According to officials, consumers who have complaints may call 1800-889-2015 or send complaints and queries through WhatsApp at +91-7397720230. The numbers have been operational from August 31 (Monday), officials said.

The corporation has also listed its official accounts on all social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube as channels for public grievances. Complaints received through these platforms will be forwarded to the concerned officials and monitored for appropriate action and resolution, it said.

The move came a day after Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh announced a second salary hike for Tasmac employees within 100 days of taking office, with the revised pay coming into effect from September 1. Announcing this in the Assembly on Monday, the minister said the move was aimed at preventing MRP violations at outlets.

The corporation has also listed its official accounts on all social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube as channels for public grievances

“Under the TVK-led government, Tasmac workers found fleecing violations will face a three-month suspension from service,” he said. “Repeat violation will result in dismissal. The government will not tolerate corruption.”

Tasmac salesmen collecting additional amount from customers have been a chronic issue dogging the State-run retailer for years, an issue that took political tones during the Assembly election campaign after the TVK alleged that a part of the loot was being sent to V Senthilbalaji, the minister in charge of the department. Though the election is long over, the allegations are yet to die down, with the issue figuring during the discussions in the Assembly on Monday.

Meanwhile, the staff and unions representing them say they are forced to collect the extra cash due to various issues ranging from paltry salary to being forced to pay up for the upkeep of the shops, facilities, and even electricity bill.

Aadhav claimed that the scheme has been halted for restructuring and remodelling purposes.

During Zero Hour, around 23 MLAs raised queries about sports infrastructure in their respective constituencies. DMK MLAs Durai Chandrasekaran and Siva V Meyyanathan raised questions about the status of the mini stadium scheme, which was inaugurated during the DMK regime.

Replying to them, Minister Aadhav said the Rs 3 crore budget allocation for each mini stadium was insufficient to build proper stadiums. "The government is restructuring and remodelling the mini stadium scheme, with a budget allocation of Rs 10 crore to Rs 12 crore. But the locations of the stadiums will not be changed," Minister Aadhav said.

The government also plans to construct an international stadium in each district. Appealing to the MLAs, the minister said they could allocate their constituency development funds to school infrastructure, including toilet facilities, rather than stadiums.

Alleging that the mini stadium in Karur had not been constructed properly, the minister said the running track had been completely damaged due to the lower budget allocation. "Owing to the lower budget allocation, the running track was completely damaged in Karur. The government has decided to select one school in each district and develop it as a model school with all sports infrastructure," the minister said.

According to the police, Ramesh of Paiyur village near Sivaganga and Satheesh of Manikampatti in Madurai had allegedly worked as agents for the finance company in Sivaganga.

Following complaints submitted by residents of Kanjirangal, Kalayarkoil, Maravamangalam, Tiruppuvanam, and several other areas, Sivaganga District Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta directed the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the complaints.

The police found that the gang had followed the same modus operandi that it had allegedly adopted to cheat people in Melur in Madurai.

Through its mobile application, the company allegedly promised double returns on an initial investment of Rs 1 lakh within 45 days, in US dollars.

A police source said the interrogation of the two agents could shed more light on the fraud.

In a veiled reference to the ruling TVK's emergence at the national level, Minister Aadhav said the political situation would change in 2029, adding that the NEET examination would be abolished in Parliament then. Amid TVK leaders' open claim that CM Vijay is a PM candidate in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, this hint has sparked speculation.

During Zero Hour in the Assembly, the minister recalled the death of Ariyalur medical aspirant Anitha, who died by suicide after being unable to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor after scoring high marks in Class 12 in the state board but being unable to crack the NEET examination, which is framed largely under the CBSE syllabus.

"On the ninth anniversary of her death on Tuesday, we recalled her sacrifice, hard work, dedication and sorrow. The agitation against NEET has continued in the State. The then Chief Ministers MK Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami adopted resolutions against NEET, followed by the present Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. However, the Union government has not yet accepted the State's demand," Minister Aadhav said.

"The change in the political situation will answer for all the lives lost. We should all come together to fight against NEET. Students should be bold and strong, and no one should lose their life," Aadhav said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, the court refused to entertain the additional petition.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Based on a public interest litigation that alleged that many of these hospitals are discharging untreated waste, including biomedical waste, to rivers and other waterbodies, the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the State government and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to file a report on the status of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) in government healthcare institutions in southern Tamil Nadu.

When the case came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Justice CV Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel, the petitioner, R Manibharathi, an advocate from Madurai, cited the RTI information, which revealed that 164 government healthcare institutions in Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, and Dharmapuri were listed as functioning without STPs.

The list covers Government Medical College Hospitals, Government Hospitals, District Headquarters Hospitals, Taluk Hospitals, Urban/Upgraded Primary Health Centres, and Primary Health Centres.

In the case of Government Rajaji Medical College Hospital, Madurai, one of the largest tertiary-care government hospitals in southern Tamil Nadu, though an STP had been installed, it was not functioning properly due to non-payment of electricity bills, said the petitioner, adding that untreated sewage was consequently being discharged into the Vaigai river.

The Government Medical College Hospital in Thoothukudi does not have an STP facility, according to the petitioner. He also informed the court that several hospitals, including Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, had not responded to the RTI applications.

Biomedical waste generated in hospitals, including pathological waste, microbiological waste, blood-contaminated materials, operation theatre waste, laboratory waste, discarded medicines, human tissues, body organs, dressings, sharps, contaminated plastics, liquid biomedical waste, blood, saliva, body fluids, and other infectious materials, is inherently hazardous, the petitioner pointed out, adding that if such waste is handled strictly in accordance with scientific standards prescribed under law, it poses serious risks of spreading infectious diseases, contaminating groundwater, damaging the ecosystem, and endangering the lives of hospital staff, patients, sanitation workers, and the general public.

The petitioner cited Rule 4 of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, which imposes a statutory obligation on every occupier of a healthcare facility to ensure that biomedical waste is handled without any adverse effect on human health or the environment.

The Rule also mandates segregation of waste at source, barcoding, pre-treatment wherever necessary, scientific treatment of liquid biomedical waste, and disposal through authorised common biomedical waste treatment facilities.

The Government Rajaji Medical College Hospital, Madurai, one of the largest tertiary-care government hospitals in southern Tamil Nadu, has an STP, but it was not functioning properly due to non-payment of electricity bills, and untreated sewage was being discharged into the Vaigai river, said the PIL

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, prohibits the discharge of untreated sewage and trade effluents into streams, wells, sewers or land. However, several government hospitals were violating these provisions, the petitioner alleged.

The petitioner also cited the Supreme Court's judgment in Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti v. Union of India, which, he submitted, mandated institutions discharging effluents to have functional treatment plants.

He sought directions to the State government to install ETPs in all government healthcare institutions, and also periodic inspections and publication of inspection and maintenance records.

Recording the submissions, the court directed the respondents to file a status report and posted the case for further hearing on October 8.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Replying during the debate on demands for grants for the Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi and MSME departments, Keerthana said entrepreneurs had to obtain clearances from several departments, and that licence renewals could take up to a year. "Because of the delay in obtaining licences, illegal fireworks manufacturing is taking place in some areas. Several measures are being taken to streamline the process, and work on a separate app for obtaining licences is at an advanced stage," she said.

The government was also taking steps to prevent accidents and introduce modern machinery to reduce workers' direct exposure to chemicals, she said.

AIADMK member OS Manian said delays affected fireworks retail shops as well and urged the government to simplify the licensing procedure.

DMK member KKSSR Ramachandran said safety norms governing the distance of fireworks units from residential areas and between factories should not be compromised while expediting approvals. "Online scrutiny alone cannot identify every issue," he said, stressing the need for physical inspections.

Keerthana said 177 fireworks factories had been issued licences without a fee, triggering objections from some DMK members. Leader of the House KA Sengottaiyan intervened, saying no individual had been referred to.

Labour Welfare Minister J Mohamed Farvas said inter-departmental inspections had delayed the issuance of licences to fireworks shops and assured the House that the process would be expedited.

DMK member CV Ganesan said the previous government had inspected fireworks units and closed more than 100 establishments for violations.

Earlier, environmentalists, farmers, and residents had opposed holding the public hearing for the project scheduled for Tuesday in Kulithalai in Karur. The public hearing was chaired by District Revenue Officer Vimalraj and Pollution Control Board Assistant Executive Engineer Tholkappiyan.

The participating public, including the environmental activists, said that the ethanol manufacturing unit is proposed on a 33-acre land located between Tiruchy and Karur amid the agricultural lands where the crops like paddy, banana, and sugarcane are being cultivated traditionally.

The residents said that the unit would require at least four lakh litre of water every day and the company would draw huge quantities of groundwater and discharge effluents into the agricultural lands, which would affect the agricultural activities in the region.

The officials were part of the plan, as they were showing a keen interest in the establishment of the unit, alleged the people, who said it was ironical that while the Karnataka government refuses to release water for irrigation in Tamil Nadu, the officials here were supporting a Karnataka-based firm to start manufacturing ethanol.

They warned the officials that they would stage a series of protests until the plan to establish the plant was withdrawn.

The special court found the company and six others – S Amurudheen, L Vijayalakshmi, M Shanthi, S Kamatshi, M Sivakumar, and M Ravichandran Babu – guilty of the crime on Monday (August 31).

Four private accused persons – Jailani Beevi, A Srinivasan, N Manoharan and SG Sekar passed away during the trial and the charges against them were abated.

It was alleged that they had dishonestly and fraudulently availed various credit facilities by submitting false and fabricated documents, misappropriated funds of the bank and thereby cheated it to the tune of Rs 2.68 crore.

“The court has imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on Jailani Steel Traders. Amurudheen has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years; Vijayalakshmi, Shanthi, Kamatshi, Sivakumar, and Ravichandran Babu have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for six months. A total fine of Rs 60,000 has been imposed on the six accused persons,” a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

The court acquitted then-branch manager of United Bank of India, SR Gnanasekar, and a private person named M Chakravarthy, while another person named PB Sampath Kumar was discharged, it said.

Bank deposits

Banks must disclose interest rates for deposits of Rs 3 crore or more by 10.10 am every day.

Banks must publish interest rate details for deposits of Rs 3 crore or more on their websites by 10.10 am every day. Different branches of the same bank cannot offer different interest rates for the same deposit amount on the same day. The rule has been introduced to bring greater transparency to interest rates.

LPG cylinders

e-KYC required to avail of discounted domestic LPG cylinders

For LPG consumers, completing e-KYC is required to avail of the domestic LPG cylinder at the discounted price. The price of LPG cylinders for September may also change.

Boarding passes

International passengers can show electronic or printed boarding passes

Passengers travelling abroad no longer need to get their boarding passes stamped at immigration counters at airports. They can show either an electronic or printed boarding pass.

According to the police, an unidentified man entered the house through the front door that was left open at night and allegedly sexually assaulted the girl, who was alone in the house. When the child raised an alarm, he fled from the spot.

Based on a complaint lodged by the girl's parents, the Valliyur All-Women Police registered a case under Pocso Act and launched a search for the accused.

When they examined CCTV footage from the area, the police found that a migrant worker had been moving around the locality on the night of the incident.

Based on the footage and further investigation, the police identified the accused as Surja Dev Rai (27), son of Gourang Rai, a native of Bakshiganj in West Bengal.

Officials said Rai was working at a stone quarry in the Vadakkankulam area and had allegedly walked to the village on the night of the incident while under the influence of alcohol.

The police arrested him on August 31 and he was subsequently remanded in judicial custody.

The court directed the collector to complete the inquiry within a period of eight weeks on the petitioner’s representation, which sought compensation.

Justice C Saravanan issued the direction on a petition filed by T Nathan, a Sri Lankan refugee residing at the camp in Sivakasi, alleging that after consuming contaminated drinking water at the camp, more than 40 residents, including several children, developed high fever and were treated at the Government Hospital, Sivakasi, for three days in July 2026.

However, his 11-year-old daughter, N Nijaisthana, who fell seriously ill, was shifted to the Government Hospital, Virudhunagar, where she died despite treatment on July 22.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate R Alagumani submitted that the death was mainly due to the negligence of government officials, and said the borewell meant to supply drinking water had been dug at a location between three pre-existing septic tanks in the camp despite objections raised by residents over the health risks.

As the residents of the camp had no alternative source of water, they continued to consume the contaminated water for drinking, cooking, and other domestic purposes, the advocate submitted.

Citing public health engineering norms, the advocate stated that the CPHEEO Manual on Water Supply and Treatment, issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, mandates a minimum safe horizontal separation between a drinking-water source and any source of contamination, such as a septic tank, precisely to prevent the kind of percolation alleged to have occurred in the present case.

“Deliberate construction of the borewell amidst three pre-existing septic tanks, against the express objection of residents, constitutes a glaring violation of these norms,” he pointed out.

Referring to the Madurai Bench's order in Athipathi vs The Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, dated August 21, 2023, the advocate submitted that the court had held that a refugee must be housed in reasonably decent accommodation with access to basic infrastructure and that refugees living in camps must have access to fundamental amenities such as sanitation, healthcare and clean drinking water.

The advocate further informed the court that despite the death of the minor child, no acknowledgement of fault, medical follow-up, or compensation had been extended to the petitioner or other affected residents.

As the residents of the camp, being Sri Lankan Tamil refugees without voting rights in India, had neither the political voice nor the institutional leverage to seek redress, the petitioner sought the court's intervention and adequate compensation.

Recording the submissions, the court adjourned the case for eight weeks.

The onions are expected to be distributed across various districts of Tamil Nadu, the ministry said in a statement.

This follows the first Kanda Express rake, which carried 450 tonne of onions and reached Delhi late on August 27. Of this, 140 tonne was sent to Varanasi, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Amritsar, while the remaining quantity was distributed across the Delhi-NCR region.

The government has begun a calibrated release of onion buffer stocks under a hybrid transportation model combining railway rakes (Kanda Express) and road transport to ensure adequate availability and check seasonal price pressures. Both Kanda Express consignments were dispatched from Nashik, the country's onion hub.

Alongside the rail movement, around 1,000 tonne of onions are being transported by road to major consumption centres, based on prevailing market conditions and price trends, to improve availability and moderate prices.

RETAIL PUSH ACROSS 19 CITIES

Retail intervention has been scaled up across 19 cities, backed by the dispatch of over 30 trucks to ensure wider availability. These include Delhi, Jaipur, Jammu, Dehradun, Shimla, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Guwahati, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, Bhojpur (Bihar), Sharif (Bihar), Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Madurai, Thrissur and Kochi.

Onions are being sold at a subsidised rate of Rs 35 per kg through NCCF, NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar outlets and mobile vans to ensure affordable availability for consumers.

So far, approximately 669 tonne of onions have been sold 223 tonne through bulk channels via the e-NAM portal and similar online platforms at prevailing mandi rates, and 446 tonne through retail channels across the country.

The disposal of onions from the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) buffer, which began on August 24 through NAFED and NCCF, has helped improve market availability and ease prices, particularly in centres where consignments have already reached, such as Varanasi, Amritsar, Delhi and nearby markets, the ministry said.

The government maintained 1.21 lakh tonne of onion in its buffer stock for the current year.

Prices have declined since the day after disposal began, with further supplies expected to support price stability.

Separately, the government said Rs 210 crore has been paid directly to around 3,400 onion farmers, ensuring timely payments. It reiterated its commitment to supporting onion farmers while ensuring adequate and affordable availability for consumers.

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

Outlining the ambitious modernisation blueprint, state Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna assured the Assembly that existing facilities are being redesigned to ensure year-round usability, alongside a fresh push to expand grassroots sports programmes.

Earlier, the lawmakers cutting across party lines, highlighting the state's current status of sports infrastructure, pressed for modern grounds, indoor stadiums, and employment quota for local athletes.

In response, the minister addressing concerns from Nanguneri constituency regarding a storage facility for sports equipment in Velavan Kudiyiruppu, said the project would be taken up through the Rural Development Department.

The minister unveiled a new "Play for All" initiative for 2026-27 aimed at identifying and upgrading 500 rural playgrounds across the state.

Following requests for an international-level football stadium in Tirupattur constituency and better playground upkeep in Sholavandan, Arjuna noted special schemes for under-resourced districts like Sivagangai, Paramakudi, and Tirunelveli.

The government is collaborating with the School Education Department to select one school in every district to serve as a flagship model for sports infrastructure, he said.

Responding to a call for an indoor Kabaddi stadium, the minister declared Kabaddi as the state's top sport. "To protect players from injuries, the government is transitioning training setups from mud grounds to synthetic indoor mats and integrating Kabaddi into upcoming state-level cultural and athletic tournaments," he said.

When BJP MLA M Bhojarajan raised concerns over the degraded state of government school grounds in Udhagamandalam and advocated for a hockey stadium in the Nilgiris district, Arjuna replied that work has already commenced on specialised high-altitude Olympic Centers in hilly areas of Kalvarayan Hills, Kallakurichi, and Udhagamandalam.

On a plea for establishing a sports ground and a compound wall in Keelvelur's Thirupoondi panchayat, the minister said plans were on to optimise unused school plots - some spanning 20 to 40 acres - for high-grade community sports hubs.

Former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami questioned the delay in completing a mini-stadium at Edappadi Boys Higher Secondary School in Salem, which had received an additional Rs 50 lakh from MP constituency development funds during the previous tenure.

"Work is currently stalled under the present administration. I request the government to complete this work quickly by allocating additional funds," he urged.

Arjuna clarified that work across 62 constituencies - including the Rs 3-crore Edappadi project - was temporarily paused to redesign outdated models.

"The previous model relied on 400-metre dirt tracks, rendering them unusable during Tamil Nadu's four rainy months," the minister explained.

"We are restructuring these projects with semi-sheds and higher quality standards to ensure 365-day usability," he added.

To a question from legislator E C R Saravanan, he replied that the recruitment under the three-per cent sports quota for state performers in Silambattam and Kabaddi will officially begin within a month.

Justice V Lakshminarayanan, who heard the appeals, observed that there was nothing on record to establish that Raja’s posts had caused any disturbance or tension in society.

The court subsequently set aside the convictions and sentences imposed by the special court in both cases.

Criminal cases were registered against Raja at different police stations in connection with a post he made on a social media platform in April 2018, stating that he would break the statue of Periyar.

Cases were also registered alleging that he had made derogatory remarks against DMK leader and Lok Sabha member Kanimozhi.

Based on a complaint lodged by Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, the Erode police registered a case against Raja.

After the trial, the Special Court for cases against MPs and MLAs in Chennai convicted Raja in two cases and, in December 2024, sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment in each case.

Aggrieved by the order, Raja filed appeals before the High Court.

According to proceedings issued by the District Educational Officer, an enquiry into “grave charges” against Paramasivam, who is also a Post Graduate (PG) assistant in English, is contemplated. The order stated that he was placed under suspension in the public interest citing administrative inefficiency.

The suspension was ordered under sub-rule (e) of Rule 17 of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules. The order did not disclose the specific reasons for the suspension, stating that the reasons could not be furnished in the larger public interest.

However, sources confirm that the faculty had discarded materials from free kit allocated for students of the school.

During the period of suspension, Paramasivam will be eligible for subsistence allowance and Dearness Allowance as admissible under Fundamental Rule 53(1).

The order further directed that his headquarters during the suspension period would remain at Usilampatti Taluk. He has also been instructed not to leave the headquarters without obtaining prior permission from the competent authority.

The proposed cluster is being developed through National Shipbuilding - Heavy Industries Park Tamil Nadu Ltd (NSHIP-TN), a 50:50 joint venture between VOC Port and SIPCOT. The two entities signed an MoU in September 2025 to develop a mega shipbuilding cluster at Thoothukudi.

South Korea's HD KSOE signed an MoU for the proposed shipyard in April and a high-level HD KSOE delegation led by Young Hoon Kwon, director of HD Hyundai's global business division, met Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on June 17 to discuss the project.

The proposed Rs 38,000-crore shipyard is planned with an annual capacity of 2.5 million gross tonnes and is expected to generate around 15,000 direct jobs, according to the Union government. The shipyard is proposed as the anchor facility for the wider 2,500 acre Thoothukudi shipbuilding cluster.

The DPR will assess the technical and commercial feasibility of the project, including the capacity and configuration of the shipyard, shipbuilding and ship-repair potential, production facilities and the types of vessels that could be targeted. This will be based on Indian and global demand, competing shipyards and potential customers, with the study also looking at annual vessel output, CGT capacity and steel throughput.

It will cover an approach channel, turning basin, berths and other marine assets. Topographical, bathymetric, hydrographic and geotechnical information will form part of the assessment, along with requirements for dredging, reclamation, ground improvement and shore protection.

A key part of the DPR will be the division between common infrastructure for the cluster and facilities to be developed by the anchor shipyard. It will set out the respective responsibilities of the project SPV and the anchor shipyard for ownership, funding, operation and maintenance of major infrastructure and marine assets.

The consultant will also assess the implications for fishing and other coastal communities and prepare measures for stakeholder and livelihood concerns, while the DPR will factor in the requirements arising from land development and the site's physical and regulatory constraints.

The cost assessment will cover dredging, reclamation, ground improvement, marine infrastructure, shipyard facilities and equipment, utilities, buildings, roads and other common infrastructure, as well as recurring costs such as maintenance dredging and infrastructure upkeep.

The proposed funding structure will examine government grants, equity, debt and private investment. The consultancy is to be completed in 26 weeks.

The direction came while hearing a PIL filed by Madurai-based advocate R Manibharathi, who relied on information obtained under the Right to Information Act to contend that several government hospitals and primary health centres were functioning without sewage treatment facilities.

A division bench comprising Justice CV Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel took note of the submissions and directed the respondents to file a status report. The case has been posted for further hearing on October 8, 2026.

According to the RTI information cited before the court, 164 government healthcare institutions across 10 districts were listed as functioning without STPs. The districts include Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai and Dharmapuri. The institutions include government medical college hospitals, government hospitals, district headquarters hospitals, taluk hospitals, urban and upgraded primary health centres and primary health centres.

The petitioner specifically pointed to the Government Rajaji Medical College Hospital in Madurai, stating that although an STP had been installed, it was allegedly not functioning properly due to non-payment of electricity bills. He alleged that untreated sewage was consequently being discharged into the Vaigai river.

The Government Medical College Hospital in Thoothukudi, meanwhile, did not have an STP facility, the petitioner submitted. He also said several hospitals, including Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, had not responded to RTI applications.

The petitioner submitted that hospitals generate hazardous biomedical waste, including pathological and microbiological waste, blood-contaminated materials, operation theatre and laboratory waste, discarded medicines, human tissues, sharps, contaminated plastics and liquid biomedical waste. Improper handling, he said, could result in the spread of infectious diseases, groundwater contamination, ecological damage and risks to hospital staff, patients, sanitation workers and the public.

Relying on Rule 4 of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, Manibharathi submitted that healthcare facilities have a statutory obligation to handle biomedical waste without adversely affecting human health or the environment. He also referred to provisions requiring segregation at source, barcoding, pre-treatment wherever necessary, scientific treatment of liquid biomedical waste and disposal through authorised Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities.

The petitioner further relied on the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, which prohibits the discharge of untreated sewage and trade effluents into streams, wells, sewers or land. He alleged that several government hospitals were violating these provisions.

He also cited the Supreme Court's judgment in Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti v Union of India, submitting that institutions discharging effluents were required to have functional STPs or ETPs.

The PIL sought directions to the state to install ETPs in government medical college hospitals, district headquarters hospitals, taluk hospitals and primary health centres in the southern districts and ensure their proper functioning. It also sought periodic inspections and publication of inspection and maintenance records.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the woman, Lakshmi (71), of Indira Nagar in Uthangarai, submitted a complaint at the Krishnagiri district Superintendent of Police’s office on Monday, seeking an investigation and action against those responsible for the alleged fraud.

Bank account frozen over GST dues

Lakshmi had recently visited her bank to withdraw money when the manager informed her that her account had been frozen by the Commercial Taxes Department. On inquiry, she was told that an order issued by the Assistant Commissioner of the Ambur Commercial Taxes Assessment Circle had led to the freezing of her account.

According to the department’s communication, a private company registered in Lakshmi’s name had outstanding GST dues of Rs 2,53,23,676 for the 2018-19 financial year.

Lakshmi said she had no connection with the company mentioned by the Commercial Taxes Department and had never operated such a business.

Son’s account also frozen

In her complaint, Lakshmi alleged that unidentified persons had misused copies of her Aadhaar and PAN cards to fraudulently obtain GST registration in her name and evade taxes worth Rs 2.53 crore.

She also stated that her son Ramakrishnan’s bank account had been frozen over the same GST dues. Ramakrishnan is a daily wage worker and maintains a savings account at another bank branch.

Lakshmi urged the police to conduct a detailed investigation, identify and take action against those responsible, and ensure that both her and her son’s frozen bank accounts are restored.

Vijay, in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues, N Anand and A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, turned on a button to open the sluice gates and showered flowers and grains on the gushing waters, marking the release of Cauvery water.

Dressed in a traditional shirt and veshti, the Chief Minister later visited a photo exhibition organised by the Water Resources Department showcasing the history of the Mettur dam. He also inspected the dam’s powerhouse.

As the Chief Minister, this was the first time Vijay opened the historic Mettur dam, the lifeline of farmers in the delta regions.

Water will be released for 45 days, until October 15, to support the samba paddy cultivation in the region. From an initial 3,000 cusecs, the water discharge will be gradually increased to 7,000 cusecs. The release is expected to benefit nearly 16 lakh acres across 13 delta districts.

As of 8 am on Tuesday, the reservoir’s water level stood at 91.56 feet, against its full reservoir level of 120 feet, with storage at 54.452 TMC. The inflow was 10,857 cusecs. In the dam’s 93-year history, this is the 62nd occasion on which water has been released for delta irrigation, after the customary date of June 12 because of inadequate storage.

In a statement, the State government said it was taking all legal and administrative measures to secure Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water from Karnataka. With the State experiencing a deficit southwest monsoon and the severe impact of El Niño, Water Resources Department officials urged farmers to adopt water-saving practices and ensure that it reaches tail-end areas.

Earlier, Vijay arrived in Salem from Chennai by special flight and travelled to Mettur by road. Large crowds gathered along the route to greet the Chief Minister.

The lead opposition party’s spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Monday backed the Congress’s stance on projecting Rahul Gandhi as a prime ministerial candidate over Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Elangovan supported Congress leader S Rajeshkumar’s remarks regarding the prime ministerial candidate, questioning TVK’s rationale.

Talking to media persons in Tirunelveli, the senior leader clarified his party’s stance that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alone could be the INDIA bloc’s prime ministerial candidate in the 2029 Lok Sabha election, as the Grand Old Party heads the alliance.

Responding to questions about Congress minister S Rajeshkumar’s threat that the party’s ministers will resign from the Cabinet if ruling party members continue to promote CM Vijay as a PM candidate, Vaiko attributed it to individual choice rather than a formal decision by the TVK. “Rahul Gandhi can definitely be the prime ministerial candidate in the Lok Sabha election. Since the Congress leads the INDIA bloc, its candidate can be the prime ministerial candidate,” he said, adding that even in the Chief Minister’s imagination, there could be no such view.

Vaiko also urged the Chief Minister to advise ministers against making such controversial statements, as the vocal supporter of TVK in the Congress, Rajeshkumar himself, has hit back at the ruling party’s recent penchant for portraying CM Vijay as the PM candidate in 2029 Lok Sabha polls. “There is no possibility of any other alternative except Rahul Gandhi as the PM candidate from the INDIA bloc,” Vaiko said, advising ministers from alliance parties to refrain from making contradictory or careless public statements.

Karuppiah’s comments have been officially removed from the proceedings of the House. The remarks made in the Assembly last Thursday drew sharp criticism from several political parties, including the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).

The AIADMK has also announced a protest on September 3, accusing the legislator of insulting jallikattu, which is deeply rooted in Tamil culture and tradition. Responding to the controversy in the Assembly, the Speaker announced that the disputed portion of Karuppiah’s speech would be expunged.

Aadhav said 182 MLAs have submitted formal requests for bypass infrastructure, and assured the House that the government is addressing these demands systematically.

At an extensive discussion on road infrastructure in the State during Question Hour in the House, the legislators across party lines raised urgent demands for bypass roads, high-level bridges, and junction upgrades to tackle rising traffic congestion and accident rates.

Aadhav announced a massive plan to upgrade a 43.16 km stretch of National Highway 75 between Pathalampalli and Latheri into a fourlane road. Estimated at Rs 947.46 crore, the project incorporates an 11.85 km bypass route spanning 13 villages, with land acquisition currently in progress. The proposal included new bridges, culverts, and major junction improvements, awaiting final administrative approval, he said.

Police identified the deceased as Dinesh Kumar (37), and his parents, Ramasamy (65), a weaver and Pappathi (60) from Saminathapuram village near Muthur.

Police said Dinesh Kumar, who was employed in a firm supplying medicine for poultry farms in Namakkal, had borrowed huge amounts from banks and through online money lending apps.

Unable to repay, Dinesh Kumar ended his life by hanging. His elderly parents, who saw him hanging, also took the extreme step out of depression.

The Vellakovil police rushed to the spot and sent the bodies for a post-mortem at Kangeyam GH.

Further inquiries are under way.

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.

Announcing the projects in the Assembly, Vijay said Tamil Nadu's growing economy and rising power consumption required world-class electricity infrastructure backed by advanced technology across generation, transmission and distribution.

Under the Tamil Nadu Transmission Improvement Scheme, 196 new substations will be established and 15,000 km of new transmission lines laid, while existing transmission lines will be strengthened.

The government will also establish a 2X800 MW New Supercritical Thermal Power Station at the Thoothukudi thermal power station (TPS) complex at an estimated cost of Rs 20,800 crore under the public-private partnership model.

Commissioned in phases from 1979, the Thoothukudi TPS has five coal-based units of 210MW each, with a total installed capacity of 1,050MW.

The government plans to gradually replace the existing units with supercritical plant to comply with environmental regulations applicable to coal-based thermal power stations. The new project will comprise two units of 800MW each.

The chief minister said Tamil Nadu had emerged as a leading State in renewable energy and was continuing to focus on wind and solar power as well as battery storage.

However, renewable energy sources were not available uniformly throughout the day. While technology to store surplus renewable power in batteries for use during night-time demand was being deployed, the existing infrastructure was not sufficient to meet power requirements at all times, he said.

Thermal power generation would, therefore, continue to be important to ensure uninterrupted supply during periods of high demand, the chief minister said, adding that investments in generation capacity were essential to meet the State's increasing power load.

The government also announced distribution infrastructure improvement works worth Rs 1,762 crore in Chennai. The works will include setting up 36 new 33/11 kV substations, installing new distribution transformers, and replacing damaged or ageing cables, conductors, pillar boxes, and circuit breakers.

These measures are aimed at strengthening Chennai's distribution network and addressing power disruptions caused by flooding during the monsoon as well as challenges arising from high electricity demand during summer.

Minister for Textiles and Handlooms M Vijay Balaji on Monday said in the Assembly that the department had conducted opinion polls across the State to find out which type of dhoti people preferred — 8-yard unbleached dhotis or 4-yard bleached dhotis.

"Most people voted in favour of 4-yard dhotis. So, the government decided to provide 4-yard dhotis under the free gift hamper for the ensuing Pongal festival," Minister Balaji said.

Responding to DMK member S Austin, who raised a query under the Special Calling Attention motion, he said that if the length of the dhotis was changed suddenly, weavers would also have to change the size of their looms, adding that this could affect their livelihood.

The Minister said Opposition members should wear the 8-yard dhotis provided during the DMK regime, while the Treasury bench members would wear the 4-yard bleached dhotis.

"Let the people decide which dhoti is better. The weavers have accepted the government's new initiative, and there will be no impact on them," he said.

The park, which would house semiconductor industries along with research and development facilities, is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for around 5,000 people, giving a major boost to Tamil Nadu's electronics and semiconductor ecosystem, he said.

Referring to the Budget announcement on Multi-Modal Logistics Parks and Dry Ports, the chief minister said a Multi-Modal Logistics Hub would be established in Tiruchy through TIDCO, considering that the central region and its surrounding areas are home to several MSME industries.

TIDCO will conduct a feasibility study and prepare a detailed project report (DPR), based on which the logistics hub will be established in Tiruchirappalli, he added.

CM Vijay also announced the establishment of the Coimbatore FinTech Hub at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore.

The proposed centre is aimed at strengthening Coimbatore's position as a hub for technology-enabled financial services and creating new opportunities in the digital economy.

Though details of the meeting were not immediately available, sources said Chakravarty's interaction with Vijay was aimed at addressing the repeated statements by TVK ministers and leaders projecting the chief minister as a future PM.

The issue has emerged as a potential source of friction in the ruling alliance, with Congress leaders insisting that Rahul Gandhi should be the opposition bloc's choice for the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

The timing of Chakravarty's meeting is significant. On Sunday (August 30), Congress leader and Tourism Minister Rajesh Kumar had publicly warned that the two Congress ministers in the Vijay cabinet would resign if TVK did not accept Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate.

“When journalists and media persons ask me about this in my capacity as a minister, I make our position very clear. Our leader Rahul Gandhi will become the next Prime Minister in the 2029 parliamentary election. If TVK does not agree to this, the two Congress ministers will not continue in their posts,” Kumar said at the oath-taking ceremony of the Congress Kanyakumari West district president.

On Monday (August 31), Congress MP and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president B Manickam Tagore also met Vijay at the Secretariat.

Tagore was part of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs, whose chairman and members visited the state and held discussions with Vijay and senior government officials on housing and urban development.

Tagore's meeting with Vijay, though official in nature, came against the backdrop of his recent criticism of TVK's pro-Vijay PM pitch. He had described the repeated assertions by TVK ministers that Vijay would become PM as reflecting a “fan club mentality”.

The exchanges have exposed an early faultline in the ruling coalition, even as the 2029 Lok Sabha election is still nearly three years away.

TVK has 107 MLAs, while Congress has four. IUML and VCK have two MLAs each and are part of the Vijay cabinet, while CPM and CPI, with two MLAs each, extend outside support.

The issue took a controversial turn due to the allegations, as the opposition raised the related court case and called certain remarks sub judice. The opposition DMK walked out at a stage of the discussion objecting to the Speaker not permitting them to respond to the allegations made by the ministers.

PWD and Highways Minister Aadhav Arjuna alleged that corruption was particularly prevalent in the mining and liquor sectors in Tamil Nadu and questioned the transparency of licences issued to liquor manufacturing units. He claimed that 11 distilleries had been granted licences under successive governments and alleged that people associated with the DMK, including a party treasurer and a parliamentarian, had benefited from such licences.

Former Minister EV Velu rejected the allegation, saying licences were issued only to eligible applicants in accordance with prescribed rules. "Granting a licence cannot by itself be called corruption. If there is evidence, take action," he said.

Former Minister V Senthilbalaji accused the government of creating the impression that wrongdoing had occurred during the DMK regime. He said the DMK's policy remained total prohibition and pointed out that 603 Tasmac outlets had been closed during its tenure.

"You can investigate and present your evidence before the court. The court will take the final decision," he said.

Former minister and DMK Deputy Leader of Opposition KN Nehru questioned the ruling side over the alleged Rs 10 collection and asked whether the practice had stopped after the TVK government assumed office. "If the workers overcharged, it is corruption in the DMK government, while you are now giving justification for it under your regime," he said.

Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh said overcharging customers had been entrenched in Tasmac for years and alleged that employees were being made to collect the additional amount. He said the department required comprehensive restructuring and claimed to have evidence of the practice.

Law Minister R Nirmalkumar said that if Rs 10 were collected on annual TASMAC sales of around Rs 50,000 crore, the amount would amount to Rs 5,000 crore. He said steps were being taken to stop such collections.

Intervening in the debate, Speaker JCD Prabhakar cautioned members against discussing in detail matters pending before courts, saying they could refer to a case being pending but should not make allegations against individuals or comment on the merits of the proceedings.

The ruling came when Law Minister R Nirmalkumar cited a court order while responding to allegations of a Tasmac sales scam. Nirmalkumar read out the public prosecutor's contentions recorded in the order. Prabhakar said the Minister had only quoted the prosecutor's submissions and had not read anything beyond what was recorded in the order.

The Speaker said he had examined the hard copy of the order submitted by the minister and pointed out that the passages cited were arguments made before the court, not its verdict. Since the order was in the public domain, he said, the remarks could not be expunged from the Assembly records. "Generally, the members of the House should not go into the details of matters before the court and pending in the court. This is the House's rule," Prabhakar said.

"This case or this matter is pending in the court — we can say. We shouldn't go into detail," he added.

He said members could quote the contents of a court order, particularly the public prosecutor's submissions, but cautioned them against criticising a judge's judgment.

"We cannot and shouldn't criticise the judgment of the judge. But we can quote what the order says, especially when it comes to the public prosecutor," he said.

Prabhakar also urged members to exercise restraint in sensitive cases and refrain from describing anyone as convicted while proceedings were pending.

"The court will deliver the verdict. We cannot pinpoint any member as convicted," he said, asking members not to force him to repeatedly review debates for compliance with law and House rules.

A Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel raised the issue after the court was informed that disciplinary proceedings initiated against senior officials based on the commission’s recommendations had been dropped.

The issue came up during the hearing of a petition filed by K Kathiresan of PP Kulam in Madurai and others, seeking directions to register criminal cases against those responsible for the police firing and payment of the balance compensation to the victims.

During the hearing, the Advocate General submitted a compliance affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary to the State Government.

According to the affidavit, the government had dropped the disciplinary action recommended against the then Thoothukudi Collector N Venkatesh, then South Zone Inspector General of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav and DIG Kapil Kumar C Saratkar.

In the case of P Mahendran, then Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi, the Government directed the inquiry authority to resubmit the inquiry report clearly indicating the findings on the charges.

The Government further informed the court that proceedings against eight other police officials were at the stage of preparation of minutes; while three other officials were awaiting final orders after their explanations had been received. The affidavit also stated that the punishment imposed on a Sub-Inspector was cancelled on appeal and the punishment of a Head Constable, who had been awarded a black mark, was cancelled on appeal. Disciplinary proceedings against three deputy tahsildars had been stayed by the High Court.

The state government also informed the court that, pursuant to its earlier directions, the investigation into the case had been entrusted to the CBI. Following the investigation, the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Thirumalai, the then Inspector of Police, and the case was pending trial.

On compensation, the government informed the court that Rs 25 lakh had already been paid to the families of those killed in the firing as per the Government Orders. It further submitted that, following a Cabinet meeting held on August 29, 2022, orders restricting further financial assistance to the kin of the deceased.

After the submission of the affidavit, petitioner’s counsel Henri Tiphagne sought directions for departmental action against the senior officials, payment of the balance compensation to the victims and investigation be withdrawn from CBI and handed over to STI established by the State Government.

When the Bench sought the government’s response, the Advocate General submitted that the Government needed to examine the orders dropping the disciplinary proceedings, particularly as one of the senior officials concerned had since retired, before making any commitment before the court.

The Bench consequently directed the Advocate General to ascertain the views of the present government on the possibility of taking departmental action against the officials and payment of pending compensation for deceased families and report back to the Court by  September 10, 2026.

Under the Tamil Nadu State Board, she had scored an exceptional 1,176 out of 1,200, with a medical cut-off of 196.75 out of 200 — scores that would have secured her a medical seat in the state, under the previous admission criteria. She wrote countless letters, spoke in videos, and participated in protests, seeking an exemption for TN students from NEET for that academic year.

Who is Anitha?

Anitha was born after four sons, the answer to her parents’ prayers for a daughter they had longed for. Her older brother, S Manirathinam (36), recalls, “Paapa always got the first rank.”

Their mother died when Anitha was seven, after which their paternal grandmother helped raise them. Their father worked as a load carrier at Tiruchy’s Gandhi Market to educate them. “But because we had ration rice, we did not have to experience hunger,” says Manirathinam, a Bcom and MBA graduate.

Understanding the family’s circumstances, Anitha never demanded anything for herself. The only thing she was invested in was her education. Once, even after breaking her hand, she went to school as usual. When the headmistress asked why she had come, Anitha replied, “I only have to listen (to the class) with my ears, no?”

After she finished Class 10 in a school in Kuzhumur, Manirathinam enrolled her at a school 18 km away, one with a hostel as they did not have toilets at home. At the time, instead of pressuring her over marks, he advised: “Marks don’t determine our intelligence. But you have to study with your goal in mind; only then can you enrol in your desired course.”

When the Class 12 State Board results were announced in May that year, Anitha passed with flying colours, scoring 1,176 out of 1,200, including double centums in Mathematics and Physics. Manirathinam was overjoyed, but knew NEET could pose a hurdle. He applied for aeronautical engineering at MIT and veterinary science in Orathanadu, and she secured both seats but did not take them up. For Anitha, becoming a doctor was her only dream.

Anitha passed Class 12 exam with flying colours, scoring 1,176 out of 1,200, including double centums in Mathematics and Physics. Manirathinam was overjoyed, but knew NEET could pose a hurdle. She had applied for aeronautical engineering at MIT and veterinary science in Orathanadu, and secured both seats but did not take them up. For Anitha, becoming a doctor was her only dream

Battle begins

That year, NEET had become mandatory for medical admissions after states were granted a one-year exemption in 2016. Anitha had scored 86 out of 720 marks when its results were declared in June.

In July that year, Manirathinam invited Anitha to an anti-NEET protest in Ariyalur, asking her to just come and observe. There, they met DMK’s Ariyalur district secretary SS Sivasankar and told him  about her plight. Sivasankar strongly raised the issue and also introduced her to the media after she became a household name.

At the heart of their protest was a simple argument: a Class 12 student had studied a syllabus prescribed by the government, written an exam conducted by the government and proved her ability through the marks awarded by the same system. Until the previous year, medical admissions had been based on those Class 12 marks. “So why not admit her through the same system?” they asked then.

The family met political leaders, including the then Leader of the Opposition, MK Stalin, seeking support, even as anti-NEET protests continued across Tamil Nadu. There was a brief moment of hope in August. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre would consider a one-year exemption for Tamil Nadu, and the Union Law Ministry cleared the State government’s draft ordinance.

On August 17, Anitha, represented by her father as she was still a minor, filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, when several pro-NEET students had also approached the court. The State government had initially reserved 85% of State quota medical seats for State Board students. But the Madras High Court struck down the order after CBSE students challenged it as discriminatory.

“We thought even a 50-50 split of seats between CBSE and State Board students would get us a seat,” Manirathinam says. “But on August 22, the Union government gave a cruel blow to TN students by backing away from the ordinance seeking a one-year exemption from NEET.”

Attorney General KK Venugopal, who had initially given the proposal the nod, reversed his position, saying the ordinance would not stand legal scrutiny. The Centre then told the Supreme Court that admissions would have to be conducted solely on the basis of NEET. The NEET merit list was released the following day, and admissions began.

Meanwhile, Manirathinam urged his sister not to lose a year and suggested she could prepare for NEET alongside college. He had been working in the share market and preparing for UPSC, but he left his job when it was time for Anitha’s college counselling sessions.

But on the fateful day of September 1 that year, Anitha died by suicide at home. “We were all away from home that day. We don’t know what she was thinking. Paapa had seemed happy; she never told me she was upset. I had taken her to protests and even to the Supreme Court because I wanted to make sure she would never regret not having at least tried to fight.”

NEET not so neat

Earlier this year, a remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who referred to sections of unemployed youth as “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a hearing in May, triggered the formation of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by its founder, Abhijeet Dipke.

The movement soon took up the 2026 NEET paper leak, amid widespread anger over such entrance exam irregularities affecting millions.

Manirathinam says the movement drew him in because it echoed questions TN had raised nine years earlier. At the Jantar Mantar protest, he called for NEET to be scrapped and education moved from the Concurrent List back to the State List.

“When TN protested then, it was largely fighting a system alone. What TN was saying years ago, India is now speaking about collectively,” he says.

Manirathinam argues that NEET’s impact extends beyond access to medical education, affecting Tamil Nadu’s public healthcare system. “Those spending lakhs to study medicine are unlikely to come from villages or serve in rural health centres. That will affect PHCs and, in turn, government hospitals,” he says. “The recent return of around 150 unfilled in-service quota PG medical seats could have strengthened government super-speciality hospitals.”

Referring to the revised NEET PG cut-offs, which allow even those with negative marks to enter counselling, he asks: “If a person can get a seat without effectively qualifying in the exam, then why keep NEET in the first place?”

In the days that followed, protests demanding #JusticeForAnitha erupted across Tamil Nadu and continued for weeks, with even school students joining demonstrations. Tamil Nadu passed two Bills seeking exemption from NEET in February 2017, but the President withheld assent in September, days after Anitha’s death — a decision that became public only in 2019.

After coming to power in 2021, the DMK set up the AK Rajan committee, which found a decline in the proportion of first-generation, rural and Tamil-medium students entering medical colleges after NEET. The State government subsequently passed another exemption Bill, which was rejected by the President in 2025, prompting the State to move the Supreme Court.

Questioning the veto, Manirathinam asks, “States, too, can legislate on matters in the Concurrent List, and there are provisions to resolve conflicts with the Centre. But if the Centre will never assent to States’ decisions, why have a Concurrent List at all? The State and Union Lists alone would be enough, wouldn’t they?”

Speaking of the TVK-led government’s recent Assembly resolution against NEET, Manirathinam calls it just a beginning. “The next step,” he argues, “should be to bring together all parties and anti-NEET voices, including Chief Ministers from other states.”

Financial constraints kept Manirathinam away from many protests after 2017. But after returning from the CJP march in New Delhi, he joined the sit-in at the CPI’s Balan Illam in Chennai. “A lot of us at Balan Illam did not want the protest to end just because the Delhi protests had ended. I realised there that the movement had to continue.”

In August, the Anti-NEET Federation-Tamil Nadu, led by him, held a 12-day hunger strike in Koyambedu and met government representatives. They are still seeking a larger designated venue for their protests. “The gathering drew many young people. We have to uphold their trust in us,” he says. “It is a challenge because I have to hold onto my job, too. But I feel I have to take forward what Anitha started.”

Manirathinam, who now works in Chennai, has since been running the Anitha Memorial Library set up on their land in the village, where he earlier conducted free UPSC coaching classes. Along with him, student organisations and other activists are planning signature campaigns and protests in September, while the TSYF and other groups will observe Anitha’s ninth memorial day at Besant Nagar Beach on September 1.

This is the first time that the corporation’s revenue has crossed the Rs 50,000-crore mark, and the income accounts for nearly 26% of the State’s own tax revenue.

Of that, VAT contributed Rs 39,010 crore, while excise duty brought in Rs 11,836 crore.

In the first four months of FY27, Tasmac has already generated Rs 17,855 crore, with revenue expected to grow 5.3% this year.