FIR no reason for rejection at college: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:29.10.2019

Observing that mere pendency of FIRs cannot come in the way of a student pursuing education, the Madras high court has directed Karur government arts college to admit a student who was denied admission to a PG course on that ground.

Petitioner K Surandhran, whose parents are agricultural labourers, had enrolled for BA History at the college from 2016-2019. After completing the course, he applied for pursing MA History at the college. He said that though he had a good score in the undergraduation course, his name did not figure in the list of eligible candidates published on July 12. When he inquired about it, the college informed him that he has not been selected owing to a communication from the police that FIRs were pending against him.

Though he submitted two representations to the authorities concerned, there was no response. Hence he moved the Madurai bench of the high court seeking to direct the principal of Karur government arts college to grant him admission to MA History course.

DVAC to probe cop for taking ₹2L bribe to solve theft case

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.10.2019

An assistant commissioner of police (ACP) who worked with the central crime branch (CCB) of Coimbatore police is in a soup for allegedly taking a bribe of ₹2 lakh from a businessman. The bribe was to speed up investigation in a theft case of gold worth ₹75 lakh reported in October 2017. The ACP had returned ₹1 lakh of the bribe amount.

These details formed parts of an FIR registered by the state’s corruption wing, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) this month against the cop, T Somasekar, and his advocate friend P Vivekanandan. The investigation was headed by DSP C Rajesh of the agency’s Coimbatore wing.

According to a confidential inquiry conductedby DVAC,on October 12, 2017, L Thiyagarajan, founder and managing director of Swarnakalash Jewels in Coimbatore, reported to the Saibaba ColonyPolice Station the theft of 2kg of 22 carat gold jewellery and 200gm of 24 carat gold when he was travelling on a bus. The police station was under Somasekar’s administrative control then.

The DVAC said over a period of five or six meetings, Somasekar assured Thiyagarajan to expedite investigation of the case. The ACP had allegedly demanded a bribe for the same, saying the suspects were from differentstates. Thebribe amountfirstdemanded was ₹1 lakh, which was paid with a promise to solve the case within 100 days. The stolen property was tobe returnedthroughthecourt. The DVAC says on December 5 that year, Thiyagarajan gave ₹1 lakh to Vivekanandan based on instructions from Somasekar, who had come to the spot in his official jeep.

After a few days, Thiyagarajan contacted Somasekar astherewas no progress in the case, when another ₹1 lakh was demanded. The DVAC says Thiyagarajan agreed to pay it, once again unwillingly. The second paymentwas madeon December 23,2017, in a textile shop, where the bribe amount was used to settle a bill for 15 pants bought by Somasekar, the DVAC says.

The agency said the businessman travelled to states like Karnataka, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh with investigating officials to assist them in recovering the stolen gold. Several accused were arrested but the loot was not recovered.

Frustrated, Thiyagarajan demanded that Somasekar return the bribe, the DVAC says. The latter returned ₹1 lakh in October 2018. The rest of the amount has not been returned yet, the DVAC said. Based on an inquiry, the DVAC has registered a case.

DVAC is probing an assistant commissioner of police who worked with the central crime branch, Coimbatore, for taking the money to expedite inquiry into a gold theft case

‘Bigil’ moment: HC lets students play in football tourney
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.10.2019

Vijay-starrer ‘Bigil’ is about an all-woman football team making it to top tournaments and winning medals braving all odds.

Two students of Annamalai University earned their own ‘Bigil’ moment by approaching the Madras high court and winning a favourable order, which would help them take part in the south zone and All India University Women’s Football tournament 2019-2020. The tournament is to be held in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Justice G Jayachandran set aside the university’s decision denying permission to P Juki and M Nandhini to participate in the tournament, and directed the authorities to grant permission to the duo if they are otherwise eligible to participate. The judge passed the order while disposing a plea moved by the two, pursuing M P Ed course in the department of physical education, challenging a communication issued by the university on October 21.

When they sought permission to participate in the competition, the university refused permission stating that the eligibility criteria of Association of Indian Universities restricted candidates who have not crossed 25 years of age, or not exceeding eight years from the date of qualifying in the first admission to the university or college affiliated to the university, from participation.

“Further, the candidates should not have crossed three years after passing the graduate course or equivalent while pursuing postgraduate course,” the communication said. Justifying the denial of permission, the university contended that since it has been more than three years the petitioners graduated, they were not eligible to participate in the tournament.

Opposing the same, the students argued that they have not crossed 25 years of age and hence were eligible to join graduation only in the year 2013, so the eight years embargo will not apply to them. They also relied on a judgment of the Kerala high court dated October 1, 2018, on the same issue, permitting students to participate in the competition.

Concurring with the submissions, Justice Jayachandran cited the Kerala high court judgment and allowed the girls to participate in the tournament.

The court set aside a decision by Annamalai University denying permission to two women for participating in a national football tournament

University ignores DCE warning, charges ₹5,000 a yr to issue experience certificates
Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.10.2019

Despite a warning by the directorate of collegiate education (DCE) to not collect money, a deemed university in the city which demanded up to one year’s salary to issue experience certificates to faculty members, now has revised its ‘service fee’ to ₹5,000 per year.

However, aspirants for assistant professors’ posts said even that adds up to more than ₹40,000 if a candidate needs experience certificate for more than 8 years. The amount is more than a month’s salary for a majority of faculty working in private institutions.

The directorate of collegiate education warned colleges and deemed universities not to collect any fee for issuing experience certificates to present and former employees after a report that appeared in TOI on October 21. The report highlighted that a deemed university in Chennai demanded up to one year’s salary to award experience certificates.

“The university is now demanding ₹5,000 a year from those seeking experience certificates. Former faculty members have to pay ₹10,000 per year as ‘service fee’,” a candidate told TOI.

Though many colleges issue experience certificates to working faculty members, some deemed universities and city colleges demand resignation letters from those seeking experience certificates.

“Despite clear direction from the directorate of collegiate education, some still demand resignation letters to discourage candidates from applying for assistant professors’ posts,” another candidate said.

The Teachers Recruitment Board notified 2,331 vacancies in government arts and science colleges for which candidates will be shortlisted for interview based on experience and educational qualification. To prevent malpractices, the board asks candidates to produce experience certificates from current and previous employers, with pay acquaintance and attendance details. “Since the colleges are paying low wages, they are afraid to furnish details of pay acquaintance,” a professor said.

“The directorate of collegiate education or higher education department should maintain a database of all faculty members working in colleges in Tamil Nadu. Colleges should only be asked to bonafide their work experience. Since there are no details available on candidates, they have to depend on individual colleges,” said A R Nagarajan, adviser to NET SLET Association.

Officials clarified that there are clear directions to all colleges and deemed universities not to collect any fees from the candidates for issuing experience certificates. “If we receive any specific complaint against a college or deemed university, we will initiate stringent action,” an official said.

A report about the warning published in TOI on October 22

Neighbour’s objection is no ground to deny power supply, rules HC
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.10.2019

The Madras high court has made it clear that the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) cannot deny electricity connection to a consumer even if their premises has no frontage on the street. In such cases, the supply line has to go upon, over or under the adjoining premises of the neighbours and the same cannot be objected to, it said.

Justice G Jayachandran passed the order on a plea moved by a Tirupporur resident, challenging a Tangedco communication dated August 27, denying electricity connection to her residential building citing that neighbouring land owners objected to it. Opposing the plea, Tangedco submitted that provisions of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Code, 2004, mandates that service connection cannot be granted if there is any objection. It said petitioner’s neighbours claimed there was a civil dispute pending regarding the title and that their right would be prejudiced if service connection was provided to the petitioner.

Pointing out the provisions of the code, Justice Jayachandran said, it provides for supply of energy to the consumers on certain conditions and if the consumer’s premises has no frontage on the street and the supply line has to go upon, over or under the adjoining premises of any other person, the intending consumer should arrange it on his own expense, leave licence or sanction before the supply is effected.

In this case, it was not the inability of the consumer to provide way leave but the objection of neighbours who have filed the suit in respect of the small portion of the land, to an extent of 889sqft, the judge said. The said suit cannot give any right or authority to the neighbours to object to provision of electricity connection to the petitioner, who is holding a larger extent of land, nearly 12,000sqft, the judge said. The court then directed the electricity corporation to provide power connection to the petitioner.

The court directed Tangedco to provide power connection to the petitioner

House surgeons join docs’ strike, Stalin wants govt to begin talks

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.10.2019

The fourth day of strike by the Federation of Government Doctors Association – a group of five service doctors’ outfits – saw some tense moments on Monday. Police entered the Madras Medical College campus when the association erected a tent minutes before it began to rain.

Just as police landed, house surgeons from the hospital joined the strike to extend their support. Some minor, nonemergency surgeries were cancelled and many patients were asked to either wait or return after a few days. The crowd at the outpatient ward swelled as work in several inpatient wards was delayed; emergency wards, labour wards, ICUs and cathlabs were functional. Directors of medical education, medical services and public health have been gathering information about doctors who did not sign the attendance for the last four days. “Their absence will be considered as unauthorised. It will be considered break in service,” said director of medical education Dr A Narayanababu. Director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy also said absence will create a hindrance for doctors planning to apply for PG courses.

However, DMK president M K Stalin who met the striking doctors, assured them of his support. “Since October 25, more than 18,000 government doctors are protesting as the government has not honoured even its written assurance to them. Of the four demands, one relates to the doctors’ salary and others too are beneficial to patients. It is painful that instead of calling them for talks, the government is maintaining silence,” he said. Stalin urged the striking doctors to fight for their rights, but desist from endangering their own lives by going on fast. For more than a decade, doctors have been asking the government to implement the prospective clause of government order 354, which promises time-bound promotion in five, nine, 11 and 12 years of service. “We also want the government to appoint more doctors as per MCI norms, give us 50% service quota in medical education and conduct proper counselling before transfer of service postgraduates,” said Dr A Ramalingam of the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association. TNDGA president Dr K Senthil said the Centre follows a dynamic assured career progression pattern where doctors are promoted in the 4th, 9th and 13th years. “We get their fourth-year salary in our 15th year and their 13th year salary in our 20th year. We work hard to keep Tamil Nadu’s health indices high, but we don’t reap benefits. Doctor are paid 200 as teaching allowance in medical colleges,” he said.

One of the doctors on indefinite fast had to be admitted, as her blood pressure dropped. On Saturday, Dr Suresh Gopal was admitted for high fever and on Monday, Dr Rama was taken for treatment. Dr Perumapillai, Dr Balamanikandan and Dr Mir Mohib continued their fast.

Police deployed on the fourth day of the doctors’ strike at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital

Principal, 9 lecturers of Amrita booked for abetting suicide 

According to police, they also tampered with evidence

29/10/2019 , Special Correspondent, Bengaluru

The principal and nine lecturers of Amrita School of Engineering, where a student died last week, have been booked for abetting suicide and destroying evidence.

The Parappana Agrahara police have issued notice to them to appear for questioning in connection with the suicide of the final-year engineering student on the college premises. Students alleged that harassment by the management had led to the student, G.N.N.K. Sri Harsha, ending his life.

Principal Dhanaraj Swamy and Rakesh S.G., Bhaskar B., Ravi Kumar, Ramesh T.K., Nipun Kumar, Amudha, Venkatesh B., Nagaraja S.R. and Murty N.S., lecturers of various departments, have been charged with abetment to suicide and destruction of evidence.

According to the police, the accused misguided the father of the deceased and did not allow him on the college premises when he visited around the time his son died.

The accused had even cleared blood stains from the spot and washed them off with chemicals, while also tampering with CCTV camera footage, the police said.

G. Vijaya Bhaskar, Harsha’s father, has accused the principal and staff members of torturing his son.

Harsha, a student of Electronics and Communication, jumped off the seventh floor of the college building days after a disciplinary committee of the college reportedly expelled him for protesting over water shortage in the hostel.