HC stays ex-chief secy’s appointment as NGT member

HC stays ex-chief secy’s appointment as NGT member

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.04.2021

Expressing unhappiness over the appointment of former Tamil Nadu chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan as an expert member of the National Green Tribunal, the Madras high court on Friday stayed the appointment.

“We are not happy with the qualifications of the person who has been appointed as an expert member of the tribunal,” the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said.

When the court was informed that she was due to assume charge on April 19, the court said there would be a stay of the appointment till disposal of the case.

“It is possible that the former chief secretary may have dealt with environmental matters in course of the various departments that she headed during her tenure, but it is both necessary for her to indicate the same for the court to be satisfied that the statutory eligibility criteria in such regard is met by her,” the court said.

The bench was passing orders on a public interest writ petition filed by environment conservation NGO Poovulagin Nanbargal, challenging Girija Vaidyanathan’s appointment.

There may be an element of discussion on what may amount to dealing with environmental matters, but the selection committee would not have exercised any discretion to relax the eligibility criterion in derogation of the statutory requirement, the bench said.

According to the petitioner-organisation, the NGT Act prescribes a minimum of administrative experience of 15 years, including five years in dealing with environmental matters in the central or a state government. But in violation of the provision, Girija Vaidyanathan who does not possess five-year experience in handling environmental matters has been appointed to the post, the NGO alleged.

“Section 5 (2) (b) of the NGT Act says that a person shall not be qualified for appointment as an expert member unless they have administrative experience of 15 years, including experience of five years in dealing with environmental matters in central or a state government or in a reputed national or state level institution,” the petitioner said. However, Girija who has been selected for appointment to the post has not possessed an experience of five years in dealing with environmental matters as could be seen from her complete bio data found in the official website of the union ministry of personnel, the NGO added. Therefore, it wanted the court to call for the records pertaining to her appointment dated December 12 issued by the union government and quash the same.

Docs’ forum opposes higher tuition fee in med college

Docs’ forum opposes higher tuition fee in med college

Chennai:10.04.2021

A doctors’ association for social equality has moved the Madras high court against conducting exams to students of Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital (now Government Medical College and Hospital, Cuddalore) through the Annamalai University despite declaring it as a government medical college.

Admitting the plea, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy directed the Tamil Nadu government to file its response. According to Doctors Association for Social Equality, the college which was functioning under Annamalai university was brought under the state government through the Annamalai University Act, 2013. On January 27 a GO declared the college as a government medical college. While so, the state has now proposed to conduct examinations to the students of the college under the university which is contrary to the January 27 GO, the petitioner said. TNN

Student tests Covid positive at city airport

Student tests Covid positive at city airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.04.2021

A college student who came to Chennai airport to board a flight to Andaman was admitted at the Government Hospital in Chengalpet after being tested positive for Covid-19.

Swamy, 21, studying at a college in the suburbs, came to board a flight to Andaman scheduled at 8.15am. When officials tested the passengers for Covid-19 Swamy’s report came positive.

The officials immediately alerted the authorities concerned who cancelled Swamy’s flight.

The flight left the airport without the student for Port Blair. Later, the student was handed over to the Chennai Airport police. They admitted him at the corona ward set up in the Government Hospital in Chengalpet.

Currently, all passengers flying to Port Blair are made to undergo test for coronavirus at all domestic airports.

‘EC to decide on Velachery booth repoll’

‘EC to decide on Velachery booth repoll’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.04.2021

State chief electoral officer Satyabrata on Friday said a report had been sent to the Election Commission of India based on the reports of presiding officer, returning officer and Chennai district election officer on the ‘procedural lapse’ in handling EVMs at a Velachery booth. The ECI will decide on repolling in the booth, Sahoo said.

Two men from a zonal party handling EVMs had taken the ballot units and a control unit, kept in reserve, besides the VVPAT, which had developed a technical snag after 50 minutes of polling, on a twowheeler when they were caught by residents, he said. They were later handed over to police.

Sahoo said: “Transporting the machines on a two-wheeler, also without security guards, is a mistake, It is also against the SOP. The commission has been informed of the lapses.”

Rlys steps up precautionary measures to fight 2nd wave

Rlys steps up precautionary measures to fight 2nd wave

Makes Masks Mandatory, Scanners Up At Stations

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  10.04.2021

Amid increasing cases, Southern Railway has stepped up Covid-19 precautions that include making masks mandatory, setting up thermal scanner cameras and implementing contactless ticket checking at stations.

To screen passengers faster at stations, thermal scanner cameras and contactless ticket checking system have been set up at major stations.

Egmore and Arakonam have one thermal scanner camera each while at Central station, where it was first tried out during the lockdown, now have three cameras. Similarly, contactless ticket checking by which tickets of passengers are scanned using a handheld device or a mobile phone is in force at Central, Egmore, Tambaram, Chengalpet, Arakonam, Katpadi and Jolarpet. Such a checking is available at two entry points in Central.

The thermal cameras read temperature of passengers as they walk through a doorframe at the stations. The sensor will display the temperature using a colour code on a computer screen and the RPF staff manning the kiosk will be able to detect the passenger and stop inspite of a crowd. This is being used in addition to temperature check done manually.

Southern Railway general manager John Thomas told reporters that more thermal cameras would be installed after need is assessed.

He also urged passengers to take precautions while traveling as there have been reports that people are not wearing masks at stations and on trains. "Use of masks would be mandatory and "we have told railway staff and TTE to ensure that passengers wore masks at the railway stations," he added.

The precautions are being tightened as the number of passengers using trains are increasing. Central railway station handles 82,000 passengers on average and Egmore handles 64,000 per day.

Southern Railway will deploy more RPF personnel to implement Covid-19 precautions.

STRINGENT CURBS: A thermal scanner at Egmore station

Wear your masks or cops will get you

Wear your masks or cops will get you

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

10.04.2021

The city police will swing into action from Saturday to ensure pedestrians and other road users wear face masks and follow the pandemic protocol.

City police commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal has asked all officers to conduct awareness programmes in their jurisdiction. Police patrols have been to insist that pedestrians wear masks properly even while walking on the road. There are about 250 four-wheelers and around 400 two-wheelers patrolling the city.

A police officer said, “We will insist residents and road users wear face masks and maintain social distancing. Will not slap cases in the first few days.”

Managements of malls and marriage halls have been told to ensure social distancing according to government norms. In Royapettah, police personnel interacted with welfare associations and merchants to spread the message that the government’s guidelines should be followed.

In Arumbakkam, police gave out 5,000 face masks to pedestrians who failed to wear them. A police team led by inspector Saravanan went on a rally from Anna Nagar arch to Arumbakkam accompanied by youth club members of Aminjikarai. In Thiruvottiyur, deputy commissioner of police G Subbulakshmi gave out pamphlets and spread awareness using a public address system.

NEED OF THE HOUR: A police officer and his team ask vendors to mask up at a fish market in the city on Friday

TN univs yet to evolve online test with invigilation

TN univs yet to evolve online test with invigilation

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

10.04.2021

Universities in the state are yet to evolve a foolproof system to properly monitor online exams due to lack of infrastructure and connectivity. Given the second surge in Covid-19 cases, the coming semester exams, partly online, are set to begin in the first week of May.

Question papers will be mailed to students who will write them on paper and post answer scripts to colleges. There is no monitoring. In some cases, students are allowed to send answer scripts a day later.

Earlier, lack of monitoring and easy question papers inflated pass percentage to above 95% in most universities.

Professors say many write exams in groups and form WhatsApp groups to share answers. “Universities and colleges lack infrastructure to conduct online exams. It needs investment to develop software,” a city college principal said.

Another principal said around 60% of the college’s students were from rural areas. “It is not possible to monitor them through mobile phone cameras as connections are poor. We have asked them to mail answer scripts after writing in pen and paper mode.”

Anna University is the only institution to conduct an online test with invigilators and artificial intelligence tools monitoring students. Last semester, the proctored test was successfully taken by more than 90% of students.

University of Madras also tried to develop a software and platform for online exams, but many students complained they didn’t internet connectivity. “So, we had to relax the rules,” said vice-chancellor S Gowri.

Loyola College is conducting exams through virtual platforms with three layers of monitoring. “There will be an invigilator for every 25 students and a supervisor for every five invigilators,” said principal Thomas Amirtham.

Trichy-based Bharathidasan University is discussing ways to improve monitoring mechanism. “We have learned from from conducting online semester exams last time. We are discussing making minor changes and a decision would be taken in another few days,” said M Selvam, VC.

Some senior academicians propose holding online tests at colleges near students’ residences to avoid malpractices.

(with inputs from K Sambath Kumar in Trichy)

CLOSE WATCH : Professors said many students form WhatsApp groups and share answer for test questions