‘Corruption is like snake in systems’

POND SCAM

‘Corruption is like snake in systems’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:

13.02.2021 

The Gujarat high court has made scathing remarks about the corrupt practices by bureaucrats and termed corruption “a termite and a poisonous snake which has penetrated deeply into our systems”.

The observation about corrupt practices has come from Justice R M Sareen while refusing legal protection against possible arrest of an assistant director of Gujarat State Land Development Nigam Ltd, Ramendrainh Kushvah, in connection with the alleged Khet Talavadi scheme (farm ponds) scam. The judge echoed the observations made earlier by Justice Bela Trivedi while describing the role of the government officials in this scam.

On Thursday, Justice Sareen said, “It cannot be gainsaid that corruption has become a social menace and is very much rampant nowadays. It is like a termite or a poisonous snake which has penetrated deeply into our systems. It is often quoted that the public servants are like fish in the water, none can say when and how a fish drank the water.”

Kushvah was booked by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) last year in Godhra for an alleged scam in the farm pond scheme. He was posted in Shahera town then. The Prevention of Corruption Act was invoked against him on the ground that there is rise in Kushvah’s income to an extent of 62.68% as compared to the sources of his official income.

Kushvah told the court that some of the contractors were politically connected and he had been falsely accused under political pressure.

The court rejected the bail and said, “Considering his designation, there are all likelihood of petitioner having misused his official position by involving himself in purchase of immovable property. The importance of custodial interrogation in such nature of accusation becomes more necessary for verifying the actual nature of transaction.”

He cleared CA to be a Jain monk!

He cleared CA to be a Jain monk!

Surat Boy Harsh Singhi To Embrace Monkhood In May

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:13.02.2021 

There are stories galore of professionals giving up their corporate lives to become monks. But a Surat boy became a chartered accountant (CA) professional as a precondition to renounce the worldly pursuits.

Harsh Singhi, 25, who will take diksha from Bhakti Yogacharya Yashovijaysuriji Maharaj in May, said he had made up his mind to become a monk when he was in his teens.

“I have audited many account books but realized that we limit our thinking to material gains and losses only. Few carry out an audit of the ‘atma’ (soul) which actually transcends birth and death,” said Harsh.

Harsh said he got influenced quite early on in his life as his family is quite religious. “One day I came after listening to a spiritual discourse and told my elder sister about my wish to become a Jain monk. My father overheard this midnight conversation and next morning told me it was his wish that I become a CA. Then I was free to walk the path of my choice,” said Harsh.

Harsh said it was his father's attachment which led to put this pre-condition.

Harsh said he got influenced quite early on in his life as his family is quite religious

‘I’m honouring commitment to myself’

My father may have thought I will grow out of my idea of renouncing the worldly life. I decided to honour my father's wish and committed myself to clearing CA final exam,” says Harsh.

While he was giving CA exams, he again broached the topic of taking diksha with his father.

This time, he said sister Shreya's marriage was fixed and asked him to wait till the marriage was solemnized.

“Two days after the marriage took place, I discussed with my father. I had honoured all my promises, now it was time for me to honour my commitment to myself," said Harsh who says all humans need to do regular audits of their souls instead of focussing solely on their bodies.

TN govt sanctions case against Stalin

TN govt sanctions case against Stalin

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.02.2021 

The AIADMK government has sanctioned a defamation case against DMK president M K Stalin for having levelled corruption charges against fisheries minister D Jayakumar.

In his party’s Makkal Grama Sabha meeting at Royapuram in Chennai last month, the DMK leader had alleged several irregularities in procurement of walkie-talkies for fishermen and accused Jayakumar of “causing loss to the tune of ₹30 crore to the exchequer”.

Incidentally, the DMK had mentioned it in its 98-page ‘corruption petition’ to governor Banwarilal Purohit, seeking DVAC probe against Jayakumar.

The DMK had said there was evidence of corruption, abuse and misuse of official power to favour a private company. An order issued by the public department on Wednesday said the defamatory speech was intended to malign the reputation of the minister in the discharge of his public functions.

“On a perusal of the said speech, it is found that it has imputations, which are per se defamatory against the minister. The defamatory speech is not only devoid of truth and good faith, but it has been intentionally made against the interest of the public good,” the order said, sanctioning the city public prosecutor, Chennai, to lodge a complaint against the DMK president.

The order said the government was satisfied that it was expedient and necessary that Stalin should be prosecuted in a court of law for an offence under section 499 of the Indian Penal Code punishable under section 500 of the said code.

DANCE of DEMOCRACY

DANCE of DEMOCRACY

‘Will shift to to old pension scheme’

Stalin Vows To Waive All Edu Loans

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Villupuram: 13.02.2021 

DMK president M K Stalin has promised to scrap the new pension scheme and migrate to the old one for the benefit of government servants if his party is voted to power in the ensuing assembly polls. He also reiterated his earlier promise to waive all educational loans availed by students in the state. He was interacting with people after receiving petitions from them in Villupuram district during the third phase of his election campaign, 'Ungal thoguthiyil Stalin' (Stalin in your constituency) on Friday. He questioned the AIADMK government for failing to take stern action against the contractor after a check dam across Pennaiaru River in the district collapsed within a month of construction and sought to drive home the point that corruption was rampant in the AIADMK.

He claimed that all the welfare schemes of the current AIADMK government were introduced and successfully executed by the previous DMK government led by former chief minister M Karunanidhi. But chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was making false claims and creating a mirage that the AIADMK government had introduced those welfare schemes, he said, and went on to list out the schemes launched by the previous DMK government that were replicated by the current AIADMK government after renaming them. He accused the ruling AIADMK of using the government's exchequer to spread lies by placing advertisements in media that Tamil Nadu was marching along the path of victory. He claimed that the government had been replicating his ideas and announcing projects and schemes. "The chief minister did not have any idea of launching a toll-free helpline to redress the grievances of the people for the past four and-a-half years, but launched the toll-free number only after I started receiving the grievances from the public," he said.

Stalin said Palaniswami claimed people can air their grievances using their mobile phones from any part of the state using the toll-free number, forgetting that the AIADMK failed to honour its poll promise of providing mobile phones free of cost to the people of Tamil Nadu.

CM Edappadi K Palaniswami launched the toll-free number only after I started receiving the grievances from the public

M K Stalin | DMK PRESIDENT

Power cut on Tuesday

Power cut on Tuesday

13.02.2021 

Chennai: Power supply will be suspended from 9am to 2pm in Ponneri, KK Nagar, Sembium and Tambaram MEPZ areas on Tuesday to facilitate maintenance work, a release from Tangedco said. Supply will be restored before 2pm if work is completed sooner. There will be no power supply in commercial establishments and residents in Arasur, Vellodai, Anuppambattu, Perumbedu, Athipattu, Saikiruba Nagar, Thatchoor, Andarkuppam, Madhavaram and surrounding areas of Ponneri. Similarly, those residing in Rajamanar Salai, RK Shanmugham Salai, Kannigapuram and Vijayaraghavapuram in KK Nagar circle and DRJ Hospital area, Ranga Garden, Balaji Nagar, Thirumalai Nagar, Jayanthi Nagar and VMT Nagar in Sembium will face power cuts. Power supply will be cut in MEPZ-I part of Tambaram, West Tambaram area, GST Road, Chitlapakkam, Thiruneermalai, Rail Nagar and Moulana Nagar. TNN

Pallavaram municipality struggles to handle waste

Pallavaram municipality struggles to handle waste

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.02.2021 

Officials representing the Pallavaram municipality have informedtheNationalGreen Tribunal(NGT) that disposing waste accumulated at the local waste transfer station on Thoraipakkam Radial Road will take longer as there is no dumping site nearby and installation of incinerators is pending. Admitting the submissions made by the municipality, the tribunal during a recent hearing observed that it was the responsibility of the Chengalpet district collector and local body to ensure that unscientific disposal of waste doesn’t create public health issues. If not, the district collector will be compelled to appear before the tribunal, it said.

The issue of dumping solid waste at the station in Ganapathipuram and roads around was first brought to light by TOI in a report dated September 24, 2020. As complaints from the public went unattended, NGT southern zone took suo motu cognizance of the issue and constituted a joint-committee to look into it.

Due to the fault of the concessionaire, the NGT had in January 2021directed the Pallavaram municipality not to dispose the accumulated waste at Vengadamangalam solid waste management facility. According to official data, around 17,340tonnesof solidwastewas accumulated on the station premises, of which the municipality submitted it has cleared13,371tonnes. Sothelocalbody approached Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), which later permitted the municipality to dispose of waste at the Perungudi dump yard and subsequently at Kodungaiyur. But private trucks that were engaged to dispose waste to Kodungaiyur, 55km away from Ganapathipuram, were able to clear only 40 tonnes of waste a day because they could make only four trips a day.

But the problem is that the daily waste collected from houses and shops in Pallavaram is adding to the pile. At present, of the104 tonnes daily waste gathered at Ganapathipuram, 30 tonnes are processed at micro-compost centres and the remaining 60-70 tonnes get accumulated at other end. So, clearing 100% accumulated waste would be possible only when the two incinerators proposed at the Vengadamangalam facility are ready, the municipality contended.

GARBAGE MOUNTAIN: Waste piling up at the Pallavaram dump yard has been spilling on to 200ft Radial Road

Work on sewers for Anakaputhur, Pammal to begin

Work on sewers for Anakaputhur, Pammal to begin

Oppili.P@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.02.2021 

Residents of Pammal and Anakaputhur municipalities will soon get underground sewage connections. Metrowater has been handed over construction of the system after the Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT) said sewage from both the localities was draining into the Adyar river and proposed the system that would also help in the ongoing ecological restoration of the river. Construction is expected to begin in about 10 days and is scheduled to be completed in 18 months.

Sources in the municipal administration department said the two localities together accounted for more than 26,000 households from where untreated sewage was flowing into the Adyar, contributing largely towards polluting the river.

Under the plan for areas falling within Pammal municipality, sewage carrying pipelines will be laid for a distance of 100km and 4,100 manholes will be dug up on the roads. About 19,000 households will benefit from the network in the area that will have four pumping stations and one relay pumping station, an official said.

In Anakaputhur, the network of pipes will be 58km long and will include more than 2,200 manholes. While 7,630 households will get sewage connections, four pumping stations and an equal number of relay pumping stations will be set up.

Sewage collected from the two localities will be pumped to an integrated plant which will come up under Anakaputhur municipal limits and which will have the capacity to treat 30MLD of sewage, he said.

The system, once complete, will not only help the Adyar become cleaner, it is also expected to help improve the groundwater table in the region, the official said.

Of the ₹226.8 crore that the project is estimated to cost, the Anakuputhur arm will get ₹15.65 crore from the CRRT and ₹78.80 crore from the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDCO), while the Pammal portion will get ₹27.82 crore from CRRT and ₹104.53 crore from TUFIDCO, he added.

TTD to conduct bhoomi pooja for new temple

TTD to conduct bhoomi pooja for new temple

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.02.2021 

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) will conduct a bhoomi pooja or groundbreaking ceremony of a Sri Padmavati Ammavaru temple at GN Chetty Road in T Nagar on Saturday.

The bhoomi pooja will be performed by Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi of Sri Kachi Kamakoti Peetam. The ceremony will begin at 8.42am. The Shankaracharya will also hand over cows and calves to eight temples in Tamil Nadu at 7.15am. The cows will be offered to the temples under the TTD’s flagship programme ‘Gudiko Gomatha,’ which is aimed at safeguarding indigenous cow breeds across the country.

This is the fourth shrine built by the TTD in the state. The temples were previously built in T Nagar, Kanyakumari and Vellore. The foundation stone to build the fifth temple in the state, at Ulundurpet, will be laid soon.

2-year imprisonment for former vehicle inspector for taking bribe

2-year imprisonment for former vehicle inspector for taking bribe

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.02.2021 

Twelve years after a motor vehicle inspector was caught red-handed while taking bribe by DVAC officials, a special court for cases dealing with the Prevention of Corruption Act found him guilty and sentenced him to two-year rigorous imprisonment. The official took ₹1,200 from an autorickshaw driver to release his original RC book.

According to the prosecution, on June 2, 2009, a load-auto owner who was taking his vehicle to a mechanic to get it repaired to avail a fitness certificate was stopped by the accused official, R Chinnakannu who was attached to RTO, Chennai (north). He verified and returned all documents except the original RC book. The prosecution stated that the official had demanded a bribe of ₹1,200 to return the docuemnt and to not register any case against the vehicle owner.

A week later, when the vehicle owner approached the official, he reiterated the demanded. Later, DVAC sleuths caught him accepting the bribe.

The final report was filed before the court in August 2010. In response, the counsel for the accused denied the charges and pleaded not guilty after which the trial commenced.

The counsel for the accused argued that the vehicle owner had only paid the road tax amount and that the police forced the official to take the money kept on the table and keep it in his pocket and the accused official never demanded any bribe from the vehicle owner.

After perusing the submissions from both sides, J Omprakash, special judge, special court for cases under prevention of corruption act held that the prosecution has proved with enough evidence that the official had accepted bribe and sentenced the official for two-year rigorous imprisonment.

Shame if advocates refuse to vacate rented premises: HC

Shame if advocates refuse to vacate rented premises: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.02.2021 

Censuring an advocate for refusing to vacate a rented property, the Madras high court has said some advocates are now-a-days looked upon as ‘rowdies and third rated criminals’ (due to their activities).

“It is very saddening to note that it is a shame on the part of an advocate to refuse to vacate the premises, when a landlord requires it. Advocates are referred to as gentlemen in the Preamble to Chapter-II of the Bar Council of India Rules under Section 49(1)

(c) of the Act read with the proviso thereto,” Justice S Vaidyanathan said.

The court made the observation on a plea moved by advocate V K Kumaresan seeking to set aside an ex parte order passed against him in favour of his landlord P Jayaseelan.

“This court as early as on February 19, 2020 directed the petitioner to vacate the premises within two weeks. It is very unfortunate that the petitioner took one long year to comply with the said order. However, this court is of the view that the approach adopted by the petitioner in a clandestine manner to defeat the orders of this court, is clear abuse of process of the court,” the judge said.

Under the pretext that a review application has been filed, this matter was dragged on by the petitioner to deceive the court and the landlord, the judge added. The court then asked the bar council to take action against the petitioner and proceed further for the misconduct on the complaint.

“Registry is directed to send a copy of this order to Madras High Court Advocates Association, Madras Bar Association and Women Lawyers' Association to inform their members that they should not defend a dishonest tenant, who happens to be a deceitful advocate, like the petitioner herein, who is not a gentleman, in order to safeguard the reputation of this profession, the court said.

Anna univ can’t have 2 M Tech courses this year, AICTE tells HC

Anna univ can’t have 2 M Tech courses this year, AICTE tells HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.02.2021 

The two Centresponsored M Tech courses for which admissions were cancelled by Anna University over quota-related controversy cannot be offered this year as the cut-off date set by the Supreme Court is over, AICTE told the Madras high court on Friday.

The deadline for completing admissions to M Tech biotechnology and M Tech computational biology courses expired on December 31, 2020, AICTE told the court, adding: “It is practically impossible to commence the courses this academic year.”

The All India Council of Technical Education’s submission has come after Tamil Nadu government mooted creation of nine more supernumerary seats to offset the difference between Tamil Nadu’s 69% reservation policy, and the Centre’s 49.5% ceiling. Tamil Nadu, however, said it would not be able to offer ₹12,000 to ₹12,500 monthly stipend to these nine students.

The case relates to a petition filed by an M Tech aspirant who wanted admissions to the course to be resumed this year.

It all started when Anna University made an announcement that it was constrained to cancel admission for the two sponsored courses as the Centre was insisting on following its 49.5% reservation policy.

On Friday, when the plea came up for further hearing, Justice P Pugalendhi wondered whether approval of AICTE is required since the courses were not technical/ engineering. To this, counsel for the Centre said no other authority has powers to approve the courses except the AICTE.

Recording the submissions, the court suggested that either the state or the university could approach the apex court and seek extension. “Since both the university and state are willing to conduct the courses one of you can approach the Supreme Court for remedy,” the judge suggested.

There are about 45 sponsored seats in these two MTech courses, and till last year the Centre used to directly fill them. This year, however, the admission job was handed over to the university.

The Madras high court suggested that since Anna University and the state are willing to conduct the M Tech courses one of them can approach the Supreme Court for remedy

ஏற்காட்டில் கடும் பனிப்பொழிவு- வாட்டி வதைக்கும் குளிரால் மக்கள் தவிப்பு

ஏற்காட்டில் கடும் பனிப்பொழிவு- வாட்டி வதைக்கும் குளிரால் மக்கள் தவிப்பு

பதிவு: பிப்ரவரி 10, 2021 14:52 IST

ஏழைகளின் ஊட்டி என்றழைக்கப்படும் ஏற்காட்டில் கடந்த சில நாட்களாக அதிக அளவில் பனிப்பொழிவு உள்ளது. இதனால் 11 மணி வரை குளிர் வாட்டி வதைக்கிறது.

சேலம்:

சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் கடந்த சில நாட்களாக வெயிலின் தாக்கம் படிப்படியாக அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. இதனால் பொதுமக்கள் மதிய நேரங்களில் வெளியில் நடமாட முடியாமல் அவதிப்பட்டு வருகிறார்கள்.

அதே நேரத்தில் அதிகாலை நேரங்களில் வழக்கத்தை விட கூடுதலாக பனிப்பொழிவு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால் கடந்த சில நாட்களாக குளிரும் வாட்டி வதைக்கிறது. இதனால் வாகன ஓட்டிகள் மற்றும் பொதுமக்கள் காலை நேரங்களில் வெளியில் செல்ல முடியாமல் அவதிப்பட்டு வருகிறார்கள்.

ஏழைகளின் ஊட்டி என்றழைக்கப்படும் ஏற்காட்டில் கடந்த சில நாட்களாக அதிக அளவில் பனிப்பொழிவு உள்ளது. இதனால் 11 மணி வரை குளிர் வாட்டி வதைக்கிறது. மலைப்பாதையில் பனி மூட்டம் அதிகமாக உள்ளதால் வாகன ஓட்டிகள் முகப்பு விளக்குகளை போட்ட படியே செல்கின்றனர். 10 மணி வரை பொது மக்கள் வெளியே வரமுடியால் தவித்து வருகிறார்கள்.

பள்ளி, கல்லூரிகள் திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதால் ஏற்காட்டிற்கு சுற்றுலா பயணிகளின் வருகை மிகவும் குறைந்துள்ளது. ஏற்காடு மான் பூங்கா, அண்ணா பூங்கா, படகு குழாம், சேர்வராயன் கோவில், பக்கோடா பாயிண்ட், லேடீஸ் சீட், ஜென்ஸ் சீட் உள்பட அனைத்து பகுதிகளும் வெறிச்சோடி காணப்படுகிறது.

Breaking- Rules Abolishing One Year LLM Course Will Not Be Implemented This Year: Bar Council Of India Assures In Supreme Court

Breaking- Rules Abolishing One Year LLM Course Will Not Be Implemented This Year: Bar Council Of India Assures In Supreme Court: The Bar Council of India on Thursday submitted before the Supreme Court the BCI Rules abolishing

 https://www.dinamani.com/religion/religion-news/2021/feb/11/why-is-the-thai-amavasai-so-special-3561192.html

Min wants medicos to take the lead

Min wants medicos to take the lead

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:11.02.2021 

Medical students should lead the Covid-19 inoculation programme by taking the vaccine, said K Sudhakar, health and medical education minister, during the inauguration of the obstetric triage at Vani Vilas Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Sudhakar’s comments come in the wake of medicos postponing the jab citing exams. “Medical students should be ambassadors of the drive,” he said. “Other staff will then be inspired. There are no side effects. Students should shoulder the responsibility of boosting morale of the public.”

He said some states had announced a cut in salary if employees refuse inoculation, but Karnataka hasn’t gone that far. “More than 25 countries want our vaccines. Here, it is being offered free. People should take it,” he said. He said Covid has taught people the importance of health. “Health infrastructure has improved. Today the health and medical education departments have 30,000 oxygenated beds, up from 7.500 prior to the pandemic,” he said.

No trial, no vax for pregnant women: Experts

No trial, no vax for pregnant women: Experts

Pune:11.02.2021 

Public health experts have said pregnant women and lactating mothers should not be given Covid-19 vaccine since trials have not been conducted on such subjects.

Dr Vinod Paul, Niti Aayog member (health), said, “There have been no trials for this group. So they cannot be administered vaccines.”

“Pregnant and lactating women are left out of trials as no one wants to risk damage to mother or baby,” said vaccine scientist Dr Gagandeep Kang. “Current vaccines can’t be tried on them.” TNN

›62% of those vaccinated in Karnataka are women, P 2

HC seeks reply of MP govt on delay in release of Vyapam whistleblower

HC seeks reply of MP govt on delay in release of Vyapam whistleblower

‘What Am I — Revolutionary Or Criminal?’ Asks Ashish Chaturvedi

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:11.02.2021 

The Madhya Pradesh high court has issued notices to the state government and DG (prisons), seeking their explanation on a PIL filed by Vyapam whistleblower Ashish Chaturvedi, alleging that he was kept under detention for 18 hours despite bail.

“I was fighting for a cause and the arrest has led to a blot on my image. I won’t get a government job. Let the government declare if I am a revolutionary or a criminal,” Chaturvedi says in the PIL.

Chaturvedi was sent to jail on August 9, 2018, by a special court in Gwalior after he failed to heed repeated summons to record his statement in connection with a complaint he had filed on one of the alleged kingpins of the Vyapam case, Rahul Yadav. Police executed a non-bailable warrant to produce him in court.

During the hearing, Chaturvedi appeared without his lawyer. When he was asked to record his statement, he refused. He was warned that he would be arrested and let off only if he paid a surety of Rs 200. But Chaturvedi refused to budge and was sentenced to jail for 15 days.

“On very same day, the fine of Rs 200 was deposited (by someone on his behalf) and the fourth additional sessions judge, Vyapam, Gwalior, ordered his release. Even after issuance of release warrant, Chaturvedi was kept in custody in Gwalior Central Jail from the evening of August 9, 2018, till 8am on August 10, 2018. This illegal custody is highly objectionable, and deserves cognizance against the responsible officers,” says the petition.

An anguished Chaturvedi said, “I was jailed in the same prison that houses Vyapam accused. My detention, despite the release warrant, was illegal, arbitrary and unlawful.”

In a PIL filed before Madhya Pradesh HC, Ashish Chaturvedi alleged that he was kept under detention for 18 hours despite bail

NOC from competitors? No need, HC tells NGU

NOC from competitors? No need, HC tells NGU

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:11.02.2021 

The Gujarat high court said that there cannot be the pre-condition of obtaining an NOC from a competitor college within a 25-km radius to start an educational institution in the same discipline.

With this observation, the bench of Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice Gita Gopi said that the provision of Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University can be dispensed with by which it grants affiliation to an education institute only after it obtains an NOC from another institute imparting education in the same discipline within a 25-km radius.

The issue involved Swamy Vivekanand Education Trust, which wanted to start a college in Kadi in 2013 and requested the university for affiliation. The university received an opinion from its local inspection committee and granted affiliation to the trust. But another institute being run by MP Shah Education Society objected and moved the HC claiming that its NOC was not obtained. A single-judge bench held that the new college should have obtained an NOC from the nearby existing institute.

The issue reached to the division bench, which expressed its “dismay” at the existence of such a system in NGU. The judges observed, “On an overview of the situation also and with the rapid increase in the population and number of students increasing ever, we cannot even appreciate the restrictions put about the existence of more than one or more educational institutions to provide such education and these variety of factors which may be relevant to determine the need for setting up of more of such educational institutions, which is ever changing and therefore, no static criteria or yardsticks can be fixed even by the competent bodies under the Act of 1986.”

For affiliation, a new college needed an NOC from another college of same discipline if it was within a 25-km radius

3 needles removed from woman’s body

3 needles removed from woman’s body

Ahmedabad:11.02.2021 

A 25-year-old woman from Jammu & Kashmir had a freak accident, as she fell on needles in a carpet she was weaving, and three needles pierced her. The knitting needles had penetrated deep into her abdomen, causing her severe pain.

“She was brought to Civil Hospital by reference earlier this month. When her CT scan and other tests were performed, we learned that the needles were very near the large intestine and piercing the intestine could lead to sepsis,” said a gastric surgeon. The team pinpointed the locations of each needle and extracted them in a two-hour surgery.

Officials said that an image intensifier system was brought in for the surgery which helped locate the needles precisely. “The circulation of needles in other parts of the body could have also proved fatal,” said an official. TNN

Air ticket price bands to go once things are back to normal

Air ticket price bands to go once things are back to normal

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:11.02.2021 

Stating that domestic passenger traffic is gradually picking up, Union minister for civil aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday informed Parliament that the ticket price bands are expected to be done away with once flight services reach pre-Covid levels.

Hopeful that normalcy would return in the summer schedule, Puri shared data on the phased reopening of air traffic to point out that when flights were opened up in May last year, there were only 30,000 passengers. However, on Monday there were about 2,87,000 passengers.

The civil aviation sector was completely closed down on March 23, 2020, and was reopened in a phased manner starting from May 25 last year in what the minister described to be “a slow and calibrated manner” by putting in place SOPs and provisions for seamless contactless travel among other measures.

On the way forward, the minister said that a decision to open beyond the 80% capacity will depend on the behaviour of the virus and an assessment that that all SOPs are in place.

Employee cannot dictate terms of place of posting: HC

Employee cannot dictate terms of place of posting: HC

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:11.02.2021 

Dismissing the plea filed by Ravi Prakash Gupta, a visually impaired IAS officer, alleging that he has been deliberately denied fieldwork by the Haryana government, the Punjab and Haryana high court has held that no statutory rule or the order of any court has been violated by the state regarding his transfers.

Observing that an employee cannot dictate terms with regard to his place of posting, the HC held, “The said power is vested in the employer, who is to exercise the said powers as per the administrative exigencies keeping in view the public interest unless it involves any adverse impact on the career or further prospects.”

“The exercise of the power of transfer in the present case cannot be said to be not in accordance with law, which would call for any interference by this court in exercise of its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, especially under the power of judicial review,” observed the court.

A division bench comprising Justice Augustine George Masih and Justice Ashok Kumar Verma has passed these orders while dismissing the petition filed by Gupta upholding the order dated June 3, 2020, passed by the Chandigarh bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

The CAT had dismissed his plea challenging the transfer order dated May 18, 2020, from the post of deputy commissioner (DC), Fatehabad, to the post of director, Swarna Jayanti Haryana Institute for Fiscal Management.

The HC has also held that it could not find any violation of the statutory rule, any order of any court, including the SC, and has also not found any mala fide in the transfer orders of Gupta passed by then chief secretary Keshni Anand Arora.

Full report on www.timesofindia.com

The said power is vested in the employer, who is to exercise the said powers as per the administrative exigencies keeping in view the public interest, the Punjab & Haryana HC observed

Fearing arrest, man agrees to marry dalit woman

Fearing arrest, man agrees to marry dalit woman

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.02.2021 

Marriages may be made in heaven but it was the fear of arrest under rape charges that made a Jat Sikh man keep his promise to marry a scheduled caste woman after trying to wriggle out citing the woman’s caste.

Kanwarbir Singh fell in love with a dalit woman and took her to a gurdwara where he promised to marry her. After the promise, they stayed in hotels and had a sexual relationship. Later, the man spurned the woman and said his parents were objecting to the marriage as she belonged to the Scheduled Caste community.

Crestfallen, the woman, who worked in Australia, filed an FIR at NRI police station in Amritsar, accusing Singh of raping her on the promise of marriage. Fearing arrest, the man moved the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking anticipatory bail. The HC refused to grant relief.

Singh moved the SC seeking anticipatory bail. Finding the chances of getting relief bleak, the man entered into a compromise with the woman, agreed to marry her within six months and filed the agreement before an SC bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

When Singh’s counsel Shakti Paul Sharma informed the bench about the compromise and the man’s willingness to marry the woman he spurned, the bench asked, “How come, suddenly the caste problem has disappeared? Is the settlement a sham and to stall prosecution? Will the issue crop up again once the prosecution is stayed?”

Sharma said Singh’s parents too had filed an affidavit stating the marriage would definitely take place within six months and after marriage, their son would migrate to Australia to be with his wife. The bench agreed to entertain Singh’s anticipatory bail plea and said, “We will issue notice on the petition but will grant relief only after you get married.”

When the advocate sought a stay on arrest, the bench said it would consider the same after Singh got married to the woman. Sharma then said the woman’s arrival from Australia for the marriage was getting delayed because of the strict Covid-19 protocol in that country. This persuaded the bench to stay Singh’s arrest. “Since you have agreed to marry, we will stay your arrest. If you don’t marry her, we will send you back to jail,” it said.

Four of family take poison, parents die

Four of family take poison, parents die

Salem:11.02.2021 

In a suicide pact, four members of a family took poison near Attur in the district on Tuesday night. While the parents died, the children are battling for lives in hospital.

Police identified the deceased as P Velmurugan, 37, of Pungavadi village, and his wife Sathya, 33. Their children – 13-year-old Abinaya and 11-yearold Sanjay – are hospitalised.

A police source said Velmurugan, a driver did not have a job. “His mother Dhanalakshmi used to scold his wife. When he intervened in their fight on Tuesday night, his mother scolded him too.” Upset, the couple, along with their children decided to end their lives. He poured poison into their ears and fed it to the children forcibly, but they managed to escape and alert the villagers,” the officer said.

According the officer, Velmurugan and Sathya had died by the time the villagers reached the spot. When alerted, the Attur police sent the bodies to the nearby government for postmortem. “The boy’s condition is critical at a private hospital, while the girl is undergoing treatment in the government hospital in Attur,” the officer said. A case has registered. TNN

Sasi isolates herself, no visitors for a week

Sasi isolates herself, no visitors for a week

Ilavarasi To Stay With Her At T Nagar

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.02.2021 

After a 24-hour trip from Bengaluru, and a grand reception en route, former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s confidante V K Sasikala, who has recovered from Covid-19 recently, has sought to isolate herself for another week. Her co-convict in the disproportionate assets case and sister-in-law, J Ilavarasi would give her company in a house on Habibullah Road in T Nagar in Chennai, sources said.

Her supporters have been gathering near the residence ever since she arrived in the city at 6.30am on Tuesday. Save for a few AMMK officebearers, who met her upon her arrival, no party cadre or functionary had been given audience until Wednesday. Sasikala had a word of praise for AMMK functionaries, when Dhinakaran introduced his loyalists to her for arranging a grand reception. “She has been advised rest for now. She may meet visitors from next week,” said a source. Her legal team is eagerly awaiting a call from her in case she wanted to discuss the next course of action regarding matters relating to the AIADMK.

On Wednesday, Nagercoil former AIADMK MLA A Nanjil Murugesan, who claimed to be a Sasikala supporter, met her aides. “It was she who recommended my name twice to Amma (Jayalalithaa) to contest from Nagercoil. Only she can lead the AIADMK. All those who speak against her are ungrateful and will fall at her feet soon,” Murugesan told TOI. The AIADMK had expelled Murugesan from the primary membership of the party, after he was booked under POCSO.

Ilavarasi’s daughter, Krishnapriya is staying in an adjoining house. The Habibullah Road residence is a property of Anjaneya Printers Private Limited, in which Krishnapriya is one of the directors. After the Income Tax department attached Sasikala’s nine-ground property opposite to Veda Nilayam in Poes Garden, where construction was going on until a few months ago, the family chose the T Nagar house, considering her plan to return to active politics.

Jayalalithaa’s assistants, drivers and security guards in Poes Garden, K T Karthikeyan, M Iyyappan, C Kannan, Rajan Pradhan and Bhim Thapa, remain with her in T Nagar. “They continued to be her staff even after she left for Bengaluru prison,” said a source. Jayalalithaa’s cook Rajammal is being taken care of by Sasikala, sources said.

GRAND HOMECOMING: V K Sasikala at Ramavaram Gardens to garland the statue of MGR in Chennai on Tuesday

Now rent a bike taxi for multiple stops

Now rent a bike taxi for multiple stops

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

11.02.2021 

Bike taxi services have been an economical alternative to cabs, especially for the young who wanted a short trip or two, but for those who wanted to visit several places over a few hours without an own vehicle, options were limited.

Now, the only bike taxi service in the city offers rental services for multipoint trips. Rapido, which has been operating in Chennai for two years, launched the facility on Wednesday, which may spur more service providers to enter the scene. The new service will allow commuters, who have to complete multiple tasks at different locations but do not want to go through the hassle of multiple bookings and waiting for the ride to arrive every time.

Rapido said this would will bring down transportation cost further. In case someone travels around 40km in the city within four hours using the bike rental option, it would cost him/ her ₹399. Renting a cab for a similar duration or distance would cost around ₹650, which is almost 60% more. Ola and Uber offer bike taxi services in the city, but their expansion plans have been put on hold due to the pandemic. Two years ago, the authorities seized 175 bike taxis calling them illegal. But the Madras high court allowed bike taxi services and told the government to frame necessary guidelines. The government, however, is yet to frame the rules.

Rapido co-founder Aravind Sanka said that in the last months the company noticed a rising need for multistop, affordable and easily accessible ride among customers. “With Rapido Rental, we aim to address the need of such users. This can be a short stopover to pick a few things from a local shop to longer/ multiple stops related to work or personal use such as for comprehensive shopping or house hunting.” he said.

An official statement from the company said that the concept was conceived as a result of customer usage data analysis. The Company launched an MVP (minimal viable product) to validate the data and hypothesis. Rapido Rental operates in six tier-I Indian cities including Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad in the south. Rapido, which launched its operation in Chennai with 500 bikes in 2019, has around 90,000 ‘captains’ (riders) who share the earnings with the company.

Transportation activist R Rengachari said, “Given the significant reduction in MTC’s small buses and share autorickshaws hiking fare, bike taxis would attract more passengers.” he said.

25,000 vax doses wasted in TN; give them to elderly, say doctors

25,000 vax doses wasted in TN; give them to elderly, say doctors

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.02.2021 

More than 25,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have gone waste following low turnout at vaccination centres across Tamil Nadu since the launch of the nationwide drive on January 16. The directorate of public health, which is responsible for the drive in the state, said nearly 15% of the shots have gone waste after vaccinating 1,97,114 people until Wednesday.

With several elderly and vulnerable people waiting for their shots across Tamil Nadu, senior epidemiologists, virologists and infectious diseases experts are now demanding that the vaccination drive be opened to general public, with priority to elderly and those with comorbid conditions. “This will reduce wastage. Some people may jump the queue, but even that may still be better than wasting precious doses. At least 100 countries across the globe are still waiting for their first dose,” said infectious diseases expert Dr Subramaniam Swaminathan, who has been treating Covid-19 patients.

‘WON’T LET SELECT STATES SHIFT COURSE’

Ready to give shot to elderly, waiting for Centre nod: TN

Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had recently tweeted that the government is ensuring that no vial or session is wasted and in case of absenteeism, vaccines are being allotted to other beneficiaries.

The Covid vaccines Covishield or Covaxin come in 10 or 20 dose vials and have to be used within four hours after being opened. But with poor turnout, several vials containing unused doses are moved into special boxes labelled as “unusable vials”. Public health officials said vaccinators cannot offer the vaccine to willing elderly or those with comorbid conditions because the national programme does not allow vaccination of people who are not registered on the centralized Cowin portal. “We are told that it cannot be given to anyone other than registered healthcare providers or frontline workers,” said joint director immunization Dr K Vinay Kumar.

Senior virologist Dr T Jacob John says when Covid-19 cases are coming down, the goal should be prevention of severe disease and death along with strategies for safe reopening. “We should give the first dose of the vaccine to the targeted groups as early as possible even if that delays the second dose to health workers,” he said. Studies also show that the efficacy goes from 54% to 82% when the vaccine’s second dose of Covishield is delayed from 28 days to 12 weeks, he added.

State health minister C Vijayabaskar said the state has written to the Centre seeking permission to offer the vaccine to vulnerable groups. “If they permit us we will be able to start vaccinations. This can reduce wastage too,” he said.

The Union health ministry, however, said it will not be able to “permit select states change the course” of the national programme. During their interaction with state officials over videoconference on Tuesday, central government officials have asked the state to wrap up the first dose of vaccinations for healthcare providers in another 10 days, but did not allow the state to expand coverage to elderly group. Director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam said the state has told healthcare workers it would cancel their “priority” if they do not get vaccinated.

TN siddha doc Sivaraj passes away aged 78

TN siddha doc Sivaraj passes away aged 78

11.02.2021 

Dr Sivaraj Sivakumar, a siddha doctor and male fertility specialist, died of age-related ailments at a hospital in Salem on Wednesday. He was 78 and is survived by his wife Mallika, 70, a son and a daughter. The Sivaraj Siddha Vaidya Salai has been operating for more than seven generations in Salem.

Two-member panel to probe TRB ‘job scam’

Two-member panel to probe TRB ‘job scam’

Chennai:11.02.2021

Two years after an alleged scam in the recruitment of 814 computer instructors through Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB), the Madras high court on Wednesday appointed a two-member committee consisiting of a former HC judge and a retired inspector general of police to look into the issue.

The committee will study the manner in which the examination was conducted at various centres. It will be open to the committee to seek CCTV footage. In the event of CCTV footage not being available at some centres, the panel must seek an explanation about it. It will also be open to the panel to speak to the examinees so that all apprehension expressed by the petitioners may be addressed, said a bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy. TNN

HC seeks probe report in April

The bench passed the order on an appeal moved by the state government challenging a single judge order.

“Justice N Authinathan (retired) who has been appointed by the single judge as a one-man committee to go into the probe shall appoint a retired police officer not below the rank of inspector-general who is without any political leanings so that the committee now comprises of two members,” the bench said.

The bench asked the committee to conclude the exercise within six weeks and file the report before the single judge by April 30. The appointments already given to the successful candidates will abide by the result of the proceedings and the final order that may be made on the petitions by the single judge, the bench said.

The issue pertains to an order passed by a single judge on December 17, 2020, constituting the one-man committee to probe the allegations. The order was passed on a batch of petitions moved by unsuccessful candidates alleging large scale irregularities including allowing the use of mobile phones while attending exams.

As all such allegations pertained to three exam centres established in KSR College of Engineering, Namakkal, Annai College of Engineering, Thanjavur, and Kongunadu College of Engineering, Trichy, the court permitted the state to proceed with the appointment of candidates selected from other centers.

As the single judge restricted the probe only to the three centers, the bench has expanded the same to all the 742 centres where the exams were held. The direct recruitment drive was conducted in 2019.

Muslim Man Can Marry More Than Once Without Divorcing Earlier Wife But Same Doesn't Apply To A Muslim Woman: P&H High Court

Muslim Man Can Marry More Than Once Without Divorcing Earlier Wife But Same Doesn't Apply To A Muslim Woman: P&H High Court: A Muslim lady has to divorce her first husband, either under the Muslim Personal Law or under the provisions of the Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, before contracting a second marriage

இந்தியன் வங்கி சேவை 3 நாட்கள் பாதிப்படையும்

இந்தியன் வங்கி சேவை 3 நாட்கள் பாதிப்படையும்

Added : பிப் 09, 2021 22:40

சென்னை:இந்தியன் வங்கியுடன், அலகாபாத் வங்கி, 2020 ஏப்., 1 முதல் இணைக்கப்பட்டு, இந்தியன் வங்கியாக செயல்பட்டு வருகிறது.

இந்த நிலையில், இந்தியன் வங்கியில், வரும் மூன்று நாட்கள், சர்வர் இணைக்கும் பணி நடைபெற இருப்பதால், வங்கி சேவையில் பாதிப்பு இருக்கும் என, வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு தகவல் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது.இந்தியன் வங்கி அனுப்பியுள்ள குறுந்தகவல்:இந்தியன் வங்கி -- அலகாபாத் வங்கிகளின், சர்வர்களை இணைக்கும் இறுதிகட்ட பணிகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

இதன் காரணமாக, வரும், 12ம் தேதி, இரவு, 9:00 மணி முதல், 15ம் தேதி காலை, 9:00 மணி வரை, வங்கி சேவையில் பாதிப்பு ஏற்படும். வாடிக்கையாளர்கள்ஒத்துழைக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.பாக்ஸ்

புதிய துணைவேந்தர் தேர்வு அறிவிப்பு

புதிய துணைவேந்தர் தேர்வு அறிவிப்பு

Added : பிப் 09, 2021 22:39

சென்னை:தமிழ்நாடு அம்பேத்கர் சட்ட பல்கலைக்கு புதிய துணைவேந்தரை நியமிப்பதற்கான அறிவிப்பு வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் அம்பேத்கர் சட்ட பல்கலை துணைவேந்தராக, சூர்ய நாராயண சாஸ்திரி பணியாற்றுகிறார். இவரது பதவிக்காலம் இந்த ஆண்டு, மார்ச், 21ல் முடிகிறது. இதையொட்டி, புதிய துணைவேந்தரை தேர்வு செய்வதற்கான நடவடிக்கை துவங்கியுள்ளது.

முதற்கட்டமாக, மூன்று பேர் அடங்கிய தேடல் குழு அமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது.சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்ற ஓய்வு பெற்ற நீதிபதி கலையரசன், திருச்சி தேசிய சட்ட கல்லுாரியின் முன்னாள் துணைவேந்தர் கமலா சங்கரன், அம்பேத்கர் சட்ட பல்கலை முன்னாள் துணைவேந்தர் டார்வேஷ் ஆகியோர், தேடல் குழுவில் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளனர்.இதையடுத்து, புதிய துணைவேந்தரை தேர்வு செய்வதற்கான விண்ணப்ப அறிவிப்பு வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தகுதியான கல்வியாளர்கள், தங்கள் கல்வி தகுதி, ஆராய்ச்சி மற்றும் அனுபவ விபரங்களை, மார்ச், 1க்குள் அனுப்புமாறு தேடல் குழுவின் சார்பில், பொறுப்பு அதிகாரி அறிவித்துள்ளார். மேலும் விபரங்களை, http://www.tndalu.ac.in என்ற இணையதளத்தில் தெரிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

6.7L gave up citizenship of India between 2015 & ’19: Govt

6.7L gave up citizenship of India between 2015 & ’19: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:10.02.2021 

More than 6.7 lakh people gave up their Indian citizenship and took the citizenship of other countries between 2015 and 2019, the home ministry informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

As per figures put out in reply to a question, junior home minister Nityanand Rai said the ministry of external affairs had put the total number of Indian nationals living abroad at 1.25 crore.

While1.36 lakh gave up Indian citizenship in 2019, the number was 1.25 lakh in 2018, 1.28 lakh in 2017, and around 1.45 lakh in both 2016 and 2015.

Meanwhile, around 37 lakh people were issued Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards since 2005, though the number od such people fell to 1.91 lakh in 2020 from 3.29 lakh in 2019.

Aadhaar must for online renewal of DLs

Aadhaar must for online renewal of DLs

New Delhi:10.02.2021 

Driving licence holders and vehicle owners would need to get Aadhaar authentication to avail 16 types of online and contactless services and avoid the hassles of visiting offices of transport departments. These include obtaining learner's licence, renewal of DL, changes of address and certificate of registration, issue of international driving licence, notice of transfer and application for transfer of ownership of vehicle. According to a draft “order” by the road transport ministry, “Any individual desirous of availing various contactless services through the portal is required to undergo Aadhaar authentication. ”

This voluntary Aadhaar authentication will help the government to weed out fake documents and more than one driving licences held by individuals, which are big deterrents to road safety in India.

Another official said considering that people are opting more for contactless or online services they are hopeful of this becoming popular. The state government would be asked to make this initiative popular among people. TNN

RGUHS will geo-tag affiliate colleges to ensure better infra

RGUHS will geo-tag affiliate colleges to ensure better infra

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:10.02.2021

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) will roll out geo-tagging of all its affiliate institutions to avoid their uneven spread and ensure quality in infrastructure. The university has brought in a moratorium on starting new colleges, barring medical colleges, in Bengaluru Urban district and Mangaluru.

“Due to high density of colleges in these two places, new ones will not be allowed. This rule was in place for academic year 2020-21 and will continue for 2021-22. This is applicable for all colleges except medical ones. In case a proposal is received, it will first go to the syndicate,” said Shivanand Kapashi, registrar.

The university is bringing in major reforms of the local inquiry committee in renewing affiliation and considering new applications of colleges. “Many institutions run multiple colleges from the same building despite each demanding specific requirements. Such ille gal colle ges can be tracked down with geo-tagging,” said HJ Jaikrishna, syndicate member.

Aadhaar-linked biometric attendance is being introduced to check the issue of “ghost lecturers” who visit multiple colleges during inspections. Apart from informed inspections by LIC, the reforms also suggest surprise checks with photo and video recording, presence of subject experts and special formats for filling in details of the visits.

The university had received applications to start 160 new colleges — 101 for nursing and 60 for allied health t— his year.

Of these, 60 have been recommended to the government for approval by the university. There had been criticism that many of the deficiencies were overlooked during the LIC visits and were then scrutinised at the syndicate level.

“Many earlier applications that were pending because of some deficiencies were added this year, taking the numbers up to 160. We’ve taken extra steps with additional two layers of checking. The syndicate also randomly visited some colleges among the 64 that were recommended by the LIC. Finally, a list of 60 colleges has been sent to the government,” said the registrar.

The move will help in addressing the problem of density of colleges in a single area. Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Hubballi have high number of colleges. We need an even spread to ensure access to all students. Geo-tagging will provide all details about a college in Karnataka that students can use to verify before taking admission

HJ Jaikrishna |

SYNDICATE MEMBER