Delhi court refuses cognisance of chargesheet against ex-AAP MLA Rituraj Jha
The judge said the investigating officer ought to have gathered enough evidence and legal opinion to see if the ingredients of the offence were actually made out
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 32 Tamil fishermen, five boats seized
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 32 fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Lankan waters.
Did Netflix remove Urvashi Rautelas scenes and song from Balakrishnas Daaku Maharaaj?
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Champions Trophy clash: India faces Pakistan in crucial group stage match
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Vicky Kaushals Chhaava eyes Rs 400 crores at global box office; moves faster than Stree 2
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Trump again attacks USAID, claims $18 million given to India to help with elections
U.S. President Donald Trump criticises Biden administration for allocating $18 million to India for elections, accusing India of taking advantage
Discontented Germany votes in an election with economy, migration and far-right strength in focus
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Condensed matter: a big piece of physics
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New trends in campus placements
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U.S. health regulator pulls up Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals for manufacturing lapses at API plant
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The teams in the accident site at Nagarkurnool district called out the names of the trapped people, but there was no response, sources said
32 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu arrested by Sri Lankan Navy
Since the beginning of this year, over 100 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested and 20 trawlers were seized by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel.
32 T.N. fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy
Since the beginning of this year, over 100 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested and 20 trawlers were seized by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel.
Independent Spirit Awards 2025: Oscar favourite Anora wins best film, director and actor
The Spirit Awards, held in a beachside tent in Santa Monica, California, is the shaggier, more irreverent sister to the Academy Awards, celebrating the best in independent film and television
Ooty in a day: 6 must-visit places for the perfect trip
Ooty, also known as the Queen of Hill Stations, is a paradise nestled in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. Heres a well-planned itinerary covering the top places to visit in Ooty in a day.
Trump says U.S. wants return of Ukraine aid money
This comments came as Washington and Kyiv negotiate a mineral resources deal Mr. Trump wants as compensation for the wartime aid his predecessor Joe Biden gave Ukraine
10 untouched beaches in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, Goa
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Dont mention caste names in temple invitation, orders Madras High Court
Justices M.S. Ramesh and A.D. Maria Clete also denounce the practice of subsuming the Scheduled Castes under the generic term of oorar
Abbasi parted ways with both Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Management 360 on Friday, however, the director has denied that the alleged incident was the reason for his exit from the agencies
Norwegian drama Dreams (Sex Love) takes top prize at the Berlin Film Festival
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Tamil Nadu BJP hits back at DMK amid row over NEP's three language policy
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Mandate counselling at schools: Psychologists
COIMBATORE: Alleging that the increasing number of crimes against girl children in schools is due to a lack of proper preventive measures, psychologists demanded that the school education department mandate counselling in schools and appoint psychologists in every school. N Bhuvana, a psychologist from Coimbatore told TNIE that girls studying in schools and colleges, especially those below 18 years of age are victims of sexual harassment by teachers, and this results in teachers being arrested under the Pocso Act. These incidents not only threaten the future of students but also create fear among parents, potentially discouraging them from sending their children to school. She pointed out that while punishing the accused is necessary, it does not serve as a complete solution to the issue. Hence, the school education department should take steps to prevent such things from happening and to ensure that, students must be equipped with essential life skills and psychological education to protect themselves in times of crisis. She further said, In such a situation, the presence of a school psychologist would provide students with a safe space to express their concerns openly. This initiative would also help foster strong relationships between parents, students, and teachers, ultimately contributing to the well-being of students. N Rahmankhan, another psychologist who worked in the school education department told TNIE that in 2013, the AIADMK government introduced a mobile psychological counselling van to provide counselling on how to manage adolescent problems, womens safety, improve academic performance, relieve bad habits, managing stress and depression, creating awareness on POSCO to high and higher secondary school students, etc. He added, Through this, we identified the issues faced by students including sexual harassment faced by them within and outside schools and we guided them on how to manage these challenges. Regular counselling sessions held at schools also stopped teachers from engaging in inappropriate conduct with students due to fear. Crime against girl children had gradually come down. He further said that the AIADMK government diluted this scheme without allocation of funds, and the scheme was discontinued after DMK came. Due to this, crimes against girl children increased. K Balamuragan, Tamil Nadu Psychology Association president told TNIE that as per court directions, it has mandated the appointment of psychologists in all education institutions, but the government did not implement it. He added, If the school education department implements psychological education, psychologists will conduct sexual harassment prevention programmes that could educate students on boundaries, consent, and appropriate behaviour. This will help students manage aggressive tendencies, impulsive behaviour, and develop empathy. He further said that the school education minister said that they are giving counselling to students through teachers who are psychologically trained and through the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) scheme, but in reality, it has failed at schools and it is not right. Pointing out the RBSK scheme is monitoring the students health and preventing them from drug addiction and it will not help address psychological issues, Su Moorthy, an Educationalist, told TNIE that considering students safety and welfare, the state government must appoint child psychologists at a block level. He also urged that teachers should also be sensitised on POSCO awareness and child rights. School Education Department minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was not available for comments on TNIEs repeated calls and messages.
Pollutants turn Bhavani river water black
COIMBATORE: The Bhavani River between Mettupalayam and Sirumugai has turned black due to decreased water flow and high levels of sewage discharge. AIADMK MLA A K Selvaraj, along with officials, inspected the affected areas on Friday and identified the reason as pollutants from locally-run dying units and deemed the water not consumable. As Jadayampalayam panchayat is solely dependent on this river for drinking water supply, it has been included under the Tiruppur II water supply scheme, the MLA said. The Bhavani River flows from the Pillur Dam to the Bhavani Sagar Dam, passing through Mettupalayam and Sirumugai. Both towns, as well as local bodies in the surroundings of Mettupalayam, Sirumugai, and Karamadai, rely on the river for their drinking water. Meanwhile, some local bodies and private firms discharge sewage into the river without treatment. While this is not an issue when the water flow is strong, the pollution from sewage becomes an issue when the river levels drop. Additionally, areas near the Bhavani Sagar backwaters, particularly around Sirumugai, frequently experience problems due to sewage stagnation in these backwaters, said N Abibulla, a local resident The river water at Alangombu near Sirumugai was found to be black in colour for the last few days which triggered tensions since the water is being used for drinking purposes in Jadayampalayam village panchayat. Though the local body distributes the water after proper treatment, the situation is alarming as the mixing of sewage is high. We inspected the places where the water turned black and found that it had been caused by the locally-run dying units. Bellepalayam and Chikkarampalayam village panchayats have alternative places to source the water. However, Jadayampalayam was the only local body dependent on this place. We have brought it under the Tiruppur II water supply scheme. Usually, around 5 lakh litres of water is being utilised from the scheme by local bodies in Karamadai and Sirumugai surroundings. It has been increased to 12 lakhs litres to manage the issue now, said AK Selvaraj, MLA Mettupalayam. Selvaraj added that the issue has been reported to the Coimbatore district administration for seeking a permanent solution.
Highways dept to begin ROB works in Kovai soon
COIMBATORE: People can breathe a sigh of relief as after years of delay, the State Highways Department is finally set to start the Rail Overbridge (ROB) works at Thanneerpandal junction near Tidel Park in Coimbatore. The highway officials have sent a revised project cost of Rs 40.7 crore to the state government and are awaiting the Administrative Sanction (AS) for the project. Considering the huge traffic congestion, the state government decided to construct a flyover or ROB across the railway Level Crossing (LC) Gate no 6 at Thanneerpandal Road in Coimbatore through the state highways department. In view of this, the government released a GO (No 210) on 11-10-2006 and gave an administrative sanction of Rs 2.65 crore. A total of 18,682 sq ft of land was earmarked for Land Acquisition for the project. Of the 58 landowners, a majority of them gave away their lands for the project. However, about five landowners opposing the LA filed cases in the Madras High Court. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court came down heavily against the land owners and criticised them for preventing a public welfare project. The court went on to dismiss all three writ petitions and a contempt of court petition and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on the writ petitioners with a direction to pay the amount to the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority on March 2023. Despite the courts order and strong rebuke, land owners of a private school and an industry functioning on the Hopes - Thanneerpandal Road once again filed a writ appeal in the court. Due to this, the bridge works stalled once again as the case is yet to be taken up for hearing. In this situation, the highway officials have decided to go ahead with the project and start the ROB works soon as only a minor portion of the land was necessary for the service road in the project. In view of this, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has planned to shift all the drinking water supply pipelines that have been running underground near the project site. A team of SH officials and CCMC officials led by the CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran inspected the place on Saturday and discussed the works that need to be taken up soon. M Sivaguru Prabakaran, CCMC Commissioner told TNIE , There are three drinking water supply pipelines running on the road including the TWAD Board and Suez line. Since one of the lines is a major pipeline, weve decided to install new pipelines and disrupt the connection in the old lines as shifting work will be time-consuming and people will be affected without water during summer. Towards the Vilankurichi side, around 250 metres of pipelines need to be replaced at a cost of about Rs 63 lakh. Meanwhile, our CCMC officials will prepare an estimate for the other side in the upcoming days. Once, estimates are prepared, the highways department will provide us with the money for the shifting or replacing works. Meanwhile, the State Highways Department officials have requested the state government for an AS for a revised estimate of Rs 40.7 crore which includes the ROB construction, LA, electricity wires, cables and pipeline shifting, service road construction, and other works. A senior official of the State Highways Department in the Coimbatore Division told TNIE that the case in regards to the LA is being closely monitored and will be arriving for a hearing in the court soon. Meanwhile, weve decided to go ahead with the project and start the ROB works soon as only a minor portion of the land is necessary for the service road in the project. The bridge work will be carried out at a cost of Rs 15.5 crore and we have already handed over a sum of Rs 10.5 crore to the revenue department for the LA works. The work is set to begin soon.
DMK accelerated growth of Hosur industries: Minister TRB Rajaa
KRISHNAGIRI: Hosurs industrial growth has slowed down due to the previous AIADMK government and has improved under the DMK regime, said Industries Minister TRB Rajaa at Kurubarapalli on Saturday. After visiting a Delta Electronics company at Kurubarapalli said, The growth of Hosur industries was slow in the last ten years due to AIADMK government, but after DMK assumes power, its planning to bring more industries. Chief Minister MK Stalin on last year announced a greenfield airport at Hosur and is making efforts to make it a reality. Also, the union government should provide a level playing field for all states in investments and industries as each state has a different potential to set up industries. Explaining agricultural land acquisition for setting industries he said, The DMK government is best to avoid acquiring farmlands for setting industries. Even if we do acquire, we provide good compensation and job opportunities to those families. Earlier in the meeting at Delta Electronics company, he asked the company to use the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund to support the people in the surroundings. Also, he appreciated the company in a post on X for their plan to construct dormitories for their workers, taking a cue from the Tamil Nadu governments industrial housing project.
TNs insistence on two-language policy affects development of govt students: L Murugan
NAMAKKAL: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan alleged that the state governments insistence on a two-language policy is hindering development of students in government schools, during a meeting of BJP cadre at its headquarters on Saturday. Murugan said, The NEP was designed by various experts in hopes of moulding the countrys future. It was designed to educate the youths wholly. The three-language policy in the NEP does not force students to pick Hindi as their third language. It merely provides an opportunity for students to learn an additional language. The state governments insistence on a two-language policy hinders students development in government schools. As the Tamil Nadu government is opposed to the NEP, the centre is unable to issue the Rs 5,000 crore funds for education. Murugan added, In this years budget, funds have been allocated for the advancements and developments in agriculture, industries, education, and science. In the past 10 years, the BJP government has provided funds of Rs 11 lakh crores for the development of Tamil Nadu. Soon, the BJP will establish twin-engine governance in TN. At that time all central schemes which had been denied to the people will be provided. State Vice-President KP Ramalingam presided over the meet.
'Shut up Modi' will be heard in Parliament soon: DMK MP A Raja
DMK MP A Raja escalates tensions with the BJP government by declaring that the slogan 'Shut up Modi' will be voiced in Parliament. The statement follows a trend of increasingly confrontational slogans from DMK leaders in response to BJP's policies impacting Tamil Nadu.
High fare at new toll gate worries Palacode farmers
DHARMAPURI: Farmers of Palacode taluk are worried that the excessive tariff of Rs 135 on commercial vehicles at a new toll gate near Karagathahalli village would affect their livelihood, particularly for transport of produce. They added the toll gate was opened even though the construction of the NH 844 is underway, forcing them to take a detour despite paying the fare. The new toll gate was opened on the Adhiyamankottai - Hosur national highway (NH 844) in Karagathahalli village in Palacode on Wednesday, amidst objections from various farmers outfits and transportation associations. The toll gate was opened even before the construction of the road had been completed, residents complained, adding that the toll charges were too high and urged for revision of tolls. Speaking to TNIE, S Sivaraj, a driver from Palacode said, The toll gate here in Karagathahalli village is not welcome. The Palayampudur toll gate lies only 40 km away from the new toll gate. As per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, a distance of 60km should be between two toll gates. So why is the NHAI, RTO, and district administration not taking any steps to close down the toll gate? This is placing an immense burden on the local farming community. Another farmer Sureshkumar said, The NH 844 between Adhiyamankottai - Hosur is not yet open to the public, as constructions are underway. People using this road will not be able to enjoy a peaceful journey. They have to take many detours to reach Hosur, yet the toll gate has started functioning. For commercial vehicles, the toll fare is Rs 135 on a single trip. Farmers who hire these vehicles now would have to pay extra for transporting their produce. Officials in the Regional Transport Office said, We have received a complaint and have forwarded it to the NHAI.
Officials douse forest fire after six hours of struggle near Anaikkadu tribal settlement
COIMBATORE: After six hours of struggle, Coimbatore forest officials doused the fire that occurred at the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border near Anaikkadu tribal settlement in Narasipuram reserve forest in the wee hours of Saturday. Despite Boluvampatti forest range staff had created a forest fire prevention line (that is, clearing of vegetation and dried grasses) much earlier as precautionary measures to prevent the spreading of forest fire at over six km on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, the fire started from the Kerala forest side and soon spread into Anaikadu tribal settlement in Boluvampatti forest range at 6.30 pm. Forest officials said, We suspect that the spark spread near the Anaikkadu tribal settlement which is over 1,200 metres (from sea level) at Boluvampatti forest range, from Kerala side, and our six staff who have been camping as part of preventing the forest fire, started dousing off the fire. Since there was no water available for a three-km range, our staff who were involved in controlling the fire, beat it with the help of green branches, which is an older method to prevent fire from spreading, and we managed to control the fire after three hours at 10 pm only as the wind speed was high. Later, after two hours, we managed to douse the fire completely at 1 am on Saturday. A senior forest department official said that no precious trees or wild animals were affected due to the fire though there were movements of wild elephants, leopards, etc. The official added, We lost half a hectare of lemon grass in the fire.
Hunger strike against land acquisition for Space Industrial Park
THOOTHUKUDI: Condemning the move to acquire land for a Space Industrial Park and Propellants Park, residents of Athiyakurichi and the villages surrounding Udangudi observed a one-day hunger strike. The Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce department recently notified over 1,500 acres at Athiyakurichi village for land acquisition on behalf of Space Industrial Park and Propellants Park project. The residents have been protesting against the land acquisition for the past two months, and also staged a walk out from the collectorate during the grievance redressal meet held for land owners on February 20. As police denied permission for the agitations, the organisers obtained a court order to register their opposition. On Saturday, the residents and farmers of Athiyakurichi, Kulasekarapattinam, Kottangadu, Uthiramadankudiyiruppu, Vethakottaivilai, Gnaniyarkudiyiruppu, and other villages participated in the one-day hunger strike. Activist V Gunaselan said agriculture has been waning away due to poor water projects. The state has already acquired large parcels of land for industries at Nazareth, Sathankulam and Nanguneri in the southern districts, but they were all put to disuse. The agitation will be furthered and it will be taken as an election agenda, he said. The farmers appealed to the state government to stop land acquisition for the space park project and to ensure protection for agriculture, the mainstay of the region. Anti-nuclear activist Suba Udhayakumar, Anti-Sterlite activist M Krishnamoorthy, Arul Arumugam of Melma anti-SIPCOT movement, advocate Deivammal of People Against Tungsten Project, VP Jeyakumar of Hindu Munnani, and Arumugapandiyan of Pumpset Farmers Association were among those who participated in the protest.
Tamil Nadu farmers whose goats were killed by dogs may get aid - The New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu farmers whose goats were killed by dogs may get aid The New Indian Express
Need better representation among judges to uphold social justice: Ex-HC judge
MADURAI: Judges are those who solve the problems of people from different sections and backgrounds, and they must hail from different communities and religions to uphold the principles of social justice and inclusivity, said retired high court judge D Hariparanthaman on Saturday. Speaking on the sidelines of a signature campaign for social justice and inclusivity in the appointment of judges, Justice Hariparanthaman said there are 10 vacancies, out of the total sanctioned strength of 75 judges, in the Madras High Court. These vacancies would be filed by elevating six advocates from the bar association and four judges of the district court. There is greater representation of members from the dominant community as judges in the high court and the new elevations will further increase their representation. There must not be over-representation from one particular community in such appointments. A major population of the state, such as people from Scheduled Castes, Mukkulathors and Vanniyars do not have sufficient representation among judges appointments, and few other communities are not even represented. Around 13 more vacancies are likely this year following the retirement of the existing judges, and there is a high chance that the judges may hail from a particular community, he stated. Referring to the parliamentary committees statement on the lack of diversity in the judiciary, Justice Hariparanthaman said irrespective of the government, the issue prevails in the appointments. However, there has been an increase in the overrepresentation of a particular community after 2014, and there have been few elevations for minorities and women in recent years. Some advocates, who belong to a dominant caste and are eligible, but are not in favour of the state machinery, are not able to become judges in the high courts. The central government has a hold on the judges' appointments, similar to the hold they have over some central agencies, he added.
Thirukkural forerunner of modern social justice concepts, says Madras HC Chief Justice
KANNIYAKUMARI: Chief Justice of Madras High Court KR Shriram inaugurated a special court for cases under the Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, at Nagercoil in Kanniyakumari on Saturday. Speaking at the event organised on the district court campus in Nagercoil, Shriram said that Thirukkural is the forerunner of modern social justice concepts. Stating that the special court building embodies the very spirit of justice, offering inspiration and steadfast support to the marginalised people of the district, the chief justice said the SC & ST Act, enacted in 1989, has been a beacon of hope for the underprivileged communities providing them a powerful tool to seek the vindication of their grievances. This legislation is a testament for our collective commitment towards holding the principles of equity, fairness and human welfare, he added. He further said, setting up the special court, we acknowledge the remarkable progress we have made in promoting social justice and safeguarding the members of SC and ST communities. The inauguration of this court marks a significant milestone in our journey towards creating a more just and equitable society. This court would serve as a shining example of our collective commitment to protect the rights of the vulnerable, and would be a catalyst for positive change providing a platform for the marginalised communities seeking justice and protection. Addressing the gathering, Minister for Law, Courts, Prisons and Prevention of Corruption S Regupathy said that based on the proposals from the high court and the orders of Chief Minister MK Stalin, century-old court buildings have been renovated. He added that due measures would be taken to start new courts in various districts this year. Three new courts would be set up in Kanniyakumari district, he said, adding that the chief minister has been giving more importance to the judiciary. Acknowledging that there has been a delay due to financial constraints, Regupathy said that we would do whatever we can (to allot fund) for the judiciary. High court judges, Principal District Judge B Karthikeyan, Chief Judicial Magistrate R Samuel Benjamin, District Collector R Alagumeena, Nagercoil Bar Association President R Jayakumar, Secretary M Viswarajan, SP R Stalin and others were present.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix will visit New Delhi this week to attend the conference Enhancing the Role of Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Experience being organised by India on February 24-25
30-year-old tractor driver attempts suicide at AWPS police station as SI passes lewd comments
THOOTHUKUDI: A 30-year-old tractor driver allegedly attempted to die by suicide at the Kovilpatti All Women Police Station after complaining that the police were trying to separate him from his estranged wife, instead of reuniting them. The victim, Mariraj (30) of Kurumalai, has been admitted to Kovilpatti government hospital, and is in stable condition. Sources said Mariraj and Murugalakshmi have been living separately due to differences. The couple has a four-year-old daughter. Recently, Murugalakshmi lodged a complaint with Kovilpatti AWPS demanding to recover a four-sovereign gold chain, Aadhaar card and other documents, from her husband. Mariraj, who came to attend the inquiry on Friday, handed over the documents to the police and allegedly took the extreme step at the station. Mariraj said he was saddened as he could not meet his daughter. He alleged that Murugalakshmi has been lodging false complaints against him at Koppampatti station and Kovilpatti AWPS, which has been affecting him psychologically, making him unable to concentrate on his farm work. Instead of offering counselling to settle the issues, the police at the AWPS threatened me to hand over the documents and identity cards to Murugalakshmi, he said, adding that the woman sub-inspector also passed lewd comments against him at the station, after he pleaded to be reunited with his wife. (To overcome suicidal thoughts, call Tamil Nadu health helpline 104 and Sneha suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).
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PVR applicants lose cash due to tech glitch
COIMBATORE: Several applicants and e-centre operators are stressed while applying for a Police Verification Report (PVR) online (which is required for both private and government recruitment), as they face technical glitches, especially during the payment process. They suggested that the service is more accessible only in night when website traffic is lower and they urged the police department to fix the technical glitches in the payment gateway to handle the traffic better. A 34-year-old woman, who works at a private college in Coimbatore and is preparing for the Group D exam of the Railway Recruitment Board, successfully applied for the Police Verification Report (PVR) two days ago, after multiple attempts. However, most e-seva centres in Coimbatore City refused to assist her due to ongoing technical issues with the Tamil Nadu Police website. February 22 is the last date for submitting the application, and the Railway Recruitment Board mandates the NOC - Police Verification Report from the local police. Initially, we tried applying ourselves but ended up losing around Rs 505, including surcharges. After visiting four government-recognized e-seva centres, none were willing to help as they also end up losing money. They advised us to apply ourselves, preferably during the night or early morning. We managed to apply early in the morning, she said. Even during the application process, the acknowledgement report that should appear after the payment often does not load. Instead, it again returns to the payment page and requests payment again. Many applicants, especially job seekers, require this report as it is mandatory for most government and private jobs. This minor issue has caused unnecessary stress for all of us, she added. An owner of an e-seva centre near Annur in Coimbatore confirmed these issues, and said he has personally lost around Rs 4,000 while attempting to process police verification applications. A senior police officer from the police headquarters (HoPF) assured to take the issue with the technical team attached to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) which manages the police website.
Stalin says he wont sign NEP even if Centre offers Rs 10,000 crore - MSN
Stalin says he wont sign NEP even if Centre offers Rs 10,000 crore MSN
Kerala ATS arrests wanted Maoist leader from Tamil Nadu - Udayavani English
Kerala ATS arrests wanted Maoist leader from Tamil Nadu Udayavani English
With Rs 5,000 crore investment in various projects, Lulu plans to add 15,000 jobs
KOCHI: The Lulu Group International (LGI) will invest Rs 5,000 crore over the next four to five years in various projects in Kerala which are expected to generate nearly 15,000 job opportunities. The investment will mainly be in food processing, the Global City project and IT parks. The exact breakup is being worked out, M A Ashraf Ali, executive director of LGI, announced on the sidelines of the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS) on Saturday. Discussions in this regard have been held with Industries Minister P Rajeeve. While the proposed food-processing zone will come up on 20 acres in Kalamassery, the group will invest in IT and fintech infrastructure in the Global City project, proposed by the state government in Kochi. The food-processing zone will have extensive cold-storage facilities. Vegetables and fruits will be collected from across the state and even parts of Tamil Nadu and moved to Kochi airport. Value-added products will also be part of the project with 100% export orientation, he said. The groups twin IT towers at Kochis Infopark will employ around 25,000 professionals and will be commissioned within three months. In the retail sector, the company is setting up mini shopping malls at Perinthalmanna, Tirur, Kannur, Kasaragod, and Thrissur. Sharaf Group commits E5k cr Dubai-based Sharaf Group has also announced an investment of `5,000 crore, mostly in the states logistics sector, over the next five years. Group vice-chairman Sharafuddin Sharaf said the conglomerate, which has been operating in India for the past 28 years with a presence in more than seven cities, chose Kerala for the investment due to the state governments initiatives to simplify ease of doing business. Well invest in two dry ports. The location will be finalised after discussions with the state government, he said, citing advantages like the large pool of highly educated and capable human resource available in the state and ease of doing business.
Two CPI (Maoist) members evading arrest for a decade held in Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI: The Q Branch CID arrested two absconding CPI (Maoist) members in separate operations in Tamil Nadu. Both have allegedly been evading arrest for over a decade. According to sources, Karthick alias Chinna Karthick was arrested in Chennai on Friday. A native of Theni, he had been absconding since 2011 and engaged in unlawful activities. He allegedly underwent arms training in Kerala to strengthen the partys base in the junction of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The NIA Kochi had registered a case against him, and now another case has been registered against him by the Q Branch CID in Chennai. He was remanded to judicial custody on Saturday. In another operation, Santhosh Kumar was also arrested in Hosur by Q Branch CID and the Kerala Anti-Terrorist Squad on Friday. He had been absconding for 11 years and was part of the CPI (Maoist) armed squad operating in forests of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He will be sent to judicial remand following inquiry.
Investment scam: Couple arrested for duping 18 of Rs 6.46 crore in last three years in Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI: The Entrustment Document Fraud (EDF) Wing of the Avadi Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested a couple on charges of defrauding 18 people of Rs 6.46 crore under the pretext of doubling their investments through their company. One of the complainants, M Kalaivanan (34) of Kolathur, informed the police that between 2021 and 2024, the couple, R Vignesh (32) of Red Hills and his wife V Rekha (32), along with their associates, frequently met the victims and pressured them to invest, promising a twofold return. When some complainants expressed their inability to invest due to lack of funds, the accused introduced them to an associate, Sathish, who allegedly worked at a bank and arranged loans for them. They further assured the victims that they would take responsibility for repaying the loans. Trusting their claims, the 18 victims provided their personal documents, including pay slips, Aadhaar, PAN, to Sathish via WhatsApp. Upon receiving the loan amounts, the victims transferred the entire sum to bank accounts specified by Vignesh and Rekha. However, even after more than a year, they neither received the promised profits nor their principal investment, and their bank loans remained unpaid. Following a complaint by one of the victims, M Kalaivanan, the police apprehended the couple from Vandhavasi on Wednesday based on information. A search is ongoing to locate others involved in the scam.
Pre-trial meetings must for speedy disposal of Pocso cases, says judge at seminar for lawyers
CHENNAI: Madras High Court Justice RN Manjula emphasised the importance of conducting pre-trial meetings in Pocso cases to ensure swift progress in trials. She was speaking at a seminar on the Pocso Act for prosecutors in Tamil Nadu, organised by Tulir - Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse in collaboration with the Directorate of Prosecution. Special public prosecutors (SPPs) of Pocso courts, additional Pocso courts, mahila courts, and Juvenile Justice Boards, apart from deputy and assistant directors of prosecution across the state attended the seminar. When she inquired whether such meetings between judges, public prosecutors, and defense lawyers were being held before trial, public prosecutors present at the seminar said pre-trial meetings are currently convened only in a few districts, such as Chennai, Cuddalore, and Erode. She stated that these meetings would help prevent unnecessary adjournments and facilitate speedy disposal of cases. Justice Manjula highlighted the need for public prosecutors to ensure that the affected children are brought to court during non-office hours to familiarise them with the environment. She stressed the importance of support persons in Pocso cases, urging the police and the District Child Protection Unit to maintain a list of such individuals, in addition to the legal assistance provided. She further stated that sending children involved in Pocso cases to childrens homes should be avoided as much as possible. If the accused is a family member, she said that the prosecution should work to prevent bail and ensure the child remains with their parents or a trusted guardian. D Lingeswaran, administrator general of TN elaborated on recent developments in the adjudication of Pocso cases and discussed challenges in strengthening the prosecution. The seminar also covered topics such as the appreciation of medical evidence in Pocso cases, understanding forensic science laboratory reports, addressing vicarious trauma among professionals involved in handling Pocso cases. SPP Hasan Mohamed Jinnah, forensic sciences department director V Sivapriya, and professor Jagadeesh Narayana Reddy, HOD of forensic medicine and toxicology at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, also spoke at the seminar.
Army Mobilises Task Force for rescue operations at Srisailam tunnel collapse
In addition to the NDRF and SDRF teams, an Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army, part of the Infantry Division at Secunderabad, was placed on standby with an Excavator Dozer to support the rescue efforts
Yasvantpur-Bhubaneswar Special to run 9 additional trips
NHRC head launches communal harmony forum
CHENNAI: National Human Rights Commission chairman Justice V Ramasubramanian stressed the need to inculcate the sense of being human in future generations so that they can live in harmony, while speaking at the launch of Unity India, a national forum for communal harmony, at CPR Convention Centre on Saturday. The nation belongs to the future and it has to be told to our children that unity is inherent in human creation and how it deviated from there, he said, quoting the Tamil song, Iraivan irukkindraanaa Manidhan ketkiraan. Manidhan irukkindraanaa Iraivan ketkiraan. Unless you are a human being, you can never be an Indian, Christian, Muslim, or Hindu, he remarked. Ramasubramanian noted that true unity does not require unanimity, as differences exist even in small groups. A Faizur Rahman, secretary general of the Islamic Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought, cited the survey What Can Improve Democracy? by the Pew Research Centre, which gathered responses from over 30,000 people across 24 countries. The survey highlighted that the top five priorities for Indians in strengthening democracy were economic reforms, better policies and legislation, better politicians, government reforms, and more responsible citizens who care about others. This indicates that Indian expectations for improving democracy are shaped by governance and economic factors rather than religious differences. He noted that, in reality, Hindus and Muslims live together in harmony, but political interests seek to polarise them. Irshad Mecca from Moderate Thought and Justice N L Rajah highlighted how social media algorithms fuel hatred against communal harmony. Justice P N Prakash stated that politicians and priests are mafias of the soul. The speakers urged politicians to refrain from disrupting unity by exploiting religion for political gain.
9,700 patents filed in Tamil Nadu in one year, robust support needed for emerging tech
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in innovation, filing 9,700 patents in 2024. However, there is a growing need for a well-structured Intellectual Property (IP) ecosystem to support emerging technologies, according to Madras High Court judge Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy. Speaking at the Tamil Nadu Technology Development and Promotion Centres conference on Auto Tech IP Trends, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Chennai on Saturday, Justice Ramamoorthy highlighted the rising volume of IP-related cases. He noted that following the 2021 Tribunal Reforms Act, 1,100 cases from the now-dissolved Intellectual Property Appellate Board were transferred to the Madras High Courts Intellectual Property Division. As of 2024, only 244 of these cases remain unresolved, reflecting judiciarys efficiency in handling IP disputes. Justice Ramamoorthy emphasised the need for a robust legal framework, especially with the rise of software-defined vehicles. He stressed that legal professionals must be well-equipped to handle IP cases to ensure fair enforcement and a competitive innovation ecosystem. Rajesh Kumar Pathak, president of the TNTDPC Governing Board and secretary of the Technology Development Board under the union government, pointed out that Indias mobility sector is expected to surpass $600 billion by 2030. Pathak emphasised the critical role of Intellectual Property in this transformation. Patent filings in India have surged from 6,000 in 2010 to over 1,04,000 in 2023, reflecting the countrys increasing focus on research and innovation. Pathak also highlighted the governments commitment to supporting technological advancements, citing the establishment of a Rs 1-lakh-crore fund for cutting-edge research. This includes an allocation of Rs 20,000 crore in this years budget, with an additional Rs 14,000 crore planned over the next five years through the Anusandhan Research National Foundation. The initiative aims to attract Rs 36,000 crore in private sector investments.
Anyone free to join, quit democratic NTK: Seeman
MADURAI: In the wake of speculations that Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) womens wing leader Kaliammal may quit, NTK chief Seeman said Kaliammal has every right to decide whether she wishes to stay or quit. Speaking to media persons at the Madurai airport on Saturday, Seeman reacted to Kaliammals plan to quit, saying it is autumn season and leaves falling is natural. If anyone wishes to join the party, we welcome them, and if they quit, we convey our wishes as it is a democratic party. Each has a right to join or to quit, just like how leaves naturally fall during autumn. In the early days, no one informed the party when they quit. But now, they leave a letter due to media attention, Seeman said. Further, the NTK leader affirmed that the party is against the three-language policy. Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has not raised any concerns whenever welfare schemes of the state are taken away by the central government, such as the Cauvery water rights issues. The BJP is playing divisive politics, and there is no assurance that Tamil literature or the history of late leaders from Tamil Nadu would be included in the curriculum of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. NTK turmoil, DMK luring renegades
Madras HC upholds compulsory retirement of district judge
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has refused to revoke an order of the state government and the subsequent notification of the court for compulsorily retiring a district judge who was charged with carrying out murky financial transactions and acquisition of wealth by his family members. A division bench of Justices R Subramanian and G Arul Murugan dismissed the petition filed by the district judge S Gunasekar of Ranipet recently. He was appointed as district judge in 2018 and was placed under suspension two years later. The charges against him included ill-treatment of lower grade employees by him and his wife, and the acquisition of least 25 immovable properties by his wife without informing the HC and purchase of a BMW car, besides suspicious credits of lump sum amounts in his salary account. The administrative committee of the court decided to retire him compulsorily in 2021. The decision was approved by the full court. Subsequently, the state government issued an order followed by the high courts notification. Gunsekar contended that the TN Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1973, does not require an employee to notify acquisition or disposal of immovable property by members of his family; and such properties were not purchased using his financial resources. However, the bench said he, being a judicial officer, has to obey the circulars issued in this regard by the high court, and he cannot be treated as a government servant. It is only to secure such higher degree of probity and integrity, the high court had thought it fit to require judicial officers to provide information of acquisition of assets by their family members, even though it is out of their own funds, the bench said. Unless it is shown that the materials relied upon by the administrative committee were totally irrelevant or that the decision is tainted and malicious, which is not the case of the petitioner, the decision cannot be interfered with.
Revisit rules on premature release of prisoners: Madras HC
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has urged the Tamil Nadu government to revisit government order issued in 2021, governing the premature release of life convicts, with respect to the disqualification clause. A division bench of Justices M S Ramesh and N Senthilkumar noted that Clause 2 (A) (ii) of G.O. Ms 488 of 2021 prescribes certain criteria to declare a life convict prisoner as ineligible for premature release, in respect of some lesser offences. Apparently, these disqualifications are not in conformity with a judgment of the Supreme Court. This is not an isolated case where this court is confronted with the G.O.s rejecting the claim of the life convict prisoners for premature release by quoting paragraph 2 (A) (ii) of G.O. Ms 488. It is high time the government revisited the disqualification clause by taking into account the dictum in P Veera Bhaarathis case, it said in a recent order, quashing a G.O. denying premature release to M Rajkumar, a life convict in a murder case. He was convicted and sentenced to life under section 302 and was imposed another two years of imprisonment under section 498 A (cruelty to wife) of the IPC. The government denied him relief by stating that he had not completed 14 years of prison sentence as on September 15, 2023, and cited the imposition of the two-year sentence under another section, which the lower court had ordered to be served concurrently. Subsequently, Rajkumar moved the High Court. Citing the SC order in the P Veera Bhaarathi vs State of Tamil Nadu case, the bench held that the reason cited about the two years of imprisonment for a relatively lesser offence to make him ineligible for premature release is impermissible since he had already undergone the sentence. Further, it stated that the reason that he had not completed 14 years has become redundant since the HC already found him eligible for claiming the benefit of premature release under the same G.O. Ms 488. The bench ordered his release within a period of two days from receiving the copy of the court order.
Samsung has suspended 23 workers so far: CITU
CHENNAI: The number of Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) members who have received suspension orders from the company management has gone up to 23 as of Saturday, according to CITU sources. Workers that TNIE spoke to said that the management, in its suspension letter, has stated that they are not permitted to enter the manufacturing plant in Sriperumbudur unless specific instructions are received from authorities to do otherwise. The reasons for suspension stated in the letter included insubordination, disruption to production and refusal to take orders, among other charges. The letter also stated that the complaint letter and charge sheet would follow by mail. Samsung India Workers Union protests suspension of employees, CITU plans massive strike It started with the three SIWU office-bearers, and by Thursday night 14 others had received suspension orders by mail. Six more received the orders on Friday. We are not sure how many more are to come, said a CITU member. These suspensions come in the backdrop of the next round of conciliatory talks between representatives of Samsung and SIWU scheduled on Monday. This time, we are informed that two ministers, C V Ganesan (labour) and E V Velu (highways) will be part of the talks. Representatives from Samsung were not present for the last meeting on Thursday, so we are hoping to have a fruitful discussion on Monday, said another CITU member. While Samsung officials were not available to immediately confirm the additional suspensions, the company had said in an earlier statement, A certain section of workers once again illegally tried to disrupt operations and industrial peace. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any illegal activities by workers that disrupt industrial stability and peace at the workplace. It is important for all employees to adhere to company policies, and those who violate these policies will be subject to disciplinary action after due process.
Illegal mining: Tamil Nadu orders five firms to pay Rs 2000 cr
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government through the Thoothukudi collector on February 10 ordered five beach sand mining companies to pay Rs 2,002.7 crore towards royalties and cost of minerals which were allegedly unlawfully mined and exported from the Thoothukudi port from January 2014 to December 2016. These demand orders form part of the governments decision to recover Rs 5,832 crore from the firms which allegedly mined excess amount of beach sand minerals like Garnet, Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Sillimanite and Leucoxene from 2002 to 2016 as per reports submitted by Madras High Court appointed amicus curiae Dr V Suresh. The report pegs the total illegally transported raw sand alone at 88.4 lakh tonnes. The government had ordered a complete ban on mining in 2013. The Madras High Court earlier this week had ordered a CBI probe into the case. While the December 16 orders by Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi collectors were for the illegally mined sand in the pre-ban period (2013), the February 10 orders are for 17.61 lakh tonnes of beach sand minerals mined illegally after the enforcement of the ban and eventually exported through the port. This was based on data given by the assistant commissioner of Customs, Thoothukudi. While VV Minerals has been ordered to pay Rs 913.03 crore towards cost of mineral and royalties for the post-ban period, Tvl Industrial mineral company has been issued an order of Rs 276.08 crore, Transworld Garnet India Pvt Ltd Rs 196.66 crore, Beach Minerals Sands company and its sister concerns Rs 425.64 crore and Indian Ocean Garnet Sands company Rs 191.29 crore. The recovery proceedings have been initiated under section 21(5) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. In the order issued to VV Minerals, the Thoothukudi collector said they reserve the right to initiate recovery proceedings against the firms for illegal export of beach sand minerals during the same period through ports other than Thoothukudi as well. The three collectors had, in January 2024, issued show cause notices to all the miners for recovery of this sum based on reports submitted by the amicus curiae and a special committee headed by senior IAS officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi and data provided by the assistant commissioner of Customs, Thoothukudi on the quantum of Beach Sand Minerals exported and sale value realised by private companies.
TN Congress feud reaches Delhi; group meets Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai broke his silence on the rebellion against him by a small section of district-level functionaries and dismissed their complaints as part and parcel of democracy, which, he said, the Congress respected. On Friday, when cadre and senior leaders of TNCC gathered at the party headquarters to wish Selvaperunthagai as he completed one year as TNCC president, a group of around 15 of the 72 district presidents of the party, that was camping in Delhi for the past few days met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to submit complaints against him and demand his removal from the post. Addressing media here, Selvaperunthagai said he was only trying to strengthen and reform TNCC in accordance with the Congress partys Udaipur Declaration of 2022 and not uproot it. Among the key internal reforms of the declaration were restricting the tenure of a person for a post to a maximum of five years, and enforcing one person, one post and one family, one (electoral) ticket principles. Despite the complaints against him, Selvaperunthagai stressed that TNCC, which has been infamous in the past for its internal squabbles, is functioning without factions and is ensuring equal opportunities for all. Party insiders said the rift is refusing to die down since Virudhunagar MP B Manickam Tagore Congresss person in-charge of Andhra Pradesh and the partys whip in Lok Sabha and Selvaperunthagai are not getting along, with recent rumours of a heated telephonic conversation between the two, which both refused to confirm. Tagore had recently criticised Selvaperunthagai for the latters remarks comparing the DMK rule in Tamil Nadu with that of K Kamaraj, which is considered by Congress leaders as the golden era of the state. While Selvaperunthagai said Tagore had misunderstood his comments, the MP told TNIE that bringing Kamarajs rule again in Tamil Nadu was a vision of Rajiv Gandhi. It should not be compared to any other government, even Congress-led ones in neighbouring states. It remains an ideal standard for Congress governance in Tamil Nadu, he said. Meanwhile, M S Dhiraviyam, president of the North Chennai East unit of the Congress party, who is among the rebel group of leaders, confirmed to TNIE that their delegation met AICC leaders Girish Chodankar, Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and K C Venugopal in New Delhi. The leaders assured us that they would look into the matter, he said.
Here is a select list of stories to start the day
Tesla's India entry: Why Tamil Nadu has an edge over others and why it may not matter - DTNEXT
Tesla's India entry: Why Tamil Nadu has an edge over others and why it may not matter DTNEXT
Lanka Dinakar reiterates statement on misutilisation of MGNREGS funds
Twenty-Point Programme Chairperson says a report will be submitted to the government after reviewing the implementation of Centrally-sponsored schemes between 2019 and 2024
30-point action plan for better healthcare services in Andhra Pradesh
Identifying healthcare services that can be delivered to people through WhatsApp, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools are among the points included in the charter
Need for better footpaths takes centre stage at Namma Raste
The event also focussed on lack of woman-centric infrastructure in the city
BJP demands Telangana CM Revanths apology for stating that A.P. is looting Krishna river water
The remarks are an attempt to hide his failures and hoodwink people of Telangana, says Vishnuvardhan Reddy
Champions Trophy: Aaqib Javed enlists Mudassar Nazars expertise for clash against India
Aaqib invited Mudassar to join the Pakistan teams nets session in Dubai to share his insights on the playing conditions, particularly any recent changes.
Arsenal loses to West Ham to dent Premier League title challenge
Second-place Arsenal squandered a chance to trim the gap to Liverpool to five points as Jarrod Bowen's first-half header secured a win for West Ham
Efforts on to build Hosur international airport: TN minister - Hindustan Times
Efforts on to build Hosur international airport: TN minister Hindustan Times
A.P.s first sea-based cruise tourism venture Vizag Cruiser may start operations in two months
The cruise vessel will ferry within 10 nautical miles in Indian territorial waters off Visakhapatnam coast in Bay of Bengal; APTDC is in talks with Visakhapatnam Port Authority to allot a jetty for the vessel
Two Maoists apprehended by Tamil Nadu Police - DTNEXT
Two Maoists apprehended by Tamil Nadu Police DTNEXT
Centre agrees to procure chilli under MIS if price drops below 11,781 per quintal, says Naidu
Exporters stated that Andhra Pradesh exported a large quantity to China, Colombo, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, but the exports had, of late, come down leading to a price drop.
How was Vikatan made inaccessible? | Explained
What are the rules? How do website blocking orders work in India? What can a website owner do?
Come see the blood in the streets
Gaza and Lebanon are stained by the ravages of fratricidal wars that have scorched the landscape and left deep fissures
One by one, the birds flew down to sit for a few second with the carcass of one of their tribe
There are over a thousand of such statues across Wroclaw in Poland
Why is the three-language policy controversial? | Explained
Why has the Centre withheld funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha programme? When did the State adopt a two-language policy? What is its stand on mandatory imposition of Hindi? What is the central governments view? How can the issue be resolved?
The lengths to which people go to get back a patch of hair but fail
One dead, at least two police officers wounded in France knife attack
The violence is labelled as Islamic extremism by President Emmanuel Macron
Soaking in the citys beauty, resilience, and ability to inspire reflection
Peru food court roof collapse: death toll rises to six, 78 injured
Perus defense minister says the collapse of a food court roof at a shopping mall in northwestern Peru killed six people and left at least 78 others
The Kerala cadre IAS officer is taking over as the CEC at a time when the Centre is pushing legislation to introduce simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies
Fund crisis at 12 Delhi govt-funded DU colleges will be resolved soon: Pradhan
Majorana 1: A quantum phenomenon
Microsofts new quantum chip may consist of particles with unusual properties that physicists believe could be used to build qubits that are less error-prone
Barapullah corridor will be opened for public in 12 months: Parvesh
The PWD Minister says during AAP rule, no one ever inspected the project; Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh inspects Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital, says his dept. will transform it in 3months
RBI's ex-Governor Das is PMs principal secy-2
A retired IAS officer of the 1980 batch from the Tamil Nadu cadre, Das served as the 25th Governor of the RBI for six years, including a three-year extension granted during his tenure after succeeding Urjit Patel in December 2018.
TN will soon have double-engine govt: L Murugan
Bhavani river water at Palaiyur village unsafe for drinking: Report
Flyover built at a cost of 314crore yet to be put to use in Namakkal
Live in cooperation with fellow human beings: Mata Amritanandamayi
Five corporation school students in Coimbatore identify four asteroids, get NASA recognition
Amit Shah to attend Mahashivratri celebrations at Isha Yoga Centre
Man held for murdering cousin over land dispute in Tirupur
Flight lands early in Chennai as passenger feels unwell
Forest fire on TN- Kerala border contained
