Job racket cases: HC refuses bail to Rajhenthra Bhalaji

Job racket cases: HC refuses bail to Rajhenthra Bhalaji

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.12.2021

Ruling that there was prima facie materia against former AIADMK minister K T Rajhenthra Bhalaji in two job racket cases, the Madras high court on Friday refused to grant him anticipatory bail.

“There are prima facie materials against the accused. So far 23 job aspirants had given statements of being cheated by the accused in this case. This court consistently, in the cases of job racketing, is finding innocents being cheated and lured, leaving their future questionable-…job aspirants not only lose their money, they also lose their future,” said Justice M Nirmal Kumar.

Dismissing the two bail applications moved by the former AIADMK minister, the judge said it was pertinent for the probe to be concluded first. Justice Nirmal Kumar also refused to suspend the operation of the order for 15 days, as sought by senior advocate Ajmal Khan, representing the ex-minister, to enable them to move an appeal.

Pointing out that job scam cases were always dealt with firmness, the judge said: “This case is one of job racketing. Hence, this court is not inclined to show any leniency on the petitioner.”

On November 19, the court granted interim relief to the petitioner by orally directing the police not to arrest him till further orders.

According to the prosecution, FIRs have been registered against Bhalaji based on complaints that he had swindled ₹30 lakh from various people promising jobs in Aavin, a co-operative milk producing company owned by the state government.

Covovax gets WHO emergency use nod

Covovax gets WHO emergency use nod

18.12.2021

The WHO on Friday issued emergency use listing for anti-Covid vaccine Covovax, produced by the Serum Institute of India under licence from Novavax, expanding the basket of jabs validated by the global health body against the viral disease. CEO Adar Poonawalla had said earlier that SII planned to launch Covovax in the next six months. He had stated that Covovax, which is under trial, would offer protection to children down to three years. Covovax is still awaiting emergency use authorisation from DCGI. The Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL) has determined that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh any risks, and that the vaccine can be used globally. AGENCIES

Min: 28 in TN show Omicron indication

At least 28 people who arrived in TN from both ‘high-risk’ and ‘non-risk’ countries have tested Covid-19 positive along with S-gene drop, raising the suspicion of Omicron infection, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing, he said. More than 14,800 passengers, including 12,767 from ‘high-risk’ countries, had underwent RTPCR tests in two weeks and 70 had tested positive. Centre’s nod has been sought to make seven-day home isolation and RTPCR test must for all foreign passengers entering the state, the minister said.

Stand up, Tamil Thai Vazhthu now state song

Stand up, Tamil Thai Vazhthu now state song

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.12.2021

‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ is the state’s song, chief minister M K Stalin announced on Friday. The government issued an order making it compulsory for everyone to stand while the song is sung during government events. However, people with disabilities have been exempted from standing while the song is being sung.

The move comes a week after the Madras high court observed that ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ is a prayer song and not an anthem. The Madras court said there was no statutory or executive order requiring the attendees to stand up when the song was played. The court was justifying Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam pontiff Vijayendra Saraswathi sitting when the song was played at a function organised in Chennai in 2018.

In a statement, the CM said the Tamil language remains the way of life of Tamils. It is a reflection of their sentiments. Tamils are admiring the language as mother. Representatives of Tamil sangams, scholars and intellectuals had been appealing to the government to announce a song to hail such a language with rich literature, he stated.

Since the private firms and education institutions can play an important role in popularising the Tamil language and take it forward to the younger generation, they should be encouraged to sing the song at the beginning of the event organised by them, the CM added.

Meanwhile, TN BJP president K Annamalaihas asked the government to use the song fully, including the lines on belief in god, instead of using the abridged version.

The government issued an order making it compulsory for everyone to stand while the song is sung during government events

City court rejects plea of sacked Jamia professor

City court rejects plea of sacked Jamia professor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:17.12.2021

A Delhi court has dismissed the plea of a terminated professor of Jamia Millia Islamia, seeking registration of an FIR against two faculty members for alleged wrongful termination and forgery, saying it appeared to have been filed as a pressure tactic.

Mohd Arshad Malik, who was appointed as a professor in the architecture department in 2017, alleged in his complaint that he was wrongfully terminated by the dean of the department in 2018. He had further alleged that the faculty members, in connivance with each other, fabricated his signatures on the acknowledgement book to prove that the termination notice was received by him.

A magistrate court had on July 20, 2019, dismissed his petition seeking registration of FIR on his complaint, following which he had approached the sessions court against the order. Additional Sessions Judge Anuj Agrawal said the entire evidence was within the possession of Malik and no investigation by police was required for collection of any evidence.

DU VC to name new team today

DU VC to name new team today

New Delhi:17.12.2021

Four senior office bearers at the Delhi University (DU) were relieved from their posts on Thursday. Sources say that vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh will be announcing a new team on Friday.

Pro vice-chancellor PC Joshi, dean of students welfare Rajeev Gupta, proctor Neeta Sehgal and director south campus Suman Kundu were among those who were relieved from their posts.

Stating that it was a “routine procedure,” Gupta said, “The four of us were relieved from our posts. The vice-chancellor will be announcing a new team on Friday.”

Kundu, who held the post for two years, said, “I have tried to maintain calm as much as possible in extremely challenging circumstances . It will be a pleasure to return to the department and focus on teaching and research that lacked attention in the last few years,” Kundu said. TNN

HC: Protect interfaith couple facing serious threat from relatives

HC: Protect interfaith couple facing serious threat from relatives

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:17.12.2021

Delhi High Court has ordered Delhi Police to protect an interfaith couple, who recently got married and claimed a serious threat from the family members.

Justice CD Singh on Wednesday issued notice to the family members of the petitioner woman and other respondents in the matter, while also making it clear that if any lapse occurs in the security/protection of the couple, the ACP of Ashok Vihar and the SHO, Keshav Puram police station, will be liable.

The cops sought time to file the status report in the matter and assured the bench that requisite protection shall be provided to the petitioners.

Advocate DK Santoshi, counsel for the petitioners, submitted that the couple had a love affair and got married at Arya Samaj Mandir, Delhi as per Hindu rites and ceremonies. He further submitted that since this is an inter-religious marriage, there are serious threats to the life and liberty of the petitioners from the family members of the woman’s side.

The plea submitted that on December 11, 2021, a family member of the girl thrashed the petitioner severely. The counsel also informed the court that the girl is educated and is 26 years old, and has also completed her graduation. The high school certificate confirms her date of birth and she is an adult who has taken the decision in sound mind. The boy is 24 years old.

As per the plea, it sought the court’s intervention to direct Delhi Police to protect the life and liberty of the petitioners from family members. According to an article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, men and women who have attained the age of majority have the right to marry “without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion”, the plea contended, arguing that the couple needs immediate protection.

Jamia student alleges rape in early Dec, accused arrested

Jamia student alleges rape in early Dec, accused arrested

New Delhi: 17.12.2021

A student from Jamia Millia Islamia has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by her friend. Police have arrested the accused. According to police, the victim is a graduate student and both the accused and the victim were known to each other. “They became friends two years ago,” an officer said. However, the accused was a resident of Jamia and not a student, the officer added.A probe has been initiated to find out whether the girl was given a cold drink laced with sedatives before she was assaulted. The incident happened earlier this December. TNN