Active Covid infections rise slightly in 12 of 15 city zones

Active Covid infections rise slightly in 12 of 15 city zones

Corpn Steps Up Random Testing

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  02.08.2021

In the past four days, the number of active Covid-19 cases in the city has increased in 12 of the 15 zones, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation. Across Chennai, active cases increased from 1,480 on July 27 to 1,627 on July 31.

While there was no change in the number of active cases in Royapuram, there was a decrease in Ambattur and Anna Nagar.

The sharpest increase was seen in Teynampet zone, where cases increased from 124 to 149 between July 27 and 31. This was because one of the family clusters was in Mandaveli, which falls in this zone. In Kodambakkam, active cases increased by 11. Both these zones cover extremely crowded areas in central Chennai with many shopping districts, including T Nagar.

The increase in other zones is by less than 10. Civic officials say there is nothing to worry as they have intensified random testing and will be isolating all positive cases in Covid care centres.

A senior civic official said the corporation has now started collecting vaccination information about people who test positive. This would be a good dataset and could provide valuable insights.

A study of two clusters last week showed that one index case is likely to have gotten the infection from the market on Medavakkam Tank Road and then infected 10 other contacts. The other index case was of a woman who visited the Nammalwarpet market frequently and is likely to have caught it from there. Five extended contacts were traced from that index case.

Health minister Ma Subramaniam said the corporation had been asked to intensify surveillance in crowded market places. To a question, he said there was a plan to probably space out the Kasimedu and Chintadripet fish market to ease crowding by customers.

After 11 weeks of decline, Covid cases see 7.5% surge

After 11 weeks of decline, Covid cases see 7.5% surge

Amit.Bhattacharya@timesgroup.com

2.8.2021

Fresh Covid-19 cases in India registered a week-onweek rise for the first time in 12 weeks since the peak of the second wave in early May, in what could be an early sign of another pandemic spike in the country. Currently, however, the surge is mainly restricted to Kerala and, to a much lesser degree, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

India recorded just over 2.86 lakh new cases in the current week ended Sunday (July 26-August 1), a 7.5% rise from the previous week’s tally of 2.66 lakh. Weekly cases in the country have registered a rise for the first time since May 3-9, when the second wave peaked. The fall in cases had continued till last week, even though the decline had slowed to 1.4%.

Kerala, the current epicentre of the pandemic in India, logged close to 1.4 lakh cases in the present week, a 26.5% increase from the previous week’s tally of 1.1 lakh. The state accounted for nearly half (49%) of all new cases in the country in the last seven days, with a daily average of 20,000 new cases. Kerala posted 20,728 cases on Sunday, the sixth straight day that the daily count had stayed over 20,000.

Worryingly, there were signs that Kerala’s Covid surge was spilling out to its neighbouring states.

92L jabs/day must to reach vax target

India must administer an average of 92 lakh doses a day to meet target of inoculating all above18 by year-end . Though this level was achieved on June 21, it would mean maintaining a daily average that is1.6 times the jabs of the best week so far. P20

Govt may use NDMA in badly hit states

Worried by the rise in Covid infections in Kerala and parts of the North-East, the Centre is considering issuing directives under the National Disaster Management Act to these states unless the situation changes for the better. P20

Active Covid cases rose by over 14k in past 6 days

Karnataka recorded a 17.3% increase in new cases as compared to the previous week, although the rise hasn’t been much in absolute numbers. Karnataka reported 12,442 cases in the current week as opposed to 10,610 in the previous seven days.

On the positive side, Maharashtra’s weekly numbers declined by 6.2%, following a 10% dip in the previous week. The state recorded 45,272 new cases this week as compared with 48,253 in the previous one. Numbers in the northeast, another region that has seen a spike in cases, appeared to have declined this week.In keeping with the rise in infections, active cases in the country have risen by over 14,000 in the past six days. The number of active had dipped below 4 lakh around a week ago, but had again climbed close to 4.15 lakh by Sunday. For the sixth day running, India recorded over 40,000 fresh cases on Sunday. The day’s tally stood at 40,800. There were 418 deaths reported on the day. In the past week, India recorded 3,805 new deaths, a sharp drop of 44% over the previous week’s toll of 6,848.

Kerala High Court reserves verdict in plea challenging award of tender without signed declaration form

Kerala High Court reserves verdict in plea challenging award of tender without signed declaration form

The Kerala High Court had in the past held that signing the declaration form is not an essential condition for awarding tender.

Kerala High Court

Giti Pratap

Published on : 31 Jul, 2021, 6:53 pm

The Kerala High Court has reserved its judgment on a petition challenging the award of tender by Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. (KMML) to a party who had not signed the declaration form in which the prevailing GST rate was to be mentioned accurately.

The petition was filed by the proprietor of Skillderz developers who had participated in the E-tender invited by KMML alleging that the tender was awarded to another party who had quoted inaccurate GST rates and had not signed the relevant form where it was mentioned.

The matter was heard by Justice PB Suresh Kumar.

The Kerala High Court had in the past held that signing the declaration form is not an essential condition for awarding tender.

However, in the present matter, it was the argument of the petitioner that the party who was awarded the tender had deliberately not signed the declaration form, where he had purportedly quoted a lower GST rate.

This, it was contended, was an attempt to win the tender by cheating the State Government, KMML and other concerned authorities.

The petition, filed through Advocate Renjith B Marar, stated that KMML had, in June 2021, issued tender document inviting tender for the work of highly mechanised collection, loading and transportation of mineral sand in tippers.

The petitioner claimed to have put in his bid for the tender along with all required documents mentioned by the tender inviting authority.

The petitioner, along with two others, had participated in the bidding process and the petitioner had quoted an amount for Rs 3,29,00,000 with 18 percent GST. One of the other parties had quoted a higher amount but the same GST of 18%.

However, the party who was awarded the tender had quoted an amount of Rs 3,29,90,000 and quoted a GST at the rate of 9%, which he is not entitled to, the plea said.

This party had shown GST rates at 9% whereas it should be at 18%. The total amount without tax also was calculated at the 9 % discount offered by said party. This, it was contended, was an attempt to wilfully evade taxes and defraud the tendering authority.

Pertinently, it was pointed out that the declaration form which is an integral part of the tender document was deliberately not signed by this party.

As per Clause 3 of the declaration form, the bidder is required to quote the prevailing GST at the time of the bidding.

By quoting a GST rate which is not prevailing while submitting the tender, the petitioner alleged that the party's intention was to cheat the company, government and the other participants to the tender.

Hence, he is liable to be disqualified from the tender process, the plea stated,

It was also argued that the tender inviting authority ought to have disqualified this party in the Technical Bid opening itself and his Financial Bid ought not to have been considered. However, the tender inviting authority allegedly by oversight and with other intentions accepted this party's bid, the plea said.

Moreover, by accepting the quote of this party,the Government would actually end up paying more money, the petitioner submitted.

In conclusion, it was submitted that accepting the quote of the this party would be arbitrary, discriminatory and hence violative of Articles 14 and 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

The petitioner also sought a declaration from the Court stating that submitting of signed declaration form is an essential condition in the tender invited by KMML.

Challenge to appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University: Delhi High Court seeks CVC response

Challenge to appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University: Delhi High Court seeks CVC response

An appeal has been filed in Delhi High Court against a single-judge bench judgment dismissing a petition challenging the appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Dr Najma Akhtar, Delhi High Court

Zeb Hasan

Published on : 31 Jul, 2021 , 5:07 pm

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in a challenge made to the appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia University (M Ehtesham-ul-Haq vs UOI & Ors).

Before the Court was an appeal challenging a single-Judge judgement that had earlier dismissed a plea challenging the appointment of Dr Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor.

Appearing for the appellant, advocate Mobashir Sarwar contended that the appointment needs to be set aside as it was wholly illegal. It was argued that the Search Committee constituted for appointing the Vice-Chancellor was marred by illegalities.

Dr Najma Akhtar was represented by ASG Vikramjit Banerjee along with standing counsel Fuzail Ayyubi. Banerjee contended that there is no reason to entertain the appeal as no new grounds have been raised in it.

Since the appeal was at the stage of admission, and since no one appeared on behalf of the CVC on Friday, the Court posted the matter for hearing on 22 September, 2021. The Court has also sought the CVC's response.

The appellant had contended that the entire process which culminated in the appointment of Dr Akhtar as the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University was a colourable exercise of power.

The process was also alleged to have been in flagrant violation of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act, 1988 read with Clause 7.3.0 of the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the maintenance of standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2010.

The appeal against single-judge judgment was filed on following grounds:

a) That the appointment of Justice (retd.) MSA Siddiqui as member of the Search Committee for the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor was wrong because he was not a “person of eminence in the sphere of higher education” as required under the applicable statute and regulations for members of the Search Committee.

b) The Selection Committee was required to give reasons for selecting Dr. Akhtar for Jamia Millia Islamia as per 3.2 of UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the maintenance of standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2010.

c) The Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD) had no role recommending the names to be included in selection committee.

d) The CVC had initially denied clearance for the appointment of Dr Akhtar. The same was, however, revoked after the MHRD’s intervention, which is impermissible in law.

Apart from ASG Vikramjit Banerjee and standing counsel Fuzail Ayyubi, Dr Akhtar was also represented by advocates Pritish Sabharwal, Shruti Agarwal, Tanvi, Ibad Mushtaq, Akanksha Rai. The University Grants Commission (UGC) was represented by advocates Apoorv Kurup and Nidhi Mittal.

Benefit Of 'Krishna Sradha' Judgment Can Be Availed Only If NEET Candidate Approached Court Without Any Delay: Supreme Court

Benefit Of 'Krishna Sradha' Judgment Can Be Availed Only If NEET Candidate Approached Court Without Any Delay: Supreme Court

LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK

1 Aug 2021 10:30 AM

The Supreme Court observed that the benefit of S. Krishna Sradha v. State of Andhra Pradesh judgment can be availed only if the NEET candidate approached the Court without delay.

In Krishna Sradha, the Supreme Court has observed that, in exceptional cases, a direction can be issued to grant admission to meritorious candidates to MBBS Course even after cut-off date.

One crucial condition is that the student has to approach the Court at the earliest and without any delay, the bench comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose noted.

In this case, the High Court directed to admit the students to the first year MBBS course for the year 2020-2021 in the vacant seats that existed for the academic year 2019-2020. The order was passed in a writ petition filed by NEET candidates who had alleged that students with lesser merit have been given admission to the MBBS course for the academic year 2019-2020.

Assailing this order, the National Medical Council in its appeal, contended that the judgment in Krishna Sradha cannot come to the rescue of the students as they approached the High Court one and a half year after the last date of admission for the academic year 2019- 2020.

The court noted that in S. Krishna Sradha, the need for providing restitutional remedy in rare cases was highlighted.

"...However, the conditions for grant of relief or for seeking admission to the available courses after the last date have been mentioned in para 33 of the judgment. One crucial condition is that the student has to approach the Court at the earliest and without any delay. It was further mentioned in the judgment that in case admission is directed to be given to the students, the number of seats allotted in the management quota for the next year has to be reduced."

The bench observed that the High Court ought not to have shown indulgence to the writ petitioners by directing admission in the vacant seats that arose in the year 2019-2020 and permit the students to start their course in the academic year 2020-2021.

"We are aware that the interference by this Court would cause loss of an academic year to the students. However, we cannot support the judgment of the High Court in granting admission for the year 2020- 2021 as it is contrary to the judgment of this Court in S. Krishna Sradha (supra) case. The students approached the High Court almost one and a half year after the last date of admission of the first year MBBS course for the academic year 2019-2020", the Court said while setting aside the High Court direction.

Case: Medical Council of India vs. Ritwik [CA 4438 of 2021 ]

Coram: Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose

Counsel: AOR Gaurav Sharma for appellant, Sr. Adv P.V. Surendranath, Sr. Adv Vinay Navare, AOR Subhasish Bhowmick

Citation: LL 2021 SC 335

Benefit Of 'Krishna Sradha' Judgment Can Be Availed Only If NEET Candidate Approached Court Without Any Delay: Supreme Court

Benefit Of 'Krishna Sradha' Judgment Can Be Availed Only If NEET Candidate Approached Court Without Any Delay: Supreme Court: The Supreme Court observed that the benefit of S. Krishna Sradha v. State of Andhra Pradesh judgment can be availed only if the NEET candidate approached the Court without delay.In Krishna Sradha,...

மிரட்டும் கேரளா: கொரோனா பரவியது எப்படி?

மிரட்டும் கேரளா: கொரோனா பரவியது எப்படி?

Updated : ஆக 01, 2021 00:22 | Added : ஜூலை 31, 2021 21:45

கேரளாவில், கொரோனா பரவல் அதிகமாக உள்ளது. அது, தமிழகத்திலும் தன் தாக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தலாம் என, மருத்துவர்கள் சிலர் தொடர்ந்து எச்சரிக்கை மணி அடிக்கின்றனர். அச்சமூட்டும் இந்த விபரம் சரியா என, மருத்துவ துறையின் நோய் தொற்று ஆய்வில், நீண்டகாலமாக ஈடுபட்டு வரும், மூத்த மருத்துவர் ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது:

கேரள மருத்துவ பல்கலையில் இருந்து, பல தரவுகள் கிடைத்துள்ளன. அவற்றை பார்த்தால், கொரோனா முதல் அலையின் போது, கேரளா பெரிய அளவில் பாதிப்புக்கு உள்ளாகவில்லை.

மக்கள் நெருக்கம்

காரணம், கேரளாவில் மலைப் பிரதேசம் அதிகம். வீடுகள் நெருக்கமாக இல்லை. அதனால், மக்கள் நெருக்கம் ஒரே இடத்தில் இல்லை. ஓரளவுக்கு பரவிய கொரோனாவை, விரைவிலேயே கட்டுக்குள் கொண்டு வந்தனர். ஆனால், அடுத்தடுத்த அலை பரவலால், அவர்களால் கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியவில்லை. காரணம், மக்கள் நெருக்கமாக கூடியது தான். திருவனந்தபுரம், ஆலப்புழா, திருச்சூர் போன்ற கேரளாவின் பெரிய நகரங்களில், ஏராளமான கல்லுாரிகள் உள்ளன. அங்கு ஆண்களும், பெண்களும் சேர்ந்து படிக்கின்றனர்; பலர் விடுதிகளில் தங்கி உள்ளனர்.

கல்லுாரிகளில் படிக்கும் மாணவர்கள், விடுதியில் தங்கியிருப்போர், எந்தவிதமான எச்சரிக்கை உணர்வும் இல்லாமல் இருந்துள்ளனர். ஒரு கல்லுாரி மைதானத்தில், மாணவர்கள் நெருக்கமாக அமர்ந்து, கால்பந்து போட்டிகளை ரசித்துள்ளனர். கொரோனா நோய் தொற்றுக்கு ஆளான சிலரும், அவர்களுடன் இருந்துள்ளனர். இதுவே, கொரோனா பரவலுக்கு முக்கிய காரணம்.

பாதுகாப்பு நடவடிக்கை

அதே நேரத்தில், கல்லுாரி விடுதிகளில் தங்கி படிக்கும் மாணவியருக்கு, கொரோனா இரண்டாவது அலை பரவலும் பெரிய பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தவில்லை. இன்னொரு கல்லுாரியில், விடுதிக்கான உணவகத்தில் அமர்ந்து சாப்பிட தடை விதித்து, கொரோனா பாதுகாப்பு நடவடிக்கைகளை கவனமாக பின்பற்றி உள்ளனர். ஆனால், 'மெஸ்'க்கு வந்து சாப்பாடு வாங்கும் மாணவர்கள், விடுதி அறைகளுக்கு சென்று, அங்கே கூட்டமாக அமர்ந்து சாப்பிட்டுள்ளனர்.

ஒரு சிறிய அறையில், 20 பேர் வரை தங்கி சாப்பிட, ஏற்கனவே கொரோனா தொற்று இருந்தவர்களிடம் இருந்து, மற்றவர்களுக்கும் பரவி விட்டது. இப்படித் தான், கொரோனா பரவல் மாநிலம் முழுதும் அதிகரித்திருக்கிறது. இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

'மூன்றாவது அலை அச்சம் வேண்டாம்'

''ஆகஸ்ட் மாத இறுதியில் அல்லது செப்டம்பர் முதல் வாரத்தில், மூன்றாவது அலை இருக்கும் என்று கூறுகின்றனர்;அதை புறக்கணிக்க முடியாது. எத்தனை அலை வந்தாலும், எதிர்கொள்ள தயாராக இருக்க வேண்டும். இரண்டாவது அலையில், இளைஞர்களும், குழந்தைகளும் பெரிய அளவில் பாதிக்கப்படுவர் என்று கணிக்கப்பட்டது. ஆனால், அது பொதுவாக தான் இருந்தது.

கேரளாவில், கொரோனா பாதிப்பு எண்ணிக்கை கூடுதலாக உள்ளது. இருந்தபோதும், இறப்பு எண்ணிக்கை குறைவாகவே உள்ளது. அதனால், பெரிய அளவில் அச்சம் வேண்டாம். மூன்றாவது அலையும் அப்படி தான் இருக்கும் என்பது தற்போதைய கணிப்பு.

டாக்டர் தீபக் கண்ணன்

நுரையீரல் சிறப்பு சிகிச்சை நிபுணர்

'-கேரளாவுக்கு செல்வதை கட்டுப்படுத்த வேண்டும்'

கொரோனா மூன்றாவது அலையில், கொரோனா வைரஸ் உருமாற்றம் எப்படி இருக்கும் என்று தெரியவில்லை. 'டெல்டா பிளஸ்' உருமாற்ற வைரசாக இருக்குமானால், அதிக வீரியத்துடன், அதன் தாக்கம் இருக்கும். அதனால், நாம் கவனமாக இருப்பது நல்லது.

இருப்பினும், மூன்றாவது அலை கூடுதல் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தாது என்கின்றனர். ஆனால், கொரோனா வைரசை பொறுத்தவரை, எதையும் உறுதியாக சொல்ல முடியாது. கேரளாவில் வைரஸ் பரவல் அதிகமாக இருக்கிறது. அதனால், கேரளாவுக்கு போவதையும் வருவதையும் கட்டுப்படுத்த வேண்டும். தேவையில்லாத பயணத்தை தவிர்க்க வேண்டும்.

டாக்டர் ஜி.வேல்குமார்

நுரையீரல் சிறப்பு சிகிச்சை நிபுணர்,

மீனாட்சி மிஷன் மருத்துவமனை, மதுரை

- நமது நிருபர் -