Now, tap this app to book a zoo ticket 
 
17.04.2018  Times of india 

Chennai: Visitors to the zoo hereafter can use an app designed to help them book tickets, among a host of other things, in a jiffy.

Ticket booking, virtual zoo map, information of the animals exhibited in the zoo, 4 dimensional view of animals are some of the features in the app.

An official release said the zoo map is an interactive map, which will act as a virtual tour guide. It will show the directions and also the distance the visitor has to walk to reach a particular enclosure, where a specific animal is housed.

Animal info has the details of all the exhibits, which have been categorized into three – birds, mammals and reptiles. Apart from this a voice based explanation of each animal is also added.

At present the app can be downloaded only on the Android platform. It can be downloaded from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aazpor search for Vandalur zoo in Google Play Store.

TNN

Math Olympiad: HC relief for boy without passport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 
 
17.04.2018

Chennai : The Madras high court has clarified that Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) cannot restrain candidates without Indian passport from participating in the selection to represent India in the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Justice S Vaidyanathan made the observation while allowing a plea moved by Raghuram, a school student seeking direction to HBCSE to add his name to the list of candidates to attend the camp scheduled from April 18 to May 16 to select candidates from India for the Olympiad.

According to the petitioner, he was born in London on March 14, 2003, and held an Indian Passport at birth. In 2009, he acquired a British passport and obtained an Overseas Citizen of India Card on May 19, 2010.

Subsequently, his parents moved to India and have been in the country since 2010. Raghuram was also admitted to an Indian school.

On March 1, National Board of Higher Mathematics sent a communication to the petitioner stating that he had been selected in the International Mathematical Olympiad-2018 as an INMO-2018 awardee.

The communication further stated that he was invited for a 4 weeks long camp to be conducted by HBCSE and that based on the performance through various tests in the camp, a team of 6 members will be chosen to represent India in IMO 2018.

It also had a condition that the student must hold an Indian passport. Therefore, the boy’s mother sent a communication stating that he holds a British passport and OCI card. In response, HBCSE sent a communication that the boy cannot attend the camp since the government policy does not allow it.

Assailing the decision the boy has moved the high court.

HC gives nod to put ailing temple elephant to sleep

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com 17.04.2018

Chennai : The Madras high court has given its nod for the mercy killing of an ailing elephant of Arulmigu Sugavaneswarar Temple in Salem, if veterinarians certify it cannot be cured. The court has given authorities 48 hours to complete the process.

“The veterinary officer incharge of the area where the elephant, Rajeshwari, is being treated may examine her and if the veterinary officer certifies the physical condition of Rajeshwari is such that it would be cruel to keep her alive, she should immediately be administered euthanasia. The examination shall positively be conducted at the earliest, preferably within 48 hours.

“Needless to mention that euthanasia shall be performed as per the rules, regulations and guidelines with regard to performance of euthanasia,” the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose said. The order was on a plea by S Muralidharan of Chennai seeking a direction to authorities concerned to euthanise the elephant, which had been subjected to “terrible treatment” without any improvement.

Euthanasia needed to relieve agony: Bench

Advocate Chockalingam, appearing for the petitioner, said several veterinarians, including from the forest department, tried to save Rajeshwari who. while being lifted with an earthmover in a bid to make her stand, broke her tushes and limbs.

“The elephant is in agony and on humanitarian grounds, it should be euthanised,” he added, pointing to provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 which allows destruction of an animal when its ailment cannot be cured.

The advocate also brought to the court’s notice a November 25, 2013 Animal Welfare Board of India circular which said euthanasia was a humane method of alleviating animal suffering in cases of incurable disease or injury or debility.

Noting that a letter from the forest veterinary officer to the principal chief conservator of forests showed steps taken to treat Rajeshwari were not successful, the petitioner said, “The prognosis, as per the letter was ‘guarded to grave’, which means intensive treatment and care till her death.”

Recording the submissions, the bench said the report made it clear the elephant was in agony with little or no chance of recovery and that it seemed euthanasia should be performed so that it was relieved from prolonged agony.

Can States Provide For Reservation For In-Service Candidates For PG Medical Courses? ; SC Constitution Bench To Examine [Read Order] | Live Law

Can States Provide For Reservation For In-Service Candidates For PG Medical Courses? ; SC Constitution Bench To Examine [Read Order] | Live Law: Can state make reservation in favour of the in-service candidates for Post Graduate medical courses?, the Supreme Court has reopened this question as it has referred the matter to Constitution bench. Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association and others had filed a writ petition before the Apex Court challenging Regulation 9(4) and (8) of the Post …

College fined, told to return certificates to dropout

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | A ARUL PALANI

 

Published Apr 16, 2018, 6:12 am IST

 

The Forum also directed the college to return her original certificates to her in six weeks.

 In its reply, the management of the college replied that his daughter could not continue due to family circumstances.

 

Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North) slapped a fine of Rs 55,000 on a dental college for not returning original certificates to a student who discontinued the BDS course in 2011. The Forum also directed the college to return her original certificates to her in six weeks.

In the petition, M. Sundaravadanam of Pudupet submitted that his daughter S. Thirupurasundari was admitted in BDS course in July 2010 under the management quota at Priyadarshini Dental College and Hospital, Aminjikarai. While she was pursuing the second year she became ill. Due to her physical and mental ailments, she was unable to continue the course from August 2011.

 He said he paid fees of Rs 1,80,000 for the first academic year 2010-2011 in September 2010 and Rs 1,82,000 in December 2011 for the second academic year. In January 2013, he sent a request to the college seeking original certificates along with the transfer certificate of his daughter. He sent reminders on several occasions. The management of the college replied stating that unless the pending tuition fees of Rs 2 lakh for the year 2012 - 2013 was remitted, the original certificates would not be returned. 

 Dejected over this, he approached various government authorities to instruct the college to return the certificates. As there was no response from the college management, he filed the petition. He sought direction to the college management to return the original mark certificates of 10th standard, 12th standard, community certificate and transfer certificate. He also sought a compensation for causing him mental agony.

In its reply, the management of the college replied that his daughter could not continue due to family circumstances. She was unable to cope with the curriculum and voluntarily left the course. The admission of the total number of students for the particular year was fixed at 100 by the authorities and any discontinuation in the middle of the course cannot be filled up and the vacancy will continue for the remaining period causing monetary loss to the institution. Stating that the college had not committed deficiency in service, the management sought to dismiss the complaint with cost.
The bench comprising President K. Jayabalan and member M. Uyirroli Kannan said that the institution must be blamed for giving admission to her without testing the merit of the student. Under the circumstances, the management cannot hold her certificates for the payment of balance fees. Hence, we hold that the college committed deficiency in service in not returning the certificate demanded by the complainant, the bench said.

Imposing a fine of Rs 55,000 on the college management, the bench directed the college to return her original certificates, 10th Mark Sheet, 12th Mark Sheet, Transfer Certificate and Community Certificate in 6 weeks.

9-year delay in subway irks Chromepet commuters 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | K V NAVYA
 
Published Apr 16, 2018, 6:42 am IST

With no clear way forward, another subway has been planned at the level-crossing opposite to Vaishnava College.

Railways went ahead with the construction works soon after they received their share of Rs 4 crore.

Chennai: Delay in construction of the Chromepet subway for more than nine years has worsened traffic congestion in the neighbourhood and has made the stretch more prone to trains running over people crossing the tracks.

The state highways department in 2009 announced that a subway connecting east Chromepet with Grand Southern Trunk (GST) road, would be constructed, in association with the Southern Railway, near Radha Nagar.

A total of Rs 14 crore was released towards this facility aimed at helping residents, particularly office-goers and college students, from Radha Nagar, Nemilichery, Barathipuram and Jameen Royapettah.

Railways went ahead with the construction works soon after they received their share of Rs 4 crore. Concrete box culverts were created so that the highways and the state public works department could go ahead with their works.

However, till date no progress has been reported. Consequently, commuters are forced to wait for longer hours at the railway gate connecting the locals with GST Road.

This stretch gets clogged due to traffic congestion during the peak hours. Some impatient commuters sneak through the closed railway gate and trespass on to the tracks.

When questioned about the delay, a senior official from the state highways department said that the project was hit due to land acquisition issues and other government agencies associated with the construction were not ready to hand over the required land citing expansion plans.

“It is practically impossible to construct a vehicle subway with the available land and only a narrow pedestrian subway can be set up,” the official added. The residents are up in arms against the talk of setting up a pedestrian subway as it would not serve the intended purpose although a more serious concern here is the increase in number of run-over accidents.

With no clear way forward, another subway has been planned at the level-crossing opposite to Vaishnava College. However, it would at least another three to four years for this project to materialise and till then Chromepet residents will have to bear the brunt of traffic jams and fatal accidents on the railway tracks.

Prostitution angle in clip puts Madurai Kamaraj University in trouble

By Express News Service | Published: 16th April 2018 06:20 AM |


Madurai Kamaraj University

MADURAI/VIRUDHUNAGAR: As an audio clip purportedly of an Aruppukottai private college professor allegedly attempting to lure a group of female students into prostitution went viral, P P Chellathurai, the Vice-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University, to which the college is affiliated, on Sunday said that the issue was an attempt to malign the reputation of the varsity and its officials. Meanwhile, the college claims that the woman has been under suspension since March 21. In the 19-minute clip now being shared on social media and WhatsApp, a woman identifying herself as a professor is heard telling a group of four women, alleged to be students, “I was approached with this ‘offer’ a while ago, but now I am being rushed into getting it done.

I am telling you about this offer based on the assurances given by the higher officials of MKU on the financial as well as academic support until you complete your fellowships.” Throughout the conversation the nature of the ‘offer’ is not made explicit but it has been alleged to involve prostitution. Devanga Arts College, Aruppukottai in Virudhinagar district has said that the woman is an assistant professor there but had been suspended after the issue first came to light in March. The college, said that the woman was an assistant professor there but was under suspension.

“The issue was brought to our notice by the four students on March 19 following which an inquiry committee was formed. Based on the initial inquiry, the woman has been suspended since March 21. Further inquiry will be held after the ongoing semester examinations,” college secretary R Ramasamy said. In the audio clip, the woman goes on to say that if case the students took up the ‘offer’, bank accounts could be opened and money could be transferred and that she did not want to discuss the topic until they completed their course.

The girls decline ‘offer’ stating that they did not intend to pursue postgraduate studies and that they would like to take up government jobs. In response, the woman says, “Even the post of a Vice Chancellor is obtained through political influence and you will be able to get through any government examination with ease upon agreeing to this.” Towards the end of the audio clip, the woman, who asks the girls to keep the conversation confidential, is heard giving them a deadline for their positive reply, despite them repeatedly declining the ‘offer’.

Attempts by Express to reach the woman for a response proved futile. Speaking to Tamil TV channels, the woman said that while it was her voice in the audio clip, the conversation was being misconstrued. Meanwhile, Chellathurai told Express that he saw the issue as an attempt to malign the reputation of the university. “This comes in the backdrop of the university constituting an inquiry committee at the level of syndicate sub-committee last month based on the complaints against the college management over misappropriation of UGC funds. The university will lodge a complaint against the college with the SP,” he added.