Chennai: Property tax rollback not effected online, say residents

TNN | Jan 9, 2020, 04.32 AM IST

CHENNAI: More than 45 days since municipal administration minister S P Velumani announced rollback of the property tax hike in urban local bodies, several Chennai residents say the civic body’s online services are still asking for the hiked rates.
A Chennai Corporation official, however, said they had rolled back the rates online too and if there was any ambiguity, residents could petition the revenue department or their respective zonal offices and get it rectified immediately.

The government had announced on November 19 that it had set up a committee to examine representations against the tax hike and that till its report came, in the old rates would prevail.

Some residents’ associations had even written to the Chennai Corporation Commissioner seeking clarity on the status of property tax.

“The inaction on the part of corporation officials causes confusion and many residents are unable or unwilling to make the payment,” said V S Jayaraman of T Nagar Residents welfare association. Jayaraman acknowledged that the property tax rates had been rolled back to 2017-18 rates in some streets.

Jayaraman pointed out that in certain cases, there had been two increases because of change in usage. A resident of Motilal street in T Nagar was surprised to learn that the civic body had hiked property tax for 2017-18 itself due to the status of his property turning ‘tenanted’.

In September 2019, the property owner wrote to the revenue officials seeking clarity and documentary evidence as he had neither let out nor leased the property to anyone. The issue is pending before the Regional Deputy Commissioner, Jayaraman said.

The tax revision came about from July 2018 without any consultation with residents. Residents were also shocked by the quantum of tax hike -- as against the promise of keeping maximum raise at 50 %, residents of some localities complained that the tax went up by 600%. Residents associations in Nanganallur (Alandur zone), for example, have decided to not pay until the old rates are put up.

Madras high court imposes Rs 15,000 cost on petitioner for filing false case

TNN | Jan 9, 2020, 03.07 PM IST

MADURAI: The Madras high court on Thursday imposed a cost of Rs 15,000 on a petitioner for filing a false case stating that his father, who is a ward councillor in Mudukulathur panchayat union in Ramanathapuram district, had been abducted.

S Raja filed a habeas corpus petition in the high court seeking to rescue his father, Sathaiah. Sathaiah, a DMK member, was recently elected as the councillor of ward eight in Mudukulathur panchayat union. Raja said his father had been abducted to prevent him from casting his vote in the indirect elections in the panchayat union scheduled to be held on January 11.

On Wednesday, the court directed police officials to produce the petitioner’s father before it on January 9, failing which the Ramanathapuram superintendent of police should appear before the court to explain the status of the case.

Police produced Sathaiah in the court on Thursday. Sathaiah informed the court that he had not been abducted and had been living in daughter’s house.

Taking note of the submissions, a division bench of Justice T Raja and Justice B Pugalendhi imposed a cost of Rs 15,000 on the petitioner for wasting the time of the court by filing a false case. The judges directed the petitioner to pay the cost to the high court legal services authority within 10 days.

Pongal holidays: Vandalur zoo makes arrangement to welcome visitors

TNN | Jan 9, 2020, 08.11 PM IST

CHENNAI: Vandalur zoo managers have made arrangements to receive visitors during Pongal holidays, that start on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Chengalpet district collector John Louis visited the zoo and supervised the arrangements.

In view of the Pongal holidays, the zoo will remain open on Tuesday, though it used to be the weekly holiday. For three days from Wednesday, the zoo will be open between 8am and 6pm.

There will be 20 counters for selling tickets. Visitors can also book tickets on website: www.aazp.in or on mobile app ‘Vandalur Zoo’.

Tickets can be booked at the zoo using credit/debit cards and also UPI payment facilities will be available at the counters. Zoo managers have set up CCTV cameras in strategic locations to ensure safety for the visiting public.

As far as parking of vehicles, separate area has been provided for two-wheelers and four-wheelers near the rescue and rehabilitation centre of the zoo.

Those who park their vehicles at the parking area can reach the zoo entrance for which shuttle service will be operated from Tuesday onwards. More than 300 special buses will be operated from Broadway, Marina Beach, Koyambedu, Vadapalani, T Nagar, Adyar, Poonamallee, Tirupporur, Mamallapuram, Tambaram and Chengalpet to the zoo.

The district administration had made arrangements to provide purified drinking water to the visitors. The zoo authorities have assured to provide mobile toilets and two separate rooms will be available on the zoo premises for lactating mothers, the release said.

Every child entering the zoo will be tied with a tag for safety and first aid facilities will be available on the premises. Visitors are advised not to bring banned plastic materials and no liquor, cigarettes and sugar cane will be allowed.

Zoo managers have made the arrangements to coordinate with police, fire, health, TWAD board, electricity and transport departments, the release said.

Chennai Metro Rail adds large vehicle to operate feeder service from Airport to Pammal

TNN | Jan 9, 2020, 08.19 PM IST

CHENNAI: Commuters arriving at Airport metro in big groups could now take a van to Pammal, as Chennai Metro Rail Limited has introduced another feeder service on Thursday to provide commuters with last mile connectivity.

The additional facility is to provide commuters with last mile connectivity to locations are not connected by metro services as well as far away from main localities.

In December 2019, similar vans were introduced from Alandur metro station to Velachery via St Thomas Mount metro and Thillai Ganga Nagar subway. At Alandur, CMRL has been operating vans to DLF Cyber City IT park and Tidel Park and to Ramanujam IT Park in Taramani from Little Mount Station to provide feeder services to IT employees using metro service.

Efforts are also underway to replace share auto and share taxi service at all 32 stations where commuters can book share cabs on a mobile app.

TN most unsafe state for the elderly

TNN | Jan 10, 2020, 04.15 AM IST

Chennai: Tamil Nadu remains one of the most unsafe states for the elderly in the country. According to NCRB data, 152 senior citizens were murdered in Tamil Nadu in 2018, the highest in the country, followed by Maharashtra (135) and Uttar Pardesh (127).
While the numbers are alarming, Tamil Nadu also has a higher percentage of senior citizens, 11.2%, compared to other states. In the overall crime rate against senior citizens, Tamil Nadu is third with 3,162 cases.

Maharashtra, where the elderly population is less than 10%, recorded the maximum number of crimes against senior citizens at 5,961, followed by Madhya Pradesh, which has less than 8% senior citizens, with 3,967 cases.

Tamil Nadu also recorded the highest number of attempt-to-murder cases against senior citizens, 76. There were 182 cases of robbery and 16 extortion cases in which the elderly were targeted.

Activists said the high incidence of robberies, in which 184 senior citizens were targeted, highlighted how criminals found the elderly population an easy target.

Police said they have strengthened patrolling and all city police stations have been directed to collect details of senior citizens living alone.

A senior police officer said personnel on beat patrol have been assigned to enumerate the elderly in their neighbourhoods.

“Those living alone become soft targets of miscreants as they cannot fight back,” said Chandrasekar, a member of Senior Citizens Group Of Besant Nagar and Mylapore.

PIL wants 5% quotafor Tamil medium students in MBBS

TNN | Jan 10, 2020, 04.16 AM IST

Chennai: The Madras high court on Thursday ordered notice to the state government on a PIL seeking 5% reservation in admission to MBBS courses in all government medical colleges for students who did school education in Tamil medium.

Admitting the plea moved by N Murugesan of Dharmapuri, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha directed the state to file its reply by February 20.

The petitioner, quoting an RTI response, said that of the 5,400 MBBS seats available in Tamil Nadu medical colleges, only less than 5% seats were secured by students who had studied in Tamil medium. The petitioner said in the academic year 2016-17 only 537 Tamil medium students got seats in MBBS course. In 2017-18 this reduced to 52 students.

Similarly, in the academic year 2018-19 only 106 Tamil medium students got admission to MMBS course in state colleges, which constitutes only 2% of the total seats, he said.

Such circumstance has created a false image among students who are pursuing school education in Tamil that they would not be able to secure a MBBS seat in government run medical college, he said.

The petitioner further added that our neighbouring state – Karnataka is already implementing 5% reservation in medical seats for candidates who have completed school education in Kannada medium.

The Tamil Nadu government which takes several steps for the growth and to safeguard Tamil language should also provide such reservation which would encourage more students to opt for Tamil medium in school education, he said.

Since the government has not responded to a representation made by him on November 4, 2019 and the schedule for NEET exam are nearing for the academic year 2019-20 the petition has moved the high court.

நீட் தோ்வு: ஜன.15 முதல் விண்ணப்பங்களில் திருத்தம் மேற்கொள்ளலாம்

By DIN | Published on : 09th January 2020 02:35 AM |

நீட் தோ்வுக்காக சமா்ப்பிக்கப்பட்ட விண்ணப்பங்களில் திருத்தங்கள் மேற்கொள்வதற்கு வரும் 15-ஆம் தேதி முதல் 31-ஆம் தேதி வரை அவகாசம் அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மேலும், நீட் தோ்வு கலந்தாய்வு மற்றும் பிற நடைமுறைகள் தொடா்பான தகவல்களுக்கு மாநில மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்ககத்தை தொடா்பு கொள்ளலாம் என்று தேசிய தோ்வு முகமை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

அரசு மற்றும் தனியாா் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் உள்ள எம்பிபிஎஸ், பிடிஎஸ், சித்தா, ஆயுா்வேதம், யுனானி, ஹோமியோபதி உள்ளிட்ட இளநிலைப் படிப்புகளுக்கான நீட் தோ்வு மே மாதம் 3-ம் தேதி நடைபெறுகிறது. அதற்கான விண்ணப்பப் பதிவு கடந்த டிசம்பா் 2-ஆம் தேதி தொடங்கியது.

விண்ணப்பங்களைச் சமா்ப்பிப்பதற்கான அவகாசம் கடந்த டிசம்பா் 31-ஆம் தேதியுடன் நிறைவு பெறும் என முதலில் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது. இந்நிலையில், மாணவா்களின் கோரிக்கையை ஏற்று அந்த அவகாசம் ஜனவரி 6-ஆம் தேதி வரை நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டது. அதன்படி, நீட்டிக்கப்பட்ட அவகாச காலத்துக்குள் தமிழகத்தில் ஒன்றரை லட்சம் பேரும், நாடு முழுவதும் 16 லட்சத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்டோரும் விண்ணப்பங்களை சமா்ப்பித்திருப்பதாகத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

இந்த நிலையில், சமா்ப்பிக்கப்பட்ட விண்ணப்பங்களில் ஏதேனும் திருத்தங்கள் இருந்தால் அதனை வரும் 15-ஆம் தேதி முதல் ஆன்லைன் வாயிலாக மேற்கொள்ளலாம் என்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஜனவரி 31-ஆம் தேதிக்குள் திருத்தங்களை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்றும் அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.