The recruitment process had already come under scrutiny after some candidates alleged that the TRB had not properly evaluated the Part B section of the examination. They also pointed to alleged irregularities, including candidates whose hall tickets carried only registration numbers without names, and others with discrepancies in their dates of birth being allowed to write the exam.

While acknowledging that a few clerical errors had occurred inadvertently during the recruitment process, the TRB categorically denied any malpractice and maintained that the assistant professor recruitment examination had been transparently conducted. Despite the TRB’s clarification, a list circulated recently by some candidates claimed that several names had been repeated in the final results published by the TRB, gave rise to fresh allegations over the recruitment process. However, when contacted, the TRB officials denied the circulated list’s authenticity and expressed doubts over its origin.

A verification of the final results available on the Board’s official website also found that the names cited in the circulated document were not repeated in the official selection list. The verification suggests that the circulated document does not match the officially published results and appears to have been prepared by manipulating information available in the TRB’s records to create the impression that duplicate entries existed when, they did not.

Officials said the circulation of such a list appeared to be an attempt to fuel more doubts over the process. The episode also underscores how even minor clerical errors can erode candidates’ confidence and create opportunities for misinformation to gain traction. Recruitment agencies should ensure that even small administrative lapses are avoided so that candidates’ trust in the examination process does not get undermined.

A verification of the final results available on the TRB website also found that the names cited in the circulated document were not repeated

According to an official release, the meeting focused on resuming production at Ford’s manufacturing facility and the company’s plans to expand its Global Capability Centre (GCC) and manufacturing operations in the State.

The Chief Minister assured the Ford delegation that the State government would extend all necessary support for the company to restart production. He also urged the company to fully utilise its manufacturing facility at Maraimalai Nagar and proceed with its expansion plans at the earliest.

Industries Minister S Keerthana, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) S Vijayakumar, Guidance Tamil Nadu CEO Deepak Jacob, Ford Executive Director Simonetta Verdi and Ford India Plant Director Dheeraj Dixit participated in the meeting.

The government said Ford’s Global Capability Centre in Tamil Nadu has already generated around 12,000 jobs. It added that the company’s powertrain manufacturing project, involving an initial investment of Rs 3,250 crore, is expected to create more than 600 additional jobs.

Ford had shut down vehicle manufacturing at its Maraimalai Nagar plant in 2021. During the then Chief Minister MK Stalin’s visit to the United States in September 2024, the company submitted a Letter of Intent (LoI) expressing its interest in restarting manufacturing operations in Tamil Nadu.

Outlining the government’s contingency strategy, the minister said the State was preparing to address any adverse impact on the farm sector and would approach the central government for financial support to strengthen the cooperative credit system if needed.

“If El Niño affects Tamil Nadu, we will seek financial assistance from the Centre. The cooperative sector may have to extend additional crop loans to farmers, and we are preparing for that eventuality,” Gandhiraj told reporters here. “The State government was planning to send a delegation to New Delhi, under the guidance of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, to meet the Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and senior officials and seek the necessary financial support well in advance,” said Gandhiraj.

“The visit is being planned as part of our preparations. We will present the State’s requirements and request funds to ensure that farmers receive timely assistance through cooperative institutions,” he said.

The minister said the government had already begun assessing the extent of paddy cultivation across Tamil Nadu to evaluate the agricultural situation and formulate appropriate interventions.

Speaking to reporters, Thirunavukkarasar said alliance reshuffles after elections have been taking place in the State for over six decades and were nothing new. “Even today, the BJP has been splitting regional parties to secure a majority to form a government. Even factions within a party switch camps. It has become a new normal in politics,” he said.

However, he said parties that changed alliances after the polls should not attack the alliance they were part of until the elections. “Such criticism benefits no one. Political leaders should exercise restraint in their words,” he added.

Claiming that people had voted for change in the recently concluded elections, Thirunavukkarasar said public frustration with the DMK was reflected in the election results.

The submission was made by the State during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Radhakrishnan of Salem district, seeking directions to the authorities to recover and properly maintain the properties belonging to the Meenakshi Amman Temple and its subsidiary temples, restore the temple, and conduct the Kumbhabhishekam at the earliest.

The petition came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel.

Appearing for the State, the government counsel submitted that the drive to remove encroachments from temple properties was continuing.

The counsel also informed the court that the renovation works at the Veeravasantharayar Mandapam were nearing completion.

The work of establishing a new modern kitchen had already been awarded and would be completed by September 10.

The temple administration had decided to conduct the Kumbhabhishekam on September 17, the counsel added.

Counsel for the petitioner, however, contended that the encroachments had not been removed effectively and that the amounts identified for recovery in the audit report had still not been collected.

Recording the submissions, the High Court Bench adjourned the case to July 29.

The deceased were identified as Jayaraman, 85, a barber, and his wife, Amaravathi, 70, residents of the Ramappa Kottai area in Gundukal Panchayat.

Preliminary investigations revealed that unidentified persons entered the couple's house at around 8 pm. on Monday and attacked them with a wooden log, resulting in their deaths.

Police said the suspects fled after taking about one sovereign of gold jewellery, including a pair of ear studs and nose studs worn by Amaravathi.

The bodies were sent to the Omalur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. Police have launched a search for the unidentified suspects, and further investigation is under way.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, police are investigating whether the crime was linked to the baby's gender or triggered by a family dispute.

The incident came to light on Monday (July 20), when a baby girl, who had been born only recently at the private hospital, was found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Hospital staff alert police

Hospital authorities initially believed the infant had died unexpectedly. However, while examining the body, they noticed injuries on the baby's neck and nose. The hospital immediately informed the police, who rushed to the facility and began an inquiry. The infant's body was recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

Grandmother arrested

During the preliminary investigation, police questioned family members and hospital staff. The inquiry allegedly revealed that the baby's grandmother, identified as Thangamani (47), had strangled the infant and pinched her nose, leading to her death. Based on this, the police arrested Thangamani and took her into custody for further questioning.

Police probe motive

One of the angles being investigated is whether the infant was killed because she was a girl. Police are also probing whether any dispute within the family may have led to the incident. Authorities said statements are being recorded from family members and others connected to the case. The post-mortem report is expected to provide further clarity on the sequence of events and the exact cause of death.

Despite his father facing health issues including diabetes and heart conditions, he was subjected to questioning that stretched out to 13-hours in the defamation case over a speech that lasted only for five minutes, he said.

“He was intimidated and threatened at gunpoint to deliver specific statements to suit the ruling party's political agenda,” Akshay claimed.

The Vilathikulam MLA was arrested by the police on Monday in an escalation of the tussle between the ruling TVK and main opposition DMK, for his purported "we will crush your bones" remark against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

After questioning, the legislator was produced by police before a local court, which remanded him to 14-day judicial custody.

Speaking on the political controversy surrounding the arrest of Markandeyan by the Thoothukudi police, Akshay told reporters late on Monday night, invoking a metaphor to compare the legislative assembly members to a “brain” that controls the body.

“The assembly is the ‘gate’ or entry point to that 'brain'. The Chief Minister suggests that legislators should be closed or contained within the halls of the assembly. It is effectively an attempt to stop the ‘brain’ from functioning properly,” he said.

He claimed that by controlling the assembly in this manner, the ruling party was attempting to seize power over the legislative process to enforce its own agenda and actions, which Akshay suggested is a dangerous threat to the democratic process.

“The 13-hour interrogation was excessive and wrong because the original video of the speech that led to the defamation case was only five minutes long. Furthermore, my father is a patient suffering from diabetes and heart problems,” he said and added that his father was pressured at “gunpoint.”

The organisation contends that the Bill, which seeks to adopt the complete Vande Mataram song from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Anandamath as India's National Song, is inconsistent with the spirit of the Constitution.

In its appeal, SPCSS-TN distinguishes between the patriotic slogan "Vande Mataram," which played a significant role during India's freedom movement, and the full song from Anandamath, arguing that only the slogan gained nationwide acceptance. The organisation states that the complete song portrays the nation through the imagery of a deity associated with a particular faith and does not explicitly refer to "India" or "Bharat" as recognised under Article 1 of the Constitution.

The platform further argues that making the full song the National Song could infringe upon the constitutional guarantees of liberty of thought, belief, faith and worship under the Preamble and Article 25. It also cites Article 13, which prohibits laws that abridge Fundamental Rights, and Article 51A (h), which promotes scientific temper and humanism.

The appeal urges parliamentarians to reject the Bill and safeguard the Constitution, its secular character, and the country's fundamental rights.

The prosecution alleged that Sathiya Naarayanan, while serving as the MLA for the T Nagar Assembly constituency between May 13, 2016, and March 17, 2021, amassed assets and pecuniary resources worth about Rs 9.44 crore in his name and his wife S Jayachitra's name, which were allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income.

It further alleged that he failed to satisfactorily account for the assets, thereby committing offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Following the completion of the investigation, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) filed a final report, which was taken on file by the trial court.

Challenging the order taking cognisance, Sathiya Naarayanan and Jayachitra filed a petition before the Madras High Court.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan, counsel for the petitioners contended that the trial court had taken cognisance without allowing them to be heard, as mandated under Section 223(1) of the BNSS. The counsel further argued that the cognisance order was a non-speaking one and had been passed mechanically without assigning any reasons.

After hearing the matter, the judge held that the cognisance order dated February 11, 2026, passed by the Principal Sessions Court for the Trial of Cases relating to MPs and MLAs in Tamil Nadu, Chennai, could not be sustained and was liable to be set aside.

The High Court remanded the matter to the Special Court for MPs and MLAs in Chennai, directing it to pass a reasoned order on taking cognisance and proceed in accordance with law within a week. The connected criminal miscellaneous petitions were consequently closed.

He alleged that the TVK government was targeting Opposition leaders and supporters who expose the shortcomings of the ruling dispensation. After failing to act against a sitting minister accused of misconduct in public and in a case involving the alleged gang sexual assault of a woman member of the ruling party, police personnel were quick to arrest critics over political remarks, the former Chief Minister claimed.

Questioning the functioning of the government, Stalin asked whether "the rule of law or the rule of Satan" prevailed in the State.

DMK president MK Stalin accused the ruling party of acting in a manner devoid of democratic values. Describing the TVK government as a "take diversion model" government, he alleged that the police had been continuously targeting former DMK ministers, MLAs and party supporters. Stalin further alleged that Markandayan was denied basic human rights during his arrest.

He also questioned the inclusion of unrelated penal provisions in defamation cases, claiming the government had recently been pulled up by the court over the issue.

Joining Stalin in condemning the arrest, DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi said in a post on X that the TVK-led government was misusing the police force against DMK functionaries.

She demanded the immediate release of Markandayan and asserted that the DMK would give a fitting political response to the ruling party for what she described as the misuse of police power.

The prosecution's case was that V Arumugam, then serving as a Special Sub-Inspector of Police at Arakandanallur police station, appeared as a prosecution witness before the Judicial Magistrate, Tirukoilur, on November 25, 2014. During his deposition, the Magistrate observed that he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol due to the smell of alcohol on his breath, his incoherent speech and his behaviour, and directed him to undergo a medical examination. The medical officer found that his breath smelled of alcohol and issued a Drunkenness Certificate. Though blood and urine tests were not conducted, Arumugam neither objected to nor refused the medical examination.

Departmental disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him, and he was placed under suspension. The Disciplinary Authority imposed the major penalty of compulsory retirement from service.

Arumugam filed a statutory appeal. Taking a lenient view, the Appellate Authority modified the punishment of compulsory retirement to postponement of his next increment for a period of three years, with a consequential postponement of his future increments.

After a lapse of about four years, Arumugam filed a writ petition challenging the modified punishment as confirmed by the revisional authority. A single judge of the Madras High Court allowed the writ petition, mainly on the ground that blood and urine tests had not been conducted.

Aggrieved by the order, the Director General of Police filed a writ appeal before the Madras High Court. Allowing the appeal, a Division Bench comprising Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice N Senthilkumar set aside the single judge's order, holding that appearing before a court in a drunken state seriously tarnishes the image of the police force and that the disciplinary authority had rightly imposed the punishment based on the principle of preponderance of probability.

Observing that misconduct inside a court hall cannot be tolerated, the Bench directed the DGP, Chennai, to issue a circular within four weeks instructing all police personnel to appear before courts in proper uniform and maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty, failing which disciplinary action shall be initiated.

The joint surprise check at the GCC Zone 6 office in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar was carried out by DVAC sleuths as part of an anti-corruption drive across the state.

Officials said five liquor bottles, valued at an estimated Rs 32,000, were found in the office and anteroom of executive engineer R Saravanan. The opened and partially consumed bottles included premium liquor brands, including Grant's Scotch, Johnnie Walker and Remy Martin, among others.

During questioning, Saravanan reportedly told investigators that contractors had gifted him the bottles. As the explanation indicated receipt of an undue advantage, the bottles were seized for investigation.

Searches at the Revenue Section also led to the recovery of Rs 6,990 from the work area of junior assistant M Manikandan, including Rs 4,490 concealed inside a printer and Rs 2,500 kept in a drawer. Investigators said he failed to explain the source or purpose of the cash satisfactorily. His GPay records also allegedly revealed unexplained transactions worth Rs 27,500 during June.

DVAC officials further seized Rs 12,600 from Zonal Health Officer Dr S Mohanasundaram, Rs 7,000 from tax collector R Ramya, Rs 12,000 from a tax consultant who was present at the office, and Rs 3,200 from assistant engineer T Saraswathi after discrepancies emerged during questioning.

The inspection also uncovered unexplained bank and digital transactions involving several officials, including cash deposits of about Rs 10.61 lakh in Saravanan's bank account. Documents relating to jewellery purchases, savings schemes and financial records were also seized.

Overall, unaccounted cash totalling Rs 41,790 and several documents were seized. The unexplained financial transactions and other materials recovered during the inspection have been taken up for further investigation by the DVAC.

In the last one week, the GCC has suspended at least 14 officials, including executive engineer R Saravanan, assistant executive engineer Ravivarman, assistant engineer T Saraswathi, junior assistant Manikandan, superintendent accountant A Sriramalu, sanitary officer A Manjith, conservancy inspector R Kothandan, zonal health officer Dr Devika of Manali, senior entomologist in the office of the regional Deputy Commissioner (Central) Siva Porkodi, assistant executive engineer of Madhavaram zone Anandarao, road worker from Kodambakkam zone Baskar, bill checker Durga and NULM worker Kanna.

CHENNAI: Artificial Intelligence systems driving India’s digital transformation are failing to adequately understand Tamil’s linguistic depth and cultural identity, potentially accelerating the erosion of centuries-old knowledge systems by reducing one of the world’s oldest living languages to standardised machine-readable text, according to a new study by researchers from the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bangalore.

The paper titled, ‘Rethinking Indic AI from a Lens of Cultural Heritage Preservation’, authored by Aparna Madva, Sharath Srivatsa, Srinath Srinivasa and Tulika Saha, argue that while AI promises wider access to information, it also poses a serious threat to India’s linguistic and cultural plurality by reinforcing dominant narratives and under-representing regional languages and their distinct world-views.

The study identifies Tamil as a compelling example of the limitations of present-day large language models (LLMs). It argues that the language embodies far more than grammar or vocabulary, carrying centuries of literary traditions, philosophical thought, social practices and cultural interpretations that cannot be faithfully reproduced through translation-driven AI systems.

According to the paper, the problem stems from the way most foundation models are developed. Existing LLMs are largely trained on English-language resources and translated datasets that disproportionately reflect urban contexts and dominant linguistic communities. As a result, they frequently overlook the linguistic diversity and cultural nuances embedded in languages such as Tamil, producing responses that may be syntactically accurate but culturally incomplete or misleading.

Researchers argue that Tamil presents challenges that mainstream AI systems are yet to overcome. Its rich morphology, agglutinative word formation, phonetic writing system, flexible sentence structure and coexistence of literary and spoken forms demand language models capable of understanding context rather than merely predicting words. They caution that current AI architectures remain ill-equipped to preserve these linguistic characteristics, increasing the risk of cultural homogenisation as AI-generated content becomes more widespread.

The paper further warns that dialects, colloquial speech and orally transmitted knowledge, particularly those preserved in rural and indigenous communities, remain inadequately represented in AI training data. Such gaps, the authors say, could gradually marginalise regional identities as automated systems increasingly shape education, governance, digital communication and knowledge dissemination.

Tracing the evolution of Indic Natural Language Processing over several decades, the study acknowledges advances in language technologies, including IndicBERT, MuRIL, IndicTrans2 and other foundation models. However, it adds that improvements in computational performance have not translated into meaningful representation of India’s cultural diversity. The authors argued that technological progress had outpaced efforts to preserve the distinct world-views embedded in regional languages, leaving a critical gap in the development of inclusive AI.

To address this imbalance, researchers propose a new framework called ‘Culture Sensing’, which seeks to embed indigenous knowledge systems, regional dialects and culturally grounded reasoning into future AI models. Rather than treating Tamil and other Indian languages as datasets for translation alone, the framework advocates building AI capable of recognising the cultural contexts in which these languages evolved.

Without such a shift, the paper argues, AI could emerge not merely as a technological tool but as a force that steadily weakens the linguistic and cultural heritage it is expected to serve.

The development came even as EPS continued his district-wise review meetings with party functionaries following the AIADMK's defeat in the Assembly election. On Monday, he held consultations with office-bearers from Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts, during which the election setback, measures to strengthen the party, and preparations for the upcoming local body elections and by-elections were discussed.

Reports claimed that a functionary from Madurai had demanded that EPS step down as AIADMK general secretary and that some others had supported the demand, leading to confusion during the meeting.

However, the AIADMK IT wing denied the reports through its official social media handle, stating that no such demand had been raised by any functionary during the meeting.

Even as SP Velumani and the MLAs aligned with him later reconciled with EPS, discontent within the party has continued. Shanmugam has remained openly critical of the leadership, fuelling speculation that he could leave the AIADMK and join TVK.

Recently, EPS removed Shanmugam as the Villupuram district secretary and appointed R Pasupathi in his place, leading to clashes between supporters of the two leaders.

Tensions escalated last week when supporters of Shanmugam allegedly clashed with party workers during a meeting convened by the new district secretary and damaged Pasupathi's vehicle. Following the incident, EPS removed several supporters of Shanmugam from organisational posts.

Against this backdrop, around 1,150 functionaries resigned from their district-level posts. They assembled at the memorials of former Chief Ministers J Jayalalithaa and MG Ramachandran (MGR), raised slogans against EPS and signed their resignation letters.

The resignation letters were submitted at the AIADMK headquarters by Balasundaram, deputy secretary of the Villupuram district Amma Peravai, and former MLA Arjunan.

Addressing reporters, they denied that Shanmugam had pressured them to resign.

"We are resigning because we are dissatisfied with the present leadership. This is only the first phase. In the coming days, thousands more will resign," they said.

The Division bench comprising Justice Jagadish Chandra and Poornima ordered the formation of the committee, including Senior Advocate Ajmal Khan, to facilitate the review of the death penalty.

A petition was filed on behalf of the police department in the High Court Madurai Bench regarding the execution of the court order that awarded the death sentence. The accused Dharma Muneeswaran had filed an appeal petition in the court.

When this petition came up for hearing before the division bench, the Judges referred to the apex court guidelines, and observed that in an appeal against the death penalty, there is a provision to appoint a lawyer to argue on behalf of the criminal. The Supreme Court has ordered that in such cases, a 3-member committee of lawyers led by a senior advocate must be appointed to assist the court.

Hence the Court ordered to form three members committee consisting of Senior Advocate Ajmal Khan and Advocates Thiruvadikumar and Jesimathul Fathima.

A Class 12 student who went missing near Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district was recovered dead from a forest area. During the investigation, it was revealed that she was sexually assaulted and murdered.

Based on the CCTV footage recorded at a windmill in that area, the police arrested Dharma Muneeswaran, who belongs to Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district.

The Thoothukudi District POCSO Court, which investigated this case, gave its verdict last May 25. In that, a double death sentence was awarded to Dharma Muneeswaran.

The Court adjourned the hearing of the case after passing this order.

The Mamallan Reservoir is being developed as the city's sixth major drinking water source at an estimated cost of Rs 342.60 crore.

Located in Chengalpattu district along the East Coast Road (ECR), the project spans the Kovalam-Nemmeli backwater basin. The proposed reservoir will cover 5,161 acres and is designed to store 1.65 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water.

Fishermen and environmental activists opposed the project, contending that converting the existing saltwater basin into a freshwater reservoir would cause irreversible damage to the coastal ecosystem.

Citing government-commissioned coastal inundation maps, they said large portions of the proposed reservoir site could be submerged by seawater during storm surges of 3.5 to 4.5 metres.

According to them, neither the WRD nor IIT Madras had adequately evaluated these risks while preparing the project's reports and technical assessments.

Addressing a press conference at the Chennai Press Club on Monday, R Narayanan, a fisherman from Kovalam, said local communities had long observed seawater inundation in the marshland during spring tides and the monsoon season. He argued that the embankments proposed under the project would not be sufficient to prevent seawater intrusion.

The Chennai Climate Action Group said the IIT Madras technical evaluation had focused primarily on freshwater inflows from the western catchment and treated the sea merely as a drainage outlet for excess water. During storm surge events, however, the discharge structures could allow seawater to enter the reservoir, it warned.

Dr Vishwaja Sampath of the Chennai Climate Action Group said the project risked turning the proposed freshwater reservoir into a "large saltwater lake" if seawater breached the bunds. She also questioned the validity of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance process if ocean and tidal dynamics had not been properly studied.

She further highlighted the ecological importance of the marshland, saying it supports more than 135 species, including migratory birds. Converting the wetland into a reservoir, she warned, could eliminate 4,375 acres of natural flood-buffering area, increasing flood risks for nearby settlements such as Kelambakkam, Tiruvidanthai and Mamallapuram.

Replying to a question raised by DMK member P Wilson, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said in a written reply that the State government has not made any request to relocate the proposed airport.

Providing an update on the project, Mohol said the Civil Aviation Ministry had granted in-principle approval to the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) on April 7, 2025, for the development of an international greenfield airport at Parandur.

"As per the in-principle application submitted by Tidco in September 2024, the estimated cost of Phase I of the project is approximately Rs 10,500 crore," he said.

The proposed second airport for Chennai is planned on 5,746 acres of land at Parandur, about 70 km from the city. Of the total land required, around 2,500 acres comprise private land, while the remaining land belongs to the government.

Ever since Parandur was announced as the site, the project was dogged by protests by residents of Ekanapuram and neighbouring villages, who opposed it over concerns about displacement and the loss of agricultural land.

During the Assembly election campaign, TVK president C Joseph Vijay visited the area on January 20, 2025, and extended support for the protesters. After being denied permission to visit the protest site, he met representatives of the agitation at a private location near Ekanapuram and assured them of his support.

Later, after Vijay came to power, the State government said it was exploring an alternative site for the proposed airport. However, according to the Union government's reply, it has not sent any formal proposal seeking a change in the approved location.

Conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the IITs on behalf of the National Coordination Board-GATE under the Ministry of Education, the exam will mark its 45th edition since its launch in 1983.

The online application process is expected to begin in the middle of August, while the exam will be conducted on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 in computer-based mode. Tests will be held during forenoon and afternoon on every exam day.

GATE 2027 would comprise 30 papers. A new paper on Robotics and Automation (RA) has been introduced, while the existing Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF) paper has been restructured as a sectional component under Engineering Sciences (XE). The syllabus has also been revised after 5 years to keep pace with advances in engineering, science and technology.

Candidates will be permitted to appear for one or two papers from the approved combinations. The exam will be conducted only in English. GATE scores will remain valid for 3 years from the day results are declared.

To enhance the security and integrity of the exam, the registration process will be integrated with DigiLocker and facial authentication. Candidates have been advised to complete the verification process in advance to facilitate seamless entry into exam centres.

A valid GATE score enables candidates to seek admission, with possible financial assistance, to master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral programmes in institutions supported by the Ministry of Education and other government agencies. The score is also accepted by several higher educational institutions for PG admissions, public sector undertakings and other organisations for recruitment.

The representatives of Makkal Iyakkam, a people coordination committee from Thanjavur, led by its Coordinator Mathivanan, met the General Manager Saravana Kumar and submitted a petition to him appealing to solve the short supply of milk.

They stated that the public has been affected for the past month. The milk sachets, which were sold in different variants, were not available at present, and the price of 250 ml milk sachets, which was sold at Rs 12, has been hiked now. The small families benefited from purchasing the small sachets, and most of the time, these milk sachets are not available in the market. So the people are forced to buy milk from private firms, which are comparatively costlier, they said.

They also suspected that the present state government was encouraging private players in milk supply. “If the short supply of milk continues, we would organise a series of protests by a large gathering of the public in front of all the Aavin offices,” they warned.

Releasing the party's shadow agricultural budget, Anbumani demanded a complete farm loan waiver, higher minimum support prices, and greater budgetary allocation for the agriculture sector. He urged the TVK government to allocate 25 per cent of its total budget to agriculture and implement a complete waiver of farm loans.

Anbumani demanded an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy to Rs 3,500 per quintal and Rs 5,000 per tonne for sugarcane. He further called for special legislation mandating compulsory procurement of agricultural produce to protect farmers from market fluctuations.

Addressing reporters after releasing the shadow budget, Anbumani alleged that both the DMK and AIADMK had failed to adequately develop agricultural infrastructure in the State.

Responding to reports that the State government is considering establishing a SIPCOT industrial park on land acquired for the proposed Parandur airport project, Anbumani said, "We agree that Chennai needs a second airport. However, the site selected for the project is not appropriate. If a SIPCOT park is established on the acquired land, it would be even more harmful to the environment than the airport itself," he said.

On speculation regarding a possible alliance between PMK and the ruling TVK, Anbumani dismissed the reports and clarified that his recent meeting with Water Resources Minister N Anand was solely related to public welfare issues.

"If I wanted to discuss an alliance with TVK, why would I do so at the Secretariat? My meeting with minister Anand was purely for the welfare of the State and had no political purpose, " he said.

Reiterating his demand for a complete farm loan waiver, Anbumani cited Maharashtra as an example and questioned why Tamil Nadu could not implement a similar measure. And criticising Chief Minister Vijay, he said, "Farmers are being saved only in Vijay's films, not in real life."

Sources said Saravanan (27), an electrician from Kumbakonam, was in love with a 17-year-old girl from the locality, but the girl refused the affair. Saravanan continued to follow her and insisted that she should marry him. He had also reportedly threatened her with dire consequences if she refused to marry him. 

Subsequently, the girl passed on the information to her parents, who lodged a complaint against him with the Kumbakonam All Women Police, who registered a case against Saravanan under various sections, including the Pocso Act, and arrested him on Monday.

Similarly, a 17-year-old boy who had befriended a 16-year-old girl from Kumbakonam through Instagram, and they later met in person frequently. The girl had recently sensed some difference in her appearance, and so her parents inquired about her and took her for a medical assessment, which confirmed that she was three months pregnant.

She later narrated about the affair with her parents, who lodged a complaint against the boy with the Kumbakonam All Women police, who registered a case against the boy and secured him. He was lodged in the government observation home.

The Division Bench comprising Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and Sakthivel has issued this direction while hearing the PIL filed by Chandrasekar of Thanjavur

According to the petitioner, more than 1,000 palm trees stand on river poramboke land in Adhanur village near Peravurani in Thanjavur district. He alleged that John Bosco, a resident of Adhanur, had encroached upon the land and illegally felled more than 50 palm trees without obtaining permission from the authorities. He sought directions to initiate appropriate action against the person responsible for the illegal felling of trees

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that despite lodging a complaint with the police, no action had been taken against the encroacher.

Recording the submission, the Bench directed the Inspector of Police, Peravurani, to file a status report on the action taken on the petitioner's complaint. The judges also cautioned that appropriate action would be taken if the direction was not complied with and adjourned the case to July 22.

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.

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.

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.

A case was registered against the MLA on charges of criminal intimidation, making statements to disturb public peace, and intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace, said the police.

Addressing the meeting on July 18, Markandayan referred to Chief Minister Vijay’s remarks about the DMK members staging a walk out from the Assembly. “Chief Minister Vijay said that they should lock the Assembly to prevent DMK members from staging a walkout. If the Chief Minister locks the Assembly, I will break his bones,” he said.

TVK Kovilpatti district secretary Balasubramanian filed a complaint at the Kovilpatti East police station on the same day, and later submitted another complaint to district SP Abhishek Gupta. Based on this, Vilathikulam DSP Sundarapandian, District Crime Branch DSP Kannan, and a team of personnel reached the MLA’s residence at Ambal Nagar in Vilathikulam on Monday morning to arrest him.

Markandayan, who had just returned from his morning walk, argued with the police, stating that they needed to obtain the Speaker’s permission before arresting him because he is a legislator. However, the police produced the documents authorising his arrest, and detained him in his house.

The news about the MLA’s arrest brought a large number of DMK cadres gathered outside his residence. When Markandayan tried to board his own car, the police stopped him and told him to go by a police vehicle. Angered by this, DMK workers staged a road blockade in front of the police vehicles, raising slogans against the government.

Senior DMK functionaries, including MLA Anitha R Radhakrishnan, rushed to the SP office and asked the police to allow them to meet Markandayan. When the police refused, they staged a protest on the main road near the Collectorate. Similar protests were held at various places in the town, resulting in a tense situation for a few hours.

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 police questioned Markandayan until evening and produced him before Judicial Magistrate IV, who remanded him in custody for 15 days.

The MLA’s arrest triggered furious reactions from the DMK, with its president MK Stalin wondering if it was rule of law or that of Satan that was prevailing in the State under the TVK government. He demanded that the police follow the law rather than yielding to political pressure, warning that unlawful actions would have consequences.

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.