Central govt staff to get ad hoc bonus for FY21

Central govt staff to get ad hoc bonus for FY21

New Delhi:13.10.2021

The government has sanctioned non-productivity linked or ad hoc bonus for central government employees for fiscal year 2020-21.

In an office memorandum, the department of expenditure under the finance ministry said the employees of central para military forces and armed forces too would be eligible for the bonus.

Employees who were in service as on March 31, 2021, and have rendered at least six months of continuous service during 2020-21 fiscal year would be eligible for this ad hoc bonus.

The non-productivity linked bonus (ad hoc bonus) would be paid to the central government employees in Group C and all non-gazetted employees in Group B, who are not covered by any productivity- linked bonus scheme. The calculation ceiling for payment of this bonus would be monthly emoluments of Rs 7,000.

“The quantum of ad hoc bonus will be worked out on the basis of average emoluments/calculation ceiling whichever is lower,” the department of expenditure said. To calculate ad hoc bonus for one day, the average emoluments in a year will be divided by 30.4 (average number of days in a month).

This will, thereafter, be multiplied by the number of days of bonus granted. Giving an illustration, the memorandum said given the calculation ceiling of monthly emoluments of Rs 7,000, the nonproductivity linked bonus or ad-hoc bonus for 30 days would work out to be Rs 6,908.

It also clarified that in case of employees who resigned, retired from service or expired before March 31, 2021, the ad hoc bonus would be paid only to those who superannuated or retired on medical grounds or died before March 31, 2021, but after completing at least six months regular service during the year. AGENCIES

The calculation ceiling for payment of this bonus would be monthly emoluments of ₹7,000

‘Govt must move HC for capital punishment to Sooraj’

UTHRA CASE

‘Govt must move HC for capital punishment to Sooraj’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kollam:13.10.2021

MP NK Premachandran on Tuesday demanded that the state government should move the high court seeking capital punishment for Sooraj who was convicted in the Uthra murder case.

Speaking to media persons after meeting the family members of Uthra of Veelasseril, Eram, Anchal, here at their house, he said the state government should honour Uhtra’s family’s opinion on the sentence. He pointed out that despite the Uthra case being one of the rarest of rare cases the court did not order capital punishment.

Though the evidence gathering and conduct of the case by the prosecution were done in a flawless manner, the convict did not get the deserved punishment, he said. Sooraj, Uthra’s husband who used a snake to kill his wife, a differently-abled woman, received double life term in addition to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment in four cases charged against him.

Boy mistakes train exit door as toilet’s, falls to his death

Boy mistakes train exit door as toilet’s, falls to his death

Kottayam:13.10.2021

A 10-year-old boy was killed after he fell from a moving train near Kottayam in Kerala on Tuesday. It is suspected that the boy mistook the train’s exit door for that of the toilet, leading to the accident.

Mohammed Ishan, son of one Siddique of Mambadu in Malappuram, met with the accident around 12:30am at Moolavattom in Kottayam municipal limits. The boy and his family along with other relatives were returning to Malappuram from Thiruvananthapuram by Kochuveli-Nilambur Rajya Rani Express when the mishap occurred. The boy had gone to the toilet, according to family members. After realising that the boy had fallen down, they pulled the chain and stopped the train.

People staying near the railway track searched the area and found the boy lying under a culvert. The boy was taken to the general hospital but his life could not be saved. TNN

No capacity restriction for domestic flights from October 18

No capacity restriction for domestic flights from October 18

Saurabh Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:13,10.2021 

Airlines will be allowed to operate as many scheduled domestic flights as they did in pre-pandemic times from October 18. The aviation ministry on Tuesday decided to lift variable capacity deployment ceilings in place since May 25, 2020, when domestic operations resumed after a two-month suspension. While they restarted at onethird of the March 2020 level, domestic schedules are currently at 85% of that. The festive season will now see more flights well before Diwali.

Apart from following Covid protocol, the domestic side now has two restrictions in form of minimum and maximum fare caps that continue along with no serving or selling of meals on less than twohour journeys. Bleeding flight caterers, however, have requested this curb to be lifted too, urgently.

The travel industry is hoping that with the government allowing foreign tourists on charters from this Friday and on non-charters from next month, scheduled international flights are allowed to partially resume at least to and from places where Covid is in control.

The aviation ministry’s Tuesday order said: “After review of the current status of scheduled domestic operations (and) passenger demand for air travel... it has been decided to restore scheduled domestic air operations with effect from October 18, 2021, without any capacity restriction. The airlines/airport operators shall, however, ensure that the guidelines to contain the spread of Covid are strictly adhered to and Covid-appropriate behaviour is strictly enforced by them during the travel.”

EASE IN RESTRICTIONS

No half-yearly quarterly exams for Class X, XI XII state board students

No half-yearly quarterly exams for Class X, XI XII state board students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  13.10.2021

School education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Tuesday said that there will be no quarterly, half-yearly exam for state board students of Class X, XI and XII this year.

Speaking to reporters after attending the district level educational officers meeting, the minister said, "There is no time to conduct quarterly and half-yearly exams. However, the department is planning to conduct a mock exam in December to allay the fears of students about board exams and to train them."

He said the board exams will be conducted either in February end or March next year. Ahead of reopening of schools for Classes I to VIII, the district level educational officers meeting was held in Chennai. In the meeting, it was decided to follow standard operating procedures announced for conducting physical classes for Classes IX to XII for lower classes as well.

"The chief educational officers have now well experienced about dos and don'ts while reopening schools. We have asked the CEOs and DEOs to conduct surprise inspections after reopening for Classes I to VIII on November 1," the minister said.

When asked if there will be any relaxation in wearing masks for younger children, he said as per the existing SOPs issued by the health department all students have to wear masks inside classrooms. "But, we are not sure how long the young children can wear masks and schools may even have to conduct classes for just one hour for the first few days," Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said.

UGC defers PhD rule by 2 yrs

UGC defers PhD rule by 2 yrs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.10.2021

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday deferred the mandatory PhD qualification rule for appointment as assistant professors in universities by two years in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

PhD degree was to be mandatory for the direct recruitment as assistant professors from July 1, 2021. "The UGC, in view of Covid-19 pandemic, has decided to extend the date of applicability … to July1, 2023," Rajnish Jain, secretary, UGC said in a circular to all vice-chancellors of state universities. S Swaminathan, advisor to NET, SLET Association, said, "Though the extension was a good move, the UGC should make PhD with NET as mandatory qualification instead of PhD alone. While NET is common throughout the country, the quality of PhD varies."

Covaxin gets expert panel nod for emergency use among kids

Covaxin gets expert panel nod for emergency use among kids

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:13.10.2021

The central drug regulator’s expert panel has recommended granting marketing authorisation with certain conditions to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for restricted emergency use (EUA) in children and adolescents in the age group of 2 to18 years.

However, the final approval of EUA from the drug regulator and inclusion of the vaccine in the national Covid immunisation programme for the paediatric population will take a few more days as data submitted by the company will be further evaluated, top government sources said on Tuesday.

“The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) has only partly recommended EUA for Covaxin. The recommendations are given along with many conditions. The application is still under evaluation and will take a few more days before we arrive at a final conclusion,” a top regulatory official said.

Once the Drugs Controller General of India grants the final regulatory approval to Covaxin for restricted emergency use in the 2-18 age group, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) for Covid-19 will also evaluate the data before including it in the national programme.

Besides Covaxin, Zydus Cadila's ZyCov-D has been granted EUA for children above 12.

No domestic flight cap from Oct 18

The Centre on Tuesday allowed airlines to operate at full pre-Covid flight capacity in the domestic sector from next Monday (October 18). Following strong recovery in air traffic, the aviation ministry on Tuesday decided to lift variable capacity deployment ceilings in place since May 25, 2020. The ongoing festive season will now see more flights well before Diwali. P 14

Vax availability for kids to improve with nod to Covaxin

Serum Institute of India is carrying out phase II and III trials for Covovax among children 7-11 of age. With Covaxin likely to receive EUA soon, availability of vaccines for children is likely to improve holding out hope that vaccination will move beyond the initial plan to cover children with comorbidities.

There are around 44 crore children in the country. While Zydus Cadila’s Zy-CoV-D has already been approved for emergency use in children above 12 years of age, a final approval to Covaxin will be significant because it will help increase supplies to cover the paediatric population. The government is yet to start inoculating children with anti-Covid jabs under the national programme.

The conditions prescribed by Subject Expert Committee includes continuation of clinical trials by Bharat Biotech. The firm has also been asked to submit updates prescribing information, package insert, summary of product characteristics as well as fact-sheet. It will also have to submit adverse event data and analysis every 15 days for first two months and monthly thereafter.

“The firm should submit risk management plan,” the SEC recommendations said.

Bharat Biotech said the data have been thoroughly reviewed by the drug regulator and SEC which have provided positive recommendations.

“This represents one of the first approvals worldwide for Covid-19 vaccines for the 2-18 age group…We now await further regulatory approvals from the CDSCO prior to product launch and market availability of Covaxin for Children,” the company said.

Full report on www.toi.in

Honour killing: Man gets death sentence

Honour killing: Man gets death sentence

Sat Singh TNN

Rohtak:13.10.2021

Pronouncing verdict in an honour killing case of 2016, the Sonipat district court on Tuesday awarded capital punishment to a man for murdering three persons. The convict’s accomplice and the main accused in the case of killing of his sister’s husband and parent-in-laws is absconding .

Police had told the court that Sushila, who belonged to an upper caste family in Jhajjar district, had married a man from a scheduled caste against her family’s wishes. On November 19, 2016, her brother Satender alias Monu, with one other man, had barged into her sister’s house at night in Kharkhoda of Sonipat and killed three of the family members. The deceased included Sushila’s husband Pardeep, mother-in-law Sunita and father-in-law Suresh. First two were killed on the spot while Suresh had died during treatment. Sushila and her brother-in-law had sustained injuries.

Sushila and Pardeep had married in 2013, after meeting and falling in love during their college days in Rohtak.

Additional sessions judge R P Goyal on Tuesday convicted main accused Satender alias Monu and his friend Harish of the crime under Section 302 (murder) of IPC. The court awarded capital punishment to Harish, while for Satender evaded police after being out of jail on bail, punishment order was reserved till his arrest.

Docs moved to health dept unpaid since June

Docs moved to health dept unpaid since June

1k Pb Dispensary Paramedics Also Await Pay

Vinod.Kumar3@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:13.10.2021

MBBS doctors and paramedic staff engaged in Covid-19 duties, who were transferred from the department of rural development and panchayats to the health department, have been waiting for salaries for almost four months now. That too, despite repeated directions from the director health services for the immediate release of their remuneration.

The Punjab government had shifted 618 out of 1,183 dispensaries run by the rural department to the health department along with staff and infrastructure in June this year. In this process, 129 rural medical officers and about 1,000 paramedic staff were transferred.

Taking note of the delay, director health services in a letter to civil surgeons on September 15 had issued directions for the immediate release of salaries and civil surgeons were even warned that if the staff move court, they will be held responsible for the same.

Sources said lack of clarity regarding pay structure has led to delay in the release of salaries. Civil surgeons of different districts have sought clarity from the director health services on salary to be paid to them, whether they are to be paid as per last drawn salary or new salary has to be fixed.

Terming it as an alibi to harass them, a doctor said that out of 129, three doctors – two in Patiala and one in Mansa – have started receiving their monthly remuneration from the health department. The doctor added, “If there was an issue of lack of clarity, how come three doctors posted at two districts are getting their pay?”

“We are facing lot of financial problems and most of us have used our savings to meet day-to-expenses and payment of bills and EMI’s,” rued another doctor.

Punjab deputy chief minister O P Soni, who is also health minister, of the state, said that he will look into the matter and assured that their salaries will be released at the earliest.

ANOTHER UNHAPPY LOT

DOCTORS PROTEST

The medical officers with the rural department have been pressing for implementation of dynamic assured carrier progression scheme. The services of rural medical officers were regularised in May 2011 with entry level pay scale of Rs 15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of Rs 5,400, which is equal to the entry level pay of medical officers of the health department. Even after rendering regular service for over 10 years, they are still waiting for their first grade pay revision from Rs 5,400 to Rs 6,600. Punjab rural development and panchayats minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa in May this year had formed a three-member committee to look into the matter, but nothing has happened to date. Association of Rural Medical Officers president Dr Jagjeet Bajwa said the government has been depriving rural doctors of their legitimate right of DACP despite being at the forefront during tough Covid times. “The scheme will cost the government only Rs 9 crore a year,” said Dr Bajwa, who urged chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi to consider their long pending demand.

A pathbreaking governance reform is becoming defunct, and all political parties are to blame

RTI’s Slow Death

A pathbreaking governance reform is becoming defunct, and all political parties are to blame

13.10.2021

Quality of a democracy depends on a lot more than the right to exercise franchise. The Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Constitution has placed the people’s right to information squarely within the ambit of fundamental rights, or Article 19(1)(a). It’s in this backdrop that the enactment of Right to Information in 2005 was hailed as a milestone in strengthening democracy by giving citizens a tool to enforce accountability, particularly of public expenditure. Over its journey of 16 years, however, RTI’s potential has been diluted by insincerity in its implementation.

The latest iteration of citizens’ group Satark Nagrik Sangathan’s annual publication on the state of RTI implementation presents a bleak picture. RTI is overseen by information commissions, both of GoI’s and states’. Cutting across party lines, RTI’s potential is being diluted by delays in appointing both chief information commissioners and information commissioners to relevant bodies. Consequently, there’s a build-up of outstanding cases, which hugely extends the timeline to dispose of them. If this situation persists, it will all but kill RTI even while it remains on the statute books. In fact, SC in a February 2019 judgment warned against this possibility.

Of the 29 commissions studied in the report, three were found to be completely defunct. An example of two states indicates how RTI is being rendered toothless. UP’s commission did not have a head for a full year, while Rajasthan did not appoint one for two years. In Odisha, the disposal of a case, based on the current trend, will take almost seven years. In all, there was a backlog of 2.55 lakh cases on June 30, an increase of almost 11,000 since the year’s start. Maharashtra had the largest number of outstanding cases at 74,240. Indian democracy deserves better. A tool that empowers citizens cannot be allowed to be undermined.

Dr Devi Shetty offers to sponsor SSLC topper Greeshma’s studies

Dr Devi Shetty offers to sponsor SSLC topper Greeshma’s studies

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:13.10.2021

It was double joy for Greeshma Nayak, who topped the SSLC supplementary exam after being denied a hall ticket for the main exam over non-payment of fees. A day after it emerged that she had scored 599 out of 625, Dr Devi Shetty on Tuesday offered to sponsor her studies. The renowned cardiologist also sought a mechanism to raise funds for all such students in the future.

“I would support anyone who wants to become a doctor. I want her to become a cardiologist. She must commit herself to secure a seat in a government medical college,” Shetty said. “I will work hard to study well in PUC, and get a seat in MBBS,” a jubilant Greeshma responded. “I believe that every student has the right to study.”

In July, following a distraught email from Greeshma, whose father is a farmer, former school education minister S Suresh Kumar had visited her family to assure the teenager that she would not lose the entire year due to non-payment of fees. “I rushed to her home, consoled her and told her to get ready for the supplementary exam and that I will take the responsibility of ensuring she gets the chance to appear for it. I am happy that she aced the exam. I congratulate her,” Kumar said. Greeshma took the supplementary exam in September as a fresh candidate.

Denied hall ticked for main exam, Greeshma Nayak scored 599 out of 625 in SSLC supplementary exam

‘Can raise funds for fees if govt gives data’

The family lives in Hanumanthapura in Tumakuru district, and Greeshma was enrolled in a residential school in Dakshina Kannada. She was denied a hall ticket for SSLC as she had not paid the Class 9 fee and was not officially enrolled in Class 10. The teenager had scored 96% in Class 9. Greeshma’s father, Narasimha Murthy, had told TOI he had merely sought more time to pay the fees due to financial difficulties in the pandemic, not a waiver.

Greeshma was taught at home by her 19-year-old sister, a BSc agriculture student. “My sister taught me core subjects in front of a board in simulation of classroom experience,” she said.

A day after TOI frontpaged Greeshma’s feat, Shetty said he was moved by her plight. “There has to be a structure. Data on how much money is pending must be announced before students are barred from exam halls. How much can it be? Rs 20 lakh, Rs 30 lakh, or Rs 1 crore? It’s not difficult to raise. The government need not divulge names or details of the children or their parents. We don’t need to know. Just the amount of school fees pending can be announced. Many of us will be able to pay fees and help these children take the final exams.”

Shetty said people erroneously think the brightest kids who score the highest marks go on to become outstanding doctors. “It’s the kids who have the passion, fire in the belly to learn the skill for 24 hours a day, who go on to change the rules of the game. That kind of passion is seen in children who come from disadvantaged families,” he said.

Mad midnight rush as Sydney exits one of world’s strictest lockdowns

Mad midnight rush as Sydney exits one of world’s strictest lockdowns

Priyanka Chokhani TNN

Melbourne:13.10.2021

Restaurants and pubs opened at midnight and retail stores witnessed long queues as a four-month lockdown — among the world’s harshest — was eased in Sydney, Australia’s largest city.

A drizzle did little to dampen spirits as fully vaccinated people rushed to restaurants and cafes just as the lockdown was lifted at midnight on Sunday. Many eateries offered discounts as high as 49% to tempt customers. Indoor gyms recorded full bookings for group classes and offices reopened.

Reservations at major restaurants were hard to come by, so were appointments with the hairdressers. Videos showed queues outside retail stores just past midnight. Resident Shreyasi Sircar, too, went shopping on Monday. “Of course, everywhere I went, I had to show my vaccination certificate,” she said. Sydney, capital of the state of New South Wales, had become the epicentre of the third Covid wave driven by the Delta variant in June. Since then, harsh restrictions were put in place, including banning people from venturing farther than 5km from home.

The city has now reopened after touching a full vaccination rate of 70%. Melbourne, though, has been under lockdown for 254 days now. With New South Wales recording nearly 400 cases a day, this is Australia’s first attempt at living with the virus. This comes just days after Australian PM Scott Morrison said that a ban on Australians travelling abroad would be lifted. The PM had said that it was “time to give Australians their lives back”.

On Monday, Dominic Perrottet, the new premier for New South Wales, said “efforts people have made to go and get vaccinated had allowed this day to occur” . He admitted that there may be challenges and case numbers might increase, but added the opening was extremely important for the economy. “NSW is leading Australia out of this pandemic,” he said.

Mask mandates will be in place till 80% of the state is fully vaccinated. Some social media users, however, were upset that only fully vaccinated people can enjoy full mobility. “October 11 will be remembered as discrimination day and segregation day in Australian history,” wrote a user online.

International students in front of Sydney Opera House on Tuesday

CONFLICTING ORDERS

CONFLICTING ORDERS

Husband gets divorce, wife conjugal rights!

Guj HC Set To Hear Appeals Together Now

Saeed.Khan@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad: 13.10.2021

In what has ended up as one big paradox, one family court granted a divorce decree to the husband, while another court on the same campus has allowed the wife’s request for restitution of conjugal rights thereby directing the husband to dispense his matrimonial duties.

This marital dispute which got conflicting orders has now ended up in the Gujarat high court which admitted the case. During proceedings on Monday, the bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice V D Nanavati questioned the reason for the contradictory orders by the family courts.

In reply, it was submitted that the husband’s suit for a divorce decree was going on in court No. 2, where the wife could not remain present as she had received the court summons. At the same time, the wife's application filed under section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act for restitution of conjugal rights was underway in court No. 3, where the husband was absent. Though the courtrooms existed side by side and both the parties were litigating for a few years, the courts passed ex-parte orders in litigants’ favour in 2018.

It was obviously difficult to execute the conflicting orders at the same time. The husband approached the high court and challenged the family court’s order directing him to perform his matrimonial duty. While the husband’s appeal was pending, the wife also moved the HC recently and challenged the divorce decree stating that it was passed without hearing her.

The husband’s advocate argued that the wife had known about the divorce proceedings, but she chose not to appear in the proceedings and went on to demand restitution of conjugal rights in another court. The wife’s advocate, on the other hand, claimed that the woman had no inkling about the divorce suit and the summons was served in the form of a public notice, which was published in a newspaper.

The couple got married in 2008 and have been living separately since 2013. They have an 11-year-old girl, who lives with her father. The woman also has a grievance about the custody of the child.

The high court admitted the wife’s petition and decided to hear the appeals filed by both the parties together.

Part Time employees not entitled to Regularisation. SC

Part-time employees not entitled to regularisation: SC

‘They are not working against any sanctioned post in Govt.’

19/10/2021

 

Legal Correspondent NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court has held that part-time employees are not entitled to seek regularisation as they are not working against any sanctioned post in the Government.

A Bench of Justices M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna clarified in a recent judgment that there cannot be any permanent continuance of part-time temporary employees.

“The status of permanency cannot be granted when there is no post. It is further observed that mere continuance every year of seasonal work during the period when work was available does not constitute a permanent status,” Justice Shah noted.

The judgment came on a plea concerning the regularisation of part-time sweepers at a post office in Chandigarh. The court said it was a settled proposition of law, that regularisation could be only as per the policy declared by the State/Government and “nobody can claim the regularisation as a matter of right”.

The court ruled in favour of the Government which had appealed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court decision to regularise the part-time employees.

“There are no sanctioned posts in the post office in which the respondents were working, therefore, the directions issued by the High Court in the judgment and order are not permissible,” the Court said.

Plane crashes in US shortly after take-off, all 21 on board exit safely

Plane crashes in US shortly after take-off, all 21 on board exit safely

Houston:12.10.2021

A plane crashed at takeoff on Tuesday in Texas, with all 21 passengers and crew on board scrambling to safety before the aircraft burst into flames. Television images showed fire fighters spraying water onto the burning remains of the plane, which came to a halt across a track in a field, surrounded by trees and bushes. The fuselage was reduced to ashes, with only the tail section surviving as black smoke poured from the wreckage.

“Fortunately all 21 passengers including three crew members were reported as safely evacuated from this twin-engine jet before it was fully engulfed in flames,” the Katy fire department said in a statement. The McDonnell Douglas MD-87 plane was taking off from Houston Executive Airport, Brookshire, bound for Boston when it crashed, officials said. Local reports said it was taking fans to watch a play-off baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday evening.

Tim Gibson, director of the Waller Harris county emergency services, said the passengers and crew “were stunned... but they did all self-extricate.” Officials said one passenger was a 10-year old child, and one person was treated for back pain after the crash. AFP

Man gets 1 year’s RI for pulling hand of 8-yr-old neighbour

Man gets 1 year’s RI for pulling hand of 8-yr-old neighbour

Mumbai:12.10.2021

A 31-year-old man was recently sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment (RI) for pulling his 8-year-old neighbour’s arm when drunk during Diwali last year. The court reasoned that while the act of holding hands did not reflect any sexual intent, there is cogent evidence to show that the accused used criminal force by pulling the hand of the girl. “The accused had knowledge that such acts will amount to outraging the modesty of the victim,” the special Pocso court said.

While the accused was also booked for touching the minor’s body inappropriately, he was acquitted on those charges. “As far as the accused touching the chest of victim, there is no cogent evidence on record. There is material variance in the evidence and statement of the victim before the police, Metropolitan Magistrate Court and also in the history narrated at the time of medical examination,” the court said. The court further said that there was no evidence on record to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed sexual assault and caused sexual harassment. The court added that as far as act pulling hand of the victim, there is consistent and cogent evidence and it has gone unchallenged.

The accused was also fined Rs 10,000, out of which Rs 8,000 will be given to the child as compensation. The accused was in jail since November 12, 2020, and his sentence will be set off against the period of detention undergone by him during investigation and trial.

While the maximum sentence for outraging modesty is two years imprisonment, the court said that considering the nature of offence, age of the accused and that his mother is dependent on him, a year’s sentence will meet the ends of justice .Among the four witnesses was the child, her mother, a neighbour and a police officer. The child told the court that the incident took place in November 2020 at 8.30 pm. Referring to the accused as “bewda uncle” (drunkard uncle), she confided in her mother. The father confronted the accused and then went to the cops. The neighbour told the court that on the day of incident he had seen the accused very drunk, hence, asked him to go home. Relying on the witness statements, the court said, “The evidence on record reflects that the accused was in an inebriated state at the time of incident. The accused has pulled the hand of the victim and the victim felt bad and therefore she has immediately informed her mother and the report came to be lodged.” TNN

Rape-accused juvenile given bail with education rider

Rape-accused juvenile given bail with education rider

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:12,10,2021

The Punjab and Haryana high court has granted bail to a juvenile, who was accused of raping a woman older than him, after the legal and probation officer’s report stated that the alleged offence had been committed by him “under the influence of his company”. The court, however, allowed this concession on the condition that his parents would provide him education to enable him to get gainful employment.

The HC also directed the parents to ensure that the boy does not “come in association with a person of criminal antecedents” and is not exposed to any physical, moral and psychological danger. “The parents of the petitioner shall file an affidavit to this effect before the Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, Nuh,” observed the HC.

The court, however, made it clear that if the parents failed to comply with these conditions, the bail granted to the boy would be cancelled.

Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul of the HC passed these orders while allowing a revision petition filed by the child from Haryana’s Nuh, seeking release on bail in the rape case. The allegation is that in March 2020, he along with others had allegedly dragged a womaninto a car and raped her.He was arrested in this case and his plea for bail was rejected by the JJB and the district court Nuh after which he had approached the HC.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the victim in this case had attained the age of majority and was in a relationship with the petitioner. She had accompanied him of her own accord on the date of the alleged crime. Despite the name of the petitioner having been told to the family by her sister-in-law, they kept quiet and it was only after the prosecutrix (victim) allegedly returned home after two days of the alleged kidnapping, they chose to report the crime to police.

ISCE puts off Boards: ‘Reason beyond control’

ISCE puts off Boards: ‘Reason beyond control’

Kolkata:12.10.2021

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has decided to postpone the first semester ICSE and ISC 2022 exams, which were originally scheduled to start on November 15. A circular announcing this, issued by council chief executive and secretary Gerry Arathoon, reached school principals late on Tuesday, saying the decision was taken due to “reasons beyond our control”. A revised schedule would be announced “in due course”, according to the circular. The decision comes a day after the CBSE on Monday declared its first term offline board examination schedule: from November 30 for Class X and from December 1 for Class XII. TNN

Daughter-in-law flees to Agra with jewellery

Daughter-in-law flees to Agra with jewellery

Jaipur:12.10.2021

A woman has filed an FIR at Bajaj Nagar police station alleging that her daughter-in-law allegedly fled with jewellery and ornaments when the entire family was under quarantine after contracting Covid.

Police said an FIR was registered by one Kalpana Vardani on Sunday. She alleged that the entire family was suffering from the infection and had under quarantined themselves following the doctor’s directions.

OnMay25,shelearnedthat her daughter-in-law Lubhawna left for Agra in a taxi. She also took away keys to two closets with her. The family claimed that when she inquired her as to why she left during a lockdown, she replied that she had to attend a family function and had booked a taxi.

As per the complaint, the family contacted the girl’s father two months later and he replied that his daughter does not want to live with them and allegedly threatened to file a case too. Police said the complainant had alleged that some of her jewellery was missing from the house and suspected that Lubhawna took it with her.

While an FIR under Section 379 (Theft) has been filed, police said they are investigating if there was any family dispute involved. A preliminary investigation has begun based on the family’s FIR. Officials said they have sought details of jewellery and ornaments missing from the house.

A complaint in the case was filed on September 13. “The case is under investigation. We are examining to determine if indeed items were stolen as alleged by the family. There could be some family issues involved too, which can not be ruled out as yet,” the official said, adding that details of items and the keys have been sought. TNN

Study shows how sleeping hours are associated with one’s snacking choices

Study shows how sleeping hours are associated with one’s snacking choices

12.10.2021

A recent study suggests that completing recommended sleeping hours can lead to smarter snacking choices. The study abstract has been published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the research will be presented in a poster session on October 18 at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in 2021.

The results suggest that people who miss the recommended seven or more hours of sleep at night may take worse snacks than those who follow closed-eyed guidelines.

The analysis of data on nearly 20,000 American adults showed a link between not meeting sleep recommendations and eating more snack-related carbohydrates, with added sugar, fat and caffeine.

It turns out that the preferred non-meal categories – salty snacks and sweets and non-alcoholic beverages – are the same among adults regardless of sleep habits, but those who get less sleep tend to eat more snack calories in a day in general.

The research also revealed what appears to be a popular American habit that is not affected by how much we sleep: snacking at night.

“At night, we drink our calories and eat a lot of convenience foods,” said Christopher Taylor, professor of medical dietetics at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Ohio State University and senior author of the study. “Not only are we not sleeping when we stay up late, but we’re doing all these obesity-related behaviours: lack of physical activity, increased screen time, food choices that we consume as snacks and not as meals. So it creates this greater effect. of meeting or not meeting sleep recommendations,” he added.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society recommends that adults regularly sleep seven hours or longer at night to promote optimal health. Getting less sleep than recommended is associated with a higher risk of a number of health problems, including weight gain and obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. “We know that lack of sleep is associated with obesity on a larger scale, but it’s all these little behaviours that are rooted around how it happens,” Taylor said.

Researchers analysed data from 19,650 US adults between the ages of 20 and 60 who had participated from 2007 to 2018 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study collected 24-hour diet calls from each participant, but when, all food was consumed – and asking people questions about their average amount of night’s sleep during the work week.

The participants were into those who either made or did not meet sleep recommendations based on whether they reported sleeping seven or more hours or less than seven hours each night. The researchers estimated participants’ snack-related nutritional intake and categorised all snacks into food groups. Three snacking times were determined for the analysis: 2: 00-11: 59 am in the morning, noon-5: 59 pm in the afternoon and 6 pm-1: 59 am for the evening. Statistical analysis showed that almost everyone – 95.5 percent – ate at least one snack a day, and over 50 percent of the snacking calories among all participants came from two broad categories that included sodas and energy drinks and chips, pretzels, cookies and pastries.

Although there are plenty of physiological factors that play into the relationship of sleep to health, Taylor said that changing behaviour by avoiding nocturnal nosh could especially help adults not only meet the sleep guidelines but also improve their diet. ANI

Eating breakfast early may prevent risk of diabetes, says study

Eating breakfast early may prevent risk of diabetes, says study

12.10.2021

If you miss your breakfast regularly, the findings of a new study might change your ways. A new study says that people who get up early do not just stay healthy, but also have better blood sugar levels as compared to their counterparts who do not wake up early and do not eat their breakfast on time.

The findings of the study showed that eating early in the morning hours is linked to lower insulin resistance and a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. Researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago revealed how they observed that people who started eating earlier in the day have less insulin resistance and lower blood sugar. The results were regardless of whether the individuals restricted their food intake to 10 hours or less than 10 hours in a day.

To draw patterns between-meal timings and levels of blood sugar and insulin, the team of researchers analysed data derived from 10,575 adults from a national survey on health and nutrition. It was found that intermittent fasting or eating during a 10-hour window or less each day was linked to higher insulin resistance. In short, people who fasted were less responsive to insulin and this resistance becomes a risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes. — Agencies

Vax certificate: Modi, Johnson welcome UK recognition

Vax certificate: Modi, Johnson welcome UK recognition

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:12.10.2021

After India and UK sorted out their differences over issues related to post-Covid travel, PM Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Boris Johnson spoke Monday about recent developments in bilateral ties, including the Roadmap 2030 they had announced earlier this year, with focus on trade, defence and climate change related issues.

As they discussed the “shared fight'' against Covid-19 and the importance of cautiously opening up international travel, according to a UK readout of the conversation, the two leaders agreed UK’s recognition of Indian vaccine certification was a welcome development to that end. The recognition means that fully vaccinated Indian travellers will no longer be allowed to undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine on arrival.

Apart from trade and climate exchange, the two leaders discussed the situation in Afghanistan and agreed on the need to develop a common international perspective on issues regarding extremism and terrorism, as well as human rights and rights of women and minorities.

According to a press release issued by the government of India, they also reviewed the progress of the Enhanced Trade Partnership and agreed on the potential of rapidly expanding trade and investment linkages between both countries.

Court upholds blacklisting of firm for backing out of tender bid

Court upholds blacklisting of firm for backing out of tender bid

Following this, it was given the selection letter 20 days after the opening of the tender.

Published: 20th October 2021 05:24 AM 

Madras High Court

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A division bench of the Madras High Court upheld blacklisting and forfeiture of earnest money deposit (EMD) of Muthoot Exim Private Limited for backing out of its bid for supplying gold coins to be distributed to beneficiaries of the State government’s welfare schemes. The division bench of Justices Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Krishnan Ramasamy upheld the order of a single judge who dismissed the petitions of Muthoot, and stated that a judicial review cannot be invoked.

The Tamil Nadu Social Welfare department had floated a tender on 31 July, 2018 for supply of 1.11 lakh gold coins weighing eight grams of 22 carat for distribution to beneficiaries of five major welfare schemes. Muthoot Exim Private Limited participated in the tender and agreed to supply 20,000 gold coins.

Following this, it was given the selection letter 20 days after the opening of the tender. Citing steep rise in the price of gold during the intervening period, the firm requested the Social Welfare department to consider fixing the current gold rate or that it be allowed to withdraw its bid.

However, the department initiated proceedings for confiscating the EMD amount of Rs 53 lakh for not adhering to the firm order as per the rules the of Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules, 2000 and clause 7 (e) of the tender document. Subsequently, the firm was blacklisted on 5 February, 2019 from entering into any government tenders.

Fever cases rising in Salem amid Covid fear

Fever cases rising in Salem amid Covid fear

Government hospitals across the district reported 1,034 fever cases in the month of September and 629 cases as of October 12.

Published: 20th October 2021 10:12 AM 

By M Sabari

Express News Service

SALEM: Fever cases are on the rise in the district which has recorded widespread rain in the last few weeks. Most hospitals and clinics reported an increase in footfall of patients, children, in particular, complaining of fever.

Government hospitals across the district reported 1,034 fever cases in the month of September and 629 cases as of October 12.

Since fever is a symptom of Covid-19, people are rushing to health care centres to confirm if it is viral fever or Covid.

V Swami (58), a resident of Gorimedu, said he was down with fever and cough last week and rushed to a clinic. “ I saw more than 20 people waiting to see the doctor and all were fever cases. Doctors are asking us to take blood tests. With Covid-19 not yet eradicated, this creates additional fear,” he added.

Malar of Angammal Colony said her four-year-old daughter had to be hospitalised for fever. “Over 50 parents brought their children to the hospital while I was there and everybody complained of fever,” she said.

A paediatrician in the city said the people were rushing to hospitals due to Covid-19 fear. “Not all fever are symptoms of Covid-19. However, people should not ignore fever or flu-like symptoms and should visit a doctor immediately,” he said. Parents must monitor if children are active and eat well, he added.

Health officials said most of the fever cases were mosquito-borne and that they had deployed domestic breeding checkers to visit every household and check for water stagnation. “Water distributed to the residents in Salem is double chlorinated. People should wash the water tanks at houses before storing water as it would remove larvae,” the officials said.

Salem City Municipal Corporation (SCMC) Commissioner T Chirsturaj said they would soon conduct mass camps and raise awareness and remove mosquito breeding sources. District Deputy Director for Health Services Nalini was unavailable for comments.

Six daughters and all of them doctors: A heart-warming story from Kerala's Kozhikode

Six daughters and all of them doctors: A heart-warming story from Kerala's Kozhikode

Interestingly, the spouses of Fathima, Hajra, Ayesha, and Faiza are also doctors. Kumhamed Kutty and his wife were also against dowry

Published: 20th October 2021 06:12 PM 

Zaina (third from right) flanked by her doctor family. (Photo | Special Arrangement)

By Gladwin Emmanuel

Online Desk

Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction. This is true in the case of Ahamed Kunhamed Kutty and his wife Zaina Ahmed of Nadapuram in Kozhikode district of Kerala.

When Zaina Ahamed gave birth to six daughters, Ahamed and his wife didn't despair. Rather they were happy. Ahamed was a progressive thinker. He envisioned a life for his daughters in which they would serve society better and be role models for others.

His wish did not take long to turn into reality. All the six daughters of the couple did well in their studies and would go on to be doctors. Wait, we are getting ahead of ourselves.

Four daughters namely, Fathima Ahamed 39, Hajra Ahamed 33, Ayesha Ahamed 30, and Faiza Ahamed are already practicing doctors. Raihana Ahamed 23 is doing her final year MBBS in Chennai while the youngest Ameera Ahamed is in the first year of her MBBS course in Mangalore.

Interestingly, the spouses of Fathima, Hajra, Ayesha, and Faiza, namely, Dr Rishad Rasheed, Dr Ajnas Mohammed Ali, Dr Abdurahman Padiyath Manapat, and Dr Ajas Haroon respectively are also doctors.

Zaina was only 12 years old when she was married off to her cousin Ahamed. At the time, he was running a business in Chennai. After the birth of their first daughter, Ahamed went to Qatar with his wife and daughter where he was employed in a refinery.

Hajra, who did a BDS course while all the others opted for MBBS, recalls the evenings in Qatar when their parents used to infuse them with the importance of doing well in their studies and serving society.

Once they returned from school, there used to be a family gathering when their parents chatted with their daughters about several things, particularly their studies and future.

Ahamed Kunhamed Kutty and his wife Zaina Ahmed

"My Uppa liked medicine. When he couldn't become a doctor he dreamt of making his brother a doctor. But his brother went on to become a teacher and he's known as Soofi teacher in our place," Hajra said.

So, naturally, Ahamed wished that one of his daughters would fulfill his dreams. Fathima opted for MBBS and she took to the course like a duck to water. The positive feedback from Fathima inspired her other sisters also to go in for medicine. Behind it, all was the advice of their parents.

In fact, one of the sisters, Ayesha was interested in doing law. But her parents told her she can pursue it after completing her MBBS course.

Similarly, when it came to the marriage of their daughters, Ahamed and his wife were specific that their daughters should marry someone from the same profession so that it would help the young couple understand each other better. They were also against the practice of dowry. They didn't want to "sell off" their daughters but marry them off to a person who understood and loved them.

After working in Qatar for nearly 35 years, the couple with their daughters returned to Kerala. About two years later, Ahamed suffered chest pain and passed away. At the time, only two of the daughters were married off. Thereafter, Zaina encouraged and inspired her daughters to pursue their courses and married off two other daughters.

Fathima is presently working in a military hospital in Abu Dhabi. Hajra said she had returned from abroad and is planning to do her PG course.

Ayesha is serving in a hospital in Kodungallur while Faiza and her husband work in Kochi.

This story would read like a dream. But, as they say, Rome was not built in a day. The six women doctors and their mother would testify.

The sisters don't have a photograph taken together with their Uppa. They carry an image of him in their hearts.

National Medical Commission Public Notice 14.10.2021

 

HC asks Muslim man to give maintenance to divorced wife

HC asks Muslim man to give maintenance to divorced wife

Vasantha.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:12.10.2021

“A Muslim marriage is not a sacrament, (and) does not repel certain rights and obligations arising from its dissolution,” the Karnataka high court has said, rejecting a man’s plea and coming to the rescue of his ex-wife, who has been battling for enforcement of the trial court’s maintenance decree for the past decade.

Contracting another marriage after pronouncing talaq upon his first wife, a Muslim man cannot say he has to maintain the new wife and their child, and cite the same as a ground for not discharging maintenance, Justice Krishna S Dixit said.

The petitioner, Ezazur Rehman, had pleaded that he could not pay maintenance to his ex-wife, Saira Banu, as he had remarried and had to provide for his wife and their child. The judge, in his order, said Rehman ought to have known his responsibility towards his ex-wife, who does not have anything to fall back on. The responsibility of paying maintenance arises from his own act of talaq, and prior to marrying another woman, the court said.

Quoting the Quran and Hadith, the judge said the right of a divorced woman for maintenance is conditioned on three cumulative factors — insignificant mehr amount, inability of the woman to sustain herself, and if she does not remarry. A Muslim marriage “dissolved by divorce, per se does not annihilate all the duties and obligations of parties by lock, stock and barrel”, the judge noted in the order passed on October 7.

The judge also said Rehman’s contention is repugnant to law, morality and ethics and that if such a contention is countenanced, it would only encourage talaq which the law shuns.

Citing various conventions on human and particularly women’s rights, the judge pointed out that divorce brings hardship to women, and more so to divorced Muslim women. Divorced women’s tears are “hidden in their veils”, he noted, and it is not that unscrupulous men do not know this. Justice Dixit imposed Rs 25,000 cost on Rehman and requested the trial court judge to execute the same on a war footing and report compliance to the registrar general of the HC within three months.

The responsibility of paying maintenance arises from his own act of talaq, and prior to marrying another woman, the court said