NEWS TO DAY 01.09.2024

 

Govt increases stipends of interns, resident doctors

Govt increases stipends of interns, resident doctors

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK  1.9.2024 

Ahmedabad : In a significant move, the state govt on Saturday announced its decision to hike the stipends for interns and resident doctors following the recent salary hike for contract-based specialist doctors at various healthcare facilities. The decision will benefit those pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate, and superspecialty programmes at the state’s six govt and 13 GMERS-managed medical colleges. 

The stipend hike comes after a gap of about three years and will come into effect from April 1, 2024. Students have been demanding a stipend hike and had made several representations to the state health department. The stipend rates have been increased for interns and residents in medical, dental, physiotherapy, homeopathy, and Ayurveda programmes. 

According to the new rates, medical interns in govt medical colleges will receive Rs 21,840 per month, dental interns Rs 20,160, physiotherapy interns Rs 13,440, and ayurveda and homeopathy interns Rs 15,120 as stipends. Medical residents with degrees will receive stipends ranging from Rs 1,00,800 per month in the first year to Rs 1,10,880 in the fourth year and as clinical assistants. Superspecialty medical residents will be entitled to stipends starting from Rs 1,20,960 in the first year and increasing to Rs 1,34,400 in the third year. Dental degree residents will receive stipends ranging from Rs 78,960 to Rs 83,496 per month, while physiotherapy degree residents will get Rs 35,280 in the first year and Rs 43,680 in the second year. Medical diploma resident doctors will get Rs 75,600 in the first year and Rs 82,320 in the second year as stipends. 

In the ayurvedic course, postgraduate resident doctors will get stipends starting from Rs 50,400 in the first year and increasing to Rs 57,120 in the third year. The stipend hike also extends to interns and residents at GMERS-managed medical colleges. Interns in undergraduate programmes will receive Rs 21,840, while junior residents will receive Rs 1,00,800, and senior residents will receive Rs 1,10,880.

SC directs adjudication on rent arrears payable by Madras Race Club to T.N. govt.

SC directs adjudication on rent arrears payable by Madras Race Club to T.N. govt.

The club must be allowed a fair opportunity to respond to the claim of ₹822.63 crore in rent arrears mentioned in the show cause notice of July 4 Supreme Court Bench

The Madras Race Club has been operating on the leased premises at Udhagamandalam for over 50 years and horse racing had been held on the premises for over a century

Krishnadas Rajagopal

 

New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Friday gave the Madras Race Club a full opportunity to be heard on the question of arrears of rent payable for 52.34 acres of land dispossessed from it by the Nilgiris district administration.

A Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S.V.N. Bhatti directed a competent authority within the Tamil Nadu government to adjudicate the issue of arrears due from the club.

The club, represented by senior advocate C.A. Sundaram and advocate Rohini Musa, had challenged a Madras High Court order of July 5, which held that the rent arrears added up to a whopping ₹822.63 crore (without interest) as on June 30, 2023.

The court held that the club deserved ‘no further leniency’.

By the time of the High Court order, the district administration had already taken possession and sealed the property. The land is proposed to be used for an eco park project.

On Friday, Mr. Sundaram said the amount of ₹822.63 crore was decided without any adjudication. The club should have been given an opportunity to be heard. It had been thrown out of the property overnight.

The Madras Race Club has been operating on the leased premises at Udhagamandalam (Ooty) for over 50 years. Horse racing had been held at the premises for over a century. The club had made substantial investments in the infrastructure and facilities at the racecourse, including the construction of stables and other buildings to support horse racing and related activities.

Mr. Sundaram said imposing over ₹820 crore on the club was like “flogging a dead horse”.

Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, for the State of Tamil Nadu, said the amount of ₹822.63 crore was based on a show cause notice issued by the government against the club on July 4.

“A show cause notice can even say ₹3000 crore… The question is whether there was adjudication,” Justice Bhatti reacted.

The July 4 notice had said the amount was fixed taking into consideration the fact that the “substantial loss of revenue could have been utilised for public welfare, infrastructure development and other essential services”.

Disposing of the case, the court said the club must be allowed a fair opportunity to respond to the claim of ₹822.63 crore in rent arrears mentioned in the show cause notice of July 4.

The Bench left it open for the club to raise all contentions.

The court had on an earlier occasion, on July 10, refused to intervene in the dispossession of the land on the expiry of the lease.

On Friday, the apex court clarified that the order had however not endorsed the claim of ₹822.63 crore as rent arrears

Medical students go missing: Madurai High Court Bench orders SIT probe

Medical students go missing: Madurai High Court Bench orders SIT probe

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 01.09.2024 

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed that a Special Investigation Team be formed under the supervision of Madurai Commissioner of Police to conduct investigation into the case of two missing medical students.

A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and J. Sathya Narayana Prasad took into account that a first year medical student of Government Medical College, Ariyalur, had gone missing from her home since May 22.

Similarly, a youth, a second year medical student of Government Medical College, Namakkal, had gone missing since May 18.

Mutual decision?

It was suspected that both had taken a decision together to move away from their respective homes. They are yet to be located. Police complaints were lodged in Tiruchi and Namakkal districts respectively. The court observed that there was no progress made in the investigation and said that it was deeply concerned about the safety of the two children which is of extreme importance.

The court directed the Special Investigation Team to be formed under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Madurai city, and functioning under the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Madurai city.

The court directed that the investigation should commence immediately without any delay.

Taking into account that two separate FIRs were registered, the court directed it to be placed before the Director General of Police so that they can be clubbed and investigation can be done in a coordinated manner.

The court posted the matter on September 23 for filing of the report on the progress made in the investigation.

Police search apartment complex near private university, seize ganja

Police search apartment complex near private university, seize ganja

Crackdown on drug network: Police officials conducted raids in flats near SRM University in Potheri. Special Arrangement

On instructions from Tambaram City Commissioner Abin Dinesh Modak, 168 teams comprising 1,000 policemen conducted searches in the apartment complex housing 688 flats in Potheri; the raids led to seizure of ganja from 15 students; tobacco products, liquor bottles too found

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 01.09.2024 

The Tambaram City police on Saturday conducted raids in apartments, occupied mostly by college students of a private educational institution, and seized ganja and other narcotic substances from the premises.

Acting on specific information that the students were using drugs, including ganja, Tambaram City Police Commissioner Abin Dinesh Modak instructed his officers to conduct a special raid at the apartment complex. Under the supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police, Tambaram, C. Mageswari, the police personnel carried out the special operation near SRM College at Abode Valley, Potheri.

More than 5,00,000 students attend various colleges and schools within the jurisdiction of the Tambaram Police. These institutions have students from all over the country. Universities, by their sheer size, have students staying at the periphery of their campuses. The students stay at rented buildings in gated societies, which take the shape of micro cities.

Explaining the reason behind the operation, Tambaram City Police Commissioner Mr. Modak said, “The local criminals as well as students who had dropped out, in a well-organised manner create a thriving criminal ecosystem by indulging in selling drugs, running extortion rackets, trading in protection money, and hiring criminals for assaulting innocent students. Hence strict action needs to be taken.”

The Tambaram City Police arranged a massive search operation at Abode Valley apartments in Potheri. This residential complex has 22 towers. Each tower has four floors with eight flats on each floor. There are 688 flats where around 3,000 students reside.

The operation that began early on Saturday morning, was carried out with 1,000 policemen grouped into 168 teams. The searches led to the seizure of ganja from 15 students. Ganja chocolates; bhang; tobacco (hookah) and a huge cache of liquor bottles were also seized. The operation led to registration of 20 cases and arrest of 21 people. The apartment has 60 abandoned two-wheelers and one four-wheeler. Some were suspected to be stolen and verification is in progress, he said.

History-sheeter Selvamani, 29, of Guduvanchery, who had spread his network around the apartment complex, was also secured in the operation and five weapons (swords and knives) used for threatening the university students were recovered, a police press release said.

The police have also arrested the owner of a dhaba from Uttar Pradesh who procured ganja chocolates from the State and sold it to the students. “We have also secured digital data, to further identify the criminals who are perpetrating crime, supplying drugs, and influencing innocent students to consume drugs so that they could be made pawns in the extortion business,” said Mr. Modak.

Stalin signs MoU with Google to set up AI labs

Stalin signs MoU with Google to set up AI labs

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 01.09.2024 

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is touring the U.S. to attract investments, signed a memorandum of understanding with Google to set up Artificial Intelligence (AI) laboratories in Tamil Nadu.

He met officials of the company on its Mountain View campus and discussed expanding manufacture of Pixel 8 phones and launching other products of the company in the State.

Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa said, ‘‘With this partnership, we look forward to skilling two million youth in AI through the Naan Mudhalvan [a State government scheme], and collaborate with start-ups. We want our youth to be a future-ready workforce.”

PM: Vande trains new face of rlys, symbol of aspiration and dreams

PM: Vande trains new face of rlys, symbol of aspiration and dreams

102 VANDE BHARAT TRAINS NOW OPERATIONAL 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK New Delhi : Vande Bharat trains are the new face of railways and a symbol of “aspiration and dreams”, PM Narendra Modi said while flagging off three such semi-high speed trains on Saturday. He also announced that the sleeper and Metro versions of Vande Bharat express will be launched soon. 

Later in the day attending an ET event, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the trial run of Vande sleeper will start in the next one week. While flagging off the three trains that will run in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, the PM said, “Nation is inching towards the goal of Vikist Bharat with modernisation and expansion of Vande Bharat trains in the country.” He added that the National Capital Region (NCR) is becoming an example of PM Gatishakti’s vision to change the country's infrastructure with modern trains, network of expressways and expansion of air services.

The three new addition of Vande Bharat trains to the existing fleet will improve connectivity on three routes — Meerut—Lucknow, Madurai — Bengaluru and Chennai — Nagercoil. Referring to the three trains PM said these will provide connectivity to important cities as well as historic towns in the country. Underlining the need for rapid development of southern states to accomplish the goal of developed India, Modi said, “Southern India is the land of immense talent, resources and opportunities.” The PM said over ₹6,000 cr has been allocated for TN’s rail budget this year, seven times more than in 2014 amid complaints of CM M K Stalin of the Centre neglecting railways in the state.

Entered seminar hall to look for a doc, RG Kar accused tells CBI

Entered seminar hall to look for a doc, RG Kar accused tells CBI 

‘PANICKED, RUSHED OUT’ RohitKhanna@timesofindia.com Kolkata :

Sanjay Roy, the prime accused in the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder, has told CBI that he had gone to the upper floor of the hospital in the early hours of Aug 9 to look for a doctor because a patient known to him was in need of oxygen. Roy, who has undergone a polygraph test, has told the investigators that he did not intend to go to the seminar room where the crime allegedly took place, but had entered there accidentally. Roy told CBI that on Aug 9, the patient known to him was supposed to be operated on. The patient’s condition had reportedly deteriorated, and Roy entered the seminar hall while looking for a doctor to attend to him. The accused also claimed that there was no security at the gate and nobody stopped him.

 CBI has already run two security guards through a polygraph test to verify Roy’s claim. The accused, sources said, told the investigators that he entered the room and saw someone lying there. He claimed he did not know the woman, but shook the body and there was no response. Roy claimed he panicked at this stage and rushed out. He stumbled on something and his Bluetooth device fell there. Investigators, however, doubt his claims as a CCTV grab at 11 am on Aug 8 shows him staring at the deceased doctor when four other juniors were present with her. 

Roy’s lawyer Kabita Sarkar said they were waiting for the next date of hearing in court to present his version of the incident. “He has gone through a polygraph test and we are sure the judge will give him the opportunity to be heard,” she said.

TN will oppose regressive NEP: Appavu

TN will oppose regressive NEP:  Appavu 

Tirunelveli : Tamil Nadu assembly speaker M Appavu on Saturday said the Union govt was trying to force the state to adopt National Education Policy (NEP) but the state govt will continue to oppose it as it was against the welfare of Tamil Nadu and its people. He was addressing ‘Petrorgalai Kondaduvom’ event held in Tirunelveli to honour parents of school students who donated towards development of govt schools.

 “In 2014, Tamil Nadu govt accepted the NEP for compulsory education for children from 1 to 14 years of age. Around 99% of students in the state now go to school till Class VIII while 89% attend till Class XII. The gross enrollment ratio for higher education is 51%,” he said. 

School education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said the state govt has introduced various schemes just for students, which teachers and parents should be aware of and make use of to the fullest. Earlier, youth welfare minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated the event via videoconferencing.

NEWS TODAY 31.08.2024

 

Ta-ta Vistara! Merger with AI set for Nov 12

 Ta-ta Vistara! Merger with AI set for Nov 12 

Govt Approves ₹2K Cr Singapore Airlines FDI, Foreign Carrier To Hold 25% In JV With Tatas 

Saurabh.Sinha@timesofindia.com 

New Delhi : Vistara will merge into Air India on Nov 12, 2024 and Tata Group patriarch Ratan Tata’s nearly three-decade-old dream of making Air India a world class airline in partnership with Singapore Airlines could soon come true. Govt has approved SIA’s FDI into AI, and the former will have 25.1% stake in the JV by investing Rs 2,059 crore in it.

Starting Sept 3, customers will “progressively no longer be able to make bookings with Vistara for travel on or after Nov 12, 2024. All our flights thereafter will be operated by AI and bookings for them will be redirected to Air India’s website from ours... Our operations continue as usual till Nov 11, 2024,” Vistara said in an internal note to employees on Friday. 

Vistara frequent flyer miles are being merged into the AI programme. Customers already booked on Vistara flights after Nov 12 will have their reservations converted to AI flight numbers. “…This will occur in phases during Sept, and customers will be individually informed when this occurs… even though in nearly all cases the aircraft, schedule and operating crew will be unchanged until early 2025,” 

AI CEO Campbell Wilson said in email to employees on Friday. The merger date was communicated soon after India approved SIA’s FDI. In a statement, SIA, which owned 49% in Vistara, said on Friday: “SIA and Tata Sons are firmly committed to supporting the growth and success of AI Group, which post-merger will have a significant presence in all key Indian airline market segments (full service, low-cost, international, and domestic). This merger will reinforce SIA’s multi-hub strategy and underscore its long-standing commitment to India through a direct stake in this large and rapidly growing aviation market,”  the statement added.

While welcoming Vistara employees into the AI fold, Wilson urged them and AI staffers to “ensure that our collective customers and colleagues experience the smoothest of transitions.” Wilson said: “The joint team looks forward to offering our guests an expanded network, additional flight options an enhanced frequent flyer programme… grateful for the support of our loyal customers through this next phase of building a world class, world scale, global airline with an Indian heart.

Bengal’s new bill seeks death or life in jail till death in rape cases

Bengal’s new bill seeks death or life in jail till death in rape cases

Legislation To Be Tabled On Monday 

Saibal Sen & Srishti Lakhotia TNN 

Kolkata : The stringent anti-rape bill to be tabled by West Bengal’s govt in the assembly on Monday proposes to treat all rape crimes — even if the victim survives — as a murder to be punished with life imprisonment or death, irrespective of the victim’s age. It will also call for a time-bound trial and enhanced compensation or fine to be collected from the guilty. In case of rape-murder, the bill proposes only the death penalty and a hefty fine to be collected from the perpetrator’s family. 

By introducing the “imprison ment for the remainder of natural life” clause along with the death penalty for all rape cases, the proposed bill will try to differ from and avoid the fate of previous such bills passed by other states. The Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill, 2019 and Maharashtra Shakti Bill, 2020 had only one penalty — mandatory death — for all rape and gang-rape cases. Both the bills are yet to get the President’s assent. The Supreme Court had in the 1983 Mithu versus State of Punjab case struck down IPC Section 303, which stipulated “mandatory death” for life convicts committing murder, saying it violated the fundamental right of equality before the law (Article 14 of the Constitution) and right to life (Article 21) by not allowing courts to exercise their discretion and, therefore, would result in “unfair, unjust and unreasonable procedure” that could deprive a person of his/her life. “We have researched multiple Supreme Court and high court judgments on this issue. We propose to have both death and rigorous imprisonment for the remainder of a person’s life and fine/compensation for trauma, rehabilitation and treatment of the victim. For rape and murder, the provisions will be death and fine (from kin).

A shorter fixed period for investigation and trial is being proposed. Other legal details are also being discussed threadbare and multiple stakeholders are being consulted,” said Sanjay Basu, senior standing counsel for the Bengal govt in SC.  Medical professionals shout slogans during a protest to condemn the rape and murder of a doctor, amid rainfall in Kolkata on Friday 

Times of India ePaper lucknow - R

Land dispute costs students MBBS seats

Land dispute costs students MBBS seats

Decision To Halt Admission At Kanyakumari College Follows NMC Directive To TN 

PushpaNarayan@timesofindia.com 

Chennai : The Tamil Nadu Medical Selection Committee has withdrawn the provisional MBBS allotments made to students at Kanyakumari Medical Mission Research Centre, a private university, for 2024-25. The decision comes after the National Medical Commission asked the state govt not to admit students during the ongoing counselling till further notice since the permission granted to the univer sity to start the MBBS course with 100 seats has been put on hold. 

The state will accommodate five govt school students who were admitted through the 7.5% quota. The provisional admission given to 95 other students has been with drawn. “We have given appointment orders to five govt school students under the 7.5% govt quota. We will accommodate them in other colleges. The number of seats will be adjusted next year,” he said. The results of round 1 allotment for the remaining 95 seats -under the state quota and management quota -have been cancelled as the committee had offered only provisional admissions, he said. Later in the evening, the state released the revised allotment after withdrawing 100 seats from the seat matrix. 

"Students have been allotted seats based on their merit in NEET and the rule of reservation," officials said. On Friday, NMC told the state govt that the private university, which submitted its application for the establishment of a new medical college, was granted permission on Aug 10 for 100 seats, NMC, in a communication to the state, said. In the meantime, the apex body has received a writ  petition filed by M/s. Michael Builders and Developers Pvt. Ltd. before the Delhi High Court contesting the college's claim to the land. The company has attached a district court order too. The NMC said it had put the “letter of permission” granted to the college for 100 MBBS seats on hold

Vande Bharat meets a long-pending demand of train users in Tiruchi

Vande Bharat meets a long-pending demand of train users in Tiruchi

PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express on Saturday.

The Hindu Bureau

TIRUCHI  31.08.2024 

Rail passengers in Tiruchi will get a daytime train service to Bengaluru with the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express between Madurai and Bengaluru Cantonment via Tiruchi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the train along with the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat inaugural specialsthrough video conference on Saturday.

The Madurai-Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat inaugural special will leave Madurai at 12.30 p.m. and reach Tiruchi at 2.05 p.m on Saturday.

The Tiruchi Railway Division has planned a grand reception for the new train. The train will leave Tiruchi at 2.10 p.m. and reach Bengaluru Cantonment at 9.30 p.m. via Karur, Namakkal, Salem and Krishnarajapuram.

The regular service of the Madurai-Bengaluru Cantonment-Madurai Vande Bharat Express (20671/20672) will begin from September 2 for six days a week except Tuesdays.

The train (20671) will leave Madurai at 5.15 a.m. and reach Tiruchi at 6.50 a.m. It will depart Tiruchi at 6.55 a.m. and reach Bengaluru Cantonment at 1 p.m. with stops at Karur, Namakkal, Salem and Krishnarajapuram. In the return direction, the train (20672) will leave Bengaluru at 1.30 p.m. and reach Tiruchi at 7.20 p.m. It will depart Tiruchi at 7.25 p.m. to reach Madurai at 9.45 p.m.

The regular service of the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil -Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat Express (20627/20628) will be operated from September 2 for six days a week except Wednesday.

The train (20627) will leave Chennai Egmore at 5 a.m. and reach Tiruchi Junction at 8.55 a.m. It will depart Tiruchi at 9 a.m. to reach Nagercoil at 1.50 p.m with stops at Dindigul, Madurai, Kovilpatti and Tirunelveli. In the return direction, the train (20628) will leave Nagercoil at 2.20 p.m. and reachTiruchi Junction at 6.45 p.m. It will leave Tiruchi at 6.50 p.m. to reach Chennai Egmore at 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu secretary S. Pushpavanam has welcomed the introduction of Vande Bharat between Madurai and Bengaluru via Tiruchi and thanked Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for meeting a felt need of the railway users. The council has reiterated its demand for one more night train from Tiruchi to Bengaluru to meet the growing demand.

Vistara to merge with Air India from Nov. 12

Vistara to merge with Air India from Nov. 12

The Hindu Bureau

NEW DELHI  3.08.2024

The sun will set on Vistara on November 12 when the airline will move to the Air India brand with its flights carrying the ‘AI’ flight code instead of its ‘UK’ designator, and flight bookings too, moving to the latter’s web portal thereby completing the merger between the airlines.

Starting September 3, passengers will no longer be able to book tickets with Vistara for travel on or after November 12. Vistara will continue to take bookings and operate flights as usual till November 11.

The merger was announced by Vistara and AI soon after Singapore International Airlines (SIA) said the Indian government approved the plan for foreign direct investment in AI.

SIA, which held a 49% stake in Vistara along with Tata Sons, will now hold 25.1% in the combined entity in return for an investment of ₹2,058.5 crore.

NEWS 30.08.2024

 

Father cannot demand return of divorcee daughter’s ‘stridhan’ from her in-laws:

Father cannot demand return of divorcee daughter’s ‘stridhan’ from her in-laws: 

SC WOMAN IS THE SOLE OWNER OF HER ASSET

 Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesofindia.com 

New Delhi : Supreme Court Thursday ruled that a woman is the sole owner of her ‘stridhan’, the gold ornaments and other articles given by her parents at the time of marriage, and said that after divorce, her father has no authority to demand return of those gifts from her erstwhile in-laws. P Veerabhadra Rao’s daughter was married in Dec 1999 and the couple migrated to the US. After 16 years of marriage, the daughter filed for divorce. 

A Louis county circuit court in Missouri granted divorce by mutual possessions, material and financial, were settled between the parties through a separation agreement. She remarried in May 2018. Three years later, Rao filed an FIR against his daughter’s erstwhile in-laws in Hyderabad seeking return of her ‘stridhan’. 

The erstwhile in-laws unsuccessfully moved Telangana HC for quashing of the FIR. Then they appealed against HC order in SC. 

A bench of Justices quashed the case against the in-laws and said the father had no locus standi to seek return of his daughter’s ‘stridhan’ as that belonged solely to her.

Univ of Southampton first foreign varsity to set up campus in India

Univ of Southampton first foreign varsity to set up campus in India 

UNDER UGC REGULATIONS 

New Delhi : The UK’s University of Southampton has become the first foreign university to set up its offshore campus in India as part of University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations under the new National Education Policy 2020. Ranked among the top 100 higher educational institutions globally, the university will set up its campus in Gurgaon and the first academic session is likely to start in July. The de- grees awarded by the India campus of the University of Southampton will be the same as in the host university. 

UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar said the university will offer courses in subjects focusing on business and management, computing, law, engineering, art and design, biosciences and life sciences. In 2023, UGC had announced ‘Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India Regulations’ under NEP 2020. 

“This will be the first foreign university to be issued ‘letter of intent’ under UGC regulations for setting up of Indian campuses of foreign universities,” the education ministry said. TNN

Govt staff irked by appointment of retd officials, consultants

Govt staff irked by appointment of retd officials, consultants

Julie.Mariappan@timesofindia.com  30.8.2024 

Chennai : Days after Union govt scrapped lateral entry in services due to opposition from various quarters, Tamil Nadu govt employees criticised state govt for hiring retired officials a s consultants in multiple departments. The Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association (TNSA) lodged a complaint with the chief minister, alleging that numerous appointments are being made without any established guidelines. 

The association members said retired officials from the law department, formerly holding the positions of additional secretary or joint secretary, have been occupying roles in Secretariat departments and various committees. Retired additional secretaries have been appointed as consultants in departments such as special programme implementation, environment, climate change, and the forest department, all on contract basis. They alleged that even the project monitoring units are managed by consultants. 

“Govt tendency to take policy decisions on the advice of consultants, ignoring work of employees, is against social justice,” the TNSA stated in its complaint. The association contended that the previous AIADMK regime had employed a few retired officials, mostly IAS officers, as consultants, in a limited manner. They argued, however, that the current regime appointed consultants without any guidelines. The increasing appointment of consultants by state govt ‘silently’ contradicts its own ‘Dravidian model’ governance, particularly in light of DMK's opposition to recruitment of lateral entrants in Central services, which was deemed against social justice, it said. 

Taking to X, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss questioned the process of appointing specialists for the mission management unit for drug-free Tamil Nadu, noting the absence of reservation.

‘Family invested ₹9 crore in Lankan entity’

‘Family invested ₹9 crore in Lankan entity’ 

‘TRANSFERRED AMONG FAMILY’ 

Even as the appeal was pending, ED proceeded with the investigation, and the matter was taken up by the adjudicating authority. It accused them of acquiring Singapore foreign shares and transferring them among Jagathrakshakan’s family members in violation of FEMA. “The family invested around ₹9 crore in a Sri Lankan entity,” ED said. During the investigation, Jagathrakshakan approached Madras high court questioning the ED adjudicating authority’s power to proceed with the investigation when the competent authority had set aside the seizure order.

 However, the court said the competent authority’s order would not interfere with the adjudicating authority’s power and in July this year dismissed appeals filed by Jagathrakshakan. 

Armed with the high court order, ED expedited the adjudicating proceedings. Since charges against Jagathrakshakan and others were proved, the adjudicating authority has levied a penalty of ₹908 crore apart from confiscating the assets seized in 2020.

FEMA violation: ED slaps ₹908cr fine on DMK MP Chennai : The adjudicating authority of Enforcement Directorate (ED) has imposed a penalty of ₹908 crore on DMK Lok Sabha member S Jagathrakshakan and his family members under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). 

The central agency had charged them in 2021 for violations of various FEMA provisions including their investment of ₹42 crore in a Singapore-based shell company. Their immovable proper ties worth ₹89.19 crore, which were seized in 2020, have been confiscated now. In 2020, ED had conducted an investigation under FEMA against Jagathrakshakan, his family members and their Indian entity. While the competent authority set aside the order the same year, ED approached the appellate tribunal

Twin tunnels to be ready by Dec ’26 To Operate Driverless Trains

Twin tunnels to be ready by Dec ’26 To Operate Driverless Trains 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 29.08.2024 

 Chennai : Twin tunnels to operate driverless metro trains from Venugopal Nagar near Madhavaram to Kellys near Purasaiwalkam are likely to be ready by Dec 2026. The 18-km stretch, constructed by Tata Projects, is part of the 45.4 km Madhavaram Milk Colony-Siruseri Sipcot corridor-3 of the 116.1km phase-2. 

On Wednesday, on the sidelines of the launch of anupskilling programme, K Ramesh, project directorCMRL, Tata Projects, said a 7.5km tunnel was completed and seven tunnel boring machines are at work between Venugopal Nagar and Kellys. “We have completed more than 60% of work inclu-ding diaphragm walls of three stations and work on the fourth is nearing completion. By Dec 2026, we will complete tunnelling. We may take another six months to complete other work and the project.” The stretch where tun-nels have been built includes Venugopal Nagar to Madhavaram Milk Colony, Madhavaram Milk Colony to Madhavaram High Road, Aynavaram to Otteri and Aynavaram to Perambur. While TBMs are being operated between Madhavaram High Road and Moolakadai, tunnelling from Purasaiwalkam shopping hub to Kellys will begin in two weeks. “We have hired international experts who are advising us on cutting tools we can use, ways to operate machines and parameters to maintain in each location based on the geology,” he added. 

Tata Projects’ upskilling initiative involves comprehensive training, accreditedcertification, and financial support to make workers experts and improve their employability. On completion, workers will receive certificates, diplomas and degrees accredited by Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) and Kalinga University. The company has nearly 3,000 people working for CMRL. “Our programme is not just an investment in our employees; it’s an investment in the future of the construction industry. It’s a testament to our commitment to their professional growth and well-being, ensuring they have skills and support needed to advance their careers,” said Ritesh Pratap Singh, CHRO, Tata Project

Madras Medical College among 6 institutions selected for ICMR’s research project

Madras Medical College among 6 institutions selected for ICMR’s research project

Research studies are concentrated in urban areas. This project aims to take research to the rural parts of the region

E. Theranirajan,

Dean of MMC and RGGGH

The Hindu Bureau

 

CHENNAI 29.08.2024 

Madras Medical College (MMC) is among the six institutions selected for the ICMR Centre for Advanced Research (CAR): Rural Healthcare Transformation (RAHAT) project.

E. Theranirajan, dean of MMC and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, said that this project was to facilitate research activities in rural areas. “Research studies are concentrated in urban areas. This project aims at taking research to the rural parts through medical students and postgraduates, including those from the Department of Community Medicine,” he said.

Once the initial formalities, including entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) are completed, further discussion on research proposals and feasibility will be held, he said, adding: “This is a three-year project. We will look at what area-specific studies can be taken up.”

As per the MoU, the current study was aimed at developing, implementing, and evaluating a scaleable and sustainable rural healthcare model, known as “Smart Village” initiative.

This model will integrate digital health solutions and community engagement to enhance healthcare access, improve health outcomes and build research capacity in rural India.

ED slaps ₹908 crore in penalty on Jagathrakshakan for violation of foreign exchange rules

ED slaps ₹908 crore in penalty on Jagathrakshakan for violation of foreign exchange rules

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI  29.08.2024 

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has imposed a penalty of ₹908 crore on S. Jagathrakshakan, the DMK MP from Arakkonam, for violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The ED passed the order on Monday. It was based on an order dated September 11, 2020, issued under Section 37A of FEMA, for the seizure of properties held in the names of Mr. Jagathrakshakan and his family members, valued at ₹89.19 crore.

In a press release, the ED said that the penalty was levied after the Madras High Court dismissed the writ appeals of Mr. Jagathrakshakan through an order dated July 23. On November 30 last year, the court refused to interfere in the functioning of the ED, which had followed due process while serving show-cause notices on Mr. Jagathrakshakan and his family members on December 22, 2021.

The ED had charged Mr. Jagathrakshakan and his family members with violation of provisions of FEMA, especially in the investment of ₹42 crore in a shell company incorporated in Singapore in 2017, and acquisition/holding of Singapore shares and their transfer among the family. The ED also found violations of the Act in the investment of ₹9 crore in a Sri Lankan entity.