‘No provision in law to ban use of mobiles while driving’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi: 17.05.2018

Using mobile phone while driving cannot be said to cause danger to public or to affect public safety as there is no legal provision that bars the use of a phone while driving, the Kerala high court has held.

The ruling was given by a division bench comprising justices AM Shaffique and P Somarajan while answering a reference made by a single bench regarding the applicability of section 118(e) of Kerala Police Act.

As per prosecution, the petitioner, one Santhosh M J, was found talking on a mobile phone at 5.45pm on April 26 last year while driving on a public road. The single bench was of the view that using a mobile phone while driving will constitute an offence under Section 118(e). The matter was referred to a division bench as there were judgments to the contrary by other single benches, including a 2012 judgment (Abdul Latheef vs. State of Kerala) by justice SS Satheesachandran.

In the 2012 judgment, it was held by justice Satheesachandran that Section 118(e) cannot be invoked for talking on mobile phone while driving as there was no statutory provision to the effect that such use would amount to a dangerous act to the public. Even if using mobile phone while driving would amount to driving dangerously, it was covered by Section 184 (driving dangerously) of Motor Vehicles Act, the court had held.

An offence under Section 118(e) is punishable with imprisonment up to three years or with fine up to ₹10,000 or with both. Section 184 is punishable with imprisonment up to six months or with fine up to ₹1,000.

After considering the contradictory judgments by the single bench, the division bench said: “In the case on hand, unless the ‘act’ of accused causes danger to public or failure in public safety, the penal provision under Section118 (e) will not be attracted. The ‘act’ contemplated by the prosecution is use of a mobile phone while driving a vehicle and thereafter assuming that it may cause danger to public or failure in public safety. In the absence of any statutory provision, which prevents use of a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle, it may not be possible to infer that danger will be caused in the process.” 


BREAKING RULES

Now, charge your mobile while resting under this ‘smart tree’

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Coimbatore: 17.05.2018

The city will soon get a ‘smart tree’ under which people can not only rest but also enjoy WiFi and charging facilities.

The ‘tree’, to be set up at the entrace to the VOC Park at an estimated ₹12 lakh, will have a trunk filled with heavy metal and covered with fibre, while the leaves, of zinc, will be painted in gold.

A solar panel on top of the tree will generate power and stored in a battery. There will be charging points for mobile phones and laptops. The panel will generate around 1,500 watts of power every day.

The entire facility, sprawling across 600 sq ft, will have five benches. “At least 30 people will be able to sit there and use the WiFi,” said R Maha Prabhu of J C Media entertainment, the company that has been tasked by the city corporation with setting up the tree. The entire area will be lit up at night to provide it an aesthetic look.

Activists and others said such a facility was a long-felt need, given the changing times and also because the existing smart bench was not being used by members of the public. “People do not even use it. There is a basic design flaw in that it does not provide any shade,” said an activist.

R Satishkumar, another partner in the same company, said that the city corporation had first wanted to change the design of the smart bench.

“The idea was a smart tree and we decided to make it even look like a tree,” he said. The company worked a lot with directors and others associated with the film industry, said Satishkumar. “So, we used a lot of help from art directors and have designed this. We have focused a lot on the aesthetics as well,” he said.

The tree will be set up by Monday, said corporation officials. “It is a pilot project and based on the response from the residents and others, we plan to set up at least another 30 such ‘smart trees’ across the city. The design and space will change as per the location and requirement. But the idea will remain the same,” said a corporation engineer.

Corporation officials said that there were several smart benches across the world. “Various designs are available. But a tree design is a first of its kind,” said an official. 


GREEN AND SMART: An artist’s impression of the ‘smart tree’ which is to be set up at VOC Park in Coimbatore

Probe in TNPSC scam picks up pace 
 
Main Suspect Granted Bail By City Court

K Sureshkumar & A Selvaraj TNN

Chennai: 17.05.2018

The Central Crime Branch probeintotheTNPSC Group-I officers recruitment scam picked up steam even as a city sessions court granted anticipatory bail to promoter of a coaching institute that accountedfor 62of 74Group-1 officers selected more than a year ago.

The XV additional sessions judge (vacation judge), S Purushothaman, granted anticipatory bail to Apollo Study Centre’s Sam Rajeswaran, but directed him not to leave the country without the court’s permission.

The CCB had said, in response to the remand plea of TNPSC section officer Kasi Ram Kumar, that 62 of 74 officers selected after the 2016 examination were from Apollo.

Most of the recruited officersdid notjoin duty after the scam hit the headlines and prompted the Madras high court to bar their postings till the conclusion of the case.

The CCB has stepped up the pace of the investigation by nominating SP-rank officer Shyamala Devi to lead the probe. Investigators, who suspect that middlemen question paper drafters, evaluators, TNPSC officials and others received ₹1 crore per candidate, have arrested four people,including Kasi, in connection with the scam.

The city police cybercrime wing initially investigatedthecasebeforetheforgery wing of the CCB took over.

On Wednesday, the prosecution lodged a “strong objection” against Rajeswaran’s anticipatory bail plea, arguing that the high court had already given the go-ahead to the CCB to the probe the case. The investigation was proceeding in the right manner,the prosecution said.

Additional sessions judge Purushothaman,however, allowed the bail application concurring with the submission of Rajeswaran’s counsel that the CCB had not recovered any document againstthe petitioner, even after the arrestof four TNPSCsection officers. He granted Rajeswaran anticipatory bail on the condition that appear before the investigating officer every Monday for eight weeks.

The CCB’s remand application of April 26, seeking judicial custody of Kasi, stated that Kasi confessed to the offences and admitted to conspiracy with Rajeswaran. The application said the CCB arrested Kasi based on evidence seized in a raid on Apollo Study Centre on January 28.

Information that investigators gathered through the seizure from the study centre of various documents, phone numbers and model question papers revealed a clear picture of the crime and its modus operandi,including illegalfavours that section officer Kasi performed for gain on behalf of Rajeswaran, the remand memo said. 

Tamil Nadu to start counselling for MBBS, BDS in June 3rd week

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 17.05.2018

Counselling for MBBS and BDS admissions in the state will start in the third week of June, after the Directorate General of Health Services completes its online admission process, health minister C Vijayabaskar said on Wednesday.

Central Board of Secondary Education, which conducted NEET-2018 on May 6, is yet to release answer keys or announce the results date.

The government declared the state board Class XII results on Wednesday, but most medical aspirants are awaiting their scores in NEET, which has since 2017 been the sole criterion for medical and dental admissions. More than 13 lakh candidates, including 7 lakh girls, appeared for the exam countrywide.

“The results are likely to be out in the first week of June,” the minister said. “The Centre will then hold two rounds of counselling for the 15% all India quota in the state. If everything goes right, we will be able to start counselling by June 25.”

The state selection committee at the Directorate of Medical Education will by May-end issue prospectus and application forms for admission to state run medical colleges, ESIC, Annamalai University and state quota seats in self-financing medical colleges affiliated to the state university.

“We have asked self-financing colleges to surrender seats for the state quota,” director of medical education Dr Edwin Joe said. “Some colleges are still awaiting permission for admissions from the MCI.”

The state will release the rank list three to four days ahead of the counselling.

B.Com top draw, demand for science courses up too

Ram Sundaram & Aarthi Krishnan 17.05.2018

The lure of a career in the corporate sector remains high and BCom courses continue to be the most sought after in colleges in Chennai, but the fact that demand for basic science courses has also gained momentum is clear: Many reputed institutions were by Wednesday running out of applications.

On Wednesday, soon after the Class XII board exam results were out, long queues were spotted outside most colleges despite the entire admissions process being made online. Almost every college has set up a temporary guidance cell, offering advice to students and their parents on selecting courses as well as on the scope for employment and higher studies in the various courses.

When TOI correspondents posing as students approached the guidance cells, staff manning them said that only those with scores of 90% or more above stood a chance of securing a BCom seat.

On the continued high demand for B Com, Dr C R Ravi, former principal of a government aided college, said, “It has become a time-tested course and students believe that they have some future in banking, financing and accounting by opting for this.”

The demand for basic science courses has also shot up with many probably believing that engineering may not take them far and that they have better options if they pursue post graduation courses or undertake a PhD after a basic science course like BSc (physics) or BSc (chemistry).

N Shettu, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers said there was a popular misconception that taking up a CA (Chartered Accountant) course gets easy after BCom.

“This is not true as anyone can take up CA after completing a UG course. As far as life sciences are concerned, BSc (zoology) and BSc (botany) are getting more attention of late. Many of these students have excelled in researches with the help of increased exposure attained through these courses,” Shettu said. 

Hearing impaired girl scores high in boards, sports & dance

Gayatri Vasudevan 17.05.2018

Talented in sports and dance and simultaneously excelling in academics, Maheswari S, student of MGR Janaki School for the Deaf, Ramapuram, is over the moon having secured 800/1000 in her boards.

It’s been a tough road for Maheswari, whose mother and younger brother also suffer from a hearing impairment. But, says Maheswari, the impairment which resulted in her inability to speak, didn’t stop her from realising her dreams.

Maheswari says her day would begin at 4 am and she would continue to study till late into the night. She would commute from Kattankulathur, where she lived to her school in Ramapuram, which was more than an hour-and-ahalf away, as the school was equipped with hearing aids. “With extra training in auditory and sign language, daily lessons were taught,” says Maheswari, who hopes to pursue BCom in MGR Janaki College. “She works hard, and has told me she hopes to get a job in a bank,” says her father S Subramaniam, who works for daily wages at a cycle shop.

Dr Latha Rajendran, secretary and principal of MGR Janaki School, said Maheswari was a very determined student. “She hopes to become the breadwinner in her family,” she said.

She lost her eyes but not her vision

Vinayashree.J@timesgroup.com 17.05.2018

Mahalakshmi was just two months old when she lost sight in one eye and by her second birthday she had gone blind.

But 16 years later, the Class XII student proved that she did not let the impairment come in way of her success by securing 93% (1125/1200), the highest for her school Little Flower Convent for the Blind in T Nagar. Mahalakshmi said she was sponsored by the institution as her father — a truck driver — and her mother, who works in a college mess, could not make ends meet. The girl has also made a mark in her school by being the only student to secure full score of 200 in economics ever since the school was started.

On Wednesday, after the results were declared, Mahalakshmi’s mother and teachers stood beaming beside her. “She’s very ambitious. I also encourage her to pursue civil services as she has a mindset to do good for others,” said Caroline, her economics teacher.

The school had more than one reason to celebrate as there were many other high scorers. Mahalakshmi’s friend Indhrani scored 1,106. “We were constantly competing. I scored higher in the revision tests but she ended up beating me in the finals.” Like her friend, Indhrani too is keen on bringing about a change.

“There are too many restrictions especially when it comes to caste. Also there are child marriages – we were 16 girls in my class when I started out and today only three remain unmarried. I want to bring about changes in the district,” she said.

But it’s not only about academics for these two. While both the girls enjoy reading books, Mahalakshmi also plays chess and is a long-jumper. Indrani kicks back with some ‘kuthu’ songs in her leisure time. 


Mahalakshmi (left) and Indhrani