‘Same sex good relations must for healthy society’

‘Same sex good relations must for healthy society’

Jay.Pachchigar@timesgroup.com

Vadodara:03.09.2021

“It is necessary to note that for the healthy society, good and pious relations and friendships between same sex are very much needed … Such instance (honey trap) not only shakes the confidence of the society but also shakes the real purpose behind the concept of gay or same sex dating. Such kinds of offenders are a threat to society as well as social balance.” This is what a sessions court in Vadodara observed while rejecting the bail of a man who was arrested for blackmailing a man along with his two other friends through a gay social networking and dating mobile app.

The court of additional sessions judge A J Kanani also noted that offenders like the accused Rakesh Kanojiya ‘have shaken the social structure by trapping innocent people for their monetary gains’. Court also came down heavily on the accused and said that it is not inclined to show any leniency as he deceived the complainant and blackmailed him.

Kanojiya and his accomplices Ajay Thakor and Akshay Gohil had planned to extort money from a man, who used the gay dating application. Gohil took the man to a pre-decided place in Waghodiya in June. When Gohil and the man were in compromising position, Kanojiya and Thakor recorded their videos and photos and later ambushed him. They took away Rs 6,000 cash, gold necklace, mobile phones and demanded more cash due to which the man’s wife and sister came to give Rs 12,000. Later, they threatened the man to pay Rs 50,000 or else they would circulate his photos and videos. Tired of the blackmailing, the man had lodged an offence of robbery, extortion, unnatural offences, criminal conspiracy and under Information Technology Act. Following the registration of FIR, the accused were arrested and have been in judicial custody. Kanojiya sought bail again as the investigating officer submitted the chargesheet of the case.

Founder trustee of Lakshya Trust that works with the LGBTQ community, Sylvester Merchant said that he was very surprised with the judgement. "Gay men have very few options for dating and these days mobile applications are used widely and virtual spaces are used a lot. It is important that these places stay safe," he said.

Court directs top police officials

The court also directed the superintendent of Vadodara rural police and the inspector general of Vadodara range police to make sure that the owner of the dating application – Blued – to put disclaimer or warning for the safety and privacy of users. The court stated that celebrities like Ayushman Khurrana promote the application due to which youth are attracted towards it without being aware of criminal ramifications.

Artificial insemination is cruelty: Madras HC

Artificial insemination is cruelty: Madras HC

Sureshkumar.k@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  03.09.2021

Artificial insemination of native breeds of cattle denies mating rights of those animals, and also amounts to cruelty under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Madras High Court said, urging authorities to avoid the process.

“Artificial insemination deprives of bulls and cows the pleasure of mating which they are entitled to naturally. Reproduction by natural process is a basic biological need which cannot be interfered with,” said a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran (since retired) and Justice P Velmurugan.

Denying and depriving right to copulate amounts to cruelty to animals under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the court added.

The bench also ruled that only native-breed bulls should be permitted to run in jallikattu and other bull racing sport in Tamil Nadu and imported or hybrid bulls should be prohibited from participating in such events. State veterinary department officials should certify the nativity of animals prior to the jallikattu event, bench said, and directed the state government to encourage bull owners and farmers to groom native breeds by providing subsidies.

“No bull other than native bulls can participate in jallikattu. There is an inbuilt prohibition under the Act to use other breeds, including imported hybrid/cross variety bulls, in jallikattu. In view of the prohibition, no owner or authority can allow other bulls except native bulls to participate in jallikattu,” the court asserted.

The bench was passing the order on a plea seeking to ensure that only native breeds of bulls were permitted in jallikattu, manjuvirattu, oormadu, vadamadu and eruduttu viduthal.

Artificial insemination deprives bulls and cows of the pleasure of mating, the court said

Girl celebrates 8th b’day at dad’s samadhi

Girl celebrates 8th b’day at dad’s samadhi

Basavaraj.Kattimani@timesgroup.com

Koppal:03.09.2021

Having lost her father to Covid-19 more than three months ago, little Spandana couldn’t think of celebrating her eighth birthday without his presence. The extended family of over a dozen people went to his samadhi in Koppal district’s Kushtagi taluk and held a solemn event with Spandana cutting the cake on Wednesday morning.

Standing in front of the grave, Spandana Konasagar paid rich tributes to her father: “I feel my father is still around, watching and blessing me on this special day. It’s a memorable event in my life and I will come here to seek my father’s blessings on all special occasions.” Fighting off tears, the girl’s mother Roopa said: “I lost my husband Mahesh Konasagar, a social worker, in May. After attending a political rally, he developed a fever. Later, doctors said he has tested positive for Covid and he died on May 13. He was laid to rest in our family farmland.”

Only child of her parents, Spandana said her father would always celebrate her birthday in a grand way. “I couldn’t believe when my mother told me about his death. I miss him a lot.” Roopa said Spandana took long to come to terms with the tragedy. “When we decided to celebrate her eighth birthday at home, Spandana expressed desire to have it at the samadhi,” she added.

Spandana Konasagar paid rich tributes to her father

Woman sues KSRTC for not halting at stop, wins ₹8,000

CONSUMER IS KING

Woman sues KSRTC for not halting at stop, wins ₹8,000

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:03.09.2021

A woman passenger took Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to consumer court after the bus she boarded for Tumakuru from Bengaluru didn’t halt at the stop of her choice and dropped her 400 metres away. The utility has been ordered to pay her a compensation of Rs 8,010 for the inconvenience caused.

On the morning of October 24, 2018, Vijaya Bai L, 33, a resident of Urdigere Hobli in Tumakuru, took a KSRTC bus from Bengaluru to Tumakuru to visit her sister’s residence. Despite informing the conductor and driver that she wanted to get off at the HMT bus stop in Tumakuru, the driver failed to stop the vehicle. Following a plea by Vijaya, the bus slowed down and halted 400 metres away from the spot. On disembarking, she found the area was barricaded and she couldn’t cross over to the other side of the road. She was forced to take two autorickshaws by paying Rs 10 and Rs 50, respectively, to reach her destination.

Following the unpleasant experience, Vijaya called the KSRTC helpline for relief but in vain. Finally, she approached the Tumakuru District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission with a complaint against KSRTC for deficiency of service. The consumer court on July 29, 2019 ordered Tumakuru divisional controller of KSRTC to refund Rs 10 towards Vijaya’s auto fare and pay compensation of Rs 10,000 and litigation cost of Rs 5,000 along with interest.

However, KSRTC appealed against the verdict before Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Bengaluru and litigation began. The corporation’s attorney said the bus Vijaya travelled on was a nonstop passenger with limited stops and, therefore, the request that she be allowed to get off the vehicle in the middle was unjust.

But judges of the state forum stated that KSRTC hadn’t provided the bus driver’s version and it is to be noted that the conductor had issued a ticket for HMT bus stop to Vijaya Bai. Moreover, with no consideration for a woman passenger, the driver and conductor dropped her in the middle of the road and she had trouble finding her way to her destination.

However, considering the views of KSRTC, the judges in a verdict on July 28, 2021, reduced the compensation amount to Rs 5,000 and the litigation amount to Rs 3,000, but ordered that Rs 10 will have to be paid to the woman passenger within 60 days of the order.

The KSRTC attorney said the bus Vijaya travelled on was a non-stop passenger service with limited stops. But the state consumer forum observed that with no consideration for a woman passenger, the driver and conductor dropped her in the middle of the road and she had trouble finding her way to her destination

Court news

 

Edu institutions told to be extra cautious

Edu institutions told to be extra cautious

Kevin.Mendonsa@timesgroup.com

03.09.2021

The health department has ordered educational institutions in Dakshina Kannada to step up safety measures, after it was found that some institutions were not strictly enforcing Covid-19 protocols on the campus. Recently, three institutions were served notices for not following SOP.

Officials are also wary after a spike in cases were reported on campuses across the state. There have been outbreaks at a nursing college in Kolar and Bengaluru over the past week.

Health department officials say blatant violations have led to a surge in positive cases among students. After educational institutions reopened, a total of 792 students in Dakshina Kannada tested positive in the span of a month. This includes 620 students from Kerala, 76 from Dakshina Kannada and a dozen from Maharashtra, said Dr Ashok H, nodal officer for Covid-19.

“During our spot inspections, we found students who were supposed to be in mandatory quarantine, were freely mingling with others in the canteen and hostel mess. I’s likely some of them passed on the virus to more students,” said Dr Ashok.

Of the three institutions that were served notices, two are in Mangaluru and the other in Sullia. “We have warned them that a case will be booked under the Karnataka Epidemic Act. Fresh infections have been declining after we tightened the noose. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Meanwhile, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, while speaking to reporters in Hubballi, reiterated that students, especially nursing students, who come from Kerala and stay in hostels in Karnataka should mandatorily be quarantined for a week and they should be tested at the end of their quarantine period to ensure they are not carrying the virus.

Judge: Cow only animal that inhales, exhales O2

Judge: Cow only animal that inhales, exhales O2

Prayagraj:03.09.2021

The Allahabad HC judge who asked for the cow to be declared India’s “national animal” while denying bail to a man accused of cow slaughter has said in the same 12-page order that “scientists believe cow is the only animal that inhales and exhales oxygen”.

Written in Hindi, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav’s order claims it is a tradition in India to use ghee made of cow milk in each oblation during a yajna because “this gives special energy to sunrays, which ultimately causes rain”.

His observations about the cow’s supposedly unique respiratory process mirror former Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat’s 2019 statement that the cow exhales oxygen, not carbon dioxide. TNN

Eating beef not fundamental right: Order

Panchgavya, which is made of cow milk, curd, ghee, urine and cow dung helps in treatment of several incurable diseases,” states the order denying bail to the cow slaughter accused from UP’s Sambhal.

Since a cow’s existence is integral to Indian culture, consuming beef cannot be considered a fundamental right of any citizen, the order says. “The right to life is above the right to kill and the right to eat cow-beef can ever be considered a fundamental right. Right to life can’t be snatched away merely for another’s pleasure of taste, and that the right to life is above the right to kill. The right to consume cow-beef can never be a Fundamental Right,” the order states.

› Artificial insemination is cruelty to animals: HC, P 6

Panchgavya, which is made of cow milk, curd, ghee, urine and cow dung, helps in treatment of several incurable diseases

— JUSTICE SHEKHAR KUMAR YADAV | ALLAHABAD HC

Andhra Pradesh high court sentences 5 IAS officers to jail for contempt

Andhra Pradesh high court sentences 5 IAS officers to jail for contempt

TNN | Sep 3, 2021, 05.43 AM IST

VIJAYAWADA: The AP high court on Thursday found five IAS officers guilty of contempt of court and sentenced them with jail term and punishment.

The court, after hearing a contempt petition moved by one Tallapaka Savitramma from Kanupur village of Venkatachalam mandal in Nellore district, found the officials guilty of wilful disobedience of the court’s orders.

While senior IAS officer Manmohan Singh, the then principal secretary for revenue, was sentenced to four weeks in jail and a fine of 1,000, principal secretary for finance SS Rawat was sentenced to one month in jail and 2,000 fine.

Failing to pay the fine will increase the jail term by another week, the court said.

District collector of Nellore Revu Mutyala Raju has been sentenced to two weeks in jail along with a fine of 1,000, while KNV Chakradhar and MV Seshagiri Babu, who previously worked as Nellore district collectors, were fined 2,000 fine each, with a clause to spend a week in jail if they fail to pay the fine.

Savitramma had moved a petition in 2017 after her assigned land was taken away by the state government for the setting up of National Institute for Mentally Handicapped. Considering her petition, the court had directed the government to pay compensation along with others as per the issued GO within three months.

As no compensation was paid, she moved a contempt petition in 2018. The court issued notices to the respondents and after perusal of the counter affidavits filed by them, impleaded the officials who worked as Nellore district collectors during the period of litigation and also the principal secretaries of finance. After impleading the officials, the compensation amount was finally paid on March 30, 2021 — a delay of about three years.

After perusal of the affidavits filed by the officers, the court found Manmohan Singh (then principal secretary for revenue), SS Rawat (principal secretary for finance), Mutylaraju, Chakradhar and Seshagiri Babu, who worked as Nellore district collectors, responsible for delay in payment of compensation to the 62-year-old widow.

Justice Battu Devanand observed that because of the negligence and disobedience of the officials, the old woman suffered a lot. Noting that it was a fit case for contempt of court, he rejected the unconditional apology tendered by the officers. The court also directed the state government to pay `1 lakh to the petitioner towards costs. However, Justice Devanand suspended the operation of the sentence by four weeks after request by the officials.

M’luru man gets 2 doses of Covishield in minutes

M’luru man gets 2 doses of Covishield in minutes

Vinobha.KT@timesgroup.com

Mangaluru:03.09.2021

A 19-year-old daily-wage worker was administered two doses of Covishield within minutes of each other at a crowded vaccination centre in Sullia taluk of Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district on Wednesday. He has been under observation though no adverse effect has been reported in the past 24 hours.

The incident took place at a school in the taluk’s Duggaladka village when the centre was chock-ablock with vaccine-seekers due to a mega drive conducted by the government on Wednesday. Sullia taluk health officer Dr B Nandakumar told TOI that the man, despite jabbed back to back, will still have to take another dose after the stipulated gap of 84 days.

The officer said the faux pas occurred when the man didn’t leave the room after taking the first dose, and the nurse on the job didn’t realize she was administering a second dose to the same person. “Soon after realising the mistake, he was made to remain under observation for two-three hours before he was sent home,” he said.

A team of health officers has been checking his vital parameters at his home since Wednesday evening.

Dr Nandakumar said the man was under the impression that two doses of vaccine were necessary to travel. He seemed to have believed rumours that he would be denied ration from the public distribution system if he weren’t fully jabbed. “Hence, he did not leave the room after the first round of vaccination. The nurse, too, could not recognise him due to the facemask and the confusion caused by the milling crowd,” he added.

Dakshina Kannada district administered 49,364 doses of vaccine on Wednesday, and Sullia taluk accounted for 4,321 doses.

Tamil Nadu to close down 32 toll plazas: Highways minister

Tamil Nadu to close down 32 toll plazas: Highways minister

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.09.2021

The Tamil Nadu government would close down 32 toll plazas on the national highways, said state PWD and highways minister E V Velu in the assembly on Thursday. The number of toll plazas on NHs would come down from 48 to 16, he said.

In neighbouring Kerala, the number of toll plazas has been reduced to three as per the provisions of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008. In Tamil Nadu, there should be only 16 toll plazas as per the rule. (The rule says there should be a minimum distance of 60 km between two plazas. However, there are 48 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu at present and 27 of them violate this rule). He was replying to a calling attention motion moved by M H Jawahirullah of MMK on the hike in toll fee.

The sub-section of the rule also says there should not be any toll plaza within 10 km radius of corporations and municipalities. There are five toll plazas – Nemili near Sriperumbudur, Chennasamudram, Vanagaram, Paranur near Chengelpet and Surapattu - that violate this sub-section, he said and added that as per CM M K Stalin’s instruction, action was being taken to close them down.

“We have already communicated this to the Union ministry for road transport and highways. After the assembly session, I will go in person and meet Union minister Nitin Gadkari and insist on closing down the five toll plazas,” said Velu.

FCRA violations: MHA suspends NGO’s foreign funding licence

FCRA violations: MHA suspends NGO’s foreign funding licence

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.09.2021

The home ministry has suspended the foreign funding licence of a prominent Kerala-based NGO linked to influential Sunni leader from the state, Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmed, over violation of provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 and its rules.

The prime violations cited by MHA in its order suspending FCRA registration of Kozhikodebased Markazul Ighasathil Kairiyathil Hindiyya — which received nearly ₹147 crore from foreign sources between 2018-19 and 2020-21, with a huge chunk coming from charities in the Gulf — include misutilisation and diversion. These relate to purposes other than those declared, misrepresentation of facts and failure to submit annual FCRA returns for the year 2019-20.

Full report on www.toi-.in

JEE exam ‘fraud’: CBI files FIR against pvt institute

JEE exam ‘fraud’: CBI files FIR against pvt institute

Rajshekhar.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.09.2021

CBI has filed an FIR against a private institute and its officials in connection with allegations of irregularities allegedly committed in the ongoing JEE (Mains) Exams 2021 and carried out searches on Thursday at a number of locations in various cities in connection with the alleged manipulation. Several persons are being questioned and multiple arrests are likely, officials said.

The directors and ofrficials of the institute, Affinity Education, were allegedly manipulating the online examination of JEE (Mains) and facilitating aspiring students to get admission in top NITs in consideration of huge amount by solving the question papers through remote access from a chosen examination centre in Sonepat, Haryana. It has been alleged that the accused used to obtain 10th and 12th marksheets, the user IDs, passwords, and postdated cheques of aspiring students in different parts of country as security and once admission was done, they used to collect heavy amount, ranging from ₹12-₹15 lakh from each such candidate.

Full report on www.toi.in

No bail for passport official

GRAFT CASE

No bail for passport official

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:03.09.2021

The Madras high court on Thursday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of a passport official who was booked by the CBI for issuing passports illegally to Sri Lankans after taking bribes from travel agents.

The court was hearing the anticipatory bail plea of Madurai regional passport office senior superintendent V Veeraputhiran, who has been accused of entering into criminal conspiracy to provide passports to Sri Lankans, who were ineligible for Indian passports, after taking bribe of 45,000 from travel agents, when he was deputed to the passport office in Tirunelveli district in 2019.

On August 18, the court had granted interim anticipatory bail to the petitioner for two weeks and directed him to cooperate with the inquiry. When the case was taken up for hearing on Thursday, assistant solicitor general L Victoria Gowri submitted that as per the conditions imposed by the court, the petitioner appeared before CBI from August 27. However, the petitioner had not cooperated for inquiry as directed by the court and had produced certain medical records about sustaining spine injuries.

Justice B Pugalendhi observed that the petitioner was instrumental in providing illegal passports to people who were not citizens of India, adding that custodial interrogation is warranted in this case to find out how many such passports were issued, while dismissing the petition.

Legislation to do away with NEET may not have legal sanctity

Legislation to do away with NEET may not have legal sanctity

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:3.09.2021

The TN government’s decision to pass a legislation to do away with National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and to provide for medical admissions based on marks obtained in the qualifying examination is based on suggestions from a committee led by chief secretary V Irai Anbu.

The legal validity of such legislation, however, is questionable given that the Supreme court had upheld the constitutional validity of uniform entrance examination both at the UG and PG level. It also requires the President’s assent.

A government policy note tabled in the assembly on Thursday said an official committee of secretaries led by the chief secretary was constituted to suggest appropriate measures to implement recommendations of a committee led by retired judge Justice A K Rajan on NEET. The Rajan committee submitted its report on July14.

The government said this would ensure social justice and protect all vulnerable student communities from being discriminated against in admission to medical education.

It is learned the CS-led committee comprising secretaries of health, school, higher education and law suggested the legal route after the Rajan committee reported the challenges faced by the rural students, those of whom studied in government schools, in Tamil medium of instruction. The Rajan committee found a sharp contrast in medical admission of rural and urban students besides repeaters gaining huge access to medical courses than first time applicants. “The fresh bill will be introduced either on Monday or Tuesday. The students will have to appear for NEET on September11 this year,” said a source.

As for the legal validity of the proposed bill, senior advocate K M Vijayan said, “As long as higher education is concerned, in the matters relating to determination of standards of higher education, the powers are vested with the Union government. The states cannot pass a law under Entry 25 of List III, subject to certain entries in List I. These areas are exclusive domains of Parliament.”

There were heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition over the conduct of NEET during the debate on demand for grants for the health and family welfare department in the assembly. While the UPA government introduced NEET, former chief M Karunanidhi strongly opposed it. The examination took place only when the AIADMK was in power, health minister Ma Subramanian said. He was reacting to AIADMK (Pappireddipatti) MLA A Govindasamy, who wondered whether the DMK regime was unwilling to give credit to EPS for 7.5% NEET quota for government school students given that the policy note cited only the recommendation of the commission led by retired judge Justice P Kalaiyarasan.

(With inputs from J Shanmugasundaram)

The legal validity of such legislation, is questionable given the SC had upheld the constitutional validity of uniform entrance exam both at UG and PG level

19 sacked staffers protest at Nimhans

19 sacked staffers protest at Nimhans

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  02.09.2021

Alleging that their jobs were illegally terminated at Nimhans, 19 hospital assistants have been protesting on the hospital campus for the past two months. Sixteen of them are women. Nimhans, however, claimed they were from an outsourcing agency and were not employed by the hospital.

Nimhans Pragathipara Workers Union said hospital assistants employed in the radiology department had demanded a night drop in July since night curfew was in force and those on the second shift got off work only at 9.30pm. “The second shift was only till 7.30pm but it was extended to 9.30pm making it difficult for the women to get back home,” said M Basava Raj, general secretary of the union. “When they demanded a night drop, they were removed from work.”

The women have been demanding that they be reinstated. They stage a dharna every day, condemning the institute’s move which has cost them their jobs.

While the union claimed 19 women lost their jobs, Nimhans said 16 workers who were outsourced from an agency were protesting, and the hospital had nothing to do with it. “All the 16 workers belong to Vinayaka Enterprises, the outsourcing agency. None of these persons are employed by Nimhans and the institute does not have control over these workers,” the institute said in its release.

Raj, however, said: “The agency entered into a contract with Nimhans only in 2017, but 16 of the striking staffers were recruited long before that.”

NO WORK: Employees who were allegedly terminated from their jobs at Nimhans protest outside the hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday

‘You can easily monitor blood pressure at home’

‘You can easily monitor blood pressure at home’

Dr Roopesh Singhal, MBBS, MD, DM, Cardiology, shares about things a patient should keep in mind while monitoring blood pressure at home, including position and time of measurement:

If you want to monitor your blood pressure regularly, you can easily do so at home using an automated or digital blood pressure machine. To accurately measure your blood pressure at home:

Place the cuff on your upper arm Relax your arm and place it on the arm of the chair or a table Press the button on the blood pressure machine to inflate the cuff and sit calmly without talking Jot down the result

TIPS FOR MEASURING YOUR RESTING BLOOD PRESSURE AT HOME:

Check the device’s accuracy. Before using a monitor for the first time, have your doctor check its accuracy against the office model

Don’t measure your blood pressure right after waking up

Avoid food, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for 30 minutes before taking a measurement

Go to the bathroom beforehand, since a full bladder can elevate your blood pressure slightly

Before using the device, sit quietly for about 5 minutes in a comfortable position with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back well-supported

Stay calm, avoid thinking about stressful things, and don’t talk to anyone while your blood pressure is being measured

Place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing. Rolling up a sleeve until it tightens around the arm can result in an inaccurate reading

Wait for one to three minutes after the first reading, and then take another to check its accuracy

Contact no: 9099016535 Email : roopeshsinghal@gmail.com Address : The Heart Clinic, Akshat Multispeciality Hospital, 7th Floor, Medico house, Near Visat circle , Motera Ahmedabad- 380005 * Views expressed in the column are the sole responsibility of the expert

Dr Roopesh Singhal

Difficult to hold ’22 polls if EVMs not freed: EC

EVMs Locked As SC Extended Limitation Period To File Poll Petitions Due To Covid-19 Pandemic

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:02.09.2021

Uncertainty looms over next year's assembly elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur as the Election Commission moved the Supreme Court seeking timely release of EVMs and VVPATs used in state elections last year and this year, which are kept in safe custody in anticipation of filing of election petitions.

As per the statute, EVMs are to be kept untouched and safe for 45 days from the declaration of results, which is the time limit for a defeated candidate to file an election petition challenging the results. If no election petition is filed within the period of limitation (45 days), EVMs can be released for re-use in subsequent elections.

The problem faced by EC stems from an order of the Supreme Court which, keeping in mind the difficulties posed by the Covid pandemic, indefinitely extended the limitation period since the disease gripped the country from March last year.

This means, all election results declared within 45 days of the lockdown enforced in March last year due to the pandemic, would still be open for challenge by the defeated candidates. Thus, all the EVMs deployed for assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Delhi, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal could not be reused unless the SC fixed a specific time period for filing of election petitions concerning these polls.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh mentioned the EC's application before a bench headed by CJI N V Ramana and sought urgent an urgent hearing while conveying the anxiety of the poll panel about the uncertainty around next year’s state elections, given the fact that about 4.5 lakh EVMs, used in the assembly polls this year and last year, remain locked. The bench agreed to list the application as early as possible.

The EC, in its application filed through advocate Amit Sharma, said, "Every Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) used in an election and kept in the custody of the District Election Officer shall be kept untouched, under the standard protocol of security, tilt confirmation of election petition position from the high court concerned after the completion of the period for filing election petition, that is, 45 days from the declaration of the result."

"In the case of elections, where no election petitions have been filed or no other court cases are pending, after the aforesaid period of 45 days, EVMs may be used for any future election or any other purpose like movement, physical verification of EVMs. In case of any election where election petition has been filed, the following action shall be taken:- (i) If EVMs are the subject of the election petition, EVMs used at all polling stations in the constituency concerned shall continue to be kept in the safe custody of the District Election Officer, till such time the election petition is finally disposed of by the courts. (ii) If EVMs are not the subject of the election petition, an application may be moved to the court concerned for allowing EVMs concerned to be taken out of the strong room for any future election or any other purpose like movement, physical verification of EVMs etc," the EC said.

EC said for next year’s assembly elections in five states, 4.6 EVMs and 4 lakh VVPATs would be required. It said it has a stock of 1.4 lakh EVMs and one lakh VVPATs.

As per the statute, EVMs are to be kept safe for 45 days from the declaration of results, which is the time limit for a defeated candidate to file a petition challenging the results

Pandemic pushing more women into surrogacy

Pandemic pushing more women into surrogacy

Priyanka Chokhani TNN

02.09.2021

When the pandemic shut down their autoparts supply business in Maharashtra last year, Sheetal pawned her gold jewellery to repay debts. A lull in Covid-19 cases in the country brought the couple hope that income would pick up. Then, the second wave hit.

“This time, there was nothing left to sell or pawn,” said Rahul, Sheetal’s husband, who took up a job as a mechanic, but the pay was barely enough for their sustenance. Soon they were missing payments of their 8-year-old son’s school fees.

“We had heard about clinics where one could become a surrogate. We discussed it and Sheetal decided to become one. The money would keep us afloat until things get better,” said Rahul. His wife, 37, and three months pregnant, is currently a resident at Kiran Infertility Centre in Hyderabad.

Since the pandemic, the centre in Hyderabad has recorded “an exponential rise” in women approaching it to become egg donors or surrogates, according to Dr Samit Sekhar, executive director and embryologist at Kiran.

“Inquiries from women wanting to become surrogates have increased up to 10-fold during the pandemic. Earlier, we used to get two inquiries a day on average. Now we are getting up to 10 per day,” he told TOI.

Sekhar said that a survey of 100 women in the centre conducted last year had revealed that a majority of them had turned into donors or surrogates to make up for their husbands’ loss of income.

At the facility, surrogate mothers earn between 5 lakh to 6.5 lakh and stay at the clinic for the duration of their pregnancy so their health can be monitored and they can be provided a nutritional diet. To the couple seeking surrogacy services, the entire procedure can cost up to Rs 25 lakh.

In Gujarat, often referred to as India’s surrogacy capital, 29-year-old Chhaya has become a surrogate for the second time. The mother of two said her family fell on hard times after her husband lost his job as a waiter last year. “Agents who connect surrogates to clinics visit our area often and information on surrogacy is easily available. I have done this before so I knew what it would mean,” said Chhaya, who is five months pregnant and residing at Akanksha Hospital, one of the largest surrogacy centres in Anand.

(Names have been changed on request)

App & portal for OBC, EWS census in Chhattisgarh

App & portal for OBC, EWS census in Chhattisgarh

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Raipur:02.09.2021

Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday launched a mobile app and portal for the census of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and economically weaker sections of the society.

Baghel began the survey by registering his information on the app of Chhattisgarh Quantifiable Data Commission.

“The state government has taken several steps for the welfare of farmers, forest dwellers, labourers and landless people. OBC reservation was increased from 14% to 27% through an ordinance on September 4, 2019, and a provision of 10% reservation was made for economically weaker sections,” Baghel said.

The Quantifiable Data Commission was constituted when some people challenged this decision of state government in court and its implementation was stayed, said the CM.

UP cop who got gallantry medal caught taking bribe

UP cop who got gallantry medal caught taking bribe

Ishita.Mishr@timesgroup.com

Meerut: 02.09.2021

On Independence Day, inspector Vijenderpal Singh Rana turned up in his smartest uniform to receive UP police’s gallantry medal. Days later, on Wednesday, he was booked in his own thana, where he is posted as the SHO, for allegedly taking a bribe of ₹1 lakh to let off a man with a stolen truck.

A decorated officer, inspector Vijenderpal Rana was part of the police team — led by the then SP Ajay Sahni — that had shot dead Shiv Shakti Naidu, a dreaded gangster who had pulled off a sensational ₹8 crore heist in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar in 2014. Kingpin of the notorious Naidu gang, he was killed on February 18 last year during an encounter. Sahni and Vijenderpal Rana were awarded the Police Gallantry Medal for the encounter on August 15. Vijenderpal Rana’s downhill slide from being a celebrated cop to an “absconding accused” was quick; it took him just 15 days.

3-member expert panel to look into flyover accident

3-member expert panel to look into flyover accident

Chennai:02.09.2021

The National Highways Authority of India has set up a three-member committee comprising experts from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, the National Transport Planning and Research Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, and an independent expert to analyse the reasons for the accident at an under-construction flyover in Madurai that claimed the life of a guest worker.

The state government on Wednesday announced a solatium of ₹5 lakh to the family of N Akash Singh of Uttar Pradesh, who was killed in the accident on Saturday.

Three girders, each 35m long, under construction as part of four-laning of Madurai-Chettikulam section of NH-785, collapsed on Saturday. As per preliminary report, the accident was due to jack failure while fixing the bearing. The NHAI has appointed Alok Bhoumik, its advisor (technical), to assist the committee, an order said.

Responding to a special calling attention motion on the accident, state highways minister E V Velu said the negligence of the contractor was responsible for the accident that caused the death and injured another worker. “The Tallakulam police registered a case against the contract firm under Sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC,” the minister said. TNN

Teachers welcome students back to schools with sweets

Teachers welcome students back to schools with sweets

Elaborate Covid Protocols On The Campuses

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.09.2021

P Hari Priya from Nungambakkam was so eager to return to school that she came 15 minutes early. Seeing her friends after a long gap, she said they looked different – some had grown their hair, others had lost weight. They pulled each other’s leg, but didn't hug or shake hands. At the end of the first day, she could not catch up with her friends, as her class was split into two, and had little time to speak to them.

City schools registered 85% to 100% attendance as schools reopened on Wednesday after 5 months. Colleges recorded 60% to 70% attendance and expect numbers to rise. Schools and colleges made elaborate arrangements to follow social distancing on campus. Students were not allowed to mingle and only 20 students were allowed in a classroom. Shivani K P from Adyar said even the classroom and school environment looked so different after prolonged online classes. “Even our teachers were so happy to see us and conduct classes. I find I relate to topics better in offline classes compared to online classes,” she said.

Some teachers welcomed loons and banners. “After seeing empty grounds and classrooms for the last few months, we were so happy to have students on campus. All classrooms were decorated with welcome banners and balloons,” said R S Shanthi, a phys-Most of the schools conducted orientation and counselling on Wednesday.

Schools such as Bala Vidyamandir Senior Secondary School in Adyar have decided to record the physical classes for those who opt for online classes. "It will help both students who opt for online classes and students who attend physical classes. Students can view the recorded videos again if they have any doubts," said principal R Srinivasa Raghavan. The school recorded 90% attendance among Class X, XI and XII students on Wednesday.

Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar recorded nearly 100% attendance among Class XII students. "Except for one student who is in post-Covid care, all 121 attended physical classes," said headmistress V Shanthi. The schools will conduct classes in hybrid mode for other classes. "We have called 50% of students from Class IX and X for physical classes on alternate days. The remaining students can view live the classes from their houses," she added.

Some principals who spoke on condition of anonymity said conducting physical and online classes simultaneously will be tough.

Many city colleges started classes on campus only with final year science students. Colleges such as Loyola and College of Engineering, Guindy, have organised vaccination camps on campus.

"Of 6000 students who are eligible for Covid-19 vaccine in our college, 23% are yet to get the jab. Greater Chennai Corporation will vaccinate them on Monday and Tuesday," said S Santhosh Baboo, principal of DG Vaishnav College.

Bumper-to-bumper insurance order put on hold by high court

Bumper-to-bumper insurance order put on hold by high court

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.09.2021

A Madras high court order making the fiveyear bumper-to-bumper insurance mandatory for all new vehicles from September 1, was put on hold by the court on Wednesday.

Justice S Vaidyanathan, who passed the order last week, kept it in abeyance after insurance companies filed a memo saying they needed at least three months to design a new insurance product as per the directions of the court.

Meanwhile, the joint transport commissioner, A A Muthu, had directed all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across Tamil Nadu not to register any vehicles without bumper-to-bumper insurance coverage, as directed by the high court.

This uncertainty over the new insurance rule forced Tamil Nadu automobile dealers to put documentation works pertaining to vehicle registration on hold.

Automobile dealers and insurance companies wondered how the order could be implemented without consulting the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI), the government body which supervises the insurance sector.

"Since there was no clarity on how to finalise the insurance premium amount, we did not prepare any insurance certificates today (Wednesday). We will be meeting the state transport authorities and request them to reverse their earlier order" said S Rajvel, state chairperson of Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA).

"Usually, automobile dealers bring new vehicles to RTOs for registration only after preparing insurance certificates. It takes two or three days for them (from the date of invoice) to finish this insurance documentation. So, all new vehicles, which arrived today at RTOs, were sold to customers before the high court deadline of September 1. The new insurance rule was not applicable to any of these vehicles. Therefore, it was regular business at most city RTOs," said a Chennai RTO, requesting anonymity.

OPS’s wife passes away, Stalin, Sasikala express condolences

OPS’s wife passes away, Stalin, Sasikala express condolences

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai/Theni:  02.09.2021

P Vijayalakshmi, wife of AIADMK coordinator and former chief minister O Panneerselvam and mother of Theni MP O P Raveendranath Kumar, died at a hospital in Chennai on Wednesday morning. The 66-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest at the hospital ward and could not be revived, doctors said. She had been undergoing treatment at GEM Hospital for cardiac diseases.

“She was stable. She returned to her bed after relieving herself in the morning when she had an arrest,” said a senior doctor treating her. The mortal remains of Vijayalakshmi were brought to OPS’s house in Periyakulam in Theni district by road. The final rites will be performed on Thursday morning. Chief minister M K Stalin, ministers and DMK leaders were among those to visit the hospital and offer condolences.

Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala caused a flutter when she arrived at the hospital to offer condolences, leaving behind their political rivalry that began in early 2017 when she wanted to become the CM by replacing him. It had resulted in OPS launching the ‘dharmayutham’ against her. OPS’s daughter K Kavitha Banu received her. Sasikala held Panneerselvam’s hands as he sobbed inconsolably.

GRIEVING: Chief minister M K Stalin offers his condolences to ex-CM O Panneerselvam

Grief unites political rivals

Sasikala spent nearly half an hour at the hospital in the presence of former AIADMK ministers and MLAs.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit, opposition leader and former CM Edappadi K Palaniswami, TNCC president K S Alagiri, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and Tamil Maanila Congress (M) president G K Vasan were among others who condoled the death of Vijayalakshmi. A BA graduate, she was among the four daughters and a son of Alagupandi Thevan and Valliammal, a farmer couple. A soft-spoken woman who married OPS on November 14, 1977 when he was AIADMK’s Periyakulam town secretary, she played the role of a supportive wife. Sources close to the family recalled that Vijayalakshmi was instrumental in maintaining a closely knit joint family of OPS, comprising his three younger brothers and as many sisters.

She took up the responsibility of the joint family which helped Panneerselvam scale the party ranks and become CM, deputy CM, finance minister and take up various other responsibilities. Vijayalakshmi preferred to prepare the favourite dishes of her husband herself and he enjoyed being served by her. The couple has two sons and a daughter, P Raveendranath Kumar, V P Jayapradeep and K Kavitha Banu.

Sasikala consoles O Panneerselvam on Wednesday

NHAI hikes fee by 4% to 10% at 21 TN toll plazas

NHAI hikes fee by 4% to 10% at 21 TN toll plazas

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.09.2021

The hike in user fee rate at 21 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu starting Wednesday could lead to rise in prices of essential commodities, say transporters, who opposed the fee hike amid the sharp spike in diesel prices.

While tolls in Chennai are being removed, road travel along southern and western districts of Tamil Nadu is set to be costlier with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) increasing toll fee by 4% to10 %.

At the 21 booths — majority of which are located on Chennai-Madurai (NH 45) and Chennai-Salem (NH 79) highway stretches — cars and trucks will have to cough up between ₹5 to ₹50 extra per trip.

The hike will also be implemented along Trichy-Dindigul-Karur bypass roads, Madurai-Thoothukudi highway and plazas in Dharmapuri and Namakkal districts.

C Dhanraj, secretary of State Lorry Owners’ Federation said, “We requested the Union government to stop toll collection at least for the next six months because of the loss incurred during the lockdown. They have once again failed us. (A hike of) ₹5 to ₹15 per trip may seem like a small amount, but (it is an additional) ₹12,000 every month (for Chennai-Salem trips) and much more for interstate commute”.

The state government too let transporters down by failing to reduce diesel prices, he said. Only petrol prices were reduced. So, a toll fee hike coupled with the increase in fuel rates has reduced the profit margin of truckers. Beyond a point, truckers will be forced to increase operating rates and subsequently, the public will suffer, Dhanraj added.

Wholesale traders from Chennai say the increase in transportation cost has had a cascading effect on wholesale price of vegetables, fruits and flowers in the city and fear that the situation may worsen in the coming days. Chennai largely depends on Oddanchatram, Pollachi markets in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala for supply of tomato, onion, brinjal, drumstick and ladies finger. Besides essential commodities, toll fees can also affect transportation of raw materials and finished products to and from industries across the state.

(A hike of) ₹5 to ₹15 per trip may seem like a small amount, but it is an additional ₹12,000 every month (for Chennai-Salem trips)

C DHANRAJ

Secretary, State Lorry Owners’ Federation

HC issues arrest warrant against absentee firm owners in tax case

HC issues arrest warrant against absentee firm owners in tax case

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.09.2021

The Madras high court issued non-bailable warrants against owners of two Chennai-based companies that imported earthmovers from China in 2008 but failed to pay entry tax for the vehicles.

Justice S M Subramaniam passed the interim order on Wednesday on pleas moved by Grandhe Construction Private Limited and Sri Murugan Earth Movers seeking exemption from entry tax for the imported vehicles.

When the cases, filed in 2008, were taken up for final hearing on August 17, counsel for the petitioner sought several adjournments to get instructions from the petitioners. They submitted that they have to secure instructions from the petitioners regarding payment of entry tax, as the issues were settled by the Supreme Court in 2018.

After granting several opportunities, the court finally took the matters for hearing on August 31.

Advocates representing the petitioners then informed the court that they had informed the petitioners about the hearing of the writ petitions before the court, but the petitioners failed to respond. The petitioners went to the extent of stating that they were not in a position to pay the entry tax, counsel informed the court.

Recording the submissions, Justice Subramaniam said: “In view of the stand taken by the petitioners and considering the submissions made by counsel for the petitioners, this court is inclined to issue nonbailable warrant to the petitioners, returnable on September 6.”

The court further directed the registry of the high court to communicate the order to the Chennai commissioner of police for execution through the jurisdictional police.

Revenue Offices Most Notorious For Demanding Bribes: Survey

‘93% had to pay bribe for govt service’

Revenue Offices Most Notorious For Demanding Bribes: Survey

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.09.2021

Nearly 93% of participants of an online survey said they were forced to pay a bribe either directly or indirectly to access a government service, while 48% said bribery was the biggest problem they faced when accessing such services. This was followed by long delays in service at 28.7%, revealed the survey.

Revenue and registration offices topped among departments where participants were forced to pay a bribe, followed by police and RTO, the survey showed.

The week-long survey involved more than 2,000 people and covered various issues regarding access to government services. More than 81% of participants said they were dissatisfied with the service provided of late. A total of 77.6% blamed the poor service on careless attitude of officials, their intent to seek bribes and no option to act against the officer. However, 83.6% preferred to file complaints over delays or rejection of services with an independent body rather than taking it up with the concerned department.

Arappor Iyakkam convenor Jayaram Venkatesan, whose anti-graft NGO conducted the survey, said 22% of participants were from Chennai.

At a press meet in the city on Wednesday, he told reporters that implementing Right to Service would ensure that services are provided within a stipulated time in a simple, easy and transparent manner and holding accountable the government officials dealing with the respective services. The NGO also released the ‘Tamil Nadu Right to Service Model Draft Bill, 2021’ and urged the state government to take action.

Pointing out that demanding bribe for services results in inordinate delay, he said, “If an application is rejected, it should clearly mention the reason for disposing of the petition such as what were the documents missing with the application.”

Moreover, the state government must constitute an independent body, Tamil Nadu Right to Service Commission, on the lines of the Tamil Nadu Information Commission to look into appeals on rejection of service or lack of response to applications for services.

The chief minister, leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of the Madras high court must be part of the panel to select the body’s chief commissioner, he added.

As per the NGO’s draft model, an applicant can file an appeal against the rejection of service or refusal to receive application or refusal to provide acknowledgement receipt. The appeal can be filed to the first appellate authority within 30 days. The appellant can track the status of the first appeal through the same online portal as that of the application using the same unique acknowledgement receipt number.

An appeal must be disposed of by the first appellate authority within 15 days of its receipt. The first appellate authority must provide a written communication of the order to the applicant and designated officer via post and the online portal.

The designated officer must provide the service within five working days of receipt of the order of first appellate authority, the draft said.

About 77% of participants blamed poor service on careless attitude of officials, their intent to seek bribes and no option to act against the official concerned

Properties can’t be attached by EOW: Spl court

Properties can’t be attached by EOW: Spl court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.09.2021

Holding that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Tamil Nadu police is not a competent authority to attach properties, a special court has directed the district revenue officer (DRO), Chennai to deal with property attachment and sell the property of a financial firm and return the amount back to depositors.

The case pertains to a citybased financial firm which collected ₹2.5 crore from 129 depositors and shut the firm in 2008.

The prosecution said Senthil Financial Services promised people of high interest. A case was registered by the EOW and during the course of investigation, the residence of one of the accused in Virugambakkam was attached by the government and another property was sold to a third party to prevent being attached. After perusing the submissions, the special court to deal with the TN Protection of Interests of Depositors Act cases held that in order to protect the welfare of the depositors, the DRO, Chennai shall sell the mentioned property through public auction and distribute the sale proceeds to the depositors.