Supreme Court Approves Rajasthan Government's Two-Child Rule

Supreme Court Approves Rajasthan Government's Two-Child Rule

The Rajasthan government rule falls within the purview of policy and there is "no need to interfere with it," said the bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Dutta and KV Vishwanathan, in an order on February 20.

India News NDTV News  Desk Updated: February 28, 2024 11:21 pm IST

New Delhi:

People with more than two children will not be eligible for government jobs in Rajasthan -- this 1989 law of the state has now got the Supreme Court's seal of approval.

The rule is non-discriminatory, the judges said, hearing a petition challenging it.

It falls within the purview of policy and there is "no need to interfere with it," said the bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Dutta and KV Vishwanathan, in an order on February 20.

The bench upheld the decision of Rajasthan High Court of October 12, 2022, and dismissed the petition of former soldier Ramji Lal Jat.

After retirement from defence services in January 2017, the soldier had applied for the post of a constable in Rajasthan Police in May 2018.

But his application was rejected under the Rajasthan Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1989, as he had more than two children after 1 June 2002.

The court said it had earlier approved similar rules – meant to promote family planning -- for contestants of Panchayat elections.

Children of docs who die in service to get govt jobs

Children of docs who die in service to get govt jobs

Children of doctors who died in the last three years can apply for the vacant post, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian.

Around 11,000 willing doctors donate `500 each every month to the Doctors Corpus Fund.

Express News Service

Updated on:

28 Feb 2024, 8:54 am

CHENNAI: Government jobs on compassionate grounds will be given to children of government doctors who died while in service, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian while handing over `1 crore each from the Doctors Corpus Fund to family members of seven doctors who died in 2022, on Tuesday.

The Directorate of Medical Education and Research, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services were instructed to take steps to complete the recruitment process as soon as possible. Children of doctors who died in the last three years can apply for the vacant post, said Subramanian.

The health minister added in case the eligible candidates want to apply for junior assistant posts and cannot wait for a longer period since there are less vacancies in the post, they can take six months of type writing training and apply for the typist post. Around 11,000 willing doctors donate `500 each every month to the Doctors Corpus Fund. Earlier, `50 lakh was given to the family members of doctors, Subramanian said.

Madras HC dismisses second bail plea of former TN Minister Senthil Balaji

Madras HC dismisses second bail plea of former TN Minister Senthil Balaji

Dismissing his bail petition, Justice N Anand Venkatesh directed the Principal Sessions and Special Court for PMLA Cases to complete the trial in three months.

Former TN minister V Senthil Balaji (File photo | P Jawahar, EPS)

Express News Service

Updated on:

28 Feb 2024, 11:29 am

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has once again denied bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Dismissing his bail petition, Justice N Anand Venkatesh directed the Principal Sessions and Special Court for PMLA Cases to complete the trial in three months.

“This court does not find any merits in the bail petition. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed,” he said in the order pronounced on Wednesday.

He directed the Principal Sessions Court to hold trial on a day-to-day basis and dispose of the case in three months.

“The petitioner has suffered incarceration for more than eight months. So, it is appropriate to issue a direction to the Principal Sessions Court to dispose of the case within a time frame.

Accordingly, it is directed to dispose of the case within three months and the trial be conducted on a day-to-day basis,” Justice Anand Venkatesh ordered.

Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023 by the ED on charges of receiving proceeds of crime generated through the cash of jobs scam allegedly committed during his tenure as Transport minister during 2011-15 in the Jayalalithaa Cabinet.

After arrested, he suffered severe chest pain and underwent by a bypass surgery at a private hospital before being shifted to the Central Prison at Puzhal.

His earlier round of bail petitions were dismissed by the Principal Sessions Court and the High Court and he moved the Supreme Court which directed him to approach the trial court for regular bail after finding no merits in the medical ground for enlarging him on bail.

Subsequently, he knocked the doors of the trial court unsuccessfully before filing the present bail petition in the High Court.

Ahead of the hearing in the High Court, he resigned from the post of minister without portfolio to pre-empt the ED from reiterating its argument that he may derail the probe as wielding influence in the capacity as a minister.

However, the arguments of change in circumstances could not gain the favour of the High Court which has now dismissed the bail petition.

During arguments, the senior counsels for Senthil Balaji raised several allegations against ED including tampering of electronic evidence. They also stated that the Central agency could not collect substantive material to prove the charges of money laundering.

However, ED contended that its charges were based on the evidence and materials obtained from the Central Crime Branch of Chennai city police which had registered three FIRs against him on the job scam.The Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the ED last year in connection with a money laundering case.

This was the second time in four months, that the DMK leader's plea for the relief was rejected by the HC.

Dismissing the petition on Wednesday, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said since the petitioner (accused) was in custody for about 8 months, the Special Court, trying Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases, was directed to conduct the trial preferably on a day- to-day basis and complete it within three months.

Balaji was arrested on June 14.

2023 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the Transport Minister during an earlier AIADMK regime.

The ED had on August 12 filed a charge-sheet, running to 3,000 pages against Balaji.

The Madras HC had on October 19 dismissed Balaji's earlier bail plea.

A local court has also dismissed thrice, his bail petitions.

TN Govt unlikely to extend financial assistance to UoM

TN Govt unlikely to extend financial assistance to UoM

The university’s ailing financial state of affairs was dealt a severe blow recently when the I-T officials froze its bank accounts for not paying the pending dues.

The University of Madras File Photo | Express

Binita Jaiswal, Subashini Vijayakumar

Updated on:

28 Feb 2024, 7:42 am

CHENNAI: After attending an emergency meeting convened by the state government to discuss the financial crisis plaguing the University of Madras, varsity sources maintained that the government was not inclined to offer direct financial help. They also said legal opinion will be sought about giving an undertaking to the Income Tax (I-T) Department in an attempt to make the department defreeze the university’s bank accounts.

According to members of the joint action committee of teaching and non-teaching staff associations of the university, the state government refused to provide any immediate financial help and instead suggested the university to appeal against I-T department’s demand to pay Rs 424 crore, dues for the assessment years 2017-2018 to 2020-2021.

The university’s ailing financial state of affairs was dealt a severe blow recently when the I-T officials froze its bank accounts for not paying the pending dues. The department had demanded such a hefty amount, by arguing that the university cannot be considered a government university as the state government’s contribution of funds was less than 50% since 2016-17. The officials have already deducted Rs 12.5 crore from the university’s frozen accounts.

Following deliberations at the Tuesday meeting, university sources said they would seek legal opinion on providing an undertaking to the I-T department, stating that 20% of the demanded amount could be paid in instalments. “The I-T officials had asked the university to give an undertaking that 20% of the demanded tax amount would be paid in instalments in the subsequent months, to get the accounts defreezed.

Subsequently, the university will also be able to file an appeal against the payment demand. While the joint action committee requested the government to take care of the salaries, which are due in the next two to three days, we hear that the state government has now refused to help financially,” said a member of the committee.

According to the committee, if the state government refuses to provide any fund, the university would then be forced to break its corpus (once it is defreezed), which has more than Rs 300 crore, the interest from which pensions are being paid. Even if they begin tapping the corpus fund, it is a slippery slope as the university would be able to cope up only for a limited period with the amount.

The university will definitely need financial support from state government in the long run. While the existing audit objections in the university only amount to about Rs 6 to Rs 7 crore, the state government has been slashing more than 75% of the funds it ought to have provided in the past few years, sources alleged.

Officials in the higher education department said how to disburse this month’s salary was the major point discussed in Tuesday’s meeting. “The department may take a decision regarding the financial situation of the university in the next two to three days,” they said.

Meanwhile, academicians have urged the state government to immediately intervene in the matter. “It is high time that the higher education minister announce grants for the historic institution,” said Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of State Platform for Common School System, who has started an online campaign to ‘save the University of Madras’.

வருவாய் துறை அலுவலர்களின் காலவரையற்ற வேலைநிறுத்தம் தொடக்கம்: பணியை புறக்கணித்து 10,300 பேர் பங்கேற்பு

வருவாய் துறை அலுவலர்களின் காலவரையற்ற வேலைநிறுத்தம் தொடக்கம்: பணியை புறக்கணித்து 10,300 பேர் பங்கேற்பு

செய்திப்பிரிவு

Last Updated : 28 Feb, 2024 05:04 AM

சென்னை: தமிழகம் முழுவதும் வருவாய்த் துறை அலுவலர்கள் நேற்று முதல் காலவரையற்ற வேலை நிறுத்தத்தை தொடங்கியுள்ளனர்.

பட்டதாரி அல்லாத பணியாளர்களின் பணி பாதுகாப்பை உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பன உள்ளிட்ட கோரிக்கைகளை வலியுறுத்தி, பிப்.27-ம் தேதி முதல்காலவரையற்ற வேலைநிறுத்தத் தில் ஈடுபடுவது என பெரம்பலூரில் நடைபெற்ற அவசர செயற்குழு கூட்டத்தில் வருவாய்த் துறை அலுவலர்கள் முடிவு செய்தனர்.

அதன்படி தமிழகம் முழுவதும் வருவாய்த் துறை அலுவலர்கள் நேற்று வேலைநிறுத்தத்தை தொடங்கினர். அவர்கள் பணியை புறக்கணித்து, மாவட்ட, வட்ட தலைநகரங்களில் ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர். அரசு புள்ளிவிவரத்தின்படி, தமிழகம் முழுவதும் நேற்று 10,327 பேர் பணிக்கு வரவில்லை.

இதுதொடர்பாக தமிழ்நாடு வருவாய்த் துறை அலுவலர் சங்கபொதுச்செயலாளர் சு.சங்கரலிங் கம் கூறியதாவது:

வருவாய்த்துறையில் பதவி உயர்வு பட்டியல்கள் திருத்தத்தின் காரணமாக பணியிறக்கம் பெற்ற அலுவலர்களின் பணி பாதுகாப்பை உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும். இது தொடர்பாக உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்ட பிறகும் பட்டதாரி அல்லாதபணியாளர்களின் பணி பாதுகாப்பை உறுதி செய்து விதி திருத்த அரசாணை வெளியிடவில்லை.

மேலும், வருவாய்த்துறையில் பணிபுரியும் இளநிலை உதவியாளர்களை முறையே இளநிலை, முதுநிலை வருவாய் ஆய்வாளர் எனபெயர் மாற்றம் செய்ய வேண்டும்என கடந்த 2016-ம் ஆண்டு சட்டப்பேரவையில் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டு, அரசாணையும் வெளியிடப்பட்டது. 8 ஆண்டுகள் ஆகியும் விதித்திருத்தம் செய்யப்படவில்லை. அலுவலக உதவியாளர் காலிப்பணியிடங்கள் நிரப்பப்படவில்லை.

இதுபோன்ற பல்வேறு கோரிக்கைகளை பலமுறை வலியுறுத்தியும் பயனில்லை. இதனால் வேறுவழியின்றி காலவரையற்ற வேலைநிறுத்தத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளோம். கடந்த சில நாட்களாக முன்னெடுத்தபோராட்டங்களால் மக்களவைத்தேர்தல் பணிகள், பொதுமக்களுக்கான சேவைகள் மற்றும் அரசின்முக்கியத் திட்டங்கள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. வரும் நாட்களில் தேர்தல்பணிகள் கடுமையாகப் பாதிக்கப்படும் சூழல் உள்ளது.

எனவே, கோரிக்கையை நிறைவேற்ற அரசு விரைந்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். அதற்கான உத்தரவாதம் கிடைக்கும் வரை வேலைநிறுத்தம் தொடரும்.

இவ்வாறு அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.

டிடிவி தினகரன் வலியுறுத்தல்: அமமுக பொதுச்செயலாளர் டிடிவி தினகரன் வெளியிட்ட அறிக்கையில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:

காலிப்பணியிடங்களை நிரப்பவேண்டும், அனைத்து நிலை அலுவலர்களுக்கும் மேம்படுத்தப்பட்ட ஊதியம், பணி நெருக்கடிக்கு தீர்வு காண வேண்டும் உள்பட 10 அம்ச கோரிக்கைகளை வலியுறுத்தி தமிழ்நாடு வருவாய் அலுவலர் சங்கத்தைச் சேர்ந்த 14 ஆயிரம் ஊழியர்கள் காலவரையற்ற வேலை நிறுத்தப் போராட்டத்தை தொடங்கி யுள்ளனர்.

இந்த கோரிக்கைகளை நிறைவேற்றக் கோரி கடந்த 13-ம் தேதிமுதல் தற்செயல் விடுப்பு, உண்ணாவிரதம், பணி புறக்கணிப்பு, தொடர் காத்திருப்பு என பல்வேறு போராட்டங்களை முன்னெடுத்தும் எந்த நடவடிக்கையும் தமிழக அரசு எடுக்கவில்லை. இதையடுத்து காலவரையற்ற வேலைநிறுத்தத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளனர்.

அரசு நிர்வாகத்திலும், மக்கள்நலத்திட்டங்களை செயல்படுத்து வதிலும் முக்கியப் பங்கு வகிக்கும்வருவாய்த்துறையின் அலுவலர் களின் வேலைநிறுத்தத்தால், அரசின் திட்டங்களை பெற விண்ணப் பிக்கும் லட்சக்கணக்கான மக்கள் பாதிக்கப்படும் அபாயம் உள்ளது. எனவே போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள தமிழ்நாடு வருவாய் அலுவலர் சங்கத்தின் பிரதிநிதிகளை அழைத்து பேசி அவர்களது நியாயமான கோரிக்கைகளை நிறைவேற்ற தமிழக அரசு முன்வர வேண்டும் என்று கூறியுள்ளார்.

KLE Society nursing students from Hubballi bag eight gold medals at RGUHS convocation

February 27, 2024 07:05 pm | Updated 07:06 pm IST - HUBBALLI

Four students of KLE Society’s Institute of Nursing Sciences, Hubballi, have bagged six ranks, including three first ranks, and eight gold medals in the 26 th Annual Convocation of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

According to a press release issued by college principal Sanjay M. Peerapur during the convocation on Tuesday, Governor and Chancellor of the university Thawarchand Gehlot honoured the four gold medallists in the presence of Chairman, National Medical Commission, New Delhi, B.N. Gangadhar and Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development Sharanprakash R Patil.

Prof. Peerapur has said that Felentina James who secured the first rank in B.Sc Nursing also bagged five gold medals for her achievement. She is the first nursing student to get five gold medals in the history of the university.

Asha Menasagi has secured the first rank and a gold medal in P.B. B.Sc Nursing, while Pruthvi R. Revankar has secured the first rank and a gold medal in M.Sc Nursing in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nursing.

Santosh Hattikatagi of the college has secured the sixth rank and a gold medal in M.Sc Nursing in Psychiatry Nursing.

According to Prof. Peerapur, students of the institution have created a record of sorts by bagging first ranks in B.Sc Nursing and M.S. Nursing for the third time in a row (2021, 2022 and 2023).

Medical associations seek scrapping of bond policies for doctors

 Medical associations seek scrapping of bond policies for doctors

After suggesting that state governments should abolish seat-leaving bonds, the central government is mulling over the cancellation of service bonds

Shuddhanta Patra | Posted February 27, 2024 09:13 AM

To enable doctors to serve their home states, boost productivity, reduce stress and enhance mental well-being, the medical associations including IMA, FAIMA, and FORDA are demanding that all bonds concerning doctors including service bonds be cancelled by the state governments. The Health Ministry and NMC have started discussions on quashing service bonds with the stakeholders across the country. 

The healthcare system in India faces several challenges in providing equitable and quality health services to its population. Consequently, several state governments have implemented regulations seeking medical graduates, postgraduates and super-specialists to work in public and private medical colleges and hospitals for a duration of one to three years.  After requesting states to do away with the 'seat-leaving bond' policy in medical colleges, the government is reportedly mulling over abolishing service bonds for doctors. A service bond is a legal agreement between a medical student and a government agency or medical institution. It requires medical graduates to work in a specific area or healthcare facility for a specified period after completing their MBBS degree. The condition of the bond is imposed by the state to increase access to improved healthcare services, especially in rural areas. If the student decides to discontinue the course midway or does not wish to serve the stipulated duration, he/she will have to pay a hefty monetary penalty to the state government to leave the course.

According to an official working with the Health Ministry, service bonds for doctors are harming the productivity and mental health of doctors. “The doctors’ associations and NMC have suggested the government do away with the service bonds. In states such as Delhi, there is no service bond policy, but it is difficult to do away with it in states such as Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha as there are very few doctors who cater to the rural population in these states. Abolishing service bonds is likely to impact medical services, but technically there should not be any bonds for medical students. The government is also against bond policy and it is discussing with other stakeholders if it can be quashed while maintaining the standard of medical care across the country."

The PG doctors who are studying in different states are frustrated and want to return to their home state, but cannot do so as they are under obligation of the bond policy. “IMA is against any kind of bond system for doctors and has asked the NMC and the Health Ministry to abolish it. Restricting the doctors to a bond system is not required as there are enough medical practitioners across the country. Hence, Tamil Nadu has recently done away with all bond policies for doctors," says K M Abul Hasan, president, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Tamil Nadu. 

Dr Aviral Mathur, Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) says that all bonds should be completely abolished. FORDA has spoken to the Health Ministry about the issue. “Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the government is contemplating the bond issues concerning doctors and it will come up with a solution soon. The human rights organisations are also against it and have reached out to FORDA on quashing them,” he says.

According to Mathur, with the introduction of the District Residency Programme (DRP) in 2023, which mandates postgraduate medical students pursuing MD/MS to do an internship for three months, there is no need for the bond policy for doctors as enough doctors will be available to serve in rural areas.  FORDA says that the government must reduce heavy monetary penalties for doctors and also bring uniform regulation across the country. 

The National Medical Commission (NMC) is of the view that medical students should not be burdened with any bond conditions as doing so is contrary to the principles of natural justice. An NMC official says that the Commission deliberated on bond issues concerning doctors during a meeting in January 2024 and is of the view that the states must reconsider its implementation as it affects the mental health of doctors and their higher education. Since then, the apex medical body has held several meetings with various stakeholders on the matter. "The bond policy is a hindrance for medical students opting for colleges in states other than their home state. It must not be implemented for hassle-free student mobility in higher education,” adds the NMC official.  

Madhya Pradesh Director of Medical Education (DME) Arun Srivastava in a telephonic conversation with Education Times says, “A meeting with NMC was held this week on quashing the rural service bond for medical students. We are waiting for the Commission’s direction on it.” Madhya Pradesh government has fixed a bond amount of Rs 30 lakh for students who wish to leave their course midway. This policy is prevalent in both government-run and private medical colleges in MP.

Chhattisgarh's medical bond system requires doctors to serve for two years after completing their PG medical courses. Also, students seeking MBBS admission must deposit Rs 25 lakhs as a mortgage or cash. Mortgaged property remains with the government until the bond is fulfilled, adding to the harassment of medical students.

Dr Rohan Krishnan, national chairman, FAIMA, says, “In a meeting with over 50 members of Parliament on February 7, the doctors raised the issues related to the bond policy. It should be practical, not exorbitant and free of obligation. Our organisation is completely against any kind of bond policy. We have observed mental harassment among doctors due to severe work pressure and when the doctors want to get rid of it, they cannot because of the penalty."

In Maharashtra, a doctor needs to pay Rs 50 lakhs to the government if he refuses to serve the state, says Dr Abhijit Rajesh Helge, Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), adding that the bond obligations are a reason behind increasing suicide rates among medical students. In Assam, state-sponsored MBBS doctors will have to pay Rs 30 lakh and the specialist doctors will be liable to pay Rs 1 crore as a penalty if they fail to serve in the state after completing their course.

Dr Partha Pratim Mondol, Anaesthesia Department, Calcutta Medical College, says, “Doctors feel like bonded labourers under the bond policy. To relieve the doctors of the pressure, the government can reduce the bond duration to just one year to ensure that medical service is intact.” West Bengal government has notified that the doctors will work for the state mandatorily for three years after completion of their Postdoctoral/MD/MS courses.