HC: Father can’t force child to use his surname

HC: Father can’t force child to use his surname

New Delhi:7.8.2021 

The Delhi high court on Friday said that every child has the right to use the mother’s surname and a father can’t impose his will in this regard, reports Abhinav Garg.

“A father does not own the daughter to dictate that she should use only his surname. If the minor daughter is happy with her surname, what is your problem?” the court observed. It was hearing a plea by a minor girl’s father seeking directions to authorities to have his surname, and not her mother’s, reflect in the daughter’s ID documents.

‘All kids can use mom’s surname’

Refusing any relief, justice Rekha Palli declined to pass any direction and wondered why the father moved court for such a direction.

The court said every child has a right to use his or her mother’s surname and courts can’t intervene in such matters to force the father’s will upon a child against his or her wishes. During the hearing, the man’s counsel submitted that his daughter was a minor and could not decide such issues on her own, and that the child’s surname was changed by his estranged wife.

He claimed that the change in name will make it difficult to avail insurance claims from the insurance firm as the policy was taken in the name of the girl with her father’s surname. But the court dismissed these as apprehensions and termed the plea “misconceived”. It nevertheless disposed of the petition granting liberty to the man to approach his daughter’s school to get his name recorded in the school records as the father.

Pension wiped off: Senior citizen loses ₹1.67 lakh

Pension wiped off: Senior citizen loses ₹1.67 lakh

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  7.8.2021 

Ukabhai Solanki, a retired teacher, has lost Rs 1.67 lakh of his pension money, which has been sucked out by a criminal using a cloned ATM card. Solanki now has only Rs 471 in the account. His money was taken over a period of seven days from July 7 to 14.

Solanki, a resident of Bapunagar, maintains an account in the Saraspur branch of a nationalized bank. His pension was credited every month into this account. Solanki lodged a complaint of cheating with Bapunagar police on Thursday. “According to the FIR, Solanki went to the bank to check the account balance. He was planning a few expenses. When he saw multiple entries of withdrawal on his passbook, he was shocked. He had not used the ATM card for the transactions and claims that the card was with him at the time of the offence,” an investigator said.

The accused withdrew up to Rs 15,000 at a go and used the card almost daily for a week. “Probe is on to ascertain the identity of the person or persons who had visited the ATM for the withdrawals,” said the investigator. “The banks concerned have also been approached to get more details.”

Times View

Over the past two years, there has been a steep rise in senior citizens becoming easy targets of cybercrooks. These criminals approach the elderly while pretending to offer tech support, or governmental assistance and services or even bait them with online friendship requests which turn in to blackmail. The cybercrime department, like in Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, should initiate targeted campaigns to raise awareness among senior citizens and arm them with simple strategies to avoid falling into such traps and losing their hard-earned money.

Return to colleges, higher edu dept directs faculty members

Return to colleges, higher edu dept directs faculty members

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:7.8.2021

With online classes for arts and science and engineering colleges scheduled to begin from August 9, the Tamil Nadu higher education department has directed all faculty members to attend colleges on all working days without fail.

The higher education department announced that online classes for the 2021-22 academic year for all students, except first year students, will commence on August 9.

"The Covid protocol and standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the government from time to time should be followed in the campus and it is also instructed that the faculty members of government, governmentaided arts and science colleges, engineering colleges shall attend the college on all working days without fail," a letter from higher education department said.

In government arts and science colleges, the college level admissions would begin after August 10. The applications to 143 colleges are being received online till August 10. So far, more than two lakh applications have been received against one lakh seats available in government colleges..

"Government colleges will need all faculty members to conduct admissions for undergraduate programmes. The Tamil Nadu Government Arts and Science Admissions (TNGASA) committee would send the course wise rank list to individual colleges. The faculty members need to call each and every student to confirm the admissions," said T Veeramani, president of Tamil Nadu Government Collegiate Teachers Association (TNGCTA).

He further said the reopening of physical classes should be based on the possibility for Covid-19 third wave.

However, M S Balamurugan, general secretary of Association of University Teachers said, the teachers need not be called to colleges for conducting online classes. "The faculty members are already attending the admission related works. Faculty members should be asked to come to colleges only if colleges reopened physical classes," he said.

HC blocks govt move on varsity named after Jaya

HC blocks govt move on varsity named after Jaya

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:7.8.2021

In a setback to Tamil Nadu government’s bid to scrap the previous AIADMK government’s law forming and naming a new university after Jayalalithaa, Madras high court quashed a student admission notification issued by Thiruvalluvar University.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu quashed the notification on a petition moved by former law minister C Ve Shanmugam.

The impugned notification issued by Thiruvalluvar University invited applications for admission to post-graduate courses for the colleges that were now falling under the jurisdiction of newly established Dr J Jayalalithaa University.

On August 3 itself, when the plea was taken up for admission, the court had made it clear that the state could not go ahead with the admissions when the law for establishment of Jayalalithaa University was still in existence. On Friday, when the plea came up for hearing again, advocate-general R Shunmugasundaram informed the court that the state had now passed a GO amending the jurisdiction of the Annamalai University enabling it to affiliate colleges in Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Mayiladuthurai districts.

A proposal had also been made in the GO to repeal the Dr J Jayalalithaa University Act, he added.

Recording the same, the court said, “There is no doubt that the state legislature has equal authority to repeal a statute as it has to enact a statute in respect of matters falling within its legislation domain.”

There is, equally, no doubt that the present government may intend to repeal the Act and has issued a notification indicating such intention. However, till such time that a law is in place and its operation has not been stayed in accordance with law, the provisions of such law need to be followed, the court said. “Seen in such light, the admission notification issued by the university inviting applications to post-graduate courses at its extension centre in Villupuram could not have been issued...,” the court added.

The bench then quashed the notification dated June 25 and disposed of the plea.

Do not terrorise judges with voluminous petitions: SC

Do not terrorise judges with voluminous petitions: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:7.8.2021

The Supreme Court on Friday sent out a loud message to all client-impressing advocates: “Do not file voluminous petitions to terrorise the judges and risk getting the hearing adjourned”.

Finding it difficult to go through a 51-volume appeals, each running to over 100 pages, filed by the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation against a Bombay high court judgment rejecting its petition challenging the Telecom Regulatory Authority’s New Tariff Order (NTO 2.0), a bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said, “The Supreme Court engaged trucks to carry these volumes of appeals to judges’ residences to enable them read it and get prepared with the matter.”

“You cannot terrorise us by filing volumes and volumes of appeals. In this case, there are 51 volumes in one petition. You sit together and file a single short convenient volume giving a synopsis of the issue to be adjudicated,” the bench told senior advocates Darius Khambatta, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Gopal Jain and Amit Sibal, who appeared for the appellants.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, with advocate Sanjay Kapur for TRAI, said that it is a short issue and TRAI will file a two-page synopsis for the judges’ convenience. But, the CJI-led bench said, “You wait. Let them satisfy us with the merits of their appeal.”

The bench ordered, “We direct senior counsel appearing for the petitioners in all the matters to make a convenience volume of all the documents, in consultation with senior counsel for the respondents well in advance and circulate the same.” The bench adjourned the hearing to August 18.

IBF, an umbrella organisation for TV broadcasters, has challenged a Bombay HC judgment upholding TRAI’s NTO 2.0, which set a cap of ₹12 from the existing ₹19 on pay channel prices.

It was to ensure that an effective a-la-carte choice was available to distributors without being handicapped by perverse pricing of bouquets by broadcasters at wholesale level, it said.

TRAI justified its move as one in “public interest”.

It had raised concerns over broadcasters creating bouquets with one or two leading channels and filling it with other less popular channels or even free-to-air channels, making it difficult for consumers to choose channels.

Full report on www.toi.in

Amid Severe Disparity in the MBBS Stipend Paid Across States, Uniform Stipend Policy is Need of the Hour

Amid Severe Disparity in the MBBS Stipend Paid Across States, Uniform Stipend Policy is Need of the Hour: New Delhi: The field of Medical education has seen severalefforts

NEXT to be gateway to PG medical admissions, score will be valid for 3 years: NMC new draft guidelines

NEXT to be gateway to PG medical admissions, score will be valid for 3 years: NMC new draft guidelines: New Delhi: The National Exit Test (NExT) is all set to be the gateway for PG Medical admissions across the country in each academic year, and by the time it becomes operational, NEET PG will...

No promotion to 2nd year sans clearing exam: Andhra Pradesh HC

No promotion to 2nd year sans clearing exam: Andhra Pradesh HC

TNN | Aug 5, 2021, 04.00 AM IST

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh high court on Wednesday dismissed the interlocutory application filed by MBBS students seeking directions to promote them to second year without reference to passing of the subjects in first year.

The high court observed that it found no substance in the arguments of the petitioners and promoting them to second year while having backlogs in first year would defeat very purpose of the new regulations brought in by the Medical Council of India (MCI) that are applicable to all medical students across the country.

Justice U Durga Prasad Rao pronounced the judgment dismissing the interlocutory applications moved by the MBBS students who were not promoted to second year because of not passing in all subjects in the first year. They moved the high court seeking 20 per cent grace marks as the question paper given to them was not in accordance with the guidelines given by MCI.

The students argued that according to the MCI guidelines, the question paper should contain multiple choice questions for 20 per cent of total marks. However, the question paper given to them by Dr NTR University of Medical and Health Sciences was not in the prescribed format and consequently they failed in the examination.

As the guidelines prescribe 20 per cent marks, they sought directions to add the marks to them as grace marks and promote them to second year. They filed an interlocutory application to promote them to second year without referring to passing of first year subjects pending disposal of the petition.

Schools likely to reopen for Classes IX-XII from Sept. 1

 Schools likely to reopen for Classes IX-XII from Sept. 1

07/08/2021

Opening up: Schools can reopen for senior classes with 50% strength, complying with the SOPs. M. VedhanVEDHAN M

“The experts said children were depressed as they continued to remain indoors, and this had created a gap in the learning process. They pointed out that a majority of the students could not attend online classes [owing to network and gadget issues],” Mr. Stalin said.

He announced that medical and nursing colleges and those offering related programmes would be allowed to resume classes from August 16. “Students and teachers in these colleges, classified as medical staff, have been vaccinated,” he said.

To prevent crowding at public places, Mr. Stalin announced that worship at religious places would not be allowed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The local bodies must ensure that there is no crowding at meat and fish stalls by spreading them out in the open space. The Chief Minister reiterated that shops must supply hand sanitisers to customers and enforce mask mandates and physical distancing norms.

“Action will be initiated against commercial and other establishments that do not follow the guidelines and allow more customers than the stipulated number,” Mr. Stalin said.

Collectors and local bodies are to undertake micro-level containment activities, he said. The test-track-treat-vaccinate COVID-19-appropriate behaviour formula is to be strictly followed.

Mr. Stalin requested the people to extend their cooperation to the government.

Doctors remove peanut lodged in girl’s lungs

 Doctors remove peanut lodged in girl’s lungs

07/08/2021

Special Correspondent MADURAI

A 20-month-old baby girl, who had a peanut lodged in the left airway of her lungs, has been successfully operated upon at Apollo Hospital. She was brought by her parents on Wednesday from Karaikudi in an emergency condition of severe wheezing and breathlessness. Pulmonologists Dr. Bharathi Babu and Dr. Harikrishnan said it was a high risk emergency procedure given the baby's fragile lungs and distressed condition.

After the CT chest evaluation detected the foreign object to be a peanut, they immediately planned to pull it out. The team of doctors, including ENT surgeon Dr. Arun Prabhu Ganesan and anaesthetist Dr. Prabhu, took three hours to clear the baby's airway.

Managing her was not easy as a bronchoscopy had to be introduced inside the tiny lungs, that could worsen her breathlessness.

It required expertise to give anaesthesia and specialised instruments to carry out the procedure on such a small baby. She was discharged on Thursday, said a press release.

State legislature has equal authority to repeal a statute: HC

State legislature has equal authority to repeal a statute: HC

Disposes of PIL plea after government says it has decided to repeal Dr. J. Jayalalithaa University Act

07/08/2021

Legal Correspondent CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Friday disposed of a public interest litigation petition filed by former Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam of the AIADMK, seeking allocation of funds for smooth functioning of the Dr. J. Jayalalithaa University in Villupuram, since the incumbent DMK government had decided to repeal a law enacted in February this year for establishment of the varsity.

Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy recorded the submission of Advocate General R. Shunmugasundaram that the Higher Education Department had issued a Government Order (G.O.) on August 3 expressing its intention to repeal Dr. J. Jayalalithaa University Act, 2021, enacted during the fag end of the previous tenure of the AIADMK government.

“There is no doubt that the State legislature has equal authority to repeal a statute as it has to enact a statute in respect of matters falling within its legislative domain,” the judges said. They, however, added that as long as the law continues to be in force and its operation had not been stayed by any court, the provisions of the statute need to be followed scrupulously.

Therefore, the Bench quashed a notification issued by Thiruvalluvar University on June 25 inviting applications for postgraduate courses from students in Kallakurichi, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts, which fall within the jurisdiction of Dr. J. Jayalalithaa University.

It also set aside all steps that had been taken by Thiruvalluvar University to conduct those courses at its extension centre in Villupuram.

Cap on flights, rush during admission season see UK airfares soar two-fold

Cap on flights, rush during admission season see UK airfares soar two-fold

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:06.08.2021

Airfares on the India-UK sector have more than doubled for travel starting August 8, when India stops being on the UK’s red list and visitors from here will again be allowed with no need for a mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine.

The reason is a combination of three factors — a cap of 30 weekly scheduled flights between the two countries; pent-up demand for travel for almost 3.5 months since April 23, when restrictions were imposed on visitors from here during the second Covid wave; and the ongoing peak student travel season.

According to travel portal ixigo, average one-way economy fares from Mumbai and Delhi to London between March 8 and 22, 2021, were Rs 35,871 and Rs 40,273, respectively. Now, fares for travel between August 8 and 22 from Mumbai are up 115% at Rs 77,187, and by 51% from Delhi at Rs 60,932, ixigo data shows. This “is because of pent-up demand and increase in search queries for travel to UK”, it says. Return London fares are well in excess of Rs 1 lakh from most Indian cities.

“This is the peak student season and a large number of Indian students are headed to universities in the UK. Now, with relaxed rules, many parents are also seeking to go and drop their children there for studies,” a travel industry source said.

TICKET TO A COSTLY RIDE

Kaloji health university promotes BPT students

Kaloji health university promotes BPT students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:06.08.2021

Kaloji Narayana University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) has decided to promote physiotherapy students without conducting the final examination.

Thousands of students, pursuing Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), had approached the university seeking unconditional promotion, citing delay in the academic session by almost nine months.

The KNRUHS had scheduled the final exams in the October, 2020 which were later postponed to April, 2021. Subsequently, due to Covid-19 second wave, the exams were rescheduled to August, 2021, resulting in a year long delay in the academics.

“Considering the present Covid-19 pandemic prevailing in the country and Telangana, students are stuck in the same academic year since 2019. Promoting the physiotherapy students to next year without exams will help prevent the lag in their academics,” read a representation submitted by All India Medical Students Association to the Telangana governor on July 29.

The decision was taken by the university recently during its executive council meeting following multiple representations by the students. “Physiotherapy students may be promoted to next year but they have to compulsorily appear for final examination of that year before final examination of the next year (promoted year),” the university said in a notification issued recently.

The executive council observed that physiotherapy was an important branch of health sciences dealing with patients. “Physiotherapy graduates will be treating the patients, so it is not proper to expose society to physiotherapists with inadequate knowledge,” the council observed.

Students had sought a one-time promotion through Twitter storms, protests and representations to governor. A few students also moved the high court seeking relief

Parents knock VC’s door over fee row

Parents knock VC’s door over fee row

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:  06.08.2021

A group of parents from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology (MGIT) met the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH), vice-chancellor prof Katta Narasimha Reddy and complained against the management for not allowing students for lab work and internals over fee issues.

“The All India Council for Technical Education has also instructed all institutions to seek tuition fee instalments in view of Covid-19. MGIT is insisting that parents pay the fee dues upfront,” read the representation by the MGIT Parents’ Association. JNTUH registrar Manzoor Hussain said that the university would issue instructions to the MGIT management to allow the students who have paid the total fee fixed by the government and not to insist for any additional fee.

No change in retirement age for Government staff

 

India off UK red list but no relief as vaccines used here not cleared

India off UK red list but no relief as vaccines used here not cleared

Naomi Canton

London: 06.08.2021

India will be moved off the UK’s red list this Sunday, bringing relief to tens of thousands of Indian students and opening the door for Indian nationals without UK residence rights to travel to Britain for the first time since April 23.

On Thursday, UK announced that India, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE will be moved from the red to the amber list on August 8 “as the situation in these countries has improved”. But whilst those who have been double vaccinated with vaccines in the UK, Europe and the US will be exempt from home quarantine upon arrival from an amber list country, those who have received vaccines in India — Covaxin, Sputnik V and Covishield — will still have to self-isolate for 10 days, sparking claims of discrimination against India’s vaccines.

Welcome news for Indian students planning UK visit

The UK government says that anyone fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme, or vaccinated with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency for Europe, Swissmedic for Switzerland, or FDA for the US, who arrives from an amber country, is exempt from home quarantine.

No doses of the Moderna vaccine, which has been authorised by the FDA and approved by the Indian government, have arrived in India yet. From 8.30 am IST on August 8, when India moves to the amber list, travellers from India must now quarantine at home or the place they are staying for 10 days, as well as take a pre-departure Covid-test and two tests after arrival. This replaces the system under the red list when they were required by law to quarantine in a managed hotel for 10 days — at a cost per adult of £1,750 that is set to rise to £2,285 (Rs 2.3 lakh) on August 12.

The move follows a trip by foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to London on July 24 when he asked the UK to review its travel ban on visitors from India, stating that “Mumbai, Delhi, big cities are practically free of Covid”.

It is welcome news for the 65,000 Indian students who are expected to arrive in the UK in the next few weeks. “This will really help Indian students who cannot afford these exorbitant hotel quarantine fees,” said Indian National Students Association UK president Amit Tiwari. “Indians will have a big cost saving and it is better for their mental well-being to quarantine on campus rather than in a hotel,” said Sanam Arora, chairperson of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK.

“If someone is vaccinated in India, they should be treated the same as someone vaccinated in Europe. Or else that is discrimination,” pointed out Sunil Amar, a private banker in London. “It is amazing news and very sensible to take India off the red list because numbers are down and this means travel will be back so it will help airlines,” he said. The Joint Biosecurity Centre released data to back up the decision showing that of 5,263 travellers tested upon arrival from India between July 1 and July 21, 49 (0.9%) tested positive for Covid-19.

21 nursing students from Kerala test +ve

21 nursing students from Kerala test +ve

Darshan BH TNN

06.08.2021

Fears of travellers from Kerala triggering an outbreak in the state hit home on Thursday when 21 students enrolled in a private nursing college in Hassan city tested positive for Covid-19.

The students, who arr ived a fortnight ago from their hometowns in Kerala, were staying in a paying guest facility. They have since been moved to another lodge where they have been isolated. Some two dozen other students who are primary contacts have also been isolated in the same facility.

The students are pursuing degree courses in the college located near Katihalli industrial area. A total of 45 students were staying in the PG facility located in KR Puram. All the infected students had arrived in Hassan sometime before July 26 to attend exams. They had furnished negative Covid-19 reports on arrival. Since none were inoculated, health department officials took the initiative and gave them all their first dose of Covishield.

“On Tuesday, a student who showed Covid symptoms was subjected to RT-PCR test. It confirmed the infection and tests were then conducted on the remaining students in the PG. Most of those infected are asymptomatic,” an official said.

The PG has been sealed and those infected and their primary contacts were moved to a private lodge near the centre of the city. Tests will be conducted on the primary contacts on Friday and Saturday.

“Our team visited all the 10 nursing colleges in the city on Thursday,” a health department official said.

Officials also said two students from Hassan city’s Home Science College also tested positive on Thursday. “We are thinking of testing all students and staff in all colleges,” said Dr KM Sathish, district health officer.

Arappor Iyakkam alleges irregularities in PWD tenders

Arappor Iyakkam alleges irregularities in PWD tenders

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 06.08.2021 

The anti-corruption NGO, Arappor Iyakkam on Thursday alleged that tenders floated by the Tamirabarani circle of the state public works department were showing favouritism to a section and demanded that four tenders be cancelled. The NGO had been carrying out a series of anti-corruption campaigns against the previous AIADMK government. It has now targeted the DMK government also for alleged irregularities.

In a press release, Arappor Iyakkam convenor Jayaram Venkatesan said the department had floated tenders valued at ₹30.98 crore and the bids were to be submitted in boxes kept in the office of the superintending engineer of Tamirabarani basin circle. “We reliably learn that all these physical points of contact are currently being used to eliminate other contractors and favour a particular person in the tenders”. He said the conditions in the tender were tweaked to restrict competition rather than promoting competition.

The department floated tenders for extension of groyne at Kovalam, laying groynes at Azhikkal, a groyne at Periyanayaki Street, and check dam across Pazhayaar in Thamaraikulam village.

The tender document mandates the contractors to approach the office of the superintending engineer, Tamirabarani basin circle, to buy the pre-qualification application and the price tender schedule. The application and price tender must be submitted separately, besides earnest money deposit. The annual turnover requirement had been set at 75% of the tender value and 150% of the annual work value. “The Central Vigilance Commission says the above pattern is a common irregularity. It says the average annual financial turnover during the last three years ending March 31 of the previous financial year should be at least 30% of the estimated cost,” Venkatesan said.

The PWD officials said submission of online tenders had not picked up in the department and the documents could be submitted either in boxes or through post. “As regards the tender conditions, we have set the criteria due to the quality mandated for antisea erosion work. If anyone had any objection, they could have brought it to our notice in the last one month and we could have held a pre-bid meeting and sorted it out. But no one objected to it,” said a senior official. While the last date for submission of bids for the first three contracts ended on Thursday, the deadline for the last one is August 17.

Best teacher award: Govt issues guidelines

Best teacher award: Govt issues guidelines

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 06.08.2021

To qualify for the best teacher award in TN, a teacher should have conducted online classes or other modes of education to reach out to the students during the lockdown.

As per the order issued by school education secretary Kakarla Usha, teachers who did not conduct online classes during the lockdown should be avoided. The government issues Dr Radhakrishnan award to 385 teachers from primary and middle schools, high and higher secondary schools on the Teachers Day.

The school education department issued fresh guidelines on Thursday to form selection committees and to select teachers for the awards. “The teachers should have worked to reduce the school dropouts and increase the enrollment and pass percentage and improve the education of backward students. Those teachers should not have any link with political parties. Further, they should have very good conduct and shouldn’t have functioned with commercial interest,” the guidelines said. The district level committee headed by the chief educational officer should nominate the teachers in the ratio of 1:2 towards the number of awards allotted to the district concerned. Teachers who have won national awards should also not be recommended.

Experts worry over TN’s rising R value

Experts worry over TN’s rising R value

State Adds 1,997 Cases To Covid Registry

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 06.08.2021 

Fresh cases in Tamil Nadu were just three cases shy of the 2,000-mark on Thursday, when at least 20 districts, including Chennai, reported more infections than what they logged on Wednesday. The state reported 33 deaths and discharged 1,943 patients, leaving 20,188 patients on the active registry, a rise from 20,117 patients on Wednesday.

With 220 new cases Coimbatore retained its tag as district with most daily cases, but it recorded a slight dip from the 226 cases on Wednesday. After Coimbatore, Chennai reported 196 cases compared to 189 on Wednesday. Neighbouring Chengalpet, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram also reported an increase in cases with the highest increase reported in Tiruvannamalai, where cases went up from 37 on Wednesday to 64 on Thursday.

“We have enhanced testing in all districts and we are tracking contacts meticulously,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan. “We have told all districts that the risk is still high because we reported at least 1,700 cases on average and new cases reported every day continue to remain erratic. Health workers must not drop their guard,” he said.

There is no visible increase in the positivity rate – the number of people testing positive of every 100 people tested. While the state average is around 1.3%, all districts had a positivity rate below 2%. Chennai was among the eight districts with positivity rate about 1.5%.

However, the R-naught or the average number of people who will contract a contagious disease from one person is more than one in at least 18 districts. Tiruvarur and Krishnagiri have the highest R value at around1.3, while Chennai has 1.2. Thirupathur and Tirunelveli had the lowest R value at 0.78 and 0.8.

Epidemiologists said the increasing R value is a cause for concern, though they preferred to wait a week before declaring the spike as the start of the third wave or a blip on the graph.

Of the 33 deaths reported in the state, Tiruppur reported five, Chennai and Salem reported four each, while Coimbatore and Thanjavur reported three. Twenty-two districts reported zero deaths.

TN vaccinated 2.9 lakh people on Thursday, taking the dosage tally to 2.2 crore. Till Wednesday, 1.8 crore had received the first dose and 42.7 lakh the second dose. In addition 22% of people in 18-44 years, 31% of seniors and 45% of people in 45-59 years have received at least one dose.

NMC plans 3-month residency for PG students at dist hosps

PG MEDICAL REGULATIONS

NMC plans 3-month residency for PG students at dist hosps

The Rotation Will Take Place In The 3rd, 4th Or 5th Semester

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:  06.08.2021 

In a move to ensure availability of specialist doctors in rural areas, the National Medical Council (NMC) proposes to make it compulsory for all medical students pursuing MD or MS to undergo posting for three months at district hospitals.

The Draft Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations 2021 by NMC proposes to introduce a new district residency programme for all PG students as part of their medical course curriculum.

It proposes the new programme to be implemented with the PG (broad specialty) batch that has joined for the postgraduate course in 2021.

There are a total of 1,874 PG medical seats in Gujarat.

“About 40% of posts for MD/ MS doctors at district hospitals are vacant. They will get a major relief with the government’s new move,” said an expert in the medical education field.

The main objectives of the District Residency Programme (DRP) include exposure of the postgraduate student to district health system and involving them in healthcare services being provided at the district hospital for serving while learning, the draft states.

It also aims to acquaint them with the planning, implementation, monitoring and assessment of outcomes of the National Health programmes at the district level.

All postgraduate students pursuing MD/MS in broad specialties in all medical colleges/ institutions under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 shall undergo a compulsory residential rotation of three months in district hospitals/ district health system as a part of the course curriculum, according to the draft. “Such rotation shall take place in the 3rd or 4th or 5th semester of the postgraduate programme. This rotation shall be termed as ‘District Residency Programme’ (DRP) and the postgraduate medical student undergoing training shall be termed as a ‘District Resident’,” it says.

During this rotation, the District Resident will be posted with the concerned/aligned specialty team/unit at the district hospital, and will be trained under the overall guidance of the district specialists. The District Resident will work under the overall directions and supervision of the District Residency Programme Coordinator (DRPC). The clinical responsibilities assigned to the ‘district residents’ would include serving in outpatient, inpatient, casualty and other areas pertaining to their specialty, and will encompass night duties.

The National Medical Commission shall constitute a National Steering Committee in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to oversee the implementation of the District Residency Programme.

The National Steering Committee shall establish a National Coordination Cell (NCC) under the National Medical commission which shall be responsible for the smooth and efficient implementation of the District Residency Programme and grievance redressed at national level, according to the draft.

சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டில் ஆஜராக 30 வக்கீல்களுக்கு அனுமதி

சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டில் ஆஜராக 30 வக்கீல்களுக்கு அனுமதி

Added : ஆக 05, 2021 23:54

சென்னை:உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில், தமிழக அரசு தொடர்பான வழக்குகளில் ஆஜராகி வாதாட, மூத்த வழக்கறிஞர்கள், 30 பேரை நியமித்துக் கொள்ள, தமிழக அரசு ஒப்புதல் அளித்துள்ளது.

தமிழக அரசு தொடர்பான வழக்குகளில், உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் தமிழக அரசு சார்பில் ஆஜராகி வாதாட, பிரபல வழக்கறிஞர்கள், 30 பேர் பெயரை, தமிழக அரசின் தலைமை வழக்கறிஞர், அரசுக்கு பரிந்துரை செய்து கடிதம் அனுப்பினார்.

அதை பரிசீலித்த அரசு, மத்திய அரசின் அட்டர்னி ஜெனரல் ஆப் இந்தியா, பிரபல மூத்த வழக்கறிஞர்கள் கபில் சிபல், அபிஷேக் மனு சிங்வி, முகுல் ரோத்கி, கோபால் சுப்ரமணியன், ராஜிவ் தவான், துஷ்வந்த் தேவ், சேகர் நபடே. ராதாகிருஷ்ணன், என்.ஆர்.இளங்கோ, வில்சன், விடுதலை, சஞ்சய் ஹெக்டே உட்பட, அரசு தலைமை வழக்கறிஞர் பரிந்துரை செய்த, 30 பேரையும், தமிழக அரசு சார்பில், உச்ச நீதிமன்ற வழக்குகளில் வாதாட நியமித்துக் கொள்ள ஒப்புதல் அளித்துள்ளது.இதற்கான அரசாணையை, உள்துறை செயலர் பிரபாகர் பிறப்பித்துள்ளார்.

ஆபாசமாக பேசி பணம் பறிக்கும் கும்பல் புகார்கள் அதிகரிப்பு: போலீசார் எச்சரிக்கை

ஆபாசமாக பேசி பணம் பறிக்கும் கும்பல் புகார்கள் அதிகரிப்பு: போலீசார் எச்சரிக்கை

Added : ஆக 05, 2021 23:38

சென்னை:சமூக வலைதளங்கள் வாயிலாக வலை விரிக்கும் மர்ம கும்பல், 'வீடியோ காலில் ஆடைகளின்றி பேசலாம்' என, பண மோசடியில் ஈடுபட்டு வருவது அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

அடுத்தடுத்து புகார்கள் வரும் நிலையில், மர்ம கும்பலிடம் உஷாராக இருக்க வேண்டும் என, போலீசார் எச்சரித்துள்ளனர்.'வாட்ஸ் ஆப்''பேஸ்புக், டுவிட்டர், இன்ஸ்டாகிராம்' என, சமூக வலைதளங்களில், மணிக்கணக்கில் மூழ்கி கிடப்போரின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. முகமறியாத நபர்களிடம், நள்ளிரவு துவங்கி அதிகாலை வரையில் கூட, 'சாட்டிங்' செய்யும் பழக்கம் அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. தம்பதியரில் ஒருவர் துாங்கிய பின் மற்றொருவர், 'சாட்டிங்' செய்து உடல் நலத்தை கெடுத்துக் கொள்ளும் போக்கும் நீடித்து வருகிறது.

இதுபோன்ற நபர்களை குறி வைத்து, மர்ம கும்பல், 'ஆன்லைன்' வாயிலாக பண மோசடியில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகிறது. சமூக வலைதளங்கள் வாயிலாக தொடர்பு கொள்ளும் இவர்கள், 'வாட்ஸ் ஆப்' எண்ணை பகிர்கின்றனர். அதன்பின், தன் ஆடைகளற்ற படத்தை அனுப்பி வைக்க, 100 ரூபாய்; 30 நிமிடங்கள் ஆபாசமாக பேச, 300 ரூபாய்; வீடியோ காலில் ஆடைகளின்றி பேச, 800 ரூபாய் என, வலை வீசுகின்றனர். எதிர்முனையில் இருப்பவரை நம்ப வைக்க, குரல் பதிவு மெசேஜ் அனுப்பி வைக்கின்றனர்.

இதை கேட்கும் ஜொள்ளு நபர்கள், மோசடி நபர்களின் வலையில் விழுந்து, பல லட்சம் ரூபாயை பறிகொடுக்கும் சம்பவங்கள் அதிகரித்து வருகின்றன. மோசடிஅந்த வகையில், சென்னையில் இரண்டு மாதங்களில், கல்லுாரி மாணவர், டாக்டர் உட்பட, மூன்று பேரிடம், 19 லட்சம் ரூபாயை சுருட்டி உள்ளனர்.

இது குறித்து சென்னை மத்திய குற்றப்பிரிவு போலீசார், தனித்தனியாக மூன்று வழக்குகள் பதிந்து விசாரித்து வருகின்றனர். விசாரணையில், மோசடி நபர்களில் பெண்களும் உள்ளனர். இவர்கள், ஏற்கனவே பதிவு செய்யப்பட்ட, ஆபாச வீடியோக்கள் மற்றும் படங்களை அனுப்பி, 'போன்பே, கூகுள் பே 'என, டிஜிட்டல் பண பரிவர்த்தனை வாயிலாக மோசடி செய்து வருவது தெரியவந்துள்ளது.

இது குறித்து போலீசார் கூறியதாவது:சபல நபர்களை குறி வைத்து, இந்த மோசடி நடக்கிறது. பணத்தை பெற்ற பின், ஜொள்ளு நபர்களின் படங்கள் மற்றும் வீடியோவை பதிவு செய்யும் இந்த கும்பல், அதை சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நபரின் நண்பர்களுக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்க இருப்பதாக மிரட்டி பணம் பறித்து வருகிறது. இவர்களிடம் உஷாராக இருக்க வேண்டும். சமூக வலைதளங்களை பயன்படுத்தும் போது, எச்சரிக்கையாக செயல்பட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

கடைக்கு செல்ல சான்றிதழ்: கேரள அரசு புதிய யுக்தி

கடைக்கு செல்ல சான்றிதழ்: கேரள அரசு புதிய யுக்தி

6.8.2021

திருவனந்தபுரம்:'தடுப்பூசி செலுத்திய சான்றிதழ்களை கையில் வைத்து கொண்டு கடை, வங்கிகளுக்கு செல்ல வேண்டும்' என, பொதுமக்களுக்கு கேரள அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கு எதிர்க்கட்சிகள் கடும் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்துள்ளன.

கேரளாவில் கொரோனா அதிவேகமாக பரவி வருகிறது. இதை கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியாமல் அரசும், சுகாதாரத் துறையும் திணறி வருகின்றன. இந்நிலையில் திருவோண பண்டிகைக்காக கடைகளை திறக்க அனுமதி வழங்கினாலும் பல நிபந்தனைகள் விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

இதன்படி கடைகள், மார்க்கெட், வங்கி, திறந்தவெளி சுற்றுலா மையம், வியாபார நிறுவனங்களுக்கு செல்பவர்கள் குறைந்த பட்சம் இரண்டு வாரத்துக்கு முன், முதல் தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தியதற்கான சான்றிதழை கையில் வைத்திருக்க வேண்டும். இந்த சான்றிதழ் இல்லையெனில் 72 மணி நேரத்துக்குள் எடுக்கப்பட்ட கொரோனா பரிசோதனை 'நெகடிவ்' சான்றிதழை வைத்திருக்க வேண்டும். இதன் வாயிலாக கொரோனா பரவலை கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியும் என, கேரள அரசு கருதுகிறது.

அரசின் இந்த முடிவுக்கு காங்., தலைமையிலான எதிர்க்கட்சிகள் கடும் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து உள்ளன. அவர்கள் கூறுகையில், 'கேரளாவில் 42 சதவீதம் பேர் மட்டுமே தடுப்பூசி போட்டுள்ள நிலையில் இந்த அறிவிப்பு மக்களை பெரிய அளவில் பாதிக்கும்' என்கின்றனர்.மாநில அரசின் இந்த நடவடிக்கையை கண்டித்து நேற்று கேரள சட்டசபையில் எதிர்க்கட்சி உறுப்பினர்கள் வெளிநடப்பு செய்தனர்.

அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு மாதிரி துறை தேர்வு

அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு மாதிரி துறை தேர்வு

Added : ஆக 05, 2021 23:25

சென்னை:அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கான துறை தேர்வுகள் தொடர்பான பயிற்சி தேர்வு, ஆன்லைனில் வெளியிடப்பட்டு உள்ளதாக டி.என்.பி.எஸ்.சி., அறிவித்து உள்ளது.

இது குறித்து தேர்வு கட்டுப்பாட்டு அதிகாரி கிரண் குராலா வெளியிட்ட செய்திக்குறிப்பு:அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கான துறை தேர்வுகள், கணினி வழி தேர்வாக நடத்தப்படும். இது தொடர்பான விதிமுறைகள், குறிப்புகள், ஆன்லைன் மாதிரி தேர்வு உள்ளிட்டவை, டி.என்.பி.எஸ்.சி.,யின் இணையதளத்தில் வெளியிடப்பட்டு உள்ளன.

எனவே, துறை தேர்வுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்துள்ளவர்கள், டி.என்.பி.எஸ்.சி.,யின் இணையதளத்தில் தேர்வு தொடர்பான விபரங்களை பார்த்து, தேர்வுக்கு தயாராகி கொள்ளலாம்.இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

How SC saved a young marriage through persuasion & cajoling

How SC saved a young marriage through persuasion & cajoling

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  05.08.2021

The Supreme Court on Wednesday saved a tottering young marriage by cajoling the husband to withdraw all cases against his spouse, while also telling him to give his wife a dignified place in his house or face arrest and get lodged in jail.

The couple, estranged for nearly four years after the wife was thrown out of her matrimonial home a month after the marriage owing to insufficient dowry, readily agreed to live together. The wife in the last couple of hearings stoutly declined hints from the husband’s counsel for dissolution of marriage. “Why should I give divorce? I want to live with him in a dignified way. I still love him,” the wife had told a bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant.

On Wednesday, the bench, which had found the husband and his parents to be the trouble makers, was categorical in administering threats of possible incarceration to the husband alongside advice that generally comes from family seniors. Communicating in Hindi with the husband Ravi Kiran Rakesh, Justice Kant said, “You must go to her house and bring her back to the matrimonial home. Both of you must forget the past and start your married life afresh.”

The bench advised the woman to withdraw her case against the husband and parents-in-law.

The bench asked the husband and the wife to withdraw cases lodged by them against each other and then file affidavits specifying the applications filed in trial courts in this regard. However, the bench was not finished with the husband, and said, “You must behave properly in future. Otherwise, you will go to jail.” The husband sounded desperate to escape possible arrest and repeatedly said that he would withdraw all cases against her.

Turning to the husband’s counsel, senior advocate and former HC judge Anjana Prakash, CJI Ramana said, “With your experience and background, you should have settled the dispute in your chamber rather than getting the husband to continue with litigation.”

Prakash agreed and said she did try. “But, these days the young people watch so many soap operas, which keeps playing on their mind.”

The Jharkhand high court had refused anticipatory bail to the husband, noticing that the wife was tortured for dowry at the matrimonial home. It also noted that immediately after the wife lodged a dowry complaint, the husband had filed a suit for dissolution of marriage. August 31, last year, the SC was told by the husband’s counsel that there was a possibility of settlement of the matrimonial dispute. It allowed the parties to work towards settlement while protecting the husband from arrest.

You must go to her house and bring her back to the matrimonial home. Both of you must forget the past and start your married life afresh

JUSTICE SURYA KANT

False allegation of impotency of spouse amounts to cruelty: SC

False allegation of impotency of spouse amounts to cruelty: SC

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:05.08.2021

Making baseless and false allegations against one’s spouse regarding impotency of life partner amounts to cruelty and divorce can be granted on that ground, the Supreme Court has said and upheld a Delhi high court order allowing divorce on that ground.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose declined to interfere with the Delhi High Court verdict and dismissed the plea of a woman who had made the allegation against her husband in the court proceedings and challenged the divorce granted on his plea.

In this case the couple got married in 2012. But soon after the marriage, the man approached the court seeking to declare the marriage as null and void on the ground that it could not be consummated due to the woman’s alleged impotency. Countering his allegation, the wife then submitted in family court that the man was suffering from impotency (erectile dysfunction) which was the true cause of nonconsummation of marriage and also that her in-laws demanded dowry and she was cruelly treated. The man thereafter sought divorce on the ground of cruelty for making false allegation against him.

As the allegation of the wife was found baseless after examining medical report and taking into account the statement of a highly qualified medical expert with immaculate credentials, the family court allowed the divorce plea of the man, The woman then moved Delhi High Court which turned down her plea and said her allegations were “grave and serious”, and was likely to adversely affect the man’s mental well-being.

“Thus, having regard to the law on the subject, we find no infirmity in the findings and observations of the trial court that the allegation of the appellant (wife) in the written statement with respect to the impotency clearly falls within the concept of cruelty as defined under law,” the HC had said.

The wife thereafter approached the Supreme Court and pleaded that divorce on the ground of cruelty be quashed and she be allowed to get divoce through mutual consent. But her plea was stiffly opposed by advocate Prabhjit Jauhar, appearing for the husband. The court noted that parties were living separately for the last eight years and refused to interfere with the lower court and Delhi High Court order The HC in its verdict had extensively dealt with the aspect of cruelty caused due to baseless allegation and said “It is also abundantly clear that due to the mental pain, agony and suffering caused by the false accusations, the respondent (man) cannot be asked to put up with the conduct of the appellant (woman) and to continue to live with her.”

Syndicate members to oversee GU intake

MISSION ADMISSION

Syndicate members to oversee GU intake

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 05.08.2021

Gujarat University has made a committee of syndicate members for admission to arts, commerce and science colleges.

“The committee consists of 18 GU syndicate members. They will keep a watch on the admission process to be carried out online and will alert authorities if there is any issue,” said a source in GU. The admission process for about 40,000 seats is to begin on Wednesday when candidates register online.

GU authorities held a meeting on Tuesday to set up the committee to oversee the admission process.

Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) reached the venue and made representations to include members according to their suggestions.

“It turned out that the members appointed were according to the suggestions made by the ABVP,” said a source.

GU received the highest number of applications, at 2,660, for technical courses in various colleges affiliated to it. The university confirmed the admissions of about 1,030 students, said sources. Gujarat Technological University has admitted 809 foreign students; it had received 1,240 applications. MSU in Vadodara has enrolled 541 of the 852 candidates who had applied.

NeXT aims to replace MBBS finals, NEET-PG, FMGE

NeXT aims to replace MBBS finals, NEET-PG, FMGE

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad: 05.08.2021 

To be held on the lines of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), the National Medical Council aims to conduct National Exit Test (NeXT) for final year MBBS students from 2023.

The NeXT will replace the final year undergraduate examination and will also be the basis for admission to postgraduate specialty courses, replacing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (PG).

Students who clear the exam will be granted a licence to practice modern medicine in India and for enrolment in the state medical register or the national medical register, as the case may be, according to M K Ramesh, president of the Postgraduate Medical Education Board. It will also form the basis of admissions to PG medical courses.

“To be a medical practitioner in the US, one has to clear the medical licensing exam. We want to reduce the burden of multiple examinations and at the same time introduce world class standards,” said Ramesh. NeXT also aims to solve the problem of foreign medical graduates, it as it will be the same for everyone whether trained in India or any part of the world.

“The details of how to conduct the exam across the country, which includes practical examinations, are being worked out. A mock run is being planned for 2022,” he further said.

State medical education fraternity experts have expressed apprehensions over NeXT replacing MBBS final exams and say the move may prove detrimental to the state’s efforts to have more doctors available. The recent pandemic has underscored the need for more doctors in the state, especially in rural areas.

“Being a national-level competitive test, NeXT could prove tough for students of Gujarat to crack compared to the existing university-level exams,” said the dean of an Ahmedabad medical college.

“The final MBBS success rate in the state is around 90%. This means that every year, the majority of students who pass can register and practise medicine.

However, we have serious apprehensions if so many students will be able to clear NeXT every year. Moreover, MBBS finals are held twice a year while NeXT will be held only once,” said another senior medical fraternity member.

The National Exit Test marks shall remain valid for three years from the date the person has become eligible to be granted a licence to practice, for admission to postgraduate broad specialty courses, according to the Draft Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations 2021.

After the expiry of the validity of the National Exit Test marks, the person shall have to take it and qualify again to be eligible for admission to postgraduate broad specialty courses, it said.

For admission to postgraduate super-specialty courses, a uniform entrance examination, the National Eligibility–cum-Entrance Test (Super Specialty), will be held each academic year and under the supervision of the National Medical Commission, according to the draft regulations.

Allahabad univ to confer degree of D’Litt on Gulzar

Allahabad univ to confer degree of D’Litt on Gulzar

Rajeev.Mani@timesgroup.com

Prayagraj:  05.08.2021

Allahabad University would award honorary degree of D’Litt to noted littérateur and film director Gulzar for his contribution to poetry, films and culture. The degree would be conferred on the noted literary personality at the convocation scheduled for September 23.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the AU’s academic council (AC) held on the campus on Wednesday.

“We have started making preparations for holding the convocation in an offline mode, but the same could be held in an online mode as and when required. AU has decided to confer degree of DLitt on noted poet Gulzar and AU would soon contact him to get his consent,” said AU public relations officer Jaya Kapur.

Famous lyricist, poet, author, screenwriter and film director Gulzar is a recipient of Padma Bhushan (2004) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2013). He has to his credit many other honours, including five national film awards, 22 Filmfare Awards, one Academy Award for Best Original Song (2008), one Grammy Award (2010) besides Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu (2002).

The meeting also decided that all PhD holders of the session 2018-19 — 2019-20 will be awarded a degree in the convocation. Governor Anandiben Patel, as the rector of the university, has given her consent to come for the convocation. Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof D P Singh and the chancellor of the University Ashish Chauhan have also consented to attend the convocation, informed the PRO.

In view of the impending third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, it was reported that the two ambulances available with the university are to be brought in working order and one new ambulance is being acquired.

Full report on www.toi.in

Govt to table bill on OBCs to restore states’ powers

Govt to table bill on OBCs to restore states’ powers

New Delhi:  05.08.2021

The government is set to table a bill in Parliament to restore the powers of states to identify local OBCs, a mandate negated by the Supreme Court’s Maratha reservation judgement of May 5.

The move will test the opposition which has declared that it will not allow the proceedings till its demand for a discussion on Pegasus is met. TOI reported the government plan on July 23 and  26. 

Union Cabinet Tuesday approved “the Constitution (127th) amendment bill-2021” to tweak clauses 1 and 2 of Article 342A and also introduce a new clause 3. The bill will also amend the Articles 366 (26c) and 338B (9) - all designed to clarify that the states can maintain the “state list” of OBCs as was the system before the SC judgement. Crucially, sources said, the “state list” will be completely taken out of the ambit of the President and will be notified by the state assembly. Shashank Ratnoo, a lawyer specialising in backward reservation, said, “The move is welcome, without which the system of OBC lists will go haywire.”

Sources said the bill may be tabled in Lok Sabha at the earliest, possibly on Thursday. TNN