No place for people on T Nagar footpaths

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.05.2019

Pinjala Subramaniam Street in T Nagar was one among the 23 interior roads in T Nagar that got wider footpaths with bollards for easy pedestrian movement in the last one year under the Smart City Mission. But less than a year later, the footpath is being cordoned off to store construction material, besides being encroached with parked vehicles. With the footpath rendered useless, people living in the residential area have no option but to walk on the road amid vehicles plying non-stop.

“I have never seen this footpath devoid of encroachments. Sometimes piles of bricks are placed on it, else sand and cement are dumped along the space. If it is free, two-wheelers are parked here, so we are forced to walk on the road. Senior citizens are the worst affected. As this is adjacent to a commercial and shopping area, there is a constant flow of vehicles here, so pedestrians are put to peril and discomfort,” said Latha D, a resident of T Nagar.

People living in and around the area also said that several newly widened pavements had been encroached and misused in a similar fashion.

“Whenever a complaint is filed with the zone-level officials, no action is taken. So, we have stopped complaining,” said VS Jayaraman, a resident of T Nagar.

He added that other newly laid footpaths, such as that along Ramanjuar Street, are being used by eateries as an extension of their establishments.

“The eatery-owners lay chairs on to the footpath and occupy it. The footpath widening has been more beneficial to encroachers than for pedestrians,” said Jayaraman.

When an official from Kodambakkam zone was contacted, he said that he will inspect the footpath along Pinjala Subramaniam Street and have the construction material removed.

“Usually, if we confront workers storing such material on the footpath, they promise that they will clear the area in a day or two. So, no action is taken. But if it is an inconvenience, it will be cleared,” he said.

High court to govt: Recruit doctors, nurses periodically

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai  2.5.2019

: The Madras high court on Wednesday directed the Medical Recruitment Board (MRB) to conduct recruitment for the posts of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff periodically to avoid unnecessary exigencies in providing medical facility to citizens.

Justice S M Subramaniam passed the order on a plea moved by G Udaya Kumar, challenging a government order dated September 12, 2018, issued by the MRB, which mandates appointment of nurses from the reserve list of 2015 recruitment without going for fresh recruitments.

According to the petitioner, MRB had appointed candidates over and above the notified vacancies in the recruitment conducted in the year 2015. Other eligible candidates were not selected and no opportunity to participate in the process of selection was provided, which was in violation of the equality clause enunciated in the Constitution, he contended.

“Without even conducting the process of selection by following the recruitment rules in force, the authorities are going on appointing candidates, from and out of the unsuccessful candidates from the erstwhile list (2015),” he added.

Denying the allegations MRB submitted that in 2015 notification was issued for recruitment to 7,243 posts of nurses. “It is an admitted fact that 7,102 candidates were selected and a select list was drawn. Out of 7,102 selected candidates, 7090 candidates were issued with the order of appointment. From and out of the order of appointment, only 6,254 candidates joined in post. Thereafter 683 candidates joined, whose names were listed in the reserve list. It is pertinent to note that 66 candidates joined and subsequently resigned the job and 87 candidates remained absent unauthorizedly,” MRB said.

The state was obligated to fill up the posts on account of the acute shortage and there was no time to conduct the process of selection by MRB. Thus, the candidates in excess were appointed only on contractual basis and those candidates are yet to be regularized in the sanctioned posts in the regular time scale of pay, the government said.

Refusing to concur, the judge said, “Even under such circumstances, it is possible for the state to engage temporary nurses on contract basis or daily wage rate basis or on a consolidated pay. During the interregnum period, it is the duty of the state to proceed with the regular recruitment process by strictly adhering to the recruitment rules in force.” Contrarily, they cannot appoint unsuccessful candidates persons from the selection list of 2015 and fill up the post on contract basis and, thereafter, regularize their services and deprive the rights of all other candidates who all are waiting to secure public employment. Such a procedure adopted is undoubtedly a “fraud on the constitution.” If such procedures are permitted, then it would look as if back door entries are encouraged by the courts also, the judge added.

Back to square 1: Anna univ to conduct Tancet

A Ragu Raman TNN

Chennai:2.5.2019

Days after announcing separate entrance tests for PG courses conducted on its campuses, Anna University has withdrawn the notification. The announcement was seen as a fallout of friction between the state higher education department and the university.

The decision was taken after the higher education department issued a fresh order on April 29 changing the co-ordination committee for Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (Tancet). As per the new order, the director of technical education will just be a member instead of a cochairman and Anna University Vice-Chancellor will be the chairman for the committee.

“The higher education department has withdrawn the changes it had made to the coordination committee. Hence, we decided to conduct TANCET 2019 and it would be the same exam for all PG engineering courses offered in Tamil Nadu,” an university official told TOI.

The first coordination meeting of the committee is to be held on Thursday. The university on Sunday announced that students have to write a separate entrance test for getting admission to the ME, M Tech, M Arch and M Plan, MBA and MCA courses.

Welcoming the decision, professors from Anna University said the government should have given the task of conducting online engineering counselling to the university as well.

Due to the difference of opinion in reconstitution of Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) committee, the vice-chancellor of Anna University resigned from the committee and Directorate Of Technical Education is conducting the online engineering counselling for BE, BTech courses this year.

“There are still doubts whether the DOTE can pull it off without any glitch as it lacked the technical prowess. If there is any confusion, it would affect thousands of students,” professors said.

However, sources in the government said the task of conducting online counselling will be jointly undertaken by the DOTE and a private vendor.

Online registration for engg counselling to commence today

Chennai:Online registration for engineering counselling will commence from Thursday. Students can register for it on www.tneaonline.in, www.tndte.gov.in this year. The last date to apply online is May 31. The directorate of Technical Education (DOTE) will conduct online counselling for more than 1.75 lakh government quota seats in around 500 engineering colleges this year. The DOTE has put up TNEA Facilitation Centres at 42 places across the state. It also launched helpline 044-22351014, 22351015 to clarify the doubts of the students. The online counselling will be conducted from July 3 to 28. The supplementary counselling will be held on July 29. TNN

Cyclone Fani: Moderate rain likely in city today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:2.5.2019

As cyclone Fani is closing in on the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, Met officials have forecast moderate rain for the city on Thursday. The impact of the cyclone brought down the maximum temperature from 40°C on Tuesday to 36°C on Wednesday. The sky remained overcast throughout the day.

Fani, which has intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, is 420km eastnortheast of Chennai, about 660km south-southwest of Puri (Odisha) and 400km southsoutheast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

The forecast for Thursday said, “The sky is likely to be generally cloudy. Light to moderate rain is likely to occur in parts of city.” However, the forecast says that the day will be hotter than Wednesday, with a maximum temperature of 38°C. This is because the cyclone will be moving farther.

Railways has cancelled five trains from Chennai on May 2 and one on May 3 in anticipation of the cyclone. Those cancelled are train 22808 MGR Central-Santragachi Express, train 22613 MGR Central-Haldia Express, train 22826 MGR Central-Shalimar Express, train 12840 MGR Central- Howrah Mail, train 12842 MGR Central–Howrah Coromandel Express have been cancelled on Thursday while train 12842 - MGR Central - Howrah Coromandel Express has been cancelled on Friday. Incoming trains on the route have also been cancelled.

Indian Coast Guard and the Navy are on standby for relief and assistance. The Coast Guard has deployed nine ships and planes along the Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry coasts and five ships along Odisha and West Bengal coasts.

Coast Guard ships are also kept on standby for mobilisation of disaster relief material in coordination with state authorities at Chennai and Vizag. Four Dornier sorties are being launched every day on an average for alerting fishing boats from Chennai, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata.

The Coast Guard has coordinated with fisheries authorities of respective states and confirmed that no fishing boats are operating at sea, according to a press release from the Coast Guard.

Met department has forecast moderate rain in the city, with a maximum temperature of 38°C. The sky will be overcast

HC stops govt construction on wetlands

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:2.5.2019

Censuring the state government for failing to protect waterbodies for the last five decades, but instead concentrating on “production of artificial water (liquor)”, the Madras high court quashed two government orders transferring 61.6 acres of wetland to two government departments for construction of buildings.

The Kazhuveli land parcels (backwater land) are along the sides of Buckingham Canal near Okkiam Thoripakkam and Sholinganallur.

The land which has been classified as “Backwater (Kazhuveli) land” in the revenue records and land adjacent to Buckingham Canal are waterbodies/ wetlands. The Buckingham Canal receives excess water from Pallikaranai marshland through Thoraipakkam-Okkiam channel and discharges it into the sea and acts as a protective shield for the city.

It was the case of the petitioner I H Sekar that the Kazhuveli land helps to avoid/ mitigate the effects of floods during excess rain and high tides such as tsunami, and to store the excess water entering into the Buckingham Canal, preventing water wastage.

But the authorities who were duty bound to protect and preserve such waterbodies have neglected their primary responsibility and subdivided and transferred the land to the state transport department for construction of a regional transport office and to the tourism, culture and religious endowments department for the formation of Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University, the petitioner said.

Allowing the plea, a division bench of Justice M Venugopal and Justice S Vaidyanathan said, “The starting point for encroachment is allotment of a small portion of the environmental areas for some other purpose and later on, it will be widespread, polluting the rest of the areas. Though six feet space is sufficient for burial of a dead body, several burials will make it a graveyard.”

It is apposite to state that if water and its storage places are not properly preserved, the day is not far off for us to beg for water from other states and countries, the bench added.

The court then quashed the GOs and directed the state to stop construction and relocate the buildings, if any, constructed on the lands within one year.

“This court fixes the responsibility on the chief secretary and the chairperson of Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority for survey and removal of encroachments on the wetlands and any negligent attitude noticed shall be viewed seriously,” the bench said.

The starting point for encroachment is allotment of a small portion of the environmental areas for some other purpose and later on, it will be widespread, polluting the rest of the areas. Though six feet space is sufficient for burial of a dead body, several burials will make it a graveyard

MADRAS HIGH COURT

No court relief for teachers who failed to clear TET

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:2.5.2019

When there are more than 60,000 candidates who have cleared the Teachers Recruitment Test (TET) or National Eligibility Test (NET) waiting to be appointed as teachers across the state, the government retaining teachers who have failed to clear the tests even after 8 years cannot be justified, the Madras high court observed on Wednesday.

Justice S M Subramaniam made the observation while disposing pleas moved by four such teachers working in Kasthuriba Gandhi Baliga Vidyalaya Residential School, Perungalathur, seeking the court to restrain the authorities from terminating their service for nonclearance of TET.

“If a teacher is unable to clear TET in 8 years’ time provided, how can the court come to the conclusion that such a teacher is qualified to continue in the post and teach the students,” Justice Subramaniam asked.

There cannot be any leniency or misplaced sympathy by the state in implementation of the qualifications as it will be detrimental to the national educational policy and the education to be imparted to the children, the court added.

“For many such posts and professions, requisite qualifications are prescribed. Thus, teachers alone cannot claim that they should be exempted from passing TET. More so, the profession of teaching is of more importance than any other posts in the public services,” the judge said.

The court then directed the authorities to issue show-cause notice to all such unqualified teachers within two weeks and initiate appropriate action. The authorities were also directed to implement the minimum educational qualifications prescribed by the National Council for Teachers Education without any violation at the time of recruiting teachers.

How can a teacher, who is unable to clear Teachers Eligibility Test in 8 years’ time, be qualified to teach students, the court asked

SC: Rule 8D of Income Tax Rules has Prospective Operation 

February 5, 2018



February 05, 2018

Commissioner of Income Tax 5 Mumbai v. M/s Essar Tele holdings Ltd.

Date of Judgment: January 31, 2018

In this recent, the Two –Judge Bench of Supreme Court took up a batch of petitions with reference to the common issue:

Whether Rule 8D is retrospectively applicable?”

The main contention of the Appellant in the case was that Section 14A being clarificatory in nature and Rule 8D is a procedural provision which provided only a machinery for the implementation of Section 14A(2) & (3) of Income Tax Act, Rule 8D is retrospective in nature. It was also contended that the machinery provisions by which the charging section is to be implemented or workable are to be given retrospective effect.

What is Rule 8D?

Income Tax Rules, 1962 were amended in 2008 by which Rule 8D was inserted to provide for the Method for determining amount of expenditure in relation to income not included in total income. Rule 8D was framed to give effect to the provisions of Section 14A(2) & (3) of Income Tax Act. Which enumerates provision for determining the amount of expenditure incurred in relation to such income which does not form part of the total income. Hence, Section 14A(2) & (3) of Income Tax Act is the charging section and Rule 8D is the machinery provision.


Bench’s Verdict

The Supreme Court in the case categorically stated that Rule 8D of the Income Tax Act is prospective in nature. While pronouncing its verdict, the Court made the following key observations in the case:

That it is a settled principle of statutory construction that every statute is prima facie prospective unless it is expressly or by necessary implications made to have retrospective operation.

That mere date if enforcement of statutory provisions does not conclude that the Statute is prospective in nature. That the nature content of statute have to be looked into to find out the legislative scheme and the nature, effect and consequence of the Statute.

That the method for determining the amount of expenditure brought in force w.e.f. 24.03.2008 has been given a go bye and a new method has been brought into force w.e.f. 02.06.2016 by interpreting that Rule 8D is retrospective, there will be conflict in applicability of 5th & 14th amendment Rules which clearly indicate that the Rule has a prospective operation, which has been prospectively changed by adopting another methodology.

That applying the principles of statutory interpretation for interpreting retrospectively of a fiscal statute and looking into the nature and purpose of Section 14A(2) & (3) of Income Tax Act as well as purpose and intent of Rule 8D coupled with the explanatory notes in the Finance Bill, 2006 and departmental understanding, Rule 8D was intended to operate prospectively.

AR L Sundaresan elected President of Madras Bar Association Meera Emmanuel 

April 30 2019 


 Senior Advocate AR L Sundaresan has been elected as the new President of the Madras Bar Association (MBA) following elections held on Monday.

The full list of office bearers elected to the body runs as follows:

President

AR L Sundaresan

Secretary

M Baskar

Treasurer

R Karthikeyan

Librarian

S Siva Shanmugam

Executive Committee Members

T Surekha

Anbu Karasu

A Nilaphar

Kaithamalai Kumaran

T Karunakaran

The election results come in the backdrop of controversy regarding MBA membership pending before the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Three lawyers had contended that the membership selection process to the MBA is being carried out arbitrarily after 275 applicants were denied membership.

Out of 300 applicants, including senior counsel, 25 had been approved membership. In an interim order passed last week, the State Bar Council had directed that the decision regarding their membership would be left open to MBA General Body after the assumption of office by the newly elected body.

The Madras Bar Association is the oldest among lawyer’s association bodies of the Madras High Court, the others being the Madras High Court Advocates’ Association, the Woman Lawyers Association and the Law Association.

The MBA was constituted in 1865, three years after the Madras High Court was established by royal charter. At the time, it was christened simply as the ‘Bar Association’ and membership was open only to British Barristers. After a decade or two, Indian Barristers were permitted to become members. In 1898, the Association was renamed as the ‘Madras Bar Association’. It was only in 1951 membership was made open to advocates who obtained law degrees from Indian Universities.

Read the notification concerning MBA Election Results 2019 below:

  https://barandbench.com/arl-sundaresan-elected-president-madras-bar-association/

Whether Doctor's Certification mandatory for recording Dying Declarations? SC answers 

[Read Judgment] Meera Emmanuel 

April 30 2019
 
The Supreme Court on Tuesday had occasion to make certain pertinent observations regarding dying declarations as proof of conviction.

A three-Judge Bench of Justices NV Ramana, MM Shantanagouder and S Abdul Nazeer noted that reliable dying declarations can be made the sole basis for conviction. Further, if the dying declaration in question is otherwise proved to be reliable, there is no need to insist on certification of the same by a doctor.

To this end, the Bench observed that the certification of dying declarations by doctors is only a rule of prudence, which is not mandatory if the declaration in question is otherwise reliable. As noted in their judgment,

“There cannot be any dispute that a dying declaration can be the sole basis for convicting the accused. However, such a dying declaration should be trustworthy, voluntary, blemishless and reliable.

In case the person recording the dying declaration is satisfied that the declarant is in a fit medical condition to make the statement and if there are no suspicious circumstances, the dying declaration may not be invalid solely on the ground that it was not certified by the doctor. Insistence for certification by the doctor is only a rule of prudence, to be applied based on the facts and circumstances of the case.

The real test is as to whether the dying declaration is truthful and voluntary. It is often said that man will not meet his maker with a lie in his mouth. However, since the declarant who makes a dying declaration cannot be subjected to cross­examination, in order for the dying declaration to be the sole basis for conviction, it should be of such a nature that it inspires the full confidence of the court.”

The appellant before the Court had been accused of dousing her aunt with kerosene and burning her to death in 2001. The case of the prosecution primarily rested on a dying declaration purported to have been made by the victim on the same day, in the presence of family members and a Naib Tehsildar­-cum-­Executive Magistrate.

As per the prosecution’s narration, the Tehsildar had been called to the hospital to record the victim’s dying declaration on a request made by the police. The statement was recorded on a Sunday when there were no doctors available to certify the dying declaration, it was submitted. The dying declaration so recorded accused the appellant-niece of having committed the murder.

Before the trial court, the victim’s family members also stated that the appellant had committed the crime. The trial court, however, concluded that the offence had not been proved sufficiently and therefore acquitted the appellant. On appeal, the High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted the appellant.

On further appeal before the Supreme Court, the Bench concurred with the trial court’s acquittal, noting that,

“As far as the oral dying declaration is concerned, the evidence on record is very shaky, apart from the fact that evidence relating to oral dying declaration is a weak type of evidence in and of itself.”

The Court concluded that the Tehsildar, in this case, did not satisfy himself at all about the fitness of the victim to make a statement.

“No verification or certification of the doctor regarding the fitness of the victim to make a statement can be found on the dying declaration either. In addition, absolutely no reasons are forthcoming either from the Investigating Officer (P.W. 12) or from the Naib Tehsildar­-cum-­Executive Magistrate (P.W. 1) as to why the original dying declaration was not produced before the Trial Court.”

Importance was attached to obtaining such verification given other circumstances throwing doubt upon the veracity of the recorded dying declaration. For one, the police had stated that they found the victim in a state of shock. At the hospital, she was found to have suffered 100% burn injuries. In view of the same, the Court opined that it should have been discerned whether the victim, in this case, was fit to make the dying declaration at all.

This apart, the Bench found that the victim’s family members appeared to have decided to accuse the appellant of the murder clearly as an afterthought. It was pointed out that none of the initial statements taken by the investigative authorities from these witnesses contained such an accusation. It was only during trial that the victim’s family members first accused the appellant of the murder.

Certain lacunae in the account given by the investigation officer were also noted by the Court, including a delay of around three hours in registering an FIR in the case.

In view of the same, the Supreme Court concluded that the trial court’s finding of acquittal was liable to be confirmed. It held,

“The trial court has taken pains to evaluate the entire material on record and has rightly come to the conclusion that the so­called dying declaration (Exh.P­2) is unbelievable and not trustworthy. Valid reasons have also been assigned by the trial court for coming to such a conclusion…

… Since the evidence relating to the dying declarations has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution, in our considered opinion, the High Court was not justified in convicting the appellant, inasmuch as there is no other material against the appellant to implicate her. The motive for the offence, as alleged by the prosecution, has also not been proved.”

Therefore, the Bench set aside the High Court judgment and ordered the release of the appellant.

Read the Judgment:

  https://barandbench.com/doctor-certification-dying-declarations-supreme-court/

Bank Employee Working In Its Legal Branch Ineligible To Become A Judge: Gujarat HC [Read Judgment]

Bank Employee Working In Its Legal Branch Ineligible To Become A Judge: Gujarat HC [Read Judgment]: 'The contemplation of the 'allied departments' when mentioned in the context of the word 'courts', it cannot mean to apply any and sundry department.'

40 Important Judgments On Insolvency And Bankruptcy Code, 2016 [Part-1]

40 Important Judgments On Insolvency And Bankruptcy Code, 2016 [Part-1]: To borrow the golden words of Justice Rohinton F. Nariman in Swiss Ribbons Pvt. Ltd.

மருத்துவ மேற்படிப்பு கலந்தாய்வு: 76 இடங்கள் நிரம்பவில்லை

By DIN | Published on : 01st May 2019 02:44 AM |

முதுநிலை மருத்துவப் படிப்புகளுக்கான இரண்டாம் கட்ட கலந்தாய்வு நிறைவடைந்துள்ள நிலையில் 76 இடங்கள் இன்னும் காலியாக இருப்பதாகவும், அவற்றை நிரப்புவதற்கான சிறப்பு கலந்தாய்வு விரைவில் நடத்தப்படும் என்றும் மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்ககம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.
தமிழகத்தில் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் எம்டி, எம்எஸ் பட்டமேற்படிப்புகளுக்கு 1,761 இடங்கள் உள்ளன. 

இதில், அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு 849 இடங்கள் போக, மீதமுள்ள 912 இடங்கள் மாநில அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கானவை. அவை தவிர, தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்காக 181 இடங்கள் உள்ளன.
இந்த இடங்களுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கலந்தாய்வு, ஓமந்தூரார் அரசு பல்நோக்கு மருத்துவமனையில் கடந்த 1-ஆம் தேதி தொடங்கி 4-ஆம் தேதி வரை நடைபெற்றது. அதில், 999 இடங்கள் நிரம்பின. இந்த நிலையில், முதல்கட்ட கலந்தாய்வு முடிவில் மீதமுள்ள இடங்கள், கல்லூரிகளில் சேராதவர்களால் ஏற்படும் காலியிடங்கள் மற்றும் அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டில் இருந்து திரும்பக் கிடைக்கும் இடங்கள் என மொத்தம் 800 இடங்களுக்கான இரண்டாம் கட்ட கலந்தாய்வு அண்மையில் நடைபெற்றது. அதில், 76 இடங்கள் இன்னும் நிரம்பாமல் உள்ளதாக மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்ககத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. அவை அனைத்தும்,நான்-கிளீனிக்கல் எனப்படும் மயக்கவியல், உடற்கூறியல் போன்ற படிப்புகளுக்கான இடங்கள் என்று மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்ககம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

அவற்றில், அரசு கல்லூரிகளில் 6 இடங்களும், தனியார் கல்லூரிகளில் உள்ள அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களில் 36 இடங்களும் காலியாக உள்ளதாகத் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதேபோல, நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கான இடங்களில் 34 இடங்கள் நிரம்பாமல் உள்ளதாகத் தெரிகிறது. இதற்கான சிறப்பு கலந்தாய்வு அடுத்த வாரம் நடத்தப்படும் என்று மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்குநர் அலுவலகத் தேர்வுத் துறை கூடுதல் இயக்குநர் செல்வராஜ் கூறியுள்ளார்.

ஜப்பான் மன்னராக நபுஹிடோ பதவியேற்பு: 10 நாட்களுக்கு பொது விடுமுறை அறிவிப்பு

By DIN | Published on : 01st May 2019 08:31 AM



ஜப்பான் நாட்டின் புதிய மன்னராக, ஜப்பான் மன்னர் அகிஹிடோவின் மகனும் பட்டத்து இளவரசருமான நருஹிடோ இன்று பதவியேற்றார்.


ஜப்பான் நாட்டின் மன்னர் அகிஹிட்டோ வயது மூப்பு காரணமாக ஓய்வு பெறுவதாகவும், அரசு குடும்பத்தில் ஒருமித்த முடிவு எடுக்கப்பட்டதாவும் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது.

உலகின் மிகப் பழைமை வாய்ந்த ஜப்பான் அரச பரம்பரையில், பதவியில் இருக்கும்போதே அரசர் ஒருவர் தனது பட்டத்தைத் துறப்பது 200 ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு இதுவே முதல் முறை ஆகும்.

தலைநகர் டோக்கியோவில் உள்ள அரச மாளிகையில், அரச பதவி துறப்பதற்கான சடங்கள் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை விமரிசையாக நடைபெற்றன.

தனது பிரிவுரையின்போது, ஜப்பான் மக்களுக்கு இதயப்பூர்வமான நன்றிகளைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்வதாக அகிஹிடோ தெரிவித்தார்.

அவருக்குப் பதிலாக, அவரது 59 வயது மகனும், பட்டத்து இளவரசருமான நருஹிடோ ஜப்பானின் அடுத்த அரசராக இன்று முடிசூட்டிக் கொண்டார்.

புதிய மன்னர் முடிசூட்டும் விழாவுக்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் படு வேகமாக நடைபெற்று வந்தது.

இந்நிலையில், இன்று டோக்கியோ இம்பீரியல் அரண்மனையில் 126வது ஜப்பான் மன்னராக நருஹிட்டோ அரச முறைப்படி பதவியேற்றார்.

புதிய மன்னராக நருஹிட்டோ பதவியேற்பை முன்னிட்டு அந்நாட்டில் 10 நாட்களுக்கு பொதுவிடுமுறை அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மே 1ம் தேதி மாலைக்குப் பிறகு பாதையை மாற்றும் ஃபானி புயல்: 4 மாநிலங்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை

By ENS | Published on : 30th April 2019 03:00 PM

வங்கக் கடலில் உருவாகி திங்கட்கிழமை மாலை அதி தீவிர புயலாக மாறிய ஃபானி புயல், அடுத்த 24 மணி நேரத்தில் மிக அதித்தீவிரப் புயலாகவும், அதன்பிறகு 24 மணி நேரத்தில் மிக மிக அதித்தீவிரப் புயலாகவும் உருமாற உள்ளது.

இது தற்போதைய நிலவரப்படி ஒடிஸா கடற்கரையை நோக்கி நகரும் என்று இந்திய வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் கணித்துள்ளது. இது புதன்கிழமையன்று மிக மிக அதித்தீவிரப் புயலாக மாறவிருப்பதால் கடற்கரையோர மாநிலங்களுக்கு தேசிய பேரிடர் மேலாண்மைப் படையினர் வரவழைக்கப்பட்டு, இந்திய கடலோரப் பாதுகாப்புப் படையினர் தீவிரக் கண்காணிப்பில் வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.


தென்கிழக்கு வங்கக் கடலில் நிலை கொண்டிருக்கும் ஃபானி புயலானது வடக்கு - வடமேற்காக கடந்த 6 மணி நேரமாக மணிக்கு 16 கிலோ மீட்டர் வேகத்தில் நகர்ந்து வருகிறது.

நாளை அதாவது மே 1ம் தேதி மாலைக்குப் பிறகு இது தனது பாதையை மாற்றுகிறது. அதாவது தற்போது வடக்கு - வடமேற்காக நகர்ந்து வரும் நிலையில் நாளை மாலைக்குப் பிறகு வடக்கு - வடகிழக்காக தனது பாதையை ஒடிஸா கடற்கரை நோக்கி மாற்ற உள்ளது.

இந்த புயல் சின்னத்தால் ஆந்திராவின் கடற்கரைப் பகுதிகளிலும், தெற்கு ஒடிசாவின் கடற்கரைப் பகுதிகளிலும் வியாழக்கிழமை கன மழை பெய்யும் என்றும் எச்சரிக்கை விடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதே போல, ஆந்திராவின் வடகடற்கரைப் பகுததிகளில் கன மழை முதல் மிகக் கன மழை பெய்யும் என்றும் அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஃபானி புயல் கடந்து செல்லும் கடற்கரைப் பகுதியில் அமைந்திருக்கும் தமிழகம், ஆந்திரா, ஒடிசா மற்றும் மேற்கு வங்கத்தில் உரிய முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கைகள் எடுக்கும்படி மாநில அரசுகளுக்கு இந்திய வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

இந்த ஃபானி புயலானது மே 3ம் தேதி ஒடிஸாவில் கரையைக் கடக்க வாய்ப்பு இருப்பதாகவும் கணிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

விக்கிரவாண்டி அரசு பள்ளியின் தலைமை ஆசிரியர் 'சஸ்பெண்ட்'

Added : மே 01, 2019 00:08 

விழுப்புரம் : விக்கிரவாண்டி, அரசு பள்ளி தலைமை ஆசிரியர், தற்காலிக பணி நீக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார்.விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம், விக்கிரவாண்டி அரசு மேல்நிலைப் பள்ளி தலைமை ஆசிரியர் குமாரகிருஷ்ணன். இவர், அரசு அனுமதியின்றி தனி நபர்களிடம் மாதாந்திர ஏலச் சீட்டு நடத்தி வந்துள்ளார்.இந்நிலையில், பணம், கொடுங்கல் வாங்கல் தொடர்பான பிரச்னை உள்ளதாக, அவர் மீது பள்ளிக் கல்வித்துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு புகார் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது.இந்த புகார் மீது, பள்ளிக் கல்வித்துறை இயக்குநர் அலுவலக உத்தரவின் படி, துறை ரீதியாக விசாரணை மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது.

அதில், அவர் மீதான புகார் உறுதிசெய்யப்பட்டது.இதையடுத்து, அவரை தற்காலிக பணி நீக்கம் செய்து, பள்ளி கல்வித் துறை செயலர் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார். அவர், நேற்றுடன், பணி ஓய்வு பெற இருந்தார். அவரது பணி ஓய்வு உத்தரவு, தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஒழுங்கு நடவடிக்கை திருக்கோவிலுார், கபிலர் அரசு மேல்நிலைப் பள்ளியின் தலைமை ஆசிரியர், ராஜா. இவர், பள்ளி மாணவர்களிடம் முறைகேடாக பணம் வசூலித்ததாக, புகார் எழுந்துள்ளது.இது குறித்து உரிய விளக்கம் அளிக்குமாறு, அவருக்கு, பள்ளிக் கல்வித் துறை அலுவலகம் நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பி உள்ளது. அவர் அளிக்கும் விளக்கத்தின் அடிப்படையில், மேல்நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட உள்ளது.

மருத்துவம்: 76 இடங்கள் காலி

Added : மே 01, 2019 02:17

சென்னை : அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில் எம்.டி. - எம்.எஸ். பட்ட மேற்படிப்புகளுக்கு 1761 இடங்கள் உள்ளன. இதில் அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கான இடங்கள் போக 1093 இடங்களுக்கான 2 கட்ட கவுன்சிலிங் நடந்து முடிந்துள்ளது.இதில் 'நான் கிளினிக்கல்' எனப்படும் மயக்கவியல் உடற்கூறியல் போன்ற படிப்புக்கான 76 இடங்கள் நிரம்பாமல் உள்ளன. இவற்றில் அரசு கல்லுாரிகளில் ஆறு இடங்கள்; தனியார் கல்லுாரிகளில் அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில் 36 இடங்கள்; நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டில் 34 இடங்கள் நிரம்பாமல் உள்ளன.

சீசன் நேரத்திலும் வெறிச்சோடிய தேக்கடி

Added : ஏப் 30, 2019 23:53



கூடலுார் : சீசன் நேரத்திலும் சுற்றுலா பயணிகள் வருகை குறைந்து தேக்கடி வெறிச்சோடி காணப்படுகிறது.கேரளாவில் உள்ள முக்கிய சுற்றுலா தலங்களில் தேக்கடியும் ஒன்றாகும். ஏரியில் படகு சவாரி செய்து கொண்டே வனவிலங்குகளை கண்டு ரசிப்பது தனிச்சிறப்பாகும். ஆண்டுதோறும் ஏப்., மே மாதத்தில் பள்ளி கோடை விடுமுறை காரணமாக ஏராளமானோர் சுற்றுலா வருவர். ஆனால் இந்த ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் மாதத்தில் தமிழகத்தில் தேர்தல் நடந்ததால் பயணிகள் வருகை குறைந்தது.

தேர்தல் முடிந்தபின்பும் வருகை இல்லை.சுற்றுலா பயணி ஒருவர் கூறும்போது, தேக்கடியில் நுழைவுக்கட்டணம் ரூ.45 ஆகவும், படகு சவாரிக்கான கட்டணம் ரூ.255 ஆகவும் சமீபத்தில் உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இருப்பினும் சிறிது துாரம் மட்டும் சென்றுவிட்டு 45 நிமிடத்தில் இறக்கி விட்டு விடுகின்றனர். இதனால் பயணிகள் பலர் மற்ற சுற்றுலா தலங்களுக்கு செல்ல துவங்கி விட்டனர்', என்றார்.

புதுச்சேரி நன்றாக இருக்க வாழ்த்துகிறேன்

Added : மே 01, 2019 00:48

கவர்னர் கிரண்பேடி கருத்து

புதுச்சேரி:'புதுச்சேரி நன்றாக இருக்க வாழ்த்துகிறேன்' என, அவருக்கான அதிகாரம் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டது குறித்து, கவர்னர் கிரண்பேடி கருத்து தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

புதுச்சேரி அரசின் நடவடிக்கைகளில் தலையிட, கவர்னர் கிரண்பேடிக்கு மத்திய உள்துறை அமைச்சகம் வழங்கிய அதிகாரத்தை மதுரை ஐகோர்ட் கிளை நேற்று ரத்து செய்தது. இது தொடர்பாக, சமூக வலைதளத்தில் அவர் பதிவு செய்துள்ள கருத்தில், 'நீதிமன்றம் அளித்துள்ள தீர்ப்பை ஆய்வு செய்து வருகிறோம். அதன் பிறகே இது தொடர்பாக தெளிவான பார்வையை தெரிவிக்க முடியும். தேர்தல் நடத்தை விதிமுறைகள் தற்போதும் அமலில்தான் உள்ளது. கவர்னர் மாளிகைக்கு வழக்கல்போல் வரும் கோப்புகளை ஆய்வு செய்து அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. முக்கியமாக, பதவி உயர்வு, நியமனங்கள், ஒழுங்கு நடவடிக்கைகள், நிதி உள்ளிட்ட கோப்புகள் ஏற்கனவே உள்ள நடைமுறைப்படி ஆய்வு செய்து அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.புதுச்சேரி நன்றாக இருக்க நான் வாழ்த்துகிறேன். புதுச்சேரியில் உள்ள அனைத்து மக்களும் விரைவாக முடிவெடுக்க கூடிய ஆளுமை திறன் திறன் கொண்டவர்கள். யூனியன் பிரதேசமான புதுச்சேரியில் முழுமையாகவும், நேர்மையாகவும், பொறுப்புடனும் நிதி மேலாண்மையில் கவனமாக இருக்க வேண்டும். மக்களுக்கு சிறந்த நிர்வாகம் கிடைக்க வேண்டும்' என, தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

ஓமலூர், மேச்சேரியில் சூறாவளி காற்றுடன் பலத்த மழை கோழிப்பண்ணைகள், வீடுகள் சேதம்

ஓமலூர், மேச்சேரி பகுதிகளில் சூறாவளி காற்றுடன் பலத்த மழை பெய்தது. காற்றினால் மேற்கூரைகள் பறந்ததால், கோழிப்பண்ணைகள், வீடுகள் சேதம் அடைந்தன.

பதிவு: மே 01, 2019 04:01 AM

ஓமலூர்,

ஓமலூர் மற்றும் அதன் சுற்றுப்புறப்பகுதிகளான உ.மாரமங்கலம், பஞ்சுகாளிப்பட்டி, மேல்காளிப்பட்டி, அழகனம்பட்டி உள்ளிட்ட ஓமலூர் மற்றும் காடையாம்பட்டி வட்டாரத்தில் நேற்று முன்தினம் இரவு பலத்த சூறாவளி காற்றுடன் மழை பெய்தது. காற்றுக்கு தாக்குப்பிடிக்க முடியாமல் பஞ்சுகாளிப்பட்டி, மேல்காளிப்பட்டி, அழகனம்பட்டி உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களில் வீட்டின் மேற்கூரைகள், ராட்சத விளம்பர பலகைகள் பறந்தன. மேலும் அழகனம்பட்டி பகுதியில் உள்ள கூட்டுறவு பால் உற்பத்தியாளர் சங்க கட்டிடம், அதே பகுதியை சேர்ந்த ராஜசேகர் என்பவரது வீட்டின் மேற்கூரையும் தூக்கி வீசப்பட்டது. மேல்காளிப்பட்டி பகுதியில் விவசாயி பூபதி என்பவர் 230 அடி நீளத்தில் 5 ஆயிரம் கோழிகள் வளர்க்கும் வகையில் பண்ணை அமைத்து இருந்தார். மேற்கூரை ஓடுகளால் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. அதில் இருந்த கோழிகளை விற்று விட்ட பூபதி, மீண்டும் கோழிகளை வளர்க்க ஏற்பாடு செய்து வைத்திருந்தார்.

இந்த நிலையில் நேற்று முன்தினம் வீசிய சூறாவளி காற்றுக்கு கோழிப்பண்ணை இடிந்து தரைமட்டமானது. மேலும் அதே பகுதியில் ஜெகநாதன் என்பவருக்கு சொந்தமான கோழிப்பண்ணையும் இடிந்து சேதம் அடைந்தது. முத்து என்பவரது தறிக்கூடத்தின் மேற்கூரையும் காற்றில் பறந்தது. அதே பகுதியில் சந்திரன், தங்கமணி, ஆகியோரது வீடுகள் உள்பட 10-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட வீடுகள், கடைகளின் மேற்கூரைகள் தூக்கி வீசப்பட்டன. இதில் மேற்கூரை விழுந்ததில் தங்கமணியின் மனைவி மலர்கொடி படுகாயம் அடைந்தார். அவர் சிகிச்சைக்காக ஓமலூர் அரசு ஆஸ்பத்திரியில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டார். அங்கு அவருக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

மேலும் பழமையான வேப்ப மரம், கொன்றை மரங்களும் வேரோடு சாய்ந்தன. பஞ்சுகாளிப்பட்டி பகுதியில் மின் கம்பம் மற்றும் கொன்றை மரம் வீட்டின் மீது சாய்ந்தது. இதில் வீட்டில் இருந்தவர்கள் காயமின்றி உயிர் தப்பித்தனர். இந்த சூறாவளி காற்றுக்கு பல லட்ச ரூபாய் மதிப்பிலான பொருட்கள் சேதமடைந்துள்ளதாகவும், இதற்கு அரசு உரிய இழப்பீடு வழங்கவேண்டும் எனவும் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளனர்.

இதே போல மேச்சேரி மற்றும் அதன் சுற்றுப்புற பகுதிகளில் நேற்று முன்தினம் இரவு சூறாவளி காற்றுடன் மழை பெய்தது.

இதில் ஓலைப்பட்டி ஊராட்சிக்குட்பட்ட சிந்தாமணியூர் காட்டுவளவு பகுதியை சேர்ந்த மாரியப்பன் என்பவருக்கு சொந்தமான நெசவு கூடம், வீடு ஆகியவை இடிந்து சேதம் அடைந்தன. மேலும் ஜெகநாதன் என்பவரின் ஓட்டு வீடு, நவகோட்டி என்பவரின் நெசவுக்கூடம் ஆகியவைகளின் மேற்கூரைகள் காற்றில் பறந்தன. வடிவேலு, செல்வம், நேதாஜி ஆகியோரது வீடுகளின் மேற்கூரைகள் காற்றில் பறந்தன. பச்சியப்பன் என்பவரின் மாட்டுக்கொட்டை இடிந்து விழுந்தது. இதே போல பல்வேறு இடங்களில் 10-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட வீடுகளின் மேற்கூரைகள் காற்றில் பறந்ததால், வீடுகளும் சேதம் அடைந்தன.

Principal’s appointment: Court stays DVAC probe

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedMay 1, 2019, 5:40 am IST

The order passed by the interim administrator shall be subject to the result of the intra court appeals”, the bench added.

Madras high court

Chennai: Declining to stay a portion of the order of a single judge, which quashed the appointment of N.Shettu as principal of Pachaiyappas College for Men in the city, the Madras high court has stayed the remaining portions of the order.

Passing interim orders on an appeal filed by Shettu, a division bench comprising Justices K. K. Sasidharan and RMT. Teeka Raman said, “We are informed that pursuant to the order dated April 24 (of the single judge), which is impugned before us, Justice P.Shanmugam, former judge, Madras high court, who was appointed as the Interim Administrator, passed an order dated April 26, 2019, reverting the appellant from the post of Principal and giving charge to P. Arulmozhichelvan, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Physics, being the senior most Professor. In view of the said order, there is no question of staying the order passed by the single judge (quashing the appointment of Shettu). Similar is the case of the order relating to the circular challenged before the single judge”.

The bench said senior counsel Sathish Parasaran submitted that unless there is a regular principal, the university would not approve the admission of students. “We make it clear that the professor and head of the department, department of physics, appointed by the interim administrator as principal-in-charge, would be deemed to be the principal, for all purposes relating to education and he should be considered as the principal by the university and the government for the time being. We also make it clear that no equity or right would accrue to any of the parties on account of the order passed by the Interim Administrator, dated April 26. The order passed by the interim administrator shall be subject to the result of the intra court appeals”, the bench added.

The bench however stayed until further orders the order of the single judge, declaring as null and void, the process of selection conducted by the Pachiayappas Trust Board through its selection committee and college committee.

The bench also stayed the direction of the single judge to the interim administrator to conduct a fresh selection for appointments/promotions to the post of principal for all the colleges by strictly following the statutes/rules and the University Grants Commission regulations.

The bench also stayed the order of the single judge, which directed the Interim Administrator to look into the complaints in respect of corrupt activities in the process of selection and file appropriate complaint before the Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, who in turn, shall probe the issues in relation to the corrupt activities in the process of selection, with reference to the competent educational authorities, and the University and initiate all appropriate actions.

The bench said the appointment of the appellant as the principal of Pachaiyappa’s College was put in issue before the single judge at the instance of R. Nanthini and 6 others. They have taken up a specific contention that the very selection was contrary to Rule 11 (4) of the Private College Regulations Act, which provides for taking various colleges under the educational agency as one unit. The single judge accepted the said contention and set aside the selection. Even though there were no materials produced before the single judge for a probe by the Vigilance and Anti Corruption, still such a direction was issued to the Interim Administrator. In fact, there was no specific prayer at the instance of the petitioners for a direction to the Vigilance and Anti Corruption department to enquire into the very process of selection, to unearth the element of corruption, the bench pointed out and posted to June 17, further hearing of the case.

Tirumala braces for severe drinking water shortage

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | AVINASH P. SUBRAMANYAM

PublishedMay 1, 2019, 6:22 am IST

In Pasupudhara, 593 lakh gallons of water is stored as against its full capacity to store 1,276 lakh gallons.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)

Tirupati: Severe shortage of drinking water poses a potential threat to the temple town of Tirumala with the waning of water reserves and the failure of the monsoon.

The circumstances are so grave that the water accessible in all the five dams at Tirumala is probably going to last just for 127 days, if the water is pumped at the rate of 40.3 lakh gallons every day approximately. The temple town’s daily requirement is put at around 32 to 35 lakh gallons and on weekends, when the devotee rush is high, the hill shrine requires 35 to 40 lakh gallons of water.

At present the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which hosts 75,000 to 80,000 devotees on normal days and over 1 lakh on weekends, has been drawing 40 per cent of the total required water every day from the Papavinasanam dam, which is the biggest water source for Tirumala.

And, the balance requirement is being supplemented through the water drawn from the remaining dams including Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara twin dams, Gogarbham and Akasaganga dams, which were situated in and around the hill shrine.

According to official data, as on April 28, the water levels in all the five dams in and around Tirumala had plummeted, with the total available water close to 5,229 lakh gallons as against the full capacity of 13,880 lakh gallons.

The water stored in Papavinasanam was measured as 2,055 lakh gallons as against its full capacity of 5,215 lakh gallons, while Kumaradhara dam has 2,412 lakh gallons of water as against its full capacity of 4,036 lakh gallons.

The water level in Akasaganga dam has touched rock bottom as against its full capacity to store 670 lakh gallons, while the Gogarbham dam, which earlier used to be the only source of drinking water to Tirumala, has 169 lakh gallons of water as against its full capacity of 2,683 lakh gallons.

In Pasupudhara, 593 lakh gallons of water is stored as against its full capacity to store 1,276 lakh gallons. The officials are saying that under the prevailing situation, the total quantity of water will last to meet the drinking water needs of pilgrims for 127 days only.

Meanwhile, TTD has been resting its hopes on the Kalyani dam, from where the temple authority draws water during acute shortage at Tirumala. Kalyani dam is the prime source of drinking water of Tirupati.

It was learnt that in all likelihood, TTD will pump 20 lakh gallons of water to cater the needs of inbound pilgrims at Tirumala during this summer. But, a severe shortage of water also looms large over the Kalyani dam, which is believed to be having sufficient water only for six months.

If there is any excess drawing at this dam, it may further lead in multiplying the difficulties, it is felt.

Can’t interfere in day-to-day affairs, Madras High Court tells Lt Governor

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published   May 1, 2019, 2:18 am IST

''The weekly disposal is also placed on record as was the earlier practice”, Bedi said in a statement to the media.

Kiran Bedi

Chennai: The Madras high court on Tuesday held that Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi ‘cannot interfere’ in the day-to-day affairs of the elected government in the Union Territory as it represents the will of the people.

“The decision taken by the Council of Ministers and the Chief Minister is binding on the Secretaries and other officials”, Justice R Mahadevan held in allowing a petition by Congress legislator K Lakshminarayanan representing (ironically) the Raj Bhavan constituency, who complained that Bedi “runs a parallel and diametrically opposite government within the government” while holding meetings directly with the secretaries and other officials, and issuing orders.

Setting aside two communications issued in January and June, 2017, by the Union Home Ministry “elevating” the power of the administrator (Lt Governor), Justice Mahadevan said, “The Central Government as well as the Administrator should be true to the concept of democratic principles. Otherwise, the Constitutional Scheme of the country of being democratic and republic would be defeated”.

“The Administrator has no exclusive authority to run the administration in derogation of the Constitutional principles and the Parliamentary laws governing the issue”, said the judge, adding, “Notable and appreciable is the action of the Central Government to re-delegate further powers to the Council of Ministers in the communication dated 27.09.2018”.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who has been at loggerheads with Bedi over several issues, hailed the HC verdict as “historic and victory of democracy” in as much as it “stated unequivocally that Kiran Bedi does not have independent powers and she must work in tandem with the elected government in administrative and service matters, financial aspect of governance.”

Responding in guarded manner while giving enough hints there would be an appeal to the Supreme Court, Bedi said, “We are examining the judgment, after which we shall take a view. Meanwhile, we are still in the Model Code of Conduct of Elections period. Files which require Lt Governor's approval such as service matters, of promotions, appointments, disciplinary matters and financial sanctions for Grants in Aid are being received and being examined and cleared on merits of each case. The weekly disposal is also placed on record as was the earlier practice”, Bedi said in a statement to the media.

Elaborating on her selfless motive in insisting on being in the driver's seat rather than just a rubber stamp, she said, “I wish Puducherry well. Its people deserve the best. The UT needs utmost integrity, accountability and careful financial management to save it from running into a debt trap. Most of the people of Puducherry deserve quick decision- making with accessible governance”.

In arriving at his conclusion favouring the petitioner, Justice Mahadevan referred to the Supreme Court verdict on the tussle between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Anil Baijail, and said restrictions imposed on the Government of Delhi are not applicable to the Government of Puducherry. “The apex court has clearly held that there is a distinction between the National Capital Territory of Delhi and Puducherry”, he said, adding that though Puducherry is not a state, its Legislative Assembly would have the same powers as that of a state.

Senior lawyer P Chidambaram represented petitioner Lakshminarayanan, who submitted that there are political differences between the elected Government of Puducherry and the Centre. “She (Bedi) conducts review meetings with the officials directly, by-passing the elected government, carries out inspections and issues on-the-spot orders and thereby runs a parallel and diametrically opposite government within the government”, he said while alleging that Bedi interfered in the day-to-day administration of the territorial government, its policies and programmes.

The judge observed that the court had already discussed the role of secretaries. They normally act only as a medium of communication, utmost to render their opinion at circumstances and have no power or authority to override the decisions of the Council. “Though they may report to the Administrator nominated by the President, still they cannot shed their duty to the decision of the Council of Ministers taken as per the procedure laid down in the Government of Union Territories Act and the Rules of Business of the Government of Pondicherry, 1963”, said Justice Mahadevan, adding that the secretaries “cannot jump the gun and run a parallel Government under the directions of the Administrator”.

The judge also pointed out that the elected representatives of the government play a major role in decision making, or else, there would be no purpose in having an elected government, who are the true representatives of the people.

“The elected government functioning through the Council of Ministers cannot be defeated by the act of the Administrator, who is also functioning under the provisions of the Constitution, by way of interfering in the day to day affairs of the Government”, he said.

Alluding to the petitioner's complaint that Bedi was using the social media to summon officials, the Judge said, “The Government officials cannot use their personal media to address the grievances of the public. A public redressal forum in the form of official e-mails, telephone numbers are to be circulated and used, if already not put into use.”

Madras HC curbs Lt. Governor's powers, says Kiran Bedi can't interfere in Puducherry government's everyday affairs

The court said the administrative and financial powers are with the elected government and the Lt.Governor has to act as per the advice of the council of Ministers.

Published: 30th April 2019 01:00 PM 

Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi (File | EPS)

By Siva Sekaran

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Holding that the Council of Ministers is the supreme body, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday clipped the extra powers granted to Lieutenant-Governor Kiran Bedi by the Centre. The court’s decision has come as a big boost for the Puducherry government, which has been at loggerheads with Bedi over a wide range of administrative issues.

“The Administrator cannot interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the government. The decision taken by the Council of Ministers and the Chief Minister is binding on the secretaries and other officials. The Centre as well as the Administrator should be true to the concept of democratic principles,” the bench said. “Otherwise, the country’s Constitutional scheme of being democratic and republic would be defeated.”

Justice R Mahadevan further added: “The Administrator (L-G) has no exclusive authority to run the administration in derogation of the constitutional principles and the parliamentary laws governing the issue.” The judge was allowing a writ petition from K Lakshminarayanan, Puducherry MLA and also parliamentary secretary to the Chief Minister, who is directly in charge of the relationship between the Union Territory and the Centre.


He sought to quash the two communications from the Home Ministry, which had allegedly granted more powers to L-G. The judge held that the Union Territory of Puducherry had legislative powers to enact laws with respect to all matters enumerated in the State and Concurrent Lists as per the Constitution.

‘Difference can be referred to Prez, Centre’

The Puducherry legislative body enjoys power similar to that of a ‘State’ and the authority of the Administrator remains intact with regard to exercise of discretion under certain circumstances when the Assembly is not functioning or when a reference is bonafide required.The Administrator is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers in matters where the Assembly is competent to enact laws though he/she is empowered to differ with the Council based on some rationale which raises a fundamental issue regarding the action of government.

A legitimate and warranted policy decision of the Council after deliberation is expected not to be interfered with... The scope of such difference can utmost end only in a reference to the President or the Central government, and by no stretch of imagination or interpretation, the provisions enable the Administrator to reject any Bill, the judge said.Administrator can do posting of officers under IAS in consonance with Article 320 of the Constitution, the judge said.

‘Studying verdict’

Lt Governor said the judgement was being examined, following which a view would be taken. Bedi also cited an earlier judgment of the Madras HC and said “L-G of the UT has powers to act independently”

CM Happy

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Tuesday said the judgement was a victory for the people of the Union Territory (UT)

Vacancy for junior research fellow
The three-year project is being funded by the Department of Science and Technology , Government of India.

Published: 30th April 2019 03:24 AM 

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Vacancy for a junior research fellow is available for a research project ‘Taxonomic studies on Cyprinoid fishes of northern Kerala with emphasis on synonymic and insufficiently-known species’.


The three-year project is being funded by the Department of Science and Technology , Government of India. Qualification required is MSc Zoology and NET or MPhil. The interview will be held on Thursday at Baby John Memorial Government College. For details, contact Mathew Plamootil. Phone no: 9447059690

Jet, Etihad ordered to pay Rs 1.25 lakh for misplacing woman’s luggage

Jayanthi Rajvi, the woman, had flown to Zurich in Switzerland for quick getaway.

Published: 29th April 2019 08:03 AM |

Etihad had identified that over 95 single-use plastic products were being used across its aircraft cabins.

By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: INDIA’S oldest private airline, Jet Airways, has been going through a rather harrowing year. Due to mounting debt, the airline had recently even released a statement that they have now run out of money to continue operations.

The troubles don’t seem to end there. The airlines, and its partner airlines Etihad, was recently sued by a city-based businesswoman for misplacing her luggage. The district consumer forum slapped a fine of `1.25 lakh on the carrier for failing to deliver the luggage at the destination.

Jayanthi Rajvi, the woman, had flown to Zurich in Switzerland for quick getaway. However, once she arrived in the country, she found that her bags weren’t there. She waited for two hours for luggage that never came. She later complained with Etihad Airways but the response she got was unsatisfactory.

Rajvi did not get anything but 35 Swiss Franc for expenses. Since she had none of the clothes she had packed for her six-day stay, she depended on her friend’s wardrobe, Rajvi told the forum. It was only after the vacation had ended, and when she came back to Hyderabad, that Rajvi was given her luggage back.

Meanwhile, the airlines said that the passenger had not performed a valuation of the luggage.

Representatives of Etihad argued they gave 35 Franc as mandated by the Montreal Convention since no valuation figure was provided. Jet Airways also said Rajvi could have fraudulently transferred the contents beforehand. However, barring all allegation, Consumer Forum - 3 said there was deficiency in service. It ordered the airlines to pay $1,500 at `69.85 per US Dollar and another `20,000 towards court charges.

Foreigners Regional Registration Office: 801 foreigners overstaying in Bengaluru
According to the city police commissioner, as many as 801 foreigners are overstaying in Bengaluru city and Bengaluru rural district.

Published: 01st May 2019 06:49 AM |

By Express News Service

BENGALURU: According to the city police commissioner, as many as 801 foreigners are overstaying in Bengaluru city and Bengaluru rural district. The police commissioner informed Karnataka High Court after receiving statistics from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

The FRRO informed the police commissioner that proposals for Lookout Circular (LOC) has been issued. Leave India Notices have also been issued to overstaying foreigners. "Every month jurisdictional police is informed of the list of overstaying foreign nationals in their respective jurisdiction, with information to the police commissioner, Bengaluru city, concerned DCPs and Superintendent of Police of respective districts," the police commissioner stated in the information furnished to the court, and also pointed out that 57 foreigners are untraceable.

This information was furnished by FRRO after Justice Aravind Kumar directed the state to furnish the details of those persons who have stayed on either student visa or other visas, and have not returned to their respective countries even after the visa expired. The court had issued this direction after hearing the petition filed by Hossie Bikandou Sidney. He accused the police of being falsely implicated in the case. He said there was an inordinate delay in the trial. Meanwhile, Sidney will return to his native, Congo on May 7. The court also quashed the criminal proceedings against him who has paid a fine Rs 28,000.

Madras High Court summer vacation from tomorrow

The summer vacation for the Madras High Court and its bench at Madurai will begin on May 1.

Published: 30th April 2019 05:39 AM

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The summer vacation for the Madras High Court and its bench at Madurai will begin on May 1. It will re-open on June 3 (Monday). Following are the vacation judges for the principal seat at Chennai: Justices S Vaidyanathan, Subramonium Prasad, N Anand Venkatesh and G K Ilanthiraiyan will sit on May 8 and 9.


Justices C V Karthikeyan, Krishnan Ramaswamy, V Bhavani Subbaroyan and A D Jagadish Chandira on May 15 and 16. Justices RMT Teekka Raman, P D Audikesavalu, P Rajamanickam and C Saravanan on May 22 and 23. For the last part of the vacation, that is, on May 29 and 30, Justices N Sathish Kumar, P T Asha, M Nirmal Kumar and Senthikumar Ramamoorthy will be the vacation judges.

Government doctors to hold demonstrations in June over NEET, PG quota issues

Seek to restore 50% reservation for government service doctors in PG medical admissions

Published: 01st May 2019 06:11 AM

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI : Come June, government service doctors may stage series of demonstrations, urging the State government to abolish UG-NEET for MBBS and BDS admissions and also restore 50 per cent reservation for government service doctors in PG medical admissions, after only 43 per cent of medical seats were allotted to the service doctors in the first phase of PG medical counselling this year.

According to the selection committee, “In the first phase of counselling, in all, 999 PG (MD and MS) seats were allotted for government and self-financing colleges; 427 seats were allotted to government service doctors and 572 for non-service doctors. That is, 43 per cent seats were allotted to government service doctors and 57 per cent seats to non-service doctors.

This has disappointed government service doctors. “We will hold various demonstrations from June after our executive council meeting. In the 43 per cent of seats, many government service doctors could get only non-clinical seats and majority of clinical seats went to non-service doctors. If this is the case, then there will be shortage of specialists in public healthcare system, which is already facing shortage of specialities,” said Dr J Kathirvel, secretary, Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association.


“We seek fulfilment of three demands: Abolition of UG-NEET, restoration of 50 per cent reservation for government service doctors and reservation for service doctors in higher specialities,” added Kathirvel.

In 2017-2018, PG medical course admissions were conducted based on the Medical Council of India’s Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2000, and State’s reservation rules were quashed.

However, the non-service government doctors were happy that the State followed MCI rules properly this year. Dr N Karthikeyan, secretary, Non-Governmental Service Doctors Association, said, “We are happy that non-service doctors could get more seats this year. This is how counselling was conducted in other States, but only in Tamil Nadu, the MCI norms were not followed properly in the last two years. The merit has been upheld this time.”

TCS-JSS Tech varsity to offer new course

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

MYSURU, MAY 01, 2019 00:00 IST

Students will be exposed to emerging topics such as Analytics, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence

To address the growing need of engineering talent with skills in digital technology, TCS has designed a curriculum for a 4-year undergraduate programme titled “Computer Science and Business Systems (CSBS)”.

JSS Science and Technology University (formerly SJCE) is the first deemed-to-be-university in Karnataka to offer this course from the year 2019-20.

JSS Science and Technology Universityon Tuesday signed an MoU with TCS to offer the programme to the students in the upcoming batch. The MoU was signed by Registrar, JSS Science and Technology University and Chandra Koduru, Head of Academic Interface Programme of TCS.

The curriculum aims to ensure that the students not only know the core topics of Computer Science but also develop an equal appreciation of humanities, management sciences and human values, according to the university.

The students are exposed to emerging topics such as Analytics, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make them industry ready at the end of four years of study. This curriculum has been approved by the Executive Committee of AICTE and is available in the AICTE drop-down menu of nomenclatures for engineering course.

As part of the MoU, TCS will support JSS Science and Technology University by training and developing its faculty, and organising guest lectures.

Tejas Express chugs on with teething problems

S. Sundar

MADURAI, MAY 01, 2019 00:00 IST

A view of one of the coaches of Tejas Express.G. 

MoorthyG_Moorthy

Swanky coaches, air-conditioned comfort make it a passenger’s dream train

After a long time since the launch of flagship trains of Madurai — Pandian Superfast Express and Vaigai Superfast Express — the Temple City got another Chennai-Madurai-Chennai train, Tejas Express, on March 1.

The service, with air-conditioned swanky coaches, was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

Touted to be the best in class in pampering the passengers with its facilities and comfort at a premium fare, the coaches made at Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, got the attraction they deserved.

The train that is operated on six days a week (expect on Thursdays) leaves Chennai at 6 a.m. and reaches Madurai at 12.30 p.m. with just two stoppages at Tiruchi and Kodai Road.

In return direction, it leaves at 3 p.m. and arrives Chennai Egmore at 9.30 p.m. On many days, the passengers say, it arrives the destination before time.

Arun Shankar, 52, a resident of Madurai, who has travelled twice in the train, says he would prefer Tejas to air journey as it gives more comfort at a fare that is cheaper than air fare.

“I bet the comfort of the two + two seating arrangement in executive class is as good as those in the business class in private aircraft,” he says.

Stating that most of his travels are planned at the last minute, he says that he gets an assured seat in executive class on any working day and hence, has become its fan. This businessman has introduced this train to many of his friends and relatives. Railway officials say that the train has become so popular that it runs packed on many days as the summer vacation has peaked. Only a handful of seats are available in both the classes.

Complaints galore

However, within less than two months after its launch, passengers are complaining about malfunctioning of various new facilities in the brand new coaches.

The major complaint is about the breaking down of scores of infotainment system.

The LED screens mounted on the back of seats play pre-loaded movies of different languages or songs. “This was boasted as the major attraction of the train. But, with over 200 LED screens not functioning, the passengers are targeting us,” says one the Travelling Ticket Examiner.

Some of the passengers are not willing to change their seat where the screens function.

“They want us to set right the defect in the screen on their seat,” one of the TTE says.

A group of eight passengers, who travelled from Chennai, are appreciative of the comfort of the seating facility in the train. However, D. Dharmarajan, 52, complains that many of the LED screens are not working. Though he is happy about the service, he feels the food on board is not up to his expectation.

Shanthi Gunasekaran, 56, complains about the choking of toilet.

“We left home at 4 a.m. to board the train at 6 a.m. And should we not get a clean toilet? This problem was there even when I travelled in the train on the second day of its launch,” she says. A sign board on how to use the toilet will help first-time passengers.

Mr. Arun Shankar suggests deployment of on-board cleaning staff to overcome the choking problems in toilets.

He also says that the food served should be fine tuned to meet the expectations of south Indians.

He also feels that Rs. 355 for food is on the higher side and suggests that the running time of the train, if cut by 30 minutes to one hour, will attract more passengers.

Vasuki Vaseegaran, 58, is of the view that employing on-board staff who are conversant in Tamil will help a lot of passengers. “The train runs only in Tamil Nadu and more importantly to and from Madurai. There is no need for all of the staff to speak only in Hindi,” she says.

A veena vidwan, A. Bhalaji, complains of lack of cooling effect in the air-conditioned coaches. “Since the atmospheric temperature has soared now, if the temperature inside the coach is brought down further, it will be more comfortable,” he says.

J. Johan William, 71, is not happy with the rude behaviour of the catering staff who refused to offer him tea as he had not opted for the food served in the coach. “When they are offering me a bottle of water, why should the railway not offer tea? I could have bought a tea, but the staff sounded very rude,” the senior citizen complains. The TTE did not give him a complaint book. “He said he did not have one,” Mr. William says.

Though a few passengers feel that their experience with Tejas is good, a railway source says that the automated doors in some of the coaches — C2, C3 and C4 — are not functioning. “With just a couple of minutes’ halt at Tiruchi and Kodai Road, the doors have to be opened for the passengers to get down and get in on time. Two additional employees have been nominated to open the door manually from outside,” the TTE says.

Otherwise, all the doors of the coaches are operated by the guard.

A few sliding coach doors and electronically-operated Venetian blinds are not working and get stuck in the middle.

Say Hello’ scheme a big hit among senior citizens

S.P. Saravanan

ERODE, MAY 01, 2019 00:00 IST

District police resolve 238 complaints received over phone

The district police have received 249 calls and resolved 238 of these under the “Say Hello” scheme that aims at resolving the problems of senior citizens and the public by receiving complaints over phone. Action is pending for 11 complaints.

The police launched the scheme in January this year through which elderly or affected persons can call the number 96558-88100 and register their complaints related to small disputes and altercations. The complaint is forwarded to the police station concerned for necessary action and the grievance is redressed. Officials said that issues between neighbours over compound wall, cutting trees, problem in fetching water from common tap w were sorted out with the intervention of the policemen at their doorsteps.

After launching the scheme, the police received 249 calls that were related to different kinds of problems - family dispute (69 calls), land dispute (27), burglary (5), altercations (27), cheating (17) and others (72 calls).

Further, a total of 32 calls were received appreciating the scheme.

Superintendent of Police S. Sakthi Ganesan said that calls were made by people of different age groups though majority were by the senior citizens - age group of 20 to 30 years – 11 calls, 31 to 40 years – 23 calls, 41 to 50 years – 20 calls, 51 to 60 years – 44 calls, 61 to 70 years – 76 calls, 71 to 80 calls – 61 calls and above 81 to 90 years – 14 calls. He said that 18 calls were also received from other districts, including Karur and Chennai (1 call each), Salem, Namakkal, the Nilgiris (each 2 calls), Coimbatore (4), Villupuram (1) and Tiruppur district (5 calls).

Those calls were related to family dispute, cheating over financial transactions and hence the complainants were asked to approach the police in their concerned districts.

Mr. Sakthi Ganesan said that most of the calls received comes under the jurisdictions of Erode North Police Station (27 calls), Erode South Police Station (26 calls) and Modakurichi Police Station (14 calls) action were taken accordingly. He requested the elderly people and affected people to contact the number and get their small issues sorted out.

Centre releases Rs. 58 cr. for colleges, varsities

R. Sujatha

CHENNAI, MAY 01, 2019 00:00 IST

Grant for infrastructure, research

The Human Resource Development Ministry has released Rs. 58.92 crore as part of grant to improve higher education institutions in the State.

The allocation is under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, which envisages improvement of infrastructure, faculty development, research and innovation and upgrade of degree colleges to model institutions.

Sixty per cent of the contribution comes from the Centre.

Institutions that have benefitted under the scheme include Tamil University of Thanjavur and the Physical Education and Sports University, which will receive Rs. 6 crore each for infrastructure improvement. Madurai Kamaraj University has been allocated Rs. 1.05 crore for faculty improvement; Bharathiar University, Annamalai University, Anna University, MKU, Bharathidasan University and University of Madras each have been sanctioned Rs. 4.50 crore towards entrepreneurship and career hub development.

The Government Arts College, Salem; Alagappa College, Karaikudi and Presidency College, Chennai, have each been given Rs. 60 lakh for infrastructure and colleges, including Quaid E Millath, Nandanam, Presidency, Dr. Ambedkar, Queen Mary’s and Bharathi Women’s College, Chennai, have been allocated funds to develop vocational education. Nineteen colleges, including Presidency College, have been allocated Rs. 10.50 lakh for vocationalisation of higher education.

The funds also include the third and final grant to improve infrastructure to Mother Teresa University Bharathiar University and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.

According to a letter from the Principal Accounts Officer of the HRD Ministry, the State comes under General Category and the funds being released in the first instalment are for improving management, monitoring, evaluation and research component.

Mercury soars to 40.1 degree Celsius in Chennai

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, MAY 01, 2019 00:00 IST

Hottest day of the year so far in city

Chennaiites, who were expecting summer showers for the past few days, instead had to put up with scorching heat on Tuesday. It was the hottest day of the year as the mercury level soared to 40.1 degree Celsius.

This is the second time in the decade that the maximum temperature has crossed 40 degree Celsius in the city. Chennai had previously recorded 40.8 degree Celsius on April 23, 2016.

Though it was cloudy in the morning, the city sizzled in the grip of heatwave conditions as day temperature quickly climbed several notches above average temperature. The weather station in Meenambakkam too recorded 40.2 degree Celsius, which is nearly four degree Celsius above average.

High humidity

The relatively high humidity at 79% in Nungambakkam and 70% in Meenambakkam led to uncomfortable weather.

Places such as Vellore, Tiruttani and Tiruchi also witnessed scorching heat as the maximum temperature peaked beyond the 40-degree Celsius mark.

S. Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said such variations in temperature occurred when weather systems were active in the Bay of Bengal. Cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ is likely to become extremely severe and cross the Odisha coast on May 3 afternoon. There may be a possibility of some rain over the State due to feeder bands of the weather system even though the storm has moved away from Tamil Nadu coast.

Dry westerlies

On the rise in day temperature, he said the maximum temperature in the city dropped after sometime on Tuesday. Such oscillation occurred when dry westerlies prevailed over the region.

The land breeze was strong on Tuesday and this was accentuated by the cyclonic storm ‘Fani’. This led to sudden spike in temperature.

However, moisture incursion caused by sea breeze brought down the temperature by afternoon.

Cloudy sky

Officials of the Meteorological Department said there may be chances of rain in one or two places of the State.

Chennai may have a cloudy sky and the maximum temperature may hover around 39 degree Celsius till Thursday.

Such variations in temperature occur when weather systems are active in the Bay of Bengal

S. BalachandranDeputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai

Madras HC curbs L-G role in Puducherry

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI, MAY 01, 2019 00:00 IST

Kiran Bedi

‘Amounts to running a parallel govt.’

The Madras High Court on Tuesday ruled that the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G)of Puducherry could not interfere with the day-to-day administration of the Union Territory when an elected government was in place. The court said incessant interference from the L-G would amount to running a “parallel government.”

Authoring a 150-page judgement, Justice R. Mahadevan said: “The Central government as well as the Administrator [the term used in the Constitution to refer to the Lieutenant-Governor] should be true to the concept of democratic principles. Otherwise, the constitutional scheme of the country of being democratic and republic would be defeated.”

The judge made it clear that government secretaries were bound to take instructions from the ministers concerned and the Council of Ministers, headed by the Chief Minister, besides reporting to them on official matters. “The secretaries are not empowered to issue orders on their own or upon the instructions of the Administrator,” Justice Mahadevan said.

Practice disapproved

He disapproved of the alleged practice of government officials being part of social media groups through which the L-G was issuing instructions to them for redress of public grievances and reminded them that as per rules, they were bound to use only authorised medium of communication when it came to issues related to administration.

The judgement was delivered while allowing a petition filed by Congress MLA K. Lakshminarayanan in 2017, and quashing two clarifications issued by the Union Home Ministry that year with regard to the powers of the L-G.

The judge held that those communications had been issued without reference to the constitutional provisions and other laws.

Though the Centre had primarily questioned the locus standi of the petitioner to file the case, the judge rejected the objections on the ground that such a writ petition at the instance of an MLA was maintainable.

In his judgment, Justice Mahadevan also went on to point out the differences between the powers conferred on the legislatures of Puducherry and Delhi under Articles 239A and 239AA of the Constitution.

The judge said though Article 239AA imposes several restrictions on the legislature of Delhi, no such restrictions had been imposed explicitly in the case of Puducherry under Article 239A.

“The above Article symbolises the supremacy of the Legislature above the Administrator in case of the Union Territory of Puducherry.”

BLDE Deemed to be university Notification 2019

Model code stops govt from announcing incentive for Gomathi Marimuthu 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Apr 30, 2019, 1:46 am IST


The MCC came into force on March 10 this year. Gomathi had won gold at the recently-concluded Asian Athletics Championship in Doha.

Gomathi Marimuthu

Chennai: The state government could not announce incentives to honour athlete Gomathi Marimuthu, who won the 800 m gold at the Asian Athletics Championship last week, owing to the enforcement of the Election Commission's Model Code of Conduct (MCC), fisheries minister D. Jayakumar has said.

He however hastened to add that the government had sought permission from the EC and after "clearance" is obtained from the Election Commission, the government would make the announcement.

The MCC came into force on March 10 this year. Gomathi had won gold at the recently-concluded Asian Athletics Championship in Doha. She is now focussed on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, media reports said. The athlete hails from a village near Tiruchy.

The Election Commission's guidelines for political parties and candidates prohibits parties in power from announcing financial grants in any form, Mr Jayakumar told reporters at the airport here on Monday. Refuting allegation that the state government failed to encourage Gomathi, he said it was the government under Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami who had enhanced the quota in government jobs for sports persons to three per cent from two. "Only Amma (former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa) government has been bestowing importance on sports," he said.

"That is a false allegation. It is worrying that knowingly or unknowingly that opinion is being expressed. Now the code of conduct is in place. At that time, without the clearance of the EC, (support) cannot be given. We have written to the Election Commission. If we get clearance, the Chief Minister is ready to provide all help in a happy way. Action will be taken after the Election Commission clearance is received," he added.

Days after winning the gold, Gomathi had said, "if the Tamil Nadu government supports me, I can try further, to win a medal at the Olympics. There is one more year for the competition." Stating that the government was set to help her, she requested, "no one else should struggle the way I have. It would be helpful if the Tamil Nadu government helped them."

She knew of many athletes who had given up on their sporting careers due to lack of support, Gomathi had said.