The clarification follows the State government’s gazetting of an amendment providing for an Environmental and Social Welfare Cess of up to Rs 20 on each unit container of alcoholic liquor.

The provision was introduced through the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026. Under this, the government can prescribe the cess based on the type and quantity of liquor and the nature of the container, subject to a maximum of Rs 20 per unit container. The levy is in addition to the existing VAT.

Vignesh, however, said the government would levy only Rs 10 as cess and adjust the amount against the Rs 10 already collected under the bottle buy-back scheme. “We’re collecting Rs 10 extra under the bottle buy-back scheme. The cess will be Rs 10 only, and not more than that. It will be adjusted against the Rs 10 already being collected. There won’t be any retail price hike in the near future just because of this,” the Minister told this correspondent.

Officials said that the existing Rs 10 collected separately for the bottle buy-back scheme would be incorporated into the MRP of the liquor. The government has also decided to hand over the responsibility of collecting, transporting and recycling empty bottles to the respective liquor manufacturers.

The new cess is intended to support recycling, safe disposal and reuse of liquor containers, rehabilitation and de-addiction programmes, welfare and livelihood support for families affected by alcohol addiction, awareness campaigns and ecological protection and restoration.

The Act defines a unit container as a bottle, jar, flask, pot, tin, can, tetra pack or similar receptacle designed to hold a specified quantity of liquor. The cess will not form part of taxable turnover and will come into force on a date to be notified by the government.

The SPV, which is still at the planning stage, is being considered as the structure through which the platform and related driver welfare measures can be operated.

The development comes as CUMTA begins the groundwork for the app announced by Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajkumar in the Assembly in August. A GO authorising CUMTA to undertake the project is expected in the coming weeks.

“The tender document for selecting a technical partner has already been prepared and submitted to the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB) for vetting, as the project is proposed under a public-private partnership model,” said an official from the authority. CUMTA is targeting June-July 2027 for launching the platform.

The proposed SPV could make the initiative more than another government-backed alternative to existing aggregators such as Ola and Uber. CUMTA plans to retain a small portion of the per-ride charge collected through the platform, with the money potentially being used to fund driver welfare measures, including health insurance. It is also exploring whether autorickshaw drivers using the platform can become shareholders in the SPV, giving them a formal stake in the system.

Officials said the broader idea is to gradually move autorickshaw drivers, who largely operate in an unorganised environment, towards a semi-organised structure.

The proposal combines elements of models of Kerala and the Union Government's initiative. Kerala’s Savaari, launched as a government-backed auto-taxi platform, uses a service charge collected from passengers, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for project implementation, incentives and promotional offers for drivers and passengers.

At the national level, Bharat Taxi, operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, has taken the driver-ownership route, with drivers becoming members and stakeholders in the cooperative. Unlike this, CUMTA is not proposing a driver-owned cooperative. At the same time, the proposed SPV would allow CUMTA to retain a portion of the platform’s per-ride revenue for possible welfare measures, while the proposed shareholding model could give drivers a stake in the entity running the platform.

The platform will also use a digital meter. Officials said that this would also make future fare revisions easier. When fares are revised, the tariff can be changed centrally on the server and reflected across the digital meters. A committee involving the Transport Commissionerate officials has now been constituted to examine how the fare revision should be carried out.

The app and the fare revision are part of a longer-pending demand from autorickshaw drivers. Drivers have sought a minimum fare of Rs. 60 for the first 1.5 km, Rs. 30 for every subsequent kilometre, a waiting charge of Re. 1 per minute and a night-time fare of 1.5 times the normal tariff.

TIMELINE

• 2022: Auto drivers demand with fare revision, government-backed app

• October 2023: State Transport Dept explores auto ride-hailing app called TATO

• March 2024: Unions reject private ownership, suggest using funds from welfare board to fund software

• May-July 2024: CUMTA’s Common Mobility App to eventually integrate private aggregators such as Ola, Uber

• February 2025: CUMTA moves towards auto-booking app, begins survey among commuters, auto drivers for reasonable fare

• August 2026: Minister announces CUMTA auto/cab app integrated with digital meters

• September 2026: SPV model takes shap;, launch around June-July 2027 while long-pending fare revision measures still under way

A Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel also directed the district Collector to coordinate the inspection and to include in the status report an assessment of the feasibility of providing compensation to the elderly woman. The court directed the Collector to file the status report and adjourned the case to October 15.

The directions followed advocate Jayashree’s narration of the alleged poor sanitation conditions at the hospital in her PIL. Petitioner’s counsel, advocate R Alagumani, told the court that R Tamilkodi (68) was bitten by a rat on her left toe on the night of July 21 while recovering in the general ward after undergoing surgery for a leg fracture a day earlier. She also suffers from diabetes, the counsel said.

The incident allegedly occurred despite Tamilkodi’s family alerting hospital authorities about severe rat infestation in the ward three days earlier.

Following the incident, an advocate team, including the petitioner and her counsel, inspected the hospital and allegedly found poorly maintained toilets, broken or missing toilet doors, inadequate cleaning and water facilities, sewage leakage, stagnant drainage water, open drains near the wards, rodent access and stray dogs roaming the hospital premises.

The counsel contended that stagnant water could facilitate the breeding of vectors such as mosquitoes and other insects, increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, as well as secondary bacterial infections among patients.

Addressing a review meeting with engineers of the Public Works and Highways departments here, Aadhav stressed the need for modern administrative infrastructure with adequate facilities like the ones in neighbouring Karnataka and Telangana. "Government buildings should have infrastructure comparable to private establishments," he said, adding that public facilities should be designed keeping people's needs in mind.

The minister's remarks come in the backdrop of his earlier statements that the site for the proposed complex had not been finalised and that concerns of the fishing community of Pattinapakkam would be considered before a decision was taken. He had said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would take the final call after examining the detailed project report.

Aadhav directed officials to ensure that government buildings are accessible to persons with disabilities. If departmental manpower is inadequate for the proposed inspection, private personnel may be engaged, he said.

He said 45,139 km of district roads would be taken up for immediate repairs and announced plans for a sea link between Chennai and Mamallapuram. Roads transferred from the Greater Chennai Corporation to the Highways Department would be upgraded within a year after the monsoon, he added.

Colour coding to indicate building safety

The government will introduce a colour-coded system to publicly indicate the condition of government buildings. Red stickers will identify buildings in poor condition, yellow those requiring repairs, and green those in good condition. The exercise will begin with schools and them cover colleges and hospitals. Details of the buildings and their maintenance status will also be made available online.

AI cameras to curb accidents

Noting that more than 88,500 people had died and over 1.2 lakh suffered serious injuries in road accidents during the past five years, Aadhav said AI-enabled cameras will be installed across more than 76,000 km of roads within three months, with surveillance planned at 100-metre intervals. "If private buses travel at 120 kmph with loud music, it is not merely the operator's fault; it is also the administration's failure to establish proper controls," he said.

As many as 301 fresh dengue cases were reported in a single day, taking the number of cases reported so far this year to 17,649. Nine people have died of the infection, according to the department.

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, in coordination with municipal authorities, has intensified field-level measures to prevent dengue and other fever-related illnesses. Field workers are conducting door-to-door inspections to identify and eliminate potential mosquito-breeding sources, with greater focus on areas reporting a higher incidence of cases.

While wearing masks is not mandatory, the department has recommended their use as a precaution by vulnerable groups and people suffering from fever. The advisory is also intended to reduce the risk of transmission of respiratory infections among people with fever and other symptoms.

The department has advised parents not to send children to school if they develop fever or other symptoms, as a precaution against the spread of infections.

The authorities have also urged residents to ensure that water does not stagnate in and around their homes, as stagnant water can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

People who develop fever, cough or other symptoms have been advised to seek medical attention promptly and undergo appropriate medical evaluation.

In a recent interview, Ambika hit back at the allegations, saying, “Gold is Radha’s weakness,” and claimed that Radha has a lot of her gold. She also said Radha had given her three cheques for the money she owed her, while questioning the allegations surrounding the signed cheques.

Radha alleged that Ambika and her brother Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair had taken her signed blank cheques and presented them to the bank for encashment.

What did Ambika say about the Rs 46 crore allegation?

Responding to the allegations in an interview to the media, Ambika said the amount mentioned in Radha’s complaint had increased from Rs 43 crore to Rs 46 crore.

She said it was true that Radha had given her a cheque and that the cheque was later stopped, but questioned why Radha had not stated the reason for stopping it.

What did Radha allege against Ambika and her brother?

Radha, in her complaint, alleged that Ambika and her brother Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair had taken signed blank cheques kept at her Valasaravakkam residence and presented them to the bank for encashment.

She said the cheques were kept for meeting expenses including workers’ salaries, electricity bills, property tax, water and sewage bills and garden maintenance.

Radha said she had received a message from her bank on September 17 informing her that the old cheques had been presented for encashment, after which she asked the bank to halt the payment.

What did Ambika say about the ARS Gardens dispute?

Ambika said ARS Gardens was like her child and that it had been named after former Chief Minister MGR. She said there had been a long-standing issue concerning the shares in the company. According to Ambika, she visited the property a few days ago and was shocked to find that it had a different name.

"There is a production company named ARS. I have a share in it. Radha is not ready to talk about it either," Ambika said.

What did Ambika say about Radha and the gold?

"Gold is Radha's weakness. Radha becomes a model when she sees gold. She has a lot of my gold. There is no answer for that either," said Ambika, as reported by Daily Thanthi.

Why did Ambika question Radha’s claim about the signed cheques?

Ambika questioned Radha's allegation that signed blank cheques were kept at home. She said Radha was careful about securing her belongings, including locking her handbag and using a number lock when she slept at home.

"Is it acceptable for her to say that she kept the signed cheque at home in that case?" Ambika further asked.

Later, Ambika said it was painful that her sister was facing a cheque fraud case.

On Tuesday, sleuths the agency conducted joint surprise checks at government offices across Tamil Nadu and detected unaccounted cash and suspicious digital transactions totalling Rs 1.73 crore. Officials seized Rs 13.78 lakh in unaccounted cash, while suspicious transactions through UPI amounted to Rs 1.59 crore. That is, 92% of suspected bribes were paid via UPI using apps like Paytm and GPay

The trend has risen sharply. In the last week of August, DVAC found that 77% of the Rs 1.18 crore in suspected bribe transactions was paid through digital platforms. In the first week of July, only 32% of the Rs 84.7 lakh in suspected bribes was via UPI. The digital share thus rose from 32% in early July to 92% by the third week of September.

Tuesday’s checks covered 36 locations in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram.

The highest digital transaction amounts included Rs 43,42,563 at the Greater Chennai Corporation Office Zone 14 in Perungudi; Rs 19,66,500 at Kayalpattinam Municipality in Thoothukudi district; and Rs 19,16,280 at the Velankanni Town Panchayat Office in Nagapattinam district. Cash seizures included Rs 7,64,500 at the Arakkonam Municipality Office in Ranipet and Rs 5,53,767 at the Avinashi Municipality Office in Tirupur.

DVAC said the checks were part of its vigilance exercise across government offices.

Fake parking receipt book seized

In Ramanathapuram, officials received information about forged Rs 20 parking receipts being issued at the Municipal Bike Stand at the New Bus Stand. A joint surprise check at two bike stands led to the seizure of 59 fake receipt booklets, each containing 100 receipts, along with Rs 12,750 in unaccounted cash.

“If we start entertaining petitions of societies in a dispute between two states, which are already contesting the matter, then there will be no end to it,” a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed.

The bench refused to entertain the petition, which, among other prayers, sought the reallocation of 70 TMC of Cauvery River water from Tamil Nadu’s share to Karnataka.

The Karnataka government had told the apex court that it had released excess water to Tamil Nadu as of August 31 and the state was complying with the direction of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs.

On August 25, the CWMA upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) recommendation directing Karnataka to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

The Tamil Nadu government told the top court that it had informed the authority about the water backlog, but no direction was issued in this regard.

The apex court was then hearing the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking directions to the Karnataka government for immediate release of water to it.

On August 17, the apex court had asked Karnataka to ensure compliance of the

CWMA direction on the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier said the State was not getting its due share of Cauvery water in a rain-deficient year. The Joseph Vijay-led government, on August 3, approached the apex court seeking directions to the Karnataka government to immediately release water. The state government, in its plea, claimed that the quantum allocated to it by the CWRC, as well as that released by its neighbour, Karnataka, was very little.

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The committee, headed by Dr Sivananda Pai, head, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, India Meteorological Department, submitted its preliminary report to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay recently, calling for advance preparedness to deal with multiple and contrasting weather risks during 2026 and 2027.

The committee's assessment indicates excess rainfall over the southern peninsular region this October-December, and it has advised the government to prepare for heavy rainfall, urban flooding and riverine flooding during the northeast monsoon.

At the same time, the committee has cautioned that rainfall may not be uniform across the State. Areas experiencing deficient or uneven rainfall could face water scarcity, reduced reservoir inflows and drought stress. The committee has consequently recommended that preparedness should not focus only on either floods or drought, but it should address both possibilities.

The panel has also identified heatwave and heat stress during next year’s summer as a major area requiring preparedness. Its recommendations cover agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, coastal and marine systems, public health, energy and electricity demand, critical infrastructure and essential services.

The committee has proposed a three-stage preparedness framework short-term measures to be completed before the northeast monsoon, medium term measures before next summer and long-term measures to be implemented progressively over the next three to five years.

The committee has pointed out that historical rainfall records do not support treating El Nino solely as a drought-related phenomenon for Tamil Nadu. Historical evidence shows that El Nino years over the southeastern peninsula can be associated with normal as well as above normal northeast monsoon. Khole and De (2003) reported an 11% positive composite rainfall anomaly over the core southeastern peninsular region during El Nino years.

An IMD assessment covering 1940-2021 also found that northeast monsoon rainfall during El Nino years was excess in 28% of the years, above normal rainfall of 57% and only deficient in 15%.

Tamil Nadu must have multi-hazard system to tackle Super El Nino: Panel

The committee has cited 2005 as an example of how warm El Nino like conditions could coexist with extreme rainfall and flooding when accompanied by favourable synoptic conditions.

Tamil Nadu recorded 79% excess rainfall during October to December 2005, with repeated depressions and cyclonic systems over the Bay of Bengal triggering episodes of heavy rainfall.

The ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) Seasonal Forecast System 5, issued in August 2026 for the October-December period, has indicated projects above normal precipitation over Tamil Nadu and neighbouring southern regions, with forecast anomalies broadly in the range of 50-200 mm in parts of the region.

The committee has said the model signal suggests an increased likelihood of normal to above normal northeast monsoon rainfall over Tamil Nadu, while also pointing to considerable spatial and temporal variability.

However, the report has cautioned that seasonal model forecasts should not be interpreted as predictions of individual rainfall events. Short duration extreme rainfall, cyclones and dry spells will continue to depend on evolving synoptic and regional-scale conditions.

The committee has recommended that the State adopt a multi-hazard, scenario-based and forecast-informed preparedness approach rather than preparing for only one possible outcome of the Super El Nino system.

The Disaster Management department has been advised to establish a TNDRRA-owned multi-hazard monitoring, early warning and early action system.

The proposed system should include hazard indicators, thresholds, predefined actions, nodal officers, data quality checks, Tamil first dashboards, SACHET dissemination and escalation and de-escalation protocols.

The committee has also recommended the use of drones for surveillance, search and rescue operations and rapid damage assessment.

District and block specific impact based warnings should be disseminated through SMS, radio, WhatsApp and social media, besides accessible formats.

Water scarcity, drought preparedness

While the immediate focus is on the possibility of excess rainfall and flooding during the 2026 northeast monsoon, the committee has also asked the government to prepare for water scarcity and reduced reservoir inflows in areas where rainfall remains deficient or uneven.

The committee's recommendations indicate that rainfall distribution will be as important as the seasonal rainfall total. Even if the State as a whole receives normal or above normal rainfall, areas receiving deficient rainfall could experience water stress.

The preparedness framework therefore includes measures for drought stress, reservoir management and water availability, particularly in regions where rainfall does not meet seasonal requirements.

The committee has also extended its preparedness framework into summer 2027, when heatwave and heat stress conditions could add pressure on water resources, agriculture, public health and electricity demand.

Schools asked to prepare for heat

The School Education department has been advised to conduct awareness campaigns among schools, colleges and the public on weather-related risks and appropriate safety measures.

Schools have also been asked to include weather awareness and basic safety drills in their activities.

Before summer 2027, the committee has recommended seasonal uniforms or relaxed dress codes during periods of extreme heat, including light coloured fabrics and caps or hats.

School opening and related activities should be planned considering the possibility of an extended heat season and heat events. Outdoor sports activities and school timings should also be adjusted based on heat warnings.

The committee has further recommended introducing cool roofs and reflective paints or coatings in government and government-aided schools, with priority given to heat prone districts and urban heat island locations.

Over the long term, periodic maintenance of heat resistance measures in government schools, sustained heat risk awareness programmes and school based weather data collection have been recommended.

Wider climate risks

The committee has said preparedness should extend beyond rainfall and temperature. It has identified possible impacts on agriculture, horticulture and livestock, fisheries, coastal and marine systems, public health, energy and electricity demand, critical infrastructure and essential services.

It has also recommended that the government continuously monitor changing ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) conditions, seasonal forecasts and actual weather impacts and periodically review its preparedness measures.

The committee's long term recommendations are to be progressively implemented over the next three to five years, with the objective of strengthening Tamil Nadu's climate and disaster resilience.

The expert committee comprises Prof Dr S Kanmani, Director, Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management (CCCDM), Dr Balaji Narasimhan, Professor, Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering Laboratory IIT Madras, Prof Dr Ramesh Ramachandran, Dr R Venkatesan, Member, Marine Technology Society, Dr JK Patterson Edward, Director, Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SMRI) and R Pradeep John popularly known on social media as Tamilnadu weatherman, besides chairman Dr Sivananda Pai.

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Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Nirmalkumar said the DMK's over-reaction to the issue raised questions. He also sought an explanation from former minister S Regupathy, who had claimed that the video in question was unclear, asking whether he had personally seen it or was speaking based on what others had told him.

Nirmalkumar alleged that R Veeramani, whom he described as a businessman with assets worth hundreds of crores, could have approached a power centre to evade action. He further alleged that only a party such as the DMK could have enabled him to escape the consequences.

Drawing a parallel with the Anna University sexual assault case, the minister alleged that the FIR in that case was released, exposing and intimidating the survivor, and that an attempt was subsequently made to suppress the investigation. He alleged that the DMK was now attempting to suppress the Veeramani case in a similar manner.

Nirmalkumar said the Chief Minister was personally monitoring the case to ensure that no one involved escaped action, and asserted that strict and impartial action would be taken against all those found to be connected with it.

The programme addresses the challenges faced by Tamil-medium and Tamil-first learners who may find competitive exam concepts difficult to navigate when taught predominantly in English.

Class 11 covers several key concepts that form the foundation for JEE and NEET preparation, including mechanics, thermodynamics, organic chemistry, algebra, coordinate geometry, and human physiology. Vidiyal XI is designed to help students understand these concepts in a familiar language before progressing to higher levels of competitive exam preparation.

The programme combines live classes with instant doubt-solving support, live quizzes, more than 500 assignments and over 100 practice tests. It also includes part and full-length exams, performance analysis based on test scores, handwritten study notes and a dedicated Telegram group for interaction with teachers.

According to Vedantu, the programme is aimed at helping students avoid the accumulation of backlogs during class 11, when they begin transitioning from school-level studies to competitive examination preparation. Regular assessments are intended to help students identify areas of weakness and work on them before entering class 12.

The company said that the Tamil-first approach was intended to reduce language-related barriers and enable students to focus more closely on conceptual learning and application. As part of its academic pathway, Vedantu also provides high-performing JEE students with an opportunity to progress to its merit-based Eklavya batch, which focuses on JEE Advanced preparation.

Velu alleged that the government did not examine alternative sites or conducted traffic, environmental, or social impact studies before selecting the coastal site adjoining Loop Road and the Pattinapakkam and Srinivasapuram beaches.

He submitted that the project would affect road safety for schoolchildren and residents, the livelihood of more than 1,500 fishing families from nine coastal villages, and an Olive Ridley turtle nesting ground classified as CRZ-I (A). He also alleged that the required recommendation of the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority had not been obtained.

According to Velu, the GO did not refer to clearances or recommendations from various competent authorities, including the Environment and Climate Change Department, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Greater Chennai Traffic Police, and CMDA.

The petitioner also contended that the State had spent Rs 14.93 crore on a fish market to decongest the Loop Road, and alleged that the proposed government complex would defeat that purpose. He has sought an interim stay on the GO and its quashing. The case is expected to come up for hearing soon.

The proposed complex is to come up on 25.55 acres with a built-up area of around 20 lakh sq.ft.

Addressing reporters at Kamalalayam, Narayanan alleged that details of the investigation were being selectively leaked to the media by police personnel and claimed that divisions within the force reflected administrative failure.

He alleged that several Pocso cases, including the case involving self-styled godman Sivashankar Baba, had been delayed and said the Veeramani case should be transferred to the CBI to prevent evidence from being destroyed.

On Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Thirupathy urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to comply with the Supreme Court's direction to identify land in every district within three months. The court has also urged the Centre and State to resolve their differences over the schools through dialogue.

The BJP leader alleged shortages of surfactant, used in treating pre-term babies, at government hospitals and demanded immediate action. He also criticised traffic violations, alleged child abductions and power cuts, accusing the government of failing to address them effectively.

He alleged that Congress, the Left parties, and the VCK were criticising the government while continuing to support it.

A Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthive issued this direction on a petition filed by the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Teachers' and Warden's Federation, along with Kalaichelvan and Vijayakanth.

The petitioners contended that though there were 108 high schools, 98 higher secondary schools and 99 middle schools under the control of the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department in Tamil Nadu, there is shortage of graduate teachers for Classes VI to X, which affected the quality of education provided to students.

They also claimed that several schools did not have office staff, forcing teachers to perform administrative duties as well.

The petitioners contended that in June, the Director of Adi Dravidar Welfare fixed the number of graduate teachers at five in each school without taking student strength into consideration.

The government informed the court that steps were being taken to appoint permanent teachers to address the shortage.

Taking note of the submission, the Court directed that the response and adjourned the case to October 12.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the fishermen councils said the protest would bring together fishing villages across Chennai district. They also demanded that the proposed site be declared a traditional residential area of the fisherfolk community.

The decision was taken at an emergency joint consultation meeting held at Mullikuppam community hall on September 21. The fishermen alleged that the government order was issued without prior notice to the fishing community, which had been living in the area for generations.

They also claimed that the land had earlier been acquired and earmarked by the Madras City Improvement Trust for providing housing to fishermen. Instead of using the land for the Secretariat complex, the government should declare it a "long-term housing plan" area for fisherfolk and issue a separate GO to this effect, the councils demanded.

Representatives of fishermen panchayats from Ennore Kuppam to Nainar Kuppam had given the government time until September 21 to withdraw the order, they said. With no announcement forthcoming by the deadline, the councils decided to hold the protest on September 29.

Inaugurating training for professors of government colleges in the Thanjavur region, Viswanathan said the first phase of recruitment had already been conducted in 2025, with 2,708 candidates to be appointed from among 42,000 applicants. The second and third phases would each see 3,000 appointments, he said. “All the existing 9,000 vacancies would be filled within two years,” the minister said.

Viswanathan said there were around 8,000 guest lecturers who had cleared NET or SLET, many of whom held PhDs. Soon after the TVK government was formed, their honorarium was increased by Rs 5,000, he said. The government was also planning to restructure the higher education system, he said.

On the appointment of Vice-Chancellors to five universities, the minister declined to comment, saying the matter was before the court. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was taking steps to appoint the Vice-Chancellors through proper negotiations, he said.

Viswanathan also assured that a Government Order on seniority in government colleges would be issued. “These works were not initiated for the past six years, but now the Chief Minister has started the works for the benefit of the teachers,” he said.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Augustine George Masih and Sandeep Mehta passed the order while hearing a plea filed by the man challenging a verdict in June this year of the Madras High Court's Madurai bench, which confirmed his conviction and death sentence given in the case.

The high court had said that three minors were subjected to aggravated penetrative sexual assault repeatedly over a period of one year and they were aged six, seven and eight respectively. It had said the convict did not deserve any leniency.

"The execution of the death sentence shall remain pending the hearing and final disposal of the present appeal(s)," the apex court said in its September 21 order.

The bench said the original record of the case be summoned from the trial court and the high court.

It directed the state of Tamil Nadu to place before the apex court the report of all probation officers relating to the appellant within 16 weeks.

The bench said the superintendent of jail of the Central Prison, Palayamkottai, would submit a report with regard to the nature of work which has been performed by the appellant while in jail and also with regard to his conduct and behaviour there.
"The head of the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital shall constitute a suitable team for the purpose of carrying out a psychological evaluation of the appellant," it said.

The top court said the report of evaluation be submitted before it within 16 weeks.

"VS Varunanvelu, who is associated with the Square Circle Clinic, NALSAR University of Law, is permitted to have access to the appellant, who is presently lodged in central prison... to conduct multiple in-person interviews for the purpose of collecting information relevant to sentencing and to submit a mitigation investigation report on behalf of the appellant...," it said.

The bench posted the matter for hearing after 20 weeks.

In March this year, a trial court had convicted the appellant and handed him death penalty in the case.

The high court had upheld the trial court order and dismissed the appeal filed by the man challenging his conviction.

According to the prosecution, he was a neighbour to the three minor victims, whose parents were daily wage labourers.

It was alleged that he used to take these three children inside a house and commit aggravated penetrative sexual assault on them. These incidents took place over a period of nearly a year, it was further alleged.

After the incident came to light, an FIR was registered in February 2023 for the offences under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

On February 27, 2023, the accused was arrested in the case.

The counsel appearing for the accused before the High Court had contended that the statements of the victims were "unnatural, suffer with contradictions" and they had improved their version at every stage since they were "tutored".

The High Court had said, "The accused person, who has destroyed the soul and dignity of three children, is not fit to live in society and for the heinous crime committed by him, he has to necessarily lose his life."

It was said that he does not deserve any leniency, and any punishment less than a death sentence would fall short of the societal expectation that children's safety was paramount.

The admission process, which began on May 7, is being conducted across 181 government arts and science colleges in the State. The process is still under way, and the number of admissions is expected to increase further. For UG courses, 1,30,154 seats are available, including 3,195 additional seats allotted this year. Of these, 96,477 students have secured admission so far, accounting for 74.13% of the available seats. Of the students admitted to UG courses, 40,887 are male, and 55,566 are female. Meanwhile, PG admissions have recorded a comparatively lower enrolment. Of the 24,812 seats available, 13,700 students have secured admission so far, accounting for 55.22%. Among the PG students admitted, 4,061 are men, and 9,627 are women.

Officials said the admission process is continuing and the number of students admitted to both UG and PG courses is expected to rise further.

The sincerity of the initial probe, contained in a ‘further action dropped’ report filed by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) before the Special Pocso Court, have now come under scrutiny after the court refused to accept the closure report and ordered further investigation.

The report dated February 18, 2026, was filed in a case registered under Sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act based on a complaint filed by an activist on October 6, 2025, after an unidentified man handed over a pen drive containing a video of a minor girl with a man.

The CCB registered the case on October 7 and questioned Veeramani. However, the investigation subsequently focused on the inability to establish the identity of the girl in the video and the absence of corroborative evidence. The forensic examination of the pen drive and a digital video recorder did not yield identifiable data establishing the identities of those seen in the footage, the police claimed in the report. Investigators also noted that the video carried a 2019 timestamp.

The police said they inspected the alleged scene in the presence of the local Village Administrative Officer and residents. The report stated that there were no CCTV cameras at the premises and that cameras in the surrounding area were not functioning.

Veeramani denied knowing the man in the video and disputed the location shown in the footage. Domestic workers and neighbours questioned by the police also said they could not identify the persons seen in the video.

However, after the special court rejected the attempt to drop further action, the revived probe led the police to identify the girl in the video. She identified herself and Veeramani, and her statement was recorded before a magistrate, said police sources.

According to the complaint, a note accompanying the pen drive claimed that the man in the video was Veeramani and that the footage had been recorded at a house associated with his acquaintance Shanthi in Chennai.

The renewed investigation has also resulted in the identification of several other survivors, some of whom were minors when the alleged offences took place. The police are now examining whether the abuse extended over several years.

Ex-aide arrested as cops widen probe, summon another tycoon for grilling

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Chennai Police have arrested a former employee at granite baron “Gem” Veeramani’s firm in connection with the investigation into the Pocso case against the businessman.

The arrested person was identified as Ganesan, who had worked with Veeramani for 23 years and is now employed at another export-import company.

Ganesan allegedly had a video of Veeramani engaging in an inappropriate act with a minor girl and hid the information from the police. Ganesan was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to determine how Ganesan came into possession of the video and why he did not alert the police.

The investigation net has widened further, and police have summoned another businessman for questioning. The number of persons arrested in the case has now risen to four, with police now casting a wider net and summoning more persons.

So far, Police have reached out to multiple victims who were sexually abused by the businessman over a period of time. Veeramani (84) and his two associates were arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on August 29 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl.

A pen drive with the video of an elderly man sexually abusing a minor girl was sent to the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit (ITPU) in October 2025.

Venkatesan alleged that the BJP was unable to accept the Keezhadi findings because the excavations indicated the existence of a civilisation predating that of the Gangetic plains.

“The evidence unearthed at Keezhadi points to the existence of a prosperous urban culture in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, before the emergence of urban civilisation in the Gangetic plains. This is the historical significance of Keezhadi. If this conclusion cannot be accepted, it should be scientifically challenged, and not through political allegations,” Venkatesan told reporters on Tuesday.

The Keezhadi study was not based merely on stratigraphy. It incorporated the findings of various scientific studies, including dating, stratigraphy, metallurgy and archaeobotany, he pointed out, the Left MP said.

It has been three years since archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna submitted his report to the Archaeological Survey of India, but it has not yet been released, he charged.

The central government had informed the court that it would release the report within nine months, but failed to do so. Later, before the Parliamentary Standing Committee, it stated that the report was being examined. Subsequently, the government said that an expert committee had been constituted, he said.

Amarnath Ramakrishna had also responded to the questions raised by the expert committee, Venkatesan said. “Now it is the responsibility of the Union government to release the report,” he said.

He further stated that if the report was incorrect, the central government should clearly state which parts were wrong and provide scientific evidence to substantiate its objections.

In a memo issued on September 16, the utility said several maintenance works were progressing at a slower pace and needed to be expedited. The works include replacement of aged conductors, strengthening of conductors, rectification of damaged pillars, and replacement of damaged high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) poles.

The directive follows a review meeting on northeast monsoon preparedness and flood mitigation works chaired by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar at the Secretariat on September 1.

The corporation has also directed officials to expedite pillar-heightening works identified by the utility and immediately prune trees near substations and distribution transformers. Tree branches near substations, distribution transformers, and power lines have to be cleared as part of the monsoon preparedness measures.

The utility has asked chief engineers and superintending engineers to take urgent measures to ensure completion of all pending works by September 30. The objective is to maintain uninterrupted power supply and prevent electrical accidents during the monsoon, it stressed.

The memo also warned that the executive engineer and assistant executive engineer concerned would be held responsible in case of electrocution accidents. Chief engineers and superintending engineers have been instructed to ensure compliance and put in place necessary safety measures.

Highlighting that senior citizens, particularly those managing co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension, are highly vulnerable to severe complications from infectious diseases, FESCATN outlined a charter of key demands.

V Rama Rao, president, FESCATN, emphasised the need for a structured elderly protection plan prioritising citizens aged 70 and above, followed by those in the 60–69 age bracket. “We recommend introducing pneumococcal vaccination under medical supervision for high-risk seniors to guard against pneumonia as part of broader geriatric care during this period,” Rao said.

The federation urged the government to direct the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to conduct bi-monthly special health camps across all 200 wards in the city, with similar camps extended to all districts across TN. These camps should offer fever screenings, BP and sugar checks, early dengue diagnosis, and guidance on mosquito prevention, alongside the distribution of Kabasura Kudineer and approved Siddha medicines.

FESCATN also requested a dedicated budgetary allocation managed by a special monitoring committee to fund these medical camps, supplies, vector control, and transport for vulnerable seniors.

While civic body workers have been conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns and clearing water-stagnating items from residential premises, FESCATN leadership pointed out lingering gaps in municipal sanitation. TN Srinivasan, treasurer, FESCATN, pointed out, “Stagnant rainwater pools on low-lying roads often take up to 4 days to evaporate, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.”

Additionally, the federation raised concerns regarding contaminated drinking water supply. “Residents in southern localities like Nanganallur, Adambakkam, Pazhavanthangal, and Alandur have recently received foul-smelling tap water containing worms,” Rao highlighted, urging Metro Water to immediately ensure the supply of clean drinking water.

The arrested person was identified as Ganesan, who had worked with Veeramani for 23 years and is now employed at another export-import company.

Ganesan allegedly had a video of Veeramani engaging in an inappropriate act with a minor girl and hid the information from the police. Ganesan was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to determine how Ganesan came into possession of the video and why he did not alert the police.

The investigation net has widened further, and police have summoned another businessman for questioning. The number of persons arrested in the case has now risen to four, with police now casting a wider net and summoning more persons.

So far, Police have reached out to multiple victims who were sexually abused by the businessman over a period of time.

Veeramani (84) and his two associates were arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on August 29 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl.

A pen drive with the video of an elderly man sexually abusing a minor girl was sent to the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit (ITPU) in October 2025, and a case was registered, but action was delayed for several months. The police had earlier sought to close the case after they were reportedly unable to identify or locate the girl. A special Pocso court rejected the closure report on August 19 and ordered further investigation. The fresh probe led to Veeramani's arrest.

Recently, Police identified the elderly man in the video as prominent industrialist R Veeramani and began a probe. Investigations revealed that he had rented a house in Teynampet where he sexually exploited several minor girls and women, while video evidence is available for one act of sexual abuse.

Police found that Veeramani had entrusted the management of the rented property to his associates, Mahendra Simhan (64) and his wife, Shanthi (60).

City police have also identified the survivor in the sole video evidence and have found over 9 additional survivors.

Viswanathan said 39,049 participants had registered for the festival, which featured 227 events, with 100 participants from foreign countries.

“Science and technology knowledge is essential for any developing country. Nations that have excelled in these fields have emerged as leading countries,” he said.

He said India has more than 15 crore people aged between 18 and 23, but only around 30 per cent have access to higher education.

“If India has to become a developed nation, higher education should be made available to all children. Poor and middle-class students should also have access to higher education,” he said.

Viswanathan said the All for Higher Education Foundation was providing scholarships to eligible students in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupattur and Ranipet districts. He called for similar initiatives across India involving private organisations and the Central and state governments.

Cognizant Senior Vice-President of Global Talent Acquisition Atul Sahal said the “AI tsunami” had already arrived and urged students to adapt to the technology.

“People who use AI will move ahead of those who do not,” he said, advising students to develop their skills, reputation and professional networks.

Prizes were presented to winners of various Gravitas competitions. A special session by boAt co-founder Aman Gupta was also held.

Asking Aadhav not to live in the past and to stop questioning the previous government, Veerapandian said that the Left's understanding with the Stalin-led government was at the constituency level.

Urging the PWD Minister to read Communist history and share it with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Veerapandian said that the Left had the courage to face the barrage from those in power.

"Now, we extend outside support to the TVK government. We should not be asked to answer for this government's actions after five years. Our support was for democracy," he said.

He claimed that no Communist leader had been convicted by a court for corruption in the party's 100-year political history and said the party had never accepted bribes.

Veerapandian said the CPI had no intention of bringing down the government.

However, he said the party would criticise the government when it made mistakes and support it when it took decisions in the interests of the people. "We will always stand on the side of the people, Tamil Nadu's interests and the poor," he said.

On the upcoming Assembly bypolls, Veerapandian appealed to voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram to support the Left candidates.

CPM has fielded P Sugandhi in Madurantakam, while CPI has fielded construction worker Lakshmanan in Dharapuram.

State president Nainar Nagenthran issued the order with immediate effect, appointing national executive member H Raja as convenor and state joint treasurer M Sivasubramaniyan and national council member R Umarathi as members. The panel will conduct an inquiry and submit its report to the state and central units.

Divya had submitted a complaint to the BJP leadership alleging physical abuse, mental harassment, coercion, criminal intimidation and threats. She also alleged that Muruganandam had represented that he would marry her, was named as guardian in her children’s school records and had assured her support for her candidature from Srirangam in the 2026 Assembly election.

Muruganandam has rejected the allegations, claiming that fabricated, AI-generated photographs and a false complaint were used against him. He also alleged that he was removed without an inquiry by the party’s disciplinary committee and said he would pursue legal action against those circulating what he described as false information.

The BJP had on September 18 relieved Muruganandam of all party responsibilities. Divya was subsequently removed as state OBC wing secretary.

The committee’s report is expected to place the allegations, responses and other relevant material before the party leadership for further consideration and action after examining all relevant material available.

Of the sanctioned cost, Rs 1,580.33 crore has been earmarked for civil works, Rs 281.78 crore for signalling and telecommunications, and Rs 379.56 crore for electrical works, including traction and general electrical works.

The Salem-Karur-Dindigul section, which currently has a single line, forms an important link in the route connecting Bengaluru with the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Once the doubling of this section and the Hosur-Omalur section are completed, a continuous double-line corridor will be available from Bengaluru towards Madurai and Thoothukudi.

Southern Railway had already initiated preliminary activities for the Salem-Karur-Dindigul project, including geotechnical investigations and boundary stone fixing. About Rs 7 crore had been earmarked for preliminary works covering the Salem-Karur-Dindigul doubling, Morappur-Dharmapuri new line and Erode-Karur doubling projects.

At present, the Bengaluru-Coimbatore route via Hosur is about 376 km, and the route via Jolarpettai-Tirupattur is 419 km. The Bengaluru-Jolarpettai-Salem route has two lines, while the 48 km Baiyappanahalli (Bengaluru) -Hosur stretch is a single-line section, with its doubling expected to be completed by January next year.

The 147 km Hosur-Dharmapuri-Omalur stretch is also single-line, while the 8.2 km Omalur-Salem section already has two lines. Further south, the 159 km Salem-Karur-Dindigul section remains single-line, while the Dindigul-Madurai-Tirunelveli section has double lines.

“People regarded as respected members of society being involved in such cruel acts against children is shocking. It is deeply concerning that such offences are alleged to have continued since the 1990s and that those involved could have continued for so long in an environment that enabled such crimes,” she said in a social media post.

“Whoever is involved in this heinous crime, irrespective of their position or status, must be severely punished in accordance with the law,” Kanimozhi said.

She said justice should extend beyond the children allegedly affected and ensure that no child is subjected to similar abuse in the future.

“This is not justice that should be secured only for the children affected now. We must ensure a safe social environment so that no child is subjected to such cruelty in the future,” she said.

The DMK leader also stressed that those who aided the alleged offences should face the law.

“Not only those who committed the wrongdoing, but also those who aided or abetted it, must be brought before the law,” added Kanimozhi.

The reply was placed before the court, as Aadhav Arjuna has claimed that DMK's IT Wing published a defamatory post under the orders of party chief Stalin, seeking Rs 1 crore in damages. The court posted the matter to October 26.

When the matter came up before Justice K Govindarajan Thilakavadi, the court was informed that Stalin had filed his counter and that the IT Wing would also file its counter.

In his counter, Stalin said the attempt to hold him vicariously responsible for the alleged social media post was unfounded. He said that although, as the head of the party, he exercises administrative control over the office-bearers of various party wings, he could not be held legally responsible for the individual acts of the members or wings.

Stalin called upon Arjuna to prove that he had specifically instructed the party to publish the alleged information against him.

Stalin also pointed out that Arjuna, who claimed his reputation was tarnished by his association with a person under investigation, was himself facing CBI prosecution in connection with the Karur stampede case.

Stalin said the allegation that he was responsible for the publication and dissemination of the alleged post merely because he exercised control and supervision over the party was baseless and legally untenable. He said he did not instruct or approve the DMK IT Wing to publish any post linking Arjuna or his family members to John Britto or any drug-trafficking case. He denied the attempt to fasten vicarious responsibility on him and said that merely being the DMK president did not make him liable for every post published by the party's wings or functionaries, or for their individual acts.

He further said that Arjuna had not denied having a relative, John Britto, who was facing a criminal case and prosecution by the Enforcement Directorate. Stalin reiterated that he had no role whatsoever in the alleged publication.

Stalin also alleged that Arjuna had used intemperate and abusive language against him and his family during the election campaign and even after becoming a minister. He pointed out that Arjuna had referred to him as a "foolish Chief Minister" and argued that a person who had publicly used such language against him could not claim that his own reputation or goodwill had been damaged.

He further argued that Arjuna had not produced any material showing any loss of reputation, public standing, or goodwill. Stalin therefore sought dismissal of the suit with exemplary costs.

In a statement, Seeman criticised the TVK government for informing the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the existing ban could not be lifted. He questioned the government's decision to promote products such as neera, palm jaggery and palm sugar while continuing to prohibit the sale of toddy.

Seeman said concerns cited by the government, including the possibility of adulteration and difficulties in monitoring toddy production and sales, could be addressed through licensing, quality control and regulatory mechanisms. "If the government can regulate the sale and quality of domestic and foreign liquor, why can't it regulate toddy production under a proper licensing and monitoring system?" he asked.

He also referred to observations made by the Madras High Court regarding the need for a government action plan to permit toddy sales for the benefit of palm farmers. Seeman further claimed that the retired Justice Gokuldas Commission, which inquired into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, had recommended permitting the sale of toddy as a natural beverage.

Pointing out that NTK and palm workers had been demanding the removal of the ban for several years, Seeman urged the government to withdraw its affidavit and lift the restrictions on toddy to protect palm workers' livelihoods.

In a statement, TNPDCL said that as of September 2026, Open Access permissions have been granted to 289 high-tension (HT) consumers, with a total capacity of 1,373 MW.

Earlier, permissions were granted to 383 HT consumers for 1,752 MW in June, 372 consumers for 1,729 MW in July and 299 consumers for 1,477 MW in August.

The board said applications from only 87 applicants, involving 334 MW, have been kept on hold due to non-payment of outstanding dues to the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL).

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) said that applications for grid connectivity for completed renewable energy (RE) projects were being processed continuously.

Since May 2026, a total of 840 MW of renewable energy capacity has been brought into operation, it said, clarifying that applications for completed RE projects are being considered and processed.

Following the boy’s death at Puthupatti village near Namagiripettai, Namakkal District Collector L Madhubalan inspected the locality to review the dengue-prevention and mosquito-control measures being implemented in the area.

During his visit to the boy’s residence, the Collector met the grieving parents. They told him that their son had received treatment from Usha (38), who had undergone nursing training and was running a pharmacy while also treating members of the public.

Acting on the information, a team comprising District Health Officer K Poongodi, Rasipuram Government Hospital Chief Medical Officer Kalaiselvi and Namagiripettai police officials inspected the pharmacy.

The officials seized injections, medicines and other medical supplies from the premises and subsequently sealed the establishment. Usha was arrested, and a case was registered by the Namagiripettai police. Further investigation is under way.

Similar weather conditions are also expected over the Western Ghats districts of Tamil Nadu.

The weather department bulletin said that as of Tuesday (September 22) 5:30 am, a depression lay centred over the West Central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, positioned about 200 km southeast of Odisha and 200 km east-southeast of Andhra Pradesh.

The system is expected to intensify into a deep depression over the next 12 hours. Moving westwards, it is likely to cross the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur from Wednesday night through the early hours of September 24.

Additionally, an atmospheric trough extends from the southeast Arabian Sea to the cyclonic circulation associated with the depression across Karnataka and coastal Andhra Pradesh at middle-tropospheric levels. Light to moderate rain at isolated places is likely to occur over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Western Ghats districts of Tamil Nadu on September 24 (Thursday).

Light to moderate rain is likely to occur over Western Ghat districts and north TN on September 25 and 26. Maximum temperatures across the region are expected to remain near normal till September 26.

For Chennai, the sky condition is likely to remain partly cloudy, with maximum temperature hovering around 35 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature dips to 25. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected in some areas of the city during the late evening or night on Wednesday.

The DVAC had registered a disproportionate assets case in 2011, alleging that Panneerselvam and his family members had failed to satisfactorily account for assets worth Rs 3.01 crore acquired during the check period between 2006 and 2011, when he served as Health Minister.

Panneerselvam, Senthamizhselvi, and Kathiravan filed a discharge petition in 2013, which the Cuddalore Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) allowed in 2016. However, the DVAC filed a revision petition challenging it.

In 2025, Justice P Velmurugan allowed the revision petition, set aside the CJM's order, and revived the criminal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the three accused filed a second discharge petition before the Sessions Court, which dismissed the plea.

Thereafter, they approached the Madras High Court challenging the Cuddalore Principal District and Sessions Court's June 30 order refusing to discharge them from the case.

In their plea, they also sought a stay on the trial proceedings and exemption from personal appearance before the trial court.

However, Justice V Lakshminarayanan dismissed the discharge petition.