Neither mind nor muscle alone, employers focus on total wellness

Neither mind nor muscle alone, employers focus on total wellness

Aware of the pandemic’s toll on workers’ lives, companies are helping them improve their physical, mental, financial and emotional health

Namrata.Singh@timesgroup.com

25.02.2021 

Employee well-being is no longer just a box for HR to tick. Organisations are increasingly looking at it in a holistic manner and taking a 360-degree approach to make it a 24/7 initiative. Yoga and zumba sessions, and employee assistance programmes (EAP) apart, companies are stretching the definition of wellness to ensure they cover all aspects of physical and mental health of an employee.

At RPG, where well-being covers eight areas — physical, intellectual, emotional, occupational, financial, spiritual, social and environmental — special task forces have been made to create policies and processes to measure the “happiness quotient” of employees.

Anamika Bhargava, DGM, group organisation and talent development, RPG Group, said people mistake physical health for wellness. “Mental and emotional health is the most ignored aspect of people’s life. In fact, most people don’t know that physical health is an output or effect, and emotional imbalances and mental patterns are the cause or input,” said Bhargava.

To nudge its employees towards wellness, Kotak Mahindra Bank offers a fitness allowance which employees can avail of based on their fitness goals that are updated periodically. Close to 90% of Kotak employees have registered their health goals and are eligible for a fitness allowance. These goals show HR the priority areas to help staff mitigate health concerns through various health and wellness initiatives.

Sukhjit Singh Pasricha, president and group CHRO, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said, “Workplace well-being programmes help in improving the overall health and productivity of employees. Increased energy levels improve overall employee morale and, therefore, result in a more engaged workforce. From a long-term perspective, this improves an organisation’s ability to attract and retain people.”

‘TCS Cares’, an intervention by Tata Consultancy Services that focuses on the mental and emotional wellbeing of its employees, aims to develop a culture where people are aware of their mental and physical health, understand it better and can reach out for help and support when they need it. The programme works towards creating a culture of understanding and support for others through a peercounselling support programme.

“We believe that associate empathy and customer-centricity are two sides of the same coin,” said TCS CHRO Milind Lakkad. “We look at wellness in a holistic manner that encapsulates practices that aid both physical and psychological well-being, and we have been focused on building more awareness and greater adoption of this holistic approach.”

At Kellogg’s, the wellness philosophy goes beyond physical, mental and emotional to cover financial and even social well-being. “The challenges of last year left many of us feeling unsettled and having to function in an unfamiliar or alien environment. We had to change the way we live and work. Our recreation has become constrained. In-person interactions now come at a premium, and much of this has fed into the stress, frustration, or anxiety that we experience at times,”

Nimisha Das, director HR at Kellogg’s South Asia, said.

Das added that Kellogg’s decided to take a holistic view on wellbeing, realising that “this challenge was not going to be a matter of a few days or weeks but rather we are in it for the long haul.”

The pandemic gave people pause to discover their hidden emotions. They realised what really mattered to them. “At this time, it is important to give direction to these energies. This is the time when one can go down the emotional spiral or lift upwards in a good emotional state,” said Bhargava, adding, this is the time to “discover the purpose of your life... find yourself and be yourself.”

Mental and emotional health is the most ignored aspect of people’s life. In fact, most people don’t know that physical health is an output or effect, and emotional imbalances and mental patterns are the cause or input

—ANAMIKA BHARGAVA DGM, RPG GROUP

SC junks plea of civil services aspirants for extra attempt

SC junks plea of civil services aspirants for extra attempt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:25.02.2021 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the plea of a group of civil services aspirants, who have exhausted the permissible number of attempts and are also hit by the age bar, for one more chance to take the test saying they were not prepared for the examination held in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic.

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, Indu Malhotra and Ajay Rastogi said many examinations were conducted successfully during the pandemic and it would have a cascading effect on other examinations if the court allowed the plea of students for one more attempt.

"...there are large number of candidates who appeared in the various examinations in 2020 during Covid-19 pandemic and everyone must have faced some constraints in one way or the other and this court can take a judicial notice that these petitioners have appeared in the same pattern of examination in the previous years since 2015 and what is being claimed and prayed for under the guise of Covid-19 pandemic is nothing but a lame excuse in taking additional attempt to participate in the Civil Service Examination 2021," the bench said.

The court, however, clarified that its decision would not restrict the Centre in exercising its discretion in future to deal with the difficulties as projected to the court.

The bench passed the order on a batch of petitions filed by candidates seeking one more chance to appear for examination on the ground that they were "forced" to appear as the government turned down their plea to defer the exam.

The Centre had earlier told the court that it was agreeable to grant one more chance to those aspirants who took the exam last year during the pandemic and exhausted their number of attempts but said it would not grant another attempt to those hit by the age bar.

There were 3863 candidates who had exhausted their number of attempts while 2236 had hit the age bar.

Rajkot to get maiden direct flight to Goa

Rajkot to get maiden direct flight to Goa

Nimesh.Khakhariya@timesgroup.com

Rajkot:25.02.2021 

If all goes as scheduled, people of Rajkot will be able to fly directly to Goa from March. This will be the first time that Saurashtra’s financial capital will get air connectivity to the state of pristine beaches.

Rajkot is also set to get an additional flight to Mumbai from March. Airport officials said they have got confirmation that private airline SpiceJet will start a daily flight to Hyderabad from March 1 and another flight to Mumbai from March 7. According to sources, the airport authority has also got in principle confirmation on SpiceJet starting a direct flight to Goa from March. The private airliner has sought permission from Rajkot airport. The flight is likely to operate four days a week.

Meanwhile, the first direct flight from Bengaluru arrived at Rajkot airport on Wednesday. It was welcomed with the traditional water salute. The Rajkot airport authorities distributed sweets among the 123 passengers who arrived on the Bengaluru flight. 122 passengers boarded the aircraft in return.

Assured double cash? You may get just one coconut! Tantric Cheats Man With Lure Of Doubling His Money

₹5.5 LAKH LOST

Assured double cash? You may get just one coconut!

Tantric Cheats Man With Lure Of Doubling His Money

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara:25.02.2021 

A man's greed to double his money through tantric rituals left him only with a coconut in the end and losing Rs 5.5 lakh cash!

The victim, Jaideepsinh Parmar, who lives in Bavla, lodged a complaint at Bodeli police station as the unidentified tantric and his two accomplices, Shankar and Abdul, fled with Rs 5.5 lakh which Parmar and his cousin Dhanrajsinh had given.

Dhanrajsinh had learnt from his two friends, Sahil and Manish, that a tantric who has an ashram in Chhota Udepur doubles money by performing some rituals. The four went to the ashram on February 17 along with Abdul and Shankar and initially gave Rs 2.5 lakh cash. The tantric kept the cash in a steel case and after the rituals gave the case to Parmar with instructions to not open it until told. After the rituals got over late in the night on February 17, the tantric asked them to return home.

On February 20, the tantric called Dhanrajsinh to inform that the money will be doubled only after 11 days, but if he wanted immediate results, then he should give Rs 3 lakh cash more. When Dhanrajsinh informed Parmar about it they went to a temple in Bodeli on February 22 where they gave the cash for rituals. The tantric abruptly stopped the rituals when a PCR van stopped outside the temple and he and Abdul fled with the cash.

Parmar said that he initially did not realize what had transpired, but when he opened the steel case which the tantric had given, he could not find the cash but only a coconut in it. Parmar realized that the tantric had conned him. On Tuesday he lodged a complaint of cheating against the tantric, Shankar and Abdul.

“The PCR van was coincidentally passing by the temple but the tantric got scared and fled. We are questioning the complainant’s friends about the tantric’s two accomplices,” said subinspector A S Sarvaiya of Bodeli police station.

2 beaten in fight over public urination

2 beaten in fight over public urination

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:25.02.2021 

A man from Sabarmati area on Wednesday filed a complaint against four men who attacked him and his nephew following an altercation over public urination late on Tuesday night.

Bharat Thakor, 50, a resident of Saraswatinagar Society in the New Ranip locality, states in his FIR with Sabarmati police that he saw two men urinating in public in front of his house on Tuesday night.

He told them not to urinate in public and to go somewhere else as it is unhygienic and it does not look proper as there were women living around.

This did not go well with the two men who began abusing Thakor and called two more friends of theirs.

The four men began abusing Thakor in front of his wife, sister and two nieces. Thakor objected to this and told them not to abuse him. The four men, who were armed with sticks, then attacked Thakor. When Thakor’s nephew Karan Thakor, 20, tried to rescue him, the four held him and thrashed him too.

Both Thakor and his nephew suffered head injuries and some neighbours rushed in and rescued them from the four men. Some locals called the police control room but before the cops could arrive, the four men fled while threatening Thakor with dire consequences.

After a while cops arrived and took Thakor and his nephew to Sabarmati police station where a complaint of assault, use of abusive words, criminal intimidation and abetment was lodged.

'Sanctioning Authority Must Apply Mind' : Bombay HC Quashes Sanction To Prosecute Order Issued 'Mechanically'

'Sanctioning Authority Must Apply Mind' : Bombay HC Quashes Sanction To Prosecute Order Issued 'Mechanically'

Sharmeen Hakim24 Feb 2021 9:17 PM

The Bombay High Court has ruled that an order granting permission or sanction to prosecute an individual under the Prevention of Corruption Act must demonstrate that the Sanctioning Authority has applied his mind and not passed the order "mechanically".

A single bench of Justice SK Shinde held that ordinarily the Sanctioning Authority is the best person to judge, based on the investigation report placed before him, whether the government employee should or should not be prosecuted under the PC Act. A pre-requisite to provide a safe-guard to a public servant against frivolous and vexatious litigants.

"Indisputably, application of mind on the part of Sanctioning Authority is imperative and therefore, order granting sanction must be demonstrative of the fact that there had been proper application of mind on the part of Sanctioning Authority", the bench observed.

Justice Shinde cited the Supreme Court's judgement in the case of Ashok Tshering Bhutia v. State of Sikkim, which states that there should not be a hyper technical approach to test a sanction's validity, unless it results in failure of justice.

The Court was examining Section 19(3) in The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which reads.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974),—

(a) no finding, sentence or order passed by a special Judge shall be reversed or altered by a court in appeal, confirmation or revision on the ground of the absence of, or any error, omission or irregularity in, the sanction required under sub-section (1), unless in the opinion of that court, a failure of justice has in fact been occasioned thereby.

Justice Shinde made the observations while acquitting a senior clerk, from the Town Planning Authority, in Pune, Maharashtra, convicted for accepting a bribe of Rs. 1500. The clerk who was convicted and sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment, in 2004, was allegedly caught red handed soon after he accepted the money from an ex-employee to submit her salary bills to the treasury.

The clerk, Anand Salvi, appealed to the High Court against his conviction on the grounds that the sanction to prosecute him signed by the Director of Town Planning, Maharashtra State, was invalid. He relied heavily on the Director's testimony during the proceedings.

The prosecution on the other hand said that there was no failure of justice, and therefore the sanction to prosecute was a valid sanction.

Justice SK Shinde observed that in Salvi's case, Sanctioning Authority plainly and simply put its signature on the draft sanction order by bringing out clerical mistakes. The Director's cross-examination showed he did not even remember or re-collect whether he had perused the investigation papers.

"It appears and in this fact situation and in consideration of the evidence, I do not hesitate to hold and conclude that the irregularity attached to the Sanction Order was not 'mere' irregularity but 'gross' in nature and failure of justice has been occasioned thereby," the court observed.

The court held that the Director's testimony and Sanctioning order revealed that on May 9, 2001, Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Pune sent the proposal to prosecute Salvi. The Director, who considered the proposal only on May 30, 2001, admitted that the draft sanction order was prepared and drafted by two other officers, independently, without his instructions. Moreover, the Director didn't remember if he had a chance to peruse the investigation papers.

The court noted that only a few grammatical changes were made. The judge compared the draft sanction order with the final one to note that the latter was merely a copy.

"Thus, upon reading the testimony of the Sanctioning Authority along with the draft Sanction and Final Sanction Order, I hold, the Sanctioning Authority did not independently apply its mind while according the sanction," the court noted.

'Sanctioning Authority Must Apply Mind' : Bombay HC Quashes Sanction To Prosecute Order Issued 'Mechanically'

'Sanctioning Authority Must Apply Mind' : Bombay HC Quashes Sanction To Prosecute Order Issued 'Mechanically': The Bombay High Court has ruled that an order granting permission or sanction to prosecute an individual under the Prevention of Corruption Act must demonstrate that the Sanctioning Authority

Grant Of Essentiality Certificate By State Government To Establish Medical College Is Not Simply A Ministerial Act: Supreme Court

Grant Of Essentiality Certificate By State Government To Establish Medical College Is Not Simply A Ministerial Act: Supreme Court: The Supreme Court held that grant of Essentiality Certificate by the State Government and Consent of Affiliation by the University is not simply a ministerial act.The court held that essentiality...

SC Directs A UP Medical College To Deposit Five Crores For Intentionally Violating Medical Council Regulations While Admitting Students

SC Directs A UP Medical College To Deposit Five Crores For Intentionally Violating Medical Council Regulations While Admitting Students: ]Supreme Court has on Wednesday directed Saraswati Medical College to deposit an amount of Rupees Five Crores to the Supreme Court's Registry for intentionally violating the Medical Council...

SC imposes ₹5cr fine on UP med college

SC imposes ₹5cr fine on UP med college

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:25.02.2021 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday imposed Rs five crore as fine on a private medical college in Unnao for granting admission to students in violation of the Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations but allowed the 132 students to complete the MBBS course on a condition that they will do community service for two years after becoming doctors.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat said Saraswati Medical College admitted 132 students without seeking a nod from the Director General Medical Education (DGME), Uttar Pradesh but said cancelling their admission at this stage would not serve any useful purpose as they have already completed the second year MBBS course.

The top court also directed the medical college not to recover the amount from the students in any manner whatsoever.

Couple sues Air India for denying them paid seats; wins ₹15k relief

CONSUMER IS KING

Couple sues Air India for denying them paid seats; wins ₹15k relief

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:25.02.2021 

A city couple took national carrier Air India and its regional manager to a consumer court after the airline failed to allot them seats on a Bengaluru-Mumbai flight, despite them having paid extra to select them. The duo has now won a compensation of Rs 15,000 and refund of the seat-selection charges.

Rohith Salariya, 46, and his wife Raveen Salariya, 44, of CV Raman Nagar booked seats on an Air India flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai on January 14, 2017 and paid Rs 500 each to pick seats — 4A and 4B — for more legroom, as the woman had a back problem. The seat-selection charge was described as non-refundable and non-transferable.

On the day of travel, the couple reached Kempegowda International Airport and collected their boarding passes. Inside the flight, they realised that two other passengers had occupied their paid and booked seats. Much to their shock, they noticed that the boarding passes had seats 5A and 5B assigned to them and not the pre-booked ones.

The Salariyas raised the issue with the cabin crew, which attempted to put them on row 4, but the passengers seated there refused to move. The crew advised the couple to take 5A and 5B and asked them to register a complaint in the logbook. Left with no option, the couple travelled to Mumbai and upon their return to Bengaluru raised a complaint with Air India, which offered a refund after much persuasion. However, the refund never materialised.

Angry over the airline’s shoddy customer service, the couple approached Bengaluru Rural and Urban 1st Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in Shantinagar on April 26, 2018 and filed a case against Air India, its city regional manager and one Santhosh Shenoy, customer service manager, for deficiency of service.

The couple’s lawyer presented the case, while Air India’s attorney stated that the fliers failed to spot the seat numbers on the boarding passes and the seats they had booked were given to another couple travelling with an infant. Moreover, he said seats on rows 4 and 5 had the same legroom and the woman passenger didn’t face any trouble on board and added that they refused to accept a refund of Rs 1,000 in a bid to make illegal gains in the name of compensation.

At the end of the court proceedings, which lasted for nearly three years, the judges heavily criticised Air India for not giving the couple the seats for which they had paid additional sums, making them face the ignominy in front of fellow passengers on board, when their rightful seats were denied and the cabin crew’s failed to help.

In the verdict pronounced on February 16 ,2021, the consumer court ruled that Air India, its Bengaluru regional manager and the customer care manager must jointly pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to the complainants and Rs 5,000 towards their litigation expenses. This apart, they have been ordered to pay another Rs 1,000 as refund for seat selection, which was not granted.

Our PG NEET prep will be hit, say MBBS grads

Our PG NEET prep will be hit, say MBBS grads

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:23.02.2021 

Many fresh MBBS graduates who are keen on studying further say they can’t prepare for PG NEET while working in rural areas as it will affect their studies. Those who clear the exam — set to be held in April — can take up higher studies after signing a bond of Rs 30-50 lakh, stating they will come back and work in Karnataka for a year.

The doctors are also upset over the withholding of their credentials like permanent degree certificate and Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) registration, which are crucial to their professional and academic plans. “Why should only doctors do compulsory rural service and not engineers, architects and other professionals? Had we known MBBS is going to be a six-and-half-year course, many of us would not have opted for it,” said a fresh MBBS graduate.

Medicos from deemed-tobe universities who are seeking KMC registration are yet to get it. However, office-bearers of consortium of deemed-to-be universities said the state government has no role to play over such institutions. “KMC must act independently and as regional counsel of National Medical Council. The state government has no power over deemed-to- be universities. We will look into the matter,” said Dr S Kumar, chancellor, Sri Devaraj Urs University, Kolar, who also heads the consortium.

Prior to February 18, some graduates from deemed-to-be universities managed to get themselves registered with KMC. The registration is mandatory for both those working as doctors and those continuing further studies. Those who approached KMC February 18 onwards have been told no registration will be done unless the director of medical education issues an NOC.

Fresh graduates from deemed-to-be universities are running from pillar to post seeking appointments with the health commissioner and DME seeking exemption from the compulsory service.

Employing nearly 7,000 doctors for a year costs the government close to Rs 336 crore at Rs 40,000 a month as salary. “Where are so many medical officers’ posts vacant even if all hospitals in urban and rural centres are put together? Why hasn’t the government planned implementation in a phased manner,” asked medicos who are thinking of petitioning the high court.

Dr S Sacchidanand, vicechancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, said only provisional degree certificates will be issued to students. “For the final degree certificate, they have to complete one year of rural service,” he added.

The government has put our lives in jeopardy by directing KMC not to issue registration. We didn’t sign any affidavit or bond when we took admission. Karnataka is the only state to withhold credentials of MBBS graduates from private colleges and deemed-to-be varsities. We are made to run from KMC to DME and the health department. None of them has clarity and no communication has been sent to our colleges

— A student from a deemed-to-be university

71kg of plastic, metal found inside a cow’s belly in NCR

71kg of plastic, metal found inside a cow’s belly in NCR

Gurgaon:25.02.2021 

A surgery on a cow that was injured in an accident in Faridabad threw up a stark reminder of Indian cities’ continued struggles with plastic waste and littering. Veterinarians who operated on the animal for about four hours on Monday found 71kg of plastic waste and other non-biodegradable substances like needles, coins, pieces of glass, screws and pins in its belly.

The surgery was successful, but the cow is not out of danger yet. “The next 10 days are going to be very critical,” said Dr Atul Maurya, who was part of the three-member team that performed the surgery on the seven-year-old animal.

The cow was rescued from NIT-5 in Faridabad after it was hit by a car. It was taken to Devashray Animal Hospital, where veterinarians found the animal was kicking its own stomach, an indication that it was in pain. They also diagnosed a problem with the excretory system. After a few tests, the vets confirmed the presence of harmful substances inside the stomach.

Dr Maurya said it took nearly four hours to clean the four chambers of the animal’s stomach that mostly had polythene. TNN

7k fresh MBBS grads set to begin 1-year rural service in state

7k fresh MBBS grads set to begin 1-year rural service in state

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  25.02.2021 

Nearly 7,000 MBBS graduates who have completed their internship in Karnataka over the past few months are set to be assigned for mandatory rural service for one year.

The service, which was mandatory for only government-quota candidates, is now being extended to private, management and NRI quota candidates for the first time this year.

If doctors want to take up higher studies, then they must submit a bond for Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, stating their willingness to serve later. Karnataka is the only state where private, management and NRI quota candidates are required to do the mandatory rural service.

On February 15, the director of medical education, Dr PG Girish, sent a letter to heads of all government and private medical colleges in Karnataka asking them not to release the original documents to those who have completed undergraduate, postgraduate degree/diploma, super-specialty courses in various disciplines. The letter quoted the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012.

No clarity: Director of medical edu

You are requested not to release original documents unless you receive NOC/instructions to release the documents collected at the time of admission, from this office. This may be scrupulously followed,” the letter, a copy of which is with TOI, read.

Though the compulsory one-year rural service bond is being taken by the government since 2012, enforcement had not taken place so far. Till now, MBBS graduates used to file an affidavit before KMC stating they would return and work for one year in government-specified hospital, and were given KMC registration to work as doctors.

From this year, fresh MBBS graduates are not being issued KMC registration certificate. “The matter is before the government. MBBS graduates will have to complete the one-year government training service before seeking the registration,” said Dr H Veerabhadrappa, president, KMC.

DME Dr PG Girish said there is no clarity whether the rural service is applicable to students who have studied under private-quota seats in private colleges and deemed-tobe varsities. “We’ve asked private and government medical colleges to send the list of graduating MBBS students. We will share data with the health department, which will issue appointment letters via counselling,” he said.

‘2.6L FASTag users charged incorrectly to be refunded’

‘2.6L FASTag users charged incorrectly to be refunded’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi  25.02.2021 

Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL) said on Wednesday that it has facilitated refunds for 2.6 lakh FASTag users who were charged incorrectly by toll plazas last year. The company claimed it has set up a fast redressal mechanism, which identifies incorrect deductions and immediately raises claims to reverse the extra charges.

While FASTags ensure automatic payment of toll charges, sometimes issues with systems and processes present at the toll plazas result in deduction of more than the applicable charges. PPBL is one of the issuers of FASTags.

For the past few days, there have been complaints of commuters of not receiving the discount for return journey within 24 hours and they are ending up paying full toll amount both ways. The discount for return journey is allowed as per NHAI rules on public funded stretches where the toll is collected for NHAI. This rule doesn’t apply to most of the tolled stretches under private players because of specific contract conditions. NHAI officials said they are looking into the issue and will fix it soon.

Paytm Payments Bank claimed it has set up a fast redressal mechanism, which identifies incorrect deductions and immediately raises claims to reverse the extra charges

Refusal by wife to make tea no provocation for assault, rules Bombay HC

Refusal by wife to make tea no provocation for assault, rules Bombay HC

Mumbai:25.02.2021 

Upholding a 2016 conviction of a man for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in a Pandharpur case, the Bombay high court said his wife refusing to make tea for him, “by no stretch of imagination, can be said to have offered grave and sudden provocation for the appellant to assault her, much less, such a brutal assault.”

On the fateful day, “on being refused tea”, the man assaulted his wife with a hammer. In 2016, a trial court in Pandharpur sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment for having knowledge that his act could cause her death. He appealed from jail. Justice Revati Mohite Dere found no merit in his appeal against conviction. She said instead, “It would not be out of place to observe that a wife is not a chattel or an object. Marriage ideally is a partnership based on equality. More often than not, it is far from that. Cases such as these are not uncommon. Such cases reflect the imbalance of gender— skewed patriarchy, the socio-cultural milieu one has grown up in, which often seeps into a marital relationship.”

The HC said, “This medieval notion of the wife being the property of the husband to do as he wishes, unfortunately, still persists in the majority mindset. Nothing but notions of patriarchy.” TNN

Biology mandatory to pursue MBBS course says SC

Biology mandatory to pursue MBBS course says SC: Delhi: Setting aside a high court's order, the Supreme Court has recently ruled that it is essential that before pursuing an MBBS degree, an aspirant has prior knowledge, both theoretical and...

No private practice: Medical College to hire private detectives to catch delinquent doctors

No private practice: Medical College to hire private detectives to catch delinquent doctors: Bihar: Taking cognizance of the fact that some of the doctors of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) are allegedly claiming non-practising allowance despite continuing private...

T order to reopen classes 6-8 from today has worried parents fuming

T order to reopen classes 6-8 from today has worried parents fuming

Nirupa.Vatyam@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:24.02.2021 

Under pressure from school managements, the Telangana government on Tuesday ordered reopening of physical classes for students of classes 6 to 8 from today, but the Hyderabad parents association questioned the hurried move.

Education minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy said that the decision was taken following instructions from chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. A GO was issued on Tuesday by special chief secretary Chitra Ramchandran on reopening of schools.

“Physical classes for class 6 to 8 students can be reopened from February 24 as far as possible and not later than March 1,” said Reddy, adding that schools will have to strictly follow Covid-19 guidelines on the premises. The present digital classes shall continue and schools have been advised to follow a blended form of online/offline mode. “Consent of parents is also mandatory for children coming to school,” the minister said.

Unwise to open schools in hurry: Parents

Chief secretary Somesh Kumar, in a teleconference with all the district collectors, DEOs and district welfare officers of BC, Minority, Tribal Welfare and SC development departments said that the move would bring back about 17.24 lakh students from classes 6 to 8 back to schools.

“All precautions should be taken for the safety of students and teachers. Special measures should be taken for schools opening for the first time,” said Kumar, adding that the District Level Education Monitoring Committee (DLEMC) chaired by the district collector should meet and take up the opening of classes.

While school managements and teachers welcomed the move, Hyderabad Schools Parents Association (HSPA) alleged the decision was taken under pressure from the school managements without even consulting parents only to give schools a free hand to collect fees. “What’s the hurry? What made the state make this decision in a day? Even a couple of days back the education minister said that the state is not going to start schools for younger kids as there are hardly one and a half months left for the academic year to end. Now, all of a sudden, they want parents to send their kids to schools from tomorrow,” said K Venkata Sainath, joint secretary, HSPA.

He said that it is surprising to see the state reacting to the threats of school management. “State did not bother to initiate action against 11 schools who were found guilty. They did not come to the rescue of parents when schools were openly violating GO No 46 on fee regulation. But now they are siding with school managements and giving them licence to loot parents.

Parents also pointed to rising cases in other states and said it was not wise to reopen schools for younger children in a hurried manner. Following Covid-19 guidelines, especially social distancing, would not be possible in many private schools due to space constraints as many are just vertical buildings, they said. Both Telangana Recognized Schools Managements Association (TRSMA) and Independent Schools Managements Association (ISMA said all schools will reopen for class 6 to class 8 soon.

“While few schools are planning to reopen tomorrow, others might need some more time to get schools, hostels and buses ready,” said Y Shekar Rao, president, TRSMA adding that all schools will reopen by March 1. K Praveen Raju, vicechairman, Suchitra Group and president, ISMA said as the academic year is winding up in the third week of May, most of their members have decided to open schools for offline exams. “We will open physical classes for younger kids in a full-fledged manner from the next academic year only,” he added. On February 11, citing financial constraints, private budget schools in state said they would be starting physical classes for students of class 6 to class 8 from February 25 irrespective of whether or not state gives its permission to start classes for upper primary students.

What’s the hurry?

What made the state make this decision in a day? Now, all of a sudden, they want parents to send their kids to schools from tomorrow

— K Venkata Sainath

JOINT SECRETARY, HSPA

Class XI students question the need for offline exams

Class XI students question the need for offline exams

Shradha.Chettri@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:24,02,2021

The offline examination for classes IX and XI is turning out to be a headache for schools. On Tuesday, Class XI students of a private school, KR Mangalam World School in Greater Kailash-II, protested against the move.

They questioned the need to appear for an offline exam in March as they have already sat for online tests. “The school is saying appearing for the offline exam is optional, but they are also saying the exam will have 50:50 weightage — 50% from the online exam and 50% from the offline one. So how can that be a matter of choice?” asked a student.

While students gathered on the premises carrying placards, the principal addressed them. “But she couldn’t say anything concrete. Now we are waiting for a response from the school,” added the student.

The director of the school, Jyoti Gupta, claimed that it was not a protest, and the students just interacted with the administration as they had some concerns. Both the directorate of education (DoE) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have said the schools are opened for classes IX to XII, said Gupta, adding that parents “have to give consent to the children to come to school”, but it’s not related to the online or offline examination. “If schools are open, the examinations will happen inside the school. Where has CBSE or DoE said there is an option for online or offline examination?” asked Gupta.

Parents question the need to mandate offline exams. “The schools cite the CBSE order and say they cannot do anything about it. It makes no sense at all,” said a parent.

Some parents have received a mail from CBSE, which states, “In view of your concern, please note that CBSE conducts examination for classes X and XII for students of affiliated schools. Class IX and XI examinations are not conducted by CBSE, not supervised by CBSE. Please take up the issue with the state/ Union territory government where the school is situated.”

DoE was supposed to hold a meeting with the school principals, but it is yet to take place.

A few schools are still undecided. The Indian School says they have sent a consent form to the parents and provided with two schedules — one examination in March and another in April. “Since it is extraordinary circumstances, we are providing with the options. Once we get consent forms back, the final decision will be taken,” said principal Tania Joshi.

CBSE MAIL SAYS

Class IX and XI exams are not conducted by CBSE. Please take up the issue with the government where the school is situated

'யுவர் ஹானர்' வேண்டாம்: தலைமை நீதிபதி கருத்து

DINAMALAR

கோர்ட் செய்தி

இந்தியா

'யுவர் ஹானர்' வேண்டாம்: தலைமை நீதிபதி கருத்து

Updated : பிப் 24, 2021 06:30 | Added : பிப் 24, 2021 06:29

புதுடில்லி:உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில்,சட்டக்கல்லுாரி மாணவர், 'யுவர் ஹானர்' என, அழைத்ததை, தலைமை நீதிபதி எஸ். ஏ.பாப்டே நிராகரித்தார்.

'நாட்டில், குற்றவியல் வழக்குகளை விசாரிக்கும் நீதித்துறையின் உட்கட்டமைப்பை வலுப்படுத்த வேண்டும்' என, சட்டக்கல்லுாரி மாணவர் ஒருவர், உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்துள்ளார்.இந்த மனு, தலைமை நீதிபதி, எஸ்.ஏ.பாப்டே, நீதிபதிகள், ஏ.எஸ்.போபண்ணா, வி.ராமசுப்ரமணியன் ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய அமர்வு முன், விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.

அப்போது, சட்டக்கல்லுாரி மாணவர் நேரில் ஆஜராகி, நீதிபதிகளை, 'யுவர் ஹானர்' என, அழைத்தார். உடனே தலைமை நீதிபதி, ''அமெரிக்க நீதிமன்றங்களை கருத்தில் வைத்து, யுவர் ஹானர் என, அழைக்கிறீர்கள். ''அங்குள்ள நீதிமன்றங்களில் தான், இதுபோன்ற சொற்கள் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகின்றன. இங்கு, அதுபோல் அழைக்க வேண்டாம்,'' என்றார்.

அதற்கு மன்னிப்பு கோரிய மாணவர், 'யுவர் லார்ட்ஷிப் என, அழைக்கலாமா' என, கேட்டார். இதற்கு பதில் அளித்த தலைமை நீதிபதி, ''எதுவாக இருந்தாலும், பொருத்தமற்ற சொற்களை நீதிமன்றத்தில் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டாம்,'' என்றார்.

பின், மனுதாரர் தன் கோரிக்கை குறித்து கூறினார். இதற்கு பதில் அளித்த நீதிபதிகள், 'இதே கோரிக்கையுடன் ஏற்கனவே வழக்கு விசாரணையில் உள்ளது. 'அதுதொடர்பாக, சில உத்தரவுகளும் பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளன. எனவே வழக்கில் ஆஜராகும் முன், அதுகுறித்த முழுமையான தகவல்களை அறிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும்' எனக் கூறினர்.

பாகல்கோட்டையில் டீக்கடை நடத்தும் பி.எச்டி., முடித்த தம்பதி

DINAMALAR

பாகல்கோட்டையில் டீக்கடை நடத்தும் பி.எச்டி., முடித்த தம்பதி

Added : பிப் 24, 2021 06:24

பாகல்கோட் : பிரதமர் நரேந்திர மோடியை பார்த்து ஏற்பட்ட உத்வேகத்தால், பி.எச்டி., முடித்த தம்பதி பாகல்கோட்டையில் டீக்கடை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

பாகல்கோட் சேர்ந்தவர்கள், பிரசாந்த் நாயக். இவரது மனைவி காவ்யா. இருவரும், தொலைதுார கல்வி மூலம், பி.எச்.டி., பட்டம் பெற்றுள்ளனர்.இத்துடன், அரசு வேலைக்காக, என்.இ.டி., மற்றும் எஸ்.இ.டி., தேர்வு எழுதியுள்ளார். இங்குள்ள தனியார் கல்லுாரியில் பணியாற்றி வருகின்றனர். ஆனால், வருமானம் அவர்களுக்கு போதவில்லை.இதனால், 10 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன், தம்பதியினர் ஆலோசித்து, டீக்கடை நடத்த முடிவு செய்தனர். இதையடுத்து, காலையில், கல்லுாரிக்கு செல்லும் தம்பதியர், மாலையில் டீக்கடை நடத்துவர்.இந்த கடைக்கு, 'ஆம் ஆத்மி டீ டைம்' என பெயரிட்டுள்ளனர்.

இக்கடையின் மூலம், மாதந்தோறும், 30 முதல், 40 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் வருமானம் ஈட்டி வருகின்றனர்.இதன் மூலம், பிரசாந்த் நாயக், தனது தாயார் பெயரில், 'சாந்தா தேவி கல்வி மையம்' துவக்கினார்.இது குறித்து தம்பதியர் கூறுகையில், ''அரசு வேலை கிடைக்கவில்லை என்று நாங்கள் கவலையடையவில்லை. பிரதமர் நரேந்திர மோடியை பார்த்து, உத்வேகம் அடைந்து, டீக்கடை நடத்த முடிவு செய்தோம்.''கடுமையாக உழைத்ததால், எங்களின் கனவு நனவானது. தற்போது சந்தோஷமாக குடும்பம் நடத்தி வருகிறோம்,'' என்றனர்.அரசு வேலை வரும் என எதிர்பார்த்துள்ளோரிடையே, இத்தம்பதியர் உழைப்பு, அனைவருக்கும் முன் உதாரணமாக உள்ளது.

Man dies after bee attack as son writes JEE

Man dies after bee attack as son writes JEE

Bengaluru:24.02.2021 

A 52-year-old man who had escorted his son to a college on Bannerghatta Road for JEE Main on Tuesday, died after he was attacked by honey bees.

Sanjaynagar resident Kumar R had taken his son to the examination centre at a private engineering college when he and other parents were attacked by a swarm of bees at 1.30pm, police said.

“Kumar was stung by bees and taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance. He reportedly died before reaching the hospital. We will register a case if his family members file a complaint,” Bannerghatta police said. The authorities are trying to ascertain what triggered the bee attack.

PU leak: SC stays HC order, cites Vyapam

24.02.2021 

Staying a Karnataka high court order discharging a bureaucrat, Oblaraju, in a case related to alleged procurement of PU question paper for his son in 2016, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said leaks and mass cheating have “distorted and perverted” the exam system, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra.

Even before Karnataka’s counsel VN Raghupathy began his argument, a bench of CJI SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian remarked, “These people are ruining the education system.” The court drew a parallel, recalling the huge scam in MP Professional Examination Board (kno- wn by its Hindi acronym ‘Vyapam’), which was unearthed in 2011.

Education system getting distorted, perverted: SC

It involved 13 different exams conducted by Vyapam for selection of medical students and state government employees.

Leak of the question paper had resulted in cancellation of the chemistry exam. The re-test too had to be cancelled as the same modus operandi was allegedly used by the accused, including physical education teachers in various schools, in collusion with the bureaucrat.

The CJI-led bench said, “We know of the Vyapam case in Madhya Pradesh. What happened there? The education system is getting distorted and perverted.” It issued notice to the accused in the Karnataka case and stayed the HC order discharging them.

In 2016, the SC ordered a CBI probe into the Vyapam scam, which involved legislators, bureaucrats and businessmen and it was alleged that bribes were paid for securing high ranks in recruitment exams to get government jobs and seats in medical colleges.

Indicating no leniency to those who pollute the examination system at the cost of meritorious students, the bench said, “We want to send a message.”

AIIMS Madurai gets new ED

AIIMS Madurai gets new ED

24.02.2021 

The Centre on Tuesday appointed Dr. Mangu Hanumantha Rao as the executive director of Madurai-AIIMS. Rao will hold the post for a term of three years from the date of assuming office.

No masks: Nearly 23,000 people fined ₹45 lakh in a day in Mumbai

No masks: Nearly 23,000 people fined ₹45 lakh in a day in Mumbai

Chaitanya.Marpakwar@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:24.02.2021

Despite several appeals to Mumbaikars to wear a mask in public places, the number of violators and the fine collected surged in one day. On Monday, the police, BMC, Western Railway and Central Railway collected nearly ₹45 lakh in fines from 22,976 ‘mask-less’ people. On Sunday, 14,100 people were fined a total of ₹28 lakh, and on Saturday, ₹32 lakh was collected from16,154 offenders.

Over the weekend, the BMC alone collected ₹60 lakh in fines. Since March 2020, over 15 lakh ‘mask-less’ Mumbaikars have been caught and ₹30.5 crore collected in fines, so far. Civic officials said they also make violators perform community services, like sweeping the road, if they can’t pay the penalty.

With the rise in Covid-19 cases in the city and several citizens lowering their guard, the BMC has once again intensified its drive to impose a fine of ₹200 on those caught not wearing a mask. From Monday, even the police started issuing challans to those not wearing masks. Now, Mumbai Metro One, which operates the 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, will also start imposing a ₹200 penalty on commuters found without masks.

“Any commuter found flouting mask norms is first counselled. If the commuter still refuses to fall in line and doesn’t wear a mask, then they are fined under Section 59 of the Metro Railways Operations and Maintenance Act,” said a Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) official.

(With inputs from Manthan KMehta)

SAFETY FIRST: A large force of clean-up marshals were deployed outside Dadar station to crack down on unmasked pedestrians on Tuesday

Question paper leaks have distorted exam system: SC

Question paper leaks have distorted exam system: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:24.02.2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said question paper leaks and mass cheating in examinations had “distorted and perverted” the examination system and stayed a Karnataka high court order discharging a state bureaucrat from a case relating to alleged procurement of Class XII question paper for his son in 2016.

Leak of the question paper had resulted in cancellation of the chemistry examination. The re-examination too had to be cancelled as the same modus operandi was allegedly used by the accused, who were physical education teachers in various schools of Karnataka, in collusion with the bureaucrat and others.

Even before Karnataka’s counsel V N Raghupathy began his argument, a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian asked, “Why should bail be not cancelled? These people are ruining the education system.” The SC recalled the huge scam in Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (popularly known by its Hindi acronym ‘Vyapam’), which was unearthed in 2011. It involved 13 different exams conducted by Vyapam for selection of medical students and state government employees. The CJI-led bench said, “We know of the Vyapam case in Madhya Pradesh. What happened there? The education system is getting distorted and perverted.” It issued notice to the accused in the Karnataka case and stayed the HC order discharging them from the case.

Times View

Maintaining fairness is a fundamental requirement of any examination. An alleged abuse of the system by a senior bureaucrat has rightly prompted a serious view from the apex court. We all know that power comes with responsibility. When those in positions of authority are the ones violating the rules, the violation must be viewed even more seriously.

Supreme Court Weekly Round Up [14th February to 21st February 2021]

Supreme Court Weekly Round Up [14th February to 21st February 2021]: Live Law (LL) Citation Count Crossed Its 100 Mark Within Just 52 Days Into 2021 This Week.

Prof. (Dr.) Ved Kumari Appointed As New VC Of NLU-Odisha

Prof. (Dr.) Ved Kumari Appointed As New VC Of NLU-Odisha: Prof. Ved Kumari has been appointed as the is new Vice Chancellor of the National Law University, Odisha. The search Committee comprising of Prof SK Bhatnagar , Dr.Faizan mustafa and Justice

'If One Is Going To Practice In Delhi, One Can't Be Staying In Bihar' : Delhi HC Says BCD Empowered To Demand Proof Of Residence For Enrolment

'If One Is Going To Practice In Delhi, One Can't Be Staying In Bihar' : Delhi HC Says BCD Empowered To Demand Proof Of Residence For Enrolment: Prof. Ved Kumari has been appointed as the is new Vice Chancellor of the National Law University, Odisha. The search Committee comprising of Prof SK Bhatnagar , Dr.Faizan mustafa and Justice

TN govt doctors demand pay hike issue be resolved in last Assembly session before elections

TN govt doctors demand pay hike issue be resolved in last Assembly session before elections

Government doctors, who are presently wearing ‘demand badges’ to work, want their long-due demands such as pay hike, Covid solatium, recruitment of more doctors and timely promotions to be implemented

Published: 22nd February 2021 07:15 PM 

By Omjasvin MD

Express News Service

CHENNAI: With the Tamil Nadu assembly session beginning from Tuesday (February 23) expected to be the last for this term, government doctors want the issue of pay hike, which has been pending for years now, to be raised in the assembly. The doctors also urged the government to make some positive announcements.

Dr S Perumal Pillai, Executive Member, Federation of Government Doctors Association, said that the assembly session is the last resort for a solution and once it is over, the Model of Conduct may come in any time ahead of upcoming elections and the government may not consider implementing the demands.

Government doctors, who are presently wearing ‘demand badges’ to work, want their long-due demands such as pay hike, Covid solatium, recruitment of more doctors and timely promotions to be implemented.

Dr Pillai said government doctors are only demanding that the state implement the existing government order no. 354, which would provide them a pay hike.

The government order gives them a pay hike after completion of 5,9,11, and 12 years instead of the present 8,15,17, and 20 years.

Their demand is for the government to provide them a salary at the pay band 4 scale after completion of 12 years of service and not 20 years.

“The government says they have spent more than Rs 7000 crore for Covid but a pay hike for all the doctors totally in the state would just cost a budget of Rs 300 crore,” said Dr Pillai, pointing out that states like Karnataka and Haryana were giving special pay for Covid duty doctors but those in TN have not received any.

Dr Ramalingam, Convenor, FOGDA, said since government doctors come to the profession in their 30s, their career span is just about 20 years. “That’s why the Centre introduced the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme for promotion opportunities in shorter intervals. Many states have implemented this but TN is yet to fully do it,” he said.

Dr Ramalingam said that the doctors held multiple protests for the past few years including hunger strikes and fasting to death but the issue has not been sorted out. “The government later told us that they would give us allowances but an allowance is secondary and pay hike is primary. It must be sorted,” he said.

Doctors said that both the state and central government doctors join the profession after MBBS with the same base salary of 56,100. However, as per the 7th pay commission, after completion of 13 years, a central government doctor earns Rs 1,23,000 while a state government doctor earns Rs 86,000.

They said that because of the lack of implementation of the government order, the state's doctors end up earning at least Rs 40,000 less than the Centre’s.

Gang murders Muthupettai Panchayat Union ward member

Gang murders Muthupettai Panchayat Union ward member

According to sources, Rajesh of Manalmedu was elected as an independent from Ward 11 in the elections held in 2020.

Published: 23rd February 2021 03:19 AM 

By Express News Service

TIRUVARUR: A gang on Monday murdered Muthupettai Panchayat Union ward member R Rajesh (38) and reportedly severed his head, creating panic in the town. The murder is said to be a follow-up of another murder which took place in 2015 in which Rajesh was an accused.

According to sources, Rajesh of Manalmedu was elected as an independent from Ward 11 in the elections held in 2020. He later joined the AIADMK.On Monday, a gang which came by a car hit Rajesh while he was riding a two-wheeler from Kovilur to Alangadu through East Coast Road. Rajesh, who fell off the bike, got up and broke into a run. The gang gave him a chase and hacked him to death. The members then severed his head, wrapped it up in a lungi and left on a two-wheeler. However, when the bike rode over a speed-breaker in Azad Nagar, the head reportedly fell on the road.

People who were around panicked and ran helter-skelter, even as the gang sped away. Police retrieved the head, the body and also a revolver from the site. Preliminary inquiry revealed that Rajesh reportedly tore a banner of a particular community association in 2014. Following this, members from the association reportedly attacked his supporters. In a bid to avenge his death, Rajesh’s gang murdered Madan in 2015.

College loses recognition; student seeks compensation

College loses recognition; student seeks compensation

The petitioner sought the court to appoint an agency to probe into the institution in adopting gullible methods in collecting money.

Published: 23rd February 2021 03:21 AM 

Madras High Court (File photo | EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A student has moved the Madras High Court, claiming he was cheated by the Maritime College in Cuddalore, run by the trust headed by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president KS Alagiri. The college lost its recognition in 2020 from the Director-General of Shipping and the students have sought 50 per cent of the fees that have already been paid.

A Hariharasudhan, the petitioner stated that as the college lost its recognition, 80 students are now facing difficulties despite paying a sum of `1.4 crores as fees.The petitioner also stated that despite a notification that all the students will be compensated for at least 50 per cent of fees that will be refunded, the college challenge the notification.

The petitioner sought the court to appoint an agency to probe into the institution in adopting gullible methods in collecting money. The court adjourned the plea till the next few days.

Kilambakkam bus terminus to open partially before elections

Kilambakkam bus terminus to open partially before elections

The portion which caters to MTC buses will be opened now, and the file has been sent to the government.

Published: 23rd February 2021 04:51 AM 

Work for a mega bus terminus in progress at Kilambakkam on the outskrirts of the city despite stumbling blocks | SUNISH P SURENDRAN

By C Shivakumar

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The new mofussil bus terminus at Kilambakkam, for which the foundation was laid last year, will open partially before the model code of conduct comes into force for the Assembly elections.Official source told Express that the bus terminus could open by the end of this month through video-conferencing.

The portion which caters to MTC buses will be opened now, and the file has been sent to the government. The bus terminus is being built to cater to south-bound buses, and there is also a plan to link it with the Metro linking the airport stretch. It is learnt that the first phase extension from Chennai Airport to Kilambakkam where the new terminus is proposed is likely to be 16-km stretch along the GST Road. The feasibility study has been completed and the stretch will be an elevated one, said sources.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the entire terminus would take at least five to six months more to get completed. Sources said there were design issues and a committee was formed to look into it. It is learnt that CMDA is mulling on going in for a new technology which will not only complete the work but also cut down cost and also ensure the earlier design doesn’t undergo change.

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is planning to change the construction methodology so that the elevation structures are being casted as pre-engineered structure, using structural steel members. The project, which was expected to be completed before March 2021, was delayed due to non-availability of migrant workforce following the pandemic. The new terminus once completed is expected to cater to about 1.5 lakh passengers with a parking space for 250 buses, 270 cars and 3,500 two-wheelers.