AYUSH training for medical interns worries doctors

AYUSH training for medical interns worries doctors

Differences in scientific basis between streams are among major worries for academicians

c-Jagriti.kumari@timesgroup.com

19.07.2021 

The latest guideline of the National Medical Commission (NMC) suggests that as part of 12-months compulsory rotating internship after passing the final MBBS examination, medical graduates need to undertake a week-long training in Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM). As part of the training, candidates may choose any elective, provided the discipline is available in the same college or institution where internship is being done.

Candidates can choose from Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Sowa Rigpa. However, the decision has triggered an intense debate among medical practioners. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has come to the fore opposing the decision. In its letter written to the National Medical Commission (NMC) opposing AYUSH training for medical students, IMA has termed the idea 'not prudent'.

Dr Rajesh Nachiappa Ganesh, professor, Department of Pathology, JIPMER, Puducherry, does not question the NMC’s intention.

However, he is worried about its implementation and execution.

“Absence of AYUSH courses, differences in fundamental scientific basis between various streams and lack of AYUSH experts in medical colleges will be a big hurdle in implementing the one-week training for medical students across the country,” says Dr Rajesh.

As part of the internship, medical graduates need to undergo mandatory training in community medicine (two months), general medicine

(1.5 months), psychiatry (two weeks), paediatrics (one month),general surgery (1.5) months, anaesthesiology and critical care (two-weeks), obstetrics and gynaecology including family welfare and planning (1.5 months), orthopaedics including physical medicine and rehabilitation-PM &R (two weeks), emergency/trauma/casualty (two weeks), forensic medicine and toxicology (one week), dermatology venereology & leprology (one week), otorhinolaryngology (two weeks), ophthalmology (two weeks), laboratory sciences and hospital support sciences (two weeks).

Dr Abhinav Arun Sonkar, head of surgery, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, says the purpose behind the inclusion of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Sowa Rigpa as an elective in internship is not yet clear. “Among all electives, Yoga is the one which is practised by many of us to stay healthy and fit. Interns might see this as an opportunity to know basics of Yoga and follow it in their lives while other subjects are completely new to graduates,” says Dr Sonkar.

CBSE allows schools to moderate results

CBSE allows schools to moderate results

Schools need to upload the revised class XII results on CBSE portal by July 22 to complete the process

Astha.Hemant@timesgroup.com

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is ready for the next step in the calculation of results for standard XII boards. All the schools provided data to CBSE on the portal that has been specifically prepared for moderation and finalisation of results. Tabulation of class XII results was done as per the specified 40:30:30 format. Post this, CBSE has compiled results for all students and shared the same with schools on the portal.

CBSE has now asked all schools to moderate their independent data based on which final result of Class XII will be prepared. CBSE has directed schools to moderate the marks on the portal between July 16 (afternoon) and July 22 (midnight). Final class XII CBSE board results are scheduled to be released by July 31, 2021.

If any school is unable to complete the moderation within this stipulated time period, its results will be declared separately after July 31, 2021. The board had provided schools with the option to consider 30% of the mean of the three best subjects in classes X, 30% marks of class XI and 40% marks of class XII unit test/mid-term/pre-board for the moderation. With this, CBSE has given the liberty to schools to arrange students in order of their merit. Sanyam Bhardwaj, controller of examinations, CBSE, explains, “As per the previous years’ data provided by schools, the board has provided a table to all schools on the portal. In this, the subjectwise average percentage of the number of students across various marks brackets for the last three years (2018, 2019 and 2020) is listed.”

*The example of a table can be illustrated here: If schools feel that the final performance of any student, as provided on the portal by CBSE, does not justify his/her calibre, they have the option to increase or decrease the performance by awarding +/-5 marks. “However, this should not affect the percentage of students in the various marks brackets over the reference year results, as provided by the board to each school separately on the portal,” adds Bhardwaj. Another dimension to the moderation of class XII results is based on individual school’s calculation of the average mean of their results. “If the school finds the average mean of this year’s results to be lacking compared to the average mean of reference year results, it has the option of filling up the gap by awarding +/-2 marks to deserving students,” adds Bhardwaj. However, this changed number should not make this year’s average mean of that school more than that of the reference year, adds Bhardwaj. Schools will also prepare a rational document to record reasons for moderating the results of any student.

வயதானவர்கள் போட்டியிடும் நீட் தேர்வு; வயது வரம்பை நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும்: மத்திய அரசுக்கு டாக்டர் சங்கம் கோரிக்கை

18.07.2021

வயதானவர்கள் போட்டியிடும் நீட் தேர்வு; வயது வரம்பை நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும்: மத்திய அரசுக்கு டாக்டர் சங்கம் கோரிக்கை

https://www.hindutamil.in/news/tamilnadu/694166-need-to-set-a-maximum-age-limit-for-writing-the-exam-doctor-association-request-for-social-equality-to-the-federal-government-4.html

சென்னை

“நீட் தேர்வை எழுதுவதற்கு வயது வரம்பை தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையச் சட்டம் நிர்ணயிக்கவில்லை. இதன் காரணமாக வசதி படைத்த, பட்டப் படிப்பு படித்த, வயதானவர்கள், வேறு பணியில் உள்ளவர்கள் மற்றும் பணி ஓய்வு பெற்றவர்கள் கூட நீட் தேர்வை எழுதி மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் சேருகிறார்கள். ஆகவே, நீட் தேர்வு எழுத வயது உச்சவரம்பை 21 ஆக நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும்” என சமூக சமத்துவத்திற்கான டாக்டர் சங்கம் வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து இச்சங்கத்தின் பொதுச் செயலாளர் ஜி.ஆர்.ரவீந்திரநாத் இன்று வெளியிட்ட அறிக்கை:

''இளநிலை மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கைக்கான நீட் நுழைவுத் தேர்வு வரும் செப்டம்பர் 12ஆம் நாள் நடைபெறும் என தேசிய தேர்வு முகமை அறிவித்துள்ளது. இத்தேர்வில் பங்கேற்கும் மாணவர்களுக்கு கரோனா தடுப்பூசிகளைப் போடுவதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகளை மத்திய அரசு எடுக்க வேண்டும். கரோனா தடுப்பு நெறிமுறைகளைப் பின்பற்றி இத்தேர்வை நடத்திட வேண்டும்.

தமிழ்நாட்டில் அனைத்து மாவட்டத் தலைநகரங்களிலும் நீட் தேர்வு மையங்களை உருவாக்கிட வேண்டும். தேர்வு மையங்களின் நுழைவாயிலில் மாணவ, மாணவிகளின் கண்ணியத்தைச் சீர்குலைக்கும் வகையில், கெடுபிடியான பரிசோதனைகளுக்கு உட்படுத்துவதைத் தடுத்திட வேண்டும். அத்துடன் , மத்திய அரசு கீழ்க்கண்ட முக்கியமான கோரிக்கைகளை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.

* பட்டியல் சாதி மற்றும் பட்டியல் பழங்குடியின சமூகங்களைச் சேர்ந்த மாணவர்களுக்கும் ஏழை மாணவர்களுக்கும் நீட் விண்ணப்பக் கட்டணத்தை மத்திய அரசு ரத்து செய்ய வேண்டும்.

* மாவட்டத் தலைநகரங்களிலும் நீட் தேர்விற்கான பயிற்சி மையங்கள் உருவாக்கப்படும் என தேசிய தேர்வு முகமை அளித்த வாக்குறுதி இன்னும் நிறைவேற்றப்படவில்லை. எனவே, தேசிய தேர்வு முகமை, தமிழகம் உள்பட இந்தியாவில் உள்ள அனைத்து மாவட்டத் தலைநகரங்களிலும் பயிற்சி மையங்களை உடனடியாகத் தொடங்கிட வேண்டும்.

* நீட் தேர்வு முடிவுகள் அறிவிக்கப்படும் பொழுதே, தேசிய அளவிலான மற்றும் மாநில அளவிலான தர வரிசைப் பட்டியல்கள், (National & State level RANK LISTS) முழுமையாக, வெளியிடப்படுவதே இல்லை. இந்த வெளிப்படைத் தன்மையில்லாத போக்கு கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது. இது முறைகேடுகளுக்கு வழிவகுக்கிறது.

எனவே,நீட் தேர்வு முடிவுகள் அறிவிக்கப்படும் பொழுதே, தேசிய அளவில் தேர்வு எழுதிய மாணவர்களின் பெயர், நீட் தேர்வு பதிவு எண், வாங்கிய மதிப்பெண், தர வரிசை எண், ஆதார் எண், வகுப்பு (Community), இருப்பிடச் சான்றிதழில் உள்ளபடி மாணவரின் மாநிலத்தின் பெயர், போன்ற விவரங்களுடன், தர வரிசைப் பட்டியலை முழுமையாக வெளியிட வேண்டும்.

இதேபோல் மாநில அளவில், ஒவ்வொரு மாநிலத்துக்குமான தர வரிசைப் பட்டியலையும், முறையாக வெளியிடவேண்டும்.

* தனியார் நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்கள் மற்றும் நிகர் நிலை மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக் கழகங்களின் இடங்களுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை கடைசி வரை ஒன்றிய மற்றும் மாநில அரசுகளே நடத்திட வேண்டும். அதுவே தகுதி அடிப்படையிலான மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை இறுதி வரை உறுதிப்படுத்திடும்.

ஆனால், தற்போது உள்ளது போல், தனியார் கல்லூரிகளும், நிகர் நிலை மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக் கழகங்களும் கடைசிக் கட்டத்தில், மாப் அப் ( mop up ) கவுன்சிலிங் மூலம் நேரடியாகத் தாங்களாகவே மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்திக் கொள்ள, அனுமதிக்கக் கூடாது. தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களின் லாபத்திற்காக நீட் கட் ஆஃப் பர்சென்டைலை கடைசி நேரத்தில் குறைத்திடக் கூடாது.

* நிகர்நிலை மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகங்களுக்கான கல்விக் கட்டணங்களை மத்திய அரசு நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும்.

* ஏழை மாணவர்களுக்கான கல்விக் கட்டணத்தை மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள் ஏற்க வேண்டும். கல்விக் கடன்களை வட்டி இல்லாமல் தேசிய மயமாகப்பட்ட வங்கிகள் மூலம் வழங்கிட வேண்டும். கல்விக் கடன்களுக்கான (Bank surety) வங்கி பிணையத் தொகைக்கு மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள் (கேரள அரசு போல்) பொறுப்பேற்க வேண்டும்.

* நீட் தேர்வை எழுதுவதற்கு வயது வரம்பை தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையச் சட்டம் நிர்ணயிக்க வில்லை. இதன் காரணமாக வசதி படைத்த, பட்டப் படிப்பு படித்த, வயதானவர்கள், வேறு பணியில் உள்ளவர்கள் மற்றும் பணி ஓய்வு பெற்றவர்கள் கூட நீட் தேர்வை எழுதி மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் சேருகிறார்கள்.

மருத்துவர்கள் மற்றும் மருத்துவப் படிப்பு இடங்கள் போதிய அளவில் இல்லாத ஒரு நாட்டில், ஒரு இளம் மாணவருக்கு மருத்துவராகும் வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்தால் அவர் நீண்டகாலம் சமூகத்திற்கு சேவை செய்வார். வயதானர்கள், ஓய்வு பெற்றவர் மருத்துவராகும் பொழுது அவர் சமூகத்திற்கு சேவை செய்யும் காலம் குறைகிறது.

அது சமூக நலனுக்கு எதிரானது. எனவே,தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையச் சட்டத்தில் திருத்தம் செய்து மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில் சேர்வதற்கான உச்சபட்ச வயதை பொதுப் பிரிவினருக்கு 21 ஆக நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும். இதர பிரிவினருக்கு 25 ஆக நிர்ணயிக்க வேண்டும்.

* நீட் நுழைவுத் தேர்விலிருந்து விலக்கு கேட்கும் மாநிலங்களுக்கு, தேசிய மருத்துவ ஆணையச் சட்டத்தில் திருத்தம் கொண்டுவந்து விலக்கு வழங்கிட வேண்டும்.

* நீட் வினாத்தாள் மொழிபெயர்ப்பில் தவறுகள், குளறுபடிகள் நடக்காமலும், முறைகேடுகள், ஆள்மாறாட்டம் போன்றவை நடைபெறாமலும் தடுத்திட வேண்டும்.

* அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டிற்கு மாநில அரசுகள் வழங்கும் இடங்களில் இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோருக்கு உடனடியாக 27 விழுக்காட்டு இட ஒதுக்கீட்டை வழங்கிட வேண்டும்”.

இவ்வாறு ஜி.ஆர்.ரவீந்திரநாத் வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளார்.

பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண் நாளை வெளியாகிறது

பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண் நாளை வெளியாகிறது

Added : ஜூலை 17, 2021 22:38

சென்னை:பிளஸ் 2 மாணவர்களுக்கான 'ஆல் பாஸ்' மதிப்பெண் விபரம், நாளை வெளியாகிறது. இணையதளங்களில் மாணவர்கள் தங்கள் மதிப்பெண்களை தெரிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

கொரோனா தொற்று பரவலால், பிளஸ் 2 பொதுத்தேர்வு கடந்த ஆண்டு ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டது. அனைத்து மாணவர்களும் ஆல் பாஸ் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர். கடந்த கல்வி ஆண்டில், பிளஸ் 2 படித்த மாணவர்கள், பிளஸ் 1ல் சில பாடங்களில் தோல்வி அடைந்திருந்தாலும், அவர்களும் தேர்ச்சி பெறுவதாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்நிலையில், முந்தைய, 10ம் வகுப்பு, பிளஸ் 1 பொதுத்தேர்வுகள் மற்றும் கடந்த ஆண்டின் பிளஸ் 2 செய்முறை தேர்வு மதிப்பெண் அடிப்படையில், பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண்கள் நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளன.இதன்படி, ஒவ்வொரு மாணவரும் எவ்வளவு மதிப்பெண் பெற்றுள்ளார் என்ற விபரம், அரசு தேர்வு துறையின் இணையதளத்தில், நாளை காலை, 11:00 மணிக்கு வெளியாகிறது.

Smart tips for your office life

Smart tips for your office life

Some strategies to help you navigate the tricky minefield of complicated work situations

Exit strategies

18.07.2021 

I am disheartened by my colleagues who talk about equity and compassion, yet fail to advocate those same values in-house. It’s time for me to resign and for the standard exit interview. Should I be candid about my frustrations or just be gracious and “hope our paths cross again”?

This phenomenon of people voicing solidarity but doing little to act on the politics they purport to have is not unique to your workplace. Most people talk more than they act.

There are all kinds of ways to approach exit interviews. You can burn it all down, telling your employer the most unfiltered version of what you think. Most of us have fantasised about this kind of exit interview, but we don’t do it because the world is small and our professional circles are even smaller. There may be repercussions for speaking our minds.

First, determine what you hope to accomplish. Will voicing your frustrations simply make you feel better? Will the organisation act on your feedback? If your professional future depends on it, be gracious. Let common sense be your guide for the tone you take and where the conversation leads.

Tell the truth?

My new firm interviews candidates from my old firm and I am often asked what I think of them. Given that we all need jobs, how much is reasonable to share? What do people expect?

When giving this kind of informal recommendation, you should be honest about what you have directly observed or experienced. Everything else is conjecture or hearsay. When you aren’t privy to details about your colleague, it is better to say nothing. No harm is done in sharing what you know that is positive. Trust your instincts.

Drowning in the deep end

I was recently promoted to a managerial position. We never replaced the marketing director role, so I am the de facto lead for all of our promotional efforts. How can I tell my boss that the best thing for me, and the company, would be to look for a new marketing director?

Bringing this up may show a lack of ambition. But I am overwhelmed and a little burned out.

It can be terrifying when we are thrown into the professional deep end.

Your well-being, both professionally and personally, matter. If you are genuinely overwhelmed, speak with your boss. Ask for a new marketing director by identifying why that position should be filled by someone other than you and how it will benefit the company.

At the same time, make it clear that in the future, when you have more experience, you would like to be considered for the director position.

— THE NEW YORK TIMES

Memories strengthen when you’re asleep

Memories strengthen when you’re asleep

18.07.2021 

While we sleep, the brain produces activation patterns. When two of these patterns gear into each other, previous experiences are reactivated. The stronger the reactivation, the clearer will be our recall of past events, a new study published in Nature Communications has revealed.

Scientists have long known that slow oscillations (SOs) and sleep spindles — sudden half-second to two-second bursts of oscillatory brain activity — play an important role in the formation and retention of new memories. But recently, researchers from the University of Birmingham and Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich discovered that a precise combination of SOs and sleep spindles is vital for opening windows during which memories are reactivated.

“Memory reactivation is specifically bound to the presence of SO-spindle complexes. These results shed new light on the memory function of sleep in humans and emphasise the importance of orchestrated sleep rhythms in strengthening recall,” said study co-author Dr Thomas Schreiner.

Study participants were shown information before taking a nap and the research team closely monitored brain activity during non-rapid eye movement sleep using EEG recordings. Participants were then tested on their memory recall after waking up, allowing the researchers to link the extent of memory reactivation during sleep to memory performance.

— ANI

1st dose must to get salary in Nagaland

1st dose must to get salary in Nagaland

18.07.2021

State government employees in Nagaland must get vaccinated with the first dose and procure a Covid negative report every 15 days to be eligible for their salaries, reports Kangkan Kalita.

Nagaland chief secretary J Alam in an order on Saturday said that the salary of those employees, who fail to abide by the directive, will be stopped from July 31.

“All employees and staff in the Nagaland Civil Secretariat and Directorates will be required to be vaccinated to attend office, or to produce Covid-19 negative test report by getting tested every 15 days through either RT-PCR/True-Nat/CBNAAT on self-payment basis as per Government approved rates,” read the order.

8 foreign universities keen to set up campuses in India

8 foreign universities keen to set up campuses in India

5 Of Them From US & 1 Each From UK, Australia & Canada: Survey

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:18.07.2021 

Eight foreign universities, including one each in the top 50 and 100 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021, said that they would be interested in setting up their international campuses in India. Five of these are US universities and one each from the UK, Australia and Canada.

In a survey, where 43 internationally ranked universities participated, 16 said they are not considering a campus here, and another 16 are undecided. The eight which expressed interest claimed they would prefer Indian students to begin with to ensure sufficient enrolments and sustainability of their venture.

The survey “Establishing International Branch Campuses in India,” by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), a central government funded deemed to be university, was conducted between December 21, 2020 to February 12, 2021 to elicit responses from the top 200 universities of the THE World University Rankings 2021 on their views on setting up their international campuses in India. The respondents include three from the ‘top 10’.

As per the report, all the eight respondents that indicated ‘definitely consider’ India as a potential destination for establishing international branch campuses said that there is a need for liberal regulatory framework for improving the attractiveness of India. This is of particular significance because the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 had recommended to allow only universities from the ‘top 100 category’ in the world university rankings to operate in India.

According to Eldho Mathews, deputy adviser, Unit for International Cooperation, NIEPA, “Contrary to popular view, foreign universities in the top category are also interested in establishing their campuses in India. But most of them are adopting a wait and watch approach as the government rules and regulations are yet to be framed.”

Of the 43 universities which participated in the survey, 14 are from the UK, 13 from the US and 6 are from Canada. Nine of these universities are in the top 50 of the Times Higher Education World Rankings and 30 are in top 150 rankings.

The survey also sought the views on preferred campus model and the report suggested that the number of universities preferring some kind of tie-up with government-run institutions or assistance directly from the government is higher than setting up with private assistance or no external assistance.

“Promoting various models of branch campuses would be helpful in attracting more universities. Similarly, universities that are willing to offer programs that are relevant for the skill needs of the country should be given priority,” said Mathews.

Some of the models suggested in the report are the US-based Webster University in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom’s University of Nottingham in Ningbo, China and Singapore Institute of Management’s partnership with the University at Buffalo (UB) School of Management, located at the State University of New York at Buffalo for its Bachelor of Science degree program in business administration offered in Singapore, among others.

Full report on www.toi.in

In a survey, where 43 internationally ranked universities participated, 16 said they are not considering a campus here, and another 16 are undecided. The eight which expressed interest claimed they would prefer Indian students to begin with to ensure sufficient enrolments and sustainability of their venture

50 students to get into Madurai AIIMS this year

50 students to get into Madurai AIIMS this year

Madurai:18.07.2021

Preliminary work on the AIIMS facility for Madurai will begin this year and 50 students are to be enrolled from this academic year. However, construction work on the project will begin only in 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2026, Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore has said. The MP, who attended the first virtual meeting of Madurai AIIMS held on Friday and presided by the president of JIPMER Dr V M Katoch and president of the AIIMS institute committee, said one of the takeaways of the meeting was the handing over of 220 acres to the Union government. The Centre has allowed the appointment of 180 faculty members and 120 non-faculty staff for the AIIMS facility, he said. TNN

First year admissions to start after July 31 & end by Sept 30: UGC

First year admissions to start after July 31 & end by Sept 30: UGC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.07.2021 

University Grants Commission (UGC) on Friday directed all colleges and higher educational institutions to commence the admission process only after July 31 by when all boards are expected to declare Class XII results.

Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations (TNDGE) said Class XII results would be declared on July 19. Though UG admissions would commence after Class XII results for state board students are released, the TN higher education department asked all colleges to commence admissions for 2021-22 on August 1 after the declaration of CBSE Class XII results.

As per UGC’s academic calendar for 2021-22, colleges must wind up admissions before September 30 and the academic session must commence latest by October 1.

However, the UGC left the planning of semester exams, break, commencement of next semester and exams with concerned universities and autonomous colleges. The next academic year for the 2021-22 batch will begin on August 1, 2022.

“In view of the financial hardships faced by parents due to lockdowns and related factors, the commission asked all colleges to refund full fees for cancellations of admissions or migrations up to October 31 as a special case. It said there should be zero cancellation charges till October 31 and thereafter, the college should refund full fee after deducting process fee not more than ₹1,000,” the UGC said in its guidelines.

Loyola College principal Thomas Amirtham said arts and science colleges may not need two months for the admission process and online classes for first year students may commence much earlier. “In the present academic schedule, it is not possible to have a long summer break. The schedule also allows each state to adapt according to their local Covid-19 situation,” he said, adding that the online classes are likely to continue for a few more months.

D G Vaishnav College principal S Santhosh Baboo said colleges may be looking to wind up the admission process quickly. “Even if colleges are allowed to reopen, science students will be called to do practicals in person while theory classes will be online,” he said.

As per UGC’s academic calendar for 2021-22, colleges must commence the academic session latest by October 1

All FIRs of CB-CID, CCB uploaded online, police inform HC

All FIRs of CB-CID, CCB uploaded online, police inform HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.07.2021 

Nudged by the Madras high court, the Chennai city police have uploaded all FIRs registered by the central crime branch (CCB) and the CB-CID on the crime and criminal tracking network system (CCTNS).

Filing a status report, the Chennai city commissioner of police informed the court that it had now complied with the order passed by the Supreme Court in 2016 making it mandatory to upload FIRs to the tracking system.

Recording the submission, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said, “in the light of such a report, it appears that the local authorities are alive to their obligation in terms of the order of the Supreme Court.”

The issue pertains to a PIL moved by advocate M Balaji alleging that the 2016 order of the apex court had not yet been complied by the state government.

On April 2, the court directed the Tamil Nadu government to indicate measures taken to upload all the FIRs registered in the state online in the website of the police or any other official website as directed by the Supreme Court in 2016.

“If appropriate measures have not been taken already, such measures should be devised expeditiously…” the court had said.

The petitioner alleged that FIRs once registered have to be uploaded to the website within 24 hours, however, the department fails to do so.

Replying to an RTI application seeking details of such FIRs, the police said FIRs had not been uploaded due to sensitivity of cases. Facilities to view the FIR of CCB in the official website are not programmed right from the beginning, the petitioner said.

The commissioner of police informed the court that the department had complied with the order passed by the SC in 2016

Record rain for a July day floods roads, hits traffic

Record rain for a July day floods roads, hits traffic

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.07.2021

Rain buffeted the city for the second consecutive evening, breaking the record of highest 24-hour rain for July since 2018 and leaving many streets waterlogged. Nungambakkam recorded 69.5mm, highest since the 84mm recorded on July 10, 2017. While both Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded excess rain since June 1, weathermen have forecast thunderstorms with light to moderate rain in the next two days.

“There is an upper-air circulation between 3.1km and 4.6km altitude and south-westerly winds are pushing moisture below which brought the rain. The circulation supported the convective activity and brought thunder along with rain,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, Chennai. Nungambakkam station recorded more rain on Friday (60.5mm) and Saturday (69.5mm) than Meenambakkam’s 14.4mm and 23mm. Between June1 and July 16, Nungambakkam recorded 176.2mm and Meenambakkam 171.7mm, which are 51.7mm and 32.4mm excess for the period. Chennai subdivision registered with 171.6mm against a normal 130.6mm, an excess of 31%.

West Tambaram recorded 24mm, Villivakkam 57mm, Taramani 15mm and Chembarambakkam 16mm as of 7.30pm on Saturday. The downpour left many roads in north Chennai and a few in the south like Velachery inundated forcing motorists to tread slowly. Joint commissioner of police Lalitha Lakshmi and her team monitored waterlogging on streets and field staff cleared them with the help of corporation staff. “We are taking action based on posts on social media by road users,” said Pradip Kumar, additional commissioner of police (traffic).

On Friday evening, heavy rain had caused waterlogging and kept policemen and corporation staff on their toes. Two uprooted trees were cleared within 20 minutes. On Saturday, the corporation operated pumps to push out water from subways like Ganesapuram in Royapuram and the one opposite Loyola College in Nungambakkam. A senior corporation official said Saturday's spell was one of the biggest this season, but in most areas, stagnant water cleared off soon.

DELUGED: Bazzar Road near Madipakkam on Saturday

Five school employees involved with Sankar Baba case go missing

Five school employees involved with Sankar Baba case go missing

A.Selvaraj@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.07.2021

The CB-CID police who are probing the sexual harassment case of Siva Sankar Baba have summoned five school teaching and non-teaching staff to inquire about Baba, who is now detained in Puzhal prison. But all five could not be traced.

Baba, founder of the Sushil Hari International Residential School, is facing three Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act cases, police said.

Police who went to deliver the summons found all five residences were locked. Police said they would have got the wind of the investigations and dissappeared.

An investigating officer said, “We have planned to summon all teaching and non-teaching staff in the school.” Police asked the school administration to hand over details of the staff. “We are yet to get their credentials,” he said.

Headmistress Gayathri, a teacher Praveena and three non-teaching staff who gave an interview to reporters recently claiming “Baba is great” and the sexual harassment reported was not within the school premises.

Police are trying to trace the absconding members, while another police team is gathering information on the the school management and staff on their rolls.

A police officer said, “We will inquire 10 staff on a daily basis to get their statement which will be included in the first information report (FIR).

The Mamallapuram allwomen police based on three complaints on June 12 booked Siva Sankar Baba and the case was transferred to the CB-CID on June 13. Police apprehended Baba from a lodge at Chittaranjan Park in Delhi on June 16.

Police are trying to trace the absconding members, while another team is gathering information on the the school management and staff on the rolls

Admission in colleges only after July 31

Admission in colleges only after July 31

18.07.2021

UGC has directed all colleges to commence admission only after July 31 by which date all boards would have declared Class XII results. TN state board results will be declared on July 19. TN higher education department has already asked colleges to start admissions only from August 1. The UGC in its new academic calendar guideline for 2021-22 said that final-year exam (2020-2021) be compulsorily conducted in offline (pen and paper)/ online/ blended (online and offline) mode. The new academic year for fresh batches will start from October 1, 2021

Tamil Nadu's Attempt To Circumvent NEET

Tamil Nadu's Attempt To Circumvent NEET: Lately, the State of Tamil Nadu had been mulling over on the aspects of circumventing the NEET exams to enable admissions in medical institutions. However, such an object of the State is most...

Right To Be Forgotten- An Acquitted Accused Entitled To Redact His Name From The Judgment, To Protect His Privacy: Madras High Court

Right To Be Forgotten- An Acquitted Accused Entitled To Redact His Name From The Judgment, To Protect His Privacy: Madras High Court: The Madras High Court observed on Friday that an accused person who is eventually acquitte

Pondicherry University to conduct all examinations online from July 19

Pondicherry University to conduct all examinations online from July 19

The university has directed principals to send question papers through e-mail. After three hours, students are expected to scan the papers written by them and send them to the principals.

Published: 16th July 2021 07:18 PM 

By Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: Pondicherry University on Friday announced that it would conduct all theory examinations scheduled from July 19 online.

According to a release from the Controller of Examination of the University, this will not be applicable to undergraduate and post graduate medical and dental courses as well as examinations which are not yet to be scheduled. The practicals can be conducted online, only when simulation is possible, otherwise practical exams are to be conducted offline.

The university has directed the principals to send question papers through e-mail and students can write in A4 size white paper with black ink. After three hours, students are expected to scan the paper written by them and send it to the principals within 30 minutes of the scheduled time of examination.

The principals have to print out the papers submitted, authenticate by affixing the college seal on the first page, bundle them and sent them to the university on the same day, said the release.

Private colleges fixing targets for faculty to enrol students?

Private colleges fixing targets for faculty to enrol students?

Exploiting their ‘helplessness’, several private colleges are allegedly forced their faculty members to enroll students through telecalling and have fixed targets for each of them.

Published: 17th July 2021 04:02 AM

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Exploiting their ‘helplessness’, several private colleges are allegedly forced their faculty members to enroll students through telecalling and have fixed targets for each of them. A faculty member of a private college, on condition of anonymity, said, “Violating State government order, many private colleges are conducting student admission on seat-booking basis and collecting fees ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 depending on courses.

Besides, authorities have given target of calling at least 100 parents daily and ensure at least three students are admitted every day. Professors have turned into telecallers in second-grade colleges, and are chasing students and parents for admission.”

Saying that telecalling was stressful, he said the authorities treated them badly in front of others if they did not meet their target. “The Higher Education Department should intervene in this issue and protect us,” he demanded. A woman faculty member said, “When we call parents and solicit admission, they invariably scold us for disturbing them during work hours. Some even abuse us. As a result, a few professors felt depressed. If we took it up with the authorities, they would say the target should be completed. We continue work here as we don’t have other options to earn a livelihood.”

A HoD in a private college said, “We face this issue every year. Colleges treat us like slaves, and State government is silent.” According to sources, online classes have been stopped temporarily for the second and third-year students, as professors are engaged in admission work.

NR Ravishankar, a former professor and president of Consumer Awareness and Protection Association, said, “Director of Collegiate Education should send a circular that colleges should not involve professors in admission work and conduct an online meeting with the principals about it. The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education should monitor and inspect the colleges directly to check whether professors are involved in the admission work or not.”

He alleged that many joint directors were being lethargic in their duty without inspecting the colleges, and if it continued, a bad name would come up on the new government. When asked about it, Higher Education Secretary D Karthikeyan said that he would look into the issue through Director of Collegiate Education.

TNSTC bus conductor uses saliva to tear ticket, passengers create ruckus

TNSTC bus conductor uses saliva to tear ticket, passengers create ruckus

Old habits die hard, some could prove deadly in this pandemic situation.

Published: 17th July 2021 04:28 AM 

By Express News Service

TIRUPPUR: Old habits die hard. Some could even prove fatal during an ongoing pandemic. Passengers travelling on a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus from Coimbatore on Friday freaked out on seeing the conductor wet his finger using saliva to tear up the tickets. Driven by fear of Covid spread, the passengers reported the incident to the health officials, who warned him and collected his swab samples.

An official from the health department said that the bus was moving towards Tiruppur city and the conductor used his saliva to tear the tickets. The passengers reportedly asked him not to do that but he refused and continued with his work. Following this, health officials arrived intercepted the bus in front of the Collectorate and collected swab samples from the conductor.

The results would be announced in two days, the official added. An official in TNSTC (Coimbatore) said, “We have instructed about the Covid norms to conductors and drivers to be implemented in the bus. Besides, we have also issued instructions not to tear tickets with saliva. But the conductor has violated the instruction. An inquiry will be formed.”

Exams will be conducted in offline mode too

Exams will be conducted in offline mode too

However, some students were willing to write the paper in offline mode. Taking note of it, the university has taken such a decision.

Published: 17th July 2021 05:47 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University has decided to conduct all its semester examination for 2020-21 in offline mode also, said the university in a statement. Earlier, in view of the prevailing Covid- 19 situation, the university had announced to conduct all semester examinations through online mode from July 19.

However, some students were willing to write the paper in offline mode. Taking note of it, the university has taken such a decision. The university has said in its statement, that candidates who have already registered for online semester examinations may take their online examinations as per schedule.

If any of the registered candidates not willing to appear in the online examinations due to various reasons, candidate is permitted to write their examinations through offline mode, as and when the university schedules the examinations, after normalcy returns. Such candidates will not have to pay any additional fee to appear in the offline examinations as and when conducted.

Madras HC fixes error after ‘semen’ mistype gets man acquitted

Madras HC fixes error after ‘semen’ mistype gets man acquitted

The petitioner said her two-year-old daughter was sexually abused by her neighbour in 2017, after she left the girl with him and went to buy groceries.

Published: 17th July 2021 05:53 AM 

Madras High Court

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Observing that a typographical error in recording the word ‘semen’ as the Tamil word ‘semmann’, meaning red soil, cannot contribute to the acquittal of a man booked under the POCSO Act for sexually assaulting a child, the Madras High Court has set aside a trial court order that acquitted him of all charges. The issue pertains to the victim’s mother moving a plea in the High Court, seeking for the trial court order to be set aside.

The petitioner said her two-year-old daughter was sexually abused by her neighbour in 2017, after she left the girl with him and went to buy groceries. The weeping child told her the neighbour “kissed” her on her private parts. The victim’s mother found semen on the child’s underwear, and then called her husband, who was out of station at the time.

The trial court in 2018 misinterpreted an error made by a typist during the trial. The word ‘semen’ was mistakenly written as ‘semman’. The defence counsel exploited the technical error to suggest that no semen was found in the girl’s undergarments, and the accused was acquitted on those grounds. Justice P Velmurugan, who heard the appeal, in his orders lamented the investigation and the trial court verdict.

“The trial courts also, sometimes not applying their minds and exercising their inherent or discretionary power, either to direct for reinvestigation or summon relevant records... are searching for proof beyond reasonable doubt, and taking advantage of the flaw in the investigation, giving the benefit of doubt to the accused. But (in) cases like this, we cannot give much importance to the technical ground of proof,” he said. The court further said that under Section 29 of the POCSO Act, 2012, it is for the accused to defend himself once the prosecution proved the offence and the court had drawn its presumption.

This Act stands in contrast to the general principle of criminal law, which says a person is innocent until proven guilty. The judge stressed that, “... the trial court misinterpreted the typographical error of ‘semman’ and attributed a wrong meaning to it. Hence, there is danger in writing an English word in Tamil, which totally turned the case of the prosecution, and admittedly, the defence side has taken flimsy defence that the mother stated as “semman colour,” the court observed.

The court added that no mother of a victim, especially an illiterate woman in a rural area, would immediately go to the police in such cases and the prosecution and court failed in their duties when they stressed technicalities such as a delay in lodging the complaint. The high court, ordering the accused to be present before it for sentencing, observed, “... the mere defect in the investigation is not fatal to the case of the prosecution and the second respondent/accused cannot be acquitted on the sole ground of defective investigation.”

மானாமதுரை பேரூராட்சி நகராட்சியாக தரம் உயர்வு

மானாமதுரை பேரூராட்சி நகராட்சியாக தரம் உயர்வு

Added : ஜூலை 16, 2021 23:37

மானாமதுரை-மானாமதுரை பேரூராட்சி உட்பட தமிழகத்தில் 35 பேரூராட்சிகள் நகராட்சிகளாக தரம் உயர்த்தப்பட உள்ளதாக தகவல் வெளியாகியுள்ளது.சிவகங்கை மாவட்டத்தில் வளர்ந்து வரக்கூடிய பேரூராட்சிகளில் மானாமதுரை முதல் இடத்தில் உள்ளது. மானாமதுரையை ஒட்டியுள்ள மாங்குளம், கொன்னக்குளம், கீழமேல்குடி உள்ளிட்ட ஊராட்சிகளைச் சேர்ந்த பகுதிகள் பேரூராட்சி எல்லையை ஒட்டி விரிவடைந்து வருகிறது.தற்போது 40 ஆயிரத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்ட மக்கள் தொகை உள்ள மானாமதுரை பேரூராட்சியை தரம் உயர்த்தி நகராட்சியாக மாற்ற வேண்டும் என்று கடந்த சில ஆண்டுகளாக பல்வேறு அமைப்பினர் கோரிக்கை விடுத்து வந்தனர்.இந்நிலையில் தமிழகத்தில் மானாமதுரை உட்பட 35 பேரூராட்சிகள்,நகராட்சிகளாக தரம் உயர்த்தப்பட உள்ளதாக தகவல் வெளியாகியுள்ளது. மானாமதுரை பேரூராட்சி அதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறுகையில், மானாமதுரை பேரூராட்சியை நகராட்சியாக தரம் உயர்த்த வேண்டும் என்று அரசுக்கு முன்பே கருத்துரு அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது,அதனடிப்படையில் தற்போது நகராட்சியாக மாற்றும் வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது, என்றார்.

Bus conductor who licked tickets takes Covid test

Bus conductor who licked tickets takes Covid test

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:17.07.2021 

The Tirupur city corporation on Friday collected nasal swabs from a government bus conductor for Covid-19 testing as he was applying saliva on tickets to single them out from the bundle before issuing the same to passengers.

According to an official source, passengers had raised objections when 47-year-old Gunasekaran, a conductor with a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) mofussil bus, used his saliva to single out tickets for issuing the same to them, citing the pandemic situation.

“However, Gunasekaran didn’t pay heed to them. He also didn’t wear the face mask properly. A corporation official was also travelling in the bus. The official alerted an urban primary health centre. Health workers subsequently collected nasal swabs from the conductor from the bus stand opposite to the collector’s office on Palladam Road,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the district chapter of TNSTC has launched an inquiry into the incident. An official said they had directed all the conductors and drivers to maintain hygiene inside the buses to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Passengers had raised objections when 47-year-old Gunasekaran, a conductor with a TNSTC mofussil bus, used his saliva to single out tickets

Sudden showers catch many Chennai residents unwares

Sudden showers catch many Chennai residents unwares

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.07.2021 

Many localities of the city recorded light to moderate rainfall for over 30 minutes on Friday evening.

The Met department has forecast light to moderate rain to continue across the city and neighbourhood in the next 48 hours. Bloggers said the city and the neighbouring districts have a high probability of rain till July 20. Meteorologists said the evening showers were due to strong westerlies that drive the southwest monsoon pushing moisture towards the east coast over the already warm zone. This led to convective spells.

Friday evening saw light to moderate rainfall over many parts of the city and suburbs for over 30 minutes in Nungambakkam, West Mambalam, Vyasarpadi, Korattur, Ambattur, Avadi, Chromepet, Iyyappanthangal and Poonamallee. IMD’s rain gauges recorded the highest rainfall at Villivakkam (70mm), Sathyabhama University (46.5mm) and Nungambakkam (48mm) till 7.30pm. Between June 1 and July 16, Chennai subdivision recorded 126.7mm rainfall, which is equal to the normal rainfall of 126.8mm expected in this period.

Blogger Pradeep John, in his online post, said the city and the suburbs may continue to receive sudden evening spells till July 20 before a low pressure is likely to form close to Odisha coast.

Tambaram-Trichy highway to do away with blackspots, get safer

Tambaram-Trichy highway to do away with blackspots, get safer

NHAI Sanctions 105 Crore To Cut Down On Accidents, Improve Infra Along Stretch

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

17.07.2021 

In a bid to cut down on accidents along the Tambaram-Trichy highway (NH-45), the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has sanctioned `105 crore for constructing bridges, vehicle underpasses, additional lighting facilities and improving road alignment.

The fund allocation comes almost eight years after NHAI identified risky stretches on the NH-45. The highway is one among the top ten most perilous road stretches in the country with 27 accident ‘blackspots’ — a 500m stretch where at least five fatal accidents were reported in a year. At least 40 people died in road accidents at some of these 27 blackspots on NH-45.

NHAI was under fire for failing to take adequate measures to reduce accidents at these places identified in 2012. Tenders were floated but work got delayed due to legal issues and land acquisition hassles.

It was only last year that work started at half-adozen blackspots on the Tambaram-Tindivanam stretch at a project cost of `9 crore. This includes road junctions at Singaperumal Koil, Kattankulathur, Marimalaimagar, Paranur railway bridge and Acharapakkam.

NHAI, which cleared obstacles that caused accidents, put in place metal-beam crash barriers, rumble strips, additional speed breakers, road studs, traffic signals and retro-reflective traffic sign boards.

Construction of pedestrian bridges and installation of pedestrian guard rails were pending at a few locations, an NHAI official from Chennai Regional Office said.

“Blackspot rectification work was delayed due to the lockdown but it has reached the final stage now. We expect to finish it by July-end,” the official added.

However, motorists, who use the Tambaram-Trichy stretch regularly, said their complaints pertaining to street lights have gone unattended.

During the entire lockdown period, road lights near Singaperumal Koil junction were dysfunctional, said G Ganesh from Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association. “Several motorists get blinded by the high beam without street lights,” he said.

NHAI had outsourced maintenance work of street lights on the stretch to a private contractor, but were unable to find electricians during the lockdown, Ganesh added.

Tenders have also been floated this month to rectify accident blackspots at Mamandur, Arasur and Ellis Chatram along Tindivanam-Ulundurpet stretch.

NHAI has set a one-year deadline to complete these infra projects.

On the progress of the project, public transport activist R Rengachari said, “The government should also speed up enforcement measures. The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system proposed for NH-45 has been pending for years now”.

ANPR project aims at installing 56 speed sensors and 168 cameras between Chennai and Trichy to automatically detect vehicles travelling above 100 km per hour and penalise them.

Right to be redacted: HC to study status of an acquitted man

Right to be redacted: HC to study status of an acquitted man

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:17.07.2021 

As a simple Google search can make or mar a person’s character, his/her name should be redacted (obscured for legal or security purposes) from judgments if he/she is acquitted in a criminal case, the Madras high court has opined.

Invoking an individual’s right to privacy and the right to be forgotten, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said a Google-search would bring up court judgments, and a person’s name would be shown against alleged crimes even after he was acquitted of all judgments. However, considering the deep ramifications a redact order would bring along, the high court has chosen to hear the views of members of the Bar, including the prosecution, before passing a detailed order on the issue.

A man who was tried for rape and cheating, was convicted and sentenced by a trial court in 2011, but he was acquitted of all charges by the high court in 2014. He has now approached the high court for redacting his name from the judgment.

Justice Anand Venkatesh observed that the petitioner is now facing a very peculiar problem as his name gets reflected in the judgment as an accused, though he was acquitted of all charges. “Unfortunately, whoever types the name of the petitioner in Google-search is able to access the judgment of this court. According to the petitioner it causes a serious impact on his reputation in the eyes of the society,” he said.

Agreeing with the man’s contention, the court said, “today, the world is literally under the grips of social media,” adding that the background of a person is assessed by everyone through Google-search and the first impression is created depending upon the data that is provided. “It will make or mar the characteristics of a person in the eyes of the society,” observed Justice Anand Venkatesh.

The existing laws protect the identity of women and child victims, and their names are not reflected in any order passed by a court, the judge said, adding: “This right has not been extended to an accused person who ultimately is acquitted from all charges.”

The judge further observed it is also brought to the notice of this court that when a similar issue came up before the Delhi high court recently, interim orders were passed directing the websites concerned to redact the name of the petitioner. “It is also informed to this court that a new right called the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ is sought to be included in the list of rights that are already available under Article 21 of the Constitution,” he said.

Justice Anand Venkatesh then observed that though the court found that there was a prima facie case made out by the petitioner and that he was entitled for redacting his name, “this court wants to hear counsel appearing for the respondents and also the members of the Bar and understand the various ramifications before writing a detailed judgment on this issue.”

The judge requested the assistance of the Bar members in this case and posted the case to July 28 for further hearing.

Lockdown extended for 2 wks; edu institutes to remain shut: Stalin

Lockdown extended for 2 wks; edu institutes to remain shut: Stalin

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.07.2021

The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced extending lockdown by two weeks ending 6am on July 31.

In an official statement, chief minister M K Stalin said that certain activities, remained prohibited, including inter-state public and private transport except Union territory of Puducherry, international air travel except the purposes permitted by the Union home ministry, cinema theatres, all liquor bars, swimming pools, all social, political gatherings, entertainment, sports and cultural events, schools and colleges and zoological parks.

“A maximum of 50 persons will be permitted for marriage events and 20 persons in funeral/last rites in a bid to contain the spread,” the chief minister said. The already permitted activities will continue in the state, except containment zones.

Stalin said that industrial training institutes (ITIs) and industrial schools, and typewriting/ shorthand institutes shall function with 50% students at a time and on a rotation basis from Monday. Teachers will be allowed to work in schools to facilitate admission of students, distribution of books and preparation of syllabus.

A maximum of 50 persons will be permitted for marriage events and 20 persons in funeral/last rites in a bid to contain the spread

MK STALIN  Chief Minister