Not 27%, reserve 50% med seats for OBCs in AIQ: HC to Centre

Not 27%, reserve 50% med seats for OBCs in AIQ: HC to Centre

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:4.8.2021

The Madras high court on Tuesday said that both the high court and the Supreme Court orders made it clear that reservation provided by Tamil Nadu (50%) for OBCs must be applied in the All India Quota (AIQ) seats surrendered by it for admission to medical courses and it cannot be 27% as provided in the central law.

A clarification to this effect was made by the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu on Tuesday while hearing a contempt of court plea moved by the DMK against the Centre for failing to implement the court’s ruling on the quota issue.

On Tuesday, additionalsolicitor general R Shankaranarayanan said the Centre had decided to provide 27% reservation to OBCs in AIQ seats surrendered by the state and 10% EWS reservation to those not covered under any existing reservation.

Opposing it, senior advocate P Wilson for the DMK contended that the court’s order dated July 27, 2020, unequivocally accepted that reservation in terms of the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 1993 would be applicable for the AIQ seats. This would mean that 50% reservation must be provided to OBCs in AIQ seats as followed by the state and not 27%, he argued.

Court adjourns hearing to Aug 9 for Centre to respond

Recording the same, the court pointed out that even the Supreme Court in its order had observed: “It is no doubt true that the high court accepted the submissions of the appellants that the 1993 Act can be made applicable to AIQ seats...”

Opposing the same, the additional solicitor general said, “even the high court judgment noticed that AIQ seats were a separate class which would not be governed by the principle of domicile and, accordingly, a committee was constituted by this court, which was approved by the Supreme Court, to ascertain the extent of reservation that would be desirable in the AIQ seats.”

To this, the bench said, “prima facie, such submission militates against the purpose indicated in both the high court and the Supreme Court orders for constituting the committee.”

Both orders indicated that the committee would work out the modalities of implementation of the reservation for OBC candidates to AIQ seats in this state. If it is a question of implementation, the committee was not tasked with the duty of ascertaining the extent of reservation or the inter se allocation thereof between groups, the court added.

The bench then adjourned the hearing to August 9 for the Centre to respond.

... Even the high court judgment noticed that AIQ seats were a separate class which would not be governed by the principle of domicile and, accordingly, a committee was constituted by this court, which was approved by the Supreme Court, to ascertain the extent of reservation that would be desirable in the AIQ seats

R SHANKARANARAYANAN

Additional solicitor general

‘Proposed rules could prolong PG evaluation’

MEDICOS RAISE VOICE

‘Proposed rules could prolong PG evaluation’

Will Be More Awkward, Say Medical Experts

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:4.8.2021

The draft Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations 2021 could well make the evaluation process for PG studies awkward, besides leading to a month-long delay in announcement of the exam results, feel experts in the education sector.

Experts in the education sector say that by the present evaluation process, where four valuators are roped in for every field of postgraduate (PG) and PG super-specialty courses in medical studies, takes about 15-20 days before declaring the results.

The draft proposed by National Medical Commission aims to change the evaluation process, that could lead to a delay of one month in announcing the results, said an Ahmedabad-based expert in the medical education field. According to the existing system, two of the four evaluators are to be from within Gujarat while the remaining two are to be from other Indian states, they said. There are four exam papers for PG medical and PG super specialty courses.

“All the answer scripts shall be subjected to two evaluations by the concerned university. The average of the total marks awarded by the two evaluators for the paper, rounded off to the nearest value, shall be considered for computation of the results,” according to clause18.2 of the draft.

All the answer scripts, where the difference between two evaluations is 15% and more of the total marks prescribed for the paper, shall be subjected to a third evaluation, it proposes.

“The draft further proposes that the average of the best two total marks, awarded by the three evaluators for the paper, rounded off to the nearest value, shall be considered for final computation of the results. This makes the entire process very clumsy and will lead to a delay in the announcement of results,” said an academician.

After the computation and declaration of the results, under no circumstances is revaluation permitted by any authority, the draft states. All health universities/institutions imparting postgraduate courses shall develop a platform for bar-coded digital evaluation, it further states. Experts said if implemented, the rules may lead to 30% decline in PG medical seats in Gujarat. About 2,000 PG medical and PG super-specialty seats in the state could be affected by the new set of rules, said sources.

நரம்பியல் டாக்டர் கொலை வழக்கில் நாளை தீர்ப்பு

நரம்பியல் டாக்டர் கொலை வழக்கில் நாளை தீர்ப்பு

Added : ஆக 02, 2021 23:53

சென்னை : டாக்டர் சுப்பையா கொலை வழக்கில், நாளை தீர்ப்பு கூறப்படுகிறது.கடந்த 2013 செப்., 14ல், சென்னை ஆர்.ஏ.,புரத்தில், நரம்பியல் டாக்டர் சுப்பையா, கூலிப்படையினரால் தாக்கப்பட்டு சிகிச்சை பலனின்றி இறந்தார். இந்த வழக்கில், 10 பேர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டனர்.

சென்னை முதலாவது கூடுதல் அமர்வு நீதிமன்றத்தில், 2015 முதல் இந்த வழக்கு விசாரணை நடந்து வருகிறது. அனைத்து தரப்பு வாதங்களும் முடிந்த நிலையில், ஆகஸ்ட் 2ல் தீர்ப்பு வழங்கப்படும் என, சென்னை முதலாவது கூடுதல் அமர்வு நீதிமன்ற நீதிபதி அல்லி அறிவித்திருந்தார்.இதன்படி தீர்ப்புக்காக, நேற்று அந்த வழக்கு பட்டியலிடப்பட்டது. அப்போது குற்றம் சாட்டப்பட்ட ஒன்பது பேரில், ஆசிரியர் பொன்னுசாமி, அவரது மனைவி மேரி புஷ்பம் ஆகியோர் ஆஜராகவில்லை.அவர்கள் தரப்பில் ஆஜரான வழக்கறிஞர், 'உடல்நிலை சரியில்லாத காரணத்தால், இருவரும் ஆஜராக முடியவில்லை' என தெரிவித்தார்.இதையடுத்து தீர்ப்பை நாளை தள்ளிவைத்து, நீதிபதி அல்லி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் கட்டுமானம் ஒரு மாதத்தில் முடிக்க உத்தரவு

மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் கட்டுமானம் ஒரு மாதத்தில் முடிக்க உத்தரவு

Added : ஆக 02, 2021 23:53

சென்னை, : முதலாம் ஆண்டு மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்தும் வகையில், புதிய மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளின் கட்டுமான பணிகளை விரைந்து முடிக்க அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில் திருவள்ளூர், செங்கல்பட்டு, கள்ளக்குறிச்சி, திண்டுக்கல், ராமநாதபுரம், நீலகிரி, விருதுநகர், நாமக்கல், திருப்பூர், கிருஷ்ணகிரி, அரியலுார் ஆகிய, 11 மாவட்டங்களில், புதிதாக அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி மற்றும் மருத்துவமனைகள் அமைக்க, மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கி உள்ளது. இதற்கான கட்டுமான பணிகளை மேற்கொள்ள, முந்தைய அ.தி.மு.க., ஆட்சியில், 1,200 கோடி ரூபாய் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டு பணிகள் துவங்கின. இந்த மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகள் வாயிலாக, எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., படிப்பில் புதிதாக, 1,650 இடங்கள் அனுமதிக்கப்படும் .

புதிய மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், நடப்பு கல்வியாண்டில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை நடத்த, உயர்நீதிமன்ற மதுரை கிளை உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்துள்ளது. தற்போது, 11 மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், 80 சதவீத கட்டுமான பணிகள் முடிந்துள்ளன. மின்சாரம், குடிநீர் உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு வசதிகள் ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டியுள்ளது.உயர் நீதிமன்ற உத்தரவை தொடர்ந்து, புதிய மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், முதலாம் ஆண்டு மாணவர் சேர்க்கைக்கு தேவையான பணிகளுக்கு மட்டும் முக்கியத்துவம் அளித்து, இம்மாத இறுதிக்குள் விரைந்து முடிக்க அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

இதையடுத்து, வகுப்பறைகள், ஆய்வகங்கள், மாணவர் விடுதிகள் உள்ளிட்டவற்றை தயார் படுத்தும் பணிகளில், ஒப்பந்த நிறுவனங்கள் கவனம் செலுத்த துவங்கி உள்ளன.

1-month-old operated on to remove twin from his tummy

1-month-old operated on to remove twin from his tummy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:3.8.2021

City doctors have successfully operated on a baby boy who was born with his own ‘twin’ inside his abdomen — a rare condition called ‘fetus-in-fetu’. It is estimated to occur in one of 5 lakh live births.

Doctors suspected something unusual when they picked up, what they thought to be a cyst, in the baby’s abdomen during a routine ultrasound of the mother in the fifth month of pregnancy. Two months later, when the mother presented for a follow-up scan in the seventh month of pregnancy, it was clear that the mass was not a cyst. The scan found bones and viscera, suggestive of the body parts of the foetus that was inside the abdomen of the healthy foetus.

The couple in their thirties, who did not wish to be identified, said they were advised to carry on with the pregnancy by the doctors at the suburban maternity hospital they were consulting. “We were anxious, but the doctors told us that any intervention has to be done only after the baby is born,” the father told TOI.

He said that the pregnancy was continued to term, and the baby was born without any complications. The couple consulted multiple doctors who recommended removal of the ‘dead twin’.

They approached the Narayana Health’s SRCC Children’s Hospital after the baby was a month old. Doctors found the dead twin inside an amniotic sac located in the upper part of the newborn’s tummy, displacing vital structures.

“Incidence of fetus-in-fetu is extremely rare. Due to lack of adequate blood supply and nourishment one fetus doesn’t survive. A challenge in such cases is to remove the baby with the amniotic sac intact,” said Dr Sarita Bhagwat, senior paediatric surgeon who led the operation. “The dead foetus had underdeveloped vertebrae, femur and humerus (bone in upper arm) and two limb bones, which we could remove completely,” said the surgeon. The healthy baby was recently discharged from the hospital.

Delhi, 12 other states see a rise in weekly Covid cases

Delhi, 12 other states see a rise in weekly Covid cases

Amit.Bhattacharya@timesgroup.com

3.8.2021

It is not just Kerala and its neighbouring states where Covid-19 infections have been rising over the past few days. As many as 13 states recorded an increase in cases last week, apart from Tamil Nadu which saw no change, although absolute numbers remained low at most places.

The hill states of north India saw the maximum rise in fresh cases during the week ended Sunday (July 26-August 1) as compared with the previous seven days. Himachal Pradesh registered a surge of 64%, the highest in the country, with cases rising from 670 in the previous week to 1,100. Uttarakhand logged a 61% increase in infections, although numbers in the state were still quite low — 437 last week as compared with 272 in the preceding period. J&K logged a surge of 26%.

Delhi, where weekly cases had dropped to this year’s lowest count of 381 in the week before last, saw a 15% rise in infections.

The city recorded 440 fresh cases last week. Neighbouring Haryana too registered a minor rise of 2%.

While in absolute numbers these spikes were largely marginal, what’s significant is that all these states had been registering a fall in infections till the week before last.

In total numbers, Kerala’s weekly surge was by far the highest. The state logged nearly 1.4 lakh fresh cases, 20,000 more than the count in the previous week, translating to a 27% spurt in infections. Karnataka’s weekly total was 12,442, a 17% rise from 10,610 cases recorded in the previous week.

Meanwhile, the surge in the northeast (minus Assam) slowed to 2%, from 16% in the previous week.

Significantly, worst-hit Maharashtra recorded an 11% drop in infections, the steepest percentage fall in six weeks. The state recorded 45,272 new infections during the week, down from 50,732 in the previous seven days.

Meanwhile, India recorded 29,853 fresh cases on Monday (with Delhi’s data yet to come in till midnight). The tally was lower than the number recorded last Monday (30,619) although Kerala’s cases remained relatively high at 13,984. Cases drop sharply every Monday due to lower testing and staff shortages over the weekend. There were 419 deaths reported during the day.

Covaxin batches rejected due to stability issues caused disruption in July supply

Covaxin supplies were disrupted in July as initial batches from Bharat Biotech’s new fermentation plant at Bengaluru faced some stability issues and were rejected for supply. The batches were not utilised. Stability studies on vaccines and various other pharmaceutical products are conducted to determine the storage period of intermediates and determine or modify the maximum shelf-life. Experts say it is a regular phenomenon when batches of drugs and vaccines fail to qualify stability test.

According to the source, disruption at Bharat Biotech’s plant assumed significance because it resulted in a slowdown in vaccination. However, there is no quality issue with the vaccine as such. “It is a new facility with large-scale fermentation plant. The trial batches were disrupted during standardisation process and therefore, the supply of Covaxin was less than expected. It has been sorted out now and supplies have also started. It will be full-scale very soon,” the official said. TNN

Surge in cases shows likely 3rd wave in Kerala: Experts

Surge in cases shows likely 3rd wave in Kerala: Experts

More Than 50% Of The State’s Population Still Susceptible

Preetu.Nair@timesgroup.com

Kochi:3.8.2021

The number of new Coronavirus cases in Kerala is surging once again, with epidemiologists and public health experts stating that this may be the beginning of the third Covid wave in the state.

Though the state government has not officially called it the third wave, experts said that Kerala, after being in a plateau phase in the second wave, is now seeing a surge with 20,000 to 22,000 cases reported per day in the past six days, with TPR above 12%. From June 4 to the last week of July, the state saw an average of 12,000-14,000 cases a day.

“The surge indicates that it may be the beginning of the third wave and we need to be careful now. We have a large susceptible population and the government needs to come up with a long-term strategy to deal with new Covid waves,” said public health expert and epidemiologist Dr Raman Kutty. Kerala now has 51% of the total Covid cases in the country and its seven-day average daily growth rate is 0.60%, while that of the country is 0.13%.

“It is the general principle of any viral infection that there may be multiple waves when we have a susceptible population. Kerala will also see many Covid waves before the cases actually start subsiding,” said Dr A Sukumaran, former state epidemiologist, who has come out of retirement to work at Covid control room at Wayanad.

Dr Sukumaran said that during the Spanish Flu, the cases started to subside only after four waves. “But in Covid, we may see more waves as there are mutations,” he said.

In India, so far, there have been two very distinct periods of surge, separated by a prolonged lull. But it has been a different story in Kerala. During the first wave, Kerala was in a plateau phase for a long period, and then there was a surge in Covid cases in April, indicating the beginning of the second wave. In the second wave too, the state was in plateau phase for more than seven weeks and now there is a surge.

Unlike the rest of the country, now Kerala’s Covid concerns are manifold too. More than 50% of the population is still susceptible and so far, only about 17% are fully vaccinated. In July, as per CSIR Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology’s (CSIRIGIB) Covid-19 genome surveillance, the most dominant virus in Kerala is the dangerous Delta variant (B.1.617.2), with 95% samples tested from the state showing presence of the variant. Added to this, any gene mutations in the virus needs to be identified immediately at the state level.

Health minister Veena George has acknowledged that the state has not come out of the second wave yet but will have to get prepared to meet the third wave now.

No Covaxin for 1st dose at govt vaccine centres

No Covaxin for 1st dose at govt vaccine centres

Bengaluru:3.8.2021

The administration of Covaxin for the first dose has been suspended temporarily at all government Covid-19 vaccination centres due to an overall shortage of vaccines, reports Sunitha Rao R.

Given the supply trickle, the state health and family welfare department decided to ensure that those due for the second dose be catered to first. A circular was issued by the state government on July 31 and it has come into effect from August 1. Many states have suspended giving Covaxin for the first dose since the last week of July due to shortage. “Currently, only second dose of Covaxin will be provided at government centres,” said Dr Arundhathi Chandrashekar, mission director, National health mission, Karnataka.

State has 22k doses of Covaxin at B’luru buffer storage facility

Administration of Covaxin as the first dose will resume as and when the supply situation stabilises, say authorities. Data from health and family welfare department shows about 6.1 lakh people took the first dose of Covaxin over four weeks ago and have not yet come forward to take the second dose so far. “We need to administer the second dose to all who are due,” said Chandrashekar.

The state currently has about 22,000 doses of Covaxin at its buffer storage facility in Bengaluru and another 1.5 lakh doses have been already supplied to all districts, including BBMP. The health department has directed authorities that the emphasis should be on giving existing Covaxin recipients the second shot and fully vaccinating them. It also said awareness should be created among recipients to turn up for the second shot as and when it becomes due, without delay.

Covaxin continues to be available for the first dose in private hospitals. The cost of one dose of Covaxin in private vaccination centres is Rs 1,410.

Covishield 1st dose available

Covishield continues to be available for the first dose at all government vaccination centres. The districts, however, have been directed to reserve a part their allocation exclusively for the second dose, reads the circular, a copy of which is with TOI.

On May 7, the health department had suspended the administration of first dose of both Covishield and Covaxin at government centres due to shortage of vaccines and said the entire supply would to be used for the second dose. By May-end, as supplies were streamlined, the department started administering both first and second doses.

“Between Covishield and Covaxin, many prefer Covaxin because both doses will get over in four weeks,” said a district health officer. “We do tell them that both vaccines are effective. But the spacing of 84 days between the two doses for Covishield is pushing many to take Covaxin.”

24 institutes declared fake by UGC: Govt

24 institutes declared fake by UGC: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:3.8.2021

Twenty-four “selfstyled” institutes have been declared as fake by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and two more have been found in violation of the norms. This was informed by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in response to a written question in Lok Sabha.

“Based on the complaints received from the students, parents, general public and also through electronic print media, UGC has declared 24 self-styled institutes as fake universities. Besides, two more institutes namely Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow, and Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM), Qutub Enclave, New Delhi are also found functioning in violation of the UGC Act, 1956. The matters of Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad, Lucknow and IIPM, New Delhi are sub-judice in the court,” he added.

Uttar Pradesh has the highest number (eight) of fake universities. Delhi has seven fake universities. Odisha and West Bengal have two such universities each. Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Puducherry and Maharashtra have one fake university each. Elaborating on the steps taken by the UGC against the fake or nonrecognised universities, Pradhan said, “The UGC issues public notices about the list of fake universities/institutes in national Hindi and English newspapers.”

55% of OBC posts in central univs vacant

55% of OBC posts in central univs vacant

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:3.8.2021

Over 55% of the sanctioned OBC posts in the 45 central universities and other technical and research organisations are lying vacant. This includes 89.8% of the OBC posts lying vacant in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. The Union ministry of education (MoE) on Monday told the Lok Sabha that over 41% of the SC posts and 39% of the ST posts are also lying vacant in these institutions.

Replying to a written question on the total number of sanctioned and vacant posts in the reserved categories – SC, ST and OBC – in all central universities and research institutions, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a written response said being autonomous institutions, “the onus of filling up the vacant posts lies on Central Universities.” On the vacancies minister said: “Now, after implementation of ‘The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019’, the OBC reservation has been implemented at all levels.

 Further, in June 2019 UGC has prepared the Guidelines for Recruitment of Faculty in Universities, Colleges and Institutions Deemed to be Universities outlining the selection procedure and the time frame for recruitment which has been circulated to all Universities to adhere to the guidelines. The UGC on July 31, 2019, August 7, 2019, September 5, 2019 and October 22, 2019 has again requested the universities to ensure that vacant positions in university as well as colleges affiliated to University are filled at the earliest.” As per the data provided by the ministry, as on April 1, 2021 the OBC vacancies are highest in central universities, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISERs) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) which is well above 50%.

Minorities panel headless for over a year

New Delhi:

The National Commission for Minorities has been without a chairman for over a year now and posts of five members are also lying vacant. The Delhi High Court had directed the Centre that all vacant positions must be filled up before July 31, but with the nominations yet to be made, the ministry of minority affairs (MoMA) has given no timeframe and said the “process is on”. Currently, the NCM has only one member, Atif Rasheed, who is the vice chairman.

The post of chairman fell vacant after former NCM chairmain Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi’s tenure ended in May, 2020. When TOI reached out to the ministry, sources attributed part of the delay to the pandemic which has been keeping the govenrment engaged since last year. The NCM chief is appointed from names recommended by the minority affairs ministry and requires the approval of the PMO. TNN

‘PG Medical Regulations 2021 may reduce Guj seats by 30%’

‘PG Medical Regulations 2021 may reduce Guj seats by 30%’

Experts Say Similar Situation Likely In Other States

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:3.8.2021

The draft Postgraduate Medical Regulations, 2021 may lead to a sharp decline of more than 30% in PG medical seats in Gujarat, warned experts in the medical education field. A similar situation is likely to be created in other states of the country, they said.

“There are a total of 1,874 PG medical seats in the state. If the new rules that are proposed in the draft are implemented Gujarat will see a decline of about 600-700 seats,” said two experts in the know of the matter. The maximum intake of postgraduate students in specialities where units are prescribed shall not exceed three PG seats per unit per academic year, according to clause 16.2 in the draft regulations. Presently, there are six seats per unit per academic year.

“A unit consists of one professor, one assistant professor and an associate professor. While three seats are earmarked for the professor, two are for assistant professor and one seat is marked for one associate professor. There is a cap of six seats per unit. The proposed draft aims to change this by limiting the seats to three per unit,” said one of the two experts.

He said that at a time when the government is planning to increase the number of seats for PG medical students, the new set of rules could put the government’s ambitious plans off track.

“The institute can have any number of units to meet the needs of the workload. But only the minimum number of units required as per the Minimum Standard Requirements for annual MBBS admissions Regulations, 2020 of the NMC shall be taken into account to calculate the number of postgraduate seats to be sanctioned,” according to clause 16.6 of the draft. The draft also proposes to change the criteria for professors in three-year PG courses. This could further impact the student teacher ratio, said experts.

‘Draft could impact student-teacher ratio’

The draft also proposes to change the criteria for professors in three-year PG courses. This could further impact the student-teacher ratio, said experts. So far, assistant professors were required to have four year of work experience to qualify for the post of professors.

“The draft aims to change this to five years and also have two eligible research publications in the past three years as professor,” said an expert.

The draft has been opposed by many states who are of the view that if the proposal sees light of the day in its current form, the power of the state would be undermined.

The experts had red flagged a provision of the draft PG regulations aimed to centralise and designate the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India as the designated authority for counselling for state quota seats.

The maximum intake of postgraduate students in specialities where units are prescribed shall not exceed three PG seats per unit per academic year, according to clause 16.2 in the draft regulations. Presently, there are six seats per unit per academic year

Chitlapakkam locals add green to city’s landscape

Chitlapakkam locals add green to city’s landscape

Srikkanth.D@timesgroup.com

Chennai:3.8.2021

At a time whenGreater Chennai Corporation is inviting resident welfare associations to collaborate with it in increasing the city’s green cover, residents of Chitlapakkam, just outside the corporation limits, have taken it upon themselves to help increase lung space in their town panchayat limits.

Last weekend, residents organised a seedball-throwing party at Pachamalai hills near Tambaram to add more green to the city’s landscape.

“We had organized a similar event in September 2019 just before the monsoon. We sourced seed balls from an NGO and threw more than 3,000 seed balls at that time. Due to the onset of pandemic in early 2020, we were not able to continue the seedball-throwing event last year, but have resumed it this year,” said Sunil Jayaraman of Chitlapakkam Rising, a community movement.

The hill is a catchment area and source for the Chitlapakkam lake's rainwater. Considering the citizen movement in Chitlapakkam began with saving the waterbody, it has come as a natural extension to ensure that the catchment area is also well maintained.

“It is an important step for the survival of the lake which we have revived after a public movement,” said Sunil Jayaraman.

Last weekend, about 300 seedballs of native tree varieties such as Pungai and Poovarasu were thrown down the hill by volunteers.

For the seed-ball throwing event, more than 20 people, including kids, hiked the hills on Saturday and Sunday to participate in the event. Apart from increasing the urban lung space, the community movement also acts as a good physical exercise for kids and adults alike.

“While hiking down the hill, residents also collected plastic waste strewn along by visitors. The hill has a good view point and attracts a lot of visitors. But some of them leave behind plastic water bottles and litter which can be avoided,” said a resident.

Apart from this, as part of the ‘Green Chitlapakkam’ initiative, residents have, over the years, planted more than 1,000 saplings in town panchayats, including three urban forests, using the Miyawaki method.

“Now, another set of 100 saplings is ready and will be planted in the next three months,” Sunil said.

Restrictions imminent on ECR attractions as crowds increase

Restrictions imminent on ECR attractions as crowds increase

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:3.8.2021 

As tourists throng historical attractions across East Coast Road (ECR) on weekends, indications of a lockdown are imminent to check Covid-19 cases.

Monuments maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Mamallapuram and theme parks on the entertainment corridor are clocking record footfalls to the extent that the Chengalpet district authorities are now exploring options of banning entry for tourists or cutting down the visiting hours at these monuments.

Nearly 5,000 people visited ticketed monuments at Mamallapuram on Sunday — one of the highest turnout since the centrally protected monuments were reopened this year. Two weeks ago, about 4,200 tourists visited the Pallava era monuments. A theme park without water sport activities on ECR recorded 700 visitors on Sunday. This footfall used to be around 2,000 during pre-Covid times on a weekend. Though ferry services at the TTDC boathouse at Muttukadu remains out of bound for tourists, people shot selfies on the pathway to the facility.

Mamallapuram-based tourist guide R Stalin said a majority of tourists were from Chennai and its neighbouring districts, and Puducherry. “Tourists from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have dropped significantly... But the crowd that thronged Mamallapuram on Sunday did cause extensive traffic jam in the town,” he said. It appears that shutting down market places to check Covid-19 cases could have forced people to move to the tourist spots.

An official from the Chengalpet district administration said that special teams have been formed to identify any violation of Covid-19 protocols. “We are also discussing with senior officers on stopping or reducing the timings for visitors. A final decision will be taken before this weekend,” he said.

From Aug 21, city to get first radio station run by senior citizens

From Aug 21, city to get first radio station run by senior citizens

Komal Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:3.8.2021 

The city’s first online community radio station for the elderly is set to be launched on August 21, World Senior Citizens Day. Annai Anbalaya Trust, which is launching the station, to be run by senior citizens, on its premises on TTK Road is modelling it on a similar facility begun in Coimbatore.

It will be among the 10 community radio stations approved by the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment and to be implemented by New Delhi-based National Institute of Social Defence. A letter communication has been received and the financial aspects yet to be discussed.

There will be least four programmes every week, in the form of podcasts, aimed at creating awareness about science and technology and health related issues. There will be cultural programmes as well. The senior citizens will be provided with laptops, microphones and trained in editing software.

N K Rajamani, committee member of Vigyan Prasar living in Chennai, said he conducted research in a few old age homes in the city. “There is a lot of talent in these homes. Of the nearly 50 orphaned women in the home at TTK Road, many sing well and a few have immense knowledge about several current topics,” he said. Another such radio will be set up in Athipattu, on Chennai’s outskirts, later.

B Sreedhar Ramamurthy, the brain behind the country’s first community radio station at Anna University in 2004, said, “We have been allocated —24 lakh to produce 624 podcasts by senior citizens from seven locations this year. These programmes will be exclusively for senior citizens and we will use existing community radio stations at Alagappa University in Karaikudi, Tapovan in Coimbatore, MV EC in Puducherry, Aashiana senior society in Bhiwadi, Radio Sarathi Jhalak in Bengaluru and two in New Delhi at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication to produce them,” he said. The government should set up one such station in each old age home as the cost is minimal —about ₹3,600 per month to use Iradiolive.com, a national podcasting portal run by an NGO.

Rajamani said, “If this pilot at TTK Road becomes successful, we will try to implement it across all 50 senior citizen homes in Chennai with the help of the state government.”

Watch your speed. That’s a highway, not a runway to fly

Watch your speed. That’s a highway, not a runway to fly

90% Of Accidents On ECR Stretch Caused By Overspeeding, But No Follow-Up Action On Violators

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

3.8.2021 

In February, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated an advanced traffic management system along East Coast Road to reduce accidents.

The ₹8.6-crore project set up by the state government included an Automatic Speed Enforcement System (ASES), an Automatic Video Incident Detection System (AVIDS) and a Vehicle-Activated Speed Signs (VASS) —all meant to detect any speeding vehicle or an accident along the 33-km stretch between Akkarai and Mamallapuram and alert the control room at Uthandi toll gate for police to reach the spot soon.

Around a dozen poles with high definition (HD) cameras were installed by Ador, a private firm chosen by the government. But the control centre in Uthandi was shut, when TOI visited the spot last week.

As per the rules, no vehicle can travel more than 80 km per hour (kmph) on ECR. VASS boards, installed on roadsides and medians, warn drivers about excess speed and pick up 8-10 violations every hour.

But there is no follow-up action on speed violations as no alerts are passed on to police through the control room and violators continue to go scot-free. Official data shows that 90% of the nearly 50 accidents reported on ECR between Mamallapuram and Akkarai every year are caused by speeding.

Multiple government sources confirmed that the control centre is yet to become completely functional as some of the components are yet to be installed. They attributed the delay to restricted travel movement of workers from industries in the north due to the lockdown. As of now, the control room is only recording video clips and challans are yet to be generated.

S Kamal Soi, member of the National Road Safety Council, said that enforcement works only when there is fear of being caught and punished. “Having display boards for speed alone will not act as a deterrent. The state government should start feeding this white elephant by starting operations at the control and command centre.”

CCTV surveillance cameras, installed by police, can help, at the most, in investigation and help in finding who was at fault or what went wrong after the accident takes place. Only an effective ASES can save lives, he added. Even civil work (to prevent accidents) has remained incomplete along ECR for years. In some areas, there are no signages along approach roads to alert motorists of incoming vehicles. Some stretches don’t have adequate lighting and there is stray cattle menace too.

Also, the 66-km stretch between the heritage town of Mamallapuram and Marakkanam is only a two-way road. A tender for a project to expand this into a four-way road was floated in 2018. Work has just begun on the stretch between Mamallapuram and Vayalur.

HC’s warning to TN on student admissions in Thiruvalluvar univ

HC’s warning to TN on student admissions in Thiruvalluvar univ

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:3.8.2021 

The Madras high court has threatened to stay admissions to post-graduate courses in Thiruvalluvar University, if they are made without amending or repealing a law brought in by the former AIADMK government creating Dr J Jayalalithaa University at Villupuram.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu made the observations while hearing a plea moved by former law minister C Ve Shanmugam. He alleged that the present government was neglecting the varsity in district due to political reasons.

When the plea came up for hearing, advocate-general R Shunmugasundaram submitted that except for passing a law for establishment of the university, the previous AIADMK government had not created any infrastructure for the varsity to function.

“Except appointment of a vice-chancellor and a car driver for him, nothing has been allotted for the establishment of the university. Currently, the university functions from an old tahsildar office,” the AG said.

The present government has decided not to waste money on the new university as the Annamalai University, which is spread across 2,000 acres of land, has become a state university now, he added.

The court, however, made it clear that it had to stay the operation of the notification for the admissions if the legislation for establishment of the varsity is operational. The bench then directed the advocate-general to get appropriate instruction from the government on August 4.

Earlier, representing the petitioner, former advocategeneral and senior advocate Vijay Narayan wanted the court to direct the state government to provide necessary funds for the smooth functioning and upkeep of the university.

“Tiruvalluvar University must be restrained from operating post-graduate extension centres in Villupuram in violation of the provisions of the Dr J Jayalalithaa University Act of 2021,” he said.

According to Shanmugam, the university was established in Villupuram by bifurcating the Tiruvalluvar University, following a request from him last year in his capacity as an MLA representing the constituency.

The object of the act was to bifurcate the jurisdiction of Tiruvalluvar University and bring Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Cuddalore districts within the ambit of the new institution.

However, after a change of regime in the state, the new university was being neglected, he alleged.

A litre of petrol for buying fish worth ₹500

A litre of petrol for buying fish worth ₹500

Padmini.Sivarajah@timesgroup.com

Madurai:  02.08.2021 

A fish stall in Madurai made brisk sales on Sunday after it advertised an Aadi offer promising a litre of petrol for every purchase of fish worth ₹500. The offer was advertised by PSA fish stall, which has a chain of shops throughout the city, at its Bibikulam branch, on social media. “I bought my fish from Anna Nagar, but could not resist the offer. So I came all the way to buy some crabs,’’ said K John Philip, who was one of the first customers.

Jaffer, owner of the shop, said they did not witness any surge in customers but raked in better sales as most of their regular customers, who usually bought fish for less than ₹500, bought fish for ₹500 or more to avail the offer.

“People who usually purchase for less than ₹500 purchased more this Sunday, so the fish also sold faster,” he said.

The customers who availed themselves of the offer were given tokens to fuel up from a local l bunk. “It was a very good move as distributing fuel in cans or bottles could have led to problems of safety,” said K Chandran who purchased fish for ₹600.“Fuel has become as expensive, so this was an offer which was irresistible,” said Sivaranjani who came to the shop early on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in Dindigul, a meat stall gave away silverware to customers on Sunday as Aadi offer. Ananth mutton stall in Chinnalapatti gave away a vessel worth ₹100 for a kilogram of mutton which was given at a discounted rate of ₹690 and a smaller one for halfa-kg. Boneless mutton was sold at ₹800 per kg. Virumaraj, owner of Anand Mutton stall, said that the offers brought good revenue, as more people came forward to buy meat.

FUEL FOR FISH: The offer was advertised by PSA fish stall, which has a chain of shops throughout Madurai, at its Bibikulam branch

13,000 nurses, docs trained in paediatric Covid-19 care

PREP FOR 3RD WAVE

13,000 nurses, docs trained in paediatric Covid-19 care

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.08.2021 

Ahead of an expected third wave, the Tamil Nadu chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), in coordination with the state health department, is training nurses and doctors online to manage Covid-19 in children. Nearly 10,000 staff nurses and 3,800 paediatricians in government and private hospitals across the state have received the training so far.

IAP, a body of paediatricians, aims at preparing close to 50,000 healthcare workers in the state before the onset of a third wave. The training programme has four modules — triaging, clinical management, prevention and overview of paediatric Covid. The program is being conducted free of cost.

K Rajendran, state secretary of IAP, said a majority of the nurses are hesitant to handle paediatric Covid cases as they are uncertain about the patient’s response to medicines. So, one main aspect of the programme is to train them on how to manage children and when to raise a red flag so that mortality will remain low.

"Another aspect is post-Covid complications. We are witnessing more Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) cases of late. For every 100 MIS-C cases, at least 60 need treatment in ICUs. So we need more paediatric ICUs with trained nurses," Rajendran said.

The IAP has formed a paediatric task force which will assist healthcare workers across the state in treating such cases. They are creating an online app which can provide data on the number of oxygen beds, ICU and doctors available in paediatric wards across the state. A MIS-C registry is also being prepared.

Welcoming this, Dr Balasubramanian, senior paediatrician from Kanchi Kamakoti Child Trust Hospital in Chennai, said with many Indian states planning to reopen schools, more children might become susceptible to infection. "We hope that this publicprivate initiative will ensure quality healthcare in not just tertiary, but primary and secondary levels too," he said.

The state government claimed that they have adequate ICU beds to handle a third wave and they have procured adequate quantities of drugs of choice such as Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) to treat MIS-C and paediatric Covid.

Active Covid infections rise slightly in 12 of 15 city zones

Active Covid infections rise slightly in 12 of 15 city zones

Corpn Steps Up Random Testing

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  02.08.2021

In the past four days, the number of active Covid-19 cases in the city has increased in 12 of the 15 zones, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation. Across Chennai, active cases increased from 1,480 on July 27 to 1,627 on July 31.

While there was no change in the number of active cases in Royapuram, there was a decrease in Ambattur and Anna Nagar.

The sharpest increase was seen in Teynampet zone, where cases increased from 124 to 149 between July 27 and 31. This was because one of the family clusters was in Mandaveli, which falls in this zone. In Kodambakkam, active cases increased by 11. Both these zones cover extremely crowded areas in central Chennai with many shopping districts, including T Nagar.

The increase in other zones is by less than 10. Civic officials say there is nothing to worry as they have intensified random testing and will be isolating all positive cases in Covid care centres.

A senior civic official said the corporation has now started collecting vaccination information about people who test positive. This would be a good dataset and could provide valuable insights.

A study of two clusters last week showed that one index case is likely to have gotten the infection from the market on Medavakkam Tank Road and then infected 10 other contacts. The other index case was of a woman who visited the Nammalwarpet market frequently and is likely to have caught it from there. Five extended contacts were traced from that index case.

Health minister Ma Subramaniam said the corporation had been asked to intensify surveillance in crowded market places. To a question, he said there was a plan to probably space out the Kasimedu and Chintadripet fish market to ease crowding by customers.

After 11 weeks of decline, Covid cases see 7.5% surge

After 11 weeks of decline, Covid cases see 7.5% surge

Amit.Bhattacharya@timesgroup.com

2.8.2021

Fresh Covid-19 cases in India registered a week-onweek rise for the first time in 12 weeks since the peak of the second wave in early May, in what could be an early sign of another pandemic spike in the country. Currently, however, the surge is mainly restricted to Kerala and, to a much lesser degree, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

India recorded just over 2.86 lakh new cases in the current week ended Sunday (July 26-August 1), a 7.5% rise from the previous week’s tally of 2.66 lakh. Weekly cases in the country have registered a rise for the first time since May 3-9, when the second wave peaked. The fall in cases had continued till last week, even though the decline had slowed to 1.4%.

Kerala, the current epicentre of the pandemic in India, logged close to 1.4 lakh cases in the present week, a 26.5% increase from the previous week’s tally of 1.1 lakh. The state accounted for nearly half (49%) of all new cases in the country in the last seven days, with a daily average of 20,000 new cases. Kerala posted 20,728 cases on Sunday, the sixth straight day that the daily count had stayed over 20,000.

Worryingly, there were signs that Kerala’s Covid surge was spilling out to its neighbouring states.

92L jabs/day must to reach vax target

India must administer an average of 92 lakh doses a day to meet target of inoculating all above18 by year-end . Though this level was achieved on June 21, it would mean maintaining a daily average that is1.6 times the jabs of the best week so far. P20

Govt may use NDMA in badly hit states

Worried by the rise in Covid infections in Kerala and parts of the North-East, the Centre is considering issuing directives under the National Disaster Management Act to these states unless the situation changes for the better. P20

Active Covid cases rose by over 14k in past 6 days

Karnataka recorded a 17.3% increase in new cases as compared to the previous week, although the rise hasn’t been much in absolute numbers. Karnataka reported 12,442 cases in the current week as opposed to 10,610 in the previous seven days.

On the positive side, Maharashtra’s weekly numbers declined by 6.2%, following a 10% dip in the previous week. The state recorded 45,272 new cases this week as compared with 48,253 in the previous one. Numbers in the northeast, another region that has seen a spike in cases, appeared to have declined this week.In keeping with the rise in infections, active cases in the country have risen by over 14,000 in the past six days. The number of active had dipped below 4 lakh around a week ago, but had again climbed close to 4.15 lakh by Sunday. For the sixth day running, India recorded over 40,000 fresh cases on Sunday. The day’s tally stood at 40,800. There were 418 deaths reported on the day. In the past week, India recorded 3,805 new deaths, a sharp drop of 44% over the previous week’s toll of 6,848.

Kerala High Court reserves verdict in plea challenging award of tender without signed declaration form

Kerala High Court reserves verdict in plea challenging award of tender without signed declaration form

The Kerala High Court had in the past held that signing the declaration form is not an essential condition for awarding tender.

Kerala High Court

Giti Pratap

Published on : 31 Jul, 2021, 6:53 pm

The Kerala High Court has reserved its judgment on a petition challenging the award of tender by Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. (KMML) to a party who had not signed the declaration form in which the prevailing GST rate was to be mentioned accurately.

The petition was filed by the proprietor of Skillderz developers who had participated in the E-tender invited by KMML alleging that the tender was awarded to another party who had quoted inaccurate GST rates and had not signed the relevant form where it was mentioned.

The matter was heard by Justice PB Suresh Kumar.

The Kerala High Court had in the past held that signing the declaration form is not an essential condition for awarding tender.

However, in the present matter, it was the argument of the petitioner that the party who was awarded the tender had deliberately not signed the declaration form, where he had purportedly quoted a lower GST rate.

This, it was contended, was an attempt to win the tender by cheating the State Government, KMML and other concerned authorities.

The petition, filed through Advocate Renjith B Marar, stated that KMML had, in June 2021, issued tender document inviting tender for the work of highly mechanised collection, loading and transportation of mineral sand in tippers.

The petitioner claimed to have put in his bid for the tender along with all required documents mentioned by the tender inviting authority.

The petitioner, along with two others, had participated in the bidding process and the petitioner had quoted an amount for Rs 3,29,00,000 with 18 percent GST. One of the other parties had quoted a higher amount but the same GST of 18%.

However, the party who was awarded the tender had quoted an amount of Rs 3,29,90,000 and quoted a GST at the rate of 9%, which he is not entitled to, the plea said.

This party had shown GST rates at 9% whereas it should be at 18%. The total amount without tax also was calculated at the 9 % discount offered by said party. This, it was contended, was an attempt to wilfully evade taxes and defraud the tendering authority.

Pertinently, it was pointed out that the declaration form which is an integral part of the tender document was deliberately not signed by this party.

As per Clause 3 of the declaration form, the bidder is required to quote the prevailing GST at the time of the bidding.

By quoting a GST rate which is not prevailing while submitting the tender, the petitioner alleged that the party's intention was to cheat the company, government and the other participants to the tender.

Hence, he is liable to be disqualified from the tender process, the plea stated,

It was also argued that the tender inviting authority ought to have disqualified this party in the Technical Bid opening itself and his Financial Bid ought not to have been considered. However, the tender inviting authority allegedly by oversight and with other intentions accepted this party's bid, the plea said.

Moreover, by accepting the quote of this party,the Government would actually end up paying more money, the petitioner submitted.

In conclusion, it was submitted that accepting the quote of the this party would be arbitrary, discriminatory and hence violative of Articles 14 and 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

The petitioner also sought a declaration from the Court stating that submitting of signed declaration form is an essential condition in the tender invited by KMML.

Challenge to appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University: Delhi High Court seeks CVC response

Challenge to appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University: Delhi High Court seeks CVC response

An appeal has been filed in Delhi High Court against a single-judge bench judgment dismissing a petition challenging the appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Dr Najma Akhtar, Delhi High Court

Zeb Hasan

Published on : 31 Jul, 2021 , 5:07 pm

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in a challenge made to the appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia University (M Ehtesham-ul-Haq vs UOI & Ors).

Before the Court was an appeal challenging a single-Judge judgement that had earlier dismissed a plea challenging the appointment of Dr Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor.

Appearing for the appellant, advocate Mobashir Sarwar contended that the appointment needs to be set aside as it was wholly illegal. It was argued that the Search Committee constituted for appointing the Vice-Chancellor was marred by illegalities.

Dr Najma Akhtar was represented by ASG Vikramjit Banerjee along with standing counsel Fuzail Ayyubi. Banerjee contended that there is no reason to entertain the appeal as no new grounds have been raised in it.

Since the appeal was at the stage of admission, and since no one appeared on behalf of the CVC on Friday, the Court posted the matter for hearing on 22 September, 2021. The Court has also sought the CVC's response.

The appellant had contended that the entire process which culminated in the appointment of Dr Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University was a colourable exercise of power.

The process was also alleged to have been in flagrant violation of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act, 1988 read with Clause 7.3.0 of the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the maintenance of standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2010.

The appeal against single-judge judgment was filed on following grounds:

a) That the appointment of Justice (retd.) MSA Siddiqui as member of the Search Committee for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor was wrong because he was not a “person of eminence in the sphere of higher education” as required under the applicable statute and regulations for members of the Search Committee.

b) The Selection Committee was required to give reasons for selecting Dr. Akhtar for Jamia Millia Islamia as per 3.2 of UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the maintenance of standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2010.

c) The Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD) had no role recommending the names to be included in selection committee.

d) The CVC had initially denied clearance for the appointment of Dr Akhtar. The same was, however, revoked after the MHRD’s intervention, which is impermissible in law.

Apart from ASG Vikramjit Banerjee and standing counsel Fuzail Ayyubi, Dr Akhtar was also represented by advocates Pritish Sabharwal, Shruti Agarwal, Tanvi, Ibad Mushtaq, Akanksha Rai. The University Grants Commission (UGC) was represented by advocates Apoorv Kurup and Nidhi Mittal.