DMK has to be defeated in TN Assembly polls: S Gurumurthy

DMK has to be defeated in TN Assembly polls: S Gurumurthy

The DMK has to be defeated in the upcoming Assembly elections to prevent the misuse of official machinery and increase in rowdyism, Thuglak editor S Gurumurthy said on Thursday.

Published: 16th January 2021 04:43 AM |

S Gurumurthy speaking at Thuglak magazine’s 51st anniversary event in Chennai on Thursday | DEBADATTA MALLICK

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The DMK has to be defeated in the upcoming Assembly elections to prevent the misuse of official machinery and increase in rowdyism, Thuglak editor S Gurumurthy said on Thursday. He was speaking at the anniversary celebrations of the magazine. “In the upcoming elections too, the contest is between the AIADMK and the DMK,” he said. 

“Of the two, AIADMK-BJP combine would be the better option on several counts. If the DMK comes to power, there won’t be any limit for misuse of official machinery. Besides, rowdyism and atrocities will go up. So, it is our duty to defeat the DMK.” He then lauded the AIADMK government for tackling the Covid threat efficiently, and praised Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for working overtime to keep the pandemic at bay.

He said there was a need for national parties to grow in Tamil Nadu, and expressed confidence that the BJP would become a major force in the State in the next 3-4 years. Responding to questions from readers of the magazine, one of whom asked if it would be correct to assume that the BJP, Sasikala, and AMMK would come together in support of the AIADMK to defeat the DMK.

In response, Gurumurthy referred to an analogy quoted by veteran journalist Arun Shourie way back, and said: “When the house is on fire, we cannot wait for Ganga water to douse the flames. We may have to pour even sewer water to douse it. Similarly, when an alliance if formed to defeat the DMK, we cannot expect merely the pure forces to join hands. We may need to engage some other elements too.” The remark, seen by certain sections as extension of support for Sasikala and her family, was met with objection from the AIADMK. Responding to it, minister D Jayakumar said, “Gurumurthy thinks that he is a king maker and a Chanakya... maybe he can advise Donald Trump.” 

Later, on Twitter, Gurumurthy said his comments were being misinterpreted. “We at Thuglak will continue to regard the Mannargudi family as Mafia. Our opinion on them will not change. How is it amounting to supporting AMMK which I regarded as Mafia I can’t understand. I still regard AMMK as Mannargudi Mafia as someone had said. Even if they become part of BJP-AIADMK alliance I will regard them as only Mafia like we regarded Chandraswamy as sewer,” Gurumurthy said.

Gurumurthy referring to the questions faced by the Indian Express in 1987 when it took Chandraswamy’s help to probe the Bofors case which involved Rajiv Gandhi, and what Arun Shourie had said about it at that time. The Thuglak editor also said in the Thuglak meet he had cited the Chandraswamy incident when a reader asked whether the BJP would ally with the AMMK and Azhagiri to fight the DMK. 

“I don’t know what the BJP would do. But Thuglak had decided to tell the readers they should support AIADMK-BJP alliance,” Gurumurthy added. At the Thuglak meet, BJP national president JP Nadda hailed the contribution of Thuglak to courageous journalism and a video message from Union Home Minister Amit Shah was shown.

Judiciary not Jesus to carry the cross for authorities’ sins: HC

Judiciary not Jesus to carry the cross for authorities’ sins: HC

Taking a serious view of the delay, Justice N Seshasayee observed that only because of such unjustifiable delays caused by authorities, courts are burdened with lakhs of litigations.

Published: 13th January 2021 05:51 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Censuring the Dharmapuri and Perambalur district administration for a 20-year delay in providing land records awaiting mutation, the Madras High Court observed that the judiciary is not Jesus Christ to carry the cross for the sins committed by the authorities. The court also ordered Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 as compensation for the two petitioners, respectively, who were made to run from pillar to post for the past 20 years.

Taking a serious view of the delay, Justice N Seshasayee observed that only because of such unjustifiable delays caused by authorities, courts are burdened with lakhs of litigations. The issue pertains to the petitions moved by Rathinam and Jayalakshmi seeking direction to the district administration to re-mutate records of the land owned by them.

According to Rathinam, she owned about four acres of land at Virappanayakkampatti, Harur village, Dharmapuri. The land was notified for acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act, 1984, by the Tamil Nadu government in 1987. In 1988, a GO was issued for acquisition of the land. The same was challenged by the petitioner in the high court.

The judge, recording the submissions made by the counsel for the petitioners, ordered SP Karthikaa, Dharmapuri collector and P Sri Venkada Priya, Perambalur collector, who were summoned during the hearing, to come up with a viable solution for such issues which are rampant across the State. It was also noted that no appeal was made by the State against the HC order, or fresh acquisition notification was issued.

The court, ordering compensation for each of the petitioners, observed that such lack of professionalism at one level affects the judiciary by adding up to the pending cases. Also, an out-of-the-box solution is found to handle such issues, the court emphasised.

No, you cannot choose your Covid vaccine brand

No, you cannot choose your Covid vaccine brand

Covaxin or Covishield, a person can only get what is available during the time at the site

Published: 14th January 2021 03:45 AM 

For representational purposes (Photo| AFP)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: “Beneficiaries cannot chose between Covaxin and Covishield. They can only get what is available during the time of vaccination at the site,” TS Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health, said on Wednesday.

He added, “Getting vaccine is voluntary. If they don’t want the vaccine, it’s fine. If they want only particular vaccine and if that is not available at the site, then the beneficiary will not receive the vaccine.” Tamil Nadu on Wednesday received 20,000 doses of Covaxin from the Central government, in addition to the 5,36,500 doses of Covishield received on Tuesday. Though the health department has begun distribution of Covishield to districts, they are yet to decide on the dispatch of Covaxin to the sites.

The much anticipated Covid-19 vaccination drive will begin from Saturday across the State as part of the nationwide immunisation programme. First, healthcare workers will be vaccinated. In Tamil Nadu, over 4.39 lakh healthcare workers have registered for the dose, said health officials.

The State is planning to administer vaccines in over 300 sites. “We are still working on the list of sites. Preference will be given to government sites and then it will be extended to other sites, if needed,” Selvavinayagam added.

So far, as many as 5,12,200 doses of Covishield have been distributed, and the remaining 24,300 doses have been saved as buffer stock at the State Vaccine Centre (SVC). On dispatching Covaxin, Selvavinayagam said, it would be dispatched after finalising on the sites. TN has a total of 2,704 cold storage chain points. The Chennai Regional Vaccine Store (RVS) received the highest doses of Covishield (1.18 lakh) among five district vaccine stores. 

State reports fewer than 700 new cases 

673: Covid-positive cases were reported in the State on Wednesday

6: Deaths

8,28,287: Tally 

12,242: Toll

6,653: Active cases, after 821 were discharged on the day

4: Four passengers who tested positive for the new UK variant were discharged from the hospital after treatment and sent for home quarantine. They were among 16 UK returnees and 16 of their contacts who tested positive and were discharged from hospital after testing negative

District-wise breakdown

Chennai: 192

Chengalpattu: 55

Kancheepuram: 18

Tiruvallur: 32

Zero cases in Perambalur Perambalur district reported zero cases and 19 districts reported less than 10 cases

Samples to single out

State tested 62,683 samples and 62,409 people on the day

6: Six passengers from other States tested positive on Wednesday (one person from West Bengal by flight, four from WB by road and one from Karnataka by road)

Professor circulates fake marriage proof, held

Professor circulates fake marriage proof, held

A 24-year-old assistant professor was arrested for allegedly spreading false rumours about his wedding with a female student and circulating a fake marriage certificate to back his claim.

Published: 14th January 2021 03:46 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A 24-year-old assistant professor was arrested for allegedly spreading false rumours about his wedding with a female student and circulating a fake marriage certificate to back his claim. Ashok Nagar All-women Police arrested the man, an assistant professor of a private institution and resident of Iyyappanthangal, based on a complaint by a second year undergraduate student. He was remanded in judicial custody.

இது உங்கள் இடம்: வாழ்த்துக்கள் ஜெயலட்சுமி

இது உங்கள் இடம்: வாழ்த்துக்கள் ஜெயலட்சுமி

Updated : ஜன 16, 2021 03:28 | Added : ஜன 16, 2021 03:26 

உலக, நாடு, தமிழக நடப்புகள் பற்றி, வாசகர்கள் தினமலர் நாளிதழில் எழுதிய கடிதம்:

வெ.தனசேகரன், மதுராந்தகம், செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டத்திலிருந்து அனுப்பிய, 'இ - மெயில்' கடிதம்:

தன் கிராமத்தில், 126 வீடுகளுக்கு கழிப்பறை கட்ட காரணமாக இருந்த மாணவி ஜெயலட்சுமியை, எவ்வளவு பாராட்டினாலும் தகும்.புதுக்கோட்டை மாவட்டம், ஆதனக்கோட்டையைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ஜெயலட்சுமி. அரசு பள்ளியில், பிளஸ் 2 படிக்கிறார். கடந்த ஆண்டு, தனியார் நிறுவனம் ஒன்று நடத்திய போட்டியில் வெற்றி பெற்று, அமெரிக்காவின் விண்வெளி ஆய்வு மையமான, நாசாவிற்கு செல்ல தேர்வானார். சிதைந்த ஓட்டு வீடு, சிறு வயதிலே கைவிட்டுச் சென்ற தந்தை, மனநலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட தாய் என, வறுமையில் வாடிய ஜெயலட்சுமியால், நாசா செல்வதற்கான கட்டணத்தை செலுத்த முடியவில்லை.அப்போது மாவட்ட நிர்வாகமும், பல தனியார் நிறுவனங்களும், அவருக்கு நிதியுதவி அளித்தன.

இந்நிலையில், 'கிராமாலயா' என்ற தொண்டு நிறுவனம், ஜெயலட்சுமி நாசாவுக்கு செல்ல உதவுவதாக கூறியுள்ளது. ஆனால் ஜெயலட்சுமி, 'போதிய நிதி சேர்ந்து விட்டதால், எனக்கு எந்த உதவியும் வேண்டாம். என் கிராமத்தில் கழிப்பறை இல்லாமல், பெண்கள் மிகவும் கஷ்டப்படுகின்றனர். முடிந்தால், கழிப்பறை கட்டித் தாருங்கள்' என, கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளார்.இதனால் வியந்த தொண்டு நிறுவனம், ஆதனங்கோட்டையில் கழிப்பறை இல்லாத வீடுகளை கணக்கெடுத்தது. அதன்படி, 126 வீடுகளில், தலா, 20 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் செலவில், கழிப்பறை கட்டிக்கொடுத்துள்ளது. இதுவரை இயற்கை உபாதைக்காக, 2 கி.மீ., காட்டு பகுதியை கடந்து சென்று வந்த பெண்கள், தற்போது வீட்டருகில் கட்டிய கழிப்பறையை பயன்படுத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

ஜெயலட்சுமி வறுமையில் தான் வாடுகிறார். வீட்டில் சமையல் உட்பட அனைத்து வேலைகளையும், அவர் தான் செய்கிறார். கூலி வேலைக்குச் சென்றபடியே, கல்வியும் கற்றுக்கொள்கிறார். ஒற்றை ஆளாய் தன் குடும்பத்தையும் காப்பாற்றி வருகிறார் ஜெயலட்சுமி.இந்நிலையில் தான், தனக்கென ஏதும் கேட்காமல், ஊரின் சுகாதாரத்திற்காக உதவி கோரியுள்ளார்.ஜெயலட்சுமிக்கு பாராட்டுகள். அவரின், ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்., கனவு நிறைவேறவும் வாழ்த்துக்கள்.

Tasmac earns 417.8 crore in Pongal sales

 

HC judge retires without hearing case physically

HC judge retires without hearing case physically

Justice Satyanarayana Had Joined HC In May 2020

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

16.01.2021

Chandigarh: Justice S N Satyanarayana, who had joined the Punjab and Haryana high court in May 2020, retired on Thursday without holding any physical court or hearing any cases physically in court during his entire tenure as the judge in Chandigarh. However, he had held court proceedings via video conferencing after joining the HC till his superannuation on January 14. It would be a record of sorts in the Punjab and Haryana high court where a high court judge completed his entire tenure without holding court physically. This happened due to the Covid-19 pandemic because of which the HC has not been holding physical court since March 2020.

Justice S N Satyanarayana had joined as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court on May 28 after his transfer from Karnataka high court, where he was serving as HC judge since his elevation on June 9, 2008.

A total of eight judges of the Punjab and Haryana high court were scheduled to retire in 2021. Of these, two judges - Justice Daya Chaudhary retired on January 9 and Justice S N Satyanarayana retired on January 14. Six other judges, who are due to retire this year include Justice Rekha Mittal on Saturday (January 16), Justice Nirmaljit Kaur on January 27, Justice Hari Pal Verma on April 5, Justice Jitendra Kumar Chauhan on June 5, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi on August 31 and Justice Sudip Ahluwalia on December 30.

With the retirement of four judges this month, the current strength of the judges of the Punjab and Haryana HC would drop to 48 against the sanctioned strength of 85 judges. The Punjab and Haryana high court is one of the largest high courts of the country having jurisdiction over the states of Punjab and Haryana and UT Chandigarh.

The limited hearing of cases via video conferencing at the high court and shortage of judges has also increased the pendency of cases at the high court. As per data procured by TOI from the National Judicial Data Grid on Friday, a total of 641,722 cases are currently pending before the high court.

Release degree to SC students in 3 days, institutes told

Release degree to SC students in 3 days, institutes told

Chandigarh:  16.01.2021

Taking note of withholding of degrees of SC students by private colleges/institutions owing to non-payment of fees after the closure of post-matric scheme for SC students by the central government in 2017, the Punjab Government on Friday directed all the institutions to release degrees to such students within three days.

The decision was taken during the meeting of the high-powered committee of the group of ministers (GoM) under the chairmanship of finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal to decide on the pending issues of 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 as a result of closure of the scheme.

After the meeting, Manpreet said that the GoM has extended an invitation to all the colleges and institutions for comprehensive discussions on the pending issues and explore ways for their redressal on January 19. The minister further said the colleges and institutions have been given three days to release degrees to the students. “The meeting would also brainstorm about the ways and means to settle the pending liabilities of three years,” Manpreet said, adding that releasing of degrees within the stipulated three days’ period would be a pre-requisite for the institutions to attend the meeting. TNN

Action against election officials only after its approval, says EC

Action against election officials only after its approval, says EC

Move To Protect Officers From ‘Motivated Harassment’

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  16.01.2021

Keen to protect chief electoral officers (CEOs) of states and Union Territories from “motivated harassment” stemming from political vendetta for having acted in a free, fair, impartial and fearless manner during polls, the Election Commission on Friday said any disciplinary action against the officials would require clearance.

An EC order said states and UTs should “invariably” obtain its approval before initiating any disciplinary action against CEOs and senior officers during their tenure and also up to one year after they have completed their terms as poll officials.

The EC has drawn on the Supreme Court order of September 21, 2000, upholding that neither can any action be initiated by a state government against officers on election duty nor can the government refuse to act on the EC’s advice to act against errant officials, and a subsequent DoPT order in line with this position.

The EC, in a communication to the cabinet secretary, state chief secretaries, personnel secretary and state CEOs also directed that state and UT governments shall not reduce facilities like vehicle, security and other amenities provided to the office of CEO for proper discharge of his/her duties.

Even though the EC did not specify that it was issuing the direction by virtue of its powers under Article 324 (power of direction and control of elections), it did state that “the commission is sanguine in the expectation that all concerned shall strictly adhere to this regimen in letter as well as in spirit”.

“The EC’s initiative for their protection is timely and appropriate advice,” former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami told TOI.

The EC direction comes in the wake of instances of “victimisation” of CEOs, including one where then Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had barged into the then state CEO G K Dwivedi’s office during Lok Sabha poll 2019 and reportedly abused and pushed him for ordering transfers of senior IAS and IPS officers. Dwivedi maintained a stoic silence and stood his ground without getting provoked. He was later rewarded by the EC on National Voters’ Day.

The EC, in its letter on Friday, recalled how CEOs — an extension of the commission in states/UTs and who are on deputation to the EC under Section 13CC of the RP Act, 1950, and Section 13A of the RP Act, 1951 — were targeted “many a times” by slapping disciplinary cases on flimsy grounds for their earlier tenures in the state government after completion of their term.

Full report on www.toi.in

‘NEED STAMP OF APPROVAL’

EC outlines timeline for publishing criminal antecedents thrice by candidates for RS

New Delhi: The Election Commission has outlined the three occasions on which candidates for polls to the Rajya Sabha and state legislative councils shall need to publish details of criminal cases, in accordance with an earlier direction of the Supreme Court. The timeline, as indicated in a letter sent to the president, general secretary or chairperson of all recognised national and state political parties on January 11, requires the criminal antecedents to be published thrice— first within the first two days of withdrawal of nomination, second between the third and fourth days, and third from the fifth to sixth day, prior to the date of poll. TNN

Right time for vaccination, can stop 2nd wave: Expert

Right time for vaccination, can stop 2nd wave: Expert

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:16.01.2021

As India gears up for Covid vaccination amid a significant decline in active cases, experts say the innoculations is necessary and the timing is apt as it can help avoid a new wave, particularly in the wake of the new UK strain which has higher transmissibility. “We are fortunate to be starting the vaccination drive at this time with the first wave in decline. This will help in timely vaccination of a significant proportion of the population if at all the second wave does hit us,” said Dr A S Soin, chairman of Medanta Liver Institute.

Vaccination is urgently required at a point when herd immunity is yet to develop and the economy and travel are opening up, increasing the risk of a wider infection spread, experts said.

“Vaccination is necessary because you do not know when a second wave can potentially start and various other countries have witnessed a second and a third wave with severe cases or a more infectious strain,” says Public Health Foundation of India president Prof K Srinath Reddy.

“There is no herd immunity against Covid-19 as it is a new disease. Vaccine against Covid can help in reducing the spread of infection and severity. Though the active infections are currently low but we are not sure about the trajectory of this pandemic,” said Dr Atul Kakar, senior consultant and Vice Chairman of Internal Medicine at Ganga Ram Hospital.

“Since the availability of the vaccines will be a constraint, the vaccination drive may stretch over a year or more. So social discipline and Covid-appropriate behaviour will remain the cornerstones of our Covid protection policy,” says Dr Soin.

Full report on www.toi.in

SHOT AT IMMUNITY: Vaccination is needed as herd immunity is yet to be reached and economy and travel are opening up

Finally, a single-dose Covid vaccine is within sight

Finally, a single-dose Covid vaccine is within sight

While all the coronavirus vaccines launched so far need two doses, Johnson & Johnson designed theirs to work with a single shot. Early data shows it is effective, and it could be approved for use by March

Abhilash.Gaur@timesgroup.com

All Covid vaccines so far work best with two doses, but the UK, which is battling an explosion of cases, last month decided to delay the second dose and give everyone their “first dose first.” The aim was to ensure some immunity in all, rather than full immunity in some.

Experts abroad were aghast. “I would not be in favour of that,” declared Dr Anthony S Fauci, a trusted voice in America. Some said the UK was straying from science and resorting to “Wild West” measures, dishonesty and short-termism.

But it now looks like America will follow the UK’s first-dose-first approach. President-elect Joe Biden “supports releasing available doses immediately, and believes the government should stop holding back vaccine supply (for second dose) so we can get more shots in Americans’ arms now,” says a CNN report.

There are valid concerns about first-dose-first. For example, a single dose might not produce sufficient immunity in the elderly, who need it the most. Also, the virus could mutate inside people who have not been fully immunised.

It’s a compromise either way, but as Tim Harford writes in the Financial Times, the question is whether giving one dose is like a bicycle with one wheel (useless) or a car with one headlight (not ideal but workable). “If forced to drive in the dark, I would rather that every car on the road had one headlight than some two and some none.”

What if such a compromise were not needed at all, if vaccines worked well enough with one dose? It would make everyone’s life easy. Fewer vials and syringes and warehouses. Fewer deliveries. And no repeat visits to clinics.

Pharma giant Johnson & Johnson took the single-dose road, and new data from human trials suggests its vaccine, called Ad26.COV2.S for now, is good.

Plenty Of Antibodies

A report in Time says the J&J vaccine produces a “long-lasting” immune response. “More than 90% of participants made... neutralising antibodies within 29 days.” By the 57th day, everyone had antibodies, and the immune response did not wane throughout the 71-day trial period.

The single-dose J&J vaccine makes more antibodies than single doses of the current crop of vaccines, as it should. A report in Stat says, after a single dose of Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines, “only 60% of participants appeared to have neutralising antibody levels.”

How does J&J’s single dose compare with two doses of other vaccines? The company’s chief scientific officer, Paul Stoffels, told Time the response is “in the same range.” He said they had aimed for 60% overall effectiveness, and hoped and planned for 70%. He now thinks the results could be even better. Moncef Slaoui, the top scientist on America’s ‘Operation Warp Speed’ vaccine development project, agrees. He has said he “anticipates J&J’s oneshot vaccine will show 80% to 85% effectiveness against Covid-19.”

Final results of the vaccine’s trial on 45,000 volunteers are expected in two-weeks, and if it exceeds 80% efficacy, it will have emergency use authorisation in the US by March, Reuters says quoting Slaoui.

Second Dose

While the other vaccines focused only on a two-dose course, J&J is running a separate large trial with two doses. Unlike other vaccines, which are given 21-28 days apart, J&J’s booster dose is given after 57 days, so the pressure on supplies is less.

Stat says the booster dose makes the vaccine even more effective: “It doubled or tripled their levels of neutralising antibodies.” But if a single dose works well enough, the second dose might be unnecessary for most healthy people.

The vaccine has been tested in two age groups: 18-55 years, and 65-plus, and in both, Time says, “There was no difference in the immune response.” Common side effects included fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and injection-site pain.

Compensation to be paid for serious adverse Covaxin events

Compensation to be paid for serious adverse Covaxin events

Sumitra.DebRoy@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:16.01.2021

Beneficiaries who receive Covaxin, a Bharat Biotech product, will be paid a compensation if they suffer a serious adverse event that is proven to be causally related to the vaccine.

The compensation was one of the points highlighted on top of the consent form shared with vaccination centres on Friday. Six centres in the state, including JJ Hospital in the city, will give Covaxin.

The form stated that the beneficiaries would be provided care in governmentdesignated and authorised centres or hospitals if they suffered serious after-effects.

3,006 session sites cover all states, UTs

Preparations for vaccine rollout were completed on Friday with the control room in Nirman Bhawan — which houses the health ministry — set to scrutinise implementation of the pan-India drive on a real-time basis. The PM will flag off the drive on Saturday at 10.30 am, activating 3,006 session sites covering all states and UTs.

SEE INSIDE FLAP

Govt says companies shall be liable for all adversities

The issue of liability has been a bone of contention between vaccinemakers and the government, with the former having made demands that it be indemnified against mishaps.

The vaccine purchase order of the government said the companies shall be liable for all adversities. State officials said that only the turnout on Saturday would tell whether a three-page consent form will allay concerns. The state is among 11to accept the vaccine, which is still undergoing phase III trials and has no large efficacy data. Unlike those getting Covishield, beneficiaries of Covaxin have to sign a consent form as it has been approved for restricted use in emergency situations and is supposed to be given in clinical trial mode. The recipients will also be handed over a fact-sheet and an adverse effect reporting form where they would have to note down any symptoms such as fever, pain and redness suffered within the first seven days. The consent form starts with the company saying that the vaccine has demonstrated the ability to produce antibodies against Covid-19 in phase 1and phase 2 clinical trials.

“However, the clinical efficacy of Covaxin is yet to be established and is still being studied in phase 3 clinical trial,” it said. For those listed to get this vaccine, though, it was Covaxin or no vaccine. “What if we don’t want to take an unproven vaccine? We will have to go without any vaccine at all and continue to work in Covid wards,” a physician from a medical college said.

11 eminent docs will take jabs on 1st day of TN vaccine drive

11 eminent docs will take jabs on 1st day of TN vaccine drive

Vaccination At 166 Centres Across State

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.01.2021

At least 11 eminent doctors, including Apollo Hospitals chairman Dr Prathap Reddy, ENT surgeon Dr Mohan Kameshwaran and Dr MGR Medical University vice-chancellor Dr Sudha Seshayyan, will be among the first to take Covid-19 vaccine as part of the nation-wide drive set to start on Saturday.

“The wait has ended, I will take the vaccine at 10.30am,” said Dr Sudha Sehayyan, who will be taking the vaccine from Rajiv Gandhi Government GH, her alma mater. Senior ENT surgeon Dr Mohan Kameshwaran, who will visit Apollo Hospitals, said, “I trust the vaccine can help me and a lot of people. It can put an end to the pandemic,” he said.

After the PM flags off the event in Delhi, chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami will inaugurate the drive from Rajaji Government GH in Madurai. Healthcare workers will then start inoculating doctors, nurses, medicos, paramedics and other healthcare workers. On Saturday,166 centres — both government and private — across the state will offer the vaccine, director of public health Dr TS Selvavinayagam said. Tamil Nadu has received 5.56 lakh doses of vaccines – 5.36 lakh doses of Serum Institute’s Covishield and 20,000 doses of Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech. Covaxin will be available in six centres. “At all these centres, beneficiaries can make a choice between the vaccines. If they are taking Covaxin, they have to sign a consent form,” he said. Ophthalmologist Dr Mohan Rajan, MGM director Dr Prasanth Rajagopalan, heads of doctors’ associations and deans of government medical colleges Dr R Jayanthi and Dr ETheranirajan will also be taking the vaccine on Saturday.

‘Drive now can help avert second wave’

Amid significant decline in active Covid cases in India, experts say the timing of the vaccine rollout is apt as it can help avoid a new wave, particularly in the wake of the new UK strain, reports Sushmi Dey. Meanwhile, Serum will dispatch its first overseas consignment of 20 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine to Brazil in two weeks. SEE INSIDE FLAP

Cases filed against 25 theatres in city

The city police have booked cases against at least 25 theatres for screening Vijay-starrer “Master” for not adhering to the 50% occupancy norm. A special police team kept a tab on social media to find if theatres were following the Covid-19 occupancy norm. A team of the MGR Nagar police station found 100% occupancy at 11am show. P 2

143 apply for post of BDU V-C

143 apply for post of BDU V-C

Sambath.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Trichy:16.01.2021

A total of 143 candidates from across the country have applied for the post of vice-chancellor of University, according to the shortlist released by the VC search committee on Friday. This is 41% less compared to last time when a total of 241 candidates applied for the post. Academicians say the search committee has managed to eliminate non-serious candidates from applying for the post unlike in the past.

The list of shortlisted candidates was released by the search committee on the university website.

Academicians point out that the application format was slightly different from last time with the search committee asking for valid prof of academic and administrative experience. This kept away non-serious candidates as the evidence of their academic experience was sought along with the application.

“A majority of the applicants have applied for one university or the other in the past for the post of vice-chancellor. This shows that they are serious about the position. If there is no political influence, we can say that an eminent academician will become the vicechancellor of BDU,” said M S Balamurugan, general secretary, Association of University Teachers.

The tenure of previous vice-chancellor P Manisankar had ended on January 7 following which a three-member vice-chancellor search committee was constituted for selecting the next VC last month.

A few suitable candidates will be called for interview by the committee in a few days.

Based on the interview, three names will be sent to the chancellor who will select the vicechancellor.

High court asks Pondy to fix PG medical, dental course fees in deemed universities

High court asks Pondy to fix PG medical, dental course fees in deemed universities

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Puducherry:16.01.2021

The long-drawn battle to regulate the fees in the deemed universities in the Union territory of Puducherry ended in favour of the student community with a Madras high court bench declaring that the government can fix fee for the postgraduate medical and dental courses offered by the universities.

Disposing of a public interest litigation filed by advocate V B R Menon, the Madras high court bench comprising justice T S Sivagnanam and justice V Bhavani Subbaroyan declared that the Puducherry fee committee shall fix the fee for postgraduate medical and dental courses from the academic year 2017-18 to 2020-21 in the deemed universities.

The fees shall be fixed on an ad-hoc basis until a committee constituted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) finalises the fee structure as per an order passed by the Supreme Court on April 15 in 2019. The Supreme Court, however, had directed the UGC committee not to implement the fee structure until further orders.

The bench also directed the National Medical Commission to determine the fee structure as per the NMC Act, 2019 for the academic year 2021-22. The Puducherry fee committee had fixed ₹5.5 lakh per annum as the fee under government quota and ₹14 lakh per annum under management quota in private medical colleges. However, deemed universities continued to charge nearly double the sum as fees, prompting Menon to file the PIL. The then first bench, while passing an order on June 16, 2017, opined that the fee collected by the deemed universities is 'unreasonably high, arbitrary and prohibitory.’ The PIL-petitioner had argued that many students, who had cleared the admission process, undergone counselling and allowed provisional admission have not been able to join by reason of their inability to deposit ₹40 lakh to ₹50 lakh at short notice and the seats are lying vacant.

The court said erstwhile members of the Centralized Admission Committee (Centac), Puducherry and erstwhile officials of the directorate of health and family welfare services had wrongly interpreted legal position against the interest of the student community. It said the decision was overruled by the Supreme Court and, therefore, the view of the Centac members and health officials are 'non-est, in so far as it relates to the prescription of fees by the deemed universities'. The CBI, anti-corruption branch (ACB), Chennai, which booked 13 people, including government officials, on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct by a public servant in September 2017, later said that 'no action is contemplated against six government officials - the then Centac chairman, the then director (health and family welfare), the then secretary (health), the then Centac convener, the then Centac joint convener and the then Centac coordinator.

Breaking: NBE announces NEET PG 2021 dates, specifies who is eligible

Breaking: NBE announces NEET PG 2021 dates, specifies who is eligible: New Delhi: Putting end to major suspense regarding the dates of NEET PG 2021 examination, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) has released the dates of the exam.As per NBE's announcement, NEET...

Delhi HC Seeks CBSE Response On Transgender Man's Plea Seeking Change Of Name & Photograph In School Certificates

Delhi HC Seeks CBSE Response On Transgender Man's Plea Seeking Change Of Name & Photograph In School Certificates

Radhika Roy

14 Jan 2021 5:43 PM

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought for a response from Union of India and CBSE on an Application filed by a transgender man who is seeking for a change of his name and photograph in his school certificates.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh presided over the Application which had been filed in a plea challenging the validity of Bye-Laws issued by the CBSE which fails to provide a mechanism for transgender persons to change their name and gender on their Class X and Class XII certificates.

It has been contended that the bye-law is "arbitrary, irrational, discriminatory and violative of the privacy, dignity and autonomy of the Petitioner guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution as it requires transgender people to undergo a cumbersome two-step process meant for cis-gender students, first of publication of name change in the Official Gazette and subsequently obtaining a direction from the Court to that effect, which must be done before the publication of the examination result".

The instant Application, filed by Advocates Amritananda Chakravorty, Mihir Samson and Shreya Munoth, has been filed to seek directions to implement the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which came into effect on 10th January, 2020, along with the Transgender Persons Rules, 2020, which was published on 25th September, 2020, and change the Petitioner's name, gender and photograph in his Class X and Class XII certificates.

The Application submits that notice had been issued in the aforementioned petition on March 11, 2019, subsequent to which a Committee had been constituted wherein it was noted that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, was pending in the Parliament.

Subsequently, the Bill was passed and Section 3 of the Act guarantees the protection of non-discrimination in all State activity and prohibits the denial, discontinuation or unfair treatment against transgender persons in all educational establishments and services therof. Further, Section 4 grants recognition to the self-perceived gender identity of transgender persons, and procedure for the same is laid down in Sections 5, 6 and 7.

The Rules, further, mandate that transgender persons shall be entitiled to record or change the gender, as well as photograph and name, if so necessitated in all official documents, including their educational certificates, in accordance with their self-identified gender recorded in their identity cards. Additionally, any authority that has issued the official document has to make the change within 15 days of such an application and that the revised document must bear the same serial or reference number as in the original official document.

The Application then goes on to submit that the Petitioner has already had his self-identified gender of male recorded in his official identity documentation, prior to the Act coming into force, and is therefore entitled to all the rights and entitlements under the Act, but would not be required to submit a fresh application for certificate of identity under the Transgender Persons Act.

"The Petitioner has been facing tremendous financial distress due to the incongruency of his documents and the consequent lack of employment opportunities" due to the lack of implementation of the mandate of the Transgender Persons Act and its Rules.

Additionally, Class X and Class XII certificates are vital documents that are requested by many employers and examination bodies as proof of age, proof of date of birth and also to assess the candidate's merit and eligibility. Therefore, the Application submits, the Respondent's refusal to issue gender congruent documents has forced him to use his female "dead name", which is violative of his fundamental rights to privacy, dignity and autonomy and has resulted in a distressing situation with the Petitioner having different identities as per different documents.

In light of the above, the Application prays for the Petitioner's name, photograph and gender to be changed as per the law stipulated in the Transgender Persons Act and Rules.

Delhi HC Seeks CBSE Response On Transgender Man's Plea Seeking Change Of Name & Photograph In School Certificates

Delhi HC Seeks CBSE Response On Transgender Man's Plea Seeking Change Of Name & Photograph In School Certificates: The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought for a response from Union of India and CBSE on an Application filed by a transgender man who is seeking for a change of his name and photograph in his school...

முதல் பார்வை: ஈஸ்வரன்

முதல் பார்வை: ஈஸ்வரன்

சென்னை

பாரதிராஜாவுக்கு உறுதுணையாக இருக்கும் சிம்பு, அவர் குடும்பத்தை ஆபத்துகளில் இருந்து காக்கப் போராடினால் அதுவே ‘ஈஸ்வரன்’.

வரும் பௌர்ணமிக்குள் பாரதிராஜாவின் குடும்பத்தில் ஒரு உயிர் பலி நடந்தே தீரும் என்று சோழிகளை உருட்டி ஆருடம் சொல்கிறார் காளி வெங்கட். ஏற்கெனவே இதுபோன்று ஜோசியம் சொன்னதும் பலித்ததால் அந்தக் குடும்பமே அரண்டு போகிறது. இந்தச் சூழலில் பெரிய குடும்பத்தின் மொத்த உயிர்களையும் பலிவாங்கும் நோக்கத்தில் ஜெயிலில் இருந்து ஜாமீனில் வருகிறார் ‘ஸ்டன்’சிவா. இன்னொரு பக்கம் சொத்துக்காக பாரதிராஜாவைப் போட்டுத் தள்ள அந்தக் குடும்பத்தில் இருக்கும் ஒருவரே சதி செய்கிறார். இந்த மும்முனைச் சிக்கலில் ஒரு உயிரும் பறிபோக விடமாட்டேன் என்று சபதம் எடுத்துப் போராடுகிறார் சிம்பு.

சிம்புவுக்கும் அந்தக் குடும்பத்துக்கும் அப்படி என்ன சம்பந்தம், சொந்தக் குடும்பத்துக்கே துரோகம் செய்பவர் யார், ஸ்டன் சிவா ஏன் பழிதீர்க்க நினைக்கிறார், ஜோசியம் பலித்ததா என்பதே மீதிக் கதை.

இடைவெளி இல்லாமல் படம் இயக்குவதில் சுசீந்திரனின் வேகம் சொல்லி மாளாது. 11 வருடங்களில் 13 படங்களைப் படபடவென முடித்துவிட்டார். ‘ஈஸ்வரன்’அவரது 14-வது படம். சிம்புவை வைத்துப் படமா என அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த சினிமா உலகத்தையே ஆஹா என்று ஆச்சர்யப்படுத்தும் அளவுக்குக் குறைந்த நாட்களில் படப்பிடிப்பை முடித்து ரிலீஸ் செய்துவிட்டார். அந்தவகையில் அவரது வேகத்தை வரவேற்கலாம். ஆனால், இந்த வேகம் படத்தின் தரத்தில் சமரசம் செய்வதாக இருப்பதுதான் சோகம்.

‘வந்தா ராஜாவாதான் வருவேன்’படத்துக்குப் பிறகு சிம்பு நடிப்பில் வெளியாகியுள்ள படம் இது. 30 கிலோ உடல் எடையைக் குறைத்து, மெலிந்து, கட்டுக்கோப்பான உடல் வடிவமைப்பில் இன்னும் கொஞ்சம் இளமையாகத் தெரிகிறார். மில்லி மீட்டர் அளவில் சிரிப்பவர் இப்போது சென்டிமீட்டர் அளவில் சிரித்துத் தள்ளுகிறார். கெத்துதான் என் சொத்து என பில்டப் காட்சிகளில் ஈடு செய்கிறார். புத்துணர்ச்சி குறைந்த அளவில் மட்டுமே எட்டிப் பார்க்கிறது. விரலில் வித்தை காட்டியவர் இப்போது அதே விரலை வைத்து சொடக்கு போடுகிறார். அவரது கம்பேக் படம் என்று சொல்ல முடியாவிட்டாலும், நடிப்பு, டான்ஸ், ஃபைட், பன்ச் என்ற ஃபார்முலாவுக்குள் தன் வழக்கமான நடிப்பை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார்.

நந்திதா, நிதி அகர்வால் என இரு நாயகிகள். நந்திதாவுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் இல்லை. அவரை விட நிதி அகர்வாலுக்கு ஓரிரு காட்சிகளே அதிகம். அதுவும், விலகி விலகிப் போகும் சிம்புவை விரட்டி விரட்டிக் காதலிக்கும் டெம்ப்ளேட் நாயகி பாத்திரம்தான். அக்காவைப் பொறாமை கொள்ளவைக்கும் நாயகி பாத்திரம் என்று இல்லாத நியாயத்தை நிறுவப் பார்த்திருக்கிறார்கள். அது எடுபடவில்லை. சிம்பு- நிதி அகர்வால் காதல் காட்சிகளும் புதுமையாக இல்லை.

பாரதிராஜா படத்தின் முக்கிய பலம். பெரியசாமி கதாபாத்திரத்தை உணர்ந்து நடித்திருக்கிறார். சிம்பு யார் என்பது தெரிந்த பிறகு அவரிடம் தென்படும் உணர்வுகளில் மட்டும் கொஞ்சம் போதாமை நிலவுகிறது. மற்றபடி தொடர்ந்து பாரதிராஜாவின் நடிப்புக் கலையை வெளிக்கொணர்வதில் இயக்குநர் சுசீந்திரனின் பங்கு குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. அவரது கதாபாத்திரம் எழுதப்பட்ட விதமும் அழுத்தமாக உள்ளது. இதனாலேயே நாயகனைத் தாண்டியும் பாரதிராஜா மனதில் நிற்கிறார்.

நீண்ட இடைவெளிக்குப் பிறகு பாலசரவணன் நகைச்சுவை, குணச்சித்திரம் கலந்த நடிப்பில் மிளிர்கிறார். காளி வெங்கட், அருள்தாஸ், முனீஷ்காந்த் ஆகியோர் பொருத்தமான பாத்திர வார்ப்புகள். ‘ஸ்டன்’ சிவாவுக்கு ஓவர் பில்டப்புகள். வினோதினி, மனோஜ் பாரதி, ‘யார்’கண்ணன், ஹரீஷ் உத்தமன ஆகியோரும் படத்தில் வந்து போகிறார்கள்.

தமனின் இசையில் டைட்டில் டிராக்கும், தமிழன் பாட்டும் ஓகே ரகம். பின்னணி இசையில் இரைச்சல் அதிகம். திருவின் ஒளிப்பதிவு பசுமை நிறைந்த கணக்கன் பட்டி கிராமத்தை கண்முன் நிறுத்துகிறது. ஆண்டனியின் எடிட்டிங் கச்சிதம்.

கதையை நகர்த்துவதற்கு சுசீந்திரன் ரொம்பவே கஷ்டப்பட்டிருக்கிறார். கரோனா காலத்தில் நடக்கும் கதை என்று சமகால அச்சுறுத்தலைக் கதைக்குள் கொண்டுவந்த பிறகும் காமெடி என்கிற பெயரில் எதையோ இட்டு நிரப்பியிருக்கிறார்கள்.

சொத்துப் பிரச்சினை, அண்ணன் - தங்கை சண்டை ஆகியவற்றிலும் யதார்த்தம் இல்லை. பாரதிராஜாவின் மகன், பேத்திகளுக்கு இடையேயான வயது வித்தியாசம் லாஜிக் பிழை. படமாக்கும் விதத்தில் பல காட்சிகளில் இயக்குநர் கோட்டை விட்டிருக்கிறார். பார்வையாளர்களைத் திருப்தி செய்யும் விதத்தில் சுவாரஸ்யமான காட்சிகளோ, திருப்புமுனைகளோ படத்தில் இல்லை. கதாபாத்திரங்களுக்கான சவால்களும் பெரிய அளவில் இல்லை.

முழுக்க முழுக்க சிம்புவுக்கான பில்டப் காட்சிகளை ஏற்றி இருக்கிறார்கள். ஓப்பனிங் காட்சியை வைத்த பிறகும் ஃபிளாஷ்பேக்கில் ஒரு அறிமுகப் பாடல் வைப்பதெல்லாம் எதில் சேர்த்தி என்றே தெரியவில்லை. எல்லோரும் ஊறவைத்து, அடித்துத் துவைத்த பழைய கதையை அப்படியே மிக்ஸியில் போட்டு அரைத்து சட்னி செய்திருக்கிறார். இதை ருசிக்க முடியவில்லை. வேடிக்கை மட்டும் பார்க்க முடிகிறது.

மதுரை:மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் சீட் நிராகரிக்கப்பட்ட மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவருக்கு தமிழக அரசு ரூ.2 லட்சம் செலவு தொகை வழங்க உயர்நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை உத்தரவிட்டது.

மதுரை:மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் சீட் நிராகரிக்கப்பட்ட மாற்றுத்திறனாளி மாணவருக்கு தமிழக அரசு ரூ.2 லட்சம் செலவு தொகை வழங்க உயர்நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை உத்தரவிட்டது.

15.01.2021

மதுரை வில்லாபுரம் அருண்குமார் தாக்கல் செய்த மனு: மாற்றுத்திறனாளியான நான் 2018-19 ல் மருத்துவப் படிப்பிற்கான நீட் தேர்வில் 140 மதிப்பெண் பெற்றேன். மாற்றுத்திறனாளி என்பதை அரசு டாக்டர்கள் குழு உறுதி செய்து சான்றளித்துள்ளது. அந்த ஆண்டு மாணவர் சேர்க்கை முடிந்ததால், 2019-20 கல்வியாண்டில் எனது பெயரை பரிசீலிக்க அரசுக்கு உயர்நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டது. பரிசீலிக்கவில்லை. எனக்கு இடம் ஒதுக்க அரசுக்கு உத்தரவிட வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அருண்குமார் குறிப்பிட்டார்.

நீதிபதி ஜி.ஆர்.சுவாமிநாதன் விசாரித்தார்.அரசுத் தரப்பு, '2020-21 கல்வியாண்டிற்குரிய அனைத்து இடங்களும் பூர்த்தியாகிவிட்டன,' என தெரிவித்தது.நீதிபதி: மனுதாரர் மாற்றுத்திறனாளி என்பதில் சந்தேகம் இல்லை. அவரைவிட குறைந்த மதிப்பெண் பெற்றவர்கள் மாற்றுத்திறனாளி களுக்குரிய ஒதுக்கீட்டில் எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்.,படிப்பில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

மனுதாரர் தகுதியான மாணவர்தான். அவருக்கு 2021-22 ல் இடம் ஒதுக்க உத்தரவிட முடியாது. 2020-21ல் காலி இடம் ஏற்படும்பட்சத்தில் அதில் நிரப்புமாறு நிவாரணம் அளிக்க முடியாது.2018-19 ல் மருத்துவ மாணவர் சேர்க்கையில் மனுதாரருக்கு தன்னிச்சையாக, நியாயமற்ற முறையில் இடம் மறுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால் அவர் மூன்று முறை நீதிமன்றத்தை நாடும் நிலைக்கு தள்ளப்பட்டார்.

எதிர்மனுதாரர்களான சுகாதாரத்துறை செயலாளர், மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்குனர் மற்றும் தேர்வுக்குழு செயலாளர் மீது தான் குறைபாடு உள்ளது.மனுதாரருக்கு ரூ.2 லட்சம் செலவு தொகையை சுகாதாரத்துறை செயலாளர் வழங்க வேண்டும். அத்தொகையை மனுதாரர் பயன்படுத்தி பயிற்சி பெற்று, அடுத்த கல்வியாண்டில் வெற்றி பெற வாழ்த்துகிறேன் என்றார்.

Govt extends FCRA registration validity of NGOs till May 31

Govt extends FCRA registration validity of NGOs till May 31

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  15.01.2021

NGOs and associations whose registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, was expiring between September 29, 2020 — when fresh amendments to the Act were notified — and May 31, 2021, will now enjoy extended validity of their FCRA certificates until May this year, the home ministry has said.

According to a public notice put out by the ministry on Tuesday, the extension of validity of all registration certificates expiring during the period outlined is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition to the amended FCRA regime. The amendments effected in September 2020 require all NGOs and associations registered under FCRA to open an account in SBI main branch at New Delhi, to receive foreign contributions.

Incidentally, the home ministry’s January 12 public notice extending validity of expired or expiring FCRA licences followed a day after an important correction was made in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules notified on November 10, 2020. As per the corrigendum, the amended rule requiring NGOs/associations to apply for renewal of FCRA certificate in electronic form, along with affidavits by each office-bearer or key functionary, within six months “from” the date of expiry of the certificate of registration is to be read as within six months “before” the date of expiry of registration.

The MHA notice therefore provides relief to the NGOs which, going by the amended rules prior to the correction, would not have bothered to apply for renewal of registration immediately, understanding that they had six months from the date of expiry of their FCRA certificate to do so.

Presently, there are nearly 23,000 entities which have got a certificate of registration or prior permission to receive foreign contributions.

Full report on www.toi.in

Google drops over 100 personal loan apps

Google drops over 100 personal loan apps

New Delhi: 15.01.021

Google said on Thursday that it has reviewed hundreds of personal loan apps from its online PlayStore in India, and then removed an unspecified number of apps, based on flags submitted by users and government agencies, reports Anam Ajmal.

Although Google did not give any details of the number of apps which were taken off PlayStore, fintech expert Srikanth L said it had removed at least 118 apps in the last 10 days. “The apps that were found to violate our user safety policies were immediately removed from the Store, and we have asked the developers of the remaining identified apps to demonstrate that they comply with applicable local laws and regulations,” it said in a blog.

Demand for mobiles crosses pre-Covid level

Festival demand in November drove the value of instore credit card purchases to 109% of pre-Covid levels. Other segments where the transaction value has crossed pre-Covid levels include mobile phones, consumer durables, computers, hospitals, petrol pumps, gems & jewellery & automobiles. P 15

Police asked Google to remove apps

Google informed about the removal of apps in a blog, published by Suzanne Frey, VP, product, Android security and privacy. Recently, the Telangana police busted several rackets which involved fraudulent loan apps offering credit to users at exceptionally high rates and then blackmailing them for repayment by using several tactics, including threats. The police had also asked Google to remove 158 apps from PlayStore. The blog also clarified that “to protect user privacy, developers must only request permissions that are necessary to implement current features or services”. “They should not use permissions that give access to user or device data for undisclosed, unimplemented, or disallowed features or purposes,” it added.

CBI swoops down on 4 of its own for ‘accepting bribes’

CBI swoops down on 4 of its own for ‘accepting bribes’

2 Deputy SPs & Inspector Among Them

Rajshekhar.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  15.01.2021

In a major embarrassment for the country’s premier investigative agency, at least four CBI officials including a deputy superintendent (DySP) are in the dock for allegedly accepting bribes and favours from a company which is being probed by the agency in bank fraud cases.

The agency on Thursday confirmed it had filed an FIR against the four officials including the DySP, inspector and a steno apart from private individuals and advocates on the allegations of compromising the investigation on “extraneous pecuniary considerations”. CBI also raided their houses and offices and a spokesperson confirmed that searches were conducted at 14 locations including Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon, Meerut and Kanpur. The searches continued till late on Thursday .

Those under scanner have been identified as Dy SP RK Rishi from the CBI Academy, Ghaziabad, Sameer Kumar Singh, stenographer (BS&FC, Delhi HQ), inspector Kapil Dhankad and DySP (SCII) R K Sangwan. A source said searches were also being carried out inside the CBI headquarters as there are allegations that the accused took bribe inside the office and were allegedly on the payroll of the company being probed by the agency for bank fraud. The developments come at a time when CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla has around a month’s time left to relinquish office.

According to sources, the CBI had filed an FIR against a Mumbai-based company for duping a consortium of 14 banks of over Rs 3,500 crore. The directors of the company were accused of siphoning off funds by setting up shell companies. This case was under probe by the banking fraud unit of the CBI. Sometime ago, allegations surfaced that the officials of CBI were conniving with promoters to provide relief. The anti-corruption unit of CBI swung into action after receiving complaints regarding its officials and mounted surveillance on them.

Preliminary enquiries revealed that the officials were in touch with certain individuals who were acting as the middlemen for the company. Subsequently, the CBI chief ordered registration of an FIR against these officials. The case was registered under sections of IPC apart from the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI is learnt to have traced certain financial transactions whose beneficiaries were its own officials.

Searches were also carried out at the CBI headquarters. The accused are alleged to have taken bribes from a company being probed for Rs 3,500cr bank fraud

Deep discounts on domestic airfares make a comeback

Deep discounts on domestic airfares make a comeback

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai/ New Delhi:  15.01.2021

With the government cap on domestic airfares ending on March 31, airlines ticket sales are back with discounts on summer flights. While almost all Indian carriers have started deep discount advance booking schemes, UAE’s Etihad has come out with a fly-childrenfor-free with parents offer.

“Adults who book their next flight to Abu Dhabi or Dubai with Etihad can take their children (up to 11 years of age) for free. With every adult ticket booked before January 28 for travel, until September 30, up to two children will travel free. So, two adults can bring four children,” Etihad said in a statement.

On Thursday, return airfares on routes like Mumbai-Cochin for travel in April-May were available for Rs 4,500, while a Mumbai-Delhi return was priced at Rs 5,000. Return tickets on low supply-high demand flights like non-stops from Mumbai to Dehradun began at Rs 9,000. Among the cheapest return fares were those on Mumbai-Goa flights priced at Rs 3,750 on IndiGo.

Travel portal ixigo founder-CEO Aloke Bajpai said: “Airfare data for first two weeks of January show that there has been a 15-20% monthon-month decline in average airfares across key domestic routes. Vaccine roll-out and cheap fares will lead to a substantial increase in demand to travel by summer this year … With major airlines like Indi-Go, SpiceJet and Vistara running heavy sales, this is a good time for travellers to avail the best prices for their upcoming trips.”

Last week, Vistara had launched a sale, with the cheapest fare on offer priced at Rs 1,300. On Friday, IndiGo began a five-day special domestic sale which will end on January 17.

“It will offer customers allinclusive fares on domestic flights starting at Rs 877.

The sale is valid on travel from April 1 to September 30. Change or cancellation fee of Rs 500 will be applicable on bookings made during the sale,” said an IndiGo spokesperson.

The government had enforced a price cap on airfares in May 2020

Bhopal shivers in Sankranti chill, min temp drops to 7.8°

Bhopal shivers in Sankranti chill, min temp drops to 7.8°

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal: 15.01.2021

Winter is here to stay, the weather office on Thursday, warning against cold waves and ground frost in several places of Madhya Pradesh.

The night temperature continued to remain below the normal mark in Bhopal and other parts of the state on Thursday.

Officials of the meteorological department, Bhopal circle said, there is no system over moisture incursion over the state.

Prevailing cold weather would continue for a few more days, though there could be minor variation in the temperatures.

Day temperature in Bhopal on Thursday was recorded at 25.5 degrees Celsius, a degree more than normal mark, while night temperature in the city was recorded at 7.8 degrees Celsius, three degrees less than normal mark.

Wind direction in the city was north easterly while average wind speed was ten kilometres per hour.

Umaria was coldest at 2 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Over 12 places in the state recorded night temperature between 2 degrees to 5 degrees Celsius. Cold wave swept Gwalior, Umaria, Naogaon, Datia, Ratlam, Khajuraho, Jabalpur, Rewa, Satna and Seoni.

In the forecast for Bhopal on Friday the meteorological officials said, there would be clear sky and dry weather would prevail in the city. Day and night temperature would be respectively at 25 degrees Celsius and 9 degrees Celsius while average wind speed will be 12 kmph In forecast for the state, meteorological officials issued a warning of cold waves for Gwalior, Datia, Ratlam, Chhatarpur, Rewa, Satna, Umaria, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Seoni and Balaghat districts.

While weatherman warned ground frost for Umaria, Shahdol, Gwalior, Datia and Chhatarpur districts, the officials added.

Shopkeepers warm themselves in front of a fire in New Market

AIIMS to resume normal services

AIIMS to resume normal services

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal: 15.01.2021

After curtailment of hospital services during the pandemic, AIIMS Bhopal has decided to resume all services as normal, said institute director, Dr Sarman Singh. Critical care Covid-19 treatment will continue in the hospital.

When the pandemic hit the city in March, the hospital was optimised to make available inpatient beds for hospitalisation of seriously-ill Covid-19 patients. “AIIMS Delhi has resumed regular services. We are doing the same,” said Dr Singh.

The resumption of normal services would come as a relief for many, as several interventions have been deferred during the pandemic. “We have performed extremely well in caring for Covid-19 patients. Other hospital services have been on-going in a limited way. It would be further regularised. Online services and appointments would soon be revoked. Non-Covid-19 services would be enhanced,” said AIIMS hospital, medical superintendent, Dr Manisha Shrivastava.

Around 3,000 critical Covid-19 patients have been treated at the hospital. Without regular services on offer during the pandemic, the hospital has been catering to an OPD of more than 1,000 patients. It is now expected to touch 2,500 OPD cases per day. Surgical services for other ailments are also returning to normal. As for Covid-19 services, 40 ICU beds have been reserved . It would include paediatric age Covid-19 care. Besides, 90 general beds would be for general Covid-19 patients. Asymptomatic and those Covid-19 patients who are not in need for oxygen support would be referred to other care centres.

AIIMS helpdesk

An information helpdesk for patients admitted to AIIMS Bhopal has been initiated. It is a public friendly initiative to inform, assist and guide the relatives of admitted patients in Covid as well non-Covid wards and ICUs of the hospital. This desk will function round-the-clock. It will serve as a nodal centre for communication and coordination of information regarding patient care services between departments, patient care areas, patients’ attendants /relatives and the administration. The desk helpline numbers are (0755) 2982607, 2985569.