CJI didn’t drive bike, so no rules flouted: Officials

CJI didn’t drive bike, so no rules flouted: Officials

Vaibhav.Ganjapure@timesgroup.com

Nagpur: 30.06.2020

Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde’s photos on a high-end Harley Davidson bike — that appeared in several newspapers and went viral on social media — has attracted criticism for not wearing a helmet and a face mask, thus violating driving rules and Covid-control norms.

Justice Bobde couldn’t be contacted, but his office clarified that he only took a feel of the superbike and did not flout any rules as being projected on social media. “The CJI was on a morning walk on the Raj Bhavan premises when his close family friend, who deals in bikes, informed him about the arrival of the latest model of the popular Harley Davidson (Limited Edition CVO 2020) in the city. The bike was brought to Raj Bhavan for a demonstration by a representative of the company. The CJI inspected the bike and appreciated it. He didn’t even ride the motorcycle. He just sat on it,” officials, who didn’t want to be named, told TOI.

They said the CJI was wearing a mask when he started out for his walk, he removed it while inquiring about the bike. “There’s no question of wearing the helmet as the CJI wasn’t riding the bike. If one carefully sees the picture, the bike was stationary and on the side stand. The CJI was simply sitting on it. The company’s representative explained the functioning of the bike to the CJI. During video conferencing, no one wears a mask as it creates hurdles while speaking. Even in minister level conferences, many don’t wear masks while talking for the same reason,” they said.

Protests get louder as GTU readies for July 2 exams

Protests get louder as GTU readies for July 2 exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:30.06.2020

The Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has begun preparations for conducting theory exams from July 2 amid growing protests from students and political organizations demanding cancellation of the exams.

On Monday, protesters burnt an effigy of GTU vicechancellor Naveen Sheth. As many as fifteen members of National Students Union of India (NSUI) were detained for the protests held outside the VC’s residence, said sources.

In a separate incident, members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Monday threw bangles at the varsity’s registrar to protest the selection of members in the admission committee.

GTU officials clarified that they have allowed students to opt out of the exam. For such students, the university will hold exams after the Covid-19 crisis is over, they added.

GTU has received registration applications from 54,500 students who want to take the pen-and-paper exams from July 2.

The varsity has also given the option to students to opt for online descriptive type exams that are to be held from July 17.

While most of the universities in Gujarat have deferred the examinations after facing student protests, the GTU examination council recently reiterated its stance to hold the theory exams in July as announced earlier. Currently, exam hall tickets are being issued online to students.

The protests will continue in the coming days, said sources in NSUI. Although the exams are being conducted with the consent of students, many students are currently seen opposing it.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) panel had recently recommended to the Union HRD ministry to scrap the final-year examination for all colleges and universities. A final decision in this regard is expected this week, sources added.

Earlier, the UGC had recommended that the varsities cancel the intermediate exams, but the new proposal asks them to cancel the finalyear or terminal semester examinations as well. This decision was taken after many educational institutions expressed their inability to conduct final-year exams in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Protesters burnt an effigy of the GTU VC on Monday. In a separate incident, protesters also threw bangles at the varsity’s registrar office

Covid-19 suspect visited 7 hosps in 12 hrs to get treatment

Covid-19 suspect visited 7 hosps in 12 hrs to get treatment

Kiran.Parashar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 30.06.2020

A suspected Covid-19 patient, 45, from Gottigere, visited seven hospitals before he was admitted to Prakirya Hospital in north Bengaluru.

On Friday night, the man developed breathing problems and was taken to a private hospital in Jayanagar, where he was refused treatment because there were no beds. From there, he was taken to Victoria Hospital where he was not admitted because of non-availability of bed. Then a few of his friends started calling hospitals for help. At 11.30pm, they approached a hospital in Jayanagar which said it was full. The family then tried calling up a hospital on Bannerghatta Road where also there were no beds. Then, they reached out to a private hospital near Kengeri which said there were no ICU beds.

The family requested that let him be checked, but none of them responded. The patient was then taken to a hospital on Bannerghatta Road where his chest x-ray was taken and he was told that he needs admission immediately. So, the family went through the BBMP control room and reached out to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases but was told there were no beds available.

The family returned home at 3am. On Saturday, the family reached out to Prakriya Hospital which admitted him. The first report found him positive for Covid-19.

Two SSLC students to miss all exams as their dads test +ve

Two SSLC students to miss all exams as their dads test +ve

They Appeared From Different Places In Arsikere

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hassan:30.06.2020

Two SSLC students, who are primary contacts of Covid-19 positive cases from Arsikere in Hassan, were unable to write the science paper on Monday as they were sent to a quarantine centre on Sunday evening. Though these two students have tested negative, they will not be allowed to write the rest of the exams as their second Covid test needs to be done. The two students had written the Maths paper on Saturday.

The two had different exam centres in Arsikere. The father of one of them is a security guard at a government residential school, about 5km from the town, which has been made a quarantine centre. He tested positive on Sunday. The second student’s father is barber and he too tested positive on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 18 students, who were exposed to a positive SSLC student from Mallipatna in Arkalgud, attended the exam after their test came back negative. They were not even treated as primary or secondary contacts as proper physical distancing was maintained, all students had worn masks and the exam centre was sanitised, said DDPI Prakash.

Those students who have tested positive and primary contacts sent to quarantine will not be allowed to write the exam, he added.

INCHING CLOSER: SSLC examinations will get over on July 5

Cop on duty near centre gets infected

Mysuru:

A policeman who was on SSLC examination duty has tested positive for Covid-19, leading to concerns among government authorities and parents.

However, T Narasipura block education officer (BEO) N Swamy and police said there is no need to panic as the constable did not enter the examination hall at all.

According to sources, the constable was deputed for SSLC examination-related duty on Saturday. “Health department officials informed us that the constable tested positive. I visited the examination centre today and carried out an inquiry. He didn’t enter the examination centre at all,” said BEO Swamy.

According to police sources, the constable was deputed to divert vehicles near the examination centre. “He didn’t visit the examination centre,” said local police officers.

Meanwhile, the T Narasipura police station has been sealed down. TNN

Maha, TN extend lockdown till July 31

Maha, TN extend lockdown till July 31

K’taka Plans Strict Curbs From July 7

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  30.06.2020

Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu governments on Monday extended the lockdown till July 31 to stop the surge of Covid-19 cases — with stricter norms in the Mumbai and Chennai regions — while the Karnataka government indicated that it will bring back from July 7 harsher measures such as banning the entry and exit of people from high-risk districts like Bengaluru and shutting down parks and markets.

In a notification, the Maharashtra government restricted inter-district travel between municipal corporations within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) only for office purposes and essential activities like medical reasons. The order comes a day after Mumbai police announced restrictions on non-essential travel beyond 2 km of one’s residence. The notification also slashed the timings of non-essential shops by four hours, restricted their operations only between 9 am and 5 pm. However, there is no change in the timing of essential shops like groceries and pharmacies.

Officials said stricter norms were notified as there were too many people on the streets unnecessarily.

According to the new notification, the powers to implement a stricter lockdown have been delegated to the local administration in case they find that cases are on the rise in a particular area.

The Tamil Nadu government also extended curbs for a month across the state. In particular, Greater Chennai police limits, including parts of Chengalpet, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, will have an “intense lockdown” till July

5. Announcing this, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami said total lockdown will be enforced in the state on all Sundays.

The Karnataka government indicated that it will bring back harsher measures from July 7 to stop the spread of the pandemic. The curbs on the cards include restricted entry into districts where cases are on the rise, temporary closure of major public parks, wholesale markets and temples for at least two weeks to avoid congregation of people.

Meanwhile, with an eye on the rising Covid-19 graph in Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee announced that no international flight will operate in the state till July 15.

Full report on www.toi.in

A policeman tries to enforce lockdown curbs in Mumbai on Monday

PM to address nation at 4pm today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 4 pm on Tuesday at a time when tensions with China are high over the border standoff in Ladakh and the Centre has announced guidelines for Unlock 2.0 which do not offer much further relaxations, indicating that the spread of Covid-19 remains worrying. He has so far addressed the nation five times following the coronavirus outbreak.

There is a possibility that the PM will urge people to follow norms such as social distancing and personal hygiene and urge patience to minimise spread of the Covid-19 virus. He has asked people not to lower their guard when different sectors are being opened up, allowing more economic activity and restoration of normal working. Sources said the PM’s address is primarily about sharing his views on fighting the coronavirus crisis though it might have references to the border tension in eastern Ladakh too. TNN

Ex-MP assaults cops at Salem who ask him for his e-pass

Ex-MP assaults cops at Salem who ask him for his e-pass

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Salem:30.06.2020

Former Dharmapuri MP and AIADMK member K Arjunan assaulted policemen on duty at a toll plaza on the Salem-Bengaluru National Highway near Karuppur here on Sunday night. Following this, Karuppur police have registered a case under two sections of IPC on Monday.

The incident took place when Arjunan was returning to Salem city from his farm near Omalur. Police personnel deployed at the toll plaza asked him to produce e-pass as he was entering the city. Irked over this, Arjunan started arguing with the cops. “I was returning to Salem from Omalur when the cops demanded my identity card,” Arjunan told reporters.

He said he had told them that he did not have identity card and they refused to let him proceed further. “At that time, sub-inspector Ramesh suddenly directed the cops to pull me out from the car,” Arjunan said, adding that after this he started arguing with the cops.

Arjunan said the SI had first abused him following which he started abusing them too. The cops, however, said that the ex-MP used had abusive words first. “Arjunan called the cops ‘beggers’ and asked who gave them powers to kill Jeyaraj and Beniks at Sathankulam in Tuticorin district,” said Salem deputy commissioner of police (law and order) P Thangadurai. He said the cops had remained calm until Arjunan assaulted the SI.

People who were present at the spot pacified the ex-MP and the cops.

The DCP said they have booked Arjunan under section 294(b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). “Further action will be initiated only after inquiry,” the DCP added.

Former Dharmapuri MP and AIADMK member K Arjunan argues with cops at a toll plaza on the Salem-Bengaluru National Highway on Sunday

It is duty of lab technicians to collect swabs for test: Govt

It is duty of lab technicians to collect swabs for test: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 30.06.2020

Medical lab technicians are qualified to collect samples for Covid-19 test and, in fact, sample collection is one of the very important competencies that such technicians must possess, the Tamil Nadu government told the Madras high court on Monday.

“It is untrue that such technicians are forced to collect Covid-19 samples. Sample collection is a part of their day-to-day duty and they were engaged in the work even before the Covid-19 pandemic,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayana Babu.

Responding to a plea moved by the state government medical laboratory technicians’ association seeking direction to the state to depute only qualified ENT doctors for Covid-19 sample collection, he said such trained technicians who were performing this duty all these years should not have initiated the litigation during a pandemic.

“It is fact that all the trained doctors and post-graduate trainees irrespective of their field of expertise are equally engaged in the care of Covid-19 patients, with all at the inherent risk of contracting the deadly disease. Whereas, the technicians are denying duty to collect samples from persons who are only suspected of having the disease,” the DME added.

Narayana Babu further added that the qualification of such technicians becomes questionable if they state that they lack knowledge of human anatomy. The syllabus and curriculum for diploma, BSc and MSc medical laboratory technology clearly states that they should be fluent with the knowledge of the anatomy of the respiratory tract and various other human organ systems, he said.

Recording the submission, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice Krishnan Ramasway adjourned the hearing to July 1for the association to file its reply.