Published Nov 30, 2017, 1:18 am IST

Get back to work, Madras High Court orders nurses

DECCAN CHRONICLE.
Posting to January 2 further hearing of the case the bench said status report relating to the outcome of the negotiation should be filed.



Nurses taking part in the demonstration that was later called off at DMS complex on Wednesday (Photo: DC)

Chennai: Declaring the strike by nurses as illegal, the Madras high court on Wednesday restrained the Tamil Nadu MRB Nurses Empowerment Association and MRB Nurses Welfare Association from taking recourse to strike.

"Strike called by persons who are engaged in providing essential services calls for stern action. We thus deem it appropriate to declare the strike as illegal. We pass an interim order restraining the Tamil Nadu MRB Nurses Empowerment Association and MRB Nurses Welfare Association from taking recourse to strike", said the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M.Sundar.

Passing interim orders on a petition from N.Ganesh of Avadi, the bench made it clear that any member of these two associations refrain from attending to work or performing duty should do so at his/her risk of consequences thereof including termination of their employment and/or penalisation for gross contempt of court.

Once the members of these two associations resume their work, the state health and family welfare department or its representatives shall immediately start and resume negotiations for immediate improvement of the service conditions and in particular enhancement of remuneration paid to the nurses appointed under a scheme, the bench added.

Posting to January 2 further hearing of the case the bench said status report relating to the outcome of the negotiation should be filed. In his petition, Ganesh sought a direction to the members of the Tamil Nadu MRB Nurses Empowerment Association and MRB Nurses Welfare Association and the contract nurses employed with the government hospitals in the state from resorting to any kind of agitations, strike or refusal to work or abstaining from discharging their duty and obligation attached to their employment.

Supreme Court ex-judge for VC search panel 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | A RAGU RAMAN

Published Nov 30, 2017, 1:31 am IST

Governor nominates Justice Sirpurkar as AU’s VC search panel chief.


Supreme Court

Chennai: After dissolving the high profile vice-chancellor search panel of Anna University, the Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has nominated Justice V.S. Sirpurkar, the former judge, Supreme Court of India, as the chairperson of the new VC search panel, according to sources.

Justice Sirpurkar has served as judge of the Madras High Court and later as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. In his four year tenure as a Supreme Court judge, he was part of the bench that rendered several landmark judgments including confirming a death sentence on Pakistani national Mohammed Arif in the Delhi Red Fort attack case in 2000.

The state government has retained its nominee N. Sundaradevan, a retired IAS officer. The syndicate of Anna University has selected IIT Madras professor R. Gnanamoorthy, as its nominee for the new vice-chancellor search panel.

Former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha resigned as the chairman of the search panel following a litigation alleging violations of norms against the appointment of search panel member K. Anantha Padmanabhan. The case was dismissed.

But, after the resignations of both Justice R.M. Lodha and K. Anantha Padmanabhan, the committee was dissolved. “As per the procedure, the new search committee has to call for fresh applications and scrutinize them. Since the committee headed by a former judge of Supreme Court we can expect applications from all over India” a source said.

The premier technical university is functioning without a vice-chancellor for over year and a half following the end of the tenure of Professor M. Rajaram on May 26. The previous Governor CH.Vidyasagar Rao has rejected all the three shortlisted candidates as he was not convinced of their qualifications. After rejecting the names, he formed a new search committee headed by Justice R.M. Lodha.

Bee attack in Madurai forces kin to abandon dead body at burial ground 

PTI

Published Nov 29, 2017, 7:55 pm IST

They were preparing for the burial yesterday when the swarm of bees appeared from nowhere and stung, prompting them to leave the body.

A couple of persons sustained injuries in the incident and were treated at a local hospital (Photo: Pixabay)

Madurai: In a bizzare incident, the body of an 80-year old dead woman was briefly abandoned at a burial ground near here as her relatives ran for cover following a attack by bees.

The kith and kin were preparing for the burial yesterday when the swarm of bees appeared from nowhere and stung, prompting them to leave the body and run for cover, police said.

Police said they suspect smoke emanating from incense sticks brought by the relatives could have 'irritated' the bees that swarmed the place and started attacking the gathering.

A police team from local Thirumangalam station and Fire and Rescue services personnel immediately reached the spot, with the latter using fire torches to drive the insects away.

Later, the deceased was buried, they said. A couple of persons sustained injuries in the incident and were treated at a local hospital, police added.

An inspection of the nearby trees revealed that there were no beehives but it was suspected that the bees could have been possibly hiding in holes in tree trunks, police said.

Maggi trouble in UP again, Rs 62 lakh fine after it fails laboratory test 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | AMITA VERMA

Published Nov 30, 2017, 1:46 am IST

Report confirms presence of ash higher than permissible limit.



Four samples of Maggi Masala, two samples of Maggi Pazzta and a sample of Maggi Atta noodles failed the lab test.

Lucknow: A district court in Shahjahanpur has imposed a fine of Rs 62 lakh on consumer goods giant Nestle and its distributors and sellers after a laboratory report confirmed presence of ash content, higher than the permissible limit, in samples of Maggi noodles.

It may be noted that seven samples were collected and sent for testing at a laboratory in Lucknow in 2015 and the report was received in 2016, following which seven cases were lodged at the additional district magistrate’s court.

Of the total fine, the court has levied Rs 45 lakh on Nestle India, Rs 15 lakh on distributors and Rs 2 lakh each on two sellers.

The court order comes after alleged excessive lead content in Maggi created a major controversy in 2015, and the popular noodles brand was banned for five months in the country.

However, in a statement to a news agency, a Nestle India spokesperson said, “We strongly reiterate that Maggi noodles are 100 per cent safe for consumption. While we have not received the orders passed by the adjudication officer, we have been informed that the samples are of 2015 and the issue pertains to ‘ash content’ in noodles.

This appears to be a case of application of incorrect standards, and we will file an appeal urgently once we receive the order.

In 2015, Nestle India and other companies had represented to the relevant authorities, via industry associations, to set standards specific to instant noodles to avoid confusion amongst enforcement officers and consumers.

The standards have since been introduced and the product complies with these standards. We regret the confusion it may cause to consumers”.

ADM J.K. Sharma, while levying the fines, said that “Ash content in Maggi samples exceeded the prescribed limit of 1 per cent.”

Bag-lifting continues unchecked at Madurai MGR bus terminal

TNN | Nov 30, 2017, 00:31 IST

 

Madurai: What's in a name? So seem to ask the thieves at the city's famous Mattuthavani bus terminal which was rechristened MGR bus stand some months ago. For, there has been no end to the bag lifting menace that continues to haunt passengers frequenting the bus stand with the thieves targeting mostly the laptops being carried by them. Seven cases were registered by Anna Nagar police in connection with laptop thefts at the terminal between April and September.

City corporation sources said that on an average, up to 2.5 lakh passengers and 3,000 buses passed through the bus terminal a day. Although the terminal could boast of CCTV facility, it did not cover all parts. Among those who lost their laptops was the zonal deputy tahsildar of Ottapidaram in Tuticorin district. Police said he was travelling on a government bus bound for Tirunelveli on May 29 when an yet-to-be-identified thief entered and made away with the bag kept on the luggage wrack. Similarly, many employees working in private firms including software professionals have lost their laptops to the thieves.

This government teacher spends own money for students' welfare

Nov 29, 2017, 14:21 IST



Jayakumar, a government school teacher from Bodinayakkanpatti, has been spending Rs 30,000 from his monthly salary for the development of students.

After the completion of school he helps them in getting admission to ITI, so that they can have a good future. He also helps students who are interested in higher education.

He has built a hostel for scheduled caste students. Almost 45 students are staying in the hostel including 10 girls.

Jayakumar never asks for help. He and his wife Catherine Lima, who is also a teacher, mostly spend their own money. Sometime their friends and other college principals also help them in supporting students.

Latest Comment   Hats off Jayakumar Ji! We salute you for having taken interest on students and developing their skill for a better future. It is because of good deeds like these we do get some rain and our farmers ... Read MoreGopalarathnam Krishna Prasad

Till now he had given life to 460 government school students. He was awarded best teacher by the Tamil Nadu government in 2010 for his services. He was also awarded by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Rajinikanth will announce his political entry in January, actor’s brother says

V Senthil Kumaran | TNN | Updated: Nov 29, 2017, 22:52 IST

Highlights

Rajinikanth will organise a photo shoot with his fans in Chennai in January where he will announce his political entry, actor’s brother says

Rajinikanth will do only good things for the people in the country if he comes to politics, the brother says



DHARMAPURI: Actor Rajinikanth's elder brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad said on Wednesday that the Tamil superstar would announce his political entry and his party in January.

Gaekwad was in Dharmapuri to participate in the wedding of Rajinikanth fan club district secretary Gandhi's son.

  He told reporters that Rajinikanth would organise a photo shoot with his fans in Chennai in January. "At that time, he will make the announcement about his political entry and his party," he said.

  He said Rajinikanth would not make the announcement on his birthday on December 12. There were speculations that the superstar would announce his political entry on his birthday.



Top Comment  Which January?Pampanan Thulasimani

Actor Rajinikanth's elder brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad (TOI photo by A M Shudhagar)

Gaekwad said, "Everyone in the country loves Rajnikanth. He will do only good things for the people if he comes to politics."