Court sets aside conviction of mentally ill man

Saravanan.L1@timesgroup.com

Madurai: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Wednesday set aside the life term awarded by a lower court to a person for killing two women in 2005. The court observed that the man was of unsound mind at the time of the incident.

The court also ordered the superintendent of police, Madurai central prison, where he has been lodged, to hand him over to the Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, Chennai. The court also directed the judicial magistrate of Uthamapalayam in Theni to deal with him further as per provisions of the Metal Health Act, 1987.

On July 1, 2005, a person named Panneerselvam attacked a woman called Indira while she was fetching water from a public tap at Chinnamanoor in Theni. Another woman, Pushpam, who came to her rescue was also attacked. It resulted in the death of the two women.

The fast track court in Periyakulam on September 24, 2007, sentenced Panneerselvam to life for murder and seven years imprisonment for attempt to murder.

Panneerselvam appealed against the sentence in 2016. The division bench of justices R Subbiah and A D Jagadish Chandira delivered judgment on the appeal setting aside the conviction on Wednesday.

The bench said Government Rajaji Hospital psychiatrist Ramanujam, who examined the appellant in 2005 certified that he was not in a fit state of mind and was suffering from schizophrenia. Thereafter, when the appellant was sent to Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, in Chennai for further observation, doctor Gopalakrishnan certified that the appellant showed improvement.

“During cross-examination, the doctor said that a person of unsound mind could not know what he is doing. However, on the basis of the opinion of the visitor’s committee which assessed the appellant’s mental status, the doctor said that he was fit to stand trial. On a cumulative reading of the evidence of both the doctors, the court came to the conclusion that at the time of occurrence, the accused (appellant) was not in a sound state of mind. There was no motive for him to cause the death of two persons,” the bench said.

After counting son among his nemeses, Rajini calls on dad Karuna for blessing

Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Chennai: In an interesting twist, actor Rajinikanth, who played a crucial role in influencing the outcome of the 1996 assembly election that helped the DMK-TMC combine win, called on DMK chief M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence on Wednesday to seek his blessings for his political sojourn.

The meeting lasted just 15 minutes. But, Rajinikanth came out a happy man. “I told kalaignar (Karunanidhi) that I have entered politics. He smiled and nodded his head as if welcoming me to politics,” Rajnikanth told reporters later. Karunanidhi, who has retired from politics, is rarely seen in public forums. His son and DMK working president M K Stalin now holds the reins of the party.

That battle lines are clearly drawn between DMK and Rajinikanth was evident from the fact that the meeting lacked the usual cordiality extended to a friend or an ally. There was no smile on Stalin’s face as he greeted the actor at the doorstep and there were no other family member, senior leaders or DMK cadres to greet him. Karunanidhi’s personal secretary K Shanmuganathan was the only other senior person present.




PICTURE & STORY: Kalaignar smiled and nodded his head as if welcoming me to politics, Rajini told reporters after the meeting

Happy about meeting Kalaignar, Rajini says

On arrival at Karunanidhi’s residence, Rajinikanth stepped out of his car and hurried in even as Stalin, wearing a sombre expression, waited inside the portico to welcome him. Cryptic in his reaction, Stalin told reporters later, “It is Tamil culture to welcome everyone into our house with a smiling face. There is no surprise in Rajinikanth meeting Karunanidhi as both have met in the past too. DMDK chief Vijayakanth too met Karunanidhi and got his blessings after starting a party.” He added, “There is talk that some party or individual is behind the actor starting a party to take on DMK. But history has shown that those who wanted to demolish Dravidian parties have not survived because Tamil Nadu soil belongs to Dravidian parties,” said Stalin.

For his part, Rajinikanth said, “Kalaignar is the seniormost politician in the country. I respect him a lot. We have a very good friendship. I took his blessings as I am entering politics. I am happy meeting him,” he gushed. Their relationship goes back to 1996 assembly and Lok Sabha elections when Rajinikanth’s one-line slogan for the DMK-TMC alliance that even God cannot save TN if Jayalalithaa won proved a turning point.

“I told Karunanidhi that I have entered politics and wanted his blessings. But, I did not speak politics with Thalaivar,” said Rajinikanth.

  Retd transport staff to get dues before Pongal

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to clear by January 11, the pending deficit of ₹204 crore towards the statutory dues, payable to over 7,000 retired employees of the state owned transport corporations.

A division bench of Justices S Manikumar and M Govindaraj also made it clear that the amount should be disbursed to the beneficiaries by January 12, at any cost.

The bench passed the interim order despite the submission of the advocate-general that the state is facing a severe financial crisis.

As on June 22, the state government owed ₹614.91 crore to over 7,000 retired employees of its transport undertakings. Also, it owed ₹5,074.75 crore to its existing employees.

The issue was brought to the knowledge of the court by an 82-year-old retired employee, through a post card. Treating the postcard sent by Mayandi Servai as a PIL, the court hauled up the government which finally agreed to settle ₹1,136 crore in dues.

A direction was passed by the court to settle ₹379 crore by December 15. But when the plea was taken up on Wednesday, the government submitted that ₹175 crore has been released out of the promised Rs 379 crore.

Noting that the court has already given enough time to settle the dues, the bench directed the government to settle the deficit ₹204 crore before the Pongal festival.

High court suspends new vakalat rules

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: A division bench of the Madras high court on Wednesday suspended the operation of new rules mandating that advocates affix photo identity cards on vakalats till March 1.

Justices Huluvadi G Ramesh and RMT Teekaa Raman passed the order on a batch of appeals moved by the Madras high court advocates association, Madras Bar Association and others.

Ordering notice to the suo motu impleaded respondent Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and the high court registry returnable by four weeks, the court directed the Registrar-General not to implement the circular dated December 29, 2017 relating to filing of vakalats/memo of appearance.

The issue pertains to an order passed by a single judge of the court in November 2017 mandating advocates filing cases to affix a valid photo identity card, along with details of enrolment number, residential and office address and contact number, on vakalats.

In view of the order, the registry issued a circular notifying that the rules made in the order would come into force from January 2.

Aggrieved over the circular, the associations have now preferred the appeal. Among other things, the circular stipulated that attesting advocates too need to file proof of identity cards, in addition to residential addresses.

When the plea came up for hearing on Wednesday, lawyers representing the associations contended that the circular has caused practical difficulties while filing cases.

They said the circular was without jurisdiction and contrary to law.

Air fares surge as holiday season comes to a close

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: Flying to Chennai from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Singapore and Dubai has become expensive in the next few days as there is a rush of people returning to the city after short getaways for Christmas and New Year holidays. Delhi-Chennai fare has reached ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 while Mumbai-Chennai has increased from the usual ₹4,000to₹7,000 and above because of the demand. Students returning after vacation too have contributed to thishike. Fares are low from Chennai to these cities as holiday traffic will increase only during Pongal.

The high demand from holidayers and people who are returning after visiting their friends and relatives have put last minute travellers in a fix. An airline official said, “As the seats are full, the fare slab has increased making it expensive for last-minute travellers, mostly businessmen or those travelling for official purposes, because they have to shell out a huge price.”

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said, “Air fares to Chennai from other citiesin the country and international destinations are also high. A large number of people travel to Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Dubai and Singapore for short getaways. This trend has been seen in the last few years. The numbers were high this time because New Year was an extended weekend. This is causing the fare to go up. People wanting to travel to Chennai are finding it difficult because of this hike.”

A good number of students from other cities who study in Chennai will also be traveling in the coming days. This has added to the fare hike. A Chennai-Delhi one-way fare is in the range of ₹8,500 to ₹15,000 while a one-way fare from Mumbai to Chennai is selling in the range of ₹4,600 to ₹12,000. “The fare may go up further in the coming days, especially for travel during the weekend,” Ahmed added.

Pilots abandon cockpit after fight on flight, both grounded

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Jet Airways has grounded two of its senior pilots for fighting inside the cockpit of a London-Mumbai flight of January 1. The commander allegedly slapped the lady co-pilot mid-flight after which she left the cockpit in tears.

After persuasion, she went back to the cockpit after sometime, but reportedly came out again in a huff. This time, frightened cabin crew—fearing for everyone’s safety—requested her to go back to the controls and operate the flight to its destination. Luckily, the plane landed safely. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended the co-pilot’s flying licence and ordered a probe into the episode. The unprecedented cockpit scuffle happened on 9W 119 soon after Jet’s Boeing 777 took off on its 9-hour journey to Mumbai with 324 passengers and 14 crew members at 10am (UK time) on New Year’s day.

Terming it a “serious issue”, DGCA chief B S Bhullar told TOI, “We have ordered a probe and have suspended the privileges of copilot’s licence pending the probe.”

Captain slapped co-pilot leaving her in tears

“Some time after the plane took off, the two pilots, who are known to be very good friends, had a fight. The captain slapped the co-pilot and she left the cockpit in tears. She stood in the galley sobbing. The cabin crew tried to comfort her and send her back to the cockpit, in vain. The captain also kept buzzing (calling from the intercom in the cockpit) the crew, asking them to send the second pilot back,” sources said. When the cabin crew could not do so, the commander reportedly came out of the cockpit —leaving it unmanned in gross violation of safety rules — and persuaded the co-pilot to return with him to the controls.

“At that time, there was no one in the cockpit, while rules say at all times two crew members must be there,” sources said. If one pilot goes out to go to the lavatory or for some other reason, a flight attendant has to be present. That’s because someone should be able to open the cockpit door for the second pilot on return if the sole pilot inside gets incapacitated.

“Soon after the co-pilot returned to the cockpit, the two again had a fight and the co-pilot came out again. This time, the cabin crew was quite afraid of the fight happening in the cockpit as they feared for everyone’s safety. They requested her to go to the cockpit and fly the plane safely to its destination,” said sources.

Realising the fear among the crew, the co-pilot returned to the cockpit and the plane landed safely in Mumbai just after midnight of January 1-2.

Confirming the fight, a Jet Airways spokesman said, “A misunderstanding occurred between the cockpit crew of Jet Airways flight 9W 119, London-Mumbai, of January 1, 2018. However, the same was quickly resolved amicably and the flight with 324 guests, including two infants and 14 crew members, continued its journey to Mumbai, landing safely. “The airline has reported the matter to the DGCA and the concerned crew members have been taken off flying duties pending investigation that has since been initiated. At Jet Airways, safety of guests, crew and assets is of paramount importance and the airline has zero tolerance for any action of its employees that compromises safety.” Terming it a “serious issue”, DGCA chief B S Bhullar told TOI, “We have ordered an investigation and have suspended the privileges of the copilot’s licence pending the probe.”

The captain of 9W 119 is Jet’s senior-most commander of B-777 and an examiner. The second pilot is also a commander. “Jet had terminated the services of this captain in 2009 for forming a pilots’ union.

Following that action, the airline’s pilots had gone on a strike and the airline had to recall its decision. The captain still heads the airline’s pilots union,” said a source.

Deputy Tahsildar arrested

Staff Reporter 

 

Dharmapuri, January 04, 2018 00:00 IST

A deputy Tahsildar was arrested on graft charges here by the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption sleuths in Karimangalam on Wednesday.

The zonal deputy Tahsildar of Karimangalam Karthikeyan had allegedly demanded bribe of Rs. 1,500 for issuing a no objection certificate for name transfer of an existing electricity connection.
According to the complainant Palaniappan of Marulikarankottai in Karimangalam, Karthikeyan had demanded bribe to transfer the connection existing in the name of Palaniappan’s father to Palaniappan’s name. Following a complaint to DVAC, the deputy Tahsildar was arrested on the farm land of Palaniappan while taking the bribe.