Appointment of 8 Vice-Chancellors in TS set aside by Hyderabad High Court

తెలంగాణలో వీసీల నియామకం రద్దు
28-07-2016 11:11:37

హైదరాబాద్ : తెలంగాణలో వీసీల నియామకాన్ని రద్దు చేస్తూ హైకోర్టు గురువారం ఆదేశాలు జారీ చేసింది. వీసీలను నియమిస్తూ జారీ అయిన జీవోను కోర్టు కొట్టివేసింది. అర్హతల ఆధారంగా నియామకాలు జరపాలని హైకోర్టు సూచించింది. తెలంగాణ ఏజీ రామకృష్ణారెడ్డి విజ్ఞప్తి మేరకు తీర్పు అమలును హైకోర్టు 4 వారాల పాటు వాయిదా వేసింది. 2 రోజుల క్రితం 8 వర్శిటీలకు తెలంగాణ ప్రభుత్వం వీసీలను నియమించిన విషయం తెలిసిందే. మరోవైపు పూర్తి తీర్పు పరిశీలించాక స్పందిస్తామని డిప్యూటీ సీఎం కడియం శ్రీహరి అన్నారు. 
Earlier on Tue July 26, 2016 the court observed that, while UGC had fixed certain qualifications for professors to be appointed as vice-chancellors, but the new amendment envisaged that those having administrative experience could be appoint as the V-C of a varsity, which was nothing but intent to politicise the appointments, and this would pave way for IAS officers and even section officers of the Secretariat to become V-Cs. The GO issued for appointment of V-Cs and the Act seemed to be paving way for MPs, MLAs and even board members of Panchayats defeated in elections to be appointed as V-Cs.

A division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice A.V. Sesha Sai was reserving its orders on two PILs by Dr D. Manohar Rao, a retired professor of Osmania University, challenging amending the Acts taking away the power of the chancellor (Governor) to make appointments, and bestowing it on the state government. During the hearing, it was brought to the notice of the Bench that the government had issued orders, on Monday Juy 25, 2016, appointing vice-chancellors to certain universities in the state. Reacting to the submissions of the counsel, Justice Bhosale asked why the government had not waited for another two or three days when it had kept it pending for the past two years. The Bench expressed its displeasure at the government’s counsel for making allotments despite an assurance given to the court that no appointments would be made till finalisation of the petitions.
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During the past two years, after becoming first CM Telangana State post bifurcation of AP, K.Chandra Sekhara Rao of TRS party, made so many illegal and unconstitutional decisions which were set aside by High Court and Supreme Court, indicating his autocratic and undemocratic attitudes. Shameless fellow he is, continues his whimsical rule. He respects neither his Administrative Officers nor Legal Luminaries and never seeks their views before making decisions. Some one should tell him that he is only CM of state in Republic of India and not a Nizam of Hyderabad. He should remember his oath on daily basis and confine his administration within the framework of constitution and existing laws of the land. On the contrary he audaciously campaigns that High Court is full of Judges with Andhra origins and hence TS decisions are being set aside.

In contrast, Sri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, the then CM of AP resigned voluntarily in 1964, following unfavourable observations made against the Government of Andhra Pradesh by the Supreme Court in the Bus Routes Nationalisation case. 

In C. S. Rowjee and Others vs Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), the petitioners accused the APSRTC of having acted mala fide under the orders of the Chief Minister, Sanjiva Reddy, in ordering the nationalization of bus routes in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. In its verdict, the Supreme Court observed "that to give effect to the wishes of the Chief Minister expressed that the impugned schemes were formulated by the Corporation and therefore, it would be vitiated by mala fides notwithstanding the interposition of the semi-autonomous corporation."  The Supreme Court also observed that the allegations of "bias and personal ill-will against the appellants" were neither denied by the Chief Minister nor were affidavits stating the Government's position filed in the High Court. Further the Supreme Court observed that the counter-affidavits, while denying that the APSRTC was acting at the behest of the Chief Minister, failed to explain the choice of Kurnool district for nationalization of the routes. In effect this was a condemnation of Reddy's role.

If KCR has to emulate Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, he should have resigned at least 25 times during last two years and surely 100 times before his 5 year term ends. What kind of "Bangaru Telangana", he will build only time will reveal.

Medicines and Stents, A loot in India.

Medicnes:
During 1970's I remember buying C Vitamin tablets CELIN by Glaxo were Re. 1 each. After some years IDPL launched SUCKCEE C Vitamin tablets for under Rs.0.10 each. Such was the loot by MNC's in the name of patent and so called exploded R&D expenses recovery. Doctor's always prescribed CELIN never SUCKCEE because of perks offered by Glaxo through their dealers and medical representatives.

Before 1970, there was no patent protection in India. So production of generic medicine got a boost and it increased so much that India started being called the “pharmacy of the world”. But after 2004-05, with the advent of patent protection, the situation has changed rapidly.

But people have a Right to Life. Generic medicines should be produced in abundance by keeping peoples’ interest in mind. At the same time, the quality and standards of generic drugs must be maintained. It is the duty of the government to regulate the quality control mechanism of generic drugs so that its credibility never gets questioned. Adulteration in medicine is a serious offence and it must be dealt through a stringent mechanism.

It is all because of multinational companies’ influence. They give a cut and perks to doctors. Doctors are given the licence to practise by the government of India. Can’t we issue them the licence on the condition that they will prescribe generic medicines to the extent possible? They will prescribe MNCs’ drugs only when no options are there among generics. As per MCI rules, doctors should prescribe cheaper drugs whenever possible. Violation of this rule should be made cognizable offence punishable including heavy penalties and cancellation of practice licence.

Prescription format should be standardized with columns of brand and generic name both written in adjacent columns and giving complete details of the doctor.

In a country like India, a lifesaving drug of Rs 9,000 is sold at over Rs 2 lakhs.

R&D must be taken care of. The burden of R&D expenses need not necessarily borne by the immediate drug users alone. It should be borne by the society as a whole. The government should refinance it. R&D should be there for the welfare of humankind and it must not be a licence to extort people. Even though companies have the right to charge high price until the patent expires, such higher prices should be justified and such higher price should be with a cap so that the drug is affordable by all. Any kind of manipulation of patent should be prevented and penalized.The government must cap sales and profit margins and provide good medicines at fair price.

Public sector drug companies like IDPL should be revived and rejuvenated to produce more and more generic drugs for benefit of common man.

A poor worker in my agriculture farm was all set to buy medicines worth Rs.750 from a medical shop in a small town. I happened to be around and asked the medical shop owner, to charge only cost to cost basis as a favor to me. Then the bill came down to Rs.200. Imagine the extent of loot. Mind boggling 300%. Half of the loot (150%) will go to the prescribing doctor since all these drugs are lesser known local brands.

Stents:
In 2010, out of estimated 3,500 stent implants carried out every month in Andhra Pradesh, at least 30% were unnecessary as per experts. While China accounts for nearly 30% of the global value, India claims around 25% of the stents market.

Some doctors while explaining the extent of corruption said, if a patient does not require a stent, he is being implanted with one, while a patient needing one implant is instead implanted with two. At least 20-25 varieties of stents are available in India, including imported ones and the cost ranges from bare metal variety costing Rs 15,000 to the advanced bio-absorbable stents costing Rs 3 lakh.

In 2010, the CBI that probed the cardiac stent scam in the state found that a hospital was billing for a high quality stent, but actually implanting a low quality one during surgery. The CBI probe allegedly involved several corporate hospitals and staff of CGHS in Hyderabad.

Malpractices by Doctors

Bangalore, 27 September 2011

This is an article by Dr B M Hegde, MD, FRCP, FRCPE, FRCPG, FRCPI, FACC, FAMS  - Padma Bhushan Awardee 2010.

Most of these observations are either completely or partially true. Corruption has many names, and one of civil society isn't innocent either. Professionals and businessmen of various sorts indulge in unscrupulous practices. I recently had a chat with some doctors, surgeons and owners of nursing homes about the tricks of their trade. Here is what they said

1) 40-60% kickbacks for lab tests. When a doctor (whether family doctor / general physician, consultant or surgeon) prescribes tests - pathology, radiology, X-rays, MRIs etc. - the laboratory conducting those tests gives commissions. In South and Central Mumbai -- 40%. In the suburbs north of Bandra -- a whopping 60 per cent! He probably earns a lot more in this way than the consulting fees that you pay.

2) 30-40% for referring to consultants, specialists & surgeons. When your friendly GP refers you to a specialist or surgeon, he gets 30-40%.

3) 30-40% of total hospital charges. If the GP or consultant recommends hospitalization, he will receive kickback from the private nursing home as a percentage of all charges including ICU, bed, nursing care, surgery.

4) Sink tests. Some tests prescribed by doctors are not needed. They are there to inflate bills and commissions. The pathology lab understands what is unnecessary. These are called "sink tests"; blood, urine, stool samples collected will be thrown.

5) Admitting the patient to "keep him under observation". People go to cardiologists feeling unwell and anxious. Most of them aren't really having a heart attack, and cardiologists and family doctors are well aware of this. They admit such safe patients, put them on a saline drip with mild sedation, and send them home after 3-4 days after charging them a fat amount for ICU, bed charges, visiting doctors fees.

6) ICU minus intensive care. Nursing homes all over the suburbs are run by doctor couples or as one-man-shows. In such places, nurses and ward boys are 10th class drop-outs in ill-fitting uniforms and bare feet. These "nurses" sit at the reception counter, give injections and saline drips, perform ECGs, apply dressings and change bandages, and assist in the operation theatre. At night, they even sit outside the Intensive Care Units; there is no resident doctor. In case of a crisis, the doctor -- who usually lives in the same building -- will turn up after 20 minutes, after this nurse calls him. Such ICUs admit safe patients to fill up beds. Genuine patients who require emergency care are sent elsewhere to hospitals having a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) round-the-clock.

7) Unnecessary caesarean surgeries and hysterectomies. Many surgical procedures are done to keep the cash register ringing. Caesarean deliveries and hysterectomy (removal of uterus) are high on the list. While the woman with labour -pains is screaming and panicking, the obstetrician who gently suggests that caesarean is best seems like an angel sent by God! Menopausal women experience bodily changes that make them nervous and gullible. They can be frightened by words like " and "fibroids" that are in almost every normal woman's radiology reports. When a gynaecologist gently suggests womb removal "as a precaution", most women and their husbands agree without a second's thought.

8) Cosmetic surgery advertized through newspapers. Liposuction and plastic surgery are not minor procedures. Some are life-threateningly major. But advertisements make them appear as easy as facials and waxing. The Indian medical council has strict rules against such misrepresentation. But nobody is interested in taking action.

9) Indirect kickbacks from doctors to prestigious hospitals. To be on the panel of a prestigious hospital, there is give-and-take involved. The hospital expects the doctor to refer many patients for hospital admission. If he fails to send a certain number of patients, he is quietly dumped. And so he likes to admit patients even when there is no need.

10) "Emergency surgery" on dead body. If a surgeon hurriedly wheels your patient from the Intensive Care Unit to the operation theater, refuses to let you go inside and see him, and wants your signature on the consent form for "an emergency operation to save his life", it is likely that your patient is already dead. The "emergency operation" is for inflating the bill; if you agree for it, the surgeon will come out 15 minutes later and report that your patient died on the operation table. And then, when you take  delivery of the dead body, you will pay OT charges, anesthesiologist's charges, blah-blah-

Wonder how widespread this is. Or, is it a matter of a few black sheep giving a bad name to the entire fraternity? Doctors are humans too. You can't trust them blindly. Please understand the difference.

Young surgeons and old ones. The young ones who are setting up nursing home etc. have heavy loans to settle. To pay back the loan, they have to perform as many operations as possible. Also, to build a reputation, they have to perform a large number of operations and develop their skills. So, at first, every case seems fit for cutting. But with age, experience and prosperity, many surgeons lose their taste for cutting, and stop recommending operations.

Physicians and surgeons. To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Surgeons like to solve medical problems by cutting, just as physicians first seek solutions with drugs. So, if you take your medical problem to a surgeon first, the chances are that you will unnecessarily end up on the operation table. Instead, please go to an ordinary GP first.
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The article missed an usual item. Kickbacks from medical shops which is variable depending upon factors like proximity, volumes etc but the amounts are significant. A medical shop attached to a busy nursing home usually pays up entire electricity bill apart from goodwill amount of few lakhs of rupees and attending to doctor's sundry needs.

The "Tagore" telugu movie of the year 2003, is not a fiction but an exaggeration and dramatization of actual happenings in corporate hospitals.


My View:
You and your family should have a family physician with whom you should develop good relationship. Overtime he will be well conversant with your family health issues. Use his referral contacts in case any specialist requirements. Take his help at every stage including second opinion etc. Being a family friend he would be equally concerned about your well being and what you can afford and what you can't. He may not be a saint at least he knows where he should stop. Approaching specialist directly or corporate hospitals at the first instance, you might end up with unnecessary tests & procedures and exorbitant bills even for a normal ailment.

Kabali, the worst Rajanikanth starrer

Tamil superstar Rajanikanth's latest film "KABALI" in Tamil and dubbed versions in  Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, and Malay was released on Fri  July 22, 2016, worldwide and in about 3,200 screens in India, surpassing all the records. Unprecedented hype was created through advertisements, campaigns and paid news. The Hindu played such a big role in all the media hype, for nearly a month now. The frenzy it created was reflected in declaring holidays by some companies to deal with the frenzy, to avoid sick leaves, mobile switch-offs etc in Bangalore & Chennai and motivate its employees etc.

The Rs.100+crore film is rumored to have collected over Rs.200+ crores over the weekend.

However the film  bombed, and distributors are likely to lose most of their money invested. All others might have made some profits even prior to release.

Almost all viewers gave rating of * - - - -  and ** - - - only Rajanikanth's die-hard fans gave at best *** - -

Kabali looted money from distributors & viewers and enriched its makers.

Here are some of the viewer reviews:

• Watch at home ....when you want to sleep, but don't feel sleepy
• Worst movie...waste of money and time
• It is not kabali. It is kaali (empty)
• In this story no need for superstar. Any second hero enough for this worthless story. 
• After watching the movie, we will get so much depression about Ranjith. 
• Why he's done this stupid film with superstar.
• I'm fan of Rajnikanth. But it was a total waste of time watching the movie.
• It is the worst movie I have seen. The script sucks. The action is terrible and what a waste of Rajni's talents. I walked out after the intermission.
• A huge let down....
• Seditious and below average... Rajini getting old and senile...
• ... may have to get ready to pay compensation to the distributors and theater owners.
• Bakwas movie, simply wasted money on this. Its only south peoples craze and publicity. Else movie is not worth watching.
• Perhaps the phenomenal and unprecedented hype has let down the picture and the actor!
• A complete betrayal by Ranjith to our superstar Rajini and his fans. Unfit to direct.

My Views:

If you have not seen this movie so far, stay away.  Don't waste your time and money. You will only regret and get headache. Rajanikanth, instead of signing the movie blindly for money should focus on understanding the story and producer's and director's attitude towards the project. All concerned should have some sense of viewer obligations.

It is time to have some kind of mandatory methodology to protect movie goers interests. The full length movie should be shown as preview, few days before release to media and critics and allow them to pass on honest recommendations, without influencing or luring them, to general public. Movie makers have no right to make substandard movies as they like and extract public money using media and creating hype. They must do enough home work and give viewers value for value. 

They have no right to steal public money and make them suffer headache instead of entertainment.

Film Nagar Club's building collapses leaving 2 dead & 10 injured.

The government allotted 95 acres, in 365 plots, for Film Nagar Housing Society in Jubilee Hills area by the then chief minister T Anjaiah in 1981. Film Nagar Cultural Center (FNCC), popularly known as Film Nagar Club was established in 1993 with all Film Nagar Housiety plot owners as members free of charge and other nearby plot owners for a fee. With good quality facilities and service, FNCC has become one of the popular destinations in the city.

Even though, it is mandatory for all societies and associations to follow transparent methods of procurement and contracts, it is rarely being followed for reason's of nepotism and corruption.

• GHMC permission was not obtained for this construction.
• Although there were unresolved cases in High Court, the club took up this construction work. 
• FNCC claims that it was not a new building, but extension of portico. But ground floor is new large portico where as first floor appears to extension of Club.
• Workers said that non-stop work was taken up on Saturday morning up to Sunday afternoon.
• They were promised payment of Rs. 750 instead of Rs.300 per day.
• Earlier, a case was pending in High Court regarding Film Nagar Cultural Centre's recent construction of about 50,000 square feet and the authorities had not taken any action. GHMC was directed by High Court to file a report on the alleged illegal constructions by the Film Nagar Cultural Centre. 
• GHMC has seized & sealed the entire club following the incident and ordered probe by JNTU.
• KTR's not visiting FNCC accident site, was conspicuously  noted.

The main building has GHMC permission for G+2 only where as G+3 was constructed.

It is rumored that crucial netas & officials were given "honorary membership cards" with market value of Rs. 17 lakhs, for FREE, for turning Nelson's eye and facilitating their unauthorized construction.

While land was allotted for construction of Community Centre with initial approval for built up area of 13,670 sft, today Film Nagar Cultural Centre has built up area of 80,000 sft with facilities comparable to any Five Star Hotel, for which no further approvals were obtained. Needlless to say it has become fashion to construct as they like and apply for BRS (Building Regularisation Scheme) by paying fees which was being announced at periodical intervals by state government.

My view:

The accident is result of several factors like corruption, greed, violations, sub standard designs, poor quality materials, bad workmanship, on site negligence etc. Since it is illegal construction, time line for construction is short and construction being carried out round the clock with less time for curing of concrete and avoid public attraction. While stringent penalties and punishments should be natural consequence, it is highly unlikely because of involvement of bigwigs of the society and TRS Government's aversion to hurt this industry for fear of its migration to AP detrimental to state's revenues. Politician's tough talk on television is just a eye wash. As usual, the issue will calm down in coming days and will die in due course.

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On Sun July 24, 2016, I with family just walked into FNCC to attend a function at about 11:30 AM. By chance, I walked in between centering poles. Ten minutes later accident occurred and I came to know only about 30 minutes later. Public commotion started after the function was wound up at 3 PM. We were just lucky.

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TS stealing Krishna Water at Jurala

CAG report of 2012 on JALAYAGNAM Projects states that none of these projects have approvals, or water allocations or DPR's. Undivided AP being the lowest riparian state then, there was no harm to upper riparian states i.e. Maharashtra & Karnataka while KWDT I states that undivided AP could use unallocated or surplus or flood waters without claiming any rights in future. Post bifurcation of AP in 2014, new Telangana State became an upper riparian state and thus lost its benefits associated with lower riparian state. This was shouted loudly by ex-CM Kiran Kumar Reddy which was both ignored and laughed at him.

In this season not a single drop has reached Srisailam so far while both Srisailam & Nagarjuna Sagar Dams (with firm allocations of Krishna waters) are below minimum levels. KRMB rejected water use for AP and TS for all purposes except drinking water to Hyderabad in its recent meeting. TS defying KRMB's order and diverting 16,000 cusecs of Krishna water at Jurala, the very first inflows to Kalwakurthy, Bhima, Koilsagar, Nettempadu projects (based on Krishna flood waters only) for its trial runs totaling 16 TMC speaks volumes about TS's audacious nature, utter disregard for  Constitution of India, Laws of the land, Regulatory Institutions etc. and its selfish nature harming lower riparian AP. It may also be noted that during past two years, TS had abused its position of advantage at NS Dam and Srisailam left bank power house and operated in violation of KRMB directives and harming AP's legitimate interests umpteen times.

We can deal with sensible people. 
How do we deal with mad fellows?

TRS Minister Harish Rao releases water from Jurala Project In Mahabubnagar District 

in a widely publicized function on July 21, 2016, for which KRMB rejected its approval.

My View :

• Narendra Modi's BJP Government at Center, aspiring to strengthen its political base across the country, is avoiding controversies exhibiting its spinelessness since two years. While this has become advantage to TS, is harming legitimate interests of AP. 
• Hence AP has no other option except to (a) Campaign in media and expose evil nature & doings of TS on continuous basis and (b) knock doors of Supreme Court at the first instance of abuse, without waiting for rascals & scoundrels to see reason and behave sensibly and responsibly, which is not their nature.

BJP Commits suicide in AP

The ruling BJP virtually committed suicide in AP, by stalling private bill of Congress member KVP Ramachandra Rao, for granting "Special Status to AP" in Rajya Sabha yesterday (Fri 22/7/2016), illegally and immorally, contradictory to business rules of the house.

Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced "Special Status to AP" for 5 years in Rajya Sabha as a precondition of BJP leaders in upper house Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley, then opposition leaders in RS demanded 10 year's special status to AP, while passing AP Reorganization Bill 2014. However after assuming power Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, contrary to all his election promises made in AP, developed cold feet, for political reasons detrimental to AP interests.

• Central assistance extended to AP after bifurcation was falling very much short of the provisions of the Act.
• 20,000 crore Polavaram project scheduled to be completed by 2018, has received 50 crore during 2014-15 and 200 crores in 2015-16. At this pace it would never get completed.
• Capital city construction requires at least 100,000 crores, where as so far assistance received is less than 2,000 crores.
• New Railway zone for AP with Visakhapatnam as HQ was put in cold storage violating AP Reorganisation Act.
• Dugarajapatnam port project  was diverted to Tamilnadu, violating AP Reorganisation Act.
• Estimated Budget  deficit of Rs.16,000 crores for 2014-15 and similar amount for 2015-16 was not reimbursed so far. Center continues asking clarifications after clarifications but not paying speaks volumes about their intentions.
• Special Status to AP was not granted so far on the pretext that it is contradictory to Niti Aayog (erstwhile Planning Commission) where as Manmohan Singh's cabinet already approved this. Niti Aayog is neither superior to Parliament nor Union Cabinet inferior to Niti Aayog.
• No tangible explanation given by BJP Government so far. Nor alternate compensatory amounts stated.
• BJP with vote base of less than 3% in AP, is virtually non existent in rural AP, is aspiring to become significant force by its pseudo leaders without any mass base will now get buried permanently in AP.
• Now Congress, which lost deposits in all the constituencies of AP in 2014 post bifurcation elections, stands to gain some mileage, only at the expense of rattled YCP.
• TDP by announcing support to the bill, despite being Congress private bill but in the larger interest of AP, overcoming the obligations of being part of Modi's NDA coalition government in Center stands sincere in the eyes of people of AP.
• On Sat 22/7/2016 by stalling the bill in RS, BJP had virtually put its neck in the suicide rope's loop.
• Tomorrow, i.e. Mon 25/7/2016 if the bill is not put to voting and BJP extend its support to bill and eventually grant "Special Status to AP", its self hanging in AP would get completed.
• BJP leadership's wishful thinking to become stronger by weakening TDP in AP is short sighted. In fact they would become stronger in AP by strengthening TDP government. So far its leaders false claims that central support of more than a lakh of crores was extended to AP so far, but not properly acknowledged by TDP Government in AP was laughed at even by lay man in AP.
• According to me, BJP has committed suicide by AP on Sat 22/7/2016 for its political histrionics during past two years. 
• Perhaps BJP is looking at Telangana allying with TRS & KCR, forgetting how they used  Sonia Gandhi and Congress for achieving separate statehood and once done, dumped them 100 feet under ground.
• Finally, BJP should realize that with zero rural base and scattered urban base in two Telugu states, BJP can't survive as a political party on its own. Piggy riding on TDP is beneficial to them especially with 1999-2004 experience when BJP almost received 9% votes in 1999 election and making impressive wins was with allying with TDP.
• Let us see whether better sense prevails with BJP's central leadership. In the mean time AP people will continue to suffer for no fault of theirs.
• In the words of Undavalli Arun Kumar, ex Rajahmundry MP, while Congress made an "attempted rape of AP" in 2014, BJP did raped AP today.
• Venkaiah Naidu turned out to be "AP Drohi" in the disguise of "disciplined BJP party worker".