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Wednesday, October 9, 2024

NEWS TODAY 08.10.2024

Govt doctors protest biometric attendance amid staff shortage

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 09.10.2024

Chennai : Opposing govt’s decision to implement biometric attendance, a govt doctors’ association in Tamil Nadu has written to the chief secretary, saying that this measure is discriminatory and unfair, especially when doctors are understaffed and overburdened across govt hospitals. Earlier, the state health department had asked all hospitals under the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and the Directorate of Medical Services (DMS) to purchase instruments for attendance through facial recognition and had asked all doctors to download software on their mobile phones.

According to the Indian Public Health Standards, Tamil Nadu needs 30,000 doctors in govt hospitals. “The sanctioned post is only 20,000, and among these, 4,000 posts are vacant. This means we are working with just 50% of the strength,” said service and post graduate doctors association state secretary, Dr A Ramalingam. In his letter to chief secretary N Muruganandam, the association said, “Because of severe manpower shortages, govt doctors are compelled to do 24-hour duty, risking the lives of both themselves and the public.” In addition, doctors are being pushed to generate revenue through the state health insurance scheme, which was introduced in 2009 for the benefit of patients, he said.

Despite severe staff shortage, doctors have ensured Tamil Nadu remains atop performer in healthcare services, he said. If the govt wants biometric attendance, it must increase sanctioned posts and implement a shift system to reduce burden on doctors and ensure adequate rest, he said. The association said biometric attendance should not be imposed solely on doctors but should include all staff, including secretarial and administrative staff at the hospital.

NGO seeks information on yoga course, receives RTI reply in Hindi

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 09.10.2024

Chennai : Can yoga and naturopathy graduates be registered under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine and be allowed to practise medicine when the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act 2020 does not include the course in its schedule? On Aug 5, the convenor of a Chennai-based NGO, Arappor Iyakkam, Jayaram Venkatesan, sought a copy of the national and state register of licensed medical practitioners of the Indian system of medicine from Tamil Nadu under the RTI Act.

“I wanted to know if the commission, a statutory body, is the apex body regulating the practice and education of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa (AUS&SR) allows registra-tion of yoga and naturopathy graduates,” he said. While students joining undergraduate courses in Ayurveda, Unani, or Siddha must have cleared NEET, students are admitted to yoga and naturopathy courses based on merit in Class XII marks. When these students graduate, they are registered in the registry of Indian medicine. “Without registration, candidates will not be allowed to practise medicine.

We want to know under what law they are being registered,” he told TOI. A month later, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicinelaw office and central public information officer Gyanendra Narayan Sah sent a two-point reply written in Hindi. First, he said national registration numbers have not been provided to Tamil Nadu. He also added that data received from Tamil Nadu is third party information and cannot be shared. “The central govt denying this information, that too in Hindi, is highly condemnable.

When a question is asked in English, the reply must be in English. Several courts have said this already,” Jayaram said. As a mark of protest, Arappor Iyakkam filed its first appeal to the same department in Tamil on Tuesday. “I am hoping to hear information. Students joining such courses and patients going to these doctors must know if the course is recognised,” he said

NEWS TODAY 7.10.2024

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Four government officials booked for obtaining TNPSC appointments using fake quota certificates

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 08.10.2024

Four government officials in the ranks of Revenue Divisional Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Assistant Commissioner, State Taxes, have been booked by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for having allegedly received appointments under the 20% reservation for Persons Studied Through Tamil Medium (PSTM) using fake certificates from Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU).

The first information report (FIR) filed on October 3 identified the accused as S. Swapna, 34, Assistant Commissioner (State Taxes), Madurai; N.A. Chanheetha, 40, Personal Assistant (General) to District Collector, Coimbatore; K.C. Sathish Kumar, 40, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Attur Sub-Division, Salem; and M. Kalaivani, 37, Revenue Divisional Officer, Kancheepuram, and former DSP.

Two officials of MKU — R. Sathiamoorthi, 62, former Senior Superintendent, and K. Purushothaman, 59, Superintendent, SC/ST Cell and former UG Course Section, Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) — and three other individuals have also been booked for cheating and forgery, and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The three individuals have been identified as A. Murali, 40, an administrator, and R. Narayana Prabhu, 41, a programme officer of Life Educational Trust, Theni; and A. Rajendran, co-ordinator of Sethupathi Institute of Higher Studies, Coimbatore.

In October 2020, the Principal Secretary to the Department of Higher Education had ordered the DVAC to conduct an inquiry into certain allegations against the DDE of MKU.

The following month, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had ordered the DVAC to probe irregularities in the conduct of examinations and the issuance of PSTM certificates by MKU with reference to appointments made by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) through the combined Civil Services Examination, Group-I.

The probe by DVAC Deputy Superintendent of Police M. Sathyaseelan into 22 candidates revealed that four of them had submitted PSTM certificates issued by MKU to TNPSC for appointments during 2012-2019.

The four Group-I officers, who had studied different undergraduate courses such as BA Tamil, BA History, and B. Com through DDE of MKU, had not paid the admission fee at the time of their admission, which is mandatory. Besides, they had passed all the papers in a single sitting.

The PSTM certificates issued to the four candidates were, therefore, found not to be genuine.

Monday, October 7, 2024

Govt extends OPS benefits to 60k employees in state

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 07.10.2024

Gandhinagar : The state cabinet, which met on Sunday afternoon, granted an in-principle approval to extend the benefits of the old pension scheme to 60,245 govt employees appointed on fixed pay before April 1, 2005. State govt spokesperson Rushikesh Patel said that a notification in this regard will be issued shortly.

The decision will cost the state exchequer Rs 200 crore, he added. Patel said that the decision was taken after a three-member committee of ministers held several rounds of talks with employee unions over the past weeks. “The appointment orders of fixed pay employees appointed before April 1, 2005, clearly said that they were not eligible for benefits for the first five years of their service and that the period of benefits will commence after completion of five years. The govt has adopted a sympathetic approach and has decided to provide them benefits according to the old pension scheme (OPS),” Patel said.

He added that these benefits will also be applicable for employees whose recruitment process was completed before April 1, 2005, but whose appointment was delayed because of administrative reasons. Patel said that employee unions also made demands to implement higher travel allo- wance at the time of transfer and retirement as per the 7th Pay Commission. Additionally, representations were received to provide charge allowance, currently given at 5% or 10% of the basic pay, according to the 7th Pay Commission, to revise the rates of travel and daily allowances, and to increase the amount of retirement and death gratuity. “All these demands have been given inprinciple approval,” Patel said.

The Congress said that the state govt has been forced to announce the benefits for fixed pay employees. Party spokesperson Manish Doshi said that the Congress has been demanding that the fixed pay system should be abolished, as it amounts to financial exploitation of employees. “Govt employees are being exploited under the garb of fixed pay and contract systems,” Doshi said.

This Diwali, stay safe from scams too. Fake Sites Target Shoppers

Ram.Sundaram@timesofindia.com 07.10.2024

Chennai : Supreme Court may have banned retailing of firecrackers online, but social media is awash in advertisements by fraudulent websites targeting Diwali shoppers. These scammers offer fireworks, at ₹2,000-₹3,000 per piece, with discounts of 80%-95%, showing videos of branded sky crackers and fancy fireworks. “A customer placing an order is given a UPI ID, QR code, or bank details to make an online payment and assured crackers will be delivered within a week. When questioned on delayed deliveries, the scamsters cite high demand. Within a few days, they shut the websites, switch off contact numbers, and vanish,” said Raja Chandrasekaran, President of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Fireworks Traders

In several cases, scammers not only disappear with the customers’ money, but also drain their accounts. “Many customers, hoping to recover their money, approach us for help. However, these sellers are not legitimate and don't even have a GST number, let alone the required fire licences,” he said. Some fraudsters deliver inferior quality firecrackers instead of branded ones that are promised. Madurai resident R Chidambaram who was scammed into paying ₹6,000 said, “What I received was nothing like what they advertised.” Such rampant fraud has forced GST authorities in Madurai to conduct surprise inspections. In one instance, they seized a truckload of substandard fire crackers without proper documentation. Legitimate fireworks traders, such as N Elangovan, blame licence delays for pushing customers towards online scams.

“Issuing timely licences will let traders sell locally, reducing fraud,” he said. Permanent licence renewals in districts such as Tiruvallur, Cuddalore and Ariyalur have been pending for weeks. Temporary licences in places such as Madurai and Coimbatore close just a week before Diwali. “By then, quality firecrackers from Sivakasi, the state's manufacturing hub, would be sold out, leaving traders with limited business opportunities and buyers vulnerable to online scams,” he said

SC rips into Punjab governmentʼs decision to expand the ambit ofNRI quota in MBBS admissions as ʻmoney-spinningʼ mechanism:

Is it a warning shot for other states too?

On September 24, the Supreme Court of India rejected the Punjab government's expansion of the NRI quota for MBBS admissions, deeming it a "fraud on the education system." The court criticized the last-minute criteria changes, highlighting that it undermined merit. This ruling may influence similar NRI quota discussions in states like Karnataka and Telangana, emphasizing fairness in medical admissions.

TOI Education Sep 26, 2024, 21:27 IST

On Tuesday, September 24, the Supreme Court of India shot down the Punjab governmentʼs decision to extend the 15% NRI quota for MBBS admissions to 'wards' of NRIs. The Apex court described this decision as a ʻfraud on the education system to mint moneyʼ. A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra dismissed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governmentʼs petition against the Punjab and Haryana High Courtʼs ruling quashing the governmentʼs notification that amended the conditions for admissions under the NRI quota for MBBS courses.

The NRI quota in MBBS in India comprises a set of reserved seats in medical colleges for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO).The percentage of seats reserved for this quota varies by state and college, but typically around 15% of the seats are allocated for the NRI quota. Some of the eligibility criteria for the NRI quota are as follows:

NRI Quota in MBBS: Punjab Government's Controversial Decision On August 20, the Punjab government issued a notification regarding the expanded ambit of the NRI quota to include distant relatives, such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins, for admission under the 15% quota in medical colleges. According to reports, the notice stated, “NRIs or their children, who originally belong to Punjab and any Indian state or Union Territory, are eligible for NRI quota seats. If any NRI seats are left vacant, the wards or nearest relatives of the NRI shall also be considered for the NRI quota seats.” Furthermore, the notification defined who would be considered “nearest relations.” According to the notice, the definition of nearest relations includes: The aspirant must be of Indian origin and settled in a foreign country. Children of Indian citizens living abroad for business or employment are eligible. Candidates born abroad whose parents are of Indian descent can apply. Candidates must reside abroad and possess NRI status. Candidates residing in a foreign country must have completed their 10th and 12th standard examinations in that country.

Real brothers and sisters of the father (i.e., uncles and aunts) Real brothers and sisters of the mother (i.e., maternal uncles and aunts) Grandfathers and grandmothers (paternal) Grandfathers and grandmothers (maternal) First paternal and maternal cousins of the candidate seeking admission. Supreme Court Slams Punjab's NRI Quota Expansion as 'Backdoor Entryʼ In August, several candidates from the general category, seeking admission after NRI quota seats were left vacant, approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the AAP governmentʼs notification. The High Court ruled in their favour, labelling the notification as “unjustified.”

Subsequently, candidates seeking to benefit from the expanded ambit of the NRI quota brought the issue before the Supreme Court, as per a media report. The Supreme Court criticized the Punjab government for its notification amending the conditions for admissions under the NRI quota, describing it as “just a money-spinning device by the state.” The bench expressed strong disapproval of the last-minute expansion of the criteria for the NRI quota after the deadline for application submissions, emphasizing that it created a “moneyspinning” mechanism.

According to a TNN report, the bench stated, “Consider the terms ʻnearest relativesʼ and ʻwardsʼ of NRIs. Anyone could be considered a nearest relative, even a third cousin. And what did the government mean by ʻward of an NRIʼ? Anyone and everyone can be termed a ward of an NRI, and the only proof required is an affidavit from the person residing abroad.” The Apex Court further added, “These are all backdoor entries, and this is nothing but a money-spinning device for the government. It must be stopped.” During the ruling, the Apex Court noted that a general category student with 630 out of 700 marks would not receive a seat, while an NRI ward with just 200 marks could gain admission. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) stated that the Punjab and Haryana High Court bench, led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, had rendered the correct judgment.

“Let us put a lid on this whole fraud in the name of NRI quota seats. This expanded meaning of the NRI quota is nothing but a fraud on the medical education system. After the last date of submission of application forms, the Punjab government expanded the NRI quota seat eligibility criteria. General category candidates having three times the marks of an NRI ward will lose out because of this. The court should not lend its authority to this patent fraud," said the CJI.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/sc-rips-into-punjab-governments-decision-to-expand-the-ambit-of-nri-quota-in-mbbs-admissions-as-money-spinning-mechanism-is-it-a-warning-shot-for-other-states-too/articleshow/113705256.cms

Supreme Court Terms NRI Quota in Admission as “Complete Fraud”

Breaking Education Law

By Sib Kumar Das On Sep 24, 2024 at 3:06 PM

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the NRI quota system in college admissions was nothing but a fraud, while dismissing the Punjab government’s appeal against a high court order that junked amended rules to avail admission to MBBS courses through this quota.

The Punjab government had, in a notification dated August 20, widened the definition of an NRI candidate and made relatives of Non-Resident Indians (NRI) eligible to seek admission to the MBBS course under this quota.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled against this notification observing that it would open the door for potential misuse.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, “You are saying the nearest relation of NRI will also be considered. what is this? just a money-spinning tactic by the state.”

The bench supported the high court order.

“We must stop this NRI quota business now! This is a complete fraud. This is what we are doing to our education system,” the Chief Justice said. “Look at the result. Those who got marks three times high won’t get admission,” he added.

Justice Pardiwala said all the applicants are from India. “They are just relatives, tai (aunt), taau (uncle), chacha, chachi.”

The Chief Justice said, “What is a ward? you just have to say I am looking after X.” He said the court cannot back something that is “blatantly illegal”.

MBBS admissions: After Punjab HC’s order, BFUHS releases fresh NRI quota merit list

ByParteek Singh Mahal , Faridkot

Sep 12, 2024 06:16 AM IST

Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) drops 45% of candidates who were picked as per the amended notification issued by the state government.

After the Punjab and Haryana high court quashed the state government’s notification amending conditions to allow the nearest relatives of an NRI to be considered under the quota for admissions to MBBS courses, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) released a fresh merit list dropping more than 45% candidates.Names of 54 candidates, sponsored by NRIs, have been withdrawn by the BFUHS after the high court order. (HT File)

As per the fresh merit list released by BFUHS, a total of 66 candidates have been allotted seats under the NRI quota for admission to MBBS courses. Among them, 32 are the children of NRI, who hail from Punjab, while 34 are NRIs or children of NRIs, who originally hail from an Indian state other than Punjab.

The medical and dental colleges in Punjab offer around 185 NRI quota seats in MBBS and 196 seats in BDS, respectively. During the first round of counselling, the BFUHS allotted NRI quota MBBS seats to 120 candidates, following the amended provisions. As many as 66 were allotted to NRIs, and 54 were allotted to the kins of NRIs under the quota.

Now, the names of 54 candidates, sponsored by NRIs, have been withdrawn by the BFUHS after the high court order.

In an attempt to increase the admissions under the NRI quota seats in MBBS and BDS courses, the Punjab government had modified provisions to widen the definition of an NRI candidate allowing their nearest relatives to be considered under the quota. “Actual NRIs or their children who originally belong to the state of Punjab and actual NRIs or their children who originally belonged to an Indian state or union territories other than Punjab are eligible for NRI quota seats. If in case the seats of NRIs are left vacant after considering the above preferences then the candidates who are the ward or nearest relation of NRI shall also be considered under NRI quota seats,” reads now quashed notification.

The fee for an MBBS seat is $1,10,000 ( ₹92.3 lakh) at government and private medical colleges, while a BDS seat costs $ 44,000 ( ₹37 lakh). In Punjab, 15% of the total seats are earmarked for NRI candidates in private and government institutes. However, a large chunk of these seats remains vacant every year in the absence of eligible candidates. The vacant seats under the NRI quota are converted into general quota seats after two rounds of counselling.

While quashing state government notification, the HC observed “By broadening the definition to include distant relatives such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins, the core objective of NRI quota is undermined. This widening opens the door for potential misuse, allowing individuals who do not fall within the original intent of the policy to take advantage of these seats, potentially bypassing more deserving candidates.”