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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala University owes its crisis to syndicate's ignorance of act and statutes
In any university, the syndicate is its executive body, chaired by the vice- chancellor. Without the vice-chancellor, the syndicate has no legal or functional existence. However, many mistakenly see the syndicate and the vice-chancellor as separate entities. This statutory ignorance is the root cause of the crisis of the Kerala University. In truth, syndicate members have no individual authority outside their collective role. At the same time, the vice-chancellor is the sole chief executive and academic head of the university. Kerala University, the first in the state, has long upheld the false convention of treating syndicate members as individual authorities. Under this illusion, members have enjoyed undue privileges — such as private offices — believing themselves to be like "ministers" in a university "cabinet," despite having no individual portfolios or administrative powers. Members may serve on standing committees related to academics, administration, examinations and other areas, but these are meant to aid syndicate decision-making faster and do not confer executive authority. Such roles require small meeting rooms, not personal offices. Legally, they are entitled solely to temporary accommodation, whether on campus or elsewhere at the university's expense. Syndicate members are often nominated from various constituencies and may be academically outdated or politically backed individuals, lacking the expertise or vision needed for university growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Many are unfamiliar with even the basic University Act and Statutes. But when members aligned with the ruling party form a caucus, they may promote narrow agendas. Interestingly, real politicians like MLAs or MPs who serve on syndicates rarely engage in such behaviour. As members, they can protest against the vice-chancellor, but by risking their benefits, responsibilities, the functioning of the university and the justice owed the stakeholders. However, even their unanimous decisions, unless presided over by the vice-chancellor, are legally void. In cases of insubordination, registrars must be aware that their statutory powers ultimately depend on the vice-chancellor's discretion. An academically strong vice-chancellor aware of his power as responsibility will struggle to uphold academic standards and maintain a productive relationship with the syndicate.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Fake IDs & Fraudulent Salaries: Inside Govt Teacher Portal Scam
Senior education officers in the Maharashtra govt have been accused of misusing a govt-run payments portal to create fake teacher IDs and siphoning funds. Fraudulent Shalarth IDs were also created for unqualified individuals, who were allegedly hired after paying a bribe of Rs 20 to 30 lakhs each to school management and education department officials. The IDs given when a teacher is recruited, are needed to access salary and other benefits. The deputy directors of education of Mumbai and Nagpur zones allegedly, between them, created thousands of fake IDs. Govt estimates the scope of the scam to be Rs 2,000-3,000 crore. Some arrests have already been made What is a Shalarth ID? Former deputy director of education Ram Pawar explains, "Once there is a vacancy and the school has selected the candidate, the school issues an appointment order. The candidate then takes this appointment order to the deputy director of education of that zone, who approves it and provides the candidate with a Shalarth ID and password. This ID is used to access salary and benefits—without it, the candidate cannot be paid. " The Shalarth portal also houses financial information and personnel records for all education staffers. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai What is the scam? According to Ram Pawar, the authority to issue Shalarth IDs rests with the deputy director of education. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Officials at the office have created bogus IDs and drawn salaries for fictitious individuals, for whom bank accounts were opened using fake credentials and fake photographs. Officials have also been accused of issuing Shalarth IDs and hiring unqualified people for posts of teachers and headmasters for a bribe. What were the loopholes exploited by govt staff? Scope for manipulation is minimal in govt-run schools as employment records are available for scrutiny within the administration and due to the regulations which staff need to follow. But govt oversight of the records of aided schools is limited. This allowed those managing the portal to appoint unqualified individuals and even create fake posts and withdraw salaries in their name. Other weaknesses in the system Misuse of the portal has been reported across the state. In Nagpur, unqualified teachers, headmasters, and other staff were accused of holding fake Shalarth IDs that were obtained after paying bribes to school management and education department staffers. Deputy director of education for Nagpur, Ulhas Narad, has been arrested. In many cases, teachers and other school staff helped govt officers to create fake IDs and bank accounts for a share of the loot. Also, govt staff demanded bribes to give eligible teachers backdated dues and increments after promotion (see report alongside). What is the extent of the scam? On July 18, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced in the state assembly that the Shalarth ID scam could amount to Rs 2,000-3,000 crore. He announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe the ID scam. Dada Bhuse, the state school education minister, has meantime suspended the Mumbai deputy director, Sandeep Sangave. Checks needed in the system Former deputy director Ram Pawar says, "An earnest effort must be made to examine records. The process cannot be top-down. Whatever the upper management decides, the onus must be on field officers who need to conduct rigorous checks."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Chennai's Marina Beach in the ‘Blue Flag' certification race: Why the beach should be on every traveller's bucket list in 2025
Chennai's one of the most iconic beaches, the Marina Beach is undergoing a major renovation with Blue Flag certification on the horizon. For those who don't know, the Blue Flag certification is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Denmark, is among the world's most prestigious eco-labels for beaches. It is a prestigious title and earning this means that the beach meets strict international standards in cleanliness, safety, environmental management, and accessibility. These are the prime criteria on which the beaches are awarded the certificate. For years, Marina Beach has been an important part of Chennai's identity. It is a place where locals walk at dawn, families gather for evening snacks, and fishermen return with the day's catch. Must-visit in 2025 It's a must-visit attraction in 2025 because all the other famous beaches in India are no more crowd free. But Marina Beach, a 50-acre stretch by the sea, is beautiful beyond words. With dedicated zones for yoga, open-air gyms, reading corners, meditation spaces, and play areas, the beach is more than just sand and surf. Travellers visiting here can climb new watchtowers installed along the shoreline. And in a big win for inclusive travel, special facilities like HDPE pathways and balloon-wheelchairs are being introduced to ensure accessibility for all. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Beach dreamer's dream Today's global travellers look for destinations that are not only beautiful but are eco-friendly as well. At Marina, visitors will find solar lighting, bamboo dustbins, clean public toilets, and better waste management practices — all aligned with the Blue Flag vision. What makes Marina Beach different is the cultural beauty it offers. Just steps away are colonial-era buildings like the University of Madras, the historic lighthouse, and the Vivekananda House. You can begin your morning with sunrise yoga, snack on fresh local delicacies like sundal and murukku by afternoon, and cap off the day with a horse ride along the shore or a stroll past street performers and artisans. Best time to visit: November to March. How to reach : Marina is easily accessible via Chennai's MRTS and upcoming Metro corridors. If you're flying in, it's just 45 minutes from Chennai International Airport. Marina Beach in 2025 will have something to offer. With its new eco-conscious design, improved infrastructure, and a deep respect for both nature and heritage, this Chennai icon is ready to welcome the world.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Nature's musician: Meet the only bird that produces music with its wings
Deep within South America's cloud forests lives the club-winged manakin, a bird unlike any other. Instead of singing, the male manakin creates a musical tone with its wings, rubbing specialized feathers together at an incredible speed. Scientists discovered that unusually dense bones in its wings support this rapid motion, a unique adaptation for sound production. Nature does not fall short when it comes to blessing the human eyes and ears with surprising marvels! One among these marvels resides deep in the cloud forests of South America. It is a small, vibrant creature called the club-winged manakin that has turned its sound-producing abilities into a concert. While most birds sing with their vocal cords to attract mates, the Male club-winged manakin has taken a completely different approach. It doesn't sing, instead, it uses its wings to create a musical tone that is quite pure and precise, so much so that it competes as a musical instrument. This sound isn't just noise; it's rhythm, it's tone, and it's so consistent that it has been compared to a musical note. Recent research has revealed a unique modification in its body that allows this bird to make such sounds. What is special about this bird? According to scientists at Cornell University, the male club-winged manakin doesn't sing in the traditional way. Instead, it creates sound by rubbing a pair of specialized wing feathers together, up to an astonishing 100 times per second. This unusually fast wing movement produces a high-pitched tone that is so stable, it matches the frequency of a musical note. It's like the bird is playing its own instrument, using its body as the bow and strings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo What makes this movement unique? A surprising trait about the bird is that despite its tiny size, the bird's body could withstand such rapid motion without breaking down. Using X-ray imaging, scientists found that the bones in the manakin's wings are unusually solid and dense, unlike any other known songbird. As reported by Cornell's research team, the wing bones are more similar to those of mammals than birds. 'This is one of the only known examples of a bird evolving dense bone not for flight, but for sound,' the study noted. These dense bones are necessary to support the intense vibration caused by the feather rubbing. Researchers also found out that the bird sacrificed its ability for powerful flight to perform its unique musical mating call. Instead of soaring long distances, the club-winged manakin stays close to the forest floor, using its rhythm to charm potential mates. It's just like a trade-off that shows just how far evolution can go in the name of love and sound. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Rich valuations could be a drag on Tech Mahindra stock: Analysts
Mumbai: Tech Mahindra dropped 2.7% on Thursday, emerging as the biggest Nifty loser , after the company's first-quarter results fell short of expectations. The stock closed at ₹1,564.2. Analysts said management expects FY27 revenue growth above peers and a pickup from next quarter, but remain divided over the stock's prospects citing rich valuations. JP Morgan said the stock is at 25 times estimated price to earnings (PE) ratio, which is at a premium to peers and 'bakes in' the margin improvement. The brokerage has a 'neutral' rating on the stock and a target price of ₹1,550, implying a downside potential of 0.9% from Thursday's close. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The Nifty IT Index declined 1.4% on Thursday, while the benchmark Nifty Index moved 0.4% lower on Thursday. Agencies Among the 10 stocks on the Nifty IT Index, all moved lower on Thursday, dragged by LTI Mindtree, which tumbled 3% ahead of its results. Persistent Systems and Infosys shed 1.9% and 1.7%, respectively. Wipro, Mphasis, and Coforge fell around 1.5% each. HSBC said the stock has factored in a large proportion of the turnaround prospects. "Other than telecom, most of the TechM verticals are around $1 billion size and can grow in the double digits in the long term, which in our view could support premium valuations for the stock," said the brokerage, which has a buy rating on the stock with a price target of ₹1,900. Live Events
