Akshaya services: HC directs govt to consider demand for hike in fees
Justice N Nagaresh was hearing a petition by All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Confederation, challenging the unilateral terms and conditions introduced in the amended agreement proposed by the state.
The petitioners contended that all govt-to-citizen services are to be routed exclusively through Akshaya Centres and alleged that they were compelled by the authorities to execute the allegedly unilateral agreement without any prior consultation or discussion. Although the petitioners had submitted a representation to the
IT department
secretary, no further action has been taken.
In response, the state opposed the petition, asserting that the petitioners cannot dictate terms to the govt, which would make decisions in the larger public interest. After reviewing the matter, the Court directed the Secretary of the IT Department to consider the representation and take an appropriate decision before finalising the revised agreement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Create awareness among students about committee and against paying excess fees: FRC to State departments
The Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC) has written a letter to the Secretaries of the Departments of Higher Education, Medical Education and Health and Family Welfare to create awareness about the FRC if there are complaints regarding colleges seeking excess fee. The FRC's direction came following complaints by medical and engineering students regarding demand for excess fee and advance fee payment for entire courses. Justice B. Sreenivase Gowda, Chairman of FRC has said that the departments should issue necessary directions to the Executive Director of KEA to include the clause: 'students aggrieved by demands for excess fees and/or demands for payment of the entire course fee in advance by private professional colleges at the time of admission shall be at liberty to approach the Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC), located in the KEA building, for redressal of their grievances,' in the allotment letter/admission order. Mentioning that complaints have been received about the demand for additional fees by the principal of a college in Mangaluru, he said that the committee finds that the complaints do not contain material particulars such as names, contact numbers and email IDs. 'In the absence of the above particulars, the FRC cannot enquire into the complaints and provide appropriate relief,' he stated. He suggested to insert above the clause in the Consensual Agreement (CA) entered by the State government with Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association (KUPECA) and Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges Association (KRLMPCA) and other associations. 'It would be more effective and fruitful if such Consensual Agreement is web-hosted in the website of the colleges and department,' he stated. Justice Gowda also also suggested to issue notifications in minimum two Kannada and English daily newspapers widely circulated across the State and the Centre at the time of commencement of every academic year.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Benami company': Plea seeks vigilance probe into allegations against CPM leader P P Divya
Kochi: A petition has been filed in high court seeking a vigilance probe into the allegations that the Kannur district panchayat awarded several contracts to a private company, which is allegedly a benami company of P P Divya, former president of the district panchayat and a local CPM leader. Considering the petition filed by KSU state vice president Mohammed Shammas, the bench of Justice A Badharudeen sought instructions from the state govt on whether the vigilance department had taken any action on the complaint that the petitioner had already submitted before them. HC then adjourned the petition to Aug 26. In his petition, Shammas alleged that the company, Carton India Alliance Pvt Ltd, is a benami company of Divya and that the two directors of the company are close associates of Divya and her husband, V P Ajith. The petitioner further alleged that a proper examination of the company's real status, the financial capacity of its two directors and their close ties with Divya and Ajith would reveal that the firm is a benami company. It was further alleged that the works related to girl-friendly pre-fabricated modular toilets in 11 schools in Kannur district were awarded to Steel Industries Kerala Ltd (SILK) by the panchayat, but the execution of those works was entrusted to Carton India Alliance without inviting tenders for sub-contracts. Shammas alleged that even without executing the works, the company had received Rs 72.17 lakh as part payment, and in another project involving 16 pre-fabricated modular toilets in schools, the company had similarly obtained Rs 72.55 lakh. The petitioner also pointed out that though he had filed a petition before the vigilance director on Feb 21, 2025, no action, not even a preliminary inquiry, had been initiated so far. He therefore sought a directive to the vigilance director to conduct a preliminary inquiry and to take further action on his petition. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Delhi HC seeks response from PepsiCo India over ‘Fizz' trademark use in 7Up packaging
The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response from Food and beverage major PepsiCo India Holdings as to why it should not be restrained from using word 'Fizz' in the packaging of its 7Up cold drink , as sought by Parle Agro . Mumbai-based food and beverage firm Parle Agro had moved the HC last week alleging that the word 'Fizz' used by Pepsico was similar to its registered trademark ' Appy Fizz '. The HC will hear the case next on September 4. Parle Agro claimed that it had created and adopted the trademark 'Appy Fizz' in 2005, with the mark 'Fizz' as an essential and prominent part of its sparkling apple juice-based drink. The product under the 'Appy Fizz' trademark gained immense popularity, it said, leading to more products being launched with the mark 'Fizz', such as 'Frooti Fizz', 'Grappo Fizz' and 'B-Fizz'. In July, Parle Agro found that PepsiCo had started using 'Fizz' for its 7Up cold drink's packaging It said that Pepsi's use of 'Fizz' affected the market for Parle Agro's products as it created confusion in the market. PepsiCo had replicated the word 'Fizz' in a style and presentation which was identical to that of the petitioner, the Mumbai-based firm alleged. According to Parle Agro, the US-headquartered PepsiCo had previously used 'Extra Fizz' in a descriptive manner alongside a prominently displayed 7Up mark, but later reduced the size of the 7Up branding and elevated 'Fizz' name to a principal position on its packaging. This change by PepsiCo was part of a strategy to move closer to Parle Agro's 'Fizz' branding and capitalise on its goodwill and reputation, Parle Agro claimed. However, PepsiCo had last week told the court that 'Fizz' referred to any aerated drink and the beverages firm cannot claim its monopoly over the word.
