HC asks if moving education to Concurrent List was legal

Tells Centre & State To Reply To PIL

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:15.09.2021

A day after the Tamil Nadu assembly passed a bill to circumvent NEET for admissions to medical courses, the Madras high court wondered if the Emergency-era transfer of education as a subject from the State List to the Concurrent List amounted to tinkering with the basic structure of the Constitution.

The court also remarked that the 42nd constitutional amendment of 1976 had not taken education out of the state’s purview entirely, as it is still on the Concurrent List and not under the Union List. “Even though the matter was taken away from one list to another, there was no complete takeover of the subject as such,” said the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu on Tuesday.

The court made the observations while hearing a public interest writ petition filed by Aram Seyya Virumbu Trust, represented by DMK legislator Dr Ezhilan Naganathan, questioning the constitutionality of the 42nd amendment.

Ariyalur girl, 17, ends life over NEET

Kanimozhi, 17, of Jayankondam in Ariyalur district, who appeared for NEET on Sunday committed suicide on Tuesday, the second such death within two days in TN. Kanimozhi had told her parents that some questions were tough and that she was concerned about the outcome. P 7

HC: There has to be equitable distribution of edu resources

The PIL said, “By virtue of transferring the subject of education from List II to List III, the states’ executive/ legislative autonomy in matters of education has become subservient to Union’s executive/legislative powers.”

Admitting the petition, the first bench observed: “Vast number of places do not have medical institutions. Why should MBBS dreams of students in certain states, where there are no medical colleges, remain unfulfilled just because the state does not have a medical college?”

Batting for ‘equitable distribution’ of educational resources, the court said: “One can respect the sentiments of the petitioner but, at the same time, please remember we have vast parts of this country where they continue to be kind of underdeveloped without the resources that other places have … Therefore, there has to be a certain amount to equitable distribution of the educational resources or making it available to students from places where it may not be so readily available.” “Even now, unfortunately, we don’t consider people from northeast as mainstream Indians, which is a tragedy because of their looks we call them Nepalese or Chinese. But they are also as much Indian as you and I,” the court said.

“They come from places where such infrastructures are not available, so we must consider all of them,” the court added, and directed the Union government to respond to the plea in eight weeks.

The court then suo motu impleaded the Tamil Nadu government as a party-respondent and directed the state to report its views.

NEET solvers’ gang busted; woman, daughter arrested

NEET solvers’ gang busted; woman, daughter arrested

Rajeev.Dikshit@timesgroup.com

Varanasi:14.09.2021  TOI Lucknow

Varanasi police claimed to have busted a solvers’ gang during NEET exam with the arrest of a woman and her daughter, who’s a BDS-II student of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Sunday.

Police said involvement of a KGMU doctor in the gang has also come to light while a Patna-based person who is known by initials PK is its leader. NEET authorities have been alerted about the gang, which has a network in north-east region.

Commissioner of police A Satish Ganesh said, “Acting on a tip-off the cops of crime branch raided a NEET exam centre at St Francis Xavier School in Sona Talab area under the limits of Sarnath police station in afternoon session on Sunday while ensuring that candidates were not disturbed during the raid. The crime branch cops caught Juli Kumari, who was appearing in the exam in the name of Heena Biswas.”

Solvers’ gang is operated by its mastermind from Patna

The cops also nabbed Juli’s mother Babita Devi of Patna. However, the solvers’ gang member Vikas Kumar Mahto of Khagadia district, who was accompanying Babita and Juli, managed to escape.

A fake Aadhaar card, answer sheet of NEET exam-2021, admit card, photograph, two mobile phones and other documents were recovered from them. An FIR was lodged under section 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine any document which he knows or has reason to believe to be a forged document)and 34 (criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention) of IPC against them. During interrogation, Juli divulged that Mahto, who had become friend of her brother Abhay Kushwaha during his stay in Patna for the preparations of competitive examination, had come with a proposal of paying Rs 5 lakhs if she agreed to appear in NEET exam in place of other girl to qualify it. Babita said that she fell in trap and convinced Juli, who had taken admission in BDS at BHU after qualifying NEET two years ago, to appear in the exam. Babita said that she had received Rs 50,000 in advance.

The CP said that the arrested woman and her daughter have divulged that the solvers’ gang is run by its mastermind known as PK from Patna. They also informed that PK rarely used phones and preferred to communicate through courier and travel by trains only. “After PK gets contracts from aspirants, his accomplices arrange the solvers,” said CP, mentioning that more details about the gang are being made.

No highrises, mobile towers near Taj Mahal

No highrises, mobile towers near Taj Mahal

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesgroup.com

Agra:14.09.2021

Highrises and mobile towers can no longer be built in a 1.5-km radius behind the Taj Mahal to keep the skyline unobstructed. The Agra administration has incorporated the provision in the city’s master plan, which the government has to now approve.

“No construction higher than 25m can come up behind the Taj Mahal so the panoramic view of the monument is visible without an obstruction in the background,” Dr Rajendra Pensiya, vice chairperson of the Agra Development Authority, told TOI.

Four towers, about 50-60m high, were visible behind Taj

“The decision was taken in a recent board meeting after a survey in March last year by the ADA engineering team,” said Amit Gupta, divisional commissioner, Agra, who is the ADA chairperson.

The body had received several complaints about impeded views of the monument.

Four towers, about 50-60m high, were visible behind the Taj — three on the west side and one on the east. “One of these mobile towers was demolished. The height of two others was reduced to 25m. One high-tension electric pole remains on the east side. We are in the process of moving it, but it will take time,” Pensiya said. There is just one highrise, by which they mean a building taller than four floors, in the backdrop.

The administration is also considering the trees in the background as obstruction. “There are several old trees which are 50m high but cutting them is not possible because they fall under the Taj Trapezium Zone (a buffer area marked out to save the monument from pollution). To cut trees under the zone, we need permission from the Supreme Court,” said Pensiya.

In 2013, a four-day convention of Unesco experts on visual integrity was held in Agra. “The ASI is bound to ensure the visual integrity mandate of Unesco sites, including the Taj Mahal, followed by the 2013 convention,” Rajiv Saxena, vice president of the Tourism Guild Agra, said. Former Agra circle senior conservation assistant Munazzar Ali told TOI that ASI norms stipulate a ban on construction in a 100-m radius around monuments and a 15-m height cap for construction in a 300-m radius.

ASI superintending archaeologist (Agra circle) Vasant Swarnkar said it was a long-pending discussion about the view of the monument. “This is a welcome step."

Medical ethics, simulation find place in revamped nursing syllabus

Medical ethics, simulation find place in revamped nursing syllabus

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 18:08 IST

Experts welcome major overhaul of B.Sc. Nursing curriculum, aimed at standardisation

India’s B.Sc (nursing programme) has undergone its first major overhaul after 1947, making it a competency-based nursing curriculum. To be implemented from January 2022, the revised curriculum has been standardised, updated and aimed at bringing in uniformity in nursing education across India.

Medical ethics has been introduced for the first time.

The new system now adopts a credit-based, semester pattern with more emphasis on acquiring competency in each area of study. Also, forensic nursing and nursing informatics have been introduced in the syllabus.

Dr. Satendra Singh who teaches in a medical college and is a guest faculty at Florence Nightingale Nursing School at GTB Hospital, said the Indian Nursing Council (INC) has revised, and developed the syllabus under Section 16 of the Indian Nursing Council (INC) Act, to ensure uniform standard of nursing education in the country.

“The revised syllabus, which is the first major overhaul after 1947, has the word “dignity’ in at least six places which is a welcome addition and the introduction of ethics is also an enhanced addition,” said Dr. Singh.

Disability ignored

He added that unfortunately the revised curriculum does not include disability rights as well as disability competencies.

“It still includes the pejorative expressions ‘handicapped’, ‘mentally challenged’ and physically challenged. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act mandates inclusion of disability rights in the higher education. Curriculum also excludes gender expression and identity components which Transgender Persons Act mandates be included,” he said.

Member of the INC and Professor (Dr.) Roy K. George said the changes will add quality and standardisation to the programme.

He said that based on the new curriculum, simulation based training is given specific importance in practical (10% of the practical are in the simulation lab).

Only Science students

“So students will go to the clinical area after the compulsory training in the simulation laboratories. Also the gazette does not permit the admission for non-science background students for B.Sc. Nursing program and minimum qualifying marks for entrance test shall be 50%. In the university theory paper pattern (For 75 marks), multiple choice questions have been added,” said Dr. George.

He added that internal assessment guidelines will now see continuous assessment based on attendance, written assignments, seminars, microteaching, individual presentation and group project, work and reports.

“The new system has also brought in mandatory modules for each specialisation and the student has to pass in all mandatory modules placed within courses and the pass mark for each module is 50%,” he said.

As per the new norms, colleges of nursing should mandatorily have 100 bedded parent or own hospitals. The trustee/ member/ director of the trust or society or company would not allow the hospital to be treated parent/ affiliated hospital to any other nursing institution and will be for a minimum 30 years. The beds of parent hospital shall be in one Unitary Hospital i.e. in the same building/same campus.

The revised rules also state that no institution or university will modify the syllabi prescribed by the Council for a course or program. However they can add units or subjects if required.

“It is mandatory that an institution shall have its own building within two years of its establishment,” the revised rule states.

Maharashtra to set up more medical colleges like TN

Maharashtra to set up more medical colleges like TN

On Tuesday, the team will visit visit Government Omandurar Hospital, a peripheral hospital and a primary health centre.

Published: 14th September 2021 05:31 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Maharashtra will follow the footsteps of Tamil Nadu and establish more medical colleges, said Health Minister Rajesh Ankushrao Tope, who along with a team is on a two-day visit to Chennai.Tope along with Mary Neelima Kerketta, Principal Secretary Public Health Department, Vijayakumar Lahane, Joint Secretary Health, Maharashtra and other officials held a discussion with Health Minister Ma Subramanian, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and other senior officials at the DMS campus on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Rajesh said that he was delighted to find out from the officials that every year 10,000 doctors pass out in Tamil Nadu, adding he was impressed by the fact that almost every district has a medical college and people have access to tertiary care. “So we will follow Tamil Nadu and open more medical colleges. In the last one year Maharashtra government gas sanctioned four to five medical colleges and more will be sanctioned soon,” Rajesh said.

Tope added that Tamil Nadu was always keen on investing more in healthcare. It spends six per cent of its budget on healthcare, whereas in Maharashtra it is only three per cent. The team also visited the National Health Mission office and Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC).

Lauding the TNMSC, Rajesh said it adopts streamlined methods for procurement of drugs and equipment and for its storage.On Tuesday, the team will visit visit Government Omandurar Hospital, a peripheral hospital and a primary health centre.

NEET ban: Board exam scores to be normalised

NEET ban: Board exam scores to be normalised

An appropriate authority would prepare the rank lists for admission of students to government seats and allot students through centralised counselling.

Published: 14th September 2021 05:35 AM 

Security personnel checking the documents of a medical aspirant outside a NEET Examination centre in Coimbatore. (Photo| U Rakesh Kumar, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Bill regarding NEET passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday says medical admissions will be conducted based on the Class 12 board exams, and a normalisation method will be followed for medical admissions. This is to ensure a fair and equitable system for students who pass from different higher secondary board exams.

Under the method, the highest marks obtained by students of various boards in each subject will be equated. The relative marks obtained by other students will be determined accordingly. For instance, if the highest mark secured by a student of the State Board in Physics is 100 and the highest mark secured by the student of another board in the same subject is 96, both the highest marks will be considered to be equal to 100. With this base, the marks of other students will be computed.

According to the Bill, after normalisation, the qualified students of different Boards will be merged into a common merit list. An appropriate authority would prepare the rank lists for admission of students to government seats and allot students through centralised counselling.

The Bill pointed out that before 2017, TN had among the most medical and dental educational institutions and the standard of professionals graduating from them was high. Merely because admission is based on a qualifying examination in this State, it would in no way lower the standard of education since the higher secondary syllabus is of a scientific standard.

Armed with Bill, TN gets ready for NEET war

Armed with Bill, TN gets ready for NEET war

Dravidian parties join hands; Legal experts divided on efficacy of Bill as no other State supports TN’s demand

Published: 14th September 2021 05:42 AM 

By T Muruganandham And KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu on Monday started a fresh bout of legal war against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) again. The ruling DMK kept its poll promise of passing a Bill to exempt the State from the exam. However, apprehensions around its ultimate success in getting the Union government’s nod remain the same as was the case five years ago when the previous AIADMK regime passed a similar Bill. Despite being an ally of the AIADMK in the State, the BJP-led Union government did not budge and returned the Bill, then.

This time, however, the new Bill is backed by the report of a special committee, led by Justice AK Rajan, that studied NEET’s impact on students from disadvantaged backgrounds. “The reason for the President to return the Bill then was not because there was a lack of data. It was on the Constitutional propriety of the State trying to get an exemption from a Central law,” said Justice K Chandru, a retired Madras High Court judge. NEET was enabled by a law passed in the Parliament, and at best, the State Assembly can pass a resolution showing its disapproval, he said, adding that there was no support from other States, too.

A few other legal experts have a different opinion. Justice Hari Paranthaman, also a retired Madras HC judge, said there have been earlier instances of such exemptions from the Central law for a single State. “For instance, the Hindu Marriages Act, where only TN was given an exemption.”Much of the course ahead will depend on how the Union government will treat the new Bill that will be sent for a presidential nod. As much as legal, there are also other factors, including political considerations. The BJP-led government also seems determined on having a uniform education policy.

However, the Bill on its part, puts forth its reasons in strong words. Quoting the report of the panel, the Bill said NEET festers inequality, as it favours the rich and more privileged class of society who can afford special coaching, apart from pursuing Class XII. “It virtually barricades the underprivileged social groups from medical and dental education. This is against the very object of the equality clause enshrined in the Constitution, and infringes the right to education of children from underprivileged classes of society,” it said.

The Bill, introduced by Chief Minister MK Stalin, said medical admissions will be based on marks scored in Class 12 board examinations. Barring the BJP, an Opposition ally, all parties in the House supported the Bill, and it was passed by a voice vote. Under this, government school students will have a 7.5 per cent reservation for medical and dental admissions in the State. Incidentally, the passing of the Bill comes a day after Dhanush, a NEET aspirant, committed suicide in Mettur. Although the AIADMK staged a walkout blaming the ruling DMK for the aspirant’s death, Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami extended his party’s full support to the Bill during the discussion and the Chief Minister thanked him for the same.

All parties, except BJP, extend support to Bill

When the Bill was introduced by Chief Minister MK Stalin, barring the BJP, an Opposition ally, all parties supported it, and it was passed by a voice vote

‘Infringes right to education...’

The Bill stated, ”It virtually barricades the underprivileged social groups from medical and dental education. This is against the very object of the equality clause enshrined in the Constitution, and it also infringes the right to education of children from these underprivileged classes of society.”

With Covid on decline, Kerala govt offices on Saturdays too, dine-in decision on Tuesday

With Covid on decline, Kerala govt offices on Saturdays too, dine-in decision on Tuesday

Punching system back for govt employees; 50% capacity in restaurants likely; museums to start letting in visitors

Published: 14th September 2021 06:40 AM 

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Covid showing signs of further decline, the state government has announced more relaxations. All state government offices will be back to six-day week working pattern from this week. Since the imposition of lockdown in the first week of May, the government offices have remained shut on Saturdays and Sundays. A decision on allowing dining in at restaurants will be taken on Tuesday.

The punching system for government employees to ensure seven-hour work a day has also been brought back. Punching will resume by swiping of ID cards while biometric punching will remain suspended.

The museum and zoo department announced the opening of museums in the state for visitors from Tuesday. A decision on opening zoos will be taken after Tuesday’s Covid review meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Morning and evening walkers will be allowed on the museum and zoo campus in Thiruvananthapuram from Tuesday.

The long-pending demand of hoteliers to allow dining in at restaurants may also be permitted soon as it is learnt to have been placed on the agenda of Tuesday’s review meeting. The proposal is to allow 50% occupancy at a time. Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association leaders had requested the CM to allow dine-in facility and he promised them a positive decision. Proposals to allow functions in auditorium and increasing the number of guests for weddings from 20 to 50 or 100 are also under the consideration of the government.

MORE RELAXATIONS LIKELY

WIPR scale for lockdown in panchayats and urban wards is likely to be revised to 10 soon as the cases are declining

Cinema halls shall wait

Though there is huge pressure on the state government to open cinema theatres, a source said they will have to wait

Andhra Governor encourages regular convocations at varsities to protect students’ future

Andhra Governor encourages regular convocations at varsities to protect students’ future

The Governor also directed the V-Cs that Covid protocols should be compulsorily followed while organising the convocations.

Published: 13th September 2021 08:29 AM 

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan (File Photo |EPS)

By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan has expressed concern over non-holding of convocations by some State universities as doing so on a regular basis will “jeopardise the career of students”. “Before the Covid pandemic, convocations were being organised once in every three-four years. I’ve made it clear to the vice-chancellors during a conference with them at the Raj Bhavan that convocations should be held on a regular basis, and degrees should be awarded to the students in a timely manner to protect their future,’’ the Governor said.

According to a statement from the Raj Bhavan here, the Governor has also brought the issue to the notice of Professor K Hemachandra Reddy, chairman of AP State Council of Higher Education, asking the latter to ensure its implementation.“After the Covid situation, some of the State universities held their convocations recently, but many are yet to hold the event,’’ the statement said and added that the Governor instructed the V-Cs to hold annual convocations as per the schedule so that the career of students is not affected.

The Governor also directed the V-Cs that Covid protocols should be compulsorily followed while organising the convocations. He was of the opinion that the events should be organised virtually if the Covid situation does not permit physical meetings. Andhra University last organised its convocation on January 1, 2019, and Adikavi Nannaya University in Rajamahendravaram organised the event in 2019.

Meanwhile, Krishna University, Machilipatnam has not organised its convocation for the past four years. Earlier this year, the university issued a notification three months ago for conducting its convocation in October or November. Already, a letter has been written to Governor Harichandan, and the varsity has recently received permission for organising the event, sources said.

This year, major varsities in Tirupati—Sri Venkateswara Agriculture University, SV Veterinary University and Sri Padmavati Mahila Visva Vidyalayam (SPMVV)—organised their convocations on August 10, 28 and 25, respectively.

Nurses hired for Covid-19 duty angry over being denied food, lodging

Nurses hired for Covid-19 duty angry over being denied food, lodging

The staff nurses alleged 198 staff nurses were posted on Covid-19 duty at the KMCH during the peak of the pandemic.

Published: 14th September 2021 06:53 AM 

Nurses recruited for Covid-19 duty at the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital protest on the Directorate of Medical Education campus on Monday | R Satish Babu

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Over 100 staff nurses who were recruited for Covid-19 duty on a six-month contract and posted at the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital protested at the Directorate of Medical Education campus on Monday after allegedly being denied accommodation and food by the hospital management.

The staff nurses alleged 198 staff nurses were posted on Covid-19 duty at the KMCH during the peak of the pandemic. They were provided accommodation and food in a hotel. But the management suddenly asked them to vacate the hotel from Monday.

They assembled in front of the matron office and demanded that they be provided accommodation and food as they have nowhere to go since the instructions were given suddenly and they hail from other districts. Later, they moved to the DME campus and demanded that the higher officials intervene.

Speaking to TNIE, S Rajesh, State General Secretary, MRB Covid-19 Nurses Association, alleged that the hospital has been doing this repeatedly. “All other hospitals are giving accommodation and food. Since the number of Covid-19 cases came down, the nurses are being treated as unwanted.” Rajesh also said the government should give them job security.

They are repeatedly given six-month extensions, and are not sure when this will be stopped. A senior doctor at the hospital said, “We can give accommodation only to staff nurses on Covid-19 duty. Now, only 25 per cent of the staff are utilised and the rest should arrange their own accommodation and food. We are acting on instructions from higher officials.”The nurses dispersed after officials at the DME promised them accommodation and food for now.

Multiple litigations against spouse is cruelty, says SC

Multiple litigations against spouse is cruelty, says SC

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:14.09.2021

It took two decades for a marriage, which could not take off and was never consummated with spouses’ starting litigations just a fortnight after marrying, to be legally dissolved with the Supreme Court on Monday allowing the divorce plea of a husband holding that multiple litigations initiated by the wife against him amounts to cruelty.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy invoked special power under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage and also on account of cruelty in light of conduct of the wife for filing multiple cases in courts against him including a plea in the HC for disciplinary action against her husband who was working as an assistant professor in a government college.

The court noted that law has not been amended despite recommendations of the Law Commission to recognise irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground of divorce and the matter is also pending in the apex court. It, however, said that it would not serve any purpose to keep the matter pending and dissolved the marriage by invoking its special power to do justice.

The bench said that the trial court and the high court did not find adequate material to come to the conclusion that the husband was entitled to divorce on grounds of cruelty and the wife’s conduct during the pendency of the case had to be examined. The court noted that the wife had taken recourse to not just litigations but also publicly threatened him in his office. It said that the HC wrongly brushed aside these incidents as “wear and tear of marriage”.

“These continuing acts of the respondent would amount to cruelty even if the same had not arisen as a cause prior to the institution of the petition, as was found by the trial court. This conduct shows disintegration of marital unity and thus disintegration of the marriage. In fact, there was no initial integration itself which would allow disintegration afterwards. ,” the bench said.

Times View: In principle, this seems to be the right step. However, courts must take great care in determining exactly what amounts to unnecessary litigation.

INVOKING SPECIAL POWER

TTD trust receives ₹4.2cr donation from devotee

TTD trust receives ₹4.2cr donation from devotee

Sandeep.Raghavan@timesgroup.com

Tirupati:14.09.2021

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ (TTD) Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel trust received a hefty donation of ₹4.2 crore from a devotee. Ravi Ika, president and founder of RxAdvance, handed over the donation (cheque) to additional EO and SVBC MD AV Dharma Reddy on Monday.

The money will be utilised for purchasing high-end video cameras and state-ofthe-art broadcast equipment required for the 24-hour devotional channel managed by the TTD. Ravi Ika also promised to extend another ₹Rs.2.4 crore to SVBC trust, soon. This is highest of donations the TTD has received from a single donor during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Union ministry of information and broadcasting on Monday accorded uplinking and downlinking permission for two new TTD channels coming up in Kannada and Hindi languages.

49 TTD staffers issued show cause notice

Tirupati:

TTD has served show cause notices to 49 staffers over diverting house building loans. The temple body provides the loans to its employees to help them realise their dream of owing their own homes.

The rules mandate the employees to utilise the loans for house building purpose only. But a recent enquiry found that 49 employees, who availed loans under the house building scheme, had diverted the money for other purposes.

The temple administration has made it clear that stringent action will be initiated against the employees irrespective of their cadres if they are found guilty. TNN

Students and faculty of DU medical college oppose Covid care facility

Students and faculty of DU medical college oppose Covid care facility

Shradha.Chettri@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:14.09.2021

Students and faculty members of University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), a medical college under Delhi University, have written to the President of India and the Delhi government against the building of a proposed Covid care facility on the campus. They say the area is a designated space for a playground for the medical students of the college. It is also a designated bird diversity hotspot, they claimed and urged the government to relocate the facility.

On Monday, the students and faculty members along with several staff of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital protested against the proposed facility and held placards with slogans like “Save Central Field”, “Don’t leave the campus peeled” and others.

In a letter sent to different authorities, the teacher’s association stated, “We appreciate and support this initiative of developing Covid-dedicated infrastructure in east Delhi. However, we find that the proposed site of the building will damage the rich biodiverse green area of the complex, when in fact there is availability of land (under Delhi govt) in the nearby areas. The proposed site is already a playground, which is an essential feature of a medical educational institution.”

Satendra Singh, vice-president of the association, said, “UCMS is the only medical college, which has a playground for the students. It is an important guideline of the medical council so we don’t want the students to be deprived of it. The area also houses a nursery, which has some rare cacti. We are worried that building the facility will also compromise on the safety of women nursing students.”

Ramansh Bandhu Gupta, the students’ union president, said, “We support the making of a Covid-dedicated hospital in the area, but request the government to consider the biodiversity loss and medical recognition of the college. We urge them to relocate the hospital.”

The protesters said a Covid management facility near Ramlila Ground is under-utilised.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s office has forwarded the letter to the directorate of higher education for appropriate action.

HEAR US OUT: The site is a designated bird diversity hotspot, they claimed and urged the government to relocate the proposed facility

Fake marksheet racket busted, kingpin arrested

Fake marksheet racket busted, kingpin arrested

Indore:14.09.2021

Crime branch and Tilak Nagar police arrested prime accused of a gang involved in making fake marksheets and certificates.

The accused had made Rs1.5crore by making fake 554 marksheets.

Acting on a tip off, Satish Goswami, 32, a resident of Juni Indore, was arrested during a search.

A case under section 420, 467, 468 of IPC for fraud, and forgery of documents was registered against him, the police said. The police also recovered seven monitors, two computers along with two printers, 14 fake marksheets, blank papers and one mobile phone from him.

Police said that a special crime branch team got input of a man involved in making fake marksheet and certificates in Tilak Nagar area. Based on it, the police raided the spot and arrested Goswami. Police also recovered two registers with 554 names of people, whose fake certificates were made by the accused. The accused, during inquiry, said that he had been involved in making fake marksheet and certificates for the last five years and made certificates of standard tenth, twelfth, and graduation.

The marksheets were of Maharashtra board of higher secondary education, Rajasthan board, William Kerry University, Mewar University, Sunrise University, Shanghai university, DRCB Raman University, police said. TNN

Put up details of nursing colleges on website: HC

Put up details of nursing colleges on website: HC

Bengaluru:14.09.2021

To clear the position vis-a-vis nursing institutions, the Indian Nursing Council (INC) has to WebHost the full order of the Supreme Court in Civil Appeals No.12759-12761/2017 and the link to the website hosted by the state government, containing the list of recognized institutions.

The high court passed this order recently while disposing of a petition filed by Karnataka State Association of the Management of Nursing and Allied Health Science Institutions and four nursing colleges.

Justice PS Dinesh Kumar said in the Civil Appeals the SC held INC has no authority to grant recognition to institutions imparting nursing courses and it has been restrained from publishing the material indicated therein on its website. The judge, however, added that in view of the admitted position that inspection can be conducted by INC, its right, to be placed in public domain, the institutions inspected by it, can’t be curtailed.

“It would be appropriate for the INC to web-host the clear position emerging from the order passed by the Supreme Court. This can be achieved by directing the INC to first show the entire list of institutions recognised by the government on its website,” the judge added. The petitioners had moved court seeking removal of a list from INC website depicting as ‘recognised Institutions by the Karnataka State Nursing Council’ for 2019-20 and 2020-21. TNN

Pay via UPI in 10 more countries

Pay via UPI in 10 more countries

Mumbai:14.09.2021

The international arm of National Payments Corporation of India has partnered with Liquid Group to enable QR-based UPI payments’ acceptance in 10 countries across north and southeast Asia. Singapore-headquartered Liquid Group brings together payments companies that enrol merchants in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Its technology will allow merchants who accept QR payments to accept UPI payments as well. TNN

Stalin, EPS engage in verbal battle over NEET

Stalin, EPS engage in verbal battle over NEET

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

Holding the previous AIADMK regime responsible for introducing NEET in Tamil Nadu, chief minister M K Stalin on Monday said 15 students, including Dhanush of Salem, had ended their lives apprehensive about the entrance test.

The state government had kept this in mind while introducing the bill to provide admissions based on class 12 board examinations. Later, Leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami told reporters that DMK was responsible for the suicide of the NEET aspirant in Salem.

The assembly saw heated exchanges between Stalin and Palaniswami before the bill was introduced.

EPS pointed out that NEET exemption was DMK’s poll promise and the party had promised to fulfill it soon after assuming charge. “The students could not prepare for the competitive exam with DMK leaders making continuous assertions about NEET exemption,” the former CM said, before walking out in protest along with AIADMK legislators. Certain remarks by EPS on the Salem student’s suicide were expunged by the speaker.

Stalin said many students, including Anitha, had ended their lives during the AIADMK regime. A bill passed unanimously under the previous regime to exempt the state from NEET was rejected too. “The AIADMK government hid the rejection of the bills by the President. The leader of opposition was the CM then. The student, Dhanush, could not pass NEET twice when you (EPS) were the CM,” Stalin said.

The CM said the AIADMK was an ally of the NDA government at the Centre and could have laid down a condition to its ally that it would support the CAA and farm laws only if the state was exempted from NEET. The AIADMK did not have the courage to do it. “Had it been done; the state could have been exempted. But the AIADMK maintained a stony silence when students were coming suicide,” Stalin said.

In the afternoon, when the bill was taken up for consideration and passage, Palaniswami said the party welcomed the legislation. The present bill only additionally mentioned justice A K Rajan committee’s recommendations and the minister should explain whether the state could pass a bill against the Centre’s legislation, EPS said. The Supreme Court already passed judgments against NEET, he added.

NEET abolition: State can demand, Centre can reject

NEET abolition: State can demand, Centre can reject

TN Can Enact Law As Edu On Concurrent List

A.Subramani@timesgroup.com

Chennai:14.09.2021

Tamil Nadu’s renewed battle to scrap NEET is neither impossible nor easy, for it is as much political as constitutional.

Political, because it would need the Union government’s consent and presidential assent. Constitutional, because education, after the 42nd amendment, is on the concurrent list where the Centre and the states have equal power to enact laws.

“As long as education is on the concurrent list, the state government can enact a law,” said Justice D Hariparanthaman, who retired as a Madras high court judge. He, however, added that the law will not come into force till the Centre gives its nod. In 2017, the AIADMK government made a similar attempt, but it did not pursue it. The President rejected it. There are several state-specific laws concerning concurrent list subjects that Tamil Nadu enacted and got the presidential assent.

For example, in 2006 Tamil Nadu did away with the entrance examination for professional courses. Tamil Nadu Admission in Professional Educational Institutions Act, 2006, received presidential assent in March 2007, and in March 2011, the Supreme Court upheld the state law. Similarly, it was a Tamil Nadu-specific amendment to the Hindu Marriages Act which enabled a Hindu in the state to marry without following the rituals. Section 7(A) was inserted in the act by the C N Annadurai government. No other state has this provision.

In 1977, the MGR government inserted Section 2(A)(2) in the Industrial Disputes Act, enabling an individual workman to raise a dispute without the government’s reference. Though the subject is jointly occupied by the Union and state governments, and when even Left bastions like Bengal and Kerala did not have such a law, the Centre gave its assent for the Tamil Naduspecific amendment.

Jallikattu is the most recent Tamil Nadu law which got the presidential assent though it differed from the Centre’s stand. In January 2017, by amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (a subject on the concurrent list), Tamil Nadu ensured that jallikattu was exempted from the list of banned performances by animals.

In 1994, the Jayalalithaa government did a Houdini act when Tamil Nadu, with just 39 MPs, mustered a two-thirds majority in the 534-member parliament to include its 69% reservation law in the Ninth Schedule, thereby insulating the state law from judicial review. “Just as now, even then the issue was as political as constitutional. It was a quid pro quo by the Jayalalithaa government for its support to the PV Narasimha Rao government to pass the Panchayati Raj Act in Parliament,” said Justice Hariparanthaman.

The possibility of the law being rejected by the Union government does not mean Tamil Nadu should not demand its right guaranteed by the Constitution. “It is a limited constitutional power, but if Tamil Nadu does not enact a law as per its stated policy, it will amount to giving up its right,” he said.

IN THE PAST: In 1977, the MGR government inserted Section 2(A)(2) in the Industrial Disputes Act, enabling an individual workman to raise a dispute without the government’s reference; Jallikattu is the most recent Tamil Nadu law which got the presidential assent though it differed from the Centre’s stand

Udhayanidhi nominated member of AU syndicate

Udhayanidhi nominated member of AU syndicate

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

Anna University's Syndicate on Monday got a high profile member as the assembly nominated the DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin to the highest decision making body of the university. The Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni MLA will replace R Nataraj, retired IPS officer and former Mylapore MLA at the syndicate.

While releasing the names of MLAs appointed as members of syndicates of various state universities on Monday, speaker M Appavu said the election was not needed as the applications and number of vacancies were equal. Egmore MLA N Ezhilan and Maduravoyal MLA K Ganapathy appointed as members of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University. Villivakkam MLA A Vetriyazhagan, Tiruvallur MLA VG Rajendran, Ambattur MLA Joseph Samuel were appointed as the members of Madras University Senate.

TN to release 700 life convicts on Sept 15

TN to release 700 life convicts on Sept 15

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

The state government has decided to release 700 life convicts on September 15 to mark the birth anniversary of former chief minister C N Annadurai.

Making the announcement in the state assembly, chief minister M K Stalin said the convicts, who have been serving sentences for many years, were being released on humanitarian grounds.

Meanwhile, Stalin on Monday said the government would set up a new police commission to find out the demands and needs of police personnel. “A police commission will be constituted again to recommend ways to strengthen the relationship between police and public, to initiate some essential schemes and roll out new training programmes for police personnel,” the chief minister said, while replying to the demand on grants for the home department.

The Madras high court had recently directed the government to reconstitute the commission set up by the AIADMK regime in 2019, headed by retired bureaucrat Sheela Priya, with a retired judge of the high court as head and a social worker, a public representative, retired and serving police officials and civil servants as members.

New Nungambakkam bridge nears completion

New Nungambakkam bridge nears completion

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

Construction of the foot overbridge across the Nungambakkam subway to the burial ground service road near Loyola College is nearing completion.

The ₹5 crore project to build the 24-metre-long and five-metrewide bridge was awarded in December 2020 by the Greater Chennai Corporation and is to be completed by February 2022. “The steel girders have been assembled and the work will be completed soon,” said an official.

Motorists going from Anna Nagar to Nungambakkam and T Nagar face huge traffic jams at the subway entrance and at the Loyola College junction because commuters who get down at the Nungambakkam railway station usually cross the road at these points. The bus stands opposite Loyola college connects rail passengers to the rest of the city.

“We just wanted to give the railway passengers an easy way to cross the road. Right now, there is no median on Nelson Manickam Road, but once the foot overbridge is constructed we will build one to stop jaywalking. The burial ground compound wall has been shifted as well,” said chief engineer, Rajendiran, in charge of roads and bridges.

MUCH NEEDED: The foot overbridge, being built at ₹5 crore cost, will help commuters exiting the Nungambakkam railway station

Civic polls in 9 TN dists on Oct 6 and 9

Civic polls in 9 TN dists on Oct 6 and 9

14.09.2021

Local body elections in nine newly-created districts of Tamil Nadu would be held in two phases on October 6 and 9, state election commissioner V Palanikumar said Monday. Elections will be held in 39 unions on October 6, while the remaining 35 will go to polls on October 9. Palanikumar said the code of conduct would come into immediate effect in the districts of Kancheepuram, Chengalpet, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi where the polls would be held. In 28 other districts, elections would be held on October 9 for 789 posts in the local bodies, which are lying vacant, said the state election commissioner. Filing of nominations will begin on September 15 and continue until September 22. Counting will be held on October 12. TNN

Over 76.5L voters to exercise franchise in two-phase polls

The elections would be held for 27,003 posts, including those of 140 district panchayat ward councillors, 2,901 village panchayat presidents and 22,581 village panchayat ward councillors, the commissioner said.

A total of 76,59,720 voters would exercise their franchise in the two-phase polls. Each voter would cast four votes to elect the district panchayat ward councillors, panchayat union councillors, village panchayat president and village panchayat ward councillors. Ballot paper would be used, the officer said.

Polling will take place from 7am to 6pm. Covid-19 patients and persons with symptoms would be allowed to vote from 5pm to 6pm. “We will appoint a micro observer and videograph the proceedings in sensitive booths,” said the commissioner. He noted that 40,000 police personnel would also be roped in for election duty.

As many as 1.10 lakh government employees would be engaged for poll duty. The commission would engage an IAS officer as an election observer for each district.

“We have taken all precautionary measures to conduct the polls in a free and fair manner. The arrangements have been made after holding a meeting with representatives of political parties,” said Palanikumar. The polls would be held as per the standard operating procedure and in compliance with Covid-19 norms, he added.

The Election Commission has commenced preparatory work to hold elections for urban local bodies too.

TN assembly passes bill to nullify NEET, BJP walks out

TN assembly passes bill to nullify NEET, BJP walks out

It Also Gives 7.5% Quota To Govt School Students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

In a near-unanimous motion, the Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday passed a bill for admission to medical courses only on the basis of Class XII marks in board examinations. The bill also provides for 7.5% horizontal reservation in medical courses for students of government schools.

“Admissions to medical education courses are traceable to Entry 25 of List III, Schedule VII of the Constitution. Therefore, the state government is competent to regulate the same. So, I am moving this bill,” chief minister M K Stalin said, evoking loud thumping of desks in the treasury. The bill seeks to circumvent NEET and, instead, have only Class XII marks as criterion for admissions to MBBS, BDS, Indian medicine and homeopathy courses.

While opposition parties like the AIADMK and the PMK, besides DMK allies, supported the bill, the BJP members walked out of the assembly in protest.

A high-level committee, headed by Justice A K Rajan, former judge of the Madras high court, set up by the DMK government in June, reported to the government that NEET had undermined the diverse societal representation in MBBS and higher medical courses, favouring the affluent groups, while thwarting the dream of pursuing medical education by the underprivileged sections.

Constitutional and political tussle

TN’s bid to do away with NEET is as much political as constitutional, reports A Subramani. Political as it would need the Centre’s consent and presidential assent. Constitutional as education, after the 42nd amendment, is on the concurrent list where the Centre and the states have equal say to enact laws. P 5

Allot 1% seats to def personnel’s wards: HC

The Madras high court has said that it expects the TN government to allocate at least 1% medical seats for wards of serving defence personnel from the next academic year and recognise their selfless service to the nation. P 5

Wrong to say NEET improved medical exam quality: CM

The most-affected were students of government schools, those having parental income of less than ₹ 2.5 lakh a year and that of MBCs, SCs and STs.

The committee said the NEET neither seemed to ensure merit nor standard of students being offered MBBS. The Justice Rajan committee received views from 86,342 people both offline and online and submitted its report on July

14. “The committee has recommended that the state government pass an act, like Tamil Nadu Admission in Professional Educational Institutions Act, 2006 (Tamil Nadu Act 3 of 2007),” Stalin said.

Following the recommendations, the state set up another committee of secretaries led by chief secretary V Irai Anbu on July 15. The committee of secretaries recommended the same route to nullify NEET.

The CM said it was wrong to say NEET improved the standard of medical examination. TN had one of the highest number of medical and dental institutions even before 2017. The standard of medical and dental professionals from these institutions was high.

The government decided to enact a law to ensure social justice, uphold equality and equal opportunity, protect all vulnerable student communities, and ensure a robust public health care in the state, especially in the rural areas, Stalin said.

In the afternoon, when the Bill was taken up for consideration and passage, BJP floor leader Nainar Nagendran said his party opposed the Bill. He said 57,219 out of 99,610 students, who wrote NEET, cleared the test last year.

Violation of UGC norms on PWDs under the scanner

Violation of UGC norms on PWDs under the scanner

TNIE had highlighted the struggles faced by M Kamaraj, a disabled rights activist, in getting admitted to Bharathidasan University in Tiruchy for MPhil in 2016-17.

Published: 13th September 2021 03:33 AM 

Kamaraj, who fought for the rights of disabled students, is now pursuing MPhil in Tiruchy | Express

By Sowmya Mani

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Following an article published in TNIE on Saturday titled ‘Disabled activist’s fight against varsity a win for all students’, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Johny Tom Varghese has decided to take up the matter in the court of the state commissioner for persons with disabilities.

TNIE had highlighted the struggles faced by M Kamaraj, a disabled rights activist, in getting admitted to Bharathidasan University in Tiruchy for MPhil in 2016-17. Despite being eligible, Kamaraj was not admitted as several universities do not follow the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.

Varghese on Saturday wrote to the Department of Welfare of Differently Abled Persons regarding the non-compliance with the UGC recommendations, and said the matter would be taken up suo motu in the court of the state commissioner for persons with disabilities.

The Higher Education department and educational institutions will be directed to adhere to the UGC recommendations, he stated. “We will ask the Higher Education department and universities why the UGC norms are not being followed... We will give a notice and recommendations at the hearing on Tuesday,” Varghese added.

Collector's timely help saves TN boy from missing NEET exam

Collector's timely help saves TN boy from missing NEET exam

Collector Amar Kushwaha’s timely help saved a NEET aspirant from missing the entrance examination on Sunday.

Published: 13th September 2021 03:49 AM 

Collector Amar Kushwaha dropping a NEET aspirant at the exam centre in Yelagiri Hills on Sunday | Express

By Express News Service

TIRUPATHUR: Collector Amar Kushwaha’s timely help saved a NEET aspirant from missing the entrance examination on Sunday. The Collector was on his way to the Yelagiri Hills, when he saw 17-year-old Vediappan waiting for a vehicle at the foothills near the Ponneri check post.

Kushwaha was going to inspect one of the NEET centres set up at the hills in the district. It was already 1.15 pm and all the special buses had already left for the centre. Candidates had to report to their centres at 1.30 pm, 30 minutes before the test.

“I stopped at the check post to monitor the arrangements made to regulate traffic. Only special buses and private vehicles were allowed uphill,” the Collector told TNIE. At that time, I got to know Vediappan was stuck there, he added.

A resident of Vettavalam in Tiruvannamalai, Vediappan boarded a bus from his village in the morning, went to Vellore and then came to the district. The roundabout journey reportedly caused the delay. “He seemed nervous but I gave him a lift and dropped him at the centre 20 minutes before the test. After frisking and other procedures were over, he was allowed to enter,” added Amar Kushwaha. The district had two NEET centres.