In bid to curb fraud, Canada could stop awarding points for job offers under Express Entry Route

In bid to curb fraud, Canada could stop awarding points for job offers under Express Entry Route 

Lubna Kably TNN 20.12.2024 

In the coming year, Canada’s point-based immigration system is likely to undergo a significant change as the federal govt aims to tighten rules to curb fraudulent practices tied to job offers. Those applying for permanent residency through the Express Entry system will no longer receive additional points for job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), according to a recent statement made by immigration Marc Miller, Immigration Minister. 

“We are implementing further measures that will reinforce programme integrity and reduce potential LMIA fraud, such as removing additional points that candidates receive under Express Entry for having a job offer,” Miller stated during a recent television appearance. The exact date of implementation has not been announced, nor is there any official statement from Canada’s immigration agency. A senior manager’s role covered by the National Occupational Code fetches 200 points, all others with a LMIA-backed job offer get 50 points. The LMIA process requires Canadian employers to demonstrate that no suitable Canadian workers are available for a position before hiring a foreign worker. Recently Canadian media has highlighted cases where unscrupulous middlemen sold LMIA backed job offers at exorbitant prices. Miller’s proposed move is expected to nip this in the bud. 

India has continued to be the top source country for those getting invitations to apply for permanent residency under the Express Entry route. In 2023, nearly 52,100 Indians were invited to be permanent residents (bagging 47% of the total invites). The change, when introduced, could impact many Indians who were aspiring to become permanent residents in Canada. Several immigration experts and aspiring migrants view that this proposed measure is not the right step. “It is akin to throwing the baby out with the bath-water”, says a software professional who with a LMIA backed job was hoping to be a permanent resi dent in the coming months. TOI spoke to a few immigration experts. They point out that under the CRS mechanism age also plays a differential factor. Those in the peak of their youth get the maximum points. 

To illustrate, an individual in the age group of 20-29, who is aspiring for being a permanent resident gets an points of 110 if the application is without an accompanying spouse. An application with a spouse fetches 100 points. Those who are 40 years old get 50 and 45 points respectively. Once an individual is 45, nil points are awarded. “Thus, the 50-200 points awarded for a LMIA-backed job offer is crucial to many experienced professionals, especially those in the 40-plus bracket,” explains an immigration consultant. Even genuine candidates who hoped to rely on LMIAbacked points will now find it challenging to meet CRS cut-off scores and obtain permanent residency.

Man brings ₹80,000 in coins to court to pay as interim alimony

Man brings ₹80,000 in coins to court to pay as interim alimony 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 20.12.2024

Coimbatore : There have been reports of people taking bundles of coins to showrooms to buy a bike or a car. On Wednesday, a Coimbatore resident went to the additional family court with ₹80,000 in ₹2 and ₹1 coins to pay an interim alimony. The 37-year-old man, who didn’t want his identity to be revealed, had been ordered by the court to pay ₹2 lakh to his wife as an interim maintenance amount. His wife filed a divorce petition last year. A resident of Vadavalli, he is a call taxi owner cum driver whose sister resides in the US. On Wednesday, he came in his car, walked into the additional family court and unloaded 20 bundles of ₹2 and ₹1 coins,. When he submitted the amount to the court, the judge asked him to hand it over in notes. A video of the man walk ing out of the court with the bundles went viral on social media. On Thursday, he handed over the amount in currency notes before the court, which directed him to pay the remaining amount of ₹1.2 lakh soon.

Madurai to get air link with Penang via Chennai

Madurai to get air link with Penang via Chennai

New route: The Madurai - Chennai - Penang flight is set to be launched on December 21.

The flight will leave Madurai airport at 10.45 p.m. and reach Chennai at 12.05 a.m.; the flight

from Chennai will leave for Penang at 2.15 a.m. and reach there at 8.30 a.m. Malaysian time

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 20.12.2024

Come December 21, Madurai will get air connectivity to Penang in Malaysia via Chennai.

Though the passengers would have to change flights at Chennai, IndiGo Airlines is offering direct boarding facility in Madurai with an additional late night domestic flight between Madurai and Chennai.

This would be the first additional flight service Madurai airport would get after Airports Authority of India threw open 24x7 operation of Madurai airport on October 1, said Madurai Airport Director P. Muthu Kumar.

The benefit for the passengers with the new air link is that the passengers would be able to fly from Madurai to Chennai late in the night. The flight leaves Madurai at 10.45 p.m. and reaches Chennai at 12.05 a.m. The flight from Chennai would leave for Penang at 2.15 a.m. and reach there at 8.30 a.m. Malaysian time

Passengers would have adequate time for the transfer, including customs and immigration clearance at Chennai airport.

Passengers booking direct ticket from Madurai to Penang would be travelling by two flights with a single PNR, according to an IndiGO Airlines source. They can carry 30 kg of check-in luggage and 7 kg of cabin luggage.

“The airlines offers the services of transferring the check-in luggage between the two flights,” said president of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry N. Jegatheesan. It would be helpful for those from Karaikudi and Chettinadu living in Penang, he said.

Govt. doctors remove screw from toddler’s lung

Govt. doctors remove screw from toddler’s lung

The Hindu Bureau

TIRUCHI 20.12.2024

Doctors at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) in Tiruchi saved the life of a three-year-old boy by removing the screw of an anklet that he had accidentally swallowed. The toddler from a village in Perambalur district was immediately taken to a hospital in Iluppur on December 13.

When X-ray revealed that the screw was lodged in the patient’s bronchus (large airway that leads from the windpipe to a lung), he was referred to the Emergency Room of MGMGH. Under the guidance of S. Kumaravel, Dean, KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College, a team of doctors, led by Radhakrishnan, head, Department of Ear Nose Throat Surgery, removed the foreign object with the help of a rigid bronchoscope. The patient had recovered from the procedure, said the statement.

Doctors advised parents to keep small objects and other potentially hazardous material away from the reach of children.

‘Governor taking law into his own hands’

‘Governor taking law into his own hands’

Govi. Chezhiaan

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 20.12.2024

The State government has followed the rules in constituting search committees to appoint eligible candidates as Vice-Chancellors (V-Cs) to State universities, Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan said in a statement on Thursday.

In response to a direction issued by Governor R.N. Ravi on Wednesday that the V-C search committee of Annamalai University should have a nominee of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Minister alleged that the Governor was using his position as the Chancellor to suspend the legal proceedings, carried out as per the statutes of State universities.

Mr. Chezhiaan said the government was watching the Governor’s tendency to use his position as the Chancellor of State universities to take law into his own hands. The Governor had the authority only to recommend that the search committee be announced, but he cannot constitute a search committee on his own, he pointed out.

Mr. Ravi was functioning as a representative of the UGC, violating the statutes of the universities. In a six-page response, the Minister said that six of the 13 State-run universities were currently functioning without a V-C. As the tenure of the V-C of Bharathidasan University and Periyar University would end in February and May next year, search committees had been constituted for them as well, as per the university statutes, he added.

He further pointed out that though the UGC could make recommendations, the State government had the authority to take a decision on accepting them.

Rift unwarranted: PMK

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, in a statement on Thursday, urged the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps to expedite the proceedings of cases pending in the Supreme Court, which pertain to the appointment of V-Cs to State-run universities.

He said that the rift between the State and Governor R.N. Ravi was unwarranted when the V-C posts in six State-run universities had been lying vacant for several months.

Madhya Pradesh HC Orders Removal Of Registrar, Chairman Of Nursing Registration Council Due To Alleged Illegality In Recognizing Colleges

Madhya Pradesh HC Orders Removal Of Registrar, Chairman Of Nursing Registration Council Due To Alleged Illegality In Recognizing Colleges

Anukriti Mishra

16 Dec 2024 7:17 PM

LIVE LAW 

While hearing a plea on alleged irregularities and illegalities in the process of granting recognition to nursing colleges in the state, the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the state government to "forthwith" remove the Registrar and Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Nursing Registration Council (MNRPC).

In doing so, the court said that there was "every likelihood" of the officers trying to tamper with the material if allowed to continue on the said posts. It also said that responsible officers having unblemished service career should be appointed instead in their place.

The division bench of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi and Justice Achal Kumar Paliwal observed, “on the face of delicacy of the issue and noticing various irregularities committed earlier in granting recognition to the Nursing Colleges, we cannot allow such officers who were involved in the earlier process of granting recognition to hold such important posts inasmuch as there is every likelihood that such officers would, not only try to save their skin but also of other functionaries, try to tamper with the material. We despise such effort and find that it is nothing but an attempt to foil the endeavours made by the court for obviating the irregularities and illegalities in the process of granting recognition.”

The court was hearing the applications filed by the counsel for petitioner seeking removal of the Registrar and the Chairman of the MPNRC.

In the first application, the counsel for petitioner claimed that Anita Chand, the current Registrar of MNRPC used to be a member of inspection committee which had submitted a false report on March 4, 2022 and on the basis of that false report, a nursing college in Bhopal was granted recognition which was later-on cancelled. On the basis of the inspection report for session 2021-22, the Court had placed the Registrar, MPNRC under suspension as the said report was found incorrect. The counsel for the petitioner has filed the inspection report to point out that against some of the Inspectors, who were part of the inspection team, departmental enquiry has been initiated and submitted that it is therefore, not proper to posit Chand to hold such an important post of Registrar, MPNRC since she might tamper the material evidence which can be used against the erring officers, who had committed illegality.

Further, in the other application, the counsel for the petitioners sought the removal of Dr. Jiten Chandra Shukla from the post of Chairman of MPNRC. It was alleged that Shukla was holding the post of Director, MPNRC at the relevant point of time when several irregularities were committed by the council in granting recognition to the Nursing Colleges. While hearing the PIL, the court had earlier directed the CBI to conduct inspection of the nursing colleges to which recognition had been granted. Thereafter, in the report of CBI it was found that there were number of colleges which were not suitable because of non-fulfilling the requisite criterion yet the recognition had been granted. The report was submitted by the CBI and the court has been monitoring the cases and enquiry is still continued incessantly.

On December 5, the Court had directed the respondents to submit their reply to these applications explaining as to why such persons have been placed on important posts of Registrar and Chairman, MPNRC and had also orally instructed for their removal. However, instead of doing so, the respondents presented a copy of order issued by the Directorate Medical Education, wherein, a committee consisting of three members had been constituted to inspect and submit a report after analysing the complaints made against Anita Chand and after inspecting the Nursing Colleges.

The court however said, “We are not satisfied with the constitution of committee by the Director with the approval of Commissioner, Public Health & Medical Education.”

Thus, the court directed the Principal Secretary of the Public Health and Medical Education to forthwith remove Anita Chand from the post of Registrar and Dr. Jiten Chandra Shukla from the post of Chairman of MPNRC and "instead appoint some responsible officers, having unblemished service career, in their place". The court also directed the Chief Secretary to take cognizance in the matter and ensure compliance of the High Court's order.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 19.

Case Title: Law Students Association Vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh And Others, WP No. 1080 of 2022

Counsel for Petitioners: Adv. Alok Vagrecha and Adv. Vishal Baghel

Counsel for Respondents/State/MPNRC: Shri Prashant Singh, Advocate General, Shri Bharat Singh, Additional Advocate General and Shri Abhijeet Awasthi, Deputy Advocate General

China lengthens visa-free stays for tourists

China lengthens visa-free stays for tourists 

Sara Ruberg 19.12.2024

China’s govt opened its country’s doors a little wider this week by extending the period that tourists visiting the country can stay without a visa to up to 10 days. It’s the latest effort in China’s push to welcome tourists back amid geopolitical tensions and after strict pandemic policies froze all travel to the country. The transit policy is among a few changes China has made to entice visitors since it reopened its borders in 2023. 

The Chinese govt said in a statement that it “invites more foreign friends to come to China and experience the beauty of the country in this new era firsthand.” Tourists can stay up to 10 days Starting in 2023, China allowed travellers from 54 countries, including the United States, to enter the country without prior visa approval if they were in transit to another country. Tourists were originally allowed to stay three to six days depending on which port of entry they had used. 

Under the new policy, tourists can stay up 240 hours, or 10 days, for those who arrive at one of the country’s approved airports. China also added 21 locations to its 39 ports of entry and exit and relaxed travel restrictions across the provinces. Previously, travellers were limited to the specific region where they had entered the country. But in its updated policy, China will let people entering via the transit programme to travel across the 24 provinces where visa-free travellers are allowed. 

How the programme works To take advantage of the new programme, visitors will need to book at least two flights: one to any of the 60 Chinese ports allowed under the visa-free transit policy, and a flight to a third country that departs within 10 days of arriving to China. Chinese border authorities will look for proof of an already purchased airline ticket for a departing flight upon arrival. Passengers will also be asked to fill out an application for access at the airport. As with other international trips, travellers will need to provide a valid passport, pass through airport security checks and answer questions from immigration authorities. NYT

Is coconut oil hair oil or edible oil? SC solves old puzzle

Is coconut oil hair oil or edible oil? SC solves old puzzle 

‘Specification And Packaging Hold Key To Categorisation’

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesofindia.com 19.12.2024

New Delhi : A three-judge bench of Supreme Court on Wednesday solved a 20-year old riddle that plagued levying of excise duty — whether pure coconut oil is to be classified as an edible oil or under cosmetics as hair oil? This question had got a split verdict from the bench of the then CJI and Justice R Banumathi. While Justice Gogoi, who retired as CJI in Nov 2019, was of the view coconut oil in small packaging was appropriately classified as edible oil, Justice Banumathi opined that coconut oil packed in small containers are to be classified as hair oil. 

A bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna, and Justices Sanjay Kumar and R Mahadevan, aware of the dual use of coconut oil in different parts of the country, said the classification would depend on the branding of the oil as edible to meet the criteria under food safety regulations, and conform to a different criterion under Drugs and Cosmetics Act to be classified as hair oil. Writing the judgment, Justice Kumar rejected argument of revenue dept that pure coconut oil should invariably be classified as hair oil and said, “We are of the opinion that pure coconut oil sold in small quantities as ‘edible oil’ would be classifiable as edible oil”. 

Revenue dept had said the bunch of appeals involved Rs 160 crore in terms of excise duty, penalties, redemption fine and interest. SC said, “The fact that such edible coconut oil was sold in smaller containers would not, by itself, be indicative of it being packaging of a kind fit for use as ‘hair oil’.” “One may choose to buy one’s cooking oil in small quantities, be it for economic or for health reasons or due to inclination to use fresh oil in food preparation, and the smaller size of the packaging of such oil cannot be taken to mean that it is to be used as ‘hair oil’ without any pointer to that effect, be it by way of a label or literature or by any other indication that it is to be used as ‘hair oil’,” it said. 

“Small-sized containers are common to both ‘edible oils’ and ‘hair oils’. Therefore, there must be something more to distinguish between them for classification of such oil, other than size of the packaging,” the bench said.

Registration of 156 nursing homes cancelled over irregularities: Govt

Registration of 156 nursing homes cancelled over irregularities: Govt 

Pvt Hospitals Are Being Monitored Amid Overcharging Allegation, Govt Tells House

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 19.12.2024

Bhopal : Private hospitals in the state are overcharging patients, the govt accepted in the state assembly on Wednesday. On average, one complaint per day is received by the govt against private hospitals in this regard. BJP MLA Abhilash Pandey asked about the complaints received in the last year regarding overcharging and other irregularities by private hospitals. He inquired about the actions taken on those complaints and questioned whether the govt is not keeping a strict vigil on private hospitals to control the charges levied by them. 

Deputy CM and public health, medical education minister Rajendra Shukla said in a reply that 311 complaints were received in the last year regarding overcharging and other irregularities by private hospitals. Private hospitals are being continuously monitored, he said. A total of 654 show cause notices have been issued to nursing homes since April so far. The number of nursing homes inspected was 2,354. Registration of 156 nursing homes has been cancelled. Apart from this, under the Ayushman Bharat 'Nirayam' scheme, private hospitals are being strictly monitored. The CMHOs were directed to create awareness about the rights of the patients and against excessive fee collection. Messages have been disseminated through appropriate social media platforms for public awareness. The Ayushman Bharat office has ordered the display of IEC and citizen charters to the private hospitals affiliated under the scheme. A toll-free number, call centre, and Ayushman Bharat portal are available for patients’ awareness.

HC stays counselling for NRI quota PG seats in pvt colleges

HC stays counselling for NRI quota PG seats in pvt colleges 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 19.12.2024

Jabalpur : Madhya Pradesh high court on Wednesday, in an interim order, said that NRI quota seats shall not be filled in the ensuing counselling of PG courses at private medical colleges until it delivers the final verdict. The move came in response to a petition that alleges the 15% seats reserved for NRIs in the state’s private medical colleges are being allocated only in eight popular courses and not evenly distributed. A division Bench of high court, comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice Anuradha Shukla, observed, “Taking into consideration the fact that the matter was heard and reserved today and a final decision may take some time, in the interest of justice and with a view to avoid the creation of third-party rights… until the delivery of the final order, the seats under NRI quota shall not be filled in the ensuing counselling of PG courses and be kept in abeyance.” HC reserved its final orders. The PIL, filed by Dr Ojas Yadav from Bhopal, says NEET prepared a merit list for NRIs and although there are 22 branches in medical colleges, state govt allocated NRI quota seats to only eight high-demand branches. Advocate Alok Bagrecha, representing the petitioner, argued that the “excessive allocation” of NRI quota seats in selected branches would affect the rights of meritorious students, as the number of available seats decreased. There are 545 seats in these eight branches, with 152 allocated under NRI quota. NRI quota seats should be distributed across all branches, the counsel said, arguing that the process adopted by state govt is illegal. The seat matrix of private colleges, which outlines the seats allocated to each category, was prepared in violation of Medical Education Admission Rules-2018, the petitioner argued before the court. Instead of the stipulated 15% for NRI quota, 40 to 50% seats have been reserved in various branches, the petition says, adding that choice filling is being conducted without providing time for claims and objections as per admission rules

He fights the small battles on principle

He fights the small battles on principle 

Sachin.Sharma@timesofindia.com 19.12.2024

Vadodara : The Rs 1,500 case! His case earned this title, but it didn’t deter or frustrate  him until he won it. It was not the first time this man has won such a case. He earlier won a case over the poor quality of a Rs 950 raincoat and approached the forum for a warrant when he was not compensated. Janmejay Moghe, an insurance advisor from Vadodara, first approached the consumer forum in 2019, when he bought a raincoat for Rs 950 after downpours caused floods in the city. The raincoat had holes and was faded. Moghe returned to the shop the next day for a replacement, but the shopkeeper showed him a placard declaring: “Goods once sold will not be replaced or returned”. The shop agreed to change the raincoat only after Moghe showed them the bill that said goods could be replaced within three days. But all the raincoats in the shop were of poor quality and he asked for a refund. When the shop did not give him one, Moghe approached the consumer forum in 2019, which decided the case in his favour in July 2021, ordering a refund with interest and Rs 500 towards his expenses and an equal amount as compensation for the mental agony caused. 

Moghe returned to the court for the same matter in 2022 after he did not receive the money. When the shop did not comply with the order, a warrant was issued. The shopkeeper coughed up Rs 2,290 and the case was closed. While Moghe was fighting it out over the Rs 950 raincoat, his car met with an accident on Dec 18, 2020. He got it towed to the workshop and repaired. While the insurance company paid the repair charges, it did not recompense Rs 1,500 for the towing. Moghe was surprised, as he knew the minutiae of claims, being an insurance agent himself. “I have never seen this charge being denied,” he said. It was time for the insurance agent to move the consumer forum for his own claim. “The insurer did not turn up or even furnish a reply,” he said. The forum eventually passed an order in Moghe’s favour recently, granting him Rs 1,500 for the towing charges, Rs 500 for as compensation for the harassment caused and Rs 1,000 for legal expenses.

 “It is not a question of small amounts, but that of merchants or companies taking us for granted. Despite patient representations and asking for only what is due, they seem to ignore us,’’ he said

No requests, no alerts, doc loses ₹70k by UPI transaction

No requests, no alerts, doc loses ₹70k by UPI transaction 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 19.12.2024

Ahmedabad : A seemingly routine message about a small deposit spiralled into a nightmarish ordeal for a 33-year-old doctor from Juhapura when he discovered Rs 70,000 missing from his bank account without a trace. The cyberfraud, executed through UPI, was baffling as the doctor had neither shared his banking details with anyone nor had he received any notification about the deduction. Dr Aasif Syed, who runs a clinic in Fatehwadi, discovered the fraud on Dec 7 when he received a text from his bank about a Rs 1,520 deposit. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that Rs 20,000 was missing from his account. Alarmed, he checked his Google Pay account and found that Rs 70,000 had been transferred without any transaction history or notification. Seeking answers, the 33-year-old resident of Golden Park in Juhapura, approached his bank’s central branch, where the manager informed him that the amount had been sent via UPI at 1.33pm on Dec 6. Shocked, Syed reported that he neither initiated the payment nor received any alerts about it. After contacting the cybercrime helpline, he was directed to the Sarkhej police station, where an FIR was lodged against an unknown accused under sections of the Information Technology Act for unauthorized access, computer related offenses, and identity theft. Investigation is underway to trace the fraudsters.

Recall Annamalai univ VC search committee notification: Guv to TN

Recall Annamalai univ VC search committee notification: Guv to TN

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK 19.12.2024

Chennai : In what could escalate into another governor-govt face-off, Governor R N Ravi directed Tamil Nadu govt to recall the notification constituting a search committee to identify a candidate for the post of vice-chancellor of Annamalai University. The governor said the committee does not include a nominee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) as per the direction of the Supreme Court. A release from Raj Bhavan on Wednesday said the governor, who is also the Annamalai University chancellor, had constituted a search committee to identify a candidate for the post of vicechancellor. This search committee included nominees of the chancellor, the state govt, the university’s syndicate and the UGC chairman as per provisions of the Annamalai University Act and UGC’s 2018 regulations. The SC made this mandatory for constitution of the search committee. 

In a letter dated Oct 25, the governor-chancellor had directed the state govt to notify the constitution of the search committee, consisting of four members with the governor-chancellor’s nominee as the committee’s convener. The higher education department issued a govt order dated Dec 9, notifying the search committee. The notification, however, excluded the UGC chairman’s nominee in violation of the judgments of the SC, said the release. It pointed out the SC had already ruled any appointment of vice-chancellor made on the recommendation of a search committee constituted contrary to the provisions of the UGC regulations shall be “void ab initio” (having no legal effect from inception). “The notification issued by the govt is in difference to the search committee constituted and is void ab initio, contrary to the existing UGC regulations and prevailing orders of SC. The chancellor called upon the TN govt to recall the said notification, and directed to notify the search committee for appointment of the vice-chancellor of Annamalai University as constituted by the chancellor, which includes the UGC chairman’s nominee,” said the release

Soon, you can buy tickets for MTC buses with NCMC

Soon, you can buy tickets for MTC buses with NCMC

 Ram.Sundaram@timesofindia.com 19.12.2024

Chennai : MTC will soon enable passengers to buy tickets for its buses using the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). Payment through NCMC is already functional on handheld electronic ticketing machines (ETMs) provided to conductors. By tapping the card on ETM readers, passengers can pay fares directly from their card balance. NCMCs can be recharged online or at designated counters and offer seamless travel across buses, metros, and other transport modes nationwide. This initiative aligns with Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), which has integrated the ‘Singara Chennai’ card into its ticket vending machines and booking systems. CMRL offers a 20% discount on fares for transactions made through NCMCs, UPI, WhatsApp. However, transportation activist K Anbalagan said that MTC must offer discounts for paperless transactions and conduct extensive advertising to raise awareness about UPI apps. “Most MTC passengers belong to lower-middle-class or economically weaker sections. A large-scale campaign is essential to encourage them to adopt these digital payment methods,” he said. TNN

G.O. on search panel violates SC judgments, says Raj Bhavan

 From Page One

G.O. on search panel violates SC judgments, says Raj Bhavan

The Search Committee includes nominees of the Chancellor, the Tamil Nadu government, Syndicate of the University and the UGC Chairman, in accordance with provisions of the Annamalai University Act and the prevailing regulations of the UGC in 2018, which is held as mandatory by the Supreme Court, the Raj Bhavan said.

Governor’s direction

The Governor-Chancellor had directed the Tamil Nadu government to notify the constitution of the Search Committee of Annamalai University vide letter dated October 25, 2024, consisting of the four members, with the Chancellor’s nominee as the Convener of the Committee, the Raj Bhavan added.

The Supreme Court has already held in the case of Sreejith P.S. Vs. Rajasree M.S. and Others that any appointment as a V-C made on the recommendations of a search committee that is constituted contrary to the provisions of the UGC regulations shall be void ab initio, it pointed out.

The notification issued by the government was in difference to the Search Committee constituted, and is void ab initio.

The Chancellor also called upon the State government to notify the Search Committee for appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University as constituted by the Chancellor, which includes the UGC Chairman’s nominee, the Raj Bhavan said.

Tenant cannot dictate how best a landlord can use a property, says HC

Tenant cannot dictate how best a landlord can use a property, says HC

Abhinav.Garg@timesofindia.com 18.12.2024

New Delhi : A tenant cannot dictate how best a landlord can use his property, the Delhi High Court has said, coming to the rescue of a senior citizen couple seeking eviction of their tenant. Allowing the plea of ​​the landlord, who is mostly bedridden, the court in a recent order, cited Supreme Court rulings to point out that a "tenant cannot dictate the terms of use of a property to a landlord," adding that the " landlord is the best judge of his requirements. It is not for the courts to dictate in what manner and how a landlord should live.” 

It was dealing with a plea filed by a distraught couple seeking eviction of a tenant living in a portion of the premises. The tenancy started in 1989 and continued until 2003, but the tenant continued to stay, arguing that there is enough space in the house for the landlord to accommodate his divorced daughter or his staff. The landlord challenged a rent controller court's decision to decline relief on the ground that enough proof about their medical condition was not provided. Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju disagreed with the decision of the trial court and noted that the "records available also show that the petitioner filed substantial documents in support of its contentions, which included medical documents along with photographs of the condition of the petitioner and his wife, the divorce decree of the daughter of the petitioner as well as her provisional employment certificate."

Appearing for the landlord, advocates Sanjay Katyal and Devika Mohan submitted that the petitioner is 80 years old. and served in the Indian Army from 1966 to 1972 and is a 1971 war veteran. They informed the court that he suffers from various ailments such as Parkinson's, pulmonary fibrosis, among others, which has left him bedridden and dependent on others for his day-to-day. -day activities. They submitted that the wife too is 76 years old and suffering from critical ailments. "This court has also reviewed the photographs which are available on the record, reflecting the condition of the petitioner and his wife, which is pitiful. The photographs also reflect the fact that the senior citizens require round-the-clock care. Clearly, in such a situation, the attendants and medical staff would require to stay within the premises, and thus, this court finds no reason to question the bona fides of the petitioner," the HC observed, giving six months' time to the tenant. to vacate the premises and hand over peaceful possession

NEWS TODAY 16-17.12.2024

 

Student association demands a reduction in cut-off for PG

Student association demands a reduction in cut-off for PG

By HT Correspondent

Dec 17, 2024 07:26 AM IST

IMA's Junior Doctors Network urges Health Minister Nadda to lower NEET-PG 2024 cut-off due to 15,000-16,000 vacant seats post- counselling.

Mumbai: The Indian Medical Association's Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN) wrote to union health minister JP Nadda on Sunday, urging a reduction in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024 cut-off. Student association demands a reduction in cut-off for PG

This demand is coming after the second round of the NEET-PG counseling concluded. As per data by National Medical Commission (NMC), after round 2 counselling, 31,490 candidates were declared qualified for admission and around 15,000-16,000 seats remain vacant. Out of this, 1,500 seats are from Maharashtra.

The letter said, "Despite the extensive efforts by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) and other authorities, a significant number of PG seats remain unfilled across the country." It said that these vacancies translate into an underutilization of valuable resources in the country's healthcare education system and hinder the development of a robust medical workforce. The letter also stated that reducing the cut-off marks will ensure eligible and competent candidates to get a seat, which will thereby strengthen the country's healthcare system. “Reduction in cut-off marks will provide another chance to candidate fostering talent development. Also, this will address the disparity between the growing demand for specialized healthcare services and the availability of qualified professionals,” stated the letter.

In NEET PG's second round, 31,490 candidates were declared as qualified for admission. Last year, in a major relief to PG medical aspirants, the union health ministry directed the NMC to reduce the cut-off for qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2023 to zero across all categories.

Candidate gets 101.66 out of 100 in job test, aspirants protest Indore : 17.12.2024

Candidate gets 101.66 out of 100 in job test, aspirants protest Indore : 17.12.2024

Job aspirants staged a protest in Indore on Monday raising questions over a candidate getting 101.66 marks out of total 100 due to the adoption of "normalisation process" in a Madhya Pradesh government recruitment. . . examination. 

The protesters alleged fraud in the recruitment examination and demanded a fair inquiry. Eyewitnesses said the agitating unemployed youth gathered in front of the district collector's office and handed over a memorandum addressed to chief minister Mohan Yadav to an officer. The memorandum said in the joint recruitment examination 2023 (Van and Jail Recruitment Test 2023) of Forest and Jail departments, a candidate scored 101.66 marks out of a total of 100 and topped the selection list. The result of this examination conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board, headquartered in Bhopal, was declared on December 13. 

After the announcement of the result, the board clarified the "process of normalisation" has been adopted in the recruitment examination as per rules. . , because of which candidates can get more than full marks (100) and less than zero. Normalization is a process for ensuring that students are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by the difficulty of papers they write. The process involves revising the score of a student in a way that it becomes comparable with the score of another. This becomes necessary when an examination in the same subject is held in multiple sessions, each with a different paper. A leader of the protesters, Gopal Prajapat, told reporters, "This is the first time in the state's history that a candidate has scored more than the total marks due to the normalization process adopted in the recruitment exam. We are protesting against the unfair process. . . of normalization and demanding a fair inquiry." PTI