Banks to stay shut for 4 days in March

Banks to stay shut for 4 days in March

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:10.02.2021 

If you have an account with a public sector bank, then avoid scheduling your banking activities between March 13 and March 16. Around 55,000 public sector bank employees from 18,000 branches from across Gujarat are planning to participate in the nationwide bank strike on March 15 and 16, according to the MahaGujarat Bank Employees’ Association.

With March 13 being a second Saturday and March 14 being a Sunday, banks are expected to remain shut over the weekend.

The United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella body of nine unions, has given a call for the two-day strike against the proposed privatization of twostate owned lenders.

In an UFBU meeting held in Hyderabad on Tuesday, various announcements made in the union budget regarding reform measures like privatization of IDBI Bank and two public sector banks, setting up a bad bank, disinvestment in LIC, privatization of one general insurance company, allowing FDI in insurance sector up to 74%, aggressive disinvestment and sale of public sector undertakings.

On February 19, a daylong dharna will be held by bank employees in all state capitals whereas relay demonstrations will be held from February 20 to March 10 across various towns and districts of Gujarat. According to bankers, the strike will bring transactions worth at least Rs 60,000 crore to a standstill.

Soil tests under way for proposed flyover at Camp Road and Madambakkam junctions

Soil tests under way for proposed flyover at Camp Road and Madambakkam junctions

The 3 km structure will ease congestion on stretches of the Velachery-Tambaram Road

10/02/2021

Preliminary task: Workers using a drill to extract samples for soil test on Velachery-Tambaram Road. Special Arrangement

Deepa H. Ramakrishnan CHENNAI

Soil tests are under way for the construction of a 3-km flyover that will permit the flow of traffic between Camp Road and Madambakkam junctions on Velachery-Tambaram Road.

“These are being conducted for the design requirement. It will help us to find the type of soil in locations and thereby decide the kind of foundation required for the construction,” explained a source in the Highways Department.

Similar soil tests were conducted for the construction of a bridge that would form the last leg of the Eastern Bypass that runs from GST Road. This 1-km bridge would run along the Rajakilpakkam Eri. “We are going for this option so that we need not land on the Velachery-Tambaram Road, which would require more land acquisition,” said an engineer associated with the project. The combined length of these two structures would be 4 km and both were being taken up as one composite project.

On the need for the flyover, another source said the road was a very busy one with each of these junctions witnessing over 15,000 passenger car units (PCU) during rush hour. “According to Indian Roads Congress guidelines, if the number touches 10,000 PCU, there is a requirement for a flyover. The Camp Road junction is very narrow and instead of just widening the location and making it into six lanes, we are constructing a flyover that will add four more lanes,” an official explained.

Even as the design for the structures is being done, the land plan schedule that would identify the ownership of the lands, is being readied for land acquisition.

M. Venkat, a resident of Rajakilpakkam, said the project would see the completion of the Eastern Bypass, which had been pending.

‘Stick to schedule’

“It will provide one more connecting corridor to GST Road. Also traffic movement slows down near Camp Road junction due to the width. The widening and construction of a flyover will help a lot. What is required is that the Highways Department must ensure the work is completed as per schedule,” he said.

The Velachery-Tambaram Road runs parallel to GST Road and connects hundreds of residential localities.

It also has two other flyovers that are under construction at Medavakkam junction and at Vijayanagar junction. The Medavakkam flyover is nearing completion.

UGC seeks Anna varsity’s response on violation of norms

UGC seeks Anna varsity’s response on violation of norms

‘Follow norms in faculty recruitment’

10/02/2021

The UGC has written to the Registrar of Anna University.

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought a response from Anna University on a complaint from an applicant for the post of assistant librarian.

The Commission has written to the Registrar of Anna University, advising him to follow the UGC norms in faculty recruitment and change the advertisement as per UGC regulations.

In a letter dated February 4, Supriya Dahiya, education officer, UGC, cited a letter received from one A.S. Puhazhenthi, who said the University had violated the UGC norms for recruitment for the post of assistant librarian.

‘Cannot be overlooked’

Ms. Dahiya, in her letter, cited Clause 4.7 of the UGC regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance for Standards in Higher Education Regulations, 2018, and said they are mandatory and “cannot be overlooked at any stage in any circumstances”

University officials, however, said the institution was governed by the All India Council for Technical Education guidelines. “The norms for the University are implemented through a Government of Tamil Nadu G.O. [government order]. In fact, while all universities implemented the revised UGC pay scales as per guidelines in 2019, we implemented it only three months ago. It was only in the beginning of 2020 that the State government issued the G.O. for the same,” said an official.

The University has technical positions that are considered as non-teaching cadres but the qualification requirement for such posts was higher, said J. Kumar, former Registrar.

“For example, a clerical assistant in Annamalai University may be appointed with just a degree. But in Anna University, we have special guidelines as per the nature of the institution. We would require the person to have knowledge of and certification in typewriting, and proficiency in working on the computer,” he said.

Tejas to stop in Dindigul from April 2

Tejas to stop in Dindigul from April 2

10/02/2021

Tejas Express (Chennai Egmore to Madurai) will stop at Dindigul Railway Station from April 2. According to DMK MLA I. Periasamy, following representations from commuters, Dindigul MP Velusami had appealed to the Railway Minister to consider the plea. The public had suggested that the train could stop at Dindigul instead of Kodaikanal Road junction as passengers had to alight at Kodaikanal Road junction and travel to Dindigul. So, the Railway Board had in a communication said from April 2, on an experimental basis, Tejas Express would stop at Dindigul in lieu of Kodaikanal Road junction.

Stating that he had been continuously demanding for the stoppage of Tejas Express at Dindigul, Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan has thanked the railway administration for heeding to his demand.

RTI info over 200+ pages? File another plea

RTI info over 200+ pages? File another plea

Banaskantha DDO Issues Circular Including ‘No Prejudice’ Clause

Paul John@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:10.02.2021

If you are in Banaskantha and the information you sought under RTI runs into more than 200 pages, you will have to file another application. You will also need to ensure that the public information officer does not “perceive” you are filing the plea to satisfy a grudge, or your RTI plea could be rejected.

These are just two of the fivepoint mantra issued by the Banaskantha district development officer that threatens to weaken the right of Gujarat’s citizens to know about government affairs. Coming on the heels of the Gujarat Information Commissioner’s controversial decision to impose a lifetime ban on a whistleblower from Amreli and ban three members of a family from filing RTI pleas for five years, these clauses in the circular have further alarmed RTI activists.

On February 2, Banaskantha DDO Ajay Dahiya issued a 27-point circular to all departments including five ‘controversial’ clauses that have raised eyebrows. These clauses bar the PIOs from parting with information if the PIO “deciphers” that the applicant, who has filed the plea, holds a grudge.

The circular also imposes a 200-page restriction. If an RTI applicant seeks copies of an officers’ property or tax returns, copies of charge sheets, show cause and warning notices, records related to conducting disciplinary action or annual confidential reports -- these will now be denied, too. For this, Dahiya has asked PIOs to rely on Supreme Court orders related to cases SLP 22609/2012 and SLP 27734/ 2012 to reject any such information sought under RTI Act. P 2

‘Attack on participatory democracy’

Bnaskantha DDO Ajay Dahiya's circular also stalled the transfer of an RTI application.

So, if information sought is not available with a particular department, the plea will not be transferred to the concerned department.

Instead, a fresh RTI application will have to be filed. “Our deputy DDO Harshad Makwana had prepared the circular with adequate legal citation. You may discuss with him for more details,” said DDO Dahiya who chose to stay away from commenting on the rationale behind including the controversial clauses. The DDO’s circular is an attack on participatory democracy, said Pankti Jog of Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel. “Information regarding misappropriation of social security scheme payments, food ration, farmers enquiring into farm disputes, can all be denied with this single circular,” Jog said.

New govt arts colleges reopen for1st yr students sans subject teachers

New govt arts colleges reopen for1st yr students sans subject teachers

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.02.2021 

After months of online classes, thousands of first year students finally entered college campuses for in-person classes on Monday. But for 2,000 students in 10 new government arts and science colleges, in-person classes began without subject teachers and in some cases without any furniture too.

Ramar, a BComm student in one of the colleges, said the institution just took attendance the first two days and no classes were held. After months of attending online classes at neighbouring colleges, Ramar, like many of his peers, was looking forward to in-person classes. “We thought that offline classes would be better than online classes, but the first two days were disappointing,” he said.

Pothum Ponnu, another student, said her college told students that teachers would be appointed by next Monday. “One faculty member gave orientation,” she said.

While students were able to still learn something with online classes, with reopening, these classes have come to a halt, a student said.

As of Tuesday, the six new colleges in Rishivandiyam in Villupuram district, Ranipet, Sankarankovil in Tenkasi district and Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district, Tharangambadi in Karur district and Kuthalam in Nagapattinam district have just one faculty member per college. The other colleges have two or three faculty members, a far cry from the allotted 17 teaching posts per college.

“I am the only faculty member in my college. I have to open the college and put out chairs for students and take attendance and give orientation. It was really difficult to manage more than 200 students all by myself,” said a faculty member in charge of one of the new colleges. The faculty member rented chairs for 10 days as there was no furniture in the college.

Some new colleges postponed semester exams expecting more faculty members. “But, there is no chance in terms of faculty members and infrastructure. We have to prepare the students for upcoming semester exams. The government can depute some faculty members or appoint guest lecturers to help rural students,” another faculty member said.

Sources in the higher education department said the directorate of collegiate education is in the process of transferring faculty members to the new colleges.

TN to wrap up1st dose for health staff by Feb 20

SHOT OF HOPE

TN to wrap up1st dose for health staff by Feb 20

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.02.2021

Healthcare providers, who have not taken the Covid-19 vaccine yet, will be asked to visit any government vaccine centres in alphabetic order as per their first name. Those who do not turn up will be moved to the “general category” on the CoWIN portal, the directorate of public health said.

Only 1.74 lakh healthcare providers have taken the vaccine though there are 5.5 lakh registrations. “We have directions from the Centre to complete vaccinations for healthcare providers by February 20 and start preparations for the second dose. The programme is voluntary but we cannot wait endlessly for people to shun their hesitancy,” said director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam.

Directions have been given to all district health authorities to vaccinate healthcare workers walking into any centre. “To restrict crowds, we are asking them to walk in according to alphabetical order. There will be two mop days on February 21 and 22 when all healthcare workers can walk in for the first dose. If they don’t, their names will be moved to the general public category,” he said.

On Tuesday, 7,436 healthcare workers, 1,480 frontline workers and 1,634 policemen took the vaccine, taking the day’s recipient tally to 10,550. The tally was higher compared to 8,619 the previous day.

Meanwhile, the state added 469 cases and four deaths to the state registry. There were 4,328 people still under treatment for the viral infection. While Chennai reported two deaths, its neighbours Chengalpet and Tiruvallur reported one death each.

339 vaccinated in Puducherry

The directorate of health and family welfare services administered vaccines to 317 healthcare and 32 frontline workers in Puducherry on Tuesday when 35 new cases and zero deaths were reported. With 37 recoveries, the number of active cases came down to 307. TNN

Pallavaram municipality is dumping raw sewage into lake again: Residents

Pallavaram municipality is dumping raw sewage into lake again: Residents

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.02.2021 

Even as a case is pending before the National Green Tribunal, activists of Kovilambakkam panchayat union caught on camera the Pallavaram municipality discharging raw untreated sewage into the Keelkatalai lake surplus channel from the Keelkatalai sewage pumping station.

Two large hoses were laid out for to transfer the raw sewage and the dumping has been on for more than a month, the union said, adding that a complaint has been registered with the CM cell and with concerned authorities. Putheri lake in Pallavaram municipality flows into the Keelkattalai lake and the channel then enters Kovilambakkam and ends at Pallikaranai.

“Openings have been made at several points along the canal to discharge sewage. We have taken photos, videos with GPS with date and time stamp and intend to submit to the NGT in the ongoing pollution case of the Kovilambakkam canal. We will demand compensation for the pollution as per the Supreme Court orders,” said J Sankar, coordinator of Federation of Sunnambu Kolathur Residents Welfare Associations. “Despite no rainfall for more than a month, the canal is brimming due to huge sewage inflow from the municipality and it can be inspected at anytime. We demand immediate stoppage of this illegal act and penal action on the erring officials.”

Poor maintenance of pumps, failure of power backup facilities, pipeline breakage are the main reasons behind the dumping, residents said. The NGT had taken up the case suo moto after a TOI report in January and sought a report from the authorities. However, there was a delay in submission and the panel was asked to submit the report this month.

The Pallavaram municipality filed an affidavit saying that there was no discharge from the municipality. Municipality commissioner C Mathivanan told TOI that all 70,000 households have underground drainage connections. “There is no way any sewage is illegally being pumped. Moreover, if there is some sewage, it is the water that is overflowing through manholes and getting mixed with the storm water drain,” he said.

At Kovilambakkam panchayat, residents said there was no sewage discharge into the lake as they used septic tanks and soak pits. The PWD, which owns the canal, remains a mute spectator.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: A screengrab from a video shot by residents shows the discharge of raw sewage into Keelkatalai lake surplus channel

Five members of family killed as car, truck collide, one arrested

Five members of family killed as car, truck collide, one arrested

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.02.2021

Five members of a family died after the car they were travelling in rammed a truck at Padalam in Kancheepuram district in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to police, the deceased were identified as P Subramani, 85, a retired PWD official from Karayanchavadi in Poonamallee, his wife S Indirani, 75, a retired head mistress, their daughter, S Mahalakshmi, 51, granddaughter S Shanthini, 18, and driver J Paul Dinakaran, 24, from Mangadu.

Police said that the family had gone to Samayapuram temple in Trichy on Monday and was returning when the accident happened. The family was travelling in their own car and Paul Dinakaran was hired to drive it.

When the vehicle was going on Trichy-Chennai National Highway near Athimanam village at Madurantakam in Chengalpet district around 2.30am, the driver of a truck that was moving in front of the car applied sudden brake. Paul lost control and rammed the truck. All the occupants in the car died on the spot and the car was completely damaged.

Soon after the accident, the truck driver escaped abandoning the vehicle.

Passersby alerted the highways patrol police who with the help of the registration number of the sand-laden truck arrested its driver P Thangasami, 31, from Manapparai. Police said that the driver had to apply brake as another car moving ahead of him suddenly slowed down.

Passersby rushed all the five to a nearby government hospital where they were declared dead. The bodies were sent to Chengalpattu Government Hospital for postmortem. Police are checking whether Thangasami dozed off and applied the brakes. He was also speeding on the stretch, police said. Following the accident, police are sticking flickering stickers on the back of vehicles to alert the ones trailing them.

TEMPLE TRIP TURNS TRAGIC: The mangled remains of the car

Hold classes only for students of any 2 years in a day, colleges told

Hold classes only for students of any 2 years in a day, colleges told

Quarantine Of 14 Days Must For Hostel Students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.02.2021 

Classes of students of any two years alone should be held on any given day and hostels students should be under a14-day quarantine even if they test negative for Covid-19, the state government has directed arts and science colleges and polytechnics across the state. In engineering colleges, if there is space constraints to maintain social distancing, any two years have to attend classes in a day.

In an effort to ensure social distancing, the government came out with a fresh set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) a day after institutions across the state reopened for all under graduate and post-graduate students. According to the new guidelines, no more than 50% of the students should be present on the campus at any given point.

Institutions have also been asked to break each class into multiple sections, with one in every three seats kept vacant, and allowed to extend teaching hours as per the requirements.

While advising institutions to generally avoid holding cultural and sports activities, the government said such events could be conducted if physical distancing could be ensured. The SOP also mandated institutions to maintain air-conditioning in the 24°C to 30°C range.

In view of the Covid cluster at IIT Madras, the state government has added new protocols with regard to reopening hostels. “Since many hostel students come from different locations, they shall remain in quarantine and selfmonitor their health for a period of 14 days before being allowed to attend classes (even if they bring a negative test report),” chief secretary Rajeev Ranjan said in the order.

Sharing of rooms will not be allowed in hostels, meals should be served in small batches and takeaway options made available for students and staff. “Hostels should define the number of students in dining halls at any point in time. Mess timings should be increased to avoid overcrowding,” the order said.

Several college principals, however, said maintaining 14 days quarantine was not practically possible. “We can maintain less than 50% student strength by dividing classes into batches or asking only science students to attend physical classes. But, quarantining hostel students for 14 days is difficult,” said one principal.

Another principal, on a condition of anonymity, said the government was allowing 100% occupancy in buses and theatres but asking colleges to maintain 50% strength.

Anna University released a staggered academic schedule to maintain just one student per room in hostels after classes for first year students began on Monday. The state government also permitted teacher training institutes to function with up to 25 students per classroom. The authorities have also been allowed to conduct typewriting exams in March and April by following Covid-19 protocols.

HC mulls special team to investigate NEET marks fraud

HC mulls special team to investigate NEET marks fraud

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.02.2021 

Why should a special investigation team (SIT) not be formed to probe allegations of answer sheet tampering in NEET, asked the Madras high court on Tuesday.

Justice B Pugalendhi made the observation while hearing a plea moved by K S Manoj, a student from Coimbatore, alleging that his answer sheet had been tampered and two different marks were found for his single answer sheet.

According to the answer sheet downloaded from the official NEET website on October 15, his score was 594. But as per the answer sheet made available on October 17, his mark was 248, he said. When the plea came up for hearing, additional solicitor general R Shankaranarayanan submitted that the National Information Commission (NIC) is the competent authority to probe the allegation.

The petitioner, however, said probe by an independent agency is required as the allegations point out irregularities in the entire examination system.Tothis,theASGsubmitted that all the sheets that are provided by the agency cannot be manipulated since they are chemically treated and that in this case, there are signatures of two separate invigilators and that requires a thorough investigation to establish the case. NIC is also an independent agency, he said.

Recording the submissions, the court wondered as to why an SIT comprising representatives from the CBI, NIC and the state government should not be constituted to probe the allegation. After the ASG submitted that there is no need for constitution of an SIT with a state representative, the court directed the petitioner and the National Testing Agency to file their respective written arguments and adjourned the plea to February18.

Modi has developed habit of lying: CM

Modi has developed habit of lying: CM

Saibal.Gupta@timesgroup.com

Kolkata: 09.02.2021 

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday charged PM Narendra Modi with having “developed the habit of telling lies” and asserted that “Gujarat would not be able to rule Bengal”.

“I will be back. Some may harbour doubts but I will be back (in office),” Banerjee told MLAs during this assembly’s final session before the polls.

PM Modi, while speaking at a political programme in Haldia on Sunday, accused the Bengal government of not sharing with the Centre the farmers’ database for PM Kisan Nidhi benefits. “Modiji has developed the habit of telling lies,” Banerjee said in her response to Modi’s allegations. “Our database will not match the central government’s. Our criterion is different from theirs. We provide financial assistance to even farmers who own a cottah of land. But the Centre’s criterion for availing this scheme is a minimum of two acres of land. We have asked them to send their database so that we can verify it. So far 22 lakh farmers have registered for this programme. They have sent us a list of only 6 lakh farmers; we have already verified 2.5 lakh,” Banerjee said.

CM Banerjee greets MLAs on Monday, the last day of the assembly

Didi: We will come back with a huge mandate

Mamata Banerjee then spoke of the PM’s advance relief of Rs 1,000 crore during the Amphan disaster. “The PM came once after Amphan and announced an advance of Rs 1,000 crore. But the money came from our disaster management fund. We spent more than Rs 2,452 crore on this,” she said.

Banerjee mocked the BJPled Centre’s new-found love for Bengal and said she had never come across such a “cruel and heartless government” in her life. “They are suddenly in love with Bengal now that elections are approaching. They have even started speaking in Bengali. They are talking of Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore. They are even saying Tagore was born in Santiniketan,” Banerjee said, having a dig at the BJP’s repeated slip-ups regarding Bengal’s icons.

“Let them bring a thousand people but Gujarat will not be able to rule Bengal. We will come back with a huge mandate,” she said, referring to the BJP’s plans to fly in a host of leaders from other states, including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.

A small section of “about 1%” might have indulged in irregularities during Amphan relief distribution, Banerjee said. “But 99% did their work diligently,” she added.

Banerjee also spoke of the huge response to the Duare Sarkar scheme. “We have distributed 18 lakh caste certificates, 15 lakh old-age and widow pensions,” she said.

மரத்தில் கார் மோதி விபத்து ஒரே குடும்பத்தில் 4 பேர் பலி

மரத்தில் கார் மோதி விபத்து ஒரே குடும்பத்தில் 4 பேர் பலி

Added : பிப் 09, 2021 01:14

திண்டிவனம் : திண்டிவனம் அருகே, மரத்தில் கார் மோதியதில், ஒரே குடும்பத்தைச் சேர்ந்த நான்கு பேர் உயிரிழந்தனர்.

சென்னை, மேடவாக்கத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர் செந்தில்நாதன், 49. ஐ.டி., கம்பெனி ஊழியர். இவரது மனைவி இந்துமதி, 42; சென்னை சேப்பாக்கத்தில், உள்ள மாநில வேளாண் இயக்குனர் அலுவலகத்தில், வேளாண் அலுவலராக பணியாற்றி வந்தார். மகன் முகிலன், 17; பிளஸ் 1 படித்து வந்தார்.மூவரும், கள்ளக்குறிச்சி மாவட்டம், மாடூர் கிராமத்தில் உள்ள உறவினர் வீட்டு திருமண நிகழ்ச்சியில் கலந்து கொண்டனர். நேற்று காலை, 9:30 மணிக்கு, சென்னைக்கு, 'மாருதி பலீனோ' காரில் புறப்பட்டனர்.

இவர்களுடன், சென்னை ஐ.சி.எப்., பில் பணியாற்றி வந்த செந்தில்நாதனின் அண்ணன் குருநாதன், 54; பயணம் செய்தார். காரை செந்தில்நாதன் ஓட்டினார்.காலை, 11:50 மணி அளவில், திண்டிவனம் அடுத்த பாதிரி கிராமத்தில் உள்ள வளைவு அருகே வந்தபோது, திடீரென கட்டுப்பாட்டை இழந்த கார், சாலையோர மரத்தில் மோதியது.காரின் முன் பகுதி நொறுங்கியதில், செந்தில்நாதன், இந்துமதி, குருநாதன் ஆகியோர் சம்பவ இடத்திலேயே இறந்தனர்.முகிலன், திண்டிவனம் அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கு அழைத்துச் செல்லும் வழியில் இறந்தார். ஒலக்கூர் போலீசார் விசாரிக்கின்றனர்.

ஆபத்தான வளைவுவிபத்து நடந்த பகுதியில் ஏற்கனவே, மரத்தில் கார் மோதியதில் ஒரே குடும்பத்தைச் சேர்ந்த ஆறு பேர் இறந்தனர். இதனால், அந்த இடத்தில் ஆபத்தான வளைவு என்று எச்சரிக்கை போர்டு வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இருப்பினும், நேற்று அதே இடத்தில் நான்கு பேர் இறந்துள்ளனர்.தாம்பூல பையால் துப்பு துலங்கியதுவிபத்து நடந்த இடத்திற்கு, நெடுஞ்சாலைத் துறை ரோந்து போலீசார் உடனே சென்றனர்.

இறந்தவர்கள் யார் என்ற விபரம் தெரியவில்லை. காரில், திருமண நிகழ்ச்சியில் கொடுத்த தாம்பூல பை இருந்தது. அதில் திருமணம் நடந்த இடம் கள்ளக்குறிச்சி அருகே உள்ள மாடூர் என்று இருந்தது.உடனே போலீசார், ஒயர்லஸ் மூலம் கள்ளக்குறிச்சி போலீஸ் நிலையத்திற்கு தொடர்பு கொண்டு, திருமணம் நடந்த இடத்திற்கு சென்று விசாரித்தனர்அதன் பின்னரே, இறந்தவர்கள் பற்றிய முழு விபரம் தெரிந்தது.ஏர் பலுான் இருந்தும் பலனில்லை!விபத்தில் சிக்கிய காரை ஓட்டி வந்த செந்தில்நாதன், டிரைவர் சீட்டிலேயே இறந்து கிடந்தார். அதே நேரத்தில், ஏர் பலுான் ஓப்பனாகி இருந்தது.

இது குறித்து போக்குவரத்து அதிகாரியிடம் கேட்ட போது, 'காரை ஓட்டியவர் பிரேக் அடிக்காமல், நேராக மரத்தில் மோதியதால் கார் முற்றிலும் நசுங்கி விட்டது. அதனால் தான், ஏர் பலுான் ஓப்பனாகியும் அவர் இறந்து விட்டார். பிரேக் அடித்ததற்கான தடயம் சாலையில் எதுவும் இல்லை. அனேகமாக துாக்க கலக்கத்தில் விபத்து நடந்திருக்கலாம்' என்றார்.

'தாம்பரம் - திண்டிவனம் சாலை நிலை என்ன?'

'தாம்பரம் - திண்டிவனம் சாலை நிலை என்ன?'

Added : பிப் 09, 2021 00:08

சென்னை : சென்னையை அடுத்த தாம்பரம் முதல் திண்டிவனம் வரையிலான சாலை நிலை குறித்து, தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையம் அறிக்கை அளிக்க, உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

திருச்சியைச் சேர்ந்த வழக்கறிஞர் ஜோசப் சகாயராஜ் தாக்கல் செய்த மனுவில், 'தாம்பரம் - திண்டிவனம் தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலையில் உள்ள பரனுார், ஆத்துார் சுங்க சாவடிகளின் ஒப்பந்த காலம் முடிந்து விட்டது. 'அதனால், சுங்க கட்டணம் வசூலிக்கக் கூடாது. சுங்க கட்டணம் வசூலிக்க தடை விதிக்க வேண்டும்' என, கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.இம்மனு, தலைமை நீதிபதி சஞ்ஜிப் பானர்ஜி, நீதிபதி செந்தில்குமார் ராமமூர்த்தி அடங்கிய அமர்வில், நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.இந்த சாலையின் தற்போதைய நிலை குறித்து, தேசிய நெடுஞ்சாலை ஆணையம் அறிக்கை அளிக்க, முதல் பெஞ்ச் உத்தரவிட்டது.விசாரணையை, ஆறு வாரங்களுக்கு தள்ளி வைத்தது.

பயிற்சி டாக்டருக்கு 8 மணி நேர பணி அறிக்கை அளிக்க ஐகோர்ட் உத்தரவு

பயிற்சி டாக்டருக்கு 8 மணி நேர பணி அறிக்கை அளிக்க ஐகோர்ட் உத்தரவு

Added : பிப் 08, 2021 23:50

சென்னை : பயிற்சி டாக்டர்களுக்கு எட்டு மணி நேர பணி நிர்ணயித்து பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவை அமல்படுத்தக் கோரிய வழக்கில், மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்குனரகம், புதிய அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்ய, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

மாணவர் தற்கொலை முதுநிலை மருத்துவ மாணவர்கள், பயிற்சி மருத்துவர்களுக்கு எட்டு மணி நேர பணி நிர்ணயித்து, 2015ல், தமிழக அரசு உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்தது. இந்த உத்தரவை அமல்படுத்தக்கோரி, உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில், டாக்டர் ரவீந்திரநாத், 2019 நவம்பரில், மனு தாக்கல் செய்திருந்தார்.மனுவில், 'பணிச்சுமையால், மதுரை மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில், முதுநிலை மாணவர் உதயராஜ் தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டார். எனவே, பணி நேரம் நிர்ணயித்து அரசு பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவை, அமல்படுத்த வேண்டும்' என, கூறப்பட்டது.

இவ்வழக்கு, தலைமை நீதிபதி சஞ்ஜிப் பானர்ஜி, நீதிபதி செந்தில்குமார் ராமமூர்த்தி அடங்கிய அமர்வில், நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. மனுதாரர் சார்பில், வழக்கறிஞர் தங்கசிவன் ஆஜரானார்.தள்ளிவைப்புஇவ்வழக்கு ஓராண்டுக்கும் மேலாக நிலுவையில் இருப்பதால், மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி இயக்குனர் புதிதாக அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்ய, முதல் பெஞ்ச் உத்தரவிட்டது. விசாரணையை, ஆறு வாரங்களுக்கு தள்ளி வைத்தது.

பெருந்துறை மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி கட்டணத்தை குறைக்குது அரசு?

பெருந்துறை மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி கட்டணத்தை குறைக்குது அரசு?

Added : பிப் 08, 2021 23:41

சென்னை : சிதம்பரம் ராஜா முத்தையா மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியை தொடர்ந்து, ஈரோடு, பெருந்துறை மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி கட்டணத்தையும், அரசு கட்டணமாக நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும் என, சுகாதாரத்துறை செயலரிடம், மாணவர்கள் மனு அளித்துள்ளனர்.

தமிழக போக்குவரத்து துறை நடத்தி வந்த, பெருந்துறை ஐ.ஆர்.டி., மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியை, தமிழக சுகாதாரத்துறை ஏற்றுள்ளது. ஆனால், மருத்துவ கட்டணம், பழைய நிலையிலேயே வசூலிக்கப்படுகிறது. கோரிக்கைசுகாதாரத்துறை கட்டுப்பாட்டில் வந்த பின், அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் வசூலிப்பது போல, கட்டணம் நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற, கோரிக்கை எழுந்துஉள்ளது.இந்நிலையில், கடலுார் மாவட்டம், சிதம்பரம் ராஜா முத்தையா மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியை, தமிழக அரசு ஏற்றது.

அங்கு, மாணவர்கள் நடத்தி வந்த தொடர் போராட்டத்தை அடுத்து, அங்கு அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளுக்கான கட்டணம் வசூலிக்கப்படும் என, அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது. இதன்படி, எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., படிப்பிற்கு, 13 ஆயிரத்து, 610 ரூபாய்; பி.டி.எஸ்., படிப்பிற்கு, 11 ஆயிரத்து, 610 ரூபாய்; பட்ட மேற்படிப்புக்கு, 30 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய்; டிப்ளமா படிப்பிற்கு, 20 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் கட்டணம். பி.எஸ்சி., நர்சிங் படிப்பிற்கு, 5,000 ரூபாய் கட்டணம்.

நம்பிக்கை : இதபோல, அரசு ஏற்றுள்ள, ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், பெருந்துறை ஐ.ஆர்.டி., மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில், கல்வி கட்டணத்தை மாற்றி அமைக்க வேண்டும் என, தமிழக மருத்துவ மாணவர்கள் சங்க பிரதிநிதிகள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்து உள்ளனர்.சுகாதாரத்துறை செயலர் ராதாகிருஷ்ணனை சந்தித்து, மாணவர்கள் நேற்று மனு அளித்தனர். ஐந்து நாட்களில், கல்வி கட்டணம் மாற்றி அமைக்கப்படும் என, செயலர் நம்பிக்கை தெரிவித்ததாக, மாணவர்கள் கூறினர்.

Officials dealing in public money need to follow norms, says SC

Officials dealing in public money need to follow norms, says SC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:09.02.2021

The Supreme Court on Monday said bank officers dealing in public money need to be vigilant and any deviation from the procedural norms for disbursing loans should be dealt with sternly.

While upholding the punishment of compulsory retirement for a bank manager, a bench of justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah said such misconduct is very grave and the punishment is lenient. “The manager of a bank plays a vital role in managing the affairs of the bank. A bank officer/employee deals with public money. The nature of his work demands vigilance with the inbuilt requirement to act carefully. If an officer/employee of the bank is allowed to act beyond his authority, the bank’s discipline will disappear. When the procedural norms are issued for grant of loans, officers/employees are required to follow the same meticulously and any deviation will lead to erosion of public trust on the banks,” it said.

In this case, the manager of Lakhimi Gaolia Bank had sanctioned and disbursed loans without following the due procedure. The inquiry conducted against him came to the conclusion that he disbursed loans irregularly in some instances to units without any shop/business. After going through the report, the bench said the punishment of compulsory retirement was not disproportionate and dismissed his plea.

187 students, 75 teachers test positive in Kerala

187 students, 75 teachers test positive in Kerala

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kozhikode:09.02.2021

A total of 187 students and 75 teachers in two schools in Malappuram district have tested positive for Covid-19. RT-PCR tests were conducted at the Government Higher Secondary School, Maranchery and the Vanneri Higher Secondary School, Perumbadappu on Friday.

By Sunday evening, it was revealed that 148 students and 39 teaching staff at Maranchery school were infected, while the samples of 39 students and 36 teachers at Vanneri school also tested positive. The infected students are mainly from Marancheri, Perumbadappu, Veliyamkode in Malappuram district and Vadakkekkad in Thrissur.

Samples were collected from tenth standard students of Maranchery school earlier, while samples of plus-two students were collected on Monday. The health department has asked all those who came in contact with the infected persons to go on isolation. District medical officer (DMO) Dr K Sakeena has asked all schools in the district to maintain vigil.

A tenth standard student of the Maranchery school had tested Covid-19 positive on February 1. It was decided to conduct large-scale tests on suspicion of a spread. “Around 582 students and 50 staff at the Maranchery school were tested,” she said. Tests were conducted at the Vanneri school after a teacher tested positive, Dr Sakeena said.

In CBI Vyapam chargesheet, how med seats were ‘illegally allocated’ from state quota

In CBI Vyapam chargesheet, how med seats were ‘illegally allocated’ from state quota

P.Naveen@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:  09.02.2021 

A recent CBI chargesheet in a Vyapam scam case has mentioned in detail how a section of officers at the directorate of medical education (DME) allegedly overlooked norms in connivance with directors of some medical colleges to 'illegally' allot seats to candidates.

The chargesheet, running into over 4,000 pages and naming 60 people, relates to alleged rigging of Pre-Medical Test (PMT) conducted by Vyapam in 2011. It names Dr S C Tiwari and Dr N M Srivastava as the director, medical education, and joint director, medical education, in 2011. Tiwari was then chairman of the counselling committee of MP PMT-2011 and Shrivastava its coordinator.

Investigation has revealed that on November 11, 2011, Srivastava wrote to registrars of Barkatullah University-Bhopal, Devi Ahilya Bai University-Indore, Rani Durgavati University- Jabalpur and Jiwaji University-Gwalior that DME had completed PMT-2011 counselling to fill 50% state quota seats in private medical and dental colleges in compliance with a Supreme Court order, says the probe agency.

The universities were told to get the list of admitted candidates verified from DME before issuing the registration letter. However, in a letter dated July 13, 2012, to the Barkatullah University Registrar, Srivastava had verified and forwarded the list of candidates admitted under state quota by Chirayu Medical College for that session.

Srivastava verified the names of 47 state quota candidates, who did not attend the counselling or were not issued any allotment letters by the committee, says the CBI chargesheet, alleging that these were admitted illegally by the college on its own on September 30, 2011, against vacant state quota seats. The chargesheet claims forwarding of the list as proof of Srivastava’s “ulterior motive”.

On Tiwari, the chargesheet says that it was his responsibility, as chairman of the counselling committee, to conduct the counseling within deadline and according to procedure, but he couldn’t get it done in time.

“He also failed to implement rules and procedures, which gave the opportunity to ineligible candidates who appeared in the counseling to get seats and vacate them in connivance with college authorities,” the chargesheet alleges.

Tiwari did not take any action against Chirayu Medical College on the ‘illegal admissions’, the agency has said. The chargesheet alleges that Tiwari and Shrivastava were present during counselling for left-out seats conducted on September 28, 2011, when Girish Kanitkar, a representative of Chirayu Medical College, “falsely reported only one vacant seat to the counselling committee”.

“If the college declared only one vacant seat on 28/29 September, 2011, before the counselling committee, how did the college administration admit 47 candidates against vacant MPPMT seats on September 30, 2011? But they (Tiwari and Shrivastava) did not raise any question or take any action against the college,” the chargesheet says.

The central agency also alleges negligence by Dr G P Naik and Dr Asha Srivastava, who headed the scrutiny committees for the three rounds of PMT counselling, and Dr Mohan Shinde and Dr Rinni Malik, who headed separate allotment committees. CBI recommends action against them for their ‘lapses’.

The chargesheet accuses the Barkatullah University registrar of negligence in issuing registration/enrolment numbers to 39 ineligible candidates who were not allotted seats in PMT counselling but were allegedly ‘illegally admitted’ by Chirayu on the last day, September 30, 2011. It recommends action against the registrar as well. The agency has also called for action against the college for “illegal admission” of eight DMAT candidates on PMT/state quota seats and six non-DMAT candidates on vacant DMAT seats.

Top officials queue up for jab, say all’s well

SHOT OF HOPE

Top officials queue up for jab, say all’s well

Leading By Example: Bureaucrats, Cops Turn Up For Vaccine Across MP

Amarjeet.Singh1@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:09.02.2021 

A majority of senior district officials, including collectors, commissioners and superintendents of police, got vaccinated on Monday as vaccination of frontline workers started in a bid to motivate other staffers.

In state capital, Bhopal, vaccination of the frontline workers started with divisional commissioner Kavindra Kiyawat and district collector Avinash Lavania getting vaccinated.

Health minister Prabhuram Chowdhary also visited the vaccination booth at the district collectorate.

Likewise, in Jabalpur, it was district collector Karamveer Sharma who started the vaccination drive by getting vaccinated first. Sources said different officials have decided different dates for vaccination — one day, divisional commissioner will get vaccinated, and then the district SP will get vaccinated.

In Rewa district, it were the divisional commissioner, IG police and Rewa district collector who got themselves vaccinated first. In Gwalior too, district officials started the vaccination drive. However, the district collector and other senior officials will get vaccinated on February 10. Despite these attempts, the overall vaccination turnout was low throughout the day as only 38 per cent vaccination turnout was reported in the state.

SC asks govt to reduce medical cut-off marks

SC asks govt to reduce medical cut-off marks

‘Low Qualifying Mark Doesn’t Affect Standard’

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.02.2021 

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that reducing the cut-off marks for admissions to courses does not lower the standards of education and overruled the Union government by directing lowering of qualifying marks by 10 percentile points to help private colleges fill nearly 7,000 BDS seats for the academic year 2020-21 by February 18.

A bench of Justices L N Rao and Krishna Murari accepted senior advocate Maninder Singh’s argument that the government could not have refused to accept Dental Council of India’s recommendations for lowering the qualifying marks by 20 percentile points on the ground that lowering the cut-off mark could have adverse impact on education standards. Singh had said the Union government had earlier accepted similar recommendations for lowering cut-off for super speciality courses in medical sciences.

Writing the judgment, Justice Rao said, “If reducing minimum marks amounts to lowering the standards, the Union government would not do so for super speciality courses. We are in agreement with Singh, counsel for the petitioners, that lowering the minimum marks and reducing the percentile for admission to the first-year BDS course would not amount to lowering the standards of education.” It ordered admissions to BDS courses strictly on merit and said the process of admission be completed by February 18.

The bench also found force in additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati’s argument that fees charged by private dental colleges were a deterrent in filling up seats. “Only 265 out of 7,000 vacant seats are in government colleges. All the other unfilled seats are in private dental colleges. The managements of private dental colleges shall consider reducing the fee charged by them to encourage students to join the colleges,” the SC said.

“We direct that the vacant seats in first year BDS course for the year 2020-2021 shall be filled up from candidates who have participated in NEET (UG) for the year 2020-2021 after lowering the percentile mark by 10 percentile points,” it added.

This means general category candidates with 40 percentile points, SC/ST/OBCs with 30 percentile points and physically challenged candidates with 35 percentile points would be eligible for admission to BDS courses in government and private colleges.

Singh had relied on proceedings relating to lowering of minimum marks for super speciality courses for the year 2019-2020 and for admission in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) - UG courses for the year 2020-2021. He argued that 7,000 seats in BDS courses were vacant and the available infrastructure would be wasted.

Bhati submitted that 7.71 lakh candidates were found to be eligible for filling up 82,000 MBBS and 28,000 BDS seats, thus for each vacant seat seven candidates were available. She said the Centre decided against lowering the qualifying marks as there were sufficient dentists in India. “Lack of keenness of students to join BDS, especially in private colleges which charge exorbitant fees, as they are interested in MBBS courses, is yet another ground,” she said.

The apex court asked the Centre to lower the cutoff by 10 percentile points to help private colleges fill nearly 7,000

Court quashes KSLU’s even semester exams

Court quashes KSLU’s even semester exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:09.02.2021 

The high court on Monday asked the Karnataka State Law University to announce a fresh timetable for students of the first four years of the course, scheduling examinations of odd semesters only.

As far as even semester exams are concerned, students have to be assessed on the basis of their internal assessments to the extent of 50% and the remaining considering their performance in the previous semester (if available). Markscards should also be issued on the same terms vis-avis even semesters, the court said, quashing the November 1, 2020 press release issued by the Bar Council of India and subsequent circular dated November 9, 2020 by KSLU.

The consequential timetable issued by KSLU, along with notifications dated January 13 and 29, 2021, have also been quashed.

Disposing of the petitions filed by law students, Justice R Devdas noted the decisions taken by BCI and KSLU are not backed by expert opinion, unlike the guidelines issued by UGC, keeping in mind the situation created by the pandemic.

The petitioners’ main grievance was with regard to conduct of exams through offline physical mode for intermediate semester students. As per BCI guidelines on November 1, 2020, both online and offline exam options should have been given, they said, adding that KSLU was forcing students to undergo multiple exams in a year, which is beyond their capacity and legitimate expectations.

The university must release a fresh timetable for odd semesters of the first four years

PhD students denied fellowship money since 2019, stage protest

PhD students denied fellowship money since 2019, stage protest

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:09.02.2021

Around 750 PhD students are yet to receive their monthly fellowship amount of Rs 10,000 since November 2019. Pushed to the wall, 100 PhD of them, mostly from poor backgrounds, protested at Maurya Circle on Monday asking the government to look into their cases.

According to the backward class welfare department, the money is not being paid following a cut in the budget owing to the pandemic. “Around 15 crore has been deducted. We are running 13 programmes with a budget of Rs 5 crore now. Ideally, we need Rs 20 crore to operate these programmes. The issue has been raised by the minister with the finance department. The problem will be sorted out soon,” said Vasant Kumar, commissioner, backward class welfare department.

Students from other backward classes quota are eligible for a monthly fellowship amount of Rs 10,000 from the backward classes welfare department. Implemented in 2015-16 with an initial Rs 5,000, the amount was increased to Rs 10,000 from academic year 2018-19, with the aim of supporting research.

“We need to enrol for our second and third years and have to pay university fee, w hich comes to around Rs 30,000. This is apart from the monthly mess bill. With no fellowship money coming, it’s difficult for us to sustain,” said a student from the University of Agricultural Sciences.

“We have an agricultural background and getting a PhD is a major achievement for us. We’re around 750 students in various state universities and the money means a lot to us,” said another student.

The fellowship is meant for students from families of income below Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh

27 nursing students test positive in Mys

27 nursing students test positive in Mys

09.02.2021 

Twenty-seven nursing students of a Mysuru college have tested positive for Covid-19. They had arrived from Kerala nearly a month ago to appear for their finalyear exam. Health authorities said that they had been isolated at hostels. All students are safe, an official said. This is the first such outbreak in an educational institution in the district.

Ahead of MCI check, 85 medical teachers transferred

60 FROM BJ MEDICAL COLLEGE

Ahead of MCI check, 85 medical teachers transferred

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  09.02.2021 

Ahead of the Medical Council of India’s inspection of PG courses, the state government on Monday transferred 85 professors and associate professors. Of the 85, 60 medical teachers were from BJ Medical College.

The officials said the transfers were done to ensure that there was no reduction in postgraduate seats in the state.

The officials said this was the common practice of the state government. They said whenever any inspection looms, mass transfers are effected. Even during the inspection of undergraduate courses, the government authorizes mass transfers.

Once inspections are over, the government sends the teachers back to their original postings after a year. The officials said that six professors and assistant professors from pharmacology, radiology and TB departments were transferred to Bhavnagar Medical College.

The officials said that due to the changes in rules, a postgraduate professor once transferred cannot be moved again for a year.

The officials said that BJ Medical College has maximum seats and such largescale transfers can definitely affect the seats. With 60 professors being transferred, the number of seats in BJ Medical College can be impacted.

The officials said that the state has a severe shortage of medical staff in government colleges and so far it has been saving the number of seats in undergraduate and postgraduate courses with such transfers.

Sources said that those who had worked during Covid times had been transferred while those who had not have been kept at the same posts.

Want a healthy heart? Don’t skip breakfast, don’t snack after dinner

Want a healthy heart? Don’t skip breakfast, don’t snack after dinner

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:09.02.2021 

“Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper,” says the old adage. A recent study by the students and faculty of NHL Municipal Medical College concurs with this wisdom as it found that missing breakfast and eating heavy meals close to bedtime at night could enhance the risk of a heart attack.

Snacking after dinner, which is widely prevalent in Gujarati homes where people finish dinner between 7 and 8 pm, can up the risk of heart attack by 29%, the research carried out in over 420 people found.

The profile of patients with cardiac issues underscored poor eating habits when all other factors like age, smoking/ tobacco consumption, BMI, etc were the same. The researchers suggested breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should have maximum calorie intake, while dinner should have least calories. It should be taken at least two hours before going to bed for a healthy heart life.

The study titled ‘A casecontrol study on food frequency and meal pattern distribution in coronary artery disease patients attending tertiary care teaching hospitals’ was recently published in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine. The authors include Dr Siddharth Agrawal, Dr Dishant Upadhyay and Dr Aparajita Shukla from the Department of Community Medicine at NHL Medical College. P 6

Reduce the cut-off by10 percentile points to help fill 7k BDS seats: SC

Reduce the cut-off by10 percentile points to help fill 7k BDS seats: SC

Says Reducing Qualifying Marks Doesn’t Lower Edu Standard

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.02.2021 

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that reducing the cut-off marks for admissions to courses does not lower the standards of education and overruled the Union government by directing lowering of qualifying marks by 10% percentile points to help private colleges fill nearly 7,000 BDS seats for the academic year 2020-21 by February 18.

A bench of Justices L N Rao and Krishna Murari accepted senior advocate Maninder Singh’s argument that the government could not have refused to accept Dental Council of India’s recommendations for lowering the qualifying marks by 20% percentile points on the ground that lowering the cut-off mark could have adverse impact on education standards. Singh had said the Union government had earlier accepted similar recommendations for lowering cut-off for super speciality courses in medical sciences.

Writing the judgment, Justice Rao said, “If reducing minimum marks amounts to lowering the standards, the Union government would not do so for super speciality courses. We are in agreement with Singh, counsel for the petitioners, that lowering the minimum marks and reducing the percentile for admission to the first-year BDS course would not amount to lowering the standards of education.” It ordered admissions to BDS courses strictly on merit and said the process of admission be completed by February 18.

The bench also found force in additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati’s argument that fees charged by private dental colleges were a deterrent in filling up seats. “Only 265 out of 7,000 vacant seats are in government colleges. All the other unfilled seats are in private dental colleges. The managements of private dental colleges shall consider reducing the fee charged by them to encourage students to join the colleges,” the SC said.

“We direct that the vacant seats in first year BDS course for the year 2020-2021 shall be filled up from candidates who have participated in NEET (UG) for the year 2020-2021 after lowering the percentile mark by10 percentile points,” it added.

This means general category candidates with 40 percentile points, SC/ST/OBCs with 30 percentile points and physically challenged candidates with 35 percentile points would be eligible for admission to BDS courses in government and private colleges.

Singh had relied on proceedings relating to lowering of minimum marks for super speciality courses for the year 2019-2020 and for admission in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) - UG courses for the year 2020-2021. He argued that 7,000 seats in BDS courses were vacant and the available infrastructure would be wasted.

Bhati submitted that 7.71 lakh candidates were found to be eligible for filling up 82,000 MBBS and 28,000 BDS seats, thus for each vacant seat seven candidates were available. She said the Centre decided against lowering the qualifying marks as there were sufficient dentists in India.

Full report on www.toi.in

This means general category candidates with 40 percentile points, SC/ST/OBCs with 30 percentile points and physically challenged candidates with 35 percentile points would be eligible for admission to BDS courses in government and private colleges

Anna univ to resume MTech courses, create more seats

Anna univ to resume MTech courses, create more seats

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.02.2021

Two weeks after making a controversial announcement that it was suspending admissions to two centrally sponsored MTech courses, Anna University told the Madras high court on Monday that it would recommence the academic programmes.

Nine supernumerary seats will be created in MTech Biotechnology and MTech Computational Biology, and those students will not be able to claim stipend of about ₹12,000 to ₹12,500 a month. The Centre, however, will offer the stipend to students admitted under its 49.5% quota of seats.

The courses were suspended due to disagreement between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government over the state’s 69% reservation or the Centre’s 49.5% reservation in admissions.

HC asks AICTE to figure out way to add nine seats

When the state insisted on its quota policy, the Centre refused to fund the sponsored courses, leading to the university cancelling admissions to the courses.

A prospective student, Chitra, then moved the court seeking resumption of admissions to the reputed courses – M Tech Biotechnology and M Tech Computational Biology. Her counsel A Saravanan submitted that readmitting students was imperative as quantum of reservation could be argued separately. However, the compromise made by Anna University and Centre came not before Justice B Pugalendhi made a loaded query about whether the Centre funded reservation or the MTech courses.

Vijayakumar, counsel for the university, said the court must take an undertaking from students being accommodated in the supernumerary seats that they would not claim stipend during the course period. “Paying stipend of ₹12,000 a month for these nine students