Final year classes on shift basis from Oct 4

Final year classes on shift basis from Oct 4

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:11.09.2021

Classes for final year students in higher education institutions in the state would begin from October 4 on a shift basis on alternate days. A decision in this regard was reached at higher education minister R Bindu’s meeting with college principals on Friday.

Classes for junior semester students would be decided later considering the experience of the mechanism being put in place for the final year students, Bindu told reporters after the online meeting with principals.

“To begin with, classes would be organised on alternate days. Teachers would reach the campus daily. A fresh order specifying the working time for colleges during this special arrangement would be issued soon. Institutions may opt for different shift timings, according to their convenience. Generally, the student strength in PG classes is below 20. Nothing prevents college authorities from organising daily classes for students of such classes,” Bindu said.

A special vaccination drive would be held on college campuses to ensure that all students get at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. The drive would be held by coordinating respective DMOs, primary health centres, universities, and college campuses. “For the effective drive, the statistics of non-vaccinated students and teachers would be prepared. Covid vigilance committees would be set up on all campuses. Classes would be held adhering to Covid protocols, and college authorities are supposed to ensure availability of sanitiser, soap and handwash,” the minister said.

Bindu said the department would ask district collectors to return certain college buildings that had been converted to CFLTCs. They will be also asked to relieve teachers who were given the charge of sectoral magistrates.

“Colleges are being opened to overcome limitations of online classes. Online classes would be set up in all colleges. Principals have been asked to ensure that learning management system is introduced in their colleges. Principals would fix the schedule for blended classes, using online and offline facilities,” Bindhu said.

She r said the government would make best efforts to ensure public transport facility for college-going students. “Institutional heads would arrange accommodation facilities at hostels by ensuring the adherence of Covid-19 protocol. Since only final year students are allowed on campuses, accommodation in hostels won’t be a risk,” Bindhu added

A special vaccination drive would be held on college campuses to ensure that all students get at least one Covid vaccine dose

August 2021 was third hottest in 120 yrs: IMD

August 2021 was third hottest in 120 yrs: IMD

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:11.09.2021

A huge rainfall deficit ensured August 2021 was the third hottest August in the country in the past 120 years but it was also marked by the Ridge area in the capital breaking its 24 hour rainfall record for the month.

As far as temperature was concerned, the monthly average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature over all India for the month of August during 1901-2021 shows the average ‘maximum temperature’ over all India was third highest (31.75 degree C) and average ‘minimum temperature’ was eighth highest (24.39 degree C) while the ‘mean temperature’ over all India was third highest (28.07 degree C) since 1901, making it the third hottest August.

“The observed average maximum, average minimum and mean temperature for the country as a whole during August 2021 are 31.75 degree C, 24.39 degree C and 28.07 degree C respectively, against the normal of 31.09 degree C, 24.01 degree C and 27.55 degree C based on period 1981-2010,” said the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) weather analysis for August.

The overall rainfall deficit (24% below long period average) had led it to be the lowest August rainfall in the country in the last 12 years (after 2009).

So far during period 1901-2021, August 2021 was the 6th lowest after 1920 (32.5% below LPA), 2005 (28.4% below LPA), 2009 (26.5% below LPA),1913 (25.6% below LPA), and 1930 and 1993 when it had 25.2% below LPA.

Only 28 stations reported extremely heavy rainfall

The IMD said certain stations recorded ‘very heavy’ to ‘extremely heavy’ rainfall with six of them including Delhi Ridge, Car Nicobar, Aizwal, Bundi, Thanjavur and Shivpuri reporting their 24-hour respective record rainfall in August.

“There were only 28 stations which reported extremely heavy rainfall”, said the IMD in its analysis. There are over 4,000 rainfall recording stations in the country. Referring to the impact of weather events in August, the IMD noted that a total 121 persons lost their lives while 28 persons got injured during the month.

Govt sees red on Savarkar, VC denies it’s saffronisation

Govt sees red on Savarkar, VC denies it’s saffronisation

Panel To Examine Univ Syllabus, Submit Report

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kozhikode:11.09.2021

The row over inclusion of writings of Hindutva ideologues MS Golwakar and V D Savarkar in the MA Governance and Politics syllabus of Kannur University appeared to evolve into a larger debate on whether non-mainstream or controversial works should become part of conventional syllabi, even as it put the government in a spot on Friday, with divisions cropping up among Left parties on the issue.

The varsity has constituted a two-memberpanel -- comprising political scientists Prof J Prabhash and Prof K S Pavithran -- to examine the syllabus and submit a report in five days. Higher education minister R Bindu on Friday termed the development as "highly sensitive" and said it was "dangerous" to have communal references in university syllabus, but toned down her reaction by the evening. “If the syllabus requires any change, the university will take appropriate steps. If some additions proposed are to be dropped, the university would do so," she said.

Protests in varsity for second day

CM Pinarayi Vijayan also gave a similar reaction but said the government does not want to glorify ideologies and leaders who had turned away their faces from the Independence struggle. The university had included extracts from Savarkar’s “Hindutva: who is a Hindu”, and Golwalkar’s “Bunch of Thoughts” in the syllabus. Vice-chancellor Gopinath Ravindran justified the decision, saying the syllabus was aimed at enabling students to develop a critical understanding about various strands of Indian political thought.

The varsity witnessed protests for the second day on Friday, with the AISF also taking out a protest march demanding withdrawal of the syllabus. KSU activists blocked the vicechancellor’s vehicle. Senior CPI leader Benoy Vishwam joined the opposition leaders in criticising the decision. Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the decision is condemnable.

The issue, meanwhile, laid bare conflicting opinions in SFI, with Kannur University Students Union chairman M K Hassan supporting the decision and SFI state secretary K M Sachin Dev opposing it.

The controversy brought up diverse opinions among academics as well. Historian and former ICHR chairman M G S Narayanan said it was imperative that students read all diverse strands of Indian political thought at the post-graduate level. “They should get an opportunity to compare and contrast different points of view. Also, it will help them in developing their own independent perspective,” he said. Political scientist and Kasargod central university former vice-chancellor G Gopakumar said it was unfortunate that holistic academic matters are used for petty political gains. “Political science is a liberal discipline. Those who speak against the syllabus should at least understand that Indian political thought is a prominent paper and works and philosophy of Savarkar, Golwalkar and Muhammad Ali Jinnah are part of this,” he said. “The demand to obfuscate the prominent political ideologies would be like asking political science students to study the second world war, without studying Hilter and Mussolini and their ideologies,” he added.

P K Ravindran, educationist and former deputy director of the collegiate education department, however said students should be taught textbooks that will take them forward and not backward in time. “Universities should not be the place to promote retrograde ideas. It is wrong to teach youngsters textbooks and ideas that would take them centuries back. If those responsible for drafting the syllabus don’t take the matter seriously, they do not deserve to hold such positions,” he said.

› FULL COVERAGE: P 5

I-T dept ‘surveys’ Newsclick, Newslaundry in tax case

I-T dept ‘surveys’ Newsclick, Newslaundry in tax case

New Delhi:11.09.2021

The Income Tax department on Friday conducted separate “survey operations” at the premises of online news portals Newsclick and Newslaundry here, officials said.

The operations are being conducted to verify certain tax payment details and remittances made by the organisations, they said. Some documents have been found and these are being studied, the officials said.

In a survey operation, which is carried out under provisions of section 133A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, tax officials cover only the business premises of an assessee and those linked to it and not their residential addresses. However, tax authorities can seize documents. There was no immediate reaction from the two portals or their promoters.

Newsclick and its founders were raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and that investigation is linked to alleged dubious foreign funding received by its registered company, which runs the news portal.

The money laundering case arises out of a Delhi Police FIR alleging that PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd received foreign direct investment (FDI) of Rs 9.59 crore from Worldwide Media Holdings LLC USA during the 2018-19 financial year. AGENCIES

Pay ₹28L over fraud involving duplicate SIM, Voda ordered

Pay ₹28L over fraud involving duplicate SIM, Voda ordered

Srikanta.Tripathy@timesgroup.com

Jaipur:11.09.2021

The Rajasthan IT department has ordered Vodafone Idea to pay one of its customers remaining Rs 27.5 lakh out of the total Rs 68.5 lakh which was illegally transferred from his account using a duplicate cellphone SIM card issued by the telecom company without proper verification of customer identification documents.

The case pertains to one Bhanu Pratap, who was issued a duplicate SIM belonging to another person and transferred a total of Rs 68.5 lakh from IDBI bank to his other accounts. Later, he returned Rs 44 lakh but the victim is yet to receive the rest of the money. On May 25, 2017, Krishna Lal Nain’s Vodafone Idea mobile number stopped working. He went to the telecom company’s store in Hanumangarh and registered a complaint.

Though he got a new number, it remained inactivated despite repeated complaints. In Jaipur, he went to one of the company’s stores and again submitted a complaint for SIM activation, which happened the next day. By then, the culprit had transferred Rs 68.5 lakh from Nain’s IDBI Bank account using the OTPs generated.

Not only was the duplicate SIM card issued without proper verification of personal data, the delay in activation of the new SIM card and the transfer of money from the account during the period raised serious questions.

NEET forgery racket busted by Ajmer police, 3 arrested

NEET forgery racket busted by Ajmer police, 3 arrested

Ajmer:11.09.2021

A team formed by Inspector General of Police of Ajmer range on Friday arrested three accused from Delhi, Jaipur and Kota who claimed to provide guarantee to facilitate and clear NEET and JEE exams by providing dummy candidates on behalf of real candidates. The NEET examination isonSeptember12andtheracket busted by police has caused panic among the candidates.

Briefing a press conference, Inspector General of Police Ajmer range S Sengathir told the media that the candidates appearing for NEET exams were getting calls by consultancy companies that they will arrange for admission in government colleges and also provide candidates who will appear in the NEET exam, as they have already qualified such exams before. For this purpose, candidates had to first deposit Rs 1 lakh and later Rs 5 to 6 lakh on the day of examination and for getting into a good college, they had to deposit total Rs 30 lakh.

The team constituted for investigation went for query as a dummy parent and met Arpit Swami, who is running the office as consultancy in Vikas Puri of New Delhi.

Arpit told them about the network they have, to provide examination centre as well as dummy candidate who will appear in the examination. The dummy parents made a deal and paid Rs17 lakh to Arpit and after confirming the forgery in the examination, police arrested Arpit Swami, who is a resident of Alwar, from New Delhi; Gajender Swami, a resident of New Delhi arrested from Raja Park in Jaipur and Mohammad Danish from Kota. TNN

A Very Consequential Supreme Court Ruling

A Very Consequential Supreme Court Ruling

When govt values land unjustly, landowners cannot seek full remedy in lower courts

Sunil Gupta

11.09.2021

Construction of national highways and acquisition of land for that purpose is an important GoI project. The state always has the power to compulsorily acquire any person’s property for public purpose but in lieu of fair compensation. Fair compensation is a constitutional right. However, now, under a recent Supreme Court judgment in Project Director, NHAI vs M Hakeem, GoI can acquire land for highways without a fair mechanism for compensation. SC has always taken pride in laying down the law for upholding constitutional rights. But it has failed this time.

Why is govt arbitration one-sided?

Under the National Highways Act, 1956 (amended 1997), when GoI acquires land for highways, compensation is fixed by a government servant. A dissatisfied landowner can seek reconsideration but even reconsideration is done by another government servant called an ‘arbitrator’ who is appointed not with the landowner’s consent but unilaterally by GoI.

A non-consensual ‘arbitrator’ is an oxymoron. Fulsome remedies of appeal are not available to the landowner under the Land Acquisition Act if the arbitrator’s compensation award is inadequate. Only a truncated remedy on technical grounds under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act is provided, where a court has limited power.

The court under this remedy can either set aside the award or leave it to be re-decided by the arbitrator but cannot modify the award and increase the compensation itself. Arbitrariness is writ large. Still, the apex court refused to concede to lower courts (below it) the right to enhance NHA awards.

SC’s view could have been acceptable had the arbitrator been appointed with the landowner’s consent. An HC had found that the governmentappointed arbitrator had simply ‘rubber-stamped’ the collector’s measly compensation of Rs 46.55-83.15 per sq mt, although the market value (from sale-deeds of identical lands) was Rs 645 psm.

Therefore, HC, instead of setting aside the award or remitting it for a completely new hearing and decision by yet another government-appointed bureaucrat arbitrator, enhanced the compensation itself. It held that, at least, as regards NHA awards, Section 34 should be construed liberally as permitting the court to modify and enhance the compensation itself. This view gave landowners at least one full and fair judicial remedy in a court.

What did the Supreme Court say?

Time and again, SC has itself adopted ‘dynamic’ and ‘creative’ interpretation of statutes to facilitate justice. It has constitutional power to do ‘complete justice’. However, this time, despite NHA’s unfair consequences, SC disagreed with HC and adopted a surprisingly conservative approach.

SC expressed regret that under NHA the wholesome regime of appeals has been replaced by a nonconsensual arbitrator’s award challengeable only on limited grounds but left it to Parliament to amend NHA. Yet it simultaneously ruled that the mere fact that such a process would enable a government servant to ‘rubber-stamp’ an award cannot mean that a challenge on merits should be provided under Section 34. Such an approach by the all-powerful highest court is disconcerting.

Ironically enough, SC did note the ‘perverse’ and ‘abysmally low amounts’ granted to landowners by the Arbitrator. Yet it disapproved the HC’s enhancement but at the same time refused to disturb this particular enhancement on the ground that the NHA amendment’s constitutional validity hasn’t been challenged, therefore, grave injustice would be done if SC were to set aside the HC decision or leave it for re-decision by the very government servant arbitrator who had applied the ‘depressed land values’.

Why does the status quo continue?

However, SC has denied lower courts (below it) the right to modify and enhance NHA awards. They can only set aside an award or remit it back for ‘arbitration’. Landowners cannot challenge the NHA amendment’s validity in their purely statutory petitions under Section 34. That can happen only in a writ petition in HCs or SC under the Constitution. This leaves lower courts spectators when confronted with unjust awards.

Future cases of inadequate NHA compensation under Section 34 leave landowners (mostly poor farmers and agriculturists) and lower courts in a bind. For landowners, SC has ruled a ‘limited right’ and ‘limited remedy’ to ‘cure’ awards. Lower courts are hamstrung by a lakshman rekha.

The writer is a Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India

With NEET tomorrow, states too have a test

With NEET tomorrow, states too have a test

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.04.2021

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written to all the chief ministers seeking their support in conducting the largest single shift competitive exam in India—the NEET-UG scheduled for September 12, Sunday.

With a record 16.14 lakh candidates having registered and in keeping with the Covid-19 situation and protocols the number of centres have been doubled to 3,858 and candidates have been allotted different entry times to ensure staggered entry.

The National Testing Agency has also issued an advisory on its website on Friday and has mailed the same to the candidates. Meanwhile, the ministry of education has also written to the chief secretaries of all the states/ UTs to permit mobility to the candidates on the basis of the admit card in case there are Covid restrictions in place.

NTA also warned candidates against falling prey to messages on WhatsApp claiming that the leaked question paper can be accessed on payment of a certain sum of money. “NTA would like to advise the students to desist from trusting such a fake platform. The exam is secure and it’s a way to fleece the students. The agency will also approach appropriate authorities for action on such activities,” said Vineet Joshi, director general, NTA.

In his letter to the CMs, Pradhan said: “We have recently seen the second wave of Covid-19 and conducting an examination of this magnitude in this background requires support of all stakeholders.

Now, use CoWin API to know others’ vax status

Now, use CoWin API to know others’ vax status

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:11.09.2021

To facilitate faster reopening of economic activities while also ensuring safety of people during the pandemic, CoWin has launched a new software interface (API) that will make it easier for organisations to know the vaccination status of their employees and customers.

On this API, “Know Your Customer’s/Client’s Vaccination Status”, or KYC-VS, one just needs to enter the individual’s mobile number and name. Thereafter, the individual will get a one-time password (OTP) which he/she will have to enter. CoWin will send a response to the verifying entity on the individual’s status of vaccination. The response will indicate whether the person is not vaccinated (denoted by ‘0’), partially vaccinated (denoted by ‘1’) or fully vaccinated (denoted by ‘2’).

The new feature is consent-based and privacy-preserving, the health ministry said on Friday.

CoWin is already issuing a digitally verifiable certificate as a proof of vaccination. This certificate can be saved on a digital device like smartphone, tablet, laptop or stored in Digi-Locker from where it can be digitally shared as and when required.

However, there may be instances where an entity does not need to see the certificate in full and would just need to know whether an individual has been vaccinated. For instance, employers may want to know the vaccination status of their employees to resume work from offices. Similarly, hotels may want to know the vaccination status of their customers. The API may also be used for railway reservation and flight bookings.

“There is a need for an Aadhaa rlike authentication service for the status of vaccination through CoWin. To take care of these cases and others that may come up, CoWin has developed a new API called ‘Know Your Customer’s/Client’s Vaccination Status’ or KYC-VS,” the ministry said.

Nearly 73 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far. This response through KYC-VS will be digitally signed and can be shared instantly with the verifying entity.

Punjab to send unvaccinated on leave

Punjab to send unvaccinated on leave

Chandigarh:11.09.2021

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh announced on Friday that state government employees failing to take even the first dose of a Covid vaccine for any reason other than medical will be compulsorily sent on leave after September 15.

This strong measure, an official statement said, was announced by chief minister Singh to protect the people of the state from the disease and to ensure that those who are vaccinated do not have to pay the price for continued vaccine hesitancy of those who are not.

At a high-level virtual Covid review meeting held on Friday, the CM said vaccine effectiveness is evident from the data being analysed. Special efforts were taken to reach out to government employees, and those who continue to avoid getting vaccinated will now be asked to go on leave till they get the first dose, he said. Singh also ordered extension of the existing Covid restrictions till September 30. PTI

NIRF Medical Rankings Released: Check Out 10 Best Medical Colleges In India

NIRF Medical Rankings Released: Check Out 10 Best Medical Colleges In India

By Garima Published On 9 Sep 2021 5:07 PM | Updated On 9 Sep 2021 5:07 PM

New Delhi: The ranking of top medical colleges across the country, based on the government's National Institute of Ranking Framework (NIRF), has been released today by the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

According to the NIRF rankings 2021, the premier healthcare institution of the country, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi got rank number 1 with a score of 92.07; AIIMS was adjudged as the number 1 institute last year as well with a score of 90.69.

The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER) bagged the second position with 82.62 score and Christian Medical College (CMC Vellore) got the third rank with 75.33.

As per NIRF 2020 list last year, the PGIMER had got 80.06 and CMC Vellore 73.56. All the top 3 institutes haveX increased the score by around 2 points this year.

Similar to last year, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore (NIMHANS) has bagged the 4th position with a 73.62 score by the ministry. Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow (SGPGI) comes at 5th rank with a score of 72.45; last year it was 70.21. The institute had applied for NIRF for the first time in the year 2019.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore Tamil Nadu is a new entry to the list. The institute bagged the 6th rank with a 69.25 score in its hand.

The Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (BHU) has slipped down to 7th rank. Last year it had got the 6th position with a 64.72 score. However, this year, the institute had improved its overall score by around 3 points with getting 67.62 from the Ministry.

The Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry (JIPMER), similar to last year, stays at 8th rank. This time it has got a score of 67.42 compared to last year's 63.17.

While King George's Medical University, Lucknow (KGMU) which had got the 10th rank in 2020 with 62.20, has jumped to 9th position this year with an improved score of 64.67; Kasturba Medical College, Manipal has got the Rank 10 compared to last year's 9th. The medical college has this year got 63.60 score, last year it was 62.84.

The NIRF is the annual Indian ranking that rates various institutes based on the parameters set by the organization includes the best colleges in the fields of engineering, medical, and MBA, including the top universities. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. The methodology draws from the overall recommendations broad understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by the Ministry of Education, to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions. The parameters broadly cover "Teaching, Learning and Resources," "Research and Professional Practices," "Graduation Outcomes," "Outreach and Inclusivity," and "Perception".

IIT-Madras ranked best institution, IISc top univ

IIT-Madras ranked best institution, IISc top univ

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:10.09.2021

Continuing its good run for the third year in a row, IIT-Madras has topped the ‘India Rankings 2021’ released by the ministry of education on Thursday, while in the colleges category Delhi’s Miranda House and Lady Shri Ram College for Women retained the first and second positions among the top 100. IIT-Madras retained top position in the ‘engineering’ and ‘overall’ categories.

Among the universities, IISc-Bangalore is ranked number one, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). In the research category, that was introduced this year, IISc-Bangalore emerged topper and IITMadras second.

This is the sixth edition of the India Rankings instituted by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the ministry of education, which now ranks higher education institutions in 11 categories.

Poor performance by Guj in overall rankings

The poor performance of Gujarat in the latest NIRF ranking continued into 2021. IIT Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn) ranked 33 in the ‘overall’ national ranking announced on Thursday, Gujarat University (GU) ranked 43rd in the ‘Universities’ category. The only saving grace for Gujarat was performance of institutions in various categories. TNN P 5

Tamil Nadu has 19 institutions in top 100 Indian universities

Number of unique applicants to the rankings have increased from 2,426 in 2016 to 4,030 in 2021 whereas the total number of applications for ranking in various categories have increased from 3,565 in 2016 to 6,272 in 2021.

Stating that IISc is the benchmark in research, which IIT-Madras will work towards, professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT-Madras, said, “We are delighted to maintain our pre-eminent position in the NIRF rankings yet again which indicate that we are constantly improving in all the parameters. In fact, all the institutions are improving which is a good thing. IIT-Madras continues to excel in teaching, research, and innovation, and has launched several new initiatives to implement the National Education Policy (NEP).” While not much have changed in terms of the rankings of the top institutions in the category of overall, engineering, law, medical and management, the college category has maximum changes with Loyola College (3), St Xavier’s Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Howrah (5) breaking into the top five for the first time. However, Delhi University, which itself has not featured in the overall and university top10, has five of its colleges in the top10 and12 in the top 20 categories. There are 28 colleges in the top 100 from Delhi, followed by eight each from Chennai and Coimbatore.

Region-wise, Tamil Nadu has 19 institutions in top 100 universities, followed by Maharashtra with12 and10 from Karnataka. In the overall category too the numbers are same for Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. However, Delhi with seven in top 100 overall pips Karnataka with third highest numbers of institutions in this category.

HC: Freezing of bank a/cs would affect right to life

HC: Freezing of bank a/cs would affect right to life

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:10.09.2021

Freezing of bank accounts would affect the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution, the high court has observed.

Justice Mohammed Nawaz made this observation while allowing a petition filed by Narayana Yadav, a New Delhi-based businessman, and directed the CEN police station at Yadgir to intimate the banks to defreeze his accounts. The defreezing is subject to the petitioner-businessman abiding by his commitment to give a bank guarantee for a sum of ₹3.7 lakh, the court said.

Yadav had challenged the June 22, 2020 notice issued by police, directing the manager of Axis Bank to freeze his account and linked account numbers, four in all.

The action was based on a complaint from Ludra Mary, a resident of Shahpur in Yadgir, who alleged that she received a mail on May 27, 2020 stating that she had won ₹48.5 lakh lottery. To get hold of the same, she had to log in to a certain website. Accordingly, she entered the password and the user name provided and filled up the information requested. In response, she was asked to deposit a certain amount to the account numbers provided. Until June 10, 2020, a total of ₹3.7 lakh was deposited in those accounts, but thereafter Ludra did not get the promised money.

Full report on www.toi.in

Covid vaccines 97% effective in preventing deaths: Tracker data

Covid vaccines 97% effective in preventing deaths: Tracker data

Also Helps To Monitor Reinfection & Breakthrough Infection After Vax

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:10.09.2021

Anti-Covid vaccines available in India are around 97% effective in preventing mortality, whereas vaccination significantly reduces hospitalisation, the assessment of real time vaccination data captured by the ‘Covid Vaccine Tracker’ has revealed. The soon-to-belaunched tracker also provides data for the government to monitor reinfection and breakthrough infection after vaccination, officials said.

Analysis of data shows that a single dose of Covid vaccine is 96.6% effective in preventing death, whereas two shots provide a 97.5% shield, ICMR director Balram Bhargava said. The data is for the April-August period and does not distinguish between the different Covid vaccines currently being administered in the country, he added.

“The vaccines are diseasemodifying in that they prevent serious disease and death. They are not diseasepreventing. So, breakthrough infections will occur even after the vaccination and that is why we keep on recommending that even after vaccination one must continue to use mask and adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour,” Bhargava said.

The tracker combines data from CoWIN, the national Covid-19 testing database and the Covid-19 India portal of the health ministry to understand trends in vaccinations. “The data so far has shown the same effectiveness across all age groups in preventing mortality,” Bhargava said.

Meanwhile, the causality assessment details of 88 reported serious adverse events following Covid immunisation shows 61 have consistent causal association to vaccination. Of these 61 cases, 37 were vaccine product related reactions, whereas 22 were immunization anxiety related reactions. Two cases were immunization error related reactions.

Apart from these 61 cases, another 18 have inconsistent causal association to vaccination (coincidental — not linked to vaccination) including three death cases. The remaining nine cases (of the 88) were in the “indeterminate category” including two death cases, says the AEFI report, approved by its national committee on June 28.

Currently, Serum Institute of India’s Covishield constitutes majority of the doses administered in the country, followed by Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin that is gradually increasing supplies. Russia’s Sputnik V is also being administered.

Woman gang-raped by eight workers after couple attacked in AP’s Guntur

Woman gang-raped by eight workers after couple attacked in AP’s Guntur

Ujwal.Bommakanti@timesgroup.com

Vijayawada:10.09.2021

A couple was attacked and the woman gang-raped by eight people near Medikonduru bypass road in Guntur district late on Wednesday night.

According to Medikonduru police, the incident took place between 9.30pm and 12 midnight when eight people waylaid the couple returning home on their bike after attending a wedding in Guntur city.

The police said as the couple crossed Paladugu crossroads, eight people stopped them, threatened them with knives, and robbed gold ornaments and cash from them. They then assaulted the husband, restrained him, and took the woman to the nearby agricultural field and gang-raped her before fleeing from the scene at around 12 midnight. The couple then went to Sattenapalli police station to lodge a complaint. However, as the incident took place at Medikonduru police station limits, the case was transferred to the latter police station. Medikonduru police registered a case. The investigation was later transferred to Disha police.

The Disha police said that they have identified the accused as workers involved in the construction of a cold storage plant in the vicinity. Out of the eight accused, six are from Odisha while the rest are from Vizianagaram district.

The woman was sent to Guntur Government General Hospital (GGH) for treatment. The police said that they are yet to make the arrests and a team led by DSP Jessy Prashanthi visited the crime scene with a dog squad and collected evidence to trace the accused.

Party flags on vehicles only during polls: HC

Party flags on vehicles only during polls: HC

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:10.09.2021

Madras high court has observed that the purpose of having party flags or designation boards or portraits of party/communal leaders or advocate/press stickers is only to prevent the police from stopping the vehicles and to flout the law. Taking into account the report submitted by the DGP and transport officials in this regard, a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran (since retired) and Justice B Pugalendhi observed that fixing of flags of any nature is not authorized by law and is illegal.

The court referred to an incident where police found huge quantity of ganja in a car with advocate sticker about three years ago in Theni. “It has become an order of the day in the state that almost 50% of the vehicles either have party flags or designation boards or portraits of party/communal leaders or advocate/press stickers. This menace has to be addressed, failing which the criminal activities will continue to be committed by the above modus operandi.”

The judges observed that as stated by the DGP, the police may face difficulties while discharging their duties as they may hesitate to stop and check such vehicles as the people travelling in them enter into heated arguments, resulting in law and order problems.

The court said vehicle owners may be permitted to fix party flags on their vehicles during elections if they are involved in election works for any political party. At other times, no one except constitutional authorities has got any right to do so. They directed the authorities to instruct owners of vehicles to remove such portraits within 60 days, failing which the authorities shall remove the same and impose fines on the vehicles.

The judges also issued a series of directions to the authorities to ensure that lights and number plates were fixed in vehicles according to Motor Vehicles Act and Rules. The court passed the order while disposing of a PIL filed by V Ramesh, an advocate from Madurai district who sought actions against the misuse of advocate stickers in vehicles.

R N Ravi is new governor of TN, Purohit off to Punjab

R N Ravi is new governor of TN, Purohit off to Punjab

TNN & AGENCIES

Chennai:10.09.2021

The President on Thursday appointed RN Ravi,the Centre's interlocutor and retired IPS officer, as the new governor of Tamil Nadu. The incumbent Banwarilal Purohit has been moved as governor of Punjab. He was earlier holding additional charge of Punjab.

RN Ravi was the governor of Nagaland, the communique said. Chief minister M K Stalin greeted R N Ravi on his appointment, wishing that his arrival to Tamil Nadu wil encourage its growth and prosperity.

He also extended a “loving and respectful” farewell to outgoing Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

In his message, Stalin greeted Ravi over his appointment. “Let your arrival encourage Tamil Nadu's growth and prosperity,” he said in a tweet. “Tamil Nadu welcomes you,” he added.

32 TN colleges among top 100 in NIRF ranks

32 TN colleges among top 100 in NIRF ranks

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.09.2021

Five state universities slipped in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings 2021 released on Thursday. While Anna University slipped by four places in both university category and engineering category to be ranked 16 and 18 respectively, University of Madras slipped six ranks from 22 to  28.

In the colleges category, Loyola College was ranked the third best college in the country, moving up three places. But, Presidency College slipped two ranks to 7th. As many as 32 colleges from Tamil Nadu featured among the top 100, the same as last year.

Christian Medical College in Vellore has retained its third position among medical colleges. In the engineering category, IIT Madras was the top ranked institute, NIT Trichy was ranked 9th and Vellore Institute of Technology 12th.

Anna University vicechancellor R Velraj said the reduction in the number of PhD admissions and more students discontinuing their engineering degrees to join medicine as main reasons for the slip in the ranking.

"The university fixed a qualification criteria for PhD admissions, which resulted in fewer admissions. With engineering counselling scheduled ahead of medical counselling last year, more students discontinued their courses after getting medical admissions. It affected our scores in graduation outcomes," he said. Madras University vicechancellor S Gowri said the vacancies among the faculty members will be one of the reasons for the slip in ranking. "We will study the reasons and try to improve our ranking," he said.

Bharathiar University from Coimbatore slipped from 13 to 14 while Bharathidasan University in Trichy came down from 53 to 57 in the university category. Madurai Kamaraj University also slipped from 60 to 63.

However, Alagappa University in Karaikudi have moved up from 36 to 33 and Periyar University in Salem jumped 10 places from 83 to73.

In the dental colleges category, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences came in third, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research was ranked 8 and SRM Dental College was ranked 10th. Among the pharmacy colleges, JSS College of Pharmacy in Ooty was ranked 7th.

MBBS admissions at Madurai AIIMS unlikely this year

MBBS admissions at Madurai AIIMS unlikely this year

Health Minister Ma Subramanian said it is unlikely the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai will be able to admit students in the current academic year (2021-22).

Published: 09th September 2021 05:47 AM |

For representational purposes

By Lalitha Ranjani

Express News Service

MADURAI: Health Minister Ma Subramanian said it is unlikely the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai will be able to admit students in the current academic year (2021-22). The plan to commence classes this year came up at the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in June, but the minister said the options suggested by the Union government for conducting classes were not feasible. This comes days ahead of this year’s NEET on September 12. Since last year, admission to MBBS courses at AIIMS and JIPMER has been based on NEET scores.

Speaking to TNIE, Subramanian said, “During the meeting with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on September 3, it was conveyed that none of the suggestions put forward regarding temporary arrangements were feasible for the State. TN is for beginning admissions only after construction of the planned buildings at Thoppur. Thus, we insisted on expediting the project. The Ministry acknowledged the practical difficulties in meeting the criteria of the National Medical Commission to admit students at AIIMS this year.”

The Union government had suggested three temporary options to begin classes this year for 150 students of Madurai AIIMS: to host them at JIPMER in Puducherry, at a government medical or arts college in Madurai, or at any private medical college in Madurai. The State did not find these options viable and instead suggested 50 students each be accommodated at the Madurai, Theni, and Sivaganga government medical colleges. However, all these options have now been ruled out.

‘Temporary campus will not reflect well on TN’

Subramanian explained JIPMER was ruled out as it would not be appropriate when the project concerned Tamil Nadu. Starting classes at a private medical college in Madurai, too, is out of question as AIIMS is an autonomous institution of national importance. Similarly, accommodating the students at the Madurai Medical College is not feasible since the college already admits 250 MBBS students every year.

An additional 150 students would burden the college which does not have the required infrastructure. The final option of admitting 50 students each at Madurai, Theni, and Sivaganga government medical colleges was also deemed logistically unfeasible. “It will only lead to inconvenience for the faculty and students,” he added.

“Most students securing admission to AIIMS are from northern States and would have greater expectations of the amenities as provided at other AIIMS. It would not reflect well on TN to accommodate them in a hastily-arranged temporary campus,” Subramanian said. On June 30, commencement of classes from this year was mooted during the hearing of a plea at the Madurai Bench.

The petitioner, a law student, sought a direction to the Union and State governments to take steps to commence the functioning of the institute at a temporary campus, until the construction of the main building was completed. It was then that the Union government told the court it was willing to start outpatient services and MBBS classes at a temporary alternative space identified by the TN government.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said except for vague correspondences and submissions of affidavits at the court, neither a MoU nor a concrete plan of action was chalked out by the Union Health Ministry to immediately start MBBS admissions at a temporary campus. Hence, after explaining the technical aspects, the State has insisted that the Union government fast-track the construction of AIIMS, he added.

THE ROAD SO FAR

JUNE 30 Centre tells HC it is keen to start outpatient services & classes, subject to availability of alternative space & manpower till the building is set up

JULY 7 State says Union govt suggested three places in Puducherry and Madurai to temporarily conduct MBBS classes for 150 students

JULY 26 TN says it sought an AIIMS report on the proposal to take 50 students in 2021- 22. Also says students can be taught at nearby govt colleges

AUG 17 AIIMS executive director says Centre is ready to start classes at any of the colleges chosen by TN, subject to infrastructure requirements. State seeks time.

Errors in Covid vaccine certificates headache for students

Errors in Covid vaccine certificates headache for students

Issues include wrong number, name, age, and dates of vaccination

Published: 09th September 2021 06:56 AM 

A health worker administering a dose of Covid-19 vaccine to a student at Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College in Chennai | R Satish Babu

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Several students who have taken vaccines for Covid-19 are reportedly not being allowed inside their colleges as they are unable to download their vaccination certificates from CoWin portal owing to issues like erroneous contact number, name, age, and same dates for first and second doses. A few of the colleges that insist on vaccination certificates are Loyola College, Chellammal Women’s college, and AM Jain college.

“I got the first dose at a government school in Meenambakkam in July. I have not even received a single message and thought it would take a 10-15 days. It, however, has been two months now and the officials at the vaccination centre have stopped responding. They said they could arrange for a certificate saying I got vaccinated in September,” said A Tamizhselvan, a student of AM Jain College. He added the college is not accepting the vaccination card issued at the centre at the time of vaccination as proof.

When contacted, a staff of the college said they are not accepting the cards because it is easy to duplicate them. Vaccination certificates are being insisted on to ensure everyone in the college is safe, especially in the backdrop of numerous cases erupting in schools across the State.

Similar is the plight of Aishwarya from Chellammal Women’s college in Guindy. She has been skipping college since September 1 and running from pillar to post to get her vaccination registered. “If we register as if we took a jab in September, the second dose will be delayed. I took my first dose in July. I know at least three of my friends facing similar issues,” she said. The college authorities could not be contacted for their response.

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has instructed the health department officials to establish a help desk in State and Health-Unit-District levels to sort out issues raised by citizens on Covid-19 vaccination, including non-issuance of vaccination certificate, certificate correction, merging of certificates, and others.

It may, however, be noted that the Tamil Nadu government had said that Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory to attend physical classes in colleges across the State.

How to make corrections in certificates

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has instructed the health department officials to help State residents with vaccination-related issues. To lodge a complaint, the public can visit www.cowin.gov.in, click on register/sign in, enter mobile number, click on ‘Get OTP’, enter OTP, and click on ‘Verify’. After entering the account page, click on the ‘Raise an Issue’ tab

60 engg colleges in Karnataka to offer 4-yr BSc course this yr

60 engg colleges in Karnataka to offer 4-yr BSc course this yr

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:09.09.2021

Around 60 engineering colleges may introduce a BSc Honours course in Science from this academic year. On Tuesday, the Visvesvaraya Technological University sought government nod to start the course which is in sync with the new National Education Policy (NEP).

The 4-year BSc (Hons) programme will have Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) subjects. The science and engineering departments will conduct classes on campus and each college can have 60 students per course.

“This course will be different from those in degree colleges given the emphasis on STEM subjects. The open electives, project work and internship will be STEMcentric and from engineering background,” said vicechancellor Karisiddappa.

Proposal to choose students through CET

The open electives, project work and internship will be STEM-centric and from engineering background like Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity and Internet of Things, among others. It’ll be like courses offered in the Indian Institute of Science and other premier technological institutions,” said vice-chancellor Karisidappa.

There is a proposal to select students through the Common Entrance Test. Engineering colleges offering this programme will be chosen based on NAAC and NBA accreditation and Local Inspection Committee reports. With government colleges not having NBA accreditation, they’re unlikely to offer the course this year. “As most engineering colleges have placement cells, students can benefit from them,” the VC said.

While admission to all BSc programmes in most colleges is over, VTU hopes its course will enthuse those keen to join. “Some students passionate about STEM subjects may want to join an engineering college. Others may prefer pure sciences over engineering. The number of students completing PU course is higher than last year because of the all-promotion policy. The increase in seats will benefit them,” Karisidappa said.

The course will be in sync with NEP. Students can opt for electives from other streams like humanities. NEP allows forming a cluster or collaborating with other educational institutions and engineering colleges will be encouraged to do it

Karisiddappa VTU VC

Tax filings reflect portal bug getting fixed: Govt

Tax filings reflect portal bug getting fixed: Govt

1.2 Crore Returns For FY21 Filed With 76.2L Taxpayers Using New Online Facility: CBDT

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:09.09.2021

After weeks of tussle with Infosys, the vendor for the new tax portal, the government on Wednesday said that several technical issues on the faulty platform are being “progressively addressed” and this was reflected in the “positive” return filing trends.

So far, nearly 1.2 crore returns for the last financial year have been filed, with over 76.2 lakh tax payers using the new portal’s online utility for the purpose, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said.

Describing it as an encouraging trend, CBDT said nearly 95 lakh income tax returns have been e-verified, with over seven lakh having been processed. E-verification of returns is a pre-condition for processing of returns.

The statement marks a change in the department’s tone towards Infosys, which had blamed India’s premier IT company for the glitches on the platform. It comes days after RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya attacked Infosys for funding “anti-India forces” and messing with the portal. RSS, however, distanced itself from the report.

Amid complaints from the vocal tax professionals, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman resorted to “summoning” Infosys CEO Salil Parekh twice and has now set a deadline of September 15 for making the portal glitch-free.

Even now, several taxpayers are complaining about their inability to log in or file their returns.

“The ministry of finance has been regularly monitoring the resolution of issues with Infosys, which is the Managed Services Provider for the project… It is reiterated that the (income tax) department is continuously engaged with Infosys to ensure a smooth filing experience to taxpayers,” CBDT said. It added that return filing has increased to 3.2 lakh daily in September.

In addition, taxpayers have been able to view over 8.7 lakh notices issued by the department under the faceless assessment, appeal or penalty proceedings and over 2.6 lakh responses have been filed so far. “An average of 8,285 notices for e-proceedings are being issued and 5,889 responses are being filed in September 2021 on a daily basis,” the tax department said.

The numbers are also meant to signal to taxpayers that things are improving and they should go ahead with filing their returns as the deadline is fast approaching.

SSG nurse gets Florence Nightingale award

SSG nurse gets Florence Nightingale award

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara:09.09.2021

She has worked without a single-day off during Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, she was among the first in nursing staff at Central Gujarat’s biggest hospital — SSG Hospital — in Vadodara to handle a Covid-19 positive mother and her newborn when almost everyone feared the deadly virus.

Two years ago, when most wards were heavily waterlogged, she along with resident doctors and support staff ensured that the gynaecology and obstetrics department continued to function.

On September 15, her dedication to the profession will be recognized as President Ramnath Kovind will confer the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award 2020 virtual on Bhanumati Gheewala fondly called sister Bhanuben.

The Indian Nursing Council, a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, confers the award to recognize the contribution of healthcare workers.

The 56-year-old head nurse performs her duty six days a week at the government hospital and on the seventh day she provides her voluntary services at Ramkrishna Mission to support their child welfare activities.

Bhanuben who joined as a nurse in 1988 underwent training in gynaecology speciality at Chandigarh in 2000 and finished Nurse Practitioner Midwives course in 2010.

She also kept upgrading herself. “For years, we had been following conventional methods. It was after a workshop on alternative birth positions in July 2019 that we started practicing birth positions featuring reclining, squatting or side-lying which have physiological and psychological advantages over the conventional posture,” said Bhanuben.

“It is indeed a matter of pride for entire SSG Hospital that our nursing staff Bhanuben has been selected for this prestigious award,” said professor Ranjan Aiyer, medical superintendent at SSG Hospital.

Bhanumati Gheewala worked relentlessly during pandemic

Biological, adoptive parents fight for girl’s custody

ADOPTIVE PARENTS HAD BEEN CHILDLESS, HAD BIOLOGICAL CHILD LATER

Biological, adoptive parents fight for girl’s custody

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:09.09.2021

A 16-year-old girl’s adoptive parents and biological parents have moved the Gujarat high court in a legal battle for her custody.

The case is from Jamnagar district, where a couple had given their daughter for adoption to their uncle and aunt, because the older couple did not have a child then. Later, the adoptive parents had a girl born to them and the biological parents began asserting their rights over their daughter.

During the hearing before the bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice V D Nanavati, it was submitted that the biological parents took custody of the child when she was at school in August 2011. Since then, she has been living with her biological parents, who also claimed before the court that the child is not willing to leave her biological parents.

As the dispute between the biological and adoptive parents grew worse, the biological parents moved a local court and demanded that the adoption deed be cancelled. On the other hand, the adoptive parents insisted on enforcement of the adoption deed. The adoptive parents have been arguing that there is no law under when the adoption deed can be cancelled, and thus they will remain the parents of the child and responsible for her all her life. The dispute twice reached the high court but remained unsolved.

The judges told the lawyers that the girl is 16 years of age and in two years she will attain majority, so both parties should allow her to decide with which set of parents she wants to live with. The judges also said that such litigations are very painful, “In the fight between the biological and adoptive parents, we don’t want the girl to suffer, and that is for sure.” When the high court insisted that both parties try to reach an amicable solution to the problem, the lawyers from both sides expressed inability and the court was informed that there was a case of assault, for which one of the litigating parties was convicted and sentenced to jail. He is out on bail and is contesting hard for the custody. Upon hearing this, the judges said, “You continue to fight. Let them draw swords but spare the girl.” As the lawyers continued to insist on the hearing, the judges reiterated their request for an amicable solution and said, “Even the judgment is not going to solve the problem.” The court finally decided to hear the case at length on Monday.

While the girl is now 16, the dispute has been in court for 10 years. During this time, one of the litigants had assaulted the other and was convicted and jailed for it