Sunday, January 16, 2022

Airfares from city nosedive during current Covid surge Airlines Start Offering Sops To Woo Flyers Before Summer

 Airfares from city nosedive during current Covid surge

Airlines Start Offering Sops To Woo Flyers Before Summer

Joy.Sengupta@timesgroup.com

15.01.2022

Pune: Airfares from Pune to many cities have nosedived amid the current rise in Covid cases, a trend not witnessed during the first and second waves of the pandemic.

One-way airfares from the city to several destinations revealed that the decrease in the current tariff (see graphic) was between 40% and 60% on an average from what it used to be in the recent past and the trend was likely to continue in February.

The one-way fare for the Pune-Goa sector, which was almost Rs6,000 to Rs7,000 during the New Year Eve, has dropped to Rs3,500-Rs3,700 now. Similarly, the one-way fare between Pune and Delhi, which until late last year was Rs6,000-Rs6,500, presently rests at less than half.

“Airfares never really reached the pre-pandemic levels, mainly due to the cap and un- certainty related to travel. In 2019, a Pune-Goa one-way ticket would cost anything between Rs13,000 and Rs14,000 during the Christmas and New Year Eve period. We are witnessing a new low in terms of airfares, something which is a rare trend,” a travel company representative said.

Another travel company representative said, “The country has witnessed two major waves of the pandemic since 2020. But the airfares had not gone down then as seen during the ongoing third wave of the pandemic. Fresh bookings for vacations have drastically gone down. The decreased fares are, however, helping holidayers take some risks and book tickets for a trip to their favourite destinations during the coming summer months. ”

However, the airfares in sectors such as Kolkata, Ladakh and Chennai continued to be high in the range of Rs7,000 to Rs9,000, or even more. “These are places where the demand is more than supply. Kolkata, for example, has limited flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Pune,” a travel operator said.

A source associated with the industry said during the earlier surge in cases, there was an extended cap on airfares fixed by the government.

“After airlines resumed operations in May 2020 , the cap on airfares was fixed for three months (until August last week, 2020). It was in September last year only that the cap on airfares was reduced to 15 days. But at that time, travel had picked up due to the relaxed norms and fewer Covid cases,” an airline source said.

“As a result, the fares were high after 15 days at any given month. But this time, the situation is different. Despite the 15-day airfare cap, the subsequent 15 days (of a month) are witnessing very few flyers,” the source added.
Almost all airlines have floated schemes such as free meals and no charges for rescheduling/cancellation on certain sectors, seats with extra leg room and preferred seats to attract flyers.

“We want people to take advantage of the current low fares and book their tickets for the upcoming summer months. The situation will improve in sometime and travel will resume in full form,” an airline official said.

OBC, EWS quotas cut PG med seats for gen category by 42% 2-Yr Rotational Rule To Also Hit Students Hard

 

OBC, EWS quotas cut PG med seats for gen category by 42%

2-Yr Rotational Rule To Also Hit Students Hard

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

15.01.2022

Mumbai: Competition for post-graduate medical seats just got intense. The implementation of the 27% other backward classes (OBC) and 10% economically weaker section (EWS) quota in the all-India seats has had a huge impact on post-graduate seats for the 2022 academic year.

As the seat matrix was released by the medical counselling committee on Friday, student intake in the general category has seen a 42% reduction, or 2,747 seats. In 2021, the all-India quota had 6,556 spots for open merit students. This year, those numbers are down to 3,809.

Moreover, what will make the admission process even tougher is that a general rule that was applicable till last year will no longer be possible now: If a particular branch in a public medical school has four seats, of which 50% or two will be for the all-India quota (AIQ), an open category candidate will now get a chance to join it once in two years as rotational reservation will be put in place. ›

No general seats

Earlier, if any department had two seats in the all-India quota, we made sure that one seat was available for an open category candidate. The other seat would be rotated among the reserved categories, just SC (scheduled castes) and ST (scheduled tribes) till last year. Now, the general category candidate will get that chance once in two years,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, former head of Directorate of Medical Education and Research.

For instance, at B J Government Medical College, Pune, there is no seat for a general category candidate who may want to pursue MD in physiology. Of the two seats available, one opened up for OBC and the other for ST. The wait for an open category candidate just got longer and despite the scores, there won’t be an open spot. Or, at Government Sivagangai Medical College, Tamil Nadu, there is not a single seat for MS (general surgery) for an open category student; one opened for SC. Several colleges which have fewer seats in certain branches will not be able to offer any seat to general category candidates this year. MD medicine, a clinical branch, which had 736 seats, now has 394. An analysis of the seat matrix shows a popular branch such as paediatrics, which had 475 seats last year, has 295 openings for general category candidates with no seat in several colleges such as Government Medical College, Ernakulam.

Sudha Shenoy, a parent representative, said admission season this year is rather pressured. “Candidates have the scores but seats have reduced. Cut-off scores will rise several notches. Students who planned to join certain colleges are waking up to the rude reality that the seat that was to be made available to the category is not there.” Many parents say increasing quota in government colleges pushes several meritorious candidates to deemed universities (no reservation) and private colleges.

25% MU-affiliated colleges operating without principal

 

25% MU-affiliated colleges operating without principal


TIMES NEWS NETWORK

15.01.2022

Mumbai: One in four colleges affiliated to Mumbai University is functioning without a principal, revealed RTI data. Of the total 808 affiliated colleges, 81 have a director’s post. From the remaining 727, as many as 178 are operating without principals and for 23, the university does not have any record.

Many of the colleges without principals are from the engineering, law and management faculties, according to the RTI report. As per university records obtained on December 28, 2021 by RTI activist Anil Galgali, KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Ritambhara College, Vivekanand College of Law, SIES Institute of Technology, Advani College of Law, and Rizvi College are among the institutes which have incharge principals. Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (Andheri), Burhani College (Byculla), NSS College of Education (Tardeo), N Dalmia Institute of Management Studies (Mira Road), and Dr Ambedkar College of Law (Wadala), are among the colleges to not have a principal.

The information was provided by the Teacher Recognition Cell of the university. Galgali said it is the higher and technical education department’s moral responsibility to act against these colleges. He questioned the ministry’s move to approve new courses in colleges which are operating without principals. He demanded an inquiry.

A university official said that after a recent government resolution, most colleges have started filling principals’ posts. While aided colleges require a government NOC for the appointment, unaided colleges must get advertisements inviting applications approved from the university. He said the process has started in many colleges and vacancies are likely to get filled soon.

An official from the higher education department said the pandemic also delayed the appointment process in a few grant-in aid colleges. But few aided colleges are without principals right now, added the official. A government resolution was issued on November 12 asking all vacant principals' posts to be filled in non-government grant-in aid colleges before the start of the 2022-23 academic session.

Thursday, January 13, 2022

 ‘96% of patients on O2 beds in Mumbai didn’t even take 1 jab’


Richa.Pinto@timesgroup.com

13.01.2022

Mumbai: BMC commissioner Iqbal Chahal on Friday said that vaccination works and civic data shows that 96% of the 1,900-odd patients on oxygen beds in Mumbai have not taken even a single dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, the BMC has decided that unlike the first and second waves where positivity was the benchmark to impose a lockdown or restrictions, in the third wave further curbs would be imposed only if there is a burden of high hospitalisation rate and steep rise in oxygen usage.

“Ninety-six per cent of the patients who are admitted on oxygen beds in 186 hospitals of Mumbai are unvaccinated. Otherwise, we have seen so far that vaccinated people are not reaching ICUs. We have 21 lakh vaccine stock available with us. The current hurdle in ensuring the entire adult population is vaccinated is the 84-day gap required between the two doses. Today, too, our vaccination percentage is the best in India,” Chahal said in a TV interview. He said people should not think of the Omicron variant as a flu, adding if unvaccinated it definitely can take an infected person to the ICU.

The BMC has administered both the doses to more than one crore people in Mumbai while close to 90 lakh have received one vaccine shot.

Chahal also reiterated further restrictions would be imposed in the third wave only if there is a burden of hospitalisations and oxygen use increases steeply. On Covid-related deaths, Chahal said they were in control with 19 deaths in the past 16 days.

Metrowater tender process goes online

 Metrowater tender process goes online


Komal Gautham@timesgroup.com
13.01.2022

Chennai: Taking a cue from the city corporation, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) or Metrowater, has made its tender process completely online. The change has beenimplemented in Metrowater’s four recent tenders, with it asking all competitors to bid as well
l as make the earnest money deposit, which is 1% of the project cost, online.

The tenders are for laying of pipeline at Chembarambakkam lake, purchase of iron pipes, maintenance of treatment plant and pumping stations at Veeranam lake, and buying of machineries for the maintenance of sewage pipelines.

“Earlier, we called tenders online,but bidders would take print-outs of documents and put them inside boxes outside offices of executive engineers and superintending engineers. The tenderswould then be scrutinised and names announced. Now, the entire system has been made online,” said a CMWSSB superintending engineer.

Apart from ensuring more transparency, officials opined, this would help the board save money as it would enable better competition, which wasn’t possible in the earlier system. TOI hadreported how goondas were placed outside offices and contractors were locked up in hotels to ensure only specific contractors won the bids.

In some cases, bid amounts had been changed after tenders were opened.
CMWSSB awards contracts worth more than ₹2,500 crore every year. Of this, about₹ 250 crore isfor maintenance alone. Though there are nearly 600 contractors in the city, only a few bid for such projects. Some of these contractors fall under class I and can bid for projects above ₹75 lakh. While a group of activists welcome the metro water’s move, some demand that the state government amend the Transparency in Tenders Act, making online tender process mandatory in all departments.

“We have petitioned the chief minister and the finance minister and are hopeful that it would be implemented this year. The Chennai corporation took 15 years to completely implement the online system, but they are already reaping the benefits,” said Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of NGO Arappor Iyakkam. Officials, however, should look outfor tender conditions thatallow onlycertain contractors to participate and ensure such conditions areremoved, he added.

HC dismisses PIL seeking dry days on public holidays

 SLAMS ‘PUBLICITY’ PLEA

HC dismisses PIL seeking dry days on public holidays


TIMES NEWS NETWORK

13.01.2022


Chennai: Warning a PIL-petitioner of exemplary costs, the Madras high court on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking to declare all public holidays as dry days in Tamil Nadu.

Making it clear that courts cannot interfere in administrative matters, the first bench of acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice P D Audikesavalu warned B Ramkumar Adityan that it would be constrained to impose exemplary cost for moving such pleas for publicity. According to the petitioner, though the government orders (GO) declaring public holidays clearly states that it applies to all state government undertakings, corporations and boards, Tasmac shops which are also owned by the state do not shut shops on such holidays.

Therefore, as an interim measure the petitioner wanted the court to direct the state government to shut Tasmac shops during the Pongal holidays from January 14 to 18.

Modi announces ₹3,000 crore assistance for TN health infra

 

Modi announces ₹3,000 crore assistance for TN health infra

Funds To Be Provided Over 5 Years

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

13.01.2022

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Union government would provide ₹3,000 crore to Tamil Nadu in the next five years under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission to address critical gaps in health infrastructure and health research, especially atthe district level.

Modi was speaking through video conferencing at the inauguration of 11 new medical colle gesin Tamil Nadu and a new campus of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Perumbakkam. He said, “This (PM-ABHIM) will help in establishing urban health and wellness centres, district public health labs and critical care blocks across the state. The benefits of this for the people of Tamil Nadu will be immense”. Commencing his 16-minute speech by extending Pongal greetings to the people of Tamil Nadu, PM quoted the famous adage “Thai piranthal vazhi pirakkum” (beginning of Tamil month Thai brings new opportunities) and said the health of society was being furthered and connection with culture was getting stronger with the inauguration of various pro- jects.

Modi said the government of India had brought many reforms in the health sector. He said, “The once-in-a-lifetime Covid-19 pandemic has reaffirmed the importance of the health sector. The future will belong to societies which invest in healthcare. ”

Stalin seeks NEET exemption for TN

Chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday appealed to PM Narendra Modi to consider TN government’s request for exemptionfor the state fromthe National Eligibility cum Entrance Examination(NEET). Stalin made the appeal at the inauguration of 11 new medical colleges by the PM. 

PM lauds youth for their ‘can do’ spirit

Today’s youth have a “can do” spirit, which is a source of inspiration for every generation and India’s youth are writing the code of global prosperity, said PM Narendra Modi while inaugurating the 25th National Youth Festival in Puducherry on Wednesday.

300 Dists Seeing Weekly Positivity Rate Of Over 5%

300 Dists Seeing Weekly Positivity Rate Of Over 5%


New Delhi: India is witnessing a “phenomenally high” growth rate in Covid-19 cases with 300 districts recording above 5% weekly positivity rate, up from 78 districts a week ago, officials said.
Tamil Nadu’s positivity rate on Wednesday was 11.3%, while the weekly average test positivity rate was 7.7%. Hotspots Chennai and Chengalpet recorded more than 20% positivity on Wednesday. The surge in cases is also evident as more states are reporting high caseload, with some including poll-bound UP (14 times), Bihar (11.27 times) and MP (10.95 times) witnessing an exponential rise in active caseload over one week.
Endorsing the World Health Organisation’s warning, health officials in India urged people to not become complacent and treat Omicron infection as common cold. “Omicron is not the common cold, cannot take it lightly. We need to be vigilant, get vaccinated and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour,” NI- TI Aayog member-health V K Paul said. At present, 19 states have more than 10,000 active cases, compared to six such states just a week ago. In Punjab, active cases are 8.65 times the load a week ago.

›Must not slacken, P 10

Chennai, 3 districts report 60% of cases


Tamil Nadu on Wednesday added 17,934 new Covid-19 cases when 29 of the 38 districts reported a surge in fresh cases. Chennai with 7,372 new cases, along with Chengalpet (1,840), Tiruvallur (931), Kancheepuram (620) reported nearly 60% of (10,763) of new cases in Tamil Nadu.

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Yesterday once more for Assam pig-heart transplant ‘pioneer’ Dhani Ram Baruah

 

Yesterday once more for Assam pig-heart transplant ‘pioneer’ Dhani Ram Baruah


Prabin.Kalita@timesgroup.com

12.01.2022

Guwahati: Dr Dhani Ram Baruah, the maverick surgeon from Assam who was arrested 25 years ago after he claimed to have kept a terminally ill patient alive for a week on a pig’s heart and lungs, can no longer speak coherently because of illness. But he remembers clearly, with a mix of regret and happiness, the controversial jour ney of the “medical breakthrough” that is now the toast of science but no longer belongs to him.

As news arrived from the US about the first-ever full, live pigheart transplant into a human, 72-year-old Baruah could barely suppress a smile at the thought of what might have been, longtime associate Dr Geeta told TOIon Tuesday. “One is unable to understand most of what he is saying,” she said. “But he conveyed to me that he remembers the surgery he perfor med on January1,1997, on Purno Saikia. ”

The patient, a 32-year-old with a ventricular septal defect,
or a hole in the heart, lived on the transplanted pig’s heart and lungs for seven days at Baruah’s hilltop facility in Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati before he died of multiple infections.

Baruah, a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in the UK, had a heart surgeon from Hong Kong, Dr Jonathan Ho, assist him in the transplant. “We had initiated the pre-surgery preparation like finding blood donors since December 30, 1996. The final preparation was done 48 hours before the surgery,” Dr Geeta said. After the events were reported, the then AGP government in Assam arrested both Baruah and Ho on the charge of violating the Human Organs Transplantation Act that bars xenotransplantation. Both were kept at Guwahati jail for 40 days before being freed on bail. When he returned from jail, Baruah found his clinic, laboratory and pig farm at Dr Dhaniram Heart Institute and Research Centre gutted in a blaze. Dr Geeta said the surgeon had no knowledge of what happened to his case.

His advocate Nilamani Sen Deka, who went on to become agriculture minister in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress cabinet, said on Tuesday, “Dr Baruah deserves Nobel for his pioneering work on pig-organ transplantation. He was a victim of the then government in the state.

US docs transplant genetically modified pig’s heart into human

 US docs transplant genetically modified pig’s heart into human


Chidanand.Rajghatta@timesgroup.com

12.01.2022

Washington: In what was claimed to be the first-of-itskind surgery in the world, doctors at the University of Maryland School of Medicine outside Washington DC have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig heart into a 57-year-old patient with terminal illness.

The patient, Maryland resident David Bennett, is doing well three days after the surgery, the university’s medical center said on Monday, as doctors who performed the operation revealed the transplanted heart was working normally and creating the pulse and pressure associated with the human heart. The surgery took place on Friday and took about eight hours.

A mix of regret and happiness for Dr Baruah

Dr Dhani Ram Baruah, 72, the maverick surgeon from Assam who was held 25 years ago after he claimed to have kept a terminally ill patient alive for seven days on a pig’s heart and lungs, can no longer speak coherently because of an illness, reports Prabin Kalita. But he remembers, with a mix of regret and happiness, the controversial journey of his “medical breakthrough”. On getting the US news, he could barely suppress a smile, aide Dr Geeta said. 

3 dental colleges get notices for excess fees

 

3 dental colleges get notices for excess fees


12.01.2022

Bengaluru: The admission overseeing committee has sent notices to three dental colleges in the state for charging excess fees for PG courses, reports Sruthy Susan Ullas. The panel has asked the colleges to refund the additional fees or they have to show cause as to why action should not be initiated against them for violating the consensual agreement.

The colleges which have been sent notices are Rajarajeshwari Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru; Oxford Dental College, Bengaluru; and Maratha Mandal Dental College, Belagavi.

We’ve receipts from students, says panel

The committee is headed by Justice B Manohar. The colleges have been accused of collecting Rs 1.2 lakh more than the prescribed fee.

According to the agreement signed between the government and the Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges Association and Association of Professional Colleges in Karnataka, the colleges can collect Rs 3.6 lakh for government-quota seats and Rs 6 lakh for private-quota seats. Additionally, other fees of Rs 15,000 a year and transportation fees can be collected. Colleges can also charge an additional Rs 30,000 as skill fees, if they provide it. According to the complaints received by the committee, when students went to colleges for reporting, the college authorities “demanded and forcefully collected Rs 1.2 lakh towards dental material and clinical fee”.

“Any fee collected over and above the fee mentioned in the covenant is contrary to law and construed as collection of capitation fee which was prohibited under the provisions of Karnataka Educational Institutions (prohibition of capitation fee) Act,1984,” read the notices.

“The notices were dispatched on Tuesday. We’ve the admission order and receipts from students. They have charged Rs 75,000 for dental material and Rs 50,000 for clinical labs, which are not permissible under law,” said Justice B Manohar.

Maratha Mandal Group of Institutions president Rajshree Nagaraju told TOI they have not yet received the notice. “For every amount we are charging, we are giving a receipt. We have also displayed on our website the fees we are charging. We have a research centre, which is a centre for excellence approved by RGUHS, where we give skill development programme, and a red cross fee that we give to the university. Students have the right to ask if I am not giving a receipt. Here, there is a receipt and a reason. There is transparency,” she said.

RR Nagar Dental College said it did not want to respond until it received the notice.

Oxford Dental College said they have not asked students to pay any fees at the college. “We have not asked students to come and pay any fees in our college. Students have to pay fees only at KEA. The last date for admissions, as per Dental Council of India, was November 20. However, the state government conducted the counseling in December. Hence, all admissions are yet to be approved,” said Dr AR Pradeep, principal.

BJ medicos threaten stir

 BJ medicos threaten stir

12.01.2022


Ahmedabad: Junior doctors at BJ Medical College (BJMC) and Civil Hospital on Tuesday wrote another letter to college dean, Jayesh Sachdeva, warning that if action was not taken on the complaints made against Dr Kamlesh Upadhayaya, head of medicine department, and Dr Ila Upadhyaya, head of ENT department, then they would launch an agitation at work on Wednesday.
The letter from the Junior Doctors’ Association states that if no action is taken, they will go on a hunger strike on campus and may even stay away from work. The letter set a deadline of 5pm on Wednesday. The junior doctors have accused both these HoDs of mental harassment.
TNN

State reserves 10% seats in PG courses for in-service doctors

 State reserves 10% seats in PG courses for in-service doctors


TIMES NEWS NETWORK

12.01.2022

Ahmedabad: A 10% reservation in postgraduate medical courses has been reserved for in-service doctors working at district and taluka health centres. The state health department on Tuesday notified the rules for implementing this reservation.

The rules list 10 branches in which reservations will be implemented — paediatrics, TB and chest, obstetrics and gynaecology, preventive and social medicine, orthopaedics, general surgery and medicine. Anaesthetics, radiology and pathology are not on the list. The eligibility conditions are that the in-service doctors have to be Class 2 officers, should have been appointed by the Gujarat Public Service Commission, and have completed three years of service. The age limit to avail of this reservation has been set at 45 years.

If an in-service doctor leaves the course midway, according to the government's bond policy, they will have to pay 25% of their Rs 40 lakh bond, i. e. Rs10 lakh.

The candidate doctors must have cleared NEET-PG. This reservation will be implemented in the 2022-23 admission procedure.

Thus with SC, ST and OBC quotas accounting for 49%, 10% EWS quota, 5% for persons with disabilities and 10% reservation for in-service doctors, a total of 74% of seats will be reserved.

Over 2K barred from trains

 Over 2K barred from trains


12.01.2022

Chennai: Southern Railway has stopped 2,177 people from travelling by suburban trains as they did not have vaccination certificates since the rule came into effect on Monday.

The railways has said that only people who have taken two doses of vaccines will be allowed to travel on suburban trains. Commuters should produce the certificate to buy tickets and to renew season tickets.

Crackdown on people without masks at stations and trains too have been intensified. Thirty one cases were booked and ₹15,500 was collected as fine.
TNN

Slow down on ECR, speed detection system may be in place by Jan-end

 

Slow down on ECR, speed detection system may be in place by Jan-end

Will Book Those Driving Over 80kmph

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

12.01.2022

Chennai: You may want to reconsider the next time you think of stepping on the gas while on East Coast Road. Starting this month, a speed detection system would book people who drive faster than 80kmph on the stretch.

Every year, at least 50 accidents are reported on ECR and 90% of these are due to according to speeding, official data. Despite police patrols, traffic violations continue unabated. To put an end to such violations and reduce road accidents, the Tamil Nadu government in February 2020 began installing an advanced traffic management project along the 33km stretch between Akkarai and Mahabalipuram on ECR.

The project, set up at ₹8. 6 crore, has three components — Vehicle-Activated Speed Signs (VASS), an Automatic Speed Enforcement System (ASES) and a Video Incident Detection System (VIDS).

A pole-mounted VASS, installed by the road or on the central median, can measure the speed of the approaching vehicle and display it on a screen. Every time a driver exceeds the speed limit, the VASS displays the speed in red.

As a follow-up measure, HD cameras are installed near these display boards to automatically detect these speeding vehicles. The ASES will transfer the vehicle (registration number) details to the local police, who will issue a traffic challan in the name of the vehicle owner, said a Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project (TNRSP) official.

Though all the infrastructure was ready, the project remained a non-starter. The control and command centre at Uthandi toll plaza was kept locked for most part of the day. However, a trial run of the project began recently.

“Discussions are going on with other government agencies like National Informatics Centre (NIC), which maintains the database for all registered vehicles in the country. Before January-end, the project and recorded data will be handed over to police,” the TNRSP official added.

While ECR residents have welcomed the project, they complained that basic road safety initiatives have been kept pending. B Sricharan of Kanathur pointed out that some portions are poorly-lit and have no road signs warning motorists about curves or speed breakers ahead. “This is why even when you travel at 50kmph, it is still dangerous on ECR,” he said.

Any ‘material’ demand by in-laws should be considered dowry: SC

 

Any ‘material’ demand by in-laws should be considered dowry: SC


AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

12.01.2022

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the word "dowry" ought to be given a wider interpretation to include any demand made on a woman, whether in respect of a property or a valuable security of any nature, and held that demand for money for constructing a house comes within the ambit of dowry.

A bench of Justices N V Ramana, A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli said interpretation of a provision of law that will defeat the very intention of the legislature must be shunned in favour of an interpretation that will promote the object sought to be achieved through the legislation meant to uproot a social evil like dowry.

"In this context the word 'dowry' ought to be ascribed an expansive meaning so as to encompass any demand made on a woman, whether in respect of a property or a valuable security of any nature. When dealing with cases under IPC Section 304-B, a provision legislated to act as a deterrent in society and curb the heinous crime of dowry demands, the shift in the approach of the courts ought to be from strict to liberal, from constricted to dilated.

‘Victim was tortured to bring money from family’

“Any rigid meaning would tend to bring to naught the real object of the provision. Therefore, a push in the right direction is required to accomplish the task of eradicating this evil which has become deeply entrenched in our society,” said Justice Kohli, who penned the judgment for the bench.
The court set aside a verdict of the Madhya Pradesh high court which had acquit- ted a husband and father-inlaw for a dowry death on the ground that the victim had herself asked her family members to contribute money to construct a house, which cannot be treated as a dowry demand.

The top court said the demand made by the deceased herself had to be seen and understood in the correct perspective as she was being tortured to bring money from her family. It said the order of the trial court convict- ing both of them for the dowry death was correct. In this case, the deceased, who was five months pregnant, immolated herself in her matrimonial home.

“We are of the opinion that the trial court has correctly interpreted the demand for money raised by the respondents on the deceased for construction of a house as falling within the definition of the word dowry. It cannot be lost sight of that the respondents had been constantly tormenting the deceased and asking her to approach her family members for money to build a house and it was only on their persistence and insistence that she was compelled to ask them to contribute some amount for constructing a house,” it said.

The court said the evidence brought on the record shows that the deceased was pressured to make such a request for money to her mother and uncle.

Government doctors protest salary arrears; boycott work

 Government doctors protest salary arrears; boycott work


Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

12.01.2022

Chennai: About 250 doctors from Chengalpet Government Medical College Hospital boycotted their work on Tuesday in protest against non-payment of stipends for over three months.

The house surgeons and postgraduate (non-service) doctors, who are posted in covid-19 wards, operation the- atres and most other departments in the hospital, said they would continue protests until their demands were met.
"Around 30 doctors among us have tested positive for covid-19. Without their monthly pay, they are struggling to meet their expenses and are seeking financial help from their friends and families," said Lakshmanan, a protesting doctor.

Since the infected doctors were in isolation, the workload on the available workforce had increased, he said adding that many continued to work on 48-hour shifts without taking adequate rest.

Amidst the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases, the Chengalpattu hospital continues to perform all kinds of elective surgeries. Hence, doctors have to be available on call round the clock.

The doctors said, despite their working on a tight schedule, the government failed to respond to their plea on the release of stipends. Their representations to the college dean and directorate of medical education (DME) went unanswered.

Hence, they resorted to the boycott on Tuesday de- manding immediate release of the pending pay and urged the DME to ensure that they received their pay on time in the coming months.

The medical college dean J Muthukumaran said the bills were presented before the treasury on Tuesday and the money would be disbursed to their bank accounts before Wednesday afternoon.

Despite the protest, pa- tient care remained unaffected on Tuesday as service PGs, assistant professors, professors, and heads of departments were available to meet the needs of patients. The hospital currently has over 50 covid-19 patients.

House surgeons (or compulsory rotatory residential internship) were promised a monthly stipend of ₹25,000. PG doctors get ₹48,000₹
50,000 per month
.

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Protesting docs to go on mass leave

 

Protesting docs to go on mass leave


11.01.2022

Chandigarh: In what appears to be a major challenge for the health authorities, the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) announced to go on a mass leave from hospitals in the state on Tuesday.

HCMSA president Dr J S Panwar said this would be the start of agitation by doctors as the government has completely ignored the demands and has backtracked from the assurances given by state health minister Anil Vij.

“We deferred our strike thrice on the assurances of the health minister. But, things are not shaping up as promised, hence we are forced to follow this route. After this, we will plan an indefinite strike as well,” said Dr Panwar.
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'No Tampering At NTA Office' : Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Alleging Discrepancies In NEET-UG Scores

'No Tampering At NTA Office' : Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Alleging Discrepancies In NEET-UG Scores: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a writ petition filed by 6 students alleging tampering of their NEET-UG OMR scorecards by the National Testing Agency. The petitioners had approached the

BJ medicos demand action against HoDs

 BJ medicos demand action against HoDs


TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.01.2022

Ahmedabad: Undergraduate and postgraduate medical students at BJ Medical College (BJMC) sat on protest outside the college dean’s office on Monday, demanding that action be taken against Dr Ila Upadhyaya and Dr Kamlesh Upadhyaya. The students want action based on complaints made by undergraduate students and junior doctors.

Kamlesh Upadhyaya, the head of the medicine department, had allegedly told final year undergraduate students that they would not be given attendance marks that would enable them to take their final exams, as 75% attendance is compulsory. The protesting students said that while they may not have reached the minimum figures for the medicine department, they have been on duty at various hospitals while dealing with the Covid pandemic.

BJMC dean Dr Jayesh Sachdeva said, “Students had sat on protest outside my office. ” He added: “To deal with this extraordinary situation, we put out a circular that all clinical postings of students while dealing with the Covid situation should be taken into account to compute attendance and internal marks. ”

Protesting medicos said that while the surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology departments had considered Covid duties performed, only the medicine de- partment did not. The students had alleged that the medicine HOD had also been mentally harassing students.

Dr Oman Prajapati, vicepresident of the BJMC junior doctors’ association (JDA), said, “Dr Kamlesh Upadhyaya has been facing accusations from postgraduate students that he was harassing them mentally. ” Prajapati added: “Now even undergraduate students are making the same allegations. Yet no action has been taken against him. Who is shielding him?”

Students had accused Professor Ila Upadhyaya, head of the ENT department, of demanding ‘gifts’. The Junior Doctors’ Association wrote a letter to the dean on Monday, to press its demand for action against these professors as ample time has passed since the complaints were made.

 Provisional PG medical merit list declared


TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.01.2022

Ahmedabad: The admissions committee for professional postgraduate medical education courses (ACPPGMEC) on Monday declared its provisional merit list, which has 3,131students.

The first round of admissions for the state quota will be held from January 20 to January 24. The results of the National Eligibility and Entrance Test for postgraduate courses (NEET-PG) had been declared in September 2021, however, due to litigation in the Supreme Court challenging reservations in EWS category, the admissions process had been stalled.

The apex court ruled on the matter last week, and the process will thus begin this month. Admissions for the all-India quota will be carried out first, from January 12 to 21, after which state quotas will be filled (January 20-24).

There are 2,060 seats in Gujarat in MD, MS and postgraduate diploma medical courses. Of these, about1,200 will be in the state quota.

Registration for these admissions were open from November 12-17, during which 3,210 students had registered. Some 3,147 had got their documents verified.

Of these, there are 1,048 in the open category, 229 in the SC category, 221 in ST, 908 in the SEBC category and 725 in the EWS category. There are also 24 NRIs and 22 inservice doctors on the merit list.

Candidates who have objections regarding the provisional merit list, can approach the admissions committee with a representation till January17.

Those allocated seats in the first round will have to join colleges by February 2.

Shah to meet TN all-party delegation on NEET on Jan 17

 Shah to meet TN all-party delegation on NEET on Jan 17


Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

11.01.2022

Chennai: Union home minister Amit Shah is likely to meet a seven-member all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu MPs on January 17 to discuss the anti-NEET bill and the ‘delay’ on the part of governor R N Ravi in forwarding it to the President for his nod, multiple MPs told TOI.

The development comes in the wake of the political parties strongly condemning the Union minister for not meeting the MPs from the state on multiple occasions. The issue took a political turn with chief minister M K Stalin strongly condemning the home minister on the floor of the state assembly last week for refusing an audience for the representatives of people and dubbed his act “anti-democratic”.

The MPs, who are part of the delegation, confirmed to TOI that they received a communication that Shah would meet them on January 17. “We received a communication (from DMK MP T R Baalu) regarding the appointment with home minister Shah coming Monday. The time of the meeting was tentative (between 4 pm and4. 30 pm),” said a member of the seven-member MP delegation that would be led by DMK Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu.
A few other members of the team too confirmed the schedule of the meeting with Shah. “We learned that the PM (Narendra Modi) directed Shah to meet the TN MPs,” said a senior DMK leader.

A Navaneethakrishnan of AIADMK, Navas Kani of IUML, Su Venkatesan of CPM, K Jeyakumar of Congress, Thol Thirumavalavan of VCK, Vaiko of MDMK would be part of the all-party delegation, sources confirmed.

PM Modi cancels visit to TN

 

PM Modi cancels visit to TN


TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.01.2022

Chennai:In the wake of surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, Prime Minister Narendera Modi has cancelled his scheduled visit to Tamil Nadu on January 12. He will inaugurate11 new government medical colleges across the state and the new campus of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Perumbakkam at 4 pm via video conferencing on the same day.

 The new colleges have been established at ₹4,000 crore in Virudhunagar, Namakkal, The Nilgiris, Tiruppur, Thiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Ariyalur, Ramanathapuram and Krishnagiri. While the Centre gave ₹2,145 crore, the balance was borne by the Tamil Nadu government. “Establishment of these colleges is in line with the PM’s constant endeavour to promote affordable medical education and improve health infrastructure in all parts of the country,” said a PMO release.

Shortage mars Pongal gift hamper distribution

 

Shortage mars Pongal gift hamper distribution


Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

11.01.2022

Chennai: Complaints of missing items, inferior quality and delayed distribution has surrounded the distribution of Pongal gift hampers to ration card holders.

The hamper contains 21 essential items. While initially there were complaints of missing items, now the standard of the items has come into question. For instance, some of the packets distributed at the Public Distribution System (PDS) outlet in Besant Nagar were damaged by rats. “Thankfully, we spotted it,” said Vijay Bobby, aration cardholder who raised the red flag.

On the other hand, the card holders in Chennai's neighbouring districts noticed a stark contrast between the quantity of the items promised. K Bethraj, a consumer rights activist from Kancheepuram said the packets distributed at the shops lo- cated near the collectorate at Pillayarpalayam contained only 10g-14g of cashew and 3g of cardamom instead of the 50g and 10g that were promised by the state government.

Besides, in Chennai, there was a shortage of the gift hampers resulting in serpentine queues outside the PDS outlets in Madipakkam and Kodambakkam on Monday.

F Syed, a cardholder from Madipakkam, said they were sent back home after waiting for hours. The employee at the shop attributed the delay to inadequate sugarcane supply. “Contrary to the government’s announcement, tokens for the gift hampers were not distributed. We waited the whole day at the ration shop to get the tokens. It makes no sense as those without the tokens are allowed in the queues,” he said.

A senior government official said the delay was due to the complete lockdown on Sunday, and they were taking steps to completedistribution.

23 districts report fresh cases in TN

 23 districts report fresh cases in TN


TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.01.2022

Chennai: At least 23 districts reported an increase in fresh cases on Monday. Tamil Nadu reported 13,990 new cases, while Chennai logged 6,190 cases.

The sharpest increase was recorded at Tiruvallur, where cases went up to 1,054 from 702 cases on Sunday. City’s two other neighbours – Chengalpet (1696) and Kancheepuram (508) – also reported an increase compared to their Sunday tally.

Although the active cases in the state swiftly rose to 62,767 on Monday including 30,843 in Chennai, the percentage of active patients in hospitals have come down drastically. In a city like Chennai, more than 90% of the population have taken at least one dose, and 70% have taken both doses, hospitalization and deaths are low. “It is still important to follow precautions,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan.

Coimbatore reported 602 cases on Monday. Trichy (348), Madurai (330) and Ranipet (272) also logged a significant increase in new cases.

On the first day of launch, 20,765 people took the precautionary dose. At least 2. 5 lakh people took the vaccine on Monday. This includes 84209 people who took the vaccine on Monday. With this, 87. 29% adults have taken the first dose and 60. 20% second dose.

NMC to reduce workload of resident doctors by lowering NEET PG cut-off

NMC to reduce workload of resident doctors by lowering NEET PG cut-off  To utilise the workforce efficiently, pre-clinical and para-clinical...