DU VC suspended, to face inquiry over administrative lapses

DU VC suspended, to face inquiry over administrative lapses

New Delhi: Delhi University vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi was suspended on the orders of President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday after an inquiry was instituted against him over allegations of administrative lapses and dereliction of duty, according to officials of the ministry of education (MoE).

Tyagi is possibly the first Delhi University VC to face suspension. University officials said such an action had not been taken against any VC in at least three decades.

The action comes amid a power tussle in the central university.

The President, who is the Visitor to the university, has placed Tyagi under suspension to ensure that the inquiry is fair and that he is not able to tamper with material records or coerce the witnesses, a senior ministry official said.

Among the lapses flagged against Tyagi are non-filling of vacant positions, delay in redressal of sexual harassment cases and vigilance complaints in university, mishandling of the issue of ad-hoc teachers which led to a massive agitation, and non-submission of detailed plan for implementation of the Institution of Eminence (IoE) and the latest being certain appointments made while he is on medical leave. PTI

NEVER BEFORE: Delhi University vice chancellor Yogesh Tyagi is possibly the first Delhi University VC to face suspension

Ex-nursing council member chargesheeted

₹12CR BRIBERY CASE

Ex-nursing council member chargesheeted

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  29.10.2020 

A month-and-half after he was arrested in Jaipur for allegedly receiving bribes of more than ₹12 crore and acquiring properties and trusts with the proceeds of crime, the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against former member of the Indian Nursing Council Mahesh Chand Sharma, his wife, two sons and other associates.

Sharma had earlier served as tutor in the nursing college of SMS Medical College in Jaipur and was caught by the anti-corruption bureau of Rajasthan while accepting bribes from a private nursing institute to include it in the list of approved colleges of the Indian Nursing Council.

The ED’s money laundering probe and transaction trail revealed Sharma had acquired properties in the name of family members and several trusts he had formed for the purpose of layering ‘proceeds of crime’.

Full report on www.toi.in

Maternity leave no ground for termination of services: SC

Maternity leave no ground for termination of services: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 29.10.2020 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed a Delhi University college for removing an ad hoc woman assistant professor during her maternity leave and said “having a child is no reflection on a woman’s professional ability”.

Manisha Priyadarshini has been working as an ad hoc assistant professor in different colleges affiliated to Delhi University. Her contractual appointment was getting renewed every four months with a notional break of one day for the last more than six years. The last renewal of her contract was in November 2018 when she was working with Aurobindo College. In January 2019, she sought maternity leave for four months as she was having complications in her pregnancy. She gave premature birth to a daughter, but the college removed her from service in March.

A Delhi high court bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Asha Menon ordered her reinstatement and imposed a cost of ₹50,000 on the college, which appealed against it in the SC.

An SC bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Indira Banerjee said, “Maternity leave cannot be a ground for termination of services. Having a child is not a reflection on a woman’s professional ability whether she is in the Army, Navy, judiciary, teaching or bureaucracy. We will not allow termination on this ground.”

The SC bench told the college that it would be a travesty of justice if after removing the woman from her post, the college resorted to another ad hoc appointment.

Full report on www.toi.in

Law graduates in Tamil Nadu to get Rs 3,000 stipend

Law graduates in Tamil Nadu to get Rs 3,000 stipend

For law students hailing from economically poor backgrounds in rural areas, it takes at least three or four years to become full-fledged advocates.

Published: 29th October 2020 03:48 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday launched a new scheme to provide Rs 3,000 per month as assistance to young law graduates who hail from economically poor backgrounds during the initial years of their career.

At a simple function held at the Secretariat, nine young law graduates received the assistance from the Chief Minister. The assistance will be given for two years. An official release said the law graduates, just after passing out of their colleges, have to clear the All India Bar Examination to get themselves permanent registration in the Bar Council. 

After that, they have to practice as junior advocates for two to three years. For law students hailing from economically poor backgrounds in rural areas, it takes at least three or four years to become full-fledged advocates. 

“During this period, many are under poverty, and a few move to some other professions. Now, this special scheme will help those advocates,” the release added. When the scheme was announced in July, the State Bar Council had announced that only law graduates from government law colleges with less than Rs 2.5 lakh annual income and aged under 30 would be eligible for this stipend.

HC asks CB-CID to probe Tamil Nadu PG medical admission ‘scam’

HC asks CB-CID to probe Tamil Nadu PG medical admission ‘scam’

Self-financing colleges filled 74 seats with ‘un-meritorious candidates’, observes court.

Published: 29th October 2020 04:17 AM |

By Harish Murali

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a surprise move, the Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered a CB-CID probe into an alleged nexus between the Directorate of Medical Education and private medical colleges in the State.

While passing the order on a batch of petitions filed by several candidates who were denied PG admissions even after mop-up counselling, Justice Anand Venkatesh said that taking advantage of the pandemic, self-financing medical colleges had filled up 74 seats with “un-meritorious candidates.” The judge came down heavily on the medical admission process in his order, saying that even candidates with low scores were being given seats.

“There is something more than what meets the eye when it comes to filling up seats in private medical colleges by ways other than counselling. Obviously, these are all candidates capable of pulling strings, and had a clear understanding with colleges concerned,” he said.

The judge added that “every year, some mechanism is devised by self-financing colleges to fill-up vacancies in this manner.” Coming down also on the government, the court said, “The State can never take the chance of filling up a medical seat with ‘un-meritorious’ candidates since it directly involves the life of a person.” That is why the Supreme Court, the judge said, reiterates time and again that when it comes to PG courses, merit can be the only selection criteria.

He added: “Taking advantage of Covid, 74 seats were given in a platter to private colleges and these colleges merrily filled up the vacancies with candidates who could not even have dreamt of getting an allotment through regular counselling.” The CB-CID team is to be headed by an officer, not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner, the Court added. 

The team will be probing any conspiracy between the officials of Directorate of Medical Education and self-financing colleges in filling up stray vacancies this year; the amount received from each candidate who was admitted by the self-financing colleges on August 31 and other issues that unfolds during the investigation. The court ordered the team to submit its report on February 1.

மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் முறைகேடு: ஐகோர்ட் அதிரடி உத்தரவு

மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் முறைகேடு: ஐகோர்ட் அதிரடி உத்தரவு

Added : அக் 28, 2020 23:35

சென்னை:முதுநிலை மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் ஏற்பட்ட காலியிடங்களை நிரப்ப, தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளுக்கும், மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரக அதிகாரிகளுக்கும் இடையே சதி திட்டம் இருந்ததா என்பது குறித்து, சி.பி.சி.ஐ.டி., விசாரணை நடத்த, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

கோவையைச் சேர்ந்த, டாக்டர் எஸ்.அரவிந்த் தாக்கல் செய்த மனுவில், 'முதுநிலை மருத்துவப் படிப்பில், நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களுக்கு, இறுதி கட்ட கவுன்சிலிங் நடத்தாமல், மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கையை முடிக்கக் கூடாது. 'இறுதி கட்ட கவுன்சிலிங் நடத்தி, மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கையை முடிக்க, உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்' என கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.டாக்டர் கீதாஞ்சலி என்பவரும், மனு தாக்கல் செய்திருந்தார்.

சேர்க்கை

இம்மனுக்களை விசாரித்த நீதிபதி ஆனந்த் வெங்கடேஷ், கவுன்சிலிங் அவகாசத்தை நீட்டிக்க கோரி, உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் உடனடியாக மனு தாக்கல் செய்ய, அட்வகேட் ஜெனரல் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தார். இதையடுத்து, அவகாசம் நீட்டிக்க கோரிய தமிழக அரசின் மனுவை, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் நிராகரித்தது.

'நீட்' தேர்வில் தன்னை விட குறைவான மதிப்பெண் பெற்றவர்களுக்கு, தனியார் கல்லுாரியில் இடம் வழங்கப்பட்டு உள்ளதாகவும், அதை ரத்து செய்ய வேண்டும் என, மாணவி சார்பில், வழக்கறிஞர் தங்கசிவன் முறையிட்டார்.இந்த வழக்கில், நீதிபதி ஆனந்த் வெங்கடேஷ் பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு:மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் தகுதி குறைந்தவர்களை சேர்ப்பதற்கு, அரசு எப்போதும் சந்தர்ப்பம் அளிக்கக் கூடாது. ஏனென்றால், மருத்துவப் படிப்பு மனித உயிர் சம்பந்தப்பட்டது.

எனவே தான், மருத்துவ படிப்புகளில், தகுதியை மட்டுமே அளவுகோலாக, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் அவ்வப்போது வலியுறுத்தி வருகிறது.இந்த வழக்கைப் பொறுத்தவரை, நீதிமன்றம் கேள்வி எழுப்பிய பின் தான், கடைசி கட்ட கவுன்சிலிங் நடத்த, அவகாசத்தை நீட்டிக்க கோரி, உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தை அரசு அணுகியது. நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கான இடங்களை நிரப்ப, கவுன்சிலிங் நடத்துவதற்கு, அரசுக்கு தடையும் இல்லை.

ஆனால், அதை அரசு மேற்கொள்ளவில்லை. அதனால், 74 இடங்கள், தனியார் கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு விட்டு கொடுக்கப்பட்டுஉள்ளன.இந்த இடங்களை, கல்லுாரிகள் நிரப்பி கொண்டன. 'ரெகுலர்' கவுன்சிலிங்கில் இடம் கிடைக்க தகுதி பெறாதவர்கள், தனியார் கல்லுாரிகளில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டு உள்ளனர்.

சாதகம்

தனியார் கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு, ஆக., 30ம் தேதி இறுதி பட்டியலை, தேர்வுக் குழு அளித்துள்ளது. அதில், மாணவர்களின் தொடர்பு விபரங்கள் இல்லை.அப்படி இருக்கும்போது, எப்படி இந்த மாணவர்களை பிடித்து, 31ம் தேதி அவர்களுக்கு இடங்களை ஒதுக்கியது என்ற, கேள்வி எழுகிறது. ஒவ்வொரு ஆண்டும், ஏதாவது ஒரு வழிமுறையை கண்டுபிடித்து, தனியார் கல்லுாரிகள் இடங்களை நிரப்புகின்றன.

இத்தகைய சூழ்நிலை தொடர அனுமதித்தால், தகுதியுள்ள மாணவர்களுக்கு அநீதி இழைப்பதாகும். பண வசதி உள்ள மாணவன், இடங்களை வாங்கி, மற்ற மாணவர்களுடன் மருத்துப் படிப்பை படிக்க முடியும்.இப்படிப்பட்ட முறையில் இடம்பெறும் மாணவன், இந்த சமூகத்துக்கு பெரிதும் ஆபத்தானவன்.

எப்படியாவது படிப்பை முடித்து, அப்பாவி மக்களின் உயிரோடு விளையாடுவான். இந்த கல்வியாண்டில், வைரஸ் தொற்றை சாதகமாக்கி, தகுதி குறைவானவர்களை வைத்து, 74 இடங்கள் நிரப்பப்பட்டுஉள்ளன.

சதி

இதில், மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரக அதிகாரிகளுக்கும், தனியார் கல்லுாரிகளுக்கும் இடையே சதி இருப்பது தெரிகிறது. இதுகுறித்து, விசாரிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.விசாரணையில் தான், சதியின் பின்னணியில் இருப்பவர்கள் யார்; மாணவர்களிடம் இருந்து எவ்வளவு பணம் பெறப்பட்டது என்பது தெரிய வரும். தனியார் கல்லுாரிகள், அறக்கட்டளை நடத்தவில்லை.

இந்த மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கை வாயிலாக, அவர்கள் லாபம் அடைந்திருப்பர்.சட்டவிரோத நடவடிக்கைகளை பொறுத்துக் கொள்ளாது என்ற, வலுவான செய்தியை தெரிவிக்க, நீதிமன்றங்கள் கடுமையான நடவடிக்கையை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.எனவே, இந்த வழக்கை, சி.பி.சி.ஐ.டி., வசம் ஒப்படைக்க, டி.ஜி.பி.,க்கு உத்தரவிடப்படுகிறது. உதவி ஆணையர் தலைமையில் குழுவை நியமித்து, விசாரிக்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.

ஆக., 31ல், காலியிடங்களை நிரப்புவதில், மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரக அதிகாரிகளுக்கும், தனியார் கல்லுாரிகளுக்கும் இடையே சதி நடந்ததா; ஒவ்வொரு மாணவரிடம் இருந்து பெறப்பட்ட தொகை பற்றி, விசாரிக்க வேண்டும்.ஜன., 30ம் தேதி, அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, நீதிபதி உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.

AIADMK unhappy with BJP for using MGR in its Vetrivel Yatra teaser Saffron Party Equates MGR With Modi

AIADMK unhappy with BJP for using MGR in its Vetrivel Yatra teaser

Saffron Party Equates MGR With Modi

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.10.2020

The ruling AIADMK and its ally, the BJP, crossed swords over the use of former chief minister M G Ramachandran’s photograph in the teaser of Vetrivel Yatra, a month-long public outreach programme. The BJP says it is aimed at celebrating the “tall Dravidian leader”.

A three-and-a-half minute teaser being circulated widely on social media comes ahead of state president L Murugan’s launch of yatra in Tiruttani on November 6. A photograph of MGR sporting his charming smile against the backdrop of the lotus symbol appears in a flash with a background narrator drawing a parallel between ‘Ponmanachemmal’, as MGR is popularly known, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Modiji also follows the path of MGR and does good work just like MGR did and remains popular among women,” BJP state president L Murugan said, justifying the comparison. The party is all set to promote the teaser extensively in the coming days, with Union ministers and national leaders joining the programme in six Muruga temples.

The ruling AIADMK is furious given that attempts were made recently by ‘mischievous’ elements to drape MGR statues with saffron shawls. Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had condemned the act as “shameful and barbaric,” while his deputy, O Panneerselvam put out a strongly worded statement. AIADMK deputy coordinator K P Munusamy said no other party can usurp the MGR legacy.

The BJP leaders say the party was only celebrating the AIADMK founder, who was well ahead of his times with his national mindset. “He was pro-Hindu, and a nationalist, who prefixed the All India tag to the party. A Dravidian leader, who diluted the anti-Hindu perspective and upheld the nationalist principles,” said BJP state general secretary Prof Raama Sreenivasan. “We celebrate MGR and will continue to respect him. MGR is near and dear to us,” said Sreenivasan. The party had earlier “celebrated” national icons like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and Lal Bahadur Shastri and late Congress leader K Kamaraj too.

But the AIADMK is far from happy about the BJP’s move. “MGR is ours. He is our founder leader,” AIADMK minister D Jayakumar said, asking the BJP to turn to its own leaders. Former minister and AIADMK spokesman Vaigai Chelvan said the AIADMK had been continuing on the path laid down by the charismatic leader. The photographs of leaders of the other parties can be used in campaigns only after alliances are cemented, he said.

The ruling AIADMK is furious given that attempts were made recently by ‘mischievous’ elements to drape MGR statues with saffron shawls

Appointment of ABVP prez in AIIMS board draws flak

Appointment of ABVP prez in AIIMS board draws flak

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.10.2020

A notification issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare appointing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) president and government Kilpauk Medical College head of surgical oncology Dr Shanmugam Subbiah as one of the board members of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Madurai, kicked up a storm in Tamil Nadu.

MPs Kanimozhi (DMK), D Ravikumar (VCK), Su Venkatesan (CPI) and B Manickam Tagore expressed their discontent over appointing Dr Subbiah, who was in news recently for “harassing” his woman neighbour in Chennai by throwing garbage and urinating at her doorstep. The Adambakkam police registered a case, but the complaint was withdrawn the next day. Kanimozhi tweeted: “Is this (appointment of Dr Subbiah) an endorsement of indecent behaviour and also an incentive for other BJP cadres to follow suit?”

The notification issued on October 15 by joint secretary Sunil Sharma said former ICMR director VM Katoch, who is currently president of JIPMER, has been appointed as the president of AIIMS, Madurai. TN Dr MGR Medical university VC chancellor Dr Sudha Seshayyan has been appointed as its member as per Clause (A) Section 4 of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Act. Three others -- Director General of Health Service (ex-offico), Director of the Institute (ex-offico) and additional finance secretary and financial advisor to health department -- will be members under Clauses B, C and D respective

No prior nod needed, just e-registration for travel, govt tells court

No prior nod needed, just e-registration for travel, govt tells court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.10.2020 

The e-pass system in Tamil Nadu has been replaced by e-registration regimen, which is an automated process requiring no prior approval for travel, the Tamil Nadu government has informed the Madras high court.

International travellers entering the state and travellers to hill stations must do e-registration prior to their travel, Tamil Nadu advocate-general Vijay Narayan told the first bench of chief justice A P Sahi and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy on Wednesday.

“The state government has passed a government order on October 27 modifying the restrictions for movement of public in view of the pandemic,” he said, adding that through e-registration, a traveller should provide his basic details like address and contact number for the purpose of contact-tracing in case of spike in Covid-19.

The issue pertains to a PIL filed by K R Ezhil Nadhi challenging the restriction imposed by the government prohibiting travel to hill stations in the state.

Representing the petitioner, advocate Abishek Jebaraj contended that in view of the powers exercised by the Union ministry of home affairs, guidelines were issued on September 30, which restrains the states from imposing lockdowns outside containment zones.

It was made clear that there must be no restriction on inter and intra state movement, he argued.

It was the petitioner’s contention that e-registration requirement should be made post-travel and authorities should not insist on a pre-travel registration.

Refusing to concur with the submission, the bench said the state has substantially resolved the problem by passing the government order and disposed of the plea.

The state government made the submission to the court hearing a plea that challenged restrictions on travel to hill stations. The court disposed of the petition saying the state has taken adequate measures

›E-pass hurting tourism, P8

35% people not wearing masks, CM tells officers

35% people not wearing masks, CM tells officers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.10.2020 

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday said 35% of the population in the state was not wearing masks and that the district administrators should ensure strict compliance of rules. The government has distributed 46 lakh reusable cloth masks to the poor in Chennai, and 4.95 crore in the rest of the state.

During a video conference with district collectors ahead of extending the lockdown, the chief minister said, “People are careless and don’t wear masks, unaware of the severity of the disease. The administration should get them to comply with.” Palaniswami pointed to the Deepavali festive season and the rush on streets and told the local bodies to pay special attention to spray disinfectants in the Covid-infected areas.

The districts that record more than 100 cases a day should bring them below 100 ahead of Deepavali, while those that record less than 100 should get them below 50, and districts that see 50 cases a day should see nil cases, the collectors were told.

Palaniswami said the opposition should stop defaming his government’s Covid-management given that the virus spread was getting reduced in the state. The neighbouring states, which the opposition was pointing to earlier to ease the curbs, were lately seeing a high number of cases, he said.

The state government has spent ₹7,372 crore towards Covid-management, including ₹1,983 crore towards health expenditure. The number of daily cases has come down to less than 3,000 in the past four days and active cases also reduced to 30,000. Recovery rate has been 94.57% and the death rate 1.53%.

Pondy positivity rate 2.7%

Puducherry: After two days of zero Covid-19 deaths, Puducherry reported two fatalities on Wednesday. The death toll of the Union territory is 590. The UT’s fatality rate is 1.7%. The territory reported 102 fresh cases even as 154 patients were discharged, bringing down active cases to 3,686. Positivity rate was 2.7%, the lowest in the last three months.

Govt asks religious board to stop using state emblem

Govt asks religious board to stop using state emblem

Improper Use Is A Punishable Offence

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 29.10.2020 

The Tamil Nadu government has ordered the state Waqf board, which governs Muslim religious properties and is headed by a bureaucrat, and few other undertakings to stop using the official emblem of the government.

The government sought adherence to an earlier order which listed out the institutions allowed to use the tricolour-embellished Tamil Nadu emblem. The Waqf board did not find a mention on the list.

“It has been noticed that Tamil Nadu Waqf Board is using the State Emblem in tricolour. I request the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board and all offices under its control not to use the Tamil Nadu government state emblem by and to remove the state emblem from your letterheads forthwith,” B Chandra Mohan, principal secretary to the state government, minorities welfare department, said in a letter addressed to the board’s chief executive officer (CEO).

The letter, dated October 12, directed Faritha Banu, the Waqf Board CEO, to inform all district Kazis to stop using the emblem.

Government sources said Waqf Board is not the only state undertaking to receive such a letter as several others in other departments too have been told to strictly comply with the law.

Each department head (on October 5) was asked to take action against this and update the details soon. The complete list of designated commissions/offices allowed to use them is governed by two orders (G.O No.739 and  871) issued in 1994.

The move comes after complaints that office-bearers of state undertakings were misusing the emblem and that the government was keen on controlling this ahead of the election season, sources added.

Improper use of the state emblem is a punishable offence and the violators can be booked under Section 260 read with 5 of the Indian Penal Code (improper use of government emblem or stamp). Karur-based businessman Anbunathan was the last person to be booked for this offence while using them in an unlicensed ambulance with a fake registration number.

Transportation activist K Kathirmathiyon said these officials are not provided with G-series vehicle numbers (reserved for government staff). So they fix the emblem expecting merit and exemptions at toll plazas and check posts.

In a letter to the state Waqf board, which governs Muslim religious properties and is headed by a bureaucrat, principal secretary to the state minorities welfare department asked them to not use the state emblem and remove the same from their letter heads

20 engg colleges in TN couldn’t fill a single seat

20 engg colleges in TN couldn’t fill a single seat

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.10.2020

Thirteen colleges, including 12 government and aided colleges and one self-financing college, filled 100% seats while 20 colleges could not fill a single seat after four rounds of online counselling conducted by Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions committee. Last year, 16 colleges could not get a single student.

This year, 56.4% seats in 461 engineering colleges remained vacant after general counselling.

The absentees in the counselling jumped by 12% compared to previous year. Of the 1,10,836 students who were called for general counselling, 69,752 (62.9%) were allotted seats in four rounds, 6,612 less than last year.

In special categories, including sports, ex-servicemen, differently-abled and vocational stream, 1,443 students got allotment. Overall, 71,195 seats (43.6%) were filled against1,63,154 seats available with 91,959 seats remaining vacant. Last year, 48.2% seats were filled in the counselling.

Due to Covid-19, the number of admissions has come down by 5% in the counselling. However, top colleges say they had a good admission season.

“These colleges have filled more seats despite the Covid-19 crisis. Students and parents gave importance to colleges that have good placement records and faculty members,” said R M Kishore, vice-chairman, RMK Engineering College.

Colleges with poor placement records last year could not attract many students. This year, only 139 colleges were able to fill more than 50% of the seats in the counselling.

“At the end of academic counselling, almost 250 colleges have less than 100 seats in the first year. It is financially not viable for the management to give quality education. Students and faculty members would be affected,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi. A majority of the students joined computer science, information technology, artificial intelligence and data science, electronics and communication, he said.

Principals said around 103 colleges will face a crisis in 2020-21 as they were able to fill less than 10% of their intake. A private college principal said colleges which have less than 10% admissions cannot afford faculty members and conduct classes for these students. “Anna University should intervene and transfer these students to other colleges which have more admissions,” he said.

City airport’s website fails to fly high -

City airport’s website fails to fly high -

The Times Of India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:28.10.2020

The city airport is yet to have a good website though there is a demand from people to know about Covid-19 restrictions and protocols, espcially at a time when states have started to change the screening and quarantine procedure for international and domestic passengers.

The existing website does not have information on flight schedules, details of health screening of passengers, quarantine rules. Instead it has only basic information about the airport.

The home page of Chennai airport's website that is run by Airports Authority of India shows in three boxes - Latest News, Tourist Places and Contact for advertisement. Closure of retirning rooms at the airport from February 3 and caution against employment fraud are shown under latest news.

In contrast, the website of Mumbai airport has a slide show detailing advisory for passengers, instructions for those repatriated to India, information for international arriving passengers, details of Covid-19 tests and others. There are also tabs to book an RT-PCR test at the airport's lab. Flight schedules are also posted. Similar is the case with websites of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi and Kochi.

Sources said after a lot of complaints about the website, AAI improved its social media presence. AAI posts daily updates on flight schedules, quarantine guidelines, test protocols on its Twitter handle. However, the page gets a lot of comments and queries from passengers because most of the tweets get drowned when fresh tweets or retweets are posted. There will be at least four to five comments under each of the posts asking for details on flights, Covid-19 quarantine rules, availability of testing facility at the airport, need for test certificates and others. "The website has been outdated and poorly designed for the last few years. The local officials are not able to do much because it is handled from Delhi," said an airline official. .

M K Ajith Kumar, spokesperson, South Indian MICE Association, said "An updated website absolutely essential for domestic travellers and international travellers. A business traveller from abroad may want to know the whether the airport has a meet and greet facility, connectivity to the city. The airport is well linked to a metro station. These details can be updated daily otherwise they fall prey to touts. Domestic passengers will be able to check Covid-19 protocols which keep changing from one state to another."

Job on compassionate ground not charity: HC - The Times Of India

Job on compassionate ground not charity: HC - The Times Of India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 28.10.2020

Appointment on compassionate ground is neither an act of charity nor temple ‘prasadham’, the Madras high court said censuring BSNL for refusing such appointment for a deserving candidate.

“Death of a sole breadwinner will definitely cause huge imbalance in any family especially when the family is in the low-income group,” a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha said. The court made the observations while allowing a plea moved by G Vijaya Prasanna challenging an order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) denying her the benefit of compassionate appointment.

Vijaya Prasanna’s father K Gajendran died in 2003 while working as a telegraph man in BSNL.

In 2004, the petitioner gave a representation seeking appointment under compassionate ground. Though she was appointed as an office assistant on contract basis, her application for permanent appointment was rejected.

“… in view of the assets / liabilities of the family of the deceased, official support arrangement, constitution of the family and overall assessment of condition of the family, the circle high power committee did not agree to recommend the compassionate ground appointment and rejected the request under provision of the scheme,” BSNL said through an order dated June 1, 2016.

Aggrieved, the petitioner moved the CAT but her plea was dismissed by the tribunal, prompting her to move the high court.

Allowing the petition, the bench said, “In the instant case, the authorities, by their act, have deprived a truly indigent destitute and impoverished family, of a deserving compassionate appointment.”

Instead of extending a helping hand at the time of distress, authorities have remained mute for years only to turn the tables against the petitioner. Callous attitude and lack of empathy have caused this denial of an appointment on compassionate grounds, the court added.

The court then directed the BSNL to consider appointment of the petitioner under compassionate ground favourably within three months.

Reopening guidelines to be in force till Nov. 30

Reopening guidelines to be in force till Nov. 30

Lockdown to be implemented strictly in containment zones

28/10/2020

Screening time: Residents waiting for rapid antigen tests in north Delhi on Tuesday.Sushil Kumar Verma

Special CorrespondentNew Delhi

The Home Ministry on Tuesday said the “guidelines for reopening” post-lockdown issued last month, permitting cinemas, entertainment parks and swimming pools for sportspersons to open, would continue to be applicable till November 30 in areas outside the containment zones.

The guidelines issued on September 30 were to be in force till October 31.

The lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones during the period, the Ministry’s order said.

Appropriate behaviour

The Ministry said it had advised the Chief Secretaries of the States and the administrators of Union Territories that they “should endeavour to promote COVID-19-appropriate behaviour extensively at the grassroots level and take measures to enforce the wearing of masks, hand hygiene and social distancing”.

The guidelines said that international travel, except those permitted by the Centre, would remain shut while the State governments were given the flexibility to decide on reopening of schools and coaching institutions in a graded manner.

The activities permitted in areas outside the containment zones were — cinemas, theatres and multiplexes with up to 50% of their seating capacity, Business to Business (B2B) exhibitions, swimming pools used for training of sportspersons, entertainment parks and similar places.

The Ministry said that where schools were conducting online classes, and some students preferred to attend online classes rather than physically attend school, they may be permitted to do so. Students may attend schools and institutions only with the written consent of parents.

Attendance must not be enforced, and must depend entirely on parental consent, it said.

The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education may take a decision on the timing of the opening of colleges and higher education institutions, in consultation with the Ministry.

The Ministry reiterated that the States would not impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones without consulting the Centre. There would be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement.

MMC PG student found dead in hotel

MMC PG student found dead in hotel

28/10/2020

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

A 24-year-old post graduate student of the Madras Medical College was found dead in his room in a hotel in T. Nagar where he was under quarantine after COVID-19 duty.

The name of the victim was given as Lokesh Kumar, 24, a native of Mettur in Salem district. He was assigned COVID-19 duty at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH).

After completing COVID-19 duty, he was under quarantine in the hotel from October 24. He did not come out from his room nor respond to calls from his relatives.

At 11 p.m. on Monday, the hotel staff opened his room using a spare key and found him dead.

The police suspect that he could have consumed poison and the reason for his decision was not known.

Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104 and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.

Fines for road traffic violations to be deducted from FASTag accounts

Fines for road traffic violations to be deducted from FASTag accounts

Corporation and the police will rely on camera footage to identify the violators

28/10/2020

Automatic fine: The Greater Chennai Corporation and the police have decided to automate the process of fine collection for violation of traffic rules. R. RAVINDRAN

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

Camera footage is likely to be used to identify motorists who violate traffic rules by automating the system of fine collection in the city.

Officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation are planning to automate traffic fine collection using FASTag and the system of cameras fitted across the city by the Corporation and the police.

For instance, a motorist who parks a vehicle in a no-parking zone will be identified by the camera and the fine amount deducted from the FASTag account.

Similarly, in the case of traffic violations at signals, the fine amount would be deducted from the account of the owner of the vehicle. “At least 90% of the vehicles have FASTag in Chennai. The system will deduct the fine amount from the account of violators once the cameras capture violations on road,” said an official.

The Corporation has installed 500 cameras at important junctions of 471 bus route roads.

More cameras will be installed along the roads. The police and other line agencies had installed cameras using funding under smart cities mission.

Meanwhile, work on recruiting parking attendants has started to strengthen parking management in the city.

“COVID-19 has led to reduced collection of parking charges in areas such as T. Nagar and Anna Nagar. We have started recruiting parking attendants to improve services. The parking attendants will carry a hand-held machine to collect charges and regulate parking of vehicles,” said an official.

After relaxation of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the civic officials planned to strengthen parking management system to prevent unauthorised parking along roads.

The Corporation has planned to create 12,000 parking slots and the system would be expanded to more areas shortly.

Similar to parking violations, the Corporation has also started using analytics for regulating waste management.

It has installed cameras at 50 locations to identify overflowing bins. “We receive two to three alerts every day about overflowing bins. The system facilitates clearance of bins at frequent intervals. More cameras will be fitted to monitor garbage clearance issues,” said an official.

DU tussle: VC can give and take back his powers, says EC nominee

DU tussle: VC can give and take back his powers, says EC nominee

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:27.10.2020

A week into the chaos at Delhi University, the camp supporting vicechancellor Yogesh Tyagi has refused to back down. Sources in the university said that P C Jha, registrar appointed by Tyagi while on leave, was planning to send letters to all members of the DU administration and college principals asking them to follow the institute’s statutes and laws “in an attempt to claim legitimacy”.

On Saturday, the Union education ministry had written to DU of being “in receipt of a letter from one P C Jha claiming to be registrar of the university. It is requested to ascertain who this person is and if he turns out to be an employee of DU, then strict action as per DU Act 1922 be undertaken.”

On Monday, Rajkumar Bhatia, nominee of the chancellor on DU’s Executive Council, called out the ministry for “intruding in a university matter”. Bhatia, who was appointed in August, said that Tyagi was in the right. “I think the vice-chancellor is legally correct in what he is doing. The only solution is that the VC and the ministry should find a solution together. But the ministry has intervened in this matter,” Bhatia asserted.

Geeta Bhatt, the pro vicechancellor also appointed by Tyagi, added that “all appointments by the VC are as per the statutes of the university”.

Bhatia further said that contrary to claims, the VC does not need a medical certificate to resume duties after leave. “I don’t think there is a rule for a VC who was unwell to show a medical certificate to come back to work. It is the VC who deputes his responsibilities to the pro vice-chancellor to run the university and he can very well take them back when he returns to work. The vice-chancellor can give and take back his powers.”

A letter from the ministry last week had stated that if Tyagi wanted to join office, he had to submit a medical fitness certificate.

Bhatia said, “Tyagi was back and had started to work after taking over charge. There was an EC meeting on October 10, which was called by pro VC PC Joshi. The VC, however, asked Joshi to postpone the meeting and the pro VC agreed and postponed it for 10 days. I was at that meeting and I heard him say this. If the VC’s authority was intact on October 10, how is it that his authority was then lost by October 21 on the claim that hadn’t submitted a medical certificate?”

This sequence was corroborated by EC elected member Rajesh Jha, who said that “the pro VC conveyed to us on October 10 that the VC said that the meeting should be convened 10 days later and that he would chair the meeting then.”

According to a senior university official, a letter from the ministry secretary on October 19 was addressed to Tyagi as VC. “This begs the question why just a few days later, the ministry changed its stance on Tyagi’s status. If these DU members are opposing the VC, then they are indulging in insubordination and strict action must be taken against them,” the official said.

RAJKUMAR BHATIA, CHANCELLOR'S NOMINEE, SAYS

I don’t think there is a rule for a VC who was unwell to show a medical certificate to come back to work. It is the VC who deputes his responsibilities to the pro vice-chancellor to run the university and he can very well take them back when he returns to work

சிறப்பு பஸ்களில் கூட்டமில்லாததால் அதிர்ச்சி

சிறப்பு பஸ்களில் கூட்டமில்லாததால் அதிர்ச்சி

Added : அக் 26, 2020 23:59

சென்னை : ஆயுத பூஜைக்கு சிறப்பு பஸ்களை இயக்கியும், கூட்டம் இல்லாததால், போக்குவரத்து கழக அதிகாரிகள் அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்துள்ளனர்.

இது குறித்து, போக்குவரத்து துறை அதிகாரிகள் கூறியதாவது:ஆண்டுதோறும், ஆயுத பூஜை விடுமுறைகளில், அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழக பஸ்களில் கூட்டம் அலைமோதும். இந்த ஆண்டு கொரோனா பரவல் பிரச்னை இருந்ததால், குறைந்த அளவிலான சிறப்பு பஸ்கள் இயக்கப்பட்டன. ஆனால், எதிர்பார்த்த கூட்டம் இல்லை; வார இறுதி நாட்களில் ஏறும் கூட்டம் கூட இல்லை. தமிழகத்தில், பள்ளி, கல்லுாரிகள் திறக்கப்படாதது, ஐ.டி., நிறுவனங்களின் செயல்பாடு குறைவு போன்ற காரணங்களால், சென்னை உள்ளிட்ட மாவட்ட தலைநகரங்களில் இருந்து, சொந்த ஊர் செல்ல பெரும்பாலானோர் ஆர்வம் காட்டவில்லை.இவ்வாறு,  அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

ஓ.பி.சி.,க்கு 50 சதவீத மருத்துவ இடங்கள்... சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் திட்டவட்ட அறிவிப்பு

ஓ.பி.சி.,க்கு 50 சதவீத மருத்துவ இடங்கள்... சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் திட்டவட்ட அறிவிப்பு

Added : அக் 27, 2020 03:34

புதுடில்லி 'மருத்துவப் படிப்புக்கான அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டில், ஓ.பி.சி., எனப்படும், இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட பிரிவினருக்கு, 50 சதவீத ஒதுக்கீட்டை நடப்பு கல்வியாண்டில் அமல்படுத்துவது குறித்து, இடைக்கால உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க முடியாது' என, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் திட்டவட்டமாக உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. இதனால், நடப்பு கல்வியாண்டில், ஓ.பி.சி., பிரிவினருக்கு, 50 சதவீத ஒதுக்கீடு இல்லை என்ற நிலை உருவாகி உள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகளில் இருந்து, மருத்துவப் பட்டப் படிப்புகளில், 15 சதவீதமும், மேற்படிப்புகளில், 50 சதவீத இடங்களும், மத்திய தொகுப்புக்கு வழங்கப்படுகின்றன.

இந்நிலையில், 'தமிழகத்தில் பின்பற்றப்படும் இட ஒதுக்கீடு கொள்கையின் அடிப்படையில், மத்திய தொகுப்பில், 50 சதவீத இடங்களை, ஓ.பி.சி., பிரிவினருக்கு அளிக்க வேண்டும்' என, தமிழக அரசு சார்பிலும், சில அரசியல் கட்சிகள் சார்பிலும், உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு தொடரப்பட்டது.இதை விசாரித்த உச்ச நீதிமன்றம், சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தை அணுகும்படி உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது. இந்த வழக்கில் தீர்ப்பளித்த சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம், 'மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளில், மத்திய தொகுப்புக்கான இடங்களில், ஓ.பி.சி., பிரிவினருக்கு, 50 சதவீத இட ஒதுக்கீடு வழங்க வேண்டும்' என, உத்தரவிட்டது. இது பற்றிய சட்ட வரையறைகளை, மூன்று மாதங்களில் உருவாக்கும்படியும் உத்தரவிட்டு இருந்தது.இதற்கிடையே, இந்த இட ஒதுக்கீட்டை நடப்பு கல்வியாண்டிலேயே அமல்படுத்த உத்தரவிடக் கோரி, தமிழக அரசு மற்றும் அரசியல் கட்சிகள் சார்பில், உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மேல்முறையீட்டு மனுக்கள் தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டன. கடந்த வாரம், இந்த வழக்கு விசாரணைக்கு வந்தபோது, 'இந்த இட ஒதுக்கீட்டை தமிழகத்துக்கு மட்டும் வழங்கினால், சட்டச் சிக்கல் ஏற்படும். 'ஏற்கனவே, 27 சதவீத ஒதுக்கீட்டையே வழங்க முடியாத நிலையில் உள்ளோம். எனவே, நடப்பு கல்வியாண்டில் செயல்படுத்த முடியாது' என, மத்திய அரசு சார்பில், உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது.அமல்படுத்த முடியாதுஅப்போது, தேசிய மருத்துவ கமிஷன் மற்றும் மத்திய அரசு சார்பில் கூறப்பட்டதாவது:நீட் தேர்வுக்கான விண்ணப்பங்கள், இந்தாண்டு, ஜன., - பிப்., மாதத்தில் பெறப்பட்டன. அப்போது, அவர்கள் எந்தப் பிரிவின் கீழ் விண்ணப்பிக்கிறோம் என்பதை தெரிவித்துஉள்ளனர். அதன்படியே, நீட் தேர்வு முடிவுகளும் வெளியிடப்பட்டு உள்ளன.அதனால், இந்தக் கல்வியாண்டில், ஓ.பி.சி., பிரிவினருக்கான, 50 சதவீத இட ஒதுக்கீட்டை அமல்படுத்த முடியாது.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டது.விசாரணைஇந்த வழக்கு, உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் நேற்று மீண்டும் விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அப்போது, 'இந்த வழக்கில் எந்த இடைக்கால உத்தரவையும் பிறப்பிக்க முடியாது' என, உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் தன் உத்தரவில் திட்டவட்டமாக தெரிவித்தது. இதையடுத்து, மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளில் நடப்பு கல்வியாண்டில், ஓ.பி.சி., பிரிவினருக்கு, 50 சதவீத இட ஒதுக்கீடு அளிக்க முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டு உள்ளது.

'மிக்ஸட் ரியாலிட்டி' முறையில் நடந்த ஆன்லைன் பட்டமளிப்பு விழா:

'மிக்ஸட் ரியாலிட்டி' முறையில் நடந்த ஆன்லைன் பட்டமளிப்பு விழா:

Updated : அக் 27, 2020 01:37 | Added : அக் 26, 2020 23:01

'மிக்ஸட் ரியாலிட்டி' முறையில் நடந்த ஆன்லைன் பட்டமளிப்பு விழா:

சென்னை:சென்னை ஐ.ஐ.டி., நடத்திய ஆன்லைன் பட்டமளிப்பு விழாவில், டிஜிட்டல் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை பயன்படுத்தி, மாணவர்கள் நேரில் பதக்கம் பெறும் வகையில், ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்து அசத்தினர்.

சென்னை ஐ.ஐ.டி.,யின், 57வது பட்டமளிப்பு விழா, ஐ.ஐ.டி.,யின் நிர்வாக குழு தலைவர் பவர் கோயங்கா தலைமையில், ஆன்லைனில், நேற்று நடத்தப்பட்டது. இதில், நோபல் பரிசு பெற்ற விஞ்ஞானியும், கலிபோர்னியா பல்கலையின் இயற்பியல் இருக்கையின் வேந்தருமான, பேராசிரியர் டேவிட் ஜே.குரோஸ் தலைமை விருந்தினராக பங்கேற்றார்.

விழாவில், 2,346 பேருக்கு பட்டங்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டன. அத்துடன், 2019 - 20ம் கல்வி ஆண்டில், பிஎச்.டி., முடித்த, 353 பேர், எம்.எஸ்., முடித்த, 103 பேர்; எம்.டெக்., முடித்த, 431 பேர்; பி.டெக்., முடித்த, 406 பேர் மற்றும், 680 பேருக்கு இரட்டை பட்டங்களும் வழங்கப்பட்டன.

ஐ.ஐ.டி.,யின் செயல்பாடுகள் மற்றும் சாதனைகள் குறித்த செயல்திறன் அறிக்கையை, பேராசிரியர் பாஸ்கர் ராமமூர்த்தி சமர்ப்பித்தார்.இந்த விழா முழுவதுமாக, ஆன்லைன் வழியிலேயே நடத்தப்பட்டது. முக்கிய விருந்தினர்கள், கல்வி நிறுவன இயக்குனர் மற்றும் பேராசிரியர்கள் அனைவரும், ஆன்லைன் வாயிலாகவே, தங்கள் உரைகளை நிகழ்த்தினர்.

இந்த நிகழ்வில், ஐ.ஐ.டி.,யின் பெருமை மிக்க ஜனாதிபதி பதக்கம் உள்ளிட்ட கவுரவ பதக்கங்கள் மற்றும் விருதுகளை பெற, அதற்கு தேர்வாகும் மாணவர்கள் மிகவும் ஆர்வமாக இருப்பர்.

ஆனால், பட்டமளிப்பு விழா, இந்த முறை ஆன்லைன் வழியில் நடத்தப்பட்டதால், விருது மற்றும் பதக்கம் பெறும் மாணவர்கள் மட்டும், நேரில் இருப்பது போன்று, 'மிக்ஸட் ரியாலிட்டி' என்ற, டிஜிட்டல் தொழில்நுட்பம் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டது.மாணவர்களின் பெயரை வாசித்ததும், அவர்கள் மேடையில் தோன்றுவது போன்றும், அவர்களுக்கு பதக்கங்கள் அணிவிப்பது போன்றும் காட்சிகள் ஒளிபரப்பாகின. இது, மாணவர்களையும், பெற்றோரையும் மகிழ்ச்சி அடைய செய்தது.

'மிக்ஸட் ரியாலிட்டி' என்பது என்ன?

'மிக்ஸட் ரியாலிட்டி' என்பது, நேரில் உள்ளதையும், ஏற்கனவே நேரிலோ அல்லது முப்பரிமாண வகை வீடியாவாக எடுக்கப்பட்டதையோ ஒன்றாக, ஒரே நேரத்தில் இணைத்து காட்சிப்படுத்துவது.

பெரும்பாலான ஹாலிவுட் திரைப்படங்களில், மிகவும் உயரமான மலையில் இருந்து குதிப்பது, உயிருக்கு ஆபத்தான விலங்குகளுடன் சண்டையிடுவது, கடலில் குதிப்பது என, பிரமிக்க வைக்கும் காட்சிகள் இடம் பெறும். இவையெல்லாம், மிக்ஸட் ரியாலிட்டி மற்றும் விர்சுவல் ரியாலிட்டி தொழில்நுட்பம் தான்.

தமிழில், 'பாகுபலி' திரைப்படத்தில், இந்த தொழில்நுட்பம் அதிகம் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டு உள்ளது. அமெரிக்காவின், ஆர்ம்ஸ்ட்ராங் ஆய்வகத்தில், 1992ல் இந்த தொழில்நுட்பம் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டு பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இந்த தொழில்நுட்பம் தற்போது, கொரோனா பிரச்னையால், ஆன்லைன் நிகழ்ச்சிகளின் பயன்பாட்டுக்கு வந்துள்ளது.

எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ் படிப்புகள்: இன்று முதல் அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டு கலந்தாய்வு

எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ் படிப்புகள்: இன்று முதல் அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டு கலந்தாய்வு

எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ் மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளில் அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களுக்கான முதல்கட்ட கலந்தாய்வு இணையவழியில் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை (அக்.27) தொடங்குகிறது. தகுதியான மாணவா்கள் தங்களது விவரங்களைப் பதிவு செய்து கல்லூரிகளைத் தோவு செய்யலாம் என மத்திய சுகாதார சேவைகளுக்கான தலைமை இயக்குநரகம் (டிஜிஎச்எஸ்) தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

நாடு முழுவதும் மருத்துவம் மற்றும் பல் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் இருந்து 15 சதவீத எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ் இடங்கள் அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு அளிக்கப்படுகிறது.

அந்த இடங்களுக்கும், நிகா்நிலைப் பல்கலைக்கழகங்கள், மத்திய பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் உள்ள எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ் இடங்களுக்கும் கலந்தாய்வு மூலம் மத்திய சுகாதார சேவைகளுக்கான தலைமை இயக்குநரகம் (டிஜிஎச்எஸ்) மாணவா் சோக்கையை நடத்தி வருகிறது.

அந்த வகையில் நிகழ் கல்வியாண்டுக்கான மாணவா் சோக்கைக்கான கலந்தாய்வு www.mcc.nic.in இணைய முகவரியில் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை தொடங்குகிறது.

நீட் தோவில் தோச்சியடைந்த மாணவ, மாணவிகள் முதல்கட்ட கலந்தாய்வுக்கு இணையதளத்தில் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை முதல் நவம்பா் 2-ஆம் தேதி மாலை 5 மணி வரை பதிவு செய்து, கல்லூரிகளைத் தோவு செய்யலாம். தாங்கள் தோவு செய்த கல்லூரியை வரும் 28-ஆம் தேதி முதல் நவம்பா் 2-ஆம் தேதி நள்ளிரவு 11.59 மணிக்குள் உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும். தரவரிசைப் பட்டியல் அடிப்படையில் கல்லூரிகளில் இடஒதுக்கீடு செய்யும் பணி நவம்பா் 3, 4-ஆம் தேதிகளில் நடைபெறும்.

இடஒதுக்கீடு செய்யப்பட்ட விவரங்கள் நவம்பா் 5-ஆம் தேதி வெளியிடப்படும். கலந்தாய்வில் இடங்களைப் பெற்றவா்கள் நவம்பா் 6-ஆம் தேதி முதல் 12-ஆம் தேதிக்குள் கல்லூரிகளில் சேர வேண்டும். இரண்டாம் கட்ட கலந்தாய்வுக்கு நவம்பா் 18-ஆம் தேதி முதல் 22-ஆம் தேதி வரை இணையதளத்தில் பதிவு செய்யலாம். நிகா்நிலைப் பல்கலைக்கழகங்கள், மத்திய பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் சோவதற்கு டிசம்பா் 10-ஆம் தேதி முதல் 14-ஆம் தேதி வரை பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும் என மத்திய அரசின் சுகாதார சேவைகளுக்கான தலைமை இயக்குநரகம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

Dailyhunt

Colleges, universities to also open post Diwali in Gujarat - The Times Of India

Colleges, universities to also open post Diwali in Gujarat - The Times Of India

No Reason To Keep Them Closed Indefinitely: Min

Kapil.Dave & Bharat.Yagnik TNN

Gandhinagar: 27.10.2020

Like schools, the state government is considering the option of starting oncampus education in colleges and universities as well. This will reduce online education in institutions of higher education amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state education minister said, “As the government is intently considering starting regular schooling for students from class IX to XII, there is no reason for keeping colleges and universities closed for an indefinite period of time. College and university students are adults and know how to take precautions against coronavirus.”

At present, about 20 lakh students of 2,000 colleges and 45 universities are being educated through the online medium only. Colleges and universities have already demanded that they be allowed to resume on-campus education. On the basis of guidelines issued by the government of India, the state government is planning to resume on-campus education in schools from November 23.

The minister said that the state government will shortly initiate consultations with associations of universities and colleges and begin the exercise of drafting a standard operating procedure (SOP) for starting on-campus education in colleges and universities post Diwali.

At present, about 20 lakh students of 2,000 colleges and 45 universities are being educated through the online medium

Final decision after considering all safety aspects, govt clarifies

However, a final decision in this regard will be taken after due consideration of all aspects of safety of students,” Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state education minister clarified.

Associations of colleges and teachers have welcomed the move. Sudhir Nanavati, president, Gujarat Higher Education College Association, said that at a time when all other activities are being opened, higher education also ought to be. “It is not possible to study everything online. On-campus education is required. The USA and other countries have adopted a model where both oncampus and online education is done simultaneously. If the government is considering having on-campus education for class IX to XII students, then on-campus education should definitely be held for college and university students,” Nanavati said.

Digvijaysinh Gohil of Gujarat State College Teachers Association also supported the idea of beginning on-campus education in colleges. “Life will begin to limp back to normal and students too will come out of Covid-related trauma. In either case, young people move all over the place. They can as well attend college,” Gohil said. Gujarat college principal association president, Jayvantsinh Sarvaiya said that physical examinations have been conducted in colleges and universities with no complaints, and regular classes can begin in colleges now. He added that most colleges and universities have however told the government that the odd-even system (calling 50% of students on alternate days to the campus) is not feasible, as the class size in colleges is large. “Regular classes and online classes can be held simultaneously,” he said.

SC: No OBC quota in AIQ med seats in TN colleges this year - The Times Of India

SC: No OBC quota in AIQ med seats in TN colleges this year - The Times Of India

Petitions Of State Govt & AIADMK Dismissed

Chennai/New Delhi:

There will be no 50% reservation for OBC candidates in MBBS/BDS courses under All India Quota (AIQ) in non-central/state government medical institutions this year, as the Supreme Court dismissed petitions from Tamil Nadu in this regard. As of now while OBC quota is available for AIQ seats in central institutions, state medical colleges provide AIQ reservation only for SC/ STs.

In the apex court, the Centre had taken a stand that it would not be practically feasible to implement the 50% quota in this academic year. Concurring with its submissions on Monday, a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, Hemant Gupta and Ajay Rastogi dismissed the interim prayers of TN government and AIADMK.

On July 27, the Madras high court had cleared the air and held that there is no legal or constitutional bar for implementing OBC quota in AIQ seats in noncentral/state government medical colleges. It, however, left open two questions – one, if it could be implemented in 2020-21 academic year itself; two, what will be the quantum of the quota – 50% as per TN’s 69% formula or 27% as per central scheme. TNN & AGENCIES

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‘Show urgency for OBC-Dalit quota’

PM Narendra Modi should show the same urgency for reservation for OBCs and Dalits in medical admissions on seats surrendered to all-India quota by the states, as he had shown vis-a-vis economically weaker sections, DMK leader M K Stalin said reacting to the SC order on Monday. Opposition parties in TN demanded that the state convene an all-party meeting and send a delegation to meet Modi. P 5

Form 4-member panel to decide quota quantum in 3 months: HC

The Madras high court ordered formation of a fourmember committee to decide the quantum in three months. Tamil Nadu government and the ruling AIADMK moved the Supreme Court seeking implementation of the OBC reservation this academic year itself. In their limited point, they had sought relief saying the HC had not specified that the OBC quota should be implemented in the current academic year itself.

In its ruling, the high court had held that in principle there is no legal or constitutional impediment for extending the benefit of reservation to OBCs in the state-surrendered AIQ seats of the UG/PG medical courses in the state-run medical colleges within Tamil Nadu, subject to any further directions or orders of the apex court. It had disagreed with the contention of the erstwhile Medical Council of India that permitting reservation in AIQ seats would compromise merit and said the argument gets diluted as NEET examinations are now clearly designed to allow only such candidates to be admitted, who secure a minimum merit.

Stalin writes to PM on SC verdict on OBC quota

Stalin writes to PM on SC verdict on OBC quota

Leaders express displeasure over order

27/10/2020

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

DMK president M.K. Stalin on Monday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to ensure that the terms of implementation of State-specific quota for OBC students in All-India Quota (AIQ) seats for medical college admissions were finalised by the committee constituted for the purpose.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, he said there was a real concern that students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) would not benefit from the State-specific reservation in the current academic year.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to order interim relief of implementing 50% reservation, this year itself, for NEET-UG students belonging to OBCs in medical and dental seats contributed to the AIQ by State government-run colleges in Tamil Nadu.

“Without the implementation of reservation, thousands of students will not have a chance to pursue higher education in the field of medicine,” he said.

‘Disappointing verdict’

PMK Founder S. Ramadoss said in a statement: “The verdict is disappointing. The stance taken by the Centre that it cannot be implemented this year due to the various cases pending on the issue is the reason for the outcome.”

He also urged Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to send a delegation comprising political party leaders from the State to New Delhi, to meet the Prime Minister.

MDMK chief Vaiko alleged that the Centre had shown deceit on the issue, from the beginning, and strongly condemned it and expressed disappointment over the verdict.

VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan urged the Chief Minister to immediately call for an all-party meeting to express consensus on the issue and pursue legal options.

MMK president M.H. Jawahirullah also urged the Chief Minister to call for an all-party meeting and take action to uphold the principles of social justice. CPI (M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan pointed out that the verdict would affect OBC students and said the BJP government at the Centre had betrayed them and acted against social justice.

‘From just 1,945 in 2010-11, we now have 3,400 MBBS seats’

‘From just 1,945 in 2010-11, we now have 3,400 MBBS seats’

Centre has approved new medical colleges in 11 districts: CM

27/10/2020

Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

From 1,945 MBBS seats in 2010-2011, the number of medical seats in the State has risen to 3,400 now. In the coming years, 11 new government medical colleges will offer 1,650 more seats, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said.

“To enable more students from rural areas and economically backward sections to realise their dream of becoming doctors, the State government, in a short period, has got the Centre’s approval to establish new medical colleges in 11 districts — Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, the Nilgiris, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Kallakurichi, Tiruvallur, Tiruppur, Namakkal and Krishnagiri. Foundation stones have been laid and construction is under way. Through this, the State government has taken measures to create an additional 1,650 MBBS seats in the coming years,” he said, shortly after inaugurating the Fortis Hospital in Vadapalani, Chennai, on Monday.

The State government has passed a Bill to provide 7.5% horizontal reservation in medical admissions to enable students of government schools to become doctors, he said.

The Chief Minister emphasised that medicine was a “fine art” and not a “business”. Listing out the State’s achievements in healthcare, he said: “Last year, the infant mortality rate came down from 16 to 15 (deaths per 1,000 live births), while the State has already achieved the 2030 target of Sustainable Development Goals in reducing the maternal mortality rate,” he said.

State’s achievements

A total of 254 new primary health centres (PHC) have been established, and 166 PHCs upgraded. In the last three years, 56 CT scan machines, 22 MRI scan machines, 18 cath labs and 530 dialysis machines have been provided to government hospitals, he said.

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan, Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, managing director and chief executive officer, Fortis Healthcare Limited, and Anil Vinayak, group chief operating officer, Fortis Healthcare, were present. The 250-bed facility is Fortis Healthcare’s second multi-speciality hospital in the city.

Supreme Court rejects pleas for interim relief on OBC quota

Supreme Court rejects pleas for interim relief on OBC quota

27/10/2020

Mr. Sharma, who was supported by the Centre, said the reservation roster had already been fixed by the Directorate General of Health Services.

The NEET results were declared on October 16 and were followed by counselling sessions.

In August, the Tamil Nadu government and the other parties challenged a Madras High Court decision to set up a committee to “finalise” the OBC reservation in State-surrendered seats for the all-India quota in non-central medical colleges.

They objected to how the High Court had declined to straightaway order the Centre and the Medical Council of India (since replaced by the National Medical Commission) to implement 50% reservation for the Backward Classes, the Most Backward Classes and the Denotified Communities in these seats in undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma medical and dental courses, in compliance with reservation rules followed in the State for the academic year 2020-21.

Panel formed

The High Court, in its decision on July 27, declined the mandamus “despite finding there is a clear substantive law providing for State-specific reservation formulated by the MCI”.

“Instead, the court set up a committee when such a committee was unnecessary, consisting of the Directorate General of Health Services, the MCI and the Tamil Nadu government department concerned, to finalise the manner in which the facilities of OBC reservation are to be provided,” the Tamil Nadu government had said.

The State had argued that the High Court was contradicting itself.

“Once the court has determinatively found that the governing law provides for OBC reservation as per Tamil Nadu rules, then the proverbial ‘story’ ends there and the appropriate authorities ought to be directed to apply the law,” the State had argued.

Stay in KSRTC sleeper bus for Rs 100 in Munnar

Stay in KSRTC sleeper bus for Rs 100 in Munnar

The KSRTC is likely to roll out its sleeper bus facility for tourists visiting Munnar by next month.

Published: 26th October 2020 02:57 AM 

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KSRTC is likely to roll out its sleeper bus facility for tourists visiting Munnar by next month. Two deluxe buses converted into sleepers with 16 berths each will be stationed at the Munnar depot.

Each bed will cost Rs 100 from 6pm till noon the next day and the customer will have to pay an amount equivalent to the rent as security deposit.

A tourist group can book an entire sleeper bus. KSRTC has renovated the toilet complex in the depot so that customers can use it. 

It has also decided to tie-up with nearby restaurants to provide food in the bus.

“We will appoint two casual workers for cleaning the toilet and the buses, besides managing their luggage and buying them food,” said KSRTC chairman Biju Prabhakar.

The buses will be disinfected after the occupants move out, he added. The sleeper slots can be booked through mnr@kerala.gov.in or over phone: 9447813851, 04865230201. To promote business, KSRTC is also allowing booking by agents on 10% commission. 

KSRTC first launched sleeper buses for its crew after they complained of poor facilities while waiting for passengers at the airport during lockdown.