Government moves SC against extension for Pon Manickavel

TNN | Dec 5, 2018, 05.42 AM IST

CHENNAI: Four days after the Madras high court quashed a Tamil Nadu government order transferring all idol theft cases to the CBI while appointing inspector general of police Pon Manickavel as special officer for a year from the date of his retirement on November 30, the Tamil Nadu government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.

The state assailed the high court verdict on the quashing of the GO as well as the extension granted to Manickavel. Government sources told TOI that the special leave petition was yet to be numbered by the apex court.

Interestingly, the state appointed Abhay Kumar Singh, an additional director-general of police as idol wing chief on Manickavel's superannuation. The HC, however, made it clear that Pon Manickavel would head the force.

Eight Bharathiyar varsity syndicate members face contempt in HC

TNN | Dec 5, 2018, 12.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: The entire syndicate of Bharathiyar University, including the director of collegiate education and directors of medical education and technical education, are staring at contempt for deliberate violation of a high court ruling that prohibited the university from permitting distance education study centres.
Justice N Kirubakaran, slamming all the eight syndicate members for having adopted a resolution violating his order, said: “Are the court orders so ineffective to be violated or are they paper orders to be ignored? If this case is understood properly, one gets the impression that officials are not scrupulously following the orders of the court. On the other hand, they are going against the order or violating the orders.”

He then summoned R Sarumathi, director of collegiate education, Dr A Edwin Joe, director of medical education, represented by Dr Rajasekar, Vivekanandan, director of technical education, G Singaravelu, head of the department of education technology, Bharathiyar University, N Jeyakumar, head of the department of bioinformatics, Bharathiyar University, Ravichandran, head of the department of social science, Annamalai University, M Saravana Kumar, dean, Anna University, Coimbatore, and Chinnadurai, principal, Kamban College of Arts and Science, Tiruppur.

On December 8, 2017, the university gave an undertaking to the court that it would not operate distance education study centres and would not grant affiliation and recognition relating to distance education outside Tamil Nadu from the academic year 2018-19. Recording it, Justice Kirubakaran had prohibited the university from running study centres.

However, on November 28, 2018, the university syndicate adopted a resolution permitting spot admission cum learning centres for the academic year 2018-2019 as a special case. It also allowed them to submit examination applications along with second and third year candidates.

A livid Justice Kirubakaran stayed the resolution and wondered how could candidates admitted in the middle of an academic year be allowed to write examination along with second and third year candidates.

Treating all the eight syndicate members are contemnors, Justice Kirubakaran said, “the syndicate members, who voted in favour of granting of permission are also prima facie liable for violation of the court order.” He directed all of them to be present in court on January 7, 2019.

Electronic version of driving licence enough, Centre tells HC

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 12.35 AM IST

CHENNAI: It is official. Drivers of motor vehicles need not carry the hard copy of the original driving licence all the time, and that it is alright if they show the electronic version of the driving licence.

The Centre has brought about an amendment to this effect by a notification dated November 2, 2018, Madras high court was informed on Wednesday.

It all began with a memorandum issued by additional director-general of police, state traffic planning cell dated August 24, 2017 stating that drivers found not carrying the original driving license would be prosecuted under Sections 130 and 171 of Motor Vehicle Act.

Assailing this, a batch of PILs, including the one filed by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy and All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Association, were filed.

When the cases came up for further hearing before a division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice Anitha Sumanth on Monday, a copy of the central government notification dated November 19, 2018 addressed to the DGPs and secretaries of all states and union territories were furnished. The notification amended Rule 139 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 with regard to production of license and certificate of registration of vehicles.

The bench, disposing of the case, said: “In view of the amendment brought by union of India on November 2, 2018, the writ petitions have become infructuous.”

Recruitment lapse: DVAC starts probe against Manonmaniam Sundaranar University VC

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 07.31 AM IST

CHENNAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has begun investigation into allegations of irregularities in recruitment during the tenure of K Baskar, the vice-chancellor of Tirunelveli-based Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU).

Sources told TOI that the DVAC sent a letter to the university registrar in the first week of November asking for 30 documents pertaining to the recruitment conducted in 2016 immediately after Baskar took charge. The agency has started its preliminary inquiry, sources said.

The probe concerns irregularities in recruitment of 35 professors in August 2016. A copy of the notice is with TOI. Baskar’s term will end in February 2019. The DVAC had asked for details including a copy of the advertisement indicating the vacancies, documents pertaining to the scrutiny committee, various syndicate resolutions approving the advertisement and the final selected candidates, permissions from the government, finance committee and approval for filling the posts.

Sources said the DVAC had also asked for details such as which candidates were interviewed, the panel members who vetted them, the selection criteria and other criteria that the selection process should adhere to.

When contacted, Baskar told TOI that due process was followed while conducting the recruitment and all records for the same were available. MSU registrar professor Santosh Babu said all the details as demanded by the DVAC have been furnished to them. “We sent the reply 10 days ago. There is no violation of procedures,” he said.

IIT-Madras professor eats poisonous seeds, dies

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 07.42 AM IST

CHENNAI: A woman assistant professor of IIT Madras who on Tuesday consumed seeds of a poisonous plant in a suicide bid, died in a private hospital early on Wednesday. Police said Aditi was battling depression.

Police said Aditi Simha, 45, an assistant professor in the department of physics, was a PhD holder from IISc, Bengaluru. Aditi lived on the IIT-M campus and visited her mother Neelima in Bengaluru often, police said.

Neelima told police that she had spoken to Aditi at 11 am on Tuesday, when she said she’d be visiting in a few days. Her calls to Aditi after that went unanswered, Neelima told police, adding that she had asked Aditi’s colleague to check on her.

Around 8pm, the assistant professor was found in an unconscious state and was rushed to Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road, where she died at 4am on Wednesday. Doctors said Aditi had consumed seeds of a poisonous plant, which she might have picked from IIT-M’s campus.

Police said Aditi suffered from depression since separating from her husband two years ago. If anyone is in mental distress or have suicidal thoughts, call 104 for the State health departments helpline or call Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre at 2464 0050.

Chennai collector fixes December 31 deadline for hostels to register

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 07.45 AM IST

CHENNAI: Setting December 31 as the deadline to register hostels in the city, Chennai collector A Shanmuga Sundram has warned the owners of such unregistered facilities of criminal action. The warning comes a day after a women’s hostel in Adambakkam was found bugged with nine hidden cameras by a 48-year-old man who ran it.

A WhatsApp number has also been dedicated for memebrs of the public to lodge complaints on any discrepancies over hostels after the deadline ends. TOI on Wednesday reported that the state government does not have any data on hostels in the city. Though the social welfare department had directed the Chennai district collectorate to enumerate the list of hostels, the latter is yet to begin the process.

In a press release, Shanmuga Sundram said owners of unregistered hostels could be sentenced up to two years of imprisonment. “All hostels for children and women in Chennai should be registered with the district collector by December 31, 2018,” the release said. It said complaints could be filed against erring hostels through WhatsApp (number 9444841072) after the December 31 deadline. So far, only eight hostels have sent their applications seeking registration with the district collector, he added.

“Children and women are advised not to stay in unregistered hostels,” Shanmuga Sundram added. He further said hidden camera detector mobile apps could be used for locating spy cameras in hostels, based on which complaints could be filed.

Tamilisai's husband among 41 eyeing Tamil Nadu medical University VC post

TNN | Dec 6, 2018, 09.19 AM IST

CHENNAI: At least 41 people including BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan's husband, nephrologist Dr P Soundrarajan, former and present directors of medical education, deans and vice-chancellors have applied for the post of vice-chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University.

The search committee convenor Dr Sithyathiya Munavarah published names of 41 applicants on the university web page on November 30, last day for the submission of application form. Candidates have filled up a 10-page form with personal details, academic qualification, administrative and research experience, along with 100-word description about their strengths and 500-word statement on the vision for the university.

Several senior doctors in government service, retired professors, deans and directors of medical education below 70 have applied. Names of former vice-chancellor Dr Mayil Vahanan Natarajan, former registrars Dr Sudha Seshayyan and Dr Balasubramanian T, director of medical education Dr A Edwin Joe, his predecessor Dr Vimala and joint director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam were in the list.

There were three outstation candidates - Dr Bharat Mansukhlal Mody (Vadodara, Gujarat), Dr Kameshwara Rao A S (Kakinada, AP) and Dr Venkatakrishna Murali R (Bangalore). The search committee is now scrutinising the application forms to ensure they meet the criteria of the government order that defined the qualification of the vice-chancellor.

A two-page order on October 23, "prescription of educational qualification experience for the post of the vice chancellor of the Tamil Dr MGR Medical University," under the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai (Amendment) Act 2018 said every person recommended by the search committee should have a post-graduate degree in the field of medical sciences, should have published at least five research papers in indexed or national journals. And also have at least 20 years of experience as medical practitioner and 10 years teaching experience as professor.