The arrested were identified as P Pandidurai of Kumaralingam, S Harikrishnan (34) of Madathukulam, M Manoj (20) and S Sibi (24), both from Samayapuram in Tiruchirappalli, and S Madan Kumar (28) of Pollachi in Coimbatore district. According to the police, the accused are also wanted in several other criminal cases.

Police said the robbery took place shortly after midnight on July 16 at the farmhouse of Arun Kumar (49) and his wife, Brinda (40), at Ravanapuram. The couple stepped outside after being alerted by the persistent barking of their pet dog, when a group of masked men allegedly forced their way into the house.

The assailants threatened Brinda with a knife and took away Rs 45,000 kept in a bureau. They also demanded her earrings, but she told them they were imitation jewellery. Police said the earrings were, in fact, made of gold and credited her presence of mind with preventing the robbers from taking the valuables.

Before fleeing, the accused allegedly smashed Arun Kumar's mobile phone and locked the couple inside the house. After daybreak, the couple managed to call out to a passerby through a window and were rescued.

Three special teams constituted by the Thali police examined CCTV footage and other evidence before tracking down and arresting the five accused. Further investigation is under way.

"Karnataka extended an official invitation to the Chief Minister (Vijay) to visit Karnataka," Vinoth told reporters here.

It has been reported in a section of the media that CM Vijay is likely to visit Bengaluru on August 3. Vinoth clarified that the invite was extended exclusively to the chief minister.

When asked about the Bengaluru visit's agenda, he stated the objective is to "secure what is good for the people, what is good for Tamil Nadu."

Addressing the contentious Mekedatu dam project, Vinoth reiterated the state's uncompromising stance. "We have always stated this until now... we will never allow it to be constructed," he asserted.

The official invitation follows recent diplomatic overtures from Karnataka's leadership. On June 18, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar publicly expressed his readiness to hold discussions with CM Vijay on the Mekedatu issue at any time, urging both states to set politics aside.

Subsequently, on June 20, Karnataka Major Irrigation Minister Ramalinga Reddy reiterated this stance, confirming Karnataka was open to bilateral dialogue if Tamil Nadu was willing to come to the table.

The Triplicane police had registered a case against Senthilbalaji, his brother Ashok Kumar and others, alleging that they conspired to topple the TVK government by attempting to negotiate with TVK MLA N Elaiyaraja, representing the Uthangarai Assembly constituency.

Earlier, the Chennai Principal Sessions Court granted conditional anticipatory bail to Senthilbalaji and Ashok Kumar, directing both to appear before the Triplicane police station every morning and evening.

Subsequently, the duo approached the Madras High Court seeking protection from alleged police harassment. During the hearing, the court questioned how they could seek such protection without surrendering despite having secured anticipatory bail. The petitions were dismissed.

Following the High Court proceedings, Senthilbalaji appeared before the Chennai Principal Sessions Court on Friday (July 24) and executed the required bail bond. The court then formally confirmed the conditional bail and directed him to comply with the earlier conditions.

As per the order, Senthilbalaji must appear in person at the Triplicane police station and sign the station register at 10.30 am and 5.30 pm every day from Saturday (July 25) until further orders from the court.

Arlekar departed Chennai at 2.30 pm, accompanied by his Secretary, personal aide and security officer. The visit was not part of his announced schedule and was finalised only hours before his departure, sources at Chennai airport said.

The Governor had returned to Chennai from Thiruvananthapuram late on Thursday night. Officials had earlier indicated that he had no engagements outside the State on Friday and was expected to remain at Lok Bhavan in Guindy.

However, airport authorities were later informed of a change in plans, following which arrangements were made for the Governor’s departure to New Delhi. As of Friday evening, there was no official word on the duration of his visit or when he would return to Chennai.

Sources said Arlekar was likely to hold discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his stay in the national capital.

The reasons behind the Governor’s sudden visit remained undisclosed. Sources maintained that the trip followed an urgent communication from New Delhi but declined to reveal the nature of the discussions.

The accused, identified as Santhosh Kumar, is employed at a Government Higher Secondary School in Chengalpattu district, where the survivor is also a student.

According to the police, the alleged incident occurred during special classes conducted after regular school hours for students of Classes 10, 11, and 12. As only a limited number of students attended these sessions, the accused allegedly took advantage of the situation.

Following a complaint lodged by the student's family, the Kilambakkam All Women Police registered a case under the Pocso Act and arrested Santhosh Kumar.

He was questioned overnight before being produced before a court in Chengalpattu on Friday (July 23).

The court remanded him in judicial custody. The police said further investigation is under way.

While dismissing a batch of writ petitions filed by employees who were terminated after they were found to have secured appointments in various Town Panchayats and Municipalities in the erstwhile Tirunelveli district by allegedly using bogus disability certificates, Justice B Pugalendhi observed that," These circumstances disclose either a complete failure in the process of verification or a deeper systemic irregularity in the functioning of the Employment Exchange. In either event, the matter raises serious concerns touching upon the integrity and transparency of public recruitment.".

"The Employment Exchanges are entrusted with the registration of job seekers, sponsorship of eligible candidates against notified vacancies and maintenance of employment records. Thousands of aspiring candidates depend upon the fairness and impartiality of this mechanism for access to public employment. Any manipulation or batch failure in this process not only prejudices deserving candidates but also erodes public confidence in the fairness of recruitment to public service," observed the Judge. 

This Court takes note of the categorical statement made by the CB-CID in its status report that the investigation has revealed similar appointments in various other Municipalities based on disability certificates and that further investigation in respect thereof is presently in progress. The systemic deficiencies noticed in the present batch of cases, therefore, cannot be viewed as confined to the petitioners before this Court but appear to have wider ramifications affecting public recruitment through the Employment Exchanges, said the Judge.   

According to the case, a complaint lodged in 2015 alleged that several persons had obtained appointments as sanitary workers, overhead tank operators and junior assistants between 2005 and 2015 by producing fake disability certificates. The investigation was later transferred to the CB-CID. The investigation revealed that 103 persons had been appointed under the priority quota meant for persons with disabilities. A subsequent medical verification found that only 25 of them were genuinely persons with disabilities. The investigation also found that 13 government doctors had allegedly facilitated the issuance of National Disability Identity Cards on the basis of bogus medical certificates.

Following departmental inquiries, the employees concerned were dismissed from service. Challenging the termination orders, they approached the High Court.

This Court has noted that the irregularities in the present batch of cases appear to have originated primarily at the stage of sponsorship by the District Employment Exchange. The records disclose that the Employment Exchange forwarded the names of the petitioners to the respondent Town Panchayats and Municipalities as persons belonging to the physically disabled priority category, together with disability identity cards and disability certificates, even though they were not actually physically disabled. It remains wholly unexplained as to how such disability documents, containing the photographs, signatures and personal particulars of the petitioners, came into the possession of the Employment Exchange or on what basis they were accepted as genuine.

Taking serious note of the issue, Justice B Pugalendhi directed the Secretary to the Government, Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, to constitute a committee of senior officers to examine the manner in which disability identity cards and certificates were accepted and forwarded by the Employment Exchange, the reasons for the failure to follow the prescribed order of priority in sponsorship, the role of officials responsible for any lapse, negligence, misconduct or collusion, and whether similar irregularities had occurred in other recruitments.

"The Secretary shall also undertake a comprehensive review of the existing mechanism governing sponsorship through the Employment Exchanges and put in place appropriate administrative and supervisory safeguards to ensure strict compliance with the Government Orders and greater accountability in the sponsorship process, to prevent the recurrence of similar irregularities." 

The Court directed the government to initiate departmental action against the officials concerned wherever warranted and to review the Employment Exchange sponsorship mechanism to prevent recurrence of similar irregularities. The Judge further directed the CB-CID to examine the role, if any, of District Employment Exchange officials in the alleged irregularities and expand its investigation beyond the beneficiaries of the appointments.

Justice L Victoria Gowri directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to constitute the SIT within 48 hours, comprising officers not below the rank of Superintendent of Police from the CB-CID or other specialised units. The Court further directed the investigating officer to hand over the entire case records, digital evidence and other materials, along with a detailed inventory, to the SIT.

The Court also directed the Director of Medical Education to constitute a Neutral Medical Board within 24 hours. Doctors who participated in the earlier postmortem examination have been barred from being part of the Board, the Judge said.

"Pending its constitution, the body has been directed to be preserved at the Government Medical College Hospital, Pudukkottai. The Medical Board has been directed to conduct a fresh postmortem within 48 hours of its constitution," Justice Gowri observed.

The court passed this order on a writ petition and a miscellaneous petition filed by S Fathima Beevi, mother of the deceased, Afrin, seeking the transfer of the investigation to an independent SIT and a fresh postmortem to ascertain the real cause of her death.

According to the petitioner, Afrin married Mohammed Ashraf on January 25, 2026, and was about four months pregnant at the time of her death. The petitioner alleged that her daughter was subjected to dowry harassment, physical assault and mental cruelty over an additional demand for 5.5 sovereigns of gold. She further alleged that the circumstances surrounding the death, which occurred within five months of the marriage, warranted an independent investigation.

In the writ petition, the victim's mother further stated that although an FIR was registered, the investigation had not been fair or transparent. She alleged that crucial evidence had not been properly preserved and that the authorities had failed to furnish the postmortem certificate, postmortem videography, Form No. 86, Accident Register, Inquest Report, RDO records, forensic reports and other medical documents despite repeated requests.

The authorities provided the postmortem video and certificate to the petitioner on June 29 2026 only after the intervention of this Court.

Advocate SK Venkat Raman, who appeared for the petitioner, said that when the family examined the postmortem video, they found that the postmortem examination had not been conducted in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Court in the RM Arun Swaminathan vs State case. The doctors also failed to report the injuries identified on the body in the post-mortem report, the advocate said. Hence, they filed a miscellaneous petition seeking a fresh post-mortem in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the court.

The deceased was identified as Padmavathiyamma (85) of Ponpadi village.

According to the police, she had gone near an agricultural field around 2 pm when she allegedly lost her balance and fell into a nearby open well.

A passerby, identified as Mohan, noticed the woman in the well and immediately alerted the Fire and Rescue Services.

Firefighters rushed to the spot, retrieved her from the well and took her to the Government Hospital in Tiruttani, where doctors declared her brought dead.

Following a complaint lodged by her son, Loganathan (64), an autorickshaw driver from Arakkonam, the Tiruttani police registered a case.

The police said there was no suspicion of foul play. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is under way.

In the first accident, three employees of a private company died after the car they were travelling in crossed the median and collided head-on with a lorry, near Keelambi on the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway in Kancheepuram on Friday morning.

Kalaiselvi K (39), Selvaganapathi M (28), C Jayavel Nagraj (28), and Kamaraj N (30), employees of a Hosur-based firm, were on their way to Chennai to attend a corporate meeting. The vehicle was driven by M Manohar (39).
Based on preliminary investigation, the police suspect that Manohar may have dozed off at the wheel lost control, and the car climbed the median and entered the opposite carriageway, where it collided with an oncoming lorry travelling towards Vellore.

Kalaiselvi and Selvaganapathi died on the spot, while Manohar succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Jayavel and Kamaraj are undergoing treatment at the Kancheepuram Government Hospital.

In the second accident, three people, including a teenager, were killed after a lorry allegedly rammed into their car from behind near Janakipuram on the Tiruchy-Chennai National Highway in Chengalpattu around 10 pm on Thursday.

The victims were identified as Gopu V (46) of Shanmugapuram in Puducherry, his son L Dhanesh (15), and P Ilanchezhiyan (54), who was driving the car. The police said they were travelling to Chennai airport to receive a relative arriving from abroad.

The lorry that was allegedly trying to overtake the car hit it from behind, forcing the vehicle into the median and overturn. Gopu and Dhanesh died on the spot, while Ilanchezhiyan died on the way to the Chengalpattu Government Hospital in an ambulance.

The police sent the bodies for post-mortem examinations and are examining CCTV footage from the highway to identify the vehicle and the driver, who fled the scene before the police arrived.

Traffic on the busy National Highway was affected for some time after the crash. Separate cases have been registered in both incidents under Sections 281 (rash driving) and 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is under way.

Confirming the proposed meeting, Agriculture Minister R Vinoth said at Kumbakonam that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are expected to meet during the first week of August. Official sources said the meeting is likely to be held on August 3.

The proposed talks come close on the heels of the 53rd meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) held in New Delhi, where Tamil Nadu urged the Authority to direct Karnataka to release water in accordance with the Supreme Court's final award. During the meeting, Tamil Nadu's Water Resources Department argued that the State had received only 3.442 TMC of water between June 1 and July 19, against its allocated 28.337 TMC, leaving a shortfall of 24.896 TMC.

However, Karnataka opposed the demand, citing a severe rainfall deficit and low storage in its reservoirs, and maintained that it was unable to release water because of drought-like conditions, particularly around Bengaluru. Taking note of the submissions from both states, the Authority decided to review the situation further through the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).

Against this backdrop, the proposed meeting between the two Chief Ministers is expected to focus on securing Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water, the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project to address the recurring river water dispute through political dialogue.

If the meeting takes place as scheduled, it will mark the first direct meeting between the Chief Ministers of the two states on the Cauvery issue in 14 years.

The last such high-level political engagement was held in November 2012, when the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa met her Karnataka counterpart Jagadish Shettar to discuss the sharing of Cauvery waters.

The proposed talks assume significance as inadequate water releases have affected Kuruvai cultivation in the Cauvery Delta and raised concerns over the ensuing samba cultivation.

The new guidelines require officials to receive, examine and dispose of grievances on designated days every month, while making periodic monitoring and reporting compulsory.

Under the framework issued by Registrar of Cooperative Societies G Latha, Cooperative Sub-Registrars and field officers at the block level will receive grievance petitions on the first Friday of every month and dispose of them on merit. Petitions that remain unresolved at this stage, along with those submitted directly to Deputy Registrars, will be taken up by Deputy Registrars on the second Friday. Cases that still require intervention, as well as petitions received directly by Joint Registrars, will be heard by Zonal Joint Registrars on the third Friday of every month.

"The objective is to ensure immediate action on grievance petitions through a clearly defined administrative process," the circular said, directing officers at every level to ensure that petitions are disposed of without undue delay.

The circular also places emphasis on continuous oversight. Zonal officers have been instructed to review the status of all petitions, while Zonal Joint Registrars must submit consolidated monthly reports through the department's online portal, detailing petitions received, disposed of and pending.

The Registrar will review the reports every month to monitor the effectiveness of the new system.

To ensure uniformity in monitoring, the department has prescribed a standard reporting format covering grievances related to loans, consumer affairs, sales, employee service matters, pension benefits, salary disbursal and other issues handled by cooperative institutions.

His arrival plan

According to the original itinerary, Shah was to arrive in Chennai from Hubballi by a special aircraft at 11.20 am on Saturday and proceed to Puducherry by helicopter. He was scheduled to return to Chennai on Sunday morning before departing for New Delhi by a special flight after a brief halt at the airport.

Preparations for the visit had already begun, with security agencies putting elaborate arrangements in place at Chennai airport. A high-level coordination meeting involving airport authorities and security officials had also been scheduled on Thursday evening at the old airport terminal to finalise the security protocol for the Home Minister's visit.

However, the meeting was cancelled after the proposed visit was called off, airport security sources said.

Tense situation at Delhi

Though there has been no official announcement from the Union Home Ministry on the cancellation, sources said Shah's travel plans were reviewed in view of the evolving situation in Delhi. The national capital has witnessed continuing protests by students and youth, prompting heavy deployment of Delhi Police and central paramilitary forces. Several Metro Rail stations have been temporarily closed and security has been tightened across sensitive locations.

Security meeting cancelled

Officials said Shah's visit to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is likely to be rescheduled once the situation in the national capital returns to normal.

Arunachalam, a resident of the Amuda Nagar area of Thoothukudi, was arrested by the police on July 17 for allegedly selling liquor illegally and was taken to the Thenpagam police station for questioning.

The youth's death

While he was being prepared to be produced before the court from the police station, he reportedly suffered a seizure and fainted, the police said.

He was immediately admitted to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for treatment, where he succumbed despite treatment.

The autopsy

Following this, his body was taken to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for an autopsy on Friday morning.

Arunachalam's father, Nagraj, and brother, Sudalaimani, came to identify his body before the autopsy began.

A team of post-mortem specialists from Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi began the autopsy in the presence of Thoothukudi Criminal Justice Magistrate Vijaya Rajasekhar.

The entire autopsy is being videotaped.

Arunachalam's family protest

Earlier, Arunachalam's relatives had refused to accept his body and lodged a complaint at the Thenpagam police station, alleging that he died due to custodial assault.

They demanded action against the police officers involved in the incident and that the investigation be conducted by a Judicial Magistrate. They also demanded that the autopsy be videotaped.

He would visit Kanyakumari on August 2 in his capacity as leader of the movement to officially launch the state-wide initiative from the Kanyakumari Beach Road, and initiate a similar drive in Uvari in Tirunelveli district, Manapad and Tiruchendur in Tuticorin district.

Interestingly, Kanyakumari district has registered the highest number of volunteers for the "We The Leaders" that Annamalai had announced on June 5, an insider said.

Following the mega public cleanliness drive inauguration, he would interact with the local fishers during the visit, which is seen as a bridge between environment action, especially combating pollution, upkeep of major tourist and heritage centre in Kanyakumari and Tiruchendur, and strategic political mobilisation, a senior leader told PTI.

Annamalai had announced the launch of the movement in June this year following his exit from the BJP after meeting the top leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital.

He hosted a maiden conference in Pollachi on July 12 focussing on social advocacy and addressing the issue of drug eradication.

The deceased were identified as Gopu (46), his son Dinesh (15), and their relative Ilanchezhiyan (54), who was driving the car, heading towards Chennai airport.

While travelling near Janakipuram on the Tiruchy-Chennai National Highway, a speeding heavy vehicle coming from behind allegedly attempted to overtake their car and collided with it.

The impact caused the car to lose control, crash into the road median and overturn. The lorry driver fled the spot without stopping.

Motorists alerted the police, following which rescue operations were launched. Gopu and Dinesh died on the spot after suffering severe injuries.

Ilanchezhiyan, who sustained critical injuries, was rushed in a ambulance to the Chengalpattu Government Hospital but died on the way.

Police have launched a search for the lorry, which allegedly fled the scene after the accident.

Meanwhile, CCTV footage from the Madurantakam-Tiruchy-Chennai National Highway stretch is being examined to trace the vehicle.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, 4.6 lakh people have been affected by dog bites and 24 people have died in the first seven months of this year. In the corresponding period last year, 6 lakh people were affected and 34 deaths were reported.

Dog bite cases still remain a concern in Tamil Nadu

Officials said Salem recorded the highest number of dog bite cases at 28,000, followed by Tirunelveli with 23,000 and Thiruvallur with 19,000. Around 20,000 people were affected in both Thanjavur and Coimbatore districts.

The Public Health Department has advised people to complete the four dose rabies vaccination schedule after a dog bite.

Government cites progress in sterilisation drive

A senior government official said the issue was being reviewed every week with district collectors and that Tamil Nadu was following all directions issued by the Supreme Court.

Between January 24 and July 26, Animal Birth Control (ABC) surgeries were performed on 3,38,135 dogs across Tamil Nadu, including 52,226 in Chennai. Officials said this was the highest number of such surgeries carried out.

Vaccination target set for year-end

From January to July this year, 1,68,878 dogs have been vaccinated, and all stray dogs in the State are planned to be vaccinated by the end of the year.

Chennai to expand sterilisation facilities

According to the 2024 census, Chennai has around 1.81 lakh stray dogs, including 3,544 found near schools and colleges.

The Greater Chennai Corporation currently operates stray dog sterilisation centres at 11 locations, including Pulianthope, Kanniammapettai, Meenambakkam, Sholinganallur, Tiruvottiyur, Madhavaram, Kannappar Thidal, Perungudi and Lloyds Colony.

Officials said the city currently sterilises 100 to 110 dogs a day and plans to increase the number to 350 daily.

Meanwhile, four additional Animal Birth Control centres will be opened at Ambattur, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur.

Quarantine centres for aggressive dogs are also being established at Manali and Perungudi and are expected to become operational within the next two months.

Garbage disposal under focus

Officials said improper garbage disposal continued to attract stray dogs, contributing to attacks. Chennai has 3,204 residential complexes generating large volumes of waste.

The government said fines ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 are being imposed for violations of waste disposal norms.

Speaking about the impact of NEET on his family, Manirathnam said, "NEET has destroyed my family."

Anitha's fight against NEET

Anitha, a 17-year-old from Ariyalur, had scored 1,176 out of 1,200 in the Class 12 Tamil Nadu State Board examinations in 2017, with a medical cut-off of 196.75 out of 200. However, after NEET became mandatory for medical admissions, she could not secure a medical seat as she had prepared under the State Board syllabus.

She went on to challenge NEET legally and became one of the petitioners before the Supreme Court, seeking an exemption for Tamil Nadu students.

The court did not grant the relief sought by the State, and Anitha died by suicide at her home in Ariyalur on September 1, 2017. Her death then became a defining moment in Tamil Nadu's opposition to NEET.

Recalling his sister's journey, Manirathnam said Anitha's fight against NEET was deeply personal and rooted in her dream of becoming a doctor despite the hardships her family faced. Manirathnam said Anitha was raised by their father, a daily wage labourer, after their mother died when she was seven. He said her mother's death due to an illness inspired Anitha to pursue medicine.

'Pradhan's resignation is not enough'

Manirathnam also criticised the conduct of the examination, saying, "These NEET irregularities like paper leaks and exam centre allocations (referring to far-off locations and other states being allocated) --- all these small, small mistakes affected 25 lakh people. It is a failure model."

Reacting to calls for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, he said, "The resignation of the Education Minister is a small step. It is his responsibility, but it is not enough. We want an exemption from NEET. Ban NEET. NEET is against marginalised, economically weaker and rural people."

He was staying at the Coimbatore refugee camp and had several criminal cases, including theft and attempt to murder, registered at police stations in Madurai, Coimbatore and other places.

He had allegedly travelled from Madurai to the Thangachimadam coast with plans to illegally reach Sri Lanka by boat and then travel onwards to another country.

More than 2,000 fishermen ventured into the sea from Rameswaram in over 400 mechanised boats on Wednesday. While they were fishing in the waters near Katchatheevu, the Sri Lankan Navy, which was on patrol, allegedly chased them away.

The Sri Lankan Navy also arrested nine fishermen who were aboard a mechanised boat owned by Prasanth of Rameswaram, alleging that they had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line and were fishing in Sri Lankan waters. The arrested fishermen have been identified as Arul Loyola, Praveen, Vinoth Vin, Krithisan, Senthil Gayas, Devasagayam, Infant Prasad and two others. They were taken to the Mannar Naval Base late on Wednesday night.

The Mannar court on Thursday remanded all nine fishermen in judicial custody till August 6, following which they were lodged in Vavuniya prison.

Meanwhile, mechanised boat fishermen have also announced a three-day strike from Friday to Sunday, abstaining from fishing to press for the release of the fishermen and the boat.

The action is part of a series of reforms introduced to improve transparency, accountability and service delivery in the department, which handles property registrations and related public services across the State.

According to senior officials, four district registrars, two sub-registrars and five assistants were suspended from service after departmental inquiries found merit in complaints alleging misconduct and violations of service rules.

"The Registration Department has implemented several reforms over the past two months. Based on complaints received from the public, four district registrars, two sub-registrars and five assistants have been suspended from service," officials said.

The disciplinary action is being seen as one of the strongest measures taken by the department in recent months to curb malpractice and reinforce administrative accountability.

Officials said the government would continue to act firmly against erring personnel and ensure that public grievances are addressed promptly. They maintained that the ongoing reforms are aimed at making the Registration Department more transparent, efficient and citizen-centric while restoring public confidence in its functioning.

She was residing at the police quarters in Nallur. “After attending the roll call, she returned home around 10.30 am and locked herself inside. She was found hanging," police said.

Before taking the extreme step, she informed a woman cop, who then alerted other cops staying in the same block. Some cops broke open the doors and rushed her in a critical state to a hospital; however, she died on the way. An investigation is on.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

Ramachandran, who hails from Coimbatore, attended the meeting chaired by Palaniswami with district functionaries earlier in the day. However, by the evening, he submitted his resignation letter to the AIADMK leadership, citing dissatisfaction with the party's functioning under Palaniswami.

In his resignation letter, Ramachandran said recent developments within the party were unacceptable. He stated that he had repeatedly conveyed his concerns to the leadership, but no corrective action had been taken.

The son of former AIADMK MLA Singai Govindaraj, Ramachandran contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Coimbatore constituency on an AIADMK ticket and finished third.

Meanwhile, former minister SP Velumani did not attend the consultative meeting held with Coimbatore district functionaries. His absence comes amid reports of dissatisfaction after he was not reinstated as Coimbatore district secretary, a post he earlier held. Although he was subsequently appointed deputy general secretary, one of the party's senior organisational positions, his decision to skip the meeting has intensified speculation about continuing differences within the AIADMK.

The meeting was convened to review the party's Assembly election performance and discuss measures to strengthen the organisation. Following the election, several MLAs earlier considered close to the SP Velumani-CVe Shanmugam camp, including Ko Hari (Tiruttani), Mohan (Panruti), Hari Bhaskar (Erode) and Maragatham Vetrivel (Pappireddipatti), have attended meetings convened by Palaniswami. Against this backdrop, Velumani's absence has fuelled speculation over the party's internal dynamics.

KR Periakaruppan had approached the Madras High Court seeking directions to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chief Electoral Officer, Principal Secretary to Government (Elections Department), district Election Officer-cum-Collector (Sivagangai District), Returning Officer of number 185 of Tiruppattur Assembly constituency, and Returning Officer of No 50 Tiruppattur Assembly constituency to secure the postal ballots that were allegedly sent to Constituency number 50 instead of Constituency number 185 (Sivagangai district) and account for them in constituency number 185.

He had also sought an interim injunction restraining TVK MLA Srinivasa Sethupathi from participating in any proceedings of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly pending disposal of the writ petition. Further, he sought a direction to the Returning Officer of Constituency number 185 to produce the video footage of the mandatory reverification process.

In view of the trust vote scheduled for May 12, a special Sunday hearing was held on May 10. On May 12, the vacation Bench of Justice Victoria Gowri and Justice Senthilkumar restrained Srinivasa Sethupathi from participating in the floor proceedings, holding that Periakaruppan had made out a strong prima facie case.

Aggrieved by the interim order, Sethupathi approached the Supreme Court, which stayed the High Court's order, describing it as "atrocious."

When the matter came up for hearing, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan noted that the Supreme Court had permitted Periakaruppan to withdraw the writ petition pending before the High Court after he had filed an election petition challenging the victory of TVK MLA Sethupathi.

Taking note of the Supreme Court's order, the Division Bench permitted Periakaruppan to withdraw the writ petition and dismissed it as withdrawn.

Talking to reporters at Kamalalayam after leading a protest against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Nainar alleged that the Opposition was deliberately politicising the issue despite the Centre having acted against those responsible for the examination irregularities.

Referring to the NEET controversy, he said the examination was introduced during the Congress-led UPA regime in 2012 and accused the DMK of having remained silent then. Rejecting allegations that the BJP was responsible for bringing NEET, he said the National Investigation Agency had exposed the paper leak, those involved had been arrested, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had already apologised to students after the re-examination.

Nagenthran further said future NEET examinations would be conducted through a computer-based system to eliminate the possibility of malpractice. "Rahul Gandhi is hiding behind those protesting against NEET even after action has been initiated against the offenders. The people protesting in Delhi are not genuine students. They are rowdies from the Northeastern States and are creating disturbances," he alleged.

His remarks came against the backdrop of sustained protests in the national capital demanding accountability over the NEET issue and the resignation of the Union Education Minister. Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party leaders, had recently staged a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence before being detained by the police.

Nainar also targeted the ruling TVK government over ministers attending screenings of CM C Joseph Vijay's film Jana Nayagan. In a swipe, he said, "There is no Jana Nayagam (democracy) in the government, but ministers have assembled in theatres for a film titled Jana Nayagan." With the State Budget scheduled to be presented on August 5, he alleged that the government was neglecting farmers, particularly those in the Cauvery delta, while its ministers remained preoccupied with the film.

A Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and S Sakthivel passed the interim order while hearing a public interest litigation alleging rampant illegal sand mining in Melur, Thiruvadavur, Idaiyapatti, Kidaripatti, Poigaikarapatti, Ilanjipatti and Sathirapatti.

According to the petitioner, illegal quarrying has been carried out on government poramboke lands and tank areas without any statutory permission. It was alleged that soil had been excavated beyond a depth of 30 feet, severely affecting groundwater levels and destroying natural water channels originating from the Alagar Hills forest area, thereby impacting irrigation.

The petition further alleged that more than 250 lorry loads of sand were being transported every day with the connivance of officials of the Revenue and Geology and Mining Departments using forged transport permits. Despite complaints to the district Collector and departmental authorities, no effective action had been taken, it was submitted.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel produced photographs, videos and drone footage purportedly showing large-scale illegal mining over the past week.

After examining the material, the Bench questioned the State as to how heavy earthmovers and numerous lorries could operate on such a scale without the knowledge of the authorities.

The judges observed that complaints to the police were routinely redirected to the Revenue Department and vice versa, while no criminal action had been initiated against those allegedly involved in the illegal mining.

Stating that the court could no longer remain a silent spectator to the plunder of natural resources, the Bench directed that "No quarrying or sand excavation should be permitted in the identified areas until further orders. It also directed the district Collector to intervene immediately and ensure implementation of the order."

The Bench cautioned that failure to take prompt action could compel the court to direct the personal appearance of the district Collector.

The court further directed the Collector, officials of the Geology and Mining Department and the police to file a compliance report by July 30. It warned that if illegal sand mining continued in the meantime, stringent action would be ordered against the officials concerned. The matter was then adjourned.

The direction was issued by a Division Bench of Justices K Karthikeyan and S Sakthivel while hearing a batch of petitions, including Kathiresan from Madurai, which sought a direction to register criminal cases against those allegedly responsible for the police firing on protesters demanding the permanent closure of the Sterlite Copper plant. The unit was alleged to have illegally dumped immense quantities of hazardous copper slag and gypsum at multiple unauthorised open-air sites, which obstructed natural waterways and caused local flooding. The petitioner alleged that plainclothes marksmen were deployed in violation of established police procedures and that protesters were shot at vital parts of their bodies.

Appearing for the petitioner, counsel submitted that only one police inspector had been named in the charge sheet and that a protest petition challenging the investigation was still pending. The counsel further submitted that although the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission had recommended payment of Rs 50 lakh as compensation to each bereaved family, only Rs 30 lakh had been paid. The criminal trial was also progressing at a slow pace, the counsel said.

During the hearing, the Bench wondered whether a single police inspector could, on his own and without any orders, have taken a firearm and shot 16 persons. The judges also questioned the delay in the CBI investigation and the progress of the trial.

The Bench directed the State government to file a response detailing the action taken on the recommendations of the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission, the departmental action initiated against the police and revenue officials allegedly involved in the incident, and whether the government proposed to form a committee to implement the recommendations of the commission.

Education was, likewise, a State subject under the former Entry 11, subject only to the Union’s power under Entry 66 of the Union List to coordinate and determine standards. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976, altered this balance by transferring education, including medical education, to the Concurrent List under Entry 25.

Thereafter, expansive Union legislation and broad judicial interpretations of Entry 66 steadily enlarged central control over domains previously within State competence. The Supreme Court-created All-India Quota deepened this erosion by diverting seats in medical colleges established and funded by States to central counselling, weakening the connection between medical education and local health needs, particularly in rural areas.

National examinations such as NEET and the proposed NExT, fiscal conditionalities, and micromanaged Centrally Sponsored Schemes have further accelerated this centralising drift.

National Medical Commission

This trend culminated institutionally in the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, enacted under Entry 66 of the Union List, and presented as a historic reform of medical education and professional regulation. Its predecessor, the Medical Council of India (MCI), had forfeited public confidence through pervasive corruption, conflicts of interest and weak accountability, prompting the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s 92nd Report of 2016 to call for comprehensive restructuring.

Yet, by replacing the flawed but participatory MCI with the tightly centralised NMC, the Parliament introduced a different infirmity: a profound federal imbalance in medical education and professional regulation.

The MCI was broadly representative. The Union, States, university medical faculties, State Medical Councils and nationally elected medical practitioners enjoyed distinct and continuing channels of institutional participation. Its president and vice-president were elected by the council.

The NMC marks a decisive transition from an elected regulator to a selected one. All its 33 members — Chairperson, 10 ex officio members and 22 part-time members — are appointed by the Union government. Three part-time members are centrally selected experts. The remaining 19 — 10 nominees of States or Union Territories and 9 of State Medical Councils — are chosen by rotation and draw of lots for two-year terms. Several States therefore have no vote in the Commission at any given time. Major medical hubs such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana may remain excluded for years. In 2025, administrative delay in conducting the draw left the NMC without any State representation for six-and-a-half months.

The Medical Advisory Council under Sections 11-13 includes nominees from every State and Union Territory, State Medical Councils, and other institutions, but it’s merely advisory. The NMC is neither bound by its recommendations nor required to explain their rejection.

In the Constituent Assembly, Dr BR Ambedkar defended Entry 66 as conferring only the ‘limited extent’ of power needed to coordinate institutions and prevent standards from declining. Yet the NMC now enables the Union to control courses, seats, admissions, licensure, infrastructure, faculty, hospital facilities, clinical material, and teaching requirements — matters far beyond the framers’ conception of Entry 66. Section 45 makes Union policy directions binding on the NMC, while Section 46 empowers the Union to issue directions to State Governments for implementing the Act.

This arrangement sits uneasily with India’s federal structure. States bear the burdens of healthcare delivery, expenditure and democratic accountability, yet are reduced from constitutional partners to intermittently consulted subjects.

Centralisation has not eliminated corruption; it has merely created a single window for rent-seeking. In July 2025, after the CBI booked 34 persons, including NMC and Union Health Ministry officials, for alleged bribery in medical-college approvals, The Lancet questioned the Commission’s transparency, accountability and ethical governance, calling it a rebranded version of its discredited predecessor.

Evidence of outcomes

In the QS World University Rankings 2026 for Life Sciences and Medicine, no Indian institution entered the global top 200. AIIMS New Delhi ranked 217, Manipal Academy of Higher Education 286, University of Delhi 399, and PGIMER Chandigarh was in the 451–500 band. By contrast, the global top 200 included 47 institutions from the US, 13 from Germany, 9 from Canada, and 8 from Australia.

Hospital rankings tell a similar story. In the Newsweek-Statista ‘World’s Best Hospitals 2026’ list, only four Indian hospitals entered the global top 250: Medanta, Gurugram (rank 110), AIIMS New Delhi (115), PGIMER Chandigarh (214), and CMC Vellore (245).

According to WHO and OECD statistics, India’s doctor-population ratio, counting only MBBS doctors, is around 0.7-0.9 per 1,000 people, below the WHO norm of one doctor per 1,000 and far behind the US (2.7), Germany (4.6), Canada (2.9), and Australia (4.2).

World Bank and OECD data show that India averages only 1.6 hospital beds per 1,000 people, with just 0.50 in government hospitals. The corresponding figures are: USA (2.7 total, 0.57 public), Germany (7.5, 3.60), Canada (2.5, 2.48), and Australia (3.8, 2.50).

These disappointing outcomes show that centralisation and regulation have delivered neither excellence nor adequate capacity in India’s health sector.

Standards & permissions

The NMC Act distributes regulatory functions among four autonomous boards: Under-Graduate Medical Education Board, Post-Graduate Medical Education Board, Medical Assessment and Rating Board, and Ethics and Medical Registration Board.

Section 28 requires prior permission from the Medical Assessment and Rating Board to establish a new medical college, commence a postgraduate course or increase seats. This converts standard-setting into a centralised approval regime. But national standards do not require every proposal from colleges, universities and States to travel to the NMC or its Boards for prior sanction.

Once the NMC prescribes minimum norms, universities or State authorities should be empowered to approve compliant proposals and mandatorily intimate the Commission. The NMC should retain the power to modify, suspend or cancel approvals that violate its standards, and do sample inspections and audits.

Such a model would preserve national standards while reducing delay, cost, duplication and bureaucratic congestion. The same separation of standards from permissions should govern other Union regulators operating under Entry 66, including the UGC and AICTE.

No grants

Unlike the UGC and AICTE, the NMC is not a grant-giving body. It prescribes standards imposing substantial capital and recurring expenditure on public institutions and may penalise non-compliance, but contributes nothing towards meeting those costs.

Even the grant-giving role of the UGC and AICTE has contracted sharply. For example, UGC’s total grant disbursal fell from Rs 8,905 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 3,336 crore in 2025-26, overwhelmingly favouring Central institutions. During this period, grants to State universities and colleges declined from Rs 1,185 crore (13.3% of the total) to a mere Rs 62 crore (1.9%).

Especially worrying is the Union’s extension of the NMC model to general higher education through the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, which seeks to merge UGC, AICTE and NCTE into a single regulator. The VBSA, however, is not conceived as a grants commission; it would regulate without carrying a developmental purse. This raises a basic question: can national standards be sustained through unfunded mandates?

The same concern animated the Constituent Assembly’s debate on Entry 66 of the Union List. PS Deshmukh, a member of the Constituent Assembly, called it “hopelessly ill-conceived” and argued that compulsory standard-setting would “acquire legitimacy only if accompanied by block grants and regular grants-in-aid.” He noted that mature federations avoided top-down commands unbacked by fiscal aid. Naziruddin Ahmad, another member, was emphatic: “Finance is the essence of the matter. In fact, if the Centre should interfere in education, which is essentially provincial, it should be by financial assistance, not merely by advice gratis or by criticism or comments.”

India cannot hope to regulate medical education and hospitals into excellence while starving them of funds. Rules cannot replace resources. Without grants, both the NMC and the proposed VBSA risk becoming cures worse than the disease.

The way forward

The Justice Kurian Joseph Committee on Union-State Relations has therefore recommended restoring education, including medical education, to the State List, aligning it with the tier delivering public health. The Union’s role under Entry 66 should be limited to broad minimum standards, without intruding upon State authority or university autonomy.

Weaker State institutions should be strengthened through capacity-building and greater financial support, not centralised control. Every State and Union Territory with a legislature should enjoy permanent representation in the NMC.

A nation cannot command its institutions to become world-class; it must give them the resources, and the freedom, to become so.

(The author is a retired IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, former Vice-Chancellor of Indian Maritime University, Chennai, and Member, High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu)

The police denied the allegation, maintaining that he had collapsed on his own inside the station lock-up and had no external injuries during his medical examination.

According to the police, a case was registered against Arunachalam on July 17 under Sections 4(1)(a) and 14A of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act after he was allegedly found in possession of 120 liquor bottles (180 ml each) during an enforcement drive.

Police said all legal procedures relating to the arrest were followed, including videographing his personal search and serving an arrest intimation on his family. He was taken to the hospital at around 5.50 pm for a medical examination, where the attending doctor certified him fit and recorded no external injuries, police claimed.

A senior police officer said Arunachalam was then brought back to the station to complete legal formalities and kept in the lock-up with other accused persons. While conversing with fellow inmates, he suddenly collapsed, an incident captured on CCTV, the officer added.

Police personnel immediately provided drinking water and first aid, and called his mother, who was waiting at the station. As his condition appeared normal, he was released on station bail and allowed to leave with his family for a further medical check-up as a precaution, police added.

Relatives later informed the police that Arunachalam had collapsed again near the hospital and was admitted for treatment. "During treatment, he underwent a medical procedure. However, he died on July 23," the officer said.

Arunachalam's family disputed the police account, alleging he sustained head and leg injuries after being assaulted by four policemen during interrogation. Claiming the injuries led to his death, they demanded action against the personnel involved.

Police torture proof in video clips, allege kin

The relatives of Arunachalam, who staged a protest outside the hospital, cited video clips in which the deceased victim allegedly spoke of police torture. They insisted that action be taken against the police personnel before accepting the body, following which Deputy Superintendent of Police (Town) Sunil and other officials held talks with the protesters.

"A special team picked up Arunachalam near a tea shop and assaulted him. Even at the station, he was subjected to custodial torture," alleged I Aseer, state coordinator of the Joint Action Against Custodial Torture (JAACT).

He questioned why the police failed to produce Arunachalam before a Judicial Magistrate after the initial medical examination. "If he fainted at the station as claimed, was it not the duty of the police to admit him to the hospital directly instead of handing him over to his mother?" Aseer asked.

The relatives later met the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police to demand action and a transparent post-mortem examination.

Judicial Magistrate-III Vijay Kumar visited the hospital, spoke to the relatives, and examined the body preserved for the post-mortem.

JAACT members also submitted a representation to the Magistrate, requesting adherence to the Madras High Court guidelines laid down in Santhosh vs District Collector, Madurai to ensure fairness. "Video footage and the post-mortem report should be handed over to the family," JAACT members said.

The Judicial Magistrate informed JAACT that the post-mortem would be conducted on Friday strictly following court guidelines. The procedure was scheduled for Friday as a panel of three doctors, required under the rules, could not be constituted immediately.

Police said a case has been registered based on a complaint lodged by Arunachalam's father, and further investigation is underway.

The action follows complaints that some households and commercial establishments have been drawing water illegally from the municipality’s main and distribution pipelines using motor pumps, putting additional pressure on the town’s already limited water resources.

The municipality supplies drinking water to residents through 10 major sources, including Parsons Valley, Tiger Hill and Marlimund reservoirs. However, water levels in these sources have declined significantly due to poor rainfall.

“Parsons Valley, the municipality’s primary water source, currently has only around 40% of its storage capacity, affecting the civic body’s ability to maintain regular water supply. To prevent illegal extraction, municipal officials have been instructed to intensify inspections. Households found using motor pumps to draw drinking water from pipelines will be fined Rs 5,000, while commercial and other non-residential establishments will face a penalty of Rs 25,000,” Commissioner S Parthasarathy said. Repeat offenders will be liable for further action under the relevant provisions of the Municipal Act, he warned.

The water shortage has already affected supply to several elevated areas of Ooty. Therefore, the municipality is taking measures to improve distribution by linking pipelines from low-lying areas and supplying water through tankers to affected localities. 

In view of the prevailing situation, it has also been decided to revise water supply from daily to once every four days until water availability improves, the Commissioner said.

The arrested persons, A Arockiaraj (39) of Madurai and C Suresh (49) of Tiruchy, are relatives of Arasakumar, police said. Despite having no connection with the education department, the two of them had allegedly collected money from managements of schools on Arasakumar's behalf, police said. Arasakumar has been detained under the Goondas Act. The police also said that since Arasakumar's arrest, they have identified over 61 bank accounts used for these transactions and have frozen them. They have taken statements from administrators of over 120 private schools and 190 witnesses so far.

Arasakumar, a resident of Saligramam, had scammed the schools for the past two years using an unregistered outfit named  "Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association". He promised several private schools that he would secure permanent recognition, school upgradation, DTCP/CMDA approvals, and other statutory clearances by using his political and bureaucratic connections, according to the complaint filed by the secretary of the Federation of Association of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu. However, he failed to deliver the promised approvals or refund the amount and allegedly swindled over Rs 100 crore.

A Pudukkottai native, Arasakumar was a DMK member between 1990 and 2000, and served as the District linguistic wing president of the party between 1995 and 2000. He later shifted allegiance to the BJP and, in 2019, he returned to the DMK.

When the matter came up for hearing before the First Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, Public Prosecutor John Sathyan submitted that three DNA forensic laboratories are currently functioning in Tamil Nadu, including one in Chennai, and that two more laboratories are proposed to be established to strengthen forensic capabilities.

He further submitted that the State government has been taking intensive measures to curb crimes against women and children and that adequate funds would be allocated to strengthen judicial infrastructure.
During the hearing, the bench observed that a High Court committee is already monitoring the progress of trials in cases involving crimes against women and children.

The bench further observed that the large pendency of cases before the Special Courts makes day-to-day trials impracticable and noted that advocates often sought adjournments. Recording the State government’s assurance that the proposed measures would be implemented, the court said it would pass a detailed order.

The case arose from a petition filed by a woman who travelled to Tiruvannamalai from Andhra Pradesh on September 29, 2025, alleging two police constables intercepted their vehicle and took her and her mother separately on patrol motorcycles on the pretext of inquiry. The cops allegedly took them to a secluded location. The mother had jumped off the bike, but the constables had allegedly raped the petitioner.

The petitioner submitted that although the charge sheet was filed on November 4, 2025, the trial has not yet commenced. She alleged a systemic failure in ensuring speedy trials for survivors of sexual assault and contended that the prolonged delay could lead to witness intimidation and violate her fundamental right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The 67-kilometre project, estimated to cost Rs 986.35 crore, has featured in Railway planning documents for several years. The Erode–Karur doubling, along with the Salem–Karur–Dindigul and Katpadi–Villupuram doubling projects, had remained stuck at the DPR stage for seven years despite recurring allocations in successive Railway Pink Books.

The section forms part of the rail link connecting western Tamil Nadu with Tiruchy and the southern districts. Despite being a single-line section, it carries trains bound for Erode, Tirupur, Coimbatore and Salem, besides several inter-state services to Kerala and Karnataka, making it one of the busiest corridors in the region.

However, the lack of a second line has long been cited as a constraint in introducing additional train services. Passengers have long disdained delays in train arrivals and demanded more trains for western destinations including Pollachi.

Earlier this year, commuters staged a rail roko at Kulithalai railway station, alleging persistent delays on the Tiruchy–Karur route and demanding infrastructure improvements to ease congestion.

Meanwhile, the DPR for the Tiruchy-Karur doubling project has been submitted and is expected to be fast-tracked for sanction given its importance in providing freight movement to Karaikal.

The Lok Sabha reply also states that Tamil Nadu has 19 sanctioned railway projects worth Rs 27,282 crore, including eight doubling works.

In 2019, a PIL was filed by Kaliyamurthy from Thanjavur with the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, stating that the idols of Indira, Yama, Niruthi and Kuberan had gone missing and the respective sanctum sanctorum remained closed for years.

The litigant also appealed to the court to order a verification by an expert team and ensure the restoration of the idols.

The bench comprising Judges CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel, who heard the plea, ordered the Thanjavur HR&CE Joint Commissioner and Assistant Superintendent Officer of ASI and Hereditary Trustee of the Big Temple to conduct a joint inspection and submit a report by July 28.

Following the order, the ASI Tiruchy Region Superintendent Aravazhi, Assistant Superintendent Vettri Selvi, HR&CE Joint Commissioner Gnanasekar, Palace Devasthanam Hereditary Trustee Babaji Rajah Bhonsle conducted an elaborate inspection in the sannadis.

The Trustee Babaji Rajah Bhonsle noted that four Ashtatik Balakar idols had gone missing several years back. Based on the court orders, the next course of action on the same would be initiated, he said.

Separate orders issued by district collectors, including Chennai Collector S Malathi Helan, said the revised wage rates would come into force with effect from April 1, 2026, and remain valid till March 31, 2027. The revision is applicable to all establishments covered under the Minimum Wages Act.

According to the order, the revision has been carried out based on the average Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers released by the Labour Bureau, Chandigarh. For Tamil Nadu, the CPI is calculated based on data from seven centres Chennai, Coimbatore, Coonoor, Madurai, Salem, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar.

The revised rates cover 87 scheduled employments, including government offices, construction activities, shops and commercial establishments, hotels, hospitals, security services, tailoring units, printing presses, automobile workshops, hairdressing establishments and several other sectors.

The Collector directed all departments and employers to ensure that workers are paid not less than the revised minimum wages. Heads of departments have also been instructed to obtain specific government approval wherever the remuneration of full-time employees paid from contingencies requires revision.

Among the major revisions, the daily wage of a skilled assistant has been increased from Rs 556 to Rs 823. Casual labourers' salary will now be Rs 767 per day, up from Rs 475, while the daily wage for cleaners has been revised from Rs 637 to Rs 904. Officials said several other skilled categories have also received corresponding increases linked to the CPI.

The Chennai district administration has also revised the minimum wages for workers employed in hairdressing establishments. The wage for a haircut with shaving has been increased from Rs 155 to Rs 158, while the wage for shaving alone has been revised from Rs 53 to Rs 54. The revised rates will be applicable throughout the current financial year.

On July 19, the Forest Department lodged a complaint with the Tirupattur Town police stating that 55 red sanders logs, valued at about Rs 50 lakh, had been stolen from the depot on the night of July 18.

The special teams are questioning Forest Department staff, timber traders and known offenders.

Meanwhile, DFO Mahendran on Wednesday suspended five personnel - single-lock officer Jothilingam, forest guards Mohankumar, Ramamoorthy and Renu, and forester Paramaguru - for alleged negligence.

Urging Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to earmark a designated venue for peaceful demonstrations, Ranjith said the government should stand with students instead of suppressing their protests. "If the government is genuinely committed to abolishing NEET, it should stand alongside students instead of suppressing their protests," he said.

Addressing an anti-NEET protest in Chennai, Ranjith said the nationwide student agitation had gathered unprecedented momentum, with members of the public joining demonstrations across the country. He said the movement had reached a stage where civil society, students and cultural personalities were coming together against the medical entrance examination.

Ranjith said filmmaker Vetrimaaran was among the first to urge collective action against NEET, while actor Revathi had also expressed her willingness to participate in the campaign. He said the protest was organised as the first public programme of the newly launched Neelam Students' Organisation after consultations with its office-bearers. He also thanked actor Sathyaraj for extending support through a video message.

Saying the recent visuals of police action against student protesters prompted him to participate, Ranjith said public support for people's movements would eventually expose what he described as false allegations levelled against activists. Referring to B.R. Ambedkar's philosophy, he said he did not believe in constantly proving himself before critics.

Praising the "Karappan Poochi" movement, Ranjith said it had succeeded in mobilising large numbers of young people despite attempts to ridicule it. Rejecting criticism that Generation Z lacked political awareness, he said society had failed to politically educate young people and build sustained movements despite several student deaths linked to NEET over the past decade.

He alleged that NEET reinforced social and economic inequalities by favouring students with greater financial resources while disadvantaging those from marginalised backgrounds. He also criticised what he described as persistent misconceptions surrounding reservation and argued that inequalities within the examination system were rarely questioned.

Ranjith said the slogan "Jai Bhim" had emerged as a unifying call transcending caste identity and credited the ongoing student protests with bringing Ambedkar's ideals to the forefront of a nationwide movement for equality.

The filmmaker also criticised the government's response to Dalit issues, referring to the delay in unveiling an Ambedkar statue in Salem and the arrest of protesters. Questioning the silence of Dalit ministers on such issues, he demanded that the government inaugurate the statue and withdraw criminal cases against those arrested.

Accusing successive governments of compromising on caste and social justice issues to protect their political interests, Ranjith said governments should prioritise equality over electoral calculations. He reiterated his support for the anti-NEET movement and appealed to the State government to join students in intensifying the campaign for the abolition of NEET.

The minister said this while inaugurating a special training and awareness camp for more than 1,500 vendors from Tiruvallur district. This programme is part of the government’s food safety and hygiene initiative.

Noting that 50,000 street food vendors have registered across Tamil Nadu so far, Minister Arunraj said this marked a significant milestone in bringing the largely unorganised sector under the food safety framework. The next priority, he said, was to ensure every registered vendor consistently adhered to hygiene and safety standards.

"Nearly 50,000 street food vendors have registered across Tamil Nadu. Our objective is to instil public confidence that food served by them is safe, clean and hygienic," the Minister said. He added that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had stressed the need for structured training programmes to improve food handling practices, use of clean ingredients, and overall food safety compliance.

The model food streets initiative would be expanded to other districts in phases. He also warned that stringent action would be taken against vendors and food manufacturers found using prohibited substances in food preparation.

The minister later distributed food safety registration certificates, food safety training certificates and medical fitness certificates to participating vendors, besides handing over five food carts sponsored by private companies.

In a statement, Stalin said the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) had rejected Tamil Nadu's request to direct Karnataka to release Cauvery water, alleging that the Authority had failed to appreciate the State's urgent requirement.

Criticising the state government's handling of the issue, Stalin said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay should have met the Prime Minister to press Tamil Nadu's case. He alleged that neither the Chief Minister nor the Water Resources Minister had taken up the issue with the Union government.

He further alleged that the Chief Secretary had also failed to raise the matter with his Karnataka counterpart or the Union government.

Expressing disappointment over what he termed the government's silence on the issue, Stalin questioned why the Chief Minister had not strongly asserted Tamil Nadu's rights over Cauvery water.

"The Chief Minister has not even taken steps to hand over the Assembly resolution to the Union government. Why is he reluctant to question Karnataka for refusing to release Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water?" Stalin asked.

He urged the state government to immediately approach the Supreme Court to secure Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water and take urgent measures to protect farmers.

Efforts are under way to revive discussions with the Tamil Nadu government on the Dhanushkodi rail link destroyed in the 1964 cyclone.

The Southern Railway General Manager RN Singh, who inspected the ongoing station redevelopment works at Rameswaram on Thursday, said only about 4-5 per cent of work is pending and the station is expected to be commissioned by the end of September, an event the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely attend.

The Chennai–Rameswaram Vande Bharat service is likely to be introduced in September or October, he confirmed, adding that the final route is yet to be decided. The Southern Railway is also planning to introduce more long-distance trains to Rameswaram, he noted.

The redeveloped station, he added, has been equipped with additional platforms, pit lines and other infrastructure to handle a higher number of trains in the future.

The Southern Railway also plans to revive talks with the Tamil Nadu government on the long-pending Dhanushkodi rail link, seeking environmental clearance for the project. The project was stalled as the state government had earlier withheld clearance over ecological concerns, and it remains to be seen whether that stance has shifted.

On the fate of the century-old Pamban rail bridge, the general manager said the structure had deteriorated significantly and was no longer safe to retain.

There have been demands to preserve it as a heritage monument with public access, but the Railways cannot risk keeping the rusted structure standing, he highlighted. Instead, the Railways is considering installing a smaller replica of the historic bridge near Ramanathapuram after dismantling the original, he added.

In addition, RN Singh, along with Shri Balak Ram Negi, DRM/Tiruchy, and branch officers, inspected passenger amenities at Tiruvarur Junction and reviewed the progress of redevelopment works at Thanjavur Junction.

The book was released by IIT-Madras Director Prof V Kamakoti in the presence of senior railway officials and guests.

Speaking at the event, he said leadership extends beyond academic qualifications and rests on three core pillars of character, integrity, wisdom and the ability to inspire others are equally important in shaping effective leaders.

The book draws on his experience in the Indian Railways and discusses leadership, decision making, governance, project management, and organisational management.