Banned apps will get chance to send in their clarifications

Banned apps will get chance to send in their clarifications

TikTok removes app from Play Store, says it follows all rules

01/07/2020

TikTok says it has not shared details of Indian users with foreign governments.AFP

A day after the Union government banned 59 Chinese applications, including popular ones such as TikTok, Shareit, Mi Video Call, Club Factory and Cam Scanner, citing threat to national security and sovereignty, an Information Technology Ministry official said the banned platforms would be given a chance to submit their clarifications.

This is in line with provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.

Following the ban, TikTok withdrew its app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In a statement on Tuesday, it said it had been invited to meet the authorities concerned and submit clarifications.

The company’s India head, Nikhil Gandhi, said it had complied with all Indian laws related to data privacy and had not shared information of any Indian user with foreign governments, including the Chinese. “The government has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok, and we are in the process of complying with it.”

AUT welcomes BU move on research thesis

AUT welcomes BU move on research thesis

01/07/2020

Association of University Teachers has welcomed the Bharathiar University’s move to make available online the progress in the evaluation of Ph.D. synopsis and thesis.

The Association’s State president N. Pasupathy said by helping research scholars track the progress in acceptance and evaluation of the thesis, the University had fulfilled a long-pending demand, for in the past the candidates were left in the lurch.

A few candidates had to wait for even two years to know the result of evaluation of their thesis.

MKU College guest lecturers seek salaries

MKU College guest lecturers seek salaries

01/07/2020

A section of guest lecturers from Madurai Kamaraj University College made a representation to Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan, demanding salaries for the months of May and June.

K. C. Palani Kumar, one of the representatives, said that there were a total of 63 guest lecturers who were recruited in 2019 to the MKU College for a salary of ₹15,000 each. Mr. Palani Kumar claimed that while some guest lecturers in MKU’s other constituent colleges have received their salaries, it was only the 63 members at MKU College who were yet to be paid.

With regular classes for this academic year not likely to begin soon due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, Mr. Palani Kumar said they were worried that they would be left without an income for many months. “How will we feed our families? It would be really kind if the university chooses to pay our salaries at least for the month of June,” he said.

The MKU V-C said that guest lecturers in Tamil Nadu were yet to receive their salaries as universities were still waiting for proper guidance from the State government regarding the matter.

“As soon as we get the nod, we will begin disbursing salaries,” he said.

Around 50 students face insufficient data pack to attend online NEET classes

Around 50 students face insufficient data pack to attend online NEET classes

01/07/2020

Around 50 students of government and government-aided schools across the district have been identified as those who have difficulties in attending the School Education Department’s online crash course for cracking NEET examinations, citing insufficient data pack and poor network coverage.

S. Vennila Devi, a government teacher and district coordinator for NEET, said that based on instructions from senior officials, her team had identified these students who couldn’t attend the classes due to insufficient data packs.

“There are plans to recharge internet packs for these students, so that they can attend the online classes. There will be an online meeting with senior officials on Wednesday to discuss the issue,” she said.

Initially, around 370 students from the district had registered for the online classes which commenced on June 17. Then the strength was increased to around 400 students. The students have video lectures and online tests as part of the crash course.

Usually, in the run-up to the NEET examinations, the School Education Department conducts a one-month residential crash course for students. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, online classes were started this year.

Chief Educational Officer R. Swaminathan said that around 90% of registered students attended the online classes everyday. However, students, especially those from interior pockets, had issues in attending online classes citing insufficient data packs or poor network, he said.

‘Seriously concerned’ by ban on apps: China

‘Seriously concerned’ by ban on apps: China

State-run media warn of fall in exports and investments

01/07/2020

Zhao Lijian

China on Tuesday said it was “seriously concerned” by India’s move to block 59 Chinese apps, which it described as “a deliberate interference in practical cooperation” between the two countries.

China’s state media warned the move would bring economic repercussions, including affecting outbound Chinese investment into India.

In separate statements issued by China’s Foreign Ministry in Beijing and its Embassy in New Delhi, the Chinese government called on India to review the decision.

“I want to stress that the Chinese government consistently asks Chinese enterprises to abide by international rules and local laws and regulations when conducting external cooperation,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, expressing “strong concern”.

“The Indian government has the responsibility to protect the legitimate rights and interests of international investors in India, including Chinese businesses, in accordance with market principles,” Mr. Zhao said.

“Practical cooperation between China and India is mutually beneficial. Deliberate interference in such cooperation will not serve the interests of the Indian side,” he added.

In a separate statement, the Chinese Embassy in Delhi said it was “seriously concerned with and firmly opposed to such action”.

“India’s measure selectively and discriminatorily aims at certain Chinese apps on ambiguous and far-fetched grounds, runs against fair and transparent procedure requirements, abuses national security exceptions, and suspects of violating the WTO rules. It also goes against the general trend of international trade and e-commerce, and is not conducive to consumer interests and the market competition in India,” the statement said

The Embassy said the ban “will affect not only the employment of local Indian workers who support these apps, but also the interests of Indian users... ”

Chinese media and social media widely discussed the ban on Tuesday. China restricts a number of foreign apps and websites in the mainland, and among those blocked are WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

In an editorial, the Communist Party-run Global Times slammed what it said was “a lacklustre explanation for the nonsensical move”.

The newspaper quoted experts who “predicted Chinese overseas direct investment (ODI) into India will drop sharply in 2020, with two experts forecasting a more than 50% [reduction].”

Telangana puts off all entrance tests

Telangana puts off all entrance tests

A-G conveys govt. decision to HC

01/07/2020

All Common Entrance Tests (CETs) in Telangana for admissions to different courses, including the POLYCET 2020, were postponed by the government.

The High Court, hearing a petition for deferment of the tests, was informed by Advocate-General B.S. Prasad that the next dates would be announced in due course.

NSUI State president B. Venkat Narsing Rao had filed the petition. After hearing counsel for the petitioner, a Bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy sought to know from Mr. Prasad whether the government would reimpose a lockdown in Hyderabad. The AG sought time till noon to ascertain the government stand. When the Bench re-assembled, he said the Cabinet was likely to take a call in a couple of days. To the Chief Justice’s question on the petitioner’s contention on deferment, he sought time till 2.30 p.m., saying the Chief Secretary was consulting the Departments concerned. When the Bench re-assembled, he announced the decision to postpone all tests.

Increase in retirement age of public servants is not to save money, State tells High Court

Increase in retirement age of public servants is not to save money, State tells High Court

A policy decision taken by the govt., it says without citing any reasons

01/07/2020

The State government on Tuesday denied as “false and wholly baseless” a claim that it had increased the retirement age of public servants from 58 to 59 only to prevent disbursal of terminal benefits to the tune of ₹5,000 crore and instead use the money to fight COVID-19.

Justices R. Subbiah and Krishnan Ramasamy of the Madras High Court were told that the increase in retirement age was a policy decision of the government and that an order issued by it in this regard on May 7 does not cite any reason for the increase.

The submissions were made in a counter affidavit filed in response to a public interest litigation petition preferred by advocate M. Karpagam, through her counsel R. Prabhakaran, against extending the benefit to government employees facing corruption charges.

Opposing the petitioner’s plea, the government told the court that the May 7 GO had been made applicable to all government servants irrespective of those facing disciplinary proceedings since their guilt could be proved only after conclusion of inquiry and not before that.

The government also stated that there were well laid down procedures for conducting inquiries against government servants and that they could be prevented from retiring even after attaining the age of superannuation just to complete the disciplinary proceedings.

Further, a government letter issued on May 14 had clarified that the May 7 GO would not be applicable to those who had not been allowed to retire as on April 30 and whose services had been retained for the limited purpose of concluding disciplinary proceedings.

The GO provides for extending the retirement age only for those who were due to retire from service on May 30 and beyond. Therefore, nothing survives in the PIL petition for adjudication as the government had taken all issues in consideration before issuing the GO, it said.

After taking the counter on file, the judges reserved their orders in the case after granting liberty to the petitioner to file a rejoinder, if she preferred to do so.