Full vax certificate must for Chhath Puja at Jhulelal ghat

Full vax certificate must for Chhath Puja at Jhulelal ghat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:26.10.2021

Devotees observing the 36-hour fast of Chhath will have to show their double dose vaccination certificate before entering the Jhulelal Ghat and standing in knee-deep water to offer ‘arghya’.

Akhil Bharatiya Bhojpuri Samaj president Prabhunath Rai, who is also the organiser of the festival at Jhulelal Ghat, took part in a cleanliness drive along with cabinet minister Brijesh Pathak on Monday.

Several volunteers also took part in the cleanliness drive ahead of Chhath festivities from November 8-11.

Over 180 Bhojpuri artists from Delhi, Lucknow Bihar, Mumbai will perform at the ghat during Chhath.

“The confirmation of a few guests is awaited. The performance will go on for 18 hours. Devotees coming to offer prayers will have to undergo temperature check, wear masks and show their certificate of full vaccination. We will ensure norms are followed,” said Rai.

Every year hundreds of devotees flock to the river banks with their families to perform Chhath rituals and offer prayers. Many people make artificial ponds at their homes or in parks for performing puja.

The festival will begin with the ‘Nahaye-Khaye’ ritual on November 8 and culminate on November 11.

UP law minister Brajesh Pathak cleans the Jhulelal ghat on Monday

B.Sc student hangs self at Bikaner hostel

B.Sc student hangs self at Bikaner hostel

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bikaner:26.10.2021

A B.Sc nursing student hanged herself in the hostel of Sardar Patel Medical College (SPMC) on Monday.

The deceased student has been identified as Aayoush Dondwal, 22, a 4th year student, a resident of Kotputli in Jaipur district.

Mahavir Prasad Vishnoi, SHO of Jai Narayan Vyas Colony police station said that the deceased was staying with her room mate at the nursing hostel in SPMC and was brought dead by the hostel staff around 3.30pm to the trauma centre of PBM Hospital.

According to police, the hostel staff stated that they examined her room but did not find any suicide note.

The police have recovered her mobile phone and sealed the room, which will be re-examined in the presence of her parents, who are on their way to Bikaner.

A case in this regard has been registered at JNVC police station.

SC: Dependent mother-in-law can get payout for man’s death

SC: Dependent mother-in-law can get payout for man’s death

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:26.10.2021

Holding that Motor Vehicles (MV) Act should be given a wider interpretation and all dependents of a deceased be allowed to claim compensation, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a dependent mother-in-law is also entitled to claim in case of death of her son-in-law.

“In our view, the term ‘legal representative’ should be given a wider interpretation for the purpose of Chapter XII of MV Act and it should not be confined only to mean the spouse, parents and children of the deceased. As noticed above, MV Act is a benevolent legislation enacted for the object of providing monetary relief to the victims or their families. Therefore, the MV Act calls for a liberal and wider interpretation to serve the real purpose underlying the enactment and fulfil its legislative intent,” a bench of Justices S Abdul Nazeer adn Krishna Murari said.

“We are also of the view that in order to maintain a claim petition, it is sufficient for the claimant to establish his loss of dependency,” it said.

Don’t give OTC meds to toddlers: Docs

Don’t give OTC meds to toddlers: Docs

Amrita.Didyala@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:26.10.2021

The prevalence of fever, cough and cold during this time of the year has led to increase in the use of over the counter (OTC) medicines. However, the use of OTC medicines which are unsuitable for kids has also seen parents rushing their toddlers to emergency wards.

In one instance, a fivemonth-old had to be taken to hospital after turning blue a day after being given an OTC cough syrup. The baby had choked on milk after becoming drowsy due to the cough syrup. A resuscitation was required to save the baby. In a similar incident, an eightmonth-old fell off the bed and received serious injuries after becoming drowsy due to a cough syrup.

“While it is not very common, we do need to be aware this is a possibility and that cough syrups, paracetamol and antibiotics are not harmless. Cough syrups contain dextromethorphan which has a potential for addiction and lot of teenagers are getting hooked on to these. In case of infants, they can even become unconscious, land in a coma and have a stroke as cough syrups have a vasoconstriction effect,” said Dr Sudhir Kumar, consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospital.

Experts said it was also alarming that kids may be unknowingly developing antibiotic resistance. “In rare cases, it can lead to liver failure, unconsciousness, drowsiness and reduced attention. This can happen with overuse of cough syrups, paracetamol syrups and drops. Although very few kids land in emergency, some may experience unpleasant side-effects and develop antibiotic resistance early on in life,” said consultant for paediatrics and pulmonology at Ankura Hospitals, Dr Srinivas Jakka.

In case of cough and cold, some OTC medicines suppress secretions but can have a much severe rebound.

“There will be a reboundwith copious flow of secretions from the nose when you stop these medicines. Prolonged usage can result in something called rhinitis medicamentosa wherein the medicines themselves cause persistent cold. These medicines are definitely not recommended for toddlers,” explained Dr Shivranjani Santosh, chief paediatrician at Magna Centres.

ALARMING TREND

Marriage recognised only between man & woman, says Centre

Marriage recognised only between man & woman, says Centre

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:26.10.2021

Marriage is recognised only between “a biological man and a biological woman” under the Indian law, the Centre on Monday told Delhi High Court, reiterating its stand.

“The law as it stands...personal laws are settled, and marriage, which is contemplated, is between a biological man and a biological woman,” solicitor general Tushar Mehta submitted before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh, opposing a clutch of petitions seeking recognition/registration of samesex marriages.

Mehta echoed the government’s earlier stand disclosed in an affidavit that a “spouse” means either a husband or a wife and “marriage” is a term associated with heterosexual couples.

“The issue here is whether marriage is permissible between homosexual couples. Your lordships have to see that. There are some misconceptions regarding the Navtej Singh Johar case. It merely decriminalises consensual homosexual act. It does not talk about marriage,” Mehta contended, adding that there is no need for the Centre to file any specific reply regarding Citizenship Act, which has also been invoked by certain petitioners. During a short hearing, the bench also heard the counsel for the petitioners. Advocate Karuna Nandy, appearing for one of the couples, said they got married in New York and the laws applicable in their case were Citizenship Act, Foreign Marriage Act (FMA) and Special Marriage Act.

She pointed out that Centre had not yet filed a reply to her clients’ plea that highlighted how Citizenship Act was silent on the gender and sexuality of the spouse and it provided that a person married to an overseas citizen of India (OCI) whose marriage was registered and subsisting for two years should be declared eligible to apply as a spouse for an OCI card.

Senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal, representing another set of petitioners, said the SC verdict on homosexuality might not have expressly allowed same-sex marriage, but constitutional jurisprudence required interpretation and the verdict favoured recognising it.

T medical staff still shy away from Covid jab

T medical staff still shy away from Covid jab

Sribala.Vadlapatla@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:26.10.2021

An internal analysis of the health department has revealed how medical personnel in large numbers are refusing to take Covid-19 vaccine saying there is no need for it when there isn’t any spike in the cases.

With many districts still lagging in achieving the 100 per cent vaccination target, authorities are clearly worried.

In Medchal-Malkakgiri, a large portion of which falls within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the number of those who have not received even a single dose remains high.

Concerns over the vaccine’s effectiveness have also been cited as a reason for high hesitancy among the frontline workers.

According to sources, nursing professionals and paramedics in districts like Medchal and Nalgonda are unwilling to take the jab. "It is quite strange that many individuals believe taking precautions to protect themselves from Covid-19 is preferable to taking a vaccine," an official said.

Vaccine must in festive season: Expert

Social media is flooded with footage of people fleeing from health workers attempting to administer vaccines to them, particularly in rural areas.

“Despite massive awareness campaigns, it is unfortunate that many people, including health staff, are harbouring these myths,” a top official said.

Experts said it was incorrect to assume that vaccine should be taken when only if there is an increase in the number of cases.

Many health and science research organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have long said that taking two doses of the vaccine help in decreasing the severity of infection and reducing the death rate.

"After the completion of two doses of vaccine, it will take at least 40 days before antibodies are produced. It would mean that vaccine doses are crucial,”Dr Kiran Madala, an Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) certified researcher told TOI.

Madala said, “Since the festive season will last through January, it is best to get vaccinated.”

Many health and science research organizations, including World Health Organization (WHO), have said taking two doses helps in decreasing the severity of infection

Panel to probe med varsity scam: Govt informs HC

Panel to probe med varsity scam: Govt informs HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal/Jabalpur:26.10.2021

The state government informed a division bench of the MP high court that in compliance to its order, a five-member committee headed by a retired judge of the high court, Justice K K Trivedi, has been constituted to probe the marksheet scam and allegations of financial irregularities in the MP Medical University. The committee will present its report in a month.

In response to three petitions relating to the marksheet scam, corruption and other irregularities in MP Medical University, the court had directed the state government to appoint a committee headed by a retired judge of the high court to probe the matter, while dissolving the eight-member committee formed by the state government led by an additional collector. It was pointed out to the court that in-charge registrar of the university, Dr J K Gupta, had probed the allegations of manipulation of marksheets by the company, which was given contract by the university to organise exams on its behalf and prepare the marksheets. He had found the allegations prima facie right and subsequently the contract with the company- M/s Mind Logic Company- was suspended.

It was also pointed out that the past record of the company has been dubious and Agra Medical University had lodged an FIR against the company in a similar scam. The petitioners contended that Dr J P Gupta was later removed and vice-chancellor of the university Dr T N Dubey also resigned in the wake of the marksheet scam, but exam controller Dr Vrinda Gupta continues to occupy the post.

No substantial action was taken against the company in question either. In the reply presented in the court on behalf of the chief secretary, the court was informed that a committee headed by an ADM was looking into allegations of marksheet scam and other irregularities but the court ordered dissolution of the committee and constitution of a committee headed by a retired high court judge to probe the allegations.