Shop, hop on to a metro train soon

Shop, hop on to a metro train soon

12-Storey Mall At Ekkattuthangal To Be Ready By Mid-2022

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  05.01.2021

In less than two years, city residents can shop in a new mall and saunter across the corridor to hop onto a metro train, as CMRL has awarded a contract for constructing a 12-storey complex adjacent to Ekkattuthangal metro station. The mini-shopping mall, likely to be ready in 18 months, is one of the first properties to be developed outside metro stations through which CMRL is expected to generate non-ticketing revenue, by renting out retail and office spaces. CMRL is developing nearly 12lakh sqft multimodal hubs with commercial space in three prime locations in the city including the Central Square and Kathipara.

Officials said the commercial complex will be built on a 41,861sqft land at a cost of ₹₹73 crore, construction contract for which was awarded recently to a city-based firm. According to tender, which was floated last year, the building will have 11floors with a ground floor and two basement levels. Visitors to the building could have easy access to the metro station either through a pathway.

“The lowers levels will be for retail and the upper levels will be for office space,” an official said earlier. An official said the basement levels will be for parking for both passengers and those visiting the building.

CMRL also plans to build similar structures near stations such as Nehru Park. Construction for the urban square under Kathipara flyover, multilevel parking and pedestrian subways as part of Central Square project and underground amenities centre below Thiru Vi Ka Park at Shenoy Nagar is underway. The properties developed in these locations are expected to provide people with shopping experience, office space and a seamless switch from one mode of transport to another.

These developments, however, come at a time when large retail spaces in metro stations remain unoccupied likely due to low footfalls in the stations. Except for a few stalls in the street level of stations like Nehru Park and Koyambedu, many of them built inside bigger stations more than three years back are lying vacant. Due to no takers, CMRL made an attempt to study market interest in 2019 and it had planned to build in Ekattuthangal and Nehru Park.

Make three years’ experience at Bar must to become judge, BCI to tell SC

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  05.01.2021

Should a judge have prior experience of advocacy in order to be effective?

The Bar Council of India says yes and plans to move the Supreme Court to seek that a minimum three-year practice at the Bar be made mandatory to become a judicial officer at the subordinate judiciary level.

In a release, BCI said it will file an application before the SC, arguing that judicial officers not having practical experience as advocates were mostly found to be “incapable and inept in handling matters”.

At present, fresh law graduates are being allowed to sit for the Judicial Service Examinations without having any practical experience at the Bar.

Claiming it has the support of all state bar councils, BCI said inexperience at the Bar is one of the primary and major reasons for delays in the disposal of cases in subordinate judiciary.

“Judicial officers not having practical experience at the Bar are mostly found to be incapable and inept in handling matters. Most of such officers are found to be impolite and impractical in their behaviour with members of the Bar and litigants,” Srimanto Sen, BCI secretary, stated.

It added that “Trained and experienced judicial officers can comprehend and dispose of matters at a much faster pace, thereby leading to efficient administration of justice.” Since the requirement of three-year experience at the Bar had been done away by the SC in March 2002, the apex body for advocates said it would file an application before the apex court to seek the modification of that order.

The statement came in the wake of a petition moved before the SC in connection with the decision of Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission inviting applications in a notification in December for the appointment of civil judges (junior division) in the AP State Judicial Services for advocates having a minimum experience of three years.

India needs better doc-patient ratio, more beds: Min

India needs better doc-patient ratio, more beds: Min

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  05.01.2021

The Centre is taking up the Covid-19 vaccination programme in a big way, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.

Addressing the gathering at the 32nd convocation of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai over video conference, the minister said Covid-19 had turned the clock back by many years, if not decades, derailing efforts of decades. But the novel coronavirus has showcased the contribution of the government sector towards adequate healthcare, he added. He praised frontline health workers who aided in patient care during the pandemic.

India should increase doctor-patient ratio from 1:1,700 to 1:1,000 as per World Health Organisation (WHO) norms, and the number of hospital beds from 9 per 10,000 people to 40 per 10,000, the minister said. The country spends about 4.2% of its GDP on healthcare and services as compared to about 18% by many developed nations, he said.

“This year, we have already made a substantial increase in our healthcare spend and the finance commission has projected a massive increase in the health outlay in the next five years,” he said. There is also a move to increase the number of medical colleges, almost one per district, and also the number of medical graduates, he said.

He told those graduating to do the things righteously with the best intentions and efforts. “A lifelong commitment to going forward is essential and you must always look to give back to your alma mater,” he said.

Chancellor V R Venkataachalam conferred the degrees and vice-chancellor Dr P V Vijayaraghavan presented 94 gold medals to meritorious students and distributed certificates to 1,266 students including in Ph.D, super specialties, post-graduate and undergraduate disciplines.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan participated in the convocation of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai over video conference

Court: Standing by striking staff not participation

Court: Standing by striking staff not participation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  05.01.2021

Merely standing near other employees during a strike will not amount to participation in a strike, a city labour court observed and directed a manufacturing unit in Ambattur Industrial Estate to reinstate an employee who was dismissed from work for his participation in a strike. The labour court also stated that the management did not follow procedures in domestic enquiry and held that the employee did not indulge in any misconduct.

E Kandan of Chettiyar Agaram moved the labour court against his employeran automobile parts manufacturing unit against his termination. According to his petition, he joined the company in 2010 and in April 2014, he was terminated, stating that he was a member in the labour union.

In response, the management submitted that the petitioner was deputed at another factory of them in Villivakkam and instead of reporting to work there, he was found indulging in an illegal strike in front of the Ambattur factory. The management contended that they did not terminate his services, but the petitioner stopped reporting to work.

After perusing the submissions from both sides, Jacintha Martin, Presiding officer, II additional labour court noted that the main charge of the management was that the petitioner participated in an illegal strike. To prove their point, they had played a video in the court showing the petitioner standing near the other employees who participated in the strike, the court noted.

The presiding officer pointed out that the name of the petitioner is not mentioned in the list of the partial lock out. The management has failed to establish that the petitioner participated in an illegal strike, the court observed merely standing near other employees during strike does not mean participation.

Flights to UK to begin but not from Chennai

Flights to UK to begin but not from Chennai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

05.01.2021

Flyers to London will have to go via Bengaluru or Hyderabad as there will not be any direct flight from Chennai when services resume on January 8. The ministry of civil aviation has allowed direct flights only from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

This has hit many who had arrived earlier and have tickets to fly back from Chennai. Refund is not an option because they have already used one leg of the ticket. The airline has allowing them to shift the date of travel but they have to fly domestic to board flights from Bengaluru or Delhi.

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said, “The ministry has allowed more frequency to airports other than those in the south because of the worry of the new strain. People from other TN towns will have to fly to Chennai and then to Bengaluru or Delhi to board direct flights.”

There will be two services from Bengaluru, three services, from Hyderabad, five services from Mumbai and five services from Delhi per week.The ministry has allowed outbound flights to resume from January 6 and inbound flights from January 8.

“The resumption of services is only temporary. People are looking to postpone trips. The restriction on the number of flights is likely to affect reopening of international sector,” said Ahmed.

Sources said Air India may start a direct flight from Chennai to London this month. “However, the state government is unlikely to allow services on the route. The four metro airports except Chennai have been identified as gateway airports for international flights during the shutdown so that passengers can be screened in a more efficient manner,” said an airport official.

TN plans to reopen schools after Pongal, seeks views of parents

TN plans to reopen schools after Pongal, seeks views of parents

Times News Network

 05.01.2021

The school education department wants to reopen schools for Class X and XII students post-Pongal holidays to prepare them for board exams. The department has asked all schools to conduct meetings with parents on or before January 8 to know their views on the move.

“It is necessary to reopen schools for students who are due to write board exams to conduct physical classes and prepare them for the exams. So, all schools should conduct parents meetings on or before January 8,” school education director S Kannappan said in a circular to CEOs on Monday.

The department also evolved standard operating procedures (SOP) for reopening of schools. He said the decision on reopening of schools would be taken based on the parents’ views.

V Shanthi, headmistress of Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar said, “Though we take classes online, we can give writing practice only in classrooms. Some are hesitant to clear doubts in online classes.” We need to hold physical classes for at least students due to write board exams,” said G J Manohar, principal of MCC Higher Secondary School in Chetpet.

For CBSE students, the practical exams for Classes X and XII are scheduled to start from March 1. Schools said they needed 30 days to give training to the science students. CBSE board exams for Classes X and XII scheduled to start from May 4.

“State board students also need to be prepared for board exams. If they practice by writing model exams or revision tests, they may not score well in board exams which may affect their higher education prospects,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

MBBS admissions: 182 seats in govt colleges available

MBBS admissions: 182 seats in govt colleges available

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:05.01.2021

The second round of counselling for MBBS and BDS admissions began after initial hiccups on Monday with admissions for government school students.

The counselling was delayed till noon as the selection committee sought legal clarifications over an order passed by the Madras high court in the allotment of seats to three government school students under the 7.5% quota. “These students had moved the court saying they turned down their allotment in self-financing medical colleges as they were not aware the state’s announcement sponsoring medical education came late. The court had asked us to give priority to these students during counselling. We sought certain clarifications from legal experts before going ahead with the counselling,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu.

On Tuesday, when the counselling begins, there will be 182 MBBS seats in government colleges, 206 seats in selffinancing medical colleges, 68 BDS seats in government colleges, and 965 seats in self-financing dental colleges.

When the counselling began, the selection committee, which initially displayed 41 seats under the 7.5% quota, added six more by adding Muthukumaran Medical College to the seat matrix. This year, at least 132 MBBS seats that were surrendered to the central government were returned to the Tamil Nadu after they remained vacant after two rounds of centralised online counselling. The centre also returned 28 BDS seats to the state government. Muthukumaran Medical College, which was not a part of the seat matrix given by the TN Dr MGR Medical University, was added to the seat matrix after orders from the high court. In addition, the100 additional seats given to PSG and16 of the 25 additional seats given to ESIC Medical College by the National Medical Commission were also added to the seat matrix.

TN govt allows 100% occupancy in theatres

TN govt allows 100% occupancy in theatres

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 05.01.2020

The TN government on Monday permitted cinema theatres and multiplexes to operate with 100% occupancy. The move would help new Tamil films, including actor Vijay’s ‘Master’ and T Silambarasan’s ‘Easwaran’, to garner better collections at the box office as they would be released ahead of the Pongal festival. While ‘Master’ would be released in 700 movie halls, ‘Easwaran’ would be screened in 300 theatres. The development comes in the wake of Vijay calling on CM Edappadi K Palaniswami late on December 27 and urging him to permit 100% occupancy in theatres.

MRTS trains back at pre-Covid level

MRTS services in Chennai were on Monday increased to almost the pre-Covid level. Now, 80 trains run, compared to the pre-lockdown figure of 81. More than 10,000 commuters used the services on Monday. P 3

Govt move on cinemas dangerous, says Cong

Subsequently, members of the Tamil Nadu Theatres Association too represented the state government seeking to remove the restrictions on audience allowed into theatres. Based on the directions of the ministry of home affairs, cinemas/theatres/ multiplexes were permitted to open from November 10, 2020, with 50% of their seating capacity by following the standard operating procedure. “Based on the decrease in Covid-19 cases day by day, the Theatre Owners Association have represented to the government to increase the seating capacity of cinemas/ theatres/ multiplexes,” a state GO issued on Monday said, permitting the theatres to operate with full occupancy.

“In order to create awareness among spectators, precautionary measures for Covid-19 shall also be screened during the show time,” the GO said. While the Tamil film industry including actors welcomed the move, several people took to social media expressing fear that the relaxation could trigger a second wave, especially with a new strain of Covid making its presence felt in the state. They also cited the instances of a few hotels in Chennai emerging as new clusters.

“This is a dangerous move that could backfire. It is a selfish move taken with the hope that actor Vijay and his fans would extend their support at the time of assembly elections. Do not sacrifice the lives of Tamils for political gains,” senior Congress leader and former MP Peter Alphonse tweeted.

Actor and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar thanked CM Palaniswami and information and publicity minister Kadambur C Raju. “Film industry will flourish by leaps and bounds and come back to give best entertainment, being one of the largest economy generating field,” she tweeted. Khushbu also had a message to those who are worried over the decision. “Those who have different opinions on 100% capacity functioning of cinemas, only one message for you. Pls don’t go if you are worried. Your fear is understandable and nobody forces you to come. Take care,” she tweeted.

Tirupur K Subramanian, a leading distributor and exhibitor cited instances of politicians having already undertaken their election campaigns, while people are crowding retail shops and public places. “The CM is campaigning. Opposition leader M K Stalin is conducting grama sabhas. People are crowding textiles and jewellery showrooms where they engage in face-to-face interactions. In theatres, at the most, the audience are going clap and laugh. The SOP will be strictly followed though other public places seldom follow these,” Subramanian said.

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MMC student wins quiz competing against 9K rivals

MMC student wins quiz competing against 9K rivals

She received a certificate from the dean in the presence of other doctors.

Published: 04th January 2021 01:22 AM 

A Madras Medical College student has won a State-level quiz competition on Awareness on AIDS/HIV, STDs, voluntary blood donation and COVID-19By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A final-year student from the Madras Medical College has won a State-level quiz competition on ‘Awareness on AIDS/HIV, sexually transmitted infections, voluntary blood donation and COVID-19’.

The quiz was conducted by Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society. RGGGH Dean Dr E Theranirajan said that the girl, M Pavithra competed with 9,000 students across the State from various colleges and won the first prize. She received a certificate from the dean in the presence of other doctors.

தனியார் மருத்துவக்கல்லூரிகளின் ஏஜண்ட் போல் செயல்படுவதா?- பொது மருத்துவக்கலந்தாய்வை முதலில் நடத்துக: மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சி வலியுறுத்தல்

தனியார் மருத்துவக்கல்லூரிகளின் ஏஜண்ட் போல் செயல்படுவதா?- பொது மருத்துவக்கலந்தாய்வை முதலில் நடத்துக: மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சி வலியுறுத்தல்

சென்னை

தனியார் கல்லூரிகள் பணம் வசூலிக்க வகை செய்யும் வகையில் இரண்டாம் கட்ட மருத்துவக்கலந்தாய்வில் முதலில் பல் மருத்துவக் கலந்தாய்வு எனும் புதிய முறையை அரசு செயல்படுத்த முனைவது தனியார் கல்லூரிகளுக்கு ஏஜெண்ட் போல் செயல்படும்போக்கு. முதலில் பொது மருத்துவ கலந்தாய்வை நடத்துக என மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சியின் மாநிலச் செயலாளர் கே.பாலகிருஷ்ணன் இன்று விடுத்துள்ள அறிக்கை வருமாறு:

“தமிழக அரசு மருத்துவ படிப்பிற்கான இரண்டாம் கட்ட கலந்தாய்வு ஜன.5 முதல் துவங்கும் என அறிவித்திருக்கிறது. இந்த கலந்தாய்வு சுயநிதி கல்லூரிகளில் மருத்துவப் படிப்பிற்கான கலந்தாய்வாகும். இந்தியா முழுவதும் பொதுவான நடைமுறை என்பது முதலாவதாக, பொது மருத்துவ (எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்) படிப்புகளுக்கு கலந்தாய்வு நடத்திவிட்டு, அதன்பின்னர் பல் மருத்துவப் படிப்பிற்கு கலந்தாய்வு நடத்தப்படும்.

ஆனால், தமிழக அரசு இப்போது அறிவித்திருப்பது முதலாவதாக, பல் மருத்துவப் படிப்பிற்கு கலந்தாய்வு என்றும், அடுத்ததாக, பொது மருத்துவத்திற்கு (எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்) கலந்தாய்வு என்றும் அறிவித்துள்ளது. இது நடைமுறைக்கு எதிரானது.

மேலும் பல் மருத்துவ படிப்பில் இடம் கிடைத்த ஒருவருக்கு, பொது மருத்துவ படிப்பில் இடம் கிடைத்துவிட்டால், அவர் பொதுமருத்துவ படிப்புக்கு சேர வேண்டுமென்றால் பல்மருத்துவப் படிப்புக்கு எந்த கல்லூரியில் இடம் கிடைத்ததோ அந்த கல்லூரிக்கு 5 ஆண்டுகளுக்கான கட்டணத்தையும் கட்டிவிட்டுத் தான் பொதுமருத்துவ படிப்பில் சேர வேண்டுமென சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்த நடைமுறை தனியார் பல் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளை ஊக்கப்படுத்தும் நடவடிக்கையாக உள்ளது. தமிழக அரசே தனியார் பல் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளின் முகவராக செயல்படுவது வன்மையான கண்டனத்திற்குரியது.

இது, தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லூரிகளின் கட்டண கொள்ளை மட்டுமின்றி, புறவழியாக சேராத மாணவர்களிடம் கொள்ளையடிப்பதற்கான வாய்ப்பையும் அரசே ஏற்படுத்தி கொடுப்பதாகும். இது தமிழக மாணவர்களுக்கு விரோதமானது மட்டுமல்ல, மருத்துவ படிப்பை சீர்குலைக்கும் நடவடிக்கையாகும்.

எனவே, தமிழக அரசு உடனடியாக இந்த கலந்தாய்வை ரத்து செய்துவிட்டு, முதலாவதாக முந்தைய நடைமுறைகளின் படி பொது மருத்துவ (எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்.) படிப்பிற்கான கலந்தாய்வு நடத்தி விட்டு, பின்னர், பல்மருத்துவ கலந்தாய்வை நடத்த வேண்டுமென மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி வலியுறுத்துகிறது”.

இவ்வாறு கே.பாலகிருஷ்ணன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

லஞ்ச வழக்குகளில் சிக்கிய அரசு அதிகாரிகள் 102 பேரை சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்ய பரிந்துரை

லஞ்ச வழக்குகளில் சிக்கிய அரசு அதிகாரிகள் 102 பேரை சஸ்பெண்ட் செய்ய பரிந்துரை

சென்னை  04.01.2021

தமிழகம் முழுவதும் கடந்த 3 மாதத்தில் லஞ்சம் வாங்கிய வழக்கில் சிக்கிய அரசு அதிகாரிகள் 102 பேரை பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்ய பரிந்துரை செய்து இருப்பதாக லஞ்ச ஒழிப்பு போலீஸார் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

தமிழகம் முழுவதும் லஞ்ச ஒழிப்பு போலீஸார் தீவிர சோதனைகளில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர். லஞ்சம் அதிகம் வாங்கப்படும் அலுவலகங்களை குறிவைத்து இந்த சோதனைகள் நடத்தப்படுகின்றன. சார் பதிவாளர் அலுவலகங்கள், வட்டார போக்குவரத்து அலுவலகங்கள், மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம் மற்றும் மின்வாரிய அலுவலகங்கள், நகர திட்டமிடல் அலுவலகங்கள், டாஸ்மாக் மதுபான கடைகள் என பல துறைகளில் சோதனை நடத்துகின்றனர்.

கடந்த அக்டோபர் 1-ம் தேதிமுதல் டிசம்பர் 31-ம் தேதி வரை132 இடங்களில் லஞ்ச ஒழிப்புபோலீஸார் சோதனை நடத்தியுள்ளனர். இந்த சோதனைகளில் இதுவரை சுமார் 7 கோடி ரூபாய் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. மேலும், 7 கிலோ 232 கிராம் தங்கம், 10.52 காரட் வைரம், 9 கிலோ 843 கிராம் வெள்ளி, ரூ.37 லட்சம் நிரந்தர வைப்புத் தொகை ஆவணங்கள் போன்றவை கைப்பற்றப்பட்டுள்ளன.

இதில் அதிகபட்சமாக வேலூர் மண்டல மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரி பன்னீர்செல்வத்தின் வீட்டில் இருந்து ரூ.3 கோடியே 25 லட்சத்து 20 ஆயிரம் ரொக்கம், 450 பவுன் நகைகள், 6.5 கிலோ வெள்ளிப் பொருட்கள் மற்றும் அவரது அலுவலகத்தில் இருந்து 33 லட்சத்து 73 ஆயிரம் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. இதற்கு அடுத்தபடியாக, சென்னை சைதாப்பேட்டை சுற்றுச்சூழல் கண்காணிப்பாளர் பாண்டியன் வீட்டில் இருந்து ரூ.7 கோடி மதிப்புள்ள 18 சொத்து ஆவணங்கள், ரூ.1 கோடியே 37 லட்சம் ரொக்கம், 3 கிலோ 81 கிராம் தங்க நகைகள், 10.52 காரட் வைரங்கள், 3.343 கிலோ வெள்ளிப் பொருட்கள், ரூ.37 லட்சம் மதிப்புள்ள நிரந்தர வைப்புத் தொகை ஆவணங்கள் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டன.

மொத்தம் 132 இடங்களில் நடத்தப்பட்ட சோதனைகளில் 35 அரசுஅதிகாரிகள் கைது செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர். மற்றவர்கள் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டு விசாரணை நடந்து வருகிறது. கைது செய்யப்பட்ட 35 அதிகாரிகள் உட்பட தமிழகம் முழுவதும் லஞ்ச வழக்குகளில் சிக்கிய அரசு அதிகாரிகள் 102 பேரை பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்யஅரசுக்கு பரிந்துரை கடிதம் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மாயமான மறதி முதியவர் 'பேஸ்புக்' பதிவால் மீட்பு

மாயமான மறதி முதியவர் 'பேஸ்புக்' பதிவால் மீட்பு

Added : ஜன 04, 2021 00:18

தஞ்சாவூர்: ஞாபக மறதியால், காணாமல் போன, 87 வயதான ஓய்வு பெற்ற ஆசிரியரை, 'பேஸ்புக்' பதிவால், குடும்பத்தினர் மீட்டனர்.

தஞ்சாவூர், ஸ்ரீனிவாசபுரத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர் சுவாமிநாதன், 87; மனைவி வசந்த லட்சுமி. இருவரும் ஓய்வு பெற்ற ஆசிரியர்கள். இரு மகன்கள் திருமணமாகி, பெங்களூரில் வசித்து வருகின்றனர்.சுவாமிநாதனும், வசந்த லட்சுமியும், தஞ்சாவூர் மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி சாலை ஸ்ரீநகரில் உள்ள, தங்களது சம்பந்தி கோபாலகிருஷ்ணன் வீட்டில் தங்கியுள்ளனர்.ஞாபக மறதி நோயால் அவதிப்பட்டு வரும் சுவாமிநாதன், நேற்று முன்தினம் மாலை, 5:00 மணிக்கு, வெளியே சென்றவர், வீட்டுக்கு வரும் வழியை மறந்து, வழிதவறி சென்று விட்டார். பல இடங்களில் தேடியும் கிடைக்கவில்லை.

சுவாமிநாதனின் உறவினர் அரவிந்தன், சுவாமிநாதன் போட்டோவுடன், மொபைல் எண்ணை குறிப்பிட்டு, இரவு, 9:00 மணிக்கு, 'பேஸ்புக்'கில் பதிவிட்டார். அதை பார்த்த சிலர், சுவாமிநாதனை ரொட்டி பாளையம் பகுதியில் மீட்டு, தகவல் தெரிவித்தனர். இரவு, 10:30 மணிக்கு, அவரை வீட்டுக்கு அழைத்து வந்தனர். சுவாமிநாதன் மருமகள் ஸ்ரீவித்யா கூறுகையில், ''பேஸ்புக்கை பொழுதுபோக்கிற்காக மட்டுமே பயன்படுத்தும் நிலையில், இதுபோன்ற நல்ல காரியங்களுக்கும் பயன்படுத்த முடியும் என்பதற்கு, என் மாமனாரின் மீட்பு சம்பவம் உதாரணம்,'' என்றார்.

கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி முதலில் யாருக்கு? பதிவு செய்வது எப்படி?

கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி முதலில் யாருக்கு? பதிவு செய்வது எப்படி?

புதுடில்லி: கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி முதலில் யாருக்கு போடப்படும், அதற்கான நடைமுறைகள், பதிவு செய்வது குறித்த விவரங்கள் வெளியாகியுள்ளது.கொரோனாவுக்கு எதிரான சீரம் நிறுவனம் தயாரித்த கோவிஷீல்டு மற்றும் பாரத் பயோடெக் நிறுவனம் கண்டுபிடித்த கோவாக்சின் தடுப்பூசியை அவசர காலத்தில் பயன்படுத்தி கொள்ள, இந்திய மருந்து தர கட்டுப்பாட்டு அமைப்பு(டிசிஜிஐ) ஒப்புதல் வழங்கியுள்ளது. அஸ்ட்ரா ஜெனிகா மற்றும் ஆக்ஸ்போர்டு உருவாக்கிய தடுப்பூசியை 70.42 சதவீதம் பலனளிக்கிறது. பாரத் பயோடெக் நிறுவனம் உருவாக்கிய கோவாக்சின் தடுப்பூசி பாதுகாப்பானது நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி உருவாக்குகிறது என டிசிஜிஐ ஜெனரல் சோமானி தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.நாடு முழுவதும், கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி போடுவதற்கான ஒத்திகை நடந்த மறுநாளில் இரண்டு தடுப்பூசிகளுக்கு அனுமதி கிடைத்துள்ளது. இந்த தடுப்பூசி முதலில் யாருக்கு போடப்படும், அதற்கான நடைமுறைகள் வெளியாகியுள்ளது. அதன்படி,முதலில் யாருக்கு கிடைக்கும் 1. சுகாதார பணியாளர்கள் தடுப்பூசி , முதல்கட்டமாக அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணியாற்றும் ஒரு கோடி சுகாதார பணியாளர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது. இந்த சுகாதார பணியாளர்கள், முன்கள சுகாதார பணியாளர்கள், நர்சுகள், கண்காணிப்பாளர்கள், மருத்துவ அதிகாரிகள், மருந்து அலுவலர்கள், உதவியாளர்கள் மற்றும் மாணவர்கள் என பல உட்பிரிவுகளாக பிரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

இதற்காக, அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் சுகாதார பணியாளர்களின் விவரங்கள் சேகரிக்கப்பட்டு கோவின் டிஜிட்டல் வழித்தடத்தில் பதிவேற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.2. முன்கள மற்றும் மாநகராட்சி பணியாளர்கள் கொரோனா தடுப்பில் பணியாற்றிய, மாநில மற்றும் மத்திய போலீசில் பணியாற்றும் போலீசார், ஆயுதப்படைகள், பேரிடர் மேலாண்மை மற்றும் சிவில் அதிகாரிகள், சிறைத்துறை அதிகாரிகள், மாநகராட்சி ஊழியர்கள் மற்றும் வருவாய்துறை ஊழியர்களுக்கு இரண்டாம் கட்டமாக தடுப்பூசி வழங்கப்படும்.3. 50 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டவர்கள் இந்த பிரிவில் இரண்டு உட்பிரிவாக பிரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. முதல் பிரிவில் 50 -60 வயதில், இரண்டாவது பிரிவில் 60 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டவர்கள் இடம்பெற்றவர்கள்.

இவர்களுக்கு தடுப்பூசி போடுவதற்காக அவர்களின் விவரம், லோக்சபா மற்றும் சட்டசபை தேர்தலுக்கான வாக்காளர் பட்டியலில் இருந்து எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.4. பாதிப்பு அதிகம் உள்ள பகுதி மாநில மற்றும் யூனியன் பிரதேசங்களில், கொரோனா தொற்று அதிகம் உள்ளதாக அடையாளம் காணப்பட்ட பகுதிகளில் போடப்படும்5. மற்றவர்களுக்கு எப்போது மேற்கண்டவர்களுக்கு த டுப்பூசி போட்டு முடிந்த பிறகு, மற்றவர்களுக்கு தடுப்பூசி போடப்படும். நோய் தொற்று மற்றும் தடுப்பூசியின் இருப்பை பொருத்து மற்றவர்களுக்கு தடுப்பூசி போடப்படும்.பதிவு செய்வது எப்படி?

* கோவின் இணையதளத்தில் தாமாக பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும்.* அரசு அளித்த அடையாள அட்டை அல்லது ஆதார் எட்டை நகலை பதிவேற்றம் செய்ய வேண்டும். இது பயோமெட்ரிக், ஓடிபி மூலம் உறுதி செய்யப்படும்.* பதிவு செய்ததும், தடுப்பூசி போடுவதற்கான நேரம் மற்றும் தேதி தெரிவிக்கப்படும்.* தடுப்பூசி போடும் இடத்தில் பதிவு செய்ய முடியாது. முன்பதிவு செய்தவர்கள் மட்டுமே தடுப்பூசி போட அனுமதிக்கப்படுவார்கள்.* கோவின் அமைப்பை, நிர்வாகம் செய்ய வேண்டியது மாவட்ட நிர்வாகத்தின் பொறுப்பு. அவர்கள் தான், பயனாளர்கள்களுக்கான இடம், நேரம் ஒதுக்குவார்கள்.

இதனை கண்காணிக்கும் வகையில் மென்பொருளில் உருவாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.தடுப்பூசி எங்கு போடப்படும் முன்னுரிமை அளிக்கப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட இடம்:* அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளில் மருத்துவ அதிகாரி அல்லது டாக்டர் முன்னிலையில் தடுப்பூசி போடப்படும்.* பள்ளிகள், சமுதாய கூடங்களில் தடுப்பூசி போடப்படும்* ரிமோட், எளிதில் செல்ல முடியாத பகுதிகளில் சர்வதேச எல்லைகளில் தடுப்பூசி போட சிறப்பு மொபைல் குழுக்கள் அமைக்கப்படும். இதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகளில் மாவட்ட நிர்வாகங்கள் ஈடுபட வேண்டும்.தடுப்பூசி போடப்படும் இடங்களில், 3 அறைகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும்.காத்திருப்பாளர் அறை- தடுப்பூசிக்காக பதிவு செய்த பின்னர் வருபவர்கள் முதலில் இங்கு தங்க வைக்கப்பட்டிருப்பார்கள்.தடுப்பூசி அறை: இங்கு தான் தடுப்பூசி போடப்படும்கண்காணிப்பு அறை: தடுப்பூசி போட்டவர்கள் 30 நிமிடம் இங்கு தங்க வைக்கப்பட்டிருப்பார்கள்யார் தடுப்பூசி போடுவார்கள் தடுப்பூசி நடவடிக்கைக்காக 5 பேர் குழு அமைக்கப்படும்1. முதல் அதிகாரி: தடுப்பூசிக்காக பதிவு செய்ததை ஆய்வு செய்வார்கள்.2. இரண்டாவது அதிகாரி: உறுதி செய்வார்.3. மூன்றாவது அதிகாரி: தடுப்பூசிக்கான பொறுப்பு அதிகாரி இவர் தான். பயிற்சி பெற்ற அதிகாரி தடுப்பூசி போடுவார்.4. நான்கு மற்றும் 5வது அதிகாரி: இவர்கள் கூட்டத்தை கட்டுப்படுத்துவதுடன், தடுப்பூசி போட்டு கொண்டவர்களை 30 நிமிடம் கண்காணிப்பார்கள்.

Dailyhunt

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

Common entrance exam at UG level will help EWS students

Common entrance exam at UG level will help EWS students

Centralisation will improve student diversity as a single exam will make them eligible for admission in multiple central universities

c-Sheetal.Banchariya@timesgroup.com

04.01.2021

The education ministry is mulling over the decision to conduct a common entrance test for admission in undergraduate (UG) courses across all 54 central universities. A seven-member committee headed by RP Tiwari, VC of Central University of Punjab, will submit its report within a month and the move may get implemented for 2021-22.

“There is a lack of uniformity in the UG admission process as some universities conduct entrance test while few rely on merit-based admissions. This will simplify the admission process while customising the exam pattern.”

“Students diversity is poor across universities; the central admission process may allow students from all walks of life to enrol in desired varsities and courses,” Tiwari said.

The committee is expected to meet on January 9, 2021, to finalise the report before submitting it. Given the academic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, there is uncertainty regarding the schedule of various entrance exams and many states have also rescheduled the board exams for May-June 2021.

Rama Shanker Dubey, vice chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat, says, “Some of the most sought-after universities conduct their entrance tests and it becomes difficult for students from economically weaker sections (EWS) to keep a tab, apply and appear for all the exams. Appearing for different exams also means that one has to pay the application fee for multiple tests. Common entrance test may also help in getting the academic cycle back on track in lesser time,” Dubey says.

“We have multiple state boards across the country and relative marking with respect to these boards can be a problem. But, the move also has a positive side where students will get through the UG admissions in just one test. The ministry will have to consider diverse factors before implementing it,” says Rajib Ray, professor, Kirori Mal College, Delhi University and president of Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA).

RK Kohli, senior academician and former VC of Central University of Punjab, says, “In central admission processes, students’ first preference is always to join an old, well-known and reputed university. While most new universities are not so popular, they are performing well as per assessment parameters. The uniform process may not allow all universities, new or old, to compete on the same level. Universities in the rural belt may be at a disadvantage and those in metropolitan regions will definitely receive more applications,” Kohli says.

What is in store for Indian higher education institutes in 2021

What is in store for Indian higher education institutes in 2021

Many universities and colleges may avoid increasing the tuition fee to ease the burden

c-Puniti.Pandey@timesgroup.com

04.01.2021

With the experience and training gained in 2020, universities have now developed a better understanding to tackle uncertainties in 2021. Besides devising new methods to impart education, institutes are also planning to reopen in a phased manner.

“Given the infrastructural development and training during 2020, our university is all set for 2021 session. While the teachers are now much more confident and efficient in conducting classes online, students in areas with poor connectivity are longing for a normal life at campus. We plan to open up in a phased manner giving the final year students and the ones in areas with poor connectivity to come back to the campus,” says Jaskiran Arora, associate dean, BML Munjal University.

Amity University also comprehends on conducting hybrid classes this year. The university will hold face to face classes with 50% capacity of classrooms ensuring compliance of social distancing norms. In addition to this, remote mode of classes will continue to take place.

“A continuous review of the situation is being carried out. Comprehensive e-content of all courses has been made available to the students before commencement of classes. Students belonging to the Science and Technology domains and other domains that require physical presence will be provided with virtual labs. For research-based and lab-based courses, physical lab facilities will be available to 50% of students at a time,” says Balvinder Shukla, vice chancellor, Amity University.

IIIT Naya Raipur will conduct the upcoming academic year 2021 virtually. The institute has shifted the courses that require the mandatory physical presence of students to the next semester hoping that the students will then be present at the campus, says Pradeep K.Sinha, vice chancellor and director, IIIT-Naya Raipur.

Sona group of education institutions, Tamil Nadu will involve more project-based work and hands-on learning for the students this year. The exams will be conducted with the help of AI-enabled auto proctored from remote locations, says Chocko Valliappa, vice chairman, Sona group of educational institutions. Owing to the ongoing pandemic and the consequent economic difficulty, most institutes are not planning to increase the fee structure this year to lighten the pressure on students and parents. Universities are adopting alternative measures to increase revenue sources rather than increasing fees.

At 657, Chennai has most CCTV cams/sqkm in world

At 657, Chennai has most CCTV cams/sqkm in world

04.01.2021

With 657 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras for every sq.km, Chennai stands first among 130 populous cities in the world in CCTV camera density. Hyderabad stands second in the country with 480 CCTVs per sq.km, says a recent study by Virtual Private Network (VPN) service provider Surfshack, report Sindhu Kannan & Srikkanth D.

But the actual numbers for the city, 2.8 lakh, is fewer than Hyderabad’s three lakh, London’s 6.6 lakh and Beijing’s 10.1 lakh cameras. The number of CCTV’s per 1,000 people is also fewer in Chennai (25 per 1,000) compared to other cities in the top 10 ranking, except Delhi (14 per 1,000 people).

According to sources, the government’s ‘third eye’ campaign which aimed to bring the entire city under CCTV coverage has paid rich dividends. Traders, residents welfare associations and companies have contributed to its success. In the August-September period of 2020, more than 60 snatchers have been nabbed with the help of CCTV cameras in the city. P 2

THE THIRD EYE

In ‘self-defence’, TN teen stabs rapist to death with his own knife

In ‘self-defence’, TN teen stabs rapist to death with his own knife

Cops Seek Legal Opinion; She May Not Be Arrested

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 04.01.2021

In what police believe to be an act of self-defence to escape from a rapist, a 19-yearold woman stabbed a 24-yearold man to death with a knife used by him to threaten her in his rape bid at Sholavaram in Tiruvallur district late on Saturday.

According to Ponneri DSP Kalpana Dutt, a legal opinion has been sought and the victim may not be arrested in the case.

The incident happened around 8pm when she went to relieve herself in a poorly-lit area surrounded by bushes. She failed to notice S Ajithkumar, 24, her relative from the same village, following her to the spot. The teenager panicked on seeing him standing with a beer bottle. Before she could move, the man placed a knife on her neck and threatened to rape her, police sources said quoting the victim.

As he began to undress, she pleaded with him to spare her. Realizing he was drunk, she pushed her away and he banged his head against a tree and dropped his knife. The victim picked up the weapon and stabbed him on his neck multiple times until he swooned. Leaving him dead at the spot, she reached Sholavaram police station on her own around 9pm and narrated the incident to the cops there.

‘Deceased man was an alcoholic’

Police personnel rushed to the spot, retrieved Ajithkumar’s body, and sent it to Stanley Hospital for postmortem. Police registered a murder case but no arrests have been made.

The DSP said the teenager was a Class X dropout. Ajithkumar, who had two children, was her aunt’s son. He got separated from his wife a few months back after a domestic dispute. According to police, the man was a jobless alcoholic and had theft cases pending against him. He always moved with a knife looking for easy targets.

“So far it appears to be an act of self-defence and there seems to be no other motive,” the police officer said.

“We will submit a final report in the court where it will be decided whether an action is warranted in the case,” the DSP added.

According to police, the man was a jobless alcoholic and had theft cases against him

Stalin will never become CM, I will ensure that: Alagiri

Stalin will never become CM, I will ensure that: Alagiri

Padmini.Sivarajah@timesgroup.com

Madurai:  04.01.2021

Amidst slogans hailing him ‘anjaa nenjam (brave heart)’, M K Alagiri on Sunday declared war against his estranged brother and DMK chief M K Stalin, saying: “Stalin can never become the chief minister. My supporters and I will ensure it.”

The former Union minister and elder son of M Karunanidhi, who convened a meeting to discuss his future course of action ahead of the assembly election, said he would announce his next move soon and that his supporters should accept his decision. “To this day, I do not know what I did wrong to be dismissed from the DMK. Stalin betrayed me,” said Alagiri.

In what clearly appeared to be a show of strength, Alagiri arrived in a campaign vehicle to a marriage hall in Madurai as supporters from the city and southern districts gathered in large numbers. The gathering of Alagiri supporters that included DMK workers brought traffic to a standstill on the inner ring road in Madurai. People came in hundreds of vehicles, and the marriage hall near Pandikoil, one of the biggest in Madurai, burst at the seams with cadres standing outside to watch the proceedings on a giant screen.

Accusing Stalin of being jealous of his growth, Alagiri said, “I don’t know why I was betrayed.”

M K Alagiri addresses supporters in Madurai on Sunday

We will waive all edu loans: Stalin

The DMK would waive education loans taken by students for higher studies if the party comes to power after the asembly elections, chief M K Stalin said on Sunday.

I have been DMK’s saviour, despite not having a post: Alagiri

Alagiri said, “I only wanted to be a cadre working for the party and had never hankered after party posts. We turned Madurai, which was MGR’s fortress, into a DMK’s fortress.”

“There are always posters calling you (Stalin) future CM but that’s not going to happen. My followers will never let you become future CM,” Alagiri said.

Stalin was being compared with Karunanidhi, said Alagiri. “A DMK district secretary said Stalin had done even better than Kalaignar (Karunanidhi). I feel ashamed to hear this. How can they compare Stalin with Kalaignar?” he asked.

Alagiri said he had never wanted to work for the Thirumangalam byelection as he had been upset with his family. “But Stalin, Dayanidhi Maran and other DMK leaders met me and urged him to take up the responsibility. Kalaiganar kept calling me every hour and I took up the responsibility and helped the party win the byelection by a margin of 40,000 votes as I had predicted,” he said.

Alagiri said he had been DMK’s “saviour” on several occasions even while Stalin used him to get party posts. He said senior DMK leaders had come to his house to recommend Stalin for the party treasurer’s post.

“Another day, when Stalin and his wife visited my house during the Thirumangalam election, my wife and I assured him he would be the leader of the DMK after Kalaignar,” said Alagiri. Whenever he was given a posting, Stalin sought higher postings, he said.

“I was silent for seven years. My supporters want me to float a party. I will take a decision. But whatever decision I take, I want you to accept it,” he said. His supporters, including P M Mannan, M L Raj and P Chinnan, while addressing the gathering, said Alagiri should be re-inducted into the party.

M K Alagiri said he was silent for seven years, but now his supporters want him to float a party. He will take a decision soon

NEWS DIGEST

NEWS DIGEST

Teachers to protest on Feb 12

Tamizhaga Arampapalli Asiriyar Koottani, an association for elementary teachers, on Sunday announced that it would protest at district headquarters on February 12 demanding the cancellation of disciplinary action initiated against 5068 teachers for participating in the strike called by Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teacher Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) in 2019. They will give representations to chief educational officers on January 11.

The organsiation is also demanding the cancellation of new pension scheme and increase in the 7.5% special reservation for government school students in medical courses to 20%.

Farmers assn wants relief for damaged crops to be hiked: Tamil Nadu Farmers Association on Sunday urged the state government to increase the relief for crops damaged by Nivar cyclone. In a statement, P Shanmugam, president of the association said the relief amount of ₹8000 per acre is not even meeting half of the money spent by the farmers. He further asked the state government to announce relief for damaged huts and livestock.

Power shutdown in some areas tomorrow: Tangedco has announced power shutdown in some of the areas of Chennai suburbs on Tuesday from 9am to 2pm for maintenance work. Power will be cut in areas including Gummidipoondi, Thirumudivakkam, parts of Kundrathur and Puthuthandalam. In Pudhuthangal area, power will be suspended in Mudichur Road, Old Tambaram, Irumbuliyur, Kushkintha Road, Amudham Nagar and Kurinji Nagar. In Thirumudivakkam area, power will be suspended in Somsangalam, Varadharajapuram, Kundrathur Bazzar and Natham.

Rain in city likely for next few days

Rain in city likely for next few days

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 04.01.2021

The city is likely to experience fairly moderate rain or thunder showers for the next few days because of the impact of heavy rain that is likely to hit Puducherry, Cuddalore and further south.

A seven-day forecast shows that the city will experience rain at night or during the day till January 7. There will be light rain till Tuesday and moderate rain on Wednesday and Thursday. An IMD forecast for the next 48hours said: “The sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Light to moderate rain is likely to occur in some areas.”

However, there is a heavy rainfall warning for Tuesday which says that “heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore areas.” This is expected to have an impact on the weather in Chennai, said a met department official.

The city and its suburbs received good rain on Saturday night. Kelambakkam, on OMR, recorded 3cm; Mamallapuram 2cm; Tambaram, Chengalpet, Sholingnallur, Madurantakam, Sriperumbudur, Chennai airport and Alandur received 1cm.

A seven-day forecast shows that the city will experience rain at night or during the day till January 7. There will be light rain till Tuesday and moderate rain on Wednesday and Thursday

SRMC Convocation 2021

 

Online registration for SRM’s BTech entrance exam begins

Online registration for SRM’s BTech entrance exam begins

Chennai:04.01.2021

SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has launched online registration for its BTech entrance exam SRMJEEE (SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Examination) 2021.

The entrance exam is likely to be held in the second week of April in 127 cities across the country and five countries in the middle-east including Dubai, Doha and Kuwait.

Candidates who qualify in the exam can get admissions in all campuses of SRMIST. The deemed university said it will announce the entrance exam and joint counselling dates as per the instructions and notifications AICTE and state governments.

“Candidates applying for the entrance exam should have secured a minimum aggregate of 50% marks in maths, physics, chemistry/ biology for all campuses except Andhra Pradesh,” SRMIST said. TNN

COVID CONCERNS

TNPSC Group I examination: 49% candidates absent

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  04.01.2021

The group I preliminary exam of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission was held on Sunday, with 49% of the candidates absent. Of the 2,56,954 who applied, 1,31,264 appeared and 1,25,690 were absent, mainly due to the travel restrictions triggered by Covid-19. Usually, around 30% candidates are absent for the preliminary exam.

Answering all questions and affixing the thumb impression on the OMR answer sheets, to prevent malpractices, were among the mandatory rules for students.

Candidates said more weightage was given to Tamil Nadu-related questions and the difficulty level was high.

“As per the new measures, candidates need to shade answer to all questions. If they don’t know the answer, they have to shade the answer not known option. The commission also allotted additional time to write each of the five options shaded by them for all questions,” said Sucharithan, who appeared for the exam.

Some said introduction of the additional option just a few days before the exam had led to a few mistakes, while others said more weightage was given to the history of social reform movements and leaders in the state. “The exam is conducted only for 66 vacancies. Many candidates have gone back to their native places and due to travel constraints, they have skipped the exam,” a woman said.

The TNPSC also introduced Thirukkural and development administration as new topics while revising the syllabus.

“Students found it difficult to answer the development administration questions. Question paper pattern is moving from factual questions to conceptbased questions which is good,” said Sathyashree Boominathan, managing director of King Makers IAS Academy.

On the huge absentees, he said, “Usually, the gap between the number of candidates applied and appeared is 30%. Covid-19 pandemic and long-delay have affected the preparation and confidence of candidates leading to more absentees.”

While the number of applicants fell from the usual 5 lakh to 2.5 lakh, some said the lack of an option to change exam centre could have led to some absentees. “Many might have skipped exam due to Covid-19. The long delay and the pandemic might have affected confidence,” said U Sivabalan, academic head, TNPSC exams, Shankar IAS Academy.

Fake marksheet gang was active for 22 yrs

Fake marksheet gang was active for 22 yrs

Mastermind A Retd Jal Nigam Employee: STF

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:  03.01.2021

The gang running a degree and marksheet racket unearthed by Special Task Force from Alambagh on Friday was active for the past 22 years and had given fake marksheets and degrees to hundreds of people for jobs and admissions, said officials on Saturday.

As many as 342 marksheets and 115 degrees of Lucknow University, eight marksheets of Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, 34 marksheets of MA and 50 blank marksheets of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, were seized along with eight blank marksheets of Government Polytechnic in Lucknow, and marksheets of various schools and institutes.

The officials said the gang charged price for marksheets as per the need of the seeker.

Dy SP, STF, Avnishwar Chandra Srivastava, who is conducting the probe, said the interrogation of the three arrested accused, identified as Sunil Kumar Sharma, Lallan Kumar and Vishwajeet Kumar, has revealed that the gang was active since 1998.

“Sunil Sharma, the gang’s mastermind is a retired government employee from Jal Nigam, Lallan worked as a private school teacher, and Vishwajeet was the printer,” said the officer.

“The trio used to charge money as per the requirement. If one needed marksheet for a job then they charged from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh depending upon the post, while for admissions they charged Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000, depending upon the course,” he said. Marsksheets with masters in science were the most sought ones, the officer said.

“We are tracing some people who came in their contact and took fake marksheets,” the DySP said.

They used to target candidates studying in coaching institutes of tier-two cities and those approaching offices of job consultants.

They started the fraud in 1998 when there was huge demand for fake certificates, their business dipped when digitization started in 2014, he added.

Officials said the gang charged price for marksheets as per the need of the seeker

Parents meet edu min, seek reopening of schools

Parents meet edu min, seek reopening of schools

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:  03.01.2020

Members of the Telangana Parents Association met the state education minister Sabitha Indra Reddy on Saturday and appealed her to reopen schools and other educational institutions by Sankranthi i.e. mid-January.

The TPA members submitted a representation to the minister citing various issues faced by the parents during the lockdown and virtual learning.

The TPA members claimed that the education minister responded positively and said that the government will announce its plans reagrding the same, shortly.

Salary hike: ₹8,000 cr burden on exchequer

Salary hike: ₹8,000 cr burden on exchequer

Revision Done After Gap Of Over Two Yrs

Roushan.Ali@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  03.01.2021

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s decision to hike the salaries of over 9.36 lakh employeesislikely to put an additional burden of Rs 8,000 crore per annum on the state exchequer if the government agrees to give over 40% fitment to the employees.

It cost Rs 6,500 crore per annum to the government in 2015 when 43% fitment was extended to nearly five lakh employees, including pensioners. Now, the CM has announced salary hike for 9.36 lakh government, contract, outsourcing and all category of employees, including pensioners.

On the other hand, the governmentislikely tosaveRs2,000 crore to Rs 3,000 crore per annum by increasing the retirement age of employees asitwould nothave to pay gratuity and other retirementbenefits.

Though a lot would depend upon how much fitment the pay revision commission (PRC) wouldsuggest,the reportofwhichis likely to be submitted in a day or two, the employees are expecting the CM to be magnanimous this time too as the revision is being done after a gap of two-and-a-halfyears. The PRC had recommended 29% fitment in 2015 but the CM gave 43% to the employees as a reward for their role in the Telangana statehood agitation.

As per tradition, the CM holds a meeting with leaders of various employees’ unions wherein they put forward their demands including the percentage of fitment. Union leaders said they were expecting the CM to call them for a meeting in a dayor two. They would also be meeting the chief secretary-led committeein thefirstweekof January, as directedby thechief minister.

Before the pandemic, the joint action committee (JAC) of all categories of employees had demanded 63%fitmentin representations submitted to the PRC and also the CS. However, the employees are unlikely to insist for 63% fitment keeping in view of the financial position of thestate.

Telangana non-gazetted officers’ association president and JAC leader M Rajender told TOI that they understand the financialcondition of thestatebutwould definitely like to place before the government what they deserve keeping in viewof theincreasein prices of all essential commoditiesin thelasttwo-and-a-half-years.

MBBS Admissions: Delhi HC says Class 12 students with biology as additional subject now eligible for admission

MBBS Admissions: Delhi HC says Class 12 students with biology as additional subject now eligible for admission

The MCI regulates that students with biology as an additional subject in Class 12 are not eligible for the NEET exam, which is pivotal to MBBS admissions.

FP Staff August 21, 2018 12:22:48 IST

The Delhi High Court has said that medical aspirants who have completed their Class 12 examinations with biology as an additional subject and have qualified the NEET exams will be given admission to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) regulation states that those studying biology or biotechnology as an additional subject in Class XII were not eligible to participate in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). According to a report from The Indian Express, a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and AK Chawla held the MCI regulation as “discriminatory and arbitrary”.

“It is held that the petitioners… all of whom had appeared in NEET and qualified in the entrance examination, and were also successful during counselling but not granted final admission in the allotted seats, awaiting the decision in this proceeding, shall be granted final admission,” the bench was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

The court's decision came on a plea by students who have studied biology and biotechnology as additional subjects. The students challenged the MCI regulation, claiming that the Council has not considered the rules and procedures of different state boards before rejecting candidates from MBBS admissions.

The court accepted the claim, and said that “lack of any empirical study supporting the MCI’s conclusion — that those who qualify from regular scholastic study in the 10+2 exams with additional subjects of biology/biotechnology either at one go, or after a year, do so without laboratory experience — render Regulation 4 (2) (a) to that extent arbitrary…”

Senior counsel Vikas Singh and advocate T Singhdev have contested the decision, saying that the NEET system regulates the entry of candidates into the field of medical education, and allows for students only with the necessary proficiency to gain entry.

Updated Date: August 21, 2018 12:22:48 IST