Clearly mark food items as vegetarian, non-vegetarian: Delhi high court

Clearly mark food items as vegetarian, non-vegetarian: Delhi high court

TNN | Mar 3, 2022, 04.40 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Delhi high court has called for a complete disclosure if a food item is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, noting that fundamental rights of every person are impacted by what is offered.

The high court directed Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday to issue a fresh communication to all authorities concerned on the obligation to make a clear disclosure on the ingredients of a food article.

A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and D K Sharma passed the order while hearing a plea for labelling “all items” used by the public as vegetarian or non-vegetarian and the “items used in the manufacturing process”.

The court agreed with the submission made by the petitioner’s counsel that it was pointless to issue such a communication to the authorities, and not to the general public whose fundamental rights were being affected.

“Since the right of every person under Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) and Article 25 (freedom to conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion) under the Constitution is impacted by what is offered on a platter, in our view it is fundamental that a full and complete disclosure regarding the food article being vegetarian or non-vegetarian is made a part of consumer awareness,” the court said, adding that failure in complete disclosure about any packaged food article also defeated the purpose for which Food Safety and Standards Act was enacted.

The bench was hearing a plea by a trust, Ram Gau Raksha Dal, working for the welfare of cows. According to the plea, a December 22, 2021 communication by FSSAI still leaves a lot of ambiguity and does not clearly require food business operators to make a disclosure as to whether or not the food item is vegetarian or non-vegetarian on the basis that even if its use is miniscule, it will make the article non-vegetarian.

The court earlier said the use of non-vegetarian ingredients and labelling them vegetarian would offend religious and cultural sentiments of strict vegetarians and interfere in their right to freely profess their religion.

Centre exploring ways to let evacuees complete studies

Centre exploring ways to let evacuees complete studies

Health Ministry, NMC & Niti Aayog Expected To Meet Soon

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi : With future of many Indian students who were pursuing medical education in war torn Ukraine in limbo, the government along with the National Medical Commission of India is discussing possibilities to accommodate such students in either Indian medical colleges or those abroad so that they can complete their courses.

“There is a need to examine this on humanitarian grounds. We will have to see how many such students are affected, how many of them are in third or fourth year and what are the existing provisions. We will do whatever possible to support them,” a senior official said.

The commission, health ministry and member from Niti Aayog is expected to meet soon to deliberate on the issue, sources said.

Another official from the health ministry said the concerned departments are examining it and the government will do whatever possible to support such students.

According to a source, the  government is looking at possibilities of whether provisions can be made on humanitarian ground to accommodate such students from Ukraine in either private medical colleges or allow their transfer to colleges in other countries so that they can appear for NEETFMG.

Some local doctors’ associations have made represen-tations to NMC seeking intervention to introduce special provisions enabling transfer of such students to medical colleges in other countries. This will ensure their eligibility to apply for the entrance exam in India as foreign medical graduates (FMG).

Medical students pursuing medicine from foreignuniversities have to clear the screening test. Once they clear they are equal to any other Indian medical graduate for further practice and employment as a medical doctor in India.

However, the NMC regulation does not allow migration of FMG from one medical college to another.

Full report on www. toi. in

No Indian student held hostage: MEA Hans News Service

No Indian student held hostage: MEA Hans News Service

3 March 2022 11:50 PM IST 

HIGHLIGHTS

India on Thursday rejected claims by both Russia and Ukraine that Indian students are being held hostage in the besieged city of Kharkiv, and said it has requested the support of Ukrainian authorities in arranging special trains for taking them out from the city and neighbouring areas. New Delhi: India on Thursday rejected claims by both Russia and Ukraine that Indian students are being held hostage in the besieged city of Kharkiv, and said it has requested the support of Ukrainian authorities in arranging special trains for taking them out from the city and neighbouring areas.

India's comments came after a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin's office claimed that some Indian students were "actually taken hostage" by Ukrainian security forces, who use them as a "human shield" and in every possible way prevent them from leaving for Russian territory. The Russian claim was mentioned in a readout issued by Kremlin following a telephonic conversation between President Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday evening.

Separately, the Ukrainian foreign ministry "urgently called on the governments of India, Pakistan, China and other counties whose students have become hostages of the Russian armed aggression in Kharkiv and Sumy, to demand from Moscow that it allows the opening of a humanitarian corridor to other Ukrainian cities." Some Indian students were stuck in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and several other conflict zones and India has asked both Russia and Ukraine to facilitate their safe passage to the border transit points for their exit to neighbouring countries

"We have not received any report of any hostage situation regarding any student. We have requested the support of Ukrainian authorities in arranging special trains for taking out students from Kharkiv and neighbouring areas to the western part of the country," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. The Russian readout said the Russian side is trying to organise an "urgent evacuation of a group of Indian students from Kharkov (Kharkiv) through the humanitarian corridor along the shortest route to Russia." Also Read - Tirupati: Panicked parents want evacuation of students from Belarus, too "At the same time, according to the latest information, these students are actually taken hostage by Ukrainian security forces, who use them as a human shield and in every possible way prevent them from leaving for Russian territory," it claimed.

https://www.thehansindia.com/karnataka/bjp-mla-says-more-students-can-be-brought-in-place-of-body-731840?infinitescroll=1

6 other VCs on sticky wicket

6 other VCs on sticky wicket

TNN | Mar 4, 2022, 03.57 AM IST

Ahmedabad: The Supreme Court’s order directing the removal of vice chancellor of Sardar Patel University for failing to meet minimum eligibility criteria has come as a warning for the state authorities and at least six other VCs who do not possess the minimum teaching experience.

Sources said that besides Shishir Kulkarni of SP University, whose appointment was quashed for not having 10 years of teaching experience as professor, there are six other VCs who do not meet this criterion. A couple of them were teaching in colleges where the chances of promotion to the post of professor were slim.

The state government has received various representations against appointment of VCs who do not possess qualification as prescribed by the University Grants Commission Regulations.

Petitions have also been filed in Gujarat high court in some cases. “The government has been appointing people to such coveted posts by ignoring UGC regulations. The search committees do have UGC representatives, but the eligibility criteria are ignored. The SC has observed this in its order and the state government may have to face problems for appointments that are not in accordance with the law,” an expert said.

SC orders removal of SP University VC

SC orders removal of SP University VC

TNN | Mar 4, 2022, 03.57 AM IST

Ahmedabad: In an important order, the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the appointment of the vice-chancellor of Sardar Patel University, Shirish Kulkarni, after he was found to not have adequate teaching experience to hold the crucial post.

While ordering the removal of the vice chancellor, the apex court bench of Justice M R Shah and B V Nagarathna castigated the Gujarat government for continuing with the SP University Act and state legislation that are not in consonance with University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations and for not amending its law for such appointments despite being told to by the UGC, the state’s governor in 2014 and the Gujarat high court in 2018. The SC observed that the state government and its universities have continued to make appointment of VCs in violation of UGC regulations, which prescribe minimum teaching experience for the post, but the government and search committees, formed to nominate VCs, continue to compromise with quality.

The SC asked the government to consider amending its legislation to deal with the issue of appointment of unqualified persons to the top positions of the highest educational institutes. It criticised present conditions and called for raising the bar by selecting well-qualified people for VC posts. It said, “It is correct to say that a vice-chancellor is the kingpin of a university’s system and a keeper of the university conscience.”

With this observation, the judges also quoted Chanakya Nitishastra’s maxim “Yatha raja, tatha praja” (as is the king, so are the subjects) to describe the affairs at Gujarat’s universities, where people otherwise not qualified have been appointed as VCs.

In this case, Kulkarni was appointed VC of SP University in 2016. One Gambhirsinh Gadhvi approached the HC first and then the SC through senior advocate I H Syed, and submitted that UGC regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2010’, mandates 10 years of teaching experience as a professor for the post. But the search committee ignored this criteria.

HOSPITAL

Nurse plants HIV positive story after being denied Rs 2,000 bribe

Though a case was not registered till now, hospital superintendent David Selvin Raj said an enquiry has been conducted and the statement of the victim was recorded.

Published: 02nd March 2022 06:55 AM 

By Express News Service

KADAPA: In a shocking incident, a nurse in Proddatur government hospital left a newly delivered woman and her family in shock by falsely claiming that the woman tested positive for HIV as she did not give Rs 2,000 for assisting her during the delivery.

The woman’s family was in for a rude shock as she underwent tests for HIV twice before the delivery and the results came negative both times. The nurse later told the woman that she just wanted to scare her for not giving money. The hospital authorities conducted an enquiry and sent a report to the collector for further action.

According to information reaching here, B Subhashini of Somapuram village in Chapadu mandal was admitted to Proddutur government hospital for delivery on Sunday. The same night, she delivered a baby girl. After her safe delivery, a nurse, Latha, approached her and demanded Rs 2,000 for successfully facilitating the delivery.

Subhashini told the nurse that she does not have any money and that she will give her the money after her husband comes on Monday. In the morning, when Subhashini’s husband Guru Prasad and his relatives came to the hospital, Latha told them that the woman tested positive for HIV.

Guru Prasad later lodged a complaint with the hospital superintendent and also Proddutur II Town police against the nurse. Though a case was not registered till now, hospital superintendent David Selvin Raj said an inquiry has been conducted and the statement of the victim was recorded. He confirmed that Subhashini tested negative both times she underwent an HIV test. A report has been sent to collector V Viajayarama Raju for further action, he said.

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY