Teachers welcome students back to schools with sweets

Teachers welcome students back to schools with sweets

Elaborate Covid Protocols On The Campuses

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.09.2021

P Hari Priya from Nungambakkam was so eager to return to school that she came 15 minutes early. Seeing her friends after a long gap, she said they looked different – some had grown their hair, others had lost weight. They pulled each other’s leg, but didn't hug or shake hands. At the end of the first day, she could not catch up with her friends, as her class was split into two, and had little time to speak to them.

City schools registered 85% to 100% attendance as schools reopened on Wednesday after 5 months. Colleges recorded 60% to 70% attendance and expect numbers to rise. Schools and colleges made elaborate arrangements to follow social distancing on campus. Students were not allowed to mingle and only 20 students were allowed in a classroom. Shivani K P from Adyar said even the classroom and school environment looked so different after prolonged online classes. “Even our teachers were so happy to see us and conduct classes. I find I relate to topics better in offline classes compared to online classes,” she said.

Some teachers welcomed loons and banners. “After seeing empty grounds and classrooms for the last few months, we were so happy to have students on campus. All classrooms were decorated with welcome banners and balloons,” said R S Shanthi, a phys-Most of the schools conducted orientation and counselling on Wednesday.

Schools such as Bala Vidyamandir Senior Secondary School in Adyar have decided to record the physical classes for those who opt for online classes. "It will help both students who opt for online classes and students who attend physical classes. Students can view the recorded videos again if they have any doubts," said principal R Srinivasa Raghavan. The school recorded 90% attendance among Class X, XI and XII students on Wednesday.

Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar recorded nearly 100% attendance among Class XII students. "Except for one student who is in post-Covid care, all 121 attended physical classes," said headmistress V Shanthi. The schools will conduct classes in hybrid mode for other classes. "We have called 50% of students from Class IX and X for physical classes on alternate days. The remaining students can view live the classes from their houses," she added.

Some principals who spoke on condition of anonymity said conducting physical and online classes simultaneously will be tough.

Many city colleges started classes on campus only with final year science students. Colleges such as Loyola and College of Engineering, Guindy, have organised vaccination camps on campus.

"Of 6000 students who are eligible for Covid-19 vaccine in our college, 23% are yet to get the jab. Greater Chennai Corporation will vaccinate them on Monday and Tuesday," said S Santhosh Baboo, principal of DG Vaishnav College.

Bumper-to-bumper insurance order put on hold by high court

Bumper-to-bumper insurance order put on hold by high court

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.09.2021

A Madras high court order making the fiveyear bumper-to-bumper insurance mandatory for all new vehicles from September 1, was put on hold by the court on Wednesday.

Justice S Vaidyanathan, who passed the order last week, kept it in abeyance after insurance companies filed a memo saying they needed at least three months to design a new insurance product as per the directions of the court.

Meanwhile, the joint transport commissioner, A A Muthu, had directed all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across Tamil Nadu not to register any vehicles without bumper-to-bumper insurance coverage, as directed by the high court.

This uncertainty over the new insurance rule forced Tamil Nadu automobile dealers to put documentation works pertaining to vehicle registration on hold.

Automobile dealers and insurance companies wondered how the order could be implemented without consulting the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI), the government body which supervises the insurance sector.

"Since there was no clarity on how to finalise the insurance premium amount, we did not prepare any insurance certificates today (Wednesday). We will be meeting the state transport authorities and request them to reverse their earlier order" said S Rajvel, state chairperson of Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA).

"Usually, automobile dealers bring new vehicles to RTOs for registration only after preparing insurance certificates. It takes two or three days for them (from the date of invoice) to finish this insurance documentation. So, all new vehicles, which arrived today at RTOs, were sold to customers before the high court deadline of September 1. The new insurance rule was not applicable to any of these vehicles. Therefore, it was regular business at most city RTOs," said a Chennai RTO, requesting anonymity.

OPS’s wife passes away, Stalin, Sasikala express condolences

OPS’s wife passes away, Stalin, Sasikala express condolences

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai/Theni:  02.09.2021

P Vijayalakshmi, wife of AIADMK coordinator and former chief minister O Panneerselvam and mother of Theni MP O P Raveendranath Kumar, died at a hospital in Chennai on Wednesday morning. The 66-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest at the hospital ward and could not be revived, doctors said. She had been undergoing treatment at GEM Hospital for cardiac diseases.

“She was stable. She returned to her bed after relieving herself in the morning when she had an arrest,” said a senior doctor treating her. The mortal remains of Vijayalakshmi were brought to OPS’s house in Periyakulam in Theni district by road. The final rites will be performed on Thursday morning. Chief minister M K Stalin, ministers and DMK leaders were among those to visit the hospital and offer condolences.

Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala caused a flutter when she arrived at the hospital to offer condolences, leaving behind their political rivalry that began in early 2017 when she wanted to become the CM by replacing him. It had resulted in OPS launching the ‘dharmayutham’ against her. OPS’s daughter K Kavitha Banu received her. Sasikala held Panneerselvam’s hands as he sobbed inconsolably.

GRIEVING: Chief minister M K Stalin offers his condolences to ex-CM O Panneerselvam

Grief unites political rivals

Sasikala spent nearly half an hour at the hospital in the presence of former AIADMK ministers and MLAs.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit, opposition leader and former CM Edappadi K Palaniswami, TNCC president K S Alagiri, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and Tamil Maanila Congress (M) president G K Vasan were among others who condoled the death of Vijayalakshmi. A BA graduate, she was among the four daughters and a son of Alagupandi Thevan and Valliammal, a farmer couple. A soft-spoken woman who married OPS on November 14, 1977 when he was AIADMK’s Periyakulam town secretary, she played the role of a supportive wife. Sources close to the family recalled that Vijayalakshmi was instrumental in maintaining a closely knit joint family of OPS, comprising his three younger brothers and as many sisters.

She took up the responsibility of the joint family which helped Panneerselvam scale the party ranks and become CM, deputy CM, finance minister and take up various other responsibilities. Vijayalakshmi preferred to prepare the favourite dishes of her husband herself and he enjoyed being served by her. The couple has two sons and a daughter, P Raveendranath Kumar, V P Jayapradeep and K Kavitha Banu.

Sasikala consoles O Panneerselvam on Wednesday

NHAI hikes fee by 4% to 10% at 21 TN toll plazas

NHAI hikes fee by 4% to 10% at 21 TN toll plazas

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.09.2021

The hike in user fee rate at 21 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu starting Wednesday could lead to rise in prices of essential commodities, say transporters, who opposed the fee hike amid the sharp spike in diesel prices.

While tolls in Chennai are being removed, road travel along southern and western districts of Tamil Nadu is set to be costlier with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) increasing toll fee by 4% to10 %.

At the 21 booths — majority of which are located on Chennai-Madurai (NH 45) and Chennai-Salem (NH 79) highway stretches — cars and trucks will have to cough up between ₹5 to ₹50 extra per trip.

The hike will also be implemented along Trichy-Dindigul-Karur bypass roads, Madurai-Thoothukudi highway and plazas in Dharmapuri and Namakkal districts.

C Dhanraj, secretary of State Lorry Owners’ Federation said, “We requested the Union government to stop toll collection at least for the next six months because of the loss incurred during the lockdown. They have once again failed us. (A hike of) ₹5 to ₹15 per trip may seem like a small amount, but (it is an additional) ₹12,000 every month (for Chennai-Salem trips) and much more for interstate commute”.

The state government too let transporters down by failing to reduce diesel prices, he said. Only petrol prices were reduced. So, a toll fee hike coupled with the increase in fuel rates has reduced the profit margin of truckers. Beyond a point, truckers will be forced to increase operating rates and subsequently, the public will suffer, Dhanraj added.

Wholesale traders from Chennai say the increase in transportation cost has had a cascading effect on wholesale price of vegetables, fruits and flowers in the city and fear that the situation may worsen in the coming days. Chennai largely depends on Oddanchatram, Pollachi markets in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala for supply of tomato, onion, brinjal, drumstick and ladies finger. Besides essential commodities, toll fees can also affect transportation of raw materials and finished products to and from industries across the state.

(A hike of) ₹5 to ₹15 per trip may seem like a small amount, but it is an additional ₹12,000 every month (for Chennai-Salem trips)

C DHANRAJ

Secretary, State Lorry Owners’ Federation

HC issues arrest warrant against absentee firm owners in tax case

HC issues arrest warrant against absentee firm owners in tax case

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.09.2021

The Madras high court issued non-bailable warrants against owners of two Chennai-based companies that imported earthmovers from China in 2008 but failed to pay entry tax for the vehicles.

Justice S M Subramaniam passed the interim order on Wednesday on pleas moved by Grandhe Construction Private Limited and Sri Murugan Earth Movers seeking exemption from entry tax for the imported vehicles.

When the cases, filed in 2008, were taken up for final hearing on August 17, counsel for the petitioner sought several adjournments to get instructions from the petitioners. They submitted that they have to secure instructions from the petitioners regarding payment of entry tax, as the issues were settled by the Supreme Court in 2018.

After granting several opportunities, the court finally took the matters for hearing on August 31.

Advocates representing the petitioners then informed the court that they had informed the petitioners about the hearing of the writ petitions before the court, but the petitioners failed to respond. The petitioners went to the extent of stating that they were not in a position to pay the entry tax, counsel informed the court.

Recording the submissions, Justice Subramaniam said: “In view of the stand taken by the petitioners and considering the submissions made by counsel for the petitioners, this court is inclined to issue nonbailable warrant to the petitioners, returnable on September 6.”

The court further directed the registry of the high court to communicate the order to the Chennai commissioner of police for execution through the jurisdictional police.

Revenue Offices Most Notorious For Demanding Bribes: Survey

‘93% had to pay bribe for govt service’

Revenue Offices Most Notorious For Demanding Bribes: Survey

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.09.2021

Nearly 93% of participants of an online survey said they were forced to pay a bribe either directly or indirectly to access a government service, while 48% said bribery was the biggest problem they faced when accessing such services. This was followed by long delays in service at 28.7%, revealed the survey.

Revenue and registration offices topped among departments where participants were forced to pay a bribe, followed by police and RTO, the survey showed.

The week-long survey involved more than 2,000 people and covered various issues regarding access to government services. More than 81% of participants said they were dissatisfied with the service provided of late. A total of 77.6% blamed the poor service on careless attitude of officials, their intent to seek bribes and no option to act against the officer. However, 83.6% preferred to file complaints over delays or rejection of services with an independent body rather than taking it up with the concerned department.

Arappor Iyakkam convenor Jayaram Venkatesan, whose anti-graft NGO conducted the survey, said 22% of participants were from Chennai.

At a press meet in the city on Wednesday, he told reporters that implementing Right to Service would ensure that services are provided within a stipulated time in a simple, easy and transparent manner and holding accountable the government officials dealing with the respective services. The NGO also released the ‘Tamil Nadu Right to Service Model Draft Bill, 2021’ and urged the state government to take action.

Pointing out that demanding bribe for services results in inordinate delay, he said, “If an application is rejected, it should clearly mention the reason for disposing of the petition such as what were the documents missing with the application.”

Moreover, the state government must constitute an independent body, Tamil Nadu Right to Service Commission, on the lines of the Tamil Nadu Information Commission to look into appeals on rejection of service or lack of response to applications for services.

The chief minister, leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of the Madras high court must be part of the panel to select the body’s chief commissioner, he added.

As per the NGO’s draft model, an applicant can file an appeal against the rejection of service or refusal to receive application or refusal to provide acknowledgement receipt. The appeal can be filed to the first appellate authority within 30 days. The appellant can track the status of the first appeal through the same online portal as that of the application using the same unique acknowledgement receipt number.

An appeal must be disposed of by the first appellate authority within 15 days of its receipt. The first appellate authority must provide a written communication of the order to the applicant and designated officer via post and the online portal.

The designated officer must provide the service within five working days of receipt of the order of first appellate authority, the draft said.

About 77% of participants blamed poor service on careless attitude of officials, their intent to seek bribes and no option to act against the official concerned

Properties can’t be attached by EOW: Spl court

Properties can’t be attached by EOW: Spl court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.09.2021

Holding that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Tamil Nadu police is not a competent authority to attach properties, a special court has directed the district revenue officer (DRO), Chennai to deal with property attachment and sell the property of a financial firm and return the amount back to depositors.

The case pertains to a citybased financial firm which collected ₹2.5 crore from 129 depositors and shut the firm in 2008.

The prosecution said Senthil Financial Services promised people of high interest. A case was registered by the EOW and during the course of investigation, the residence of one of the accused in Virugambakkam was attached by the government and another property was sold to a third party to prevent being attached. After perusing the submissions, the special court to deal with the TN Protection of Interests of Depositors Act cases held that in order to protect the welfare of the depositors, the DRO, Chennai shall sell the mentioned property through public auction and distribute the sale proceeds to the depositors.