MBBS admissions: Should you apply in India or go abroad?

MBBS admissions: Should you apply in India or go abroad?

Wondering if you should pursue MBBS from India or abroad? Here's everything you should know about seeking an admission to an MBBS course.

India Today Web Desk

New Delhi

September 28, 2021

MBBS admissions: What is better option between India vs abroad?

Every medical aspirant in India wants to get admission to India, but the seats are limited. Only 84,000 MBBS seats are available in medical colleges in India and 14 lakh students appear in the NEET exam. It makes it harder for medical students to get admission and, in that case, they choose to study MBBS abroad.

It is considered a better option for medical students. Apart from affordable fees, government and top medical universities, global working opportunities, students can get easy admission without any donation. Unlike India, foreign medical universities have sufficient medical seats. It accepts applications from international students.

This profession has become much in demand during pandemics. Everyone realised medical science is a field that is in a lot of demand amid the Covid-19. Many students off from medical courses due to the expensive tuition fees of private medical colleges in India. On the other hand, students can complete MBBS abroad between Rs 12 lakh to 25 lakh, including or excluding hostel and mess fees.

There are many countries in the world that are considered to be ideal for Indian students to study MBBS Abroad. Many of them have invested a lot in the education system for R&D. Due to this, medical education is pretty affordable.

Duration of MBBS in India vs abroad

The duration of MBBS studies varies between countries.

Students can complete their MBBS studies in just 5.5 years in India. That includes the training or internship duration (12 months).

On the other hand, countries like Russia, China, or Ukraine offer 6 years (Approximately) including internships under experienced professionals.

Major benefits of studying MBBS Abroad vs India

1. Affordable fee - MBBS fee in India starts from Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh (Private medical colleges). In comparison, the MBBS fee in developed countries like Ukraine is between Rs 14 to Rs 25 lakhs.2. World-class infrastructure - Not all colleges have their own hospitals to offer practical training to students in India. On the other hand, applicants will get training in the university hospital under experienced medical professionals.3. Top ranking medical colleges - Most of the colleges in India have a low ranking in the international ranking list. On the other hand, 30 Russian medical universities are listed in the top 100 medical universities in the world.

How can students get admission abroad?

When it comes to getting admission to a medical college, it all depends on qualifying for the NEET exams. After that, the next step is how good a rank you hold in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. Finally, counselling and then the rest of the admission process. Colleges set their cut-off list and select only those students who fall in those criteria.

On the other hand, NEET rank does not play a vital role in MBBS Admission at MCI/NMC approved medical universities abroad. There will be no predefined cut-off for admission to medical colleges outside India. Aspirants just need to prove their eligibility and that's it.

There is a myth that every student must have heard that only those students apply for MBBS Abroad who are weak in the study. This is completely baseless. Students who scored 550+ are applying for admission to top medical colleges abroad. The reason behind that is the competition is high.

For seeking admission to colleges of countries like Ukraine, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, and Georgia, there is no entrance exam conducted. The only condition is that you complete the eligibility and just pass the NEET exam.

Future after MBBS abroad?

Most of the popular universities are approved by the National Medical Commission and the local government of that country. The Medical degree is valid in India and other countries as well. To practice in India, students have to pass the FMGE exam after MBBS abroad.

This test is important for foreign medical graduates to get verification for practicing medicine in India. The basics of clearing the MCI Screening Test in India are not so difficult that it can be cleared if students give proper time for preparation.

The students have to pass 150 questions out of 300, which is a 50% passing rate. If students want to work in another country, they have to pass the medical licensing exam of that country.

The authored article is written by Vishu Tripathi, CEO& Founder, Affinity Education

Corruption eating into society, observes Madras HC

Corruption eating into society, observes Madras HC

Corruption is rampant in all government departments and is gnawing at the society like termites, observed Madras High Court.

Published: 03rd October 2021 05:23 AM | Last Updated: 03rd October 2021 05:23 AM

Madras High Court Madras High Court

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Corruption is rampant in all government departments and is gnawing at the society like termites, observed Madras High Court. “In the olden days, bribe was demanded in revenue, registration, and corporation departments for doing extra work. Of late, corruption exists in almost all the departments because of the quiescent attitude of higher officials,” said a Division Bench of justices S Viadyanathan and AA Nakkiran.

The bench made the observations on Thursday while upholding a single judge’s order revoking the suspension of a policeman, Baskaran, caught in a bribery case in Madurai in 2014. The single judge had revoked the suspension on the grounds that higher officials concerned failed to initiate departmental proceedings against the policeman.

Disposing of the writ appeals filed by Additional Director General of Police and the Madurai City Police Commissioner, the bench said it was not known as to what prevented the officers from initiating departmental proceedings against the petitioner, charged with the “serious and grave offence” of taking bribe, and allowed to wander scot-free for quite a long time. Though the bench ordered police department to reinstate the policeman by November end, it said the department may initiate departmental action against him.

Stressing that officials in charge of initiating departmental action must be taught to do so in time, the bench said the order is applicable not only to the police department but also all government departments. It asked the chief secretary and the DGP to issue instructions to all the departments to distinguish between ‘ordinary suspension’ and ‘suspension on account of arrest and remand pursuant to registration of a criminal case’.

BDS Admission Given To Student Who Failed Class 12 Subject Cancelled After One Year; Rajasthan HC Asks NEET Counselling Board, College To Pay Rs 10 Lakh Compensation Each

BDS Admission Given To Student Who Failed Class 12 Subject Cancelled After One Year; Rajasthan HC Asks NEET Counselling Board, College To Pay Rs 10 Lakh Compensation Each

Sebin James30 Sep 2021 11:08 AM

NEET All India Quota: Plea In Supreme Court Challenges 103rd Constitutional Amendment And Income Limit Of Rs 8 Lakh Per Annum For EWS Category

"Minimum educational qualification was to be ensured by all the Authorities and only after verification of such fact that the admission processes should have been undertaken."

In a pertinent judgement, Rajasthan High Court has held the NEET Counselling Board and a Dental College guilty of serious lapses in thoroughly examining the School Certificate produced by the candidate at the time of provisional allotment and admission. The single-judge bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Gaur was considering the writ petition of a BDS student who was denied enrollment by Rajasthan University of Health Sciences, almost a year after his admission, when it was found out that he had failed in the subject of Chemistry in Senior School Examination.

The court, in its judgement, while holding the petitioner not eligible in the first place to have appeared in NEET UG 2019 Exams or to avail the option of continuing his course from hereon, made the following directions to the respondents:

"This Court, in the present facts of the case, deems it proper to issue direction to pay a compensation of Rs.10,00,000/- (Rs. Ten Lakhs only) to the petitioner by NEET Counselling Board and further the respondent - Darshan Dental Medical College And Hospital, Udaipur will also pay Rs.10,00,000/- (Rs.Ten Lakhs only) to the petitioner."

The court took into consideration the expenses incurred inclusive of fees already paid for the course, and impact of the loss of an academic year for the petitioner student due to the negligence of respondent authorities while deciding the quantum of compensation.

Facts

The petitioner appeared for the NEET UG 2019 exams and underwent the Counselling process after the Merit List was published. He was subsequently given provisional allotment to Darshan Dental Medical College and Hospital in July 2019. After allotment, he paid the requisite fees and submitted the mandatory documents including the Senior Secondary Certificate. Prior to the first-year exam in August 2020, he received a letter from the University pointing out his ineligibility to be enrolled, citing his failure in the Chemistry Paper of the CBSE Board Exams as the reason.

Submissions Made By Counsels

Petitioner Student's Counsel

Advocate Chandrabhan Sharma, for the petitioner, argued before the court that as per the CBSE mark sheet, his result has been shown as 'Pass'. The petitioner also acknowledged that, against Chemistry, it has been marked as 'Fail In Theory'. However, it was the contention of the petitioner that the minimum passing marks for all subjects are 33 and he had obtained more than that for all subjects including Chemistry.

Reference was also made by the petitioner to the NEET-UG, Medical & Dental Counselling Board's Information Booklet which specifies the eligibility criteria for applicants. It was the interpretation of the petitioner that the booklet does not specify pass marks in both theory and practical constituents of a subject if the result has been declared as 'Pass'.

According to the petitioner, the only requirement was 40% aggregate marks in all the subjects and securing individual pass marks for the same.

Petitioner's counsel further argued that the denial of enrolment was unjustified since the petitioner has completed one year at the College and the current situation has not been an after effect of the petitioner misleading the authorities.

Counsels For Rajasthan University of Health Sciences And CBSE

Advocate Ravi Chirania for the respondent University alleged a 'human error' from the part of CBSE in issuing the mark sheet and serious lapses from the part of NEET Examination Authority and Counselling Board in verifying the documents. Mere declaration in the mark sheet as 'Pass' won't bestow eligibility upon the petitioner unless he has passed both the theory and practical aspects of the subject.

Both the Respondent University and the CBSE drew the attention of Court to Clause 40.1 (ii) of CBSE Bye-Laws which states that if a subject involves practical work, the student must obtain 33 per cent in practical and theory separately, so as to have 33 per cent marks jointly, to pass each subject.

It was the contention of the Counsel For CBSE, Advocate MS Raghav, that the petitioner had opted for five subjects and one additional subject as per Clause 43 of Bye-Laws, hence he was declared as 'Pass' on the basis of those five subjects even when his positional grade for Chemistry was 'E'. He denied any kind of 'human error' on the part of CBSE.

Counsels For NEET Counselling Board & Dental College

NEET Counselling Board, in turn, with respect to the issue of document verification, submitted that it was the responsibility of the allotted/admitting college to check the original documents and the documents pertaining to the eligibility of the candidate, inclusive of the 12th Standard Marksheet. After examining if a student has passed in Chemistry, Physics, Biology and English subjects individually and had secured 40% marks as per the booklet, the concerned college was expected to report to the Counselling Board about the details of admission of the candidate via Online Reporting Module.

It was also their submission that the petitioner candidate, who belonged to the ST Category, was personally liable to make sure that he met the eligibility criteria For the ST Candidates as per the Booklet, including revocation of admission even after admission if any lapses from the part of candidate are identified at a later stage.

The counsel for Respondent Dental College, Advocate JR Tantia, in turn, tried to establish that it was the obligation of the NEET Committee To ascertain the veracity of original documents presented at the time of issuing provisional allotment letter to the candidate and that the college was merely honouring the decision of the Counselling Board as per their own information booklet.

Court's Findings

After examining the information booklet of NEET-UG Counselling Board and the submissions made by the concerned parties, Justice Ashok Kumar Gaur inferred that the petitioner has not met the mandatory criteria to pass the subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Biology/ Biochemistry individually when Clause 40.1 (ii) CBSE Byelaws is parallelly applied.

"This Court finds that a candidate, who appears in any of the examinations, has to ensure that he fulfills the minimum educational qualification and any other conditions, which are required before entering into fray for writing the examination. The specific requirement of educational qualification cannot be diluted by this Court, as the requirement of possessing and passing the subjects, is a pre-condition for making a candidate eligible."

The single-judge bench went on to note that "...Candidates/Doctors deal with the human lives, which are of immense importance.." and the petitioner had no right to seek permission to pursue the course even after a clear finding as to the lack of his qualification.

Regarding the responsibility of Respondents No. 3 & 4, i.e., Counselling Committee and Dental College, Justice Ashok Kumar Gaur reached the following conclusion:

"…Minimum educational qualification was to be ensured by all the Authorities, including NEET Counselling Board as well as the College and only after verification of such fact that the petitioner possessed the requisite educational qualification, the admission process should have been undertaken by these Authorities."

The court observed that neither of the parties can absolve themselves from liability by shifting the blame to one another. The court also recorded that the respondent college came to know of the discrepancy in qualification only when examination forms were to be filled and enrolment was to be done by the University, and the same can't be condoned by the reasoning that they were devoid of any options other than complying with the provisional allotment letter from NEET Committee in the previous year.

The court relied on the Apex Court judgements in Krina Ajay Shah & Ors. Vs. The Secretary, Association of Management of Unaided Private Medical & Dental Colleges & Ors. [(2016) 1 SCC 666] and S. Nihal Ahamed Vs. The Dean, Velammal Medical College Hospital and Research Institute & Ors. [(2016) 1 SCC 662] whereby it has repeatedly considered the grant of compensation to the candidates if such candidates were not to be granted admission after lapse of time, so that the candidates could be given damages under "public law damages" theory.

As a result, the court recorded in its judgement the extent to which the NEET Counselling Board and Respondent College should compensate the ineligible petitioner student for negligence, i.e., Rs 10 Lakhs each.

Case Title: Nitendar Kumar Meena v. Rajasthan University of Health Sciences & Ors.

Case no.| Date: Civil Writ Petition No. 9052/2020| 14th September 2021

Coram: Justice Ashok Kumar Gaur

Counsel: Advocate Chandrabhan Sharma For Petitioner

Dr Vibhuti Bhushan Sharma, AAG – For Respondent State

Advocate Jai Raj Tantia- For Respondent College

Advocate MS Raghav – For Respondent CBSE

Advocate Ravi Chirania - For Respondent University

Shops near educational institutions to ensure employees are vaccinated

Shops near educational institutions to ensure employees are vaccinated

04/10/2021

Tanu Kulkarni Bengaluru

In an attempt to prevent COVID-19 clusters in schools, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has directed all shops and eateries around educational institutions to ensure that their staff are vaccinated.

This decision was taken in the wake of around 60 students of Sri Chaitanya Girls’ Residential School, near Electronics City, testing positive for COVID-19 last week. “All the school staff are vaccinated, but students during short breaks or after school hours often visit general stores and eateries to grab some refreshments. We want to ensure that people working there too are vaccinated so that the possibility of students contracting the virus is reduced,” said D. Randeep, Special Commissioner (Health), BBMP.

Proprietors who don’t comply will be ordered to down shutters until all their staff are vaccinated. Mr. Randeep, however, added that the civic body does not want to close the shops unless absolutely necessary, and that the priority is to ensure that everyone has vaccine coverage. “Our teams will verify this during the block-level vaccination programmes,” he said.

The civic body has entrusted the implementation of this order to the nodal officers in schools and the closest Primary Health Centre (PHC). “Nodal officers attached to schools and PHC staff can collaborate and ensure that shopkeepers have only staff who are vaccinated working at their stores,” Mr. Randeep said.

Move welcomed

The move has been welcomed by school managements, parents and teachers. Ritika S.,a parent of a Class 8 student said, “I have tried to tell my son to immediately return home after classes and not mingle with his classmates. But some days, he needs to get some photocopies and often stops to eat some snacks. It will help if the BBMP can enforce this rule,” she said.

School managements have supported the move. “I will ensure that shops and eateries around our school furnish vaccination details of their staff,” said Sumanth Narayana, founder, Shanthinikethana School.

Why 2 watches in the hands of Minister PDR? Because of the sentiment he expressed

Why 2 watches in the hands of Minister PDR? Because of the sentiment he expressed

The Rolex that my grandfather gave to my father has been in my hands for 30 years.

Written By WebDesk

October 2, 2021 8:35:49 am

Tamil Nadu finance minister PTR palanivel thiagarajan: Tamil Nadu finance and human resource development minister P.D.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan is one of the busiest Tamil Nadu ministers to date. He has two laptops, two watches and four pens. The issue of apologizing to authorities after being detained at the airport for taking away two laptops recently caused major repercussions.

Looking at his press conference and zoom meeting, the important thing that begs the question for us is why he has a watch tied in both hands. He himself has given an explanation as to why.

One of the watches he wore on his wrist was given to his father by his grandfather. He said he took the watch to the United States 30 years ago because it did not work and that he was repairing it.

Fitbit watch with a black watch tied to his other hand. He said he was using it to learn about his health activities. I use the Fitbit Watch heartbeat to know how far we have walked. You can talk on the phone with this Apple Watch. Listen to the song. This will allow you to answer phone calls if necessary. Therefore, it is inevitable for today's environment, he said

Kerala University of Health Sciences goes traditional for convocation

Kerala University of Health Sciences goes traditional for convocation

While female students of KUHS getting their degrees on the day will wear the state’s traditional saree, male students will sport off-white khadi ‘jubba’ and mundu.

Published: 04th October 2021 02:16 AM | Last Updated: 04th October 2021 02:16 AM

By Gopika Varrier

Express News Service

THRISSUR: Ditching the colonial gown and hat, Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) has decided to opt for traditional wear for its 14th convocation ceremony on October 5.

This is the first time in the state’s history that a university has decided to go for traditional attire during its convocation ceremony. Health concern is the main reason cited for the change as the university normally rents the gowns and hats for the function every year.

While female students of KUHS getting their degrees on the day will wear the state’s traditional saree, male students will sport off-white khadi ‘jubba’ and mundu. The dress code is the same for Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the KUHS staff participating in the ceremony. A ‘veshti’ weaved in Kuthampully will be worn by all irrespective of gender. KUHS Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnammal said, “Every year, the gowns and hats are taken on rent from Bengaluru or other cities just for the ceremony. We decided to make a change this year mainly due to health concerns, as using the gowns taken on rent from other states is risky, especially in view of the pandemic.”

“On a broader aspect, the gowns and hats have no connect with people here. However, the ethnic dress that we wear during festivals are close to our hearts,” he said As many as 14.229 students will be conferred with degrees at the ceremony. Also, for the first time, KUHS will award an honorary degree this year. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will confer the honorary doctorate of science on Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar Russell, head of the Psychiatry department in Christian Medical College, Vellore. Russell has dedicated his life to study child psychiatry.

MBBS students enrolled in Chinese varsities look for mid-year transfer to other countries

MUMBAI NEWS

MBBS students enrolled in Chinese varsities look for mid-year transfer to other countries

With little hopes of returning to their campuses anytime soon, Indian medical students enrolled in China are now looking at mid-course transfers to institutes in India and other countries. (FILE)

With little hopes of returning to their campuses anytime soon, Indian medical students enrolled in China are now looking at mid-course transfers to institutes in India and other countries. (FILE)

Published on Sep 21, 2021 12:27 AM IST

By HT Correspondent, Mumbai

With little hopes of returning to their campuses anytime soon, Indian medical students enrolled in China are now looking at mid-course transfers to institutes in India and other countries.

“If the National Medical Commission (NMC) will allow us to take a transfer to another country, then our problems will be solved. We don’t have any hope to go back to China,” a third-year medical student, on the condition of anonymity, said.

NMC is the apex body administering medical education in India. Students are writing to the commission to allow them a mid-course transfer to medical colleges outside India. However, NMC has not approved such transfers.

Dr Aruna Vanikar, president of undergraduate courses, NMC, was unavailable for a comment.

For almost 20 months, Indian medical students enrolled for courses in China have not been able to return to their campuses amid travel restrictions. Students have kicked off a new semester online at the beginning of the month.

They had returned to India last year amid a raging pandemic as their universities imposed lockdowns. Many left their belongings behind hoping to return to campuses soon. However, more than a year on, the chances of their return remain uncertain as China continues to impose a travel ban for international students. Only those from South Korea and the United States of America have been allowed to return so far.

In June, the external affairs ministry had issued a notice in favour of students in international universities, who are stuck in India due to the pandemic. The notice had asked such students to write to its overseas Indian affairs (OIA) office about difficulties in reaching their university.

“Indian students studying abroad who are stuck in India owing to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and mobility issues can send their coordinates, that is, email id and mobile number to OIA-2 division at emails: us.oia2@mea.gov.in and so1oia2@mea.gov.in,” said the notice on the official website.

Thereafter, affected students had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter and facilitate the students’ return through an open letter. However, there’s been no response yet.

Meanwhile, mental stress and anxiety continues to grow among students attending lectures online.

“The MBBS course requires students to gain practical experience. For almost two years, we’ve been bereft of that. It’s starting to bother my confidence,” said a fourth-year MBBS student of Jianghan University, Wuhan, who identified herself as Neha.

UK updates its travel advisory after India’s reciprocal move

UK updates its travel advisory after India’s reciprocal move

London:3.10.2021

The UK government on Saturday updated its official advisory for its nationals travelling to India following New Delhi’s decision to impose reciprocal curbs on British visitors from Monday, and said it was in “close contact” with Indian authorities on the issue. The updated travel advisory noted an additional Covid-19 test on day eight and a 10-day mandatory quarantine for all travellers going to India from Britain from Monday.

The advisory states that all travellers, irrespective of their vaccination status, arriving in India must undertake a Covid-19 RT-PCR test on arrival at airport and on day eight after arrival, at their own cost, and undergo mandatory quarantine at home or at the destination address for 10 days. PTI

Airport waits for a Pied Piper to free terminal of cats and rats

Airport waits for a Pied Piper to free terminal of cats and rats

Tamaghna.Banerjee@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:02.10.2021

The city airport authorities are seeking professional cat and mouse catchers to get the terminal free of rodents and felines after a portion of the false ceiling and accompanying aluminium cladding fell off last Tuesday, startling an airline crew and narrowly missing a flyer.

The aluminium cladding that fell beside the entrance to a toilet in the departure terminal had also brought down a cat. An internal inquiry showed the animal was up there because of rats, which brought into focus the problem of rodents at the airport. Airport authorities have decided to hire an NGO to relocate the cats and a government pest control agency to exterminate the rats.

“The rat infestation has been a problem with the Kolkata airport. We have asked the central warehousing corporation in charge of rodent control and pest control at airports to look into the issue,” said airport director C Pattabhi.

An airport official said the rats mostly hide inside the false ceiling, electrical panels, hangars and apron areas. In January last year, a rat on a Dehradun-bound Air India plane from Kolkata had forced the airline to abort the trip at Varanasi, let out passengers and accommodate them in hotels for 24 hours as staffers looked for the rodent.

After Tuesday’s incident, Twitter was abuzz with posts on cat sighting inside the terminals. A Twitter user posted a seven-second video of a cat sitting comfortably on a bench in the airport cafeteria.

In the last year, multiple Twitter users have posted photographs of different cats roaming inside different parts of the terminal.

“I have spotted them quite often, but they are mostly harmless, sitting or quietly walking around,” said Sutirtha Basu, a frequent flyer.

“Cats come here in search of rats and leftover food. We have requested an animal welfare NGO to help us catch and relocate them,” said Pattabhi.

TOI contacted one of the animal welfare NGOs that had earlier been contacted by the Kolkata airport with a similar plea. “It’s not right to relocate a harmless animal, like a cat or a dog. The airport authorities had earlier requested us to relocate them, but we had told them we can only sterilise the animals. Following this, they didn’t contact us any more,” said Lopamudra Basu, secretary, Pashupati Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Dum Dum.

Court: Pay school fee dues by Oct 25

Court: Pay school fee dues by Oct 25

‘No Rustication, All Kids Be Allowed To Take Exams’

Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey & Subrata Chattoraj

Kolkata:02.10.2021

The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed all defaulting parents to pay their school fee arrears by October 25. Schools have been directed not to rusticate any kid for the time being and allow all of them to sit for boards, annual or mid-term exams. Parents will have the right to pay “disputed” and “undisputed” amounts separately.

The order given by the division bench of Justice I P Mukerji and Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya said the court received affidavits from schools, saying their outstanding fees added up to a substantial amount, running into crores, and that if the fees were not received it would be difficult for schools to run or pay bonus to their employees in the festive period.

The order, however, mentioned that the court had also received several contempt petitions from parents, claiming schools were not charging the amounts according to the HC order of October 13, 2020. This order stated that parents had suffered due to the pandemic and could be allowed to pay 80% of the tuition fees. But “a dispute has been raised that the bills raised by the schools and other educational institutions are not in accordance with the said order”, Friday’s order stated. Many parents had filed contempt petitions that schools were charging much more than what the court had specified and that they had paid amounts, which were the court-sanctioned amounts. Many schools had allegedly refused to accept these calculations done by parents. This led to a deadlock and schools had clubbed parents, who had paid according to this calculation, with defaulting guardians.

Friday’s order clarified that parents would have to clear the entire amount decided upon by schools by October 25, but they could segregate the fees as “undisputed” and “disputed” portions and label them accordingly during the payment. “The school authorities will be entitled to straightaway appropriate the admitted amount. They shall also receive the disputed amount, deposit the same in a separate account and keep an account,” Friday’s order said.

The court has asked each school to file an affidavit, to show the amounts they received according to Friday’s order, prepare a list of defaulting parents and the total amount due from each of them. The court will hear both sides on December 3. Meanwhile, no school could rusticate any student and would have to allow them to sit for all exams, court said.

“The direction of the court upon parents to pay fees by October 25 in the manner provided in the order will help schools to run and maintain them for the benefit of all the stakeholders,” said lawyer Sourav Bhagat, who represented Birla High School, South Point School, MP Birla Foundation, Shri Shikshayatan.

Parents’ groups also lauded the order. “Most parents are facing a stand-off with school authorities because there has been a dispute over the outstanding amount. We welcome the order. We will now see how many school managements take this order seriously,” said Sanjeev Sharma, secretary of United Parents’ Protection Forum.

Ayodhya railway station new building to be ready by Dec

Ayodhya railway station new building to be ready by Dec

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:02.10.2021

After months of delay, Indian Railways has announced that as part of the ambitious remodelling and upgradation project of Ayodhya railway station, its new two-storey building will be completed by December.

The station, being developed in two phases, is expected to cater to 1 lakh passengers per day. In the first phase, the two-storey structure on platform 1 will be able to handle 15,000 passengers on an average on regular days and 25,000 on peak days such as Dussehra, Ram Navami, Diwali, and parikrama days. After second-phase completion, the station can handle four times more passengers.

Divisional railway manager Lucknow (NR) Suresh Kumar Sapra said, “The new building to be completed by December will cater to all needs of pilgrims like dormitories, cloakrooms, sick rooms, shops, food court, circulating area, escalators, air conditioning, retiring room, LED billboards, mela shed, parking, new access road to station and others.”

“However, the 2-foot overbridge connecting the new building will be completed by March 2022,” he said.

The first phase was expected to be completed by June but the deadline was shifted to September. With the delay, the cost of construction has also increased from the initial Rs 104 crore to Rs 134 crore.

Unit at KGMU to remove pathogens from blood products

Unit at KGMU to remove pathogens from blood products

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:02.10.2021

A machine to remove pathogens from blood products will be installed in the blood transfusion and medicine department of King George’s Medical University soon.

The machine will remove a range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses such as HIV, parasites such as malaria, and white blood cells in blood products. This will reduce the risks of disease transmission and side-effects from blood transfusions.

Making this announcement on Friday at a function to mark National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, vice-chancellor Lt Gen Bipin Puri claimed that KGMU will be the first in the country to install such a machine.

“We are in talks with state authorities for installation and it will be available in four-five months,” he added.

Head of transfusion medicine department Prof Tulika Chandra said, “Patients with low immunity, blood disorders, cancer, and transplant are vulnerable to various diseases transmitted through blood transfusion. They will be benefited with the arrival of the machine.”

Meanwhile, 43 voluntary blood donors/motivators and NGOs working for blood donations were facilitated.

Governor Anandiben Patel, the chief guest, said, “Every eligible student should donate blood at least twice a year. Special camps should be organized at universities for this purpose.”

Special guest and medical education minister Suresh Khanna said, “All medical colleges will be directed to raise awareness and motivate people for blood donation.”

Law minister Brijesh Pathak said voluntary blood donation camps should be organized often.

Governor Anandiben Patel with ministers Brijesh Pathak and Suresh Khanna

Guinness record holder turns to carpentry

Guinness record holder turns to carpentry

Ramavarman T@timesgroup.com

Thrissur:02.10.2021

“Images do not matter…My family’s hunger will not end if I play flute to them,’’ says Murali Narayanan, a flautist who once set a Guinness World Record for playing flute continuously for 108 hours but now working as a carpenter to eke out a living ever since the pandemic rendered him jobless.

Curiously, it is Murali Narayanan a disciple of the flautist himself who is teaching him carpentry. Murali lives in a small house at a rehabilitation colony at Thalikulam with his aged mother, wife and three children. He had studied up to Class X, but could not continue studies as he had to look after his mother and sisters after his father died at an early age.

He had initially studied painting, and then trained in vocals as well as Nadaswaram, which he picked up under the Gurukula system by staying at the house of his teacher Engandiyur Krishnankutty Asan. Murali developed an interest in flute after he listened to sessions conducted by Nandakumar, Krishnankutty Asan’s son.

Murali set the record by playing flute for 108 hours at Thekkinkadu Maidan on December 28, 2019. The earlier record was in the name of a British woman Catherine Brook who had played for 27 hours 32 and minutes.

Murali has been a part of the dance troupes of Kalamandalam Kshemavathi and Manju Warrier. He has also conducted programmes in Germany, Estonia, Philippines and in the Gulf countries.

“I have not been able to go for any programmes in 2018, as I had to prepare for the marathon flute recital. It was scheduled to be held on August 2018, but then the floods came. In 2019 too I was jobless. The Guinness Record programme itself saddled me with a debt of Rs 15 lakh. Personally I have a debt of another Rs 10 lakh,’’ says Murali, adding that he waited long for the Covid to end. “But eventually I realised that I unless get some work, I would not be able to support my family. I was ready even to work even as a sanitation worker,’’ he says.

Murali’s friends were reluctant to take him along for taking up other jobs, considering his wide recognition.

Murali Narayanan working as a carpenter

Plea challenges maternity Act provision

Plea challenges maternity Act provision

New Delhi:02.10.2021

The Supreme Court Friday sought response from the Centre on a plea challenging the Constitutional validity of a provision of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 which states that a woman would be eligible for maternity leave who legally adopts a child below the age of three months.

A bench of Justices S A Nazeer and Krishna Murari issued notices to the Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Women & Child Development while seeking their responses on the PIL which said Section 5(4) of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 was discriminatory and arbitrary.

A woman who legally adopts a child below the age of three months or a commissioning mother shall be entitled to maternity benefit for a period of twelve weeks from the date the child is handed over to thesadopting mother or the commissioning mother, as the case may be. PTI

TN orders man-eater tiger to be shot dead

TN orders man-eater tiger to be shot dead

Udhagamandalam:02.10.2021

With the elusive man eater tiger killing one more person on Friday, the fourth in recent days, the Chief Conservator of Forests Sekhar Kumar Niraj issued orders to shoot it dead immediately.

After the tiger, which had killed a shepherd in an estate near Gudalur, about 80 km from here, on Friday last, the forest department started search operations to trap the feline by tranquilising it.

However, the tiger, with injuries, gave the slip to nearly 100 forest department staff and officials, including some from the Special Task Force from Kerala and two tamed elephants for the last six days.

The carnivore was found roaming in Mayfield, two km from the spot on September 29 and it killed a goat. The tiger entered Attakarai, coming under Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, some 40 km from the estate and killed an 85-year old man this afternoon, creating panic among villagers, who demanded action to trap it.

Gudalur MLA Pon Jayaseelan had also sought immediate action.

The tiger has so far killed four people, 20 cows and a goat.

Department sources said Niraj gave the order, considering the seriousness of the situation and failure to tranquilise the animal. PTI

Court: Insurer can’t stub claim of non-smokers

Court: Insurer can’t stub claim of non-smokers

‘No Proof Of Smoking Link To Patient’s Lung Cancer’

Saeed.Khan @timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:02.10.2021

A consumer court here has ordered an insurance company to reimburse the expenditure on medical treatment for lung cancer after the company refused Mediclaim on the grounds that the patient was a chain smoker and contracted cancer due to his smoking. The consumer court said there was no proof that the cancer had been caused by the patient’s smoking habit.

The case involved one Alok Kumar Banerjee from Thaltej, who underwent treatment for adenocarcinoma of the lung from Vedanta Institute of Medical Science in July 2014 and incurred a medical bill of Rs 93,297. He had medical insurance cover. But his claim was rejected by the insurer.

After Banerjee passed away, his widow, Smita Banerjee, sued the insurer in 2016 in the Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Ahmedabad (additional), where the insurance company took the defence that Banerjee was treated in different hospitals for his illness, which had a direct nexus with his smoking habit, and that this was reflected in his case papers.

The consumer commission did not agree. It cited a higher forum’s order and said that a discharge summary itself cannot be treated as primary or conclusive evidence in the absence of any independent proof. There was no evidence in this case to show that the patient got cancer because of smoking.

The insurance company’s doctor gave a medical opinion that those who smoke have a 26 times higher risk of getting cancer. To this, the commission said that merely on the basis of this opinion it cannot be concluded that the patient got cancer due to his smoking habit. Those who do not smoke also get lung cancer and it cannot be believed that all those who smoke have lung cancer. It cannot be accepted that the complainant’s husband got cancer because of his smoking habit and the insurer had wrongly rejected the claim.

Hospital beds full of kids, health official sounds 3rd wave warning

Hospital beds full of kids, health official sounds 3rd wave warning

Siddharth Shankar Pandey

Jabalpur:02.10.2021

Paediatric experts are saying that the third Covid wave has begun, in context of children, regional director-health services, Jabalpur, Dr Sanjay Mishra said on Friday.

“Majority of the hospitals are full beyond capacity. Most of the children have pneumonia. Several child disease experts say that the third wave is already on, but, thankfully most of the patients don’t have serious ailments. All the arrangements for their treatment are being taken care of,” Dr Mishra said. Hospitals in Jabalpur — be it the paediatric ward of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College or Victoria Hospital or the district hospital — have well over 100% occupancy. There are two children per bed in many hospitals. Medical officer at Victoria Hospital, Dr Shilpi Jain said, “There is a 50% rise in OPD footfall of children, and a similar increase in the wards too. Floor beds have also been put up and appropriate treatment is being provided.”

Superintendent of NSCB Medical College, Dr R Tiwari said, “In the medicine ward, at least 70 children are admitted on 40 beds. It’s the same in other wards.” On Thursday, TOI had reported how paediatric wards across Madhya Pradesh are overwhelmed by a sudden surge in fever hospitalisations, with at least 20-25% of them suspected to be post-Covid syndrome. Even ICUs have two children per bed.

Several doctors told TOI that a significant percentage of the kids they are treating were infected with Covid-19, which went undetected because they were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, but its longterm effects are erupting now. It’s extremely difficult to diagnose this syndrome because it mimics many other more common ailments.

DNA test not must to establish inheritance right: SC

DNA test not must to establish inheritance right: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:02.10.2021

In an important judgment, the Supreme Court has ruled that courts cannot force DNA test on one of the siblings, who are engaged in a civil suit, for crystallising inheritance rights as it has the possibility of stigmatising a person as a “bastard” and violating his right to privacy, which is part of right to life.

Three daughters of a Himachal Pradesh couple requested a trial court, where their brother had filed a suit for a declaration that he was the sole inheritor of their parents’ properties, to subject their ‘brother’ to DNA test while claiming that he was not the biological son of their parents, which disentitled him from inheriting their parents property. The man refused to undergo a DNA test. The trial court dismissed the application saying he can’t be forced to undergo the blood test. The HC reversed the decision and asked the man to take a DNA test.

On appeal, a bench of Justices R S Reddy and Hrishikesh Roy said, “In a case like the present, the Court’s decision should be rendered only after balancing the interests of the parties, that is, the quest for truth, and the social and cultural implications involved therein. The possibility of stigmatising a person as a bastard, the ignominy that attaches to an adult who, in the mature years of his life is shown to be not the biological son of his parents may not only be a heavy cross to bear but would also intrude upon his right of privacy.”

Referring to the nine-judge bench decision in K S Puttaswamy case that had given right to privacy the status of a fundamental right being part of right to life, the bench said, “When the plaintiff is unwilling to subject himself to the DNA test, forcing him to undergo one would impinge on his personal liberty and his right to privacy.”

Writing the judgment, Justice Roy said DNA is unique to an individual (barring twins) and can be used to identify a person’s identity, trace familial linkages or even reveal sensitive health information. “Whether a person can be compelled to provide a sample for DNA in such matters can also be answered considering the test of proportionality laid down in the unanimous decision of this Court in K S Puttaswamy case, wherein the right to privacy has been declared a constitutionally protected right in India,” he said.

Referring to the dispute in hand, the Supreme Court bench said, “In such a kind of litigation, where the interest will have to be balanced and the test of eminent need is not satisfied, our considered opinion is that the protection of the right to privacy of the Plaintiff should take precedence.”

The Suprme Court said the plaintiff, without subjecting himself to a DNA test, is entitled to establish his right over the property in question, through other material evidence. “Since the plaintiff has already led evidence from his side to prove the relationship between the parties, at this stage the High Court should not have directed the plaintiff to undergo the DNA test,” it said.

Supreme Court Holds 9 Tamil Nadu Govt Officers Guilty Of Contempt Of Court For Not Implementing Orders

Supreme Court Holds 9 Tamil Nadu Govt Officers Guilty Of Contempt Of Court For Not Implementing Orders

LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK

1 Oct 2021 7:30 PM

The Supreme Court on Friday held 9 officers of the Tamil Nadu Government guilty of contempt of court for not implementing a direction to revise the seniority list of officers in the Public Works Department.

A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai held that the officers have committed civil contempt of court for not following the order passed by the Supreme Court on January 22, 2016.

The following are the officers who the Court held as contemnors (their designations at the relevant time given in brackets) :

1. M. Vijayakumar IAS (Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission).

2. S. Thinakaran( Engineer-in-Chief, WRD and Chief Engineer (General), TN PWD)

3. S. Swara IAS (Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, P & AR Dept)

4. K. Ramamoorthy (Engineer-in-Chief(WRO) and Chief Engineer(General), TN PWD).

Also Read - The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021- Progressive But Not Far Enough

5.K. Nanthakumar IAS (Secretary, TNPSC).

6. K. Shanmugham (Chief Secretary to the Govt of Tamil Nadu).

7. Dr. K. Manivasan IAS(Principal Secretary to Govt of TN).

8. S.K Prabhakar (Secretary, PWD).

9. S. Bhaktavachalam.

In the order dated January 16, 2016, the Supreme Court, while dismissing the Government's special leave petition against a judgment of the Madras High Court, held that seniority list should be drawn on the basis of merit list of selection and not on the basis of roster point.

The contempt petitions were filed stating that the respondents published a revised seniority list breaching the principle laid down by the Supreme Court.

The respondents argued that the judgment of the High Court had no general application and was confined to individual cases. It was also argued that the doctrine of merger is not applicable to an order dismissing Special Leave Petition, and hence contempt, if any, should be agitated before the High Court and not the Supreme Court.

The bench rejected the arguments of the contemnors. It noted that the High Court had specifically declared that the judgment was not confined to individual cases. Also, the bench stated that a principle of law declared in an order dismissing a special leave petition is binding on the parties, even though the doctrine of merger is not applicable to it. In this connection, the bench referred to the precedent in Kunhayammed and Others v. State of Kerala and Another (2000) 6 SCC 359.

"In that view of the matter, the respondents were bound to follow the law laid down by this Court and determine the inter se seniority on the basis of selection by TNPSC and not on the basis of roster point", the bench noted in the order.

The Court directed the respondents to revise and publish the seniority list of the selectees, who were selected in the selection process conducted in pursuance of the notification issued by TNPSC dated 10th September 1999, strictly on the basis of the merit determined by it in the selection process and not on the basis of the roster point.This was directed to be done within a period of 12 weeks.

The Court posted the matter to January 10, 2022 for hearing the contemnors on the quantum of punishment. They were asked to be present before the Court on that day for the hearing.

Case Title : V. Senthur and another versus M. Vijayakumar IAS and others |Contempt Petition(Civil) 638/2017

Coram : Justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai

Appearances : Advocate Prashant Bhushan (for petitioners); Senior Advocate CS Vaidyanathan(for TNSPC), Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi, V Giri and P Wilson(for respondents)

Citation : LL 2021 SC 526

Click here to read/download the judgment

Clear all patta applications in two weeks: HC

Clear all patta applications in two weeks: HC

Madurai:01.10.2021

Noting that more than six lakh patta transfer applications are pending despite earlier directions issued by it, the Madras high court has directed the state government to dispose of the pending applications within two weeks.

While disposing of a batch of petitions in October 2020, Justice D Krishnakumar took serious note of the pendency of lakhs of patta transfer applications and directed the state to dispose them before March 2021. Recently, when the case was listed before the court for reporting compliance, the commissioner of land administration and the director of survey and settlement submitted status reports that revealed 6,13,218 were pending as of September 1. TNN

Ex-min will not appear before DVAC

Ex-min will not appear before DVAC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.10.2021

Former Tamil Nadu transport minister and AIADMK leader M R Vijayabaskar will not appear before the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in connection with a disproportionate assets case, DVAC sources said.

"Vijayabaskar has sought time till the completion of the local body polls," a source said. Vijayabaskar is an accused in the disproportionate assets case registered by the DVAC. The DVAC had summoned him to appear in its Chennai office on Thursday. A case was registered against him July 21 for disporportionate assets to the tune of ₹2.68 crore. Also, he had allegedly bought ₹8 crore properties in the names of his family members.

Your ride is here! Chennai turns to carpooling to save a few rupees

Your ride is here! Chennai turns to carpooling to save a few rupees

After A Covid Lull, Leading Carpooling Apps Report A Surge In Users As Offices Reopen

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

01.10.2021

As people return to workplaces, car pooling, which turned non-existent during the lockdown, is once again rising to prominence. More than four lakh people in the city are subscribed to various carpooling apps, revealed data from top private companies in this sector.

Pre-Covid, major apps got around 15,000 bookings a day. But their service came to an abrupt halt during the lockdown. While the government began relaxing curbs, trains and buses were off the tracks and roads for a long time. Meanwhile, cab-aggregators like Ola and Uber too suspended ride-sharing options. So, office-goers who could not afford to take a cab solo or buy vehicles turned to carpooling.

With few buses, no trains and unregulated auto rickshaw services, Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) has emerged the most popular route for carpooling in Chennai. Other top areas include Guindy, Ashok Nagar, Kodambakkam and Adyar. In the suburbs, such apps are mostly used by people travelling to Ambattur and Perambur.

“With more IT companies opening up now, we expect the numbers to go up in the coming days,” said K N M Rao, founder and CEO of Quick Ride, a leading carpooling app.

These apps are very user-friendly. Any user who owns a car can offer a ride from point A to B. Other users in the vicinity get a notification and can accept the ride offer in case they too are travelling on the same route. At the end of the trip, the app generates the rate based on distance travelled.

“Carpooling definitely helps in reducing traffic congestion, pollution levels and helps save on fuel cost,” said J Sivasubramaniam from Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).

A back-ofthe-envelope calculation shows that a car owner can save at least ₹50,000 every year should they opt for carpooling.

Besides mobile apps, there are hundreds of social media pages and WhatsApp groups where users regularly post messages on ride offers and seat availability. Most posts are put up the previous evening so interested people can confirm bookings at the earliest. Over a period of time, trends show that commuters choose the same set of co-riders with whom they feel comfortable and safe, say carpooling operators.

Naveen Pandiarajan, a Renault Nissan employee, is a part of a WhastApp group named ‘RN Carpool’. This group has been helping him and his friends, residing in and around Perumbakkam and Sembakkam, travel to their offices for nearly two years.

“We take turns driving our cars so there is no fatigue. By carpooling, we end up saving at least ₹2,000 every month,” said Naveen.