Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams: More laddus for devotees 

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published Jan 12, 2018, 1:13 am IST

They could collect tokens for this from the LPT counter adjacent to the Srivari temple.



Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)

Tirupati: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is now offering 10 additional laddus to all devotees from Thursday.

They could collect tokens for this from the LPT counter adjacent to the Srivari temple.

On Wednesday, temple authorities offered six additional laddus and decided to increase it to 10 on Thursday.

The boondi-making machines installed rece-ntly helped in making more laddus. Storage capacity too had been raised helping increase in production by 10,000 to 20,000 laddus.

The officials did not make any official announcement as this was not going to be mandatory and would be issued subject to availability. Additional laddus were being sold at higher prices, based on which TTD earlier gave nod for recommendation letters.

The laddu was being sold at `50 apiece. The hiked price could be one reason for the availability of more laddus.

Gutka scam letter to former Tamil Nadu late CM Jayalalithaa found in VK Sasikala’s room in Veda Nilayam: I-T department

By Express News Service | Published: 13th January 2018 02:28 AM |

CHENNAI: In a shocking revelation, the Income Tax (I-T) Department on Friday told the Madras High Court that its confidential letter to the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa relating to gutka scam was found from the room of V K Sasikala at Veda Nilayam, the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa, during a raid in November last year.

This information was disclosed in a counter-affidavit filed in the HC by Suise Babu Varghese, Principal Director of the I-T Department, in response to a PIL from DMK MLA J Anbazhagan seeking a CBI probe into the multi-crore gutka scam.

The counter-affidavit said the letter was forwarded through the then DGP to the then CM. However, it was seen and seized from Sasikala’s room.

“During a search by the department on November 17 last in the rooms occupied by Sasikala in Veda Nilayam, a note dated September 2, 2016, signed by the then DGP and addressed to the then CM enclosing copies of a secret letter dated August 11, 2016, addressed by then I-T Principal Director to the DGP in connection with gutka scam, was found and seized,” said the counter.

The letter was addressed to the then Chief Secretary and the DGP with copies of relevant accounts of the seized materials and copies of extracts of sworn statements recorded from Madhava Rao, the partner of the gutka company involved in the scam, evidencing payment to various parties connected with the State government and requesting action against the persons concerned, the counter added. The matter was adjourned to January 17.

No property tax exemption for private ​educational institutes

By Express News Service | Published: 12th January 2018 03:04 AM |

CHENNAI: Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani on Thursday introduced a Bill to amend the laws relating to municipal corporations and municipalities in the State, which provides for doing away with the exemption given so far from paying property tax for buildings of private educational institutions.
As per rule 15 (c) of the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayats (Assessments and Collection of Taxes) Rules, 1999, only the buildings used for educational purposes, including hostels and libraries run by the government or local bodies and institutions aided by the government, are exempted from payment of the house tax.

However, under the municipal laws governing the municipal corporations, municipalities and town panchayats, all buildings used for educational purposes are exempted from payment of property tax.
The Third Finance Commission has, among others, recommended that the provisions exempting all educational institutions from payment of property tax shall be removed.

“Based on the above recommendations, the government has decided to do away with the exemption given from payment of property tax for all the buildings used for educational purposes, except those that are run by the government or corporation or any other local authority or institutions aided by the government. It was also decided to have uniformity in the assessment of property tax,” the Bill further said.

Secret letter on gutkha scam found from Sasikala's room: Income Tax department tells Madras HC

By PTI | Published: 12th January 2018 06:54 PM |
 
CHENNAI: The Income Tax department has told the Madras High Court that its confidential letter seeking action against those involved in the gutkha scam in Tamil Nadu was seized from a room occupied by expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala in the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa.

This information was disclosed in an affidavit submitted today by Principal Director of Income Tax, Chennai, Susie Babu Varghese on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by DMK MLA J Anbazhagan for a CBI probe into the alleged scam.

Alleging that a state minister and high-level state and central government officers, including police officials, were involved in the scam to "facilitate" sale of banned 'gutkha' (tobacco product), the PIL contended that the CBI alone can conduct a thorough and impartial probe in the matter.

According to the affidavit, the then principal director of the I-T department had on August 11, 2016 written a letter to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police in connection with the scam.

The letter was addressed to both of them, with copies of the relevant accounts from the seized materials, it said.

Copies of extracts of sworn statements recorded from Madhava Rao, a partner in the gutka company allegedly involved in the scam, evidencing payment to various parties connected with the state government, were also enclosed with the letter.

The letter had requested necessary action against the persons concerned, Varghese said in the affidavit.

It further said that during a search conducted by the (I-T) department on November 17, 2017 in the rooms occupied by Sasikala in Veda Nilayam, a note dated September 2, 2016 and signed by the then DGP addressed to the then chief minister (Jayalalithaa) enclosing copies of the confidential I-T letter was found and seized.

This apart, in the sworn statement, Rao had stated that the payments were made to various officials and explained that the abbreviation of 'HM' and 'CP' in the diary seized from the firm denotes health minister and commissioner of police respectively, the officer said.

"Madhava Rao in his sworn statement has said that he had paid Rs 56 lakhs to the health minister between the period April 1, 2016 to June 15, 2016 for incidental expenses incurred for running the business of manufacture and sale of Gutka which is not legally permitted in Tamil Nadu," the affidavit read.

I-T sleuths had conducted searches in the office block and a room occupied by Sasikala, currently serving a prison term in a corruption case, at the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa 'Veda Nilayam' following inputs.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to a hospital here with complaints of fever and dehydration on September 22, 2016 and died on December 5 that year.

Aadhaar a must to register for Jallikattu event in Madurai

By ANI | Published: 12th January 2018 12:41 AM |



Image used for representational purpose only

MADURAI: The Madurai district administration on Thursday made the Aadhaar registration mandatory for bull tamers who wished participate in the annually organised festival of the Jallikattu celebrations.

According to reports, this new order has not gone down well with locals.

Meanwhile, the district administration claim that the move will help it in managing large crowds at the celebrations in an efficient manner. Similarly, it will also put a check on illegal elements too.

Nearly 1,000 bull tamers and 3,000 bulls are expected to participate in Jallikattu this year.

Jallikattu will be held in various parts of Tamil Nadu from January 14 to 16.

Bill moved on VC panel for medical university

TNN | Updated: Jan 12, 2018, 08:39 IST

CHENNAI: The government on Thursday moved a bill to amend Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University Act, prescribing qualification for the search committee and for the vice-chancellor and the duration for the panel to come up with the list of prospective candidates.

The committee will comprise a nominee of the government, senate and governing council. The process of nominating members should begin six months before the probable date of occurrence of vacancy of vice-chancellor, while preparation of the panel of suitable persons for appointment as vice-chancellor should begin at least four months before the probable date of occurrence of the vacancy in the office.

A person recommended by the committee for appointment as vice-chancellor should be an academician with highest level of competence, integrity, morals and institutional commitment, said the bill moved by health minister C Vijayabaskar. tnn

Pongal: Jet Airways to offer ven pongal, sakharai pongal on flights from Chennai 

V Ayyappan | TNN | Jan 12, 2018, 20:10 IST

  CHENNAI: Travellers flying from Chennai on select Jet Airways flights will be able to enjoy the pongal feast for breakfast and lunch on January 14 as part of the airline's move to celebrate the popular Tamil Nadu harvest festival, Pongal.

The airline will offer a special menu to passengers in premiere and economy classes from Chennai. The menu will include a breakfast item comprising traditional savoury dish ven pongal, an offering made during the Pongal festival. The airline will serve the festival favourite -- sakharai pongal (a sweet dish) -- at the end of lunch and dinner.

The pongal feast will be served on flights which have either breakfast or lunch or dinner.

The pongal feast will be an in-flight initiative, allowing guests to participate in the annual festival while onboard Jet Airways flights, according to the statement from the press release.