Doc booked for having 2 govt jobs

Doc booked for having 2 govt jobs

Sat Singh TNN

24.06.2020

Rohtak: PGIMS doctor Gaurav Nandal has been booked for fraud for serving at two government organisations at the same time. The premier institute had marked an inquiry after a local resident complained that Dr Nandal (PG orthopedics) was working with the local unit of National Boxing Academy (NBA) and PGIMS simultaneously.

Based on the findings, deputy medical superintendent Dr Sandeep Singh submitted a police complaint against the accused on Tuesday.

According to the complaint, Nandal worked at two government organisations at the same time. He joined PGIMS as resident PG Ortho in May 2017 and has been a visiting faculty at NBA Rohtak since April 2018. He was getting a regular stipend from PGIMS since the date of his joining and had also received an honorarium from NBA since his joining till March 2020.

Varsity exams: Hry to promote students of terminal classes

STUDENT PRESSURE

Varsity exams: Hry to promote students of terminal classes

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  24.06.2020

Chandigarh: Under pressure from student outfits, the Haryana higher education and technical education departments have announced to promote students of terminal classes without holding examinations.

The students of these classes will be promoted to the next semester with 50% weightage of marks of internal assessment/ assignment plus 50% weightage of marks in previous examinations. However, the students will have the option to go for examinations for improvement of grades once the situation becomes normal in the state. The same formula will be applicable for distance education/private students too.

The orders also said the universities can opt for online examinations “only if they have the sufficient and elaborate arrangements and infrastructure for conducting such examinations.”

An order related to this was issued from the office of principal secretary and financial commissioner Ankur Gupta in which the departments concerned have been told to take action accordingly in consultation with vice-chancellors of the universities.

The government order has come a day after NSUI state president Divyanshu Budhiraja approached the Punjab and Haryana high court against the order of higher education department related to exemption to students from out of Haryana from appearing in the examinations, while, it was made mandatory for local students. ABVP state executive member Purnoor had also submitted memorandums for the Haryana governor.

Skipping home quarantine can lead to arrest

Skipping home quarantine can lead to arrest

Rajinder.Nagarkoti1@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:  24.06.2020

People not isolating themselves at home for 14 days will be fined Rs 2,000 and can end up spending six months in jail or pay another fine of up to Rs 1,000, the UT administration announced on Tuesday after issuing the orders for mandatory home quarantine for city visitors.

The mandatory home quarantine will not be applicable on those staying in Chandigarh for less than three days (72 hours).

Violators will be booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).

UT adviser Manoj Parida issued the orders under Section 24 of Disaster Management Act, 2005, to come into force with immediate effect.

The order stated, “People coming to Chandigarh from areas outside the Tricity and staying here for more than three days shall mandatorily register themselves on Chandigarh administration website: http://admser.chd.nic.in/visitregis/. They will have to download Arogya Setu application and regularly update their health status. There will be random screening/checking at entry points/check posts as well as railway stations and bus stands.”

“It shall be mandatory for the person hosting the visitors to register their details on the portal immediately on the day of their arrival. The management of hotels/guest houses/corporate guest houses/resthouses/dharamshalas shall register the details of visitors from outside Chandigarh staying with them on the portal as soon as they check-in,” the order said.

HC: ‘No work no pay’ can’t apply if staff wants to work but not allowed

HC: ‘No work no pay’ can’t apply if staff wants to work but not allowed

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh: 24.06.2020

The Punjab and Haryana high court has made it clear that in a case an employee was willing to work but was deprived by the employer, the principle of ‘no work no pay’ would not apply and the employer would be liable to pay for the period which the employee remained out of work.

Justice Ritu Bahri of the high court passed the order as she directed the Haryana government to pay salary of 13 years to an employee who was dismissed from service on disciplinary grounds but reinstated on directions of the state governor.

Petitioner Ishwar Singh had moved the high court for release of his salary for the period between April 7, 2001 and April 7, 2014 during which he was kept from his duties. The petitioner was appointed in the prisons department as clerk in 1987 on ad hoc basis and in 1991his services were regularised.

The petitioner was suspended in February 2002 for gross negligence towards his duty after he was absent from duty on five occasions. Thereafter he was charge-sheeted and finally dismissed on September 9, 2003. He filed an appeal against his dismissal, which was rejected in February 2010. He then filed a memorial to the Haryana governor, which was accepted and the governor ordered his reinstatement in July 2014.

The governor observed that apparently the petitioner was dismissed from service with malafide intention to harass and harm.

MOOT POINT

In his plea before the high court, seeking salary for this 13-year period, the petitioner contended that once the Haryana governor was satisfied that it was a case of mala fide intention to harass and harm him, the state government ought to have released his salary.

‘No work no pay’: Case of sheer intimidation, says HC

It seems to be a case of sheer intimidation against a subordinate employee by a senior officer. Apparently, someone in an influential position in the department manipulated the things against him for reasons best known to them. But this is a serious matter which calls for a thorough probe by the administrative department. Therefore, there does not seem to be any justification in the punishment of dismissal on the charge of willful absence from duty for two days,” the governor had observed while reinstating the petitioner.

In compliance of the governor’s order, he was taken back in the service and even promoted to the post of accountant. However, he was not paid for the period of 13 years during which he remained out of service.

In his plea before the high court, the petitioner argued that the principle of ‘no work no pay’ could not be applied in this case as it covers the issue of work being offered but employee not performing.

The argument of the state government was that even while accepting the petitioner’s appeal, the governor had made it clear that he will not be entitled to any remuneration for the period when he actually did not perform any duty.

After hearing all the parties and examining various Supreme Court decisions, the high court observed that while allowing the memorial appeal of the petitioner, it has been categorically observed by the governor that someone in an influential position in the department had manipulated things against the petitioner.

“Thus, the petitioner was always ready and willing to work but was deprived by the respondents (state). Thus, the principal of ‘no work no pay’ cannot be invoked. The respondents are directed to release the salary of the petitioner for the period from April 2001 to April 2014. The petitioner is entitled to all consequential benefits,” ordered the HC.

36k students from RGUHS to get degrees; pass percentage drops

CONVOCATION DAY

36k students from RGUHS to get degrees; pass percentage drops

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  24.06.2020

As many as 36,434 students will be conferred degrees at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences convocation on June 25.

The event will be held at Nimhans convention centre and attended by governor Vajubhai Vala, who is also the chancellor, and around 100 students, including gold medallists and PhD candidates. Others, including medical education minister and prochancellor of the university, Sudhakar, will join virtually.

The pass percentage at the university this time is 82.2%, a dip from last year’s 88%. “The decrease in pass percentage can be attributed to the increase in number of students taking the exam. Last year, students who took exams till March were counted in the convocation. This time, with the convocation dates getting pushed, more students were added,” explained vice-chancellor S Sacchidanand at a press meet.

The pass percentage in MBBS is 82%, BDS 76%, BSc nursing 90%, BAMS 83% and Pharma D 97%. In PG medicine it is 87% and in superspeciality, it’s 94%.

Dr Rashmita R, an undergraduate student of SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Dharwad has secured six gold medals and Dr Chindu BS an undergraduate student of Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science & Research, Bengaluru bagged five gold medals and one cash prize. Of 158 gold medallists, 99 are girls.

The university is releasing grants for 15 research projects on Covid-19 and it has received around 50 project proposals. Twenty-eight proposals, including a biodegradable PPE, have been selected for the final round of an ideathon that will be held in the last week of June.

RGUHS will award scholarships for meritorious UG students from 2020-21. Around 208 applications have been received thus far.

No UG admissions before II PU results

No UG admissions before II PU results

B’luru Central Varsity Warns Colleges Of Action

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  24.06.2020

With many prestigious colleges in the city conducting admissions for undergraduate programmes even before class 12 exams were completed, Bengaluru Central University (BCU) has asked its affiliate-colleges to immediately halt the process.

In a circular sent to the colleges on June 22, the university restrained them from conducting admissions to courses for academic year 2020-21 until further direction from the government. “If any college is found to be deviating, affiliation of that college will be withdrawn,” said the circular signed by the BCU registrar.

Many colleges had begun admissions in May. Usually, admissions need to be done based on the result of class 12/ II pre-university, by creating merit lists based on marks. Three lists are usually released by colleges. However, PU exams were completed in Karnataka only on June 18 and the results are expected in July first week.

The letter quotes an email written by the syndicate body to the university. “PUC exams are yet to be completed in Karnataka. The process of exams, evaluation and results announcement would take time. Until then, it would be improper to start admission process for any of the under-graduate programmes. Any such act by colleges would result in denial of seat for a deserving student in his/ her desired course/ combination. ... Further, with respect to admissions, autonomous institutions too need to be in consistency with the rules and regulations of their parent university,” said the letter from the syndicate members.

Row over govt order

Controversy erupted among university officials as the circular quoted the presence of a government order against starting admissions. “There’s no such order against starting admissions. However, the fact remains that without the results of the qualifying examination — class 12 exam of state or central board — carrying out admission to UG programmes is simply illegal and punishable,” said Karan Kumar, syndicate member.

NO RUSHING: The PU exams got over only on June 18. The English language paper had been pending as the lockdown had set in

In a circular, the university restrained its affiliate-colleges from conducting admissions to courses for academic year 2020-21 until further government direction

With Vande flights facing curbs, India plans ‘travel bubbles’

With Vande flights facing curbs, India plans ‘travel bubbles’

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  24.06.2020

Pressure is mounting on India to allow foreign airlines to operate schedule passenger charters, as Air India is doing under the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM). The US administration on Monday ruled Air India would require prior approval for operating flights to and from its soil from July 22 unless the issue of its airlines flying like AI between the two countries is resolved.

France has not been allowing passengers to fly on the India-Paris sector of VBM while permitting repatriation of Indian citizens on Paris-India leg of those flights since Monday. The European Union has initiated talks with India for its carriers resuming flights.

In response to the American and French moves, the civil aviation ministry on Tuesday said it is considering “travel bubbles” between India and the US, France, Germany and UK.

The India-US travel corridor could be the first to get activated between specific cities — Delhi and Mumbai on one side and New York, Chicago and San Francisco on the other — next month.

Quarantine restrictions for bubble flyers could be milder to facilitate quicker access to key categories of travellers, said sources. Some country pairs like Australia-New Zealand, which are in similar levels of the pandemic, are in advanced stages of creating the same.

AI seeks UAE nod to fly Indians to Dubai

Air India Express has sought clearance from the UAE to fly Indians working in Dubai from India on the India-Dubai leg of Vande Bharat flights. The Dubai government has allowed foreign nationals holding residency visas issued in Dubai to return to the emirate starting June 22, and will open its doors to tourists from July 7. TNN

US: Op rights of carriers impaired

The US department of transportation (DoT) on Monday said in an order that India “has impaired operating rights of US carriers and has engaged in discriminatory and restrictive practices with respect to US carriers’ services to and from India.” It specifically gave the example of Delta seeking permission on May 26 to operate charters like AI’s VBM and not getting the same till now. The DoT also said AI VBM operations to and from the US are more than half of its normal pre-pandemic schedule and that “AI may be using its passenger repatriation charters as a way of circumventing government of India (GoI)-imposed prohibition of all scheduled services”.

While the US action is from a month later, AI officials say 78 passengers booked on the Mumbai-Paris CDG VBM flight of Monday could not be flown due to the last-minute decision of France. “Monday flight went as ferry (without passengers) and came back full. On Tuesday also, our Mumbai-Paris CDG flight was used as ferry. Now we will be able to take passengers to Paris on VBM only when France allows us to do so,” said an AI official.

India on Tuesday said the request of countries like the US, France and Germany for their airlines to operate flights on the line of AI’s VBM are being considered. Discussions have been held with US authorities and their proposals were received last Friday.