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Journalism of Courage
HC extends relief on MBBS exam
The Bombay High Court today extended the order on the MBBS grace marks scandal8217; to all the students of the University of Mumbai who are affected by it. The order was passed by the division bench of Justice Ashok Agarwal and Justice D K Deshmukh following another petition filed by five other students of the MBBS who had not participated in the earlier petition.
The two-month internship period of students who pass under this compromise formula, will be protected.
It may be recalled that 61 MBBS students had moved the high court last week against the decision ofChancellor of the University of Mumbai Dr P C Alexander to withdraw the eight grace marks given to all MBBS students in the Preventive and Social Medicine paper. Around 68 students had benefitted by the grace marks and the withdrawal of the marks had led to many students being declared failed. Since 61 students had already approached court and in a subsequent order been covered, it was expected that the remaining seven students would eventually approach court.
Today, two petitions filed by one Vaibhav Katkade and Urvi Rathod with others came up for hearing at the division bench. Since their case was similar to the earlier petitions, the court extended its order without much ado and directed the University to declare the results of the fresh exams by May 20.
Plea against plastic ban dismissed
The Bombay High Court today adjourned without giving any ad interim relief a petition filed by the Virgin Plastic Bags Manufacturers8217; Association challenging the state government8217;s decision to ban plasticbags of less than 20 microns in thickness.
The division bench of Justice Ashok Agarwal and Justice D K Deshmukh found no substance in giving any relief especially since the petition was filed now, while the state government notification banning the plastic bags came in March 1999.
The association had claimed that these plastic bags are not an environmental hazard. The state had banned the plastic bags after a sustained campaign was undertaken by the citizens and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC where it was pointed out that these plastic bags choked the drainage systems in the city since they were not collected and recycled by the rag pickers. Besides, burning of these plastic bags released life harming toxins in the environment.
Counsel for the petitioners, V R Manohar refuted these claims and pointed out that they were not heard by the state government before bringing out the notification banning such plastic bags.
CA exams rescheduled
Acceding to the requests of thecandidates whose examination in Intermediate Chartered Accountancy clashes with third year BCom paper, the University of Mumbai has postponed the papers of Computer Systems and applications, Transport Management and Business Insurance under the Applied Component Group. These papers were scheduled for Wednesday May 12. Examinations for these papers will now be held on Sunday May 16 between 11 am and 2 pm. The venue for the examination will remain the same.
