Huge cash haul from premises of Durai Murugan’s ‘associate’

APRIL 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Mr. Durai Murugan’s son Kathir Anand is contesting from the Vellore Parliamentary constituency in the general elections.

During the day, searches were also conducted at educational institutions and premises managed by Mr. Anand. At the time of going to print, the searches that began in the morning were still on at some of the locations in Vellore. Currency counting machines were also requisitioned from local banks.

While usually the I-T department maintains absolute secrecy of search operations, on Monday video clips and photos of cash bundles being examined were circulated all day on mobile messaging platforms, though the source of the same remained uncertain.

Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo told journalists in Chennai that only on the basis of the I-T department’s report would they be able to conclude if the cash belonged to any candidate or party. While DMK president M.K. Stalin charged that the I-T searches were conducted at the behest of the BJP-led Central government to intimidate the Opposition, Mr. Durai Murugan alleged that there was a conspiracy to rescind the poll notification in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency and two Assembly constituencies in the region where bypolls are due. “They have miscalculated that by targeting they can intimidate the others in the DMK. Today it is me, tomorrow it will be someone else. But this is being done by those who can’t read the people’s mind,” he said.

Mr. Durai Murugan further alleged that his son had effectively been prevented from campaigning for the last three days by the ongoing searches. I-T officials had on Saturday searched Mr. Durai Murugan’s house and an engineering college in Christianpet near Katpadi managed by Mr. Anand and recovered Rs. 10.50 lakh “excess” cash and some documents. Searches were conducted on Monday at six places including at another DMK functionary Asther Ali’s house in Kalpudhur and a school managed by Mr. Anand. Though searches in these two premises were completed by evening, the outcome was not immediately known.

In another case reported from Coimbatore, the I-T department seized Rs. 9.83 crore in cash. “The assessee is a young man by the name G. Ramesh, the proprietor of Universal Trading Solutions, who was collecting deposits from the public promising high returns. He trades in the commodities market,” the EC said. In Tamil Nadu, Rs. 108.75 crore in cash and precious metals valued at Rs. 93 crore had been seized so far, it added.

Special fare train to clear summer rush

STAFF REPORTER

SALEM, APRIL 02, 2019 00:00 IST

The Southern Railway has introduced special fare special train to clear summer rush. According to a release, train no. 02197 Coimbatore - Jabalpur special fare special train will leave Coimbatore at 7.05 p.m on Mondays between June 10 and July 1 and would reach Jabalpur at 10.20 a.m on Wednesdays.

The train would stop at Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikkode, Vadakara,Thalassery, Kannur, Payyanur, Khanhangad, Mangalore Jn, Mulki, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road Byndoor, Kumta, Karwar, Madgoan, Thivim, Kudal, Kankavali, Ratnagiri, Chiplun, Khed, Roha, Panvel, Igatpuri, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khanwa, Harda, Itarsi, Pipariya, Gadarwara and Narsinghpur. Advance reservations for the train would begin on April 2.

Trains rescheduled

The Southern Railway has rescheduled trains in Tiruchirappalli division on April 2 due to bridge works in the division.

According to a release, train no. 76836/76833 Karur - Tiruchi- Karur DEMU passenger is partially cancelled between Tiruchirappalli Junction and Tiruchi Fort. Train no. 56110 Erode -Tiruchirappalli Passenger is partially cancelled between Tiruchi fort and Tiruchirappalli Junction. Train no. 56713 Tiruchirappalli- Palakkad Town passenger is rescheduled to leave Tiruchirappalli Junction at 3 p.m. Train no. 56712 Palakkad Town -Tiruchirappalli Junction passenger will be regulated for two hours between Erode and Tiruchirappalli fort.

Changes in operation of trains

STAFF REPORTER

SALEM, APRIL 02, 2019 00:00 IST

The Southern Railway has cancelled a few trains due to pre non-interlocking work for commissioning of Arakkonam – Takkolam Detour line. The changes would affect services of trains between April 5 and 14.

According to a release, services of train no. 22208 Thiruvananthapuram-Chennai Central Superfast AC express on April 7 and 10, train no. 22207 Chennai central-  Thiruvananthapuram Superfast AC express on April 5 and 9, train no. 12243 Chennai Central- Coimbatore Shatabdi express between April 11 and 14, train no. 12244 Coimbatore Junction - Chennai Central Shatabdi express between April 11 and 14, train no. 12682 Coimbatore - Chennai Central Superfast express on April 12 and train no. 12681 Chennai Central - Coimbatore Jn Superfast express on April 13 are fully cancelled.

Train no. 12680 Coimbatore Jn - Chennai Central Intercity express is short terminated at Katpadi for 10 days between April 5 and 14, train no. 12698 Thiruvananthapuram - Chennai Central Superfast express is short terminated at Jolarpettai for two days on April 6 and 13.

Train no. 22638 Mangalore Central - Chennai Central is short terminated at Chitteri for nine days between April 4 ad 12. Train No. 22638 Mangalore Central to Chennai central is short terminated at Jolarpettai on April 13.

Train no. 12679 Chennai Central - Coimbatore Intercity Express is partially cancelled between Chennai Central and Katpadi for 10 days between April 5 and 14 and the train would depart from Katpadi at 4.20 p.m. Train no. 12697 Chennai Central -Thiruvananthapuram Superfast express is partially cancelled between Chennai central to Jolarpettai on April 7 and 14 and the train would depart from Jolarpettai at 6.20 p.m.

Train no. 22637 Chennai Central to Mangalore Central West coast express is partially cancelled between Chennai central to Jolarpettai. The train will leave Jolarpettai at 3.15 p.m. on April 14.

Trains rescheduled

Train no. 22637 Chennai Central- Mangalore Central West Coast express scheduled to depart from Chennai Central at 12.05 p.m is rescheduled to leave at 1.20 p.m between April 5 and 13. Train no. 12695 Chennai Central- Thiruvananthapuram Superfast express scheduled to depart from Chennai central at 3.25 p.m is rescheduled to leave at 7.25 p.m on April 14. Train no. 12685 Chennai Central - Mangalore Central Superfast express scheduled to depart from Chennai Central at 5 p.m is rescheduled to leave at 7.35 p.m on April 14.

Diversions

Train no. 12970 Jaipur- Coimbatore will be diverted via Gudur- Renigunta- Katpadi skipping stops at Chennai Central and Arakkonam on April 9.

Train no. 22815 Bilaspur- Ernakulam will be diverted via Gudur- Chennai Egmore- Villupuram- Vridhachallam-Salem skipping routes at Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai on April 8. Train no. 17605 Mangalore- Kacheguda will be diverted via Jolarpettai A cabin, Yelanka, Dharamavaram skipping routes at Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Renigunta, Cuddapah on April 6.

Train no. 16351Mumbai Central- Nagercoil will be diverted through Gooty- Yelanka-Salem-Karur-Dindigul- Madurai skipping stops at Tiruttani, Arakkonam, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruchirappalli on April 13. Train no. 12690 Nagercoil- Chennai Central will be diverted through Tiruchirappalli-Vridhachallam-Villupuram-Chennai Egmore- Chennai Central skipping stops at Karur, Namakkal, Salem, Morappur, Tirupattur, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Arakkonam, Perambur on April 7.

Train no. 22206 Madurai-Chennai central will be diverted via Dindigul- Tiruchchirappalli-Vridhachallam-Chennai Egmore skipping stop at Salemon April 11. Train no. 20601Chennai Central- Madurai will be diverted via Chennai Beach- Chennai Egmore-Villupuram-Vridhachallam- Tiruchirappalli –Dindigul skipping stops at Katpadi, Salem and Karur on April 12.

Train no. 18568 Kollam- Viskapattinam will be diverted via Katpadi- Villupuram- Chennai Egmore- Gudur skipping stops at Renigunta on April 5.

Train no. 22619 Bilaspur- Tirunelveli will be diverted via Gudur- Chennai Egmore-Villupuram-Vridhachallam-Salem skipping stops at Renigunta- Katpadi- Jolarpettai on April 9.

Train no. 22878 Ernakulam- Howrah will be diverted via Katpadi- Villupuram-Chennai Egmore-Gudur skipping stops at Renigunta on April 9.

High Court Bench directs recovery of compensation

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, APRIL 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Petitioner lost his legs after he came in contact with a live wire

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Joint Commissioner of Labour (Workmen’s compensation) to recover the compensation amount awarded by the Labour Commissioner Tribunal of Dindigul to a daily wager, who lost both his legs after coming in contact with a live wire during work hours.

Justice Abdul Quddhose said under Section 31 of the Employees Compensation Act, 1923, the Commissioner of Labour was empowered to recover the compensation awarded to a workmen as he was deemed to be public officer within the meaning of Section 5 of the Revenue Recovery Act, 1890.

Accordingly, the Commissioner should recover the amount within four months, the court said.

The court said that the award of compensation had attained finality as no appeal was preferred against the order. Though representation was made to the Collector for recovering the amount, it was the Commissioner of Labour alone who was empowered to recover the compensation. The Labour Commissioner Tribunal had awarded Rs. 4.72 lakh with an interest of 12% per annum to the daily wager.

The petitioner, S. Pandi of Dindigul, sought a direction to recover the compensation amount from his employer. He lost both his legs after he came in contact with a live wire at a construction site, where he was engaged as a daily wager.

HC asks State not to finalise PG medical, dental counselling results

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, APRIL 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Allows the process, which began on April 1, to continue

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the Directorate of Medical Education not to finalise results of the ongoing counselling for medical and dental PG degree/diploma courses held under the Tamil Nadu State quota.

The four-day counselling forcandidates who qualified through NEET began on April 1.

Justice R. Mahadevan, allowing the counselling to continue, directed that results shall not be finalised for a period of two weeks and adjourned the hearing till then. The court was hearing the writ petition filed by P. Jeyakumar of Madurai, who sought a direction to restrain the Directorate of Medical Education from going ahead with PG counselling. The petitioner, an Assistant Surgeon, challenged the government order issued by the Health and Family Welfare department in March 2019 awarding 10% of NEET marks secured by Medical Officers working under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Services as incentive for securing a PG seat.

The grievance of the petitioner was that the GO categorised ‘difficulty of areas of work’ for the purpose of granting incentives. Candidates working at difficult areas in hills were eligible for 10% of marks secured in NEET per year of service. Similarly, it was nine per cent marks for working in difficult areas in plains, eight per cent for remote areas and five per cent for rural areas.

Dr. Jeyakumar, currently employed at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, said that this would adversely affect the chances of medical officers working in municipal and corporation areas, which are excluded from the purview of granting incentive marks.

He sought to restrain the Directorate of Medical Education from going ahead with the counselling.

283 PG seats allotted in govt. colleges on day 1 of counselling

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, APRIL 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Radiology and paediatrics are the most preferred courses

When it comes to a PG medical degree radiology continues to be the first choice of MBBS students. On the first day of counselling for PG medical State quota seats, toppers chose radiology.

The second choice was paediatrics. Similarly, two candidates with All-India Rank 9 and 10 in NEET have been allotted M.D. Radiodiagnosis in the Madras Medical College.

Medical educators said introduction of modern technology such as MRI and CT scans sways the students’ choice. For the past few years now, gynaecology is also being passed up, they added.

Single-window system

On Monday, the Directorate of Medical Education began the single window system of counselling for general categories for State quota seats in PG programmes in government and self-financing medical colleges.

As many as 367 of the 492 candidates called for counselling by the Selection Committee participated and 290 seats were allotted.

A total of seven seats were allotted in self-financing colleges and 283 in government ones.

While seven candidates opted out of counselling 125 candidates remained absent and 72 candidates chose to be wait-listed.

Classes commence on May 1 and the admission process will close on May 18.

Paracetamol: toe the line on proper dosage

Serena Josephine M.

CHENNAI, APRIL 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Excessive use is detrimental to children’s health, say doctors

When children have fever, the majority of parents invariably turn to a commonly used medication — paracetamol. While paediatricians consider paracetamol as a safe drug when given in the prescribed dose, any excess in dosage could be detrimental to the child’s health, even to the extent of causing damage to the liver, they add.

Recently, doctors at a private hospital received a child with serious damage to the liver. The child had fever and the parent administered paracetamol continuously for three days without checking the temperature. Three days later, the child was in a critical condition due to paracetamol toxicity, but went on to recover with treatment.

“Paracetamol is a safe drug when given in the correct dose. Any excess in dosage could cause acute liver cell failure. In such circumstances, children present with drowsiness, vomiting and extreme weakness. But paracetamol overdose may not always be symptomatic. Sometimes, symptoms may emerge two or three days later. So, it is important to make an early diagnosis to save children from acute hepatic failure,” said S. Balasubramanian, medical director of Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital.

He drew attention to U.K.’s NICE guidelines that say there is no need to treat fever unless it causes discomfort. “Most children may feel uncomfortable when the temperature is 101 or 102 degree Fahrenheit. Then, we need to relieve the discomfort,” he added.

Drops and syrups

P. Ramkumar, senior consultant paediatrician, Institute of Child Health and Government Hospital for Children, said there is basically confusion between paracetamol drops and syrup. “I frequently remind parents that there is a huge difference between the two. A dosage of paracetamol drops is five times more powerful than say, the same dosage of the syrup, but many are unaware of this,” he said.

Abdominal pain, irritability, generalised weakness, loss of appetite, jaundice, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, convulsions and coma are the symptoms of a paracetamol overdose. “Most of the bottles have the dose printed on them and parents should follow the instructions. It should be given once in six hours in the recommended dosage — not more than four times in 24 hours,” Dr. Ramkumar said.

T. Sivaraman, consultant, paediatric intensivist, pointed out that he does receive children with inadvertent overdose of paracetamol such as when it is given eight times instead of the prescribed four times.

A delay in seeking medical help will lead to liver failure requiring a transplant, he said, adding: “Children come to us with a history, dullness and vomiting. Parents might assume these are caused by the fever. We take their previous history into account and check for signs of toxicity. If we suspect paracetamol toxicity, the treatment is started immediately.”