NEWS TODAY 3.9.2024

 

Sidda’s office spends ₹54L/mth on social media, reveals RTI reply

Sidda’s office spends ₹54L/mth on social media, reveals RTI reply

Sandeep.Moudgal@timesofindia.com 

Bengaluru : Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s office spends nearly Rs 54 lakh per month to maintain his social media accounts, both official and personal, according to an RTI reply. RTI activist Marlinga Gowda Mali Patil said he had filed his plea after he heard the costs were “hefty” at a time “development work had come to a standstill” due to alleged lack of funds and the Congress govt struggled to pay contractors for work in various departments. CMO officials confirmed Siddaramaiah’s social media expenditure while pointing out that the sum was far less than the over Rs 2 crore per month previous CMs had spent on this head. According to the reply to Patil from Karnataka State Marketing Communication and Advertising Ltd (MCA) — a wholly owned govt entity — the CMO spent close to Rs 3 crore from Oct 25 last year to March 2024. 

The details showed the CMO paid around Rs 53.9 lakh every month, including 18% GST. The payments were made to The Policy Front, a company which handles Siddaramaiah’s accounts with a dedicated team of around 35.

Let the young lead, let the old guide Let the young lead, let the old guide

Let the young lead, let the old guide  Let the young lead, let the old guide 

STORYBOARD ARUN RAM 2.9.24 

What happens when a 73-year-old makes fun of an 86-year-old over his age? Mostly laughter, but when actor Rajinikanth took a swipe at Tamil Nadu water resources minister Duraimurugan, it triggered a spat. Speaking as the chief guest at the release of the book ‘Kalaignar Ennum Thaai’ by Tamil Nadu PWD minister E V Velu, Rajini likened Stalin to a class teacher handling old students who refuse to leave the class even after getting high ranks. What could’ve ended as a playful jibe turned serious when the actor took Duraimurugan’s name. Prodded by reporters later, Duraimurugan hit back, saying some old actors with falling teeth are refusing to leave the profession, denying youngsters better opportunities. 

The two have since patched up saying they are good friends, but what Rajini said about super seniors refusing to make way for the next generation is a topic of an old debate that remains young in not just politics and movies. So, should old people move out to give space to the young?

 Well, yes and no. Seniors should indeed let younger people rise to leadership roles, but it isn’t necessary that the older ones stop working. Spain and Italy have retirement ages fixed at 66 and 67. In the US, the number of 65-plus workers doubled between 1988 and 2023. India has one of the lowest retirement ages in the world. Here, govt employees retire between the age of 56 (for the old pension scheme) and 60 (for the new pension scheme). It isn’t very different in the private sector, though ‘critical resources’ remain at work as consultants for long (a policy that the govt, too, has of high courts demit office at 62, and Supreme Court judges at 65. 

In the US, it’s the other way around: Judges of the appellate courts in 32 states (and the district of Columbia) retire at 70, but trial courts have a much higher retirement age; some of them have none. 

Cameroon president Paul Biya at 91 isn’t the best example of geriatric excellence, but at least 10 heads of state in the world are in their late 80s, probably the youngest among them being 83-year-old Italian president Sergio Mattarella. Being young or old hasn’t proved to be an asset in Indian politics. The oldest person to be elected President of India was K R Narayanan at 77; Droupadi Murmu was the youngest to be elected President in 2022 when she was 64. Morarji Desai, who became Prime Minister at 81, was not the best for the job; neither was Rajiv Gandhi, who was 40 when he took over after Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984. 

We need to get used to the idea of youngsters with new ideas leading seniors with experience. Elders can remain advisors without veto powers (there will be exceptions such as Warren Buffett, who remains the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at 94). In Indian politics, the older one gets the more difficult it becomes to remove the veteran from positions of power. In movies, if an older actor such as Rajini still keeps the box office ringing – and fans cheering – why not let the septuagenarian knight in shining armour rescue the damsel in distress? 

And when a younger hero emerges, let the market decide the fate of the older. History shows how those who play age-suitable roles don’t just age gracefully but also shine in the twilight. What we need in all fields is a judicious mix of experience and enterprise, erudition and energy, young and old. As the 2015 Hollywood movie ‘The Intern’ (Robert De Niro plays the 70-year-old protagonist) drives home, experience never gets old. But senility does._ arun.ram @timesofindia.com

Ayurvedic practitioner poses as doc, arrested

Ayurvedic practitioner poses as doc, arrested 

Chennai : Police on Sunday arrested an ayurvedic practitioner who posed as an MBBS doctor and prescribed allopathic medicines to patients. Health department officials received a tip-off about an illegal clinic in Krishna Nagar 1st street, Ponniammanmedu, after which a team checked the ‘doctor’s’ credentials and found them to be fake. Police said the accused, Manimaran, was a Class VIII dropout. 

He was trained in ayurveda but prescribed allopathic medicines, posing as an MBBS doctor. Health department officials sealed the clinic and filed a complaint with Madhavaram police station three days ago. Learning that police were onto him, Manimaran hid at a friend’s house in Poonamallee, from where he was arrested on Sunday. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.tnn

Brief spells of rain hit city BRACE FOR MORE RAIN

Brief spells of rain hit city  BRACE FOR MORE RAIN 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  02.09.2024 

Chennai : After a hot and dry Aug, parts of the city and suburbs, including OMR, ECR, Tambaram, Nanmangalam, and Chengalpet, experienced brief rain spells on Sunday. As the city enters Sept, more rain is expected, according to Regional Meteorological Centre. Rainfall on Sunday included 6.1mm at Pallikaranai (NIOT), 6mm at Sairam Institution in Chengalpet, and 4mm at Sathyabama University in Kanchipuram. Strong surface winds of 30 kmph-40 kmph were also observed. Regional Meteorological Centre predicts that over the next 48 hours, Chennai will have partly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in some areas. 

The maximum temperature is expected to range between 35°C and 36°C, with the minimum likely 27°C to 28°C. On Sunday, Nungambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 35°C. For the upcoming week, light to moderate rain is forecast at isolated locations across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. This pattern is expected to continue from Sept 1 through 7, with the first two days of the month likely to see thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas, said N Senthamarai Kannan, director of the regional weather forecasting centre at IMD. 

Rain activity in Chennai remained below average for Aug, with the Nungambakkam observatory recording only 7cm of rainfall, compared to the average of 13cm. However, since June 1, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam observatories have recorded 48cm and 57cm of rainfall, respectively, which is 18cm and 25cm above normal.

College dropouts fuel student narcotics network

College dropouts fuel student narcotics network 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai : College dropouts have been key players in drawing younger students into narcotics use and trade near SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) in Tambaram, say investigators after Saturday’s drug bust. These dropouts targeted students, luring them with cheaper prices for ganja and connecting them to peddlers in states such as Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Students would bring ganja back by train whenever they returned from their hometowns, discreetly distributing small quantities among peers. 

An investigating officer from Tambaram police said the influence of these dropouts normalised drug use among students. Police found hookah pipes and related equipment in 90% of the flats raided on Satuday. Acting on a tip-off, Tambaram city police commissioner Abhin Dinesh Modak ordered the raid on flats predominantly occupied by students. More than 1,000 police per sonnel conducted searches across 500 flats, seizing ganja and other narcotic substances. 

The operation led to the registration of 20 cases and the arrest of 21 individuals, including 11 students from SRMIST and Selvamani, a 29-year-old history-sheeter. Of the 21 arrested, 11 students were released on bail, while the others, including Selvamani, were remanded in judicial custody. Police have urged college authorities to monitor student activities closely and report any suspicious behaviour. They stressed the need for stricter oversight to protect vulnerable students from addiction and criminal influences.

New MBBS curriculum fails to protect rights of disabled, LGBTQ+, says activists

New MBBS curriculum fails to protect rights of disabled, LGBTQ+, says activists

The revised MBBS curriculum proposed by the National Medical Council (NMC) has sparked controversy.

Kavita Bajeli-Datt

Updated on:01 Sep 2024, 11:06 p

NEW DELHI: The MBBS students in the 2024 course will be taught that sodomy and lesbianism are unnatural sexual offences and transvestism is a sexual perversion along with fetishism, voyeurism, sadism, necrophagia, masochism, exhibitionism, frotteurism and necrophilia.

The revised MBBS curriculum proposed by the National Medical Council (NMC) has sparked controversy, with activists arguing that it does not adequately safeguard the rights of individuals with disabilities and those who identify as LGBTQ.

Dr Satendra Singh, a prominent disability activist, has expressed his dismay with the revised guidelines, arguing that they have regressed the progress made in recent years towards the inclusion of people with disabilities and LGBTQ rights.

Speaking with this paper, Dr Singh, who is also a Director Professor of the Department of Physiology, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi, said, “The MBBS curriculum for 2024 is a significant letdown in social responsibility."

"With great difficulty and judicial advocacy, we succeeded in including disability and LGBTQ rights in the new competency-based medical education curriculum.”

However, the current revision has undone all of our hard work and the statutory provisions of disability and transgender legislation, he said, adding that the NMC has violated the Transgender Persons Protection Act 2019.

“The future Indian medical graduate must be socially accountable, not someone trained in outdated and archaic concepts,” Dr Singh said and highlighted the absence of healthcare professionals from the LGBTQIA+ community in the NMC committee addressing queer issues.

He also added that the NMC has suddenly removed the seven hours of disability competencies from the foundation course, which was heralded as best practice globally. This violates Section 39 (2)(f) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 mandating the inclusion of the rights of disabled in the curriculum of universities, colleges and schools.

The NMC took note of LGBTQ rights only after reprimands from the Madras and Kerala high courts. Following the rap, NMC issued directives to all medical universities to refrain from endorsing materials containing unscientific, derogatory, or discriminatory content regarding the LGBTQ community.

However, activists said, the updated guidelines have failed to incorporate earlier suggestions to ensure the curriculum is inclusive and supports LGBTQ individuals.

Dr Singh has now submitted requests for information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, highlighting the need for transparency in the discussions and decision-making process behind the new guidelines.

Despite submitting multiple recommendations to the NMC to incorporate best practices, the latest revisions could be much better, argued activists.

Dr Prof (Dr) Aqsa Shaikh, Professor of Community Medicine, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, said, “NMC had itself issued the new curriculum for forensic medicine and weeded out queerphobic content from the medical curriculum after being directed by Madras High Court.”

“But in the latest edition of its guidelines, it still seems to be frozen in time in pre- 377 abrogation era and calling sexual acts like anal sex, oral sex as unnatural sexual offences, and adultery as crime and transvestism as a sexual fetish,” Dr Shaikh, who identified herself as a transgender woman, told this paper.

“This is ridiculous and the only way to undo harm is for NMC to issue an urgent corrigendum to correct this blunder. This is highly insulting to the marginalised LGBTQIA+ Indian community and contempt of court,” she said.

What’s needed is a collaborative review of the curriculum to weed out all the queerphobic content and make the curriculum more inclusive for queer people so that future medicos are competent to care for the health of LGBTQIA+ patients, she said.

“The 470-page document defeats the purpose and adds insult to the injury done by the queerphobic medical education system and healthcare system,” Dr Shaikh added.

NMC CBME Guidelines 2024: Clinical training will follow the learner-doctor method throughout all phases.

NMC CBME Guidelines 2024: Clinical training will follow the learner-doctor method throughout all phases.

NDTV  2.9.24

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) Curriculum Guidelines 2024. These guidelines mark a significant update to the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER), initially introduced in 1997 and revised in 2023.

The new guidelines aim to enhance medical education by incorporating feedback from five years of CBME implementation. They focus on making education more learner-centric, patient-oriented, and aligned with global standards. The curriculum emphasizes integrating subjects both horizontally and vertically, shifting from broad competencies to specific end-of-phase subject competencies.

Key features of the updated guidelines include:

Ethical and Communication Skills: The introduction of a dedicated longitudinal program, 'AETCOM' (Attitude, Ethics, and Communication), aims to enhance ethical values, responsiveness to patient needs, and communication skills.

Holistic Education: The curriculum seeks to produce graduates proficient in preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative care, addressing emerging healthcare issues and adapting to advancements in science and technology.

National and Institutional Goals: The guidelines outline national goals for Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs), including fulfilling social obligations, understanding health policies, and developing a scientific temper. Institutional goals focus on creating competent professionals capable of managing various health problems and working effectively in healthcare teams.

The revised curriculum also addresses:

Competency-Based Training: Graduates are expected to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of human health, ethical principles, and national health policies. They must be skilled in patient history taking, physical examination, and clinical problem-solving.

Leadership and Teamwork: Emphasis is placed on working effectively within healthcare teams and leading efforts to improve healthcare delivery and patient safety.

Communication: The curriculum underscores the importance of clear, compassionate communication with patients, families, and colleagues.

Eligibility Criteria for Professional Examinations

To qualify for professional examinations, students must meet the following requirements:

Attendance:Theory: A minimum of 75% attendance is required in theory classes.

Practical/Clinical: At least 80% attendance is necessary in practical and clinical sessions.

For subjects taught across multiple phases, students must achieve 75% attendance in theory and 80% in practicals for each phase.

AETCOM: Students must maintain 75% attendance in AETCOM and 80% attendance in family visits as part of the Family Adoption Program, with each student required to adopt at least three, preferably five, families.

In cases where an exam covers multiple subjects (e.g., General Surgery and its allied branches), a minimum of 75% attendance is required for each subject and its related branches, with 80% attendance needed for each clinical posting.

Students lacking at least 75% attendance in electives will not be eligible for the Third Professional - Part II examination or NExT.

Internal Assessment (IA):

Internal assessment is based on daily performance, including assignments, seminar preparation, clinical case presentations, problem-solving exercises, and community health projects.

Format: Both subjective and objective evaluations are included. IA scores are reported separately from summative assessments and are listed in a distinct column on the marks card.

Marks Distribution:

General Medicine: IA is divided across phases: Phase II (50 marks), Phase III Part I (50 marks), and Phase III Part II (100 marks) with subdivisions in Medicine (75 marks), Psychiatry (13 marks), and Dermatology (12 marks).

General Surgery: IA is divided into Phase II (25 marks), Phase III Part I (25 marks), and Phase III Part II (150 marks) with subdivisions in General Surgery (75 marks), Orthopedics (50 marks), Anesthesia (13 marks), and Radiodiagnosis (12 marks).

Forensic Medicine and Toxicology: IA consists of 25 marks in Phase II and 75 marks in Phase III Part I, totaling 100 marks for theory and practical.

Community Medicine: IA is distributed as 25 marks in Phase I, 25 marks in Phase II, and 50 marks in Phase III Part I, totaling 100 marks for theory and practical.

Ophthalmology and ENT: IA is divided into 25 marks in Phase II and 75 marks in Phase III Part I, totaling 100 marks for theory and practical for each subject.

Passing Criteria:

Overall: Candidates must achieve a cumulative score of 50% in university-conducted exams, including both theory and practicals.

Separate Sections: A minimum of 40% must be obtained in both theory and practical sections individually. For subjects with two papers, students must secure at least 40% in aggregate across both papers.

NMC withdraws nod for private med college, TN loses 100 seats

NMC withdraws nod for private med college, TN loses 100 seats

The selection committee of the Directorate of Medical Education is attempting to find ways to accommodate them in other colleges.

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The last-minute notice by the National Medical Commission (NMC) about the withdrawal of permission to 100 MBBS seats in the new Kanniyakumari Madras Medical Mission Research Centre has put the state government in a fix. Under the 7.5% reservation category, five government school students have already taken up admission in said college. The selection committee of the Directorate of Medical Education is attempting to find ways to accommodate them in other colleges.

The NMC withdrew the permission following a writ petition filed before the New Delhi High Court against the college and its trust, alleging that the land on which the building is constructed is disputed. Further, it put on hold, the letter of permission to the college dated July 4.

The NMC told the selection committee to ensure that students are not admitted to the college during the ongoing counselling until further communication. The 100 seats in the college comprise 60 government quota seats, 30 management and five under the 7.5% quota.

The selection committee said that since the counselling is being conducted online, students in the general category will be offered seats in other colleges. As per the committee’s revised seat matrix, there are 6,630 MBBS government seats and 1,683 BDS seats in the state. Under the 7.5% quota, 496 MBBS seats and 126 BDS seats are available.

Thesis approval not a must for postgraduate medical students to sit in exams, says NMC

Thesis approval not a must for postgraduate medical students to sit in exams, says NMC  

The move is aimed at curbing mental health issues and alleged harassment, besides easing work pressure

Priyanka Sharma

Published30 Aug 2024, 06:11 PM IST

The May survey of 5,337 postgraduate students revealed that around 51.8% of respondents faced challenges regarding their thesis-related work, while 11.6% experienced exploitation.(Mint)

New Delhi: India’s top medical education regulator has said that the approval and acceptance of thesis is not mandatory for students to appear in the final postgraduate examination—a move aimed at curbing mental health issues and ease work pressure.

Students will submit their thesis to the university through the head of department (HoD) and dean of the medical college, according to a letter Dr Vijay Oza, president of the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), wrote to medical colleges.

“The student cannot be prevented from appearing in the examination if he has not obtained approval of thesis from HoD,” said the letter reviewed by Mint.

The regulator’s directions are aimed at addressing concerns about mental health and alleged harassment of postgraduate medical students by HoDs. There have been incidents of students dying by suicide in Dehradun, Patiala and Bhopal. The NMC’s bid to ease pressure on students also comes in the backdrop of the ongoing agitation by the medical education community over the rape and murder of a young female doctor in Kolkata.

The PGMEB reminded medical colleges about the requirement to complete the final postgraduation examination by 31 December.

In a meeting with representatives from various health universities in July, the regulator was apprised of concerns about the dissertation and thesis being a prerequisite for appearing in the final examination for the postgraduation batch of 2021.

The regulator had clarified that, according to the provisions of Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023, all specialty and super-specialty students will conduct and write a thesis based on research.

“The thesis now accounts for 5% of the total marks in the clinical/practical and viva voce components, meaning 20 marks out of the total marks allocated for these components are reserved for the thesis,” Dr Oza wrote in the latest letter.

Earlier, there were no marks for thesis, but approval by the HoD or dean was a prerequisite to appear in the final examination. A student whose thesis was not approved couldn’t take the examination.

“External examiner outside the state will evaluate the thesis and take viva voce on it and marks will be given on quality of thesis and performance on its viva voce,” the letter said, adding that this change in the guidelines will help with the quality of thesis-related research work.

Mental health worries

Mint earlier reported about 15.3% of the postgraduate medical students suffer from mental health disorders, with 31.2% found to have considered suicide, according to a survey conducted by the NMC.

The May survey of 5,337 postgraduate students revealed that around 51.8% of respondents faced challenges regarding their thesis-related work, while 11.6% experienced exploitation.

About 8.2% students reported delays in thesis submission by their guides, which can contribute to increased stress and potentially impact their academic progress; 7.5% encountered requests for data manipulation, suggesting ethical concerns within certain thesis supervisory relationships.

The most common request was for better faculty guidance with 36.5% asking for it, followed by the desire to remove thesis altogether (23.4%). About 20.8% students desired extra time to complete their thesis and 12.7% sought financial support.

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.