Private trains to soon run in state

Private trains to soon run in state

Firms To Be Selected By End Of June

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.06.2021

Southern Railway has completed groundwork to enable private players to run trains from Chennai and other cities in the state as the Railway Board is gearing up to select firms by the end of the month. The financial bids for running trains, including on11 routes in Chennai cluster, will be opened by June-end. The project cost for Chennai cluster will be Rs3,221crore, covering around 1,052km, the highest after Mumbai.

The routes identified include Chennai to Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Kanyakumari, Tiruneveli, Mumbai, Mangalore, Secunderabad and Delhi. Railway Board chairman and CEO Suneet Sharma said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday that railways was going ahead with the tender process and more than 10 players are eligible for bidding. "We will open the tender in June and we hope to get proper response from the companies," he said.

As the companies who were qualified to bid for the project in the request for qualification have already started to set up ties and to get rolling stock, technology transfer and other finer details, running of private trains may start running along these routes by end of the year or earlier.

The private operator will bring rolling stock, fix fare and run the train using railways' crew. As per the arrangement, railway zones were told to identify stations, maintenance yard, washing lines, pitlines within existing facilities for maintaining the private trains or earmark land for the operator to build such facilities near the stations.

A senior official of Southern Railway did not reveal the specifics but said that the zone has identified all the required infrastructure like stations, maintenance yards or lands for private trains.

Sources said that Tambaram could be a terminal for south-bound private trains while Tondiarpet yard was being considered for maintaining private trains. Railways has started adding passenger facilities at Tambaram and has also recently modernised its yard which will also have an automatic train washing system.

Railway Board specifications said that an exclusive electrified line should be identified at yards so that the private trains could drive in and drive out without having to depend on railway-owned shunting locos.

Sharma said that a request for qualification was called and there were successful firms who became eligible and we called for a request for proposals and there is a day fixed for opening of tender.

NEW HORIZON: The financial bids for running trains, including on 11 routes in Chennai cluster, will be opened by June-end

Have ties with Centre like MK did: BJP to Stalin

Have ties with Centre like MK did: BJP to Stalin

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.06.2021

If chief minister M K Stalin and his cabinet colleagues follow former DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s policy of maintaining cordial relations with the Centre, it would benefit the state, said BJP Tamil Nadu president L Murugan on Wednesday.

Murugan said in a statement that Karunanidhi followed the policy of maintaining good relations with the Centre whenever he was in power in the state, because it helped in the state’s growth.

The present DMK government, especially state finance minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan was deviating from that path, he said. Murugan lashed out at Thiagarajan for his view expressed in the GST council meeting that there would be no union without the states. The minister said the Centre should not act like a begrudging donor. Murugan said Thiagarajan’s comments were “childish”.

The BJP leader urged Stalin to advise his ministers to avoid confrontation with the Centre. “They should be focusing on the welfare of the people. This is not the time to do petty politicking,” said Murugan.

Reacting to Stalin’s statement that the failure of the previous AIADMK government in controlling the first wave of Covid had led to the second wave wreaking havoc in Tamil Nadu, Murugan said Stalin and his party colleagues should take the responsibility for creating scare among the people about the vaccines when they were in the opposition. It resulted in vaccine hesitancy among the people. If more people had come forward to take vaccination, the pandemic could have been controlled in Tamil Nadu, said Murugan.

Stalin should ask himself whether he functioned as a responsible opposition leader then, said Murugan.

State to decide on conducting Class XII exams in two days

State to decide on conducting Class XII exams in two days

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.06.2021

The state government will take a call on conducting Class XII board exams after getting feedback from teachers, parents, students, health experts and educationists in the next two days, school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said on Wednesday.

Online meetings will be held and suggestions received on tnschooledu21@gmail.com and on helpline 14417, the minister said.

On Tuesday, citing Covid-19, the Centre cancelled CBSE Class XII exams and said the assessment would be based on objective criteria in a time-bound manner. Students not satisfied with the assessment will be given the option of appearing for exams when the situation is conducive, it said.

Following the Centre’s announcement, chief minister M K Stalin held a meeting with the school education minister.

“The central government took a decision to cancel CBSE Class XII exams when most states were in favour of conducting them. The CM wanted us to get the opinion of teachers, parents, students, health experts and educationists before taking a call on Class XII exams. He also wanted to know the stand of other states on cancelling Class XII exams,” the minister told reporters.

“Students’ health is very important to us. At the same time, Class XII exams and marks are also important for students. At present, there are mixed opinion about the cancellation of board exams. We will take a decision based on a majority of the views," he said.

At the meeting of education ministers last week, Tamil Nadu said it was in favour of conducting the board exams.

Graduates flying abroad in fix over vaccine shortage

Graduates flying abroad in fix over vaccine shortage

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.06.2021

Students from Chennai headed overseas for higher studies are in a fix because of the vaccination policy and visa appointments.

While several foreign universities have made vaccination compulsory for all incoming students, states like Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra (Mumbai) have announced that doses will be reserved for these students at vaccine centres. But there is no such policy in Chennai or other parts of Tamil Nadu. Given the vaccine shortage, many students return home without getting jabs even after queuing up for long.

While some have struggled to get the first dose at private hospitals, the long gap between doses has left many fearing whether they would get it before flying abroad.

Vaibhav Singh, co-founder of Leap which offers financial services to Indian students wanting to pursue higher education abroad, said, “Many students who were supposed to start their classes last year deferred it to this year, hoping to be able to attend offline classes. The second wave added more uncertainty to their plans.”

Now that countries like the US are opening up flights for international students, or allowing vaccinated students to attend classes; students will be able to attend classes in-person. Helping them with priority vaccinations will be a great move to allow them to start degrees in the Fall of 2021, he said.

Many others are facing issues with visa appointments. Some foreign consulates in Chennai are closed and are not accepting regular and even expedited appointment (EA) requests.

“I haven’t slept properly for weeks now because of the anxiety surrounding the visa process,” said a student, who got his PhD admission in the spring of 2021, requesting anonymity. He deferred his admission to the Fall because he was unable to get an appointment till November. His programme starts on September  1.

Alekya Kastury, an engineer from Chennai, said further delay in appointments will impact their travel plans. “It is going to be a situation in which we will be entering classes as soon as we land,” she said.

Many students slated to fly abroad have struggled to get their first dose at private hospitals

Vaccination for 45+ to continue

Vaccination for 45+ to continue

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.06.2021

The Tamil Nadu health departmenton Tuesday received 4.95 lakh doses of covid vaccine even as most districts inthe state complained of empty stock. The consignment included 75,000 doses of Covaxin and of 4.2 lakh doses of Covishield health minister Ma Subramanian said.

“So far, the state has received1.1 crore doses of the vaccine including 4.95 lakh doses we received on Tuesday. The state has administered 90.5 lakh doses and the state now has a stock of 6.5 lakh doses of the vaccine. This will be distributed across the state for vaccination in all districts. All districts will start vaccination by Wednesday,” he said. Priority and additional doses will be given to the western districts, where the caseload has been high, he added.

The fresh stock would help the state continue the vaccination drive for a few more days. “However, these doses are for people aged above 45 years. For people in the 18-44 age group, the state will make the purchase from the two manufacturers,” the minister said.

On Tuesday, 98,183 people including 47,567 in the 18-44 age group took the vaccine on Tuesday.

HC: Reinstate 41 AI pilots, give back wages

HC: Reinstate 41 AI pilots, give back wages

New Delhi:02.06.2021

The Delhi high court on Tuesday came to the rescue of 41 Air India (AI) pilots who were sacked by the company last year, as it quashed the national carrier’s decision and directed their reinstatement, reports Abhinav Garg.

Justice Jyoti Singh, in her order, also directed that back wages would have to be paid to the reinstated pilots along with their seniority. It, however, clarified that the payment of back wages will be as per rationalisation (reduction) of allowances of pilots carried by AI due to the impact of Covid-19 and also made it clear that extension of contract in the future, of those who are on contract, would be at the discretion of AI as per their performances.

HC had asked AI to take sympathetic view of situation

A detailed judgment would be available only on Wednesday. Appearing for some of the petitioners, advocates Keshav Sehgal and Gaurav Sethi had challenged the national carrier’s decision to terminate their services effective from August13 last year.

The pilots argued that there was a lack of decision-making by AI when they withdrew their resignations that had been submitted in 2019.

Citing the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) issued by the DGCA, the pilots were required to serve a mandatory six months’ notice period during which they withdrew their resignations in March 2020, Sehgal submitted. However, no decision was taken by AI on the withdrawal of these resignations, forcing them to move the HC. Even as the plea was pending, AI issued a letter on August13, 2020 illegally and retrospectively accepting their resignation, the petition contended, in violation of settled position of law.

In November last year, the HC had asked AI to take a sympathetic view of the situation and said the employees cannot be left high and dry.

TN govt gives ‘all pass’ for students of Classes I to VIII

TN govt gives ‘all pass’ for students of Classes I to VIII

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.06.2021

Tamil Nadu government has decided to grant ‘all pass’ to students of Classes I to VIII for the current academic year. The state had earlier issued orders to promote students of Classes IX to XI, citing the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a circular issued to chief educational officers on Monday, director of elementary education M Palanisamy said headmasters should enter ‘all pass’ in registers based on Right to Education (RTE) Act.

“As per Section16 of the RTE Act, no child shall be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education. Based on the act, all students studying in all types of schools should be declared pass. The chief education officers should give the necessary directions through email and phone to headmasters,” the circular said.

The directive said the date for reopening of schools would be announced after the end of the lockdown. The announcement on distributing books and welfare schemes, too, would be announced later. Chief minister M K Stalin and school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi held a meeting on Tuesday on Class XII exams.

‘Marks based on previous exams last yr’

Meanwhile, principals wanted the school education department to come out with modalities for awarding marks for Class X students. After cancelling the Class X boards, the school education department is yet to come out with modalities for awarding marks. “Last year, marks were awarded based on quarterly and half-yearly exams. But due to the pandemic, half-yearly and quarterly exams could not be conducted for the current batch. But class tests have been conducted. The state government may award marks to Class X students based on the performance of students in half-yearly and quarterly exams of Class IX and annual exam of Class VIII and can give some weightage to class tests,” said G J Manohar, principal, MCC Higher Secondary School, Chetpet.

Baby not yours, Karnataka cops tell couple as they celebrate his b’day

Baby not yours, Karnataka cops tell couple as they celebrate his b’day

Rajiv.Kalkod@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:02.06.2021

A couple from Koppal in North Karnataka was relaxing after celebrating the first birthday of their son on May 29 when a knock on the door turned their life upside down. Bengaluru police broke to them an earth-shattering news: the boy who they thought was their child born out of surrogacy had been kidnapped from a Bengaluru hospital.

Psychiatrist Dr Rashmi Shashikumar, who had allegedly abducted the boy from the BBMP hospital in Chamarajpet, and handed him over to the couple as part of a ₹14.5-lakh surrogacy deal, is now in Bengaluru police custody.

“The house still had all the signs of the birthday celebrations. Balloons, colourful festoons and toys were all over the place. But we had a duty to do and we explained to the couple that they had been cheated by the doctor and we had come to take back the child,” an investigating officer said.

It took more than an hour for the couple to come to terms with what happened and speak to cops. Officials told them to get ready by May 30 (Sunday) and leave for Bengaluru. Accordingly, the child, the couple and cops travelled to the city.

After taking their statements, Dr Rashmi was arrested. The couple with agricultural background told police they have lost all hope in life.

“Our first child, a girl, is specially challenged and can hardly speak or move. We took her to Dr Rashmi when she was with a private hospital in Hubballi during 2014 and 2015. Dr Rashmi, who came to know that my wife’s uterus had been removed, suggested we have another child through surrogacy,” police quoted the Koppal man as saying.

Full report on www.toi.in

Baby-lifter doctor had loans to clear

Dr Rashmi, according to police, was in deep financial crisis. “Her education loan — ₹7 lakh — was still uncleared. Rashmi, wife of a Bengaluru-based software engineer, had also borrowed ₹3 lakh from friends and relatives,” an officer said. Police are now awaiting the court’s permission to conduct a DNA test to establish the child’s parents. The child is currently with the Koppal couple, while the Child Welfare Committee will take a final decision. The child’s parents, Naveed Pasha, an auto driver, and Husna Banu, want to get their baby back at the earliest.

Student safety supreme; CM will decide on fate of Class XII exams

Student safety supreme; CM will decide on fate of Class XII exams

02.06.2021 

In an interview with Julie Mariappan and A Ragu Raman, school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi shares his ideas and views on issues ranging from abolition of board examinations this year, and doing away with NEET forever, to the barrage of sexual harassment complaints coming from school students against their teachers

Now that CBSE has cancelled board examinations for Class XII, what is TN’s decision on holding state board examinations?

Our chief minister has a lot of concern for the safety of students and their future. We will discuss the issue with the chief minister on Wednesday and he will take a call.

Students are venting their anger on social media, highlighting sexual assaults at the hands of teaching staff and indifference of managements. What are you going to do?

Every school should have a committee headed by a female teacher to deal with complaints of sexual harassment. If the school managements go beyond a ‘limit,’ the state government will not hesitate to move the CBSE for action. The teaching staff, who commits such an offence should be punished. Whenever such complaints are received, the education department holds an inquiry and submits a report to the government. For us, the school management or the teaching community should not get affected just because a teacher commits an offence, or a student gives wrong information. It should be noted that the chief minister has ordered a committee to be set up to frame guidelines for online classes.

The DMK government boycotted a meeting convened by the Centre because the latter did not respond to a request to hold a minister-level discussion on New Education Policy (NEP). Is Tamil Nadu the loser?

We only wanted the Centre to have a meeting at the ministerial level since we are elected members. The policy has many flaws which are against the interests of the students. We are against the three-language formula or kulakkalvi thittam (hereditary education) in the name of vocational courses. The chief minister will soon hold a meeting on the NEP.

DMK also promised a separate state education policy to fulfil the needs of the students. Please Comment.

Our promise is to have a policy for our own and abolishing NEET will form part of that. The previous AIADMK did not do the job properly. You wait and see what DMK will d o on NEET.

What are your immediate priorities in the school education department?

I can proudly say we are on a par with the CBSE when it comes to content or syllabus. We need to bring in innovation and reforms. We have set up a thinktank, a 12-member expert group, to aid us in our activities like setting up model schools, CSR activities or availing ourselves of funds. There are also plans to make the state-run Kalvi TV interactive. You will get to see the developments after the upcoming assembly session.

Dropout rates at all levels have been a cause of concern. What is the current status?

It is prevalent in some areas, mostly among the downtrodden sections who either take away children for work or get their girl children married. We are trying to engage with children to minimise the dropout rate. The continued absence of 30 days without an excuse is considered a dropout in our system.

Have you got a blueprint for the revival of Anna Centenary Library?

Yes, soon the work will begin.

PG doctors oppose course extension

PG doctors oppose course extension

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:02.06.2021

Non-service postgraduate doctors in government medical college hospitals in Tami Nadu staged a protest on Tuesday demanding their absorption into government services.

Total 50 doctors under the banner of non-governmental service doctors association (NGSDA) carried out the demonstration at Mahatma Gandhi memorial governmenthospital (MGMGH) in Trichy.

Their main demand was that they be considered as senior residents. They are students of 2018 to 2021 batch of PG medicine courses. The latest circular from the director of medical education (DME) in Chennai extended their course for one more month, which prompted the PG doctors to protest.

HIGH COURT RULINGS ON EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

HIGH COURT RULINGS ON EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

02.06.2021

BDU justifies using last year’s test for semester exam

Trichy: Bharathidasan University has drawn flak from teachers for using question papers printed for last year’s semester exams in the online exams which began last month and were put off after four days.

However, the university has justified it saying there was nothing wrong in it. While online semester exams were held for a few subjects from May 5, it was subsequently postponed following the surge in Covid -19 cases.

The university has been conducting semester examination in hybrid mode. In this mode, question papers are mailed on the day of exam to the student who have to write it at home and submit the answer scripts in person at the respective colleges after the three-hour exam.

Students who appeared for the first two exams found it strange to see a correction on top of the question paper. They learned that last year’s question paper was given to them after changing the month and year from April 2020 to April 2021 which was visible.

One of the students sent the paper to his teacher who checked it with that of last year but found the questions to be different.

AUT general secretary M S Balamurugan said it was a dent on the integrity of the university. “Old question papers are usually not used. This has left the university exposed of its inefficiency. When there are corrections in the question paper, it is natural for students to have doubts. The office of the controller of examination should have prepared a fresh set,” he said .

Revoke illegal postings in state universities: HC

Chennai: Universities in the state should ensure equal opportunity, fairness and transparency in appointments to all posts, Madras high court has ruled.

Though Justice R Mahadevan passed an order to this effect while hearing a case relating to Bharathiar University, he made it clear that the verdict would apply to all universities in the state.

The judge also ordered the Bharathiar University to videograph interviews conducted for recruitments, to revoke illegal appointments and recover salary paid to such candidates so far.

The court passed the order while disposing of a plea moved by R Ramesh, S Ramkumar and S Kanakaraj challenging the appointment of assistant technical officer (library) made by the university. They wanted the court to direct the university to remove M Gowthaman, who was appointed as the assistant technical officer to Arignar Anna Central Library in the university.

According to the petitioners, Gowthaman did not possess the required qualification – a degree in any subject along with a degree in library science. While an inquiry was conducted by a university committee based on the representation made by the petitioner, Gowthaman was promoted as technical officer.

Concluding the hearing, the court stated that Gowthaman, being unqualified, was not entitled to be appointed as assistant technical officer.

Rejecting the contention that the issue has become infructuous on the superannuation of Gowthaman, Justice Mahadevan said: “This court does not think so, because any illegality cannot be given a seal of authenticity just due to lapse of time.”

Question papers are mailed on the day of exam to the student who has to write it at home and submit scripts in person

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Alas, men have no domestic violence law: HC

Alas, men have no domestic violence law: HC

Junks ‘Domestic Issue’ Case Filed On Man By Wife

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.06.2021  

Times of India 

Reinstating a suspended officer who had suffered cruelty and voluntary desertion by his wife, the Madras high court on Tuesday bemoaned the lack of legal provisions akin to the Domestic Violence Act for a husband to proceed against his wife.

“The present generation must understand that marriage is not a contract, but a sacramental one. Of course, the word ‘sacrament’ has no meaning after coming into effect of the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, that approves live-in-relationship,” observed Justice S Vaidyanathan on Monday.

The case related to the suspension of Dr P Sasikumar by the director of animal husbandry and veterinary services in Chennai on the ground that he was “involved in a domestic issue” and on the basis of a complaint lodged by his estranged wife.

However, Justice Vaidyanathan, pointing out that the domestic violence complaint was lodged by his wife just before the ruling in a long-drawn divorce case, said: “It appears that only to harass the petitioner, the present complaint has been lodged by his wife, based on which police initiated action and the department placed him under suspension.”

The complaint was given four days prior to grant of divorce by the family court which clearly shows that the wife has anticipated divorce order and created unnecessary trouble to the petitioner, said the judge in his ruling.

No need to place petitioner under suspension: HC

The divorce proceedings, initiated before a Salem court in 2015, ended with the divorce order in February 2020.

Justice Vaidyanathan said there was no need for the department to place the petitioner under suspension, and ordered his reinstatement within 15 days. “As the case on hand is an exceptional one, this court interferes with the impugned order of suspension passed by the director of the department, and directs him to reinstate the petitioner in service within 15 days,” the judge said.

Justice Vaidyathan then observed: “Husband and wife must realize that, ‘ego’ and ‘intolerance’ are like footwear and should be left out of their house, when they enter the home, else, the child/children will have to face a miserable life.”

Husband and wife must realize that, ‘ego’ and ‘intolerance’ are like footwear and should be left out of their house, when they enter the home, else, the child/children will have to face a miserable life

JUSTICE VAIDYATHAN

‘Cancelling Class XII Boards May Affect College Admissions’

Mixed response to CBSE move to scrap exams

‘Cancelling Class XII Boards May Affect College Admissions’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:2.6.2021

The decision to cancel CBSE Class XII board examinations has evoked a mixed response among principals of city schools. Some said the decision will create confusion in admissions to arts and science courses, while others said the situation is not conducive to conduct board exams.

The CBSE has said the Class XII assessment will be made according to well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner. The CBSE will provide an option to appear for the examinations to students who are not satisfied with the assessment when the situation becomes conducive.

“The present Covid-19 situation is not conducive to conduct physical mode exams. Now, the important issue is how they will calculate the marks and declare results. The criteria should not affect the career of the students,” said P G Subramanian, principal of Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidhyashram in Kilpauk.

Some principals felt the exams could have been conducted on a regular schedule in March when the Covid-19 cases were very low. “Students were ready to write the exams in March. The cancellation of Class XII exams will create confusion in admissions to colleges. and foreign universities may not accept the all-pass decision,” a principal from a city school said.

Asha Nathan, principal of Chennai Public School in Anna Nagar, said students are disappointed with the cancelling of the exams. “Students are worried about getting admissions to arts and science colleges, which are based on Class XII board exam marks,” she said. However, she also said students’ lives are more important than exams and the government might have taken the decision after getting the broader picture about the pandemic.

R Srinivasa Raghavan, principal of Bala Vidyamandir Senior Secondary School in Adyar, said, “The cancellation might give clarity to colleges on how to go about the admissions. The colleges should come out with new methods for giving admission to undergraduate courses instead of just relying on board exam marks.”

N Vijayan, senior principal of Zion and Alwin Group of Schools, said the CBSE should take an average of three revision tests conducted in schools to award marks instead of taking last three years' exams.

“The schools were aware of the possibility of cancellation of exams. All schools conducted their revision tests fairly. Marks should be awarded based on recent performances instead of previous years performance,” he said.

Educationist P B Prince Gajendrababu urged the state boards not to follow CBSE in cancelling the Class XII board exams. “States need not follow CBSE and depending on the prevailing situation in their states, the board exam could be conducted at a later date by giving a time-table well in advance,” he said.

While all parties agreed that students’ health was paramount, some principals fear that foreign varsities may not accept the all-pass decition. They said the exams could have been conducted on a regular schedule in March when the cases were low

Centre cancels Class XII CBSE board exam, CISCE follows suit

Centre cancels Class XII CBSE board exam, CISCE follows suit

Assessment Likely On Tests Through The Yr

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:02.06.2021

Times of India Chennai Edition 

Ending the uncertainty over the Class XII CBSE boards, the Centre on Tuesday decided to cancel the examination due to the Covid-19 situation across the country after deliberations at a high-level review meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision came as a relief to lakhs of students, parents and teachers. The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private board that conducts the Class XII ISC exams, followed suit.

An official release said the Prime Minister held that the health and safety of students is of utmost importance and there would be no compromise on it. It was necessary to end anxiety among students, parents and teachers, the PM had said.

The government had earlier in April cancelled the CBSE Class X exams. According to CBSE sources, Class XII results will reflect the “well-defined objective criteria” developed by the board for Class X where assessment will be done based on the marks scored by a student in the different tests and exams conducted during the year. “Among the options being worked out is to whether the assessment should be based on performances in the final exams of the previous three classes (IX, X, XI) or give a certain weightage to Class X board results and internal assessments of Class XII. The modalities will be announced in a couple of days,” said a senior official of the CBSE.

“The government of India has decided to cancel the Class XII CBSE board exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as the future of our youth,” the PM tweeted.

CBSE yet to finalise alternate assessment criteria for board exams

Around 21.5 lakh registered for the Class X exams while 14 lakh candidates registered for those of Class XII. Meanwhile, CISCE secretary Gerry Arathoon said: “The exams have been cancelled. The alternative assessment criteria will be announced soon.”

TOI first reported on May 14 about the possibility of Class XII exams being cancelled due to the pandemic and on May 30 that results may be based on performances in previous classes and during the year leading to the board exams.

While the alternate assessment criteria for the exams has not been finalised by the board yet, CBSE sources said that it is expected to be on similar lines as announced for Class X which took into account the performance of the student in various tests and exams through the year. It was also decided in the meeting that in case some students want to take the exams, such an option would be provided to them as and when it is possible.

Welcoming the decision, Ashok Pandey, director, Ahlcon Group of Schools, said: “Under the given circumstances, centre-based examinations were no longer an option. Considering the trauma the children had undergone and the threat of the virus and no vaccination for students doesn’t inspire confidence among the people. This is a well-considered decision by the government and I am happy that the PM has asked for a time-bound transparent and equitable assessment plan.”

Hike medical scheme limit, HC tells TN

Hike medical scheme limit, HC tells TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.06.2021

The Madras HC asked Tamil Nadu government to consider increasing the minimum income limit of ₹72,000 per annum for beneficiaries to access chief minister's comprehensive health insurance scheme.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy asserted that the eligibility limit is much lower than the minimum wage to be paid to an unskilled worker.

“Since this is a matter of policy, it is left to the state to consider whether the upward revision of the minimum threshold limit would be appropriate. However, the appeal appears to be reasonable and it is hoped that the minimum threshold level would be substantially increased to allow a larger number of families to avail of the benefit under the scheme,” the court said. The financial difficulties faced by ordinary citizens, particularly those who are not able to afford expensive treatment, should be looked into by the state, the court added.

The court passed the order on a PIL by D I Nathan to regulate fee charged by private hospitals for Covid-19 treatment in the state.

Anna varsity panel begins search for new vice-chancellor

Anna varsity panel begins search for new vice-chancellor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.06.2021

After a delay of two months, Anna University vicechancellor search panel headed by Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Monday invited applications for new V-C from distinguished academicians.

"The search panel invites applications for the post of vicechancellor of the university from distinguished academicians with high level of competence, integrity, moral and institutional commitment and possessing the educational and work experience notified by the Tamil Nadu government," the nodal officer to the committee said. As per the qualifications prescribed by the government, a candidate must have 20 years of experience in teaching and research in universities, PG colleges or research institutions. They should have a minimum 10-year experience as a professor in a university system.

Interested candidates can download the application form from www.annauniv.edu. The filled-in application should be sent to nodalofficer2021@annauniv.edu on or before June 30. The search committee needs to recommend a panel of three names to the governor for appointment of vice-chancellor within four months of its formation. Professors from the university urged the governor-chancellor to expedite the process of appointing a new vice-chancellor in view of the pandemic.

"It is very difficult to get the nod for each academic decision from the three member convener committee during the lockdown. The process of selecting new V-C should have been initiated much earlier so that new V-C could have taken charge immediately after the previous vice-chancellor M K Surappa completed his tenure on April11. Now, at least they should appoint the next vice-chancellor before the start of next academic year," a professor from the university said. The VC search panel has retired IAS officer Sheela Rani Chunkath (government nominee) and ex-VC of Madras University S P Thyagrajan (syndicate nominee) as other two members.

Vaccine as excuse, people crowd roads, police at sea

Vaccine as excuse, people crowd roads, police at sea

Poonamallee, Anna Salai Choked With Vehicles: Cops

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.06.2021

The complete lockdown has been extended till June 7, but motorists continue to hit the streets armed with excuses of going to a vaccination centre or hospital. With no clear instructions given, many field level police personnel are at loss too. The sector-wise checks at 348 places are not being carried out.

On Monday, places like Poonamallee, Anna Salai and Broadway were choked with vehicles, police said. Barricades have been erected at check points, but motorists simply fish out identity cards and are allowed to go. Even the e-registration procedure introduced to curb movement does not appear to be working. “With no mechanism to check if the reason is genuine or not, anyone can do e-registration and proceed. All one has to do is to give a mobile number and enter the OTP. He system accepts whatever documents are submitted,” said advocate V S Suresh.

Everyone has the provision to get e-registration and move anywhere in the city. “Police just let them go once the paper is shown, leading to people not taking lockdown seriously.”

After the government extended the lockdown to June 7, dos and don’ts, as per a May 29 order, were sent to all police personnel in the city. They were forwarded on all police WhatsApp groups.

“Most people travelling in the city either show their official identity card or an e-pass. This can be streamlined only if the institutions get e-passes on behalf of their staff through the Tamil Nadu eregistration website,” said police commissioner Shankar Jiwal.

He said that he had suggested to the Tamil Nadu disaster management authority to direct people in places such as banks, telecom firms, petrol bunks, newspaper offices, private firms as well as state and central government offices to get the e-pass through their HR officials or managers. “This would restrict more people from hitting the road,” he said.

Moreover, the penalty amount levied on violators by the traffic police and the law and order wing differs. While those in the first wing collect ₹100 from the bikers for not wearing masks and ₹500 for venturing out, the law and order wing books people coming out without valid reasons and collects ₹200 from anyone not wearing masks.

NO ESCAPE: Police check motorists if they are carrying valid documents for travel during the lockdown on Poonamalee High Road near Pulla Avenue junction on Monday

22 ex-KV students lodge sexual abuse plaint against teacher

22 ex-KV students lodge sexual abuse plaint against teacher

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.06.2021

A total of 22 former students from Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), CLRI campus, in Chennai have filed a complaint against a teacher for his sexually abusive and inappropriate behaviour. These instances span a timeframe of close to18 years.

Now, Kendriya Vidyalaya-CLRI has constituted a threemember committee to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the complaints against the teacher, who is yet to be suspended or face any other action.

Principal Y Rama Prasad said he was not the competent authority to act on the suspension of the accused teacher. An internal complains committee, which has two teachers and one external member (J Raghava Rao -- chief scientist at CLRI and KV CLRI management committee member), will submit a report after inquiry.

The second stage of inquiry will be conducted by the regional office and they will take a call on what action should be taken against the teacher and whether or not to send it to the commissioner for action, he added.

One of the complainants, a 28-year-old woman now, said he touched her inappropriately on several occasions and once in the middle of the class when she was distributing chocolates to her classmates on her birthday.

“In the light of several instances of sexual harassment, assault and abuse coming out from schools in Chennai, I decided to post my experience on social media – following which several students have reached out to me and my friends (also KV-CLRI alumni) about their own experiences of sexual abuse by the teacher," she said.

In the present complaint to the school principal, the former student said that on more than one instance, the teacher made her sit next to him during tuition classes and touched her on various parts of her body. He grabbed a student's waist while correcting her notebook. The student concerned was made to feel so uncomfortable that she decided to switch over to an alternative language subject, the complaint said.

Another complainant said: “As a young girl, I did not know what to do when this happened to me. I was not sure how my parents would react to this. But the traumatic events continue to haunt till date".

A survivor told TOI that she and others were concerned that he is still working there. “He might continue to misbehave with current students, who may be scared to speak out,” she said.

The complainants want the teacher to be booked and put to trial for committing offences punishable under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012.

Vax shortage sends suburban youth to city to get jabs

Vax shortage sends suburban youth to city to get jabs

Vaccinations Come To Halt In Avadi On Monday

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.06.2021

As suburban areas in Chennai are facing a huge vaccine shortage, people in the age group 18-45 flock to private hospitals in the city to get their jabs.

T Sadagopan, a residentactivist from Pattabiram, said, "My son, who was not able to find a single vaccination slot in and around Avadi, ended up travelling all the way to a private hospital in Anna Nagar to get his first shot. He spent ₹850 for the vaccine, another ₹1,000 for travelling all the way to the city".

Until last week, four to five vaccine centres in Avadi were vaccinating a small group of youngsters, who were keen on getting vaccinated. But it came to a halt from Monday at all centres including government Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Even the Heavy Vehicle Factory (HVF) Hospital has started to restrict vaccines only to its employees and their families, he said.

In response, a senior official from Avadi Corporation said that everyday, they are provided with roughly 2,500 vaccines and all of them were put to use at the end of the day.

"Just like Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), we too collaborate with residents' welfare associations to deliver vaccines at doorsteps of apartments. We are ready to continue vaccination at the same phase if the state provides more doses," he said, requesting anonymity.

Similarly at Tambaram, Chitlapakkam and Selaiyur, people are asked to return home due to shortage. "It was put on hold for four days last week. But now it has resumed. After vaccinating 50 to 60 people, tokens are given to those in queue to get vaccinated the next day," said V Santhanam, Chrompet chapter of People's Awareness Association.

In Poonamallee and Porur, there was no update after online registration. Shankar Anand, a residentactivist from Maangadu said, "Even two days after registering at CoWIN portal with necessary details, there was no reply on slots available at nearby centres".

These localities in adjoining districts of Chennai — Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram — together report more new cases compared to Chennai itself. However, the vaccination rate here is very low compared to Chennai.

While Chennai has received 20.4 lakh vaccinations so far, the three districts together have got only 7.02 lakh vaccination so far.

Thanjavur: Family of patient booked

Thanjavur: Family of patient booked

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:01.06.2021

Around 200 people who attended the funeral of a 69-year-old man in Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district were tested for Covid-19 on Saturday.

The deceased was found to have died of Covid-19 related complications later. Kumbakonam police booked the family members under Epidemic Act for hiding the Covid status of the patient and allowing a large gathering to participate in the funeral.

Ramasamy, 69 a retired Cooptex manager from Kapisthalam Vadakku Muthaliyar Street in Kumbakonam, was taken to a hospital in Thanjavur by his wife Pichaiammal, 61, for treatment a few days ago.

They both tested positive for Covid-19 and were undergoing treatment at the hospital. Ramasamy died last Friday due to Covid related complications. According to police, his wife Pichaiammal who was undergoing treatment took the body of her husband with the help of his son in an ambulance to their home.

Pichaiammal hid their Covid status from the relatives who attended the funeral, police said. Later, the relatives came to know about this from village administrative officer Sivaprakasam. After this, the family also disclosed their Covid status before the relatives.

A mass Covid-19 test was conducted and the results are expected to be out on Tuesday. The street has been declared out of bound for outsiders by the municipality after the incident.

The wife of the deceased patient hid the family’s Covid-positive status from their relatives who attended the funeral, police said

HC: Govt staff cannot seek legal refuge in DA cases

HC: Govt staff cannot seek legal refuge in DA cases

Kaushik.Kannan@timesgroup.com

Madurai:01.06.2021

The legal protection to a public servant, against prosecution for a deed done as part of his official duty, will not be available if he faces a case of disproportionate assets, the Madras high court has said.

Declining to come to the rescue of Dhandapani, who faced a case while working as assistant director in the rural development department in Trichy district and with an investigation pending against him, a division bench of Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice S Ananthi upheld a single judge’s order in this regard.

The judges held that the complaint is not with regard to discharge of Dhandapani’s official duties, but related to his disproportionate assets.

Govt permission not needed to prosecute in Dhandapani’s case

The judges said: “Therefore, Section 17(A) of Prevention of Corruption Act is not applicable to the appellant. The single judge has rightly observed this point. The appellant has to face the criminal case.”

Section 17 A of the Prevention of the Corruption Act insulates a public servant against prosecution, and says: “No police officer shall conduct any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under this Act, where the alleged offence is relatable to any recommendation made or decision taken by such public servant in discharge of his official functions or duties, without the previous approval…”

It was Dhandapani’s case that he and his brother Kandasamy had a property dispute, due to which the latter’s friend P Karthik kept filing complaints against him before various authorities. Karthik had also moved the high court in 2019 seeking DVAC to probe into his complaints. While dismissing his petition, the court directed Karthik to submit a complaint before the director of rural development and panchayat raj at Chennai.

On receipt of the complaint, it was forwarded to district collector who appointed an inquiry officer. Subsequently, the DVAC also issued proceedings on March 9, 2020, directing Dhandapani to furnish certain particulars. Challenging the proceedings, Dhandapani filed a petition before the Madurai bench of the high court. The single judge had dismissed his petition. Challenging the order of the single judge, the appellant had filed this present writ appeal.

Class 12 boards aren’t worth the public health risks. Focus instead on college admissions

Examination Hazard

Class 12 boards aren’t worth the public health risks. Focus instead on college admissions

31.05.2021

The ball is in the Centre’s court with a decision on conducting CBSE Class 12 examinations keenly awaited following deliberations with state governments. Union education ministry must firmly decide against scheduling these exams. In the best of times, the utility of obsessing over Class 12 marks has faced vigorous scrutiny amid college admission cutoffs overshooting all credible limits. Now, when public safety has forced the costly shutting down of workplaces, factories, schools, markets and non-essential services, conducting exams without commensurate benefits is mindless.

Exposing unvaccinated students to the virus in indoor settings over a prolonged period risks setting off too many disease clusters. Over 1.2 crore students are enrolled nationally in Class 12 every year: A scattered congregation of this big number is enough to recall the damage done by political and religious gatherings this summer. States demanding inclusion of 17-year-olds in the vaccination drive lack enough doses even for the 18-plus age group in the foreseeable future. Class 12 students have grappled with the uncertainties since January, by when exam schedules are usually announced. The indecision isn’t helping preparations or in easing their turmoil.

CBSE is also considering prior inter nal evaluations to grade students. Obviously, this can skew the field if grading yardsticks differ greatly between schools, or if schools pass on inflated marklists to CBSE. Using these results to evaluate higher education prospects of students would be unfair. Public universities like DU must move fast to replicate the rigorous assessments like online admission tests and interviews devised by private universities. Kicking the can down the road on such capacity expansion could lead to a situation akin to the current vaccine impasse where demand is high and supply is riddled with shortages and confusion.

Students have struggled in pre-pandemic times with preferred colleges making late admission decisions forcing them to weigh the inferior options. The situation could be aggravated manifold this year unless admission procedures are streamlined in advance. Alternatively, students unprepared for higher education this year deserve the flexibility to take board exams next year. Centre’s decision will have a ripple effect on the ISC and state boards. All these students deserve a level playing field. Entering the portals of higher education is a testing phase for students. Centre and state governments are on test too: Can they ensure a just, safe, glitch-free promotion of students to college education?

Doc treats Covid patients in home isolation for ₹10

A SHOT OF HOPE

Doc treats Covid patients in home isolation for ₹10

IN THESE GLOOMY TIMES, STORIES THAT GIVE US A SHOT OF HOPE

Mungara.Sunil@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:31.05.2021 

A 65-year-old woman, Kamalamma, a resident of Boduppal, who recovered from Covid-19 in home isolation, is all praise for Dr Victor Emmanuel. Many recognise the doctor as a lifesaver for Covid-19 patients when several hospitals are struggling due to shortage of beds and oxygen cylinders.

“To me, doctor saab is like a God and my wife recovered from Covid-19 within a week with his medication. I have had to spend only 40,000, which is quite affordable for the treatment,” Kamalamma’s husband K Yadagari told TOI.

An employee of Centre for Good Governance (CGG), P Janaki Ram, whose seven family members recuperated after testing positive for Covid-19, spent only10,000 for the treatment. All the seven members were treated in home isolation under the doctor’s supervision. “If I had admitted my seven family members to a private hospital, the bill would have crossed 25 lakh,” said Janaki Ram.

Hundreds of families have recovered from the disease during the first wave and current wave under the doctor’s guidance. Dr Emmanuel, a general physician, runs Prajwala Clinics at Boduppal. His clinic is always packed with Covid-19 patients as the consultation fee is just

10. “I treated nearly 20,000 to 25,000 people having Covid-19 symptoms at an affordable rate. Another 500 patients were treated in the Covid-19 Isolation Centre. An old Medipally police station was converted into a 30-bed isolation centre,” said Dr Emmanuel.

Dr Emmanuel said that so far, all his patients have recovered from Covid-19. “The Almighty has given me an opportunity to serve the needy. Most of them are struggling financially due to the lockdown. My consultation fee has been fixed at 10 for a few families and is free for many poor families,” he said. On an average, 70 to 100 people visit the clinic every day.

Dr Victor Emmanuel