Chennai: Rs 2.61 crore compensation for kin of mishap victims 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | P ARUL

Published Nov 24, 2017, 1:30 am IST

The mishap took place when he was returning from Singapore and proceeding to his native village in Cuddalore district in 2012.


Counsel for the petitioners M.K. Vijayarajan contended that the family members depended on the income of the deceased.

Chennai: The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, Chennai has ordered a whooping compensation of Rs 2.61 crore to women family members of a 47-year of old Singapore-based electrical officer, who was crushed to death along with his wife, in a road accident five years ago.

The mishap took place when he was returning from Singapore and proceeding to his native village in Cuddalore district in 2012.

In the petition, A Semmalar, 28, of Poochimdu village, Cuddalore, submitted that her father D. Arul Oli was working as an electrical officer, NYK Ship Management Private Ltd, Singapore.

He was earning $4910 (approximately Rs 2.70 lakh) per month. Her mother A. Vasuki, 38, was working as a tailor and earning Rs 15,000 per month.

On January 6, 2012, he was returning to the native village from Singapore. After reaching Chennai airport he was proceeding to Cuddalore along with his wife in a Qualis van at 6.15 a.m. A container lorry was driven by its driver in a rash and negligent manner on national highway-45. The driver parked the vehicle in a no-parking zone near Acharapakkam toll plaza.

The van rammed into the container lorry. She said “my parents sustained fatal injuries on their head, abdomen and all over their bodies. They died on the spot instantly”. Acharapakkam police registered a case. One petition was filed by Semmalar and D. Kasiammal, mother of Arul Oli, and another petition by Semmalar and A. Muniammal, mother of Vasuki, seeking a compensation of Rs 3.10 crore.

Counsel for the petitioners M.K. Vijayarajan contended that the family members depended on the income of the deceased. The accident was caused solely due to the negligence of the container lorry driver, V. Anantharaman of Sendur, Tindinvanam taluk. Hence, the owner of the vehicle and United India Insurance Company the insurer of the container lorry, liable to pay a compensation to the petitioners. Small Causes Court, chief judge, V. Sivagnanam, has directed the United India Insurance Company to pay a compensation of Rs 2.61 crore along with an interest of 7.5 percent per annum from November 28, 2012, to the petitioners. Of the total compensation – Rs 2.50 crore would be paid to Semmalar, Rs 10 lakh to Kasiammal, Rs 1.38 lakh to Muniammal.

Sathyabama University declares holiday till January 2 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Nov 24, 2017, 1:39 am IST

A spokesperson for the college told that the declared semester holidays were from December 2 till January 3.

Family members of the deceased Sathyabama University student at Government Royapettah Hospital on Thursday. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: Following the unrest on Wednesday wherein students of Sathyabama University indulged in arson after a first year student committed suicide, the college management has declared holiday until January 2.

A spokesperson for the college told that the declared semester holidays were from December 2 till January 3 and they have advanced the holidays by a week.

The students were asked to vacate the hostel on Thursday. “The remaining exams would be conducted in January,” the spokesperson said.

A first year student, Raga Monika Reddy (18) committed suicide in her hostel room allegedly after a college staff humiliated her. She was earlier caught indulging in malpractice during the semester examinations. A dejected Raga Monika sent a text to her twin brother, Rakesh who was also a student in the same department as her and hung herself.

After learning of her death, college students went on a rampage damaging hostel property and set it on fire. A posse of police personnel had to be deployed at the university to prevent any untoward incident. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the teenager’s family members reached the city and received the body after autopsy at the Government Royapettah Hospital. The girl’s father, Raja Reddy, filed a complaint against the college management with the Semmenchery police. Police said that no students have been booked so far for the arson.

Guntur: Staffer alleges graft on video, ends life 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Nov 24, 2017, 7:05 am IST

The body was brought to the Government General Hospital here for autopsy.



N. Ravikumar consumed pesticide on November 17 at his house in Ankammanagar in Guntur. Guntur: A 12-minute selfie video made by a Dalit employee of the medical and health department, alleging harassment and demand for bribes before attempting suicide on November 17 went viral after his death on Thursday. N. Ravikumar died at the NRI Hospital here. The body was brought to the Government General Hospital here for autopsy, where his relatives and Dalit leaders staged a protest alleging that his death was the result of harassment of officials. Ravikumar used to work as a junior assistant in the primary health care centre at Ponnur of Guntur district. He consumed pesticide on November 17 at his house in Ankammanagar in Guntur.

In the video, he alleged that he had joined as an attender and was promoted as lower division clerk in 2015. He alleged that officials demanded `1 lakh to give him a posting at Guntur but he could pay Rs 70,000. He said that he had applied for the promotion list and transfers under the RTI Act, and officials started issuing him memos alleging that he was absent from duty. He alleged that DMHO office incharge A.O. Ratna Raju, health educator Bhanu Murthy, supervisor Mallikharjuna Rao and senior assistant Prasad harassed him. He said he was unable to bear their harassment, and took his life.

After he consumed pesticide, his family members shifted him to GGH on November 18. He was shifted then to the NRI General Hospital at Mangalagiri.

After learning of this, his relatives, Dalit leaders and activists rushed to the GGH and staged a dharna on the main road. Ravikumar’s wife Pushpalatha alleged that he had lodged a complaint against the officials sevens month ago with the Nagarampalem police station but there was no response. Dalit leaders alleged that the police was trying to save the officials who harassed Ravikumar and demanded their arrest based on the selfie video.

Police led by deputy superintendent of police K.G.V. Saritha rushed to the spot and assured protesters about stern action against the officials and registering of a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act. Following this, the protest was called off. Nagarampalem sub-inspector Kiran Babu said that the police collected the selfie video and registered a case based on the complaint of Ravikumar’s wife Pushpalatha and started investigation.

DMHO Dr J. Yasmin stated that an inquiry committee had been appointed with additional DMHO and the report would be submitted to senior officials. She said that she was conducting an inquiry about the allegations. She said that all benefits would be provided to Ravikumar’s family according to the rules on the orders of higher authorities.

‘Bharathiar University staff using its buses for personal needs’

tnn | Nov 23, 2017, 10:26 IST



COIMBATORE: A petition from students of Bharathiar University on Wednesday alleges that staff members of the university are using its buses for personal use. Vice-chancellor of the university A Ganapathi confirmed that one such incident came to his notice on Wednesday and that the university will initiate an inquiry against those responsible.

Ganapathi said, "While we have not received any complaint so far, we have been asked by media persons about the issue. It is not right to allow use of university buses for personal use and we will hold an enquiry into this matter at the earliest. Action will be taken accordingly."

Operation of university buses is managed by the public relations officer's office, he said.

According to the petition, a section officer of the varsity S Selvaraju used the university's bus with the registration number TN 38 BC 1146 to ferry people to the ear-piercing ceremony of his granddaughter at Karamadai on November 8.

The petition provides three pictures showing members of Selvaraju's family and friends commuting on the bus on November 8.

The students also alleged that many times the university buses are not operational and they are forced to use public transport. However, the university officials denied these claims.

Besides, the students said there were irregularities in the operation of varsity buses. "The first 10 rows of each bus are allocated for teachers and staff members." They alleged that each staff member occupies a seat and do not allow students to sit next to them if the seats behind the 10 rows are filled.

Top CommentIt is suggested that the students should submit a petition before The Secretary to Govt., Department of Higher Education, Govt of Tamil Nadu Chennai and His Excellency of Governor of Tamil Nadu ..The... Read MoreRavi Sankar

The students alleged that many buses of the varsity do not have the required permission from the regional transport department.

University officials denied these allegations and said, "Our buses have all the necessary permissions and documents and are operated as per the regulations prescribed by the transport department."

Kanyakumari collector warns of action against those spreading Tsunami rumours 

M K Ananth | tnn | Nov 23, 2017, 08:56 IST



KANYAKUMARI: Warning people spreading panic by sending fake messages on social media that Tsunami will hit the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari collector Sajjan Singh R Chavan has said that the culprits would be severely dealt with under Section 54 of the Disaster Managaement Act, 2005.

The need for the warning and reassurance to the people from the collector was necessitated as panic is spreading in several coastal districts across the state due to videos warning that major parts of coastal areas will be completely washed away in a Tsunami triggered by a major earthquake before December 31, this year.

There are at least a dozen such videos in YouTube that warn of Tsunami in various countries before December 31, of which six of them are Tamil Nadu centric. One of them is a video of a Thiruvananthapuram-based man who is claimed to have predicted the Tsunami in 2004 and other major incidents over the last two decades, using 'extrasensory perception' (ESP).

These videos and messages were viewed by a few lakh people and shared on Facebook and WhatsApp over the last two months. They have been going viral in the last two weeks as videos and messages in Tamil and English. This has also become a highly debated topic in social media.

Chavan said that such messages on social media are not authentic. He said that Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre For Ocean Information Services is the authentic body that is studying earthquakes in the sea round-the-clock and analysing them scientifically.

"To confirm such 'warning', it is passed on as an emergency messages to the disaster management emergency centres of the Union and state governments. It is then passed on to the public immediately and preventive measures are carried out. No such information has been received till now. So those spreading rumours on such serious issues will be imprisoned for a year or pay a fine," he said.

The collector also asked people not to panic upon reading such unauthenticated messages and not to share them.

Fisherman Prasanth of Kuthenkuly fishing hamlet in Tirunelveli district said that he got the video on WhatsApp few days ago and this has worried him and fellow fishermen. "We are yet to recover from the Tsunami that struck our coasts on December 26, 2004. And, the latest message warning of a worse Tsunami that would destroy coastal areas is worrying," the 23-year-old told TOI.

President of the International Fishermen Development Trust (INFIDENT) Justin Antony said that there is no proof for the messages that are spread on social media. "Such rumours are new as they were not spread for nearly 13 years since Tsunami hit this region in 2004," he said.

Case against retired government official for locking mother at home

TNN | Nov 23, 2017, 10:04 IST



SIVAGANGA: Police have registered a case against a retired revenue inspector for leaving his octogenarian mother locked in his home at Karaikudi in Sivaganga district.

Police said Sadguru, 80, had been living with her son, K Rajendran of Prabu Nagar, after the demise of her husband, Kathiresan, few years ago. She was unable to walk, police said.

Around 10 days ago, Rajendran went to Bengaluru with his family, after locking his mother in a room near the front portion of his house. He had kept some food and a few bottles of mineral water near her bed.

Neighbours heard her feeble cries on Tuesday morning. They found the house locked and alerted the Karaikudi North police.

The Karaikudi North police were informed who rushed to the spot and broke the open front door. They found the old woman sitting on the floor in a hapless position. She seemed to be emaciated. Some stale food and a few bottles of water were found near her.

Sub-inspector Parthiban informed the woman's daughter, Muthulakshmi, who is living in the same area.

When Muthulakshmi came there, Sadguru told her daughter that she had not been able to eat food.

Muthulakshmi alleged that her brother had ill-treated their mother and that he had done so with an eye on her property and took her mother home.

Police registered a case against Rajendran under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

Kuwaiti varsities to train MKU faculty

TNN | Updated: Nov 24, 2017, 00:33 IST

 

Madurai:Faculty from two Kuwaiti universities would be visiting Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) to teach professors on the nuances of preparing the university to achieve world ranking. This was agreed upon at a recent visit of vice-chancellor P P Chellathurai to Kuwait.

Speaking to mediapersons on Thursday, Chellathurai said that he visited Kuwait University and Gulf University for Science and Technology, two of the top ranked universities in the world. In order to prepare MKU to focus on world ranking, he had requested some of their faculty to visit MKU, he said.

He also said that Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC) at MKU has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC) in New Delhi, which is the nodal agency between University Grants Commission (UGC) and EMRCs. They produce educational television programmes and e-contents on various subjects.

As the result of the MoU, EMRC at MKU will establish a 'digital lounge' that it is free of cost to learners, distraction free, no requirement of internet connection, downloadable contents and the entire UG and PG curriculum in digital mode. EMRC will provide the contents to affiliated colleges for establishing similar digital lounges in their campus.

The colleges have to pay a nominal membership fee, which will be shared between the university and CEC, he said.

Pursuing the digital initiatives of the country, MKU has offered two massive open online courses (MOOC) in sociology, namely glimpses of Indian Social Legislation and Social Welfare and Population studies.

As many as 171 and 241 learners from across the country have been enrolled respectively and certificates will be issued soon, Chellathurai said. Seven more MOOCs will be uploaded soon. The EMRC at MKU has produced e-content materials for UG curriculum on specialised subjects as well, he added.