Thursday, September 26, 2019

Tangedco to suspend power on Thursday

For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Thursday (September 26) from 9 am to 5 pm in these following areas.

Published: 25th September 2019 06:28 AM |

By Express News Service

For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Thursday (September 26) from 9 am to 5 pm in these following areas. According to a statement from Tangedco, power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed.

CMBT: Annapoorna Nagar, Prakash Nagar, Annapoorni Nagar, Ponniammanmedu, Thanigasalam Nagar, EF Block, Majestic Colony, Iyyappa Nagar, Munusamy Nagar, Devaki Nagar area.
THIRUVERKADU: Thiruverkadu, Thiruverkadu Coop Nagar, Theroodum Veethi, Sivan Koil Road, Sunaracholapuram, Kasturibai Nagar, Aravind Nagar, Kamadenu Nagar, Pallikupam, Mathiravedu, PH Road, Kaveri Nagar, Ishwarya Garden, Jayalakshimi Nagar, Royal Garden, Mac Nagar, Lourdupuram, Puliambedu Road, VGN Mahalakshimi Nagar, Rajankuppam, Ponniaman Nagar.

MANJAMBAKKAM: South Telephone Colony Part, North Telephone Colony, Padmavathi Nagar, Cheliayamman Nagar, Kamban Nagar, Azees Nagar, AVM Nagar, Perumal Koil Street, Mandaveli, Telugu Colony, Ramachandra Nagar, Ramana Avenue, Krishna Nagar, JJ Nagar, Manjambakkam, Kamarajar Salai Part, VGK Nagar, Thirumurugan Nagar, Kathirvelan Street.

Power shutdown in parts of Chennai on Sept 27

As a part of routine maintenance works, Tangedo will be suspending power supply in areas like Ramapuram and Porur.

Published: 26th September 2019 05:41 AM

For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended.


By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Friday (Sept 27) from 9 am to 5 pm in these following areas. According to a statement from Tangedco, power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed. Here is the list.

PORUR: Vigneshwara nagar part, Lakshmi nagar, Himachal nagar, Rani G Nagar, Ponni nagar, Santhosh nagar, Mugalivakkam main road, Subaiya nagar, Ramachandra nagar, Sivaji nagar, Annai velankanni nagar, Madha nagar part, Balaji nagar, vijaylakshmi nagar.

RAMAPURAM: Tamil Nagar, Sabari nagar, Shanthi nagar, Anandam nagar, Kurinji nagar, Gangaiamman koil st, Naidu st, Kambar salai, Balambigai nagar, Ambal nagar.

VELACHERY EAST: V.V. Koil st, MG nagar, Tharamani 100 feet road, New colony, Seethapathy nagar, margidass road, Kogulam st.
Fake MBBS admission racket busted with arrest of three

26/09/2019, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,NOIDA

With the arrest of three men, Police on Wednesday claimed to have cracked a blind murder case and busted a fake MBBS admission racket.

The accused, held from the Zero Point on the Yamuna Expressway on Tuesday evening, were running a fake call centre named “Crack Your Career” through which they duped MBBS aspirants pan India, the police said.

A body was found near Wajidpur village on September 9 and a probe revealed the identity of the deceased as Sanjeev Rawat alias Rishi, who was an employee of “Crack Your Future” consultancy, SSP, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Vaibhav Krishna said.

“Investigation led the police to the accused men. Three of them have been arrested while four are absconding,” Mr. Krishna said.

Those arrested have been identified as Neeraj Singh alias Harendra Singh, 30, Nikhil Gaurav alias Sameer Rai, 25, and Dhirendra Kumar alias Sonal Singh, 41, he said.

“The gang had an office in Janakpuri, Delhi and one in Noida. They had gathered data of candidates aspiring for admission in prominent medical colleges. They would call up gullible candidates and offer them help with admission for a price and then vanish,” he said.
Five-year jail to ex-IAS officer for forgery

For procuring weapons by fudging documents; 81-year-old denied soft punishment.

26/09/2019, NIRNIMESH KUMAR,NEW DELHI

A Delhi court has awarded five years imprisonment to an 81-year-old retired IAS officer for procuring licensed weapons on forged documents in Nagaland in 1985. He was posted there at that time.

According to the prosecution, he had purchased these weapons after obtaining a licence by hiding the fact that he had already been issued three licences, the maximum he was entitled to under the law.

Further, he committed forgeries by making alterations in the licence to purchase two weapons and 2,000 cartridges in excess of the permission. He was licensed to purchase one weapon and 200 cartridges.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Anu Aggarwal held accused S.S. Ahluwalia guilty under Section 417 (cheating) read with Section 415 (to deceive any person to deliver a property), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) read with Section 467 (forgery) of IPC and Section 25 of Arms Act, 1959.

Counsel for the accused urged the court to award him a lenient punishment keeping in view his old age and the ailments he was suffering from. But the ACMM rejected it.

Acted contrary to law

“The convict is guilty of deliberate, calculated manipulation of the system he enjoyed a supreme position in. He, being a serving IAS officer, was duty bound to uphold the rule of law but he acted contrary and purchased weapons in contravention of the Arms Act and that too on the basis of forgery in the arms licence of which he was aware of being forged,” the ACMM said.

“He was clearly in the knowledge that his acts would lead to corrosion of the very institution of the government from within. Taking a lenient view of the convict’s covert corrupt practices will not only rob this court of its sanctity, but will also lead to public derision of the very concept of rule of law,” the ACMM said in the sentence order dismissing the plea for a soft punishment.
High Court orders counselling for boy

He wants to stay with a man of criminal antecedents

26/09/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has come across the case of a boy, under the influence of a man with criminal antecedents, who informed the court that he did not want to continue his studies and only wanted to stay with the man.

The boy told the court that if he was not allowed to do so, he would take an extreme step. However, the court also learnt of the fact that the boy had been abandoned by the man.

A Division Bench of Justices S. Vaidyanathan and N. Anand Venkatesh expressed its shock after the boy told the court that if an order to his liking was not passed, he would commit suicide. Taking into account that he was only a minor, the court said he was clearly addicted to certain habits of the man and he was not talking from his senses.

Habeas corpus plea

Hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by a relative of the boy from Tirunelveli, who sought a direction to the police to secure him, the court observed that the boy needed counselling and should be completely removed from the company of the man. The court ordered the custody of the boy to the Child Welfare Committee. There should be regular counselling and close monitoring of the boy, it said.

The court took cognisance of the fact that the man had managed to get a fake Aadhaar card for the boy, in a bid to usurp his properties.

A legal heirship certificate was obtained and power of attorney registered by furnishing bogus documents. The documents were executed by the minor, which is non-est in the eye of the law, the court said.

Passing a series of directions, the court ordered cancellation of the documents which should be reflected in the encumbrance certificate. It also ordered an inquiry into the case by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Palayamkottai, and to ensure that nobody illegally occupied the properties of the boy. The Assistant Commissioner should keep the keys of the properties.

The court sought to know if the boy could be accommodated in a residential school and adjourned the hearing till October 15. The Assistant Commissioner was asked to be present before the court along with the boy.
Medical student traced to Tirupati

26/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

CB-CID officers on Wednesday traced Udit Surya K.V., who has been accused of securing medical admission in a fraudulent manner, his father Dr. Venkatesh and his mother to Tirupati, and secured them.

A top police officer said: “Our special team traced the student and his parents to Tirupati. They have been secured and are being brought to Theni. On completing interrogation, we will produce them in a court in Theni in case of arrest.”

The Theni police had booked a case against Udit Surya for alleged impersonation in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and securing admission in the Government Medical College in Theni. He had engaged a person to appear in the NEET held in Mumbai and counselling, but had taken the seat and attended college.

The case surfaced after the dean received two emails on September 11 and 13 from a person identified as Ashok Krishnan from Chennai, complaining about Udit Surya. The email said that the boy had attempted NEET twice and failed. In his third attempt, he appeared for the exam in Mumbai and cleared it. However, the subsequent email claimed that the boy, currently pursuing the course, was not the same as the one who appeared for the test.

The officials of the Theni Medical College found that the photograph on the admission card did not match the original identity of the student.

After being exposed, Udit Surya furnished a discontinuation letter claiming depression and later absconded. The police formed special teams and one team visited Chennai, where the parents of the student resided. Later the case was transferred to CB-CID for further investigation.
HC takes suo motu notice of NEET impersonation case
State government asked to reply to seven questions on the issue


26/09/2019, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of media reports of a student of the Government Medical College in Theni having secured admission allegedly through impersonation during the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), and posed a set of seven questions to the State government.

Justices N. Kirubakaran and P. Velmurugan sought to know whether the complaint against the student, K.V. Udit Surya, son of a doctor, was a one-off instance, or if there were other instances too of students having gained admission in government and private colleges through impersonation during NEET.

The Division Bench also wanted to know whether the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) had taken steps to cross-check the identities of those who had appeared for NEET at the examination centres situated in various parts of the country with those who had gained admissions in medical colleges located in Tamil Nadu.

“Is it a fact that the Principal of Theni Medical College has not taken any action in time in spite of knowing about the fraudulent admission obtained by the student? Whether all statutory procedures have been duly followed by the authorities right from permitting the students for examination after verifying their identity?

“Whether the authorities have identified any other fraudulent methods like dual nativity certificate by which medical admission has been obtained by any other student?” the judges asked and ordered that all of their questions should be answered on Thursday.

They raised the queries during the hearing of a writ appeal preferred by S. Dheeran, of Coimbatore, accusing the DME of having filled only 53 of the 260 seats meant for the Non Resident Indians (NRI) quota and returning the remaining 207 seats to private colleges, to be filled under the management quota.

Though a government counsel dismissed the allegation as baseless, the judges said it could not be brushed aside unless the government convinced the court with relevant material that all procedures were followed strictly with regard to admissions in medical colleges this year and that there were no irregularities at all.

The government was directed to produce by Thursday the list of candidates admitted under the NRI quota and the communities to which they belonged.

It was also ordered to submit a break-up of the candidates admitted under the State quota and those admitted under the All-India quota, with their respective marks.

It was after passing this order that the judges took suo motu notice of the impersonation issue in NEET and called for details regarding that as well.
Verify architects, CoA tells TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:26.09.2019

The council of architecture (COA), a national body constituted to regulate the practice and study of architecture, has written to the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu to direct local and municipal bodies to verify the validity of registration of architects when they submit a drawing or building plan for obtaining approval.

However, the council and the local planning authority have conflicting views on allowing engineers submit and get building plans approved.

The communication said the council had received complaints that non-architects were practising as architects using fake certificates under jurisdiction of municipal corporations and local bodies.

COA president Vijay Garg said the council was receiving complaints of local bodies allowing unqualified personnel to work as architects and this resulted in low quality buildings . “Only a person with BArch degree from a recognised institution would be registered by COA,” he said. Engineers, howeevr, said that the council’s demand could overburden local bodies.
Loopholes in med admissions exposed

Health Minister Promises To Streamline MBBS Intake, Put Imposters Behind Bars

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

The cases of impersonation tumbling out in Tamil Nadu, where competition is cut throat for the few seats, have not just exposed the craze for a medical seat. They have also laid bare gaping loopholes in the system.

In each of at least three cases reported this year, the student who appeared for the competitive NEET was different from the one attending classes. “Students were nearly stripped and searched minutes before the exam. They tore off full sleeved shirts, removed ear studs and other jewels, watches. But how is it that there are no checks during counselling? Until now, we thought the only problem was students making false nativity claims. But we now see that some students have managed to impersonate and fudge documents,” said Kailash Vishwanthan, whose son missed getting a seat by one mark.

Directorate of medical education officials said they realised the flaw in the process last week when Theni Medical College dean Dr Rajendran reported the first case. “We realise it is because we don’t a biometric system during counselling. Next year, we will have fingerprints and iris scans. Fingerprints of students are taken by the National Testing Agency in examination hall. We can get experts to match them during counselling and during admission,” director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu said earlier. Options of bio-metric attendance for students in all government colleges are being explored.

Health minister C Vijayabaskar told reporters they would tighten the process and also file criminal charges against students who had joined MBBS course without being eligibile or by fudging documents.

Medical college administrators poring through students’ records say it may be impossible to verify documents perfectly. “Some students have passed out of schools nearly four years ago. Their Class X photos are nearly six years old. It is impossible to match some photos. This method of document verification is crude and will lead to false alarms,” said a senior professor in a government medical college in Chennai. “Moreover we don’t know if this problem exists in 2018 and 2017 batch of students.”

On September 10, more than a month after admissions closed, Riyas from Andhra Pradesh came to the Madurai Medical College with an allotment ‘order’ from New-Delhi based Medical Counselling Committee (MMC). Dean Dr K Vanitha, who became suspicious, informed the Tallakulam police. At least two other candidates, who came with similar ‘orders’, fled before police arrived.
Files may move faster as TN govt to go fully electronic soon
Move Aims To Eliminate Paper Use

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.09.2019

After Odisha and Kerala, the Tamil Nadu government is set to go 100% electronic in its offices, doing away with manual files.

While the state has issued a government order for it, the process will begin from the Secretariat, with all departments becoming ‘e-offices’.

“Offices in the districts and every village will parallely join the electronic stream. Already, all offices in the I-T department and its related offices, including Elcot, have gone electronic,” Santhosh Babu, principal secretary for I-T, told TOI.

A few weeks ago, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had personally advised secretaries of each department to focus on speedy governance. With the e-office initiative now set in motion, once implemented, it is not only files that would start moving fast, but also decision making.

The key objective of the initiative is to eliminate the use of paper and to make most of the office communication electronic to improve efficiency, consistency and effectiveness of government responses. It also aims to cut turnaround time and meet demands of the citizen charter as well as provide for effective resource management to improve quality of administration, among others.

The idea to make files electronic was mooted back in 2013-14, when it was decided to host the e-office software service in the state data centre (SDC) in the cloud environment. Willing government departments were to make use of the software, enabling officials and staff to handle the files from any location without geographical barriers.

Recalling the initiatives he undertook while heading the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, popularly known as Poompuhar, Santhosh Babu said he replaced the system of manual files and communication with electronic systems. “Earlier, a decision for even a simple procurement request from a distant branch office of ours in Kolkata would take 45 days. Once all our offices across the country were connected electronically, the decision-making process came down to just three hours,” said Santhosh Babu, who while heading the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women had made it a paperless office way back in 2001.

Through the latest order, the state government has decided to implement the e-office application developed by NIC with immediate effect for processing all files electronically in all government departments/PSUs/boards/agencies under its control. All of them have been directed to take steps to implement the same through Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA), the nodal body for egovernance initiatives.

The initiative intends to make most of the office communication electronic to improve efficiency, consistency and effectiveness of government responses
MBBS scam: Two more cases of impersonation detected in TN

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.09.2019

The MBBS impersonation scam is getting murkier with PSG Medical College, Coimbatore, reporting two more suspects. A week after K V Udit Surya, a firstyear student of Government Theni Medical College, was booked for allegedly using an impersonator to take NEET in his name, the Coimbatore college authorities found that photographs of two students — a male and a female — to be different in the NEET score card issued by the National Testing Agency and the admission (admit) card issued by the DME’s selection panel.

Udit Surya, parents held in Tirupati


A special police team on Wednesday picked up Udit Surya, his father Dr K S Venkatesh and mother Kayal Vizhi from a hotel in Tirupati and brought them to the CB-CID office in Egmore. “We have not arrested them. We will question and take statements from them before deciding on arrest,” a senior CB-CID official said. P 6

'Selection panel has to confirm impersonation'

The students, who passed out of CBSE schools in Dharmapuri and Kancheepuram, were issued eligibility certificates by the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University before they appeared for medical counselling. The directorate of medical education (DME) and the state medical university had asked all colleges in TN to verify photos of first-year medical students against their Class XII mark sheets, NEET score cards and admit cards after Udit Suriya’s case.

“Ever since NEET came into force, admission to all self-financing colleges is done by the selection committee. We admit students who bring the admission card from the committee. On verification, we found photos were different. The committee has to confirm if there was impersonation,” said PSG medical college dean Dr S Ramalingam. “Police complaints will have to be filed by the committee because they selected the candidate.”

Letters from DME Dr R Narayanababu and medical university vice-chancellor Dr Sudha Seshayyan asked deans to form a committee comprising the college viceprincipal, first year faculty members and administration staff to do verification of documents and physical verification of the students. Selection committee officials said seats including those reserved for NRI students were returned to the respective colleges. “Admissions were done locally by colleges. We verified all documents and screened them for accuracy of nativity and community details. We don’t know how we missed crossverifying the photographs,” said selection committee secretary Dr G Selvarajan.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Medical colleges told to refund excess fee 

Staff Reporter 

 
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, September 24, 2019 00:21 IST

Directive of fee regulatory panel

The Rajendra Babu-led Fee Regulatory Committee for medical education in Kerala has taken four self-financing colleges to task for purportedly collecting excess NRI fees from MBBS students.

The panel ordered four colleges, viz., Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College, and Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, to return the fee that had been collected in excess to fee structure that was in force.

On the basis of complaints received from some students, the panel noted that the colleges had been collecting ₹20 lakh as NRI fees, as per provisionally fixed by the Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC) in July 2017. However, the AFRC later fixed the NRI fee as ₹18 lakh in October 2017 and had directed the colleges to appropriate the excess fee collected either to be refunded or adjusted towards the tuition fee for the remaining years, the panel stated in its order.

Taking serious note of the practice of collecting ₹20 lakh as fees, the committee stated that it shall be viewed as capitation fee collection, prompting initiation of action in accordance with the provisions of the law.
தமிழே தெரியாத கல்லூரி மாணவர்கள்!

By DIN | Published on : 25th September 2019 04:59 AM 



உயர் கல்வி கற்கும் மாணவர்கள் கூட தமிழில் பிழையின்றி எழுதத் தெரியாத நிலை தமிழகத்தில் உள்ளது. இந்த அவலத்தை கடலூர் மாவட்ட காவல் நிலைய ஆய்வாளர் ஒருவர், தனது முகநூல் பக்கத்தில் வேதனையுடன் பதிவிட்டுள்ளார்.

கடலூர் மாவட்டம், புவனகிரியில் காவல் நிலைய ஆய்வாளராகப் பணிபுரிபவர் அம்பேத்கர். இவர், தனது முகநூல் பக்கத்தில், அண்மையில் வெளியான ஒரு புதிய திரைப்படத்தின் பதாகையுடன் மேள,தாளத்துடன் கூச்சலிட்டபடி, அனுமதியின்றி சாலையில் ஊர்வலமாகச் சென்று, பொதுமக்களுக்கு இடையூறு செய்ததற்கு, கல்லூரி மாணவர்கள் காவல் துறைக்கு எழுதிய மன்னிப்பு கடிதம் ஒன்றை கடந்த 21-ஆம் தேதி பதிவேற்றியிருந்தார்.

அந்தக் கடிதத்தில், "நான் கீழ்புவனகிரியைச் சேர்ந்த பி.காம். மாணவர். இனிமேல் காவல் துறை அனுமதியின்றி, திரையரங்கில் பேனர் வைக்க மாட்டேன், மீறி செய்தால் சட்ட நடவடிக்கைக்கு கட்டுப்படுவதாக, ஏராளமான எழுத்துப் பிழைகளுடன் எழுதியுள்ளார்.

அந்த கடிதத்தில் இருந்த எழுத்துப் பிழைகளை, சிவப்பு நிற கோடிட்டு காட்டி, முகநூலில் காவல் ஆய்வாளர் பதிவிட்டிருந்தார். அந்தப் பதிவில், "மாணவர்களின் கல்வி நிலை இவ்வாறு போனால், யார்தான் காப்பார்கள் இவர்களையும், இவர்களின் தமிழையும்? என கேள்வி எழுப்பியுள்ள காவல் ஆய்வாளர், இதுபோன்ற இளைஞர்களுக்கு சரிவர தமிழைப் போதிக்காமல் விட்ட ஆசிரியர்கள் மீது கோபம் கொள்வதாகவும் அதில் குறிப்பிட்டிருந்தார்.

இந்தக் கடிதம், முகநூல் மட்டுமல்லாது கட்செவி அஞ்சல் உள்ளிட்ட சமூக வலைதளங்களிலும் பரவியது. இதேபோல, மேலும் சில மாணவர்கள் எழுத்துப் பிழைகளுடன் எழுதிய மன்னிப்பு கடிதங்களையும் அவர் சமூக வலைதளத்தில் வெளியிட்டுள்ளார்.
தொலைநிலை கல்வி: யு.ஜி.சி., நெருக்கடி

Added : செப் 25, 2019 00:09


சென்னை 'தொலைநிலை கல்வியில் செப். 30க்குள் மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை முடிக்க வேண்டும்' என யு.ஜி.சி. உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.நாடு முழுவதும் உள்ள பல்கலைகள் மற்றும் கல்லுாரிகளில் தொலைநிலையில் படிப்புகளை நடத்த பல்கலை கழக மானிய குழுவான யு.ஜி.சி. அங்கீகாரம் வழங்குகிறது. யு.ஜி.சி.யின் விதிகள் மற்றும் அங்கீகாரத்தின் படி அதற்கான பாடப் பிரிவுகளில் மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றனர்.இதன்படி அனைத்து பல்கலைகளுக்கும் யு.ஜி.சி. அனுப்பியுள்ள சுற்றறிக்கை:ஜூலையில் அங்கீகாரம் பெற்று மாணவர் சேர்க்கையை துவங்கிய அனைத்து கல்வி நிறுவனங்களும் தொலைநிலையில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடவடிக்கைகளை செப். 30க்குள் முடிக்க வேண்டும். அதுதொடர்பான அறிக்கையை அக். முதல் வாரத்திற்குள் யு.ஜி.சி.க்கு தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.
Madras University clock tower to get a facelift

The historic clock tower of University of Madras, which was built during the British era, has been in a dilapidated condition for years.

Published: 25th September 2019 06:27 AM |


The heritage wing of PWD will take over the renovation  D Sampathkumar

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The historic clock tower of University of Madras, which was built during the British era, has been in a dilapidated condition for years.But officials seem to have finally woken up. It is all set to be restored to its original beauty as the state government has sanctioned `5 crore for renovation of the clock tower. The Public Works Department (PWD) is likely to start the work within a month, said vice-chancellor of the university P Duraisamy.

“The renovation work of the clock tower is likely to start within a month. We have received the funds for the renovation from state government and will transfer the amount to the PWD soon,” said the vice-chancellor.

He said that as the structure is over 100 years old, it needs expertise to ensure proper repair and renovation work. So the heritage wing of PWD, which specialises in restoration of heritage buildings, will be carrying out the project.

On a priority basis, the roof of the entire structure will be repaired and refurbished as it leaks when it rains. Varsity officials said cracks have developed in the roof due to which severe leakage and seepage occurs during monsoon. Alongside, the dome of the structure has also developed cracks and some damages which need to be taken care of. Patches of plaster and paint are also peeling off from the walls, which will be rectified.

“It will take not less than seven months for renovating the clock tower,” said Duraisamy. According to varsity officials, the senate building of the university was repaired in 2006-2007 and since then the proposal was made to carry out repair work of the clock tower. “It was a long-standing demand to carry out the repair and renovation work of the clock tower and finally the work will start soon. Like the senate building, the clock tower is also a landmark for Chennai,” said a varsity official.
Doctor accused of filming patients acquitted after woman turns hostile
The woman turned hostile before court. XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, acquitted the doctor.

Published: 25th September 2019 06:20 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A 64-year-old doctor accused of filming women patients was acquitted after one of them filed a compromise affidavit in court. Sivagurunathan, who runs a clinic at Mylapore, was arrested in April last year for sexual harassment based on a complaint from a woman.

According to the complaint, the doctor who had allegedly captured 30 videos of women in his clinic, was caught red-handed by the woman’s husband who visited the clinic after she had chest pain. The family alerted police, who in turn booked the doctor.

Police said the doctor’s mobile phone had over 30 videos at the time of arrest. During trial, the woman filed a compromise plea stating that she found that examination for chest pain is done by closely inspecting the body and her husband had acted out of emotion. The woman turned hostile before court. XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, acquitted the doctor.
Surfers, swimmers barred from beaches around Mamallapuram

25/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI


Surfers have petitioned the authorities against the ban on surfing activities much ahead of the summit. File Photo

Police have banned surfing activities around Mamallapuram in view of the high-level summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month.

On Sunday, the members of a surfing school, free surfers and ocean swimmers were stopped from entering the Kovalam Muttukadu beach by the Coastal Security Group DSP.

“We have many students, children and groups coming to learn surfing.

We understand if we have to stay away from the beach a few days before the PM’s visit.

But 20 days ahead, if we stop our work, it will hit us hard and we will find it difficult to pay rent and salaries,” said Showkath Jamal R., a surfing school owner, claiming that the police action was selective.

However, DSP Balamurugan said, “We have told surfing schools which do not have the necessary NOC to suspend their activities in view of VIP visit to the area.”

Meanwhile, surfers have petitioned the authorities against the ban on surfing activities much ahead of the summ
Direct morning flight from Coimbatore to Delhi likely

25/09/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,COIMBATORE

Members of Kongu Global Forum (KGF), an association of representatives from the industrial houses of the seven western districts, have sought Ashwani Lohani, chairman and managing director of Air India Limited, for a direct morning flight to New Delhi for onward connectivity to Europe.

A representation of KGF signed by its chairman A. Sakthivel and vice-chairperson Vanitha Mohan was handed over to Mr. Lohani, who gave them assurance on the direct morning flight to Delhi.

International destinations

“This flight will help connect passengers to 10 international destinations especially Europe and two in Australia and will significantly reduce the travel time to Europe and Australia (most of the flights leave in the afternoon from Delhi). We also appraised him about the huge cargo potential from this region. He has assured us that the morning flight will be allotted,” said Ms. Mohan.

Representation letters from KGF, Coimbatore District Small Industries Association, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chamber, and Southern India Engineering Manufacturers’ Association were also submitted to Mr. Lohani.

It has been a long-standing demand to have a direct flight from Coimbatore to New Delhi in the morning to reach the capital city by 11 a.m., as it would facilitate the passengers to opt for connecting flights to European destinations without wasting time on transit.

“With a good number of international and domestic travellers from Coimbatore, the lack of a direct flight to Delhi as a connecting flight to the West is an impediment to those who visit Coimbatore both for business as well as on holiday to travel to tourist destinations like the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal,” said KGF’s letter to Mr. Lohani.

Flight change

International travellers boarding from Coimbatore international airport, which serves Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Salem and the Nilgiris, are currently forced to opt for a flight change over from Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi or Tiruchi.


AI introduces 'Discover India Scheme'

Air India has introduced Discover India Scheme for travel in economy class within India valid till March 31, 2020.

Under scheme I, passenger can buy five economy class tickets for ₹ 40,000 for travel in five domestic sectors namely Coimbatore/Mumbai/Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram/Mumbai/Coimbatore to be availed within 15 days of the first leg of travel.

Scheme II offers ten economy class tickets for ₹ 75,000 for travel in ten domestic sectors which will be valid for 30 days.
Police has no power to seize assets, says SC

25/09/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday made clear that a police officer is not empowered to seize immovable property under Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Section 102 deals with the power of an investigating officer to seize any property suspected to be part of a crime.

The question of law regarded by a three-judge Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjeev Khanna was whether landed property comes within the ambit of ‘property’ mentioned in the legal provision.

“Given the nature of criminal litigation, seizure of an immovable property by the police officer in the form of an attachment and dispossession would not facilitate investigation to collect evidence to be produced during inquiry and trial,” Justice Khanna observed.

Justice Gupta said seizure of land by a police officer during a probe would lead to an “absolutely chaotic situation”.
Ramanujan prize for U.K. mathematician

Harper’s brilliant work recognised

25/09/2019, SHUBASHREE DESIKAN,CHENNAI


Recognising talent: Adam Harper was awarded the prize for his contributions to analytic & probabilistic number theory.

The SASTRA Ramanujan prize for 2019 will be awarded to mathematician Adam Harper, Assistant Professor with the University of Warwick, England.

The prize carries a citation and an award of $10,000 and is conferred annually on mathematicians from across the world who are less than 32 years of age, working in an area influenced by the genius Srinivasa Ramanujan.

“The SASTRA-Ramanujan Award has gained global repute ever since it was instituted in 2005 and today is easily amongst the top five awards of this type for mathematics. Many previous winners, including Manjul Bhargava and Akshay Venkatesh, went on to win the Fields Medal later,” said Dr. S. Vaidhyasubramaniam, Vice-Chancellor of SASTRA University, in a press release.

Four mathematicians who were awarded this prize have gone on to win the Fields Medal later.

Noted number theorist and former director of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, Prof. R. Balasubramanian observed that the problems on which Mr. Harper works are interesting. “He has improved earlier results obtained by Kannan Soundararajan and Andrew Granville. His paper with Ben Green on large sieve is also worth mentioning,” he said.

The citation said Mr. Harper was awarded the prize “for several outstanding contributions to analytic and probabilistic number theory.”

“The prize recognizes his marvellous 2012 PhD thesis at Cambridge University, and his paper of 2013 in Crelle’s Journal …Harper’s recent brilliant proof of a conjecture of Helson…and a related paper… to appear in Algebra and Number Theory. The prize also recognizes Harper’s seminal work using the Riemann Hypothesis to determine the correct order upper bound for the higher moments of the Riemann zeta function on the critical line…”

The age limit is 32 years to commemorate the fact that Srinivasa Ramanujan accomplished a phenomenal body of work in this short span.

Every year, this prize is awarded by SASTRA University on its campus near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, on Ramanujan’s birth anniversary, December 22.
‘Avoid travelling from Dhaula Kuan to AIIMS’

25/09/2019,NEW DELHI

Commuters travelling from Dhaula Kuan to AIIMS are likely to face congestion on the route for the next couple of days due to repair work on the flyover, said traffic policemen on Tuesday. PWD will carry-out the repair work on Hyatt Regency Flyover from September 25 to October 6 from Dhaula Kuan to AIIMS, said an advisory, which also asked commuters to take alternate routes.
26 dead, 300 injured as quake jolts Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
Temblor of 5.8 intensity strikes at a depth of 10 km; tremors felt in India

25/09/2019, MEHMAL SARFRAZ ,LAHORE


A road in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that was damaged in the earthquake. PTIPTI

A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and several cities in the northeastern parts of the country on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 26 people and wounding over 300 others.

Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Riaz, told The Hindu that the worst-hit area was Mirpur, where houses had collapsed and roads were ripped apart.

Tremors were felt across several north Indian States, including Jammu & Kashmir, the Delhi-National Capital Region, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said.

Some houses and parts of a mosque collapsed in Mirpur following the earthquake, Deputy Commissioner Raja Qaiser said.

Emergency has been declared in hospitals across PoK. TV channels showed the footage of heavily damaged roads in Mirpur, with many vehicles overturned. Several cars fell into the deep cracks on the roads. The building of the state-run Broadcasting House in Mirpur was badly damaged.

The tremors were felt in several cities across Pakistan including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Multan.

Director Operations State Disaster Management Authority in PoK Saeed-Ur-Rehman Qureshi said the authorities were waiting for confirmation on death toll.
HC takes serious view of impersonation by student

Court asks Udit Surya if he is willing to surrender for inquiry

25/09/2019, STAFF REPORTER, ,MADURAI

Hearing the anticipatory bail petition of Udit Surya, a first year MBBS student of Theni Government Medical College facing charges of impersonation in NEET, the Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday observed that the issue was serious in nature.

The charge against him was that another boy had written the NEET and appeared for counselling.

With the CB-CID set to probe the impersonation case, the court asked if the student was willing to surrender before the investigating officer for an inquiry. The anticipatory bail petition could be taken up for further hearing subsequently, the court said.

However, with the counsel’s petitioner not able to ascertain the same, the case was adjourned to October 1.

Udit Surya was booked under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code following a complaint from the Dean of the Government Theni Medical College.

Health issues

In his petition, Udit Surya, who has now withdrawn from the medical course, denied the charges levelled against him. He claimed that he had secured the seat after successfully clearing the NEET and his documents were verified and scrutinised during the admission process.

He cited mental health issues and depression as reason for withdrawing from the medical course. He said he suffered from severe psychiatric health issues and depression.
Bigil event in college draws govt. ire

Higher Education Dept. to issue notice to Sairam Group of institutions


25/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Mangat Ram Sharma, Higher Education Secretary, has said that a show-cause notice would be issued to Sairam group of institutions for permitting political events on its campus.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Presidency College on Tuesday, Mr. Sharma said: “We will issue a show-cause notice to the college for permitting political speeches on its campus. They should not conduct such programmes. They can hold social activities. Their affiliation could be in doubt if they conduct such events. We will give them notice and conduct an enquiry and then whatever action is deemed fit we will take,” he said.

At the audio launch of his film Bigil at Sairam Engineering College in Tambaram on September 19, actor Vijay, the main protagonist in the film, took several questions, including about banners and posters with his photos being destroyed by irate fans.

Mr. Vijay condoled the death of Subasri who died after a banner placed by a political party fell on her while she was riding a scooter.

He urged his fans to avoid placing banners and cutouts.

To a question from the emcee at the five-hour programme, he said: “Don’t attack my fans. You can tear up my photos and banners. They [fans] must have struggled to do this for their small pleasure. Please avoid it.”

Promoting his film, he advised his fans to play politics but not allow politics into sport.

He quoted a couplet from Tirukkural and said an incompetent person should be shunned in favour of the one qualified for the job. “A deserving person should be seated in the place worthy for him,” he said.

‘Permission obtained’

An official of Sairam Engineering College said the police had given permission to conduct the event.

According to him, the college maintained the details of payments received too.

Since the traffic was heavy because of the crowd, the college had rescheduled the afternoon classes for the day.

The college had suggested holding the event on a “non-working” day but since the special invitees had other engagements, the event had to be rescheduled. The college had not received any letter yet from the department, he said.

Last year, the Directorate of College Education had issued a circular after two incidents where political leaders participated in college events and spoke on politics.

Makkal Needhi Maiam founder and actor Kamal Haasan had, at a function in Coimbatore, last year complained of not being permitted to meet students through a government order.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Stella Maris College in Chennai last year became an issue as he visited the campus while the model code of conduct was in force in the wake of elections.
HC dismisses medical aspirants’ plea

25/09/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

The Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petitions filed by four medical aspirants who sought the conduct of fresh NEET counselling.

Justice M. Sundar dismissed the petitions filed by G. Somnath, K. Neya, V.C Ajithvass and A.M. Srilaya. The court observed that the argument that nativity quota was not being implemented in private medical colleges does hold good as the government was implementing the 85% nativity rule in private medical colleges.
Case registered based on professor’s complaint
She alleged that some staff abused and harassed her


25/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI


The Thazhambur police have registered a case under various sections of the IPC, including the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Woman Harassment Act and punishment for sexual harassment based on a complaint by a 28-year-old teacher at Tagore Dental College on Monday.

According to the police, she lodged a complaint against some college staff, including the general manager. In her complaint, she claimed that some of the staff members verbally abused her and the general manager took her video on his cellphone when she was changing in her room. She also alleged that one of the sweepers stole her cellphone.

A few days ago, the assistant professor uploaded a video on social media, alleging harassment by college authorities.

The police have registered a case under various sections of the IPC, including punishment for sexual harassment, assault or criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe, punishment for theft and Tamil Nadu the Prohibition of Woman Harassment Act, among others.

The college authorities alleged that she was depressed and her actions were a result of that.
Centre’s permission sought to establish six medical colleges

Health Department submits project reports with details of lands identified


25/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

C. Vijayabaskar

The Health Department has submitted detailed project reports along with details of lands identified to the Union Health Ministry seeking its nod to establish six medical colleges at Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, the Nilgiris, Dindigul, Namakkal and Tirupur.

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar met Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan in New Delhi and submitted the request for establishing the colleges on Tuesday. “We have not only handed over our representations to the Union Health Ministry, but have also identified lands for all six places and have submitted detailed project reports,” he told The Hindu. Tamil Nadu has 23 medical colleges, the latest addition being at Karur.

He said the government sought nod to establish medical colleges under the aspirational districts programme at Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar and for hill stations at the Nilgiris, apart from Dindigul, Namakkal and Tirupur. He added that the Chief Minister had stressed the need to sanction medical colleges for the aspirational districts.

Health centres

Dr. Vijayabaskar added that they also sought the establishment of primary health centres.

“We are a developed State and have good health indicators. So, we have sought new PHCs,” he said.

Health Secretary Beela Rajesh and Director of Medical Education in-charge R. Narayana Babu were present.
College student held for rape of tennis player

25/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The All Women Police, Kilpauk, on Tuesday arrested a 21 year-old college student on charges of raping and harassing a 20-year-old tennis player and threatening to upload videos of an intimate relationship on websites.

Studied in the U.S.

The girl was born in Royapuram and was a student of psychology in the U.S.

She had been playing tennis since the age of eight. She had won the Indian national under-14 championships for girls. She befriended K. Navith Ahmed, 21, of Kilpauk and the two then entered into a relationship.

As Navith allegedly threatened to upload the videos, she engaged a few friends and kidnapped Navith. He was assaulted by her men. She came out on bail. Based on her complaint, the All Women Police, Kilpauk arrested Navith.
Man offers poisoned ‘prasadam’ to couple; husband dies

Woman critical; accused who took ₹4 lakh promising deceased a job arrested

25/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI


Karthik

A 36-year-old man died in Royapuram and his wife is in a serious condition in a hospital after they consumed prasadam that was suspected to have been mixed with poison.

The police said it was given to them by a person who defrauded them of ₹4 lakh.

The deceased has been identified as G. Karthik, a resident of S.N. Chetti Street, Royapuram.

The couple have two children. Mr. Karthik had completed M.E. (Computer Science) and was working as an assistant professor at a private college for sometime.

He lost his job due to retrenchment and ran a photo-copying shop in his house.

The couple paid ₹4 lakh to Velan alias Velayudham on a promise that he would help Mr. Karthik get a government job. Mr. Karthik began pestering Velan to return his money as the latter could not keep his promise.

On Monday, Velan called Mr. Karthik and told him that the appointment order was ready and asked him to collect it. Mr. Karthik and his wife, Saranya, 29, met him at his residence in MKB Nagar. Velayudham received them well and handed over ‘a letter of appointment’.

Felt giddy

The police said later Velayudham gave them prasadam, which he claimed was brought from a Shirdi Saibaba temple. Immediately after consuming the prasadam, Mr. Karthik felt giddy and stopped his wife from eating it. He rushed with his wife to a hospital. Near Mullai Nagar bus stop, he stopped his bike and collapsed on the road.

Passersby came to their rescue as Ms. Saranya also fainted.

Both were taken in an ambulance to the Government Stanley Hospital where Mr. Karthik was declared dead.

Ms. Saranya was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital.

The MKB Nagar police have arrested Velan.

The police said the suspect was working as an office assistant in a government food testing laboratory in Guindy.

He confessed to the police that he committed the offence as Mr. Karthik had been threatening him continuously. Further investigation is on.
The mystery of flight CS772 at Meenambakkam

The chartered Boeing 777LR spent a quiet 10 days at the airport

25/09/2019, MURALI N. KRISHNASWAMY,CHENNAI


The Boeing 777LR had flown in from Copenhagen to Mumbai on September 12 before continuing to Chennai. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT/CRYSTAL AIRCRUISES

When Flight CS772 flew into Meenambakkam on Friday, September 13, 2019, shortly before 1 p.m., it scarcely created a ripple.

But once the aircraft, ‘Crystal Skye’, was parked near a bay near the secondary runway to a distinct buzz and bustle in the ground handling agency concerned, there was realisation that this was a special flight.

The Boeing 777LR had flown in from Copenhagen to Mumbai on September 12 before continuing to Chennai.

Cruise on air

As aircraft go, the 777LR has been called the “most luxuriously appointed aircraft in the private aircraft industry”.

The cabin, with 88 ultra-plush and customised seats, is the byword in luxury travel, replicating the cruise ship experience in the air.

The few who can afford to charter it, can expect customised linen, global Wi-Fi, inflight entertainment options of a comprehensive film and audio bank that includes live television programming and live flight deck-to-airport ground control listening.

Inflight services that have been rated six-star include steam irons and lens cleaners.

The dining experience features Michelin-inspired cuisine along with the services of an inflight chef, a sommelier and mixologist.

The galleys with steam and convection ovens, espresso machines, blenders and ice machines promise gastronomic delights.

The plane has four flight captains and 19 cabin crew well-versed in a number of languages.

The aircraft’s owners — global leisure and hospitality company Genting Hong Kong, which operates in the luxury hospitality industry space — turned down requests by The Hindu for information about the charter, citing “customer confidentiality”.

Sources at Chennai airport, too, declined to comment.

Nolan’s niche

However, the “mystery” was solved when an aviation source in Mumbai said the aircraft had been chartered by the team of the film Tenet, an upcoming Hollywood film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, being shot in around seven countries. The action thriller is scheduled for release next year.

While the star-studded cast was completing its filming schedule in Mumbai, the aircraft was moved to Chennai to be parked and for crew rest.

The aircraft left Chennai for Mumbai early on Monday, September 23, and flew to Los Angeles later in the day.
NEET impersonation: ‘I am a victim of media exaggerations,’ medical student tells Madras high court

TNN | Sep 24, 2019, 04.33 PM IST



MADURAI: The Madras high court on Tuesday adjourned the anticipatory bail plea of a medical college student involved in NEET impersonation.

K V Udit Suriya, a resident of Chennai, moved the high court’s Madurai bench seeking anticipatory bail as the Gandamanur Vilakku police in Theni district registered a case against him under IPC sections 419, 420 and 120 (B) following impersonation in NEET exam.

He stated that a reporter had approached him stating that there were dissimilarities in the photo in the admit card and the hall ticket. He stated that in spite of the explanation, it was reported that there was an impersonation during the exam as someone else had written the exam instead of him.

The student stated that he was not involved in the alleged acts portrayed in the media. If he was arrested, he would be a victim of media exaggerations, the students stated.

He further submitted that as per the averments, all the documents were available with the college authorities and the same was accessible for the investigating agencies and therefore there might not be a necessity for custodial interrogation.

Hence, the petitioner moved the HC seeking anticipatory bail undertaking that he would abide by any conditions put forth by the court and cooperate with the investigation.

When the petition was heard on Tuesday, the state government submitted that the case would be transferred to the CB-CID soon and sought the boy to surrender for inquiry.

Taking note of the submissions, Justice G R Swaminathan orally observed that the allegation was serious in nature. The judge, who gave an option to the petitioner's counsel asking the petitioner to surrender before CB-CID on Friday and if he surrenders, then the anticipatory bail petition would be heard by the court as a bail petition.

Since, the counsel of the petitioner did not respond to the option of surrender, the judge adjourned the case to October 1 for further hearing.
MBBS, BDS admissions: Madras HC dismisses pleas challenging nativity of students ranked under state quota in TN

TNN | Sep 24, 2019, 02.16 PM IST

MADURAI: The Madras high court on Tuesday dismissed four petitions challenging the nativity of 126 candidates who were ranked under 85% state government quota for MBBS/BDS admission.

Four medical aspirants — G Somnath, K Neya, V C Ajithvass and A M Srilaya -- moved the high court seeking to conduct fresh counselling after deleting the names of candidates from other states who were ranked under 85% government quota for MBBS/BDS admission.

During hearing, the court suo motu impleaded all the 126 candidates mentioned by the petitioners and directed them to submit the documents regarding their nativity.

Justice M Sundar observed that 78 of the 126 candidates had proved their nativity and had been relived as parties to the petitions. The others also submitted their documents.

The judge cited that the question of deleting the alleged other state candidates under had clearly become a non- starter as far as the materials before this court was concerned.

"The petitioners have not made out any case for assailing the rank list published and the counselling conducted. There is no ground to direct the selection committee to conduct a fresh counselling," the judge observed.

The judge said a careful perusal of the cut-off marks revealed that even if all the remaining 48 candidates were dislodged, these four writ petitioners would not get admission.

Hence the judge dismissed the petitions citing that they were bereft of merits.
Tamil Nadu govt invites applications for naturopathy consultants

TNN | Sep 24, 2019, 08.54 PM IST



CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has invited applications for filling 34 consultant posts sanctioned under the National AYUSH Mission at yoga and naturopathy wellness centres in the state.

Applicants must have a degree or diploma in naturopathy from a recognised university and they should have registered with the Tamil Nadu Board of Indian Medicine, Chennai.

Also, they should be aged between 18 and 57 as on July 1, 2019.

Shortlisted candidates will be engaged on hiring basis at the rate of Rs 1,000 per day (six hours) for six days in a week.

Candidates will be shortlisted based on marks obtained by them as per the modalities framed by the Government Order No 2154, Health and Family Welfare Department dated November 17, 2017.

Interested and eligible candidates can submit filled in forms on or before October 15 at the office of the Director of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Arignar Anna Government Hospital of Indian Medicine campus, Arumbakkam, Chennai-600 106, through registered or Speed Post along with stamps for Rs 40.
TN submits proposals to start 6 new govt med colleges

Times News Network | Sep 25, 2019, 04.00 AM IST

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has submitted proposals for starting six new government medical colleges in the districts of Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Nilgiris, Dindigul, Tirupur and Namakkal. The proposals were submitted to Union health minister Harsh Vardhan by his state counterpart C Vijaya Baskar in New Delhi on Tuesday.

In August, the cabinet committee on economic affairs had approved setting up of 75 government medical colleges by 2021-22. “These medical colleges are proposed in unserved areas. We have given a list of six districts in Tamil Nadu where there are no government medical colleges,” Vijaya Baskar said.

Now, the state has 23 government medical colleges, including four in Chennai. The state had made a policy decision to increase the number of medical colleges or add seats to existing colleges every year. Proposals for new medical colleges are pending in Perambalur and pressure has been building for new colleges in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram. “All new colleges now have 150 seats. We are also trying to increase the number of MBBS seats to 250 in all existing medical colleges,” he said
High court strength comes down to 57 as another judge retires

Times News Network | Sep 25, 2019, 04.20 AM IST

Chennai: One among the 10 woman judges of the Madras high court, Justice S Ramathilagam, retired on Tuesday after 29-years of service in the state judiciary.

With her retirement, the total strength of the high court has come down to 57 as against the sanctioned strength of 75.

Justice Ramathilagam made the headlines through her order denying anticipatory bail to actor-turned-politician S Ve Shekher, who apprehended arrest in connection with a derogatory post about a journalist forwarded by him on his social media account.

Rejecting Shekher’s application, Justice Ramathilagam had observed that sharing social media posts or forwards is akin to endorsing them.

Noting that no one has any right to abuse women and, if done, it is a violation of rights, she had said that there cannot be any harsher words than this which portrays [that] all working women coming up in life are sacrificing their chastity.

She had added that regularly we see young emotional boys getting arrested for doing these types of activities on social media. Law is the same for everyone and people should not lose faith in the judiciary. Mistakes and crimes are not same. Only children can make mistakes which can be pardoned. If the same is done by elderly people, it becomes an offence, she had said.

Justice Ramathilagam, a native of Coimbatore, entered judicial service in 1991 as a judicial magistrate. In 2013, she was promoted as principal district judge and posted in the Namakkal district court. In 2016, she was made the chief judge, Puducherry.

In September 2017, she was elevated as an additional judge of the Madras high court. In August 2019, she was made as a permanent judge of the high court.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Tiruvarur to Karaikudi: such a long journey for five passengers 

Kathelene Antony 

 
September 24, 2019 04:49 IST

The DEMU train journey between Tiruvarur and Karaikudi junction takes eight hours. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath

Three-coach train encounters 72 level crossings in 148-km stretch

The journey from Tiruvarur to Karaikudi, a 148-km journey aboard the only train — Tiruvarur-Karaikudi DEMU Passenger — is rather a tedious one.

Since none of the 72 level crossings on the stretch have gatekeepers to operate them, the train runs in fits and starts. It stops every now and then for the ‘mobile gatekeepers’ on board to sprint down to close and open the gates to allow the train to pass through.

On the three-coach train are just five passengers, the few who knew the recently revised timings on that day.

“The train timings change often. I keep track of it by reading the schedule on the newspaper regularly,” says K. Rajalakshmi, a passenger travelling to Peravurani from Tiruvarur.

All of the five passengers sit in the first compartment: two of them read a Tamil magazine, while the other three take a nap. “Come sit, it will take a long time to reach, I hope you have food and water in your bag,” says Ms. Rajalakshmi.

The train comes to a screeching halt minutes after it rolls away from the station.

A man gets off from the engine, runs to the gate and turns a lever to close the gates on the level crossing. These “mobile gatemen” appointed by Southern Railway are stationed at the front and back compartments of the three-coach DEMU train to open and close gates 72 times. The ladder on the train, which is a six feet drop, is a steep and unstable one. “It was difficult in my initial days, especially to do it in the blazing sun but now I have gotten used to it,” says M. Madhavan, one of the four mobile gatemen.

The train leaves Tiruvarur at 6 a.m. and reaches Karaikudi at 12.30 p.m. In the return direction, it departs from Karaikudi at 2.30 p.m. and arrives at Tiruvarur at 9.15 p.m.

The passengers, an average of 30 a day, prefer taking the train for its convenience.

Ms. Rajalakshmi took the train as she had heavy luggage to carry. “I cannot get in and out of a bus with four bags, especially because they are usually very crowded and I will have no place to keep them. Besides, on the train, I can sit and stretch my legs comfortably,” she says.

The other four passengers, all men got on the train at Pattukottai to go to Aranthangi for work. “A bus ticket costs ₹70. We cannot afford to pay ₹140 a day, the train is more affordable as it costs only ₹30 a day,” Ahmed Farooq, one of the men, says.

The train service was suspended in 2012 for gauge conversion and the project took eight years to be completed. Despite the hassle, rail users have been pressuring Southern Railway to keep the train running because of its affordability. After several attempts to discontinue it, reduce the number of days of service, the train is now a daily service. Southern Railway recently announced that the service has been extended until February 2020.

“In this age of mass rapid transportation, this kind of arrangement and tedious journey due to lack of manpower is a put off for the public,” says N. Jayaraman, president, Pattukkottai Taluk Railway Passengers' Welfare Association.

“The number of passengers on this train continues to drop because the train has no toilet or pantry facilities. People would not mind the long journey at least if these facilities are made available especially because of the huge difference between the train and bus fares,” says Mr. Jayaraman.

If a passenger needs to travel to Thanjavur, a cab would cost at least ₹1,200 but the train ticket to Tiruvarur from where a connecting train can be taken only costs ₹20.

Officials of Southern Railway sayt they are aware of the issue. “The lack of manpower is not just on this stretch. The railway recruitment is underway and so far we have got nearly 300 employees for our division. But they cannot all be stationed at gates in this stretch. We are looking to put men on each level crossing, but will only be able to do so when the number of trains on this line, including express and passenger trains, increase,” says an official of Tiruchi Division.
மலேசியா சுற்றுலா செல்ல இலவச விசா வழங்குவது குறித்து பரிசீலனை: தூதரக அதிகாரி சரவணன் தகவல்

சென்னை

சுற்றுலா பயணிகளை ஈர்க்கும் வகையில் மலேசியாவுக்கு சுற்றுலா செல்ல இலவச விசா வழங்குவது குறித்து அந்நாட்டு அரசு பரி சீலனை செய்து வருவதாக மலேசிய தூதரக அதிகாரி கே.சரவணன் தெரி வித்துள்ளார்.

மலேசியா நாட்டுக்கு சுற்றுலா பயணிகளை ஈர்ப்பதற்காக ‘மலேசியா 2020’ என்ற திட்டத்தை தென் இந்தியாவில் ஊக்கப்படுத்தும் வகையில் சென்னையில் நேற்று கண்காட்சி தொடங்கியது. இதில், மலேசியாவில் இருந்து வந்து பங்கேற்ற 27 பேர் அங்குள்ள சுற்றுலா திட்டங்கள், சிறப்புகள் குறித்து விளக்கம் அளித்தனர்.

இதேபோல், மதுரை, கோயம் புத்தூர் மற்றும் கொச்சியிலும் கண்காட்சி நடக்கவுள்ளது. மலே சியா 2020 சுற்றுலாவுக்கான பிரத் யேக ‘லோகோ’ வெளியிடப்பட்டது.

இதுதொடர்பாக மலேசிய தூதரக அதிகாரி கே.சரவணன் பேசும்போது, ‘‘அதிக சுற்றுலா பயணிகளை ஈர்ப்பதற்காக ‘மலேசியா 2020’ என்ற திட்டத்தை ஊக்கப்படுத்தம் வகையில் நேற்று முதல் 26-ம் தேதி வரையில் தென்இந்தியாவில் 4 நகரங்களில் கண்காட்சி நடைபெறுகிறது.

இந்தியாவில் இருந்து மலேசி யாவுக்கு சுற்றுலா செல்வது அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. கடந்த ஆண்டில் இந்தியாவில் இருந்து மொத்தம் 6 லட்சத்து 311 பேர் மலேசியாவுக்கு வந்து சென்றுள்ள னர். கடந்த ஜனவரி முதல் ஜூன் மாதம் வரையில் மட்டுமே 3 லட்சத்து 54 ஆயிரம் பேர் வருகை புரிந்துள்ளனர். இந்த எண்ணிக்கை விரைவில் 7 லட்சத்து 28 ஆயிரமாக உயரும் என எதிர்பார்க்கிறோம்.

மேலும், சுற்றுலா பயணிகளை ஈர்க்கும் வகையில் மலேசியாவுக்கு சுற்றுலா செல்ல ‘இலவச விசா’ வழங்குவது குறித்து மலேசியா அரசு ஆலோசித்து வருகிறது’’ என்றார்.

மலேசியா சுற்றுலா வாரியத் தின் மூத்த இயக்குநர் முகமது தையிப் இப்ராஹிம் பேசும்போது, ‘‘சர்வதேச அளவில் சுற்றுலா பயணிகளைக் கவர்வதில் மலேசியா முக்கிய பங்கு வகிக் கிறது. தற்போது, புதிய, புதிய சுற்றுலாத் தலங்கள், இயற்கை எழிலுடன் கூடிய இடங்களும் மேம் படுத்தப்பட்டு சுற்றுலா இடங்களில் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

இந்த ஆண்டில் முதல் காலாண் டில் மலேசியாவுக்கு வந்த வெளிநாட்டு சுற்றுலா பயணிகளின் எண்ணிக்கை 1 கோடியே 33 லட்சத்து 54 ஆயிரத்து 575 ஆகும். சிங்கப்பூர், இந்தோனேஷியா, சீனா, தாய்லாந்து, இந்தியா, வியட்நாம், ஜப்பான் உள்ளிட்ட நாடுகளில் இருந்து அதிக அளவில் சுற்றுலா பயணிகள் வந்துள்ளனர். அடுத்த ஆண்டில் மலேசியாவுக்கு வரும் வெளிநாட்டு சுற்றுலா பயணிகளின் எண்ணிக்கை 3 கோடி யாக உயரும் என எதிர்பார்க் கிறோம்’’ என்றார்.

நிகழ்ச்சியில் மலேசிய சுற்றுலா மற்றும் பயண முகவர்கள் சங்கம் (மாட்டா) டத்தோ டான் கோக் லியாங், மலேசியா சுற்றுலாத் துறையின் துணை இயக்குநர் லோகி தாசன் உள்ளிட்ட பலர் பங்கேற்றனர்.
மருத்துவம் தெளிவோம் 01: அன்புக்கு அடங்கும் ஆட்டிசம்




டாக்டர் கு. கணேசன்

கு. கணேசன்

பத்து மாதக் குழந்தையைக் கூப்பிடுகிறீர்கள். அது திரும்பிப் பார்க்கவில்லை. அந்தக் குழந்தையைக் கொஞ்சுகிறீர்கள். அது முகம் பார்த்துச் சிரிக்கவில்லை; மழலையில் பேசவில்லை அல்லது சொன்ன வார்த்தைகளையே சொல்லிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறது. குழந்தை பேசுவது உங்களுக்குப் புரியவில்லை. அப்படியென்றால், அந்தக் குழந்தைக்கு ‘ஆட்டிசம்’ இருக்கச் சாத்தியமிருக்கிறது. தற்போது தமிழ்நாட்டில் மட்டும் ஆட்டிசம் பாதிப்புள்ள குழந்தைகளின் எண்ணிக்கை 30 லட்சத்தைத் தாண்டுகிறது; இந்தியாவில் ஒரு கோடிப் பேர். இன்னும் 10 ஆண்டுகளில் இது 5 மடங்கு அதிகரிக்கும் என்று அச்சுறுத்துகிறது ஒரு புள்ளிவிவரம்.

ஆட்டிசம் என்றால் என்ன?

ஆட்டிசம் ஒரு நோயல்ல; குறைபாடு. ஆட்டிசத்தால் பாதிக்கப்படும் குழந்தைகள் மொழித் திறன், பேச்சுத் திறன், மற்றவர்களோடு கலந்து பழகும் திறன், நடத்தைத் திறன், ஒருங்கிணைப்புத் திறன் போன்றவற்றில் பின்தங்கி இருப்பார்கள். Autistic disorder, PDD, `Asperger’ என இதில் பல வகை உண்டு. எனவே, இதை `ஆட்டிசம் ஸ்பெக்ட்ரம் டிஸ்ஆர்டர்’ (Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD) என்கிறது மருத்துவ உலகம். இந்தக் குறைபாட்டின் தீவிரத்தன்மை ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு மாதிரியாக இருக்கும். எனவே, ஆட்டிசத்தால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட ஒவ்வொரு குழந்தையின் திறமையும் சரி, சிக்கல்களும் சரி தனித்துவமானவை.

ஆட்டிசம் ஏன் வருகிறது? தடுப்பூசி போடுவதால் இது வருமா?


குழந்தையின் மரபணுவில் தோன்றும் பிழை ஆட்டிசத்துக்கு அடிப்படைக் காரணம். அதனால்தான் இது பரம்பரையாக வருகிறது. நெருங்கிய உறவுத் திருமணமும் மிகவும் தாமதமான திருமணமும் தாமதமான குழந்தைப் பேறும் ஆட்டிசத்துக்குக் காரணங்களாகின்றன. கர்ப்பிணிக்கு ருபெல்லா வைரஸ் தாக்கினால், தைராய்டு பிரச்சினை இருந்தால் அல்லது ஃபோலிக் அமிலம் குறைவாக இருந்தால் குழந்தைக்கு இந்தக் குறைபாடு வரலாம்.

கர்ப்பிணியிடம் காணப்படும் மன அழுத்தம், மது அருந்தும் பழக்கம், புகைப்பிடித்தல், வலிப்பு நோய் மாத்திரைகள் சாப்பிடுவது, மன நோய்க்கான மாத்திரைகளைச் சாப்பிடுவது போன்ற காரணிகள் குழந்தைக்கு இந்தக் குறைபாடு ஏற்படுவதைத் தூண்டுகின்றன. தடுப்பூசி போடுவதால் ஆட்டிசம் வருகிறது என்பதற்கு அறிவியல் ஆதாரமில்லை.




ஆட்டிசத்தின் அறிகுறிகள் என்னென்ன? அவற்றை எப்போது அறியலாம்?

# குழந்தைக்குப் பாலூட்டும் போது தாயின் கண்களைக் குழந்தை பார்க்காது;
# ஆறு மாதம் ஆனால்கூடத் தாயின் முகம் பார்த்துச் சிரிக்காது;
# ஒன்பது மாதம் கடந்த பிறகும் ஒலி எழுப்பினால் அல்லது பெயரைச் சொல்லி அழைத்தால் திரும்பிப் பார்க்காது.
# கண்ணில் படும் பொருள்களை ஆர்வமாகப் பார்க்காது; அவற்றை விளையாடத் தரும்படி கேட்காது;
# ‘டாட்டா’ காட்டுதல் போன்ற கை அசைப்பு இருக்காது;
# மற்ற குழந்தைகளுடன் விளையாட விரும்பாது;
# தனக்குத் தேவையானதை விரலால் சுட்டிக் காட்டாது;
# அடுத்தவரின் கைபிடித்துச் சென்றுதான் காட்டும்.
# குழந்தையின் வளர்ச்சிப் படிகளில் தாமதம் ஏற்படும்……

இப்படி இதன் அறிகுறிப் பட்டியல் நீள்கிறது. இந்த அறிகுறிகள் குழந்தையிடம் தெரிந்தால் போகப்போகச் சரியாகிவிடும் என்று பெற்றோர் எண்ணிவிடக் கூடாது. அதேவேளையில் இவற்றில் சில அறிகுறிகளை மட்டும் வைத்துக்கொண்டு குழந்தைக்கு, ஆட்டிசம் உள்ளது என்றும் கணித்துவிடக் கூடாது. பல அறிகுறிகள் இருந்து, குழந்தையின் இயல்பான திறமைகள் பாதிக்கப்படுகின்றன என்றால் மட்டுமே அந்தக் குழந்தைக்கு ஆட்டிசம் இருக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது. குழந்தை பிறந்து 18 மாதங்களுக்குள் இந்தக் குறைபாட்டைக் கண்டறிந்துகொள்ளலாம். குழந்தைக்கு 3 வயதுக்கு முன்னரே மனநல மருத்துவரிடம் இது குறித்து ஆலோசித்துக்கொண்டால் அதிக நன்மைகள் கிடைக்கும்.

என்ன சிகிச்சை உள்ளது?

ஆட்டிசத்துக்குக் குறிப்பிட்ட சிகிச்சை எதுவுமில்லை. அன்பும் அரவணைப்புமே இதற்கான மருந்துகள். இந்தக் குழந்தைகளுடன் அன்போடு நெருங்கிப் பழகும்போதுதான் அவர்கள் நம்மை நெருங்கி வருவார்கள். எனவே, இவர்களோடு நாம் அதிக நேரம் செலவழிக்க வேண்டும்; பூங்கா, கோயில், கடற்கரை, பொருட்காட்சி போன்ற வெளி இடங்களுக்கு அடிக்கடி அழைத்துச் செல்ல வேண்டும்.

முதலில் பல் தேய்த்தல், குளித்தல், சாப்பிடுதல், தூக்கம் போன்ற தினசரிப் பழக்கவழக்கங்களை ஒழுங்குபடுத்தப் பயிற்சிகள் தர வேண்டும். குழந்தைக்குப் புரியும் விதமாக நிறையப் பேச வேண்டும், நீச்சல், சைக்கிள் ஓட்டுதல், ஸ்கேட்டிங், யோகா போன்ற பயிற்சிகள் தரப்பட வேண்டும். இந்தப் பயிற்சிகள் அவர்களின் உடல் திறனை அதிகப்படுத்து வதுடன், தத்தம் வேலை களைத் தாமே சுயமாகச் செய்ய முடியும் என்ற தன்னம்பிக்கை யையும் தரும்.

இந்தக் குறைபாட்டின் ஆரம்ப கட்டத்திலேயே மொழிப் பயிற்சிக்கும் பேச்சுப் பயிற்சிக்கும் ஏற்பாடு செய்ய வேண்டும். உளவியல் சார்ந்த பயிற்சிகள், கல்விக்கான பயிற்சிகள், அறிவுத் திறன் பயிற்சிகள் போன்றவற்றையும் முறைப்படி தர வேண்டும். பேச வேண்டும், பழக வேண்டும் என்பது போன்ற எண்ணங் களைக் குழந்தையிடம் ஏற்படுத்துவதற்குத் தாயின் பங்கு மட்டுமல்லாமல் குடும்பத்தில் உள்ள அனைவரின் ஒத்துழைப்பும் தேவைப்படும்.

எங்கெல்லாம் இந்தப் பயிற்சிகளைப் பெறலாம்?

இதற்கெனத் தனியார் பயிற்சி மையங்கள் பெருநகரங்களில் இருக்கின்றன. அரசு மாவட்டத் தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளிலும் இந்தப் பயிற்சிகளை இலவசமாகப் பெறலாம். தொடர்ந்து பயிற்சிகள் அளித்தால் இவர்களும் மற்ற குழந்தைகளுக்கு நிகராக வாழ முடியும். மேலைநாடுகளில் ஆட்டிசத்தால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் பலர் ஐம்பது வயதைத் தாண்டியும் இயல்பான வாழ்க்கை வாழ்ந்து வருகிறார்கள். சர் ஐசக் நியூட்டன், பில் கேட்ஸ், ஸ்டீவ் ஜாப்ஸ் ஆகியோர் ஆட்டிசத்தால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட சில பிரபலங்கள்; அரிய சாதனைகளால் உலக வரலாற்றில் இடம் பிடித்தவர்களும்கூட!
இந்தியாவில் மாணவர்கள் மத்தியில் இ- சிகரெட்டுகள் புழக்கம் 77% அதிகரித் துள்ள நிலையில், நாடு முழுவதும் இ-சிகரெட்டு களுக்கு மத்திய அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது. அமெரிக்காவில் இ-சிகரெட்டினால் ஏற்பட் டுள்ள திடீர் மரணங்கள் அதன் உற்பத்தியை உலகம் முழுக்க மறுபரிசீலனை செய்ய வைத்துள்ளது.

கட்டுரையாளர், பொதுநல மருத்துவர்,

தொடர்புக்கு: gganesan95@gmail.com
மருத்துவ உலகில் மகத்தான சாதனை: 5 மாதக் குழந்தைக்கு கல்லீரல் மாற்று சிகிச்சை!

By ENS | Published on : 23rd September 2019 11:00 AM


மும்பை: 5 கிலோக்கும் குறைவான உடல் எடையுடன் இருந்த 5 மாதக் குழந்தைக்கு கல்லீரல் மாற்று அறுவை சிகிச்சை செய்து மும்பையைச் சேர்ந்த மருத்துவர்கள் சாதனை படைத்துள்ளனர்.

இந்த உயிர் காக்கும் அறுவை சிகிச்சை கடந்த ஜூன் மாதம் நடைபெற்று வெற்றிகரமாக முடிந்தது. அறுவை சிகிச்சைக்குப் பின் குழந்தை பூரண குணம் அடைந்து உடல் நலம் தேறி வரும் நிலையில், அதுபற்றிய தகவல்கள் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சூரத்தைச் சேர்ந்த சுசித்ரா - க்ருனல் வால்வியின் செல்ல மகள் இப்ஸா. குழந்தை பிறக்கும் போதே மஞ்சள் காமாலையுடன் பிறந்தது. வழக்கமான சிகிச்சைகளால் மஞ்சள் காமாலை குணம் அடையாததால் மருத்துவ பரிசோதனை செய்யப்பட்டதில், அவருக்கு பிலியரி அட்ரெஸியா எனப்படும் குறைபாடு இருந்தது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது.

20 ஆயிரம் குழந்தைகளில் ஒருவருக்கு இந்த குறைபாடு இருக்கும். அதாவது, கல்லீரல் முழுமையாக வளர்ச்சியடையாத நிலை. இதற்கு அறுவை சிகிச்சை மூலம் சிகிச்சை அளிக்க வேண்டும். ஆனால், தாமதித்தால் பிரச்னை மோசமாகிவிடும் என்பதால், உடனடியாக அறுவை சிகிச்சை மேற்கொள்ள முடிவு எடுக்கப்பட்டது.

5 மாதக் குழந்தையாக இருக்கும் போது இந்த நோய் கண்டறியப்பட்டதால் கல்லீரல் மாற்று மட்டுமே ஒரே தீர்வு என்று குளோபல் மருத்துவமனை மருத்துவர் அனுராக் ஷ்ரிமால் தெரிவித்தார்.

சுசித்ராவின் தங்கை க்ருபாலியின் கல்லீரலின் ஒரு பகுதியை எடுத்து இப்ஸாவுக்கு பொறுத்தியுள்ளனர். பூரண குணம் அடைந்து வீடு திரும்பிய இப்ஸாவுக்கு மஞ்சள் காமாலையும் குணமடைந்து வருவதாகவும், தற்போது அவர் நன்கு விளையாடி மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருப்பதாகவும் இப்ஸாவின் தாய் சுசித்ரா தெரிவித்தார்.

இந்த அறுவை சிகிச்சைக்காக ரூ.16 லட்சம் செலவானதாகவும் அவர் கூறினார்.
ஆன்மிக அன்பர்களுக்கு ஒரு நற்செய்தி: இனி ஏசி ரயிலில் சுற்றுலா செல்லலாம்!

Published on : 23rd September 2019 02:18 PM



ஆன்மிக சுற்றுலா செல்லும் ஆன்மிக அன்பர்களுக்கு ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி சார்பில் ஒரு புதிய ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தியன் ரயில்வேயின் சுற்றுலா பிரிவாக இந்தியன் ரயில்வே உணவு மற்றும் சுற்றுலா கழகம் (ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி) செயல்படுகிறது. இதன் சார்பில், பாரத தரிசன ஆன்மிக சுற்றுலா, ரயில் சுற்றுலா, எல்டிசி பேக்கேஜ், பள்ளி, கல்லூரி மாணவர்களுக்காக கல்வி சுற்றுலா என சிறப்பு சுற்றுலாக்கள் நடத்தப்படுகின்றன.

இந்நிலையில், ஆன்மிக சுற்றுலாத் தலங்களுக்கு முதன்முறையாக ஏசி ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்பட உள்ளன. இதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகளை ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி. செய்துள்ளது.

இது தொடர்பாக ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி. இணைப் பொதுமேலாளர் பி.ஷாம் ஜோசப்,, மேலாளர் எல்.சுப்பிரமணி ஆகியோர் கூறியது:

யாத்திரை செல்லும் பயணிகளுக்கு வசதிக்காக ஏசி ரயில் மூலமும் இந்தியாவின் பல இடங்களுக்கு சுற்றுலாக்கள், யாத்திரைகள் செல்ல ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன.

திருச்சியில் இருந்து அடுத்த மாதம் 19-ஆம் தேதி புறப்படும் ஏசி ரயில் பெங்களூரு, சென்னை வழியாக உத்தரப் பிரதேச மாநிலம் செல்கிறது. அங்குள்ள திவ்ய தேசத் தலங்களான நைமிசாரண்யம் ஸ்ரீ தேவராஜ பெருமாள், ஸ்ரீராமர் மற்றும் நேபாள நாட்டில் அமைந்துள்ள ஸ்ரீ கஜேந்திர மோட்ச சாளக்கிராம மூர்த்தி ஸ்தலம், முக்திநாத் ஸ்ரீ மூர்த்தி பெருமாள் திவ்ய தேசம், போக்ராவில் அமைந்துள்ள பிந்துபாஷினி ஆலயம், தவி அருவி, மகேந்திர குகைகள், உலக அமைதி நினைவாலயம் உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களை சுற்றிப் பார்க்க ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மொத்தம் 13 நாள்கள் கொண்ட இந்த சுற்றுலா ஏசி ரயில் பயணம், ஏசி அறைகள், ஏசி வாகனம், விமான கட்டணம், உணவு உள்ளிட்ட வசதிகளை கொண்டிருக்கும். ஒருவருக்கான கட்டணம் ரூ.53,330 முதல் ரூ.63,400 வரை.

இதேபோல, "தி குளோரி கிங்டம்' என்னும் சுற்றுலாத் திட்டமும் உள்ளது. லக்னெள, புத்தர் பிறந்த லும்பினி, போக்ராவில் உள்ள பிந்து பாஷினி ஆலயம், பகவதி அம்மன், தர்பார் சதுக்கம், பசுபதி நகர், புத்த நீல்கண்ட ஆலயம் ஆகியவற்றை தரிசிக்கவும் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. 13 நாள்கள் கொண்ட இந்த சுற்றுலாவுக்கு ஒருவருக்கான கட்டணம் ரூ.50,600 முதல் ரூ.53,680 வரை ஆகும்.

மேலும் விவரங்களுக்கு, 9003140680, 9003140681 என்ற எண்களை தொடர்பு கொண்டு பெறலாம் என்றனர்.
இறைச்சி வியாபாரிகளை இழிவுபடுத்துவதாகப் புகார்: தொடங்கியது விஜய் படத்துக்கு எதிரான முதல் போராட்டம்!

By எழில் | Published on : 23rd September 2019 04:58 PM |



ராஜா ராணி, தெறி, மெர்சல் ஆகிய படங்களை இயக்கியுள்ள பிரபல இயக்குநர் அட்லி அடுத்ததாக விஜய் கதாநாயகனாக நடிக்கும் பிகில் படத்தை இயக்கி வருகிறார். மெர்சல் படத்துக்குப் பிறகு விஜய் - அட்லி - ஏ.ஆர். ரஹ்மான் இணையும் புதிய படம் குறித்த அதிகாரபூர்வ அறிவிப்பை ஏஜிஎஸ் நிறுவனம் கடந்த வருடம் இறுதியில் வெளியிட்டது. நயன்தாரா, ஜாக்கி ஷெராப், விவேக், யோகிபாபு, கதிர் போன்றோர் இப்படத்தில் நடித்துள்ளார்கள். இசை - ஏ.ஆர். ரஹ்மான், ஒளிப்பதிவு - ஜி.கே. விஷ்ணு, பாடல்கள் - விவேக், படத்தொகுப்பு - ரூபன் எல். ஆண்டனி, கலை - முத்துராஜ், சண்டைப் பயிற்சி - அனல் அரசு. ஜனவரி 19 அன்று பூஜை நடைபெற்றது. தீபாவளிக்கு வெளியாகிறது.

இந்நிலையில் பிகில் பட போஸ்டரில் இடம்பெற்றுள்ள காட்சி தங்களை இழிவுபடுத்துவதாகக் கூறி கோயம்புத்தூர் கறிக்கடை உரிமையாளர்கள் இன்று போராட்டம் நடத்தியுள்ளார்கள். இறைச்சி வெட்டும் கட்டை மீது செருப்புக் காலை வைத்து விஜய் அமர்ந்திருக்கும் காட்சி ஃபர்ஸ்ட் லுக் போஸ்டரில் வெளியானது. இந்த போஸ்டருக்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து, கோவை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்தில் மனு அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இறைச்சி வியாபாரிகள் சங்கத்தைச் சேர்ந்த கோபால், இந்த விவகாரம் குறித்துக் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:

இந்தியாவில் உள்ள இறைச்சி வியாபாரிகள் அதிகாலையில் தொட்டு வணங்கி தொழில் செய்யும் கறி வெட்டும் கட்டை மீது செருப்புக்கால் வைத்து போஸ்டர் வெளியிட்டு மொத்த வியாபாரிகளையும் அவமரியாதை செய்துவிட்டார்கள். அந்த போஸ்டர் வெளியான சில நாள்களில் விஜய், ஏஜிஎஸ் நிறுவனம், இயக்குநர் அட்லி ஆகியோருக்கு வக்கீல் நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பப்பட்டது. அந்த போஸ்டரை நியாயப்படுத்தி ஏஜிஎஸ் நிறுவனம் மட்டும் பதில் அளித்தது என்று கூறியுள்ளார்.

விஜய் நடித்து சமீபத்தில் வெளிவந்த மெர்சல், சர்கார் ஆகிய படங்கள் சர்ச்சைகளில் சிக்கிய நிலையில் பிகில் படமும் தற்போது சர்ச்சைக்கு ஆளாகியுள்ளது.

புதிய ஓய்வூதியம்: அரசாணை வெளியீடு

Added : செப் 24, 2019 06:36

புதுடில்லி: மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர் உயிரிழந்தால், குறைந்தபட்சம் ஏழு ஆண்டுகள் பணியாற்றி இருந்தால் மட்டுமே, அவருடைய குடும்பத்தாருக்கு, ஓய்வூதியம் வழங்கப்பட்டு வந்தது. தற்போது, ஏழு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு குறைவாக பணியாற்றி இருந்தாலும், அவருடைய குடும்பத்தாருக்கு ஓய்வூதியம் அளிக்கும் வகையில் சட்டத் திருத்தம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கு, ஜனாதிபதி, ராம்நாத் கோவிந்த் ஒப்புதல் அளித்துள்ளார். இந்த புதிய நடைமுறை, அக்., 1 முதல் அமலுக்கு வருகிறது.
State Express Transport Corporation buses from CMBT diverted via Ashok Pillar, Pallavaram

A section of commuters rued that the move would increase travel time by 90 minutes for those boarding buses at the CMBT.

Published: 23rd September 2019 07:55 AM |

By Anbuselvan B


Express News Service

The State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) on Sunday diverted all buses bound for central and southern districts, which originate at CMBT, via Vadapalani, Guindy, Pallavaram and Tambaram. So far, except a few select ordinary services, all buses including the air-conditioned, have run via the Chennai bypass road.

While the SETC said the decision was aimed at ensuring ease for south suburban commuters who have to travel up to Perungalathur for boarding buses, a section of commuters rued that the move would increase travel time by 90 minutes for those boarding buses at the CMBT.

The higher travel time during festival season would force many to opt for private omnibuses, commuters said.

Official sources said that so far commuters from Guindy, Adyar, Taramani, St. Thomas Mount, Pallavaram, Madipakkam, Kovilambakkam, Thiruvanmiyur and Thuraipakkam faced hardships in boarding SETC buses at Perungalathur owing to shortage of MTC buses and heavy traffic during rush hour.

Similarly, during the return journey, commuters from Tiruchy and Madurai get down at Perungalathur and board MTC bus or take cab to reach their destinations in suburban areas.

V Baskaran, Managing Director, SETC, said, "From June, ordinary services are operated via inner ring road and GST road during non-rush hour. Henceforth, all buses will be diverted via Ashok Pillar and Tambaram. The southern suburban areas are densely populated and the decision was taken only for the benefit of commuters.

Given that the bridge construction works at Koyambedu, Pallavaram and Vandalur have been delayed for 12 months and are yet to be completed, regular travellers from northern parts of Chennai pointed out that the move would only increase the traffic congestion and thereby the travel time.

"Both GST and inner ring road witness huge vehicular pile-up during rush hour. Adding over 1,000 buses would only increase the vehicular traffic, forcing the commuters to opt for private omnibuses," said S Sankaran of Anna Nagar, a bus enthusiast.

A few SETC drivers and conductors said though the move increased the ticket revenue, the travel time increased by two hours. "If the buses are diverted after completion of on-going bridge works, it will benefit both commuters and workers."

Factfile:

1. On June 20, SETC diverted select ordinary services via inner ring  road and GST instead of bypass road during non-rush hour

2. From Sunday onwards, all buses operated via Chennai-Tiruchy NH were  diverted via Vadapalani, Pallavaram and Tambaram

3. SETC operates AC sleeper, AC seater and non-AC sleeper buses

4. South suburban commuters travel upto Perungalathur to board buses

5. Flyovers being constructed at Koyambedu, Pallavaram and Vandalur

6. GST and inner ring road witness traffic snarls during rush hour

7. Travel time of SETC buses has increased by 90 to 120 minutes

8. A section commuters say the move is aimed to force the commuters to  opt for omnibuses

9. SETC operates 1,175 buses in 685 routes
MTC rationalises bus routes to improve connectivity

MTC has rationalised its services by making changes in bus routes for Vadapalani, IT corridor, KK Nagar and Vandalur areas.
Published: 24th September 2019 06:15 AM |

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: MTC has rationalised its services by making changes in bus routes for Vadapalani, IT corridor, KK Nagar and Vandalur areas. The recent exercise includes short-termination of a few services to create a new service and renumbering of buses for various routes.

The changes were made to increase the accessibility in highly demanded routes identified by the MTC based on a study, said officials. The study was initiated in February after the patronage fell below 33 lakh a day, from 46 lakh in January last. Buses were introduced in the following routes: 91C (Velachery - Vandalaur Zoo), 66G (Kundrathur-Guduvanchery), 570V (Vadapalani-Kelambakkam), 19V (Shozhinganallur-Vandalur) and 55K (Kandigai to Guduvanchery).

“About 15 buses bearing route No. 570S (CMBT - Kelambakkam) have been transferred to Vadapalani and are operated as 570V (Vadapalani-Kelambakkam). The move was made, based on demand to improve the connectivity with IT corridor,” said a senior MTC official, adding that the changes were also made to decongest the CMBT facing frequent traffic snarls.

Besides, select bus services of 11H, which have so far been operated from Broadway to Iyyappanthangal, have been converted into 11G (Broadway-K K Nagar) and extended upto Iyappanthangal. “Now 11H buses will be operated upto Iyyappanthangal bearing 11G name board. The changes were made after the closure of bridge near RBI on Kamarajar Salai,” added the official. Two new services were created, short-terminating the buses to improve the patronage on the IT corridor and GST Road.

The 19V from Shozhinganallur on Rajiv Gandhi Road will provide link with GST road via Navalur, Siruseri, Pudupakkam, Mambakkam and Kandigai. The 55K buses were introduced from Kandigai to Guduvanchery to run via Keerapakkam, Arungal, Kattur and Karanaipuduchery, said sources.

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