India opens doors for vaxxed travellers from 99 countries

India opens doors for vaxxed travellers from 99 countries

But High Int’l Airfares Play Party Pooper

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:16.11.2021

India on Monday reopened its doors for fullyvaccinated foreign tourists from across the world. Now, travellers who have got approved jabs are allowed in quarantine-free from as many as 99 countries, including the US, UK, UAE, Qatar, France and Germany. However, skyhigh international airfares due to limited air bubble flights are playing party pooper for both those who wish to come to India and those who wish to fly abroad for visiting friends and relatives or for just good old tourism.

A return economy class air ticket on Delhi-San Francisco or Delhi-Toronto for travel around Christmas and New Year is upwards of Rs 1.5 lakh, Mumbai-New York starts at Rs 1.2 lakh and Bengaluru-London is upwards of Rs 80,000. On peak travel days, a one-way ticket can cost more than prepandemic return fares.

A senior aviation ministry official had recently said flights under air bubbles will be increased as per demand. But a delay in doing so means a large number of people are forced to book at exorbitant rates and subsequent drop in fares due to more flights being allowed does not benefit them.

Travel Agent Federation of India joint secretary Anil Kalsi said, “The limited international flights have reduced capacity and led to manifold increase in fares. For example, Delhi-Dubai economy return is currently more than double of pre-pandemic level of under Rs 20,000. The government should consider resumption of scheduled international flights with countries where Covid is in control and which mutually accept our vaccines and certification.” German ambassador to India Walter J Lindner Tweeted Monday, “Incredible India opens its doors again, tourists now can fly to India. Happy that Covid19 situation in India has improved lots in last months. Hope soon regular commercial flights will fly again.”

Consumers and the diplomatic and travel community have requested the government to allow more international flights to allow airfares to return to saner levels. High airfares are hurting more due to “new” costs for travellers during Covid worldwide. A majority of countries require negative report of a Covid test taken within one to three days to allow travellers in.

Fake papers: 12 PCR constables dismissed after 13 yrs of service

New Delhi:  16.11.2021

As many as 12 Delhi Police constables posted in the PCR (Police Control Room) unit as drivers were dismissed from their duty, after almost 13 years of service, following a departmental inquiry over allegations of having submitted fake driving licences and documents during their recruitment in 2007.

A senior police officer said that a case was registered against the constables at Model Town police station for forging driving licences to get the job in Delhi Police by “deceitful means”. The dismissal order stated that the 12 constables are unfit for service.

According to the police, more than 81 candidates had applied for the job in 2007 and several tests were conducted before the selected individuals received their appointment letter.

An order issued by Delhi Police, signed by DCP Pankaj Kumar (operations and PCR), stated: “It has clearly been proven that the delinquent constables (drivers) deliberately and knowingly submitted a forged/fake driving licence by adopting deceitful means to seek recruitment. They all gave their residential address of Mathura in their licence, there’s no record of their residence in Mathura. It shows that the constables procured licences by adopting forged mean.” TNN

Vaccination status likely to be on boarding passes

Vaccination status likely to be on boarding passes

TNN | Nov 16, 2021, 05.35 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Soon, you may have your Covid vaccination status printed on your flight boarding pass, making your travel hassle-free and smooth.

The government is working on providing APIs for vaccination status at the time of web check-in with a mobile number. It is also exploring possibilities of having the vaccination status printed on all boarding passes — including the ones issued on spot.

An application programming interface (API) is needed to bring applications together in order to perform a designed function built around sharing data and executing pre-defined processes. APIs will also ensure end-to-end authentication, while passengers would not be required to carry their certificates for verification, official sources said.

The move is aimed at facilitating travellers, particularly those going abroad as some countries have raised issues with certification. “We are working with the ministry of civil aviation for providing APIs for vaccination status at the time of web check in through mobile number. It will perhaps also be possible to print the vaccination information on the boarding pass itself,” an official told TOI.

Hosps improvise as unused Covid vax doses near expiry

Hosps improvise as unused Covid vax doses near expiry

Some Cut Price, Others Give Free Jabs Under CSR

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

16.11.2021

Like street vendors calling attention to their wares, two women health workers from Assam were recently seen in a viral video carrying a blue box strapped to a bamboo pole and shouting: “First dose. Second dose. Corona vaccine. Anybody left out?”

The act may have amused many, but seen in the context of India’s imposing inoculation target and the anxiety of the health establishment over unused vaccines going past their expiry date, there is suspicion this goes beyond comic relief. Most officials TOI spoke to, however, scotched fears of vaccine wastage, or those about to expire being offered as booster shots secretly, or expired doses being dumped.

Hospital administrators, particularly those in the private sector, have adopted ingenious methods to clear their vaccine stockpile — including cutting the price of shots, using corporate social responsibility funds to vaccinate people for free, and exchanging doses with other hospitals to use up the idle stock.

SII, makers of Covishield, has been encouraging private hospitals to buy from those having doses in excess, instead of placing fresh orders. “We paid SII and it diverted the money to another hospital that gave us the cache,” said Dr HK Sale, executive director of Noble Hospital in Pune.

TCS employees to be back in office from year-end

REDUCING WFH

TCS employees to be back in office from year-end

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 16.11.2021

TCS has asked employees to return to its offices across the country by the end of this year, officially ending the near-two-year work-from-home policy that companies were forced to adopt due to the pandemic.

Those who are working from their hometowns have already been asked to get back to their base locations. The pandemic resulted in lakhs of employees across IT and technology companies – especially in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Gurugram – to relocate to their home towns due to the flexible work options.

“At present, we have about 5% of our associates working from offices. Towards the end of CY’21, we will encourage our associates to return to offices, at least initially, before we switch to the 25/25 model. This will be done in a phased and flexible manner and will depend on respective team leaders & the requirements of each team/ project. The return to office will be a calibrated move taking employee safety into consideration,” the company said in a statement.

The 25/25 model is one where the company will seek to have no more than 25% of its employees work from office at any point by 2025. “We are committed to the 25/25 model but before transition to the model we need to start by getting people back to office and gradually evolve to 25/25,” the company said.

TCS also said that 70% of its workforce in India are fully vaccinated and more than 95% have received at least one dose. The company has over 5 lakh employees. Wipro's senior leadership has been back in office, twice a week, from September. These include delivery heads, function heads, GMs, VPs and above. Infosys has also asked its people to return to their base locations.

S’pore to have ‘vaccinated travel lane’ with India

S’pore to have ‘vaccinated travel lane’ with India

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi  16.11.2021

Singapore on Monday announced to finally reopen its doors for fully vaccinated travellers from India starting November 29, through a “vaccinated travel lane” (VTL). Travellers under VTL are not subject to stay-home notice (SHN) on arrival. Instead, they need to produce a negative pre-departure test taken within two days prior to departure and undergo an on arrival PCR test, stated the island nation’s health ministry.

“Following discussions between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore will be launching a VTL for fully-vaccinated travellers from India with valid entry approvals starting November 29, pending resumption of commercial passenger flights,” the Singapore mission in India tweeted on Monday.

A Singapore Airlines (SIA) spokesperson said: “SIA does not currently operate passenger flights between Singapore and India. We remain guided by the authorities on our passenger services to and from India, and seek our customers’ patience and understanding while the bilateral air travel arrangements are being finalised. SIA will provide more information when it is available.”

Giving details of this much-awaited announcement, the Singapore government website stated: “To date, we have launched VTLs with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Korea, Spain, Switzerland, UK, and the US. We will be launching VTLs with Malaysia, Finland, and Sweden on November 29, 2021. We intend to launch VTLs with India and Indonesia from November 29, 2021, and with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE from December 6, 2021.” “Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will provide more details desperately,” it added.

CHAOS AT KIA: Airline Sources Say Change In Validity Was Updated On Portal

RT-PCR TEST

8 denied boarding, staff seek -ve cert not older than 48 hrs

CHAOS AT KIA: Airline Sources Say Change In Validity Was Updated On Portal

Flyers Claim They Were Made To Undergo Another Test

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:16.11.2021

Mechanical engineer Krishna of HSR Layout claimed he wasn’t permitted to board a flydubai flight to Dubai at Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday as the airline ground staff insisted he produce report of an RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours before departure.

Krishna, who was carrying a negative report obtained within 72 hours, underwent a fresh rapid PCR test by paying Rs 3,000 and tested negative. Yet he was turned away citing the invalidity of the 72-hour report.

No prior SMS alert on the change in test period was sent by the airline, the 52-year-old Bengalurean alleged. Seven others supposed to take the flight, FZ 406, underwent the same ordeal. They were all forced to cancel their Bengaluru-Dubai tickets costing over Rs 30,000 each.

“We received no SMS alert regarding the RT-PCR test validity being reduced to 48 hours for passengers. I came from Dubai to Bengaluru with a test report taken within 72 hours before the journey. I was shocked on Sunday morning when the flydubai ground staff refused to accept my Covid negative report with a validity of 72 hours,” lamented the engineer, who was scheduled to fly on work. He cancelled his one-way ticket and rebooked his trip.

Sources with the Dubaibased carrier said it had been updated on its official portal that travellers from India will have to produce Covid test report within 48 hours prior to departure and all passengers had been advised to thoroughly go though the rules.

“Earlier, the flydubai portal had said the test report needed to be within 72 hours but on November 11, 2021, it was changed to 48 hours and flyers were not alerted. There was no intimation via phone calls or text messages, and we had to find out at the airport gates, which was a bitter experience,” lamented another flyer who was forced to cancel his FZ 406 ticket and return to his Indiranagar residence.

The 43-year-old passenger also alleged that the flydubai ground staff made all those who were carrying reports taken 72 hours earlier undergo a rapid PCR test (based on molecular diagnostic testing) usually conducted for boarding passengers.

“We paid Rs 3,000 each for the test with the belief that they would let us board the flight if we tested negative. But that was not the case,” said the passenger. “If they didn’t plan to allow us, why did they make us pay Rs 3,000 and undergo another test? It is clear harassment,” he added.

Sources in flydubai at KIA said information on Covid test result requirements has been updated country-wise on the official website and has been altered based on change in rules in UAE, which some passengers failed to notice.

However, they said that the rapid PCR test was part of standard Covid guidelines. The airline didn’t give its official version of the events till Monday evening.

CAUGHT UNAWARES: The flyers were forced to cancel their Bengaluru-Dubai tickets costing over Rs 30,000 each

Earlier, the flydubai portal had said the test report needed to be within 72 hours but on November 11, 2021, the duration was changed to 48 hours and flyers were not alerted. There was no intimation via phone calls or text messages

— A passenger

Can’t book one for whiff of booze: Ker HC

Can’t book one for whiff of booze: Ker HC

Kochi:  16.11.2021

The mere smell of alcohol on a person is not sufficient to book him for being in a public place in an intoxicated manner, the Kerala HC said on Monday.

Justice Sophy Thomas made the observation in a judgment on a plea filed by Salim Kumar through advocate IV Pramod. The petitioner, a village assistant, had challenged a case registered by Badiadka police under Section118(a) of the Kerala Police Act. “...Mere smell of alcohol can’t be construed to mean that the person was intoxicated or was under the influence of any liquor.” TNN

No proof to link he engaged in rioting: Court

As per Section 118(a), any person found in a public place in an intoxicated manner or riotous condition or incapable of looking after himself can be booked for causing grave violation of public order or danger. It is punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to Rs 10,000, or both.

The petitioner had contended that he was called to the police station at 7 pm to identify an accused and a false case was registered as he could not identify the accused as required by the police as the accused was a stranger to him.

In the judgment, the court said, “Consuming liquor in a private place without causing nuisance or annoyance to anybody will not attract any offence. Mere smell of alcohol also cannot be construed to mean that the person was intoxicated.”

Even if the petitioner had consumed alcohol, the available facts and materials in the case are not sufficient to suggest that he was not able to control himself or he committed rioting inside the police station, the court said while quashing the case.

80 GTU students failed for cheating

80 GTU students failed for cheating

Ahmedabad:  16.11.2021

Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has decided to fail 85 students caught cheating in summer exams held earlier this year. The varsity has also decided to forbid these students from taking next semester exams as well, said sources in GTU. They university had summoned 140 candidates in all who faced allegations of using ‘unfair means’ to clear the semester exams. TNN

Special trains to revert to regular status

Special trains to revert to regular status

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:16.11.2021

Ensure that you get your train number right before boarding. The Western Railway has decided that all special trains which are being operated due to Covid pandemic will now run as regular trains with regular numbers. For example, the Ahmedabad Delhi Rajdhani will now be running with its regular number of 12957. Earlier, this train was running with the number 02957. Officials said that it has now been decided that WR’s regular timetabled trains, which are presently operating as special trains, shall be operated with regular numbers and with fares as applicable.

Officials said that efforts are on to normalize the passenger services and revert back in a phased manner to the precovid levels of service. Also the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) of Railways will be shut down for 6:00 hours from 11.30pm — the lean business hours of the night for next seven days. This is to enable upgradation of system data and updating of new train numbers.

During the period, railways personnel will ensure advance charting for trains departing during the affected timings. Except for the PRS services, all other inquiry services including 139 services will continue uninterrupted.

GU likely to have 7,000 vacant BSc seats

GU likely to have 7,000 vacant BSc seats

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:16.11.2021

Colleges affiliated to Gujarat University are left with 6,000 empty seats for BSc courses. This is after the admission committee carried out three rounds of admissions so far this year for a total of 14,700 seats, said sources close to the development.

“The number of vacant seats at GU collages are expected to increase to 7,000 after admissions for medical, paramedical and pharmacy colleges are held in the state,” said sources.

After three rounds of admission, GU has given the task of filling the vacant BSc seats to the colleges. “These colleges will have to come out with a merit list and the admissions are to be endorsed by the university. This is going to be quite a task given the large number of vacant seats,” according to sources.

The response from students for admission in GU science colleges has been quite dull this year. So many seats are vacant in a year when the Class 12 candidates have got the benefit of mass promotion points out to the lack of interest among students for these courses.

Is state govt ready to launch RTI portal, asks high court

Is state govt ready to launch RTI portal, asks high court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:16.11.2021

The Gujarat high court on Monday questioned the state government on whether it is ready to launch a portal through which citizens can file applications seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act and asserted that the government can work out modalities later.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Aravind Kumar asked the government to reply to its question on Wednesday. The court’s query came in response to two PILs filed three years ago, demanding online processing of RTI applications and to create a payment gateway for those who seek information online.

Appearing for a petitioner, senior advocate Saurabh Soparkar submitted that the petitioner wants RTI applications to be processed online through a portal. The Centre and other states have already started accepting RTI applications through portals. He questioned why a developed state like Gujarat cannot do it. He termed the affidavit filed by the state government irrelevant and submitted that the government has taken three years on pretext of awarding contract to companies for the purpose of creating systems on how to track files with regard to RTI applications. “I want RTI application to be filed online and a payment gateway to pay fees, nothing more and nothing less. I do not desire to track the files in government department,” he submitted.

The state government submitted that the process of finalizing the system is underway. To this, the chief justice said whether the concerned government secretary can state on an affidavit that he would receive all RTI applications online. “We want a three-line answer whether you are ready to process RTI applications online or not? We do not want all details. The moment you enter in all those details, it will be surrounded by mystery,” the judge sought reply after two days.

After the senior advocate submitted that there are government agencies who want to set up payment gateway for free , another petitioner-advocate Sandeep Munjyasara drew the court’s attention on how the state government has taken three years to make a clear statement on this issue.

Clear six addl courses, get honours in engg

Clear six addl courses, get honours in engg

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 16.11.2021

Around one lakh students who joined engineering courses in Tamil Nadu in 2021-22 can earn BE, BTech degrees with honours in four years by clearing six extra courses or 18 credits.

They can also earn minor degrees in other branches by getting 18 credits in them. This was decided in a recent academic council meeting of Anna University. “If students get high grades till fourth semester in BE, BTech programmes, they will be allowed to select specialised courses in ME or MTech degree programmes. If they clear six specialised courses in a related field or get 18 extra credits, they will be awarded with honours degree,” Anna University vicechancellor R Velraj told TOI.

If a mechanical engineering student or civil engineering student completes six courses in artificial intelligence or machine learning, he or she will get a BE mechanical engineering degree with a minor in artificial intelligence or machine learning, he added.

Colleges welcome the move, say it will increase placements

The university is also thinking about implementing it for the second year students after making necessary changes in the regulations.

As per the 2021 regulations of Anna University, a student needs to secure a minimum 160 credits to get BE or BTech degree.

Colleges welcomed the move saying it would increase placement opportunities.

B Chidambararajan, principal of SRM Valliammai Engineering College, said, companies are expecting interdisciplinary skills among students with the emergence of newer technologies such as IoT. “In the present trend, a mechanical student should know about programming to improve his chances to get placement. So, interdisciplinary courses are the need of the hour and it is a welcome move by the university,” he said.

P Deiva Sundari, principal of KCG College of Technology, said, the move to introduce interdisciplinary degree (minor degree) will improve admissions in core engineering branches. “An honours degree will encourage students to specialise in any particular area in their relevant field. For example, a computer science degree student can specialise in full stag or data science,” she said.

HC bars HR&CE dept from setting up colleges using temple funds

HC bars HR&CE dept from setting up colleges using temple funds

Says That Proposals Must Come From Trustees

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.11.2021

In a setback to the Tamil Nadu government, in its endeavour to open new colleges out of the reserve funds of temples vested with the Hindu Religious and Charitable department (HR and CE), the Madras high court on Monday restrained the state from doing so.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu made it clear that such funds cannot be used for opening colleges till trustees are installed for all the temples under HR and CE as mandated by the HE and CE Act.

As per the act, the proposals to utilise such reserve funds for any purpose must come from the trustees of the temple concerned. Without such a proposal, the state cannot use the funds.

The court, however, permitted the state to establish four colleges in Chennai, Namakkal, Dindigul, and Tuticorin as the works to open the colleges are complete and admission of students are in process.

Apart from the four colleges the other proposed colleges will not be set up and no steps in such regard should be taken without the express previous leave of this court, the bench said. “It is also noticed that at the four colleges which are now ready to open, B.B.A., B.Com. and other similar courses have been offered, without there being any regular course in religious instructions in Hindu religion,” the judges said.

They added that it will be a condition precedent to the four colleges opening that a stream of religious instructions in Hindu religion be introduced. If such a course is not introduced within a month of the college starting, the further functioning of the college cannot continue.

“It must be appreciated that however pious the intention may be to use perceived surplus funds for the purpose of education, these funds are out of offerings for a particular cause and, ordinarily, the cause must not be forgotten and the same must be espoused with a part of the funds, even though the larger sphere of education may also be addressed,” the court said.

The court also made it clear that the functioning of the exempted four colleges will be subject to the outcome of the plea.

The court passed the interim order on a PIL T R Ramesh. According to the petitioner, merely because a policy statement was made on the floor of the assembly by a minister in the present government, the government has gone ahead with the proposal to divert funds from temples under the control of the HR and CE.

The court, however, permitted the state to establish four colleges in Chennai, Namakkal, Dindigul, and Tuticorin as the works to open the colleges are complete and admission of students are in process

Transport commissioner takes VRS

Transport commissioner takes VRS

Chennai:16.11.2021

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday posted S Natarajan as commissioner of Transport department in the place of Santhosh K Misra, who is on voluntary retirement.

Santhosh Misra was an officer of the 2000 batch. He becomes the third officer to have opted for voluntary retirement in less than two years, while the others being V Sahayam and Santhosh Babu. According to sources, Misra had quit the job citing personal reasons and sought to be relieved from service with effect from Monday.

He attained 50 years of age last month, and the government was the competent authority to accept voluntary retirement in the case of officers who completed 30 years of qualifying service or have attained 50 years. TNN

Applications sought for diploma in pharmacy

Applications sought for diploma in pharmacy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.11.2021

The directorate of Indian medicine and homeopathy has invited applications for admission to 2.5-year diploma in integrated pharmacy course and diploma in nursing therapy.

The course for 2021-2022 session for the candidates who have passed the higher secondary examination (in science stream) in first appearance. Application form and prospectus can be downloaded from the www.tnhealth.tn.gov.in between November 18 and December 10. Last date for returning filled in application form through post or courier or in person is 5.30pm on December 10.

Aadhaar necessary for Transtan waitlisting

Aadhaar necessary for Transtan waitlisting

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.11.2021

Organ failure patients registering for waitlist and relatives of brain dead patients (donors) registering for organ donation should submit Aadhaar details for verification with the state transplant authority (Transtan), a GO released on October 25 said.

While activists and transplant coordinators said it would be difficult to seek such information from relatives of braindead patients at a time when annual donations are falling, health minister Ma Subramanian told reporters it was done to encourage and honor donor relatives.

In April, Transtan member secretary Dr R Kanthimathi proposed to introduce an application form for authentication to stop malpractices such as use of fake Aadhaar cards. The ministry of electronics and information technology gave its nod in July.

Heavy rain alert for city, adjoining districts

MORE RAIN

Heavy rain alert for city, adjoining districts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 16.11.2021

The days are likely to be cloudy with light rain in some areas for the next two days. Heavy rain is likely to resume by Wednesday due to the impact of the low pressure intensifying and reaching the south Andhra coast.

A met department forecast for 48 hours said the sky condition will be generally cloudy. Thunderstorms with light to moderate rain are likely to occur in some areas.

A heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts in addition to Ranipet, Vellore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and delta districts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry and Karaikal for Wednesday.

However, a low pressure that may form over the Arabian sea in the next 24 hours may prevent further intensification of the low pressure that is currently over Andaman Sea, said an IMD report.

This may mean that the likelihood of the city receiving good rain on the weekend after it crosses the coast is low.

The low pressure in Andaman Sea is likely to move northwest and become well marked during the next 48 hours.

Thereafter it is likely to move further and reach near south Andhra Pradesh – north Tamil Nadu coasts on Thursday.

"Based on Tuesday’s analysis, the possibility of further intensification of the system appears to be low, mainly owing to the enhanced likelihood of formation of another low pressure area over east-central Arabian Sea off south Maharashtra coast during next 24 hours."

An east-west shear zone runs from southeast Arabian sea to southwest Bay of Bengal across South Karnataka, north Kerala and north Tamilnadu.

On Tuesday, Meenambakkam recorded 1mm rain since morning while the core city received some drizzle. The outer areas of the city like OMR received 2cm rain while Pallikaranai got 1cm on Monday night.

Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai areas received 12cm heavy rain of 12cm rain and Cuddalore recorded 7cm rain.

The low pressure in the Andaman Sea is likely to move northwest and become well marked during the next 48 hours, bringing rain to the city, IMD said in a report

Curious case of 3 one-ways on Venkatnarayana Road

Curious case of 3 one-ways on Venkatnarayana Road

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.11.2021

Thanks to unnecessary one-way routes on streets and arterial routes branching out of Venkatnarayana road, motorists are forced to take a detour through different lanes to access the main road. Adding to their woes are several encroachments on these oneway stretches leading to a bottleneck on the 1.3-kilometre long Venkatnaryana Road in T Nagar.

Motorists are unable to directly access the Usman Road junction from Venkatnarayana Road, where the one-way portion of Burkit road has taken over by illegal parking of share autos, cars and trucks. They are required to take a diversion via Dhandhapani Street resulting in traffic snarls on Venkatnarayana Road-Dhandapani Street junction.

The situation is no different on Venkatnarayana Road-Anna Salai route. Here motorists must take a diversion from Mooparappan Street to reach Anna Salai which again leads to a traffic jam at Link Road. On this stretch too a 100-metre portion of the Sivaganam Street has been converted into a one-way. However, the encroached space leads to people taking a longer distance and avoiding the oneway.

“If the one-way portion on Burkit Road is being converted into a two-way, the travel time will reduce to just five minutes. I fail to understand why this route has been partially one-way for several years. If the road converts into a two-way, the illegal parking space for share autos will have to go,” said C Munusamy, an auto driver at T Nagar who takes 10-30 minutes to travel between Venkatnarayana Road and Usman Road.

When contacted, Mambalam traffic police said that action will be initiated against illegal parking on Burkit Road. “The reason for having one-ways was allowing twoway traffic in all four directions. Instead, these are resulting in a vehicle pile-up," a traffic cop said.

Sabarimala temple to be opened today for annual pilgrimage season

Sabarimala temple to be opened today for annual pilgrimage season

To ensure darshan for a maximum number of devotees, with a ceiling of 30,000 a day under the virtual queue system, 10 spot booking counters will start functioning in a couple of days.

Published: 15th November 2021 02:25 AM | Last Updated: 15th November 2021 02:25 AM |

The Lord Ayyappa temple here will be opened on Monday for the two-month annual pilgrimage season.

By Express News Service 15.11.2021

SABARIMALA: The Lord Ayyappa temple here will be opened on Monday for the two-month annual pilgrimage season. Melsanthi Jayaraj Potti will open the sreekovil at 5.30 pm in the presence of thantri Mahesh Mohanaru. Elaborate arrangements have been made by the authorities for devotees for darshan during the pilgrimage season within the limits of Covid protocol.

To ensure darshan for a maximum number of devotees, with a ceiling of 30,000 a day under the virtual queue system, 10 spot booking counters will start functioning in a couple of days. Devotees will have to produce either a vaccination certificate after having two doses or an RT-PCR certificate on arrival at Nilakkal along with virtual queue passes.

Devotees will be allowed for darshan from November 16 morning, the first day of the pilgrimage season, though the temple will be opened on November 15 afternoon. A total of 13.34 lakh devotees have booked under virtual queue for darshan till Sunday while about 2 lakh devotees cancelled the booking, Sabarimala devaswom executive officer Krishnakumara Warrier said. Regarding prasadam buffer stock, Krishnakumara Warrier said that the total stock of aravana prasadam was at 10 lakh containers and appam at 2 lakh packets as on Sunday.

He said steps have been taken to ensure the production of 2 lakh containers of aravana and 1 lakh packets of appam a day. The installation ceremony of the new melsanthi of Lord Ayyappa temple N Parameswaran Nampoothiri will be performed at 6pm on November 15. As part of the ceremony, the thantri will perform ‘kalasabhishekam’ on the new melsanthi.

After ‘kalasabhishekam,’ the thantri will pass on the ‘moolamantram’ of Lord Ayyappa to the melsanthi after leading him to the sreekovil. At Malikappuram Devi temple, the thantri will perform the installation ceremony of the new melsanthi Sambu Nampoothiri after the conclusion of the ceremony at Lord Ayyappa temple.

5 emergency med centres opened for pilgrims

T’Puram: Ahead of the Sabarimala pilgrim season, the health department has set up five emergency medical centres at Nilakkal, Pampa, Erumeli , Charalmedu (Ayyappan Road) and Sannidhanam. “People experiencing an increase in heart beat, breathlessness and chest pain shall take treatment at these centres. We have issued directives in different languages for the convenience of people from other states as well,” said Health Minister Veena George. The centres will start function on Monday. “Pilgrims facing fatigue have facilities to take rest at these centres.

They can also check blood pressure and get first aid. The medical centres are provided with sufficient medicines and have oxygen parlours that will function round the clock. They are equipped to deal with heart attack cases,” the minister said. Staff nurses deployed at the centre are trained to provide automatic external defilberator. The centre at Sannidhanam has an operation theatre for emergency cases. Ventilator facility is available at Pampa and Sannidhanam centres that are operated by specialist doctors from Medical Colleges.

Higher edu institutes tie up with hosps, nursing homes

Zeeshan.Jawed@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:15.11.2021

Colleges and universities across the city have tied up with medical facilities to treat emergency cases once campuses reopen on Tuesday.

Institutes that already have some medical facilities on the campus have ramped them up and tied up with the nearest hospitals or nursing homes so that emergency cases can be dealt with properly.

They have also made arrangements to thermal scan temperature of teachers and students, facilities to wash hands properly before entering the classes and disinfect the campus.

The government in an advisory last month listed several measures that authorities must undertake for the safety of students, teachers and other staff and arrangements they must make to maintain social distancing.

Jadavpur University which already has a health centre on the campus has tied up with a private hospital in the vicinity. An ambulance will be available to handle any emergency. “The health centre has a full-time medical superintendent and many specialists visit every week. We have set up an isolation room where anybody showing symptoms can be kept and attended. We have also tied up with a hospital in Jadavpur,” said an official of the university.

Scottish Church college has made arrangements to scan the temperature of everybody entering the campus and facilities have been made for washing hands. It has tied up with a private medical facility in north Kolkata. “We Safety of students and staff is our priority,” said principal Madhumanjari Mandal.

St Xavier’s College has also augmented its health facilities and made arrangements for scanning of temperature and disinfecting the campus.

Seth Anandram Jaipuria College has tied up with RG Kar Hospital. “We have requested the authorities to conduct medical camps on the campus at least once a week, so a thorough check-up can be done,” said principal Asok Mukhopadhyay. At Maulana Azad College, teachers have been counselling the students about the dos and don’ts for the past one week during online classes. “We have also set up isolation facility and tied up with a medical facility,” said Subhasis Dutta, principal.

Colleges & varsities firm up plans for split, hybrid classes

Colleges & varsities firm up plans for split, hybrid classes

Poulami.Roy@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:15.11.2021

From classrooms to laboratories, higher education institutes are in their final stages of adopting the new hybrid teaching mode. Universities and colleges are set to reopen on Tuesday after a 20-month hiatus.

Authorities of different universities held a series of meetings in the last two weeks and formulated their own individual guidelines. The first decision was how many students and which classes are to be called back for offline classes, immediately. It was also decided that both online and offline modes of teaching will continue.

Various departments of technology campus of Calcutta University have planned to call final semester students for two days a week. Some of the departments have been planning to install upgraded set-up for running online-offline at the same time.

Departments with a large number of students like zoology have planned to call students to attend only elective subjects divided in small groups. “Only students of elective subjects will attend physical classes. Classes will be taken in small groups which are not more than five, but core subject classes will run in online mode” said Parthiba Basu, professor, zoology.

The commerce department has decided to divide classrooms depending on its strength. “Class strength will be divided into small numbers, so more teachers may be required for regular classes,” said a CU professor.

“Different campuses of CU have already been cleaned and sanitized. Tables, chairs of each classroom of different departments and buildings have been cleaned properly. We have identified two classrooms for making seating arrangements. Initially, our final year students will come and attend physical classes for two days a week,” said Sankhayan Choudhury, professor, computer science & engineering department.

Apart from the department of chemistry all other departments of Presidency University have decided not to start physical classes initially. Geography, geology and other lab-based subjects will call students for practical classes. Only the chemistry department will start offline classes for theory and practical both. UG and PG final year’s students and second-year students will be called for offline theory classes. Debnil Paul, MA final year student, said, “We want all the classes to start in offline mode and the hostel should open for at least final semester’s students who will attend offline classes.” University is not going to open three canteens and hostels immediately. Central library and other departmental libraries and reading rooms will open from Tuesday. Students are free to visit departmental faculties and can access the library from Tuesday.

Jadavpur University will not call UG first year students from Tuesday. Life science, biotech, geography, electronics department from Science faculty will call PG2 students while chemistry department is still in dilemma. Arts faculty has decided to call one year of UG and one year of PG students daily but first year students won’t be called now. Engineering faculty will call PG1, PG2 to physical classes. PhD and MPhil students will come as per requirement. Authorities has done repairing work, too. Departments of evening courses may complete classes earlier, so that students can reach their house before night restrictions set in.

HC says 4-yr-old not competent witness in Pocso case, frees man

HC says 4-yr-old not competent witness in Pocso case, frees man

‘Lower Court Gave Undue Importance To Girl’s Statement’

Swati.Deshpande@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:15.11.2021

Quashing a 2019 conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso), the Bombay high court said the sessions court had given “undue importance to a stray statement’’ of a four-year-old without ascertaining first whether the child could be a competent witness.

Mumbai sessions court had convicted the accused to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in 2019. He was one of two accused in the case. The co-accused had been acquitted by the trial court.

The HC said, “A child is a competent witness provided he is capable of understanding the questions put to him and is able to give rational answers.’’ But in this case, the child was barely four years old and of a tender age, and “it was obligatory” on the judge to ascertain first whether the child can depose as a competent witness, which the trial judge had not done, the high court added.

The prosecution’s case was that the accused, who was hired to paint a room, had made the child sit on his lap. It was alleged that at 9.30pm, he then touched her private part and that the other man had slapped her.

The child, who did not have the cognitive skills to remember, recollect and narrate an alleged sexual abuse by a painter-workman, had later in her cross-examination by the defence lawyer also said she was deposing as told by her mother, observed Justice Anuja Prabhudessai while acquitting the man convicted in the 2017 case.

The prosecution’s case was based mainly on the child’s testimony. “Conviction can be based on the sole testimony of a child witness provided the witness is competent to depose to the facts and is a reliable witness,’’ said the HC.

The man had been convicted under section 10 of Pocso for aggravated sexual assault, where minimum punishment is five years’ RI. Both the accused had pleaded they were not guilty.

Observing that the trial court had “failed to evaluate competency’’ of the child as a witness, the HC scrutinised her evidence to ascertain whether her deposition can be relied on. The HC judgment noted that the child “was not trying to conceal the truth’’ and the tenor of her answers during trial indicate she lacked the intellectual capacity and maturity to understand the nature of questions and to give rational answers, hence she “cannot be considered to be a competent witness.” Besides, there is no confirmation of the identification of the accused in the case, the HC noted as the date of painting work was a day after the alleged crime, said the room owner.

The Bombay high court judgment noted that the four-year-old girl ‘was not trying to conceal the truth’ and the tenor of her answers during trial indicated she lacked the intellectual capacity and maturity to understand the nature of questions and to give rational answers

AKTU convocation likely on Dec 15, over 50,000 to get degrees

AKTU convocation likely on Dec 15, over 50,000 to get degrees

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow: 15.11.2021

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) is likely to hold its 19 convocation ceremony on December 15. The university has sent a proposal to Raj Bhawan seeking permission for it. Educationist and mechanical engineer SG Dhande is likely to be the chief guest on the occasion.

The convocation ceremony will be held in the offline mode in which medals will be awarded to 64 meritorious students and over 50,000 degrees will be awarded to undergraduate and postgraduate students of various courses.

“We have sent a proposal for the conduct of the convocation on December 15 and have decided on our chief guest. We are waiting for the consent from both,” said AKTU spokesperson Asheesh Mishra.

“Prof SG Dhande is an eminent educationist who was the director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur for 10 years. He is currently the Chairman of Board of Governors of National Institute of Technology, Delhi, and National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai,” said Mishra.

The convocation ceremony will be held in the offline mode in which medals will be awarded to 64 meritorious students and over 50,000 degrees to UG & PG students

Buffalo refuses to be milked, owner taps cops

Buffalo refuses to be milked, owner taps cops

Bhopal:15.11.2021

A farmer from Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district went to a police station taking along his buffalo, complaining that the animal was refusing to be milked and he suspected it to be under the influence of witchcraft, an official said on Sunday.

“The villager, identified as Babulal Jatav (45), submitted a complaint at Nayagaon police station on Saturday, saying his buffalo was not allowing to be milked,” Deputy SP Arvind Shah said. “I had told the police station in-charge to assist the villager with some veterinary advice. The villager visited the police station again to thank the police on Sunday, saying the buffalo allowed to be milked on Sunday morning,” Shah said. PTI

Spitting or littering at Kamlapati station to attract ₹500 spot fine

INAUGURATION TODAY

Spitting or littering at Kamlapati station to attract ₹500 spot fine

SWACHH STATION: 160 CCTVs To Keep Eye On Platforms, Premises

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:15.11.2021

Think twice before spitting or littering on the campus of the newly constructed Rani Kamlapati railway station as it will charge an on-spot fine of Rs 500.

Abu Asif, project manager of Bansal Pathways said, “There will be a close watch on every passenger on the campus. A world-class station infrastructure is given to the passengers and they are expected to keep the campus ;Swachh’. If they do not, they have to face a fine of Rs 500.”

Asked how they will keep a watch on passengers’ movement, Asif said, “We have a web of 160 high-definition CCTVs on the campus. Not a single passenger can escape if they spread litter or spit on the campus.” He has made it clear that the fine will be levied as per the rules and regulations.

Different signages will be put across the premises so that the visitors follow the rules and regulations. “We have put the instructions everywhere but we expect from the passengers that will follow them.”

Even passengers have welcomed the decision. “Can you expect anyone spitting or littering at any airport? If we can keep the airports clean the same could be possible here also. Let the station be the best in the country in all terms,” said a passenger, Vishwas Verma.

Few passengers felt that there was a need to inform the people to keep the campus clean. “I think there is an urgent need to make the passengers aware that it is their responsibility to keep the campus clean. This is possible only when they realise it. Fine is one of the ways. However, I think awareness about such things should also be launched,” said Pratiksha Sahu.

Passengers also suggested that first-time offenders should be left with a warning. “I think it would be harsh to impose fine immediately. Cleanliness at the station is important. I think a few days should be given to the offenders so that they can learn the importance of a clean railway station.

Edu ministry finalising details of ’22 entrance test for central varsities

Edu ministry finalising details of ’22 entrance test for central varsities

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  15.11.2021

Shelved in 2021 due to the pandemic, the education ministry is finalising the details of the Central University Common Entrance Test (CUCET) to be conducted from 2022 for 41 central universities. According to ministry sources, the details will be announced by December-end so that aspirants and institutions can start the preparations.

The exams, as envisaged in the NEP 2020 are likely to be conducted twice a year. The computer-based common entrance test for the central universities, which includes the likes of JNU, BHU and DU, would comprise of three hours of testing divided into two sections -- Common Aptitude Test (50 questions) and Domain Specific Test (30 questions each)— and will eliminate the individual exams that many of the universities conduct presently. According to sources, the ministry is finalising the proposal based on the report of the committee set up by the UGC and the admissions to the central universities for the 2022-23 will be based on the CUCET score.

“The ministry is ready to implement the CUCET from 2022 as planned under the NEP 2020. The details and the dates will be worked out soon. The ministry is planning to announce the details as early as possible so that the candidates and universities get time to prepare,” said the official.

The official said that Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has asked the officials to work on the recommendations of the UGC to roll out its implementation without any further delay.

Rly’s reservation system to stay down for six hours this week

Rly’s reservation system to stay down for six hours this week

Somit.Sen@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:15.11.2021

Long distance trains which were affected due to the pandemic will restore its regular train numbers in the next few days as normalcy seems to be returning gradually, said officials.

Railways’ passenger reservation system (PRS), however, will be shut for six hours during lean business hours of the night for the next 7 days, said Central Railway chief spokesperson Shivaji Sutar.

“This is to enable upgradation of system data and updating of new train numbers. Since huge amount of past (old train numbers) and current passenger booking data are to be updated in all Mail/ Express trains, this is being planned in a series of carefully calibrated steps and implemented during night hours,” added Sutar The timings of system shut down will be from 11.30pm to 5.30am in order to minimise impact on ticketing services. Both Western and Central Railway will revert back to the original train numbers of pre-Covid times. During Covid, they ran special trains.