The Transport Department issued the order on August 31, providing for payment of the arrears in 49 monthly instalments. The first 48 instalments will be Rs 75 crore each, while the balance Rs 37 crore will be paid in the 49th and final instalment.

The move follows a long-running dispute in which pensioners of transport corporations had protested against the denial of DA hikes that were extended to other government employees and employees of public sector undertakings, including TNPDCL, TNPGCL, and Tantransco. The issue continued through successive AIADMK and DMK governments before reaching the courts.

This was a long-running dispute spanning successive AIADMK and DMK governments in which pensioners of transport corporations had protested against the denial of DA hikes that were extended to other government employees and employees of public sector undertakings

In March 2023, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled that retired employees of State Transport Corporations were entitled to DA at the rate applicable to serving employees. It directed the authorities to calculate the pension arrears and settle the benefits.

However, the legal battle continued even after that, with writ appeals, special leave petitions, review applications, review petitions, and a curative petition arising from the proceedings, all of which were dismissed.
The government had initially proposed settling the estimated Rs 3,637 crore arrears in 60 monthly instalments of around Rs 60.62 crore each.

During contempt proceedings on August 14, however, the High Court directed that the settlement be made at Rs 75 crore per month. The government subsequently gave an undertaking to pay Rs 75 crore in 48 monthly instalments and the remaining Rs 37 crore in the 49th instalment.

The High Court took note of the undertaking on August 21 and closed the contempt petitions and related applications.

As per the Government Order, the managing directors of all State Transport Undertakings, in coordination with the TNSTC Employees' Pension Fund Trust, will arrange for the release of the instalments from available resources. Where necessary, the undertakings can avail loans from the government or through the Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation Ltd (TNTDFC).

The government has also said that financial assistance facilitated for the purpose may be adjusted against subsidies or viability gap funding payable to the respective transport undertaking.

The Pension Fund Trust will verify the entitlement of individual pensioners and family pensioners, ensure audit and verification of claims before payment, and submit monthly details of beneficiaries and amounts disbursed before the subsequent instalment is released.

The government said the phased settlement was decided considering the financial position of the STUs and the pension fund trust, fiscal constraints, and the larger public interest.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan issued the directive while hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate AF Parvesh Mushraf, which was transferred from the Madurai Bench to the principal seat.

During the hearing, Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that of the 305 persons who went on the Kailash Yatra in Nepal, 220 had been traced, rescued, and sent to their native places, while efforts were under way to trace the remaining 85. The relatives of the 85 missing persons, including former High Court judge Sivagnanam, were taken to Kathmandu at government expense, he said.

The bench then directed the Union and State governments to file a detailed report on the steps taken to trace and rescue the pilgrims missing in the Nepal floods and posted the case for further hearing next week.

In his PIL, advocate Mushraf of Dindigul said that a group of 57 pilgrims, including Sivagnanam, had travelled from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to Nepal on a pilgrimage through Super Yathra Travels, a travel operator based in Kumbakonam.

Following the floods and landslides on August 23, a substantial number of the pilgrims could not be contacted and their whereabouts could not be ascertained, he said, arguing that the constitutional obligation applied equally to all 57 pilgrims and that rescue and verification efforts must proceed without differential priority, while seeking focused protective attention for the unaccounted-for pilgrims.

The petitioner sought directions to the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to coordinate with Nepal’s search-and-rescue authorities and the travel firm to urgently trace and rescue the unaccounted-for pilgrims from the Kumbakonam group, including the retired judge, and provide necessary medical treatment, food, shelter, medical evacuation, and safe repatriation to India.

The new system will enable “Anywhere Registration/Licensing” services, allowing citizens to access transport-related registration and licensing services irrespective of the office where they originally applied.

Under the initiative, Digital Registration Certificates (RCs) will be issued online to owners of newly registered vehicles. The facility will be available across the State from September 15, 2026.

Similarly, applicants who pass the driving test will receive their Digital Driving Licence on the same day. The digital licence facility will also be rolled out statewide from September 15.

The digital documents can be verified online by government offices and other authorised institutions by scanning their QR codes. If a document is lost or damaged, users will also be able to download and print it again, eliminating the need to obtain a fresh physical copy.

The decision, announced under Rule 110 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly by CM Joseph Vijay, covers cases registered against farmers who participated in protests against the proposed SIPCOT industrial estate in Tiruvannamalai district and the proposed airport at Parandur.

Farmers had staged a series of protests against the Parandur airport project, raising concerns over the impact on agricultural lands, waterbodies and their livelihoods. Several cases were registered against the protesters by the previous government, with some farmers also booked under the Goondas Act.

The cases would be withdrawn on humanitarian and democratic grounds, irrespective of the provisions under which they were registered. It said the decision would strengthen democratic rights and reinforce public confidence and trust between ordinary citizens and the government. The government also said it would withdraw cases registered against teachers who had staged peaceful protests for their legitimate demands during the period.

The incident happened when the girl from a village in Thanjavur went to her grandmother’s house in the neighbouring village during a temple festival on August 30. There a man from Manamelkudi in Pudukkottai, an acquaintance of the girl’s grandmother, also came to the village to take part in the festival. He allegedly took her to a secluded place and sexually abused her with the false promise of marriage.

Meanwhile, seeing him and the minor girl, four people, including two boys aged 15 and 17, followed them and picked up a quarrel with the man and allegedly sexually assaulted the girl.

The girl managed to escape the gang and informed her mother about the incident, and the latter lodged a complaint with the Sethubavachatram police. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case.

On Tuesday, the police arrested the four, and also the man who lured the girl, under the Pocso Act. The men were produced before the court which remanded them in custody, while the minors were lodged in the government observation home in Thanjavur.

Health Minister KG Arunraj brushed off the astrological theory, maintaining that the state relies on science and is currently tackling common colds and not snake curses.

The hilarious discussion began when Panneerselvam, also a Chief Minister took the floor to highlight a recent string of snakebite incidents across several constituencies. Many regions were likely suffering from "Nagadhosham" brought on by displeased serpents, hesaid and went on to urge the health minister to organise state-sponsored temple rituals to ward off the celestial curse.Arunraj, who was quick to respond, firmly declined to hold rituals to appease snakes in the health budget, and said the administration relied on medical science, not planetary alignments.

"The only widespread ailment we are currently tracking is the common cold - Jaladosham and not Nagadosham," the minister said.

Refusing to let the joke fade, Panneerselvam playfully offered to provide a team of ritual experts to help the health ministry.

The banter drew Public Works and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna into the fray, and he reminded the Assembly of the state's deep roots in the ideals of rationalist leader Periyar, emphasising that the government solves problems with rationalism rather than incantations.

Leader of the Opposition DMK Udhayanidhi Stalin stepped in to clarify the confusion. He said the senior member - Panneerselvam - made a playful jab aimed at the DMK Deputy Leader K N Nehru, who was currently laid down by a severe cold.

Immediately, Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar wrapped up the debate with the ultimate word of caution, advising Panneerselvam to "take precautions, or you might catch a cold yourself."

The lighthearted exchange drew laughter from both the Treasury and Opposition benches.

During Zero Hour in the Assembly, DMK MLAs K N Nehru and M R K Panneerselvam raised questions about deaths due to snake bites across the State. Replying to them, the Minister said 9,519 people had been affected by snakebites and nine people had died so far this year.

He also said that 15,837 people were affected by snakebites and 26 people died in 2025."In 2024, as many as 16,142 people were affected by snakebites and 27 people died.

To ensure immediate treatment not only for snakebites but also for cardiac arrests and other emergencies, the Health Department will create a unique dashboard to enable people to know the status of treatment and availability of medicines at hospitals across the State," the Minister said.

The chopped body of Thangamani of Mettupatti Thadanur and working as a maid was found in the overhead water tanks of a house recently at Arisipalayam.

After scrutinising the CCTV footage,police nabbed the accused identified as Nandini, 28 , a maid from Sukkampatti, her lover Malik Basha, a driver and her friend Sivaraman, 26. The trio murdered the woman and robbed her four sovereigns of gold jewels, before disposing her body by chopping into pieces.

Further investigation is on.

As part of the preparedness, GCC is currently carrying out desilting along 1,671 km of stormwater drains, while desilting work has been undertaken in 1,10,082 silt catch pits. Similar works have been ordered in suburban areas, with flood-prone areas such as Velachery, Ambattur SIDCO, Tiruvottiyur and Manali getting focused attention.

Officials have also been directed to address gaps in stormwater drainage connectivity, particularly in areas where Chennai Metro Rail works are under way and along highways. The Water Resources Department has been asked to expedite desilting of rivers and canals and clear obstructions at points. Pending drainage works on key stretches including Demellows road, Nookampalayam and MRH road have also been ordered to be expedited.

It is also stressed that there should be no loss of life due to electrical leakage during the monsoon. Flood relief centres and community kitchens are to be inspected and equipped with the necessary facilities.

At a review meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the Chief Secretary reviewed preparedness across the Greater Chennai, Avadi and Tambaram corporations with zonal monitoring officers and senior officials from the Water Resources, Highways, Electricity, Revenue and Disaster Management departments, besides Chennai Metro Rail and Chennai Metro Water.

Eligibility: Open to SC, ST and Muslim students from any Indian state or union territory who have passed Class 12 with the required marks and have annual parental income up to ₹5,00,000, seeking UG admission at the Chennai campus.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship covering up to 100 per cent of tuition fee, hostel accommodation, food and examination fee

Last Date to Apply: 14-09-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

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Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in the first year of a full-time regular undergraduate (UG) degree in any stream at a recognised Indian institute. Must have passed Class 12 with a minimum of 60% marks.

The annual household income should be up to INR 15,00,000 per year (preference will be given to those students whose family income is less than INR 2,50,000). Open to resident Indian citizens only. An aptitude test is mandatory.

Prizes & Rewards: Up to INR 2,00,000 over the duration of the degree

Last Date to Apply: 05-10-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

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The restriction, which came into force on September 1, is aimed at preserving the sanctity of temples and ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for devotees during worship, the minister said in a statement.

Clarifying the scope of the measure, he said there was no restriction on carrying ordinary mobile phones that do not have facilities to take photographs or record videos.

The move follows similar restrictions already in force at major temples, including Palani, Tiruchendur, Madurai, and Rameswaram.

The department said the measure was intended to prevent photography, video recording, selfies, and reels inside temple premises, which could affect the worship experience of other devotees.

For devotees carrying camera phones, secure deposit counters and lockers have been arranged at the temples.

A nominal charge of Rs 5 per phone has been fixed to meet the expenses of staff, lockers, and related technological facilities, and is not intended as temple revenue, the minister said.

Temple administrations have been instructed to increase the number of counters wherever necessary to reduce waiting time. Devotees have also been advised to leave their phones at home, in their accommodation or in their vehicles, wherever possible, to avoid queues and congestion.

The minister appealed to devotees and the public to extend their cooperation to ensure a peaceful worship environment and safeguard the tradition and sanctity of temples.

Eligibility: Students who are enrolled in the first-year full-time regular postgraduation programmes pursuing select future-ready courses from Engineering, Technology, Energy and Life Sciences. Must have secured 550 to 1,000 in the GATE examination, OR must have a CGPA of 7.5 or above in their undergraduate studies (or equivalent percentage normalised to CGPA) if the student has not attempted GATE. Open to resident Indian citizens only.

Prizes & Rewards: Up to INR 6,00,000 over the duration of the degree.

Last Date to Apply: 05-10-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/RFS15

Eligibility: Students enrolled in the first year of BBA, BFIA, B.Com. (H, E), BMS, IPM, B.A. (Economics), BBS, or any other finance-related degree courses are eligible. Applicants must have secured at least 80% marks in Classes 10 and 12 (70% for PwD students). The annual parental income must not exceed INR 6 lakh from all sources. Open for Indian nationals only.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship from INR 40,000 to INR 5,50,000 per year for 3 years.

Last Date to Apply: 30-09-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/RKMSP6

Eligibility: Open to Indian students in Classes 11 and 12 or pursuing UG, Diploma, or ITI courses at recognised institutions.

Minimum 60% marks in the previous year.

Annual parental income must not exceed INR 4 lakh.

Prizes & Rewards: Selected students can receive 80% to 100% of their tuition/course fees, up to INR 15,000 (Class 11 & 12) and up to INR 18,000 (undergraduate, diploma & ITI), based on their academic performance. (Whichever is less)

Last Date to Apply: October 10

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Eligibility: Open to first-year MBA/PGDM/PGP/B.E./B.Tech./M.E./M.Tech (For Tech, Applicable Courses are: Computer Science, IT, AI/ML, Data Science, or Statistics.)

Must have secured a minimum of 75% marks or equivalent in Class 10 and 12.

Students from top 25 NIRF-ranked colleges will be considered for this scholarship, with students from the top 10 NIRF-ranked colleges given preference.

Annual parental income up to INR 15 lakh.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship of up to INR 10,00,000 per year*, based on course category and fee-linked slab.

Last Date to Apply: October 10

Application mode: Online applications only

Short URL: www.b4s.in/dtnt/BFAS2

QR Code: https://dle9eg0t055l3.cloudfront.net/static/images/scho-media/2026-271788240134.png

Note: The scholarship support will be provided on a per-year basis for the duration of the course, subject to the student continuing to meet the applicable renewal criteria.

Eligibility: Must be an Indian citizen.

Must be currently pursuing a professional photography-related course with a minimum duration of three months.

Must have passed Class 12 (any stream).

Annual parental income from all sources must not exceed INR 6,00,000

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship up to INR 1,00,000 based on the actual course fee.

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Eligibility: Open to PAN India girl students belonging to the SC, ST or OBC communities studying in Classes 9 to 12, or pursuing general undergraduate courses (such as B.A., B.A. (Hons.), B.Sc. or B.Com.) and general postgraduate courses (such as M.A., M.A. (Hons.), M.Sc. or M.Com.).

Applicants must have secured at least 50% marks in their previous academic year or semester.

Annual family income from all sources should not exceed INR 4,00,000.

Prizes & Rewards: Fixed scholarship of INR 5,500 per selected scholar

Last Date to Apply: 21-09-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

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The restriction, which came into force on September 1, is aimed at preserving the sanctity of temples and ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for devotees, he said. There was no restriction on carrying ordinary mobile phones that do not have facilities to take photographs or record videos. The move follows similar restrictions already in force at major temples, including Palani, Tiruchendur, Madurai, and Rameswaram.

This was intended to prevent photography, video recording, selfies, and reels inside temple premises, which could affect others.

Secure deposit counters and lockers have been arranged and a nominal charge of Rs 5 per phone has been fixed to meet the expenses of staff, lockers, and related technological facilities. It is not intended as temple revenue, he said. Temple administrations have been told to increase the number of counters wherever necessary to reduce waiting time. Devotees were advised to leave their phones at home, in their accommodation or in their vehicles to avoid queues and congestion.

The incident happened when the girl from a village in Thanjavur went to her grandmother’s house in the neighbouring village during a temple festival on August 30. There a man from Manamelkudi in Pudukkottai, an acquaintance of the girl’s grandmother, also came to the village to take part in the festival. He allegedly took her to a secluded place and sexually abused her with the false promise of marriage.

Meanwhile, seeing him and the minor girl, four people, including two boys aged 15 and 17, followed them and picked up a quarrel with the man and allegedly sexually assaulted the girl.

The girl managed to escape the gang and informed her mother about the incident, and the latter lodged a complaint with the Sethubavachatram police. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case. On Tuesday, the police arrested the four, and also the man who lured the girl, under the Pocso Act. The men were produced before the court which remanded them in custody, while the minors were lodged in the government observation home in Thanjavur.

AIADMK member L Jayasudha's mispronunciation triggered repeated laughter in the Assembly on Tuesday, with members across party lines joining in during the debate.

Participating in the discussion on the Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi and MSME Departments, the Arani MLA began her speech by thanking Palaniswami, as AIADMK members customarily do before addressing the issues related to the departments under discussion.

However, Jayasudha, instead of sounding "Edappadiyaar", was seen pronouncing it as "Ettappadiyaar," prompting laughter from the Treasury and Opposition benches. Each time she used the pronunciation, members exchanged smiles and laughed, turning the proceedings into a brief, light-hearted episode.

During her speech, Jayasudha described Health and Family Welfare Minister KG Arunraj as a "well-mannered and cultured person". She referred to Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan as a close associate and also thanked Handlooms Minister M Vijay Balaji.

Taking the exchange in good humour, Vijay Balaji remarked: "Goodness… your party chief is not present here (in the Assembly)."

Family members waiting anxiously at the airport broke down in tears, as they saw their loved ones safe and embraced them after days of uncertainty. The returnees were from Coimbatore, Tirupur, the Nilgiris, and Erode districts.

For some, the homecoming brought a painful reminder of how narrowly they had escaped the disaster. Prema of Kaniyampoondi in Tirupur said the group was fortunate to have crossed the flood-affected area just a day before the disaster struck.

“We were shocked to learn that the place we had travelled through for darshan had been devastated and that many lives had been lost. We feel fortunate to have returned safely,” she said.

Two other women, Saroja and Rathi of Sathyamangalam, recalled the help they received from their Nepali guides during the difficult journey. “Two Nepali guides helped us reach a safer place. Even after learning that the brother of one of the guides had gone missing in the floods, he stayed with us and ensured that we reached a safe destination,” they said.

For Ajay of Uthukuli in Tirupur, the ordeal ended only when he saw his parents return safely. He had come to the airport to receive his parents, Chandrakumar (57) and Mohana (47).

“My parents left for Nepal on August 18 as part of a 39-member group on a spiritual tour. We were extremely worried after hearing about the devastating floods. We felt relieved only after we managed to contact them over the phone. Seeing them return safely has brought us immense relief,” he said.

Replying during a debate on the demands for grants for his department, Balaji said the expansion of Co-optex's sales network would help take Tamil Nadu's handloom products to a wider customer base. The franchise showrooms and multi-brand outlets would be established in India and abroad. The minister announced the setting up of a silk export trade facilitation centre (SETFC) in Kancheepuram to strengthen support for exporters and manufacturers.

The government would also promote the use of renewable energy in the handloom sector by installing solar panels for weavers. A Natural Dye House would be established to promote eco-friendly production. A design studio would come up in Thanjavur to develop new designs and improve the marketability of handloom products. A special handloom expo would be organised to showcase products made by local weavers.

To improve textile market access, the department would organise a reverse buyer-seller meet, bringing buyers and producers together to create new business opportunities. Balaji also announced a Centre of Excellence for HomeTech Textiles to promote research, product development and innovation in the home-textile sector.

The government would further establish a Tamil Nadu Knitwear Board to support the State’s knitwear value chain and facilitate the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises.

MSME package

Under a Rs 32.95-crore micro and small cluster development programme,

Athangudi's handmade tile industry will receive a Rs 3 crore common facility centre, while Dindigul's traditional lock cluster will get Rs 10 crore. covering four traditional-product clusters, MSME minister P Madhan Raja announced on Tuesday.

The announcements to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), span traditional industries, finance, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, technology and market access.

The government will implement the ‘Vetri Kaivinai Kalaignargal Thittam’, under which projects up to Rs 10 lakh will be granted 50% financial assistance. The ‘MMM Scheme’ will provide Rs 100 crore in margin-money support through the Tamil Nadu Industrial Cooperative Bank.

New industrial parks for women entrepreneurs will be established in eight districts, covering 108.28 acres at an estimated Rs 237.56 crore.

For startups, the ‘Tamil Nadu Start Smart Seed Fund’ will provide up to Rs 25 lakh to eligible startups. The government will also create a Rs 100 crore investment fund for startups.

A new MSME policy will address technology adoption, Industry 4.0, intellectual property, quality, design and market access. The government will also support new entrepreneurs through the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute-Tamil Nadu, with 1,000 new entrepreneurs to be assisted through various programmes.

A medical and drug park will be established at Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district on 60.36 acres at a cost of Rs 48.08 crore. The park is expected to generate about 2,800 jobs.

The package also includes measures for technology support, skill development, market access and strengthening MSME clusters across the State.

The Bill was tabled by Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajkumar on Tuesday (September 1), stating that the move was aimed at simplifying the process for obtaining permission for land development, reducing procedural delays, and improving the ease of obtaining such permissions.

The Opposition parties, AIADMK, CPI, and CPM, opposed it at the introductory stage.

The primary Opposition DMK, along with the PMK and BJP, sought a debate before the Bill was passed. One of the Cabinet colleagues from the Congress supported the Bill.

The debate on the Bill will be taken up before the Assembly session concludes. If the PMK and BJP support the Bill, it is likely to be passed by voice vote, even though the Left parties have opposed it.

"The government has decided to dispense with the requirement of obtaining prior concurrence from the district Collector for the development of wetlands in non-planning areas and to give powers to the DTCP to give prior concurrence to the local authority in the case of wetlands," the Bill said.

During the debate on demands for grants for the Labour Welfare and Skill Development departments, Sattur legislator A Kadarkarairaj said the DMK government had always protected workers' interests and welfare. He alleged that the present government had not yet implemented any significant scheme for the welfare of labourers.

Responding to the remarks, Minister Aadhav Arjuna said the previous DMK government had introduced a Bill proposing to extend working hours from 8 to 12, claiming such a move was against labour welfare.

He said the Bill was eventually withdrawn following opposition from alliance partners.

Responding to the Minister's allegation, DMK floor leader EV Velu said that several companies from abroad looking to establish industries in Tamil Nadu had sought flexible working hours, so the then government proposed to introduce the Bill.

He also said the Bill stated that those willing to work 12 hours could opt for it, while others who did not wish to work more than 8 hours could continue with the 8-hour workday.

He said the DMK government had withdrawn the proposal after considering concerns and requests from its alliance partners.

In a statement, Shanmugam said 13 people were killed in the firing, which he alleged was carried out with the intention of killing protesters.

The Aruna Jagadeesan Commission, constituted to inquire into the incident, had named 17 police personnel, including three IPS officers, as responsible, along with the district Collector and three tehsildars, he said. The commission had recommended departmental action against them and registration of criminal cases for investigation.

Shanmugam said the stand taken by the Tamil Nadu government before the Madras High Court on August 31 appeared aimed at protecting the officials responsible for the deaths. "The proceedings in court indicate that none of them will be punished," he said.

He alleged that government institutions had acted as instruments of repression and accused the ruling TVK and the previously ruling DMK of taking a position that favoured officials. He said the tragedy could have been avoided if the Sterlite management or government agencies had acted when people raised concerns over environmental violations.

The CPM leader said protecting officials who acted in the interests of a multinational capitalist would leave citizens feeling that they could get no justice from the administration, judiciary or government.

During Zero Hour, AIADMK member CVe Shanmugam said that the government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the Tamil Nadu government had decided to reduce the number of Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions from 32 to 14.

"The government should not take this decision and should continue with all 32 Commissions," he demanded.

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister P Venkataramanan said that people should be happy when the number of cases before the consumer disputes redressal commissions decreases, adding that both consumers and traders were following the rules laid down by the government.

"When consumer-related cases decrease, the number of commissions will be reduced. If the number of cases increases, the number of Commissions will be increased," he said.

On June 11, a police team conducted surveillance near May Day Park, Chintadripet and arrested Akash Das (23) of Agartala, West Tripura, for illegal possession of ganja for sale. They seized 30 kg of ganja and a mobile phone from him and remanded him to judicial custody.

Investigation revealed that the main accused in the network was hiding in Tripura. Subsequently, a special team from Chintadripet police station camped in Tripura and, with the help of Tripura police, secured the other suspect on August 28 (Monday). The arrested person was identified as Sagarsil (26) of Bishalgarh, West Tripura.

He was produced before a magistrate there and brought to Chennai after completing legal formalities. During interrogation, it was revealed that Sagarsil had been sending ganja from Tripura to Chennai through carriers regularly. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.

The AIADMK chief said his party continued to remain part of the NDA and would demonstrate its strength in the forthcoming local-body elections.

He said that corruption had increased across government departments under the TVK regime. “Officials who earlier demanded Rs 10,000 as a bribe are now seeking Rs 20,000. The cash seizures during DVAC raids show that corruption exposes this truth. The government is seeking publicity for these raids through social media reels. How can this government be called a clean government?” he asked while speaking to reporters in Coimbatore.

“The TVK government is incurring recurring expenditure without generating corresponding revenue to address the financial deficit,” he said. Taking a swipe at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Palaniswami said Vijay could aspire to become the President or Prime Minister of India, or even the President of the United States, but added that TVK’s political reels would not work any more.

On the Assembly's prolonged sittings, Palaniswami said proceedings should be conducted only within the stipulated hours. “The Assembly resembles scenes from films, with ministers failing to give proper replies to issues concerning their departments,” he said.

Minister Vanni Arasu said that several legislators had highlighted the difficulties tribal people face in obtaining community certificates. "I encountered the same complaint when I visited the Kalvarayan Hills, Erode and other areas. People there did not even believe that ministers would visit them, as ministers had not gone there earlier," he said.

Former minister MRK Panneerselvam countered Vanni Arasu's remarks, saying the previous DMK government had implemented several measures that led to the issuance of certificates.

AIADMK MLA R Rakesh credited the AIADMK regime with development in the Kalvarayan Hills. Vanni Arasu challenged him to visit tribal areas where roads and basic amenities were still absent.

DMK whip EV Velu said both sides had a point, asserting that the earlier government had also issued community certificates and pattas to tribal people.

Sengottaiyan assured the House that pattas would be issued to tribal people in accordance with the rules.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar pointed to the gravity of the situation, saying that people in some areas were still forced to carry bodies on their shoulders due to inadequate basic infrastructure.

Replying to DMDK MLA Premallatha Vijayakant during the debate on the demands for grants for his department, Balaji said the Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi Department would promote the products and begin selling them before the festival.

The minister also said weaving wages for sarees and dhotis supplied under the government's welfare schemes had been enhanced. The wage for a saree had been raised from Rs 178.36 to Rs 203.86 and that for a dhoti from Rs 151.71 to Rs 166.26, he said.

He said Cooptex showrooms in Cuddalore and Vriddhachalam would be renovated soon. Free eye check-up camps would be organised for weavers aged above 50, with spectacles provided to eligible beneficiaries, he added.

Earlier, Premallatha urged the government to revive the handloom and khadi sectors and improve the welfare of weavers. She sought higher wages for those producing government-supplied sarees, saying that many weavers were elderly and had difficulty with their eyesight.

She also sought Rs 10 lakh compensation for the families of deceased weavers and an increase in their monthly pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000.

Premallatha sought a textile park in Elampillai, Salem, easier access to institutional credit, modern khadi outlets, and greater promotion of khadi through exhibitions and fashion events.

The DMDK leader also sought a welfare board for head-load workers in Vriddhachalam, cold-storage facilities for cashew, mango and jackfruit produce, subsidies for barbers and tailors, and measures to protect salt-pan workers affected by the proposed shipbuilding yard at Mullakadu.

Thangam Thennarasu said that after learning about Kamaraj's demise, the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi paid floral tributes to his mortal remains.

"His mortal remains were kept at Rajaji Hall for public tribute and later laid to rest at Gandhi Mandapam in Guindy as per demands placed by the Congress leaders. The then Chief Minister Karunanidhi himself made the arrangements along with Congress leaders Rajaram Naidu and Tindivanam Ramamoorthy," he said.

Former Congress leader Pazha Nedumaran had also acknowledged in an interview that there was no demand to lay Kamaraj's mortal remains on Marina Beach, he said.

When Congress leaders were preparing for a burial at Congress grounds, it was the then CM Karunanidhi who suggested that the legendary freedom fighter should not be restricted to Congress alone and suggested a memorial to preserve his contributions, Thangam Thennarasu said.

Thangam Thennarasu also quoted a statement by Rajaram Naidu in the Rajya Sabha that explained the sequence of events after Kamaraj's demise.

After the DMK asserted that a demand for a Marina memorial never arose in the case of former CM Kamaraj, Congress Legislative Party chief Tharagai Cuthbert said she would respond with valid evidence on Wednesday.

"Around 80 lakh ration card holders in urban areas will benefit," he said. The Minister made a suo motu statement during Zero Hour, saying the government had decided to procure 1,000 metric tonnes of onions through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India.

"Due to the increase in transportation charges amid the war in Iraq, onion prices have increased. Supplies from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have also declined. In Tamil Nadu, one kilogram of onions is currently being sold at Rs 56 to Rs 60," he said.

He added that the government had decided to convene the Price Monitoring Committee every three months, adding that it had been convened only twice during the DMK regime.

Meanwhile, the second 'Kanda Express ', a dedicated railway rake carrying 840 tonnes of onions from the buffer stock, reached Chennai on August 31, the Consumer Affairs Ministry said on Tuesday.

The onions are expected to be distributed across various districts of Tamil Nadu, the ministry said in a statement. This follows the central government's calibrated release of onion buffer stocks under a hybrid transportation model that combines railway rakes (Kanda Express) and road transport to ensure adequate availability and to check seasonal price pressures. Both Kanda Express consignments were dispatched from Nashik, the country's onion hub. Alongside rail transport, around 1,000 tonnes of onions are being transported by road to major consumption centres, in line with prevailing market conditions and price trends, to improve availability and moderate prices.

The government maintained 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions in its buffer stock for the current year. Prices have declined since the day after disposal began, with further supplies expected to support price stability.

The ministry added that robust security measures have been put in place to prevent leakage and address security concerns during the movement and disposal of large quantities of onions via railway rakes.

The water from Mettur dam, which was opened by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for delta irrigation, has not spread any cheers, as the farmers are sceptical about the storage that stands at 91.56 feet was adequate to take up long-term samba cultivation for which they will need water till January 28. They urged the government to ensure proper storage of water to facilitate a single-crop cultivation and opt for medium-term crop that takes between 120 and 140 days.

At the State committee meeting of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Association in Tiruvarur on Tuesday, farmer leaders said Rasimanal dam construction was the only solution for water shortage for Delta irrigation and said they would organise a rally raising the demand from September 20 at Poompuhar.

Its general secretary PR Pandian said farmers should opt for single crop cultivation and choose medium-term crop by utilising the water wisely. He also urged the government to form a district-level monitoring committee comprising Revenue, Water Resources, Agriculture and Police departments and inspect the available waterbodies and fill them in the first 15 days before releasing the water for irrigation.

As the summer rains were inadequate in the Delta region and the farmers who follow direct sowing could not begin cultivation. Hence, the government should guide them on using water economically for samba, he said. “The farmers should ensure water availability for the crops during the flowering stage to ensure that crop does not wilt,” cautioned Pandian.

He also demanded the Chief Minister Vijay to release water till January 28, as around 25 lakh acres is irrigated using water from Mettur.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from all parties concerned.

Petitions seeking to quash the Speaker's orders were filed by former AIADMK minister and party whip Agri SS Krishnamurthy, along with Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi president ML Ravi.

During the hearing, senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for the Speaker, submitted that an MLA cannot be compelled to remain in office if he wishes to resign. He argued that the Speaker's scope is limited to examining whether a resignation was voluntary, while allegations regarding ministerial posts, money, or horse-trading could only be examined during disqualification proceedings. Contending that the Speaker had committed no violation, he urged the court to dismiss the petitions.

Senior counsel Satish Parasaran, representing the resigned MLAs, submitted that resigning as an MLA and subsequently joining another party was part of democratic politics. He added that the voters of their respective constituencies could question the MLAs' resignations.

Advocate General Vijay Narayan, appearing for the Assembly Secretary, argued that once MLAs had genuinely tendered their resignations voluntarily, the Speaker could not refuse to accept them.

Meanwhile, counsel for Esakki Subbaiah informed the Bench that an additional petition would be filed, stating that he had withdrawn his resignation and written to the Speaker on August 28 seeking permission to continue as the Ambasamudram MLA until the final disposal of the election petition, as the absence of an MLA was affecting his constituents.

However, the court refused to entertain the additional petition.

Subaya, who resigned as MLA and quit AIADMK to join TVK, submitted a representation to Speaker JCD Prabhakar on August 28 seeking permission to withdraw his resignation, and also filed an additional affidavit before the Madras High Court in the case concerning the acceptance of the resignations.

In his affidavit, Subaya said his primary concern was that his constituency should not be left without elected representative. "My concern is my constituency only. Either there should be an election paving the way for a new MLA or I should be allowed to withdraw my resignation so that the constituency isn't denied its democratic representation," Subaya told an English news channel.

However, Assembly Secretariat officials said there was no provision for an MLA to withdraw resignation once it had been accepted and the constituency declared vacant. A by-election would be the only option available to Subaya, they said.

The Election Commission has also informed the High Court that bypolls cannot be held in five of the seven vacant constituencies, as election petitions challenging the election victories in those seats are pending. Subaya's Ambasamudram constituency is among the five.

Reacting to Subaya's latest move, AIADMK advocates wing secretary and Rajya Sabha member IS Inbadurai said the additional affidavit further strengthened the party's allegations of "political inducement" and "horse-trading" by the TVK-led government.

Inbadurai said Subaya had informed the court that he had petitioned the Speaker on August 29 seeking to keep his resignation in abeyance and allow him to function again as an MLA, and said the move vindicated AIADMK's allegations against the TVK.

The controversy followed a revolt in AIADMK in which 25 rebel MLAs voted in favour of the minority TVK government despite the party whip. AIADMK subsequently sought their disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

While the disqualification petitions remain pending, Speaker Prabhakar accepted the resignations of Subaya and the other MLAs, following which their seats were declared vacant. The Speaker had defended the decision, saying the resignation papers were in order.

When asked about reports that more AIADMK MLAs could quit the party and join TVK, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said an MLA who had already quit and joined TVK had filed an affidavit seeking to continue as an MLA.

“He has filed an affidavit saying that he wants to continue as an MLA. What does that mean? Nothing has worked out there,” Palaniswami told reporters in Coimbatore.

Tamil Nadu recorded a peak power demand of 21,615 MW in August, up 12.14% from 19,275 MW in August 2025, while energy consumption rose 12.66% from 11,271 MU to 12,699 MU.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said August 2026 recorded a mean temperature of 28.01°C across India, 0.67°C above the long-period average, making it the hottest August since 1901. Strong El Niño conditions were a major factor behind the exceptional warmth. August figures indicate that the unusually high electricity demand in July was not a one-month phenomenon. While monthly energy consumption fell from the July record of 13,807 MU, it remained substantially higher than the corresponding period last year.

The daily figures reveal the extent of the increase. Energy consumption crossed 400 MU on 25 days in August, compared with just two days in August 2025. This year's highest daily consumption was 459 MU, against 422 MU last year, while the lowest was 363 MU, compared with 313 MU in August 2025.

Peak demand also remained consistently high. The State crossed the 20,000 MW mark on 16 days, including one day when demand exceeded 21,000 MW. The maximum peak demand was 21,615 MW and the minimum peak was 17,373 MW. In August 2025, peak demand peaked at 19,275 MW and fell to as low as 13,740 MW.

The August surge followed a record-breaking July, when Tamil Nadu recorded its all-time highest peak demand of 21,724 MW on July 14 and an all-time high daily energy consumption of 475.447 MU on July 17. Normally, TN’s highest power demand or energy consumption is recorded in March or April, when temperatures peak.

TNPDCL officials said that prolonged heat and humidity had increased the use of ACs, air-coolers and other cooling equipment at homes, commercial establishments and industries. “The increase in the use of the induction stoves also added to the spike in the power demand,” the official noted.

In an order dated August 31, it stated that the vacant posts in these colleges were filled through a transparent online counselling process.

As many as 129 professors had approached the courts seeking appointment to Principal posts.

Following court orders, the eligibility of professors was scrutinised and eligible candidates were selected for appointment.

The Commissionerate of Collegiate Education provided the eligible professors an opportunity to select their preferred colleges through online counselling.

Based on that, 112 associate professors have now been promoted and posted as Grade-II Principals in government colleges across TN.

The department said, “Appointments are made through an online and transparent process to ensure fairness and prevent malpractice in the selection and posting of principals.”

While India has recorded its hottest August in 125 years amid a significant rainfall deficit, meteorologists expect the evolving weather conditions to bring a stronger northeast monsoon rainfall to the State later this year.

India recorded its hottest August since 1901, with the country’s mean temperature reaching 28.01 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The temperature was 0.67 degrees Celsius above the long period average of 27.34 degrees Celsius. The previous record was set in August 2023, when India’s mean temperature stood at 28 degrees Celsius.

The record-breaking heat came as the country experienced a rainfall deficit during August. India received 16% below normal rainfall during the month, resulting in dry conditions and unusually high temperatures across several parts of the country.

Scientist VR Durai, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, India Meteorological Centre, Chennai, told DT Next that the hot and dry conditions experienced across much of the country were linked to the prevailing large-scale weather pattern.

“Some parts of Odisha, Maharashtra and a few northern States received good rainfall. However, overall, several parts of the country experienced dry and hot weather conditions,” he added.

Tamil Nadu, too, is likely to continue facing hot and humid weather during the first half of September.

“We may continue to experience relatively dry and hot weather conditions until around September 15 but the State gets a small spell of rain here and there,” he stated. “The same evolving climate conditions could eventually turn favourable for TN when the northeast monsoon sets in.”

El Nino, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon associated with changes in ocean temperatures, winds, atmospheric pressure and global rainfall patterns, is expected to remain an important factor influencing weather conditions in the coming months.

According to Durai, the prevailing El Nino conditions are expected to strengthen further, which could push average temperatures higher.

“After September 15, the El Nino conditions are expected to become stronger and may lead to a further increase in temperatures by 2 degree Celsius to above normal. However, there is no need for concern about the prolonged heat alone, as the larger weather pattern could also favour increased rainfall during the northeast monsoon,” he pointed out.

Tamil Nadu receives a major share of its annual rainfall during the northeast monsoon, which generally begins in October and continues until December. The season is particularly crucial for the State as it replenishes reservoirs, groundwater and other water bodies.

Durai opined: “We’re expecting good rainfall during the northeast monsoon due to the very strong super El Nino condition in Tamil Nadu.”

For now, residents will have to endure another fortnight of heat and humidity. But after August entered the record books as India’s hottest since 1901, the prospect of a wetter Northeast monsoon could offer much needed relief to Tamil Nadu.

The case has now got a breakthrough, with special teams recovering the car and container lorry used in the two crimes and arresting one suspected member of the gang in Rajasthan.

Police found that the Somangalam robbery gang had used a car, while suspects in the Gummidipoondi robbery are believed to have used a container lorry. Both vehicles were traced and found abandoned.

The car allegedly used in the Somangalam robbery was traced in a forest area in a northern state. It was a stolen vehicle and different number plates had been used on it.

The container lorry used in the Gummidipoondi robbery was later found abandoned at Vadakkal near Sriperumbudur. Police seized the vehicle and questioned drivers and cleaners in the area, besides collecting their fingerprints. The lorry was fitted with a fake number plate and had been parked at the location for two days.

Meanwhile, police learnt that Pawan Kumar (28) from UP, a member of the gang, had been arrested by Jaipur police in connection with another case. Tambaram special team travelled to Jaipur and questioned him. Interrogation revealed that Pawan and four others were involved in the Somangalam ATM robbery.

The suspects had fled to Haryana and remain absconding. Police teams are continuing efforts to trace them.

The police are now examining whether the same gang was involved in both ATM robberies and are also investigating the gang’s possible involvement in similar crimes elsewhere.