Rectify defects or provide new TV to consumer, forum directs retail outlet

Though the TV set was returned to the customer, the fault was not at all rectified, he claimed.

Published: 13th August 2019 06:39 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After a Sony television set purchased by a Chennai resident developed faults later, a consumer forum directed Reliance Retail Ltd to provide a new television set along with a compensation of `10,000 if the company was unable to rectify the defect.

K Mohan Raj said in his petition said that on February 6, 2015, he purchased a 32-inch LED TV from the Reliance Retail showroom after paying `36,900, with a one-year warranty and care plan that offered post-purchase service on payment of `3,667. However, during the first week of July 2016, the TV set’s power light conked out. The technicians took the set for service. Though the TV set was returned to the customer, the fault was not at all rectified, he claimed.

Mohan Raj issued a legal notice to the company and also lodged a complaint with the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai, seeking a compensation of `3 lakh. In spite of receipt of the notice, Reliance Retail Ltd failed to appear before the forum and was set ex-parte.

Considering the evidence submitted, the forum, presided over by M Mony and member Baskarkumaravel, observed that Reliance Retail Ltd had not come forward to rectify the defects in the Sony LED television despite several complaints by Mohan Raj.

Emergency power shutdown in parts of Chennai on August 14, check list here

As a part of emergency maintenance works, Tangedco will be suspending power supply in parts of Avadi, Adyar, Kodungaiyur and other areas.

Published: 13th August 2019 06:43 PM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: For carrying out emergency maintenance work, power supply will be suspended by Tangedco on Wednesday (August 14) from 9 am to 5 pm in these following areas.

According to a statement from Tangedco, power supply will be resumed before 5 pm if work is completed. Here is the full list:

ADYAR: Sri Ram Nagar, Pallippattu Main Road, Ethiraj Street, Yoki Garden, Kadasamy st, 2nd , 3rd and 4th Main Road, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canal Cross Road, 4th Cross Road, Crescent Avenue Road, Canal bank road, 1st Main Road, Sasthiri Nagar, 4th, 5th and 6th Cross St, Sasthiri Nagar.

KOTTIVAKKAM: New Beach Road 52, 51, 58, 59, 64, 65, 61, 62, 56, 70, 71, 54, 53, 39, 44, 3, 48, 47 11, 1, 2nd streets, 3, 7, 8th Main Road, Kurinji Flats, Bhaghatsingh Salai, Shivani Flat, Kurinji Extension, RTO office.


BESANT NAGAR: 1st to 3rd Street Sivakamipuram, Gangai Amman St, Kamarajar Salai, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, 1st to 3rd St Malaviya Avenue, MG road, RK Nagar Main Road, 1st to 3rd St RK Nagar, Maruntheeswar Nagar, Sunnambu Kalvai Main Road.

VELACHERY WEST: Part of Velachery Tambaram Main Road, Sankara Avenue, Ganapathy Nagar, Part of Nehru Nagar, Kamarajapuram, Ramaniyam Flat.

KODUNGAIYUR: Abirami Avenue 1,5,6,7,8 streets, KKD Nagar 4 and 5th Block, Sidco 1st Main Road, 3rd Main Road, Solai Amman Koil St, Selvaperumal Koil St, Part of TH Road.

AVADI: Jothi Nagar, JB Nagar, 60 Feet Road, Nagammai nagar, Antony Nagar, ESI Anna Nagar, Siva Sakthi Nagar, Devi Nagar.

Madras HC turns down plea against NEET
Only during the course of hearing of this case, the fact that the Centre had rejected the bills came to light.

Published: 14th August 2019 06:26 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A division bench of the Madras High Court has disposed of a batch of public interest petitions challenging the applicability of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance-Test (NEET) for medical admissions in Tamil Nadu.

During the course of hearing on the pleas recently, a bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad was informed that the Central government had rejected the two Bills sent by Tamil Nadu government in September 2017. The Bills, unanimously passed in the Assembly, had sought exemption to Tamil Nadu from the mandatory national entrance exam.

When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, petitioners’ senior counsel R Viduthalai argued that the Centre should have given the reasons for the rejection.

The bench, however, disposed of the petitions after observing that “the propriety, illegality or irregularity or any other can be challenged in a writ or certiorari or declaration, as the case may be, subject of course to the pleadings, material and the maintainability of such writ petitions.” The bench, however, granted liberty to the petitioners to challenge the order of rejection subject to the maintainability of the same.

Only during the course of hearing of this case, the fact that the Centre had rejected the bills came to light.

7-month pregnant minor rescued from prostitution, woman arrested

A woman aged 24 has been arrested for allegedly forcing two minor girls into prostitution in the suburbs of North Chennai.

Published: 14th August 2019 06:30 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A woman aged 24 has been arrested for allegedly forcing two minor girls into prostitution in the suburbs of North Chennai. When police rescued the girls, one of them, aged 17, was found to be seven-months pregnant.

Police said the main accused was one Indu, 24. She had allegedly befriended the girl in 2017, then aged 15, when she was standing at a bus stop in the city and crying. The victim’s mother had died and her father was believed to have abandoned her. Taking advantage of her situation, Indu offered to help her find a job.
“The accused brought the victim to her house and later forced her into prostitution.

The girl is seven months pregnant. Most men who visit the place have criminal cases, including chain snatching and robbery cases. Six months ago, a chain-snatching suspect from the same locality, had promised another 15-year-old girl that he would marry her. He allegedly kidnapped and brought the minor girl to Indu. The victim took refuge in Indu’s house and was later forced into trafficking,” said a police officer.

Police got information from a robbery suspect they arrested recently. A team raided Indu’s house on Monday and rescued the two minor girls, besides a few women.

Police said Indu accommodated all the women in her house and sent them to hotels and other houses to meet clients. A few other women escaped. A hunt is on for the suspects who raped the minors, police said.

Holiday declared

14/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,KOCHI

The District Collector has declared holiday for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, in Ernakulam on Wednesday in view of the continuing rain.

The holiday is applicable to schools under CBSE, ISCE, ISE streams; Kendriya Vidyalayas, and anganwadis.

Heavy rainfall warning for two more days

Death toll in monsoon-related incidents rises to 92 in State

14/08/2019, 

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Although rain has subsided, the Alappuzha- Changanassery road remains submerged on several stretches. A view of the road at Mankombu on Tuesday. Suresh Alleppey

The death toll in rain-related incidents in the State went up to 92 on Tuesday, even as the southwest monsoon again showed signs of intensifying over Kerala, sparking fresh fears of flooding.

The India Meteorology Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall warning in eight districts for Wednesday. According to a bulletin issued by the weather office on Tuesday evening, the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal is likely to become more marked during the next 48 hours, triggering widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls at some places in Kerala.

A red alert indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall (above 204.4 mm) has been issued for Malappuram and Kozhikode while an orange alert indicating isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall (64.5 to 204.4 mm) is in place for Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts on Wednesday.

A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in Alappuzha, Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kannur on Wednesday.

Strong winds and rough seas are also likely along and off the coast of Kerala and Karnataka and the Lakshadweep areas till Thursday. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea.

By Tuesday evening, 2,24,506 persons were shifted from flood-hit places to 1,243 relief camps across the State. As many as 1,057 houses were destroyed and 11,142 damaged. According to official figures, 34 persons were injured and 61 reported missing in various incidents as on Tuesday.

CM visits sites

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan, accompanied by senior officials, visited the flood-ravaged areas in Wayanad and Malappuram. The team comprising Chief Secretary Tom Jose, Additional Chief Secretary Vishwas Mehta, State Police Chief Loknath Behera and Principal Secretary (Revenue) V. Venu made an aerial survey of the affected areas in an Indian Air Force helicopter.

Mr. Vijayan also visited various relief camps in Wayanad and Malappuram areas and reviewed the relief operations.

Admission without papers

14/08/2019, STAFF REPORTER, ,BENGALURU

Students who are victims of the flood in the State can be admitted to any school in the State without producing documents. This is to ensure no dropouts because of this natural calamity.

Many students have lost documents like birth certificates, SSLC marks cards, Aadhaar cards, etc. An official from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) said that students from over 18 districts would benefit from the move.

In another circular, the department asked officials to conduct a survey of the school buildings after the floods recede. It asked the Karnataka Textbook Society to provide textbooks to students who have lost them.

The Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka has decided to provide free education for children from flood hit areas.

The decision was taken after deliberating upon the issue by over 3,000 of their member schools.