DMK MLA’s plea a new googly against NEET?

DMK MLA’s plea a new googly against NEET?

So, if the petitioner wins this case, it would be a big victory for the ruling DMK in its fight against NEET.

Published: 15th September 2021 03:28 AM 

NEET candidates at Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School in Chennai on Sunday. (EPS | P Jawahar)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by DMK MLA, Dr Ezhilan Naganathan, challenging an Emergency-era Constitutional amendment insofar as it moved the subject of education from the State List to the Concurrent List.

Though the petition made no mention of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), if the plea succeeds, State governments will be able to do away with the NEET and even the National Education Policy.

On matters in the Concurrent List, the Union government has the final word and that’s why the Bill exempting Tamil Nadu from the NEET, passed by the State government on Monday, has to get Presidential approval to become a law. So, if the petitioner wins this case, it would be a big victory for the ruling DMK in its fight against NEET. If education is brought back to the State List, the State no longer has to depend on the Union government’s concurrence on the issue, a stumbling block for the Bill passed by the previous AIADMK regime.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu admitted the plea on Tuesday and impleaded the Tamil Nadu government as a party-respondent in the case by itself. It ordered the notice, returnable in eight weeks, to the State and Union governments. The matter will be taken up for hearing after 10 weeks, the bench said.

‘Amendment upset federal structure’

According to the petitioner, the shifting of education from the State List to the Concurrent List by the 1976 Constitutional amendment is a violation of the basic structure doctrine. He argued the said amendment has resulted in upsetting the federal structure as originally envisaged by the Constitution framers.

“By virtue of transferring the subject of education from List II to List III, the States’ executive/legislative autonomy in the matters of education has become subservient to Union’s executive/ legislative powers,” the petitioner said. The bench observed that the subject had not been taken out of the State’s purview entirely, as it is still in the Concurrent List and not in the Union List.

Therefore, the court wondered whether this would amount to tinkering with the basic structure of the Constitution. The DMK MLA’s petition argued that the reason behind giving exclusive authority to the States on the subject of education was due to the fact that it is the State government which knows the individual needs and aspirations of the people in different areas/localities and is better placed to address the gaps in the system, and formulate policies that are tailored to their needs.

Another aspirant kills self

Days after the reported suicide of a 19-year-old NEET aspirant in Salem, a 17-year-old girl in Ariyalur district ended her life on Monday night, upset over a “difficult” question paper

DME assures doctors, says wage arrears will be paid

DME assures doctors, says wage arrears will be paid

Meanwhile, the duty doctors maintained that representations were submitted to the Collector over the payment of salary wage arrears.

Published: 15th September 2021 07:32 AM |

Nursing students stand in a queue to get themselves immunised against Covid-19 at New Government General Hospital in Vijayawada. 

(File photo | EPS/P Ravindra Babu)

By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Director of Medical Education (DME) V Raghavendra Rao on Tuesday carried out surprise checks at New Government General Hospital (GGH). During the visit, the DME instructed the hospital staff to offer treatment to the patients within 30 minutes after they step onto the premises.Speaking on the occasion, Raghavendra Rao said steps are being taken to increase the bed strength in the hospital by extending the emergency ward.

Referring to the strike call given by the duty doctors, the DME said doctors played a crucial role and saved many lives by risking their lives during the pandemic. He further said a lot of money was spent to purchase injections for treating black fungus and other deadly diseases. “Once again the government has sanctioned funds to arrange immediate payment of salaries due to doctors. We are requesting the doctors not to take part in protests. We are assuring to provide wage arrears and regularise the services of eligible doctors besides extending all necessary support from the government,” the DME said.

Meanwhile, the duty doctors maintained that representations were submitted to the Collector over the payment of salary wage arrears. So far there was no response from the district administration over our demands. Around 200 duty doctors in the district will participate in the strike from Wednesday to press their demands, including payment of arrears and issuance of experience certificate, a doctor said.

Criminal proceedings against lawyer for misbehaviour in court

Criminal proceedings against lawyer for misbehaviour in court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:15.09.2021

A Delhi court has directed initiation of criminal proceedings against a lawyer for allegedly misbehaving and arguing in a high-pitched voice despite repeated warnings by the judge during physical hearing in a case, while noting that the lawyer did not feel remorseful for his act.

The directions were given by additional sessions judge Shivaji Ananda after the lawyer kept arguing with the prosecutor in a “very high pitch” voice, alleging that he is making mockery of him.

When the lawyer refused to submit a written explanation on why he misbehaved and interfered in the proceedings even after his matter was over, the judge directed initiation of criminal proceedings.

“Let miscellaneous number be registered for further proceedings under sections 228 (interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceedings) and 179 (refusing to answer public servant authorised to question)of IPC. The matter will be taken up on September 21,” the court said in the order.

According to the order, the lawyer continued to raise his voice despite repeated warnings from the judge.

The lawyer had come to the court to seek interim bail for his client for two months on the medical grounds.

Furnish info on MP medical varsity scam probe panel: HC to CS

Furnish info on MP medical varsity scam probe panel: HC to CS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal/Jabalpur:15.09.2021

A division bench of Madhya Pradesh high court on Tuesday directed the chief secretary to furnish information on constitution of a committee to probe the MP Medical University scam while deferring hearing on the petitions related to the case to October 4.

Three petitions have been filed in the high court in connection with the scam— one of them a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a judicial probe into the scam in which an Agra-based company, which was given contract to hold the exams conducted by the university and prepare marksheet of students, allegedly manipulated the marksheets of the students and changed their marks.

The second petition was filed by the company- Mind Logic Infratech Ltd— challenging the decision of the university to annul the contract with the company and the third petition was filed by the state government against the then registrar in-charge of the university.

During a joint hearing of all the three petitions— petitioners of the PIL contended that then in-charge registrar of the university Dr J K Jain had probed the allegations of scam against the company and found them prima-facie true. Not only was the marksheet of students manipulated and marks obtained by them changed, but their data was prepared not on the official site of the university but a private site, he said.

Following this, contract with the company was put in abeyance, but later, Gupta was also placed under suspension and the vice-chancellor resigned from the post.

The acting exam controller of the university, who was the first to complain against the company to higher authorities of the university has also been removed from the post. The petitioner also pointed out that Agra Medical University had filed an FIR against the company for a similar scam, yet it was given the contract by the MP Medical University.

The petitioner sought the court intervention to order a judicial probe into the scam.

Med edu curriculum in Hindi soon: Min

Med edu curriculum in Hindi soon: Min

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:15.09.2021

Medical education curriculum could soon be in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh. A committee is preparing the module and in the near future it could be offered in Hindi as an option, said MP medical education minister Vishwas Sarang, here on Tuesday on the occasion of Hindi Day.

Similar initiatives have been made at Bhopal’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University but never saw the day of light after the campus of the university was shifted three years ago.

Madhya Pradesh government would offer the option of studying medicine in Hindi “in the near future”, the state medical education minister said.

“We are going to form a committee at the earliest to ensure that medical education courses (material) are prepared in Hindi as well. In the near future, we will start medical studies in Hindi too,” he said.

Vishwas Sarang said the special committee will work to prepare the course.

In Madhya Pradesh, medical students will now be taught in Hindi. The entire course will be in Hindi. The announcement was made by Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang. He said that today is Hindi Day. Best wishes to all. We have decided to study medicine in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of Hindi Day. A committee will be constituted soon.

Govt would offer the option of studying medicine in Hindi “in the near future”, state med edu minister Vishwas Sarang said

‘Aadhaar not a valid document for proof of age’

‘Aadhaar not a valid document for proof of age’

Chandigarh:15.09.2021

The Punjab and Haryana high court has made it clear that the Aadhaar card cannot be used for proof of age as no documentary details are usually sought at the time of applying for the Unique Identity Development Authority of India’s (UIDAI’s) verifiable 12-digit identification number.

Justice Amol Rattan Singh of the HC passed the order while hearing a petition filed by a runaway couple from Haryana’s Jind district. The court also ordered the state authorities to determine the actual age of the girl and take legal action if her age was found to be false.

"There is no firm proof of age of either of the petitioners other than their Aadhaar cards, which is actually no proof as no documentary proof is usually asked for at the time of applying for the Aadhaar card or the issuance thereof," the HC said. TNN

120kmph limit is dangerous, reduce it, HC orders Centre

120kmph limit is dangerous, reduce it, HC orders Centre

Chennai:15.09.2021

Flagging ‘overspeed’ on highways, the Madras high court has quashed a central notification issued in 2018, increasing the speed limit of vehicles on them from 100kmph to 120kmph.

In a recent order, the HC blamed ‘overspeeding’ for most road accidents and directed the Centre to set the speed limit as per an August 5, 2014 notification, which prescribed 80kmph as maximum speed on highways.

Refusing to accept the stand taken by the Union government that the speed limit had been fixed by an expert committee considering the improvement in the infrastructure and better engine technology of vehicles, a division bench of justices N Kirubakaran (since retired) and TV Thamilselvi said: “When overspeeding is a major cause for road accidents, it is not known as to how the improvement in road infrastructure and engine technology would reduce accidents.”

In fact, better engine technology would always be a reason for uncontrolled speed and thereby cause more accidents, the court said. It added that authorities must use modern gadgets like speed gun, speed indication display to find out the speeding vehicle and punish the driver. TNN

Madras HC does U-turn on bumper-to-bumper cover

Madras HC does U-turn on bumper-to-bumper cover

Sureshkumar.k@timesgroup.com

Chennai:15.09.2021

Madras high court on Tuesday withdrew its earlier order mandating five-year bumper-to-bumper insurance cover for all new vehicles registered from September 1.

Justice S Vaidyanathan recalled the order passed on August 4 after Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) submitted that it would consider better and fuller insurance coverage to all unfortunate victims, be it drivers, owners or gratuitous occupants or pillion riders, as the case may be.

While withdrawing his order, Justice Vaidyanathan expressed hope that lawmakers would look into the issue and examine the need for a suitable amendment to Motor Vehicles Act, relating to long-term coverage of vehicles so as to protect innocent victims.

The August 4 order made it mandatory for all vehicles sold after September 1 to have bumper-to-bumper insurance cover for five years.

Amend 3rd-party cover for car occupants: Industry

The Madras HC said the circular issued by the joint transport commissioner, Chennai, based on its earlier order on bumper-to-bumper insurance would stand cancelled.

The court issued its order in August after hearing a case where the occupants of a vehicle suffered an injury during an accident and insurance officials said they were not covered under the mandatory third-party insurance. Insurers can, however, issue a personal accident cover to occupants under a comprehensive cover.

The Madras high court on Monday heard a petition by the General Insurance Council, which sought clarification in respect of an order last month where the court had prescribed compulsory five-year bumperto-bumper insurance for new vehicles with effect from September 1, 2021. The order was, however, kept in abeyance following a petition filed by the GI Council.

According to industry officials, the court had rightly addressed the issue of insurance protection for accident victims who are in a vehicle. Industry officials said if the intention is to make coverage of vehicle occupants mandatory, the same can be done under the motor third-party cover with appropriate amendment and pricing.

Full report on www.toi.in

SC denies compassionate job to ‘divorced’ daughter

SC denies compassionate job to ‘divorced’ daughter

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:15.09.2021

It is a classic case of a conspiracy that went awfully wrong in the final stretch. A woman took divorce on mutual consent months after the death of her mother, a government employee, to get a government job on compassionate grounds but ended without the job and her husband as the Supreme Court saw through the deception.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and Aniruddha Bose denied compassionate employment to the daughter of a deceased government employee when it found that she conspiratorially annulled her marriage on mutual consent after her mother’s death with the sole aim of cornering a government job.

Petitioner V Somyashree’s mother, who was employed with the Karnataka government as a second division assistant at Mandya district treasury, died in harness on March 25, 2012. Soumyashree was married at the time of her mother’s death and hence disentitled for compassionate employment. Six months later, she initiated divorce by mutual consent and on March 20, 2013, a trial court annulled her marriage. The next day (March 21, 2013), she applied to the authorities for appointment on compassionate grounds. The authorities rejected the application. Two years later, she moved the state administrative tribunal which too rejected her claim. But the Karnataka HC set aside the tribunal’s order and directed state government to consider giving her appointment on compassionate grounds. The state appealed against it before the SC.

Allowing the appeal, the SC bench said, “The chronology of dates and events would suggest that only for the purpose of getting appointment on compassionate grounds, the decree of divorce by mutual consent has been obtained. Otherwise, as a married daughter she was not entitled to the appointment on compassionate grounds.”

In blow to WB ‘organiser teachers’, SC says let qualified people teach primary students

Let qualified persons teach students in primary classes,” the Supreme Court said on Tuesday, refusing to entertain petitions seeking appointment of ‘organiser teachers’, who worked on the basis of a rule that was abrogated 40 years ago to spread education in the rural hinterland of West Bengal, as primary teachers, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra. Refusing to entertain petitions filed by organiser teachers and their associations, a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Vikram Nath and BV Nagarathna said, “Today qualified teachers are available. Organiser teachers don’t meet the qualification criteria prescribed by National Council for Teacher Education.”

Postmortem report can’t be sole basis for conviction: SC

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:15.09.2021

Holding that a person cannot be convicted merely on the basis of postmortem report, the Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted a man who was sentenced to life imprisonment for unnatural death of his wife and quashed trial court and Patna high court order convicting him on the basis of medical report which said that she died of throttling.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Abhay S Oka said the guilt of the accused has not been established beyond a reasonable doubt and the circumstances established by the prosecution do not lead to only one possible inference regarding the guilt of the accused. The court also noted that there was no eyewitnesses in the case and the relationship between the husband and wife was not strained to indicate any foul play on his behalf.

In this case, the husband contended that she died of burn injuries as she caught fire while cooking and family members tried their best to douse the fire. The prosecution, however, rubbished his claim as the autopsy report said the death was due to asphyxia. Going by the findings of a post-mortem report, the trial court and the HC convicted him and awarded life imprisonment. Examining statements of all witnesses and evidence, the apex court said the guilt of the accused was not proved beyond doubt and acquitted him. “In this case, neither the prosecution witnesses have deposed to that effect nor any other material has been placed on record to show that the relationship between the appellant and the deceased was strained in any manner. Moreover, the appellant was not the only person residing in the house where the incident took place and it is brought on record that the parents of the appellant were also present on the date of the incident in the house. Therefore, it can be said that the facts established do not rule out the existence of any other hypothesis,” said Justice Oka who penned the verdict.

Another MBBS aspirant ends life a day after NEET

Another MBBS aspirant ends life a day after NEET

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ariyalur:15.09.2021

An MBBS aspirant in Ariyalur district, who appeared for the national eligibility cum entrance test (NEET) on Sunday, was found hanging at her house late on Monday. The deceased has been identified as K Kanimozhi, 17. The girl’s father Karunanidhi is a lawyer practising in Jayankondam court.

Kanimozhi allegedly ended her life at her house at Thularankurichi near Udayarpalayam over fear of failure in the test, when her parents were attending a function at Ariyalur. Her elder sister is a student at a private college in Perambalur. Her family took her body to their native at Sathambadi in Ariyalur district, where her final rites were conducted in the evening.

Sathambadi panchayat president Thanga Ravichandran said that the girl was a student of a private school at Namakkal and had scored 562 out of 600 in Class XII board examinations. Her score in Class X was 469 out of 500. She appeared sad after appearing for NEET at a centre in Thanjavur as she had apprehension that she may not clear NEET.

Udayarpalayam police took up the investigation.

It is the second such suicide in the state in the last two days. Dhanush, 19, of Mettur in Salem district had ended his life before appearing for NEET.

Chief minister M K Stalin expressed shock over the death of Kanimozhi and he sought to drive away NEET through legal means. “I assure the students and their parents that there will be no compromise on abolishing NEET with the consent of the president of India,” said the CM. The chief minister also said that impersonation, question paper leak and malpractices at the coaching centres proved that NEET is not an exam that weighs the eligibility of the students.

Registering his condolence, former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami asked the DMK to put an end to the ‘political drama’ over NEET and explain the reality to the students. The former CM also demanded the state government to provide counselling for the MBBS aspirants after appearing for NEET.

Former chief minister O Panneerselvam said that it was disheartening that the students were taking such extreme steps, while all political parties in the state were raising pitch against the NEET.

Calling it an unfortunate event, which should not happen to any student in future, TMC president G K Vasan MP said that political parties should not give any false hope to the students and their parents by politicising education.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko demanded the central government to give consent to the anti-NEET bill tabled by the DMK government. “NEET imposed by the BJP cost the lives of 15 students in Tamil Nadu. The Constitution of India has vested the state government with the power of enacting a law over education in the concurrent list for protecting the interest of the state,” said Vaiko.

No additional seats as NMC won’t inspect colleges due to Covid

No additional seats as NMC won’t inspect colleges due to Covid

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:15.09.2021

Increase of 100 additional seats sought for a government medical college in Coimbatore and nearly 300 additional seats sought by at least three self-financing colleges and deemed universities will not be added to the seat matrix this year as the National Medical Council’s medical assessment and rating board (MARB) has said it will not be able to send teams to inspect these colleges due to Covid-19.

The directorate of medical education had sought to increase seats in Coimbatore Medical College from 150 to 250 as part of the plan to increase strength in existing medical colleges. Others including SRM Medical College and Chennai Medical College Trichy had applied for an increase of at least 100 seats each. Approval for additional seats is granted after a detailed inspection by the NMCappointed committee.

The commission, which sent teams for inspection at the peak of the second wave to most colleges including to the 11 new institutions in TN until the second week of August, denied inspections later. In the last week of August, it wrote to medical colleges and state governments saying applications for increase of seats for 2021-22 will be carried to the next academic year.

The letter said applications for increase in seats can’t be processed due to constraints of sending assessors to physically inspect colleges. Sources said the members discussed the possibility of permitting all applicants to admit students for this year but decided not to do so without physical assessment of infrastructure and faculty.

Most medical colleges, which had created infrastructure and appointed additional faculty, were disappointed. One of them even moved the Madras high court seeking intervention. On September 8, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said records show NMC inspections were held until May 19 but cited “prevailing pandemic situation” in a letter dated August 27 to postpone inspection. The court, he said, “Is not convinced with the reason … since the situation has not worsened after 19.06.2021.” Posting the case for Wednesday, the court asked NMC to explain if there is any scope for conducting another inspection to decide on the college’s request.

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