ADMISSION ALERTS

ADMISSION ALERTS

27.09.2021

BITSoM, the BITS School of Management, Mumbai invites online applications for admission to its two-year full-time residential MBA programme for the academic year 2022-24.

Eligibility: Candidates must have a recognised undergraduate or postgraduate degree in any discipline from a recognised Indian institution or international university or be in the final year.

Deadline: November 21

Link: https://www.bitsom.edu.in/

Vidyasagar University in Midnapore, West Bengal invites online applications for admission to MA in Bengali, English, History and MSc in Chemistry, Clinical Nutrition, Dietetics and Zoology.

Eligibility: Candidates must have BA degrees with honors or pass in Bengali, English and History for applying for admission to MA and for applying to MSc candidates must have BSc with honors or pass in Chemistry, Zoology, Nutrition and BMLT.

Deadline: October 7

Link: http://onlineadmission.vidyasagar.ac.in/

Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi invites online applications for admission to certificate, diploma and online postgraduate programmes

Eligibility: For certificate courses, candidates need to have a secondary school certificate (class X) or equivalent from a recognised board and for diploma courses candidates would be required to have a 10+2 or equivalent from a recognised board or university.

Deadline: September 30

Link: https://jmi.ucanapply.com/univer/public/secure?app_id=UElZMDAwMDAzNA==

National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad invites applications for admission to PG Diploma in Agri-Warehousing Management.

Eligibility: Candidate must have a bachelor degree in any discipline from a recognised Indian university.

Deadline: September 30

Link: https://www.manage.gov.in/pgdawm/pgdawm-moocs.asp

You’ve got mail

You’ve got mail

Click on this link and lose all your money, says new Nigerian pal

Shinie Antony

27.09.2021

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a man in possession of a new computer, must be in want of a virus. Can you keep a PC, however branded and dusted, from catching a bug? In the current era of continuous online shopping, more criminals are going digital. Cybercrime saw a growth of almost 12% last year, according to latest NCRB data, making it a viable career option during Covid times. Revenge porn, identity theft, extortion …. Actors who send nudes on phone might as well post them on the net. A link clicked and your wallet’s empty. You are sleeping like a baby in Delhi when phone pings; your credit card was used in Dublin. You can be bankrupted with a remote.

Time was when people only had to worry about the straightforward burglary. Robbers snuck into homes to loot and plunder, grabbed gold god idols and any loose change. But thieves are hi-tech now, addressing you as ‘my dear’ or ‘dearest’ in SMS or email. Their spellings are iffy and names exotic. They all have large fortunes to give away and only you to give them to. Sometimes they pretend to be your friend stranded in Timbuctoo asking for money; you don’t reply, hoping they have other friends.

We first learnt of the web’s third eye when we told our boss we were on our deathbed only to be seen doing the Macarena on social media. Go to your mail and it always says ‘open in six other places’ – and you have only one ex! Deferential to future hackers, I periodically clean my browser history. Am I vitamin deficient, how to tell your suspicious BFF no one will romance her husband even if he pays for it, how many m in ‘recommend’ …. Occasionally to impress them I google brain surgery.

No use thinking up eccentric passwords – everything can be breached. Either they create a website just for you for spoofing or indulge in outright phishing. Don’t be surprised if you cannot access your files, ransomware bars you via encryption. Of course, if you pay, they may still keep your gibberish. Through the Internet of Things, one is connected to the outside world even through a toaster! The next time you get a call from your own number, don’t dismiss it as a technical glitch. It is not your alter ego or a you from the future, it is just your personal hacker saying hi.

Apply for GATE 2022 by Sept 28

Apply for GATE 2022 by Sept 28

27.09.2021

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, the organising Institute for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE-2022) has extended the application deadline till September 28. Earlier, it was supposed to be closed on September 24. “Due to technical problems, the application deadline has been extended upto September 28, 2021 with no additional fees. Candidates can register themselves through the official website, gate.iitkgp.ac.in,” reads a notification issued by the IIT Kharagpur. Leh (Ladakh) has been added as a new GATE 2022 examination city. The exam fee for general candidates is Rs 1500 and with late fee it is Rs 2,000. For reserved category students, the regular application fee is Rs 750 and with late fee it is Rs 1,250.

Online PhD submission will make the evaluators accountable

Online PhD submission will make the evaluators accountable

c-Puniti.Pandey@timesgroup.com

27.09.2021

The University of Delhi (DU) will soon move the thesis submission and evaluation process for PhD to online mode. The decision has been taken to smoothen the procedure and reduce the long delays that take place in the existing model.

“It is a student-friendly move aimed at decreasing the delay in the evaluation process that follows after the students submit their thesis. After the launch of the online portal and the implementation of the new mode, the evaluators will be compelled to take immediate action on the research papers. This will further put a stop to file blockage,” says PC Joshi, former vicechancellor, DU.

Explaining the need to introduce the online portal for PhD, D S Rawat, dean of examination, DU says, “Offline mode had several challenges, as the students and the university authorities had to wait for the examiners' response over the copy. Under the new setup, the thesis will be immediately mailed to the concerned examiner. The authorities will also keep reminding them to revert on the thesis shared. An alert will be flagged in case they exceed the time limit on one thesis.” The university has also altered the current ordinance to further improve the evaluation process. Under current norms, the examiner can submit the list for the viva process within a month of the thesis submission. Under the new setup, the supervisors will be required to submit the list of viva-voce before or on the day of the thesis submission. This will again reduce the long delays that were caused in allotting supervisors to each student, he explains.

The online submission of PhD thesis requires strict monitoring to maintain data security, notes Sanjeev Bansal, dean, Faculty of Management Studies, Amity University. Just as strict confidentiality is maintained at the time of submitting the hard copy of the thesis, the authorities would need to take measures to avoid any kind of threat to data in online mode. “Amity had been following the online mode of PhD for a long time. We had been holding seminars for PhD students for over a decade. During the pandemic induced lockdown, they were also allowed to submit the thesis online,” he adds.

The students should not suffer the adverse consequences of long delays in getting their PhD degrees, says D Narayana Rao, pro vice-chancellor, SRM University, Andhra Pradesh (SRMAP). Many of them lose job opportunities that demand the submission of PhD degrees within a stipulated time. The online submission of PhD thesis will help in reducing delays and save the expenditure incurred on printing multiple heavy copies of the research papers.

Madras High Court comes to the aid of law graduate denied enrolment citing criminal cases for anti-Sterlite protest

Madras High Court comes to the aid of law graduate denied enrolment citing criminal cases for anti-Sterlite protest

There is a "colossal difference between complaining that a person is acting against the Government and that person is protesting the Policies of the Government", the Court observed in its order.

Lawyers

Meera Emmanuel

Published on :

24 Sep, 2021, 7:33 pm

The Madras High Court recently came to the aid of a law graduate who was denied enrolment as an advocate on account of 85 cases lodged against him for his alleged involvement in various protests, including public demonstrations for the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi (K Siva v. The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and ors)

A Bench of Justices M Duraiswamy and Murali Shankar also took the opportunity to empahsise that there is a "colossal difference between complaining that a person is acting against the government and that person is protesting the policies of the government."

Referring to a demonstration in which the law graduate allegedly participated without prior permission and whereby protest was raised against a government ban on beef sale, the Court said:

"The right to freedom of speech and expression and the right to assemble peaceably and without arms are fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19(1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of India ... every citizen is having right to comment on the policies of Governments and to have their own views with respect to the such policies."

Referring to another protest wherein slogans were raised not to crush anti-Sterlite protests and whereby a road roko was allegedly created, the Court added:

"We would like to point out that the protest or demonstration organized by the group of students including the petitioner was actually towards fulfilment of their fundamental duty under Article 48 A of the Constitution of India. It is not the case of the Police that the petitioner and other students had indulged in any violent activities at that time."

The Court was dealing with a petition moved by K Siva, a law graduate (petitioner) who was aggrieved after he was denied enrolment as an advocate by the State Bar Council.

The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had informed the petitioner that it would not enroll him as an advocate without a court direction, the Bench was told.

This was on account of finding that 85 criminal cases were lodged against the petitioner between 2017 and 2019 following a police verification report. In this regard, the Superintendent of Police, Tirunelveli had submitted a report stating that since the petitioner had 85 cases against him and since he was a person "acting against the government", no recommendation would be given on his conduct.

The High Court expressed shock at the sheer number of cases lodged against the petitioner. On a closer look, the Court found that the bulk of those cases were filed with respect to anti-Sterlite protests that took place on May 22, 2018.

"On a cursory look at the particulars of the cases registered against the petitioner, we were shocked to notice that as many as 85 criminal cases came to be registered against the petitioner. But a close perusal of the same would reveal that 81 cases out of 85 cases, came to be registered for the incidents alleged to have been occurred on May 22, 2018," the Court observed.

It went on to question how the petitioner has been made an accused with respect to incidents that took place at various locations on the same day.

"In the absence of any charge for criminal conspiracy, is it possible for a person to be present and involved in the commission of offences at 88 various places on the same day?", the Court asked.

The Court also noted that the petitioner's name was missing from the final reports as well as the several FIRs lodged over anti-Sterlite protests.

"Admittedly, the petitioner's name does not find place in any of the above said 88 FIRs registered for the incidents allegedly occurred on 22.05.2018. Though the Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District, in his status report, has shown the rank of the petitioner in those cases, they have not furnished any particulars as to how and on what basis, the petitioner was implicated in the above 88 cases," the Court said.

Added to this, the Court noted that the petitioner's name does not find a place in any of the charge sheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to whom the investigation of cases pertaining to anti-Sterlite protests and the death of thirteen protesters was transferred.

In this backdrop, the Court remarked that it was "at a loss to understand" how the Bar Council authorities has declined to give the petitioner enrollment without getting any report from the CBI or resorting to any further enquiry.

Commenting further that there was no whisper of any allegation that the petitioner was involved in any heinous crime or anti-national or anti-social activities, the Court proceeded to order that he be enrolled in the next enrolment session.

"This Court has no hesitation to hold that the enrollment of the petitioner as an Advocate is unjustly being denied to the petitioner and therefore, necessary directions are to be issued to the respondents 1 and 2 to enroll the petitioner as an Advocate on the Roll of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry," the Court said.

Advocate G Prabhu Rajadurai appeared for the petitioner. Advocate KR Laxman appeared for the Bar Council authorities. Government Pleader Thilak Kumar appeared for the Superintendant of Police, Tirunelveli.

Marriage Of Minor Becomes Valid If Not Declared Void Till Age Of 18, Dissolution U/S 13B Of Hindu Marriage Act Allowed: P&H High Court

Marriage Of Minor Becomes Valid If Not Declared Void Till Age Of 18, Dissolution U/S 13B Of Hindu Marriage Act Allowed: P&H High Court: The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently held that if a girl marries before att

அக்டோபரில் மட்டும் வங்கிகளுக்கு 21 நாட்கள் விடுமுறை

அக்டோபரில் மட்டும் வங்கிகளுக்கு 21 நாட்கள் விடுமுறை

Updated : செப் 26, 2021 06:41 |

புதுடில்லி-பண்டிகைகள் நிறைந்த அக்., மாதத்தில் வங்கிகளுக்கு 21 நாட்கள் விடுமுறை என்பதால் பொதுமக்கள் தங்கள் வங்கிப் பணிகளை முன்கூட்டியே திட்டமிட வேண்டிய அவசியம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

நாடு முழுதும் வங்கிகளுக்கு இரண்டாவது மற்றும் நான்காவது சனிக் கிழமைகளில் முழு விடுமுறை அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. இதன்படி இந்தாண்டு அக்., 9, 23 ஆகிய இரண்டு நாட்களும் முழு விடுமுறை. அக்., 2 சனிக்கிழமையன்று காந்தி ஜெயந்தியை முன்னிட்டு விடுமுறை. அக்., 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 ஆகிய ஐந்து நாட்களும் ஞாயிற்றுக் கிழமை. இது தவிர அக்., 14, 15ல் ஆயுத பூஜை மற்றும் விஜயதசமி விடுமுறை. அக்., 19ல் மிலாடி நபி விடுமுறை. மேற்கண்ட 11 நாட்களும் நாடு முழுதும் வங்கிகளுக்கு முழு விடுமுறை. மேலும், 10 நாட்கள் சில குறிப்பிட்ட மாநிலங்களுக்கு மட்டும் உள்ளூர் விடுமுறை அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதன் விபரம்:புதுடில்லி, செப். 26-பண்டிகைகள் நிறைந்த அக்., மாதத்தில் வங்கிகளுக்கு 21 நாட்கள் விடுமுறை என்பதால் பொதுமக்கள் தங்கள் வங்கிப் பணிகளை முன்கூட்டியே திட்டமிட வேண்டிய அவசியம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

நாடு முழுதும் வங்கிகளுக்கு இரண்டாவது மற்றும் நான்காவது சனிக் கிழமைகளில் முழு விடுமுறை அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. இதன்படி இந்தாண்டு அக்., 9,10 ஆகிய இரண்டு நாட்களும் முழு விடுமுறை. அக்., 2 சனிக்கிழமையன்று காந்தி ஜெயந்தியை முன்னிட்டு விடுமுறை. அக்., 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 ஆகிய ஐந்து நாட்களும் ஞாயிற்றுக் கிழமை. இது தவிர அக்., 14, 15ல் ஆயுத பூஜை மற்றும் விஜயதசமி விடுமுறை. அக்., 19ல் மிலாடி நபி விடுமுறை. மேற்கண்ட 11 நாட்களும் நாடு முழுதும் வங்கிகளுக்கு முழு விடுமுறை. மேலும், 10 நாட்கள் சில குறிப்பிட்ட மாநிலங்களுக்கு மட்டும் உள்ளூர் விடுமுறை அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அதன் விபரம்:அக்., 1 அரையாண்டு கணக்கு முடிவு சிக்கிம்அக்., 6 மஹாளய அமாவாசை திரிபுரா, கர்நாடகா, மேற்கு வங்கம்அக்., 7 மேரா சவுரென் ஹவுபா லெய்னினங்தோ சனமஹி மணிப்பூர்அக்., 12 மஹா சப்தமி திரிபுரா, கர்நாடகாஅக்., 13 மஹா அஷ்டமி திரிபுரா, ஒடிசா, சிக்கிம், அசாம், மணிப்பூர், மேற்கு வங்கம், பீஹார், ஜார்க்கண்ட்.அக்., 16 துர்கா பூஜா சிக்கிம்அக்., 18 கதி பிஹு அசாம்அக்., 20 மகரிஷி வால்மிகி ஜெயந்தி திரிபுரா, கர்நாடகா, சண்டிகர், மேற்கு வங்கம், ஹிமாச்சல பிரதேசம்அக்., 22 மிலாடிநபியை தொடர்ந்து வரும் வெள்ளி ஜம்மு - காஷ்மீர்அக்.,26 அக்செஷன் டே ஜம்மு - காஷ்மீர்இந்த அறிவிப்பை ரிசர்வ் வங்கி வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

Teachers arrested for making plans to leak question paper

Teachers arrested for making plans to leak question paper

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaisalmer:26.09.2021

Balotara police in Barmer district busted an inter-state gang of 20 members who were planning to leak REET question paper and make dummy candidates appear in the exam. Among those arrested are two government school teachers.

Six government school teachers and a police constable, who are also part of the gang, managed to escape.

The gang used to make dummy candidates sit in competitive exams organised in the state and also leaked question papers for a hefty price. Rs 9.50 lakh cash was recovered from the two arrested government teachers.

Barmer SP Anand Sharma said on September 24, Balotara SHO Babulal Raigar received information that two members of an inter-state gang were planning to provide REET paper for Rs 12 lakh before the exams and charge Rs 15 lakh for dummy candidates to appear in the exam.

He said a team was formed under the SHO and it raided a house on mega highway and arrested two culprits, Ramesh Kumar (36) a resident of Balotara and a government teacher, and Suresh Kumar (35), a resident of Jalore.

SP said the documents and applications of candidates from many districts and other forged documents were also recovered from the culprits. Police claimed Ramesh Kumar accepted providing question papers five hours before an exam and revealed that e-mitra owner Mohan Lal, resident of Dedwa in Sanchore, used to help in photo editing of the applications.

The accused in police custody at Balotara on Saturday

Court says girl can tell a stalker from passerby, gives man 2-yr RI

Court says girl can tell a stalker from passerby, gives man 2-yr RI

Rebecca.Samervel@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:26.09.2021

Observing that a girl is aware about who is following her and who is just a passerby, a Pocso court convicted and sentenced a 33-yearold man to two years’ rigorous imprisonment for stalking a 17-year-old girl on her way home from tuitions in 2019. Observing that sexually harassing minors when they are pursuing their education creates fear, judge Bharti Kale said leniency cannot be shown.

“The accused has not justified his reason for going after the victim every day. Therefore, the contention that he was not following the victim but only heading to work from the road in front of the victim’s building does not appear to be truthful,” said the court. The accused, Jamil Shaikh, was also fined Rs 5,000.

The minor refuted the defence’s argument that she was meeting her boyfriend in the building and when she was caught, she falsely implicated the accused. “Now, if the victim was meeting her boyfriend regularly and her parents grew suspicious, they would not have allowed her to go out of the house every day between 8.00pm and 9.30pm. Except bare suggestions that she was going to meet her boyfriend, there is nothing on record to prove the same,” the court said.

The prosecution, however, could not prove that the accused had held the girl’s hand just before he was nabbed. The court said the police has not recorded the statements of any independent witnesses from the spot even though the incident occurred at a public place.

Shaikh has been in jail since his arrest on November 26, 2019. The court said his sentence will be set off against time already spent in jail.

The accused has not justified his reason for going after the victim every day. Therefore, the contention that he was not following the victim but only heading to work from the road in front of the victim’s building does not appear to be truthful, the court said

Univ working on transcripts in 24 hours

Univ working on transcripts in 24 hours

Ardhra.Nair@timesgroup.com

Pune:26.09.2021

Talking about the pendency in getting transcripts and lack of tracking mechanism for documents sought by students, SPPU vice-chancellor Nitin Karmalkar said a committee is developing a system, where the marksheet and transcripts could be given together. The university was coming up with a mechanism to ensure delivery of transcripts within 24 hours of the application.

PhD viva voce at recognized research institutes

Talking about conducting viva voce of the PhD students of the pharmacy faculty in their own research institutes, Karmalkar said, “Due to the restrictions, all viva voce are online. We will soon come out with a circular stating that even in the future, all viva voce would be held at their own research centres,” Karmalkar said.

No change in vax gap, interval working well, says NTAGI chief

No change in vax gap, interval working well, says NTAGI chief

Nisha.Nambiar@timesgroup.com

Pune:26.09.2021

Dr N K Arora, chairman, Covid-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), on Saturday ruled out any changes in the gap between two doses of Covishield, citing scientific studies suggesting the vaccine’s higher efficacy when the interval between the shots was longer.

“Any further changes would be based only on scientific evidence and not on random demands,” Arora told TOI on Saturday, stressing that the current interval had been working well.

Several states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra, are keen to reduce the gap between the two doses of Covishield from the current 84 days.

Arora said data from the vaccine tracker platform indicated that the way the Covishield doses were currently being administered was fine. Therefore, there was no need to change it as of now, he said, adding that the vaccine’s effectiveness in the current interval was being monitored constantly.

Virologist T Jacob John differed a bit. He told TOI the Covishield doses’ gap could be reduced to four weeks for individuals at high risk and senior citizens. “They (authorities) should at least think about it,” he said. Explaining his thought, the retired professor and the head of department of clinical virology and microbiology of Christian Medical College (Vellore) said, “If someone wants early immunity, give the second dose at four weeks. But if you want the maximum possible immunity, wait for 84 days. Two doses save lives. So, for individuals at high risk of severe disease and death, four weeks’ interval is the best. For them, protection delayed could mean protection denied. For all others between 18 and 60 years, the 84-day interval is logical.”

Dr Anish T S, associate professor at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, also said a shorter gap could be considered for vulnerable groups such as senior citizens and people with comorbidities. “The effectiveness of a single dose may not be sufficient to protect them from clinically severe diseases in the context of the Delta variant,” he said.

Dr M K Sudarshan, chairman of the Karnataka government Covid-19 technical advisory committee, told TOI they had recommended that the Karnataka health minister reduce the time gap of Covishield doses to about six weeks because there were sufficient vaccines but not enough second dose takers. “There is enough scientific evidence that one to two months’ gap is efficacious,” he said.

Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, member, National Indian Medical Task Force on Corona Epidemic, told TOI a longer gap was better for long-term protection. “At present, it is best to have a longer gap to protect people from severe disease,” he added.

Vaccine effectiveness monitored constantly, said NTAGI’s Dr N K Arora

‘No vax for children before schools open; parents, teachers need jabs’

There was no need to vaccinate children for reopening schools, said NTAGI task force chairman Dr N K Arora on Saturday. “What is important is to vaccinate parents, teachers and school staffers before the resumption of physical classes,” he said.

Vaccination of healthy children would commence next year, but the immunization of kids with comorbidities would start next month, Dr Arora said. He said they were finalising the list of comorbidities in this age group and it would be ready in the next 8-10 days.

Virologist Dr T Jacob John said the priority of vaccination for children was not high and schools should reopen before the immunisation programme was rolled out. TNN

After 7.5% quota, panel seeks school dropout database

After 7.5% quota, panel seeks school dropout database

Also recommends that skills of students be identified at schools

Published: 26th September 2021 05:34 AM 

The counselling process underway at the Government Central Polytechnic College at Taramani in Chennai. (Photo | Ashwin Prasath, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Justice D Murugesan committee, formed to analyse the reasons for fewer enrolment of government school students in engineering and other professional courses, has recommended the creation of a database on school dropouts.

“Creating a database of school dropouts is crucial. Unless we create a database, we will never know how many students dropped out to become labourers or victims of child marriage,” said Prince Gajendra Babu, an educationist.

It was based on the recommendations of the committee report that the State government introduced the 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation for government school students in admissions to professional courses. The report also wanted the skills of the students to be identified at school-level itself on the basis of their flair and aptitude. Further, it recommended a revision of the school syllabus to meet the requirements of modern technology, and suggested a mechanism to establish permanent training centres for teachers to update them on the proper utilisation of modern education technology and on the subjects they teach.

“In the pandemic period, teaching has no longer been the same. There have been behavioural changes in students, with their patience and attention levels dropping. Add the introduction of digital technology to it, and our government school teachers will need continuous training,” said M Sashidharan, a retired government college teacher.

“If we genuinely intend to give our government school students their due in professional courses, then all these points, which focus on holistic improvement of our schools, need to be followed,” added Sashidharan. The report also wants the government to focus more on improving the quality of schools. “Government systems generally focus on expansion, which too is a must. But, the schemes which aim to improve quality often get ignored at implementation stage albeit finding a prominent mention in the policies,” mentions the report.

An analysis in the report shows that only 12,659 government school students had joined engineering courses during the academic year 2019-20, representing a paltry 5.59 per cent of the available 2,26,385 seats during the year. In 2020-21, the number was 13,082, just 6.14 per cent of a total of 212932 seats available. The percentage of first generation government school students joining engineering courses stood at 2.41 per cent and 3.22 per cent during academic year 2019-2020 and 2020-21 respectively.

‘Victim-blaming’ news reports upset family of murdered Madras Christian College student

‘Victim-blaming’ news reports upset family of murdered Madras Christian College student

Police officials said the family was disappointed with the media coverage of the crime as they felt some sections of the media blamed the victim.

Published: 25th September 2021 07:03 AM 

A shamiana put up outside the house of Swetha on Friday, a day after she was murdered near the Tambaram Railway Station | R Satish Babu

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A day after a 25-year-old man murdered a student of the Madras Christian College (MCC) near the Tambaram Railway Station, grief filled the locality where the family of the victim, Swetha, resides. Police officials said the family was disappointed with the media coverage of the crime as they felt some sections of the media blamed the victim.

Meanwhile, the accused Ramachandran’s father allegedly attempted to beat his son at the hospital as he was agitated by the youngster’s act, police sources said. In his statement to the police, Ramachandran said he bought a knife to kill himself in front of Swetha as a sign of protest since she broke up with him, but ended up murdering her in a fit of rage after an argument. On realising the people around would nab him and hand him to the police, he inflicted an injury on his throat, but the attempt to commit suicide was stopped by the public, the police said.

On Friday morning, the police handed over Swetha’s body to her family after an autopsy. Their neighbourhood in Chromepet was filled with grief as several people visited the house to express condolences. Ramachandran was on Friday remanded in judicial custody after being discharged from hospital. Quoting him, the police said he had asked Swetha to meet him in front of the Tambaram Railway Station, and Ramachandran bought the knife before boarding the train at Maraimalai Nagar.

One of Swetha’s friends told the police the victim had said her troubles would end after meeting Ramachandran and she would be able to carry on with her life. Ramachandran, a native of Nagapattinam, was working in Maraimalai Nagar, and is said to have known the victim for three years.

Pilot study in RGGGH on chronic kidney disease

Pilot study in RGGGH on chronic kidney disease

The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) has started a pilot study to identify chronic kidney disease among the rural population.

Published: 26th September 2021 06:39 AM 

By Omjasvin MD

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) has started a pilot study to identify chronic kidney disease among the rural population. Doctors said the drive began on Saturday and would cover up to 1,500 people.

“We have had eight patients with kidney diseases from Sengadu in Kancheepuram in the past and some were from the same street. So we wanted to know why the prevalence of kidney issues is high in this village,” Dr N Gopalakrishnan, Director of Institute of Nephrology told TNIE.

In the project, 40 doctors and more than 20 technicians are involved. Gopalakrishnan said the pilot study primarily focuses on identifying the illness early and providing treatment. “The village has 387 families and 1,500 people,” he said, adding most patients were in their 20s and 30s.

Hospital Dean, Dr E Theranirajan, said unknown factors could have caused the illness but after early detection and treatment, they would study the cause as well. “Early detection can save these lives and prevent the illness from going critical,” he said.

Doctors believe water salinity and contamination can contribute to early kidney disease. “The community medicine department had been assigned for outreach but this is the first time the nephrology department is doing an outreach programme,” the dean said.

Aadhaar authentication of taxpayers must for GST refund

Aadhaar authentication of taxpayers must for GST refund

New Delhi:26.09.2021

The government has made Aadhaar authentication of taxpayers mandatory for claiming Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has amended GST rules bringing in various anti-evasion measures, including disbursal of refunds only in the bank account which is linked with the same PAN on which GST registration has been obtained.

The notification also states that from January 1, 2022 businesses that have defaulted in filing summary return and paying monthly GST will not be able to file GSTR-1 sales return of the succeeding month.

The notification follows the decisions taken at the GST Council meeting on September 17. PTI

Now, Aadhaar of taxpayers must for GST refund

Now, Aadhaar of taxpayers must for GST refund

26.09.2021

New Delhi:

The government has made Aadhaar authentication of taxpayers mandatory for claiming Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has amended GST rules bringing in various anti-evasion measures, including disbursal of refunds only in the bank account which is linked with the same PAN on which GST registration has been obtained. The notification also states that from January 1, 2022 businesses that have defaulted in filing summary return and paying monthly GST will not be able to file GSTR-1 sales return of the succeeding month. PTI

No change in Covishield dose gap: NTAGI

No change in Covishield dose gap: NTAGI

Nisha.Nambiar@timesgroup.com

Pune:26.09.2021

Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Covid-19 working group of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), on Saturday ruled out any change in the gap between two doses of Covishield, saying scientific studies suggest higher efficacy when the interval is longer.

“Any further changes would be based only on scientific evidence and not on random demands,” Arora said. Several states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra, are keen to reduce the interval, which is currently 84 days.

Arora said data from the vaccine tracker platform indicated that the way the Covishield doses are being administered is fine.

‘Consider cutting Covishield gap for some’

Therefore, there was no need to change it as of now, he said, adding that the vaccine’s effectiveness in the current interval is being monitored constanty. Virologist T Jacob John differed a little, saying the Covishield dose gap could be reduced to four weeks for senior citizens and individuals at high risk. “They (authorities) should at least think about it,” he said.

Explaining his thought, the retired professor and the head department of clinical virology and microbiology of Christian Medical College (Vellore) said, “If someone wants early immunity, give the second dose at four weeks. But if you want the maximum possible immunity, wait for 84 days. Two doses save lives. So, for individuals at high risk of severe disease and death, four weeks’ interval is the best. For them, protection delayed could mean protection denied. For all others aged between 18 and 60, the 84-day interval is logical.”

Dr MK Sudarshan, chairman of the Karnataka government’s Covid-19 technical advisory committee, said they had recommended the Karnataka health minister to reduce the time gap of Covishield doses to about six weeks because there were sufficient vaccines but not enough second dose takers. “There is enough scientific evidence that one to two months’ gap is effective,” he said.

Theatres & auditoriums to reopen in Maha from Oct 22

A day after the Maharashtra government announced reopening of schools and religious places, CM Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday approved the reopening of cinema halls and auditoriums in the state from October 22. A detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) is still being compiled and will be issued by the government in the next few days. The decision was taken following a meeting of Thackeray with filmmakers, members of the state Covid task force and senior state officials. Cinema and theatre professionals welcomed the CM’s announcement to restart halls on October 22. Stage artistes were especially pleased that their reopening was advanced from the earlier appointed date of November 5.

No need to vaccinate children for reopening schools, says Dr Arora

There was no need to vaccinate children for reopening schools, said NTAGI task force chairman Dr NK Arora. “What is important is to vaccinate parents, teachers and school staffers before the resumption of physical classes,” he said.

The vaccination of healthy children would commence next year, but the immunization of children with comorbidities would start next month, Dr Arora said. He said they were finalising the list of comorbidities in this age group and it would be ready in the next 8-10 days. Virologist Dr T Jacob John said the priority of vaccination for children was not high and schools should reopen before the immunization programme was rolled out.

Third wave: 2,900 doctors hired, 2,000 more to join

EYE ON THE NEXT WAVE

Third wave: 2,900 doctors hired, 2,000 more to join

TAKING NO CHANCES Govt Adds Medical Staff and Ramps Up Infra To Tackle Next Outbreak

Downward Trend In Infections Continues

Chethan.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:26.09.2021

In line with experts’ recommendations and the overall strategy to face a possible third wave of Covid-19, the state government has been hiring doctors and installing critical medical infrastructure.

According to the department of health and family welfare, nearly 3,000 doctors, including specialists, have been roped in to manage the third wave and another 2,000 are expected to join the service in the coming weeks. The additional personnel are being onboarded through both direct recruitment and compulsory ruralservice deputations.

“Direct recruitment of 850 GDMOs [general duty medical officers] was completed by the department two months ago, while another 800 have joined as part of the mandatory rural service. Aside from this, around 950 doctors have come in through the medical education department for the rural service,” health commissioner Dr KV Trilok Chandra told STOI.

Apart from these 2,550 doctors, the health department has also completed the direct recruitment of 350 specialist doctors. “Another 2,000 specialists will join under the rural service programme soon,” Chandra added.

With this, the total number of new recruitments will touch 4,900. The health department, however, did not immediately share details of what the total number of doctors in the state would be with these additions.

Medical infra & supply

In terms of medical infrastructure, the government has set up 500 paediatric HDU/ICU beds across districts, which takes the total number of such beds to 800.

“...As on date, we have enhanced the number to 800 from 300 earlier. Work is underway to add another 1,200 such beds, which will be available in the coming weeks. This will take the total number of such beds to 2,000,” he said.

The government has 5 lakh vials of Remdesivir in stock and adequate quantities of other essential supplies needed for treatment, according to the health commissioner. Also, 8,000 oxygen concentrators have been distributed to supplement the HDU/ICU beds in the districts.

“Hopefully, we will never need to use all of these. But we are not compromising on preparations,” Chandra said, adding the government would also enhance the number of liquid medical oxygen tanks.

As reported by STOI earlier, the government had completed special health screening of 35 lakh children and teenagers by mid-September. Only 0.3 per cent of them had Covid-19.

Separate data from the Covid-19 war room shows that there have been more than 3.2 lakh cases, including 158 deaths, in the 0-19 age group. Overall, Karnataka has recorded nearly 29.7 lakh cases so far. The highest number of infections — over 6.8 lakh — have occurred in the 30-39 age group. The second-most affected group is 40-49 with 5.2 lakh cases.

The highest number of Covid-19 deaths — 10,798 — has been reported in the 60-69 age category, followed by more than 8,000 fatalities in the 50-59 group.

TN plans to take schools to students of Classes I to VIII

TN plans to take schools to students of Classes I to VIII

No Call Yet On Reopening, New Plan Will Allay Learning Loss

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.09.2021

The uncertainty over reopening schools for younger classes remains and the government plans to take schools to places near students and involve local volunteers to ensure everyone has foundational numeracy and literacy skills.

Schools reopened for Classes IX to XII on September 1, but no decision has been taken on reopening for Classes I to VIII.

To address concern among parents, the school education department plans a statewide campaign to mitigate the learning loss and to ensure basic literacy among children of Classes I to VIII, sources said.

Teachers and educational volunteers will go to areas where students live and engage them in activities and conduct classes for one to two hours a day till schools reopen. It will be modelled on the ‘Veethi Vagupparai’ (Classes on the Streets) method followed by a NGO.

The campaign is likely to be linked with the government’s ‘Ennum Ezhuthum’ mission to ensure children are able to comprehend and possess basic arithmetic skills by the time they are eight years old.

The school education department on Saturday held the second meeting with 10 non-governmental organisations including Tamil Nadu Science Forum (TNSF), Palli Kalvi Pathukappu Iyakkam, Forum for Child Friendly Schools and Aid India. “The department plans to standardize resource material used by various NGOs. It is studying the pros and cons of taking classes to nearby hamlets till the reopening of schools,” one participant said.

Aruna Rathnam, a former education specialist with Unicef, said it was good the government was aware of parents’ anxiety about learning loss and wants to address it. Involving volunteers would help as teachers may not be able cover the multiple hamlets, she addded.

N Madhavan, state executive committee member of TNSF, said the learning loss cannot be compensated only by teachers and schools. “The community needs to take part in the process of compensating the loss, and giving emotional, psychological support to the children. The Tamil Nadu government understood it and has initiated discussions,” he said.

TNSF possesses the expertise of successfully running “Arivoli Iyakkam”, a total literacy campaign launched in the early 1990s across the state. “If it is finalized, it can set an example for the rest of the country.”

The representatives of NGOs also suggested that the government make the campaign an agenda for the Grama Sabha meetings scheduled to be held on October 2.

Teachers and volunteers will go to areas where students live and engage them in activities and conduct classes for an hour or two a day till schools reopen

AIIMS PG Online Entrance Exam: Whether Candidate Is Entitled To Inspection Of Answer Sheets And Revaluation In The Absence Of Regulations? SC To Consider

AIIMS PG Online Entrance Exam: Whether Candidate Is Entitled To Inspection Of Answer Sheets And Revaluation In The Absence Of Regulations? SC To Consider

Shruti Kakkar  Live Law 

22 Sep 2021 6:20 PM

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 20, 2021) agreed to consider whether a candidate who has appeared at the online entrance examination for admission to the postgraduate course conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences would be entitled to inspection of the answer sheets, and to revaluation in absence of such provision in the applicable regulations.

The division bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna while issuing notice in the special leave petition filed by The Controller Of Examinations Examination Section, All India Institute Of Medical Science challenging Madras High Court's order dated August 27, 2021 also stayed the operation of the judgement.

"Pending further orders, there shall be a stay of the operation of the impugned order of the Single Judge dated 27 August 2021 and a stay of further proceedings in Writ Petition No 16670 of 2021 and WMP No 17655 of 2021," Court noted in its order.

The Madras High Court bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh on August 27, 2021, while hearing a writ petition had directed the Controller of Examination, AIIMS to submit a detailed affidavit explaining the process and its stand with regards to the inspection of answer sheets. The affidavit also had to state the effect of the Court seeking for the inspection of answer sheets in the virtual form and the manner in which the same could impact the Controller of Examination's confidentiality.

"These questions are posed only to understand the scope of jurisdiction to be exercised by this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in a changed scenario where everything is done through virtual mode. Under such a changed scenario, if any candidate is not satisfied with the marks awarded to him / her, what will be the remedy that will be left to the candidate," Court had further observed.

Appearing for the Controller of Examination, AIIMS Advocate Dushyant Parashar submitted that in the proceedings before the Madras High Court, Single Judge's attention was drawn to proceedings in which the Supreme Court had stayed the order of Central Information Commission dated July 20th 2015 in which the information watchdog had allowed Sakshi Mathur, a 2013 aspirant, to access the papers and answer keys of 2013 entrance exam.

Upon counsel's submission, the Top Court also directed for tagging the present SLP with SLP (Civil) 7591 of 2019 AIIMS v Sakshi Mathur.

Case Title: The Controller Of Examinations Examination Section, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences V. Lakshmanan Senthil Kumar & Anr

Supreme Court Quashes Madras HC Direction That EWS Reservation In NEET-AIQ Requires SC Constitution Bench Approval

Supreme Court Quashes Madras HC Direction That EWS Reservation In NEET-AIQ Requires SC Constitution Bench Approval

LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK

24 Sep 2021 4:05 PM

The Supreme Court on Friday set-aside the observations in the Madras High Court's order which said that the reservation for Economically Weaker Sections(EWS) in the NEET-All India Quota can be implemented only with the approval of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court that is examining the correctness of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment which provided for economic reservations.

A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna held that the Madras High Court's observations were unnecessary. The bench said that the Madras High Court was considering a contempt petition seeking implementation of OBC reservation in NEET-AIQ, and hence the observations on 10% EWS quota amounted to a transgression of its jurisdiction.

"Having found that there is no contempt, the High Court has gone into a wider spectrum..there the High Court has really erred. When you are in contempt jurisdiction, you just need to see if the order has been complied or not", Justice Chandrachud remarked.

The Supreme Court was considering a special leave petition filed by the Union Government against the Madras High Court's observations on EWS quota.

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, submitted that the High Court ought not to have made the observations while it was exercising its contempt power.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) party - which was the petitioner before the High Court in the contempt petition-submitted that the issue is "complicated", and Centre's SLP could be heard along with the other petitions challenging the EWS/OBC quota in the NEET-AIQ. Sibal pointed out that the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment is being examined by the 5-judge bench. Sibal, along with Senior Advocate P Wilson, both appearing for the DMK, did not however object to the findings of the High Court that there is no contempt committed by the Centre.

The Union was aggrieved with the following observation made by a bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu of the High Court in paragraph 66(iii) of its judgment passed on August 25:

"The additional reservation provided for economically weaker sections in the notification of July 29, 2021 cannot be permitted, except with the approval of the Supreme Court in such regard".

The Supreme Court set aside the above observation in the High Court's order. However, the Supreme Court clarified that it is not expressing anything on the merits of the EWS quota in NEET-AIQ, as it is a subject matter of other petition, and that it is setting aside the High Court's order on the sole ground that the High Court transgressed the limits of contempt jurisdiction.

The bench dictated the following order after the hearing :

"We are clearly of the view that the High Court has transgressed into areas which were alien to the issues raised regarding the compliance of the earlier order. Having come to the conclusion that there was no breach of the judgment, rest of the discussion of the High Court in paragraphs commencing from 55 was unnecessary for the purpose of the contempt petition.

We, therefore hold that direction issued in para 66 (3) as alien to the exercise of contempt jurisdiction and shall accordingly stand set-aside.

However, we clarify that the specific direction is set aside not on merits but on sole ground that such direction has transgressed the boundaries of contempt jurisdiction. We are not expressing opinion on the merits of the case since the points will arise in a bunch of petitions pending adjudication".

The Court will hear on October 7 the other petitions challenging the Centre's notification to implement OBC, EWS quota in NEET-AIQ.

Case Title : Union of India v. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and others

Add Pallavaram & Chromepet to GCC, urge locals

BETTER THAN TAMBARAM

Add Pallavaram & Chromepet to GCC, urge locals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

25.09.2021

Residents associations of Pallavaram and Chromepet have raised a flag of rebellion against the government move to merge the municipalities to the proposed Tambaram corporation and have since been holding protests. Seeing the drastic change in conservancy work, road repairs and other upgrades in areas such as Nanganallur after it was merged with Chennai corporation, residents feel that it will be better to join Chennai, which also has experienced officials and better access to funds.

Sources said more than 60 residents associations have sent petitions against the merger with Tambaram. V Govindarajan, a social activist and a resident, said, “Merging these neighbourhoods into the new corporation will not help improve amenities. Pallavaram earns 100 crore annual revenue, which is higher than Tambaram. They will end up using our money but will not bring development to Pallavaram and Chromepet. We do not want that situation.”

“We had sent petitions to the government saying Pallavaram and Chromepet should be merged with GCC. Our MLA too spoke about it in the assembly. We want them to hold a public hearing as a majority of the people are against the proposed move,” he said, adding that residents plan to intensify protests.

The government announcing corporations by adding the areas despite residents’ opposition is undemocratic, said V Santhanam of Chromepet. “Pallavaram and Chrompet are so close to the borders of the Chennai corporation. The areas are far more developed, with commercial complexes, brand outlets, restaurants, bridges and other amenities than Tambaram. It makes more sense to add them to Chennai than to a new corporation,” he added.

However, K P Subramanian, a former CMDA planner, said the upgrade is a good move. “It may not be possible to add all areas to Chennai. But the government should offer a hand-holding in terms of allocating funds and augmenting the staff in all departments such as health, engineering, town planning so that the neighbourhoods can be developed.”

It's going to take more than a name change to make Tambaram a corpn

It's going to take more than a name change to make Tambaram a corpn

Unlike Avadi, Govt Must Set Aside Funds & Expertise To Develop New Corporation Well: Experts

Ayyappan.V@timesgroup.com

25.09.2021

Sarvamangala Nagar in Chitlapakkam was a quiet neighbourhood more than 20 years ago, with mostly independent houses overlooking the Sembakkam lake. Now, almost all streets are crammed with four-storey and five-storey buildings. It lacks good roads, an underground sewage system and proper water supply a perfect example of unplanned urbanisation.

While residents are upbeat that the decision to convert Tambaram into a corporation comprising neighbouring local bodies will bring in better amenities, experts caution that the change in status should reflect on the ground. That means the new corporation should get experienced officers, more functions or powers and funds. They also say the Chennai model should be followed so that Tambaram doesn’t go the Avadi-way, where little has changed since the municipality became a corporation.

D S Sivasamy, former additional director in the local administration department, said the government should ensure an experienced bureaucrat is posted as commissioner and more posts created at zonal level.

With the government notifying the forming of the new corporation, Palvaram, Pammal, Anakaputhur, etc., can be divided into separate zones. The revenue earned by local bodies that will now be under Tambaram will be around 300 crore. But that may not be enough. “Funds are needed because the government often takes away a good portion of the revenue generated by a local body in certain taxes. A local body earns money from tax, building tax, licences, surcharges and stamp duty. But, the government gives only a portion of the surcharges to the local body…,” said Sivasamy.

More officials are needed, municipalities do not have enough. “There is hardly anyone to do a ground check if a project is suggested.”

The new corporation will have to take up underground sewerage work, drinking water supply, relay roads, stormwater drains and improving public transport in almost all the neighbourhoods spread over 87.64sqkm.

In Pallavaram, nothing much has changed in the staff strength after it was made into a municipality. That should not be the case, he added.

Ramakrishnan of Sarvamangala Nagar Residents Association hoped amenities will improve when the areas are attached to a corporation. “The change is evident at the next neighbourhood, which is in Pallavaram municipality. They have better facilities.”

Similar is the hope of residents in many neighbourhoods in Tambaram, Sembakkam, Pammal, Anakaputhur, Chitlapakkam, Madambakkam, Thiruneermalai, Peerkankaranai and other areas who have seen the way Nanganallur got good roads and other amenities after it was attached to Greater Chennai Corporation.

Chengalpet collector Rahulnath said a public hearing will be held after the model code of conduct for local body elections is over. “We have informed the government of the feedback from the people. The GO is a preliminary one. The government will take a final call.”

TIME TO PAUSE & PLAN

Tambaram has undergone rapid, unplanned urbanisation, in photo is Tambaram West. (Above) Work to build a subway to replace a level crossing at Radha Nagar in Chromepet, mooted a decade ago, is underway for many years. The proposed upgrading of Tambaram local body into a corporation is expected to speed up many works such as replacing level crossings to make traffic smooth in the suburbs.