Thiruvananthapuram:  State Public Education Department with new norms for study. The Director of Public Education’s main directive is to not travel between 10 pm and 5 am. The details of the study tour should be given to the Education District Officer. Only three days should be used for the journey. Travel should be done only through government-approved tour operators.

Parents must give consent. Only vehicles that meet the standards of the Transport Department should be used for the journey. Illegally modified vehicles shall not be used for travel. The RT should be informed before starting the journey. No night travel. A report about the vehicle should be filed at the police station.

The director of public education also informed that this revised directive is applicable to all the educational institutions operating in the state. The new directive was issued in the wake of the accident that led to the death of students in Vadakkencherry.

Thiruvananthapuram: The court dropped the murder charge against the accused in the case of journalist KM Bashir’s death after being hit by car. The court acquitted Sriram Venkataraman and Wafa Feroze of the murder charge. Thiruvananthapuram Additional District Sessions Court gave its verdict on the release petition filed by both the accused in the case.

In the case of killing journalist KM Basheer by hitting him with a vehicle, the court has clarified that the intentional homicide section will not stand in the court verdict on the release petition filed by the accused. Thiruvananthapuram 1st Class Additional District Section Court gave the verdict.

Meanwhile, the setback was that it could not be proved that Sriram Venkataraman was drunk at the time of the accident. The prosecution argued that Sriram tried to destroy the evidence after the accident, but the court did not accept it. But the chemical analysis report to find out that he was drunk could not prove that he was drunk. This is a setback for the prosecution. With this, Section 30 4 of the charge sheet was omitted and the District Court transferred the further trial under Section 304 A to the Magistrate’s Court. The order also states that on 20th of next month, the accused in the case Sriram and Wafa Firoz should appear in person.

Thiruvananthapuram:  Governor Arif Muhammad Khan has again taken the nullification action. The Governor issued an order withdrawing 15 senate members of Kerala University. The unusual action comes as the university rejected the Governor’s proposal.

Last day, the governor disqualified 15 people who did not attend the Senate meeting. The Governor also instructed the University VC to issue an order in this regard. The governor’s ultimatum was to be issued today. But the university rejected it. The university informed Raj Bhavan in writing that it could not take action as there was no VC place.

Following the governor’s reprimand to the representative, the members walked out of the Senate meeting en masse. With this, the meeting adjourned without a quorum. Following this, the governor took an extraordinary step. The governor had sought a report including the names of the absent members.

Thiruvananthapuram: Meteorological Center says heavy rain will continue in the state. Rain will continue till 22nd. Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts are on yellow alert today. There is a rain warning in hilly areas and Lakshadweep.

Meanwhile, the low-lying areas continue to be waterlogged due to the rain that has been continuing for two days. Sports fitness test and physical measurement for the post of police constable which was scheduled to be held till 21 in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts has been postponed due to inclement weather.

New Delhi: A new Omicron variant has been confirmed in the country. BA.5.2.1.7 or BF.7 was found in Pune. Then the Ministry of Health suggested tightening the inspection and control in the country.

BA.5.2.1.7 or BF.7 is the most common variety in America and Europe. Health Minister Veena George had informed yesterday that in the situation where new genetic variants of covid have been reported in different parts of the world, prevention activities have been strengthened in Kerala.

All districts have been instructed in this regard. The new variant is more spreadable than the previous variants of Covid-19. Therefore, the defense will be further strengthened, the minister said. About 1.8 percent of those infected may require hospital treatment. There is no cause for concern at present.

However, the minister said that everyone should pay attention and take precautions including masks. A high-level meeting was convened under the leadership of the minister to evaluate the precautions and arrangements of the health department.

Kochi: The state government has informed the High Court that it will enact legislation to prevent black magic and superstition. The High Court disposed of the petition of the Rationalist Group, recording the government’s contention that necessary steps had been taken.

In the context of the Elantur human sacrifice, the rationalist group approached the High Court with a public interest petition seeking a law to prevent witchcraft and sorcery. The demand in the petition is to direct the central and state governments to enact legislation.
The petitioners said that such laws have been implemented in the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.