HC directs Kaloji University to admit foreigner in MBBS course

HC directs Kaloji University to admit foreigner in MBBS course

Marri Ramu

HYDERABAD , JANUARY 02, 2021 21:39 IST

Varsity denied admission as student failed to give proof of ‘qualification’

Telangana High Court has directed Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences to give admission in M.B.B.S. course to an NRI who was denied medical seat stating that she had no proof of study of biological sciences in her qualifying examination.

A bench of Justices M.S. Ramachandra Rao and T. Amarnath Goud, pronouncing judgment, said the student P. Srikerti Reddy should be given medical seat forthwith without insisting for proof that she studied biological sciences in qualifying exam. The judgment also declared the university’s action of treating the student ineligible for admission as arbitrary and illegal.

The student, whose father is of Indian origin, completed 12th standard at Conrad high school under West Hartford Board Education, Connecticut in the US. She appeared for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) under graduate exam in foreign national category. Her all India rank was 4,82,207.

On December 12, 2020, the university said she was ineligible for admission in MBBS course as she had no proof of studying biological sciences in the qualifying examination (for Indians it is Intermediate or CBSE plus two).

She moved the HC challenging the university’s decision. The petitioner’s counsel presented to the court that School Counsellor of Conard high school issued a certificate on December 11, 2020 stating that the student had appeared for Advanced Placement Biology course. Subjects of bio-chemistry, cellular biology, organism biology, population biology, Evolution, Genetics and Ecology were covered in deep in that course.

She also presented a certificate issued by Consulate General of India, New York, endorsing that her 12-year high school diploma in the US was recognised in India as equivalent to two-year Pre University Course (present Intermediate programme). Another certificate issued by Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education confirming the 12th class/senior secondary examination of West Hartford Board of Education, Connecticut, USA, was equivalent to Intermediate course.

As per the university’s notification for admissions, the student had uploaded the equivalent certificate issued by Intermediate Board. Additional Advocate General J. Ramchandra Rao contended that the student had not studied biological sciences, physics and chemistry in 11th and 12th standards as required. She studied biological sciences only in tenth standard, Mr. Rao argued. The certificate issued by Intermediate Board did not specifically say that she studied those subjects in 11th and 12th standards, he told the court.

The bench noted that the university did not cite this as reason making her ineligible for admission. It only stated that there was “no proof of study of biological sciences subject in qualifying examinations”. The validity of the equivalence certificate issued by the Intermediate Board was also not mentioned.

The university cannot improve and add new grounds to make her ineligible for admission, the bench said.

HC clears decks for MBBS admission to NRI

HC clears decks for MBBS admission to NRI

TNN | Jan 3, 2021, 04.04 AM IST

Hyderabad: Telangana high court has directed Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) to grant admission to MBBS course to an Indian-American girl student with roots in Warangal under NRI quota meant for foreign nationals in the ongoing counselling session. The girl, Srikeerthi Reddi Pingle, was born and brought up in the US.

The court said KNRUH cannot set new guidelines that were not put forward by the authorities of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE) for giving admission to foreign nationals. The state government is thinking in terms of preferring an appeal against this order.

A division bench of justices MS Ramachandra Rao and T Amarnath Goud pronounced this order after hearing a petition filed by Srikeerthi, a native of Parkal in Warangal. Her father VR Reddi Pingle had settled down in the US long ago. Srikeerthi completed her class XII in Conard High School under West Hartford Board of Education, Connecticut. Aspiring to secure admission to the medicine course, she had appeared for NEET (hall ticket No. 4205004360) in the foreign nationals category. She secured an all-India rank of 4,82,207 (category rank No. 1,59,648).

However, Kaloji university (on December 12, 2020) rejected her candidature on the ground that she did not study biological sciences at the Intermediate level which, it said, was the pre-requisite for securing admission to MBBS course. “She may have studied biological sciences at the class X level, but that does not fit into our book of rules which say that an aspirant should have passed his or her Intermediate with biological sciences, physics and chemistry,” additional advocate general J Ramachandra Rao, who appeared for the university, said.

Petitioner’s counsel Vedula Srinivas, however, told the court that the school counsellor of Conard High School had issued a certificate on December 11, stating that she had taken the advanced placement biology course and studied topics like biochemistry, cellular biology, organismal biology, population biology, evolution, genetics and ecology in the10th grade itself.

“She had also submitted a letter signed by the supervisor of the West Hartford science department certifying her academic credentials to this effect,” the counsel pointed out. The Consulate General of India, New York, had also issued a letter on Dec 22 certifying that the 12th year high school diploma obtained by the petitioner in the US is equivalent to Intermediate study in India. “Even the TSBIE (on Dec 23) issued an equivalence certificate stating that what Srikeerthi studied at West Hartford Board is equal to Intermediate in Telangana,” Srinivas contended.

At this, the judges said the rules pertaining to foreign nationals clearly provide space for equivalence certificate. “Since Srikeerthi had got a certificate from the TSBIE itself, there is no reason why new objections should be raised. Though the candidate satisfied this criterion, the officials are now citing a new ground that she did not study biology at class XII level,” the bench said.

Declaring such argument as untenable, the judges directed the university to provide her admission under the NRI quota.

Why you should let your doctor decide when to treat high BP

Why you should let your doctor decide when to treat high BP

By Dr Hemant Thacker

03.01.2021

Across the world, high blood pressure (BP) is the most common disease requiring a medical prescription. Medically, it is called hypertension, but unfortunately it is often misread as “hyper” tension or increased mental anxiety when it is really a medical condition, not a personality issue. And while it has a definite genetic slant, hypertension is precipitated and perpetuated by bad lifestyle.

In the years since the estimation of blood pressure by the cuff started, different medical and heart associations have defined and redefined the range of normal and abnormal BP values. The most commonly accepted “normal” value is 120/80 (systolic/ diastolic), with lower values being acceptable in younger age groups.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has set the cutoff for the diagnosis of hypertension at 130/80, while the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has set it at 140/90. The Cardiological Society of India has taken a practical stand, setting 130/80 as the baseline for those under 60 years of age, and 140/90 for those above.

We need to understand that these values were arrived at after collating data from clinical trials and real-world evidence. The different associations only differ in their approach to reining in the problem.

Dr Luke Laffin, director of cardiac rehabilitation at the Cleveland Clinic, says Americans chose to set the bar at 130/80, mainly to shake off the clinical inertia that exists in the minds of clinicians when a patient comes in at, say, 134/85. Laffin said, clinically, he was happy to go along with the ESC recommendations, but the stringent ACC guidelines were sacrosanct, especially for people who had comorbidities or associated heart, kidney or other conditions.

However, for young people with 134/82 and no other issues, he was happy to watch their response to lifestyle, dietary and weight modifications. He said 70% of such patients were able to control their BP with these changes. Drug intervention was indicated only when such non-pharmacological measures failed and patients started drifting towards 140/90.

In the Indian context, too, cardiologists were unanimous about the lower bar to not miss out the growing number of young patients advancing towards hypertension.

This made a very good compromise between the two continents where high-risk patients are definitely checked in at 130/80. The moderate to severe patients are now prescribed dual- and even triple-combination therapy.

By using different groups of anti-hypertensive agents in therapeutic doses, with no excess dose of a single agent, the aim is to deliver optimum benefit with minimal side effects. The reliance on lifestyle modification in the young is of paramount importance as hypertension happens a decade earlier in our country.

The aim of this piece is to inform you that hypertension is a function of many variables and while doctors may aim at a number, they finally treat the patient. Let your physician decide your goal and do not extrapolate from numbers a friend pulled out of thin air for you.

(Dr Hemant Thacker is a consultant physician & cardiometabolic specialist affiliated to Times Group, where he renders in-house medical help and also advocates medical education.

Email:dochpt@gmail.com)

HC: Marriage certificate sans emblem not invalid

HC: Marriage certificate sans emblem not invalid

Vasantha.Kumar@timesgroup.com

03.01.2021

Bengaluru: Merely because there is no image of the state emblem printed on a marriage certificate, it cannot be considered invalid, the high court has observed.

The court rejected an appeal filed by a man, challenging his conviction by a Mangaluru court for offences under IPC sections 498A (subjecting wife to cruelty) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace).

Based on the complaint by his wife Shobha from Shivanagar in Alape village, Mangaluru, that her husband assaulted her and married another woman, Sadananda Naik from Karwase village in Karkala taluk was held guilty by a trial court. He was sentenced to one-year imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000.

A sessions court affirmed the verdict on March 29, 2011. Naik had moved the high court, stating he had not married Shobha and contended that the certificate produced was suspicious as it lacked the emblem.

However, Justice HB Prabhakara Sastry pointed out though the document doesn’t contain the emblem as per the format of Form 2A, it still has all other necessary details, including the title showing it as the certificate issued by government and stamp of the marriage officer.

The judge noted that even under section 8 of the KMRM Act, it is stated that non-registration would not invalidate any marriage. The wedding was solemnized between the complainant and the accused on February 3, 2006 and registered before the Registrar of Marriages on March 21, 2007, and it was proved by photographs and evidence of witnesses. The evidence showed the accused married Jyoti at Mahalingeshwara temple in Karkala and it was his second marriage, the judge added.

MTC resumes direct buses from Avadi to Tambaram via Guindy

MTC resumes direct buses from Avadi to Tambaram via Guindy

Nearly two years after terminating direct bus services between Tambaram and Avadi via Guindy, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) recently resumed the services.

Published: 02nd January 2021 06:37 AM 

Chennai MTC bus getting ready at Pallavan House to start operations. 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Nearly two years after terminating direct bus services between Tambaram and Avadi via Guindy, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) recently resumed the services.

Route number 70, which connected western parts of the Chennai suburban region and southwestern parts, was terminated and converted into two services Avadi-CMBT (70A) and CMBT-Tambaram (70C) two years ago. However, a year later, direct services from Avadi to Tambaram (No 202) were introduced via Pattabiram, Pettai and Chembarambakkam. 

“The ‘70’ bus service between Avadi and Tambaram has been resumed to cater to college students. The bus will run via CMBT, Ashok Pillar and Guindy,” said an MTC official.

Similarly, 47J, which was operated from Adyar to JJ East, will be terminated at JJ West, sources added.

ஒரே நாள்... ஒரே கிழமை... 1971 மற்றும் 2021ம் ஆண்டு காலண்டர் அதிசயம்

2021-01-02@ 16:57:33

நாகர்கோவில்: மனித சரித்திரத்தில் மறக்க முடியாத பதிவை 2020ம் ஆண்டு ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது. கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவல், புயல்களின் தொடர் தாக்குதல், போர்கள் என சாமானியர்கள் முதல் செல்வந்தவர்கள் வரை அனைத்து தரப்பினரையும் சுமார் ஒரு வருடம் வீட்டிலேயே முடக்கி வைத்தது. மேலும் பல முக்கிய தலைவர்களின் உயிரை பறித்தது. பலர் வறுமையிலும், பலர் உறவுகளை இழந்த சோகத்திலும், பலர் வேலையிழப்பிலும் அவதிப்பட்டனர். இந்த நிலையில் 2021ம் ஆண்டு பிறந்துள்ளது. இந்த ஆண்டு ஆறுதலான ஆண்டாக இருக்க வேண்டும் என்பதே அனைவரின் ஏக்கமாக உள்ளது. இதற்கிடையே 2021ம் ஆண்டு ‘காலண்டர் அதிசய’ ஆண்டாக அமைந்துள்ளது.

கடந்த ஐம்பது வருடத்திற்கு முன்பு உள்ள 1971ம் ஆண்டு காலண்டரும், 2021ம் ஆண்டு காலண்டரும். ஒரே மாதிரி அமைந்துள்ளது. இரு ஆண்டும் நாள், தேதி ஒத்திருக்கிறது. பண்டிகை நாள்களும் ஓரளவு ஒத்திருக்கிறது. 50 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின் அதே காலண்டர் திரும்பி வந்தாலும் மனித வாழ்வும், நாட்டு நடப்பும், கலாச்சாரமும் முற்றிலும் மாறியுள்ளது. 1971 போல மனிதன் திரும்ப மாற முடியாது. அன்று மாட்டு வண்டிக்கு முக்கியத்துவம், இன்று கம்ப்யூட்டருக்கு முக்கியத்துவம். அன்று மனிதன் இயற்கை உணவுகள் சாப்பிட்டான், இன்று செயற்கை உணவு வகைகளையும் சாப்பிட்டு வருகிறான்.

ஆன்மிக பயணம்: ரஜினி முடிவு?

ஆன்மிக பயணம்: ரஜினி முடிவு?

Added : ஜன 03, 2021 00:48

சென்னை:சொன்னதை செய்ய முடியாததால், மன உளைச்சலில் உள்ள ரஜினி, ஆன்மிக குருமார்களை சந்திக்க திட்டமிட்டுள்ளார்.

'சரியான ஆளுமை இல்லாமல் தவிக்கும் தமிழகத்திற்காகவும், தமிழக மக்களுக்காகவும், கட்சி ஆரம்பித்து, 2021 சட்டசபை தேர்தலில் போட்டியிடுவேன்' என, மூன்று ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் அறிவித்தார், ரஜினி. ஆனால், கொரோனா அச்சத்தால், அரசியலில் நுழையும் முடிவில் இருந்து பின்வாங்கினார்.கடந்த மாதம், ஐதராபாத் சென்ற ரஜினி, அண்ணாத்த படப்பிடிப்பில் பங்கேற்றார். அங்கு படக்குழுவினருக்கு, கொரோனா தொற்று ஏற்பட்டது.

இதனால், ரத்த அழுத்த பிரச்னை காரணமாக, மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட ரஜினி, உரிய சிகிச்சைக்கு பின், வீடு திரும்பினார். அதைத் தொடர்ந்து, கட்சி ஆரம்பிப்பதில் இருந்து பின்வாங்கினார். ஆனாலும், ரசிகர்களையும், நிர்வாகிகளையும் ஏமாற்றி விட்டோமோ என்ற மன உளைச்சலில், அவர் இருப்பதாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

இந்நிலையில், ரஜினி வீட்டுக்கு, நமோ நாராயணா சுவாமிகள் வருகை புரிந்துள்ளார். அவரை வரவேற்ற ரஜினிக்கு,ஸ்படிக மாலையை அணிவித்து, ஆசிர்வதித்து, அவருடன் சிறிது நேரம் பேசியுள்ளார். இந்த சந்திப்பின் போது எடுத்த படங்கள், தற்போது இணையதளத்தில் உலா வருகின்றன. ஆன்மிக அரசியலை அறிவித்த ரஜினி, தற்போது மன நிம்மதிக்காக, ஆன்மிக பயணம் மேற்கொள்வார் என, தகவல் வெளியாகிஉள்ளது.

SETC told to pay ₹10L to accident victim’s kin

SETC told to pay ₹10L to accident victim’s kin

Chennai:  03.01.2021

A motor accidents claims tribunal in Tiruvallur has directed government-run State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) to pay ₹10.1 lakh to the family of an elderly man who was killed after he got knocked down by a speeding SETC bus along the Chennai-Tindivanam road four years ago.

The family of Govindasamy moved the tribunal seeking a compensation of ₹28 lakh. According to their petition, Govindasamy was walking towards a bus stop when the rashly driven SETC bus hit him. In response, the transport corporation contended that the accident occurred due to the victim’s negligence while crossing road. The tribunal perused both submissions, FIR, witness accounts and held the transport corpoation liable. It arrived at a compensation of ₹10.1 lakh to be paid by SETC in two months. TNN

HC notice to TN on school bag tender violations

HC notice to TN on school bag tender violations

Chennai:  03.01.2021

A Haryana-based company has moved the Madras high court alleging irregularities in a tender floated by Tamil Nadu textbook corporation for purchase of school bags and shoes for government school students.

Admitting the plea, Justice Senthil Kumar Ramamoorthy directed the state and the corporation to file their reply in two weeks.

According to the petitioner BNG Fashion Gears, though it was an eligible bidder and made the lowest bid in the tender, its bid was rejected without any reason. “Though we made multiple attempts to know the reason for the rejection, officials of the corporation failed to provide any valid reason,” the petitioner said.

Claiming the action of the authorities in rejecting its bid illegal, the petitioner said, a division bench of Supreme Court headed by Justice S K Kaul had made it clear that the tender-inviting authority is duty-bound to disclose the reason for rejection to the bidder. In the present case, the authorities have deliberately violated the same and refused to provide any justification for the rejection, the petitioner firm said. TNN

Officials: Vax for vulnerable in TN by May

Officials: Vax for vulnerable in TN by May

Chennai:  03.01.2021

A Covid-19 vaccine for the vulnerable in Tamil Nadu — the elderly and those with co-morbidities — could be available by early May if everything goes well, estimate public health officials.

On Saturday, at the end of the dry run for the first stage vaccination, officials said it would take nearly a month to complete the process for the group as per Union health ministry protocol. The first phase is likely to be slow as adverse reactions and other technical glitches during vaccination will be closely monitored. “After this we will vaccinate frontline workers, including police and uniformed service personnel. By the time we reach the vulnerable population, which forms the large chunk of people in this phase, we will have adequate experience to speed up the process,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. TNN

Dry run goes smooth but for internet issues

TheUnion health ministryapproved vaccine will be centrally procured and distributed to states as per demand. Health minister C Vijayabaskar, who was in Coimbatore, said it will be administered to 1.6 crore people across the state in the first phase from 47,200 centres. The recipient list includes six lakh health workers in 2,881 government hospitals and 35,403 privatehospitals.

The Centre is yet to roll out the schedule, but has told states 30 crore people including healthcare workers, frontline workers and vulnerable people will be covered in the first phase. It has not permitted use of the vaccine for others as of now. TN public health officials are working on protocol that will allow them to offer the vaccine to multiple groups, Vijayabaskar said.

The state can store 2.5 crore vials of vaccine in cold storage units and has trained more than 21,000 health workers, said officials, adding that each centrewill vaccinate not morethan 100 people a day.

On Saturday, the dry run was done at 17 sites across the districts of Chennai, the Nilgiris, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Tiruvallur using at least 2,000 health workers. Each centre had five vaccinators, a doctor, supervisory health officials and 30 volunteers.

Officials checked multiple steps of the process, efficiency of the exclusive vaccination network(CoWIN),internetconnectivity andfacilitiesin theobservation room. “There were some issues with internet connectivity in districts such as the Nilgiris, but overall, we were abletocompleteitsuccessfully,” said director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam.

Volunteers took separate exit and entry, wore masks and maintained social distancing norms. At entry, vaccinator 1 verified the identity and vaccinator 2 entered it in the CoWIN app before sending him/her in. No vaccine was given, but the nurse or health worker clicked the ‘yes’ button on the CoWIN app, allowing updation of details on the centralised portal before text messages with detailscan besenttothe volunteer. The volunteer waited in the observation room for 30 minutes.

2 Chinese held in loan app case, ₹300cr under lens

2 Chinese held in loan app case, ₹300cr under lens

₹5,000 To ₹50,000 Given To 1L People At 36% Interest

A.Selvaraj@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  03.01.2021

The Chennai police have arrested four people, including two Chinese nationals, and unearthed an extensive network of illegal micro-financing apps offering instant loans at interest rates as high as 36%. According to police sources, more than two dozen illegal apps which could have cumulatively disbursed ₹300 crore in sums ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 to more than one lakh people across the country have been unearthed.

“The source of the money and to whom and how was the principal and interest credited back is not known and is being probed,” an official said. Two bank accounts with ₹48 lakh and ₹1.96 crore balance in ICICI Bank and RBL Bank branches in Bengaluru have been frozen by police.

While two Chinese nationals Xia Ya Mau, 38, and Yuvan Lun, 28, have been arrested, two others, Hong and Wandish, managed to escape to Singapore.

Two others from Karnataka — S Pramoda of Doopanahalli and C R Pavan of Chikkanahally — too were arrested and remanded in judicial custody in Chennai. “Though the Karnataka duo were cited as ‘directors’ of many of these lending companies, they were paid ₹20,000 as monthly salary, while the Chinese took full possession of cheque leaves, ATM debit cards and the company’s internet banking access credentials,” said a senior official of Central Crime Branch. A CCB team worked on the racket for 20 days and camped in Bengaluru for about a week to nab the suspects.

The Chennai breakthrough has come after the suicide of at least four men in Telangana and one in Bengaluru owing to shaming and humiliation meted out to them by recovery agents engaged by these loan app firms.

Xia Ya Mau & Yuvan Lun

Instant debt trap: T’gana man kills self

In yet another tragedy triggered by the instant debt trap, a 36-year-old warehouse labourer in Hyderabad took his own life on Saturday after being allegedly threatened and then shamed in front of family and friends for defaulting on repayment of a loan procured through a lending app. G Chandramohan’s death is the fifth suicide in Telangana linked to loan apps in a month. Family members suspect Chandramohan may have borrowed between ₹60,000 and ₹70,000. P 11

Over 100 hired at ₹8K/month to harass loan defaulters

At least five more Chinese nationals have been arrested in different parts of the country, including Delhi, in recent weeks.

Commending the CCB team, Chennai city commissioner of police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal said: “We are looking into the flow of money to the company -- True Kindle Technologies Solutions Private Limited -- floated by the Chinese. The two arrested Chinese nationals have been staying even after the expiry of their visa period.”

Another officer said they would engage a translator to interrogate the suspects and obtain more information about their apps after taking them into police custody. The laptops and mobiles seized from them will be scruitinized.

The officer said CCB has sent requests to Google Play Store to suspend 25 mobile applications as they are illegal and existed against the investment as well as lending norms in the country.

Pramoda and Pavan told the CCB sleuths that they came across an online advertisement posted by the Chinese requiring them to set up a call centre in Bengaluru. “Their role was to register a company and recruit tele-callers, while the money partwastaken careof by theChinese. More than 100 telecallers were recruited at₹8,000 as monthly salary andthey were given a targetof at least 10 loan referrals every day. Their job was to make abusive phone calls to defaulting customers, access the contact list of the defaulters andshamethem by sending messagesto alltheir contacts,” said a CCB official.

After three of the customers caught in the debt trap committed suicide in a single month, Hyderabad police have arrested a Chinese national and15 others and registered 27 cases.

Light rain, misty mornings in store for two days, says IMD

TRYST WITH MIST

Light rain, misty mornings in store for two days, says IMD

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  03.01.2021

The city is set to receive light rain accompanied by misty mornings for the next two days. Sunday is likely to be a cool and cloudy day. As per the IMD forecast, “Light to moderate rain is likely to occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperature will be around 28°C and 24°C.”

The city experienced a misty Saturday up to noon with light rain due to a combination of factors such as high humidity, a cloudy sky and cold wind from the north. The prevailing mist helped pull down the maximum temperature to 26°C.

A met department official clarified that the city didn’t experience fog. “It is misty and cloudy weather... But, there wasn’t much rain due to the cloudy weather and drop in temperature. Fog, which forms during nights and early mornings when the sky is clear, will set in by mid-January. We usually have a few foggy days close to January 14,” the official said.

He added that with the difference between the maximum and minimum temperature reducing, the days are likely to be similar to weather at hill stations.

The visibility at the airport was up to 1,500m on Saturday and increased to 4,000m later in the forenoon. The mist did not affect flights or trains.

Private weather bloggers forecast good rain this month for the city and other parts of the state as part of the northeast monsoon. The light rain on Saturday is considered the beginning of a spell, likely to last the next couple of days.

The IMD forecast heavy rain with thunder particularly in Puducherry and Karaikal. The rain will impact the weather in Chennai and its southern suburbs. The city has received surplus rain of 33% so far via the northeast monsoon.

Will send you to Institute of Mental Health, court warns habitual petitioner

Will send you to Institute of Mental Health, court warns habitual petitioner

Srikkanth.D@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 03.01.2021

A city civil court has severely censured a petitioner, warning him that he would be sent to Institute of Mental Health at Kilpauk for treatment if he is found loitering in court complexes, disturbing staff and court functions and making unwarranted allegations against judicial officers, while dismissing his petition.

The petitioner has been repeatedly approaching lower courts and high court seeking directions to police to take action on his complaints. The additional sessions court was hearing the revision petition after the chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM), Egmore dismissed his petition.

The petitioner, claiming to be an advocate appeared as party-in-person to appear his own case. The petitioner has two vague grievances the court noted. One against neighbours allegedly causing nuisance and another against a lawyer, who made the petitioner suffer loss in legal profession. Since police did not take action on his complaints, the petitioner approached the Madras high court in 2016 and the petition was dismissed. Meanwhile, he had approached the CMM, Egmore to direct police to act on his complaints in August and October last year.

The CMM had returned the petition directing him to submit an affidavit in support of the allegations. But the petitioner filed a review petition before the CMM and it was duly dismissed as a criminal court is not empowered to review its own order, the sessions court noted.

“Though he argues fluently in English, he is ignorant of basic aspects of criminal law, procedure and practice,” additional sessions Judge S Isvarane stated and noted the submissions from the prosecution that he was harassing court staff and behaved in a similar manner before the high court too and was warned then.

Colleges expect more students from tomorrow, evolve Covid-19 protocols Students In Hostels To Be Quarantined

Colleges expect more students from tomorrow, evolve Covid-19 protocols

Students In Hostels To Be Quarantined

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 3.01.2021

Expecting more students on campus when the new semester begins on Monday, city colleges have evolved protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in view of the recent cluster at IIT Madras.

Some plan to quarantine hostel students before allowing them to attend physical classes while others like Madras Christian College plan to test all students coming to the campus.

The higher education department allowed final year UG and PG students to attend the physical classes from the first week of December. But, due to semester exams, many colleges postponed reopening to January first week.

Loyola College principal Thomas Amirtham said around 60% of final year students opted to attend physical classes from Monday. “We will quarantine hostel students for one week before allowing them to attend classes. We also plan to conduct online classes simultaneously for others.”

There will be less than 50% of the total strength in any given time in the classroom and the remaining will attend classes virtually, he said. “Physical classes will be held for only three hours a day. In the remaining two hours, they have to do academic activity in asynchronous mode.”

DG Vaishnav College in Arumbakkam will allow students into hostel students only after they test negative for Covid-19. “If the student strength is more than 50% we will split the class into two batches and conduct classes on alternative days. If it is less than 50%, both offline and online classes will be held. We will conduct a review meeting on Monday,” said principal S Santhosh Baboo.

Madras Christian College plans to check daily the temperature of students and isolate those with symptoms. “We expect full strength only after Pongal,” said Paul Wilson, principal.

Guru Nanak College in Velachery plans to begin with practical classes, shift wise and batch wise. “Once colleges fully reopen, we will conduct theory and practicals offline,” said principal M G Ragunathan.

At MOP Vaishnav College for Women in Nungambakkam, students have already begun practicals in labs. “Our students are not keen to attend physical classes for theory. We are allowing students who want to come and we are keeping our classes ready,” said Lalitha Balakrishnan, principal.

Loyola College

It’s a lotus: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in Lucknow

It’s a lotus: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in Lucknow

TNN | Dec 22, 2019, 07.01 AM IST

LUCKNOW: The Rs 201-crore Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University, foundation of which will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on December 25, will be built in the shape of a lotus.

The university will be a first-of-its-kind providing affiliation to medical colleges. The university, to come up in CG City, will be completed by end-2020.

Vajpayee represented Lucknow in Parliament for five terms from 1991 to 2009.

In its first phase, the university will have complete infrastructure to house a state-of-the-art auditorium and administrative block. The second phase will see establishment of a hospital and teaching facilities.

State medical education department has invited tenders from major construction agencies and PWD is the nodal agency for the project.

Meanwhile, a three-day event has been organised in the city to commemorate Vajpayee’s birth anniversary, which would culminate with the inauguration of the late PM’s bronze statue by Modi on December 25.

In a meeting held on Saturday, it was finalised that celebrations would be kicked off on December 23, with a performance on Sita Swayamvara. This would be followed by a musical rendition of 51 poems composed by Vajpayee. On the following day, a talk on ‘Rashtra Dharma, Rashtravad aur Ataj ji’ would be organised.

This would be addressed by BJP MP Rakesh Sinha, deputy CM Dinesh Sharma and UP assembly Speaker Hriday Narayan Dikshit. A Kathak performance based on Vajpayee’s poems would be held at night.

On December 25, which is Vajpayee’s birthday, the PM would inaugurate his statue at 3pm in Lok Bhawan. He is later expected to address a programme, along with CM Yogi Adityanath and defence minister Rajnath Singh.

11 medical colleges secure letter of consent for affiliation under Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University

11 medical colleges secure letter of consent for affiliation under Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University: Lucknow: A total of 11 medical colleges have secured a letter of consent for affiliation under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University. Among these colleges, there are 9 government and two private...

’நான் தான் சகலகலாவல்லவன்’ ; 37 வருடங்களாக ‘ஹாப்பி நியூ இயர்’ சொல்லி புத்தாண்டை வரவேற்கும் பாடல்!

’நான் தான் சகலகலாவல்லவன்’ ; 37 வருடங்களாக ‘ஹாப்பி நியூ இயர்’ சொல்லி புத்தாண்டை வரவேற்கும் பாடல்!

வி. ராம்ஜி

Published : 01 Jan 2021 19:15 pm

நம் வாழ்வில் இரண்டறக் கலந்த விஷயங்களில் பாடல்களுக்கும் முக்கியத்துவம் உண்டு. பாடல்களை முணுமுணுக்காதவர்கள் வெகு குறைவுதான். நம் வாழ்க்கையுடன் பின்னிப்பிணைந்து விட்ட எத்தனையோ பாடல்கள் உண்டு. நம் ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு விதமான பாடல்கள் ஈர்த்திருக்கும். திரும்பத் திரும்பக் கேட்போம். கேட்டுக்கேட்டு ரசிப்போம். ரசித்து ரசித்துப் பூரிப்போம். இப்படி நமக்கும் பாடலுக்குமான பந்தம் போல், காலத்துக்கும் பாட்டுக்கும் கூட தொடர்பு உண்டு. அப்படியொரு காலம்... புத்தாண்டின் தொடக்கம். அந்தத் தொடக்கத்தில் பிணைந்திருக்கும் பாடல்... ‘ நான் தான் சகலகலாவல்லவன்’ எனும் ‘ஹாப்பி நியூ இயர்’ பாடல்!

82ம் ஆண்டுக்கு முன்பு, ஆங்கிலப் புத்தாண்டை எந்தப் பாடலைக் கொண்டு கொண்டாடினோமோ? ஆனால், 82ம் ஆண்டுக்குப் பிறகு தொடங்கி இதோ... 2021ன் புத்தாண்டு வரை, 2020ம் ஆண்டு முடிந்து நள்ளிரவு 12 மணிக்கு ஒலிபரப்புகிற பாடல்... ‘விஷ் யூ ஹாப்பி நியூ இயர்’ என்கிற ‘சகலகலா வல்லவன்’ படத்தின் பாடலாகத்தான் இருக்கிறது.

ஏவி.எம் எனும் பாரம்பரியம் மிக்க நிறுவனம் பிரமாண்டமான முறையில் தயாரித்த படம் ‘சகலகலாவல்லவன்’. கமல், அம்பிகா, ரவீந்தர், சில்க் ஸ்மிதா, வி.கே.ராமசாமி, புஷ்பலதா, துளசி, ஒய்.ஜி.மகேந்திரன், தேங்காய் சீனிவாசன் முதலானோர் நடித்த இந்தப் படம், மிகப்பெரிய வெற்றியைப் பெற்றது.

பொழுதுபோக்கு அம்சங்கள் கொண்ட, அனைத்து ஏரியா ரசிகர்களையும் குஷிப்படுத்துகிற படமாக அமைந்தது ‘சகலகலா வல்லவன்’. பஞ்சு அருணாசலம் கதை, வசனம் எழுத, எஸ்.பி.முத்துராமன் இயக்கினார். ஜுடோ ரத்தினத்தின் சண்டைக்காட்சிகள் மிரட்டின. கிராமத்து கேரக்டரும் இடைவேளைக்குப் பின்னர் ஃபாரின் ரிட்டர்ன் கேரக்டரும் என கமல் நடிப்பில் பிரமாதப்படுத்தினார்.

கவிஞர் வாலி பாடல்கள் எழுத, இளையராஜாவின் இசையில் எல்லாப் பாடல்களுமே மிகப்பெரிய வெற்றியைப் பெற்றன. ‘அம்மன் கோவில் கிழக்காலே’ எனும் டைட்டில் பாடலை இளையராஜாவே பாடியிருந்தார். அநேகமாக, இந்தக் காலகட்டத்தில்தான் ‘இளையராஜா டைட்டில் பாட்டு பாடினால், அந்தப் படம் பிரமாண்டமான வெற்றியை பெறும்’ எனும் சென்டிமென்ட், திரையுலகில் ஏற்பட்டது.

‘கட்டவண்டி கட்டவண்டி’ என்ற பாடல் ஆண் குரலிலும் பெண் குரலிலுமாக இரண்டு முறை வந்தது. இரண்டுமே ஹிட்டடித்தது. ‘நிலாக்காயுது நேரம் நல்ல நேரம்’ பாடலும் இன்றைக்கும் ஹிட் வரிசைப் பாடல். முக்கியமாக, நேத்து ராத்திரி யம்மா தூக்கம் போச்சுடி யம்மா’ எனும் பாடல் அடைந்த வெற்றிக்கு எல்லையே இல்லை. இளையராஜா, எஸ்.பி.பி. மலேசியா வாசுதேவன் என பாடகர்களையும் வாலியின் பாடல் வரிகளையும் இன்றைக்கும் மறக்கவே இல்லை ரசிகர்கள்!

எல்லாவற்றையும் விட முக்கியமாக, காலங்கள் கடந்த பாடலாக, காலத்துக்குமான பாடலாக, காலத்துக்கு தொடர்பு உள்ள பாடலாக ‘சகலகலாவல்லவன்’ படத்தில் அமைந்த ‘விஷ் யூ ஹாப்பி நியூ இயர்’ ‘நான் தான் சகலகலாவல்லவன்’ என்ற பாடல் அடைந்த வெற்றி குறித்தும் பாடல் தந்த தாக்கம் குறித்தும் பாடல் நம் கொண்டாட்டத்துடன் இணைந்த பிரிக்கமுடியாத பந்தம் குறித்தும் சொல்லவே தேவையில்லை.

1982ம் ஆண்டு ஆகஸ்ட் மாதம் 14ம் தேதி சுதந்திர தினத்தை முன்னிட்டு வெளியான இந்தப் படம், அந்த வருடத்தின் மிகப்பெரிய வசூல் குவித்த படமாக அமைந்தது. அதுமட்டுமா? முந்தைய வருடங்களில் வெளியான ‘திரிசூலம்’ முதலான படங்களின் வசூல் சாதனைகளையெல்லாம் முறியடித்தது ‘சகலகலாவல்லவன்’.

திரையிட்ட தியேட்டர்கள் பலவற்றிலும் 200 நாட்களைக் கடந்து ஓடியது. 82ம் ஆண்டு டிசம்பர் 31ம் தேதி நள்ளிரவு தொடங்கி 83ம் ஆண்டு ஜனவரி 1ம் தேதியன்று, ‘விஷ்யூ ஹாப்பி நியூ இயர்’ என்கிற ‘சகலகலாவல்லவன்’ பாடலே ஒலிபரப்பப்பட்டது. டீக்கடைகளிலும் தியேட்டர்களிலும் வானொலிகளிலும் தூர்தர்ஷனிலும் இந்தப் பாடலே இடம்பிடித்தது.

அடுத்தடுத்த ஆண்டுகளில், டிசம்பர் 31ம் தேதி இரவுக்காட்சி வேறு ஏதோவொரு படம் ஓடிக்கொண்டிருக்கும். சரியாக 12 மணி வரும்போது, ஓடிக்கொண்டிருக்கும் படத்தை நிறுத்திவிட்டு, ‘சகலகலாவல்லவன்’ படத்தின் ‘நான் தான் சகலகலாவல்லவன்’ என்ற பாடலை ஒளிபரப்புவார்கள். எல்லோரும் விசில் பறக்கவிடுவார்கள். கரவொலி எழுப்புவார்கள். குத்தாட்டம் போடுவார்கள். ஒருவருக்கொருவர் வாழ்த்துகளைப் பரிமாறிக்கொள்வார்கள். 83ம் ஆண்டு ஆங்கிலப்புத்தாண்டின் போது தொடங்கிய காலத்துக்கும் இந்தப் பாடலுக்குமான பந்தம் 2021ம் ஆண்டிலும் தொடர்ந்துகொண்டேதான் இருக்கிறது.

’இளையராஜாவின் இசையில் எல்லாப் பாடல்களும் நல்ல வரவேற்பைப் பெறும் என்றுதான் நம்பினோம். ஆனால், அனைத்துப் பாடல்களுமே இன்றுவரைக்கும் மிகப்பெரிய தாக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும் பாடல்களாக இருக்கும் என்று நினைக்கவில்லை. முக்கியமா, ‘ஹாப்பி நியூ இயர்’ பாடல் ஒவ்வொரு வருடமும் புத்தாண்டை வரவேற்கிற பாடலாக அமையும் என்றெல்லாம் நினைக்கவே இல்லை. இளையராஜாவின் இசை அப்படியானது’ என்று இயக்குநர் எஸ்.பி.முத்துராமன் தெரிவித்திருந்தார்.

கமலின் நடிப்பு, ஆட்டம், இளையராஜாவின் இசை, வாலியின் வரிகள், முக்கியமாக எஸ்.பி.பி.யின் வசீகரக் குரல்... என இன்றைக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு புத்தாண்டையும் வரவேற்றுக் கொண்டிருக்கிறான் ‘சகலகலா வல்லவன்’.

37 வருடங்களாக ‘ஹாப்பி நியூ இயர்’ சொல்லிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறான் ‘சகலகலாவல்லவன்’. ‘இளமை இதோ இதோ’ என்ற இந்தப் புத்தாண்டுப் பாடலுக்கு வயது கூடவே இல்லை!

கல்வி தகுதி நிர்ணயிக்க பல்கலைக்கு உரிமை

கல்வி தகுதி நிர்ணயிக்க பல்கலைக்கு உரிமை

Added : ஜன 02, 2021 00:51

மதுரை:'உயர்கல்வி படிக்க, குறைந்தபட்ச கல்வித் தகுதி நிர்ணயிக்க, நிகர்நிலை பல்கலைக்கு உரிமை உள்ளது' என, உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை உத்தரவிட்டது.

ஜனனி என்பவர் தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:சுகாதார ஆய்வாளர் முதுகலை பட்டயப் படிப்பில், 2020 - 21ல் சேர, பி.எஸ்.சி., - வேதியியல், பிளஸ் 2வில் உயிரியல், தாவரவியல் மற்றும் விலங்கியலில் தேர்ச்சி பெற்றிருக்க வேண்டும் என, திண்டுக்கல் காந்தி கிராம கிராமிய பல்கலை நிபந்தனை விதித்தது. இது, சட்டவிரோதம்.இதை ரத்து செய்து, 2018 - 19ல் நிர்ணயித்த பி.எஸ்.சி., வேதியியல் கல்வித் தகுதி அடிப்படையில், என் விண்ணப்பத்தை பரிசீலித்து, இடம் ஒதுக்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு குறிப்பிட்டார்.

நீதிபதி எஸ்.வைத்தியநாதன் விசாரித்தார். மனுதாரர் தரப்பு, 'தற்போது கல்வித் தகுதியை மாற்றி அமைத்துள்ளதால், பிளஸ் 2வில் உயிரியல், தாவரவியல் மற்றும் விலங்கியல் படிக்காமல், பி.எஸ்.சி., பட்டம் பெற்றவர்களுக்கு பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தும்' என தெரிவித்தது.

நீதிபதி உத்தரவு:குறைந்தபட்ச கல்வித் தகுதி நிர்ணயிக்க, நிகர்நிலை பல்கலைக்கு உரிமை உள்ளது. கல்வித் தகுதி தொடர்பான நிர்வாக முடிவுகளில், நீதிமன்றம் தலையிட முடியாது. தற்போது, தொழில்நுட்ப உலகில் வாழ்கிறோம். தொழில்நுட்பம் மேம்பாடு அடைந்துள்ளது. இதற்கேற்ப, குறிப்பிட்ட திட்டத்திற்கு திறமையான நபர்கள் இருப்பதை உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டியுள்ளது.

இதன் அடிப்படையில், பல்கலை நிர்ணயித்த கல்வித் தகுதியில் தவறு காண முடியாது. எதிர்காலத்தில், உயர் கல்வித் தகுதியை பல்கலை நிர்ணயிக்கலாம். மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்கிறேன்.இவ்வாறு, நீதிபதி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

Lockdown checked speed, not cases. Unlock was date, not data, driven

Lockdown checked speed, not cases. Unlock was date, not data, driven

01.01.2021

No country has found a winning formula to contain the SARSCoV2, the virus causing the Covid-19 disease. India has also tried to build the ship while sailing on a rough sea. As the sun sets on 2020, let us look back. Could India’s response have been better? In hindsight, yes.

Between January and March, India focused exclusively on minimising the risk of importation. Se l ec tive screening and travel restrictions to begin with, and universal screening later with mandatory quarantine, could not adequately counter this risk. Had quarantine been instituted right from the beginning, the impact would have been different.

In the last week of March, lockdowns were imposed primarily to slow down the epidemic, the final phase lasting till the end of May. The announcement of lockdown came abruptly, without giving time to people, sparking fear, anxiety and panic. It created major uncertainties of livelihood and food for the poor. Millions of workers started their journey home, frequently in overcrowded conveyance, which threatened to push the virus deeper into rural India where it would be challenging to test and provide healthcare. Lockdowns were often enforced with coercive methods, spending more effort in containing the people rather than the virus.

The other rationale of lockdowns was to buy time to prepare the system to respond to the epidemic – from ramping up testing and quarantine facilities to arranging enough personal protective equipment for healthcare personnel. But this took more time than the lockdown periods.

The ‘pre-emptive, proactive, graded response’ failed to check the rising number of cases. When the lockdown was announced, there were 564 cases and 10 deaths with a doubling time of 3.4 days. On April 19, when graded relaxation was allowed, there were 17,656 cases, 559 deaths and a doubling time of 6.2 days. The lockdowns slowed the speed of spread of the infection, but not the number of cases, which kept increasing. India has occupied number 2 position in the number of cases reported globally. Lockdown is a blunt tool to flatten the peak of the epidemic, and not very efficient in interrupting the chain of transmission.

Testing and quarantining – the sharper tools – coupled with rigorous measures of masking, physical distancing, containment and mitigation would have flattened the curve and also reduced infection rate. The lockdowns were followed by a gradual seven-stage unlocking, which was date-driven rather than data driven.

It was a mistake to limit the initial testing to a few specific high-risk groups. Testing criteria were restrictive and testing rates were low, underestimating the cases.

The situation of the epidemic was informed by a set of data released by the government. It focused on numbers tested, numbers positive, recovery rate, doubling time, etc, not forgetting to highlight that the case fatality ratio in India was lower compared to other countries. While this data subtly hints that the government’s efforts have resulted in keeping the ratio low, it might have more to do with the proportion of the population older than 70 years, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and other lifestyle conditions.

The rest of the official data has been closely guarded, only a few details have been released. Had the district-wise, demographic-wise case statistics and anonymous contact traces been released in the public domain, reliable model forecasts of disease spread and targeted regional lockdown protocols could have been generated.

Data to calculate infectiousness of SARS-CoV2 (basic reproduction rate) is important to tailor contact-tracing and quarantine strategies. Without access to data, no secondary analysis has been possible. There have been delays in sharing and full disclosure of national sero-survey data.

The government has also been quick to accord emergency-use authorisation to several repurposed medicines for treatment of Covid-19, such as hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, favipiravir, itolizumab, tocilizumab, etc. Sharing the science and uncertainties that informed these decisions would have been helpful to build public trust.

The response to the SARS-CoV2 epidemic should have been driven by a public health agency. We could have had different groups of experts, bureaucrats, etc to advise and guide, but the lead should have been given to a public health agency, trained to control epidemics. In this most serious public health crisis of our times, the absence of public health agencies on the national scene was conspicuous.

India’s variegated epidemiological, social and systemic vulnerabilities make its pandemic response difficult and complex. Some approaches have worked well, while others needed better planning.

Kant was head of the department of epidemiology and communicable diseases, ICMR.

Dr Lalit Kant AGAINST

The situation of the epidemic was informed by a set of data released by the government… The rest of the official data has been closely guarded, only a few details have been released

IndiGo: Some servers hacked, data leak likely

IndiGo: Some servers hacked, data leak likely

New Delhi:  01.01.2021

Some servers of India’s largest airline IndiGo were hacked earlier in December. The extent of data breach is being ascertained and the airline has taken up the issue with police. In a statement on Thursday, Indi-Go said, “We would like to make this disclosure that some of our servers were subject to hacking earlier this month. We were able to restore our systems with minimal impact... So, there is a possibility that some internal documents may get uploaded by the hackers on public websites and platforms.” TNN

K’taka yet to trace 175 UK returnees

K’taka yet to trace 175 UK returnees

Bengaluru:  01.01.2021

The Karnataka home department, which is continuing its efforts to trace the missing UK returnees in the state, is yet to find 175 of them, including 80 foreigners. Thirty returnees have tested positive for Covid-19, and seven of them for the new strain.

As of Wednesday evening, the state was looking for 199 people and found 24 late Thursday. Officials said returnees have fallen off the radar mainly because of wrong or inactive mobile numbers.

Health minister K Sudhakar said: “Four contacts of the UK returnees have tested positive. Now, 30 returnees and their four contacts are in isolation at government facilities and all their contacts are under surveillance.” TNN

Will find them: Min

Of the missing UK returnees, 80 are not Indian citizens. This means we do not have their contact details. But the home department is pursuing the matter and will find them soon,” health minister K Sudhakar said. Experts told TOI that governments must be cautious about the new variant even though not many cases have come to the fore yet. It is important to isolate the imported cases and test all those who have come in contact with them, they added.

CBSE to hold Class X, XII board exams from May 4 to June 10

CBSE to hold Class X, XII board exams from May 4 to June 10

Practical Exams From March 1; Results To Be Declared By July 15

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  01.01.2021

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the Class X and XII board exams of 2021 between May 4 and June 10 and the results will be declared by July 15, education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal announced on Thursday. CBSE will hold the practical exams from March 1.

TOI had first reported in October that board exams of 2021will be delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Usually practical exams are conducted in January and the written exams begin in February and conclude in March.

“The date sheet for both the classes will be issued soon,” Pokhriyal announced.

In view of disruption of the regular classes due to the pandemic, CBSE had reduced the syllabus by 30% earlier to make up for the academic losses.

The board is also working on a solution for conducting the exams in over 25 countries where CBSE has a presence.

“This is a prudent decision by the government given that the students are under tremendous pressure due to disruption of the academic activities. The deferred exams and rationalisation of syllabus will help the students,” said Swati Jain, editor, Oswal Books.

With no clarity on the board exam dates so far, several schools have already conducted pre-board exams online to keep the students prepared. CBSE had earlier this month ruled out holding board exams in 2021 online.

Schools across the country were closed in March to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. They were partially reopened in some states from October 15.

The board exams this year had to be postponed mid-way in March. They were later cancelled and the results announced on the basis of an alternative assessment scheme.

The ministry of education had earlier announced that JEE (Main) for admission to engineering colleges will be held four times a year, starting 2021, to offer flexibility to students and a chance to improve their scores.

The first edition of the Joint Entrance Examination-Mains (JEE-Main) will be held from February 23 to 26, followed by rounds in March, April and May.

Full report on www.toi.in

EXAM TIME: The Central Board of Secondary Education is also working on a solution for conducting the examinations in over 25 countries where it has a presence

Revamped IRCTC site with ‘one click’ theme from today

Revamped IRCTC site with ‘one click’ theme from today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 01.01.2021

The experience of booking train tickets through IRCTC website and IRCTC Rail Connect Mobile App will change from Friday. The concept of “one click” forms the theme of the revamped IRCTC website, with several details such as availability of trains, booking of meals, retiring room, hotels and last transaction now displayed at the click of a mouse.

Regular or favorite journeys can be booked easily through the autofill feature. In the new website, the availability for all classes will be displayed along with respective fares for all trains and probability of confirmation will also be displayed.

In the earlier version, each train seat availability and fares could be seen only after clicking on that train individually and the probability of confirmation had to be checked for each waitlist status separately.

In the website, availability for other dates can be toggled on the page itself. On average 40 lakh people logged into the IRCTC website per day before the pandemic and it has even booked 26,000 tickets in a minute, which is a record.

Currently, this e-ticketing website has more than six crore active users and more than eight lakh tickets are purchased daily. Around 83% of the total reserved railway tickets are booked through this online system.

Full report on www.toi.in

Suneet Sharma is new rly board chief

The government on Thursday appointed former Eastern Railway general manager Suneet Sharma as the new chairman and CEO of the railway board. Sharma is a special class railway apprentice officer of the 1978-batch. He has discharged responsibilities at various levels, including zonal railways, workshops and diesel loco sheds, in his over 34 years in the Indian Railways, the railway ministry said. The extended one-year tenure of Sharma’s predecessor, Vinod Kumar Yadav, who also became the restructured board’s first CEO, ended on December 31. TNN

Stalin, TTV ask TN to withdraw cases against govt staff

 Stalin, TTV ask TN to withdraw cases against govt staff

Chennai:  01.01.2021

DMK president M K Stalin and AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran on Thursday asked the state government to immediately withdraw cases filed against government employees and teachers for taking part in the strike early this year. They had withdrawn the strike and returned to work after a request by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami but are facing trouble as the cases have not been withdrawn, the two leaders said.

“It is improper on part of the state government to not to drop disciplinary and departmental level inquiries launched against them and it is affecting their promotions, salary and retirement benefits,” Stalin said. “The cases must be withdrawn since more than 5,000 employees are affected,” Dhinakaran said in his statement. TNN

Heavy rain lashes central TN

Heavy rain lashes central TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:  01.01.2021

2020 has ended on a good note on the climate front as heavy rain lashed the central districts for several hours from Wednesday night and throughout the day on Thursday, throwing normal life out of gear. According to India meteorological department (IMD), a cyclonic circulation over southwest Bay of Bengal caused rainfall in several parts of Tamil Nadu.

The coastal districts witnessed heavy rainfall in the early hours with Nagappattinam receiving 30.7mm in the 24 hours ending 8.30am. Despite the rain, fishermen set out to sea. Thanjavur recorded the second highest rainfall of 14.1mm while Tiruvarur realized 11.5mm.

The rain brought worries to farmers as hundreds of acres of paddy crops suffered in the havoc caused by cyclones Nivar and Burevi last month. The sharp showers wet the crops a day after the central team completed the damage assessment in the delta districts. After weeks, Trichy city received substantial rainfall in the early hours of Thursday. The city that registered a deficit northeast monsoon had an average of 10-11mm rainfall in the morning with the moderate showers continuing till noon.

The suburbs of the city including Samayapuram and Lalgudi road received good rain. Already facing a 30% deficit monsoon, Trichy is very likely to have a dry week ahead according to the IMD forecast. Ariyalur and Perambalur districts recorded 9.6mm and 8.33mm of rain while Karur and Pudukottai had 0.4mm and 0.6mm.

Pongal hamper is for family, not individuals, TN tells HC

Pongal hamper is for family, not individuals, TN tells HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  01.01.2021

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that ₹2,500 Pongal cash gift is meant for the entire family holding ration cards and not for individuals. Therefore, disabled persons cannot claim a 25% hike in the gift as provided in the law, the state said.

Advocate-general Vijay Narayan made the submission while opposing a PIL moved by the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC).

Recording the submission, a vacation bench of Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Anita Sumanth directed the state to file a detailed counter and adjourned the plea to January 5.

According to the petitioner, as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, disabled persons are entitled to get 25% higher in any scheme announced by the state for the welfare of the people.

As per the act, the quantum of assistance to the persons with disabilities under social welfare schemes and programmes shall be at least 25% higher than similar schemes applicable to others, advocate Karal Marx said, representing the petitioner.

Relying on the act, the petitioner said, “As per section 24 of the act, the appropriate government shall formulate necessary schemes and programmes to safeguard and promote the rights of persons with disabilities for an adequate standard of living to enable them to live independently or in the community:”

Claiming that the mandatory provision of the act has not been complied with by the state while announcing the Pongal cash gift, the petitioner wanted the court to direct the state to implement the law and increase the gift amount for disabled persons.

Kaanum Pongal: Can’t visit beaches

Kaanum Pongal: Can’t visit beaches

Chennai:01.01.2021

Tamil Nadu government has banned entry of people to Marina Beach and other beaches in in the state on Kaanum Pongal day on January 16 to prevent another wave of Covid-19.

Lakhs of people converge at the Marina during the festival with family and friends.

“The ban on visiting beaches is only on the Kaanum Pongal day,” chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Thursday after holding a review meeting with medical experts.

The government, however, has lifted time restriction in places of worship, and has given relief to film and television industries by doing away with the cap in number of people allowed at shooting venues. Standard operating procedures, however, would be strictly followed in all such places. TNN

Avoid social gatherings: CM

Workers can be engaged, without restriction, for both indoor and outdoor shootings. But they have to follow safety procedures,” the CM said.

The statement said 50% of the total capacity (of indoor facilities) or a maximum of 200 people would be allowed in community halls and sports complexes from January 1. Same is applicable to religious and political programmes in indoor facilities. Prior permission from collectors in districts and from police commissioners in Chennai city was mandatory for such programmes, the CM said.

Palaniswami has urged public to follow the guidelines to help the government bring down Covid-19 cases, which is already declining in the state. He urged people to avoid gatherings.

The CM said that e-registration for people entering Tamil Nadu from neighbouring states, restrictions on containment zones and the Central government’s ban on travel to and from certain countries were still in force.