The annual festival at the historic Basilica of Our Lady of Snows will commence with the flag-hoisting ceremony on July 26 and continue for 10 days. As part of the preparations, arrangements are being made for the exhibition that is traditionally held on the grounds near the church.

Disturbance during exhibition preparations

According to the report, exhibition workers were engaged in setting up stalls and other facilities on the festival grounds when a group of around 10 persons allegedly arrived at the venue late at night.

Among those named in the case is Divakar, who has been identified as a member of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The group allegedly created a commotion at the site and damaged several items that had been arranged for the exhibition. Officials said chairs, tube lights and other materials used for the exhibition were reportedly smashed during the incident. The alleged vandalism resulted in a confrontation between the group and those present at the venue.

Police register case

After receiving information about the incident, Inspector Velraj of the Thenbagam Police Station and his team rushed to the spot and conducted a preliminary inquiry. Based on a complaint lodged by the exhibition organiser, Tensing, the police registered a case against the 10 individuals and have launched an investigation into the incident. Officials are examining the circumstances that led to the clash and are collecting statements from those present at the venue. Police are also verifying the extent of damage caused to the exhibition materials and whether any additional offences are attracted under the relevant provisions of law.

Festival preparations continue

Despite the incident, preparations for the annual church festival are continuing. The flag-hoisting ceremony is scheduled for July 26, marking the beginning of the 10-day celebrations. The Eucharistic procession will be held on August 2, while the grand car procession of Our Lady of Snows through the streets of Thoothukudi is scheduled for August 5.

Meanwhile, officials have also conducted review meetings to discuss infrastructure, traffic management, sanitation and public health arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival, which attracts thousands of devotees every year. The police are continuing their investigation into the vandalism case.

The counselling process will be held in three rounds and conclude on August 31. It follows the completion of admissions for special category candidates on July 18. Counselling for candidates eligible under the 7.5 per cent reservation for government school students also commenced on Monday.

Officials said 26,580 more seats are available for general counselling this year than last year. More than 75 per cent of the seats are expected to be filled by the end of the admission process.

The first round of counselling covers 37,976 candidates with cut-off marks ranging from 171.3 to 200.

The Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE) advised candidates to exercise the maximum possible number of college choices to improve their chances of securing a seat in their preferred institution. Officials also reminded students to confirm their tentative allotment within the stipulated time to retain the allotted seat.

Unlike last year, when Computer Science and Information Technology courses dominated student preferences, officials expect core engineering disciplines such as Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), and Mechanical Engineering to witness higher demand this year.

During the special category counselling held earlier, allotment orders were issued to 258 persons with disabilities and 139 wards of ex-servicemen.

The clarification came after Vilathikulam DMK MLA GV Markandeyan, who was arrested by the Thoothukudi District Crime Branch police on Monday morning for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at a DMK public meeting in Kovilpatti, claimed that the police should have obtained the Speaker's permission before arresting him as he was a legislator.

When contacted, Assembly officials said there is no legal requirement for the police or any law enforcement agency to seek prior permission from the Speaker or the Assembly Secretariat to arrest an MLA.

However, they said that once an MLA is arrested, the concerned law enforcement agency is required to inform the Speaker about the arrest. Accordingly, a communication regarding Markandeyan's arrest has been sent to the Assembly Secretariat.

Sources said the Assembly Secretariat has, in turn, communicated the information to all MLAs through a postal intimation.

Markandeyan's arrest is the second arrest of an Opposition MLA from Thoothukudi district within 30 days. Earlier, DMK MLA Anitha R. Radhakrishnan was arrested in connection with another case over alleged derogatory remarks against the Chief Minister.

Proceedings issued by the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation, which markets the milk and dairy products under the Aavin brand on July 14 had revised the billing price, maximum retail price (MRP) and the wholesale dealer (WSD) margin for select ghee variants with effect from July 15.

Under the order, the 500-ml ghee pet jar was assigned a revised billing price of Rs 347.62 up from Rs 333.33. Likewise, the one-litre ghee pet jar was revised to a billing price of Rs 666.67 from Rs 647.62, while the one-litre ghee carton was revised to a billing price of Rs 657.14 from Rs 638.10. The proceedings also altered the commission payable to wholesale dealers and retailers.

The revised order entered the public domain soon after its issuance, triggering reports that Aavin had increased ghee prices.

Issuing a clarification on Monday, the government said reports claiming that Aavin had raised the retail price of ghee were “factually incorrect” and did not reflect the actual position.

“Aavin continues to supply all variants of ghee to consumers at the existing retail prices. There has been no increase in the price of any ghee variant,” the clarification said.

It further announced that the revision in the WSD margin had been withdrawn and that the earlier margin structure would continue.

The latest decision effectively rescinds the July 14 pricing revision, restoring the previous billing prices, MRPs and dealer margin structure.

The episode saw Aavin approve revised billing prices and MRPs for its ghee products through an internal order, only to withdraw the exercise within a week after it attracted widespread media attention, while maintaining that the revised retail prices were never implemented.

People passing by the Peravurani bus stand on Monday at around 4.30 am witnessed a sudden fire at a shop. The fire later spread to the adjacent shops, and the fire engulfed an eatery nearby.  Soon, the LPG cylinders at the eatery and a petty shop exploded, intensifying the fire. 

The public alerted the shop owners, and the Peravurani Fire and Rescue team rushed to the spot and doused the fire after fighting for more than an hour. As a result, all four shops were gutted, and properties, including tools and furniture worth Rs 20 lakh, were reduced to ashes.

Despite the cooks at the eatery arriving there for duty in the early hours, they escaped without injuries.

On information, Peravurani MLA N Ashok Kumar visited the spot. Peravurani police registered a case and are investigating the cause of the fire.

In a message released on the occasion, the Chief Minister praised Tamil Nadu’s remarkable contribution to Indian chess, noting that the state has produced the highest number of young grandmasters in the country and continues to dominate the international chess arena through its emerging talent.

Vijay recalled that Tamil Nadu’s journey to becoming a global chess powerhouse began with Viswanathan Anand, who became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988 and inspired generations of young players to take up the sport.

He said Anand’s achievements laid the foundation for the state’s sustained excellence in chess and transformed Tamil Nadu into the country’s most successful breeding ground for world-class players.

The Chief Minister also congratulated the new generation of chess stars, including World Champion D Gukesh, Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu, for their outstanding performances in international tournaments. He said their achievements had brought immense pride not only to Tamil Nadu but also to the entire nation and had further elevated India’s standing in world chess.

Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s growing reputation as the global capital of chess, Vijay said the state’s success reflects the dedication of players, coaches, parents and sporting institutions that have consistently nurtured young talent. He expressed confidence that many more champions would emerge from Tamil Nadu in the coming years.

The Chief Minister urged students and aspiring players to master the technical and strategic aspects of chess, participate in national and international competitions and strive to achieve excellence on the global stage. He said success in chess requires discipline, patience, analytical thinking and perseverance, qualities that also help young people excel in education and other fields of life.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to promoting sports, Vijay assured that the Tamil Nadu government would continue extending every possible support to talented chess players by providing opportunities, encouragement and necessary assistance to help them compete successfully at the highest international level and bring further laurels to both Tamil Nadu and India.

The committee, constituted by the Registration Department to ascertain the facts surrounding the alleged fraudulent registration, comprises the Additional Inspector General of Registration, a Deputy Inspector General of Registration and a District Registrar. As part of the inquiry, Poongodi, Deputy Inspector General of Registration, Namakkal Region, and Kannan, District Registrar, Chennai, visited the Palani Sub-Registrar Office on Monday morning.

The officials examined records relating to the registration of the temple land, reviewed CCTV footage from the office recorded on the day the sale deed was registered and questioned Sub-Registrar Office staff individually. The committee also scrutinised documents relating to the Dhandapani Swami Mutt Trust land and is expected to continue its inquiry while camping in Palani.

Meanwhile, CB-CID Superintendent of Police Sajitha also visited the land belonging to the mutt and conducted an inquiry at the Sub-Registrar's office in Palani. The CB-CID team collected records and copies of documents relating to the disputed property. The investigators also questioned office staff based on the documents collected.

The case pertains to the alleged fraudulent registration of 1.40 acres of land belonging to the Dhandapani Swami Mutt Trust, which is under the control of the Palani Murugan Temple. The property, estimated around Rs 100 crore, was allegedly registered in favour of a private party for Rs 2 crore on July 6.

Based on a complaint lodged by the temple administration, the police registered a case against Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan, Murugadas, a school teacher from Villupuram, Vellathurai of Tirupur district and Sethupathi of Palani. The case was later transferred to the CB-CID, and Justin Manikandan and District Registrar Sasikala were placed under suspension pending investigation.

The organisation has urged the State government to take immediate and appropriate action against those responsible.

In a press note, TARATDAC stated that the disabled have long been striving to secure equal rights, dignity and opportunities in society. The insensitive and discriminatory comments directed at the disabled community undermine these efforts and hurt the sentiments of lakhs of people living with disabilities across the State.

The organisation referred to a public meeting held in Madurai in early July, where, according to the release, remarks were made targeting persons with disabilities. TARATDAC stressed that individuals with disabilities should never be ridiculed or used as subjects of mockery in political speeches or public discourse.

Such comments, it said, violate the principles of equality and respect guaranteed under the Constitution and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The association further pointed out that the term ‘persons with disabilities’ is a legally recognised identity and that using derogatory expressions or offensive language against them amounts to discrimination. It warned that such statements reinforce social stigma and negatively affect the self-respect and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Calling for strict action, TARATDAC urged the state government to ensure that public representatives and speakers refrain from making insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities.

It also appealed to political parties and public figures to promote inclusive language and uphold the dignity and rights of the disabled community in all public forums.

The organisation emphasised that creating an inclusive and respectful society is a shared responsibility and called upon all sections of society to reject discrimination in any form.

Internal differences within the AIADMK have resurfaced in Villupuram district, with more than 500 supporters of senior leader Shanmugam deciding to quit the party amid an escalating party feud.

Following the party's defeat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, differences emerged within the party, with leaders such as Shanmugam and SP Velumani raising objections to the leadership of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami.

While the other rebels returned to the party fold, albeit grudgingly, Shanmugam has continued to function with a separate support base in Villupuram.

Removal of office-bearers

The rift widened after Edappadi Palaniswami replaced Shanmugam with Pasupathi as the AIADMK district secretary for Villupuram. Since then, rival camps owing allegiance to the two leaders have been functioning in the district, leading to repeated confrontations.

Recently, supporters of the two factions reportedly clashed during a party meeting at Nattarmangalam chaired by Pasupathi.

Amid the ongoing dispute, the AIADMK leadership removed 11 office-bearers, identified as Shanmugam loyalists, from their party posts. Those removed include district joint secretary Ananthi, district treasurer Venkatesan, youth wing secretary Jayaprakash, and Anna Trade Union secretary Bhaskaran.

Mass resignation

Party functionaries from district, union, town and branch-level units came to Chennai by buses and cars to submit their resignation letters to Palaniswami. Before coming to the AIADMK headquarters in Royapettah, they went to former chief minister and party leader J Jayalalithaa’s memorial in Marina beach.

Following reports of the planned mass resignation at the party headquarters, police stepped up security. Instead of the usual deployment of 10 personnel, around 30 police personnel, led by three sub-inspectors, were stationed at the premises as a precautionary measure.

The developments are expected to further intensify the factional tussle and could weaken the AIADMK's organisational strength in Villupuram district.

In a post on social media, Stalin alleged that the government was following a "Take Diversion" model by diverting attention from its failures through the arrest of opposition leaders, including former DMK ministers, MLAs, and party supporters who are active on social media.

Arrested MLA denied access to lawyers, medication

He also referred to a recent court observation questioning the addition of irrelevant criminal charges in defamation cases, and alleged that the government continued to misuse its legal provisions to intimidate those who criticise the TVK government.

Stalin further added that the arrested MLA had been denied access to his lawyer and supporters. He alleged that even those attempting to provide him with his prescribed medication were prevented from meeting him.

According to Stalin, these actions amounted to a denial of the MLA's basic needs and human rights.

Rule of law or rule of Satan ?

Questioning the government's approach, Stalin asked whether Tamil Nadu was witnessing the "rule of law or the rule of Satan".

Stalin accused the TVK government of failing to act against a minister over an alleged controversy and not responding properly to the reported gang rape of a woman party functionary, while acting swiftly against political critics.

He also urged the police to discharge their duties with conscience and following the law rather than yielding to political pressure, warning that unlawful actions would have consequences.

Aavin, the Tamil Nadu government's dairy cooperative, procures milk through cooperative societies operating across all districts. For several years, these societies served as the primary channel through which farmers sold their milk.

However, dairy farmers claim that the procurement price paid by Aavin has not kept pace with the rising cost of cattle feed, labour, and maintenance, forcing many to shift to private buyers.

Private firms attract farmers

Farmers said Aavin currently procures milk at an average price of around Rs 34 per litre, while private dairy companies offer prices of up to Rs 50 per litre.

Because of this price difference, many dairy farmers have chosen to sell their milk to private companies instead of cooperative societies. Some farmers said they are also able to earn more by supplying milk directly to households, where a litre can fetch as much as Rs 62, making it much more profitable than selling to Aavin.

Rising fodder costs hit dairy sector

Farmers attributed the decline in milk supplied to Aavin to increasing production costs and the shrinking availability of grazing land. Earlier, cattle in villages grazed freely in common lands during the day, reducing the need for purchased fodder. Farmers only had to provide limited quantities of supplements such as rice bran and oil cake, while stored straw and sorghum stalks were sufficient during dry seasons. They said this situation has changed considerably over the years.

With grazing lands shrinking, farmers are now forced to purchase green fodder throughout the year. When green fodder is unavailable, they have to depend more heavily on cattle feed such as bran and oil cake, both of which have become increasingly expensive. According to farmers, a 50-kg bag of oil cake now costs around Rs 1,800, adding significantly to their monthly expenses.

Farmers demand revision

Dairy farmers said the current procurement price leaves them with little or no profit after accounting for feed and maintenance costs. They added that cattle rearing has become financially difficult, prompting several families to reduce the number of milch animals or exit dairy farming altogether. Apart from rising costs, farmers also cited cattle deaths caused by diseases and lower milk production as reasons for the decline in supplies reaching cooperative societies.

They urged the government to revise Aavin's procurement price to levels comparable with those offered by private companies. According to them, a competitive procurement rate would encourage farmers to resume supplying milk to Aavin, strengthen the cooperative network and help ensure a steady supply of milk to consumers across Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, BJP state chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy welcomed the arrest of the Vilathikulam legislator, describing the remarks attributed to him at a public meeting as unacceptable and beyond the bounds of democratic political discourse.

Narayanan Thirupathy, however, accused the DMK of adopting double standards by criticising the arrest while remaining silent on similar instances involving its own leaders. He said the party, despite repeatedly invoking the principles of "duty, dignity and discipline", had failed to ensure responsible public conduct by its functionaries.

The BJP leader alleged that during the previous DMK government, several ministers, legislators and party office-bearers had made derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Although the BJP had lodged multiple police complaints, no action was taken, he claimed.

Calling for uniform enforcement of the law, Thirupathy urged Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to direct the police to act on all pending complaints filed by the BJP and initiate disciplinary proceedings against officers who allegedly failed to pursue those cases.

He maintained that the law must be applied impartially, irrespective of political affiliation, and said the arrest should serve as a clear message that abusive political rhetoric cannot be tolerated in public life.

Police said a case was registered against the MLA under Sections 351(3), 352 and 353(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alleging criminal intimidation, making statements to disturb public peace, and intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace

According to the police, Markandeyan allegedly made the remarks while addressing a in meeting organised by DMK on July 18 at the Krishnan Temple grounds in Kovilpatti to thank voters following the party's victory in the Assembly constituency.

DMK Organisation Secretary R.S. Bharathi attended the event as the chief guest. North District DMK Secretary P. Geetha Jeevan, party spokesperson Surya Vetri Kondan and several other party functionaries also addressed the gathering.

Meanwhile TVK Kovilpatti North Secretary Balakrishnan lodged a complaint against the MLA with Thoothukudi District Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kannan on the night of July 18.

Following the complaint, Vilathikulam DSP Sundarapandian, District Crime Branch DSP Kannan and a team of police personnel reached the MLA's residence at Ambal Nagar in Vilathikulam on Monday morning to arrest him.

Markandeyan had just returned from his morning walk when the police informed him about the arrest. Meanwhile, a large number of DMK cadre gathered outside his residence after learning about the police action.

When the MLA attempted to leave in his own car, the police stopped him and asked him to board a police vehicle. Angered by the move, DMK workers staged a road blockade in front of the police vehicles, raising slogans against the State government. The incident led to tense scenes in the area for more than an hour.

The police later dispersed the protesters and took the MLA to the office of the Superintendent of Police in Thoothukudi for inquiry.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the SP's office. Police erected barricades at four entry points and restricted access to the premises as a large number of DMK workers gathered outside, leading to a tense situation.

The video shows the MLA inspecting classrooms and the noon meal centre at the Pennagaram Government Boys Higher Secondary School. He is also shown interacting with students, advising them to focus on studies.

Another reel showed Gajendran visiting students who were receiving treatment at a primary health centre after some of them reportedly fell ill after consuming the noon meal at a school in Perumpalai.

The reels have drawn attention as they were circulated despite the Chief Minister’s directive against conducting inspections in government schools and publishing related social media content. The School Education Department had also issued similar instructions, according to a report.

Chief Minister Vijay had on July 16 warned his ministers against making social media reels during visits to schools and public events.

Vijay’s direction had come after a reel showing Industries minister S Keerthana who with a government school student during an inspection in Virudhunagar drew objections from child rights activists.

In the video, the minister is seen asking the student, “What is your father?”, and the child remains silent. The minister then turns around to the teachers saying the child failed to answer a simple question. When the child is again asked the question, she gives her father’s name. The teachers then rephrase the question to the child ‘what is her father’s profession?’, and the child gives the correct answer.

The deceased was identified as Deepa, while the accused is her brother Kanthakumar.

According to police, the siblings had been at odds over their ancestral property ever since the death of their parents about two years ago. Despite repeated discussions within the family, the dispute remained unresolved.

On Saturday, Kanthakumar allegedly went to Deepa's house armed with a sickle and attacked her during an argument. When her husband attempted to stop him, he was also assaulted and suffered injuries.

Neighbours rushed the victims to the Sankarapuram Government Hospital. Deepa was referred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Kallakurichi, where doctors declared her dead. Her husband is undergoing treatment and is reported to be out of danger.

Following the incident, Sankarapuram police registered a murder case and arrested Kanthakumar . The body was sent for a post-mortem examination, and further investigation is under way.

Besides complaints from the public alleging excessive bi-monthly bills, delayed meter readings, and denial of the free electricity benefit, the Director (Finance), too, had flagged continuing instances of abnormal billing in several sections, saying faulty meter readings, defective meters, and lapses in the billing process had resulted in incorrect and inflated bills being issued to household consumers, which was also affecting the utility's finances.

Taking note of it, TNPDCL issued a circular addressed to all Superintending Engineers, instructing them to ensure error-free billing assessments, stricter field inspections, and fixed accountability at every level to prevent both consumer grievances and revenue leakages.

Citing inspection reports and consumer complaints, it pointed to inadequate field verification by revenue supervisors, assessment supervisors, assistant accounts officers and other assessment officials. It was also found that inspections at the electricity distribution circle level were insufficient and that defective meters were often not identified early, allowing billing errors to continue until consumers complained, the corporation said.

Despite repeated instructions from the TNPDCL headquarters to ensure accurate billing and improve consumer satisfaction, such deficiencies continued to persist, it noted.

To address the issue, periodic surprise inspections, including mass verification drives, should be held across all circles, and assessment staff should scrutinise meter readings carefully, it said, cautioning that inspection officials’ performance would be documented and reviewed regularly.

Superintending Engineers have also been instructed to assign clear responsibility to officers at the circle, division, and sub-division levels to ensure prompt, accurate, and consumer-friendly billing, it said.

The employees’ unions, however, attributed the recurring billing errors to severe staff shortages. Central Organisation of Tamil Nadu Electricity Employees president S Kannan said nearly 60% of the 7,565 assessor posts and about 42% of the 3,961 inspector of assessment posts are lying vacant. Assessors are responsible for door-to-door meter readings, while inspectors supervise the process.

"Because of the acute vacancies, inspectors themselves are forced to take meter readings, while revenue supervisors, who should be monitoring field work, are deployed for bill collection at section offices. Meter reading work is increasingly being outsourced, leading to more errors. Unless the vacancies are filled, these problems will continue," he said.

When asked, a senior TNPDCL official said steps were under way to fill the vacancies and that the utility was considering deploying field assistants for meter reading until regular appointments are made.

The announcement was made by Sr Amudha Theos, Superior of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Congregation, during a press conference at Pattarivilai on Sunday (July 19).

The thanksgiving Mass will be led by Kuzhithurai Diocese Bishop Albert Anastas and attended by priests, religious sisters and devotees.

Rajesh Kumar said medical admissions in Tamil Nadu were based on Class 12 public examination marks until 2016 and argued that the system had ensured wider access to medical education. He alleged that the examination had become a lucrative business for private coaching centres.

Rajesh Kumar reiterated the demand that education be moved back to the State List, even though it was then-Congress PM Indira Gandhi who moved it to the Concurrent List during the Emergency.

The action against Thangaraj (48) follows the circulation of a video on social media allegedly showing him accepting money from a patient's attendant while on duty at the government hospital.

Hospital authorities ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The investigation reportedly confirmed that Thangaraj had received the money as illegal gratification. Based on the findings, hospital dean (in-charge) Dr Senthilkumari issued orders suspending him from service.

The complaint was filed by Moorthy, the sanitation supervisor for Ward 48, who alleged that Ramalingam, husband of DMK councillor Vijaya, assaulted him and threatened him after questioning why a drain had not been cleaned. A video purportedly showing the assault has since surfaced on social media. Based on Moorthy's complaint, Shevapet police registered a case against Ramalingam and are investigating.

According to activist Senthil from Iyyapanthangal, authorities cleared a 33-plot layout named 'Meera Nagar' despite the absence of a stormwater drain; they only had roads laid at the site. Under the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules (TNCDBR), 2019, developers are required to complete basic infrastructure, including roads and stormwater drains, before the final approval is issued.

An RTI reply dated July 6 from the assistant public information officer of Kattankulathur panchayat union stated that both road facilities and stormwater drains had been completed before securing the approval.

Official records also show that the developer paid Rs 2.88 lakh as approval fees to Mannivakkam panchayat on May 22, 2024, with no additional charges collected for infrastructure creation.

Contradicting this, a response to a complaint filed on the Chief Minister's cell portal noted that the CMDA planning permission mandated construction of dual-sided cement concrete stormwater drains, which are not present at the site.

Senthil alleged that the approval bypassed norms laid down by CMDA and TNRERA, and criticised the Kattankulathur panchayat union commissioner and Mannivakkam panchayat president for failing to enforce compliance.

Responding to the allegations, Kattankulathur Block Development Officer PJ Kalaiselvan said the issue had only recently come to his notice. “We have taken the steps to contact the landowner, but haven't been able to reach him yet. The issue will be ascertained within a week," he said.

Subbulaxmi has been transferred from the position of Chief Operating Officer of TN Rural Transformation Project.

On June 14, DT Next had reported on ‘Department of Child Welfare operating sans director for a year’. For close to a year, DCWSS, earlier known as the Directorate of Social Defence, has been operating without a dedicated director after the previous director, Johny Tom Varghese, vacated the post around August 2025. Since then, the position has been held by another administrative officer in an additional capacity.

Therefore, child rights activists and other stakeholders welcome the recent development. “Such a crucial department calls for a dedicated director of its own and not merely an additional in-charge. Glad, the government paid heed to the concern,” said a member of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

With new director taking over, some of the concerns of the staff are high vacancy in the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and 1098, lack of funding and administrative issues within the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), and lack of monitoring of Acts related to children among others.

COIMBATORE: With tourist arrivals at Hogenakkal witnessing a seasonal decline as Cauvery water levels recede, tourism stakeholders have urged the Tamil Nadu government to revive the proposed theme park project aimed at ensuring a steady flow of visitors throughout the year.

The theme park, planned during the previous regime under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, was envisaged with adventure activities and water sports facilities to enhance the appeal of Hogenakkal Falls. A tender was also floated as part of the proposal, which stakeholders believe could have significantly increased tourist footfall.

"Tourist arrivals decline for a few months every year whenever the water flow in the falls reduces. If a theme park with additional attractions is established, visitor numbers can remain steady throughout the year. However, the project failed to take off,” said coracle operators.

Apart from reviving the theme park proposal, stakeholders have also sought improvements in basic infrastructure and visitor facilities to provide a better experience for tourists.

"There are not enough toilets in the tourist area. During peak periods, the existing facilities are grossly inadequate. The existing facility is also poorly maintained and has become an eyesore due to lack of cleanliness. There is also no reliable drinking water facility for visitors. Though reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water units were installed at some locations, they are not functioning, forcing tourists to buy packaged water," said S Muthumanickam, a software professional from Bangalore, who went on a recent family trip to Hogenakkal.

“Indiscriminate dumping of plastic bottles and food waste by tourists is also affecting the image of the tourist spot," said H Vivek, another visitor from Salem.

Stakeholders have also urged the administration to increase surveillance in the area to prevent visitors from consuming alcohol and entering the Cauvery for bathing in unsafe locations. They said such activities not only endanger tourists but also create challenges for coracle operators and local authorities.

Hogenakkal, one of Tamil Nadu's major tourist destinations, attracts visitors from across Tamil Nadu as well as neighbouring States. Stakeholders said improving infrastructure and introducing new attractions could help transform it into an all-season tourism destination.

The retrospective study published in the inaugural issue of the Journal of Madras Medical College-Medicine analysed inpatient deaths recorded at RGGGH, attached to Madras Medical College, between May 2023 and April 2024. The researchers said the findings reflect India's ongoing epidemiological transition, with chronic diseases accounting for a substantial proportion of hospital deaths, while also underscoring the need for stronger preventive healthcare, timely referrals and improved surveillance of mortality trends.

During the one-year study, the hospital registered 1,40,793 admissions and 7,954 deaths, translating into an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 5.6%. Of these, 7,752 deaths were included in the analysis after excluding brought-dead cases and records with incomplete clinical information.

The study identified stroke as the single largest cause of death, accounting for 1,096 fatalities, or 14.1% of all inpatient deaths. Of these, 556 patients died due to ischaemic stroke while haemorrhagic stroke claimed 540.

Cancer was the second leading cause, with 698 deaths (9%), followed by ischaemic heart disease with 630 deaths (8.1%), decompensated chronic liver disease with 610 deaths (7.9%) and road traffic accidents with 598 deaths (7.7%). Collectively, these five conditions accounted for 46.8% of all inpatient deaths analysed.

"The mortality pattern in this study shows a predominance of stroke, cancer and cardiovascular disease as the causes. This observation highlights the rising burden of non-communicable diseases and their impact on mortality, " the authors said.

When classified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), ailments of the nervous system emerged as the largest category, contributing 19.9% of all deaths. Diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 14.4%, followed by external causes of morbidity and mortality, including accidents and injuries, at 13.2%. Digestive diseases contributed 10.4%, infectious and parasitic diseases 9.9%, cancers 9%, genitourinary diseases 8.2%, respiratory diseases 7.9% and endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disorders 4.3%.

The analysis also revealed a clear demographic pattern. Men accounted for 5,169 deaths, or 66.7% of all fatalities, while women accounted for 2,583 deaths. The highest mortality was recorded among patients aged 51 to 60 years, who constituted 24.3% of all deaths, followed by those aged 61 to 70 years. Overall, nearly 70% of the deceased were 45 years and above.

One of the study's most striking findings relates to the timing of deaths after admission. More than half of the patients, 54.4%, died within the first 72 hours of admission, including 13.7% who died on the day they reached the hospital. Nearly 75.7% of all deaths occurred within the first week of hospitalisation.

The researchers said the trend warrants a closer evaluation of whether delayed referrals, late presentation of critically ill patients or suboptimal management before transfer contributed to the high proportion of early deaths. As RGGGH serves as the principal referral centre for northern Tamil Nadu, it receives critically ill patients from more than 500 government and private hospitals across the State.

Beyond the five leading causes, the study identified chronic kidney disease as another significant contributor, accounting for 471 deaths, while sepsis claimed 349 lives. Among infectious diseases, tuberculosis caused 144 deaths, infectious meningitis 73, HIV-related illnesses 60 and leptospirosis 10.

The cancer profile reflected the increasing burden of malignancies, with haematological cancers accounting for the highest number of deaths, followed by lung cancer, metastatic cancers of unknown primary origin, brain and central nervous system tumours and stomach cancer.

Among respiratory illnesses, pneumonitis caused 264 deaths, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease accounted for 134 deaths and respiratory failure for 101. In endocrine and metabolic disorders, diabetic ketoacidosis alone resulted in 214 deaths, while uncontrolled diabetes mellitus accounted for another 70. Diabetic foot syndrome was responsible for 174 deaths under circulatory diseases, highlighting the impact of poorly controlled diabetes.

The study also pointed to the growing burden of alcohol-related liver disease, as it emerged as the dominant contributor to deaths from decompensated chronic liver disease. The researchers linked this to changing lifestyle patterns, increasing alcohol consumption and the rising prevalence of liver disorders in the country.

Road traffic accidents remained the leading external cause of death, particularly among young men. The researchers also flagged poisoning as an emerging concern, noting that paraquat poisoning accounted for the largest share of poisoning-related deaths. Given its extremely high fatality rate and increasing use in suicide attempts, the study said the trend warrants urgent public health attention.

The authors noted that the findings broadly mirror national and global estimates showing non-communicable diseases replacing infectious diseases as the leading causes of mortality. At the same time, they observed that conditions such as alcohol-related liver disease and paraquat poisoning require focused interventions in Tamil Nadu.

Conducted at one of Asia's oldest hospitals, RGGGH houses about 3,300 beds, 49 speciality departments and 21 intensive care units, besides handling nearly 10,000 outpatient visits every day.

The researchers described the study as the first detailed assessment of inpatient mortality in a government tertiary care hospital in southern India.

Calling for stronger public health interventions, the authors stressed the need to intensify prevention and early detection of stroke, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and diabetes through improved control of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and other risk factors. They also recommended strengthening road safety measures, establishing robust hospital-based mortality surveillance systems and integrating institutional data with national health databases to support evidence-based health planning.

The study acknowledged that it did not include paediatric and most obstetric cases because those patients are treated in separate institutions attached to Madras Medical College. It also noted that disease-specific case-fatality rates could not be calculated since only records of deceased patients were analysed.

"Improved surveillance for hospital-based mortality and integrating it with national health database systems may be helpful to improve evidence-based planning. Multicentre population-based studies should be conducted to verify these results, " the authors concluded.

Highlights

* First comprehensive mortality study from a government tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu and southern India

* Hospital: Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital

Period of the study - May 2023-April 2024

1,40,793 admissions

7,954 total deaths

7,752 records analysed

5.6% overall in-hospital mortality rate

66.7% deaths were of men

51-60 age group recorded highest mortality

70% of deaths were of people above 45

54.4% patients died within 72 hours of admission

75.7% died within the first week of hospitalisation

Although the AIQ was justified as a remedy for inter-State disparities, it gives no assurance that seats surrendered by well-endowed States will benefit candidates from regions with few or no medical colleges. It’s an all-India merit pool, not a deficit-region quota

Introduced in 1984, the AIQ has hardened into a permanent centralised admissions regime for MBBS/BDS, MD/MS/MDS and DM/MCh courses. Justice AK Rajan’s 2020 monograph, Penalty for Progress?, offers a scathing critique of this judge-made framework and its constitutional validity.

Super-speciality admissions carry no reservation, on the ground that ‘merit alone’ must prevail at the apex level. That justification has been shattered by the reduction of NEET-SS qualifying cut-offs to single-digit, and even zeroth, percentile levels

‘Robin Hood’ origins

The AIQ originated in Dr. Pradeep Jain v. Union of India (1984). Faced with wide inter-State disparities in medical infrastructure and educational opportunity, the Supreme Court disapproved wholesale domicile-based exclusion and held that a portion of seats in government and aided medical colleges in each State should be opened to candidates from across India. It suggested that at least 30% of the ‘open’ non-reserved seats be placed in an all-India pool.

The Dr. Dinesh Kumar line of cases converted this broad judicial idea into fixed numerical quotas. In Dr. Dinesh Kumar (II) v. Motilal Nehru Medical College (1986), the AIQ was fixed at 15% of total MBBS/BDS seats in government colleges. For postgraduate courses, Pradeep Jain had contemplated that at least 50% of the open seats be filled on an all-India basis; Dinesh Kumar (II) reformulated this as 25% of total postgraduate seats.fea

Two decades later, a five-judge Constitution Bench in Saurabh Chaudri v. Union of India (2003) raised the postgraduate AIQ to 50%. At the super-speciality level, Pradeep Jain and later rulings insisted on zero domiciliary reservation and admissions based entirely on all-India merit in the ‘national interest’.

The AIQ applies only to government and government-aided institutions, not private self-financing colleges. States that invested early and substantially in medical colleges, postgraduate departments, and super-speciality units to meet their own public-health needs are compelled to surrender part of that capacity because other States failed to build theirs. Tamil Nadu, with 38 State government medical colleges, exemplifies such sustained public investment. The AIQ penalises that progress.

The point is simple. A village that digs its own well may voluntarily share its water. A higher authority may help another village dig its own. But to compel the first village to surrender a fixed share of its water indefinitely to other villages is unfair. Nothing in the Constitution requires one State to remedy another State’s administrative failure. The proper response was to require lagging States to expand medical infrastructure, with Union assistance where necessary. Instead, the Court fashioned a ‘Robin Hood’ model of redistribution, compelling progressive States to surrender seats to a central pool.

Systemic consequences

The AIQ has produced serious consequences. First, it reduces the supply of doctors familiar with local languages, cultures, and disease burdens, especially in non-Hindi-speaking States.

Effective diagnosis, counselling and treatment depend not merely on technical competence, but also on a doctor’s ability to understand a patient’s language, cultural cues, and social context. In such encounters, communication failures can be as harmful as diagnostic errors.

Second, by requiring States to surrender 15% of undergraduate seats, 50% of postgraduate seats, and all super-speciality seats created through State investment to a central pool, the AIQ becomes a powerful disincentive for States to expand medical education capacity. This is especially damaging in postgraduate and super-speciality education, where departments, hospitals, equipment and faculty require substantial public investment. Ultimately, it is the public that loses.

Third, although the AIQ was justified as a remedy for inter-State disparities, it gives no assurance that seats surrendered by well-endowed States will benefit candidates from regions with few or no medical colleges. It’s an all-India merit pool, not a deficit-region quota. Candidates from medically advanced States may also secure these seats, often with greater competitive advantage than those from backward or deficit regions. Thus, the AIQ fails to serve its own professed rationale. A fresh empirical scrutiny of its actual benefits to deficit regions is necessary.

Fourth, the AIQ’s social-justice record has been gravely deficient. While most States had been implementing OBC reservation in educational institutions from 1950, and some even earlier, the Union introduced 27% OBC reservation in educational institutions only through the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. Had AIQ seats remained with the States, a substantial share would have gone to OBC candidates under State reservation policies from 1984 itself.

What is indefensible is that OBC reservation was not extended to AIQ seats even after Central reservations were introduced in 2006; it was implemented only from 2021–22, after prolonged litigation, a Madras High Court order in July 2020, and a Union notification in July 2021. This delay deprived OBC candidates of thousands of seats.

Even more unconscionably, SC/ST reservation—15% and 7.5% respectively — in AIQ undergraduate and postgraduate seats was introduced only after the Supreme Court’s judgment in Abhay Nath v. University of Delhi (2009), nearly 25 years after the AIQ’s creation in 1984.

Super-speciality admissions carry no reservation, on the ground that ‘merit alone’ must prevail at the apex level. That justification has been shattered by the reduction of NEET-SS qualifying cut-offs to single-digit, and even zeroth, percentile levels in several years to prevent costly seats in private colleges and deemed universities from remaining vacant. When candidates at the zeroth percentile are treated as eligible, excluding reservation in the name of uncompromised merit becomes indefensible.

Constitutional fault-lines

The AIQ’s constitutional foundation is equally vulnerable.

1. Violation of stare decisis: A five-judge Constitution Bench in D.P. Joshi v. State of Madhya Bharat (1955) had upheld the constitutional validity of State domicile-based preferences in higher education. The case concerned a rule under which bona fide residents of Madhya Bharat were exempted from paying capitation fees in a State-run medical college, while non-residents were required to pay an additional fee. The petitioner challenged the rule under Articles 14 and 15, contending that it discriminated on the ground of place of birth and created an arbitrary classification between residents and non-residents.

The Court rejected both arguments. It drew a clear distinction between citizenship, domicile, and place of birth. Citizenship denotes political allegiance to the nation; domicile concerns a person’s permanent home and civil status.

It held that State domicile was legally recognisable in India, including because States could have distinct personal laws under the Concurrent List. It further held that domicile was not synonymous with place of birth and, therefore, residence-based preferences did not violate Article 15(1). Under Article 14, the classification was upheld as reasonable and rationally connected to a legitimate objective: enabling the State to support its residents and secure the availability of locally trained doctors.

Pradeep Jain (1984), decided by a three-judge Bench, departed from the binding five-judge precedent in D.P. Joshi (1955). It asserted that India has only one indivisible legal system and one domicile. Although it acknowledged that residence requirements were not barred by Article 15(1), it invoked Article 14 to restrict State preferences and justify the AIQ.

In doing so, a smaller Bench diluted a larger Bench ruling. It also effectively imported ‘residence’ into Article 15(1), where the Constitution prohibits discrimination on specified grounds, including place of birth — but not residence. This casts serious doubt on the constitutional validity of Pradeep Jain (1984).

2. Federal overreach: The compulsory surrender of State seats to a central pool also disturbs the constitutional distribution of powers under the Seventh Schedule. Entry 66 of List I confines the Union’s role to the ‘coordination and determination of standards’ in higher education. It cannot be stretched, by judicial fiat, to permit the appropriation of seats in institutions created, funded and administered by States. Nor can ‘standards’ authorise the Union, or the Court, to commandeer capacity built by State taxpayers and redistribute it nationally.

Consent-based all-India pool

The Justice Kurian Joseph Committee on Union–State Relations has therefore recommended that the AIQ, in its present form, be dispensed with. It should be replaced by a cooperative model under which States may voluntarily contribute seats of their choosing to an all-India deficit-region pool, reserved for candidates from regions with demonstrable infrastructural deficits. Such a framework would avoid the adverse consequences of the present model for States, and ensure that seats contributed by well-endowed States benefit only candidates from regions with few or no medical colleges.

— The author is 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

Tamil, one of the most preferred regional language options, has also recorded a decline for the second consecutive year, although registrations recovered marginally this year.

The number of candidates opting for the Tamil question paper peaked at 36,335 in 2024, then dropped sharply to 26,580 in 2025. In 2026, registrations increased slightly to 29,845, but remained well below the 2024 level.

Despite the recent decline, Tamil registrations have grown significantly over the longer term, rising from 19,868 in 2019 to 31,965 in 2022 and 30,536 in 2023 before peaking in 2024.

The NTA data shows that the shift away from regional languages is not limited to Tamil. Marathi registrations have plunged from 31,239 in 2019 to just 1,144 in 2026, while Odia has fallen from 31,490 to 716 during the same period. Gujarati registrations have also declined from 59,395 to 49,647, while Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Urdu and Punjabi continue to account for relatively small numbers of candidates.

In contrast, English has consolidated its position as the dominant language for NEET. Registrations in English rose from 12.04 lakh in 2019 to 18.08 lakh in 2026. Hindi registrations also increased steadily from 1.79 lakh to 3.45 lakh, indicating that candidates across several states are increasingly choosing English or Hindi over regional language question papers.

In Tamil Nadu, candidates opting for the Tamil question paper are predominantly from State Board schools, including government and government-aided institutions where Tamil remains the medium of instruction.

Educationist R Rajan said more efforts were needed to encourage Tamil medium students to appear for NEET in their mother tongue.

"We need to create an environment where more Tamil medium students choose the Tamil question paper. The importance of mother-tongue education should be reinforced while also improving the availability of quality study materials in Tamil," he told DT Next.

He noted that the limited availability of scientific terminology, reference books, and coaching material in Tamil, compared with English, remains one of the key reasons students switch to English.

The changing trend could have important implications for government school students in states where regional languages remain the primary medium of instruction. While Tamil remains among the leading regional language options in NEET, the sustained decline suggests that an increasing number of students are choosing English to access better preparation resources and a wider range of coaching materials.

The CFSs and ICDs are key logistics facilities where export and import containers are stored, handled and cleared by Customs before reaching ports or moving inland. The report says Tamil Nadu has fewer such facilities than would typically be expected for a manufacturing base of its size, indicating a gap in the logistics infrastructure supporting the state's manufacturing and export sectors.

The report also credits Tamil Nadu's dense rail network connecting the ports of Chennai, Ennore and Thoothukudi, along with strong road connectivity between Chennai, Coimbatore and Hosur, for supporting efficient movement of goods. However, industry feedback captured under the report points to poor road infrastructure around Chennai Port, with truck waiting times extending up to 36 hours, affecting freight movement and operational efficiency.

The report attributes Tamil Nadu's top ranking in the infrastructure pillar in part to its efficient port infrastructure. The state ranked third in turnaround time at ports weighted by capacity, while electricity downtime is 4 per cent below the large-state average and transmission and distribution (T&D) losses are about 3 per cent lower than the average. It also notes that exports account for 36 per cent of the state's GSDP, above the average for large states, highlighting the importance of an efficient logistics network to its manufacturing-driven economy.

The observations come as several freight infrastructure projects are under way in and around Chennai, including the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor, the proposed Multi-Modal Logistics Park at Mappedu and truck holding yards planned outside the port to streamline cargo movement and reduce congestion.

The report assesses infrastructure using both official data and investor feedback across logistics, warehousing, energy and digital infrastructure. For logistics, it considers indicators such as port turnaround time and gathers industry feedback on factors including berth availability, cargo handling, road connectivity and other port infrastructure.

Among the logistics indicators, Tamil Nadu ranked third in turnaround time at ports weighted by capacity for major and non-major ports, with Gujarat coming out on top in the category.

Highlights:

Tamil Nadu ranks #3

With an overall 53.3 score, TN achieves a near 100% MoU conversion rate

Efficient ports, dense rail network, reliable power grid and impressive export performance contribute to a friendly climate

TN emerged as the most environmental resilient state, the category where Gujarat trailed at rank #8

However, the state's fiscal position, government policy and resources hold TN back from unleashing its full potential

Chennai Airport needs expansion: The report flags limited direct flights to Europe, despite hosting many European multinational companies

The report also points to limited availability of treated sewage water for industrial reuse, particularly in land locked areas and rain shadow zones

The famous waterfalls, which usually draw thousands of visitors from Tamil Nadu and neighbouring States, now present a starkly different picture. Large stretches of exposed rocks have replaced the gushing waters as only a trickle flows through.

"Only during weekends is the tourist turnout moderate. On weekdays, the footfall is abysmally low," said K Rajendran, a coracle operator and member of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

"Such a prolonged dry spell is unprecedented. Over the last few years, we have had good inflows. Currently, around 50 to 70 coracle rides are operated on weekdays, and approximately 900 rides are conducted on weekends. During the peak tourist season in May, it would be above 1,300 rides. Business started declining from June itself because of the lack of water," he said.

Coracle services continue to operate only in isolated stagnant pools of water, but operators say the experience no longer offers the scenic appeal that tourists expect.

"There is hardly anything to see except exposed rocks. The waterfalls, which offer a spectacular sight during good flow, now carry only minimal water," Rajendran said.

For many of the 432 licensed coracle operators, the downturn has become a livelihood crisis.

V Amsaraj (40), who has been rowing coracles at Hogenakkal for the past 22 years, fears the situation could worsen if rainfall remains scarce. "A similar dry spell occurred in 2015. Even the bathing area now receives only a trickle of water," he said.

The contrast with last year could not be sharper. By the middle of June 2025, heavy releases from Karnataka had swollen the Cauvery, forcing authorities to suspend coracle operations for nearly two months as a safety measure. This year, however, the river has receded dramatically, exposing vast stretches of the riverbed.

Ironically, the receding waters have revealed a hidden attraction. The Jaganmohini Cave, which remains submerged for most of the year, has resurfaced in the Cauvery stretch. Believed to have been carved into a rock face for the shooting of the Tamil film Jaganmohini in 1978, the cave has become an unexpected draw for visitors. Coracle operators have begun ferrying tourists to the site, allowing them to explore the cave.

A coracle ride covering the 2.5-km stretch between Mamarathu Kadavu and Manalmedu on the Karnataka border costs Rs 1,500 for a family of four. Of this, Rs 200 is collected by the administration, while the remaining amount goes to the coracle operators.

Despite the cave attracting curious visitors, operators say it has done little to offset the overall decline in business.

The economic impact extends well beyond the coracle operators. Several hundreds of families in Hogenakkal depend directly or indirectly on tourism for their livelihood, including masseurs, women engaged in cooking for visitors, roadside vendors and shopkeepers.

With the southwest monsoon yet to significantly replenish the Cauvery, the tourism stakeholders say their hopes now rest on sustained rainfall in the river's catchment areas to restore both the waterfalls and their livelihoods.

Stalin had left Chennai on July 4. During his stay in the United Kingdom, he attended the graduation ceremony of Inbanidhi, Udhayanidhi's son, who completed his higher education at a university in London. Stalin congratulated his grandson after the degree was conferred. The family also spent a few days in London before commencing their return journey.

The DMK chief was originally scheduled to arrive in Chennai on Sunday morning. However, the flight from London reached Dubai behind schedule, resulting in him missing the onward flight to Chennai. He later boarded another flight from Dubai and reached Chennai in the evening.

Senior DMK leaders, former ministers, office-bearers and a large number of party workers gathered at the airport to receive Stalin and Udhayanidhi. Cadres waved party flags and raised slogans as the two leaders arrived.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of DMK supporters had assembled at the airport expecting the leaders on the morning flight. The gathering witnessed brief tense moments after police stopped a band troupe from entering the airport premises, stating that musical performances were not permitted inside the high-security complex. DMK functionaries questioned the restriction, citing similar receptions held in the past. Following a brief exchange, police allowed supporters carrying party flags to remain but directed the musicians to leave. After airport authorities informed them that Stalin and Udhayanidhi would arrive only in the evening because of the missed Dubai connection, the supporters dispersed peacefully before returning later to welcome the two leaders.

The police conducted a search at the house of Murugadas, one of the accused in the alleged fraudulent registration of 1.40 acres of land belonging to the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Mutt Trust in Palani. He is the managing trustee of the Trust.

A 10-member CB-CID team, assisted by the Villupuram police, searched Murugadas' locked house in Kamaraj Nagar near NGGO Colony after opening the premises in the absence of the occupants. During the search, investigators seized more than 50 documents, including land records, property deeds, bank passbooks, a passport, Aadhaar and PAN cards, besides other registration-related records.

The investigating team also questioned local residents about Murugadas' real estate dealings and the whereabouts of his family. After completing the search, the CB-CID sealed the house and took the seized documents to Palani for further investigation.

The case relates to the alleged fraudulent sale of 1.40 acres of land belonging to the Dhandayuthapani Swamy Mutt Trust, which is administered by the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple. The land, recently converted into a parking facility for devotees by the temple authorities, was allegedly registered in favour of two individuals for Rs 2 crore on July 6.

The case was initially registered by the Palani police against former Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan, Murugadas, and two purchasers on charges including cheating and criminal conspiracy. The State government later transferred the investigation to the CB-CID.

Rajesh Kumar said medical admissions in Tamil Nadu were based on Class 12 public examination marks until 2016 and argued that the system had ensured wider access to medical education. He alleged that the examination had become a lucrative business for private coaching centres.

Rajesh Kumar reiterated the demand that education be moved back to the State List, even though it was then-Congress Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who moved it to the concurrent list during the Emergency, contending that many of the issues surrounding NEET could be resolved if states were given greater control over admissions.

Demanding accountability, he said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign over the alleged lapses in the conduct of NEET.

"If a candidate can secure a postgraduate medical seat merely by appearing for the examination, why should such a test be conducted at all?" he asked, citing discrepancies in the UG and PG admission process.

Rajesh Kumar said the State government had consistently maintained that NEET was detrimental to rural students and added that Congress would launch a major statewide protest against the examination under the leadership of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore.

He further alleged that there had been more than 150 instances of question paper leaks and examination-related irregularities since NEET was introduced in 2016, and called for a comprehensive review of the system.

Speaking to reporters after the party's general council meeting in Tiruvarur, senior leader and Minorities Welfare Minister Shahjahan said the council adopted a resolution in this regard, reaffirming the IUML's decision to continue the alliance in the forthcoming elections.

The comment assumed significance, as the coalition partners, including the smaller parties sharing power in the State government, have not formally come together as an alliance yet, nor have they agreed on even a name for the partnership. Also, many of the partners, especially the CPI and CPM, and the VCK, are not on board with the TVK over a variety of issues, including the alleged poaching of MLAs from the opposition AIADMK.

Earlier, after the previous general council meeting of the party in Chennai on June 20, IUML president KM Khader Mohideen had said that the party would take a decision on its future electoral alliance only after the bypolls and local body elections are announced. He added that the IUML expected adequate representation in future elections, including local body polls.

The decision on Sunday indicates the party's desire for a larger role in the alliance with the TVK, and also its efforts to corner respectable tickets in local body polls.

He appealed to the Chief Minister not to fall for the claims of vested interests on the issue.

Launching a signature campaign organised by Pasumai Thaayagam at Pondy Bazaar in T Nagar to demand protection of the Pallikaranai marsh, Anbumani Ramadoss and PMK MLA Sowmiya Anbumani appealed to the State government to notify and safeguard the ecologically sensitive wetland.

Addressing the gathering, Sowmiya Anbumani said wetlands play a crucial role in groundwater recharge and flood mitigation. She noted that despite having three rivers, Chennai continues to face water shortages and stressed that protecting the marshland is essential to ensuring the city's long-term water security.

Speaking at the event, Anbumani described Pallikaranai as Chennai's "lifeline" and "natural drainage system". He said the marshland, which once spanned nearly 15,000 acres, had shrunk to around 2,500 acres due to urbanisation and encroachment.

"Chennai has been blessed with four natural assets: the Adyar, Cooum and Kosasthalaiyar rivers, and the Pallikaranai marsh. The marsh stores and regulates water brought by these rivers. If Chennai is to avoid floods, Pallikaranai must be protected," he said.

Recalling the 2015 floods, Anbumani said large-scale destruction of wetlands had prevented floodwaters from draining naturally. He alleged that real estate interests were attempting to encroach upon the remaining marshland and criticised past administrations for permitting developments in ecologically sensitive areas.

The PMK leader also demanded that all 26,800 wetlands across the State be notified and protected. He accused the State Wetland Committee of failing to act and criticised officials and former administrators for allowing encroachments.

Calling on the TVK-led government to take immediate action, Anbumani urged Chief Minister Vijay to define and officially notify the marshland's boundaries to prevent further encroachments.

He said signatures collected through the campaign would be submitted to the Chief Minister and the concerned department minister, warning that stronger forms of protest could follow if action was not taken.

Acting on the directions of the Superintendent of Police B Devanathan, a special police team led by Othakadai Inspector Tamilselvan launched an investigation and arrested Ramar (26), Lakshman (26), and Praveen (34), all residents of Kayampatti Colony. The weapons allegedly used in the attack were also seized.

According to the police, the accused, belonging to a dominant caste, entered the village in the early hours of Sunday and picked a verbal quarrel with a few Scheduled Caste youth. Following the altercation, the trio, who were in an inebriated condition, allegedly assaulted Subban (70) with knives, leaving him with multiple cut injuries. Hearing the elder crying for help, residents rushed to the spot, following which the accused fled.

While escaping, the trio allegedly damaged the tiled roofs and household articles in four houses belonging to Scheduled Caste residents before fleeing. The injured man was rescued by the villagers and admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for treatment. This incident triggered unrest in the locality as villagers staged a protest, demanding that the police arrest the assailants immediately.

Madurai Range DIG Abhinav Kumar and Madurai Superintendent of Police B. Devanathan rushed to the village and pacified the protesters, assuring them that they would arrest the trio soon.

Police have deployed over 100 personnel in the village to maintain law and order. SP Devanathan warned that anyone involved in caste-based violence would face stringent legal action, including detention under the Goondas Act.

He described the excavations as significant not only for Tamils but also for world civilisation.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the Keezhadi Open-Air Museum in Sivaganga district and the historic Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and Jain rock beds at Mangulam near Madurai, the minister said the archaeological discoveries at Keezhadi, including brick structures, drainage systems, bead-making evidence and industrial remains, highlighted the sophistication of early Tamil civilisation.

He said the State government would continue scientific excavations at Keezhadi in consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take it to the global stage, and hinted that more significant archaeological discoveries from other sites in the State would be announced at an appropriate time with adequate scientific evidence.

During his visit to Mangulam, Rajmohan examined the ancient rock beds and Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions in the presence of Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director and Archaeology Department Director Jeyaseelan, Madurai Collector M Nishanth Krishna and local legislators.

Describing the Mangulam Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions as one of the oldest historical treasures dating back to the Sangam era, he said the government had instructed the Archaeology and Tourism Departments to improve basic infrastructure, install digital information and wayfinding boards, and strengthen conservation measures to make the site more accessible to tourists and researchers. He added that a detailed report on the site's conservation and development would be submitted to Chief Minister Vijay.

In a government release, the Chief Minister congratulated Tamil film personalities on this historic feat, as the film fraternity hadn't reached the double-digit mark at the national level in recent years.

Chief Minister Vijay extended his congratulations to all the award winners and said the recognition reflected the creative excellence and enduring strength of the State’s film industry.

The Chief Minister noted that the Dhanush-starrer Raayan, directed by the actor, was adjudged the Best Tamil Feature Film. The release also pointed out that Captain Miller won the Best Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values award, while actor Dhanush received the Special Jury Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film.

Rajkumar Periasamy was named Best Director for Amaran. R Kalaivanan won the award for Best Editing, while G V Prakash Kumar secured the Best Background Score honour for the same film; the release added, sharing CM Vijay's confidence in the industry's capabilities.

CM Vijay also praised the filmmakers of Maharaja, as Anal Arasu was recognised with the Best Action Direction award, and Sachana Namidass received the Best Supporting Actress award. G Suren was honoured with the Special Jury Award for Best Sound Mixing for Meiyazhagan, while TS Harihara Sudhan won the Best Sound Design award for the short film Blue, the release pointed out.

“Winning 10 National Film Awards is a proud achievement for Tamil cinema. I congratulate all the artists and technicians and wish the industry many more such laurels in the years ahead,” CM Vijay said.

The transfer was carried out under heavy police security after the Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Kalaiarasan, questioned the accused inmates and other prisoners and reportedly gathered crucial evidence in the case.

The victim, Sabari Varman, a grocery shop owner from Eethankadu near Samithoppu, was arrested in a gutka-related case and remanded to judicial custody. He died inside the prison on July 13.

Police alleged that prison warders and a group of inmates tied up Sabarivarman before assaulting him. Three prison warders — Jagan, Suresh and Sivakumar — have been arrested and suspended from service, while eight inmates have also been arrested in connection with the case.

Following the incident, Sabarivarman's family initially refused to receive the body, demanding that the post-mortem findings be made public. They withdrew the protest after the district administration assured them of action. The State government announced a relief package, including Rs 10 lakh, a house site with free housing, educational assistance and a government job for an eligible family member.

The green body was hearing the matter where it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report regarding the gas leak.

In an order dated July 2, made available recently, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad observed that the matter indicates a prima facie violation of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, besides raising "substantial issues" on compliance with environmental norms.

The tribunal noted several glaring safety lapses during the initial probe by authorities.

"Several violations, including industrial safety norms, were noted against the proponent (sea food processing unit). A suitable alarm system, fire hydrant, or Form 12 register for the Employee State Insurance (ESI) scheme were not found," the bench said.

It mentioned that while the Tamil Nadu government has provided Rs 2 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased, the matter requires investigation into environmental compliance.

The tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents the Member Secretary of the Central CPCB, the Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), the Chennai Regional Office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and the District Magistrate of Tiruvallur.

"Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Southern Zonal Bench of the tribunal (in Chennai) at least one week before the next date of hearing (on August 31)," the green tribunal said.

Citing jurisdictional reasons, the tribunal has transferred the case to its Southern Zonal Bench in Chennai for further proceedings. The respondents have been directed to file their replies via affidavit at least one week before the next hearing.

The matter is scheduled for hearing before the Southern Zonal Bench on August 31.

Addressing a press conference in Madurai, Moorthy challenged Nirmalkumar to produce proof for the allegation that he had received a 20 per cent commission from illegal property registrations.

Substantiate allegations with proof, Moorthy challenges minister

"There are 589 Registration Offices in Tamil Nadu. Every Registration Office maintains records. If the Law Minister claims that I interfered in any registration or received a 20 per cent commission, let him produce evidence and identify the Registration Office, the officials involved, and the transaction concerned," Moorthy said.

"The only reason I am responding today is that if someone repeats a false allegation 10 times, people may begin to believe it is true. I have only one request to him – prove your allegation with evidence," he said.

TVK-led govt has no achievement to show

The DMK leader alleged that instead of explaining what the present government had achieved during its first 60 days in office, Minister Nirmalkumar was repeatedly referring to the previous five years under the DMK government and alleging that illegal registrations had taken place during that period.

"I openly state that during my five years as registration minister, I never instructed even a single Sub-Registrar to register any property in violation of the law," he claimed, adding that if there had been isolated instances of wrongdoing, departmental authorities would have taken action against the officials concerned.

Moorthy accused Nirmalkumar of making allegations against him to evade direct questions on the issue. He further alleged that the minister had spent the past 60 days holding press conferences instead of concentrating on the two departments under his charge. "He speaks about every department as though he is a shadow chief minister," he claimed.

Rs 100-crore Palani temple land sale scam

Referring to the Rs 100-crore Palani temple land registration case, Moorthy claimed that temple properties cannot legally be registered because they are listed as prohibited properties in the Registration Department's records.

The former minister claimed that the officer concerned was on leave on the day in question. He further claimed that two Sub-Registrars who had handled the matter earlier had declined to register the document and that it was registered only after another official took charge. “We welcome the CB-CID investigation into issue” he said.

Measures in place to prevent illegal registration

Explaining the process of registration, the former minister said a registration token must be generated a day in advance for registering any property and a registration could not have taken place accidentally or without officials being aware of the process.

Moorthy said the Registration Department has multiple levels of supervision, including the Sub-Registrar (SR), District Registrar (DR), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and Additional Inspector General (AIG).

"Whether it is temple land, government land, waterbody poramboke land, Waqf Board property, or any other prohibited property, registration cannot be carried out because the government has flagged it (as prohibited) in the sub-registrar office," he said.

Moorthy cites Tirupparankundram example

Citing the Tirupparankundram temple as an example, Moorthy said even long-time occupants of temple land could not obtain ownership because the properties continued to stand in the name of the HR&CE Department.

“The entire village in front of the Tirupparankundram temple had been occupied by people who had been paying taxes and living there for 50 or 60 years. However, about five years ago, those lands were identified as belonging to the temple and were brought under the temple's ownership,” said Moorthy, adding that this demonstrated that the Registration Department did not permit the registration of temple properties.

The issue was raised by DMK leader Tiruchi Siva at the customary all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament, which begins on Monday.

"The DMK is in favour of the Women's Reservation Bill on the current strength in the Lok Sabha, but we want more clarity on the delimitation issue," he told reporters after the meeting.

Siva said the delimitation exercise should not adversely affect the southern states and sought greater clarity from the government.

"If it affects the southern states, it should be put in abeyance for 25 years," Siva said.