REDUCTION IN BAD LOANS

Canara Bank’s net profit up 17%

New Delhi:25.07.2019

State-owned Canara Bank on Wednesday reported a 17%rise in its standalone net profit to ₹329 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, mainly driven by reduction in bad loans. The bank had registered a net profit of ₹281.5 crore in the April-June period of 2018-19. Total income rose to ₹14,062 crore in the June quarter from ₹13,192 crore in same period a year ago, Canara Bank said in a regulatory filing. At the same time, interest income rose to ₹12,200 crore in the quarter from ₹11,359 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal. The bank’s income from other sources too improved to ₹1,867 crore from ₹1,833 crore.

During the quarter, the bank earned operating profit of ₹2,440 crore. With regard to asset quality, the bank has exhibited improvement with the gross non-performing assets (NPAs) declining to 8.7%of gross advances at the end of June 2019, as against 11%as of June 30, 2018.

Net NPA too came down to 5.35%from 6.9%. In absolute value, gross NPAs at the end of June, 2019 declined to ₹39,399 crore from ₹44,659 crore as on June 30, 2018. Net NPAs came down to ₹23,149 crore compared to ₹26,693 crore. As a result, the provisions for bad loans declined to ₹2,282 crore for the first quarter this fiscal, from ₹2,466 crore parked aside for the same period in 2017-18. Overall provisions and contingencies too eased to ₹1,899.13 crore as against ₹2,582.3 crore. Provision coverage ratio as on June 30, 2019 rose to 68.6%from 60.6%at the end of first quarter last fiscal. Total business of the bank improved by 13%to ₹10.59 lakh crore at the end of June, 2019. AGENCIES

Vistara to stop giving plastic water bottles

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:25.07.2019

Vistara will stop giving plastic water bottles on board its flights, in a bid to reduce plastic usage. The airline, which had last June banned chewing of gutka on its flights, on Wednesday said it “plans to remove all individual-sized 200ml water bottles from its flights. This initiative was implemented on Delhi-Mumbai flights on July 16, and will be extended to all flights across the airline’s network in phases over the coming weeks. Economy Class customers, who were hitherto given water in small plastic bottles, will now be served mineral water in environment-friendly paper cups.”

The airline said it has “reduced single-use plastic usage and has a further 50% reduction target this year. The airline continues to undertake several other eco-friendly initiatives to support its inflight service with minimal use of plastics, by switching to packaging from renewable and bio-degradable sources. Vistara is the first and only carrier in India to serve oxobiodegradable cutlery and pouch to economy class customers.

Airports in India are also increasingly trying to minimise use of plastic.

Govt school ropes in parents as exam invigilators
Rajeev.KR@timesgroup.com

Kozhikode  25.07.2019

: A government school in the district has raised the bar in involvement of parents in academic activity by roping them in as invigilators for examinations.

The Government Higher Secondary School, Kokkallur has assigned as many as 30 parents, who have been tasked with the supervision of the ongoing SSLC unit tests.

The parent-invigilators, selected from the school support group, were provided prior training on how to supervise the examination and about following the required instructions for conducting the exams.

The school authorities plan to have parent invigilators for other school-level examinations in Class X, except the public examinations.

“We launched the initiative as part of efforts to enhance the participation of parents in academic activities at the school. The parent-invigilators have been a successful in ensuring smooth and orderly conduct of examinations and students have reciprocated by maintaining good discipline in the examination hall,” P Pushparajan, headmaster of the school, said.

He said that with parents taking up the role of exam supervisors, there seems to be a psychological factor at work as the students seemed to take extra care to maintain discipline in the exam hall and to ensure that the parents didn’t face any troubles.

“It has also helped to ensure 100% punctuality on the part of students. We are planning to expand it to Class-IX also,” N K Balan Nair, English teacher at the school, said, adding that the respective teacher invigilator assigned to a particular class for the monthly tests remained stationed outside the classroom to intervene, if any need arises.

Full report on www.toi.in

NEW ROLE: A parent-invigilator at work at Government Higher Secondary School, Kokkallur, in Kozhikode

Med college case: CBI chargesheets retd judge, others

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:25.07.2019

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has chargesheeted retired Odisha high court justice I M Quddusi and six others for allegedly conspiring to settle the debarment of a private medical college in Lucknow.

Besides the former judge, the CBI has accused Bhawna Pandey, Bhagwan Prasad Yadav, Palash Yadav, Sudhir Giri, Bishwanath Agarwala and Ram Dev Saraswat of corruption and criminal conspiracy. The CBI has alleged that Quddusi, with the assistance of other accused, not only legally guided the functionaries of the private medical college but also assured them of afavourable judicial settlement. The chargesheet was filed before special judge Anil Kumar Sisodia on July 8 and posted for consideration on August 2.

Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who is representing Quddusi and other accused persons, said, “As there is no public servant in the chargesheet, a corruption case won’t survive. My clients even got bail on the same argument.”

The CBI had carried out raids in Bhubaneswar, Lucknow and Delhi, including at the Greater Kailash residence of Justice Quddusi (Retd). Besides, CBI also raided several private persons and a hawala dealer from whom a ₹1 crore bribe was being collected to be paid on to some government servants in Delhi to settle the matter.

Quddusi and the others were booked under Section 8 (taking gratification in order to influence public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC Sec 120 (criminal conspiracy).

Full report on www.toi.in

The chargesheet was filed before special judge Anil Kumar Sisodia on July 8 and posted for consideration on August 2

Nalini to walk out of prison on parole today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.07.2019

The country’s longest-serving woman prisoner, Nalini Sriharan, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, would be released on 30-day parole (ordinary leave) on Thursday from the special prison for women in Vellore. She will be accompanied by a team of around 10 armed police personnel to keep a hawk eye on her.

The police department is yet to decide on the exact number of personnel for the security duty. “We are awaiting an official communication regarding the security details and escort for the prisoner,” Superintendent of Police of Vellore K Pravesh Kumar told TOI. A similar arrangement was made when another life convict in the Rajiv assassination case, Perarivalan, was released on parole for 60 days (from August 24, 2017). “We will come to a final decision on the scale of security based on the recommendation of the prison department,” he said.

She had got the 30-day parole to make arrangements for the wedding of her daughter Charitha Sriharan, 27. Nalini got a Madras high court order in her favour on July 5, granting her parole for 30 days.

This is the third time she is being granted leave from prison. Earlier, she came out on parole for her brother Bhagyanathan’s marriage and later for her father’s funeral rites – on both occasions, for a day each. Nalini will be staying in Sathuvachari in Vellore town along with her mother Padmavathy and other family members. When Perarivalan was granted parole by the Edappadi K Palaniswami government on compassionate grounds, after he sought to spend time with his ailing father A Kuyildasan, the police ensured round-the-clock security.

Nalini’s counsel A Pugalendhi said her daughter, who was born in Chengalpet government hospital, was with her mother in the prison for four years. She left for the UK in 2005 where she pursued medicine. “Nalini’s daughter is now a citizen of the UK,” he said.

Fire at Syndicate Bank in Pammal, strong room saved

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.07.2019

A fire broke out in Syndicate Bank branch at Krishna Nagar near Pammal on the Pallavaram-Kundrathur Road in the early hours on Wednesday.

All the furniture, computers, air-conditioners and other items were gutted in fire. The loss is yet to be ascertained. No one was injured in the fire that broke out around 3.30am.

On being alerted by a bank security guard, fire and rescue services personnel from Tambaram rushed to the spot. They broke open the doors and window panes. They battled for about two hours to extinguish the fire.

Later, police and bank officials reached the accident spot. The fire personnel prevented the fire from spreading to the strong room where cash and gold are kept. Police are investigating to determine the cause of the fire. Preliminary inquiries revealed that a spark from an air-conditioner or a computer could have triggered the fire.

BURNT OUT: A spark from an AC or computer might have triggered the fire

ALL-INDIA QUOTA LEFTOVER
Post nat’l counselling, TN to get vacant med seats

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.07.2019

The state selection committee will receive the number of seats vacant in government medical college after two rounds of online counselling conducted by the medical counselling committee in New Delhi. The Centre conducts counselling for 15% of seats that states surrender for the all-India quota (AIQ).

The vacant seats will be returned to the respective state governments, who will fill them up during the counselling conducted locally. “We will be adding the vacant AIQ seats to the seat matrix for the second round of counselling,” said selection committee secretary Dr G Selvarajan. The committee has asked medical college deans to send in the vacancy details by Thursday evening, he said.

At the end of the extended phase of counselling for dental admissions in TN, there were 271 management quota dental seats vacant. The committee removed names for four students from the common merit list on Wednesday.

Prez can impose conditions while commuting death sentence: HC
Chennai:25.07.2019

The President has the power to impose conditions while commuting death sentences of convicts, as the constitutional power of the President under Article 72 is absolute and wide in amplitude, the Madras high court has held.

Justice N Anand Venkatesh, refusing to interfere with an order of the President commuting the death penalty of three convicts into life imprisonment, but with a condition that they must spend the rest of their lives in jail, said since Article 72 was absolute it would not be possible to lay down any precise and clearly defined guidelines. The judge passed the order on a plea moved by Radhakrishnan, C Selvam and Sheik Meeran who were sentenced to death for murder on October 5, 1998 by a sessions court in Tirunelveli.

All the appeals moved by the convicts were dismissed and on July 15, 1999, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence. Thereafter, the trio moved mercy petitions to the Tamil Nadu governor and then to the President. On February 10, 2012, the President allowed the mercy plea and commuted the death sentence to life with a condition that the petitioners shall remain for the whole of the remainder of their natural lives in prison without the benefit of remission. The petitioners made an application to the state for premature release, which was rejected citing the condition imposed by the President.

Harsh Vardhan introduces National Medical Commission Bill in Lok Sabha, with a view to replacing Medical Council of India

India Press Trust of India Jul 22, 2019 16:20:13 IST

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill which seeks to replace the 63-year-old Medical Council of India (MCI) to reform the medical sector in India, was introduced in Lok Sabha on Monday.


File image of the Lok Sabha. PTI

The bill, introduced by Health minister Harsh Vardhan, also seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act 1956, stating that the Council set up under it was corrupt. It has been alleged that the process by which the MCI regulated medical colleges was flawed.

The new bill has the provision for making national standards in medical education uniform by proposing that the final year MBBS exam be treated as an entrance test for PG and a screening test for students who graduated in medicine from foreign countries. This exam will be called the National Exit Test (NEXT).

At present, different medical colleges have different MBBS exam patterns which means there is no surety of the quality of the medical graduate passing out of MBBS.

The NMC proposal is to ensure a uniform national pattern for final year MBBS exam so that all medical graduates who get the licence to practise conform to uniform national standards and quality.

The bill also puts a cap on fees on 50 percent of seats in MBBS and PG colleges. The NMC will be a 29-member body which would comprise of 20 members selected through nomination, and nine through election.

The medical colleges will have to conform to standards the NMC will lay down. Once they conform and are permitted to operate, there would be no need for annual renewals, the government believes.

215 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் 10% இடங்கள் கூட நிரம்பவில்லை: கடைசி ஒரு சுற்றுடன் முடியப்போகும் பி.இ. கலந்தாய்வு

By DIN | Published on : 24th July 2019 01:32 AM

பொறியியல் கலந்தாய்வில் மூன்று சுற்றுகள் சேர்க்கை முடிந்து நான்காம் சுற்று மட்டுமே எஞ்சியுள்ள நிலையில், 215 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் 10 சதவீத இடங்கள் கூட நிரம்பவில்லை என்பது தெரிய வந்துள்ளது.

தமிழகம் முழுவதும் 479 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் இடம்பெற்றிருக்கும் 1,67,652 பி.இ. இடங்களில் இதுவரை 46,213 இடங்கள் மட்டுமே நிரம்பியுள்ளன. 1,21,439 இடங்களில் சேர்க்கை நடைபெறவில்லை.
முந்தைய ஆண்டுகளைப் போலவே, 2019-20 ஆம் கல்வியாண்டிலும் பொறியியல் படிப்புகளில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை வெகுவாகக் குறைந்திருக்கிறது.

இதுவரை மூன்று சுற்றுகள் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை முடிந்துவிட்ட நிலையில், கடைசிக் கட்டமான நான்காம் சுற்று கலந்தாய்வு வரும் 28-ஆம் தேதியுடன் முடிவடைய உள்ளது.

அதன் பின்னர், பிளஸ் 2 பொதுத் தேர்வில் தோல்வியடைந்து சிறப்புத் தேர்வில் தேர்ச்சி பெற்ற மாணவர்களுக்கான துணைக் கலந்தாய்வும், இறுதியாக விடுபட்டவர்களுக்கான சேர்க்கையும் நடைபெற உள்ளது.
அவற்றில், அதிகபட்சம் 25,000 முதல் 30,000 இடங்கள் நிரம்ப வாய்ப்புள்ளது. அதன்படி 2019-20 கல்வியாண்டில் அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களில் 70 ஆயிரம் முதல் 75 ஆயிரம் இடங்கள் வரை நிரம்பும். எனவே, கடந்த ஆண்டைப் போலவே 90 ஆயிரம் அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டு பி.இ. இடங்கள் சேர்க்கையின்றி காலியாக விடப்படும்.

ஒட்டுமொத்தமாக சுயநிதி பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளின் நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டு பொறியியல் இடங்களையும் சேர்த்தால் 1 லட்சம் இடங்கள் நிரம்பாமல் இருக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது என்கின்றனர் அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழகப் பேராசிரியர்கள்.

இதுகுறித்து கல்வியாளர் ஜெயப்பிரகாஷ் காந்தி கூறியது:
மூன்று சுற்று கலந்தாய்வு முடிந்துள்ள நிலையில் 3 கல்லூரிகளில் மட்டுமே 100 சதவீத இடங்கள் நிரம்பியிருக்கின்றன.
29 கல்லூரிகளில் 85 சதவீத இடங்களும், 36 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் 80 சதவீத இடங்களும் நிரம்பியிருக்கின்றன.

குறிப்பாக 69 கல்லூரிகளில் மட்டுமே 50 சதவீதத்துக்கு மேல் இடங்கள் நிரம்பியிருக்கின்றன. 

215 சுயநிதி பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் 10 சதவீதத்துக்கும் குறைவான இடங்களே நிரம்பியிருக்கின்றன. 

இன்னும் ஒரு சுற்று கலந்தாய்வு மட்டுமே இருப்பதால், இந்தக் கல்லூரிகளில் சேர்க்கை பெரிய அளவில் உயர்வதற்கு வாய்ப்பு இல்லை. எனவே, இந்தக் கல்லூரிகள் தொடர்ந்து இயங்குவது மிகவும் கடினம்.
அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழக உறுப்புக் கல்லூரிகளில்...: அதேபோல, அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழக உறுப்புக் கல்லூரிகளிலும் இம்முறை சேர்க்கை மிகவும் குறைந்திருக்கிறது.

பண்ருட்டி, ராமநாதபுரம், அரியலூர் பகுதிகளில் அமைந்துள்ள அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழக உறுப்புக் கல்லூரிகளில் 5 சதவீதத்துக்கும் குறைவான இடங்களை நிரம்பியிருக்கின்றன.

இயந்திரவியல் பிரிவில் சேர்க்கை சரிவு: பொறியியல் பிரிவுகளைப் பொருத்தவரை, கடந்த ஆண்டுடன் ஒப்பிடும்போது பி.இ. இயந்திரவியல் பிரிவில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கடும் சரிவைச் சந்தித்துள்ளது.
பி.இ. கட்டுமானப் பொறியியல், மின்னியல் மின்னணுவியல் பொறியியல், மின்னணுவியல் உபகரணவியல் பொறியியல், விமானப் பொறியியல் (ஏரோனாடிகல்) ஆகிய படிப்புகளின் சேர்க்கையும் சரிந்திருக்கிறது.

அதே நேரம், பி.இ. கணினி அறிவியல், மின்னணுவியல் தொடர்பியல் பொறியியல் மற்றும் பி.இ. தகவல் தொழில்நுட்பம் (ஐடி) ஆகிய மூன்று பிரிவுகளிலும் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை அதிகரித்திருக்கிறது என்றார் ஜெயப்பிரகாஷ் காந்தி.

35 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் ஒரு மாணவர்கூட சேரவில்லை
மூன்றாம் கட்ட பி.இ. கலந்தாய்வு முடிவில் தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள 35 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் ஒரு இடத்தில் கூட மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடைபெறவில்லை என்பது தெரியவந்திருக்கிறது.

கடைசி சுற்றான 4-ஆம் சுற்றுடன் பி.இ. பொதுப் பிரிவு கலந்தாய்வு நிறைவடைய உள்ளது. இறுதிச் சுற்றுப் பிரிவினர் இடங்களைத் தேர்வு செய்யத் தொடங்கியிருக்கின்றனர். இவர்களுக்கு வரும் 28-ஆம் தேதி இறுதி ஒதுக்கீடு வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது.

இந்தச் சூழலில், மூன்றாம் சுற்று முடிவில் 35 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களில் ஒரு மாணவர்கூட சேரவில்லை என்பதும், பல பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் ஒற்றை இலக்கத்தில் சேர்க்கை நடைபெற்றிருப்பதும் தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி இயக்குநரக புள்ளிவிவரங்களின் அடிப்படையில் தெரியவந்திருக்கிறது.
அதன்படி, 150 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் 5 சதவீதத்துக்கும் குறைவான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடைபெற்றுள்ளது. அதில் 23 கல்லூரிகளில் 1 சதவீதத்துக்கும் குறைவான சேர்க்கை நடைபெற்றுள்ளது.
வரிசை எண் 445 முதல் 479 வரையுடைய பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில், அதாவது 35 பொறியியல் கல்லூரிகளில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை பூஜ்யம் சதவீதமாக உள்ளது.

அத்திவரதரை நின்ற கோலத்தில் தரிசிக்க காத்திருப்பவர்களுக்கு முக்கிய தகவல்!
Published on : 23rd July 2019 02:13 PM |

காஞ்சிபுரம் அத்திவரதர் நின்ற கோலத்தில் காட்சியளிப்பது திட்டமிட்டபடி நாளை மறுநாள் தொடங்க வாய்ப்பில்லை எனத் தகவல்கள் வெளியாகியுள்ளது.


40 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு ஒருமுறை காட்சிதரும் அத்திவரதர் தொடர்ந்து 23-வது நாளான இன்று இளம் பச்சை வண்ணப் பட்டு உடுத்தி மகிழம்பூ மாலையுடன் பக்தர்களுக்கு அருள்பாலித்து வருகிறார். தொடர்ந்து ஆகஸ்ட் 17-ம் தேதி வரை அத்திவரதர் பக்தர்களுக்கு அருள்பாலிக்க உள்ளார்.

கடந்த 22 நாட்களில் 25 லட்சத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்ட பக்தர்கள் அத்திவரதரை தரிசித்து மகிழ்ந்தனர். ஆகம விதிப்படி அத்திவரதர், 24 நாட்கள் சயன கோலத்திலும், அடுத்த 24 நாட்கள் நின்ற கோலத்திலும் காட்சியளிப்பார். இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து நின்ற கோலத்தில் அத்திவரத பெருமாளைத் தரிசிக்கப் பக்தர்கள் அனைவரும் எதிர்பார்த்துக் காத்திருந்த நிலையில், திட்டமிட்டபடி நாளை மறுநாள் அத்திவரதர் நின்ற கோலத்தில் காட்சிதருவதில் தாமதம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதாகத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கிறது.

அத்திவரதர் பற்றி அறியப்படாத சில தகவல்கள்!

ஏனெனில், கடந்த 40 ஆண்டுகளாக அத்திவரதர் சிலை தண்ணீரில் இருந்ததால், சிலையின் உறுதித்தன்மை குறைவாக இருக்கின்றது. இதனால் நின்ற கோலத்தில் காட்சி தருவதில் தாமதம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. அதன்படி, வரும் ஆகஸ்ட் 1-ம் தேதி முதல் 17-ம் தேதி வரை அத்தி வரதர் நின்ற கோலத்தில் காட்சிதருவார் எனத் தகவல்கள் வெளியாகியுள்ளது.

நிஜம் அல்ல, நிழல்தான்!

By எஸ். ராஜசேகரன் | Published on : 23rd July 2019 01:34 AM |

காளிதாஸ் திரைப்படம் வெளியான காலத்திலிருந்து இன்று வரை அதன் தாக்கம் நமது இளைஞர்களிடமும், பெண்களிடமும், சிறுவர்களிடமும் நிறைந்துள்ளது. வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மனையும், வீரசிவாஜியின் வரலாற்றையும் மனதில் பசுமரத்து ஆணியாகப் பதிய வைத்த பெருமை திரைப்படங்களையே சாரும். மகாத்மா காந்தி, மகாகவி பாரதியாரைப் பற்றி புத்தகங்களில் படித்திருந்தாலும் அவர்கள் வாழ்க்கையைப் பற்றி தெளிவாக அறிந்துகொள்ள உதவியவை திரைப்படங்கள்தான்.
ஒரு நாட்டின் தலையெழுத்தையே தீர்மானிக்கக் கூடிய வல்லமை படைத்த மிகப் பெரிய சக்தியாக வளர்ந்துள்ள திரைத்துறைதான், பல அரசியல் தலைவர்களை அளித்தது. தனக்குப் பிடித்த சினிமா நட்சத்திரங்களின் பிறந்தநாளை கொண்டாடும் கூட்டம் நம்மைத் தவிர வேறு யாருமேயில்லை.

எந்தக் கடையில் நாம் நகை வாங்க வேண்டும், என்ன காபி குடிக்க வேண்டும், எந்தக் கடையில் துணி வாங்க வேண்டும், என்ன சோப்பைப் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்பதை நமக்குச் சொல்லித் தரும் நலம் விரும்பிகளாகவே திரைப்பட நட்சத்திரங்களைப் பார்க்கிறோம்.
நமது கவலைகளை மறக்கச் செய்து நகைச்சுவை மருந்து கொண்டு புத்துணர்ச்சியைத் தருபவை திரைப்படங்கள்தான். திரைப்படங்களே சென்றடையாத கிராமங்களைக் கூட திரைப்படத்தில் காட்டி உலகறியச் செய்த பெருமை திரைப்படங்களையே சாரும். அப்படிப்பட்ட திரைப்படம் வெவ்வேறு காலகட்டங்களில் பல்வேறு விதமாகப் பயணித்து வருகிறது. 

அந்தக் கால திரைப்படங்களின் கதாநாயகர்கள் நேர்மைக்காக போராடும் மனிதர்களாகவும், குடும்பத்தின் சுமையைச் சுமக்கும் பொறுப்புள்ளவர்களாகவும், பெண்களை மதிக்கும் தன்மையுள்ளவர்களாகவும், பெற்றோரை தெய்வமென பாவிப்பவர்களாகவும் காட்சியளித்தனர்.

சராசாரி மனிதர்களால் செய்ய முடியாத காரியத்தைச் செய்து காட்டுபவரைத்தான் கதாநாயகனாக திரைப்படங்கள் சித்தரித்தன.
அந்தக் கால பெரும்பாலான திரைப்படங்களில் புகை பிடிப்பது, மது அருந்துவது போன்ற காட்சிகள் இடம்பெற்றதில்லை. மேலும், அந்தக் காலத்தில் ஒழுக்கம், பொறுப்பு, கல்வியின் அருமை, பெற்றோரின் பெருமை ஆகியவற்றை வலியுறுத்தியே பெரும்பாலான திரைப்படங்கள் தயாரித்து வெளியிடப்பட்டன.

இந்தக் காலத்தில் கதாநாயகர்கள் தங்களது உடல் அமைப்புக்கும், முகத் தோற்றத்திற்கும் ஏற்ற கதாபாத்திரங்களில் நடிக்கின்றனர். ஆனால், பொறுப்பற்ற இளைஞர்களாகவும், ஊதாரித்தனத்தை பெருமையாகப் பறைசாற்றுபவராகவும் பெரும்பாலான திரைப்படங்களில் கதாநாயகர்கள் நடிக்கின்றனர். பெற்றோரையும், மூத்தோரையும் உதாசீனப்படுத்தும் காட்சிகளும் இடம்பெறுகின்றன.
இதைத் திரைப்படத்தில் பார்க்கும் சிறுவர்களும், இளைஞர்களும் அந்த உடல் மொழியையும், அந்த அழகு முறையையும் கடைப்பிடித்தால் தாமும் ரசிக்கப்படுவோம் என்பதை தவறாகப் புரிந்துகொண்டு, பெற்றோரையும், பெரியவர்களையும் அவமதிக்கும் செயலைச் செய்வது வேதனையான விஷயம். அது மட்டுமல்லாது கல்லூரி ஆசிரியரை கேலிப் பொருளாகப் பாவித்து பல திரைப்படங்கள் எடுக்கப்படுவது வரம்பை மீறிய செயலாகும். அறியாமையை நீக்கி அறிவைப் போதிக்கும் ஆசிரியரை அவமானப்படுத்துவது எந்த விதத்தில் நியாயம்?
சமுதாயத்திற்கு நல்ல கருத்துகளைச் சொல்லும் திரைப்படங்கள் அத்திபூத்தாற்போல் வெளியாவது வருத்தம் தரக்கூடிய விஷயம். தமிழகத்தின் புகழ் பெற்ற நகரங்களைக்கூட குண்டர்கள் வசிக்கும் கூடாரமாகக் காட்டி மாயத் தோற்றத்தை ஏற்படுத்துகின்றனர்.
மனித வாழ்க்கையில் எத்தனையோ நிகழ்வுகள் இருக்கின்றன, எத்தனையோ உணர்வுகள் இருக்கின்றன. அத்தனையும் இருந்தாலும் காதலை மையப்படுத்தி மட்டுமே திரைப்படங்கள் எடுப்பது வேடிக்கையாக இருக்கிறது. அதிலும், சாதனையாளர்களையோ, படித்தவர்களையோ, நல்ல நிலையில் இருப்பவர்களையோ திரைப்படத்தில் தோன்றும் கதாநாயகி காதலிப்பதாகக் காட்டப்படுவதில்லை. சோம்பேறிகளாக இருப்பவர்களையும், ஊதாரிகளாக இருப்பவர்களையும், குற்றச்செயல் புரிபவர்களையும் கதாநாயகி தேடிச் சென்று காதலிப்பதாகக் காட்சிகள் இடம்பெறுகின்றன. 

இதுதான் இன்றைய இளைய சமுதாயத்துக்கு திரைத் துறை அளிக்கும் செய்தியா? நீ எப்படி இருந்தாலும் உன்னையும் ஒரு பெண் விரும்புவாள் என்று கூறி அவர்களை வாழ்த்துகிறோமா அல்லது பெண்களின் தரத்தை தாழ்த்துகிறோமா? நாட்டில் உள்ள ஒவ்வொரு துறையிலும் எங்கேயோ யாரோ தவறு செய்யலாம். அதை மிகைப்படுத்திக் காட்டி அந்தத் துறையில் பணிபுரியும் மற்றவர்கள் மனதைக் காயப்படுத்துவது எந்த விதத்தில் நியாயம்?

திரைப்படம் என்பது நிழல் தான், அது நிஜமல்ல என்பதைத் தங்களது வாரிசுகளுக்கு பெற்றோர் சொல்லித் தர வேண்டும். திரைப்படத்தில் தோன்றும் நட்சத்திரங்கள் அவர்களுடைய பணியைத்தான் செய்கின்றனர். அவர்களும் நம்மைப் போன்ற மனிதர்கள்தான். நமக்கு தேர்வு நடைபெறுகிறது என்று அவர்கள் நடிப்பதை நிறுத்துவதில்லை. நாம்தான் அவர்கள் திரைப்படம் வெளியாகிறது என்று படிப்பதை நிறுத்திவிட்டு திரைப்படத்துக்குச் செல்கிறோம்.

திரைப்படத்தை பொழுதுபோக்கு அம்சமாகத்தான் கருத வேண்டும். நமது வீடுகளின் நடுவில் தொலைக்காட்சிப் பெட்டியை வைத்துக் கொண்டு குழந்தைகளை போய் புத்தகங்களை படி என்று சொல்வது எந்த விதத்திலும் நியாயமில்லை. 

பெண் குழந்தைகளுக்கு கலாசாரத்தைக் கற்றுக் கொடுங்கள்; பண்பாட்டைச் சொல்லிக் கொடுங்கள்; ஆண் குழந்தைகளுக்கு ஒழுக்கத்தைக் கற்றுக் கொடுங்கள்; பொறுப்பினை உணர்த்துங்கள்; இலக்கினைப் புரிய வையுங்கள்; லட்சியத்தை அடைய உதவுங்கள்.
குழந்தைகளுக்குப் பணத்தைச் செலவழிப்பதைவிட, அவர்களுடன் நேரத்தைச் செலவிடுங்கள். மீன் வாங்கிக் கொடுப்பதைவிட மீன் பிடிக்கக் கற்றுக் கொடுப்பதுதான் பலன் அளிக்கும். அடுத்த மனிதர் மீது மனிதாபிமானம் காட்ட பழக்கப்படுத்துங்கள். எதிர்கால இந்தியாவை வளமான இந்தியாவாக, வலிமையான இந்தியாவாக மாற்ற முயற்சிப்போம்.

சேலம் புதிய பாலத்தில் முதல் விபத்து 7 மணி நேரம் போக்குவரத்து பாதிப்பு

Added : ஜூலை 24, 2019 01:23




சேலம்:சேலம், திருவாக்கவுண்டனுார் பைபாஸ் மேம்பாலத்தில், லாரிகள் மோதிய விபத்தில், ஏழு மணி நேரம் போக்குவரத்து பாதிக்கப்பட்டது.
சேலம் மாவட்டம், மேச்சேரி அடுத்த, கூத்தனுாரைச் சேர்ந்தவர் குப்புசாமி, 28; செங்கற்களை லாரியில் ஏற்றி, நேற்று அதிகாலை, நாமக்கல் நோக்கி ஓட்டிச் சென்றார்.கிருஷ்ணகிரி மாவட்டம், பர்கூரைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ஆறுமுகம், 35; கிரானைட் கற்களை, லாரியில் ஏற்றி, திருச்சி, மணப்பாறைக்கு, சேலம் வழியாக, லாரியை ஓட்டிச் சென்றார்.இரு லாரிகளும், நேற்று அதிகாலை, 4:20 மணிக்கு, திருவாக்கவுண்டனுார் பைபாஸ் புதிய மேம்பாலத்தில் வந்தன.குப்புசாமி லாரியை, ஆறுமுகம் முந்த முயன்றார். அப்போது, லாரியின் பின்புறம் மோதியது. இதில், ஆறுமுகம், குப்புசாமிக்கு லேசான காயம் ஏற்பட்டது. அவர்களை, பிற வாகன ஓட்டிகள் மீட்டு, அருகிலுள்ள மருத்துவமனைக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்தனர்.விபத்தால், கிரானைட் கற்கள், சாலையில் விழுந்து சிதறின. இதனால், போக்குவரத்து நெரிசல் ஏற்பட்டது. போலீசார், போக்குவரத்தை சீரமைக்கும் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டனர். பாலத்தின் ஒரு பகுதியில், வாகனங்களை இயக்க தடை விதித்தனர்.சமீபத்தில் திறக்கப்பட்ட இந்த பாலத்தில் நடந்த முதல் விபத்தால், அதிகாலை, 4:30 முதல், பகல், 11:30 மணி வரை, பாலத்தின் ஒரு பகுதியில், போக்குவரத்து பாதிக்கப்பட்டது.விபத்தில் சிக்கிய இரு லாரிகளும், பொக்லைன் மூலம் அகற்றப்பட்டு, போக்குவரத்து துவங்கியது.

அத்தி வரதரை தண்ணீருக்குள் வைக்கக்கூடாது :

பரனூர் ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணப்ரேமி சுவாமிகள் வேண்டுகோள்

dinamalar

திருக்கோவிலுார்: 'யாருக்கும் பயந்து சுவாமியை ஒளித்து வைக்கும் காலம் இது இல்லை என்பதால் காஞ்சி அத்திவரதரை பக்தர்கள் தினசரி சேவிக்கும் வகையில் வெளியிலேயே வைக்க வேண்டும்' என பரனுார் ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணப்ரேமி சுவாமிகள் கேட்டுக் கொண்டுள்ளார்.



காஞ்சி அத்திவரதரை 40 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு ஒருமுறை குளத்தில் இருந்து எடுத்து வழிபடும் நிகழ்வு தற்போது நடந்து வருகிறது. 'ஒரு காலத்தில் மன்னராட்சியில் படையெடுப்புக்கு அஞ்சி கோவில் சிலைகளை பாதுகாக்க பக்தர்கள் கடைபிடித்த வழிகளில் இதுவும் ஒன்று' என ஒருசாரார் கூறுகின்றனர்.

'யாக குண்டத்தில் இருந்து எழுந்த அத்திவரதரை குளிர்விப்பதற்காக குளத்தில் எழுந்தருளச் செய்வது வழக்கம்' என மற்றொரு சாரார் கருத்து கூறுகின்றனர். இந்நிலையில் 'அத்திவரதரை மீண்டும் குளத்தில் வைக்க கூடாது' என்ற குரல்கள் எழுந்துள்ளன. இது குறித்து விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம் திருக்கோவிலுார் அடுத்த பரனுார் ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணப்ரேமி சுவாமிகள் 'தினமலர்' நாளிதழுக்கு அளித்த பேட்டி:

பல நுாற்றாண்டுகளாக அத்திவரதர் காஞ்சிபுரத்தில் வரதராஜ பெருமாளாக மூலஸ்தானத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தார். 250 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் ஏற்பட்ட கலக காலத்தில் அத்திவரதரை அங்கிருக்கும் திருக்குளத்தில் ஒளித்து வைத்தனர். இது நமக்குகாஞ்சிபுரம் கோவிலில் உள்ள துஜகம்ப கல்வெட்டில் கிடைக்கிறது.

தற்போது அத்திவரதரை லட்சக்கணக்கான பக்தர்கள் வழிபட்டுச் செல்கின்றனர். 40 ஆண்டுகளாக தண்ணீருக்குள் இருந்த மூர்த்தி தாது - மரம் - எந்தவித பழுதும் இல்லாமல் இருப்பதை தினசரி பல லட்சம் பக்தர்கள் தரிசித்து மகிழ்கின்றனர்.

பழைய வழக்கப்படி மூர்த்தியை தண்ணீருக்குள் தான் வைப்போம் என்றால் தெய்வமாக பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்த இவ்வளவு மக்களின் மனசுக்கும் கஷ்டமாக இருக்கும். மறுபடியும் வைக்க வேண்டிய அவசியம் இல்லை. யாருடைய கலகத்திற்கு பயந்து ஒளித்து வைத்தனரோ இப்போது அந்த கலகம் இல்லை. எனவே கோவிலில் அனைவரும் சேவிக்கக்கூடிய ஒரு இடத்தில் வைத்து விடலாம். இது என் தனிப்பட்ட கருத்து அல்ல. பக்தர்களின் எண்ணமும் இதுதான். இதை தேவஸ்தானம் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும் என்ற நம்பிக்கை இருக்கிறது. இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

பக்தர்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பு கோரி வழக்கு

அத்திவரதரை தரிசிக்க வரும் பக்தர்களுக்கு உரிய பாதுகாப்பு வழங்க கோரி சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு தாக்கல்   செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளது.சேலம் மாவட்டம் கண்ணன்குறிச்சியை சேர்ந்த ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:காஞ்சிபுரம் வரதராஜ பெருமாள் கோவிலில் உள்ள அத்தி வரதரை தரிசிக்க நாள்தோறும் லட்சக்கணக்கான பக்தர்கள் செல்கின்றனர்.

பக்தர்கள் கூட்டத்தை சமாளிக்க தேவையான நடவடிக்கைகளை மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் முறையாக செய்யவில்லை.இதனால் பக்தர்கள் நீண்ட நேரம் வரிசையில் காத்திருந்து வழிபட வேண்டி உள்ளது. கூட்ட நெரிசலில் சிக்கி இதுவரை நான்கு பேர் இறந்துள்ளனர். மேலும் பக்தர்களுக்கு தேவையான குடிநீர் கழிப்பறை உள்ளிட்ட அடிப்படை வசதிகளும் முறையாக செய்யப்படவில்லை.

எனவே அத்திவரதரை தரிசிக்க வரும் பக்தர்களுக்கு தேவையான அடிப்படை வசதிகள் மற்றும் பாதுகாப்பு ஏற்பாடுகளை செய்து தர மாவட்ட கலெக்டருக்கு உத்தரவிட வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.இந்த மனு விரைவில் விசாரணைக்கு வர உள்ளது.

அதிகரிக்கும் இன்டர்நெட் பயன்பாடு; வேகமெடுக்கும், 'டிஜிட்டல்' ஊடகம்

Updated : ஜூலை 24, 2019 06:41 | Added : ஜூலை 24, 2019 06:40 |

மும்பை: 'டிஜிட்டல்' ஊடகத் துறை, 2021ல், 35 ஆயிரம் கோடி ரூபாய் சந்தையாக உருவெடுக்கும் என, பிக்கி - -இ.ஒய்., நிறுவன ஆய்வறிக்கை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

இது குறித்து, இந்த ஆய்வறிக்கையில் மேலும் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது: நாட்டில், 'இன்டர்நெட்' எனும், இணையத்தை பயன்படுத்துபவர்கள் எண்ணிக்கை, வேகமாக அதிகரித்து வருவதால், டிஜிட்டல் ஊடகத் துறை, விரைவான வளர்ச்சியை கண்டு வருகிறது. இதையடுத்து, இத்துறையானது, நடப்பு ஆண்டிலேயே, சினிமா துறையை பின்னுக்குத் தள்ளிவிடும்.

டிஜிட்டல் ஊடகத் துறையானது, 2021ல், 35 ஆயிரத்து, 190 கோடி ரூபாய் மதிப்புள்ள துறை என்ற நிலையை எட்டிவிடும். சினிமா துறையின் மதிப்பு, கடந்த ஆண்டில், 17 ஆயிரத்து, 250 கோடி ரூபாயாக இருந்தது. 2019ல் இத்துறையானது, 19 ஆயிரத்து, 320 கோடி ரூபாய் சந்தையாக இருக்கும் என, கணிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அச்சு ஊடகத்தைப் பொறுத்தவரை, அதன் மதிப்பு, கடந்த ஆண்டில், 30 ஆயிரத்து, 360 கோடி ரூபாயாக மதிப்பிடப்பட்டது. 2021ல், இத்துறை மதிப்பு, 33 ஆயிரத்து, 120 கோடி ரூபாயாக இருக்கும் என, கணிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கடந்த ஆண்டில், டிஜிட்டல் ஊடகத்தின் மதிப்பு, 42 சதவீத வளர்ச்சியை அடைந்து, 16 ஆயிரத்து, 560 கோடி ரூபாயாக இருந்தது. இந்த வளர்ச்சி வேகத்துக்கு முக்கியமான காரணம், நாட்டில், மொபைல் போன் வைத்திருப்பவர்கள், அதை பயன்படுத்தும் மொத்த நேரத்தில், 30 சதவீதத்தை, பொழுதுபோக்குகளில் செலவழிக்கின்றனர் என்பது தான். இதன் அடிப்படையில், டிஜிட்டல் ஊடகம், 2019ல், 22 ஆயிரத்து, 80 கோடி ரூபாய் மதிப்பு உள்ளதாக வளர்ச்சியுறும் என, கணிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கடந்த ஆண்டில், 32.50 கோடி பேர், 'வீடியோ' பார்வையாளர்களாகவும், 15 கோடி பேர், 'ஆடியோ' சேவையை பயன்படுத்துபவர்களாகவும் இருந்துள்ளனர். வரும், 2021ல், பணம் செலுத்தி, வீடியோ சேவையை பெறுபவர்கள் எண்ணிக்கை, மூன்று கோடியிலிருந்து, 3.5 கோடியாக இருக்கும். ஆடியோவை பொறுத்தவரை, 60 லட்சத்திலிருந்து 70 லட்சம் பேர், பணம் செலுத்தி சேவை பெறுபவர்களாக இருப்பர். இவ்வாறு, அந்த ஆய்வில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

CAG report unearths misappropriation, theft of Rs 14.94 crore in govt depts

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J.V. SIVA PRASANNA KUMAR

Published Jul 23, 2019, 6:14 am IST

The government is advised to check the parking of funds in other departments also, and take appropriate corrective measures.

Tamil Nadu government

Chennai: As many as 26 government departments have caused a total loss of Rs. 14.94 crore to the State government due to theft, misappropriation and shortage. As on March end, 2018, 363 cases of misappropriation, shortage, theft and loss involving the sum are pending disposal.

As per Article 294 of the Tamil Nadu Financial Code stipulates that heads of office should report all cases of defalcations or loss of public moneys, stores or other movable or immovable properties to the AG (A&E).

But the reasons for pendency of cases were given by the heads of departments as awaiting departmental and criminal investigation, department action initiated but not finalised, criminal proceedings finalised but recovery of amount still pending and awaiting orders for recovery or write off besides pending in courts of law.

But, the Financial Code prescribes the principles and procedures to be followed for enforcing responsibility for losses and disposal of such cases. While some of the theft cases have been pending for about five years, the misappropriation cases are pending for about 11 to 15 years.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India which unearthed ‘serious lapses’ told the government in its State Finance Audit Report ending March 2018, not to park money outside government account but draw as and when required. “The government is advised to check the parking of funds in other departments also, and take appropriate corrective measures,” the report said.

During the period from 2015-16 to 2017-18 government funds were kept in banks and it was noticed that out of 422 bank accounts, 153 had a balance of Rs 201.31 crore and were not operated for more than a year. The bank accounts were inoperative except for interest credit and bank charges. Non-operation of these accounts for more than a year indicted that these funds were not required immediately and hence keeping these amounts in bank accounts was not in order.

The report also found that seven Pay and Accounts Offices (PAO) had 55,296 cheques for `69.30 crore remaining unencashed (June 2018) for periods upto 30 years. The government has taken no steps to resolve the long pending issues.

Thalapathy to thalaivar, Stalin has graduated

It’s a promotion of sorts. It has been some time since MK Stalin took over the reins of DMK, but the party cadres are just receiving instructions to address him appropriately.

Published: 24th July 2019 04:33 AM |

MK Stalin | Express

By S Kumaresan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: It’s a promotion of sorts. It has been some time since MK Stalin took over the reins of DMK, but the party cadres are just receiving instructions to address him appropriately. Functionaries say internal instructions are being given to address the party president as Thalaivar (leader), and not by his popular title Thalapathy (commander).



In a State where even newcomers in the film industry are keen on having fancy titles for themselves, the change, party insiders say, is only logical. It has been learnt that two MLAs close to Stalin are personally instructing leaders and functionaries to ensure this change in address.

Power shut down for maintenance on Wednesday

Power supply will be suspended from 9 am to 4 pm on Wednesday in the following areas.

Published: 23rd July 2019 06:03 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Power supply will be suspended from 9 am to 4 pm on Wednesday in the following areas:

K.K.NAGAR AREA : KK Nagar, Ashok Nagar, MGR Nagar, Ekkattuthangal, Kalaimagal Nagar, Balaji Nagar, Visalakshi Nagar, a part of West Mambalam, Brindavan Extension, Nakkeran St, a part of Guindy, Jhafferkhanpet, West KK Nagar, a part of Nesapakkam and a part of Vadapalani.


MATHUR: Mathur and MMDA, Periya Mathur and Chinna Mathur, Aavin Quarters, CPCL Nagar, Vadaperumbakkam, Chettimedu, Kanniamman Nagar, Parvathipuram, M.R.H Road, Ranga Garden, Manjambakkam, V.S Mani Nagar, Manali, Kamarajar Salai, Ayapakkam Kovil, Nedunchelian Salai, Azeez Nagar, Amma Unavagam in Manjampakkam.

AYAPAKKAM : ICF Colony main road, Ayapakkam TNHB I, II , III, Ambattur road, Kuppam, Kalaivanar Nagar, Melayanambakkam, a part of Vanagaram, Ayapakkam - Thiruverkadu main road, Bhavani Nagar, Gayathri Nagar, Chelliamman Nagar, Green Garden, Ayappakkam Village, MGR Puram, TG Anna Nagar, TNHB 608 and 808 flats, Vijaya Nagar, Ayyappa Nagar, Koladi main road, PKM St, Sivapatham St.

KODUNGAIYUR : Andal Nagar I , II St, Annai Therasa St, Munuswamy St, Govinda Swamy St, Manali road, Lakshmi Amman Nagar 1 to 3 rd St, Thendral Nagar 1 to 8 th St, , Annai Avenue 1 to 3rd St, Kadambadi Amman 4th St, Raghavendra Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Ganesh Nagar extn and the entire Suganthammal Nagar.

SIRUSERI : L&T Phase -II and SIPCOT(State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu).

TIDEL PARK AREA : Kottivakkam MGR Nagar, VSI Estate Phase-II and Judges Colony.

SHOLIGANALLUR: MGR St, Ezhil Nagar, Part of Village High Road, School Road and TNHB(Tamil Nadu Housing Board). THORAIPAKKAM : Subramani Street.

I-T dept sets target of Rs 92,500 crore collection for Tamil Nadu, Pondy
He said Tamil Nadu is ranked fourth when it comes to tax collection.

Published: 24th July 2019 04:36 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: File your tax returns before the stipulated time or you will end up paying a fine ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 on the basis of your annual income, according to Income-Tax commissioner N Rengaraj. He said this year Tamil Nadu and Puducherry region of I-T department has a target of Rs 92,500 crore tax collection. So far, it had collected Rs 16,560 crore, which is 18 per cent of the target.



He said Tamil Nadu is ranked fourth when it comes to tax collection. Last year, the target was Rs 85,000 crore and the department managed to collect taxes to the tune of Rs 75,100 crore. He said 46.35 lakh persons in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had filed their returns. This financial year 4.27 lakh people have filed returns, he said. In India, till June, a total of 71,54,471 persons have filed their returns.

He said those who have less than Rs 5 lakh income and who could not file returns by July 31, will be penalised Rs 1,000 if they file returns later. For those whose salary is above Rs 5 lakh per annum and who fail to file their returns, they will be penalised Rs 5,000 if they file their returns between August and December.

Last date to file returns extended to August 31

The last date for filing income tax returns for the assessment year 2019-20 has been extended to August 31 for a certain category of taxpayers. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the due date, added a statement

UGC list of fake universities: 14 out of 23 around since 2005

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI, JULY 24, 2019 00:00 IST

Yet to close doors despite Anti-Malpractice Cell’s efforts

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a list of 23 fake universities which are “self-styled, unrecognised institutions functioning in contravention of the UGC Act”, warning students not to be taken in by their claims. Most of these institutions have been on the UGC’s watchlist for well over a decade, despite the regulator’s annual claim that its Anti-Malpractice Cell (AMPC) has been taking appropriate legal action against them.

Out of the 23 institutions in Tuesday’s public notice, as many as 14 of them also appear on the 2005-06 list of fake universities published by UGC. These long-term offenders include four institutions in Delhi: Commercial University, United Nations University, Vocational University and ADR-Centric Juridical University. Seven institutions in Uttar Pradesh have also been on the list since 2005: Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Mahila Gram Vidyapith/Vishwavidyalaya, Gandhi Hindi Vidyapeeth, National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Open University, Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya and the Maharana Partap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya.

Others, which seem to have existed for the last 14 years despite UGC’s watchlist, include the Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society (Karnataka), St. John's University (Kerala) and Raja Arabic University (Maharashtra).

The Anti-Malpractice Cell of the UGC was set up in 1995 to deal with complaints regarding fake universities. Through the years, the UGC’s annual reports have documented FIRs and show cause notices filed against some of these institutions. Despite the Cell’s efforts, many of the institutions have yet to shut their doors.

Plea to extend scholarship to management quota students

STAFF REPORTER

MADURAI, JULY 24, 2019 00:00 IST

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered notice to the Centre and the State on a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to extend the post matric scholarship to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students admitted under the management quota.

A Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and B. Pugalendhi ordered notice and adjourned the hearing till August 20.

The petition was filed by K. Palanivelu of Madurai, who challenged the new Post Matric Scheme, 2018, that restricted the scholarship to students admitted under the government quota alone.

The petitioner said the scheme was introduced to provide financial assistance to SC and ST students studying post-matriculation to enable them to complete their education.

The petitioner pointed out that under the new scheme introduced in 2018 the scholarship was denied to students admitted under the management quota.

Discriminatory

The scheme was discriminatory in nature and violated Article 46 (Promotion of education and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections) and Article 14 (Equality before law) of the Constitution.

The petitioner sought a direction to extend the scheme to students admitted under the management quota too.

Do you have proof of T.N. having received NEET Bills: HC to Centre

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI, JULY 24, 2019 00:00 IST

Court grants time till August 1 for Union Home Secretary to file an affidavit

The Madras High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre whether it was in possession of any acknowledgement to prove that the State government had received way back in September 2017 the authenticated copies of its two anti-NEET Bills that were reportedly returned by the Union Home Ministry after the President withheld his assent to them.

The query was raised when a batch of public interest litigation petitions came up for hearing before a Division Bench of Justices S. Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad. The judges asked senior Central government panel counsel A. Kumaraguru if there were any documents to substantiate the claim of the Bills having been returned to the State.

When the counsel expressed his difficulty in answering the question without any specific instructions from the Home Ministry, the judges sought to know the answer from the State government. However, they could not elicit any answer from the State too, since Government Pleader (in-charge) Jayaprakash Narayan was not present in the court hall.

Later, the judges adjourned the cases to August 1 for the filing of an affidavit by the Union Home Secretary, as directed by them on July 5, setting out details regarding the dates on which the Bills were withheld and returned to the State government. They refused to go by an affidavit filed by Raju S. Vaidya, an officer in the rank of Deputy Secretary in the Ministry.

Though Mr. Kumaraguru said the Home Secretary could not file the affidavit as he was busy with the ongoing Parliament session in New Delhi, the judges refused to accept that, and insisted that the affidavit should be filed only by the official to whom the direction had been issued, and not by his subordinates.

Bringing uniformity

The Centre had, in 2017, done away with different procedures followed in different States for admitting students in medical colleges, and introduced a common entrance exam called the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) by amending the Medical Council of India Act of 1956, which was a Central legislation.

However, in order to circumvent the Central law and to obtain an exemption from NEET for students from Tamil Nadu, the State legislature passed the Tamil Nadu Admission to MBBS and BDS Courses Bill and the Tamil Nadu Admission to Postgraduate Courses in Medicine and Dentistry Bill in February 2017.

Since the State Bills were repugnant to the Central law, they required Presidential assent under Article 201 of the Constitution and, accordingly, got forwarded to the Centre for obtaining such assent. It was at this juncture that the four PIL petitions were filed in the High Court in 2017, seeking a direction to the government to obtain the Presidential assent at the earliest.

After gathering dust for the last two years, the cases were taken up for hearing earlier this month, and the court was told that the President had withheld his assent to the Bills on September 18, 2017, and that they were returned to the State government on September 22, 2017. The disclosure led to a furore in political circles.

Since the State Bills were repugnant to the Central law, they required Presidential assent under Article 201 of the Constitution

No change in communal rank for med aspirant: HC

tnn | Jul 23, 2019, 04.23 AM IST

The Madurai bench of the Madras high court set aside the order of a single judge in an appeal moved by the National Testing Agency (NTA) of central government against revising the communal rank of a medical aspirant.

In the petition, the agency submitted that any change in the ranking list would cause repercussions throughout the country and that other students who were careful in mentioning their category would be affected.

When the petition was heard on Monday, the agency submitted that though several opportunities were given to the petitioner, it was not utilized by them.

Recording the submission, a division bench of Justice K Ravichandrabaabu and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy set aside the order of the single judge to revise the communal rank of a medical aspirant.

It can be recalled that M Vikram Balaji, a minor represented by his father V Maran, a resident of Periyakulam in Theni district stated that the school in which his son was studying had engaged some private consultants and they inadvertently entered his son’s communal category as OBC instead of SC at the time of application for NEET exam.

He said that if his son’s communal category is corrected as SC there is an imminent chance for him to get medical admission. If not, he may miss his chance of getting admission for MBBS course. Hearing the plea, a single judge directed the authorities concerned to correct the communal category and to modify his communal category rank within two weeks.

Plan for 1,200sqft buildings in 30 days: Tamil Nadu deputy CM

TNN | Jul 21, 2019, 12.40 PM IST

CHENNAI: Constructions less than 1,200sqft in area awaiting planning permission for more than 30 days will be deemed approved, deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam said on Saturday. This would largely benefit small projects such as independent houses, whose constructions are stalled due to inordinate delay in obtaining the plan sanction.

In the assembly, Panneerselvam, who holds housing and urban development department portfolio, said the move will be applicable for all constructions across Tamil Nadu, including areas under the jurisdiction of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).

While the CMDA has delegated powers to local bodies including Greater Chennai Corporation to provide planning permissions for basic constructions such as ground+one or stilt+two buildings, the respective local bodies issue the permits in rest of Tamil Nadu.

Builders’ Association of India’s Southern Centre chairman, S Ramaprabhu, said the move would speed up the clearance of applications for planning permissions. “If applicants provide all documents required for issuing planning permission but there is a delay, it would be considered as deemed sanction. Independent houses will be the largest beneficiaries,” he said.

The development comes in the backdrop of the government launching a regularisation scheme for unapproved plots in 2017.

As per government data, 3,434 applications were received in Chennai Metropolitan Area, while nearly six lakh applications were filed across rest of the state for regularisation under the amnesty scheme. “Under such circumstances, the new announcement would ease construction in the regularised unapproved plots,” Ramaprabhu added.

The state government has also eased the norms for obtaining planning permission for industrial buildings for a specified area.

Panneerselvam said industries constructing buildings within an area of 25,000sqft and not exceeding the height of 18.30m in approved industrial layouts can self certify the planning permissions.

Applicants need not visit any office after filing their documents for the purpose, he said, adding that orders for the purpose would be issued soon.

DVAC raids 20 houses, offices of cops, Tasmac staff

TNN | Jul 21, 2019, 01.42 PM IST

CHENNAI: Two days after Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Kancheepuram, booked 10 police, Tasmac and PEW officials including former DSP of Mamallapuram R Subburaju, the agency’s sleuths on Saturday raided 20 houses and offices linked to the accused in different districts.

The others booked are T Kannan, former Tiruporur inspector, A Ahamed Ullah, former assistant commissioner (excise), Kancheepuram, M Balakrishnan, former assistant commissioner (excise), Kancheepuram, V A Ravichandran, DSP (PEW), Kancheepuram, M Pandi, former Kelambakkam inspector, and M Chiranjeevi, former Mamallapuram inspector.

Several officers on the list had been transferred after Tasmac agent Nellaiyappan of Tiruporur committed suicide in front of the Mamallapuram police station on May 28 after accusing them of demanding huge bribe to run bars illegally.

The house of DSP Subburaju in Palavakkam, former ADSP (Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Kancheepuram) A Manikkavelu’s official quarters in Mylapore, Madurantakam PEW inspector A Arockiaraj’s house in Chidambaram, apart from the office of former district manager (Tasmac) Iyyavu in Kancheepuram were among those raided on Saturday, said DVAC sources.

Gold, cash, fixed deposit receipts and several other crucial documents are said to have been seized. The DVAC first information report (FIR) said only five of the 106 Tasmac bars functioning in Kancheepuram district that includes several Chennai suburbs are legal.

The FIR said Chiranjeevi collected bribe from illegal bar owners between May 2018 and February 2019 and gave it to senior jurisdictional police officers. Manikkavelu recommended that inspector Chiranjeevi be given additional charge of PEW units in Kancheepuram to collect bribes for himself and others, said the FIR.

Inspector Arockiaraj, who held additional charge of PEW Mamallapuram, allegedly allowed illegal bars to sell liquor from other states, it added.

100-plus e-seva centres in city shut afteroperators lose access to Aadhaar website

TNN | Jul 23, 2019, 04.33 AM IST

CHENNAI: For 58-year-old Kamakshi Baby of Sholinganallur, getting her phone number changed in her Aadhaar enrolment has been a two-month struggle. Reason? The e-seva centre in her area which receives about 75 such petitions every day has not been functioning. It is not just this area, more than 100 centres out of the total 158 in Chennai have been shut down in the past two months.
Residents have been asked to travel to other zonal offices, some 20km away, to change addresses and make corrections in their Aadhaar cards.

“I was asked to change the contact details in my Aadhaar card that is linked to my provident fund. But the centre that usually functions has been shut and I have no idea where to go. They say a few centres in Adyar, Kodambakkam are functioning but they are really far,” said Kamakshi.

Across the city, e-seva centres are run by the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable Television (TAC TV). Corporation zonal offices and taluk offices have e-seva centres. Apart from these, private companies have been given permission to make changes in Aadhaar.

As per the UIDAI website, certified operator/supervisor certificate is mandatory to perform Aadhaar enrolment and get a job at these centres. “These employees are given a salary of Rs 6,750 a month and have to work from 10 am to 5pm,” said V Gopalakrishnan, a resident of KK Nagar who has passed the exam. However, when they commit mistakes, the central government website takes note of it. When mistakes are committed on a regular basis, their access to the website is blocked.

P Shankar, managing director, TAC TV, said, “Last month, about 123 operators lost the access due to mistakes and last week another 20-odd lost the access. We appoint two operators at each e-seva centre. Now, we are facing a huge shortage in manpower as we need to get their access cleared from the central government which is a lengthy process,” he said. Shankar said there are plans to create a talent pool to ensure such a problem doesn’t arise again. “This will be resolved soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, corporation zonal offices are accepting these petitions.

Just one round to go, 90% seats in 52% TN engg colleges vacant

Ragu Raman | Jul 24, 2019, 04.07 AM IST

Chennai: Of the 470 colleges in the state that took part in engineering counselling, 250 or 52% of the colleges could not even fill 10% of seats at the end of the third round.

Of the 250, 35 colleges failed to fill even one seat, while 117 colleges managed to fill less than 10 seats in the online counselling. Including the final allotment given to 24,131 students on Tuesday by the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) committee, only 45,663 or 27% seats have been filled against the 1,67,101 seats available for counselling. With just a round to go, 1,27,438 seats are still vacant.

“Three colleges have filled 100% seats and 36 colleges filled more than 80% seats,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi. College of Engineering, Guindy, Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi, and Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Salem, are the three government institutions that have filled 100% seats. Of the 36 colleges that filled more than 80% seats, 18 are government colleges.

“While students preferred computer science, IT and electronics and communication engineering, courses such as civil engineering, mechanical, electronics instrumentation have found few takers,” he said. ”Even courses such as automobile engineering and biomedical engineering have lost steam,” career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

Though 37,598 students were called for the final and fourth round, the cut-off marks for the round is 114.75 to 77.5 marks.

“Students who have scored less than 60% of marks would have already joined other courses or management seats in engineering colleges. So, there are chances that more than 50% of the students might skip the fourth round,” principal of a city college said.

Experts said the admission figures for 250 colleges will not improve drastically in the last round. “There might be a marginal increase in the admission in fourth round. But it would be extremely difficult to run colleges with such poor admissions,” another principal told TOI. He further said the students who joined will lose interest after seeing the poor strength. “Many faculty members in these colleges might lose their jobs,” he said.

Of the 69 colleges that have filled more than 50% of seats, most of them belong to Chennai and Coimbatore regions.

Anna University’s former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy said without 40% admission, engineering colleges would not even be in a position to pay electricity charge or afford labourers to maintain their campuses.

“For the last three to four years, admissions were poor. But engineering colleges hoping for a reversal of trend kept running the colleges. Now it is clear engineering colleges cannot improve admissions. It’s time Anna University and state government held a meeting with managements of engineering colleges to decide on the way forward,” he said.

“When around one lakh students are joining the engineering courses (through counselling and management quota), we have more than two lakh seats. These seats have to be reduced,” he added.

You’ll have to pay up if mechanic crashes your car

TNN | Jul 24, 2019, 04.17 AM IST

Chennai: If your car is involved in an accident while at the service centre, your insurer will still have to pay compensation and not the service centre, according to a motor accidents claims tribunal in the city. 

The tribunal directed the insurer of the vehicle to pay Rs 18.35 lakh to the parents of a 15-year-old boy- P.Sriram, who was fatally knocked down by a car taken on a test drive after service.

Sriram was riding pillion on a motorbike, which was hit by the car near Velachery. The teenager’s parents, M Palanivel and P Malliga, moved a petition seeking compensation of Rs 12 lakh. In response, the owner of the vehicle submitted that it was in the possession of the service centre at the time of the accident and he was in no way connected to it.

The vehicle insurer submitted that the service centre could test drive vehicles using ‘trade plates’ with an insurance policy issued for the purpose. Any liability would thus be that of the insurer of the ‘trade plates’, who issues policy to cover third party liability .

According to counsel for the service centre and its insurer, the vehicle concerned would be driven using ‘trade plates’, which were normally issued for the limited purpose of taking the vehicle from the showroom to the regional transport office (RTO) for vehicle registration.

After perusing the documents submitted and the arguments made, tribunal judge S.Umamaheshwari held that the accident was due to the rash and negligent driving of the technician of the service centre. However, the judge held that the vehicle insurer is liable to pay compensation and cannot expect the service centre to use ‘trade plates’.

“The scope of trade plate policy is a limited one and it cannot be utilized once the vehicles are sold. Though the accident happened when the vehicle was in the custody of the service centre, it is admitted by the owner and vehicle insurer that the vehicle was handed over for service,” the tribunal held and directed that the parents be paid Rs 18.35 lakh as compensation.

No govt award for teachers giving private tuitions

TNN | Jul 24, 2019, 04.45 AM IST

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has barred teachers, who handle private tuitions, from applying for the government’s best teacher award. The award, named after former president S Radhakrishnan, is distributed to around 300-odd teachers from state board schools. The award includes a cash prize and a medal.

Guidelines for nominating candidates were released on Saturday. Accordingly, those who handle tuition classes against the law were barred from applying. Service conduct rules and Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, ban the same. Those working with commercial bias and members of private school boards are also restricted this time.

A district-level committee will shortlist applications. It is the responsibility of the teams to ensure that applicants don't have pending criminal cases against their names and are not affiliated to any political party.

Teachers and headmasters with minimum 15 and 20 years of experience respectively can apply. Awards will be distributed on September 5. TNN

More showers, cloudy skies likely today: Weathermen

TNN | Jul 24, 2019, 06.04 AM IST

CHENNAI: Cloudy skies are likely in the city on Wednesday with chances of more showers. “The sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Light to moderate rain is likely in some areas,” a Met department forecast said.

On Tuesday, the suburbs received more rain than the core areas. Different parts received rain ranging from drizzles to light rain with the sky remaining cloudy throughout the day. Chengalpet, Sriperumbudur, Mamallapuram and Ponneri received 1cm rain till 8.30am.

Nungambakkam recorded 1.6mm of rain and Meenambakkam 5.1mm. The day was cool and pleasant with a maximum temperature at 34.5°C in Nungambakkam and 34°C in Meenambakkam.

The rain was triggered by a cyclonic circulation lying between south Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coast, a Met official said. “It is expected to continue for one more day,” he added.

With the monsoon weakening in Kerala, the convergence was expected in leeward region and Tamil Nadu will see convective rain, private weather blogger Pradeep John said, adding that such rain had been missing for the last three days because of upper air circulation.

The city received mild rain in the day on Monday after clouds moved in from the sea. This type of cloud movement, private weather bloggers said, is a rare occurrence in July. Usually, the city receives rain because of convective clouds triggered by the high temperature during the day.

The city has received 132.2mm rain since June 1 against the expected normal of 140.7mm, a deficit of 6%. It is expected to receive a few more spells of rain in August due to the break monsoon in the northern parts of the country.

City man dies after taking injection for pain at pharmacy, owner held

A Selvaraj | Jul 24, 2019, 04.04 AM IST

Chennai: A tailor with shoulder pain died on Monday after being administered an injection by a medical store owner at Ambattur, police said. Baskaran, the owner and quack, was arrested and sent to jail on Tuesday.

The victim, 42-year-old Kumar of Madhang Kuppam near Ambattur, had been struggling with an aching shoulder for the past two weeks and got treated at a private hospital. Around 8.30pm on Monday, when the pain persisted, he went to Baskaran’s Sri Sakthi Medicals on Surapattu-Ambattur Road.

Kumar showed the hospital’s medical prescription to Baskaran, 52, who gave a medicine. Kumar remained at the store that doubles up as a small nursing home with a bed for administering intravenous fluids such as saline. After an hour, Baskaran administered Kumar an injection to reduce pain. But he swooned. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead. The body was sent to the Government Stanley Medical Hospital for postmortem.

The Ambattur police registered a case on a complaint from Kumar’s wife, Meena, and slapped a case under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC and arrested Baskaran. Ambattur police inspector Porkodi said, “The medical shop owner administered a pain-killer injection to Kumar.”

On Tuesday morning, about half-a-dozen people from Madhang Kuppam and nearby areas queued up in front of Sri Sakthi Medicals, unaware that Baskaran had been arrested for the death of a man the previous night. Many said Baskaran, who has a B.Pharm degree, ran a medical store near MGR Statue for about 15 years before shifting to the current location at the end of 2018. A man who runs a fabricating in the area, said, “Four months ago, when a juvenile was hit by a car Baskaran gave him first aid and saved his life. One of my staff who slit his hand while cutting a glass sheet was given first aid by Baskaran and later taken to hospital.”

Most of the residents swore by Baskaran. Mukundan, who runs a briyani shop, said: “I suffered from severe cold for the past two days and he gave me medicine and administered an injection on Monday evening. I am perfectly alright now.”

Others said Baskaran never administer an injection to newcomers and onkly gave them to regular ‘patients’. Even the deceased Kumar, the said, was a regular at Baskaran’s store and often collected medicines.

Athi Varadar to be placed in standing position from Aug 1
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:24.07.2019

The deity of Athi Varadar would be placed in a standing position from August 1, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced on Tuesday.

“We have to follow the agama (in performing the rituals for Athi Varadar). I also went around the temple and reviewed the arrangements,” said the chief minister after holding a review meeting with the officials of Hindu religious and charitable endownments (HR&CE) department, police officers and officials of the district administration. Earlier, Palaniswami offered prayers at the Devarajaswamy temple and worshipped Athi Varadar.

After a gap of 40 years, Athi Varadar was taken out from the temple tank on July 1 and placed in a reclining position for the devotees to offer worship.

The CM was visiting the temple for the first time, after last Thursday’s stampede that claimed the lives of five devotees. “We will make even better arrangements when Athi Varadar arises next time, if we are alive with his blessings,” the CM said.

So far, a total of 30.50 lakh devotees have visited the temple and offered prayers. Special arrangements have been made for the differently abled and elderly persons coming to the temple. Necessary measures have been taken to attend to the medical needs of the devotees, he said.

However, some persons with disabilities complained that lack of facilities was causing hassles during worship. S Sridaran, a differently abled devotee from Chennai, said there were hardly any wheelchairs for senior citizens.

"We could find about 200 wheelchairs at the exit of the temple and almost nothing at the entrance. Poor arrangements and absence of information to access car parking forced my daughter to walk for five kilometres with me in the wheelchair on Monday," he said.

TIME FOR DEVOTION: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami offers worship to Athi Varadar at Kancheepuram on Tuesday

Writ Petition Not Maintainable Against Termination Of Teacher By Private School Management: SC Upholds Patna HC Judgment [Read Order]

Writ Petition Not Maintainable Against Termination Of Teacher By Private School Management: SC Upholds Patna HC Judgment [Read Order]: The Supreme Court has upheld a Patna High Court judgment that held that the Management Committee of Private School is not 'State' within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution of India and a...

Chennai, Tamil Nadu News July 19 Highlights: CM requests Madras HC judgements in Tamil; NIA to interrogate 16 arrested terrorists

Catch the latest news in Tamil Nadu and Chennai as we bring you live updates on water scarcity, traffic, Tamil Nadu politics, Tamil movie releases, weather forecasts, rains, local and civic issues and events near you in Chennai.

By Express Web Desk |Chennai |Updated: July 19, 2019 7:44:29 pm

Chennai, Tamil Nadu News July 19 Highlights: The Poonamallee Special Court today granted the NIA permission to interrogate the 16 terrorists who had been arrested in Chennai on July 15. (Representational Image)

Chennai, Tamil Nadu News July 19 Highlights: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy (EPS) announced the creation of two new districts in Tamil Nadu by bifurcating Tirunelveli and Kanchipuram on Thursday. The government will be carving Tenkasi out of Tirunelveli and Chengalpattu from Kanchipuram, he said.

Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party Thursday decided not to field a candidate for the Vellore parliamentary election scheduled for August 5. In a press release, the MNM party said the parliamentary election in Vellore was postponed on the complaint of cash distribution and several cases were filed related to that.

With both MNM and AMMK out of the race, the election will be a direct contest between DMK’s Kathir Anand and AIADMK-NDA alliance candidate A C Shanmugam.

LIVE BLOG

Get Chennai, Tamil Nadu news today with live updates on weather, traffic, train services, airlines, politics, movies, civic issues and much more through the day. Also read our Bangalore News Live Updates | For updates in Tamil, follow our IETamil Live Blog |

19:38 (IST)19 Jul 2019

CM writes to Ravi Shankar Prasad to make HC judgements available in Tamil

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami wrote to Union Minister of Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad on July 18 and thanked him for making the judgements of the Supreme Court available in regional languages, including Tamil. In the letter which was tweeted on the CM's official handle today, the Chief Minister urged Prasad to make the judgements of the Madras High Court available in Tamil as well.

Text of the D.O. letter dated 18.7.2019 of Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu addressed to @rsprasad Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice, Communications, Electronics and Information and Technology.

Text of the D.O. letter dated 18.7.2019 of Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu addressed to @rsprasad Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice, Communications, Electronics and Information and Technology.


19:25 (IST)19 Jul 2019

NIA granted permission to interrogate 16 terrorists arrested in Chennai

The Poonamallee Special Court at Poonamallee in Chennai granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) permission today to interrogate the 16 people who had been arrested on July 15 in Chennai for providing funds to the terrosist organisation, Ansarullah.

The court directed the NIA to present the 16 people at the special court on July 26 at 5 pm.

19:08 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Athi Varadar gets Express Seva scheme

Trustees of the temple where the Athi Varadar festival is being held in Kancheepuram distict of Tamil Nadu announced today that they have intorduced an 'Express Seva' scheme for devotees. Through this scheme, devotees can offer prayers to lord Athi Varadar without having to wait in long queues.

According to the trustees, devotees can offer prayers from 6 pm to 10 pm everyday under the Express Seva scheme. It had been reported that 2.75 lakh devotees had thronged the temple on Thursday alone.

18:44 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Water from Jolarpettai to increase on Saturday

Officials from Metrowater announced on Thursday that the city will begin receiving 5.50 million litres a day (MLD) of water under the Chennai-Jolarpettai scheme from July 20. The water ferried by the wagons has been doubled after Metrowater procured the second set of rakes from Southern Railway this week.

The rakes provided by the Southern Railway were earlier being used to transport edible oil. The railway had cleaned and readied the rakes before handing them over to Metrowater to transport drinking water from Jolarpettai.The first train from Jolarpettai arrived in Chennai on July 12. Express Photo: Srinivas K

18:04 (IST)19 Jul 2019

TN CM unveiles the portrait of Ramasami Padayatchi in the TN assembly

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy today unveiled the portrait of S S Ramasamy Padayatchi, a former Tamil Nadu MP in the assembly today. The Vanniyar leader is the founder of Tamil Nadu Toilers' Party (TTP), which is considered to be a predecessor of Pattali Makkal Katchi.

தமிழக சட்டப்பேரவையில் முன்னாள் அமைச்சர் ராமசாமி படையாட்சியார் உருவப்படத்தை திறந்துவைக்கிறார் முதல்வர் பழனிசாமி

* சபாநாயகர் தனபால், துணை முதல்வர் ஓபிஎஸ், எதிர்க்கட்சித் தலைவர் மு.க.ஸ்டாலின், துணைத் தலைவர் துரைமுருகன் உள்ளிட்டோர் விழாவில் பங்கேற்பு #OPS #EPS #MKStalin



17:37 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Chennai Event: Music concert by Hariharan A

Renowned Ghazal and playback singer, Hariharan A will be performing a concert at YMCA Boys Town Higher Secondary School in Chennai on July 21 from 06:30 pm to 9 pm. Tickets for the show can be found online on BookMyShow.

17:13 (IST)19 Jul 2019

NPHH to not get more than 20 kg of rice for unregistered members

The government announced today that Non Priority Households (NPHH) who have failed to mention the names of the family members in their ration cards will be eligible to receive only up to 20 kg rice under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The order, which was passed orally has has been effected across Tamil Nadu.

தமிழகம் முழுவதும் ரேஷன் கடைகளில் இலவச அரிசி வழங்குவதற்கு கட்டுப்பாடு என தகவல்! #RationRice #RationCards



16:44 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Popularize the Amma youth sports scheme in the state, Minister Sengottaiyan appeals to department officials

Minister for school education, youth welfare, and sports development K. A Sengottaiyan has appealed to sports department officials to popularise the Amma youth sports scheme in the state. Chairing a meeting amidst district sports officers in Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Chennai on Thursday, he said the government allotted Rs 64.35 crore for promoting sports among the youths in rural areas. The minister added that sports personnel will be given adequate training to participate in the district and state-level competitions.

16:04 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Chennai-Japan flights from October 27

All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced on Thursday that flights between Chennai and Japan will commence opearation on October 27, 2019. In a press release given by the aviation company, the route will use Boeing 787-8 aircrafts to fly passengers from Chennai International Airport to Tokyo Narita International Airport.

15:32 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Chennai Event: French movie screening at Alliance Française of Madras

Alliance Française of Madras will be screening two French movies on July 21, as a part of its monthly movie screenings at their Centre in College Road, Chennai from 5 pm to 09:30 pm. Fidelio: Alice's Odyssey, directed by Lucie Borleteau will be screened from 5 pm to 7 pm. The second movie, The Connection, which has been directed by Cédric Jimenez will be screened from 7 pm to 09:30 pm.

15:10 (IST)19 Jul 2019

EPS sings response in TN Assembly Session

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami broke into a song at the State Legislative Assembly session today in response to a query in the assembly.

Congress Legislature party leader, K R Ramasamy raised a question regarding the rise in chain snatching cases in Tamil Nadu. In response, EPS sang a line from a popular Sivaji Ganesan film, which says, "Until a thief himself realises his behaviour and starts changing himself, we cannot destroy crime."

14:45 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Girl who was named 'Don't want' becomes ambassador for Save the Girl Child programme

A girl from Tamil Nadu, who was as a child named 'Vendam' in Tamil, which literally translates into 'Don't Want' was appointed as the ambassador of the Save the Girl Child Programme in Tamil Nadu by the Collector of Tiruvallur, a district near Chennai today.

‘வேண்டாம்’ என்ற பெயர் கொண்ட பெண்ணை தூதராக நியமித்தார் திருவள்ளூர் ஆட்சியர்!



14:19 (IST)19 Jul 2019

TN School Education Department releases time table for grades 10, 11, 12 state board exams

The Tamil Nadu School Education Department released the time table for the state board exams for grades 10, 11 and 12 for the academic year 2019-2020. As per the schedule, the board exams for class 10 will be held from March 17, 2020 to April 9, 2020, with the results expected to be announced on May 4, 2020.

The board exams for class 11 will be held from March 4, 2020 to March 26, 2020, with results to be announced on May 14, 2020. The exams for class 12 will be held between March 2, 2020 and March 24, 2020, with the results expected to be released on April 24, 2020.

13:55 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Nominations of Kathir Anand, A C Shanmugam halted

The nomination of Kathir Anand, which had been filed on July 18 was halted today following a petition that was filed against him. The petition questioned the Election Commission for allowing Kathir to contest the poll even as the case which was filed by the IT department after cash was seized from the homes of the aides of his father is still pending in court.

The nomination of A C Shanmugam, the candidate from the AIADMK-NDA alliance was halted today as well.

13:01 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Governor releases special postal covers for Athi Varadar

The Tamil Nadu postal cover brought out 1000 special covers at a cost of Rs. 50 each in the state on Thursday to commemorate the 44-day Athi Varadar festival at Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. Governor Banwarilal Purohit released the covers, which were proposed by the Hindu religious and charitable endowments department at Raj Bhavan on Thursday.

12:10 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Southern Railway introduces EMU special locals from Arakkonam to Tiruttani

The Southern Railway announced on July 18 that EMU special local trains had been introduced from Arakkonam to Tiruttani from July 24 to July 28 to faciliate passengers going to Tiruttani, Tamil Nadu for the upcoming Adi Kritigai festival.

ADI – KRITHIGAI FESTIVAL SPECIALS



11:26 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Police register FIR against Arappor Iyakkam director

The Semmenchery police on Monday filed a case against Arappor Iyakkam coordinator Jayaram Venkatesan for spreading false information against the police authorities. According to the FIR, during the patrol duty, the police officials found Venkatesan and his organization members taking a video unauthorisedly of the police station which was under construction on 11 July. According to the reports, the police said that the environment activist had uploaded the video, portraying the police in a bad light, on social media. it was an attempt to create division among the community at a time when there is no water crisis, the police added.

11:12 (IST)19 Jul 2019

DMK MP's protest in parliament to scrap NEET

DMK and its ally MP's protested in parliament today demanding scrapping NEET. On 15 July, the Centre has turned down requests from Puducherry and Tamil Nadu governments to exempt students from appearing in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate and postgraduate medical admissions, according to the HRD Ministry.



10:35 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Counselling for veterinary courses from July 25

The Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) announced on Thursday that counselling for veterinary courses will begin on July 25 and will continue until July 27. The first session of counselling on July 25 will be held for special categories, namely sportspersons, wards of ex-servicemen and differently abled candidates. The details of the same can be found on the TANUVAS website.

10:06 (IST)19 Jul 2019

4 arrested for killing woman moneylender in city

The city police arrested four people in the city on Thursday for murdering a woman money lender from Royapettah on Monday. Policearrested Devi, Mani, Valli and Suresh for the murder of Alphonse Mary (45). The victim had gone missing from the Foreshore Estate Fish market on Monday , following which her husband lodged a missing persons complaint with Ice House police station.

After conducting enquiries, the police zeroed in on Mary's nieghbours Devi, her husband Mani and Valli. The trio had borrowed money from Mary and despite having repaid the amount, the trio claimed that Mary demanded more money. Following this, the trio invited Mary to Devi's house on Monday, where Mani hit her with an iron road and later used a pillow to smother her to death. Mani then called his friend, Suresh, an auto driver and the duo drove to Madurakantam where the dumped Mary's body in a well on Monday night.

09:31 (IST)19 Jul 2019

4 die at Athi Varadar festival

Four people, including two women died during the Athi Varadar festival at the Deverajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram on Thursday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the four devotees, three of them aged above 50 years had died due to pre-existing conditions. Unable to put up with fatigue and exhaustion due to the huge swell of crowd that had thronged the temple on Thursday, about 31 devotees had fainted and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital.

The CM announced a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh each to the kin of the four deceased and a youngster from Andhra Pradesh who had died on July 3 over alleged police high-handedness. Meanwhile, DMK leader Stalin condemned the deaths and urged the government to implement proper security measures to manage the huge crowds. He also asked the government to provide solatium to the family of the victims.

09:04 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Chennai-Ahmedabad weekly special train to not stop at Daund and Lonavala

The Southern Railway announced on July 18 that thw weekly special from Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M G Ramachandran Central Station to Ahmedabad will not have comemrcial stoppage at Lonavala and Daund in August and September.


08:38 (IST)19 Jul 2019

16 dead in two road accidents in TN

Sixteen people were killed in two different accidents in Tamil Nadu late Wednesday night. In the first accident, 10 people, including eight contract workers from Jharkhand, were killed after their pick-up truck collided with an omnibus at Villupurum district around 02:45 am. In the second accident, six people died after the mini passenger van they were travelling in fell into a culvert that was 20-feet deep at Thoothukudi district at 1 am.

Police suspected that the drivers involved in both accidents had dozed off behind the wheel before the accidents.

08:18 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Chennai weather for the day

Weather forecasters have predicted another day of rain in Chennai, with miminum and maximum temperatures expected to be 27C and 33C respectively today. The sky will remain cloudy throughout the day, with chances of rain predicted in certain areas of the city.

The Tamil Nadu Weatherman took to Twitetr in the morning and tweeted that Chennai is in for a pleasant day today, with light showers and drizzles expected to grace the city.

After 15 hours of slow inch by inch movement, the massive clouds which formed near Nellore have reached Northern suburbs of Chennai but have weakened a lot. Its going to be pleasant day for the City with drizzles / light rains from stratiform.



08:05 (IST)19 Jul 2019

Welcome to today's live blog

Good morning!
Welcome to the live blog from Chennai where we bring to you the latest updates on water crisis, rains, traffic, weather, politics, movies, culture and civic issues in the city. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the city in real time.

The NIA claimed that it had “learnt that the accused persons and their associates had collected funds and made preparations to carry out terrorist attacks in India, with the intention of establishing Islamic rule in India”. (Representational Image)

Residents of Krishna Apartments on Poonamallee High Road in Chennai were left bewildered last Saturday, when they saw their apartment block on TV and a man being led away. With no clue to what was happening in their complex, the residents found out much later that man, Syed Mohammed Bukhari, was being questioned in an alleged terror case.

Meanwhile, the Wahdat-e-Islami Hind, on its part, has maintained it is a religious organisation with no connection to radical thought.

With Chennai grappling with an acute drinking water crisis since April, startups in the state have come up with several innovations to help conserve water.

However, many of them are for use at the consumer end of the spectrum, helping consumers conserve water and reduce their water costs.