Govts ease travel restrictions & demand spikes, but flights are still a costly affair

Govts ease travel restrictions & demand spikes, but flights are still a costly affair

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.08.2021

While the Union and state governments have relaxed restrictions on air travel, airlines are yet to reduce ticket prices.

The aviation ministry, in a recent order said domestic flights can operate with 65% passenger capacity. Earlier, passenger capacity was capped at 50%. The increase in capacity is likely to help airlines to sell more seats.

However, starting fare for tickets is still at a higher slab and remains stable for one week’s advance booking and for two week’s advance booking. The one-way fare from Chennai to Mumbai is more than ₹5,000. Tickets from the city to Delhi cost ₹6,700 and ₹4,500 to Kolkata. Fares are higher to small towns from Chennai.

“Air fares may remain high as the airlines would want to make the most of people who will be flying after being stuck for a long time,” M K Ajit Kumar of Asia Pacific Tours said.

The fare is fixed based on the market trend, he said, adding that demand for tickets will be high in the coming months as travel has resumed and more relaxations are expected from state governments.

“People will travel if they have to irrespective of the fare,” Kumar said.

“The increase in capacity will be beneficial because demand is rising. There will be more seats available. Travel has resumed, particular as people have started to fly for business on metro routes,” Basheer Ahmed of Chennai Metro Travels said.

People will be able to fly for domestic holidays in the coming days as many state governments have relaxed entry and quarantine rules. The crowds at holiday destinations in Goa and Himachal Pradesh show that leisure travel will increase in the coming days.

“The resumption of travel in connection with trade and business and more flight services will encourage people to travel for leisure. Once domestic travel becomes normal it will help in the resumption of international travel,” said Ahmed.

Most state governments relaxed test and quarantine rules have been relaxed for passengers who have received both doses of vaccines. Chennai airport is also handling close to 60 departures and 60 arrivals a day as demand has gone up

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Anna varsity to grant affiliation to 525 colleges

Anna varsity to grant affiliation to 525 colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.07.2021

Anna University will grant affiliation to 525 engineering colleges, standalone architecture, MBA and MCA colleges for 2021-22 based on the online scrutiny of applications in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier, the university said it would conduct physical verification of colleges. However, due to the pandemic situation and less than a week’s time to grant affiliation to the technical institutions, the university plans to grant affiliation based on approval from AICTE and online scrutiny of applications.

In a circular to principals of all engineering colleges, the centre for affiliation of institutions at Anna University asked them to submit the soft copy of AICTE for approval for 2021-22.

“Grant of affiliation will be considered for the applied intake or new courses which are approved by the centre for academic courses and also by the AICTE. The non-applied courses and any modifications in intake submitted after the deadline of applications for affiliation will not be considered,” the circular said.

Further, the university also released instructions to colleges on how to pay affiliation fee online for 2021-22.

As of April 2021, 525 colleges applied for affiliation and around 16 colleges, including 14 engineering colleges, had not applied for affiliation for 2021-22.

7 months after seizures, DVAC books ex-official

7 months after seizures, DVAC books ex-official

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.07.2021

DVAC officials registered a disproportionate assets case against S Pandian, who held the post of superintendent of the department of environment, and his wife Latha on June 30, almost seven months after police seized valuables from his residence. Pandian was suspended in December 2020.

The DVAC team filed an FIR in December 2020 to conduct a surprise check at Pandian’s home in Maduravoyal. On December 15, 2020, the team led by the superintendent of police Lavanya seized ₹23 crore, gold, diamond, silver and documents for property worth ₹7 crore and other valuables.

A request was sent to the state vigilance commissioner in Tamil Nadu to book a fresh cases against Pandian and his wife Latha. However, the DVAC got the nod to proceed with the case only recently after new vigilance commissioner V Irai Anbu took over.

Officials said a detailed probe is planned as they suspect that Pandian colluded with politicians, former and senior police officers and those still in the force to block the DVAC investigation. Officials said Pandian, while working in the environment department, took bribes to redraw Tamil Nadu’s coastal map, thereby leading to the disappearance of 6,569 acres of land in Ennore creek.

PMK slams Leoni’s appointment

PMK slams Leoni’s appointment

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Villupuram:09.07.2021

The appointment of orator and staunch DMK supporter Dindigul Leoni as the chairman of Tamil Nadu textbook and educational services corporation by the DMK government has drawn flak from various quarters. Leoni has been accused of making derogatory remarks against women while campaigning for DMK candidates ahead of April 2021 assembly polls. PMK youth wing president and Rajya Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss demanded the government revoke Leoni's appointment as the chairman of the corporation immediately. Anbumani took to Twitter to condemn the government's decision to appoint a person “with the habit of making misogynist remarks” as the chairman of the corporation and termed his appointment an insult to the position. The PMK leader expressed serious concerns over the future of the students, who must follow the syllabus derived by the corporation headed by a person known for “making derogatory remarks on women”.

Pallavaram residents protest as drinking water supply cut

Pallavaram residents protest as drinking water supply cut

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.07.2021

A group of residents in Pallavaram staged a protest against the local civic body for stopping drinking water supply through pump without prior intimation. For more than 15 years, residents of NSK Nagar, MGR Nagar and Kamala Street in Pallavaram have depended on the pump for their drinking water needs.

Last week, Pallavaram municipality stopped the supply to pumps abruptly. It later said it was impossible to extract water from the hand pump anymore as the groundwater level had dropped below 300 feet. The local body also told the residents that they were planning to convert the pump into a rainwater harvesting pit so that groundwater level might improve in the future.

However, A Subramanian, president of NMK Residents Welfare Association which covers the three areas, said there could be an ulterior motive behind this sudden move. “Recently, a premium apartment has come up in our area and the drinking water pump is obstructing free movement of vehicles into the apartment. They don’t want to see water cans in front of their entrance,” he said.

Rejecting this, a senior Pallavaram municipality official said groundwater levels dropped below 300ft a few years back and it has got nothing to do with the apartment coming up there. To meet drinking water needs, the municipality has installed a hand pump and a mini-water tank (filled with the help of a bore well motor) on an adjacent street. Besides, water is supplied through tankers once every five days.

But how is this even sufficient, asked Subramanian, who said the majority of residents affected are daily wagers who leave very early for work. “They don’t have the time to stand in queues for hours to fetch water from the water tank on the next street. So once they return home in the evenings, hand pumps are the only source of water,” he said.

As protests continued, Pallavaram MLA I Karunanidhi, police and municipality senior officials arrived at the scene and appeased the protesters by giving up the move to disconnect the pump temporarily. They also promised to provide water through tankers twice a week till a permanent solution was found. Authorities promised the locals that the underground drinking water pipe works in Pallavaram municipal area is nearing completion and it will be inaugurated within 20 days. Once the project becomes a reality, water can be supplied once in two or three days.

BASIC NEED: The hand pump has been their only source for drinking water for more than 15 years

A premium apartment complex has come up in our area and the drinking water pump is obstructing free movement of vehicles into the building. They don’t want to see water cans in front of the entrance

A SUBRAMANIAN | president of NMK Residents Welfare Assn

HC: Issue separate certificate on cause of death in Covid-19 cases

HC: Issue separate certificate on cause of death in Covid-19 cases

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 09.07.2021

The Madras high court on Thursday directed the state government to take immediate steps to issue a separate certificate to the families of all eligible Covid-19 victims mentioning the cause of death to help them claim relief, if any, provided by the government.

This shall be in addition to the death certificate issued by the authorities now, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said.

Presently, death certificates issued by civic bodies do not mention the cause of death.

The court issued the direction on a public interest writ petition that sought a direction to the government to frame and implement an effective policy to ensure that the cause of death is properly and correctly mentioned in the relevant certificate/official document for all cases of Covid-related deaths in accordance with law.

HC: Records would help future studies

On June 11, the court emphasised the need for accurate reporting of Covid-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu, and observed that due to the current policy followed in declaring a Covid-19 death, in some cases, families of the deceased are denied state compensation.

“It is necessary that an appropriate study be conducted by a specialised team, if necessary. It would also be fit and proper to require death certificates already issued to be revised, if necessary; if only not to deny the relief due to the family of the deceased in terms of the several schemes announced by the central and the state governments,” the court had said.

Accurate reporting or recording of deaths would help in studies being undertaken to deal with a pandemic of this nature in future, the court added.

NEET panel affront to SC, beyond state’s legal powers, Centre tells HC

NEET panel affront to SC, beyond state’s legal powers, Centre tells HC

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.07.2021

The Justice A K Rajan committee constituted by the Tamil Nadu government to study the impact of NEET on state students is an affront to the Supreme Court and an exercise in futility which is neither required nor valid, the Union government has told the Madras high court.

In its affidavit, filed in response to a writ petition filed by state BJP functionary K Nagarajan, the Centre said the executive power of the state, including the power to constitute a commission, is restricted to subjects within its legislative competence. “The field ‘medical education’ is regulated under the central legislation — the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. Nothing inconsistent or contrary thereto can stand legally. Therefore, the state cannot constitute a panel to study the impact of NEET on medical admissions,” the health ministry said.

Petitioner wants TN govt’s June order on NEET panel quashed

Countering the Tamil Nadu government’s contention that constituting such committee is a sovereign power of the state, the counter said, “as per the Commissions of Inquiry Act the state is the appropriate government only in respect of a commission appointed by it to make an inquiry into any matter relatable to any of the entries enumerated in the state list of the Constitution.”

This apart, the committee constituted is in contravention of various judgment of the Supreme Court approving NEET examination along with its various facets, it added.

“The reference made to the committee is not only a slight against the status and privilege of the Supreme Court but is also an exercise in futility as the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all functionaries,” the Centre has said.

Nagarajan has sought to quash an order issued by the Tamil Nadu government on June 10, constituting a committee headed by Justice A K Rajan to study the impact of the NEET.

Top political parties, including DMK, besides Dravidar Kazhagam, have filed separate petitions to implead themselves as parties to the proceedings. The first bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee is scheduled to hear the PIL on July 13.

Top political parties, including DMK, have filed separate petitions to implead themselves as parties to the proceedings

UGC, TN govt ordered to respond to pleas seeking vaccine for college students

UGC, TN govt ordered to respond to pleas seeking vaccine for college students

It also asked them to explain the shortcomings in online education provided to higher-education students.

Published: 07th July 2021 05:19 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered the State and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to respond to a plea seeking for all college students in the State to be vaccinated on a priority basis. It also asked them to explain the shortcomings in online education provided to higher-education students.

Petitioner Nervazhi Iyakkam Trust, represented by its managing trustee T Ganesh Kumar, of Guduvachenrry, sought for the court to direct the authorities to vaccinate students, especially those in college, and teachers, on a priority basis.

The petitioner also said the UGC should address the shortcomings in online education, such as challenges in providing internet access to the underprivileged, and the physical and mental impacts of prolonged online classes in violation of the UGC guidelines.

Courses that require a hands-on practical approach are being taken online, and this is intentionally being left out from the regulations, said the petitioner’s counsel M Sricharan Rangarajan. “Conducting online classes for such courses would severely handicap students, and they could come up short in their understanding as well as application of the subject,” he added.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy admitted the plea and issued notices to the State and UGC to file a detailed report within four weeks.

‘Intentionally left out’

Courses that require a hands-on practical approach are being taken online, and this is intentionally being left out from the regulations, said the petitioner’s counsel

Stalin opens obstetrics block at Tiruvarur GH

Stalin opens obstetrics block at Tiruvarur GH

On his way to the hospital, he stopped at Odampokki river bridge and inquired about the desilting works being carried out.

Published: 08th July 2021 05:05 AM 

Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurates the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care services block at Tiruvarur GMCH

By Express News Service

TIRUVARUR: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday inaugurated Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care services block at Tiruvarur Government Medical College Hospital, built at the cost Rs 10.5 crore.

He inspected equipment bought at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore, emergency wards, blood bank and other facilities at the hospital. Earlier in the day, he received petitions from the pubic on South Main Street.

On his way to the hospital, he stopped at Odampokki river bridge and inquired about the desilting works being carried out. Ministers Ma Subramanian, K N Nehru, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Siva V Meyyanathan, were present along with him. On Tuesday night, Stalin along with his family members visited the memorial of his paternal grandmother Anjugathammal located at Kattur village near Tiruvarur.

Govt gets 2 months to clear Chitlapakkam lake squatters

POLL, LOCKDOWN CITED FOR DELAY

Govt gets 2 months to clear Chitlapakkam lake squatters

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.07.2021

Take steps to evict 403 parties encroaching the Chitlapakkam lake, the Madras high court has told the Tamil Nadu government.

“The state should take appropriate action in accordance with law under the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act, 2007, upon due notice to the perceived encroachers,” the first bench of chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said on Wednesday.

The issue pertains to a public interest writ petition filed by anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam to remove encroachments on the Chitlapakkam lake from the Tambaram and Pallavaram side, along with putting an end to discharge of sewage into the lake.

When the plea came up for hearing, government advocate P Muthukumar submitted that effective steps to remove the encroachers could not be taken due to the assembly election and the lockdown.

Recording the same, the bench said, “Now that the election is over and the restrictions imposed under the lockdown following the second wave have been eased, the state should take appropriate action.” The court then adjourned the hearing to September 8, for the state to file a compliance report.

On April 8, the state informed the court that the 403 encroachments were found on 83.89 acres of the water body classified as ‘Eri’ (tank). Of the 403, 374 are by way of house sites. It was further added that notices had been issued to the encroachers under the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tank and Eviction of Encroachments Rules, 2007.

According to the petitioner, it wanted to protect the Chitlapakkam lake spread over101.4 acres, by forming an earth bund around the lake along with a pathway by removing the encroachments. It had also sought to restrain the officials from converting the lake and its adjoining areas into a park, landfill or garbage dump and subsequently connect the lake with the lakes at Selaiyur and Sembakkam.

Out: Prasad, Javadekar, Vardhan and Pokhriyal

Out: Prasad, Javadekar, Vardhan and Pokhriyal

Akhilesh.Singh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:08.07.2021

The exit of 12 ministers came as a surprise element as well-known faces like health minister Harsh Vardhan, information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad left the government on Wednesday.

The factors that led to their exit seem to range from slow pace of meeting targets to inadequate communication of policy and political goals in respective ministries. The articulation about the Covid-19 situation in the country was seen to be “bureaucratic” and seemed to lag in countering the opposition allegations during the second wave.

DOOR SHUT: The exit of 12 heavyweights has come as a surprise

Pokhriyal learnt to have quit largely over health issue

Edu minister Ramesh Pokhariyal is learnt to have quit largely on health grounds It was also felt that the Delhi leader (Harsh Vardhan) did not take on AAP on issues of oxygen shortages as was needed. Prasad, who was holding crucial departments, including law and IT, has been visible and vocal in the government’s showdown with social media giant Twitter. He has also been fielded often as spokesperson on policy and political issues. The persistent problems in the telecom sector and slow progress in the Bharatnet project are seen as problematic issues. As the party organisation may also be in for recast, the possibility of former ministers finding themselves in new roles cannot be ruled out.

Education minister Ramesh Pokhariyal is learnt to have had to quit largely on health grounds as he was struggling with post-Covid complications. The minister had to be hospitalised again after recovering from the infection. Though having helmed the new education policy, the leader may have been a little slow off the block in dealing with other issues relating to the ministry such as revision of school curriculum that is a major reform for the government.

Full report on www.toi.in

Judge recuses from poll case, slaps ₹5L fine on Mamata

Judge recuses from poll case, slaps ₹5L fine on Mamata

Kolkata:08.07.2021

Calcutta high court judge Justice Kausik Chanda on Wednesday recused himself from hearing Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s petition on BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s Nandigram poll victory but fined her ₹5 lakh to “firmly repulse” the “calculated psychological offensive and vilification adopted to seek recusal”, reports Subrata Chattoraj.

Banerjee had said in her petition that Justice Chanda’s long association with the BJP’s legal cell and taking up cases for the party posed an “apprehension of bias” and that “the court should be like Caesar’s wife, above suspicion”.

Justice Chanda said he had “no personal inclination to hear out the case” nor did he have any “hesitation in taking up the case”.

Won’t speak on this, lawyers will take decision: Didi

However, he still chose to recuse because “the two persons involved in this case belong to the highest echelons of state politics”. “Some opportunists have already emerged... in the name of saving the judiciary. These trouble-mongers will try to keep the controversy alive and create newer controversies. The trial of the case before this bench will be a tool to aggrandise themselves. It would be contrary to the interest of justice if such unwarranted squabble continues along with the trial,” the judge said. The fine of ₹5 lakh should be paid to the Bar Council of West Bengal to help families of advocates who lost their lives to Covid, he ordered.

Banerjee did not respond to media’s questions on the fine. “This is a sub-judice matter. I will not speak on this. The lawyers will take a decision,” she said.

But other Trinamool leaders as well as the BJP’s IT Cell chief took to Twitter after the order. Trinamool Rajya Sabha leader and spokesperson Derek O’Brien, without directly referring to the judgment, tweeted: “We live and learn. We live in a world where the cost of speaking the truth now comes with a staggering price tag: ₹5 lakh. We live in a world where propaganda and falsehood are also meted out. The price: FREE. Got the reference? Modi hai to mumkin Hai. Go figure.”

Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, whose tweet listing the cases Justice Chanda had appeared for the BJP as a lawyer was mentioned in Justice Chanda’s order, tweeted: “Petulance at its best today. Realising no way out but to recuse himself he decides to slap ₹5lakh fine simply because he can. Kind of like teacher realises student is correct & breaks blackboard.”

BJP leader Amit Malviya, however, felt the fine was “a small sum”. “The fine on Banerjee for showing the judiciary in poor light is a small sum, given the potential of her actions and utterances to cause erosion of trust of the common man in our institutions. She had similarly maligned EC during elections,” he tweeted.

Justice Chanda said in his order that he did not agree with the CM’s petition that his “long, close, personal, professional, pecuniary and ideological relationship” with a political party posed a “conflict of interest”.

“It is almost impossible in this country to get a person who may not be said to have political views. Anyone interested in politics may be said to have an ‘interest’. Like any other citizen of the country, a judge too exercises voting rights in favour of a political party but lays aside individual predilections while deciding a case,” he said.

‘A SMALL SUM’: The fine on Banerjee for showing the judiciary in poor light is a small sum, given the potential of her actions, said BJP leader Amit Malviya

Dilip Kumar laid to rest with full state honours

Dilip Kumar laid to rest with full state honours

Bella.Jaisinghani@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:08.07.2021

Dilip Kumar, the Aakhri Mughal of Hindi cinema, was laid to rest at Santacruz Kabrastan Wednesday evening. Friend Faisal Farooqui, who runs the actor’s official Twitter handle, said, “Sahab’s lungs had become very weak and he suffered multiple age-related ailments. On Tuesday night, his blood pressure dropped and it then became difficult for doctors to remove the excess fluid from his lungs.”

Dilip Kumar was awarded a state funeral. Police draped his remains in the tricolour and the marching band performed at his Pali Hill residence in Bandra before the coffin was led to Santacruz. The bier was lifted by nephews Rehan, actor Ayub Khan, Imran and Saqib, and Farooqui. The last rites were completed at 5pm.

Santacruz Kabrastan is where the family graves are located. It is also the resting place for most of Hindi cinema’s yesteryear celebrities. Saira Banu’s mother, veteran actress Naseem Bano, her grandmother and other family elders are buried here along with Madhubala, Mohammed Rafi, Sahir Ludhianvi, Naushad, Ali Sardar Jafri, Talat Mahmood, K A Abbas, Parveen Babi and Tahir Hussain. In fact, Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu had requested the government to grant the trust a neighbouring plot to accommodate more graves.

On Wednesday a stream of dignitaries from Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya, film celebrities Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Balan, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Ranbir Kapoor and Subhash Ghai went to offer condolence to the family at the bungalow. Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek visited the gravesite. A sea of blue ticks offered tribute on Twitter, from President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and South superstars Mammooty and Chiranjeevi.

Pvt hosps can buy 3 times daily vax used

Pvt hosps can buy 3 times daily vax used

Mumbai:08.07.2021

The Centre has revised the formula for fixing the cap on vaccines allowed for private hospitals per month, reports Sumitra Debroy.

Under the new ‘maximum order quantity’ (MOQ) plan for each facility private players can now place orders based on triple the average daily consumption of one of their best performing weeks of the previous month.

Earlier, it was double the average daily consumption of the vaccine. The decision was communicated to private hospitals across the country through a series of online meetings on Wednesday. Central officials told the private centres that they could start placing orders through Co-Win from the next few days in four instalments or at one go. Private hospitals were supposed to place vaccine orders from July 1 through CoWin, but they haven’t been able to do so.

Chief ministership not post; it’s a responsibility: Stalin

Chief ministership not post; it’s a responsibility: Stalin

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:08.07.2021

Chief minister M K Stalin took a pledge on Wednesday that he will treat chief ministership as a responsibility to serve people and not as a post. He conveyed his resolve through jottings made in the visitors’ book at Muthuvelar Noolagam-Anjugam Padippagam, two libraries in Thirukkuvalai functioning as a memorial of the parents of M Karunanidhi.

Stalin was visiting his ancestral house in Nagapattinam district for the first time after taking charge as CM, on the second day of his visit to the delta districts. He wrote that he has become chief minister because of the efforts and hard work of Udanpirappugal (blood brothers in Tamil) as termed by his father. “Thalaivar Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) will often say that post (chief minister) means responsibility. Should serve people with responsibility. Bearing that in mind, my journey will continue by treating chief ministership as a responsibility. This is the pledge I take at his (Karunanidhi) birthplace (house),” the CM wrote.

En route to Thirukkuvalai, the CM received petitions from locals. He stopped by at Pinnavasal village to congratulate a newly married couple who was waiting for the convoy outside a wedding hall.

Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) building at Tiruvarur government medical college hospital. The facility has 200 beds for maternal care and 50 for intensive neonatal care. The CM then felicitated district collector P Gayathri Krishnan for vaccinating all 2,334 residents against Covid-19 in Kattur village near Koradacherry town in Tiruvarur district.

BACK TO THE ROOTS: CM M K Stalin with his family at their ancestral house in Thirukkuvalai village in Nagapattinam district

TN tells HC it’s examining Centre’s proposal on AIIMS

TN tells HC it’s examining Centre’s proposal on AIIMS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:06.07.2021

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that the three suggestions given by the Centre on temporary arrangements to accommodate 150 MBBS students in AIIMS Madurai has to be examined by the institute’s body which is likely to meet on July 16.

In the counter, the health secretary stated that the state government would examine the proposals subject to feasibility, based on the outcome of the meeting. With regard to commencing outpatient department (OPD) services in a temporary campus, a detailed report would be finalised and the next level meeting would be held on July 16. It is anticipated that the matter would also be discussed in the meeting. He further stated that the state is proactive in providing land and other regulatory clearances as and when received. The state government would be pleased if the actual construction of AIIMS is expedited and necessary approval is obtained for providing services and also allowing admission in college.

A division bench of justice T S Sivagnanam and justice S Ananthi said in the light of the stand taken by the state, the court was deferring the hearing in the case till July 26 and directed the state to file a status report in this regard. During the previous hearing, the secretary of the Union ministry of health and family welfare in the counter affidavit had stated that they were keen on starting services of AIIMS Madurai subject to availability of alternate space for starting MBBS classes and OPD services.

Murugan’s induction into Union ministry could energise TN BJP

Murugan’s induction into Union ministry could energise TN BJP

Formulated Big-Ticket Entries Ahead Of Elections

Jayaraj Sivan and Shanmughasundaram.J TNN

Chennai:08.07.2021

To strengthen the party in Tamil Nadu before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP on Wednesday inducted party state president L Murugan into the Union ministry as a minister of state. He was given the portfolio of information and broadcasting, and fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy. Tamil Nadu had not had any representation in the Union ministry after minister of state for shipping Pon Radhakrishnan’s term ended in 2019. With Murugan’s shift to Delhi, the party central leadership will have to select a new chief for Tamil Nadu BJP. Probable candidates are former IPS officer K Annamalai and former minister and sitting MLA Nainar Nagendran.

Despite having one Lok Sabha member and five Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu and one RS member from Puducherry, the AIADMK once again missed out on the opportunity to join the Union ministry owing to infighting in the party. AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam had tried hard to get a berth for his son O P Raveendranath Kumar, but his efforts have gone in vain owing to opposition from party joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Coming back to Murugan, he was the architect of some of the big-ticket entries into the BJP after he took over the reins of the state BJP in March last year. He made the entry a smooth affair, dispelling doubts about the entrylevel barrier, for many including V P Duraisamy, who was deputy general secretary in the DMK, R C Paul Kanagaraj, who merged his party Tamil Maanila Katchi with the BJP, DMK’s former MLA Ku Ka Selvam, former IPS officer K Annamalai, former IRS officer A Saravanakumaran and actress Khushbu Sundar.

Murugan’s electoral debut was in 2006 assembly elections in Sankari constituency. He contested unsuccessfully again from Rasipuram assembly segment in 2011. Before becoming the party state chief, Murugan was national SC/ST Commission vice chairman. Murugan’s roots are deep in the RSS. He joined the organisation during his school days itself. He joined the ABVP during his law college days in Chennai. He was the state coordinator of the struggle committee against the Ranganath Mishra Commission report. The BJP feared that the report, if implemented could eat into reservation for OBCs. The struggle committee’s national coordinator was President Ram Nath Kovind.

Murugan gave an aggressive face to the state BJP by training guns on the DMK. Sensing that Lord Ram and Ayodhya issues would not yield political dividends in Tamil Nadu, he took Lord Muruga’s vel into his hands to launch several state-wide campaigns like Vetrivel Yatra and Vel Pooja. The campaigns may have helped the party win four out of the 20 assembly seats (thereby ending a drought of 15 years without any representation in the assembly) it contested, but Murugan could not make it to the assembly from Dharapuram. He will now take the Rajya Sabha route to the Parliament.

SOARING UP: L Murugan has been given the portfolio of information and broadcasting, and fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy

NEWS DIGEST

08.07.2021

NEWS DIGEST

Man impregnates minor daughter of friend, arrested

A 49-year-old man who allegedly raped and impregnated his friend’s daughter in Tiruvallur district has been arrested under the Pocso Act. According to police, the accused, Saranraj, works as a driver in a private bus travel agency. His friend, a 40-yearold man, works in the same company in the district and lives with his wife and a 13-year-old daughter. Saranraj and his friend’s wife were in a relationship. She left the house along with her 13-year-old daughter to live alone when Saranraj raped the girl several times. Recently, the girl complained of stomach pain and was found to be pregnant. Police registered a case and arrested Saranraj, who was hiding in Tiruvannamalai, under the Pocso Act.

Man held for sending obscene messages to girl: A bus conductor who sent obscene SMSes and movie clips to a mobile phone number belonging to a Class VII student has been arrested from Chengalpet. The man who claimed to have helped her in her online classes, told her that he would send general knowledge questions and took her number. The girl who received the messages showed them to her parents who got him arrested. The accused, Sadam Hussai, 38, took the child's number three months ago and since then has been troubling her to read the SMSes and view the videos. Based on her parents' complaint, the Chengalpet police checked his phone and found him to have sent several messages to the girl. He has been booked and remanded in judicial custody.

FM’s gesture lauded on social media: Finance minister P Thiaga Rajan’s recent act of tending to an injured stray dog in the secretariat has attracted much praise from Twitter users. The minister who noticed the dog limping on three legs as he was leaving the secretariat on Saturday took it upon himself to get the dog treated. “She's very friendly with police on duty. They informed me that her right hind leg was injured in a car accident,” the minister had tweeted with a picture of the stray and said the dog will be taken for examination by a veterinarian. On Monday, he posted that he had ensured that the injured dog got the best treatment, which was praised widely.

Coimbatore: To get vaccination tokens people queue up a night in advance

Coimbatore: To get vaccination tokens people queue up a night in advance

Jul 04, 2021, 11:28AM ISTSource: TNN & Agencies

Desperate for vaccination people in Coimbatore queued up a night in advance for Covid vaccination tokens. Coimbatore is the worst-hit district in Tamil Nadu. People began queueing up from 9 pm on Friday to get a token for vaccination at Rakkipalayam panchayat union middle school. By 7.30 am on Saturday, the line had grown to about 800 to 1,000 people hoping to get their hands on 500 tokens. “The line was so long that only people who came before 4.30 am managed to get tokens,” said one of the people in line.

T.N. implements new health insurance scheme for its staff

T.N. implements new health insurance scheme for its staff

It will cover 203 approved treatments and surgeries

02/07/2021

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order for implementing the New Health Insurance Scheme, 2021, for its employees and their family members.

United India Insurance Company Limited, Chennai, will execute the agreement with the government, as recommended by the tender scrutinising committee, the Government Order said. The scheme will cover 203 approved treatments and surgeries at 1,169 empanelled hospitals for workers of government departments, State public sector undertakings, statutory boards, local bodies, and government universities, among others.

“The annual premium payable by the government to United India Insurance Company, Chennai, shall be at the rate of ₹3,240 [plus GST as applicable from time to time] per employee per annum for a block period of four years from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025,” it said

Doctors’ Day: CM gives appreciation certificates

Doctors’ Day: CM gives appreciation certificates

Collector of the Nilgiris among the people felicitated

02/07/2021

Praise for effort: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presenting a certificate to the Nilgiris Collector J. Innocent Divya.

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday presented an appreciation certificate to the Nilgiris Collector J. Innocent Divya for achieving 100% vaccination of all eligible tribals and tea estate labourers in the district with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines.

Taking part in Doctors’ Day celebrations at the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, he presented appreciation certificates for government doctors to the Directors of Medical Education, Medical and Rural Health Services, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, medical and rural health services of ESI and Indian system of medicine, and for private doctors to associations including the Indian Medical Association, according to a press release.

The Chief Minister said the government was not just for the welfare of the people but also for the welfare of doctors. He acknowledged the sacrifices of doctors and their continuing service.

He handed over 55,000 pulse oximeters for the use of healthcare staff to Director of Public Health T.S. Selvavinayagam. Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University Sudha Seshayyan and the employees of the university donated a day’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund. Dr. Seshayyan handed over a cheque for ₹7.75 lakh to Mr. Stalin.

Earlier, Mr. Stalin inaugurated the upgraded international vaccination centre on the King Institute of Preventive Medicine campus, where the administration of yellow fever vaccination to international travellers has been taken up. Funds to the tune of ₹50 lakh, allocated from the local area development fund of former MP T.K. Rangarajan, were spent on the facility. The centre administers yellow fever and polio vaccination to those travelling to African and South American countries, and issues a WHO-approved vaccination certificate.

Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekar Babu, MLA Thayagam Kavi, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan, and Principal Secretary/Officer on Special Duty P. Senthil Kumar were present.

17 Final Year Resident PG Doctors On COVID Duty Move Supreme Court Seeking Alternate Mode Of Assessment

17 Final Year Resident PG Doctors On COVID Duty Move Supreme Court Seeking Alternate Mode Of Assessment

Shrutika Pandey30 Jun 2021 7:26 PM

A group of 17 final year resident postgraduate doctors from various Universities have approached the Supreme Court seeking an alternative mode of assessment given that most of them are engaged in Covid duties.

A Division Bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Ramasubramanian will hear the matter Tomorrow.

The services of these postgraduate students as residents were continued to be utilized until fresh batches of postgraduate students join as per a recent notice of the National Medical Commission and the Prime Minister's announcement regarding the postponement of NEET-PG until August 31, 2021.

The petitioners state that depending on the nature of their duty, they remain engaged from 8-12 hours to 24 hours a day. Amidst the raging pandemic, they were shocked and surprised to note that Universities have abruptly announced the timetable for Final Year Examination without sufficient notice to even prepare for the examination, the petition states. The resident doctors also state that it is unjust and manifestly arbitrary to expect a doctor on duty to sit for a theory examination without reasonable notice. They seek the Apex Court's intervention to ensure the protection of their fundamental rights enshrined under Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The Petitioners submitted that "the abrupt announcement of the examination schedule is unreasonable, arbitrary and a mindless exercise as it fails to take into consideration the hardship which will be caused to thousands of resident doctors."

"This will not only be a life threat to the patient which the doctor is attending but at the same time will also expose them to the deadly virus. It is more dangerous because they will have to come back from the examination and attend to the Covid patients, who are most vulnerable to any kind of exposure", the petition adds.

The Petitioners have clarified that they are not seeking cancellation or postponement of the final year examination but an alternative mode of assessment, including practical examination and assessment based on the internal assessment as a one-time exception in the prevailing circumstances.

NEET panel: DK opposes BJP plea

NEET panel: DK opposes BJP plea

03/07/2021

Legal Correspondent CHENNAI

The Dravidar Kazhagam, represented by its president K. Veeramani, has filed an impleading petition in the Madras High Court in support of the Justice A.K. Rajan committee constituted by the government to study the impact of NEET on medical admissions in the State.

It opposed a writ petition filed by BJP State secretary K. Nagarajan against the constitution of the committee.

Senior counsel P. Wilson, too, filed an impleading petition on behalf of a student.

In an affidavit, Mr. Veeramani accused Mr. Nagarajan of having filed the writ petition against the Justice A.K. Rajan committee for gaining publicity and not in the public interest.

தானே:மஹாராஷ்டிராவில் உயிருடன் இருக்கும் ஆசிரியரை தொலைபேசியில் அழைத்து அவரது இறப்பு சான்றிதழ் தயாராக இருப்பதாகவும் உடனடியாக வந்து வாங்கி செல்லும் படியும் கூறிய மாநகராட்சி ஊழியர்களின் செயலால் அவர் கடும் மன உளைச்சலுக்கு ஆளாகி உள்ளார்.

DINAMALAR

03.07.2021 

தானே:மஹாராஷ்டிராவில் உயிருடன் இருக்கும் ஆசிரியரை தொலைபேசியில் அழைத்து அவரது இறப்பு சான்றிதழ் தயாராக இருப்பதாகவும் உடனடியாக வந்து வாங்கி செல்லும் படியும் கூறிய மாநகராட்சி ஊழியர்களின் செயலால் அவர் கடும் மன உளைச்சலுக்கு ஆளாகி உள்ளார்.

மஹாராஷ்டிராவின் தானே மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர் சந்திரசேகர் தேசாய் 55. இவர் மும்பை காட்கோபரில் உள்ள பள்ளியில் ஆசிரியராக பணியாற்றி வருகிறார்.இவர் கடந்த ஆண்டு கொரோனா தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டார். சில நாட்களில் குணமடைந்து வீடு திரும்பினார்.ஆனால் தானே மாநகராட்சி பதிவேடுகளில் சந்திரசேகர் தேசாய் கொரோனாவால் பலியானதாக பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்நிலையில் தானே மாநகராட்சி அலுவலகத்தில் இருந்து சந்திரசேகர் தேசாய்க்கு சமீபத்தில் தொலைபேசி அழைப்பு வந்தது.மறுமுனையில் பேசிய அதிகாரி 'சந்திரசேகர் தேசாயின் இறப்பு சான்றிதழ் தயாராக இருக்கிறது. உடனடியாக வந்து வாங்கி கொள்ளுங்கள்' என சந்திரசேகரிடமே தெரிவித்தார்.இதை கேட்டு அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த சந்திரசேகர் தான் உயிருடன் இருப்பதாக தெரிவித்தார்.

ஆனால் அந்த அதிகாரியோ அதை பற்றியெல்லாம் கவலைப்படாமல் 'எங்கள் பதிவேட்டில் அப்படித்தான் உள்ளது' என 'பொறுப்புடன்' பதில் அளித்தார்.இதையடுத்து மாநகராட்சி அலுவலகத்துக்கு நேரில் சென்ற சந்திரசேகர் அவர் உயிருடன் இருப்பதை ஆவணங்கள் வாயிலாக நிரூபித்தார். அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்த அதிகாரிகள் தவறை ஒப்புக் கொண்டனர். 'அந்த பட்டியல் புனேவில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது' என தெரிவித்தனர்.

கொரோனாவில் இருந்து குணமடைந்து வீடு திரும்பியவர்களுக்கு வேறு ஏதேனும் பக்க விளைவுகள் உள்ளதா என்பதை விசாரிக்கவும் வீட்டில் வேறு யாருக்கும் தொற்று ஏற்பட்டதா உயிரிழப்புகள் நிகழ்ந்ததா என விசாரிக்க மாநகராட்சி ஊழியர்கள் தொலைபேசியில் அழைப்பது வழக்கம்.அப்படி அழைத்தபோது சந்திரசேகரின் பெயர் இறந்தவர்களின் பட்டியலில் இடம் பெற்று இருந்ததாக மாநகராட்சி அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர். தங்கள் தவறுக்கு மன்னிப்பும் கோரினர்.

NEET ‘uncertainty’ hits students’ interest - The Times Of India

NEET ‘uncertainty’ hits students’ interest - The Times Of India

Sambath.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Trichy:

3.7.2021

The number of students taking up free NEET coaching has been gradually decreasing across the state over the last few days. With the notification of this year’s NEET yet to come and arts and science colleges starting admissions, teachers designated to monitor these students say many of them are losing interest and they are unable to convince them to attend the daily online test.

It was the previous AIADMK government that introduced free NEET coaching for government school students in 2017.

It was later shifted to the online mode in June 2020 after the pandemic struck. A private firm was hired for imparting NEET coaching on the EBox platform.

Classes for all the subjects under the online coaching got over about two months ago and since then students were made to take daily online test. To ensure better learning, one higher secondary teacher was designated for four students taking up the training to ensure effective monitoring.

Teachers say there was not much cooperation from students in recent days. Many of them started believing that there would be no NEET this year. What strengthened their belief was the delay in NEET notification. “I could not establish contact with two of the four students over the last few days. They also exited from the WhatsApp group that I created for the four students,” said a teacher from Madurai adding he had informed the district NEET coordinator about the issue.

This has been the case in many districts and teachers say that students are losing interest in being engaged in prolonged NEET coaching.

The number of students taking up free NEET coaching has been gradually decreasing across the state```

SC refuses to stay T.N. law providing Vanniyar quota

SC refuses to stay T.N. law providing Vanniyar quota

Bill was passed barely an hour before model code of conduct kicked in

03/07/2021

Legal Correspondent NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court has refused to stay a Tamil Nadu law which temporarily provides 10.5% special reservation to Vanniakula Kshatriyas within the quota for the MBCs.

The Bill was tabled by the previous AIADMK government and passed in the Assembly barely an hour before the model code of conduct kicked in on February 26 for the last Assembly poll. “We are not going to stay the legislation… We have to hear the matter,” a Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and S. Ravindra Bhat told senior advocates S. Nagamuthu and Anita Shenoy and advocate Sriram Parakkat, for the petitioners.

The petitions were filed challenging the 69% reservation in Tamil Nadu as violative of the Supreme Court’s 1992 Indira Sawhney judgment, which fixed the quota ceiling limit at 50%.

On Mr. Nagamuthu’s insistence, the Bench tagged the petitions with others pending in the court, challenging Tamil Nadu’s reservation percentage. The petitions challenging the “exclusive” reservation for Vanniakula Kshatriyas argued that this law was “politically motivated”.

“On February 26, just one hour before the election notification, in a hurried manner, a Bill was introduced in the State Legislature,” the petitions said. The Governor assented to the Act on February 28. “It was hurriedly published in the official gazette on the same day,” they noted.

The Act stated that the internal reservation was recommended by the State Backward Classes Commission. “There was no such recommendation,” the pleas said. They referred to the Commission of Justice A. Kulasekaran, constituted in December 2020, to “identify the number of castes and tribes in Tamil Nadu and collect quantifiable data” for them and submit a report in six months. “What was the urgency to introduce the Bill without waiting for the report,” they asked.

HC quashes certificate of registration of marriage

HC quashes certificate of registration of marriage

03/07/2021

Staff Reporter Madurai

Bringing relief to a young woman from Thoothukudi, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has quashed the certificate of the registration of marriage issued by the Sub-Registrar. The woman had sought the cancellation of the registration.

The woman said that when she was 17 years old, she got acquainted with a 22-year-old man while she was studying in a higher secondary school in 2014. She said that he misled her, took her to a Sub-Registrar office and made her sign some documents. Only later on that she realised that the Sub-Registrar had registered the marriage.

She pointed out that at the relevant point of time she was 17 years and therefore the entire marriage was invalid in the eyes of law. She sent a representation to the District Registrar seeking the cancellation. But it was rejected and she was asked to approach a competent court.

It was said that no formal marriage was conducted and a forged document was submitted before the authorities.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh observed that the two people knew each other. But it was not clear why she had accompanied him to the office of the Registrar and signed the documents. Probably, the petitioner was in her adolescence and did not understand the consequences of a marriage registered before the competent authority.

It is an admitted case that the petitioner was 17-year-old at the time of marriage. Therefore, the so-called marriage itself was invalid in the eyes of law and ought not to have been registered by the Sub-Registrar. No Marriage Certificate was issued and the one produced before the Sub-Registrar was highly doubtful.

The Sub-Registrar has been assigned certain duties under the Tamil Nadu Registration of Marriage Act and it ought to have been confirmed from the priest if any such marriage took place, since both the people were young.

That apart, the age of the petitioner should have been ascertained. If proper care was taken to ascertain the age, the marriage would not have been registered..

Taking into account the fact that the very registration was bad in the eyes of the law, the court quashed the certification of the registration of marriage and held that there was no marriage between the woman and the man.

Govt. to publish names of COVID-19 victims

Govt. to publish names of COVID-19 victims

03/07/2021

Special Correspondent Thiruvananthapuram

The Kerala government will henceforth publish the line list of all those who die of COVID-19 in the State, a statement issued by Health Minister Veena George said.

The Health Department, in its daily COVID bulletin published on the department’s website, has given out the district-wise details of deaths, including the age of the deceased and the date of death. The names of the deceased and their place of residence will also be added. The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the Health Minister here on Friday.

From Saturday, the Health Department’s daily bulletins will include the names of those who die of COVID in the State.

HC invalidates marriage, pulls up sub-registrar

HC invalidates marriage, pulls up sub-registrar

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:3.7.2021 

Charging a sub-registrar for registering a marriage without verifying the documents, the Madras high court has cancelled the marriage certificate on the ground that the wedding was invalid in the eye of law as the girl was only 17 years old at the time of registration in 2017.

Justice N Anand Venkatesh was hearing a petition filed by the woman from Tuticorin district, seeking to cancel the marriage certificate. The petitioner claimed that she was misled by a 22-year-old man who took her to the sub-registrar office on August 8, 2017 and made her sign in certain documents. It was only later she came to know that the man had registered the marriage. When she approached the authorities to cancel the marriage certificate, it was rejected.

The judge said that it is clear from the facts that the petitioner and the man were known to each other. However, it is not clear as to why she accompanied the man to the subregistrar office and signed in certain documents.

The judge took note of the submission by the parish priest that no marriage certificate was issued by him. Observing that there is a very serious doubt as to whether any marriage took place between the petitioner and the man, the judge said that the sub-registrar ought to have confirmed with the priest, since both the petitioner and the man were very young.

“The sub-registrar failed in his duty by not scrutinizing the documents and ascertaining the age of the petitioner and the registration has taken place in a mechanical fashion. Unfortunately, the registration of the marriage is now standing in the way of the petitioner and it will very seriously affect her future prospects,” observed the judge.

Taking into consideration the fact that the very registration of marriage is bad in the eyes of law, the judge quashed the marriage certificate.

17 Final Year Resident PG Doctors On COVID Duty Move Supreme Court Seeking Alternate Mode Of Assessment

17 Final Year Resident PG Doctors On COVID Duty Move Supreme Court Seeking Alternate Mode Of Assessment

Shrutika Pandey30 Jun 2021 7:26 PM

A group of 17 final year resident postgraduate doctors from various Universities have approached the Supreme Court seeking an alternative mode of assessment given that most of them are engaged in Covid duties.

A Division Bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and Ramasubramanian will hear the matter Tomorrow.

The services of these postgraduate students as residents were continued to be utilized until fresh batches of postgraduate students join as per a recent notice of the National Medical Commission and the Prime Minister's announcement regarding the postponement of NEET-PG until August 31, 2021.

The petitioners state that depending on the nature of their duty, they remain engaged from 8-12 hours to 24 hours a day. Amidst the raging pandemic, they were shocked and surprised to note that Universities have abruptly announced the timetable for Final Year Examination without sufficient notice to even prepare for the examination, the petition states. The resident doctors also state that it is unjust and manifestly arbitrary to expect a doctor on duty to sit for a theory examination without reasonable notice. They seek the Apex Court's intervention to ensure the protection of their fundamental rights enshrined under Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The Petitioners submitted that "the abrupt announcement of the examination schedule is unreasonable, arbitrary and a mindless exercise as it fails to take into consideration the hardship which will be caused to thousands of resident doctors."

"This will not only be a life threat to the patient which the doctor is attending but at the same time will also expose them to the deadly virus. It is more dangerous because they will have to come back from the examination and attend to the Covid patients, who are most vulnerable to any kind of exposure", the petition adds.

The Petitioners have clarified that they are not seeking cancellation or postponement of the final year examination but an alternative mode of assessment, including practical examination and assessment based on the internal assessment as a one-time exception in the prevailing circumstances.