HC: Court can’t enter into guesswork about probe

HC: Court can’t enter into guesswork about probe

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:  21.11.2021

The Punjab and Haryana high court has made it clear that it cannot pass any order on a plea to direct the investigating agency, which has summoned a person as witness in some cases, to give advance notice to the person in case he is required to be arrested.

“If such petition is entertained, then it could open up Pandora’s box in as much as every person apprehending arrest would come to the court and file a petition under section 482 CrPc in order to enquire from the investigating authorities or police authorities as to “what they are going to do next”, HC has held. The court was also of the view that intervention of the court in such cases can seriously prejudice the investigation.

Justice Vikas Bahl passed these orders while dismissing a petition filed by Punjab PWD work inspector Harmandeep Singh. The petitioner has been summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under section 160 CrPc as witness in connection with Punjab’s narco-terror case involving Hizbul Mujahideen. HC was informed that he has apprehension that when he would appear before NIA in pursuance of the notice dated August 8, 2021, he would be arrested and thus, he had sought direction for giving him an advance notice in case he was required to be detained or arrested. Opposing his plea, NIA contended that in this case, the petitioner had not challenged the notice under Section 160 CrPc and is indirectly seeking anticipatory bail which even as per the case of the petitioner, could not have been granted.

NIA also submitted that the petitioner wants HC to enter into guesswork as to what would happen in the course of investigation and in order to preempt the same, the present petition has been filed.

It is submitted that such a petition is legally not maintainable. It is also sought to be argued by relying upon some documents, it is apparent that the petitioner has falsely stated in his petition, on affidavit, that on15.08.2021, the petitioner was on duty on the occasion of the Independence Day, whereas documents from the employer/senior of the petitioner would show that he was on leave.

After hearing both the parties, Justice Bahl observed that as per the facts on record, only a notice under Section160 CrPc has been issued to the petitioner for appearance before the NIA. “This court cannot possibly enter into the realm of conjectures and surmises and foresee by guesswork as to what would be the further course adopted by the investigating agency. At one stage, learned counsel for the petitioner was wanting that the counsel for NIA should disclose as to whether they wish to arrest the petitioner or not… Moreover, the offences alleged to have been committed in the present case are very serious and thus, NIA is to be given a free hand to investigate, so that all the culprits can be brought to book and all the material which is necessary can be collected. The NIA informed that the main accused who has been arrested with Rs 29 lakh in his possession is in fact an over ground worker of banned terrorist organization Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen (HM),” observed the court.

Service providers can now see vax status

Service providers can now see vax status

21.11.2021

The union health ministry has activated a service on the CoWin portal that allows anyone to check an individual’s vaccination status with the person’s registered mobile number and name, followed by an OTP for consent.

The service could be utilised by a service provider — such as travel agencies, offices, employers, entertainment agencies or government agencies such as IRCTC — for whom verifying a person’s vaccination status is critical for facilitating a service requested by the citizen, an official said. “Now download the fully/partially vaccinated badge from CoWin & share it with your friends on all your social platforms! Encourage your family and friends to follow you and #FightCovid,” national health authority CEO RS Sharma tweeted. The service is being built to help citizens who may not have the vaccine certificate available in digital or paper form for availing a requested service and can support the service provider to verify the vaccination status of the citizen. PTI

No SMS or OTP, yet over ₹1L vanishes from bank account

No SMS or OTP, yet over ₹1L vanishes from bank account

Vadodara:  21.11.2021

A principal of a fire academy living in Godhra lost Rs 1.2 lakh from his bank account last month to cyber fraudsters.

The victim, Rohit Patel, who has an account in a private bank’s branch in Udalpur village of Desar taluka, lodged a complaint of cheating under the Information Technology Act on Friday at Desar police station.

Patel said that when he opened the mini-statement of his bank account on October 11, he found that Rs 1.2 lakh had been withdrawn from his account. Patel checked his bank balance as he had to transfer money to someone. Between October 6 and 11, money was transferred from his bank account to different accounts in four different banks. TNN

Airport queue time same as flight duration

Airport queue time same as flight duration

Niyati.Parikh@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:  21.11.2021

Soon after the Diwali holidays, when Anuj Pathak, the owner of a citybased travel company, left for a holiday from the city airport, it took him an hour and a half to wade through the rush from the check-in counter to the boarding gate. “Fortunately, I had reached the airport two hours before or I would have missed my flight. The baggage conveyor belt at the check-in counter had malfunctioned, due to which the queue was very long,” Pathak said.

Amid the festive and wedding season, as travel has revived and flights are allowed to operate at 100% capacity, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport has been witnessing an unprecedented rush of fliers, especially during peak hours. At least 14,000 passengers transit through the airport every a day, according to airport sources. However, with multiple checkpoints and the rush, passengers say the time taken to get to the boarding gate is going up.

“Getting through the airport during peak hours was a nightmare. There is a queue at every check point right from entering the airport, to getting baggage screened to check-in and baggage drop counters to e-gates and security check. Even though we opted for priority check-in, it took us at least 45 minutes to reach the boarding gate. Perhaps increasing the number of check-in counters will help,” said Shalin Shah, who travelled from the city airport with his family for a vacation recently.

Besides the delay in getting through the crowd, long waiting times at the arrivals area is also a concern. “The parking and pick-up and drop area is very crowded at SVPI, leading a lot of chaos while exiting. It takes long for cabs or even private vehicles to enter the arrivals area because of the unmanaged rush,” said Monica Yadav, a city-based entrepreneur who is a frequent flier.

An email query sent to the city airport operator, asking about measures in place to manage the rush, went unanswered. Airport sources said some four e-gates have been installed after the check-in and baggage drop counters to speed up the security check process.

Passengers have also complained of not enough seating. Against footfalls of 14,000 passengers a day, the domestic terminal of the city airport has barely 560 seats in the security hold area for passengers to sit, a source said.

Passengers waiting for flights at SVPI

Ways to prepare your children for Covid exposure at school

Ways to prepare your children for Covid exposure at school

21.11.2021

Devising contingency plans for what they should do if they, or their friends, are exposed to the coronavirus can help reassure them

Now that some kids are back in the classroom, there’s a very real possibility that they may be exposed to the coronavirus and may need to be tested — or to isolate — which can be alarming.

One of the best things you can do to prepare your child, no matter their age, is to explain that there are plans in place should someone be exposed. Here are six things you can do to help.

Clear up misinformation

First, ask children what they already know about the pandemic and the rules that the school has in place for keeping them safe, said Dr Anna Miller-Fitzwater, a clinical associate professor of paediatrics at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, US. If your own understanding of the school’s policy is different from how your child is explaining it, you might want to clarify with the school — and if there is misinformation floating around, correct it.

Devise a Plan B

If you have a young child who needs to isolate at home, figure out how you will handle it. Can you work remotely? Do you have a friend, family member or babysitter who can pitch in at the last minute and is comfortable with Covid safety protocols? Reviewing these plans with your child may help them feel secure.

Acknowledge their feelings

Children can react in a variety of ways when they come into close contact with someone who has tested positive. “Some may feel really anxious and worried, some may feel really angry with the person they think exposed them,” said Louise Dalton, a consultant clinical psychologist at the University of Oxford department of psychiatry.

Parents should “validate and normalise their child’s response”, said Michiganbased psychologist Melissa Cousino. “I often say, ‘This worry that you are feeling or this anger, it’s a normal response to the abnormal’,” she said.

Recognise frustrations

Some teenagers may feel angry and resentful if a potential third wave hits and they are forced to stay home, isolate or get tested. Talk this through in advance, pointing out that even if they’re super careful, there are going to be cases. Tell them that the only thing to do is to play by the rules.

Also understand what is most upsetting for them, and if possible, work with the school to recover the opportunity. “It may not be the worry of getting sick, it may be the worry of missing tryouts for that sports team,” said Cousino.

Don’t play the blame game

Children who test positive may end up blaming themselves or blaming other people. “Avoid language that leaves a stigma,” Miller-Fitzwater said. “Make sure they understand this wasn’t someone else’s intention.”

Maintain routines

When school is interrupted, it’s important to keep bedtimes and meal times consistent and to schedule regular exercise. Making things as predictable as possible will reassure kids and help them prepare to transition back to school. Also, ask teachers about what work needs to be accomplished while the child is out, Miller-Fitzwater said.

— THE NEW YORK TIMES

What you can do to ease your lower back pain

What you can do to ease your lower back pain

21.11.2021  TOI     

Try to incorporate a good daily stretch into your morning routine. Just a few minutes of manipulating the joints you use the most, such as your back, knees, hips and elbows, “will warm them up for the day ahead and help protect against injury”, says UK-based rheumatologist Dr Rod Hughes.

If you work on a computer, ensure your chair is the right height for your feet to be firmly on the ground and your elbows to be at a 90-degree angle.

Remember to take time throughout the day to move around, to ensure your joints feel mobile. “Just like the rest of you, your back muscles tense up when you start to feel you are under pressure. That uncomfortable twinge can lead to us feeling even more fraught — and a vicious cycle forms,” says Dr Hughes.

Whenever you feel stressed, consider clearing your mind with a short walk or getting some fresh air.

—DAILY MIRROR

‘Dead’ man, returns to life in mortuary after 7 hours

‘Dead’ man, returns to life in mortuary after 7 hours

Kanwardeep.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bareilly: 21.11.2021

Seven hours after being kept in mortuary freezer, a 40-year-old man came out alive, confounding medical staff in UP’s Moradabad.

Sreekesh Kumar, an electrician, was hit by a speeding motorbike following which he was taken to thedistrict hospital on Thursday night. The doctors had declared him dead. Next, the hospital staff put the body in the freezer. Post-mortem was scheduled for the next day.

Nearly seven hours later, when panchnama — a document signed by family members after identifying the body and agreeing to an autopsy — was to be filed by the police, Kumar's sister-in-law Madhu Bala noticed that he was showing signs of movement. In a video that went viral, Bala can be heard exclaiming, “He's not at all dead. How did this happen? Look, he wants to say something, he is breathing.”

Moradabad’s chief medical superintendent Dr Shiv Singh, said: “The emergency medical officer had seen the patient at 3am and there was no heartbeat. He had examined the man multiple times. Therefore he was declared dead. In the morning, a police team and his family found him alive. A probe has been ordered. Our priorityis to save his life.”

Relief for Indians as Canada to recognise Covaxin from Nov 30

Relief for Indians as Canada to recognise Covaxin from Nov 30

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi  21.11.2021

: In a big relief to travellers from India, Canada will recognise Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin from November 30. It has expanded its list of WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines that will be accepted for travel to and within Canada from the month-end by adding Sinopharm (also referred to as Covilo), Sinovac (also referred to as Coronavac) and the made-in-India Covaxin.

Travellers will qualify as fully vaccinated if they have received at least two doses of a government of Canada-accepted Covid-19 vaccine or a mix of two accepted vaccines, or at least one dose of Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson vaccine, at least 14 full days prior to entering Canada.

A leading travel agent said given the vastly improved Covid situation in India, all eyes are now on when Canada allows direct flights from more Indian cities. Presently, only fully vaccinated travellers who get a test done at Delhi Airport lab are allowed to board direct flights from IGI Airport.

Travellers also keenly await for Canada to remove the requirement of a person flying from India to Canada via a third country requiring a negative report from a Covid test done in that transit country.

“Once these two restrictions are removed, we can expect travel — and fares — to resume to near normalcy. Today any person eligible to travel from India to Canada has to do so via Delhi,” the travel agent said.

A Canadian government statement issued on November 19 read: “Starting November 30, vaccination will be required for travel within and out of Canada. A valid Covid-19 molecular test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination unless travellers are eligible for one of the limited exemptions, such as a medical inability to be vaccinated. Travellers should contact their airline or railway company to obtain the necessary form and submit it in accordance with their carrier’s approval process as of November 30.”

Now, anyone can check an individual’s Covid-19 vax status on CoWin portal

The Union health ministry has activated a service on the CoWin portal that allows anyone to check an individual’s vaccination status with the person’s registered mobile number and name, followed by an OTP for consent.

The service could be utilised by a service provider — private entities such as travel agencies, offices, employers, entertainment agencies or government agencies such as IRCTC — for whom verifying a person’s vaccination status is critical for facilitating a service requested by the citizen, an official said.

“Now download the fully / partially vaccinated badge from CoWIN (cowin.gov.in) & share it with your friends on all your social platforms! Encourage your family and friends to follow you and #FightCovid,” National Health Authority CEO R S Sharma said in a tweet.

The service helps in verifying the vaccination status of individuals. The service can be utilised by travel agencies and help making travel safe for individuals by allowing travel only for vaccinated individuals. PTI

‘Graft complaint against former minister waiting for govt nod’

‘Graft complaint against former minister waiting for govt nod’

Chennai: 21.11.2021

A multi-crore corruption complaint against former AIADMK minister K P Anbalagan is awaiting the government’s sanction for registration of case, the state has informed Madras high court.

A submission to this effect was made by the state public prosecutor before Justice M Nirmal Kumar, before whom a direction petition filed by a former panchayat president seeking registration of corruption case against Anbalagan came up for hearing.

In view of the prosecutor’s submission, Justice M Nirmal Kumar adjourned the hearing by four weeks.

According to M Krishnamoorthy, former president of Molayanur panchayat, Anbazhagan, during his tenure as MLA and minister, was involved in various corruption activities. “Particularly, during 2016-2021 he committed misappropriation of public funds allotted for the district development approximately to the tune of ₹150 crore,” the petitioner said.

The former minister misused his office and had illegally allotted all the district level government tenders worth about ₹800 crore in favour of his close relatives without following the procedure laid down in the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, he added.

Since his complaint to the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption did not evoke any response, he moved the high court for a direction to the agency to register a case for corruption and amassment of wealth disproportionate to the ex-minister’s income. TNN

OMC to help maids from Tamil Nadu find jobs in Kuwait

OMC to help maids from Tamil Nadu find jobs in Kuwait

Chennai: 21.11.2021

Those seeking employment as domestic help in foreign countries can can now hope for a secure workplace environment, with the Overseas Manpower Corporation (OMC) of the state labour department taking measures to ensure their rights and safety.

As a first step towards that, the agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kuwait Gate Foundation (KGF) for recruitment of maids in Kuwait. The agency from Kuwait has approached OMC to recruit 500 maids. The MoU is valid for two years. “As per the advice of chief minister (M K Stalin) and guidance of labour welfare and skill development minister (C V Ganesan), the department is taking all efforts to facilitate employment opportunities to the people in Tamil Nadu to work in foreign countries,” said managing director of OMC C N Maheswaran.

The agency has been reaching out to various authorities and agencies in foreign countries to establish a network for sending workforce from India to those countries. The MoU with the Kuwaiti agency is the outcome of one such effort. “The objective of the MoU is to ensure safe migration and working atmosphere for the people from TN who are going to foreign countries in search of livelihood. It is also aimed at exploring available employment opportunities and facilitate eligible candidates, who are registering with OMC, to get suitable jobs,” said a senior official.

“Those interested in taking up overseas jobs can approach OMC or contact district employment offices,” said the official.

Despite court order, tahsildars delay legal heir certificates

Despite court order, tahsildars delay legal heir certificates

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.11.2021

Despite several orders passed by the Supreme Court and the high court that a tahsildar is empowered to issue not only Class-I legal heir certificate but also Class-II certificates, people approaching tahsildars for the same are made to run from pillar to post.

They continue to reject applications seeking Class-II legal heir certificates citing a government circular. Now, making it clear that the issue is no longer res integra (not examined), the Madras high court has passed yet another order declaring that the government circular dated September 24, 2019 has no statutory force.

Justice R Mahadevan has passed the order while disposing of a plea moved by V S Dorairaj, S Krishnakumari and V S Vijay.

According to the petitioners, their sister's husband Chandrasekaran died on January 10, 2020 and their sister Rajakumari also passed away on August 2. Since the couple died without a child, the petitioners were the surviving legal heirs to succeed the estate of Rajakumari.

Therefore, they submitted an application to Amanjikarai tahsildar seeking to issue Class-II legal heir certificate.

However, the application was rejected on the ground that tahsildar is not empowered to issue Class-II legal heir certificate by virtue of a circular dated September 24, 2019 issued by the revenue department. Aggrieved, they have moved the present plea challenging the rejection order.

When the plea came up for hearing, the court said: “The issue involved in this writ petition is no longer res integra. The question as to whether a tahsildar is empowered to issue a legal heir certificate to a Class-II legal heir is settled by way of several judicial pronouncements.”

All that is required is that the tahsildar has to satisfy himself as to the genuineness of the claim of the applicant who seeks for issuing a Class II legal heir, the court added. The judge then set aside the rejection order and remanded the issue back to the tahsildar for fresh consideration.

“But even after this order, the tahsildar is refusing to issue the certificate. They have informed us that the district collector has to approve issuance of manual certificate,” advocate A P Thiruvadi said to TOI.

In the Aminjikarai tahsildar office, there are 16 such cases. Thousands of people are made to run from pillar to post even after a clear order from the highest court of the state, he added.

Now, break the chain of fake news, try Times Verified

TIMES VERIFIED

Now, break the chain of fake news, try Times Verified

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

21.11.2021

“Are newborn calves being slaughtered in order to produce Covaxin vaccine?”

“Please get your car refuelled. From tomorrow, the pumps have been instructed by police to give fuel only to those cars who have the red, green or yellow stickers.”

“4,000 MBBS students and 3,000 resident doctors have announced a strike against Maharashtra government for various issues.”

Social media, which connects and catalyses change, can also be a minefield of fake news and falsehoods. The messages listed above are but an example of the steady, constant stream of misinformation spreading through platforms and networks that link families, friends and associates. The undercurrent of anxiety and panic is palpable.

As changing dynamics pit media against emerging forms of communication, TOI has tried to meet the challenge by putting even greater emphasis on news verification. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we do have rigorous systems in place to check information before we publish it. In case an error still slips through, we acknowledge it and are quick to set the record straight.

In keeping with the same spirit, Times Verified seeks to provide clarity and accuracy on vital issues through a collaborative effort with readers. We see this as a service that we wish to provide to our readers with a sense of utmost humility and responsibility. We will not declare that something is true or fake unless we are fully satisfied with our due diligence. And if we are not in a position to reach a definitive conclusiion, we will not shy away from saying so.

Since its launch in Mumbai and Pune, we have scrutinised close to 17,000 messages, sent by our readers on a dedicated line. They ranged from forwards about the demise of a decorated war veteran, to a cell phone number for sourcing drugs for Covid patients, and a purported announcement on another impending lockdown.

Our panel, comprising editors and reporters who cover various agencies and sectors, submitted the data, reports, statements and other details that came in for corroboration to experts and relevant authorities. Their inputs helped us get back to the reader with as clear a picture as possible.

Some of the messages analysed were downright absurd – “all citizens are entitled to ₹7,000 per week to stay at home to combat the virus” – but there were several that seemed to carry a ring of authenticity, providing information on apps offering vaccination slots or quoting statements attributed to people in important positions (“Mike Yeadon, former chief scientist at Pfizer, declares vaccine as a threat to human life”).

This is clearly the more insidious side of social media; half-truths dressed up to appear real. The challenge is to analyse such viral fakes and separate fact from fabrication. This is important because fake news can quite literally be lethal.

“The rapid spread of false information during a pandemic can cost people their lives,” says US-based physician Dr Seema Yasmin, whose recent book speaks about how misinformation spreads faster than microbes in times of crisis.

“In the last year we’ve seen people write Facebook posts from their hospital beds saying they didn’t believe the pandemic was real because of what they’d read on social media and now they were infected,” says Yasmin, stressing on the need to identify red flags in information packaged to be “very certain”.

With truth being the best, most effective vaccination to counter the epidemic of fake news, we urge you to forward all dubious, anxiety-causing messages to our expert panel. Let the green tick in the Times Verified logo counter the tyranny of the grey curved arrow of forwards.

E-Copies Of Bail Orders Sufficient For Release; Certified Copies Not Necessary: Telangana High Court

E-Copies Of Bail Orders Sufficient For Release; Certified Copies Not Necessary: Telangana High Court: Observing that the indefeasible fundamental right of an accused to bail is not sufficient in itself unless the bail order is furnished within reasonable time, Telangana High Court has dispensed...

Delay In Communication Of Bail Orders To Jail Authorities Affects Human Liberty, Must Be Addressed On War Footing: Justice DY Chandrachud

Delay In Communication Of Bail Orders To Jail Authorities Affects Human Liberty, Must Be Addressed On War Footing: Justice DY Chandrachud: 'A very serio

DINAMALAR

20.11.2021

சபரிமலை:பம்பை தேவசம் கவுன்டரில் 250 ரூபாய் செலுத்தி ரசீது பெற்றால், இருமுடி கட்டு கட்டி கொடுக்கப்படுகிறது.

கேரளாவில் உள்ள சபரிசலை அய்யப்பன் கோவிலுக்கு இருமுடி கட்டு இல்லாமல் வரும் பக்தர்களுக்காக, பம்பை கணபதி கோவிலில் தேவசம் போர்டு சிறப்பு வசதியை ஏற்பாடு செய்துள்ளது. இதன்படி, பம்பை தேவசம்போர்டு கவுன்டரில் 250 ரூபாய் செலுத்தி ரசீது பெற்றவர்களுக்கு, பம்பை கணபதி கோவில் மேல்சாந்தி அல்லது அவரது உதவி பூஜாரிகள் கட்டு கட்டி கொடுத்து, தலைமேல் ஏற்றி அனுப்புவர்.

ஒரு இருமுடியில், ஒரு நெய் நிறைத்த தேங்காய், மஞ்சள், பொரி, அவல், சர்க்கரை, முந்திரி என 17 வகை பொருட்கள் இருக்கும். கூடுதல் நெய் தேங்காய் விரும்பும் பக்தர்கள் ஒரு தேங்காய்க்கு 80 ரூபாய் வீதம் செலுத்த வேண்டும். இருமுடிக்கு தேவையான பொருட்கள் எடுத்துச் செல்லும் பக்தர்கள் 150 ரூபாய் மட்டும் செலுத்தினால் போதுமானது. அதிகாலை 2:30 மணி முதல், இரவு 8:00 மணி வரை இந்த வசதி செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நடை அடைத்தால்

இதற்கிடையே இரவு 10:00 மணிக்கு நடை அடைக்கப்பட்டு விட்டால், அடுத்த ஒரு மணி நேரத்தில், பக்தர்கள் சன்னிதானத்தில் இருந்து நிலக்கல் சென்று விட வேண்டுமென சன்னிதான போலீஸ் தனி அதிகாரி உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார். இங்கு பக்தர்கள் தங்க அறைகள் அனுமதிக்கப்படாத நிலையிலும், கொரோனா பரவல் அச்சுறுத்தல் காரணமாகவும் இந்த உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது.மேலும், மழை காரணமாக தடை செய்யப்பட்டிருந்த சபரிமலை பாதை சாலைகள் அனைத்தும் மீண்டும் திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக பொதுப்பணித் துறை அறிவித்துள்ளது.

Colleges start fee refund for cancelled admissions

Colleges start fee refund for cancelled admissions

₹1,000 Processing Charge For Freeing Up Seats Post Oct 31

Zeeshan.Jawed@timesgroup.com

Kolkata: 20.11.2021

Colleges have started the process of refunding fees to candidates who have cancelled their admissions to undergraduate courses after securing admission in another college or university. Colleges have asked candidates who want to cancel their admission to submit a written application with payment details and date of cancellation. Some colleges have even sought explanation from these students for holding back the seat before ultimately deciding to cancel.

According to University Grants Commission norms, students who cancelled their admissions before October 31 will get a full refund. Anybody cancelling their admission after that will have to take a deduction of Rs 1,000 as processing fee.

At Maulana Azad College, candidates must submit the application for refund by November 30, principal Subhasis Dutta said. Candidates seeking refund of admission fee will have to write all the details about their admission and submit them at the entry gate of the college along with attested copies of bank challans, admission cancellation receipt and a cancelled cheque. The college has also requested the students to mention why they held back the seat for so long before cancelling, but this will not affect the fee refund.

Seth Anandram Jaipuria College, too, has started the process of refunding admission fee. “The students have mailed us the details. We are making the refunds,” said college principal Asok Mukhopadhyay.

Students scored high marks in all the board examinations this year on the basis of various computation methods that were used as examinations could not be held due to the second wave of the pandemic. At the time of application to undergraduate courses, students applied to multiple colleges and in different subjects, including those they weren’t to keen to study. As a result, seats in most colleges got blocked and students who actually wanted to pursue those subjects had to wait till the others cancelled their admissions. The education department had to extend the deadline for admission to undergraduate courses multiple times because colleges could not fill up their seats. Some colleges have again opened their admission portals to invite fresh applications to fill the vacancies.

“Since the government waived application fee, students applied to several colleges and subjects. That locked our seats. Towards the end of September, almost 20% seats were vacant when students finally started cancelling admissions. Thankfully, the government extended the deadline and we could fill up some seats,” said a principal of a government college who did not wish to be named.

17 dead, over 100 missing in Andhra flash floods

17 dead, over 100 missing in Andhra flash floods

Sandeep.Raghavan@timesgroup.com

Tirupati: 20.11.2021

At least 17 people were killed after flash floods ravaged the four Rayalaseema districts of Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh on Friday. The incessant rains started on Thursday evening, triggered by the deep depression formed over the Bay of Bengal, throwing life out of kilter in the region.

More than 100 persons are feared to have been washed away in separate incidents in the four districts. About seven National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to lead the search and rescue operations, besides teams from the police, revenue, and fire department. As Cheyyuru river overflowed, water from Annamayya irrigation project spilled over to several mandals in Rajampet assembly constituency and other parts of Kadapa district.

Three AP State Road Transport Corporation buses carrying passengers got stuck in flood waters near Ramapuram in Rajampet mandal. Though fire services rescued most of the passengers and APSRTC staff, 12 persons who were washed away were found dead at various places in Rajampet mandal. Seven bodies were retrieved near Gandluru, three near Rayavaram, while two bodies were found near Mandapalli. About 30 persons from Mandapalli, Akepadu and Nandaluru villages in Rajampet mandal have been washed away and officials have launched a search operation to trace them. Rail and road traffic between Tirupati and Kadapa came to a standstill as floodwaters damaged railway tracks and national highways at several places along the route.

Precision medicine centre at KGMU to aid cancer care

Precision medicine centre at KGMU to aid cancer care

Personalised Treatment For Patients

Vivek Singh Chauhan TNN

Lucknow: 20.11.2021

To provide better personalised treatment to cancer patients using the latest research and advancements, King George’s Medical University launched its Precision Medicine Centre (PMC) on Friday.

The centre will help doctors better understand the underlying mechanisms of diseases and improve their approach in preventing, diagnosing, and treating the cancer.

A symposium was also organised in which the head of hematology department and in charge of the centre for advanced research, under which PMC has been started, Prof AK Tripathi said, “At PMC, we will analyse genes, metabolic function, bionomics and other factors in cancer patients. With this data, personalised treatment would be made to patients for better effect of medicines.”

The centre is necessary because it is often seen that treatment which is beneficial for one individual doesn’t work on another, he added.

Prof Dhavendra Kumar from Queen Mary University, London, who is an adviser for the PMC, said, “There has been a lot of progress in cancer treatment with help of genome sequencing.”

Vice-chancellor Lt Gen (retd) Bipin Puri said that the centre will be a milestone for patient care as well as students.

Prof Thangraj, who addressed the symposium virtually from Hyderabad, explained how the Indian genome is different and from where it originated.

Prof Shally Awasthi, head of pediatrics department, said that precision medicine is the need of the hour and has been introduced in undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

‘Lewd messages to fiancee don’t insult modesty’

‘Lewd messages to fiancee don’t insult modesty’

Mumbai:  20.11.2021

Observing that sending “obscene messages” to a woman one is going to marry can’t be termed insulting her modesty, a sessions court acquitted a 36-year-old man, 11 years after he was booked for cheating and raping her under the false promise of marriage. The court held that sending such messages in premarital period may delight and give the feeling that someone is close enough to understand one’s emotions, reports Rebecca Samervel.

“If at all those are not liked by the other side, it has discretion with it to convey its displeasure to the other side, and the other side generally avoids a repeat of such a mistake. The purpose was to put up his expectation before her, to arouse her with similar feeling of sex, which may give happiness even to her, etc. But in no way those SMSs can be said as were sent to insult her modesty,” it said.

The woman had lodged an FIR in 2010. The couple had met on a matrimonial site in 2007. However, the man’s mother was against the match. In 2010, the man broke up the relationship. Acquitting him of rape charges, the court said every breach of promise to marry can’t be termed cheating or rape. “The man had even been to an Arya Samaj Hall with mangalsutra but it was the quarrel on the ground of stay after marriage and thereafter, by getting tired of his indecisiveness and getting surrendered before his mother’s wish and failing to tackle the problem stood before him in proper manner, he came back. It is certainly not the case of false promise of marriage. It is the case of failure to make substantial efforts,” the court said.

Covid Spectre Back In Europe

Covid Spectre Back In Europe

Austria Reimposes Full Lockdown And Germany May Follow; Markets Spooked

20.11.2021

Austria will go into a nationwide lockdown on Monday and impose a coronavirus vaccination mandate in February, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday. It is the second such lockdown in a European nation since the spring after Latvia imposed similar restrictions last month, and the first national vaccine mandate to be announced in a Western democracy. Austria has one of Europe’s highest national coronavirus infection rates, with 14,212 new cases registered in 24 hours on Thursday. And the Alpine country has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Western Europe, with just 66% of the population fully inoculated. The lockdown, reminiscent of those imposed across Europe last winter, before coronavirus vaccines were available, will last for at least 10 days and affect both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Neighbouring Germany warned it may follow suit, sending shivers through financial markets worried about the economic fallout. A fourth wave of infections has plunged Germany, Europe’s largest economy, into a national emergency, health minister Jens Spahn said. He urged people to reduce their social contacts, warning that vaccinations alone would not reduce case numbers. Asked if Germany could rule out an Austrian-style full lockdown, Spahn said: “We are now in a situation where we can’t rule anything out. We are in a national emergency.” European stocks retreated from record highs, while government bond yields, oil prices and the euro tumbled as the spectre of a fresh Covid-linked lockdown in Germany and other parts of Europe cast a fresh shadow over global economy.

As cases rise again across Europe, a number of governments have started to reimpose limits on activity, ranging from Austria’s full lockdown, to a partial lockdown in the Netherlands, to restrictions on the unvaccinated in parts of Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Hungary reported 11,289 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, its highest daily tally, and will make booster shots mandatory for all healthcare workers and require mask wearing in most indoor places from Saturday. While the new measures across Europe are not seen hitting the economy as much as the all-out lockdowns of last year, analysts say they could weigh on the recovery in the last quarter of the year, especially if they hit the retail and hospitality sectors. AGENCIES

Austria will introduce Europe’s first vaccination mandate in February

Brochure For NEET Must Carry A Segment On Candidates With Disabilities Enumerating The Benefits Available To Them: Supreme Court Tells NTA

Brochure For NEET Must Carry A Segment On Candidates With Disabilities Enumerating The Benefits Available To Them: Supreme Court Tells NTA

Mehal Jain18 Nov 2021 7:41 PM

"Brochure for NEET must have a segment on candidates with disabilities, enumerating the specific benefits available for visually-challenged, hearing-impaired candidates or candidates with dysgraphia. There should be disclosure in advance. Secondly, there should be proper training for invigilators. It is very crucial that they are aware".

The Supreme Court on Thursday orally told the NTA that its brochure for NEET must carry a segment on candidates with disabilities, enumerating the specific benefits available for them by way of an advance disclosure, and that there must be proper training to the invigilators to ensure these benefits are implemented on the ground.

The bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna was hearing the plea by a female NEET-2021 candidate suffering from dysgraphia whose grievance was that she was refused an additional one hour's time for attempting the paper by the examination centre. Her prayers were that either she may be allowed a re-examination, or be appropriately compensated by way of grace marks or no negative marking or otherwise.

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The advocate for the NTA told the bench, "The NTA has already declared the results. It is now difficult to conduct a re-test for 1 student...also, it was in the middle of the examination that she had said that she would need an additional one hour. At such time, it becomes difficult for the invigilator to cross-check such information."

"There are 16 lakh students who took this exam. It is difficult for us to correct one student's result subsequently now. At this stage, she may supersede some other students and it will be harsh on the others",he submitted.

The bench also agreed that re-conducting the exam for one student may not be a viable option. At this, the advocate for the petitioner abandoned his prayer for re-examination and instead urged for compensation by way of marks- "I have secured more than 90 percent in 10th and 12th despite my disability...Your Lordships have been bestowed with such power by the Providence that with one stroke of your pen, my entire future may change."

"No, no, that is your right. But these powers also come with such great responsibilities...even when we rise for lunch, the matters don't leave us and we were discussing this all the way on the staircase...we were wondering that if we ask them to give you some benefit, it may immediately affect some unseen student who is not before us", observed Justice Chandrachud.

The advocate for the NTA told the bench,

"My instructions are that the cut-off this year also is 137-142 and the petitioner has secured 166. So she will definitely get admission and she will not be losing this year."

The petitioner's advocate expressed doubt about the cut-off for this year having been set, stating that the aforesaid is the cut-off for the last year. "If the NTA could give me a guarantee that I will definitely be admitted to a college this year...there are 4000-5000 seats which are reserved for PWD, a lot of which remain vacant as is evident from the trend of the previous years...", he prayed.

"If she is not placed in any college and there are seats reserved for PWD left vacant, could you consider accommodating her? You could discuss with your Director-General", Justice Chandrachud put to the advocate for the NTA.

The bench granted time until 5 PM on Friday to both the advocates to submit written submissions, after which the bench would pass its order.

Justice Chandrachud also observed that the NTA must come up with clear-cut guidelines so that this situation is never repeated in the future-"This child may now lose a year. She could have made it otherwise. It is very heart-breaking. I myself had written the Vikash Kumar judgment (the Supreme Court held that facility of scribe can be provided for persons with disabilities other than those having benchmark disabilities)...the brochure for NEET must have a segment on candidates with disabilities, enumerating the specific benefits available for visually-challenged, hearing-impaired candidates or candidates with dysgraphia. There should be disclosure in advance. Secondly, there should be proper training for invigilators. It is very crucial that they are aware. You as the NTA have bona-fides, but very often, the invigilators on the ground are not aware. Like in this case, her paper was snatched. It is heart-rending...instructions must be given down the line so that these benefits are implemented."

"We had held 5-6 webinars and there was counseling for the invigilators. But we will ensure that this never happens in the future", replied the advocate for the NTA.

Continuing, Justice Chandrachud noted, "Also, there has to be a policy for where the candidate is not at fault. How do you set it right where a candidate is losing out at the last minute when they did not even do anything? Medical education today is so competitive..."

Case Title: AVNI PRAKASH v. NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (NTA) AND ORS

Dead woman and daughter were in city for yoga course

KIA ACCIDENT

Dead woman and daughter were in city for yoga course

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:20.11.2021

A 57-year-old woman from Kolkata and her London-based daughter, 38, were among three persons killed on Thursday night when an SUV jumped the median on KIA expressway and crashed into their cab.

Poornima Ravindra, a school teacher, and her daughter Lakshmi Ravindra, an advocate, were on their way to Kempegowda International Airport in the cab. The two women and the driver, Raghavendra Ural, 45, of Bannerghatta, died on the spot.

Police said Poornima and Lakshmi were from Kerala and their family had settled down in Kolkata. Lakshmi went to Kolkata on a holiday and the motherdaughter duo left for Bengaluru to attend a week-long yoga course. The course was supposed to end on Saturday, but the women decided to leave two days earlier and took Ural’s cab to the airport to return to Kolkata.

Around 9pm, an SUV driven by MBA student Bharath BR, 22, jumped the median near Chikkajala, flipped in the air, and landed on Ural’s cab that was coming from the opposite direction. Police had to cut open the vehicles to remove the bodies.

Bharath and his friend Vikas, 25, who was also in the SUV, sustained severe injuries.

According to police, there was heavy rain at the time of the accident.

TRAGIC JOURNEY: The mangled remains of the vehicle in which the mother and daughter were travelling to KIA on Thursday

In a first, IITs to hire quota-based faculty

In a first, IITs to hire quota-based faculty

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:20.11.2021

For the first time since they were set up, IITs have placed advertisements for quota-based hiring of faculty members. The recruitment process, for which IITs had autonomy, has been changed at the behest of the Centre and new deadlines set.

Since 2019, the education ministry (then called HRD ministry) has been pushing centrally funded higher education institutions to apply the reservation policy in hiring. This time around, the IITs have deferred to the ministry. Advertisements are out for hiring SC/ST/OBC/ EWS faculty members at all institutes, including the IITs.

A letter issued by the education ministry in Augustend insists that reservation rules be adhered to and vacancies “especially in the scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and other backward classes” be filled by September 4, 2022.

Deadline being sent to IITs for first time

I ITs follow a year-long rolling recruitment process and never before has a deadline been sent by the ministry. The time limit poses difficulties due to the paucity of engineering doctoral candidates, more so from the SC/ST/OBC categories—a PhD is the minimum eligibility criterion. Usually in a year, the IITs in the metros manage to hire about 35 faculty members, 40 in a good year. “Filling up hundreds of vacancies will be impossible,” said a director.

While some institutes have advertised vacancies for a number of specific positions, others have enlisted all the departments where there is at least one unfilled post.

“Each IIT has followed its own process. We are all recruiting under the mission mode. But while IIT Bombay has advertised for 50 positions, IIT Madras has for 49. Others like IIT Delhi, Roorkee, Hyderabad, Kharagpur have enlisted departments where there are vacancies,” said a dean (faculty). All the advertisements encourage women from the disadvantaged background to also apply.

In June 2020, a committee set up to suggest implementation of reservation in central education institutes had said that the IITs are institutes of national importance and ought to be exempted from reservation. It said the matter of reservation be left to each IIT’s board and if quota in hiring was to be implemented, the posts of professor and assistant professor be exempted. The committee also suggested a programme at all IITs to attract quality candidates from the disadvantaged sections to boost PhD numbers.

Usually in a year, the IITs in the metros manage to hire about 35 faculty members

IndiGo largest airline in APAC by capacity: Report

IndiGo largest airline in APAC by capacity: Report

New Delhi:20.11.2021

IndiGo has emerged as the tenth largest airline globally and the largest in the Asia-Pacific region by seat volume, according to UKbased air consultancy firm OAG. The low-cost carrier has 280 aircraft currently in its fleet and operates over 1,400 daily flights. TNN

For a bride, man loses ₹1 lakh to blackmailers

For a bride, man loses ₹1 lakh to blackmailers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Rajkot:20.11.2021

The desperation to get a match for his marriage resulted in a 34-year-old man from Jamnagar falling into a trap of blackmailers who extorted Rs 1.5 lakh from him.

The victim Harshad Aghara, who lives in Jodiya taluka, was lured with the promise of finding him a bride by three persons who later clicked his nude photos and threatened to lodge a rape complaint against him.

According to a complaint lodged with Kuvadva Road police station, Aghara said he had received a video call from a woman who identified herself as Zeenat alias Bebi Makwana. She, however, told Aghara that she had dialled his number inadvertently and apologized too. However, she continued to lure him and Aghara told her that he was searching for a woman to get married. Zeenat promised to find a match for him.

On November 15, she called him to meet a prospective bride at a flat in Rangila Society in Navagam Anandpar outside Rajkot city. Zeenat started talking with him and made him strip nude.

As Aghara got nude, two other accused, Viha Katariya and Hansa Aghola, suddenly came there and identified themselves as uncle and aunty of Zeenat. They accused of Aghara of trying to seduce and rape Zeenat and threatened to lodge a complaint. He was also beaten up and the trio demanded Rs four lakh. They finally settled in Rs 1.5 lakh and made Aghara to arrange money through a courier. Aghara was released after he paid them Rs 1.5 lakh.

Man gets teacher’s job, ₹80 lakh 30 years after topping merit list

Man gets teacher’s job, ₹80 lakh 30 years after topping merit list

Mohammad.Anab@timesgroup.com

Dehradun: 20.11.2021

In 1989, following an advertisement in a newspaper, then 24-year-old Gerald John applied for the post of commerce teacher at CNI Boys’ Inter College, a government-aided minority educational institute in Dehradun. However, despite clearing the interview and topping the merit list, he didn’t get the job.

In 1990, the Farrukhabad resident moved the Allahabad HC. After Uttarakhand was carved out of UP in 2000, the case was transferred to the HC in Nainital. When he turned 55, theUttarakhand HC ruled in his favour in December 2020 — ordering him to be appointed in the school as well as a release of Rs 80 lakh as compensation. Of this, John was paid Rs 73 lakh by the Uttarakhand government a few months back but the remaining Rs 7 lakh, which is to be paid by the UP government, is still due. Being the senior-most teacher, John is also the acting principal of the school now.

Reminiscing about his long fight, he told TOI that he was quite taken aback when despite clearing the interview and topping the merit list, he didn’t get the job. “When I asked authorities why I was rejected, I was told the candidate needed to have stenography skills to be selected. Stenography was not mentioned as one of the required criteria in the job listing. I suspected that the candidate who got the job had connived with authorities. That’s when I took the matter to court.” In 2007, a single bench of the Uttarakhand HC ruled against John. He challenged the verdict in Supreme Court. Ex-Union minister and lawyer Salman Khurshid took up his case and fought it for free. “He saw it as a genuine case and since both of us are from Farrukhabad, he didn’t take any fee. The case stayed in SC from 2007 to 2010. The court said the case had merit and asked us to appeal for it in front of a double bench of the HC instead of a single bench.

Ten years after the case moved back to Uttarakhand HC, a double bench ruled in John’s favour in December 2020. In January this year, John was appointed the Commerce teacher for classes 11 and 12 at the CNI Boys’ Inter College. In April, after the principal retired, he was also made the acting principal.

AFTER A LONG WAIT: In January this year, Gerald John was appointed as the Commerce teacher for classes 11 and 12 at the CNI Boys’ Inter College in Dehradun. After the principal retired in April, he was made acting principal