.

In June this year, at the end of three rounds of counselling, more than 1,000 BDS vacant seats in self-financing dental colleges were vacant and the state selection committee extended phase-1 of the single window counselling for undergraduate dental admissions by three days. The committee said 417 of 1,070 government seats and 640 of 690 management seats were vacant. Some colleges have even agreed to convert some of their management quota seats into government quota to woo students.

Many students who cleared NEET decided to retake tests so they can get admissions in government medical or dental colleges. This is because the fee structure in self-financing dental colleges can go up to Rs 2.5 lakh compared to Rs 11,610 in Madras Dental College.

Government, however, thinks training more dentists and establishing facilities will help the government take tertiary dental care to people in the rural areas. “Several studies have shown tremendous improvement in public health with good oral hygiene practices.Diseasesin the mouthcan be an early indicator to several non-communicable diseases. New colleges will help us achieve this,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu.

Several senior dentists say that this move will offer better career options to dentists. “Despite the shortage in the number of dentists, many don’t have adequate jobs. A small fraction of the population takes dental health seriously. Most people don’t make annual visits to dentists. Only strong infrastructure and government policy can change this,” said senior dentist Dr SM Balaji.

Pvt school student challenges quota for medical seats

 

SC allows AYUSH docs to prescribe govt-approved immunity boosters

SC allows AYUSH docs to prescribe govt-approved immunity boosters

New Delhi:  16.12.2020

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that qualified AYUSH doctors can prescribe government-approved tablets or mixtures as immunity boosters for Covid-19 patients as per the directions in the March 6 order of the Ministry.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, however, said these doctors cannot prescribe or advertise them as a cure for Covid-19.

The order of the apex court was passed on an appeal filed against the August 21decision of the Kerala HC holding that AYUSH doctors shall not prescribe tablets or mixtures as cures for Covid-19, but only as immunity boosters. The Kerala HC order had asked the state government to use alternative medicine only as an immunity booster. AGENCIES

Educators tell pupils of professional courses to begin rigorous self-study

Educators tell pupils of professional courses to begin rigorous self-study

Ardhra.Nair@timesgroup.com

Pune:  16.12.2020

First-year students of engineering and other professional courses must start studying from Day 1 if they want to finish the syllabus well before the term-end examinations, teachers said.

Neither has the directorate of technical education nor Savitribai Phule Pune University announced any syllabus cut for professional colleges.

A S Marathe, dean of academics at Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, said every engineering student must have a a daily study plan, this year.

“With hardly any physical classes and less time, piling up everything for the preparatory leave would be a bad decision. Students must have a timetable, dedicate at least 6-9 hours a week for his studies and they must keep a log of it. Engineering is different from std XII and they must be prepared to cope with the diversity and depth of the syllabus,” he said.

Sukrut Deo of Bharati Vidyapeeth New Law College said a new law student should focus on self-study this year. “We never recommend that law students use readymade notes. We suggest books and to make their own notes. This year, they should also study at home for at least three hours a day, beyond online lectures. The previous year’s question papers can be studied, but the latest updates and changes should also be checked. Law students must take guidance from their teachers for quick notes on case laws and judgments. They must use official websites like SCC Online, Manupatra, Lexis-Nexis, CLA Online for cases from the high courts and Supreme Court.”

Schools Prepare For ‘Distanced’ Edu

Schools Prepare For ‘Distanced’ Edu

Forget Any Reunion Huddles; Assembly & Sports Not In Covid-Safe Schedule

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal: 16.12.2020

With no assembly, no sports activities and no hostel facility, regular classes of 10 and 12 will be reopened from Friday. A day after the state government announced regular school for classes 9 to 12, the school education department issued the standard operating procedure on Wednesday with clear instruction that schools will ensure that the students will not gather anywhere on campus.

For the re-opening of class 9 and 11, the department stated that school principals will decide as per the available space and enrolment of the students.

The department has directed the schools that the time table should be prepared in a way that the gathering of students must be avoided and SOP could be implemented properly. Students' presence will not be mandatory in the class, the department has categorically stated.

One-time permission granted by the parents to their wards to attend school will be applicable for the entire academic session.

Schools have been instructed to continue online classes. Students who do not want to attend campus academics and are willing to attend online classes should be allowed to do so by the schools. For government schools, full attendance of teaching faculty will be mandatory.

Prayer assembly, group activities, sports activities and swimming pools will not be allowed to open in the schools. Schools have been instructed that it is their duty to ensure that students will not gather.

Schools providing transport facility will have to ensure proper physical distance of the students and other staff in the vehicles. Vehicles will be sanitized periodically with 1 per cent sodium hypochlorite. Besides, other SOPs issued by the central and state government in the past will be required to be followed by the schools inside the campus. Residential schools will be opened as day schools. There will be no hostel facility.