Is it the end of MPhil programme

Is it the end of MPhil programme

While NEP has specified discontinuation of MPhil degree, DU is allowing MPhil admissions for 2021-22, but few universities are planning to completely do away with it

Astha.Hemant@timesgroup.com

09.08.2021 

One of the major changes introduced by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is the discontinuation of MPhil (Master’s in Philosophy) programme. Instead, there is an emphasis upon a four-year Bachelor’s degree and a research intensive Master’s degree. Despite the uncertainty, the University of Delhi (DU) has received more than 12,500 applications for MPhil during the ongoing admission process. Rajeev Gupta, chairperson (admissions), shares, “A policy floated by the Centre applies to individual universities only when we receive instructions from our respective executive councils. Till then, it is not possible to scrap an entire course.”

DU is planning on implementing changes mentioned in the NEP from next year (2022), which may include scrapping MPhil degree, adds Gupta. “For the time being, we are continuing with our MPhil course,” he says.

Various other universities have done away with the MPhil course. Kanchan Mullick, spokesperson, University of Hyderabad (UoH), explains, “UoH set up a committee for implementation of NEP, which recommended that the varsity should discontinue the MPhil programme from 2021-22.” The committee placed its recommendations before the academic council (AC) held in March, 2021, she adds. “The recommendations were accepted by the AC. So, after adopting NEP last year, UoH has discontinued MPhil admissions from 2021-22,” clarifies Mullick.

Abhay G Chebbi, prochancellor, Alliance University, Bengaluru, says that the varsity has never made an MPhil degree a compulsion for PhD candidates. “Graduates and postgraduates both can enroll in our PhD course. Thus, this NEP guideline has not affected us,” he clarifies.

Gupta explains “The duration of an MPhil course is around 18 months, including six months of thesis work. As per norms, all students applying for the MPhil course this year will be exempt from the initial coursework that they are required to do as PhD candidates in DU. Thus, MPhil candidates will not suffer in their academic pursuits.”

Mullick says that MPhil students admitted last year and those finishing their MPhil from previous years will be awarded the degree as per the eligibility criteria and the period duration at UoH, as prescribed by University Grants Commission (UGC). “The grace period that has been set by the UGC will be followed, and these degrees will be valid,” she adds.

As per the grace period, which has been changed thrice since the announcement of NEP 2020, students who were scheduled to submit their MPhil thesis in June 2020, have been given extra three semesters, explains Mullick. “These candidates can now submit their thesis by December 2021,” she says.

Education Times

These 13 colleges will offer tech lessons in five languages

The institutes have been sanctioned 60 additional seats by AICTE to impart first-year Engineering courses in the regional languages

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesgroup.com

09.08.2021 

In line with provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that calls for education in one’s mother tongue as far as possible, as many as 13 Engineering colleges from 8 states are starting to impart education in five Indian languages that include Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bengali from the 2021-22 academic session.

To facilitate the process, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has already completed the task of translating video lectures of Engineering on the SWAYAM platform in eight regional languages with plans to translate content into Oriya, Assamese and Punjabi, as well. For helping the institutes, an AI Indian language-translation tool has been developed by the technical education regulator that will aid in developing content in 12 different regional languages.

Divided opinion

The push for technical education, more so Engineering, to be imparted in regional languages, beginning from the 2021-22 academic year, was first mooted by the Education Ministry in November 2020. A few of the IITs and NITs were also shortlisted, though opinions were divided over what would be most effective for the students, keeping in view their long-term research interests and overseas study plans, though English would be one of the mandatory subjects for the students studying in mother tongue.

Bridging the gap

In a recent turn of events, however, 13 colleges have been approved to impart engineering courses in five regional languages. This follows in the wake of the emphasis on mother tongue as the medium of instruction to instil confidence among students from humble backgrounds.

Accreditation matters

“While 14 Engineering colleges had applied to impart courses in Indian regional languages, 13 were approved. AICTE will not compromise on the quality of technical education and will permit only the institutions with accredited programmes. Currently, only those colleges that are running accredited programmes have been permitted to run the courses in the regional languages. Sanctions for additional 60 seats in Engineering and technical subjects over and above the existing seats have also been granted to each of them,” says Anil Sahasrabudhe, chairman, AICTE, while talking to Education Times.

Resources in regional languages

“AICTE has further mandated that any technical institution that is willing to impart AICTE-approved courses can also run programmes in regional languages, as long as they earmark certain seats from the sanctioned intake,” Sahasrabudhe adds. AICTE is ready with the first-year undergraduate and polytechnic course books in the regional languages that were earlier not available. Approval for select streams of Engineering have been granted to these 13 colleges. “Most of the approvals are for Computer Science, followed by Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology,” Sahasrabudhe says. Of the 13 colleges that received the AICTE nod, two colleges from Rajasthan, four from UP, one college from Madhya Pradesh and another college from Uttarakhand will run courses in Hindi; one college from West Bengal will impart courses in Bengali; a Maharashtra-based college will run courses in Marathi, while one college from Andhra Pradesh will run courses in Telugu and remaining two colleges from Tamil Nadu are slated to impart courses in Tamil.

Easy to comprehend

“Our faculty members were already teaching the courses in Tamil, though at an informal level. Since many of our students come from the rural interiors of Tamil Nadu and are first generation learners, they were finding it difficult to comprehend the courses in English; most of them are afraid to even ask questions,” says B Nagaraj, principal, Rathinam Technical Campus, Andhra Pradesh, that will soon impart Computer Science courses in Tamil for 60 seats, for which it has sought affiliation from Anna University. “Local language will enhance both the creative thinking and analytical skills of the students who were earlier too stressed to have faith in their strengths and abilities,” adds Nagaraj.

Much like Rathinam Technical Campus, the Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology (NIET), Greater Noida, will start BTech in Computer Science & Engineering in regional language. “Students will be able to answer in their native tongue. Over some time, the demand for software in regional languages will increase,” says Raman Batra, executive vice president, (NIET).

KGMU To Give Two Mercy Attempts To MBBS Students Unable To Clear Exams For Last 8-27 Years

KGMU To Give Two Mercy Attempts To MBBS Students Unable To Clear Exams For Last 8-27 Years

By Barsha Misra Published On 8 Aug 2021 4:00 PM | Updated On 8 Aug 2021 4:01 PM

Lucknow: Opining that MBBS students who will fail to clear exams even after spending more than 10 years in the University should consider changing the course of life, the King George's Medical University (KGMU) has decided to expel such students if they fail in two more mercy attempts.

"Students at the King George's Medical University (KGMU) unable to clear MBBS since over a decade will be gi two more mercy attempts to clear their exams and supported with extra classes," stated the executive council of the

The executive council of the University took such a decision on Friday regarding the MBBS students who haven't been  able to pass at their MBBS examinations for the last 8-27 years. At present, there are 20 such students in the University.

Previously, there was no rule at the maximum number of attempts for clearing the examination at KGMU. Later, after consulting the National Medical Commission (NMC), the University had set the timeline for clearing the MBBS examination at 10 years. It was decided that after 10 years, only 4 mercy attempts would be given.

As the rule had been implemented only after 2019, it couldn't be applied to the earlier students and eventually a committee was constituted to consider the matter of the 20 students, adds TOI.

Now, the committee has decided to give two more mercy attempts to such students for clearing the examination. However, considering the weaknesses of such candidates the University has also decided to provide extra and remedial classes to those students.

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the MBBS students were not able to clear the course as either they had not appeared for the examination or they simply didn't appear for the same. Among these 20 students, one student belongs to 1994 batch, whereas another one is from 1997 batch. The rest of the students are from batches between 2000 and 2013.

10 among the 20 students had failed only in the fourth year, eight in the first year and two students are stuck in the second and third years of the MBBS examination.

Hindustan Times adds that in two cases, students are still pursuing their MBBS, while their children have cleared their medical examinations.

The daily adds that belonging to backward classes and having rural backgrounds the students faced difficulties in understanding the subjects.

In fact, alleging discrimination, some of the students had even lodged a complaint at the Chief Minister's portal, reports TOI. However, vehemently denying such allegations, KGMU had submitted written evidence in the support of their fair play.

Speaking to the Times of India regarding granting two more mercy attempts to such students, KGMU VC Lt Gen Prof Bipin Puri said, "After thorough discussion, we decided to give two mercy attempts to these students. We understand that they are weak and need extra attention. The university will provide remedial classes to clear doubts. Extra classes may also be arranged on the request of students."

"If students have spent more than 10 years here, have failed more than four times in one exam and despite two more

Lucknow: KGMU’s old students failing to clear MBBS to get "two mercy attempts"

Lucknow: KGMU’s old students failing to clear MBBS to get "two mercy attempts"

TNN | Aug 7, 2021, 04.53 AM IST

LUCKNOW: MBBS students at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) who have not been able to clear examinations for the last 8-27 years will get “two mercy attempts”.

Those who fail in these two attempts will be expelled. The decision was taken by the KGMU’s executive council on Friday. Currently, there are 20 such students who have not been able to clear the course as they either failed or did not appear for the examination.

The oldest among them is a student who took admission in 1994, followed by another who joined in 1997. The remaining students are from batches between 2000 and 2013.

Of the total, 10 have been failing in the fourth year of MBBS for several years, while eight have not been able to clear the first year so far. Two students are stuck in second and third years. These students have been failing in subjects like surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics.

Most students belong to backward classes or rural backgrounds and had difficulty in understanding the subjects. Some of them even alleged discrimination and lodged a complaint at the chief minister’s portal. The charge, however, was vehemently denied by KGMU which also submitted written evidence of fair play. Till 2019, KGMU had no rule on how many times a student can appear for examinations. After consulting the National Medical Commission (NMC), it was decided that every MBBS student will have to clear all examination within 10 years and only four mercy attempts will be allowed thereafter. Those who fail in all the attempts will be debarred.

However, this rule was implemented from 2019 onwards and did not apply to students enrolled earlier. Later, a committee was constituted to resolve the issue.

“After thorough discussion, we decided to give two mercy attempts to these students. We understand that they are weak and need extra attention. The university will provide remedial classes to clear doubts. Extra classes may also be arranged on the request of students,” said KGMU VC Lt Gen Prof Bipin Puri.

KGMU to give two mercy attempts to MBBS students unable to clear exams for last 8-27 years

KGMU to give two mercy attempts to MBBS students unable to clear exams for last 8-27 years: Lucknow: Opining that MBBS students who will fail to clear exams even after spending more than 10 years in the University should consider changing the course of life, the King George's Medical...

Many violate two-year service bond after super-speciality courses in T.N.

Many violate two-year service bond after super-speciality courses in T.N.

Several candidates from other States did not attend counselling for posting

08/08/2021

Serena Josephine M.CHENNAI

Many candidates, who belong to other States and completed super-speciality medical courses (DM/M.Ch) at government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu in 2020, did not attend the counselling held for posting at July-end. While this was not the first time that non-service other State candidates violated the two-year service bond executed with the State government, a cross-section of government doctors feels this will have an impact on the healthcare system in the long run.

Official sources said more than half of the candidates of the batch did not attend the online counselling, while a few candidates who attended the counselling said at least 80% of the other State candidates of the 2017 batch skipped the process.

An official of the Health Department said, “More than 50% of the candidates in super-speciality batches are from other States. They must work for two years as per the bond for ₹40 lakh executed at the time of admission. Some doctors finish the course and leave. They join work in their States and approach the court saying they did not get postings or departments as soon as they finished the course. According to the rules, they have to work in a government set-up anywhere in Tamil Nadu. In such circumstances, we will have to take action under the Revenue Recovery Act for bond violation,” he said.

There have been instances of posting orders having been issued but no one having turned up for duty, he said. “Services of a cardiologist or oncologist may be required at a secondary care hospital, not only at a tertiary centre.”

In an analysis, the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) found that in the 2017 batch of DM medical gastroenterology, all 16 seats were occupied by non-service candidates — one from Tamil Nadu and 15 from other States. Among them, the sole candidate from Tamil Nadu and two other State candidates joined the service. On the contrary, 15 other State candidates of the 2018 batch have joined service.

Of the 19 urology seats, there was one service candidate and the rest were non-service candidates in the 2017 batch. Only one non-service candidate who belonged to Tamil Nadu took up posting, while the remaining did not attend the counselling. No candidate who belonged to other States and completed M.Ch gastroenterology, urology, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery and surgical oncology and DM gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology and endocrinology attended the counselling, the association said.

“There are nearly 280 other State candidates in the 2017 batch and a majority of them did not attend the counselling on July 30. This means they are not going to join the Tamil Nadu government service to serve their bond, and this is a gross disservice to the healthcare delivery system in the State,” SDPGA State president P. Saminathan said. “This is why we have been demanding exclusive State counselling and a 50% service quota in courses. The State government should pass a special ordinance for the quota,” he added.

He said there were no service PGs in a few courses in the last two batches. “If this continues, no one will come to work at government medical colleges in these departments, leading to lack of faculty,” he said.

“Many other State candidates, who completed in 2020, did not attend because it has been a year since they completed the course and so, many returned to their States and started working there. This could have been prevented had postings been given as soon as the course was completed. There is no certainty on when the Directorate of Medical Education will issue postings to work under bond. Another problem was the lack of official intimation regarding counselling by way of email or call letter. It was put up on the Health Department’s website,” a doctor who attended the counselling said.

A doctor working at a primary health centre said that with no service quota in super-speciality seats, students study here and return to their States without completing the mandatory service. “This is creating an acute shortage of super-specialists at government hospitals. This is why we are demanding a 50% service quota,” he said.

Follow G.O., HC tells police

Follow G.O., HC tells police

08/08/2021

B.Tilak Chandar Madurai

Citizens should be provided police protection, based on a government order, when they seek it after a favourable a civil court decree, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court told the the Director General of Police and directed him to issue a reminder to all the police stations.

Justice J. Nisha Banu referred to the G.O. issued in 2008 by the Home Department and said police should not insist on a specific court direction while their protection is sought.

The court was hearing the petition filed by P. Packianathan of Melur taluk in Madurai district. The petitioner had sought a direction to the Madurai police to provide him adequate protection to carry out agricultural works in his land. A civil dispute pertaining to the land was settled in his favour. He made the representation to the police seeking their protection, but the latter had insisted on a specific order from the court. The court observed that the government itself had issued the guidelines to the police officers directing them to give protection in the light of the civil court order by constituting a committee. Based on the recommendations of the committee, the guidelines were issued. But, even after all these years, the G.O. was not implemented driving people unnecessarily to the court. “It is high time the police officers respected the orders of the court and government orders,” the judge said.

To avoid recurrence, the court directed the DGP to issue reminders to police stations. Referring to an earlier judgment of the High Court, the judge said the the function of the police officials was to control law and order and investigate crimes. The police cannot take over the job of the civil court to adjudicate the disputes.

Perhaps without understanding the stage at which they can interfere in civil jurisdiction, the police were insisting upon the production of the specific court order, the judge said and disposed of the petition.

High Court lets 16-year-old take NEET though minimum age is 17

High Court lets 16-year-old take NEET though minimum age is 17

It refuses to stay single judge order allowing her to write test

08/08/2021

Since the girl had a very high IQ, her candidature can be considered, the HC said.GANESAN V

Mohamed Imranullah S. CHENNAI

A Division Bench of the Madras High Court has refused to grant an exparte interim stay on an order passed by a single judge, permitting a 16-year-old girl to write the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) without insisting upon the completion of 17 years of age as on December 2021.

Justices M.M. Sundresh and S. Kannammal said no order of interim stay could be passed without ordering notice to the student on the writ appeal preferred by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on the ground that underaged candidates cannot be allowed to join medical colleges.

The appeal had been preferred against an order passed by Justice B. Pugalendhi, who had permitted 16-year-old SP. Shree Harini to write NEET 2021 for undergraduate medical admissions, despite the National Medical Commission (NMC) having rejected her plea to relax the minimum age. “People should go to university and college when they are ready, not when they are old enough to go,” the single judge had said, referring the writ petitioner to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru for testing her intelligence quotient (IQ).

If NIMHANS finds her fit to write NEET 2021, then she must be allowed to sit for it, the judge had said. The order was passed after it was brought to the court’s notice that even at the age of two years and eight months, the petitioner had a superior IQ of 169, and her mental age then was assessed to be that of a four-years-and-six-months-old child.

She was given double promotion during her school days, and was hence able to complete Class XII at the age of 16 this March. Anticipating trouble in appearing for NEET 2021, she made a representation to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in July 2019 itself, seeking relaxation of the minimum age of 17 required to appear for NEET.

The Ministry forwarded her representation to the NTA, but the latter rejected the plea on August 22, 2019, on the premise that candidates below 17 years of age could not be permitted to appear for NEET in view of a specific bar under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations of 1997.

When the rejection order was challenged, Justice Pugalendhi cited instances of Belgian child prodigy Laurent Simons having become the second youngest person in the world to complete graduation at the age of 11 and that of Indian American Tanishq Abraham who became a biomedical engineering graduate at the age of 15. As far as Ms. Harini was concerned, she would be four months and five days short of completing 17 years this year. Since she has a very high IQ, “this court is of the view that her candidature can be considered and she can be permitted to sit for NEET. In fact, she is asking for a chance to appear for the entrance examination and not for a seat in a medical course straight away,” the single judge had observed.

When the matter was taken on appeal, the Division Bench, led by Justice Sundresh, also prima faciefelt that talent must be recognised irrespective of age.

Medical students come up with awareness videos on COVID-19

Medical students come up with awareness videos on COVID-19

‘Aim is to educate the public on the need to continue safety practices’

08/08/2021

 

A still from the awareness video brought out by house surgeons of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.

Staff Reporter Coimbatore

Medical students of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) have come up with two awareness videos on the need to follow safety practices to arrest a third wave of COVID-19.

House surgeons, who are doing Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship, and undergraduate medical students brought out the awareness videos as part of the information, education and communication activities of the Department of Community Medicine.

“The main aim of the videos is to educate the public on the need to continue safety practices to save the country from getting into a third wave of the pandemic,” said CMCH Dean A. Nirmala.

The videos reinforce safety practices such as wearing of mask, hand washing, physical distancing and getting vaccinated against COVID-19. They also warn that sharing of fake information and rumours on COVID-19 on social media will hamper efforts to contain the disease spread.

“The students made the videos in two days with available facilities. The videos have been shared on social media for the reach of the public,” said P. Kalidas, head of the Department of Community Medicine.

While house surgeons shot their video on the medical college campus, a group of second year medical students shot video clips from their houses which were edited and compiled together. “After cases declined, people have a tendency not to follow safety practices. But it is a crucial time to follow all the safety practices as they can stop a third wave of the disease,” said K. Gayatri Sri, a house surgeon.

When Parliament becomes a noisy fish market, and MPs irrelevant

RIGHT & WRONG

When Parliament becomes a noisy fish market, and MPs irrelevant

SWAPAN DASGUPTA

08.08.2021 

Political life can never be separated from its cultural and historical context. In British public life, there is a time that is popularly described as the silly season. In the pre-pandemic age, this time in summer was marked by holidays, lazy afternoons in the sun, endless glasses of Pimms and general merriment all round. But the celebratory mood didn’t make the season silly. It was called the silly season because with Parliament in recess, newspaper editors had a tough time thinking of stories that would fill up the pages.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of Parliament, particularly the House of Commons, in the political life of Westminster. Barring weekends, the customary breaks for Easter and Christmas and, of course, the long, silly season respite, British MPs must literally sing for their supper. On an average, the Commons sit for anything between 150 and 160 days each year, and some of the sittings extend to well beyond midnight. While this may go some way in explaining the plethora of extra-marital affairs among British MPs, it also indicates that parliamentary work can be very demanding. Indeed, political careers are made and unmade by parliamentary performances. Ministers are grilled relentlessly by backbenchers and both the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition are under exacting scrutiny during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions. To be a successful politician in Britain necessarily involves masterly parliamentary performances.

On its part, the media is merciless. The most read section of parliamentary proceedings in the ‘quality’ press isn’t about the reportage of who said what but the parliamentary sketches. Normally the preserve of the most acerbic writers, the sketches contain irreverent accounts of the proceedings, focussing naturally on who got the better of who and which MP made a complete ass of himself.

Public life is naturally bound in a nation’s culture. Despite their innate conservatism, the British are quite naturally irreverent. The reverence attached to political leaders in India has little place in British life. Even at the height of World War II, when he had become a national icon, Winston Churchill was subjected to the most scathing attacks in the Commons, attacks that had made his predecessor Neville Chamberlain wilt and, finally, resign.

Had the Indian media refashioned its non-existent coverage of Parliament, its sketch writers would not have starved for ammunition during the present monsoon session of Parliament. A washout in terms of meaningful debate, the session witnessed the exceptional importance that has been accorded by some parties to unruly hyenas. The Rajya Sabha, where the opposition feels less outnumbered, saw dancing protesters, multilingual slogans and even broken glass panes in the lobby. Parliamentary visibility shifted to those whose contributions to profound discourse had hitherto been undiscovered.

In recent times, parliamentary sittings have been declining steadily. From the rough average of around 60 days annually, it touched an all-time low of 33 sittings in 2020, courtesy the pandemic. If present trends persist, this may even become the new normal. The state legislatures appear to have shown the way — hardly surprising because the quantum of law-making in the states has been shrinking. Even in Parliament, thanks to the incessant din and the brazen disregard of all rules, Bills have been rushed through in minutes because no discussion is possible in the fish-market atmosphere. What is also striking is the lack of public reaction to this travesty. The indifference suggests there are nominal expectations of people from Parliament.

The issue of a dysfunctional Parliament shouldn’t be brushed aside casually. First, there is growing public confusion over the role of the MP. The tendency to equate an MP with a corporator or zilla parishad member and an MLA is rampant. With financial powers having devolved substantially to the GST Council and fresh legislation becoming increasingly technical in nature, many of the earlier responsibilities of Parliament have gone. The MP, in effect, has become either a bridge between the people and the Centre or just another functionary of a political party — albeit with state privileges.

Most important, with parliamentary elections becoming more presidential in nature, the vote is now more for a Prime Minister rather than a local representative. With voters increasingly concerned with effective delivery of government schemes, the focus has shifted entirely to the executive and the bureaucracy. Today’s MP is in search of a role that goes beyond establishing a government’s majority and endorsing legislation crafted by the executive.

Indian democracy is thriving, but the parliamentary system is in deep crisis.

‘Free darshan at TTD once Covid-19 over’

‘Free darshan at TTD once Covid-19 over’

Sandeep.Raghavan@timesgroup.com

Tirupati: 08.08.2021 

Sarvadarshan (free darshan) at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) can be resumed only after the World Health Organisation (WHO) denotifies the Covid-19 pandemic. This was informed by TTD specified authority chairman and executive officer (EO) Dr KS Jawahar Reddy, on Saturday.

Addressing the pilgrim callers during the monthly ‘Dial your EO’ programme at the TTD administrative building here, Jawahar Reddy said the temple administration was forced to impose curbs on inflow of pilgrims due to the pressing situation.

“We are forced to issue only limited darshan tokens. However, the TTD has increased the special entry darshan tickets quota to 8,000 tickets a day from 5,000 ,” the EO said.

“Pilgrims can register complaints at 9989078111 and before their departure from Tirumala, their grievances will be resolved,” Jawahar Reddy added. About 5.32 lakh devotees visited the temple in July.

Covaxin under ‘active review’ of Health Canada

Covaxin under ‘active review’ of Health Canada

Swati.Bharadwaj@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad: 08.08.2021  

Bharat Biotech’s US and Canada partner Ocugen Inc said it has submitted all the requisite data of indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to Canadian authorities and the application is under “active review” by Health Canada.

“We have submitted all the data, what is needed for...Canadian submission...it's under active review by Health Canada,” Ocugen chairman and CEO Shankar Musunuri said during an earnings call on Friday but declined to comment on approval timelines.

Ocugen, which inked a deal for the development, manufacture and commercialisation of Covaxin in Canada in June this year after bagging US rights in December 2020, had initiated rolling submission of Covaxin data to Health Canada through affiliate Vaccigen in mid-June.

He said the regulatory submission filed under Canada’s interim order was transitioned into a new drug submission for Covid-19 “in such a short order, especially when urgency is increasing in Canada”.

Pointing out that Covaxin was the first vaccine to evaluate efficacy against the Delta variant in a controlled setting, he said: “Majority of the symptomatic cases identified in aggregate in Covaxin and control arms in phase-3 clinical trial were Covid-19 variants...majority were identified as Delta variant B.1.617.2. Data showed Covaxin achieving a 65.2% efficacy rate against Delta variant.”

“Data from Covid cases demonstrated low viral load...in vaccinated individuals compared to placebo group, showing potential for less transmission of the disease by individuals who received Covaxin...these data on Delta are very suggestive that Covaxin is a valuable tool in our fight against this virus now, especially with this variant now dominating this fourth wave we are experiencing,” he said.

Musunuri said as Covaxin trains the immune system to attack the whole Covid-19 variants based on multi-antigens, including the spike in nucleocapsid proteins, it has the potential to be effective against multiple variants and reduce the possibility of mutant virus escape.

India-UK one-way fare skyrockets to ₹4L; IAS officer writes to govt

India-UK one-way fare skyrockets to ₹4L; IAS officer writes to govt

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Dehi:

India-UK fares have skyrocketed as restrictions on travel imposed from here during the deadly second wave are relaxed from Sunday morning. Senior IAS officer Sanjeev Gupta took to Twitter on Saturday to complain about one-way fares touching Rs 4 lakh and that he has raised the issue of with aviation secretary P S Kharola.

“Fare of Rs 3.95 lakh one way Delhi to London on August 26. No, it’s not first class. It’s economy on British Airways. Air India, Vistara also Rs 1.2 to 2.3 lakh. College admission time! See minimum fare on @GoogleTravel in August. Have alerted aviation secretary,” Gupta, secretary of Inter State Council Secretariat secretary that comes under the Union home ministry, said on social media.

Comments were sought from the Union aviation ministry on whether it is planning to rein in the rampaging India-UK airfares but no comment came till the time of going to press.

Airlines, on their part, say the only way out is to add capacity by allowing more flights – something that may happen soon. A combination of three factors has led to fares spiralling.

‘₹1.5L flight ticket unaffordable for most students’

A combination of three factors — 30 weekly flights between India and the UK, pent up demand for travel for almost 3.5 months since the UK restricted travellers from India and the ongoing peak student season — has led to fares spiralling. “If economy class isn’t available, it automatically fetches business fare but shows economy on travel portal. The basic point still remains (about) Rs 1.2 lakh for one-way direct flight is still too high,” Gupta tweeted.

“Even Rs 1.15 lakh is exorbitant and unaffordable for most students seeking admission purely on merit and not on financial strength,” he said in another tweet.

From August 8, India will move to the amber category under which travellers from India will be allowed without any need for a mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine as they will be allowed to do so at their homes or other places of stay in the UK. The opening amid pent-up demand has led to fares spiralling. A quick sear on travel portals Saturday evening show Mumbai/Delhi-London one-way, economy fares being over Rs 1 lakh on a majority of days in August. Fares start falling after September 10, by when the pent up rush would have flown out. Delhi/Mumbai-London one-way goes all the way upto Rs 1.3 lakh. TNN

Fares start falling after September 10, by when the pent up rush would have flown out. Delhi/ Mumbai-London oneway goes all the way upto Rs 1.3 lakh

B’luru cops travel twice to TN, get NRI’s stolen passport, visa

B’luru cops travel twice to TN, get NRI’s stolen passport, visa

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 08.08.2021 

City police undertook a double journey to Trichy in Tamil Nadu to trace the passport, visa and international driving licence of an NRI, visiting his hometown. They were stolen from the KSRTC bus terminal when Hasnar Sab Hosur, working in Dubai, was waiting for a bus. In their second attempt, police succeeded in finding his passport and visa thrown near a garbage heap in Ramjinagar, Trichy.

Hasnar, a cab driver in UAE, is all praise for city cops, as his return journey would have been impossible without the documents. Applying for a new set would have taken time, which could have put his job at risk, he added.

A special team from Upparpet police station travelled twice to Trichy: Once to recover the gold that was stolen from Hasnar and again, to find his passport. “Hasnar was in tears when we told him that we have recovered the gold but not passport and visa. He pleaded with us saying he cannot return to UAE. We decided to give another chance and formed a special team led by inspector CB Shivaswamy to find the missing documents. A daylong search in a big garbage heap yielded results,” deputy commissioner of police (west) Sanjeev Patil said.

TRICHY GANG STRIKES AT BUS STATION

Ravi, Damodaran and Rangan

Hasnar’s bag was stolen from the KSRTC bus terminal on the night of July 17. Hosur’s wife had arrived here from Sagar in Shivamogga district to accompany him.

Living in Dubai for the last 21 years, Hasnar visits his family once a year. “We were waiting for a bus at platform no. 5 at 10.30pm. I had kept the bag by my side and miscreants stole it when I was checking for the bus,” he said. It contained his passport, visa, driving licence, resident ID card of UAE, gold pendant of 12 grams and Rs 3,000. He lodged a complaint with Upparpet police who found seven men—Ramjinagar gang from Trichywere behind the robbery.

“We found the gang had travelled to Mandya, Srirangapatna and Mysuru, targeting other persons in bus and railway stations. We went to Mysuru in July and nabbed four prime accused. Four more are elusive,” police said.

Search in garbage heap

The accused told police Hasnar’s bag was taken to Ramjinagar by their associate the same night. Soon, a team left for Ramjinagar and returned with the gold pendant. “The accused had spent the cash and threw the remaining documents near a dumpyard,” an officer said.

Upparpet police contacted Hasnar and informed him about the gold. “But Hasnar Sab was more concerned about his documents. Realising their importance, we decided to give it another try and send the team again to Trichy,” Sanjeev Patil said.

The search was not easy for the inspector and his team. “The miscreants had forgotten the exact place where they had dumped the papers. After a search for almost a day, we traced them,” an officer said.

The arrested are Raju Naidu, 25, Ravi Kumar, 43, Damodaran, 35, and Rangan, 55, all residents of Trichy.

Over 100 students test +ve in Hassan

Over 100 students test +ve in Hassan

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hassan: 08.08.2021

Over 100 nursing college students here, the majority from neighbouring Kerala, tested Covid positive in the past three days. Two are said to be in a critical condition at the district hospital.

This is a cause of concern for health officials and the government as Hassan town has become a Covid cluster with cases from three nursing colleges since Thursday. Except for a few, all the infected students are girls. On Thursday, 21 students from Nisarga Nursing College tested positive and 24 others came in contact with them. Of these 24, four tested positive on Saturday, health officials confirmed. All the 25 students are from the same college and stay in a PG accommodation.

After the outbreak, authorities tested around 1,800 students of all 10 nursing colleges in the town and over 100 were found infected. Of these, 90% are from Kerala and they had arrived in Hassan before July 27, an official said. On Friday, 37 students from Rajiv Nursing College and 24 students from Rathna Nursing College in Hassan town were infected and they’ve been isolated.

Officials are worried as students had gone to eateries and hotels in the past week. "Students in all hostels and paying guest houses will be tested. At first, students in colleges with more students will be tested from Monday", said District Health Officer Dr KM Sathish.

On Saturday, Hassan reported 129 fresh cases, which includes the students.

City student 3rd in India among girls in JEE Main

City student 3rd in India among girls in JEE Main

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  8.8.2021

R Roshana from Chennai secured national level third rank among girl students in Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) (Main) session-3 conducted from July 20 to 27. She secured 99.993 percentile in the exam.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday declared the results of the JEE (Main) exam results for the BE, BTech paper. More than seven lakh candidates throughout the state attended the exams from 334 cities including 12 cities outside the country. As many as 17 candidates scored 100 percentile at national level.

Roshana from Modern Senior Secondary School in Nanganallur said she had been preparing for the JEE exam for the last four years.

"I expected high marks, but was thrilled to score 296 out of 300 marks and get national level third rank among the girl students. With the high score in the third session, I will focus on JEE (Advanced)," she said.

She wants to pursue BTech in IITs and is interested in studying computer science or maths.

"Though the first two sessions were easy, my percentile in the first session was 99.83 and 99.62. In the third session, I scored better," she added.

Shankar Balajee S from Chettinad Vidhyashram in Chennai scored 99.996 percentile in the third session and emerged as topper in the state.

"I am interested in studying computer science at IIT. Though it was challenging to shift from offline mode to online mode, the coaching institute has provided us with adequate materials. I also prefer online mode as we were able to stick to our own schedule," he said.

B Pavan Kumar, deputy director, FIITJEE Chennai, said many students who appeared for the third session improved their JEE score as they had sufficient time due to the postponement of the exam. The top 2.5 lakh students in JEE will qualify to write the JEE (Advanced) exam scheduled on October 3.

Schools denying TC citing fee dues under HC fire

Schools denying TC citing fee dues under HC fire

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 8.8.2021

Schools that refuse to issue transfer certificates (TC) to students citing unpaid fee or any other reason will face contempt of court, said Madras high court.

Justice N Anand Venkatesh has made it clear that schools should independently workout remedies for such issues in the manner known to law, but the same can never be a reason to deny issuance of TC. “Students/parents must have absolute freedom to take a decision regarding the continuation of the education in the existing school or to get transfer to any other school. If any student applies for TC, the same must be issued within a one week from the date of receipt of the application,” the judge said.

If any school refuses to issue TC, a complaint can be made to the Chief Educational Officer (CEO) concerned and action shall be taken for violation of this order.

It shall be ensured that TC is issued to the student. If any such violation is brought to the notice of this court, this court will also initiate suo motu contempt proceedings against the school concerned for violation of the directions issued by this court, the judge added.

Justice Anand Venkatesh also made it clear that the directions are issued taking into consideration the pandemic situation and as and when the normalcy is restored, the enactments and regulations will take care of the transfer of students from one school to another.

The court also directed the commissioner of school education to issue a circular in this regard to all the schools within two weeks.

The court passed the orders on a plea moved by the United District Self Financing Schools Association, represented by its president S Prince Babu Rajendran.

The association wanted the court to forbear the school education department from permitting schools in admitting students s without transfer certificate from the members of the petitioner association where the students previously studied.

DVAC books sub-registrar for bribe with call recording

DVAC books sub-registrar for bribe with call recording

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:8.8.2021

Recording a phone call with a government official’s broker who demanded a bribe has proven to be crucial evidence for Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to book a corruption case.

DVAC on Wednesday booked a case against A J George, subregistrar in the office of sub-registry Selaiyur, and his agent Karthik in this manner.

The case pertains a senior citizen A Venkatasamy trying to get a settlement deed registered for his plot and house in his wife’s name. V Vinoth Kumar, Venkatasamy’s son, was the one who spoke with George and Karthik to get the work done.

DVAC said Venkatasamy had prepared a settlement deed and applied with the office. He was issued a temporary receipt. His sons Vinoth Kumar and V Colombus followed up with the registry on behalf of their father. When the sons met George at his office, he directed them to meet Karthik, DVAC said. On May 5, 2020, Karthik demanded a bribe of ₹1 lakh for registering the document.

The next day Colombus spoke with Karthik on the phone. The conversation, which is about payment of bribe, was recorded by Colombus on his cellphone. DVAC said Karthik demanded a bribe for himself as well.

Later Vinothkumar met George who also confirmed the brib e amount, DVAC said.

Cannot deny pension for freedom fighter’s kin: HC

Cannot deny pension for freedom fighter’s kin: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  8.8.2021 

The Madras high court has observed that those born after 1947 may not be aware as to how the struggle for Independence took place, and said, “we are enjoying the benefits of freedom, and some are misusing it.”

Justice S Vaidyanathan made the observation while directing the Union government to extend the benefit of freedom fighter pension to a 73-year-old woman whose late husband was a freedom fighter. “The object of the1980 family pension scheme is to benefit the kith and kin of freedom fighters. Mere contradictions and discrepancies may not be material to deprive pension,” the judge said.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by K Mariammal challenging an order passed by the special deputy collector, social security scheme, Coimbatore dated October 6, 2020, denying her Central Government Freedom Fighter Family Pension as a legal heir of her husband late C Kanniah. Kanniah was a member of Indian National Army (INA). The fact was certified by the Union home ministry through a certificate dated May 23,1961. As per the certificate, he was a political sufferer and as such, he is entitled to all the concessions allowed to other political sufferers.

The Union government introduced a family pension scheme, but the benefit was denied to the petitioner since her husband had not mentioned about his dependents while applying for pension.

Challenging the denial order, the petitioner has moved the court.

'Marital Rape A Valid Ground For Divorce': 15 Key Observations Of Kerala High Court-Read Judgment

'Marital Rape A Valid Ground For Divorce': 15 Key Observations Of Kerala High Court-Read Judgment: The Kerala High Court in a significant judgment upheld that marital rape, although not penalised in India, is a good ground to claim divorce while dismissing a set of two appeals filed by a

'கணவன் பலாத்காரம் செய்தால் மனைவி விவாகரத்து கோரலாம்'

'கணவன் பலாத்காரம் செய்தால் மனைவி விவாகரத்து கோரலாம்'

Updated : ஆக 07, 2021 02:08 | Added : ஆக 07, 2021 02:07 |

திருவனந்தபுரம்-'மனைவியின் விருப்பம் இன்றி பாலியல் பலாத்காரம் செய்யும் கணவனை தண்டிக்க சட்டத்தில் இடமில்லை என்றாலும், இதுபோன்ற நடத்தையுடைய கணவனிடம் இருந்து மனைவி விவாகரத்து கோர முடியும்' என, கேரள உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

கேரளாவைச் சேர்ந்த டாக்டர் ஒருவர், திருமணத்துக்கு பின் ரியல் எஸ்டேட் தொழிலில் ஈடுபட துவங்கினார். சரியான வருமானம் இன்றி வியாபாரம் முடங்கியது.இதையடுத்து மனைவியின் வருமானத்தில் குடும்பம் நடந்தது. இருவருக்கும் கருத்து வேறுபாடு ஏற்பட்டதை தொடர்ந்து அவரது மனைவி, குடும்ப நல நீதிமன்றத்தில் விவாகரத்து கோரினார்.அந்த மனுவில் தன் கணவர், பாலியல் ரீதியாக தன்னுடைய விருப்பமின்றி பலாத்காரம் செய்வதாகவும், உடல் ரீதியாகவும், மன ரீதியாகவும் துன்புறுத்துவதாகவும் தெரிவித்தார்.குடும்ப நல நீதிமன்றத்தில் 12 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின் இருவருக்கும் விவாகரத்து வழங்கப்பட்டது. 'மனைவியை பணம் காய்க்கும் மரமாக அவரது கணவர் நடத்தி வந்துள்ளார்' என, உத்தரவில் கூறப்பட்டது.

இந்த விவாகரத்தை எதிர்த்து கேரள உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் கணவர் மனு செய்தார்.இந்த மனுவை விசாரித்த உயர் நீதிமன்றம் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு:மனைவியின் விருப்பமின்றி பாலியல் பலாத்காரம் செய்யும் கணவனை தண்டிக்க சட்டத்தில் இடமில்லை. ஆனால் மனைவியின் தனிப்பட்ட விருப்பு வெறுப்புகளை மதிக்காமல், அவரை துன்புறுத்துவதும் கூட பாலியல் பலாத்கார வகையில் சேரும். இதுபோன்ற வழக்குகளில் மனைவி விவாகரத்து கோர, கணவனின் இந்த நடத்தை வழி வகுக்கிறது. இந்த வழக்கில் குடும்ப நல நீதிமன்றம் வழங்கிய விவாகரத்து உத்தரவு உறுதி செய்யப்படுகிறது. இவ்வாறு உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டது.

திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலை அறிவிப்பு ரத்து

திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலை அறிவிப்பு ரத்து

Added : ஆக 07, 2021 00:09

சென்னை:திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலை பதிவாளர், முதுகலை படிப்புக்கு விண்ணப்பங்களை வரவேற்று வெளியிட்ட அறிவிப்பை, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் ரத்து செய்தது.

வேலுார் திருவள்ளூவர் பல்கலையை பிரித்து, விழுப்புரத்தை தலைமையிடமாக்கி, ஜெயலலிதா பல்கலை அமைக்கப்பட்டது.புதிய பல்கலைக்கு நிதி ஒதுக்கவும், பதிவாளர் நியமிக்கவும் கோரி, முன்னாள் அமைச்சர் சி.வி.சண்முகம், வழக்கு தொடர்ந்தார்.மனுவில், 'விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம், செம்மேடு கிராமத்தில், பல்கலைக்காக 70 ஏக்கர் நிலம் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டது.

'திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலை பதிவாளர், விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள, அதன் முதுகலை மையத்தில், விண்ணப்பங்களை வரவேற்று அறிவிப்பு வெளியிட்டது சட்டத்தை மீறியது. இதற்கு தடை விதிக்க வேண்டும்' என, கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.இம்மனு, தலைமை நீதிபதி சஞ்ஜிப் பானர்ஜி, நீதிபதி ஆதிகேசவலு அடங்கிய அமர்வில் விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. 'சட்டம் அமலில் இருக்கும் போது, அதற்கு எதிராக அரசு எப்படி செயல்பட முடியும்?' என, நீதிபதிகள் கேள்வி எழுப்பினர்.

அரசு தரப்பில், அட்வகேட் ஜெனரல் சண்முகசுந்தரம் ஆஜராகி, உயர் கல்வித் துறை பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவை தாக்கல் செய்தார். முதல் பெஞ்ச் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு:டாக்டர் ஜெயலலிதா பல்கலை சட்டத்தை ரத்து செய்யப் போவதாக, உயர் கல்வித் துறை அறிவிப்பில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. சட்டசபைக்கான அதிகார வரம்புக்குள் சட்டம் இயற்றும் போது, அதை ரத்து செய்யவும் அதிகாரம் உள்ளது என்பதில் எந்த சந்தேகமும் இல்லை.

தற்போதைய அரசும், இந்தச் சட்டத்தை ரத்து செய்வதற்கான நோக்கத்தை குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளது. இருந்தாலும், அதுவரை சட்டம் அமலில் இருக்கும் நிலையில், அதை பின்பற்ற வேண்டிய அவசியம் உள்ளது.எனவே, முதுகலை படிப்புக்கான விண்ணப்பங்களை வரவேற்று, திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலை அறிவிப்பு வெளியிடுவதற்கு, அதிகார வரம்பு இல்லை; ரத்து செய்யப்படுகிறது.இவ்வாறு முதல் பெஞ்ச் உத்தரவிட்டது.

SC: Judges under threat, CBI, IB & cops doing nothing

SC: Judges under threat, CBI, IB & cops doing nothing

7.8.2021 

The Supreme Court on Friday said trial court judges, especially those dealing with cases involving gangsters and high-profile people, are most vulnerable to external threats and bristled at the inaction of the CBI, Intelligence Bureau and the police in countering the threats to create a conducive atmosphere for judges to do justice without fear or favour, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra.

A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said, “In criminal cases involving gangsters and high-profile persons, when the accused do not get expected orders from the courts, they start maligning the judiciary. Unfortunately, this is a new trend developing in this country.”

Don’t scare judges with huge files: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday asked advocates not to file voluminous petitions to ‘terrorise’ the judges and risk getting the hearing adjourned. P 16

Ramana: CBI, IB not helping judiciary at all

A situation is created where the judges do not feel free to make a complaint. Even if the judges complain to the district judge, Chief Justice of the HC or the CJI, and a complaint is forwarded to the police or the CBI, they do not respond. They do not think it is a priority issue, the bench said.

“The IB, CBI and police are not helping the judiciary at all. I am making this statement with some sense of responsibility. It is a serious issue,” the CJI said and sought attorney general K K Venugopal’s assistance to chalk out a mechanism.

Venugopal gave an even more startling account of threats given to trial judges hearing cases involving gangsters and powerful persons. “I am told that in many cases, a magistrate or sessions judge, who is about to take up a case involving a gangster or a powerful person, gets a call saying that his daughter is going to such and such school, in a car with such and such number. Between justice and daughter’s safety, the judge adjourns the case by six months. We must look into those cases which are getting adjourned time and again. So far as states are concerned, each must form a protection group for the judiciary.”

Online classes aren’t real education: House panel

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:7.8.2021 

In a significant observation, the parliamentary standing committee on education has said that “online education is not real education”. Observing that disruption of physical school activities is likely to impair the cognitive capabilities of students, it said in its report that lack of digital facilities and adaptation either due to “inaccessibility of technology or the educational backgrounds of their parents to guide them” has contributed towards learning loss among students of all classes and regions.

“Due to continued cessation of classes, learning loss is acquiring critical dimensions,” it added. The committee submitted the report to the Parliament on Friday.

Stating that immediate remedial steps are needed, the committee noted, “The learning loss of more than one whole academic year would necessarily have weakened the foundational knowledge of the students especially in the subjects of mathematics, sciences and languages at school level. This learning loss is a big deficit and is likely to impair the cognitive capabilities of students. This might have a debilitating effect on vulnerable sections of the society like poor and rural students, marginalised sections of society and young women who might have been unable to connect to any form of digital education during the pandemic.”

The report, titled ‘Plans to Bridge the Learning Gap... and Plans for Re-opening of Schools’, recommended accentuated vaccine programmes for all students, teachers, and staff, physical classes on alternate days, and developing a blended mode of education based on the experiences of the Covid-induced disruptions.

Highlighting in its report that the studies of 32 crore children have been affected by the pandemic, the committee also observed that most rural and remote areas lack digital facilities that has led to a huge digital divide. It added that though the ministry of education claimed around 85% students were connected with online classes and the remaining students were being approached with other modes, “the ground reality is completely different”.

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.