Salem cricketer Natarajan makes family proud on his India debut

Salem cricketer Natarajan makes family proud on his India debut

Senthil.Kumaran@timesgroup.com

Salem: 03.12.2020

When left-arm pacer T Natarajan made his ODI debut for India in Canberra on Wednesday, there was a flurry of accolades coming his way, recognising his journey from obscurity to stardom. The icing on the cake was Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweet: “So moved by the remarkable ascent of #TNatarajan from a life of hardscrabble rural poverty to his India debut in Australia today. May India always offer hope for all its people & may genuine talent always be recognized & given the chance to rise, in all fields. Thanks to #IPL!”

Family members of Natarajan soaked in all the adulation as Natarajan finished with a creditable 2-70 and played a significant role in India’s victory. Talking to TOI, his mother T Shantha saidher son madeChinnappampatty, a small village famous. “Everyone is calling to congratulate my son’s achievement,” she said.

Twenty-eight-year-old Natarajan, belonging to a middle-classweaver family,cametothelimelight when Kings Eleven Punjab auctioned him for ₹3 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2017. He played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2020. Natarajan’s father Thangaraj, 59, is a weaver while his mother Shantha, 58 runs a roadside chicken stall. Eldest among five siblings, Natarajan was passionate about cricket since childhood. Despite the family’s financial constraints his parents encouraged him to pursue sports and he started playing state-level cricket in 2014.. Two years later he was in Tamil Nadu Premier League , where his outstanding performance got him an IPL entry.

“Everyone delighted when my brother took the first wicket in the international match,” said Megala, one of his sisters.

MOMENT OF GLORY: T Natarajan’s family members watch the one-day match

Rajini continues consultations with friends, associates

Rajini continues consultations with friends, associates

Jaya.Menon@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.12.2020

It may not be a nailbiter anymore, but two days after he met functionaries of his Rajini Makkal Mandram, actor Rajinikanth kept his fans guessing by continuing consultations with friends and associates. On Wednesday, longtime friend and Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam founder Tamilaruvi Manian called on the actor. “Whether he will come into politics or not, only Rajini knows…I told him that whatever decision he takes, it should not be at the cost of his health,” Manian told reporters after the meeting.

The actor continues to be a “confused man”, said friends, who either met him or spoke to him over the phone. But those close to him were unanimous that Rajinikanth’s health condition should be the sole factor influencing his decision. “He is very clear that campaigns cannot be virtual, and that he preferred direct interactions with the people. This would jeopardize his health,” a senior associate, who spoke to the actor after his November 30 consultations with RMM functionaries, told TOI.

“I told him that preparations for elections were like preparing the dough to make dosas. It has to be done well in advance. He merely laughed,” said another associate. “Moreover, for Rajini, the launching of the party has to be a grand affair. How is this possible during the Covid-19 pandemic?”

Another loyalist said it was just a matter of time before the actor cited his health to back away from politics. “His doctors have warned him about the consequences. It is just a matter of time before he makes his announcement, perhaps on his birthday on December 12 or sometime in January,” he said. The actor had hinted as much during the RMM meeting that doctors had advised him against the political adventure.

“It seems unlikely that he would take any chance with his health,” s”aid a RMM district functionary, sounding disappointed. “People believe he is a winning horse. But not if it is at the cost of his health,” said an associate, who spoke to the actor on Tuesday.

As edu institutes reopen, state plans to cap RT-PCR tests at ₹1,200

As edu institutes reopen, state plans to cap RT-PCR tests at ₹1,200

₹800 For Those With State Health Cover

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.12.2020

The gold standard for Covid-19 diagnosis, RT-PCR test, is now part of several standard operating procedures laid down for education institutions, travel and public events, but its cost is among the highest in Tamil Nadu.

While testing is done free of cost in 67 recognised government labs, the state health department has capped RT-PCR test cost at ₹1,500 (additional ₹500 in case of home collection) for private facilities. People enrolled with chief minister health insurance can be charged a maximum ₹1,200 for individual tests and ₹900 in case of pooled sampling. The state health department is considering bringing down the cap now.

“When several states have cut the cost, shouldn’t Tamil Nadu consider making the test affordable for people, especially since colleges are asking students to produce test results at the time of joining,” asked S Senthilvel, a public health activist from Vyasarpadi. “Most testing kits are now made locally and cost less than ₹450. Many states have cut down cost and allow patients to undergo antigen testing as well. But in Tamil Nadu, only RT-PCR tests are recognised and the cost is still high,” he said.

On Tuesday, the UP government slashed the test rates by nearly half to ₹700 (₹200 more for home collection) and the previous day, the Delhi government cut the cost from ₹2,400 to ₹800. Gujarat, Telangana and Rajasthan governments have capped the price of lab tests at ₹800.

Health department in Tamil Nadu is also revising the rates. Officials say the cost for individual tests will be brought down to ₹800 for those with the state health insurance. Labs will be allowed to charge ₹600 for pooled samples. For others, labs can charge ₹1200 (additional ₹300 for door-step collection). “A government order in this regard will be released soon. We want to implement the revised cost for insurance holders from December 4,” said a senior official.

The state, he said, did not want to bring down the cost for private patients to ₹800 as it felt it would not be “viable for staff.” The state has 221 labs that are authorised to conduct RT-PCR testing. Director of medical services Dr S Gurunathan said nearly 70% of tests in the state were done in government labs. In November, 83% of the tests were done in government labs, he said. Data shows that while government labs tested more than 15 lakh samples, the private labs processed 3.13 lakh. “We will be able to keep prices under control naturally because government labs have been doing the majority of tests,” he said.

Foot over-bridge at Tambaram won’t be ready anytime soon

Foot over-bridge at Tambaram won’t be ready anytime soon

P Oppili & V Ayyappan TNN

Chennai:03.12.2020

The under-construction foot over bridge over the GST Road connecting Tambaram old bus terminal with the railway station is not going to be ready anytime soon as the railway authorities are delaying in giving their nod to the work within their premises, highways department sources said.

When the project was in the proposal stage, a senior railway official who was in charge of road over bridges was very cordial with government officials. But, now there is no such cooperation from the railway authorities, the sources said.

A senior department official said the length of the FoB is 242 meters. Of this, 130 meters is within the railway premises and the rest is over the GST Road. Almost 90% work is over on GST Road of the FoB, the official said.

On an average about 50,000 people move from east Tambaram to west Tambaram and vice-versa daily. So, once constructed, the facility will become a vital link for the daily users.

A senior railway official said the role of railways was minimal for the project. “Railways need not do any work in connection with the FoB. So, need for a permission is not a major factor behind the delay in the work,” he added. Railways is working to improve passenger amenities at stations and the bridge is considered as an advantage for the commuters.

HC: Fresh application not needed for lapsed building permission

HC: Fresh application not needed for lapsed building permission

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.12.2020

The Madras high court has made it clear that once a building plan is approved by authorities concerned, fresh application is not required in case of expiry of time for completion of construction.

A mere application for renewal is sufficient under the District Municipalities Act, if there are no changes in the approved plan, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said, concurring with the submissions of counsel Abudukumar Rajarathinam.

“…there is no question of once again going through the entire process afresh once the building has already been approved by the authority concerned,” the court added.

This stand has been consistently followed and the court does not find any ground to deviate from this view. In fact, such a construction has been upheld by the Division Bench of this court through an order dated June 13, 2018 the court said.

The issue pertains to pleas moved by Mistair Realty's Private Limited and Jansi Kishore challenging the order of the commissioner of Udhagamandalam Municipality rejecting renewal for their approved building plan.

According to the petitioners, due to an unforeseen exigency, all the money that was saved for putting up the construction was spent on some medical emergency and, therefore, they could not complete the construction within the licensed period.

Subsequently, they applied for renewal of the building approval. However, the same was rejected by the authorities on the ground that the licence period has expired.

Aggrieved they have moved the present plea. When the pleas came up for hearing, advocate Abudukumar Rajarathinam contended that the authorities should not have rejected renewal as there were no changes made to the approved plan.

Opposing the same, the municipality submitted that the petitioners had approached the municipality after a delay of 10 years that too after the expiry of the license period.

Refusing to accept the contention, the court quashed the rejection order and directed issuance of renewal.

A mere application for renewal is sufficient under the District Municipalities Act, if there are no changes in the approved plan, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said

HC judge lauds 7.5% horizontal quota

HC judge lauds 7.5% horizontal quota

It is ‘the greatest’ thing to have happened in the State in a long time, says Justice Anand Venkatesh

03/12/2020

Landmark decision: The judge said the 7.5% reservation would be a turning point for government school students.

Mohamed Imranullah S.CHENNAI

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court on Wednesday lauded the enactment of the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Indian Medicine and Homeopathy on preferential basis to students of Government Schools Act, 2020.

The judge told Advocate-General (A-G) Vijay Narayan that the 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students in medical college admissions was “the greatest” thing to have happened in the State in a long time.

“This will be a turning point for government school students and will change their family status altogether,” he said.

The observations were made while hearing petitions filed by the parents of students R. Dharshini and A. Elakkiya of Cuddalore district. Senior Counsel P. Wilson said the students had been offered seats under the 7.5% quota in private colleges, but were kept in the waiting list because they were apprehensive of paying the fees.

Entire expenditure

However, the A-G told the court that the government had now decided to bear the entire expenditure to be incurred for educating all students admitted under the 7.5% quota, even if they get allotted to private colleges. “These students need not pay even a single paisa. Even their food will be sponsored by the State,” he said.

At the time of counselling, a government order to this effect had not been issued. However, the officials gave an oral assurance to the students that the government would bear the expenditure.

“About 95% of the students accepted the oral assurance, obtained the allotment letters and joined the colleges allotted to them,” the A-G said.

However, a small section of students did not join private colleges despite accepting the allotment letters as they feared that they would not be able to pay the fees.

“We will revalidate the allotment letters of these students and make sure that they join the colleges. There was a third category of students who did not accept the allotment letters at all,” he added.

“The present petitioners fall under the third category. We are trying our best to accommodate this category also after the return of unfilled seats to the State government from the all-India quota. Every year, the Centre returns 100 to 150 seats to the State government. Apart from that, some private colleges also surrender their seats to the government quota,” he said.

“After these seats are returned, the 7.5% quota would be applied to them, too,” the A-G assured the court.

The judge recorded his submission and adjourned the two writ petitions for December 11, since it was represented to the court that the number of unfilled seats under the all-India quota would be made known by the Director General of Health Services by December 8.

Top K’taka officials reviewing Sasi plea -

Top K’taka officials reviewing Sasi plea -

The Times Of India

‘Sasikala Needs Only 56 Days Of Remission For Early Release’

TNN & AGENCIES

Chennai/Bengaluru:

The prison head office in the Karnataka government is considering the remission and early release request of expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, who is serving fouryear jail term in connection with the disproportionate assets case.

Her request, submitted to the Parappana Agrahara jail authorities on November 19, pointed out that she had to her credit 129 days of remission and that she would need only 69 days (as on November  19) of that period to be released from jail.

It has now been forwarded to competent authorities for appropriate decision.

“She has applied for remission of her jail term and it has been forwarded to the head of the department for their consideration,” a source said, adding, “Authorities are yet to take a call on it.”

When contacted, Sasikala’s lawyer Raja Senthur Pandian on Wednesday told TOI that as of now Sasikala needed only 56 of her earned remission days to be released from jail.

He also said that as per replies obtained under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, inmates convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act had been granted remission and released from the same jail. “Therefore, conviction under the PC Act cannot be a bar. While so, similar benefit should be extended to Sasikala also,” he said, adding that she alone could not be discriminated against.

Along with Sasikala, her sister-in-law J Elavarasi and nephew V N Sudhagaran are also serving a four-year jail term. Charges against the prime accused and former chief minister Jayalalithaa, however, lapsed as she had passed away by the time the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on February 14, 2017.

As per the Karnataka prison manual, a convict serving a sentence of not less than three months is eligible for three days each of remission every month for good conduct. Sasikala has completed 43 months. An incomplete month or a month where the convict availed herself of parole benefit is not taken into account for the remission benefit, rules state.

A file photo of V K Sasikala heading to Parappana Agrahara jail in February 2017. The expelled AIADMK leader had applied for early release on November 19