Stalin gifts Rs 6,480 crore DA hike to TN govt employees

Stalin gifts Rs 6,480 crore DA hike to TN govt employees

13 welfare measures announced for govt staff, pensioners, teachers ,CM promises to fulfil all fair demands of employees ,‘Ban on public Chaturthi festivities based on Centre’s advice’

Published: 08th September 2021 05:11 AM

Chief Minister MK Stalin. (Photo | EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday announced a slew of welfare measures including early DA hike for around 16 lakh government employees, teachers and pensioners. In a significant move, he said the practice of placing a government employee under suspension on the day of his retirement would be dropped. He also promised that his government would fulfil the fair demands of government employees step by step.

Policemen carrying a bubble top water

can during the Assembly session on Tuesday | R Satish Babu

The announcements came in the backdrop of government employee unions demanding DA hike with retrospective effect from July. Recently, the pensioners staged agitation in this regard. Making a statement under Rule 110 in the State Assembly, the Chief Minister said a hike in dearness allowance for government employees and pensioners will be enforced from January 1, 2022 instead of April 1, 2022 accepting representations from the unions.

“This is being done despite difficult financial constraints faced by the government. This will cost an additional expenditure of Rs 1,620 crore to the State Exchequer and annually, the expenditure would be Rs 6,480 crore,” the Chief Minister said. Leaders of various political parties in the Assembly welcomed the announcements.

Talking to Express, M Anbarasu, president, Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association said, “We welcome the announcements of the Chief Minister. However, it failed to make us happy because what we expect is DA hike from July when the Central government announced it. Tamil Nadu government employees used to get DA hike on par with Central government employees whenever it was announced. Now, enforcing the DA hike just three months ahead makes no difference.”

Information dept

Minister MP Saminathan announced several welfare measures for journalists

Establishment of a welfare board to ensure effective implementation of the welfare schemes for working journalists

Hike in financial assistance given to the families of journalists who die in harness from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh

Financial assistance to journalists who wish to train themselves by joining reputed institutions

Kalaignar Ezhuthukol Award for a journalist who contributes to the upliftment of society

Statues of freedom fighters and scholars will be installed in various parts of the State

Law Dept

Minister S Regupathy announced plans pertaining to various law colleges and courts

A new law college to be established at Karaikudi

Rs 28 lakhs to be allocated for conducting international workshops and seminars

English training for govt law college students

Two legal research centres at Tamil Nadu National Law University, Trichy

An additional law officers block to be constructed in the Madurai bench of Madras HC at a cost of Rs 4.28 crores

Chief judicial magistrate courts to be set up at Kallakuruchi, Tenkasi, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Mayiladuthurai and Tirupattur

Key announcements made by CM MK Stalin

The Chief Minister announced a slew of measures for the welfare of government employees and pensioners in the State

Hike in DA for 16 lakh government employees and pensioners from January 1, 2022

Retirement age of 29,137 cooks and 24,576 asst cooks working for nutritious meal scheme will be increased from 58 to 60

Disciplinary proceedings against teachers who took part in the strike during the previous AIADMK government will be dropped. If their promotional aspects were affected due to the disciplinary action, it would also be set right. Besides, those who were transferred during the strike, will be given priority in the counselling for transfers

Steps to fill vacancies for junior assistant posts in government schools

The period of suspension and period of agitation of govt employees who struck work during AIADMK government in 2016, 2017 & 2019 will be treated as service period

Orders will be issued to provide treatment for the children of government employees who depend on them irrespective of their age under the health insurance scheme

Practice of suspending an employee on the date of his retirement will be dropped

Appropriate guidelines will be issued for appointing legal heirs of the government employees who die in harness on compassionate grounds

Incentive for additional educational qualifications acquired during the service period to government employees which was cancelled in 2020 will be resumed soon

Considering the increase in the number of students getting admitted to the government schools, an appropriate number of teachers will be recruited to fulfil the student-teacher ratio

For Corona infection, treatment cost above `10 lakh will be allowed under the health insurance scheme for government employees

Training will be given to government employees at the district level to simplify and expedite works of the Treasuries and Accounts Department

Training will be given to newly appointed govt employees and those who are promoted to higher positions, in their respective districts

Electricity dept

Minister V Senthil Balaji said steps to boost power generation and facilitate consumption will be taken up

One lakh agriculture service electricity connections

A 4,000 MW solar power generation plant with a solar power bank of 2000 MW capacity

Two hydropower generation plants with a capacity of 500 MW at Kothaiyar in Kanniyakumari district and at Manalar in Theni district

A total of 159 EB sub-stations to be set up at a cost of Rs 1,979 crore

Smart meters to be set up on transformers at a cost of Rs 1,270 crore to monitor their performance.

Upgradation of 33 KW sub-stations to 110 KW at a cost of Rs 125 crore

High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) to set up at 900 feeders at a cost of Rs 5,050 crore

Announcements made for Home, Prohibition and Excise Department

The consolidated pay for TASMAC employees will be hiked by Rs 500 from April next year.

These three ‘Golden Girls’ from Mysore University show true grit

These three ‘Golden Girls’ from Mysore University show true grit

Chaitra Narayan Hegde, an MSc Chemistry graduate, Madalambike T S and Latha H N, MA graduates, defied all odds to make it big in their studies.

Published: 08th September 2021 05:41 AM 

Chaitra Narayan Hegde, Vidyashree LR, Madalambike TS, Harshitha N and Sindhu Nagaraj with their medals in Mysuru on Tuesday | udayshankar s

By Karthik K K

Express News Service

MYSURU: Surmounting hurdles like lack of public transport, disability and financial difficulties, these three spirited “Golden Girls” of Mysore University bagged whopping 31 medals among themselves at the 101st convocation of the university on Tuesday.

Chaitra Narayan Hegde, an MSc Chemistry graduate, Madalambike T S and Latha H N, MA graduates, defied all odds to make it big in their studies. Chaitra moved to Mysuru University as her village in Uttara Kannada district did not have public transport or good educational institutions.

She did her B.Sc from Yuvaraja’s College and got a seat for M.Sc Chemistry. She helped herself to 20 medals and four cash prizes, emerging as the highest medal winner in the university. Madalambike, who comes from Tammdahalli village in Chamarajanagar district, showed true grit in the face of deep personal loss.

Rural background not a barrier

Soon after Madalambike registered for MA Kannada exam, her father passed away. She did not lose heart, studied hard and bagged 10 gold medals and four cash prizes. Latha HN, who is visually challenged, faced problems in getting access to Braille texts and scribes to write the exams. But she soldiered on to bag a gold medal in MA Kannada. Aware of the poor financial condition of her family, this youth from Handithavalli village in Periyapatna taluk, completed her postgraduate course with scholarships.

All the three come from families of farmers and from remote, rural pockets of the state. “Lack of of public transport buses made me shift to Mysuru for my studies. Though I never expected to bag medals, I think I did ‘smart’ work, which helped me achieve this,” said Chaitra, who is working as an assistant professor now. “Considering the financial condition of my family, I wanted to opt for distance education to complete my masters. But my elder sister and parents encouraged me to take up a regular degree.

My father was happy when a girl from a neighbouring village got a medal. I too had decided that I should reward him with a medal. Today, I have got 10 medals, but I feel sad that my father is not here to see this,” said Madalambike, who is preparing for NET exams. Latha said that screen recording software and other tools helped her, though she faced problems in getting access to audiobooks, especially of Kannada texts.

“The encouragement from my parents, my younger sister and my teachers helped me bag the medal. I have cleared TET and NET exams and looking for opportunities to work as an assistant professor. I also want to train other visually challenged students who aim for competitive exams,” she said.

PhD student jumps to death

PhD student jumps to death

Rajkot:   08.09.2021

A 23-year-old doctoral research student of Saurashtra University allegedly committed suicide by juming into the Aji (2) dam in Rajkot city on Tuesday.

According to police, the deceased was identified as Aditya Prakash Raval, a resident of Rajkruti Apartment in the city. Police found an identity card on the body, which revealed that he was a PhD student in the chemistry department of the university. The reason for the extreme step was not known immediately. “Someone spotted a dead body floating on the water and informed the fire brigade department and a team fished out the body,” police said. TNN

College teachers trained on supercomputers

College teachers trained on supercomputers

08.09.2021

Ahmedabad:

The Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST) and C-DAC jointly organized a training programme on highperformance computing and deep learning for faculty members of 26 institutes that have been given PARAM Shavak supercomputers by the department of science and technologyt in the past three years. Dr Narottam Sahoo, member secretary of GUJCOST, said that 130 faculty members are participating. TNN

Hospital sealing: Doctors meet civic chief

Hospital sealing: Doctors meet civic chief

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:08.09.2021

A delegation of 60 medical personnel, including doctors of 42 aggrieved hospitals that were sealed by the civic body for lack of building use permission, met municipal commissioner Mukesh Kumar on Tuesday. The delegation highlighted how hundreds of patients will suffer and may face complications availing of medical insurances for no fault of theirs.

Among the delegation that met Kumar was former Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) president Mona Desai. “We have only requested that all be treated equal before law. We have instances where many commercial units, including hotels, continue to function in the same commercial building where hospitals have been sealed for lack of BU permission. Ahead of the third wave, many mid-size and small hospitals that played a pivotal role during the pandemic will be forced to close. There are an estimated 40,000 clinics and hospitals without BU permission across nagarpalikas and villages in Gujarat,” said Desai.

Dr Nilesh Shah pointed out how smaller hospitals, which form the bulk of Covid healthcare inventory in the city, will suffer. Of the 700 clinics and small hospitals in the city, nearly 60 per cent were designated as Covid hospitals. “We shall abide by the law, but our only petition is that it should be equitably implemented, be it hospital, commercial unit, office or residence.”

Other doctors also pointed out how the withdrawal of C-forms on Monday has put hundreds of patients in a fix. “Many will be shifted in 2-3 days to other hospitals. Following the withdrawal of forms, medical insurance companies can cause problems for patients,” they said.

A delegation including doctors of 42 hospitals met AMC chief Mukesh Kumar at Riverfront House on Tuesday

SC seeks govt response on challenge to FCRA norms

SC seeks govt response on challenge to   FCRA   norms

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:08.09.2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Centre’s response to a joint petition by two NGOs, one of which is run by the former director of the social service centre of Catholic Diocese of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, challenging the recent amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act on the ground that it impeded disbursement of foreign funds to provide succour to the marginalised sections of the country’s population.

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar asked the Centre to file its response within three weeks to a joint petition filed by Noel Harper and Nigel Mills of Share and Care Foundation in Andhra Pradesh and Joseph Lizy and Annamma Joachim of National Workers Welfare Trust in Telangana.

Appearing for the Union government, additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain and advocate Kanu Agrawal said that the main grievance of the petitioners appear to be the difficulty in assessing foreign funds and their disbursement.

PM: Changes in edu sector participation-based

PM: Changes in edu sector participation-based

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 08.09.2021

The transformations in India’s education sector are not just policy-based but also participation-based, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday after launching several academic initiatives, which he said will play an important role in shaping the country’s future.

Modi was addressing the inaugural conclave of the 10-day ‘Shikshak Parv’ through video-conferencing, where he said that the teaching-learning process in the country has to be constantly redefined and redesigned to make India’s education sector world-class.

As part of the Shikshak Parv whose theme is ‘Quality and Sustainable Schools: Learnings from Schools in India’, the PM launched the National Digital Architecture (NDEAR), which he said is likely to play a major role in eradicating inequality in education and its modernisation. He also launched the Indian sign language dictionary (audio- and text-embedded sign language video for the hearing impaired, in conformity with the Universal Design of Learning), talking books (audiobooks for the visually impaired), school quality assurance and assessment framework of CBSE, Nishtha teachers’ training programme for Nipun Bharat and Vidyanjali portal (for facilitating education volunteers/donors/CSR contributors for school development).

Expressing confidence that these will not only make our education system globally competitive but also make the youth future-ready, Modi said, “In this rapidly changing era, our teachers also have to learn about new systems and techniques rapidly. The country is preparing its teachers for these changes.”

“If we are in the midst of a transformation period, fortunately, we also have a modern and futuristic new National Education Policy. These transformations in the education sector are not just policy-based but also participation-based,” he added.

PM Modi praised the contribution of academicians, experts and teachers at every stage in the formulation of the National Education Policy and its implementation. He urged everyone to take this participation to a new level and also to involve society in it.

Full report on www.toi.in

SHAPING THE FUTURE: PM Narendra Modi addresses the inaugural conclave of Shikshak Parv in New Delhi on Tuesday

Interrupted by pandemic, campus culture is the crucial link for students

Interrupted by pandemic, campus culture is the crucial link for students

Paul Wilson

08.09.2021

As Tamil Nadu and a few other states resume on-campus classes for schools and colleges it is imperative to understand the priority of the institutions. Is it just academic excellence or all-round development?

Beyond prizes and scores, learning in schools and colleges is intertwined with values, culture and ethics that help shape the personality of students leading to a sustainable perception to the institutions. But pandemic dispensation has shifted the priority of teachers, students and parents. In 2020, after the first wave of Covid-19, fear of the disease was all-encompassing.

There was apprehension on the part of parents about sending their wards for on- campus classes due to lack of vaccination. But after more than a year at home, parents have realised the importance of social learning that happens through on campus mode, appealing to the transformation of a student’s personality.

In the race for a career, we often fail to recognise the implications of cultural and emotional intelligence that students get acquainted with through on campus learning. Education can never be envisaged as just an intellectual acquaintance or cognitive deposition, rather it encompasses personality development through social learning on campus.

Over the past year, teaching and learning, could very well be associated with distance education mode. Any educational campus would be associated with the tangible cultural heritage that helps in comprehensive development of students. Students often identify themselves with physical spaces in a college or school such as cafeteria, hostels, stone benches, temple or chapel and green spaces that contribute to informal chats, building relationships and gaining negotiation skills. Add to this the cultural heritage of educational institutions that are passed on from senior folks to freshers in a college or school. Events like auditions for scouting talent, intercollegiate or school cultural programmes, NSS and NCC, help develop interests and personality traits of a student community characteristic of a given institution.

The retention capacity of nostalgic memories of students through their oncampus engagement with tangible and intangible cultural heritage as part of campus life has profound influence on the legacy, institutional perception, resilient capacity during crisis, sustainability of the institution through the consistent admissions and placement even amidst economic breakdown.

Pandemic dispensation has triggered cultural disengagement owing to the lack of access to campus life. Though many institutions are making efforts in mitigating the cultural disengagement through events on the digital platform, the essence of the real time and face-to-face collaborations among students is missing for a meaningful engagement through affective learning. Cultural disengagement has a potential threat of facilitating the evolution of counter culture by students (freshers) and it may or may not resonate with the institutional values and the mainstream culture of the institution. To neutralise the effects of the cultural shift over the past year, cultural rehabilitation is necessary through engagement of freshers with the alumni for cultural continuity.

Reopening of educational institutions should not be perceived as just an opportunity to complete the syllabus. Authorities need to use it as an opportunity to check cultural disengagement among students when they return. It is the responsibility of the teachers to go beyond the staggered behavioural patterns of students, if any, and consciously make efforts to conserve the cultural heritage for a progressive institutional perception and sustainability.

(The writer is the principal and secretary, Madras Christian College)

Velankanni car fest held sans devotees

Velankanni car fest held sans devotees

Trichy:08.09.2021

The main event of the annual feast of the shrine Our Lady of Good Health was held on Tuesday in Velankanni in Nagapattinam district without devotees, as the district administration had restricted it due to Covid-19.

The car festival which is the biggest event of the 10-day annual feast took place on Tuesday evening. Most Rev M Devadass Ambrose, Bishop of Thanjavur, inaugurated the car procession. The proceedings were telecast online and television channels, as per the district administration’s instruction. Police had established check posts at 19 locations and closed nine entry points leading to the shrine. TNN

HC slams use of CM photos on school bags & stationery

‘MISUSE OF FUNDS’

HC slams use of CM photos on school bags & stationery

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.09.2021

It is abhorring that school books or bags meant for children, who don’t have the right to vote, would carry photographs of public functionaries, even if the functionary is the chief minister, the Madras high court observed on Tuesday.

“Public funds cannot be misused for printing photographs for the personal interests of any politician. The state should ensure that such practice is not continued in future,” the court said. It also commended the present DMK government for its decision not to waste money on erasing pictures already printed by the previous AIADMK government.

“Thankfully, it is submitted by advocate-general that a statement has been made on the floor of the assembly recently to the effect that so as not to waste money already expended, the present dispensation will ensure that school bags, text books and stationery bearing the photographs or other signs of previous chief ministers will continue to be used till exhausted,” said the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu.

The bench made the observation on a PIL that sought a direction to the state government to continue dispensing unused stocks of textbooks, stationery and school bags that had photos of former chief ministers.

Recording the submissions of advocate-general R Shunmugasundaram, the judges said: “It is also submitted on behalf of the state that the chief minister does not desire his photographs to be published (on) such material in future.”

No further order need be made except one directing the state to take extreme care to ensure that public funds are not expended for publicity purposes of politicians, it added. “However, photographs of the chief minister may be carried, but that should be restricted to advertisements in newspapers or some hoardings and certainly not used on text books or exercise books or any educational material at all,” the bench said disposing of the plea.

Won’t suspend govt staff on last working day: CM

Won’t suspend govt staff on last working day: CM

08.09.2021

Chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday said the state government would end the practice of suspending government employees facing disciplinary action and other charges on their last working day. In a statement in the assembly, the CM announced a slew of measures, including advancing disbursement of hike in dearness allowance by three months, which will entail an additional expenditure of ₹620 crore a year, regularize the strike and suspension periods of government employees who participated in strikes in 2016, 2017 and 2019. The state will also cancel disciplinary actions initiated against teachers for such strike and in cases where promotion is affected, they will be rectified, the CM said.

DHANALAKSHMI SRINIVASAN JOB NOTIFICATION

 

Karpagam Faculty of Pharmacy Notification

 

‘Write judgments with clarity on laws & facts’

‘Write judgments with clarity on laws & facts’

SC Concerned Over Some HC Judges’ Verdicts

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:08.09.2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday underscored the need for high court judges to be clear and precise on facts and laws while writing verdicts, saying that “it is not adequate that a decision is accurate, it must also be reasonable, logical and easily comprehensible”.

Expressing concern over some of the judgments written by HC judges, a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah said it was very difficult to appreciate what the judge wants to convey through the judgment and the court is forced to remand the case for fresh consideration.

Observing that a verdict, delivered by Allahabad HC while granting bail to five life convicts, lacked clarity, the bench said that it is very unfortunate that the SC bench has to explain how the judgment should be written and and what should be contained in it. The SC set aside the bail orders.

“A judgment should be coherent, systematic and logically organised. It should enable the reader to trace the fact to a logical conclusion on the basis of legal principles. It is pertinent to examine the important elements in a judgment in order to fully understand the art of reading a judgment,” the bench said.

“The judgment replicates the individuality of the judge and therefore it is indispensable that it should be written with care and caution. The reasoning in the judgment should be intelligible and logical. Clarity and precision should be the goal. All conclusions should be supported by reasons duly recorded. The findings and directions should be precise and specific. Writing judgments is an art (and) involves skilful application of law and logic,” the bench said. Though the bench said that it is conscious that judges are overburdened with work, but said that quality can never be sacrificed for quantity.

“...whenever a judgment is written, it should have clarity on facts; on submissions made on behalf of the rival parties; discussion on law points and thereafter reasoning and the ultimate conclusion and findings and the operative portion of the order. There must be a clarity on the final relief granted. “ it said.

Observing that a verdict, delivered by Allahabad HC while granting bail to five life convicts, lacked clarity, the bench said that it is very unfortunate that the SC bench has to explain how the judgment should be written and and what should be contained in it

TN AGRI UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS 2021-22

 

Retd govt bank employee ties himself to tree to protest felling

Retd govt bank employee ties himself to tree to protest felling

Shivani.Azad@timesgroup.com

Dehradun:08.09.2021

Shoppers at a major market in Rishikesh were greeted with a strange sight on Tuesday morning — an elderly man tied to a tree. Hemant Gupta, a retired senior clerk at a government bank, sat quietly under a peepal tree, a yellow rope wrapped around his torso.

The 64-year-old man had sent multiple letters to authorities to protest against trees that were being felled for a national highway. When he didn’t hear back from them, he decided to take matters into his own hands. “I want to make sure they don’t fell another tree. I’m not against the development of the highway but we must find a way to preserve the trees, perhaps, transplant the younger ones elsewhere,” said Gupta.

Gupta is ready to “adopt” the trees and exhaust his savings to bear their transplantation and maintenance expenses. “I will break my fixed deposits if I have to. But our environment must be protected,” he said.

Full report on www.toi.in

SILENT PROTEST: Hemant Gupta under the peepal tree

Jayaraj-Bennix case: SC refuses bail to two cops

Jayaraj-Bennix case: SC refuses bail to two cops

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.09.2021

The Supreme Court has declined to grant bail to two police officers – inspector S Sridhar and sub-inspector P Raghu Ganesh – in connection with the death of trader P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix in June 2020 due to custodial torture by Sathankulam police in Tuticorin district. “…considering the facts and circumstances, at this stage, we are not inclined to interfere with the high court’s order refusing bail,” held a division bench of Justice Vineet Sarann and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari on Tuesday.

On June 19, 2020, Jayaraj, 59, and Bennix, 31, were picked up by Sathankulam police on charges of keeping their mobile phone shop open during pandemic lockdown hours. Due to brutal third-degree treatment in custody, the two suffered severe injuries. While still in judicial custody, Bennix died at Kovilpatti hospital on June 22, and Jayaraj died the next day. Owing to public uproar, Tamil Nadu government handed over the case to CBI, which has filed chargesheet as well. Trial is on at present.

On Tuesday, S Nagamuthu, senior counsel representing inspector Sridhar and Raghu Ganesh, argued in the Supreme Court that the father-son duo did not die due to the injuries sustained at the police station, and that they died due to respiratory illness and heart ailment. As the accused officers would not abscond, they should be enlarged on bail, he argued.

Additional solicitor general KM Natraj, representing the CBI, however, pointed to photographs and forensic reports and said there were at least 18 injuries recorded on the victims’ bodies.

Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, representing Bennix’s mother, said the two officers were very much present at the station when the victims were being tortured. Noting that two eye witnesses have gathered courage and gave statements against their senior officers, Jaisingh said enlarging the police officers on bail at this stage would collapse the trial.

Workers, doctors welcome TN bill on right to sit

Workers, doctors welcome TN bill on right to sit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.09.2021

The state government’s bill mandating all shops and establishments to facilitate seating arrangements for their workers and staff has brought cheer among workers and healthcare professionals.

On Monday, Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development C V Ganesan introduced a Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, making it mandatory for shops and establishments to provide seating arrangements for employees working in shops and commercial establishments.

“Considering the plight of the employees, the premises of every establishment shall have suitable seating arrangements for all employees so that they may take advantage of any opportunity to sit which may occur in the course of their work and thereby avoid ‘on their toes’ situation throughout the working hours,” the bill stated.

Women workers in large shopping centres like in T Nagar and Purasawalkam are elated at the announcement as seating arrangements for shopfloor workers and salespersons are not enough. For those with health issues, standing for hours at a stretch takes a toll on their health, doctors said.

In 2018, neighbouring Kerala passed a legislation mandating seating arrangements after women workers protested condemning the same.

Dr N Sekar, former president, Vascular Society of India, said a common health ailment in people who stand for long hours is varicose vein, found among traffic cops, sales persons, waiters and those working in factory units.

Dr Sekar explained that blood tends to stagnate in the leg for those who stand for long hours. Since veins in the calf region have to push the blood back to the heart, there has to be a movement of muscles. If left unattended, blood vessels start enlarging leading to ulcers, blood clots or chronic inflammation on legs.

“As a vascular surgeon, I feel happy about the government’s move. It provides me immense happiness that workers will be offered dignity and respect at their workplace. My hope is that other states adopt it too,” said Dr J Amalorpavanathan, Director of Vascular Surgery (Retd), Madras Medical College and member, Planning commission of Tamil Nadu.

BIG RELIEF: A worker at a textile showroom in T Nagar. A common health ailment in people who stand for long hours is varicose veins

Graft: Govt official gets 2 years in jail

Graft: Govt official gets 2 years in jail

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.09.2021

A former assistant executive engineer with the market management committee, Koyambedu wholesale market complex, has been found guilty of graft charges by a special court that also sentenced him for two years imprisonment.

He had demanded a bribe of ₹30,000 from a person who ran a tea stall within the market premises and abused his position as a public servant by threatening the tea stall owner that his shop will be sealed if he did not accede to the official’s demands.

According to the prosecution, M Sivalingam, the former government official had approached the tea shop within the Kamarajar flower market premises on November 3, 2014 and demanded a bribe.

After negotiations, the official had agreed to take an amount of ₹5,000 initially. Unwilling to pay the amount, the tea stall owner preferred a complaint against the official with the vigilance and anti-corruption department.

A trap was laid and on November 17, the accused official met the tea stall owner, who gave chemically coated currency notes to the official. DVAC officials caught him red-handed while accepting the bribe.

Can’t stop probe in Kodanad case, truth must come out: SC

Can’t stop probe in Kodanad case, truth must come out: SC

Chennai:08.09.2021

In a leg-up to the state government’s decision to initiate further probe into the Kodanad estate murder and burglary case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to interfere with the investigation and said “the truth must come out”. Ruling on a special leave petition filed by Anubhav Ravi, an AIADMK functionary, who opposed further investigation, saying it would delay the ongoing trial in the Nilgiris sessions court, a bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud sought to dismiss the petition. But it then declared it as withdrawn after senior counsel Siddharth Luthra, representing Ravi, sought the court’s permission to withdraw the plea.

The order may have political ramifications as decks have now been cleared for the TN police to summon and interrogate witnesses and suspects. The case concerns the murder of a security guard and burglary at Kodanad estate, co-owned by former CM Jayalalithaa and her friend V K Sasikala, in 2017. Sasikala was lodged in a Bengaluru jail then. Chargesheet had been filed against 11 suspects and the trial had reached an advanced stage when the new DMK government cited several loopholes and began further probe. TNN

‘PAY ₹30,000 TO MAN FOR MISSING FLIGHT DUE TO TRAIN DELAY’

‘PAY ₹30,000 TO MAN FOR MISSING FLIGHT DUE TO TRAIN DELAY’

Railways can’t be slowcoach: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:08.09.2021

In a first of its kind ruling that will jolt the Railways and pleasantly surprise the general public that takes train delays as part of life, the Supreme Court ordered the Railways to pay a compensation of Rs 30,000 to a man who missed a flight from Jammu to Srinagar as the Ajmer-Jammu Express reached its destination four hours late.

A bench of Justices M R Shah and Aniruddha Bose fastened accountability on the Railways for delayed running of trains. It said that if the Railways cannot explain why a train reached its destination late causing inconvenience to passengers, then it would be liable to compensate them in case they filed a deficiency of service complaint before a consumer forum.

The SC said passengers’ time is precious and someone must be held accountable for train delays. “These are the days of competition and accountability. If the public transportation has to survive and compete with private players, they have to improve the system and their working culture. Citizen/passenger cannot be at the the mercy of the authorities/administration. Somebody has to accept the responsibility,” it said.

Justices Shah and Bose upheld the concurrent orders of the district, state and national consumer forums granting Rs 30,000 compensation with 9% interest to Sanjay Shukla, who with his family missed the 12 noon flight from Jammu to Srinagar because the train scheduled to reach Jammu at 8.10am on June 11, 2016 had chugged into the final stop almost four hours late at 12 noon, leaving the family with no chance of making it on time to the Jammu airport which was at quite a distance from the station.

The family had to arrange for a taxi to travel from Jammu to Srinagar at a cost of R 15,000 and pay Rs 10, 000 for lodging at Srinagar. The district consumer forum, Alwar, had surprised the Northern Western Railways by ordering it to reimburse to Shukla the costs incurred towards taxi fare and lodging and also pay an additional Rs 5,000 for mental agony and litigation expenses. The forum’s decision was upheld by State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and the National Commission. The Railways then appealed against the NCDRC decision in the SC.

Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati argued that in view of Rule 114 and Rule 115 of the Indian Railway Conference Association Coaching Tariff No. 26 Part-I (Volume-I), there shall not be any liability of the railways to pay compensation for train delays. But, the bench was in no mood to accept the argument given the chronicity of delay in running of trains in India.

TIME IS MONEY

CM advances disbursement of hike in dearness allowance for govt staff Regularises Suspension Days As Working Days

CM advances disbursement of hike in dearness allowance for govt staff

Regularises Suspension Days As Working Days

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.09.2021

Chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday announced a slew of measures for government employees, including advancing disbursement of hike in dearness allowance, cancelling suspension on the last working day for staff facing disciplinary action, regularisation of strike and suspension days as working days and simplifying procedures for compassionate appointments.

In a suo motu statement in the state assembly, Stalin said despite a financial crisis the state government would implement the dearness allowance hike from January1, 2022, which is three months in advance, following requests from government employees’ unions. "Due to this decision, 16 lakh government employees and pensioners will be benefited. The government will incur an additional expenditure of ₹620crore and an annual expenditure of ₹6,480crore," he said. Stalin said the government would end the practice of suspending government employees, facing disciplinary and other charges, on the last working day. He further announced that the government would release new guidelines simplifying the norms for appointment under compassionate grounds. "After considering the demands of employees’ unions, the government decided to regularize the strike and suspension periods of government employees, who participated in various strikes called by unions in 2016, 2017 and 2019. The teachers, who were transferred will be given priority in transfer counselling. The government will cancel all disciplinary actions initiated against teachers during the strike and in case their promotion is affected by the disciplinary action, it will be rectified," CM said.

Further, the retirement age for noon meal workers would be increased from 58 to 60 years. The CM said the increment for higher educational qualification which was cancelled in 2020 would be restored again by following the Union government's guidelines. "With increase in enrolment in government schools, the government will take measures to appoint more teachers to meet the teacher: student ratio," he said. The chief minister said steps would be taken to fill vacancies for posts of junior assistants in government schools through Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC). Moreover, an order would be passed to include sons and daughters of government employees, dependent on them, without considering their age, under the health insurance scheme for government staff. For Covid-19 treatment, the government would fund the excess amount in case the treatment cost exceeds ₹10 lakh.

Times of India 07.09.2021

 

Hry to relieve its 116 docs on Sept 30

Hry to relieve its 116 docs on Sept 30

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chandigarh:07.09.2021

In a major setback to Haryana’s preparedness for the anticipated third wave of Covid-19, the state health department has decided to do away with the services of 116 medicos from September 30. The decision has been taken consequent to the health department’s new guideline of bringing down the age of superannuation of Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) doctors to 58 with immediate effect.

Till now, doctors who attained the age of 58 were given an extension of service, as consultants, in the health department with same service benefits.

With this new circular released by health department on Friday, doctors, once they attain the age of superannuation, would be re-employed only after they are officially relieved and after filling an online proforma.

The HCMS association has decided to take up the issue with state home minister Anil Vij. “This system of automatic extension is prevalent even at the Centre... Imagine the plight of those on extension who did not even apply for the retirement benefits due to automatic extension. It is well known that only those in need of job opt for extension, else they would have resigned after a particular period,” said Dr Jasbir Singh Panwar, president of HCMSA. Service rules stipulate that either party serves a notice of three months ahead of relieving or resigning from the job. But, in this case all 116 doctors will be relieved on September 30, he added.

When contacted, Vij cited the change of rules but claimed that all those on extension will have the job security. “What we have done is that instead of giving one-time extension, it (extension) will be given every year. Besides, they will be deployed at places where their services are really needed. Now, most of the consultants want Panchkula or choice postings, which is not possible. Hence postings will be done on basis of requirement,” he said.

Panwar claimed that most of the doctors who will be relieved are specialists and have undergone training for the third wave. He also rued delay on the part of government for creation of sub cadre of specialist and other demands. “Even though the chief minister and the home minister have given a go ahead, the files have been lying with the administrative secretaries for the past year and half,” he added.

HP is champion of vaccination: Modi

Shimla:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a virtual interaction with healthcare workers and beneficiaries of Covid vaccination program of Himachal Pradesh on Monday, said the hill state had emerged as a “champion” of Covid inoculation. He said the state was able to achieve this target due to effective implementation of the vaccination drive and public awareness. Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said till September 3, 55,28,648 people had been inoculated with the first dose of Covid vaccine and17,92,715 people had been inoculated with two doses of vaccine. TNN

CBSE guidelines out, MCQ-based exams for Class 10 & 12 in 1st term

CBSE guidelines out, MCQ-based exams for Class 10 & 12 in 1st term

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:07.09.2021

Like engineering students, CBSE school students of Class 10 and 12 in Bhopal will have MCQ-based questions in the first term in November and December.

This is not a only a new experience but a radical shift from the usual pattern of evalutaion, keeping both students and teachers on their toes.

Schools have begun organising orientation classes to clear the doubts of students and parents. CBSE had issued comprehensive guidelines for schools to conduct the exams.

The paper will now have case-based MCQs and MCQs on assertion-reasoning type. The second one is the one that will need more effort to get used to. Learning by rote will not work. Unless one has clear knowledge of concepts, it is difficult to atempt assertion based questions.

The tests will be of 90-minute duration and cover only the rationalized syllabus of Term I only (around 50% of the entire syllabus) Exams will be conducted under the supervision of External Center Superintendents and Observers appointed by CBSE.

The responses of students will be captured on OMR sheets which, after scanning may be directly uploaded at CBSE portal or alternatively may be evaluated and marks obtained will be uploaded by the school the very same day. The final direction in this regard will be conveyed to schools. Marks of the term-1 will contribute to the final overall score of students.

“Preparing for MCQ is completely different from theoretical exam preparation. Due to fear of third wave of Covid, I am not able to attend classes. In such a situation, preparing for the exams is dicey,” said Prashant Mishra, a class 12 student. Teachers said there is a lot of uncertainty regarding academics. “CBSE guidelines itself suggest that anything could happen. Instead of focusing on academics, students and parents are spending more time on the scheme of the examinations,” said a teacher.

Citizens can opt for early second dose, says Kerala HC

Citizens can opt for early second dose, says Kerala HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi:07.09.2021

The Kerala high court on Monday held that not allowing citizens to have the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine early, while allowing some categories such as those going abroad, was discriminatory, especially when they are willing to avail paid vaccination. Allowing pleas filed by Kitex Garments Limited and another company for early second-dose vaccination of their workers, Justice PB Suresh Kumar ordered the Central government to make changes to vaccine-booking portal CoWIN to allow citizens willing to pay for the second dose to choose between an early vaccination to be safe or a late vaccination for better efficacy.

Both the Central and state governments had agreed before the court that early second-dose vaccination is being allowed for some categories, such as people going abroad for jobs or studies, government officials requiring travel abroad, and those participating in the Olympics. The court held that citizens who pay for Covishield vaccine have the right to choose whether to be vaccinated after four weeks of first dose, as was originally prescribed by the government, or after 84 days as prescribed by the Central government citing better efficacy.

In the judgment, the court noted that vaccination is voluntary and the dosage gap prescribed by the Central government can only be considered advisory. In such circumstances, there is no reason for the Central government to oppose its own decision to distribute vaccines through private hospitals to enable people to get vaccinated early, the court said. The court has also clarified that it has not given a ruling on whether citizens have a choice for early vaccination or late vaccination while availing vaccines for free from the government.

Advocate Blaze K Jose had argued for Kitex that the preventing early administration of second-dose vaccines to the petitioner’s employees after having bought the vaccine at a cost of Rs 1.5crore amounts to discrimination.

People wait in a queue to receive Covid-19 vaccine dose in Kochi

Priests can’t become owner of temple deity’s land: SC

Priests can’t become owner of temple deity’s land: SC

‘Neither Can Collector Substitute Name Of Deity As Owner’

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:07.09.2021

To stop the fence from eating the grass, the Supreme Court has ruled that priests, who perform daily rituals in a temple, cannot become owners of the land vested in deities and also stopped the government from becoming the owners of the said assets by substituting the name of priests with that of area collector. This ruling was given by a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and A S Bopanna while allowing an appeal filed by Madhya Pradesh government which had struck down a state government notification deleting the names of priests from revenue records as owners of temple land vested in deities.

Appearing for the state, advocate Saurabh Mishra argued that the executive instructions were issued to delete the names of ‘Pujari’ (priest) from the revenue record so as to protect the temple properties from unauthorised sale by them. Appearing for the association of priests, advocate Divyakant Lahoti submitted that the ‘pujaris’ have been conferred ‘Bhumiswami (ownership)’ rights, a right which cannot be taken away by executive instructions.

Writing the judgment for the bench and taking into consideration various decisions of the SC in similar issues, Justice Gupta said, “Taking into consideration the past precedents, and the fact that under the Gwalior Act, Pujari had been given right to manage the property of the temple, it is clear that it does not elevate him to the status of tenant in cultivation... Since the priest cannot be treated to be Bhumiswami, they have no right which could be protected under any of the provisions of the Code.”

The SC said in the ownership column, the name of the deity alone is required to be mentioned, as the deity being a juristic person is the owner of the land. “The occupation of the land is also by the deity which is carried out by the servant or the managers on behalf of the deity. Therefore, the name of the manager or that of the priest is not required to be mentioned in the column of occupier as well,” it ruled and said that the state government did not commit any mistake in issuing executive instructions to delete priests as owners of lands belonging to deities.

The SC did not approve of the state’s decision to substitute names of priests with collectors as owners of the temple land. “We find that the name of the Collector as manager cannot be recorded in respect of property vested in the deity as the Collector cannot be a manager of all temples unless it is a temple vested with the State,” it said.

Pujari has been given right to manage the property of the temple. It does not elevate him to the status of tenant in cultivation. Since the priest cannot be treated to be Bhumiswami, they have no right, which could be protected under any of the provisions of the Code

SUPREME COURT

Girls paraded naked to please rain gods

Girls paraded naked to please rain gods

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:07.09.2021

Madhya Pradesh is no stranger to bizarre rain rituals, but this one borders on the grotesque. Minor girls were paraded naked, carrying a heavy wooden flail, in Damoh district in the belief that it will please the rain gods.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognizance of the ritual and asked for details from the collector. Graphic videos of the parade have also been shared on social media. In the fag end of monsoon, drought looms over large parts of Bundelkhand, forcing villagers to desperation. People of a tribal village in rain-parched Damoh took to an age-old ritual in a last ditch attempt to appease the rain gods.

On Monday, two little girls, apparently aged below 10, carried a flail over their shoulders as they led a procession of village women, including their mothers. The women sang bhajans to seek blessings of the gods to save crops drying in the fields. They also begged for alms, mainly foodgrains, which were then used to prepare food in the fields to complete the ritual, said the mother of one of the girls. The children had no clue why they were disrobed and made to walk around the village. “This ritual has been happening for a few days,” said some of the villagers. The mother of one of the girls, who was paraded on Monday, said: “Our paddy has started drying due to lack of rainfall. We need water. This will bring rain.”

Damoh SP DR Teniwar said, “It is a tradition here that can be termed superstition. We will investigate. In case we come to know about force being used against the children while they are paraded naked, we will initiate action.”

Asked about videos of the parade being shared on social media, the SP said: “We will investigate the video’s authenticity and take action.”

Monsoon usually slows down in MP in September. On Monday, Damoh was 47% rain-deficient, followed by Panna district at 38% and Chhatarpur at 25%. Many rivers are dry. Unless it really pours this month or the monsoon overstays, Bundelkhand and many other parts of MP face a brutal summer ahead.

On Monday, two little girls, aged below 10, carried a flail over their shoulders as they led a procession of village women, including their mothers. The children had no clue why they were disrobed & made to walk around the village

Girl dies after swallowing 1-rupee coin

Girl dies after swallowing 1-rupee coin

Mysuru:07.09.2021

A four-year-old girl from a Hunsur village died after swallowing a one-rupee coin.

The girl died three days after the coin got stuck in the trachea followed by infection, at a hospital in Mysuru.

The girl’s uncle had given her a coin to buy balloon on Friday. She was playing with the coin, keeping it in her mouth. Accidentally, she swallowed it and she didn’t inform anyone in the family. The incident happened when she was in her grandmother’s home.

A day later, she developed breathing trouble and the family came to know that something was stuck in the windpipe. Doctors discovered that it was a coin after the girl told them in the hospital. However, it lead to infection and she died at the hospital.

Hunsur police said they have not received any complaint in this regard. TNN

Nimhans staff protests nurse’s assault

Nimhans staff protests nurse’s assault

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:07.09.2021

Several nurses and other employees of Nimhans staged a protest on Monday, condemning an alleged assault of a nurse by the head of clinical nursing services (incharge) at the institute.

With over 100 staffers part of the demonstration, patients faced inconvenience in the afternoon, said members of Nimhans employees’ association, which called for the protest.

On August 30, the nurse was allegedly manhandled by the head of clinical nursing services and a complaint was lodged against the officer at Siddapura police station.

AG Nagaraj, president of the employees’ association, said the institution was yet to take any action against the accused, who was also seen on campus on Monday. “It is inhuman to assault a colleague. Such attitude towards subordinate staff is objectionable. The act of manhandling a colleague is a criminal offence and officer must be suspended immediately,” said Nagaraj.

The competent authorities have initiated the suitable administrative procedure, said Nimhans authorities. However, they said functioning of the hospital was not affected. “The protest was not indefinite. The nurses came back to work and patient services were not hit,” said Nimhans medical superintendent Dr Muralidharan K.

Cops from Siddapura police station said a non-cognisable report was filed based on a complaint from the nurse. “With the court’s nod, we have registered an FIR against the head of clinical nursing services on charges of assaulting a nursing officer,” a cop said.

The All India Government Nurses’ Federation has written to the Union ministry of health and family welfare condemning the assault.

It is shocking that the head of clinical nursing services reportedly assaulted one of our nursing colleagues when she approached the former for redressal of serious grievances. The nurse was admitted to the observation ward. The cold response from the management has demoralised the nursing fraternity

K Khurana | SECRETARY GENERAL, ALL INDIA GOVERNMENT NURSES’ FEDERATION