He urged civil services aspirants to view administration not merely as a career but as an opportunity to contribute to nation-building.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Coimbatore chapter of Samkalp IAS Academy, the Governor said India’s march towards Viksit Bharat 2047 would require a dedicated, efficient and people-centric administrative system capable of translating public aspirations into effective governance and inclusive development.

“Civil services occupy a pivotal position in transforming the aspirations of the people into meaningful governance,” he said.

During the programme, seven Memoranda of Understanding were exchanged between Samkalp IAS Academy and educational institutions to strengthen civil services coaching, academic collaboration and youth empowerment in Tamil Nadu.

A resolution to this effect was passed at a virtual meeting of DMK Members of Parliament, chaired by party president MK Stalin on Thursday ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The meeting expressed deep concern over the impact on Tamil Nadu's farming community following the failure to open the Mettur Dam on its customary date of June 12.

The party strongly condemned the Karnataka government for refusing to release Cauvery water since January 2024, alleging that it was in violation of the Supreme Court's final verdict, and for maintaining a rigid stand before the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).

The resolution highlighted the DMK's consistent efforts to prevent Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project, stating that the previous DMK government had successfully stalled discussions on Karnataka's Detailed Project Report (DPR) at the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and ensured the removal of environmental clearance applications from the Union Ministry's agenda.

Drawing a parallel with former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's role in securing the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the resolution stressed that a dedicated tribunal is now essential to permanently resolve the Mekedatu issue.

The party also welcomed the passage of a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly seeking the constitution of a tribunal for the Mekedatu issue.

It said the resolution, moved by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on the directions of party president MK Stalin, underscored the State's demand for a permanent mechanism to resolve the dispute.

The DMK directed its MPs to strongly raise the issue during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament and press the Centre to ensure the release of Tamil Nadu's due share of Cauvery water.

In a separate resolution, the party reaffirmed that its parliamentary delegation would continue to be the voice of the people of Tamil Nadu in both Houses of Parliament. It also resolved to oppose any central legislation that, in its view, infringes on state autonomy, weakens the federal structure or dilutes constitutional values.

He also claimed that the MDMK would soon become irrelevant in State politics. Speaking to reporters in Tiruchy, Sathya questioned the proposed re-release of a book compiling Vaiko’s speeches in Parliament.

“The book has already been released in Chennai. By organising another release, Vaiko wants to act as an intermediary between the BJP and the TVK. The MDMK will soon vanish from politics, and Vaiko himself will witness it,” he said.

Commenting on the recent Assembly election, Sathya claimed the verdict had sent shockwaves.

He alleged that despite the curbing of cash-for-votes practices, people had elected candidates without knowing them. “It is a threat to democracy. People have judged rusted iron as gold,” he said.

Sathya also criticised the TVK government over the State’s law and order situation, alleging that crime has increased.

It is said that Rekha (40) from Valavanthankottai in Tiruchy had lost her money and jewels to a known person. As she could not get back the valuables, the frustrated Rakha had recently consumed an overdose of sedatives, and the neighbours had admitted her to the hospital.

On Friday, suddenly, Rekha climbed atop the water tank in the hospital premises and attempted to commit suicide by jumping from there. The public who saw her standing atop the water tank passed on the information to the officials in the GH and the police.

Subsequently, the Tiruchy Fire and Rescue team reached the spot and rescued her and took her down after convincing her for more than an hour. Later, she was taken to the hospital for further treatment. The doctors have also planned counseling for Rekha.

The victims have been identified as Vijay (30), his wife Thenmozhi (26), and Kumar (36), police said.

They were part of an eight-member group travelling from Tiruttani to the hill station of Ooty when the mishap occurred.

Police said the accident occurred when the driver attempted to overtake a tanker lorry on the busy highway.

The manoeuvre went fatally wrong as the car rammed into the gas tanker.

Of the eight occupants, split evenly between men and women, two men died on the spot.

Highway commuters and ambulance personnel rushed to the accident site to rescue the trapped passengers from the crushed vehicle.

The critically injured were rushed to the Uthukuli government hospital, where Thenmozhi died before treatment could begin.

Two survivors are in critical condition at the government hospital, while three others are undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Tirupur.

The bodies of the three deceased have been moved to the Perundurai government hospital for post-mortem examination.

The Uthukuli police have registered a case and are investigating the sequence of events.

Justice K Rajasekar, in his order, noted that almost the entire registration process had already been completed by the previous Sub-Registrar and that the petitioner's role was limited to assigning the registration number after assuming charge.

"It is not in dispute that, except for assigning the registration number and thereby completing the process of registration, almost the entire registration process, including presentation of the document, admission of execution and obtaining the signatures of the parties, had already been completed by the then Sub-Registrar on July 3, 2026. The petitioner assumed charge only on the next working day, namely July 6, 2026, as the regular Sub-Registrar had proceeded on leave," the judge observed.

However, noting that the CB-CID's investigation into the alleged larger conspiracy was still at a preliminary stage, the court held that the probe should not be hampered and, while balancing the petitioner's right to liberty, granted interim protection.

"At the same time, the prosecution has taken a specific stand that the larger conspiracy surrounding the registration of the Mutt property is still under investigation and that the precise role of each of the accused is yet to be ascertained. Since the FIR has been registered only recently, the court is of the view that the investigation should not be impeded," Justice Rajasekar said.

The court therefore granted interim protection to the petitioner, subject to conditions.

"The petitioner is ordered to be released on interim anticipatory bail till August 4, 2026, in the event of his arrest or upon his appearance before the Judicial Magistrate, Palani, within one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, on condition that he shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs 15,000 with two sureties," the order said.

The court directed the petitioner to appear before the CB-CID every day from July 27 to August 3, except Sunday, and cooperate with the investigation. The matter was posted for further hearing on August 4.

In his message through X, the Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu Day was an occasion to honour the history, culture, language and identity of the Tamil people.

He urged people to reaffirm their commitment to building Tamil Nadu into India's leading State through social justice, equality, education, technological advancement and a skilled workforce.

He also paid tributes to the leaders and freedom fighters who strove for the formation of Tamil Nadu and expressed hope that the richness of the Tamil language, the cultural heritage of Tamils and their humanistic traditions would continue to flourish for generations.

The agency has also collected digital records and CCTV footage from the Palani Joint-II Sub-Registrar's Office, while investigators are expected to question the buyers and sellers, who are reportedly absconding. More persons are likely to be summoned, and further arrests are expected.

The case involves the alleged fraudulent registration of a 1.40-acre property belonging to the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple Trust in Palani. The land, estimated to be worth around Rs 100 crore, was allegedly registered in favour of private individuals for just Rs 2 crore.

How the case unfolded

The issue came to light after a sale deed transferring the land to two private individuals was registered at the Palani Joint-II Sub-Registrar's Office earlier this month.

Following a complaint by Muruganandam, Superintendent of the Temple Land Division, police registered a case against Joint-II Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan, Murugadas of Villupuram, Vellathurai of Pappankulam near Udumalpet and Sethupathi of TKN Pudur.

Justin Manikandan and District Registrar Sasikala were subsequently suspended. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court also declared the registration of the temple land in favour of private individuals null and void.

July 16: CB-CID takes over probe

After the case was transferred to the CB-CID, a special team comprising officers from Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Ajay Thangam, began collecting records related to the land.

The team visited the Palani Murugan Temple office, collected documents related to the disputed property, inspected the temple trust land and gathered records from the revenue department as part of the investigation.

July 17: Officials questioned, sub-registrar gets interim bail

CB-CID Superintendent of Police Sajitha questioned five persons for nearly four hours at the Dindigul CB-CID office. Those questioned included complainant Muruganandam, temple superintendents Ganapathi and Sivanesan, retired Tahsildar Mariappan, who had earlier handled temple land matters, and retired Village Administrative Officer Chinnasamy. Officials sought details about the ownership records, the circumstances leading to the registration and those connected to the buyers and sellers.

On the same day, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court granted interim anticipatory bail to accused Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan until August 3. Justice K Rajasekar observed that almost the entire registration process had already been completed by the previous Sub-Registrar on July 3, and that Justin Manikandan, who assumed charge on July 6 after the regular Sub-Registrar went on leave, only assigned the registration number to complete the process.

Addressing reporters, the minister said that the decision was taken at a review meeting on higher education chaired by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. The CM had directed officials to ensure that all eligible students receive education loans without delay.

To streamline the process, the government will appoint a professor in every district to assist students in obtaining education loans. The professors, along with their teams, will interact with students, assess their requirements, coordinate with the district’s nodal bank and facilitate the sanction of loans.

“The education loan limit was initially Rs 4 lakh, with either a parent or a relative acting as guarantor. It was later enhanced to Rs 7.5 lakh, and the government now proposes to raise the ceiling further,” Viswanathan said but did not specify the revised limit.

DMK softens stand on delimitation, to decide after revised Bill is introduced

A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting of the party's parliamentarians, chaired by DMK president MK Stalin. Even though the party has not officially taken a final decision on the matter, observers noted that this softening of stance has come in the wake of the secular allies – the Left, VCK, and IUML, and most importantly, the Congress – deserting the alliance that the DMK headed to join the TVK-led front or extend support to its government. Since then, the DMK has sought a change in seating in the Lok Sabha and skipped the INDIA bloc meeting.

Decision only after revised Bill is tabled

Speaking to the media after the meeting, DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi said the party would decide whether to support or oppose the proposal only after the revised Delimitation Bill is introduced and its provisions are examined.

"We will study the final text of the Bill before taking a decision on the delimitation issue," he said.

Shift from earlier opposition

The position marks a significant shift from the party's earlier stand when it was in power in the State. Earlier, Stalin had assumed leadership of the regional parties' opposition to the proposed delimitation exercise, arguing that states that had successfully implemented population control measures should not be disadvantaged in parliamentary representation.

When the Bill was introduced in Parliament on April 16, Stalin, then the Chief Minister, publicly burnt a copy of the proposed legislation in Namakkal.

Stalin had compared protest to anti-Hindi agitation

Equating it with the DMK's anti-Hindi agitations of the 1960s, the formative episode in the Dravidian party's history, Stalin had said, "Today, I have reignited that fire by burning the copy of this black law and hoisting the black flag against this black law that seeks to turn Tamils into refugees in our own land. This fire will now spread across the Dravidian land. It will rise, it will rage, and it will bring the BJP's arrogance to its knees."

He had also urged people to hoist black flags in every home and public place as a mark of protest against the proposed legislation.

DMK had led national campaign against proposal

Earlier, the DMK had constituted a Joint Action Committee (JAC) on the issue and spearheaded efforts to build a broader political consensus across the country against the proposal.

The party had hosted a meeting in Chennai in March 2025, attended by leaders from several non-BJP-ruled states, to discuss the implications of the proposed delimitation exercise.

Ahead of the Assembly elections, Athawale had said that Vijay might join the NDA after the polls.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Athawale said he discussed issues concerning the Dalit community in Tamil Nadu with the Chief Minister.

He also expressed confidence that Parliament would successfully adopt the Delimitation Bill and the Women's Reservation Bill on this occasion.

Soon after the meeting, Vijay visited the MC Rajah Students' Hostel, run by the Department of Social Justice for Dalit students, where he interacted with students and inspected facilities, including the quality of food, sanitation and overall maintenance.

The Chief Minister reviewed the hostel's operations and sought feedback from students during the visit.

Writing in the CPM mouthpiece, Theekkathir, Suganthi said the incidents reported between May and early July 2026, reflected a disturbing rise in caste-based violence. She claimed that organised caste propaganda on social media, including campaigns targeting inter-caste relationships, had fuelled hatred and division.

Suganthi alleged that the campaigns were aimed at preventing women from exercising their right to choose their life partners rather than addressing concerns over women's safety. She argued that such campaigns were rooted in patriarchal and caste-based ideologies and posed a threat to democratic values and individual freedom guaranteed under the Constitution.

Calling for urgent legislative intervention, she reiterated the Front's long-standing demand for a separate law to prevent caste-based honour killings.

She said the organisation had been pressing for such legislation for more than 15 years and recalled that a commission headed by retired Justice Basha had collected public opinions across the State on the issue. She urged the State government to examine the recommendations and introduce a dedicated Bill in the Assembly without delay.

Suganthi said the TNUEF had already prepared and submitted a model draft law. She contended that honour killings were not merely family crimes but often involved caste organisations, informal caste panchayats and wider social pressure. Therefore, she said, those who instigate, plan or financially support such crimes should also be held criminally liable.

She further called for greater protection for couples entering inter-caste marriages, stating that consenting adults have a constitutional right to marry a partner of their choice.

While stressing the need for a special law, Suganthi said legislation alone would not eradicate deeply rooted caste prejudices. She called for educational institutions, the media and people's movements to work together to counter caste hatred and promote a democratic culture that respects women's autonomy and the right of young people to choose their life partners.

Sharing the details of the findings in a social media post, the minister said excavations have been under way for the past three months at the archaeological site near Karivalamvanthanallur, yielding more than 100 artefacts spanning the Microlithic and Sangam periods.

Among the discoveries are Microlithic stone tools, shell bangles, terracotta spindle whorls used in weaving, terracotta discs and beads, coral beads, agate beads, a gold bead, a rectangular gaming piece, iron objects and copper coins, pointing to a settlement with a vibrant craft and manufacturing tradition.

Archaeologists have also unearthed a Sangam-era square brick structure, intact pottery, black-painted lidded vessels and perforated bowls, providing fresh insights into the settlement's architectural practices and material culture. "The structural evidence recovered from the site indicates that the manufacture of iron implements, agate beads, shell bangles and weaving workshops flourished here during the Sangam period," Rajmohan said.

He said the discoveries underscore the technological sophistication, artisanal excellence and economic vitality of ancient Tamil society.

Expressing confidence in the ongoing excavation, the minister said continued archaeological work, coupled with scientific analysis of the findings, would further strengthen global understanding of the antiquity and cultural legacy of the Tamil civilisation.

The farmers' grievances redressal meet was held in Tiruchy, chaired by the Collector Pratik Dayal, in which representatives of various farmers' associations took part.

While the meeting was about to start, a group of farmers led by P Ayyakannu, State president, Desiya Thennindhiya Nadhigal Inaippu Sangam came to the Collectorate with human skulls. 

On seeing them, the police, who were on duty, stopped them in the entrance of the meeting hall, and the farmers attempted to force themselves into the hall, but the police continued to stop them, and this triggered a minor scuffle, and the police closed the door to stop the farmers from entering.

Subsequently, the farmers commenced a sit-in protest and demanded compensation for the kuruvai loss. They raised slogans in support of their protest and said that the state government has failed to provide them with water for kuruvai cultivation.

“We demand the state government to declare Delta as drought hit region and disburse proper compensation for the kuruvai loss. The state government should also initiate legal steps to stop Karnataka from constructing the Mekedatu dam, which would turn the Delta into a desert,” said Ayyakannu.

He also appealed to the state government to make a fresh crop loan waiver announcement, which would help the farmers to compensate for the loss.

The findings reflect encouraging progress across several aspects of classroom practice.

Almost all observed teachers reported planning lessons and maintaining documented lesson plans, while classrooms widely used print-rich learning environments and structured teaching-learning materials to support learning.

The survey found strong teacher preparedness, with 94% of teachers aware of foundational literacy and numeracy goals, nearly 98% having participated in recent in-person basic literacy and numeracy training.

It also offers practical recommendations to strengthen classroom teaching practices and support systems that enable sustained improvements in foundational learning.

The launch also featured a panel discussion titled, ‘Strengthening classroom practices through the teaching learning practices survey’.

Bringing together perspectives from government, education practice, research and governance, the discussion examined how the survey findings could inform TN’s foundational learning programmes by strengthening classroom practices and teacher support systems.

The session also reinforced the importance of evidence and sustained collaboration in ensuring that every child develops strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

Meanwhile, PA Naresh, director, Directorate of Elementary Education, highlighted the importance of using evidence from classrooms to strengthen foundational learning outcomes. “With 35,000 schools, 27 lakh students and many multi-grade classrooms, we cannot take children’s learning experiences for granted.

Our access and retention indicators are strong, yet there is scope in learning outcomes, teacher vacancies and individual student engagement. Teachers are central to change, and we must also support them with adequate staffing, time and resources.

TLPS gives us evidence to ask better questions and strengthen classrooms so every child can fully realise their potential,” said Naresh.

Some of the findings of the study are: 60% of the total survey students looked comfortable in the classroom and spoke freely, but only 18% of teachers consistently gave children wait time to respond.

In the teaching process of mathematics, 35% of kids used real-life examples to explain concepts.

However, under the need for strengthening, it was studied that only 28% of classrooms asked why and how questions at all, while 39% of classrooms gave children independent practice tasks.

TLPS further observed that there was a strong foundation in level-based, action-oriented lesson planning, structured teaching-learning resources, teacher training, positive classroom climate, and high awareness of the BLN mission. On the other hand, room for improvement was stressed in classroom discourse and questioning, independent reading and writing, mathematical reasoning, and responsive, level-based teaching.

TLPS 2025 provides systematic, national-level evidence on teaching practices for language and mathematics in Grades 1 and 2.

The survey was conducted between November 2024 and March 2025 in nine states such as Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, TN, and Uttar Pradesh, covering 21 districts and 1,050 classrooms. The study provides a national-level snapshot of the current teaching and learning practices for foundational literacy and numeracy.

According to police, the victim, who runs a gym in Sathuvachari, had become acquainted with the accused's wife, Epsiya (33), after she joined the fitness centre as a member.

Police said Epsiya allegedly invited the woman to her house on June 20, claiming it was her son's birthday. The complainant alleged that she was served a soft drink, after which she lost consciousness.

During that time, Manivannan (38) allegedly sexually assaulted her, while the couple allegedly recorded intimate photographs and videos without her consent.

The victim further alleged that the couple threatened to publish the images on social media and extorted Rs 4.50 lakh, besides valuables including jewellery and household items, over several months. Based on the complaint, the Vellore All Women Police Station registered a case. Inspector Mangalapriya arrested Manivannan, while efforts are under way to trace Epsiya. Police said they are also investigating whether the couple had used a similar modus operandi to target other women.

Sources said, L Govindaraj (37), a driver from Madukkur in Thanjavur, had borrowed a sum of Rs 3 lakh from a money lender, Balamurugan (52) from Thambikottai in Thanjavur, six months back for exorbitant interest.

When Govindaraj was paying back the interest for the past several months, he could not pay the interest as his earnings became comparatively less in the couple of months.

In such a scenario, Balamurugan was in the habit of threatening Govindaraj frequently. On July 15, Govindaraj, who came to Balamurugan’s house, took him in his car and reportedly tortured him.

In the late hours on the particular day, the money lender Balamurugan contacted Govindaraj’s father, Logalingam and demanded the repayment, and Logalingam bought some time from Balamurugan,

On Thursday, Balamurugan left Govindaraj frustrated. The latter then went into the room and hanged himself. On information, Madukur police rushed to the spot, retrieved the body and sent it to Pattukottai GH. A case was registered against the money lender Balamurugan, and investigations are on.

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The incident took place on the night of July 15, when three employees of a private firm, who were staying together in a rented accommodation in Madukkarai, were standing outside their house watching a football match on a mobile phone.

Four armed youths allegedly confronted the trio and demanded that they hand over their valuables. When the victims resisted, the accused allegedly forced them into the house and summoned four more associates to the spot.

The gang then allegedly assaulted one of the victims on the head with a dosa tawa found inside the house before fleeing with four mobile phones, a laptop and a Rolex wristwatch, police said.

Based on a complaint, the Madukkarai police registered a case and constituted special teams to trace the suspects. Acting on specific intelligence, the police tracked down the accused to a hideout and arrested all eight on Friday.

The arrested have been identified as M Saran (20), S Ashok (21), S Santhosh Sri (19), S Abishek (18), K Ajay (18), C Harish (19), M Kannan (20) and M Nithish (19). Police said all of them are students of various private colleges in Coimbatore and hail from different districts.

The police recovered the stolen laptop, four mobile phones and the Rolex wristwatch from the accused. All eight were produced before a judicial magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. The police have also informed the respective college administrations about the arrests for further action.

According to a press release issued by the Office of the Director General of Police, Indian youth were lured with promises of high-paying overseas jobs and trafficked to Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. They were allegedly forced to work in cyber fraud companies.

Following coordinated efforts by the Government of India and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the victims were rescued and brought back to India.

Based on their statements, CB-CID registered 26 cases across Tamil Nadu.

One such case was registered by the Thanjavur CB-CID on August 10, 2024, based on a complaint from S Vettrivel, a Thanjavur resident who was rescued from Cambodia.

The case was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Emigration Act, 1983.

During the investigation, the first accused, Sundar alias Sundararajulu, was arrested on October 3, 2024. Police said he had allegedly lured six people from Thanjavur with promises of call centre jobs in Cambodia, collected several lakhs of rupees from five of them and arranged their travel through another accused, Jai alias Babu, who was then residing in Malaysia.

Investigators found that Jai allegedly worked with agents in Cambodia to traffic the victims to cyber scam compounds in Pavet. The victims were reportedly forced to carry out fake Bitcoin investment scams, while their passports were seized to prevent their escape.

Police said they were subjected to physical and mental abuse if they refused to participate in the fraud.

After the investigation, the charge sheet was filed with Jai shown as an absconding accused, and a Lookout Circular was issued against him.

On Thursday Jai was intercepted by the Thanjavur CB-CID team at Bengaluru International Airport after he arrived from Malaysia via Bangkok. He was arrested, and further legal proceedings are under way, police said.

TNCRW stated that the financial and institutional challenges facing CHL threatens its ability to provide timely rescue and protection to children in distress.

The organisation noted that for more than 30 years, CHL had functioned as a 24x7 community-based child protection system, working with voluntary organisations, police, hospitals, railways, schools and government departments to rescue children affected by abuse, trafficking, child labour, child marriage, neglect and abandonment. “The recent restructuring under Mission Vatsalya has strengthened administrative oversight but has not fully replicated the extensive community outreach and rapid field response that made the original model effective,” it stated.

Expressing concern over delayed salaries and travel allowances for frontline workers, TNCRW stressed that emergency services cannot function effectively without uninterrupted financial support. It urged the government to establish an advance funding mechanism for District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), ensuring that rescue operations, emergency transportation, counselling and rehabilitation activities continue without disruption.

Among its key recommendations, TNCRW sought the constitution of a high-level committee on strengthening child emergency response systems, development of a TN child emergency response framework, institutional partnerships with experienced child protection organisations, improved staffing and welfare measures for CHL personnel, and a robust digital monitoring system. It also reaffirmed its willingness to support TN in developing a financially sustainable and community-centred child protection model.

The dramatic scenes unfolded during the ordinary council meeting when Ward 44 Congress councillor R Gayathri accused of financial irregularities in the Semmozhi Poonga project and demanded an explanation from Mayor R Ranganayaki.

Gayathri, accompanied by a few Communist councillors, marched towards the Mayor's dais and raised slogans, prompting strong objections from DMK councillors, who insisted that corruption allegations should not be made without evidence.

The exchange quickly descended into a heated verbal altercation before turning physical. As Gayathri refused to leave and continued demanding a response, some DMK women councillors allegedly grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her away from the front of the dais, resulting in a brief scuffle that disrupted the proceedings.

Amid the commotion, the Mayor ordered Gayathri's suspension from the day's proceedings and adjourned the meeting for an hour. When the council reconvened at noon, Ranganayaki announced that the Congress councillor would remain suspended from the council for two months, accusing her of disrupting the proceedings and lowering the dignity of the council for self-publicity.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Gayathri urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to order an inquiry into the alleged irregularities.

"Contractors have alleged that there was a Rs 40-crore irregularity in the Semmozhi Poonga project. When I raised the issue in the council, DMK councillors pulled my hand and saree and even grabbed my neck while trying to force me out. I am not afraid of anyone. The Chief Minister should investigate the allegations and take action against those responsible," she said.

In a striking contrast to the acrimony inside the council hall, Gayathri was later seen interacting cordially with the DMK women councillors with whom she had clashed minutes earlier. Standing beside her with their arms around her shoulders, the DMK councillors remarked that Gayathri had praised the previous DMK government while it was in office, but was now making allegations only for publicity.

Responding to the remarks, Gayathri maintained that the government headed by former Chief Minister MK Stalin had functioned well but alleged that irregularities had occurred because of the actions of certain party functionaries and officials.

Tamil Nadu's daily electricity consumption touched yet another all-time high of 473.572 million units (MU) on Thursday as an intense heatwave continued to grip the State.

The latest consumption surpassed the previous record of 472.263 MU recorded on Wednesday, reflecting sustained high electricity usage as temperatures remained well above normal across several districts.

The State's peak power demand stood at 21,717 MW on Thursday, marginally lower than the all-time high of 21,724 MW recorded on Tuesday. The demand had reached 21,520 MW on Wednesday after surpassing the earlier record of 21,629 MW registered on July 13. Before this week's surge, the previous all-time high peak demand was 21,307 MW, logged on April 29, 2026.

Power sector officials attributed the sustained rise in electricity demand to the weak Southwest Monsoon, compounded by El Niño-induced atmospheric subsidence that has prolonged heatwave conditions across Tamil Nadu. The official added that air-conditioner usage has increased significantly throughout the day as people sought relief from the persistent heat, contributing to the record electricity consumption.

Taking note of the rise in demand, and also factoring in the risk of supply disruption due to various factors, the corporation has issued orders extending the deployment of additional manpower by another 46 days from July 17 to August 31. The workers were initially engaged from June 2 to July 16 to handle power supply disruptions caused by soaring electricity demand during the summer. However, with heatwave conditions persisting and power consumption remaining unusually high, the utility has decided to continue the arrangement.

The surge in demand has put pressure on the distribution network, resulting in frequent transformer failures, feeder faults and localised power outages, particularly in urban areas.

The utility has identified 2,854 operation and maintenance sections across Tamil Nadu, with a total deployment of 18,838 outsourced personnel every day. The corporation has estimated the expenditure for the 46-day extension at Rs 114.73 crore.

Under the revised deployment plan, 30 personnel each will be stationed in 15 high-load sections in north Chennai, including Vysarpadi, MKB Nagar, Perambur East, Villivakkam, ICF and SIDCO Nagar.

All other sections in the Chennai and Kancheepuram regions will receive 10 personnel each, while hill sections such as the Nilgiris, Yercaud, Kodaikanal and Thalavady will be allotted eight personnel each. The remaining operation and maintenance sections across the State will have six personnel each.

The utility has also retained the enhanced daily wage of Rs 1,324 per worker to ensure adequate availability of skilled manpower for emergency restoration work. The corporation has instructed field engineers to engage manpower only through licensed contractors and to maintain detailed records of deployment and restoration works to ensure accountability and timely execution of fault rectification.

After completing his own household registration through the Census Directorate's website, the Chief Minister appealed to the public through a social media post.

He said the Census was not merely a headcount, but an exercise that forms the basis for planning and implementing government welfare schemes. He urged every family to provide accurate and factual information during the self-enumeration process.

"I have registered my household details through the online self-enumeration process. All the data collected under the Census will be kept safe and secure. Let us all participate and complete this Census exercise," Chief Minister Vijay said.

He appealed to the public to make use of the self-enumeration facility and contribute to the successful conduct of Census 2027.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET-UG 2026 results after conducting a retest on June 21. A total of 19,99,895 candidates appeared for the examination across the country, of whom 11,21,185 qualified.
Tamil Nadu performed strongly, with 12 students — 6 boys and as many girls — from the State figuring among the first 138 All India Ranks released by the NTA.

This year's question paper was reportedly easier as compared with last year, resulting in a substantial increase in the number of high scorers. As many as 19 candidates secured scores between 701 and 720, while 1,371 scored between 651 and 700 marks. Another 8,425 candidates scored between 601 and 650, and 27,055 secured between 550 and 600 marks.
In contrast, last year, only 1,647 candidates scored between 600 and 686 marks, while the highest score in the country was 686, achieved by a single student.

The surge in top scorers is expected to have a direct impact on medical college admissions, with candidates seeking seats in government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu likely to require around 30 to 40 marks more than last year.

For instance, an open category candidate secured admission to Madras Medical College with around 597 marks in 2025. This year's expected cutoff is likely to be around 642 marks. Similarly, the backward category cutoff is expected to go up from the 578 marks last year to nearly 629 marks. Comparable increases are expected across other reservation categories as well.

For NEET-UG 2026, the NTA has fixed the qualifying cutoff at 213 marks for the general category and 177 marks for candidates belonging to the OBC, SC and ST categories.

Tamil Nadu, however, had recorded a decline in both the number of candidates appearing for the examination and those qualifying. While 1,35,715 students appeared for NEET in 2025 and 76,181 qualified, only 1,08,601 candidates wrote the examination this year, of whom 61,306 qualified, a decline of 14,875 candidates.

Educationist R Ashwin attributed the lower participation to the cancellation of the original NEET examination and the conduct of the retest at a later date, which resulted in fewer students taking the examination. He said competition for government medical college seats would be significantly higher this year.

NEET coaching trainer A Vignesh said students were better prepared this year after facing the tougher paper last year, leading to a higher number of top scores. He added that the postponement of the examination due to the retest also gave aspirants additional preparation time, further contributing to the expected increase in MBBS admission cutoffs.

In a Social media post, the TNCC president said the alleged breach highlights the potential risks involved in entrusting critical national infrastructure data to private corporate entities. He noted that any compromise of strategic installations, such as nuclear facilities, could have far-reaching implications for the country's security.

Tagore said he has written to the Prime Minister's Office seeking urgent intervention and immediate action to address the reported security lapse. He urged the Centre to treat the issue as a matter of national importance and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent further exposure of sensitive information.

He also called upon the National Security Council Secretariat and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to take responsibility for examining the alleged breach and conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the matter.

Stressing that there should be no compromise on national security, Tagore said the truth behind the reported leak must be established and accountability fixed if any lapses are found.

In a statement, Anbumani said that summer paddy cultivation was undertaken on around 1.6 lakh acres across Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur, and other Cauvery-irrigated districts from April this year. While harvesting began in late June and more than half the cultivated area has already been harvested, procurement activities have reportedly been affected for over 10 days, he said.

Anbumani alleged that inadequate government planning was responsible for the situation. According to him, more than 800 procurement centres have been opened across the delta region, many of them in open spaces, with each centre holding between 15,000 and 20,000 paddy bags. He cautioned that any intensification of the southwest monsoon could damage the paddy stored in the open, leading to significant losses for farmers.

He also questioned why the government had failed to make alternative arrangements despite reports that warehouses were already full and rice mills were struggling to handle existing stocks. He said temporary storage facilities, including marriage halls, could have been utilised to prevent disruption in procurement.

Recalling losses suffered by farmers last year when paddy bags stored in the open were damaged by rains, Anbumani urged the government to act on a war footing. He called for the immediate transport of paddy bags from procurement centres to warehouses, and from warehouses to rice mills, to ensure uninterrupted procurement and protect farmers' interests.

Addressing reporters in Thanjavur, Muruganandam alleged that the Karnataka government remained firm on constructing the dam despite concerns over its impact on Tamil Nadu. He said Delta farmers had already lost the kuruvai crop this year due to water scarcity and warned that the State could soon face a drinking water crisis.

Claiming that the proposed dam would further worsen the situation, he accused the TVK government of maintaining "unusual silence" on the issue because of its alliance with the Congress.

Muruganandam said the protest would urge the State government to take a firm stand against Karnataka in the interest of Delta farmers and the general public. BJP cadres, farmers and members of the public from various sections are expected to participate in the rally, he added.

He also appealed to the State government to declare the Delta region drought-hit and seek adequate financial assistance from the Centre.

Meanwhile, Muruganandam criticised Minister R Nirmal Kumar for attacking the BJP, alleging that the minister was attempting to build an image around his past association with the party. "The minister should be aware that he has travelled in the BJP for a long time," he said.

He also described Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's recent speech in Karur as a "movie script" aimed at wooing fans and criticised TVK functionaries for making and uploading reels on social media. 

According to a DVAC press release, during the checks, officials seized Rs 13.78 lakh in unaccounted cash and identified suspicious GPay transactions amounting to Rs 68.32 lakh.

The highest amount of unaccounted cash, Rs 2,22,200, was seized from the Krishnagiri Taluk Office, followed by Kanyakumari (Rs 1,50,000), Virudhunagar (Rs 1,40,500) and Karur (Rs 1,18,130).

Among the digital transactions, the Karur Taluk Office recorded the highest suspicious GPay transactions at Rs 16,33,654. This was followed by Tiruchy East Taluk Office (Rs 12,40,000), Kallakurichi Chinnasalem Taluk Office (Rs 9,00,000), Salem Thalaivasal Taluk Office (Rs 8,51,498) and Coimbatore North Taluk Office (Rs 7,50,000).

In Chennai, surprise inspections were conducted at the Egmore, Solinganallur, Mambalam and Perambur taluk offices. A total of unaccounted cash of Rs 84,900 was seized from the four offices, while suspicious GPay transactions totalling Rs 6,88,680 were detected.

The DVAC said the surprise checks were part of its ongoing efforts to curb corruption and ensure transparency in public offices. Further verification of the seized cash and the digital transactions is under way.

He raised concerns over the opposition bloc's cohesion if the BJP-led Union government attempts to introduce and pass the Bill during the Parliament session beginning on July 20.

Speaking to reporters after the VCK's south five districts meeting and a fund contribution event for the Tamil National Awakening Conference, scheduled to be held on August 17, in Madurai, Thirumavalavan said there was widespread apprehension that if the Delimitation Bill was passed, the number of Parliamentary constituencies in the southern states would become comparatively much lower, while the number of constituencies in the northern states would increase manifold.

"As far as the VCK is concerned, we will abide by whatever stand the INDIA bloc takes. If the Bill is likely to adversely affect the southern states, we will oppose it and work to defeat it," he said, sharing concerns about DMK's stance on this occasion, after remaining a key force in defeating the BJP-led Centre's previous attempt, given the change in political circumstance in the State after the emergence of TVK under the helm of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Thiruma's remarks come at a time when the DMK has chosen to take a 'wait-and-watch' approach to the fresh Bill, claiming that it would study before clarifying its decision.

On the Mekedatu issue, Thiruma said, "If a meeting of the INDIA bloc is held over the Karnataka government's survey, we will raise the issue on behalf of the VCK. Our voice will also be heard in Parliament. I believe Chief Minister Vijay will act swiftly and thwart the move."

Responding to a question on the Ambedkar statue issue in Salem, he said, "It has been seven years since a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar was installed in a public place at Odhiyathur village in Salem district. During the previous government's tenure, we made every possible effort to have the statue inaugurated. We were repeatedly told that the issue would be resolved through peace talks, but the statue could not be inaugurated. Officials continue to say that the statue can be inaugurated only after obtaining the necessary permission."

He said that obtaining permission to install an Ambedkar statue had itself become a major struggle in Tamil Nadu. He claimed that in other states, Ambedkar statues made of cement could be installed immediately. However, only in Tamil Nadu is prior permission required to install such statues, he added. Moreover, only bronze statues are permitted, while cement statues are not, he said, pointing out that those who install bronze statues are required to maintain them and pay a maintenance deposit to the local bodies.

"Iron cages have been erected around Ambedkar statues, and this too amounts to an act of disrespect towards Ambedkar," he said.

He urged the ruling TVK government to pay special attention to the issue by removing the iron enclosures around Ambedkar statues, evolving a simpler procedure for granting permission to install them, and issuing Government Orders empowering District Collectors to grant such permissions.

He also urged the Chief Minister Vijay to pay attention to the alleged fraudulent registration of the Palani temple property and ensure that appropriate action is taken against those responsible.

The unannounced visit came after the Chief Minister concluded review meetings at the Secretariat. The hostel is run by the Department of Social Justice, formerly known as the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department.

According to official sources, students told the Chief Minister that the quality of food improved only temporarily after complaints were raised with higher authorities and deteriorated again within a week. They also flagged poor maintenance of hostel rooms and the surrounding premises.
The Chief Minister sought details from Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu, who accompanied him during the inspection. Vijay also inspected the hostel kitchen, toilets and the 10-storey hostel building, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 44.50 crore during the previous DMK regime.

Official sources said action is likely to be initiated against those responsible for lapses in maintaining food quality and cleanliness at the hostel.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Vanni Arasu said he was informed of the Chief Minister's visit only 10 minutes before he left the Secretariat.

"This was an important inspection aimed at ensuring good governance. Students at the hostel directly conveyed their demands and grievances to the Chief Minister," the minister said.

He added that the Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure that students were provided with quality food.

Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V Sampath Kumar also accompanied the Chief Minister during the inspection.

Speaking at the orientation programme for students selected under VIT's STARS (Support the Advancement of Rural Students) scheme at the VIT campus in Vellore, Viswanathan said governments should prioritise education spending over distributing welfare benefits.

The scheme provides free higher education to meritorious students from government higher secondary schools.

Addressing the students after distributing admission letters and laptops, he said the STARS scheme, launched in 2008, has benefited 1,200 students so far, with VIT spending around Rs 103 crore on the initiative.

Viswanathan said India's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education stands at 28 per cent, while Tamil Nadu leads the country with 47 per cent. He noted that although the Kothari Commission had recommended allocating 6 per cent of national revenue to education, government spending remains only around 3.5 to 4 per cent, forcing many families to bear heavy educational expenses.

He also highlighted that India spends only 266 US dollars per student on higher education, significantly lower than many developed countries and even below that of Bangladesh. Both the Centre and State governments, he said, should increase investment in education and extend financial support to students studying in private institutions.

Viswanathan also announced that the Universal Higher Education Trust (UHET) has provided Rs 14 crore in financial assistance to 11,000 students from Vellore, Tirupathur, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai districts.
District Collector Leela Alex, HCL HR Head Prince Jayakumar and senior VIT officials attended the programme.

In a statement, Seeman expressed concern over Wangchuk's prolonged fast at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, claiming that the activist had been protesting for more than 18 days in support of students affected by alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. He said Wangchuk's deteriorating health condition should prompt an immediate response from the Union government.

Seeman alleged that the NEET exam had become a barrier for students from poor, rural and middle-class families aspiring to pursue medical education. Reiterating his party's long-standing opposition to the examination, Seeman claimed that recent allegations of question paper leaks and malpractices had exposed serious flaws in the system and undermined the future of lakhs of students.

Referring to Wangchuk's reported health condition, Seeman said the activist had suffered significant weight loss and physical weakness due to the hunger strike. He criticised what he described as the government's silence over the issue and urged authorities to engage directly with Wangchuk and student representatives to find a resolution.

Seeman also requested that Wangchuk withdraw his fast, while assuring the NTK's full support for his campaign. Describing education as a fundamental right rather than a commodity, he said the interests of students and the integrity of the education system must be protected.

In a circular issued on July 16, Inspector General of Registration (IGR) instructed all registering officers across the State to recognise TNPDCL and TNPGCL as the legal successors to the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) for the purpose of availing exemptions already provided under a Government Order issued in 2012.

The clarification follows the State government's decision to reorganise Tangedco as part of its power sector reforms. As notified in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette on August 21, 2024, the utility was bifurcated into separate entities, with TNPDCL entrusted with electricity distribution, billing and consumer services, while TNPGCL was assigned power generation activities.

Inspector General of Registration instructed all registering officers across State to recognise TNPDCL, TNPGCL as the legal successors to erstwhile Tangedco

The circular recalled that the 2012 Government Order exempted stamp duty and registration charges on lands gifted for establishing electricity substations. 

Since the functions and assets of Tangedco now stand vested in the successor companies, the exemption would automatically extend to transactions executed in favour of TNPDCL and TNPGCL, it said.
"The exemption already available to Tangedco shall also apply to TNPDCL and TNPGCL," the circular said, directing Sub-Registrars and other registration authorities to process eligible gift deeds accordingly.

Addressing reporters here, the federation secretary AC Mohan said the GST Council's June 28, 2022, decision to impose 5% GST on pre-packed and labelled rice had increased the burden on both consumers and the rice trade. He pointed out that rice packed in quantities above 25 kg or 25 litres is exempt from GST, forcing many traders to market rice in 5 kg and 10 kg packs without brand names to remain competitive. The association urged the GST Council to revoke the levy on branded rice at its forthcoming 57th meeting.

The federation also sought amendments to GST provisions governing solvent plants, arguing that the existing framework has created avoidable compliance issues. It requested a uniform 5% GST rate across the segment to eliminate ambiguity in taxation.

At the State level, the association demanded amendments to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Marketing Act, 1987, contending that market committees continue to collect market fees from rice millers despite there being no legal provision for levying such charges on paddy converted into rice. It also sought the withdrawal of market fee collections at paddy procurement centres and rice procurement depots.

Rejecting concerns over availability, the federation said there is no shortage of rice in Tamil Nadu. It maintained that supplies remain adequate and expressed confidence that rice prices would decline once the fresh paddy crop begins arriving in markets in the coming weeks.

Investigators said Sabarivarman, a disabled remand prisoner and businessman, was allegedly beaten by inmates along with jail warders, with his hands and legs tied. He suffered multiple injuries and lost consciousness.

His family alleged that he died on the night of July 12 and that officials later staged events to make it appear he was alive when he was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Asaripallam on Monday morning.

The post-mortem examination found 19 injuries on his body, indicating he had been brutally assaulted inside the prison.

8 inmates, 3 prison staff arrested in Nagercoil 'custodial death' case

Police have registered a murder case and arrested chief warder Thirumalainambi, warders Jegan and Sivakumar, and eight inmates: Vishnu (21), Sarathi (19), Jegan (40), Sarath (20), Veriyaperumal (36), Sethuram (30), Ajith (29) and Aravind (27). The three warders have since been suspended.

Police said the assault took place on the night of July 12 following an argument between Sabarivarman and a few fellow inmates. Investigators are probing whether more people were involved.

Sabarivarman's relatives had earlier refused to receive the body, demanding justice, compensation and a government job for a family member. They ended their protest on Friday after the private review of the autopsy video.

According to a Maalaimalar report, the weather department said the heat is expected to intensify from Friday (July 17) and persist until July 21. In Chennai, the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 37-38 degrees Celsius during the period.

Humid conditions likely

The RMC said coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are likely to experience discomfort due to the combined effect of high temperatures and increased humidity.

In Chennai, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy during this period. Moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely at isolated places during the evening or night hours.

Rain likely in select districts

Meanwhile, light to moderate rainfall has been forecast at isolated places over the Western Ghats districts and parts of north Tamil Nadu, including the north coastal districts.

The weather department has advised the public to take necessary precautions against the prevailing heat, particularly during the afternoon hours, while humid conditions are expected to continue along the coast.

The Sub-Registrar filed anticipatory bail contending that he had merely complied with an earlier High Court direction to register the sale deed and had no role in the alleged conspiracy.

The petitioner, Justin Manikandan Subramanian, through his counsel, submitted that he was a Sub-Registrar and was on duty at the Joint-II SRO Office, Palani, on July 6, 2026. Initially, the Sub-Registrar's office issued a refusal check slip refusing to register the sale deed in view of the pendency of certain civil suits.

However, the purchasers challenged the refusal check slip before the Madurai Bench. The court, in its earlier order passed on April 10, 2026, quashed the refusal check slip and directed the registration of the property within one week.

Hence, as the petitioner completed the registration process based on the court's order. Su bramanian claimed that he was in no way connected with the said occurrence and that his role was limited only to the registration of the document and nothing more.

The counsel also submitted that the petitioner had been serving in the department for 25 years, had no criminal antecedents, and was willing to cooperate with the investigation.

The prosecution claimed that the property belonging to the trust was fraudulently sold and that the petitioner, being the Sub-Registrar on the day of registration, allegedly conspired with the other accused and registered the document.

The matter has been posted for further heating on 4th August.

The petitioner, Justin Manikandan Subramanian, through his counsel, submitted that he was a Sub-Registrar and was on duty at the Joint-II SRO Office, Palani, on July 6, 2026. Initially, the Sub-Registrar's office issued a refusal check slip refusing to register the sale deed in view of the pendency of certain civil suits.

However, the purchasers challenged the refusal check slip before the Madurai Bench. The court, in its earlier order passed on April 10, 2026, quashed the refusal check slip and directed the registration of the property within one week.

Hence, as the petitioner completed the registration process based on the court's order. Subramanian claimed that he was in no way connected with the said occurrence and that his role was limited only to the registration of the document and nothing more.

The counsel also submitted that the petitioner had been serving in the department for 25 years, had no criminal antecedents, and was willing to cooperate with the investigation.

The prosecution claimed that the property belonging to the trust was fraudulently sold and that the petitioner, being the Sub-Registrar on the day of registration, allegedly conspired with the other accused and registered the document.

The court posted the case for hearing in the evening.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the party's Members of Parliament, chaired by DMK president M K Stalin.

DMK Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi confirmed the development, saying the party would decide whether to support or oppose the proposal only after the revised Delimitation Bill is introduced and its provisions are examined.

“We will study the final text of the Bill before taking a decision on the delimitation issue,” Bharathi said. The position marks a shift from the party's earlier stand when it was in power in the State.

The DMK had strongly opposed the proposed delimitation exercise, arguing that States which had successfully implemented population control measures should not be disadvantaged in parliamentary representation. When the Bill was introduced in Parliament in April this year, then Chief Minister Stalin publicly burnt a copy of the proposed legislation in protest. The party also organised demonstrations across Tamil Nadu opposing the measure.

During its tenure in office, the DMK had constituted a Joint Action Committee (JAC) on the delimitation issue and spearheaded efforts to build a broader political consensus against the proposal.

As part of that initiative, the party hosted a meeting in Chennai in March 2025, attended by leaders from several non-BJP-ruled States, to discuss the implications of the proposed delimitation exercise. The Trinamool Congress did not participate in the meeting.

Addressing a press conference at Anna Arivalayam, DMK Legal Wing joint secretary I Paranthamen accused the State government of attempting to shield those responsible for the alleged irregularities.

Explaining the sequence of events surrounding the land registration, Paranthamen alleged that two Sub-Registrars in Palani had declined to register the document. He claimed that the responsibility was subsequently assigned to the Sub-Registrar of Kodaikanal, who was given additional charge and travelled nearly 60 km to complete the registration.

"There are several contradictions in the statements made by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister S Ramesh and Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister D Logesh Tamilselvan. The HR&CE Minister said the registration was due to officials' negligence, while the Registration Minister said it was carried out on the basis of a court order. The government's version, however, states that the registration was done under pressure," Paranthamen said.

He alleged that the registration was a benami transaction and claimed that a larger conspiracy was behind the episode.

"We are closely monitoring the CB-CID investigation. If we find that the probe is not proceeding in the right direction, the DMK will approach the court," Paranthamen said.