Attendance system to keep NEET fraud at bay?

The Health Department is planning to introduce biometric-enabled attendance system linked with Aadhaar card for medical students.

Published: 01st January 2020 05:27 AM |

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Health Department is planning to introduce a biometric-enabled attendance system linked with Aadhaar card for medical students. In the backdrop of the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking permission from the Centre to use Aadhaar data for NEET in 2020, the move is expected to keep a check on impersonation and ensure that those who take the test are the ones who attend classes.

Earlier, the Directorate of Medical Education was working to introduce biometric attendance system linked with Aadhaar number for teaching faculty, following an order from the Medical Council of India’s Board of Governors to prevent duplication of teaching faculty.

However, in the wake of impersonation cases surfacing, the Health Department is planning to introduce the new system for MBBS students from the first year. The Aadhaar-inked biometric fingerprint attendance machines will be installed at all hospitals and institutions of the Directorate of Medical Education, Directorate of Public Health, Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services. However, a few doctors are sceptic of the proposal. “We are not sure how much fool-proof it will be. As of now, a few medical colleges have biometric attendance for faculty but, a majority of doctors fake fingerprints. A few doctors have also raised objections to the proposal,” said a government doctor.

Madras HC refuses TNSTC to disburse penal interest for delay in pension benefits

Justice M S Ramesh was passing orders on petitions filed by several retired employees, seeking direction to the TNSTC to pay the said penal interest. 

 ublished: 02nd January 2020 12:13 PM

By Express News Service

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, in separate cases, refused to permit the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to disburse the penal interest for delay in settling pension benefits to its employees in monthly instalments. The interest, accrued at a rate of six per cent, should be paid within three months.

Justice M S Ramesh was passing orders on petitions filed by several retired employees, seeking direction to the TNSTC to pay the said penal interest. He said that he is not in agreement with the representation made by the standing counsel of the TNSTC, who prayed the court to permit the TNSTC to disburse the interest on the belated payment in liberal monthly instalments citing the financial burden cast on the TNSTC.

The judge said that there already was a duty cast upon the TNSTC to pay the terminal benefits on the date of retirement itself. Since the belated disbursement of the benefit already put the retired employee to serious prejudice, entertaining the present request for disbursement of the interest on the belated payment in instalments could cause further prejudice to the retired employee.

Cuddalore: Woman dies as surgical sponge left inside stomach?

According to the Virudhachalam police, Priya, wife of Rajakumar of Kalarkuppam near Virudhachalam, was admitted to the Virudhachalam Government Hospital on December 27.

Published: 03rd January 2020 05:55 AM | Last Updated: 03rd January 2020 05:55 AM By Nirupa Sampath

Express News Service

CUDDALORE: A 24-year-old woman, who had a stomach infection after caesarean delivery at the Virudhachalam Government Hospital on December 27 and was brought to JIPMER in Puducherry, died on Wednesday night. Her relatives staged a protest outside Virudhachalam Government Hospital on Thursday, alleging that the doctors there had left a surgical sponge inside her stomach during the surgery, leading to her death.

According to the Virudhachalam police, Priya, wife of Rajakumar of Kalarkuppam near Virudhachalam, was admitted to the Virudhachalam Government Hospital on December 27. She had undergone a caesarean and delivered a baby girl the same night. However, after two days, she complained of severe pain and was referred to JIPMER hospital in Puducherry on December 31, a police officer inquiring into the case said.

Speaking to Express, a source from the JIPMER management said, “The patient, while visiting the hospital on December 31, had severe infection and pus in the abdomen area. So we requested her relatives to file a medico-legal case before performing any procedure. Subsequently, she was operated upon and a surgical sponge was found in the stomach that might have been left during the caesarean. The patient died at 8 pm on Wednesday.”

When her relatives were informed about this, they staged a protest outside the Virudhachalam hospital, demanding action against the doctors. ACP Elogovan and tahlisdar Kaviarasu promised to take action, after which the protesters left.

Docs at GH shift blame to JIPMER

Doctors at the Virudhachalam hospital refused to take responsibility for the death, saying, “The victim was taken to another hospital, and she died due to failure of treatment there. The doctors here cannot be held responsible.”

On the other hand, PN Ramesh Babu, Joint Director, Health Services, Cuddalore, said, “We have asked for a detailed report from JIPMER and will take action accordingly. However, the patient requested that she be referred to JIPMER. On that day, she did not have any infection.”

A police officer said, “An autopsy has been conducted at JIPMER. We will inquire into the case and take appropriate action.”

Consumer forum orders KPN travels to pay Rs 30k for bad service

The forum, presided by M Mony and member R Baskarkumaravel said the travels itself admitted the fault and hence ordered compensation.
 
Published: 02nd January 2020 06:35 AM 

 By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A district consumer forum has directed KPN Travels to pay Rs 30,000 to a passenger as compensation for mental agony suffered by him during journey. K Mathan Sundaram of Kottivakkam submitted that in August 2015 he paid `1,150 to travel from Tenkasi to Chennai. Ten minutes after the bus started, he and other passengers started feeling suffocated.

When asked, the driver replied the AC was not working and since the bus was completely there was no air circulation. Despite repeated complaints, the problem was not rectified and the bus made it till Tiruchy with a window left open. After he and fellow passengers filed a police complaint in Madurai, a spare bus was made available at Tiruchy.

After reaching Chennai, he issued a lawyer’s notice to the travels firm. As there was no reply, he filed a complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South). Denying the allegations, the firm’s counsel submitted that the A/C did not work due to electrical problem in the air compressor and it could not be rectified by the driver. However, the driver safely put all passengers in another bus. The forum, presided by M Mony and member R Baskarkumaravel said the travels itself admitted the fault and hence ordered compensation.

Power shutdown in parts of Chennai on January 4

Power supply will be suspended in few areas by TANGEDCO on January 4 from 9 am to 5 pm.
 
Published: 02nd January 2020 07:13 PM |

By Express News Service

For carrying out maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm in the following areas. Power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed.

The following places will be affected:

SOTHUPERUMBEDU: Sothuperumbedu, Karanodai, Athur and Devaneri, Solavaram and Angadu, Sirunium and Nallur, Orakadu and Budur, Gnayeru and Nerkundram, Kummanur and Angadu, Part of Arumanthai and Vichur.

CHEMBARAMBAKKAM: Entire Nazarathpet area, Meppur, Varatharajapuram, Bangalore Trunk road, part of Chembarambakkam, part of Thirumazhisai, part of Malayambakkam, Agaramel.

AYYAPAKKAM: Abarna Nagar, V.G.N Platina, Chennai Garden city, M.G.R Nagar, K.S.R Garden.

VYSARPADI: EH Road, B V colony, Sastri Nagar, Indira Gandhi Nagar, Stepensan road, Vyasar Nagar, Shanthi Nagar, Mpm st, Vysarpadi market area, Vysarpai industrial estate, Pudu Nagar, East, West, Central, Cross area, A, B, C, Kalyana Puram area, Sathyamoorthy Nagar, 1 to 25 and 42 to 48, Sameyar thottom, Palla st 1 to 3, Udaya Suryan Nagar, SA colony area Sharma Nagar Quarters, Gandhi Nagar.

ST THOMAS MOUNT: Mangaliamman Koil area, North Parade road, Mount Poonamalle road, Indira Nagar, Karaiyar Koil, Nazerethpuram, Officers Training Academy, Naval, Naval Residence area, Woodcreek country, Thulasingapuram, Meenambakkam and Airport area, Mariyapuram, Burma colony, Mathiyas Nagar, European line, Bazaar road, Mettu st, Kalainyar Nagar, Seven wells st, Arcot Pattai, Raman Koil street, West Mada street, Bajanai Koil Street, Pandiyan street, Morrison 1st to 5th street.

CMDA yet to act against officials facing corruption charges

Sources in the MAWS department said that the DVAC had launched preliminary enquiry against the officer under Section 17 (a) (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
 
Published: 03rd January 2020 06:46 AM | Last Updated: 03rd January 2020 06:46 AM

By C Shivakumar

Express News Service

CHENNAI : The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is yet to act against a senior planner after the Directorate of Vigilance and Corruption (DVAC) put him under the scanner for alleged irregularities pertaining to local bodies. The DVAC sought permission from the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department to conduct preliminary enquiry against the planner on February 18, 2019, and MAWS accorded permission for it on July 10 by issuing a Government Order (GO), which was forwarded to CMDA member secretary on September 10 for necessary action. However, till now no action has been initiated.

Sources in the MAWS department said that the DVAC had launched preliminary enquiry against the officer under Section 17 (a) (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The order to prosecute tainted officials under this section should be given within three months as per the strictures laid by the Supreme Court, official sources said.

Sources say that several State departments delay enquiries initiated by DVAC against officials by keeping the cases in abeyance and saying that the cases are ‘under consideration of the department’.
Though nearly six months have passed after the GO was issued, the senior planner is dealing with many files pertaining to local bodies despite a senior government official assuring that action would be taken against him and he may be transferred from the post.

In another development, a planner who was suspended on charges of irregularities has now been promoted as a senior planner, that too, after new allegations cropped up against him and a petition was sent to top officials. Sources told Express that the planner was receiving a senior planner’s salary but performing duties of a deputy planner.

When contacted, top officials of the CMDA and the Housing Department refused to comment on the issue. According to information available with Express, 11 CMDA officials, including two deputy planners, were under the DVAC scanner for cases pertaining to irregularities, including regularising illegal buildings and disproportionate accumulation of assets. However, the charges have now been dropped.

It is learnt that State departments, while passing final orders, rarely update the DVAC. Some months ago, the Vigilance Commissioner had to pass an order making it mandatory for State departments to send final orders on vigilance cases to the DVAC and Vigilance Commission.Official sources said the government has been actively pursuing the cases that have been pending for years.

No more queuing-up at Chennai airport

At a cost of Rs 58 crore, eight state-of-the-art CTX scanners -- four each at international and domestic terminals -- have been put to use.
 
Published: 03rd January 2020 06:47 AM | Last Updated: 03rd January 2020 06:47 AM 

 By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Passengers will no more have to queue up at the international departure terminal in Chennai Airport to register their baggage before dropping them at check-in counters as an in-line baggage screening system with CTX (Computer Tomography X-ray) scanners was made operational on Thursday. The new facility is expected to enhance aviation safety and security infrastructure at the terminal, a release said.

At a cost of Rs 58 crore, eight state-of-the-art CTX scanners -- four each at international and domestic terminals -- have been put to use. The in-line scanning at the domestic terminal is currently under trial and will be commissioned shortly. The CTX 9800 DSi Scanner is capable of handling up to 1,800 bags per hour. On a weekly basis, the system will process more than 75,000 bags at each terminal.