BDU to set apart 2 seats in each dept for wards of staff

TNN | Mar 4, 2020, 04.38 AM IST

Trichy: Two separate seats will be created in each of the 40 departments in Bharathidasan University (BDU) to accommodate a ward each of the university’s teaching and administrative staff respectively who are unable to get seats. The decision which was taken based on the demand put forward by staff, especially from the administration, will come into effect from the coming academic year.

A committee was set up to analyse the demand and make recommendations for the approval of the vice-chancellor. Following this, a resolution was also passed at the recently held syndicate meeting and finance committee also approved it.

Welcoming the move, M Selvam, dean, faculty of management, and syndicate member, said securing seats in some of the popular university departments is indeed difficult. These include departments like Chemistry, Biotechnology, Physics and English. Saying that there will be 50% concession in fees for wards of class IV staff, he said the idea was to recognise staff who worked tirelessly for the development of the university by giving preference to their wards.

BDU registrar G Gopinath told TOI that there will not be any special treatment to the students claiming the two seats as they will have to follow all admission procedures followed by any other candidate. Only those wards of employees who were unsuccessful in making it to the merit list will be considered based on their request. Seats will be allotted on first come first serve basis if there are more than two candidates claiming the seats, he said.

On whether reservation policy is not applicable for these seats, he said they are not violating any norms as such. Recalling the practice of ‘merit-cum-means quota’ he said the university was reserving a few seats in some of the popular courses for those who can afford the seats by paying more than the stipulated fee.

“We are only adding two seats but wards of staff cannot get seats just like that and they must follow all procedures. This practice was there in the past but was suspended for some years in between as there were less takers,” said the registrar.

MKU syndicate to take call on charges against CoE, teacher

TNN | Mar 4, 2020, 04.03 AM IST

Madurai: The Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) syndicate is likely to discuss and take a decision on the alleged graft charges and wrongdoings of controller of examination, O Ravi and a misconduct complaint against a faculty member of an MKU constituent college in Thirumangalam. The MKU vice-chancellor M Krishnan asserted that the process is taking time but there has been no delay.

On February 18, the MKU VC had issued two charge memos to the CoE seeking explanation regarding two separate alleged wrongdoings. In the first incident on January 23, an unauthorized official from distance education centre accessed the consolidated mark sheets in the CoE office. The second incident on November 2019, wherein exam answer sheets being lost and found just when the results were to be announced on February 10. The CoE was also accused of corruption and bribery.

“The CoE has submitted his replies to both the memos. We will be taking up the matter at the next syndicate meeting that will be held soon,” said Krishnan, speaking to TOI.

On the other hand, a teaching faculty member from an MKU constituent college in Thirumangalam had been accused of indulging in unprofessional behaviour by several female faculties and students. An internal committee was also subsequently formed to look into the matter.

“The internal committee has not been unanimous in providing a final report and I’m yet to get a separate report from one of the members. Then, the final report will be placed in the syndicate for discussion to take the necessary action,” said Krishnan. The date for the next syndicate meeting is expected to be fixed soon.

CBI closes its probe against ex-AMU V-C

04/03/2020, DEVESH K. PANDEY ,NEW DELHI

The Central Bureau of Investigation has closed its probe against former Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Naseem Ahmad as its request seeking sanction to prosecute him in an alleged corruption case has been rejected.

The agency had last year sent the request for prosecution sanction to the Union Human Resource Development Ministry.

Mr. Ahmad, a retired IAS official, was the AMU Vice-Chancellor from 2002 to 2007. He also headed the National Commission for Minorities from 2014 to 2017.

On January 2, 2018, the CBI registered the case against Mr. Ahmad, the then university Finance Officer Yasmeen Jalal Beg and the then Joint Finance Officer Shakaib Arsalan, alleging irregularities in the appointment of Mr. Arsalan as an Assistant Finance Officer in 2005.

The FIR was based on the findings of a preliminary enquiry.

Delhi govt. recommends rejection of Nirbhaya convict’s mercy plea

Pawan Gupta had filed the petition before the President on Monday

04/03/2020, NIKHIL M BABU ,NEW DELHI

The Delhi government on Tuesday informed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), its recommendation for “rejection” of the mercy petition filed by Pawan Gupta, one of the convicts in the rape and murder case of Nirbhaya, a senior Delhi government official said.

The recommendation was sent to the MHA after approval of the same by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain and Lt. Governor Anil Baijal. Gupta had filed the petition before the President on Monday.

“The Home Department recommended the rejection of the mercy petition and it was sent to the Minister and L-G, who approved the same. The recommendation for rejection was then sent to the MHA by the Home Department today [Tuesday],” the senior Delhi government official told The Hindu.

“The mercy petitions of the other three convicts were all rejected and the fourth one cannot be different. This will also be rejected by the President,” the official added.

Execution postponed

The four convicts were supposed to be hanged to death on Tuesday at 6 a.m. On Monday, hours before their execution, Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana put on hold their execution when informed that Gupta has moved a mercy petition before the President.

Even if the President rejects the mercy plea of the convict, the law laid down by the Supreme Court in its Shatrughan Chauhan judgment of 2014 requires the convict to be given 14 days time to set his affairs straight and “prepare” for the execution.

Gupta, Akshay, Mukesh, and Vinay brutally gang-raped the 23-year-old para-medical student in a moving bus on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012. She died a few days later. An accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail. A juvenile, who was among the accused, was convicted by the Juvenile Justice Board. He was released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term.

AI asks fliers to follow protocol

04/03/2020, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA,NEW DELHI

Air India has asked passengers who travelled on February 25 with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, to follow the Health Ministry protocols. Earlier, the Ministry had asked the crew who had flown with the person to stay in isolation at home for 14 days.

Allow Kerala students for exams, HC tells CBSE

04/03/2020,KOCHI

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to permit as many as 34 Class X students of Arooja’s Little Star School, Thoppumpady in Kochi, to write the remaining CBSE examinations provisionally. CBSE did not allow the students to write the exam as the school was not affiliated to the CBSE board. The court also permitted four Class X students of Al-Azhar Public school, Palluruthi, to write the examinations.

Flyover being constructed near MKU to reduce accidents

Median for eight-km stretch being replaced; project cost: ₹53.68 crore

04/03/2020, P.A. NARAYANI,MADURAI

Flyover work under way in front of Madurai Kamaraj University in Madurai on Tuesday. S. James

The National Highways Department is constructing a flyover to reduce accidents near Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) on Madurai – Kochi Road (National Highways 49 extended), which is identified as an accident-prone zone.

Another component of the project, which includes replacement of existing median for a eight-km stretch from Nagamalai Pudukottai to Chekkanoorani is also under way. In addition, four minor culverts are being reconstructed. The officials say that the project is under way at this place, which is identified as a black spot where accidents are reported frequently.

This project, with an estimated cost of ₹53.68 crore, will be completed within a year, officials say.

According to the officials, the flyover will run for around a kilometre with MKU at the centre. The four-lane flyover will be 21.5 metres wide and will allow for a two-way traffic. Also, seven-metre- long service road will be provided on either side of the flyover.

There will also be a two-way vehicular underpass near the Tirunagar-Palkalai Nagar Road, opposite the MKU.

“So, vehicles coming from Madurai city can pass through the underpass and take a right towards the MKU. Meanwhile, buses and other vehicles that are bound towards Theni can use the flyover. This will definitely help in reducing the accidents at this spot,” says a senior highways official.

This is a crucial highway which connects Madurai with Kochi through Usilampatti, Andipatti, Theni and Bodinayakanur. A large number of vehicles ply on this highway as it also leads to important tourists destinations, including the Vaigai dam, Thekkadi and Munnar.

According to a traffic census in December 2013, around 30,000 passenger car units (PCU) ply at this spot.

“The traffic flow peaks between November and June as a large number of buses ply on this highway during the Sabarimala season. After the completion of construction of AIIMS at Thoppur, the traffic flow is only expected to increase,” the official says.

The official adds that this location was identified as a black spot where accidents occur frequently.

“According to the data, a total of nine fatal accidents have been recorded at this spot from 2016 to 2019. However, it is important to note that many of the accidents often go unreported,” the official says.

M. Sivan Kalai, an autorickshaw driver near MKU, recalls an accident in front of MKU a couple of years back, which claimed the lives of a father and daughter.

“The duo, who were travelling on a two-wheeler, were hit by a speeding bus and they died on spot. A year back, a woman who tried to cross the road, also succumbed to injuries after she was hit by a speeding bus,” he says.

Accidents are a common sight here, says S. Rajkumar, a resident of Vadapalanji village. “It is usually the pedestrians and two-wheelers which get hit by speeding vehicles. For many years, the residents of around 10 villages near Vadapalanji come to the highway everyday to catch a bus. It is frightening to see hundreds of school children crossing the highway everyday to catch a bus,” he says.

There have also been instances where cattle heads have been thumped, he adds.

The main problem is because of the high speed at which vehicles ply on this highway,” says Mr. Sivan Kalai.

“Many private buses ply towards Kerala travel at a very high speed, beyond acceptable limits, especially during night time,” he says.

Hence, the construction of the flyover, a long-time demand of the MKU administration, will help in easing the situation to a great extent, says the Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan.

“Around 2,000 students are studying at MKU and the administration has been demanding construction of a flyover here for the past five years. With the presence of State Bank of India and a co-operative store opposite to MKU, a hundreds of students cross this dangerous stretch every day. A large number of students are expected to use the railway station opposite to MKU after the commissioning of trains between Madurai and Usilampatti. So, this flyover is a welcome step,” he says.

The highways official says that the height of the median is being increased to three feet to ensure that pedestrians do not cross the stretch and avoid encountering speeding vehicles.

Although speedbreakers have been placed in front of the MKU, a considerable number of accidents occurs due to lack of reflectors and white markings, says a shopkeeper near MKU.

“Many vehicles, especially during night time, hit the speed breakers at a high speed, leading to accidents. A speed breaker which was laid recently, opposite MKU near Tirunagar- Palkalai Nagar Road, also has the same problem. This issues have to be addressed at the earliest,” he says.

Mr. Rajkumar adds that many accidents have been occurring recently after one lane opposite MKU was closed for traffic.

“With a single lane of road used for two-way traffic, a lot of accidents have happened in the past one month. Hence, work has to be completed at a faster pace,” he adds.