Raymond told to pay Rs 80000 to Chennai bridegroom after his suit tears during wedding reception

Though SA Subramani, purchased a wedding suit on July 2016 at the cost of Rs 12,308, on a quality guarantee from the store owner, he foundthat the right-hand sleeves had ripped off.

Published: 25th March 2019 04:27 AM 

By Harish Murali

Express News Service

CHENNAI : A city consumer forum has directed a clothing store to pay Rs 80,000 as compensation to a city customer after an expensive suit purchased by him for his wedding reception tore in front of the guests. The consumer forum observed that PujyaShri AN Clothing, a Raymond retail shop at Purasawalkam, committed deficiency of service and should compensate its customer SA Subramani, a resident of Kodungaiyur.

According to Subramani’s petition filed before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai North, he purchased a wedding suit on July 30, 2016 at the cost of Rs 12,308, on an assurance from the store owner that it was of good and high quality appropriate for weddings. Initially he had been shown several suits in the showroom, but Subramani was not satisfied with them.

Then, on a suggestion from a sales personnel, he bought clothes there and got them stitched in the same Raymond showroom for the same price. He was assured that the clothes were of so high quality that they would be durable for at least 10 years. However, when he wore it at the wedding reception on September 4, 2016, he found out that the right-hand sleeves had ripped off with stitches coming apart.


Hence, he moved the consumer forum, seeking compensation for mental agony he had suffered and for deficiency in service on the part of the retail shop as well as the retail department of the Raymond headquartered in Maharashtra. Denying the allegations, counsel for PujyaShri AN Clothing submitted that the clothing provided was replaced with another one and also the alleged tearing of coat was due to mishandling or negligence on the part of the customer.

The Raymond retail department in Maharashtra failed to show up at the forum. However, the consumer forum, presided by K Lakshmikantham, observed that the retail shop had committed a deficiency in service by supplying goods that caused humiliation to the complainant. Hence, the forum directed the clothing shop and Raymond firm to jointly or severally pay Rs 80,000 to the complainant.

DMK temporarily suspends actor Radha Ravi for derogatory remarks against Nayanthara

On Saturday, Ravi passed comment on Nayanthara during the trailer launch of her upcoming Tamil film "Kolayuthir Kaalam".

Published: 25th March 2019 12:57 PM |

By IANS

CHENNAI: The DMK has temporarily suspended veteran actor Radha Ravi from the party for his derogatory remarks against actor Nayanthara.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M.K. Stalin on Sunday took to Twitter to upload the suspension notice of the actor.

The DMK said Ravi was acting in a manner that brought disrepute to the party, defying the party discipline and was temporarily suspended from the party.

Stalin said the party upholds the rights of women and Ravi's views about the female movie actors was unacceptable and strongly condemnable.


On Saturday, Ravi passed comment on Nayanthara during the trailer launch of her upcoming Tamil film "Kolayuthir Kaalam".

"Nayanthara has acted as ghost as well as goddess Sita. Earlier, K.R. Vijaya was the most popular choice to play the role of goddess. Today, anyone can be cast to play a goddess. They can cast someone who you want to pray to when you look at them, they can also cast someone you want to call towards you when you see them," Ravi had said.

2 DMK workers get into scuffle with biryani shop employee

TNN | Mar 25, 2019, 04.33 AM IST

CHENNAI: Two men from the DMK allegedly attacked the supervisor of a biryani restaurant in Velachery on Sunday when their demand for free food was turned down. This comes almost seven months after party president M K Stalin had to apologize for a similar incident that took place in a biryani joint in Saligramam.
Police said, Meganathan and Thamizhselvan, the DMK workers from Chennai, entered the restaurant around 8pm. They ordered for chicken when the supervisor, Abdullah, asked them to pay, collect the token and get the food. This angered the two men and they started arguing with Abdullah who cancelled the order.

The two men punched Abdullah on the face, who retaliated and attacked the duo. Two other employees of the restaurant tried pacifying them, after which they fled the spot. Later, Abdullah lodged a complaint with the Velachery police.

Police registered a case of extortion and assault against the party workers. The two men later approached the police and said they were also attacked by the supervisor. “Both parties attacked each other and we have registered a case against both the complainants. We are investigating further,” said an investigating officer.

Police said Meganathan holds a post in the DMK youth wing. Both suffered injuries in the attack.

This is not the first time DMK workers got into a scuffle over food. In August 2018, the Virugambakkam police arrested seven men, including DMK workers K L Yuvaraj and Diwakar, for assaulting the staff of R R Anbu Biryani in Saligramam. The two party workers were later suspended.

The CCTV camera footage of the incident showed the gang beating up a hotel staff after their demand for free biryani for 30 DMK workers, who were waiting at the Kauvery hospital when M Karunanidhi was admitted, was turned down. They also ransacked the eatery. Three people were injured in the incident. The video of the incident had gone viral on social media.

When DMK youth wing members Yuvaraj and Diwakar demanded free biryani, the restaurant’s manager Prakash, who was at the cashier’s table, told them that the shop had closed for the day and there was no food available.

Later DMK president Stalin visited the restaurant and spoke to the owner and employees who were attacked by the party members. He also tweeted an apology, condemning the incident. He promised strict action against the party workers.

In a separate incident, in December 2018, a city-based journalist was injured when he was assaulted by a man near Raj Bhavan. Pramod Madhav, who was covering the protest organised by MDMK founder Vaiko, was allegedly attacked near the protest site by Suresh Babu, a driver. Babu allegedly punched Madhav while he was shooting a video of him purportedly picking up a fight with a tea stall owner when he was asked to pay the food he consumed.

Mumbai businessman arrested for flashing porn clip to woman on flight

TNN | Mar 25, 2019, 06.10 AM IST

CHENNAI: A Mumbai-based businessman, who was caught watching porn in flight sitting next to a woman passenger, was handed over to police on Sunday. He was later let off with a warning.

The incident happened on Saturday night in a Chennai-bound flight from Mumbai which took off around 10.55pm from Mumbai and landed in Chennai around 12.50am, police said.

The woman from Madipakkam was travelling with her child and was returning to the city after visiting her husband. The woman told police that the man watched porn on his mobile phone in such a manner it was visible to her. He kept turning the phone towards her, she said.

She complained to the crew about his act. They asked the passenger to change the seat, but he refused. Later, the flight captain came to sort out the issue. He shifted the woman to another seat.

The captain also informed the air traffic controller at the Chennai airport about the incident and CISF personnel who were alerted detained the man and handed him over to the Airport police.

The woman refused to file a written complaint and asked the police to send him off with a stern warning. Police said that the businessman apologized for his act. "We will ask him to report if the woman lodges a complaint," said an investigating officer.

Chennai: A Mumbai-based businessman, who was caught watching porn in flight sitting next to a woman passenger, was handed over to police on Sunday. He was later let off with a warning.

The incident happened on Saturday night in a Chennai-bound flight from Mumbai which took off around 10.55pm from Mumbai and landed in Chennai around 12.50am, police said.

The woman from Madipakkam was travelling with her child and was returning to the city after visiting her husband. The woman told police that the man watched porn on his mobile phone in such a manner it was visible to her. He kept turning the phone towards her, she said.

She complained to the crew about his act. They asked the passenger to change the seat, but he refused. Later, the flight captain came to sort out the issue. He shifted the woman to another seat.

The captain also informed the air traffic controller at the Chennai airport about the incident and CISF personnel who were alerted detained the man and handed him over to the Airport police.

The woman refused to file a written complaint and asked the police to send him off with a stern warning. Police said that the businessman apologized for his act. "We will ask him to report if the woman lodges a complaint," said an investigating officer.

NEET score valid for three years

NEET score to be valid for three years

New rule will help students aspiring to study medicine in foreign universities as the scorecard will remain applicable for three years

c-Sheetal.Banchariya@timesgroup.com

After making National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) mandatory for students aiming to pursue undergraduate medicine courses in foreign universities, Medical Council of India (MCI) has now put a three-year cap on the validity of NEET score. “The result of NEET shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of declaration of result,” states the official circular issued by MCI. This will grant students more time to prepare and finalise an international university. “This will entitle a candidate to pursue MBBS or equivalent medical course including premedical or language course, if any, followed by MBBS or equivalent medical course,” the statement further adds.

“The average admission process takes 6-12 months to get through in most institutes abroad. Sometimes managing finance and visa procedures also take time. For instance, if a student clears NEET this year but receives admission confirmation in a foreign university next year, there is ambiguity among students regarding eligibility with respect to NEET scores,” says VK Paul, chairman of MCI and member of NITI Aayog. “In the absence of this rule, students might have to go through the trouble of taking NEET all over again,” he says.

Ease of admission, says Paul, is the prime focus of the decision. “MCI wanted to address the issue with a pragmatic approach and hence, we have kept the limit of three years as the standard and format of NEET can change with time,” he adds.

This rule, says Paul, will address the issue of mismatch between the Indian academic sessions and admission cycles of foreign universities. “Unlike India, most of the international universities function on a semester basis and have admission intake twice a year. This will prevent students missing out on their admissions abroad,” he adds

Election 2019

Why government servants fight shy of election duty

Dennis S. Jesudasan

CHENNAI, MARCH 25, 2019 00:00 IST

UPDATED: MARCH 25, 2019 05:39 IST

Lack of basic facilities such as food and transportation a concern

Government employees and teachers, who play a crucial role in the conduct of elections, are wary of poll duty because of a host of challenges they encounter during the exercise. Apart from facing difficulties in reaching polling booths in remote areas, non-availability of food in interior locations is a concern for employees, especially for those who are diabetic.

A Chennai college teacher said that her colleagues are unwilling to go on election work, despite officials from the Taluk office camping in the college.

“We are reluctant to go on election duty as we will know about the polling booth where we have been deputed only a day before the polling date. What if it is an interior place? Not just that, we are expected to find our way there without much help,” she pointed out.

In many cases, family members of government servants and teachers are urging them against going to polling booths since transport to those areas are not taken care by the Election Commission. Officials have to make their own arrangements to reach the booths.

Also, once the polling is completed, vehicles with paramilitary personnel would collect only the EVMs and officials have to find their way back home irrespective of what time the process is completed late in the day.“We are willing to work and it is our duty too but we should be treated properly,” said a government servant.

“Some of us are not used to election work. While we may be open to being trained, the Election Commission does not take care of our travel to the polling booth,” another teacher said.

A. Vincent Paulraj, general secretary of Tamizhaga Aasiriyar Kootani (TN Teachers’ Federation), said those involved in election work after upon being intimated about their duty area, are expected to reach the booth by that afternoon. “From then to till the end of the elections, we are supposed to take care of food though the money would be reimbursed later,” he said.

Since the Election Commission prefers senior government employees and teachers there is an attendant issue that needs to be dealt with. “Most of them have diabetics and heart problems,” said M. Anbarasu, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association and claimed. “It is natural for them to have food on time. But, the Commission doesn’t provide food for them the whole day of polling.”

Court Orders

Madras High Court to the rescue of maths teacher

Mar 25, 2019, 1:31 am IST

Deccan Chronicle. | J Stalin

Nation, Current Affairs

After completing her B.Ed, she registered the same as well in the Employment Exchange.

Madras High Court

Chennai: Coming to the rescue of a teacher, who was appointed 10 years ago, and was served with a notice by the authorities calling upon her to show cause as to why she should not be terminated from service on the ground that she has passed SSLC from the State of Karnataka only securing 33 marks in Science subject, the Madras high court has set aside the orders and directed the authorities to permit her to work and release her salary including arrears immediately.

Justice T. Raja allowed the petition filed by A. Meenakshi, who was appointed as B.T. Assistant 10 years ago after passing the Teachers Recruitment Board Examination held by the state government, and set aside the orders passed by the Salem District Educational Officer and the Joint Director of School Education (Personnel).

According to petitioner, her father was initially employed in Syndicate Bank, Karnataka state and she had her schooling in Karnataka state. Followed by the SSLC, she did her Pre-University course in Karnataka.

Thereafter, her father was transferred to Syndicate Bank, Dharmapuri Branch. Hence she underwent her UG and PG in Dharmapuri district.

At the time of admission to the B.Sc (Maths) course, an equivalent certificate certifying that the PUC in Karnataka state was equivalent to the Higher Secondary course in Tamil Nadu state was issued by the University of Madras. Thereafter, she did her M.Phil (Maths) and registered her name in the Employment Exchange. After completing her B.Ed, she registered the same as well in the Employment Exchange.

Subsequently, she wrote the TRB Examination and secured 76 out of 150 marks. After certificate verification, she was appointed as B.T. Assistant (Junior Graduate Assistant) in Maths at Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Salem and she joined duty on March 1, 2006 in the said post. Nearly after 10 years of service, she was served with the present notice dated December 6, 2016. Aggrieved, she filed the present petition, she added.

The judge said the University of Madras has found the petitioner eligible and at the time of admission to the B.Sc course during 1997, an equivalence certificate certifying that the PUC in Karnataka state was equivalent to the Higher Secondary Course in Tamil Nadu state was issued by the University of Madras.
On the basis of the Equivalence Certificate issued by the University of Madras, the petitioner got admission to the said course and her admission was also approved by the University.

In addition thereto, the petitioner has acquired B.Sc (Maths) course in the year 1999 and again she did her B.Ed degree course in Periyar University, Salem in 2004 and successfully completed the same in 2005 and thereafter she did her M.Sc (Maths) in Annamalai University through two years Correspondence Course and completed the same in December 2008. Later on, she did her M.Phil (Maths) in Vinayaka Mission University, Salem through Distance Education and completed the same in 2009.

“Therefore, it only unjustified to question her eligibility, that too, after 10 years from the date of her appointment to the post of Junior Graduate Teacher. Therefore, I find no merit in the impugned orders. Hence, the impugned orders are liable to be set aside", the judge added and quashed the orders.