HC acquits man for want of proof in teen rape case

HC acquits man for want of proof in teen rape case

Cannot Convict Accused Under Pocso Act Based On Mere Allegations: Nagpur Bench

Vaibhav.Ganjapure@timesgroup.com

Nagpur:  04.02.2021

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court has acquitted a 27-year-old man convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl multiple times over two months, citing the prosecution’s failure to produce conclusive evidence of sexual assault and its link to the survivor’s subsequent pregnancy.

“Except the survivor’s statement with regard to sexual intercourse at the house of the accused’s sister, there’s absolutely nothing supporting the prosecution’s contention of rape. Only on the basis of allegations about sexual intercourse on many occasions, it would be highly irrational to convict the accused of rape and sentence him to 10 years’ imprisonment,” Justice Pushpa Ganediwala ruled.

According to the judge, a survivor’s testimony alone was sufficient for conviction, provided it “inspires confidence” in the court.

“Given the facts and circumstances, this court is of the opinion that the prosecution couldn’t establish beyond reasonable doubt the offence of rape against the accused,” Justice Ganediwala said.

The Hinganghat sessions court in Maharashtra’s Wardha district had convicted and sentenced petitioner Jageshwar Kawle under Section 376(2)(n) of the IPC (repeated rape) and sections 5 and 6 of the Pocso Act (aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor). It pronounced the sentence on November 12, 2019.

The Pocso Act defines statutory rape as any sexual act with an unmarried girl under 18, regardless of whether it was consensual.

Full report on www.toi.in

Schoolgirl gang-raped by nine in C’garh

Raipur:

A 16-year-old girl was gang-raped by nine youths in a jungle while returning from her school in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district on Tuesday. She had gone to school with a male friend to submit an assignment, police said. On the way back, they had stopped to eat their tiffin when nine youths from neighbouring villages accosted them.

According to the survivor’s complaint, the group began questioning them, rebuked them for being out together and demanded to know their addresses and other personal details.

The gang thrashed the boy, accused him of luring a girl out with ‘wrong intentions’ and drove him away. No one was around to hear the girl’s screams for help. The group dragged her into a forest where they took turns to rape her and abandoned her there, the survivor said. She somehow managed to return home late in the evening and told her parents, who immediately took her to police. An FIR was registered under Pocso Act and police nabbed two of the accused. The others are on the run. Some of the accused are minors, said police. TNN

Time will tell who should apologise, says Dhinakaran

Time will tell who should apologise, says Dhinakaran

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:04.02.2021

Time would tell who committed the mistake and who should apologise, said AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran on Wednesday during a media interaction in Madurai.

He announced that his aunt V K Sasikala would return to Chennai from Bengaluru on February 7 by road to a grand reception enroute. “Time will tell who indulged in wrongs, who should seek an apology and who should be pardoned," Dhinakaran said, reacting to the AIADMK deputy organiser K P Munusamy's recent remark that the party would consider reinducting Dinakaran if he accepted his mistake and tendered an apology.

Dhinakaran said his aunt told him she was recovering well in Bengaluru and though there was a plan to visit memorials of late leaders, DMK founder C N Annadurai, AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, “Amma's memorial has been closed”.

The AMMK leader said, “I don’t know with what intention the government shut down the memorial. It shows the quality of those who did it. Will hiding the (groom’s) comb stop the wedding? She (Sasikala) will go to the memorial another day after she returns to Chennai,” he said, adding they would be taught a lesson in the assembly election.

"I know how many chemical changes are happening in Tamil Nadu as soon as the news of her release broke," TTV said, reacting to the spree of expulsions of AIADMK functionaries for “anti-party activities” or display of support for Sasikala by way of posters hailing her.

Dhinakaran said Sasikala would start from Bengaluru to Chennai at 9 am on February 7. Lakhs of Amma (Jayalalithaa) loyalists would greet her from the inter-state border near Hosur right up to her T Nagar house in Chennai. He said, “Amma’s government will come to power and Sasikala will play an important role in it.” Dinakaran appealed to Jayalalithaa loyalists and AMMK cadres to maintain discipline while welcoming Sasikala.

Asked if Sasikala would go to the AIADMK headquarters and convene the general council meeting, he said, “Let there be some suspense. It would be more appropriate if she says it.”

‘Govt closed Jaya memorial to keep Sasi from visiting’

‘Govt closed Jaya memorial to keep Sasi from visiting’

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.02.2021

DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday said the AIADMK government had closed Jayalalithaa’s memorial on the Marina, immediately after its inauguration, fearing that her erstwhile confidante V K Sasikala would visit the place and draw political mileage out of it by taking yet another pledge as she did before her imprisonment four years ago.

Calling Sasikala a “talented” woman, Udhayanidhi said chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who was handpicked by Sasikala to be the CM, and his deputy O Panneerselvam had inaugurated Jayalalithaa memorial on the day of Sasikala’s release from prison to divert media attention from her return to Tamil Nadu. “She outsmarted them by delaying her return to Tamil Nadu,” said Udhayanidhi while speaking at a public meeting in Kancheepuram.

EPS and OPS have closed the memorial now to prevent Sasikala from visiting the place, he said. Sasikala would give back to EPS in style for the betrayal he has meted out to her, said Udhayanidhi. Panneerselvam, who raised doubts about the death of Jayalalithaa, would face music too, he said.

The AIADMK leaders would be taught a fitting lesson by the people of the state in the coming assembly polls, he said. He kickstarted the ‘Vidiyalai Nokki Stalinin Koral’ campaign from the party founder and former CM C N Annadurai’s memorial. Before the campaign started, he, along with hundreds of party cadres, took out a silent rally in Kancheepuram town to mark the death anniversary of Annadurai.

Expressing confidence that the people of the state would replicate the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Udhayanidhi said Stalin had set his target on winning 200 seats in the assembly. The ruling AIADMK had become a slave of the Modi government at the Centre, he said. He cited implementation of NEET as an instance to buttress his point. Once in power, Stalin would get exemption for Tamil Nadu students from NEET, he said.

Study doc deaths due to Covid: IMA to Centre

UNDERREPORTED

Study doc deaths due to Covid: IMA to Centre

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  04.02.2021

“Shocked” by the underreporting of doctors’ deaths caused by Covid-19, the Indian Medical Association has urged the Centre to form a high-power committee to study data on doctors who succumbed to the viral infection in the past one year.

While the Centre announced that 162 doctors died of Covid-19, the association has released its database containing names of 744 doctors. In a letter to minister of state for health and family welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey, IMA president Dr J A Jayalal condemned the Centre’s apathy in releasing data and

delaying solatium to “martyrs’ families.

On Tuesday, the minister in a reply to a question from Kerala MP Binoy Viswam (CPI) told the Rajya Sabha that 162 doctors, 107 nurses and 44 ASHA workers had died of the viral infection.

While this data was based on intimation received from states on healthcare staff as per Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package insurance scheme, the Indian Medical Association had presented data stating 734 doctors, including 89 from Tamil Nadu, had lost their lives due to Covid-19 in the last one year.

“Of these, 431 are general practitioners across India, who were the first point of contact for the people. At least 25 of these doctors are below 35 years of age,” he said.

In his letter, Dr Jayalal said in the devastating pandemic, the frontline warriors of modern medicine had fought with altruism and in the bargain lost their lives but the roll of honour or the appropriate data on these fatalities had not been documented by the Centre.

Being in locked house not proof of affair: Court

Being in locked house not proof of affair: Court

Chennai:04.02.2021

An illicit sexual relationship cannot be presumed merely because a man and woman were found inside a locked house, the Madras high court has said.

“Presence of two individuals of opposite sex inside a locked house need not necessarily lead to a presumption that they were in an immoral relationship. This kind of presumption prevailing in society cannot be the basis for initiating disciplinary action and inflicting punishment,” Justice R Suresh Kumar said. He made the observation while quashing the termination of service of an armed reserve police constable on the ground of ‘moral turpitude’, because he was found inside a locked house along with a woman constable.

On October 10, 1998, a woman constable entered the residential quarters of constable K Saravana Babu and the door was found locked from inside when neighbours knocked. According to Saravanan, the woman constable had come to his home around 7.30pm asking for keys of her house located close by. While they were talking, someone locked the door from outside and then pretended to knock on it, he added. The judge pointed to statements of witnesses which said the door was locked from outside too. “There was absolutely no eyewitness or any other concrete evidence to prove that the two constables were found in a compromising position. Based on suspicion and conjectures, one cannot conclude that unlawful or immoral activities had taken place,” the judge said, quashing the termination of Babu. TNN

Man kills ex-colleague over loss of job

Man kills ex-colleague over loss of job

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.02.2021

Police on Wednesday arrested a 44-year-old man in connection with the murder of his former colleague at Peerkankaranai two days ago.

On Saturday, police found the body of a man identified as Johnrajasingh, 68, of Mangadu. The victim, who was a cashier at an iron ore manufacturing company at Annanur, had multiple injuries.

Police said the accused, Kovilraj, was also employed at the same firm. Kovilraj seemed uninterested in the work and would often dodge any project that came his way, an investigating officer said. This behaviour irked his colleagues, who complained about him to Johnrajasingh. When joining duty, Kovilraj had informed Johnrajasingh that he was sacked from his previous job at a firm in Hosur for being lazy. He had also been warned by employers at his other workplaces.

Irked over Kovilraj’s irresponsible ways, Johnrajasingh complained about him to the owner and Kovilraj was fired. Police said Kovilraj had been furious with Johnrajasingh ever since. On Saturday night, when the victim was heading home, Kovilraj intercepted him. He told Johnrajasingh that it had been difficult for him to make ends meet without a job and asked the victim to drop him at Perungalathur bus stop so he could leave Chennai for his native village in Tuticorin district. On the way to the bus stop, Kovilraj suggested a pitstop at a Tasmac shop in Tambaram. The two bought some alcohol and got drunk near a lake in Peerkankaranai.

Kovilraj picked up a fight with Johnrajasingh and stabbed him to death. He escaped with the victim’s bike. Police, after recovering the body, launched a search for the victim’s bike and caught the accused. Kovilraj was booked under murder charges and a court sent him to jail.

Irked over Kovilraj’s irresponsible ways, Johnrajasingh complained about him to the owner and Kovilraj was fired. A furious Kovilraj later stabbed Johnrajasingh to death

₹23L worth gold goes missing from bank locker

₹23L worth gold goes missing from bank locker

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 04.02.2021

A bag containing 58 sovereigns of gold worth around ₹23lakh has allegedly gone missing from the locker of a bank on Poonamallee High Road.

A case has been registered. Another bag containing 92 sovereigns of gold kept in the same locker was intact.

Srinivasan, of Ekattuthangal, told police that he had last seen his jewellery when he visited the bank in November last year. When he went to the bank on Tuesday and checked his locker he found one bag containing 85 sovereigns of gold missing. He immediately informed the bank officials. While Srinivasan has one key to the locker the bank has another. The locker can be opened only if they use both the keys together.

A businessman, Srinivasan lodged a complaint at the Guindy police station. A police team visited the bank and inquired with the bank officials. Police have asked them to share CCTV camera footage of the bank to further investigate the matter.

HC: Shame that AU suspended courses due to fund crunch

HC: Shame that AU suspended courses due to fund crunch

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.02.2021

It is shame on part of Anna University to suspend MTech (biotechnology) and MTech (computational biology) courses citing want of funds, observed the Madras high court on Wednesday.

“The courses may be sponsored by the Centre. If they are taking a stand to follow the reservation policy of the Centre in admission then the university should proceed further with the funds available with it,” Justice B Pugalendhi said.

The courses sponsored by the central government were suspended as the Centre insisted on 49.5% communal reservation in admissions, and not 69% reservation followed in Tamil Nadu. In case of lack of funds, the state government can also consider stepping in, the judge added.

Recording the submission of counsel for the AICTE that the courses are in existence for over two decades and that only 49.5% reservation was being followed all along, the court wondered as to why the university had grievance this year alone. The court then adjourned the hearing to February 8 for counsel for Tamil Nadu government to get instructions.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by R Chitra, a student of the university, challenging the decision to suspend the courses for the current academic year. When the plea came up for hearing, advocate Vijaya Kumar, representing the university, submitted that till last year the entire admission to the courses were made by the central government through the department of biotechnology.

“But this year, they have sent a merit list and asked us (university) to do the selection and the admission. Therefore, we wrote to the state government to clarify as to the reservation to be followed. The state instructed the university to follow 69% reservation but the AICTE insisted following 49.5% reservation. So, we decided to suspend the courses till the issue is settled,” Vijaya Kumar said.

Representing the Tamil Nadu government, special government pleader E Manoharan sought time to get instructions from the state. “We do not want to stop any good courses”, he said.

According to the petitioner, the central government’s insistence that the university follow only 49.5% reservation and not the state’s 69% quota policy in admission is arbitrary.

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Instead of polio drops, 12 kids given sanitizer in Maharashtra

Instead of polio drops, 12 kids given sanitizer in Maharashtra

TNN | Feb 2, 2021, 04.31 AM IST

NAGPUR: The callous approach of health workers deployed at a polio booth in Yavatmal district saw 12 children under the age of five years being administered sanitizer instead of polio drops on Sunday.

The children, who are from Kapsi Kopri village in Ghatanji tehsil of the district, started vomiting and showing symptoms of uneasiness after being given sanitizer drops. All were brought to the paediatric ward of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Yavatmal. Doctors told TOI that the condition of the children is stable and that they continue to be under observation.

Parents of the children alleged that the health workers at the booth were reluctant to shift them to GMCH and tried to cover up the issue. But they had to inform their seniors after three of the kids started continuously vomiting.

Purushottam Meshram, whose sons Ansh and Harsh were among the 12 kids, said that initially the health workers were casual about the incident. “They called us back from home after some time and administered the polio dose to my children. But they did not reveal reason behind giving it again. We realized their mistake only when our children started vomiting,” he said.

When four of the 12 children started showing symptoms like vomiting and dizziness, the on-duty officials admitted them to the local public health centre (PHC). But, following some pressure by sarpanch Yuvraj Marape and other villagers, they started the process to shift the children to Yavatmal. Finally, all kids were shifted to GMCH shortly after Sunday midnight.

Yavatmal’s district collector M Devender Singh spoke to parents of the affected children at the GMCH. As PHCs come under zilla parishad, ZP CEO Shrikrishna Panchal was asked to conduct an enquiry. Panchal told TOI on Monday evening that health workers deployed at booth would be suspended.

“I received a preliminary inquiry report from the district health officer (DHO) in which he has held that a community health officer, Asha worker and an anganwadi sevika guilty of negligence. They will be suspended immediately and further action will be taken after the probe,” said Panchal adding that the on-duty officials did not inform seniors till late Sunday night.

District guardian minister Sanjay Rathod said from Mumbai that he has asked the ZP CEO to inquire into the issue and take action against the concerned employees.

69 சதவீத இடஒதுக்கீடு தமிழக அரசுக்கு 'நோட்டீஸ்'

69 சதவீத இடஒதுக்கீடு தமிழக அரசுக்கு 'நோட்டீஸ்'

Added : பிப் 02, 2021 21:39

புதுடில்லி:தமிழகத்தில், கல்வி நிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் அரசுப் பணிகளில், 69 சதவீத இடஒதுக்கீடு வழங்கப்படுவதற்கு, இடைக்கால தடை விதிக்க கோரிய வழக்கில், தமிழக அரசு பதில் அளிக்கும்படி, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த, சி.வி.காயத்திரி என்பவர், உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் தாக்கல் செய்துள்ள மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது:தமிழகத்தில், கல்வி நிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் அரசுப் பணிகளில், 69 சதவீத இடஒதுக்கீடு வழங்கப்படுகிறது.இவை, பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினருக்கு, 30 சதவீதம், மிகவும் பிறப்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினருக்கு, 20 சதவீதம், தாழ்த்தப்பட்டோருக்கு, 18 சதவீதம், பழங்குடியினருக்கு, 1 சதவீதம் என்ற அடிப்படையில் பகிர்ந்து அளிக்கப்படுகின்றன.

கர்நாடகாவைச் சேர்ந்த, பாலாஜி என்பவரது வழக்கில், கல்வி நிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் மாநில அரசு பணிகளில் வழங்கப்படும் இடஒதுக்கீடு, 50 சதவீத உச்சவரம்பை தாண்டக் கூடாது என, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம், ஏற்கனவே உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்துள்ளது. இதன் அடிப்படையில், தமிழகத்தில் வழங்கப்படும், 69 சதவீத இடஒதுக்கீடு முறைக்கு, இடைக்கால தடை விதிக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டிருந்தது.

இந்த வழக்கு, நீதிபதிகள் அசோக் பூஷண், சுபாஷ் ரெட்டி ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய அமர்வு முன், விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.அப்போது, இந்த மனு தொடர்பாக, இரண்டு வாரங்களுக்குள் பதில் அளிக்கும்படி, தமிழக அரசுக்கு 'நோட்டீஸ்' அனுப்ப, நீதிபதிகள் உத்தரவிட்டனர்.

வீடு கட்ட கடன் தொகை உயர்த்தி அரசு அறிவிப்பு

வீடு கட்ட கடன் தொகை உயர்த்தி அரசு அறிவிப்பு

Updated : பிப் 03, 2021 06:44 | Added : பிப் 02, 2021 23:12

சென்னை:அரசு ஊழியர்கள் வீடு கட்ட, கட்டிய வீடு வாங்க, தற்போது வழங்கப்பட்டு வந்த கடன் உச்சவரம்பு உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அகில இந்திய பணியில் உள்ள அலுவலர்களுக்கு, வீடு கட்ட வழங்கப்பட்ட, 25 லட்சம் ரூபாய் கடன் தொகை, 2012ம் ஆண்டில், 40 லட்சம் ரூபாயாக உயர்த்தப்பட்டது. மாநில அரசு பணியில் உள்ள ஊழியர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்ட, 15 லட்சம் ரூபாய், 25 லட்சம் ரூபாயாக, உயர்த்தப்பட்டது.

கடந்த எட்டு ஆண்டுகளில், விலைவாசி, 60 சதவீதம் உயர்ந்துள்ளது. எனவே, கடன் தொகையை உயர்த்தி வழங்க வேண்டும் என, அரசு ஊழியர்கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்தனர். அதையடுத்து, கட்டிய வீடு வாங்க, நிலம் வாங்கி வீடு கட்ட, அகில இந்திய பணியில் உள்ளவர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்படும், 40 லட்சம் ரூபாய், 60 லட்சம் ரூபாயாகவும், மாநில அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்படும், 25 லட்சம் ரூபாய், 40 லட்சம் ரூபாயாகவும் உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கான அரசாணை, நேற்று வெளியிடப்பட்டது.

தமிழகத்தில் கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி செலுத்த 195 தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு அனுமதி

தமிழகத்தில் கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி செலுத்த 195 தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு அனுமதி

Added : பிப் 02, 2021 15:08 

சென்னை: தமிழகத்தில் கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி செலுத்த 195 தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதில் சென்னையில் மட்டும் 34 மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு அனுமதியளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தியாவில் கொரோனா தொற்று பரவலை தடுக்கும் வகையில் கடந்த ஜனவரி 16ம் தேதி முதல் கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி போடப்பட்டு வருகிறது. முதற்கட்டமாக முன் களப்பணியாளர்களுக்கு கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

இதுவரை இந்தியாவில் 39,50,156 பேருக்கு கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் 6,866 பேர் (கோவிஷீல்டு - 6,734, கோவாக்சின் - 132) தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக்கொண்டுள்ளனர். மேலும், தமிழகத்தை பொறுத்தவரை இதுவரை கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொண்டவர்களுக்கு எந்த தொற்றும் ஏற்படவில்லை என சுகாதாரத்துறை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

இந்நிலையில், தமிழகத்தில் 195 தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி வழங்கிட அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதில் சென்னையில் 34 தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 150க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பணியாளர்களை கொண்ட தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு அனுமதி அளிக்கப்படுவதாகவும், அரசின் வழிகாட்டு நெறிமுறைகளை பின்பற்றி மருத்துவமனைகள் செயல்பட வேண்டும் என்றும் அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளில் முன்களப்பணியாளர்கள் மட்டும் இலவசமாக தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ளலாம்.

GU syndicate meeting today

GU syndicate meeting today

03.02.2021

Ahmedabad:

The Gujarat University has decided to call its syndicate and academic council meeting on Wednesday. The meetings will take place online. As the term of syndicate members is nearing an end, it is expected some important issues wil be discussed. The meetings will take online when all the colleges have opened classroom teaching. TNN

Man marries another woman, wife files complaint

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Man marries another woman, wife files complaint

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:03.02.2021

A 53-year-old woman from Khanpur filed a complaint of domestic violence against her husband after he allegedly married another woman and threatened to kick her as well as her sons out of their transport business.

The woman, who runs a transport business in Bareja, filed the complaint with Shahpur police on Monday.

The FIR stated, “She married the accused in 1992, but he began harassing her since 2007."

She alleged that her husband began a relationship with another woman and used to pick up fights with her over frivolous issues so that she would leave him. She told police that her husband began thrashing her and often told her that he wanted to divorce her.

Police states, “In August 2019, he married another woman and began staying with her. The complainant found out about this after a month. When she raised an objection, he told her to leave the house. When she reminded him that she had been running the business on her own and they were staying at her father’s home, her husband went to live with his second wife.”

The complainant then began living with her two sons. She told police that when she asked her husband for some money ahead of her daughter-in-law’s delivery in November 2020, he refused and threatened to remove her and her sons from the business. Following this, she approached Shahpur police and filed a complaint of domestic violence against him.

Explain appointment of IITE’s VC, says HC

Explain appointment of IITE’s VC, says HC

Ahmedabad:03.02.2021

The Gujarat high court has directed the Indian Institute of Teacher Education, Gandhinagar to file an affidavit explaining that the procedure adopted in selection and appointment of Dr Harshadkumar Patel as its vice-chancellor was proper.

Petitioner Amit Valand has challenged Patel’s appointment and petitioner’s advocate Sandip Munjyasara submitted that Patel did not hold adequate experience for appointment on the top post of the institute. He also submitted that the process of selection was not duly followed.

The government pleader rebutted all the contentions and maintained that Patel was holding adequate qualifications and experience to be appointed as a VC. It was also submitted on part of the government that the selection process followed was proper. After hearing, Justice Biren Vaishnav said that since the petitioner has taken contention in writing, the institute should also satisfy the court that the procedure adopted in the selection and appointment of the VC was in accordance with the law.

Further hearing has been posted on February 17. TNN

Education should not be affected: HC

Education should not be affected: HC

Fees Should Not Compel Parents To Stop Kids’ Education: Court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:03.02.2021

The Gujarat high court has asserted that children’s education must not suffer due to the inability of their parents to pay fees and “education is something which should never be compromised”.

The bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice J B Pardiwala disposed of the suo motu PIL the high court had initiated on the basis of a news report on a survey conducted by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and UNICEF, Gujarat. It reflected the hardships faced by poor parents during the lockdown period.

The bench reminded the state government “to ensure that the inability to pay fees should not compel parents to stop providing education to their children. This is the worst that can happen to any family. It is possible that help rendered by the government may not have reached a few families. This is what the survey talks about. The government should pay due attention to such cases and try to render assistance in all possible manners. Education is something which should never be compromised”.

The HC accepted the explanation submitted by the state government on how the families of students in government and aided schools were supported during the lockdown. It also said that “by accepting the report of the state government and closing this litigation, we do not want to convey that the survey carried out by the IIM-A and the UNICEF, Gujarat, was not correct”. The HC appreciated the survey. It revealed that despite a flat 25% cut in fees, parents were not aware of any such benefits and very few received foodgrain under the mid-day meal scheme. The court said the state government “seems to have put in strenuous efforts to ease the hardships of various families during the period of lockdown”. The HC recalled its observation made earlier while exhorting the government and society to join in relief efforts during the pandemic, “crisis does not build character, it reveals it”.

CBSE board exams to start May 4, end June 11

CBSE board exams to start May 4, end June 11

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

03.02.2021

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examinations for classes X and XII will begin from May 4 this year — later than usual because of the pandemic — it was announced on Tuesday. The Class XII tests, which end on June 11, will be held in two shifts — 10:30 am to 1:30pm and 2:30pm to 5.30pm — in a bid to shorten the entire schedule.

Some students and parents are worried Class XII biology exam is slotted on May 24, the same day JEE Main is beginning. “I will raise the issue with board officials,” a parent said.

A total of 111 subject examinations will be conducted for Class XII, which will be conducted in two shifts. “In the second shift, examinations of subjects which are not offered by the school abroad will be conducted,” according to a statement issued by the board.

13.5 lakh students registered for Class XII board exams

The staff employed in the morning shift will not be given invigilation duty in the second.

“In 2020, the examination schedule lasted 45 days. This year, it spans 39 days,” the board said.

A total of 13.5 lakh students are registered for Class XII exams; last year, the figure was slightly above 12 lakh. For Class X, in which examination for 75 subjects will be held, 20.5 lakh students have registered. Last year, the figure was 18 lakh.

“The date sheet has also been prepared in such a manner that on any day the total number of students in an examination centre is not huge. This will help staff in all centres strictly follow Covid-19 safety norms” the board said.

For this batch of students, the syllabus has been reduced by 30% and changes made in the question pattern.

The Election Commission has been informed about the date sheet so that there is no clash with a raft of assembly elections scheduled in summer, a CBSE official said.

For this batch of students, the syllabus has been reduced by 30% and changes made in the question pattern

Having old vehicles can now be expensive affair

Having old vehicles can now be expensive affair

Dipak.Dash@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.02.2021

Holding on to 15-year-old vehicles will become an expensive affair once the voluntary vehicle scrapping policy is rolled out from next year. While the cost for getting a fitness certificate for such commercial vehicles will go up by up to 62 times, the fee for renewal of registration of private vehicles will increase by up to eight times. Moreover, states will impose green tax over and above the road tax that every vehicle owner needs to pay.

The road transport and highways ministry will announce the scrapping policy in the next two weeks. Sources said the fitness certificate fee for commercial vehicles that are more than 15 years would increase from the current Rs 200 to approximately Rs 7,500 for cabs and nearly Rs 12,500 for trucks. As per the motor vehicle law, renewal of fitness certificate is mandatory annually once it’s more than eight years old. “These hiked fees will kick in once such vehicles are of 15 years. Paying such a high charge every year will discourage people to keep their old vehicles,” said a source. On top of this, states can levy a green tax, which can be 10-25% of the annual road tax. This will be in addition to the normal road tax a vehicle owner pays.

Similarly, in the case of 15-year plus private vehicles, the registration charge would go up for two-wheelers from the current Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 and it would increase from ₹600 to ₹5,000 for cars. The states can levy green tax on such vehicles for five years, which would be in addition to the road tax. “All private vehicles need to renew registration after 15 years and subsequently every five year. This is expected to work as a disincentive for vehicle owners,” the source said. In both the cases, vehicles failing in the automatic fitness test will be deregistered from Vahan, the central database of vehicles.

Covid claims lives of 162 docs, 107 nurses

Covid claims lives of 162 docs, 107 nurses

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.02.2021

Covid-19 has claimed lives of 162 doctors, 107 nurses and 44 Asha workers in India till January 22, minister of state for health Ashwini Choubey told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday based on information received from the states on insurance claims under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package.

Given the vulnerability of health and front-line workers at the forefront of the Covid fight, the government has also prioritised this category for receiving vaccination. So far, over 40 lakh healthcare workers have received the first dose of the Covid vaccine in the country, whereas the Centre has asked states to start inoculating front-line workers from this week.

“The process of insurance disbursement has been de-centralised under the PMGKP insurance scheme. Accordingly, the verification of a person who is affected or died due to Covid-19 vests with the state government and central government authorities concerned,” Choubey said.

The central insurance scheme provides a comprehensive cover of ₹50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of patients suffering from Covid-19 infection and who are at risk of being impacted. It also includes accidental loss of life on account of contracting Covid-19.

The scheme also covers private hospital staff, volunteers, local urban bodies, contract daily wagers and outsourced staff requisitioned by states. The insurance provided is over and above any other cover being availed of by the beneficiary.

Pallavaram has toll free no. for plaints, but no feedback

Pallavaram has toll free no. for plaints, but no feedback

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.02.2021

Residents of areas under Pallavaram municipality have been given a toll free number they can call to complain about civic problems but they have no idea if anyone is taking action.

Official data shows that the municipality on the city’s southern fringes on GST Road, which comprises 80,000 households, outsourced operation of toll free number 18004251600 to a private firm, which acts as the consultant.

There are five public grievance operators and one supervisor in charge of ensuring complaints are taken from residents 24x7 in a system to maintain which the municipality pays ₹15 lakh annually.

Around 700 complaints are registered every month on the helpline but there is no feedback mechanism.

Social activist David Manohar on January 27 raised a complaint about aggressive stray dogs on Pillaiyar Koil Street. “I have no idea whether the issue has been resolved or not. When we call the number, they ask us to contact the municipality official,” he said.

A call to the number showed the process was exactly as Manohar said. The call centre executive gave the contact number of the sanitary inspector saying he would respond.

Pallavaram municipality commissioner C Mathivanan told TOI resolution of complaints depended on the issue.

“We got 248 complaints regarding street lights in January. A majority were regarding cables and were resolved within 48 hours,” he said.

However, complaints about water supply or a block in the main sewage line are more complex and could take up to 15 days to resolve, Mathivanan said.

The civic body was also in the process of collecting contact numbers of all households and linking them to their property tax numbers, so that they could be intimated when such issues were notified through the helpline, the commissioner added.

NEET fraud: Dentist, daughter get bail

NEET fraud: Dentist, daughter get bail

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.02.2021

The Madras high court on Tuesday granted bail to a dentist and his MBBS aspirant daughter, who were arrested for forging NEET score to secure admission. Justice V Bharathidasan granted the relief while allowing the bail applications moved by K Balachandran and his daughter B Deeksha.

Balachandran and Deeksha, natives of Paramakudi, had allegedly forged the NEET scorecard and the provisional rank list to secure a medical seat for Deeksha. The girl had scored only 27 marks in the test, but appeared for the counselling claiming to be another aspirant, who had scored 610 marks. They submitted fake documents to the selection committee of the Directorate of Medical Education to support their claim. However, the committee found that the documents were forged and filed a complaint with the Periamet police. Subsequently, the father-daughter duo failed to appear before the investigating officer despite repeated summons. On January 2, Balachandran was arrested from Bengaluru. When the bail applications came up for hearing, counsel for the petitioners submitted that Balachandran has been in jail for over 30 days now and even custodial inquiry of the duo was over. They further submitted to abide by any condition imposed by the court to enlarge them on bail. Recording the same, the court granted the relief and directed Balachandran to appear before the investigation officer daily till further orders.

Balachandran and Deeksha had allegedly forged the NEET scorecard and the provisional rank list to secure a medical seat for Deeksha. The girl appeared for the counselling claiming to be another aspirant

‘Rajini didn’t say he’s quitting politics forever’

‘Rajini didn’t say he’s quitting politics forever’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.02.2021

Actor Rajinikanth’s associate and Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam founder Tamilaruvi Manian on Tuesday said the actor could not enter electoral politics now, but has not said he would never enter politics. He has also not disbanded the Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM), Manian said in a statement. “If tomorrow Rajinikanth says he is entering politics, Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam will associate itself with him on his journey. If Rajinikanth does not enter politics also, it will continue to function as a sister organization,” Manian said.

Interestingly, this was the first statement Manian made after December 30, 2020, when he had announced that he was quitting politics forever and would never return until his death. His statement came a day after Rajinikanth expressed his inability to enter electoral politics by launching his own party on December 29, 2020. “Political forces are trying to wean away RMM functionaries. While some of them have joined other parties, several others are looking for sanctuaries like migratory birds. While I do not want to fish in troubled waters, the party’s general council will meet on March 7 in Tirupur,” Manian said.

DMK walks out of assembly, to boycott session

DMK walks out of assembly, to boycott session

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.02.2021

The DMK, the principal opposition, staged a walkout when governor Banwarilal Purohit started his address to the state assembly on Tuesday. The party was protesting against the governor’s inaction on the petition it had submitted listing out corruption charges against the ruling establishment. The party also questioned the governor’s inaction over a cabinet resolution urging the release of the seven convicts undergoing imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

“When the governor started his address, I drew his attention to the petition that we have submitted to him, listing corruption charges against the chief minister (Edappadi K Palaniswami), deputy chief minister (O Panneerselvam) and a few other ministers in the cabinet,” Stalin told reporters, at Kalaivanar Arangam, where the assembly session was held to ensure Covid protocols such as social distancing.

“He neither acted on our petition nor on the cabinet resolution seeking release of the convicts held in the Rajiv Gandhi case,” Stalin said. Instead of responding to the DMK’s questions, the governor referred to the central budget and the announcement of ₹1 lakh crore for the highways project, he said. “I have already termed the central budget a lollipop. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced setting up of AIIMS, Madurai in 2015. They enacted a drama of laying the foundation stone ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. But not even a brick has been moved there so far,” Stalin said. “Hence, we have decided to boycott the entire assembly session,” he added.

PMK founder S Ramadoss too felt the governor’s address did not have anything new to offer, other than praising the state government for its efforts during Covid-19 and attracting industrial investments. “Other than giving a telephone number ‘1100’ to enable people to address their grievances, there was nothing new in the address. I hope there will be new announcements at least in the reply to the governor’s address,” Ramadoss said. MDMK general secretary Vaiko said the governor’s address merely reflected the failures of AIADMK’s 10-year rule in the state.

IN PROTEST: DMK president M K Stalin outside the Kalaivanar Arangam, where the assembly session was held, on Tuesday

Sasikala posters: AIADMK expels 3 more partymen

Sasikala posters: AIADMK expels 3 more partymen

Padmini.Sivarajah@timesgroup.com

Madurai/Trichy:03.02.2021

On a day the ruling AIADMK expelled three more party functionaries for putting up posters welcoming former general secretary V K Sasikala from prison, fresh posters, in praise of her, surfaced in many parts of Madurai and Sivaganga.

One set of posters describing her as the “permanent general secretary of AIADMK” appeared in many parts of Madurai city with due credit to K Bhoominathan, Amma Peravai secretary of 8th Block. Madurai district MGR Mandram deputy secretary T Thirumaran, Veerapandi panchayat president V Sugapriya Vijaykumar and another AIADMK functionary, A Muthukumaran, were among others who also put up posters. They hailed her as the epitome of sacrifice.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the chief minister and deputy chief minister in their capacity as party organisers, expelled the Andipatti west union MGR youth wing president Pannai M Chinnaraja for putting up posters hailing Sasikala. In Trichy and Mayiladuthurai, the party expelled two more functionaries for activities against the principles of the party. They were former district panchayat vice-president of Thiruverumbur union, Arasangudi A N Saminathan, and minorities’ welfare wing secretary of Sembanarkovil north union in Mayiladuthurai district, A Qutubuddin.

Meanwhile, son of deputy chief minister Panneerselvam, Jeya Pradeep, who created a flutter last week when he tweeted for Sasikala’s health, clarified that he had only wished Sasikala well on humanitarian grounds.

(With inputs from R Gokul in Trichy)

FRESH TROUBLE: A poster praising Sasikala in Madurai on Tuesday

Scrapped MTech courses: HC tells Anna University to explain

Scrapped MTech courses: HC tells Anna University to explain

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.02.2021

The Madras high court on Tuesday made it clear that it would be constrained to stay the decision of Anna University in scrapping MTech Biotechnology and MTech Computational Biology programmes for the academic year 2020-21 if the university failed to give a proper explanation for arriving at the decision.

The courses have been scrapped due to a difference of opinion between the university and the AICTE in following reservation in admission.

Justice B Pugalendhi made the observation while adjourning the plea moved by R Chitra, a student of the university challenging the decision.

When the plea came up for hearing, counsel for the petitioner, Saravanan Annadurai, submitted that the decision to scrap the courses has to be stayed as it is against the interest of the students. However, the counsel representing the university sought time to get appropriate instruction from the university. “The university must give proper and appropriate explanation, or the court will be constrained to grant interim stay as sought by the petitioner,” the judge said and adjourned the hearing to February 3.

According to the petitioner, the central government’s insistence that the university follow only 49.5% reservation and not the state’s 69% quota policy in admission is arbitrary. “The entire infrastructure, resources, salaries of staff and the teaching faculty are all taken care of by the state government. The Centre through its department of biotechnology only provides Rs 12,000 for MTech Biotechnology and Rs 12,500 MTech Computational Biology as stipend. This will not give them any right to insist that only the reservation policy of the Centre should be followed,” she said.

Since the courses are sponsored by the central government, the AICTE wanted the university to follow the 49.5% reservation policy of the centre. But the state government has directed the university to follow 69% reservation. Due to this tug of war between two agenciesour future is at stake, the petitioner said.

Fill backlogs in reserved vacancies: UGC to univs

Fill backlogs in reserved vacancies: UGC to univs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:3.2.2021

The University Grants Commission (UGC) asked the central, state and deemed universities and grant-in-aid institutions to fill up backlogs in reserved vacancies in teaching and non-teaching posts.

"All centrally funded universities, colleges and institutions are required to ensure strict compliance of government of India orders/rules on the reservation in their institutions. State universities including its affiliated, constituent colleges and other institutes functioning within the state should follow the percentage reservation for OBCs, SC/ST as prescribed by the concerned state government," UGC's joint secretary G S Chauhan said in a letter to the registrars of all universities on Monday.

The letter also asked the institutions to display the reservation roster which is to be updated at regular intervals on the website. The registrars also asked to circulate the letters to all constituent and affiliated colleges of the concerned universities.

Income-Tax Slabs Remain Unchanged; Relief For Senior Citizens Above 75 Years : Budget 2021 Highlights

Income-Tax Slabs Remain Unchanged; Relief For Senior Citizens Above 75 Years : Budget 2021 Highlights: The UnionFinance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman today presented the Budget for financialyear 2021

Madras High Court Allows Subordinate Courts In Tamil Nadu, Puducherry To Function In Full Capacity With No Limitations/Restrictions From Feb 8

Madras High Court Allows Subordinate Courts In Tamil Nadu, Puducherry To Function In Full Capacity With No Limitations/Restrictions From Feb 8: The Madras High Court, in an Official Memorandum issued on Monday (01st February), has allowed the Subordinate Courts (in the State of Tamil Nadu and UT of Puducherry) to work in full capacity ...

Rs 63k crore alloted for Chennai Metro Phase-2

Rs 63k crore alloted for Chennai Metro Phase-2

This announcement by Centre has come as Phase-2 Metro rail construction works are underway.

Published: 02nd February 2021 03:44 AM 

By Omjasvin MD

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the 118.9-km Phase 2 Metro stretch in Chennai, the Centre has announced funding of Rs 63,246 crore for the project. This announcement by Centre has come as Phase-2 Metro rail construction works are underway. The stretch will have both elevated and underground lines along Madhavaram-SIPCOT (Siruseri), Lighthouse-Poonamallee and Madhavaram-Sholinganallur. Officials said that once completed in 2026, this will be the longest metro rail stretch in the country, carrying close to 25 lakh passengers a day.

CMRL officials said that Larsen and Toubro is likely to take work orders for the 21-km stretch between Madhavaram and Tharamani. L&T has already received contracts to build stations for the 8-km stretch between Powerhouse and Porur. Officials said 23 tunnel boring machines are likely to be used for the project. It is also funded by various foreign banks such as JICA, ADB, AIIB and NDB. The 45.8 km-long Corridor 3 is from Madhavaram to SIPCOT and will have 50 Metro stations.

Fake degree: Key accused in custody

Fake degree: Key accused in custody

Accused Avinash Roy, 23, from Delhi, was arrested from Noida on Friday.

Published: 02nd February 2021 05:21 AM | Last Updated: 02nd February 2021 05:21 AM | A+A A-

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cybercrime police have arrested the ringleader of a racket engaged in the sale of fake course certificates after setting up bogus websites of Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan and 40 universities situated across the country. Accused Avinash Roy, 23, from Delhi, was arrested from Noida on Friday.

The Cyber police have been pursuing the accused after the Pareeksha Bhavan secretary lodged a complaint with the City police commissioner in this regard. More members of the racket re expected to be arrested in the coming days. A special team led by DySP Syamlal was formed to crack the case.

Tamil Nadu to withdraw cases against government employees who struck work in 2019

Tamil Nadu to withdraw cases against government employees who struck work in 2019

CM Edappadi Palaniswami said that department wise disciplinary proceedings were initiated against nearly 7,900 teachers and 408 cases booked against over 17,600 employees for taking part in protests.

Published: 01st February 2021 11:37 PM 

By PTI

CHENNAI: Cases filed against Tamil Nadu government employees, including teachers, for their January 2019 strike over various demands would be withdrawn in the spirit of "forget and forgive," Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Monday.

He said in a statement here that department wise disciplinary proceedings were also being withdrawn.

Various unions of government employees and teachers had embarked on an indefinete strike in January 2019, pressing for demands, including release of 21-month salary arrears in line with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, withdrawing the New Pension Scheme and addressing wage anomalies, he recalled.

He said that department wise disciplinary proceedings were initiated against nearly 7,900 teachers and 408 cases booked against over 17,600 employees for taking part in road blockade protests, among others. 'As many as 2,338 people were suspended, but reinstated later," he added.

However, he said that they had resumed work in about a week following his plea and had earlier requested him to drop all the action initiated against them, including the cases.

On Monday, members of a union met Fisheries and Personnel and Administrative Minister D Jayakumar and reiterated their demand, which he took up with Palaniswami. "The request was considered by the government, which is dropping all the pending action and criminal cases in the spirit of forget and forgive," the chief minister added.

Anna varsity student moves plea over scrapping of 2 courses

Anna varsity student moves plea over scrapping of 2 courses

Issue relates to differences in Union government’s insistence that the University follows only 49.5% reservation and not State’s 69% quota policy in admission

Published: 02nd February 2021 03:36 AM | Last Updated: 02nd February 2021 03:36 AM | A+A A-

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A student of the Anna University has moved the Madras High Court on Monday challenging the decision of the premier University to scrap Biotechnology and Computational Biology M. Tech programmes for the academic year 2020-21.

The issue relates to differences in Central government’s insistence that the University follows only 49.5 per cent reservation and not the State’s 69 per cent quota policy in admission. During the hearing, advocate Saravanan Annadurai, representing the petitioner, made a mention seeking urgent hearing of the plea before Justice B Pugalendi.

According to the petitioner, R Chitra, the courses have been scrapped due to a difference of opinion between the University and the AICTE in following reservation in admission. The decision to scrap the course for the current academic year has left all applicants in a dire and dicey situation, she contended.

The students who have prepared hard for the course and taken the GAT-B examination are left to grapple with an empty future. It will not be out of place to point out that after the advent of the Covid-19, the demand for these courses had gone up, the petitioner said.

The Department of Biotechnology has followed 49.5 per cent reservation in all India admissions till last year, because it is a Central-sponsored course. Anna University is believed to have sought clarification from the State government over the reservation policy to be followed in admissions to these two programmes, said the petitioner.

The State directed the University to follow 69 per cent reservation, for which the department, which funds these courses, refused, and resulted in scrapping of the courses, said the petitioner.The matter was posted to be taken up on Tuesday.

TAX REGIME YOU CAN CHOOSE OLD OR NEW

TAX REGIME YOU CAN CHOOSE OLD OR NEW

02.02.2021

With Budget 2021 leaving tax slabs unchanged and restricting incentives to ease of filing returns, it has become all the more important for taxpayers to re-examine the pros and cons of the new taxation system and the old one to make the most of their income.

Last year’s budget introduced the new concessional tax regime that offers an individual the option to choose lower tax rates in lieu of forgoing certain tax exemptions and deductions. These include standard deduction, exemption towards house rent allowance, LTA, house property loss and deduction towards provident fund contribution and life insurance premium.

The new regime prescribes tax rates ranging from 5% to 30% with the highest rate applicable for income of above 15 lakh. This option is beneficial in those cases where an individual has fewer exemptions and deductions to claim. As the accompanying graphic shows, the old regime is more beneficial for individuals with higher income levels and tax-saving investments qualifying for deductions or exemptions.

Each taxpayer would have to undertake fact-specific evaluation keeping in mind his/her income, various exemptions and investments to decide the right regime to opt for.

Given that the new tax regime was introduced last year, many taxpayers still have questions around the applicability/ benefits of the scheme. For starters, taxpayers can choose afresh from the options every year, provided there is no income from business or profession. You can intimate your employer if you want to opt for the new regime and the employer will deduct tax accordingly. The only bar is that once intimated to the employer, the option cannot be modified during the year. However you can change the option at the time of filing of tax returns.

Design: Sajeev Kumarapuram

AIIMS gets ₹310cr extra; others to get more funds too

AIIMS gets ₹310cr extra; others to get more funds too

02.02.2021

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:

All India Institute of Medical Sciences got a hike of over Rs 310 crore in the Union Budget 2021-22. The Centre approved an outlay of Rs 3,800 crore for the hospital in Monday's Budget when it had allotted Rs 3,490 crore last year.

The doctors at the hospital say the institution needed this hike to expand the infrastructure. “There is large-scale expansion of infrastructure taking place at AIIMS. An increased outlay will help complete that and transform the hospital for the better,” said a senior doctor. Recently, the hospital has started burns and plastic surgery facilities. Sources said the newly-constructed surgery and geriatric blocks would also get operational soon.

Apart from AIIMS, Centre has increased the Budget outlay of other major hospitals in Delhi too. Safdarjung has been allocated Rs 1,515 crore, an increase of Rs 227 crore from last year’s Rs 1,318 crore. Ram Manohar Lohia has been allocated Rs 950 crore.

The Budget outlay for Lady Hardinge Medical College and Sucheta Kriplani Hospital are Rs 600 crore and Rs 145 crore, respectively. In total, a Budget outlay of Rs 2,23,846 crore has been proposed for health and wellbeing in 2021-20, an increase of 137% over previous year, with Rs 35,000 crore earmarked for Covid-19 vaccine in the upcoming fiscal.

Poonam Khetrapal Singh, egional director, WHO South-East Asia, says one of the greatest lessons this pandemic has taught the world is that health needs to be a priority.

Safdarjung Hospital has been allocated ₹1,515 crore, an increase of ₹227 crore from last year’s ₹1,318 crore. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has been allocated ₹950 crore

HOUSE RENT HOW TO CASTLE FOR A CUT

HOUSE RENT HOW TO CASTLE FOR A CUT

02.02.2021

For those who have been eyeing a home for years, 2021 may be a good year to jump in. Home loan rates are down, as are property prices. States such as Maharashtra and Karnataka have also slashed stamp duties. The bonus is that you get tax breaks

TAX BENEFITS ON PRINCIPAL

Equated monthly instalments (EMIs) are typically divided into principal (the amount you took as loan) and interest (the cost of servicing the loan). The principal is allowed as a deduction from your gross total income (subject to an overall cap under section 80-C with other eligible investments of 1.5 lakh).

TAX BENEFITS ON INTEREST PAID

Interest payable on ‘self-occupied’ property is subject to a maximum deduction of 2 lakh under the head ‘Income from house property’. It can be set off against other heads of income, which includes salary income, in the same year.

This reduces your total tax liability. But to claim this, it is essential that the acquisition or construction is completed within 5 years from the end of the financial year in which the loan was taken; else the deduction will be limited to 30,000.

An additional tax deduction of up to 1.5 lakh has been introduced for interest on home loan taken during the period April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2022 for purchase of residential house with stamp duty value up to 45 lakh. However, the individual should not own any other residential property at the time of sanction of loan. If you still haven’t purchased your first home, do so at the earliest.

If you have rented out your property, the difference between the rent you get after adjustment of municipal taxes paid by you, standard deduction and the entire interest on housing loan is your ‘loss from house property’ which you can set off up to 2 lakh against your other income, say salary.

Deduction of interest on housing loan from a selfoccupied house property is not available under new ‘simplified’ personal income tax regime.

Loss under head House Property shall not be allowed to set off from any other head of income and cannot be carried forward under new ‘simplified’ personal income tax regime.

Please note that no notional rent will be added to the taxable income of your second self-occupied house property. Thus, if you don’t find a ready tenant you can keep it self-occupied. Also, do note that this leeway is available only for up to two houses

TAX RELIEF ON DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIRCLE AND MARKET RATES

The existing rule stipulated that the transaction value of the property purchased should not be less than the circle rate (stamp duty valuation) — but a variation of 10% was acceptable. If the stamp duty valuation rate was higher by 10% of the declared purchase value, then the difference was taxed as income in the hands of the buyer. For example, if you declared a purchase value of 60 lakh but the circle rate was 72 lakh, then, the difference of 12 lakh would be considered as deemed income in your hands and taxed accordingly. Last November, to boost the real estate sector, (under the Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 scheme), the variation threshold has been hiked to 20%, but it is only with respect to first time allotment of residential units. This benefit is available for purchase transactions of 2 crore or less from November 12, 2020 up to June 30, 2021.