Airfares skyrocket as UAE opens borders, puts Malayali expats in spot

Airfares skyrocket as UAE opens borders, puts Malayali expats in spot

DGCA asks int’l pax to check rates on airline websites as search engines at times do not reflect actual prices

Published: 11th August 2021 06:43 AM |

By Dhinesh Kallungal

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon after the UAE opened its borders for the Indian diaspora, airline companies jacked up the ticket fares six- to seven-fold on main routes. Further, the popular flight ticket booking sites quote the highest fares for tickets even on transit flights. As the issue became grave, the aviation regulator asked the international air passengers to book tickets preferably from the websites of airlines as the search engines at times do not reflect actual prices.

According to MakeMyTrip, a ticket on Indigo or Etihad flight to Abu Dhabi on Thursday will cost the passenger Rs 72,264 even as the journey will take 20 hours. Another connecting flight by Indigo to the same destination via Mumbai and Kochi as on Thursday will cost Rs 41,502 for a journey that will take 37 hours and 10 minutes.

Similarly, a Qatar Airways flight to Kochi from Abu Dhabi via Doha will cost the passenger Rs 1,57,559, while a direct flight to Kochi by Ettihad from Abu Dhabi cost the passenger Rs 58,993 on Thursday. Similarly, flights on most of these routes have started charging exorbitant rates from passengers since the travel restrictions were eased by UAE authorities. If this is the situation ahead of Onam which is hardly two weeks away, the expats’ plans to reach home for the occasion will be a costly affair.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory asking passengers travelling to international destinations to check the fares preferably on the websites of the airlines concerned as the meta search engines at times do not reflect the actual point-to-point fare and do make combinations of multiple airlines and show an exaggerated figure.

IATA Agents Association of India national president Biji Eapen said, “The DGCA’s advisory is mainly related to transit flight tickets offered jointly by two airlines in which the ticket fares of both airlines are combined showing an unbelievably exaggerated price. But the prices in general on the West Asia routes are ruling high after the UAE opened its borders,” he said.

The airfares had peaked well ahead of the festival season. Since there is a demand for tickets, airlines are exploiting the situation in the name of market dynamics, said Babu Paul, head of Speedwing Tours.

“When the complete lockdown was in force in Kerala, a private chartered flight arrived in Kochi from the UAE with 19 passengers. Each passenger had to pay Rs 3.5 lakh per seat. Despite the restrictions being eased, there is no significant change in the industry and the government has not taken any decisive steps to stop the fleecing of passengers hit by the Covid impact,” he added.

How can State reservation be same for All India Quota seats?: Madras HC

How can State reservation be same for All India Quota seats?: Madras HC

Court says AIQ purpose defeated if State reservation is implemented

Published: 11th August 2021 06:51 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday wondered how a State’s reservation policy can be applied to All India Quota (AIQ) seats as the very purpose of AIQ seats would be defeated once State reservation is implemented.

Noting that the demography of every State differs, the court asked whether an OBC in Rajasthan can be considered an OBC in Tamil Nadu and whether they would get reservation under the TN reservation policy.

The court made theses oral observations on a contempt petition filed by the DMK for non-implementation of 69 per cent (50 per cent OBC) reservation in the State-contributed seats to AIQ. The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P Adikesavulu, observed, “Since these are AIQ seats, meant for students from other States as well as students from Tamil Nadu, a separate reservation policy must be followed.

Many States like Meghalaya do not have reservation for OBCs at all. Can such States insist that they will follow only the State reservation in the seats surrendered by them?” Senior advocate P Wilson, representing the DMK, explained, “We have a common list for the purpose of such AIQ seats issued by the Union government and approved by the State. Once it is accepted by the State it becomes the government-approved list.”

“Moreover, the fight for reservation is not for me or my party. It is for the people. The downtrodden and the more suppressed class have to get their share,” he added. Additional Solicitor General of Supreme Court KM Nataraj contended that if State reservation is permitted for OBCs in AIQ seats it will lead to two different scenarios. “All along SC and ST reservation was provided in the AIQ seats only based on the Central Act. Now, if this is allowed, we have to adopt State reservation for OBCs alone which will lead to confusion,” he added. The bench recorded the submissions and adjourned the plea to August 17.

Issue at hand

The court noted that the demography of every State differs, and asked whether an OBC in Rajasthan can be considered an OBC in TN and whether they would get reservation under the TN reservation policy. The issue pertained to a contempt petition filed by DMK for non-implementation of 69 per cent reservation

Doctors remove tumour bigger than size of baby’s heart in rare surgery

Doctors remove tumour bigger than size of baby’s heart in rare surgery

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.08.2021

In a rare surgery, doctors at Delhi’s Apollo Hospital recently removed a tumour that was attached to the surface of the heart of a newborn. It was bigger than the baby's heart itself, doctors said.

Dr Rajesh Sharma, senior paediatric cardiac surgeon at Apollo, said it took them nearly two hours to remove the tumour. “The heart has a surrounding membrane called pericardium. This tumour was within the pericardium and was attached to the aorta. We had to be very careful while operating on the two-day-old baby and see no surrounding organs and tissues were damaged,” said Sharma.

The mother, a resident of Noida, was in the 20th week of pregnancy when the tumour was detected in the foetus. Operating on the foetus could have increased the risks, so the doctors decided to wait till after delivery to surgically remove the tumour.

At birth, the baby weighed a normal 3.2kg, but had trouble breathing. He was immediately intubated and put on a ventilator. A CT angio showed a giant intra-pericardial tumour that was pushing the heart to the left and compressing the lung. The baby’s condition was precarious and, therefore, an immediate surgery was planned. “The tumour was so big that the child’s heart wasn’t visible. Also, any attempt to remove the tumour would cause a fall in the blood pressure. We had to put the child on a heart-lung machine to remove the tumour in one piece,” Sharma said.

An intra-pericardial teratoma arising from the heart of a foetus is an "exceedingly rare tumour". A major concern with such a tumour is the life-threatening pressure that it exerts on the foetus' heart and lungs, the hospital authorities said.

Dr Ashutosh Marwah, paediatric cardiology surgeon at Apollo, added that there have been no significant deleterious effects of the tumour on the lungs or heart. “Though the tumour removal is supposed to be curative in most cases, in this rare case the baby will need regular follow-up with tumour marker levels and echocardiographic examinations.” For now, the baby has shown good recovery and has been discharged in a healthy condition, the doctors said.

CARDIAC SURGEON SAYS

The tumour was so big that the child’s heart wasn’t visible. We had to put the child on a heart-lung machine to remove the tumour in one piece

HC clarifies on OBC quota order for medical officers

HC clarifies on OBC quota order for medical officers

Bhopal:11.08.2021

A division bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court headed by the Chief Justice on Tuesday clarified that scope of their order allowing the state government to go ahead with appointment of medical officers with 14% OBC quota and keep the 13% extra reservation for OBCs on hold was limited to the recruitment of medical officers only.

The division bench on an application by the state government seeking permission to recruit medical officers in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic with 27% reservation to the OBCs said that a list of selected candidates can be issued with 14% quota for OBCs and the list prepared with 27% reservation for them would remain in abeyance. The court clarified that scope of the order was limited to recruitment of medical officers for which the state government had moved the application.

Aditya Sanghi, advocate for the petitioners who have challenged the hike in OBC quota said the interim order of the court on March 19, 2019, staying the operation of an ordinance hiking quota for OBCs in state government jobs and admission into institutes of higher education to 27% percent from the existing 14% will continue to remain in force. The court on Monday clarified that the ambit of its previous order was limited to recruitment of medical officers only, he added.

Purusendra Kaurav appeared for the state government and R P Singh for the petitioners supporting OBC quota hike. TNN

Medical students firm on their agitation

Medical students firm on their agitation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Rajkot:11.08.2021

Protesting medical students are not in the mood to give up their agitation despite deputy chief minister Nitin Patel’s order asking them to resume duty. Around 800 students in Rajkot and Jamnagar are protesting.

The agitating students, meanwhile, have also garnered the support of Indian Medical Association (IMA) to pursue their demand. Students in Rajkot held a candle rally on Monday night while the stir entered the seventh day.

Praful Kamani, president of Rajkot Medical Association said “We have extended our moral support with these students and also asked the government not to take any coercive actions like asking them to vacate hostels.” Students in Jamanagar’s G G hospital campus had announced a programme of beating plates outside the dean’s office, which, however, got scuttled after the IMA could convince them to postpone the event. Ravi Kothari, a student of Rajkot said, “We will continue with our agitation and IMA’s support will be a great help for us.”

IMA members meet agitating doctors at Jamnagar’s GG Hospital on Tuesday

Students forced to take circuitous routes to Canada

FOREIGN DEGREES OF UNCERTAINTY

Students forced to take circuitous routes to Canada

Parth.Shastri@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:11.08.2021

On Tuesday, the Canadian government announcement on Twitter read, ‘we’re extending the #NOTAM (notice to airmen) restricting all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from #India until September 21, 2021 #COVID19.’ The irate parents went into tizzy immediately – the move effectively increased the hurdles, time and money to reach Canada manifold in one swipe.

“When we started inquiries last month, a one-way ticket cost about Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh. Today, it has increased to Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh along with quarantine and testing facilities in other countries. With Doha extending quarantine period from three to 10 days, the only other route feasible is through Mexico,” said parent of a city-based youth whose first semester starts from September 7. “Due to high rush, prices are hiked everywhere. We are told that the chartered flights from Maldives is the only option we have despite the obvious risks involved.” How does the route work? Sameer Yadav, a city-based immigration consultant, said that the agents from across the country try to pool in resources and book a flight where up to 150 students can go directly to Toronto.

“The students get RT-PCR done at Maldives, stay for two days, and then take the flight. We are not sure when the direct flights would resume, so many parents and students are taking every chance,” he said.

The parents meanwhile are scurrying for resources and praying for intervention by any of the two governments. “We brought so many Indians back through Vande Bharat mission. Why can’t we send our students to Canada with due precaution? Till they reach Canada, we can’t sleep. Almost all students are travelling abroad for the first time, and are at mercy of the agents. Is the risk worth taking?” asked a city-based textile unit owner whose son is all set to board a flight to Doha later this month.

‘Human rights issue’

Hemant Shah, director of Canada India Trade and Marketing for Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), said that the Indian community in Canada has already raised the issue to the office of PM Justin Trudeau. “Isn’t it a bad start for the hundreds of students who are having the first brush with Canada? I believe that it’s not just a student issue, but also a human rights issue, as these students are paying money to get the best education. Many of them may also contribute to Canada’s progress,” he said. TNN

Prof R Velraj is vice-chancellor of Anna univ

Prof R Velraj is vice-chancellor of Anna univ

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.08.2021

Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Tuesday appointed R Velraj, 56, as vice-chancellor of Anna University. He will hold the post for three years from the date of assuming office. He is an expert in the field of thermal energy who has worked extensively in areas of building cooling applications, micro grid, solar applications and electronic cooling. He has published 193 research papers in indexed journals with H-index 52 and citations more than 10,000. He also guided 33 PhD scholars and has two patents to his credit.

Velraj, who has 33 years of teaching experience, is presently working as a professor at the Institute of Energy Studies, Anna University. He has also worked as director of the Institute of Energy Studies and director of Anna University-FRG Institute for CAD/CAM.

Born in Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district in 1965, he completed his BE (mechanical engineering), ME (energy engineering) and PhD at Anna University. He has executed several projects at university including erecting solar lamps at the College of Engineering, Guindy campus. He was further involved in a project converting the waste from hostels into bioenergy.

Professors from the university said the first major challenge before professor Velraj is filling up more than 30% vacancies at the university's four campuses. "There are more than 300 vacancies notified by the university previous year and not filled due to non-cooperation by the previous state government. Filling up these vacancies with qualified candidates is the most important task before the new vice-chancellor. It will help the university to get better ratings during NAAC assessment and NIRF rankings," a senior professor from the university said.

Secondly, the perception of technical universities needs to be improved. "The university has come out from major scams such as revaluation scam and procurement of mark sheets. In the past three years, the system was cleansed, and the university remained corruption free. The new vice-chancellor needs to build on it and improve the perception of the university globally," another professor said.

FRESH IDEAS: R Velraj receives appointment order from Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit

Cut-off for BCom admissions goes up

HIGH DEMAND

Cut-off for BCom admissions goes up

More High Scores In Class XII

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.08.2021 

The more number of high scores in Class XII, thanks to the weightage system followed, is set to increase the cutoff marks for BCom admissions compared to last year, with top colleges in the city estimating the increase at 1%-5% in all categories.

On Tuesday, after arts and science colleges closed online applications for admissions for the 2021-22 academic year, the number had come down by around 10% in most institutions. But, colleges expect an increase in the cut-off for courses including B Com. BSc (psychology), BSc (visual communication)

and BCA are among the most preferred. Applications for science courses have been fewer this year.

B Com admissions are based on scores in four subjects other than language and English. The merit list is based on the marks scored out of 400.

“At DG Vaishnav College, the cut-off for OC category for BCom (aided) is expected to be around 395 marks (98.75%) from 392 last year.

“For shift-2, the cut-off has increased by 5% for all categories from 340 last year to 363 this year,” said principal S Santhosh Baboo.

At MCC, the cut-off for B Com was 97% last year. “It is 98% now,” said principal Paul Wilson. In the second shift, the cutoff for B Com (accounting and finance), the cut-off was 98%, 100% and 97% for the first three lists.

The college received applications in a 1:10 ratio for political science, economics and English literature and fewer applications for science. “The reason partly could be the increase in interest in engineering courses and decline in the number of applications from outside Tamil Nadu.”

At Guru Nanak college, the cut-off for BCom general was 91.5% last year. “We expect it to be around 96% marks this year,” said principal M G Raghunathan, adding that admission has not been given to those with less than 70%.

At Ethiraj College for Women, the cut-off for BCom is not expected to come down in the second and third lists. “The competition will be tough,” said principal S Kothai.

At Loyola College, the demand for BSc (visual communication) has also increased. “For 100 seats, we received 2,200 applications, about 22 applications per seat,” said Thomas Amirtham, principal.

The demand for BSc (psychology) is high at Women’s Christian College.

“The number of applications increased by three times for psychology courses compared to last year. The cut-off marks is 393 out of 400 marks (98.25%),” said Lilian Jasper, principal.

The cut-off for B Com for general cataegory students was 390 marks in the first list.

Negative RT-PCR must for students of govt med colleges

Negative RT-PCR must for students of govt med colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.08.2021

RT-PCR negative report will be mandatory for students joining government-run medical, dental and para medical colleges scheduled to reopen on August 16.

Students won't be permitted to attend classes or stay in hostels without a negative certificate, a circular from the Directorate of Medical Education Dr R Narayanababu sent to college administration said. Students who haven’t taken the test can get it done at the respective institutions, he said.

College administrators must sanitize classrooms, libraries, laboratories, hostel mess, hostel, college and hospital premises as per the standard protocol. Hand washing stations with liquid soap and sanitizer dispensers must be made available on campus, it said. Students with symptoms will have to be quarantined and treated as per standard protocol, he said.

Students won't be permitted to attend classes or stay in hostels without a negative certificate, a circular from the Director of Medical Education Dr R Narayanababu to college administration said

HC: How can govt apply state-specific OBC quota to AIQ?

HC: How can govt apply state-specific OBC quota to AIQ?

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.08.2021

How could Tamil Nadu’s reservation formula of 50% for OBCs be followed under All India Quota (AIQ) MBBS seats, wondered the Madras high court, adding that the very purpose of AIQ would be defeated if state-specific quota is applied.

“The demography of every state is different. Can an OBC in Rajasthan be considered an OBC in Tamil Nadu and will they get reservation under the Tamil Nadu reservation policy,” the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu asked on Tuesday.

State reservation can be applied only to the unfilled AIQ seats which are returned to the state pool, the court added. Since AIQ seats are meant for students from other states and those from Tamil Nadu, a separate reservation policy must be followed. Many states like Meghalaya do not have OBC reservation. Can such states insist that they will follow only state reservation in the seats they surrender, the bench wondered.

“If you want state reservation, then how does it become AIQ, it becomes your (state) seat,” the judges said.

Senior advocate P Wilson, representing the DMK, said: “We have a common list for the purpose of such AIQ seats issued by the central government and approved by the state. Once it is accepted by the state it becomes the government approved list.”

The issue pertains to a contempt plea moved by the DMK against the Centre for failing to provide 50% OBC reservation in AIQ seats surrendered by the state for admission to medical courses as directed by the HC from the current academic year.

Earlier, additional solicitor-general of SC K M Nataraj, representing the Centre, said, “All along SC and ST reservation has been provided in AIQ seats only on the basis of the Central Act. Now, if this is allowed, we have to adopt state reservation for OBCs alone which will lead to confusion.”

Recording the submissions, the bench adjourned the hearing to August 17.

State reservation can be applied only to the unfilled AIQ seats which are returned to the state pool, the court said

RGUHS announces conduct of MBBS Theory Exam September 2021

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Iran says one person dying of Covid-19 every two minutes

Iran says one person dying of Covid-19 every two minutes

Dubai:  10.08.2021

One person is now dying from Covid-19 every two minutes in Iran, state TV said on Monday, as West Asia’s worst-hit nation reported a new record daily toll of 588 fatalities. With authorities complaining of poor social distancing, state media say hospitals in several cities have run out of beds for new patients. Some social media users have criticised the clerical establishment over slow vaccinations, with only about 4% of the 83 million population fully inoculated.

Total deaths have reached 94,603, the ministry said, while cases rose by 40,808 in the past 24 hours to 4,199,537 in a fifth wave blamed on the highly transmissible Delta variant. “Every two seconds one person gets infected in Iran and almost every two minutes one person dies from the coronavirus,” state TV said, adding that most of Iran’s 31 provinces have moved from the lower risk orange level to red alert.

That compares to a reported rate of about one death per three minutes a month ago. In January, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei banned imports of US- and British-made vaccines, saying they were unreliable. Iran has blamed US sanctions for hampering purchases and deliveries of vaccines from other nations. Iran’s new President Raisi, who received his first dose of homegrown vaccine ‘COVIran Barakat’ in public on Sunday, has urged officials to speed up vaccinations. REUTERS

People in France must now show a health pass to order a coffee in a cafe or travel on intercity trains as President Macron’s plan came into full effect on Monday

US sees highest caseload since Feb

For the first time since February, the US is averaging more than 1,00,000 new Covid cases a day. Over the past week, the average number of cases doubled from two weeks ago, according to NYT database. In the same period, deaths have nearly doubled to 516 a day. The surge is tied to Delta variant and CDC director Rochelle Walensky has described the current stage as a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”. NYT

Chinese officials punished for surge

China has punished a slew of officials for failing to curb a Covid-19 outbreak that’s spawned nearly 900 symptomatic infections in less than a month. Over 30 officials nationwide, ranging from mayors and local health directors to the heads of hospitals and airports, have been punished for negligence , state-run Global Times reported. BLOOMBERG

‘No authority can force RTI applicant to submit ID proof’

‘No authority can force RTI applicant to submit ID proof’

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:10.08.2021

In a landmark order, the state information commission (SIC) Haryana has made it clear that no authority in the state can force an RTI applicant to apply in a particular format or submit identity proof with the application.

“The RTI Act, 2005 is the central Act and Section 6 (2) of the same allows an applicant to conceal his identity and to seek information without giving any reason. An applicant making a request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him,” the commission has held.

The commission held that the Haryana government nowhere made it mandatory till date that the provisions included in the rules notified in 2021 that to have information under RTI, one has to use the Form A performa and submit identity card and to give any other details as mentioned in the Form A.

The development is significant, as the Haryana government had recently issued an order asking the RTI applicants to submit an identity proof.

3 officials booked by DVAC suspended

3 officials booked by DVAC suspended

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.08.2021

Three sub-registrars including a Chennaibased official who was booked by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) last week and an assistant in the registration department have been suspended for not obeying circulars issued by the inspector general of registration and carrying out activities affecting the public. An official press release said several circulars were issued to prevent fraudulent registrations. The inspector general of registration has placed Kodaikanal sub-registrar M Radhakrishnan, Othakadai, Madurai sub-registrar Sheik Abdullah, an assistant at the Othakadai office M Karthikeyan and Selaiyur sub-registrar A J George under suspension, the press release added. On Wednesday, the DVAC had registered a case against George after a recorded phone call exposed his demand for bribe.

Official sources in the registration department said that a sub-registrar in Madurai district had illegally facilitated the registration of 22 acres of land based on documents from Kerala. Another official in Dindigul district registered a fraudulent property, wherein a fake patta was used following which the original land owner approached the court concerned seeking relief. Moreover, one of the suspended officials was an accused in an FIR pertaining to a case relating to creating a fake Power of Attorney (PoA) to sell a plot at Madhavaram in Chennai worth ₹4 crore by forging the identity card of a person born in the city, who was residing in Australia in 2018.

TN set to add 1,650 MBBS seats in govt colleges

11 MED COLLEGES

TN set to add 1,650 MBBS seats in govt colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.08.2021 

The National Medical Commission has completed inspectionsin four of the11 new medical colleges in the past 10 days, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Monday. Tamil Nadu will add 1,650 seats to the undergraduate seat matrix taking the tally to 5,200 MBBS seats across government medical colleges in the state if all 11 colleges get the sanction from the apex medical body.

The committee completed its surprise inspection in Namakkal, Krishnagiri, Tiruppur and Dindigul and has made no adverse comment so far. “We are waiting for them to visit the remaining seven colleges within the next few days. These are surprise visits, so we don’t have any timelines,” he said.

The panel of inspectors appointed by the apex medical body verifies the infrastructure and human resource facility required to admit students for the first year MBBS course in these newly-constructed colleges. The anatomy, physiology and biochemistry labs, library, hostels – required for first year students – are nearing completion, said director of medical education Dr Narayanababu R.

The state has set aside nearly ₹4,000 crore for construction of these buildings. With this most districts in the state will have at least one government medical college. Besides increasing the number of seats, these colleges will help us expand tertiary care to districts. The new medical colleges will help the health department provide quality training at an affordable cost and offer specialty and super specialty care to people living in the area free of cost.

Most of these colleges will have 700-750 bed hospitals attached to these colleges that have all the facilities to offer quality care. “But these units don’t have the experience of facing an inspection,” he said. “Over the past few weeks, we asked existing medical colleges to mentor new colleges. For instance, a team from Salem Medical College trained doctors at the Namakkal medical colleges in carrying out paperwork. They conducted mock inspections to find faults and rectify errors,” Dr Narayanababu said.

As part of the national mission to increase the number of medical colleges across the country, the Centre granted permission to TN for commencement of 11 new medical colleges.

Overage man can’t get job on compassionate grounds, says HC

AGE MATTERS

Overage man can’t get job on compassionate grounds, says HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai: 10.08.2021

Taking into account that there was no provision for granting age relaxation for compassionate appointment as per Tamil Nadu Municipal Service Rules, 1970, the Madras high court has dismissed a plea moved by a man seeking compassionate appointment following his father’s death.

The court was hearing the petition filed by K Ravi. The petitioner’s father who was working as an employee at Aruppukottai municipality in Virudhunagar district died during service in 2015. Though the petitioner submitted an application seeking compassionate appointment, the authorities had rejected the same in 2016, on the ground that he had crossed the maximum age limit fixed for appointment by direct recruitment on compassionate grounds.

Ravi’s counsel submitted that the petitioner belongs to scheduled tribe community and he was eligible for age relaxation. He submitted that as per the Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Service Rules, maximum age limit is not applicable to the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe candidates.

Objecting the contentions of the petitioner, the standing counsel appearing for the municipality, submitted that as per Tamil Nadu Municipal Service Rules, the maximum age limit for appointment by direct recruitment on compassionate grounds, shall be 30 years in respect of sons or the unmarried daughters and 40 years in respect of wife or husband of the municipal employee.

Taking cognizance of the submissions, justice D Krishnakumar observed that the rules is applicable to the facts and circumstances of the case and there is no provision for granting age relaxation for compassionate appointment. Unless there is age relaxation in the statute, the court cannot traverse the period prescribed by the authority.

In view of the settled legal position, this court is of the view that the contention of the petitioner for age relaxation is liable to be rejected, observed the judge while dismissing his petition.

BDS seats to go up to 100 at Pondy institute

BDS seats to go up to 100 at Pondy institute

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Puducherry:10.08.2021

The Puducherry government has issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) to society-run Mahatma Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences (MGPGI) to increase the number of BDS seats from 40 to 100 from the 2022-23 academic year. The institute will now submit a proposal on increasing the number of teaching and non-teaching faculty members and equipping it with additional infrastructure to handle the increase intake.

Of the 40 BDS seats offered by the institute, 29 are reserved for the Union territory of Puducherry, six reserved under all India quota and five for non-resident Indians (NRI)/foreign students/ NRI-sponsored students. Centralized admission committee (Centac) will admit the students to BDS programme based on their score in the National eligibility cum entrance test (Neet).

The institute also proposes to increase one seat each in the six postgraduate speciality courses offered by it from the next academic year to introduce reservation for candidates under economically weaker sections (EWS).

The institute offers postgraduate courses in six specialities - oral pathology, oral medicine, oral surgery, prosthodontics, periodontics and conservative dentistry. It offers three seats in oral pathology and two each in the other five disciplines. Six seats are reserved for Puducherry while six under all India quota and one for NRI / foreign students / NRI-sponsored student.

The institute, which was established in 1990 in a temporary building with just two rooms, grew leap and bounds and was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi dental college and hospital in 1995 and was upgraded to present status as MGPGI in 2005.

The BDS and MDS programmes offered by the institute are recognized by the Dental Council of India, and Union health and family welfare ministry. The institute is permanently affiliated to the Pondicherry University (A central university). It is an autonomous body under the Puducherry government and is administered by a board of governors headed by the chief secretary to the government as the chairman.

Reserve medical super-specialty seats for TN

PMK founder-leader S Ramadoss urged the Tamil Nadu government to pass a law reserving all government-sponsored super-specialty seats in government medical colleges in the state for those from TN.

Ramadoss in a statement on Monday expressed shock over reports that doctors from other states, who joined super-specialty courses in government medical colleges, after being sponsored the TN government, had left for their respective states on completion of the course without coming forward to work in TN as per the contract.

He condemned the doctors from other states who study in government medical colleges and later refuse to serve the people of the state. He said the state was filling all 334 seats in 19 super specialty disciplines in government medical colleges till 2017. But the Centre started filling these seats from 2017 and scrapped 50% reservation for government doctors in admission to super specialty courses. TNN

Common PG medical Counselling: What NMC guidelines say and why doctors are opposing it

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NMC Draft Regulations details District Residency Programme for 3 Months, Here is what they say

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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...

HC refuses to quash rape FIR after settlement between parties

HC refuses to quash rape FIR after settlement between parties

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  09.08.2021 

The Gujarat high court has refused to quash rape charges against a man even after the victim filed an affidavit and gave her consent to quash the FIR lodged by her.

The HC rejected the quashing petition because the rape survivor told the court that the relationship was not consensual and that she was given her consent for quashing of the FIR under the influence of the family members.

The case was from Devbhoomi Dwarka district. On April 15, Jamkhambhaliya police registered an FIR for rape at the instance of a married woman. Within a month of filing of the complaint, the accused managed to convince the victim to withdraw her complaint by involving the family members. With the consent petition filed by the accused in the high court, the victim filed an affidavit granting her consent for junking the FIR.

Man injects cyanide in wife’s drip, arrested

Man injects cyanide in wife’s drip, arrested

Bharuch:  09.08.2021

A man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly killing his wife by injecting cyanide solution into her drip bottle while she was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ankleshwar town nearly a month ago, police said.

The crime, which was committed by the accused as a result of marital discord, came to light on the basis of a forensic report received by the police on Friday, nearly a month after victim Urmila Vasava (34) died while undergoing treatment for chest pain, an Ankleshwar city police station official said.

The FSL report established that Vasava died as cyanide was injected into her body, which the police said was procured by her husband Jignesh Patel from the factory in Ankleshwar, where he worked.

On the morning of July 8, the victim complained of chest pain and was taken to the private hospital. PTI

Oppn may use ‘OBC bill’ to seek 50% quota cap removal

Oppn may use ‘OBC bill’ to seek 50% quota cap removal

Subodh.Ghildiyal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 09.08.2021 

The opposition may use the 127th constitutional amendment bill in Parliament, intended to restore power of states to maintain “state list” of OBCs, to demand that the government make a provision to remove the 50% cap on reservations.

While the removal of 50% cap on quota is an old demand of OBC outfits, there is an indication that even Congress may join the bandwagon as part of the 127 th amendment bill. The convergence of views emerged as part of a discussion held between Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Congress and NCP leaders on Sunday night. The bill seeks to undo the May 5 Supreme Court judgement, which was delivered in the Maratha quota issue where the quota provision was rejected because of the 50% cap that it breached.

The Modi government is set to introduce the 127th amendment bill in Lok Sabha on Monday and it will come up for discussion in the two Houses during the week.

As the opposition is demanding that a discussion on Pegasus be held before any other agenda, a meeting of floor leaders of opposition parties called by leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge will take a final call on whether to join the debate on OBC bill and make a break in the blockade of Parliament. There is a view in the opposition that they can join the debate as it’s their issue, while pushing for their agenda of 50%, thereby holding the blockade temporarily.

The demand for 50% cap waiver is an issue the BJP government will have to negotiate. The discussion between Maharashtra parties and Congress showed “that there was little benefit in restoring the power of states to identify state list of OBCs if the cap on reservation stayed”. It was said that 27 states have pending issues of reservation hampered by the 50% ceiling.

While the opposition parties, which comprises many regional outfits, are for the bill, it is also seen as a government ploy to break the blockade over Pegasus.

While the removal of the 50% cap on quota is an old demand of OBC outfits, there is an indication that even Congress may join the bandwagon

Tourist spots to be open from today in Kerala; Onam fete in virtual mode

Tourist spots to be open from today in Kerala; Onam fete in virtual mode

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:  09.08.2021 

All tourist destinations in Kerala will be opened on Monday and they will be fully functioning hereafter, state tourism minister PA Muhammed Riyas said here on Sunday.

He also said the tourism department would celebrate Onam on a virtual platform this year. The state could not undertake Onam week celebrations due to pandemic last year.

Tourism centres are being opened with an eye on domestic tourists. All those who have taken at least one dose of vaccine will be allowed to stay at hotels and resorts while a similar condition will be applicable for employees also, he said. The minister said such tourist accommodations would be allowed even in containment zones. A mobile application was being prepared by connecting all unexplored tourist locations in the state.

The state’s tourism sector has suffered a loss of approximately Rs 33,000 crore during March-December 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. In addition, an approximate Rs 7,000 crore has been lost by way of foreign exchange, he said. On Onam celebrations, Riyas said Kerala’s arts, culture, food varieties and prominent tourist destinations would be showcased virtually with the help of visual media and other means. The Onam flower carpet, to be themed as humanity's world flower carpet, will be in digital format that can be uploaded on the department website, he said.

Onam fete in virtual mode again

‘World entering era of biology & computational science’

‘World entering era of biology & computational science’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

09.08.2021 

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, executive chairperson of Biocon, said that while the first two decades of this century belonged to information technology, the world is now entering an era of biology and computational science. “Through research-led innovation, I believe we can power economic development by transforming healthcare, agriculture, livestock management, industrial processing, and environmental sustainability,” she said at Bennett University’s annual convocation, where she was conferred an honorary doctor of philosophy degree in biotechnology.

Conferring the degree on Mazumdar-Shaw, Bennett University vice-chancellor, Dr Prabhu Aggarwal, said the name Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and biotechnology are synonymous in India. Mazumdar-Shaw, he noted “has leveraged advanced science, innovative tech platforms and international research collaborations to develop therapies that can lower treatment costs, increase access and improve healthcare outcomes for diseases like diabetes and cancer”.

Suresh Narayanan, chairman & MD at Nestle India, was also conferred an honorary doctor of philosophy in management. Aggarwal said Narayanan’s rise up the ranks in the corporate world “reflects his extensively rich and incredibly wide-ranging experience of over 35 years in the FMCG Industry, spanning multiple countries and cultures".

Narayanan dedicated the degree to his parents, wife and daughter. “I happened to join this call from my parents’ home in Chennai and while both of them are not around to see me receive this honour, I know for them there was a very high value for education. My father with his middle-class income afforded the best education that he could at that point in time to make me worthy of being a good citizen of India,” he said.

Nasscom president Debjani Ghosh, who was a special guest at the convocation, told graduating students to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. “Uncertainty, volatility, ambiguity – this is the only certainty that you will have. The skills that you need will constantly change. Your ability to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty is going to become your biggest competitive advantage and therefore one of the skills I have learnt is to step out of my comfort zone and become comfortable with the uncomfortable,” she said.

Ghosh added that India’s tech industry has become more agile for not just resilience, but resilience with empathy. That, she said, has been key to the kind of success the industry is seeing even in the Covid crisis.

KIRAN MAZUMDAR-SHAW

My entrepreneurial journey has taught me the importance of business purpose, building credibility, and about taking untrodden paths

SURESH NARAYANAN

Remember that in adversity you will learn the most. In good times, everybody can be great. In terrible times, the diamonds in the dust shine

Doctors’ stir enters 5th day

Doctors’ stir enters 5th day

09.08.2021

Ahmedabad:

A total of 78 units of blood were donated by resident doctors at Civil Hospital on Sunday as part of their ongoing stir. The doctors also indicated at intensifying the protest from Monday onwards as they have not heard from the state government.

The protest entered its fifth day on Sunday as hundreds of resident doctors gathered outside the BJ Medical College and shouted slogans. “We are garnering support from various national organizations including the Indian Medical Association (IMA). It’s not only for us, but for the rights of the frontline healthcare workers who gave their best during the pandemic.” The state government maintains that the demands are not justified with all benefits extended to the doctors during their pandemic duty. “The state needs to plan long-term and doctors are required at various district levels,” said an official. TNN

Vax certi can be available via WhatsApp

Vax certi can be available via WhatsApp

New Delhi:  09.08.2021 

Citizens who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 can now get their vaccination certificate through WhatsApp within seconds, the central government said on Sunday. Presently, people have to download their vaccination certificate by logging into the CoWin portal.

“Revolutionising common man’s life using technology! Now get Covid-19 vaccination certificate through MyGov Corona Helpdesk in three easy steps. Save contact number: +91 9013151515. Type and send ‘Covid certificate’ on WhatsApp. Enter OTP. Get your certificate in seconds,” Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s office tweeted.

Cumulatively, 50,68,10,492 Covid vaccine doses have been administered in the country, as per a provisional report till 7 am on Sunday, with 55,91,657 doses being given in a day. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated. The vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2. The government expanded the vaccination drive to cover everyone above the age of 18 from May1. PTI

Mix & match of Covishield & Covaxin safe: ICMR study

Mix & match of Covishield & Covaxin safe: ICMR study

Umesh Isalkar & Sushmi Dey TNN

Pune/New Delhi:  09.08.2021 

A combination of Covishield and Covaxin could not only be safe but elicits better immune protection and the adverse effects were no different as a same vaccine regimen, ICMR’s analysis of a “serendipitous” Covid-19 vaccine-mix in Uttar Pradesh shows.

The study examined18 individuals in UP who inadvertently received Covishield as the first jab and Covaxin as the second. Researchers compared the safety and immunogenicity profile of this group with two groups of individuals who received either Covishield or Covaxin.

“The findings suggest that immunisation with a combination of an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine was not only safe but also elicited better immunogenicity,” the pre-print of the Indian Council of Medical Research study published in MedRxiv says.

The blood samples of the 18 individuals who were mistakenly given Covishield and then Covaxin jabs in April-May were analysed at different stages for 60 to 70 days after vaccination.

“The mix-and-match of Covishield and Covaxin as first and second dose provoked a superior immune response than two doses of either Covishield or Covaxin,” said senior ICMR scientist Rajni Kant, the study’s chief investigator. This is the first report of mixed immunisation that has demonstrated safety and significantly improved immune response.

The findings are important as experts have asked if Covishield and Covaxin doses can be mixed to get around supply shortages. Currently, deliberate mixing of the two vaccines is not advised. But to conclusively prove these findings, the ICMR researchers said a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) would be needed as the current sample size was small.

Findings show immunogenicity profile in people who received both the vaccines was superior against Alpha, Beta and Delta variants, IgG antibody and neutralising antibody response was significantly higher compared as in the case of homologous groups. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which reports the effects of heterologous prime-boost vaccination with an adenovirus vectored vaccine followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine,” the researchers said.

The immunisation program against Covid-19 in India started with two vaccines--adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine Covishield and inactivated whole virion BBV152 -Covaxin--and homologous primeboost approach was followed.

UK airfares will pinch until 30-flight cap is lifted

UK airfares will pinch until 30-flight cap is lifted

Saurabh Sinha TNN

New Delhi: 09.08.2021 

There is no fare relief in sight for those planning to travel from India to the UK this month.

Following an outcry over steep fares on this route as the UK reopens for Indian citizens, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Sunday sought India-UK August ticket prices from airlines. The data submitted shows minimum one-way economy class fares on Delhi-London nonstops during August is currently ranging from Rs1,03,191 to Rs1,47,544 on different days for flights operated by the four airlines that operate between the two countries — Air India, Vistara, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

Industry insiders say steep airfares will remain until the currently-allowed weekly cap of 30 direct flights between the two nations is phased away, as there’s no authority to ask airlines to lower fares. “International fares are neither regulated nor monitored as they’re dependent on demand and supply,” said an official.

“Seats on economy class have been sold on fares mostly ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 45,000. As most of the regular flights (from Delhi/Mumbai/ Bengaluru) to the UK are booked near capacity, only upper bucket economy and business class seats are available now. Hence the fares dynamics are on higher side,”Air India tweeted.

An official of a mega foreign (non-UK) carrier said, “Every airline’s flights are full for August.” Obviously, the fares are high. Thousands of people, especially students, are affected because of continued suspension of scheduled international flights.” Travel industry says high fares are likely to be witnessed whenever a big destination for Indians/persons of Indian origin opens up. The reason: stranded people already holding tickets will reschedule for flights immediately post-reopening. And only higher fare bracket tickets will be available for those making new bookings in the first few days. Places where flights are limited for any reason, like 30 weekly in the case of the UK, the issue will get magnified.

CBSE optional exams offer additional chances to students

CBSE optional exams offer additional chances to students

The optional exams are scheduled from August 16 to September 15, 2021

Astha.Hemant@timesgroup.com

09.08.2021

Results for classes X and XII board exams were recently declared by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). As mentioned in the 'Policy of Tabulation of Marks for class XII', CBSE will be holding optional exams for students who are dissatisfied with their results.

As per a circular released by CBSE, the optional exams will be held from August 16, 2021 to September 15, 2021. While the date sheet of the exams is scheduled to be released soon, the exams will be conducted only in select subjects. Sanyam Bhardwaj, controller of examinations, CBSE, explains that to help students looking to improve their percentage or pass in their compartment subjects, last year CBSE had taken the decision to hold optional exams in the same calendar year as their boards. “Earlier, the optional exams were being held in the next academic year. This decision has been taken to save candidates an entire year of uncertainty,” he says.

Various categories of students are eligible to appear in the soon to be held optional exams. “Students, who are not satisfied with their marks as per the ‘Policy of Tabulation’, will be eligible to appear for the exams. As per the policy, marks scored in the optional exams will be considered as final,” says Bhardwaj. Students who were not able to meet the qualifying criteria and are compartment candidates as per the recently declared results will also be eligible to appear in the optional exams, he adds. “CBSE school students, patrachar (correspondence) students, and private students will be eligible to appear for the optional exams ,” he clarifies.

As CBSE allows compartment students three chances to redeem their status, students who were a part of the board exams in 2019, 2020 and 2021 are eligible for these optional exams, adds Bhardwaj.

“Board exam candidates of 2019, who received a compartment, gave their first reexam in the same year. Due to incomplete conducting of board exams in March 2020 and nonconduct of optional exams in May-June, 2020, their second attempt was postponed to September 2020. If their subject was not a part of these reexams, the 2019 candidates will be eligible for their ‘second’ attempt this year,” says Bhardwaj. Similarly, board exam candidates of 2020 were part of incomplete exams due to the pandemic. “The first optional exams of these candidates were held in September 2020. These students will also be eligible for ‘second’ chance this time,” he adds.Another category of eligible students is of those looking to include an ‘additional subject’ to their class XII portfolio.

Why students must enhance their ability to think critically

Why students must enhance their ability to think critically

This will help deal with fake news, conspiracy theories and also strengthen democracies

Sonal.Srivastava@timesgroup.com

09.08.2021

At a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc, critical thinking can help individuals make better decisions and save lives. The education system's overemphasis on technological skill-building and being job-ready may be depriving students of avenues that can help them sharpen their ability to think critically. A study conducted by Patricia Greenfield, UCLA distinguished professor of Psychology, in 2009, found that as the importance of technology increased in our lives, our critical thinking ability and the ability to analyse situations declined.

A recent study conducted by Anthony Lantian, an associate professor of Psychology at the Paris Nanterre, found that the ability to think critically can help us deal with fake news, conspiracy theories and even strengthen democracies around the world. Education in Humanities as well as deep study of the philosophy behind various skilling courses can help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Just as skill-building is important, development of the ability to think critically is equally essential. “While skill development is important, critical thinking is an essential element of everyday life. This should not be equated with, nor can it be taught like skill development. Exposure to the study of society, History, and Philosophy can provide a holistic view that will help enable critical thinking. Education must emphasise on learning Arts and Humanities for this to be possible,” says Rajshree Bedamatta, professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Guwahati.

As technology is growing fast, the importance of skills has also increased by leaps and bounds. “We talk of IT skills, communication skills, to have a successful career. Though skills are very important to apply tools and technology, just knowledge of skills does not give a wide vision about the appropriate application of tools. Training for skills can provide low-hanging fruits, but to become a visionary or a thought leader, holistic knowledge is necessary. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, our focus has shifted to acquiring skills for Coding, app development etc, but knowledge is incomplete without understanding the philosophy of the discipline,” says Rajat Agarwal, associate dean, Innovation and Incubation, IIT Roorkee. He suggested that critical thinking is only possible when we keep our ear and eyes open and be ready to accept new ideas from anywhere and anyone. We need to balance between knowledge and skills, both are necessary, but the proportion should be decided with the objective of the institution’s priority.

In a way, thinking critically is also a cognitive skill that is part of skill development exercise, it can be refined and perfected over a period of time. “It involves the ability to reflect on a problem, apply reason and then provide a logical connection between ideas. In fact, critical thinking is all about being an active learner than a passive receiver of information. Hence, a great emphasis on analytical thinking, storytelling, problemsolving, taking an open-minded approach, and raising thoughtprovoking questions can only increase the intelligent, emotional, and spiritual quotient of an individual,” says Vaidyanathan Jayaraman, dean, UG Programmes, SP Jain School of Global Management, Mumbai.

Developing sociological imagination can help enhance critical thinking, leading to a better understanding of social problems. “As a sociologist, I can immediately think of two important readings, one by C W Mills, Sociological Imagination, and the other by Martha Nusbaum, Not for profit. These two texts, among others, emphasise the importance of critical thinking and how to develop it,” says Sawmya Ray, faculty, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Guwahati.

We should be able to differentiate fake news from real news, and conspiracy theories from actual believable stories. “In Africa, they are able to teach students the difference between trusted medical solutions and non-trusted ones, and there is evidence that these students were able to apply these learnings in their lives. Such things need to be included in the curriculums,” suggests Anand Srinivas, CEO and founder, StayQrious, Bengaluru. “In the more developed countries, Humanities are taught as a way to develop critical thinking. They provide space for debate, for considering multiple viewpoints, and actually hold different narratives that are possible together,” adds Srinivas. He further points out that if someone’s going to take a loan, and fund their education, they need to be aware of the market. “We have to be aware of the latest trends and give tools to the student community to participate in that economy,” he says.