An official release from DVAC on Tuesday said those convicted were Karunagara Sanjeev Doss, correspondent, and Alice Thabitha Vijay Kumari, Headmistress of Vitva Ratna Villa Government Aided Primary School. They were also fined Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000, respectively.

The scam was unearthed on August 27, 2012, following a joint surprise inspection by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Vellore detachment, alongside inspection cell officers.

Investigations revealed that while the school's actual student strength was significantly lower, official registries were manipulated to reflect an inflated strength of 259 pupils.

By padding the rolls with 187 non-existent students, the duo illegally secured sanction for six excess teaching posts.

They wrongfully drew government benefits, including Rs 4,67,121 toward salaries for the unneeded staff and Rs 2,762 meant for noon meal allocations, causing a total financial loss of over Rs 4.69 lakh to the state exchequer.

Following a detailed investigation, the DVAC filed a chargesheet before the court in Ranipet.

Delivering the verdict on July 27, 2026, the court held both accused guilty of criminal misconduct and misappropriation of public funds, sentencing them to four years of hard labour to reinforce strict accountability in state-aided educational institutions.

Police said the accident occurred when the driver of the motorcycle travelling on the overpass lost control of the vehicle and crashed it head-on into an oncoming luxury bus. The impact forced the bus driver to apply brakes abruptly, which then triggered a pile-up as a car and a tempo van coming from behind rammed into the vehicles in front, resulting in a multi-vehicle collision.

Two persons were grievously injured and died on the spot. The deceased were identified as Boopathy, a resident of Narasingapuram in Villupuram district, who was riding the motorcycle, and John Anbazhagan (55) of Mudichur in Chennai, who was travelling in the car.

On receiving information, Villupuram police, along with local residents, rushed to the accident site and launched rescue operations. Those trapped inside the damaged vehicles were pulled out safely.

Meanwhile, three injured passengers, identified as Lazar, Solomon, and car driver Balaji, were admitted to the Villupuram Government General Hospital for treatment. Their condition is said to be critical.

The accident caused traffic disruption on the railway overpass for some time before the damaged vehicles were removed and traffic restored.

Villupuram police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.

With 15.21 lakh passengers travelling on the premium trains during the two-month period, it marked a significant increase over the corresponding period last year.

The revenue is higher than the Rs 119.52 crore earned from 11.41 lakh passengers during April and May of the 2025-26 financial year, marking an increase of Rs 43.44 crore.

Network operation across cities

Vande Bharat trains are being operated to connect major cities across India. Southern Railway, which comprises the Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai, Salem, Palakkad and Tiruvananthapuram divisions, introduced its first Vande Bharat service between Chennai and Mysuru in 2022.

At present, Southern Railway operates Vande Bharat trains on routes including Chennai Central-Mysuru, Chennai Egmore-Tirunelveli, Chennai Central-Vijayawada, Coimbatore-Bengaluru, Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil, Madurai-Bengaluru and Mangaluru-Tiruvananthapuram.

In a circular issued to the managing directors of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) and all Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations, Transport Department Secretary L Nirmal Raj directed them to immediately implement passenger etiquette guidelines and create awareness among commuters.

Recently, CMRL decided to crack down on on-board noise with stricter penalties. In a social media post, it announced that passengers travelling on the Chennai Metro or waiting at stations could face a fine of up to Rs 2,500 for playing music or videos without headphones, using speaker mode or creating disturbances.

The circular said drivers should ensure that loud music is not played inside buses, as mandated under Rule 5(10) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017. It also cited Rule 228 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, under which any act causing inconvenience or disturbance to fellow passengers is considered misconduct.

Passengers have been advised not to speak loudly on mobile phones throughout the journey, use speaker mode during calls, or play videos and songs without earphones or headphones. The circular said passengers should use wired or Bluetooth earphones or headphones so that their mobile phone use does not disturb others.

The government has also instructed transport corporations to paste awareness stickers measuring 24 cm x 16 cm inside all buses at the front entrance, centre and rear entrance. The stickers will carry messages such as "No Speaker Mode. Please Use Earphones/Headphones", "Respect Other Passengers" and "Quiet Travel, Safe Travel". They will also promote the TNSTC mobile application for ticket bookings.

The circular further directed drivers, conductors and supervisory staff to sensitise passengers about the guidelines during their shifts and ensure they are implemented across all State-run buses.

According to the reply by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary, 13,092 schools have so far been selected under the centrally sponsored PM SHRI scheme, against the target of over 14,500 schools nationwide.

Taking to his X account, the minister's response stated that 6,102 Sanskrit teachers, 1,994 Urdu teachers and 9,152 teachers for regional languages have been appointed in these schools.

Venkatesan alleged that the PM SHRI data shows 6,102 Sanskrit teachers for a language spoken by around 24,000 people, while Tamil, spoken by nearly 70 million people, has only 12 teachers appointed in Tamil Nadu's PM SHRI schools.

Questions over language policy

Referring to the State-wise data, Venkatesan pointed out that Tamil Nadu has 36 PM SHRI schools, with 41 Sanskrit teachers and only 12 regional language teachers appointed. He alleged that Sanskrit, spoken by a small number of people, had received disproportionate representation compared to Tamil and other State languages.

The Madurai MP further claimed that BJP-ruled States such as Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Odisha had appointed Sanskrit teachers in all PM SHRI schools. In Madhya Pradesh, he noted, 1,211 Sanskrit teachers had been appointed for 944 PM SHRI schools.

Venkatesan alleged that the figures expose the Union government's claim that the three-language policy under the National Education Policy is aimed at promoting Indian and regional languages. He contended that the data instead reflects a preference for Sanskrit and described the Centre's promotion of State languages under the scheme as "a sham."

The Union government has not issued any response to Venkatesan's allegations beyond the written reply tabled in Parliament.

In his letter, the Chief Minister objected to the statement made by the Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti that the Supreme Court's February 16, 2018 judgment did not expressly require Karnataka to obtain the consent of lower riparian States before constructing a structure across the Cauvery. Vijay said the reply failed to reflect the prevailing legal position and established principles governing the rights of downstream States.

Citing the Constitution Bench judgment in the Alamatti case between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister said the Supreme Court had held that the consent of lower riparian States is essential before undertaking projects on inter-State rivers that could affect downstream interests.

He also referred to the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award and the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment upholding it, arguing that any project capable of altering the regulated flow of the Cauvery must be examined for its consistency with the Tribunal's directions.

Vijay pointed out that the Tribunal had earlier insisted on coordinated water releases even for Kerala's Pambar Hydro-electric Project, underscoring the importance attached to safeguarding the interests of downstream States.

He further noted that the CWDT Award prohibits upper riparian States from affecting scheduled water releases without mutual agreement and consultation with the regulatory authority.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu project, submitted by Karnataka in 2019, had been returned by the Central Water Commission for revision to ensure compliance with the CWDT Award and applicable guidelines, indicating that such compliance remains mandatory.

Urging the Prime Minister to protect Tamil Nadu's rights over the Cauvery, Vijay requested that no statutory or administrative approval be granted to the Mekedatu project unless it is demonstrably consistent with the CWDT Award and the Supreme Court's judgment.

He also sought to ensure the rights of lower riparian States with regard to both water allocation and regulated releases, and called for any future consideration of the project to be preceded by a comprehensive technical and legal examination involving all downstream States.

Describing the Cauvery as the lifeline of millions of farmers and citizens across southern India, Vijay said preserving the integrity of the Tribunal Award and the Supreme Court's judgment was essential for justice, cooperative federalism and faithful implementation of judicial decisions.

The accused, identified as, Thenmaria Suganthi (44), teaches Class 11 students at the higher secondary government school in VK Puthur area near Surandai in the district. On Monday evening, while she was conducting a special class, Class 10 students in another classroom nearby were allegedly talking loudly. In a fit of rage, Thenmaria went to their classroom and beat them with a cane, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Students' hands swollen after beating from teacher's cane

Some of the students, identified as Pavithra, Sujithra, Saranya, Saisree, Asha, and Chandana Muthumari, suffered injuries after the beating. Pictures showed some of their bandaged hands, indicating serious injuries.

Upon hearing of the incident, their parents rushed them to hospitals for treatment. Pavithra and Sujithra were initially receiving treatment at VK Puthur Government Hospital. Pavithra was later shifted to the Tenkasi Government Hospital for further treatment, while Saranya, Saisree, Asha and Chandana Muthumari are being treated at a private hospital.

The children are resting and unable to attend school because their hands are still swollen, according to their parents.

Case filed against teacher who beat students with cane

Pavithra’s mother Rajathi later filed a police complaint at VK Puthur police station. Based on it, the police registered a case against Thenmaria under Section 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, as well as sections related to child protection.

Rajathi also visited the district Collector's office and filed a complaint against the teacher, demanding appropriate action against her. "We want justice as my daughter Pavithra is unable to write the mid-term exams due to her injury."

She also alleged that no action has been taken against the teacher despite the police complaint.

In a statement, Vaiko referred to the reply given by Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, which stated that the Supreme Court's February 16, 2018 judgment on the Cauvery dispute does not mandate Karnataka to obtain the consent of Tamil Nadu, Kerala or Puducherry before constructing any structure across the river.

The Union Minister had also stated that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award permits each basin State to regulate the use of water within its territorial limits, utilise it for drinking water and other requirements, and implement projects, subject to the tribunal's directions.

Describing the reply as a "signal" to facilitate the Mekedatu project, Vaiko contended that the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict had unequivocally upheld the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

Quoting Clause XVIII of the tribunal's directions, which was reproduced and endorsed by the apex court, Vaiko said the order empowers every State to regulate and utilise water within its boundaries only in a manner that is not inconsistent with the tribunal's award.

He also cited the tribunal's direction that the upper riparian State "shall not take any action so as to affect the scheduled deliveries of water to the lower riparian States", arguing that Karnataka cannot undertake any project, including the proposed Mekedatu dam, that would impede the flow of Cauvery water allocated to Tamil Nadu.

According to Vaiko, the central principle of both the tribunal's award and the Supreme Court's judgment is that Karnataka's actions should not affect the water-sharing arrangement or the scheduled releases due to Tamil Nadu.

Alleging that the BJP-led Union government was attempting to dilute the tribunal's award and the Supreme Court's judgment to enable the Mekedatu project, Vaiko condemned what he termed a "deceptive attempt" to grant approval for the dam.

He urged the Tamil Nadu government to remain vigilant and asserted that there should be no direct negotiations with Karnataka on the Mekedatu project.

He also called upon the State government to safeguard Tamil Nadu's rights as the lower riparian State and prevent any attempt, with the support of the Union government, to deprive it of its legitimate share of Cauvery waters.

The scheme mandates that school students must be served one item from a list of 13 approved breakfast dishes every day, as reported by Daily Thanthi.

The free breakfast scheme is currently implemented for students of Classes 1 to 6 studying in government and government-aided schools across the state.

What are the tender conditions for free breakfast scheme?

The tender conditions are as follows:

• Students should be served one of the 13 approved breakfast items, such as rava upma with sambar.

• The meal should weigh between 150 and 200 grams and provide 294 kilocalories.

• The government has directed that hot food, transported in insulated hot boxes, be delivered to schools by 7.30 am.

• The quality of the food will be monitored by Food Safety Department officials and through third-party inspections.

• Each month, the contractor would be paid only after receiving the headmaster's certificate.

Free breakfast menu and expenditure details

Under the scheme, students are served upma, khichdi, or pongal on weekdays, while rava kesari or semiya kesari is served on Fridays. Locally available millets are featured on the menu at least twice a week.

The government spends over Rs 12.71 per child per breakfast.

Free breakfast scheme expansion plans

After pioneering the initiative to provide free meal to ensure that children were sent to school by parents, which later became a model for the country and the world, late chief minister K Kamaraj finally got due credit after the TVK government last week decided to name the free breakfast scheme after the Congress leader.

The government also announced that the expansion of the scheme to include students of Classes 7 and 8 will be launched on September 17. Incidentally, the government order was dated July 15, Kamaraj’s birth anniversary, and the expansion will be launched on September 17, the birth anniversary of Dravidian icon Periyar EV Ramasamy.

This is also considered to be a deft political move by the alliance leader TVK, as the move would endear itself with the Congress, a key constituent in the ruling coalition.

The expansion of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme will benefit 15,14,274 students studying in 15,454 government schools across the State. The government has allocated Rs 217.63 crore for the expansion, as per the government order.

(With inputs from Bureau)

Manonmaniam students protest change in degree distribution

The university had earlier announced that Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the chief guest, would personally confer degrees on 871 candidates during the convocation where a total of 37,877 students were scheduled to receive their degree certificates.

However, it was later announced that only 113 gold medallists would receive degrees directly from the Governor, which led to protests by the students, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Minister, MLAs boycott Manonmaniam convocation ceremony

According to the schedule of the convocation ceremony, which began around 45 minutes late, the Vande Mataram (national song) was played first, while the State anthem, the Tamil Thai Vazhthu, was rendered third.

Condemning the university administration's decision to place Tamil Thai Vazhthu in third, Higher Education Minister Viswanathan boycotted the ceremony. Along with him, Tirunelveli TVK MLA Murugan and Kadayanallur MLA Rajendran also announced that they would boycott the convocation in protest against the songs' sequence.

State song first, then National Song in govt events: MHA

Earlier this month, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had clarified that whenever a State Song is played along with the National Song and National Anthem, the sequence must be State Song first, followed by the National Song (Vande Mataram) and National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana), in that order. In a July 9 directive, the MHA instructed states and the UTs to strictly adhere to this sequence.

Amidst a severe shortage of water afflicting the state, especially the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, marring the prospects of raising the short-term Kuruvai paddy crop, and with the customary opening of the Mettur dam on June 12 getting postponed due to inadequate water storage level, the famers have demanded the state government to explore legal options against Karnataka rather than hold diplomatic talks.

Farmer representatives who attended a consultative meeting with state Agriculture Minister R Vinoth here on Monday have sought the cancellation of talks between the two states. The representatives of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers' Association argued that direct negotiations would bypass the established legal protocol and contradict the Supreme Court verdict.

The opposition DMK, which has registered a strong protest to the diplomatic talks, has demanded the state government to strive for establishing a dedicated tribunal to resolve the Cauvery water dispute, and obtain the state's rightful share of the Cauvery water.

In its landmark 2018 judgment, the Supreme Court constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee as the statutory mechanisms to regulate and implement water-sharing between the two states.

Between June 1 and July 22, 2026, Tamil Nadu received only 3.5 TMC ft of water against the 31 TMC ft it was entitled to under the Supreme Court-mandated schedule.

The CM's proposed visit also comes in the wake of the Centre on Monday stating that Karnataka does not require Tamil Nadu's consent or that of other riparian states to construct the Mekedatu balancing reservoir.

Responding to a question from PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss in the Parliament, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary told the Rajya Sabha that the 2018 Supreme Court judgment contained no clause requiring Karnataka to obtain clearance from the lower riparian states before constructing structures across the Cauvery river.

"As per the Supreme Court judgment dated February 16, 2018, regarding the Cauvery water dispute, there is no mention that State of Karnataka has to obtain the consent of the other riparian States namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala and UT of Puducherry to construct any kind of structure across river Cauvery.

Hon'ble Supreme Court in its Order has found the Clause XVIII of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) Award of 2007 appropriate and reiterated in its Order that nothing in the order of this Tribunal shall impair the right or power or authority of any State to regulate within its boundaries the use of water or to enjoy the benefit of waters within that State in a manner not inconsistent with the order of this Tribunal" he had said.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-drinking water project that Karnataka submitted in 2019 has been returned to the project authority with the request to submit the revised DPR in compliance with the CWDT Award and as per the extant CWC guidelines, he added.

The samples, analysed at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, confirmed the presence of the RF.5 variant, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Dr A Somasundaram said.

“All the 20 samples tested at NIV, Pune, have turned out to be RF.5. It is not a virulent virus, so people do not have to panic,” he said, while urging the public to continue following basic preventive measures.

Tamil Nadu currently has 15 active Covid-19 cases. The State has recorded 335 infections so far in 2026. Health authorities said the cases were detected through routine surveillance and that the overwhelming majority of patients had only mild symptoms.

According to the health department, genome sequencing findings from NIV indicate that the strain now in circulation causes mild illness and is spreading at relatively low levels within communities.

Somasundaram said the State continues to maintain surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, while Covid-19 testing is presently limited to high-risk individuals, pre-operative patients and those with refractory acute respiratory illness.

He advised people experiencing fever, cough, sore throat or breathing difficulty to visit the nearest government hospital without delay. “People should wash their hands regularly and wear a mask in crowded places if they are unwell,” he said.

The department has also advised senior citizens, pregnant women and those with kidney disease, cancer or weakened immunity to avoid large gatherings. The RF.5 sub-lineage has also been reported from Andhra Pradesh, Singapore and several parts of Southeast Asia, but health authorities maintain there is no evidence of increased severity associated with the variant.

The report will detail the irregularities and expose a former minister who now represents this Harbour Assembly constituency, he said in a veiled reference to DMK leader PK Sekar Babu.

“The former minister who currently represents this constituency now is feigning ignorance about the party funds collected during the DMK rule. He has asked, ‘What is party fund?’ I am constrained to react as I am addressing my first event in Harbour constituency. We are preparing an audit report on corruption made under the pretext of raising party funds during the previous DMK rule. It will be presented in the upcoming Budget session,” Wilson said.

In a veiled reference to former DMK Minister PK Sekar Babu, he said, “It will contain a list of corruption made. Then, this former minister will be exposed,” the Finance Minister said while speaking at an event in the Harbour constituency late on Sunday.

On NEET, the minister asserted that just like Tamil Nadu, there will be a change in power at the Centre in the 2029 polls, leading to the abolition of the medical entrance test by the new regime, hinting at an end to the BJP rule and ally Rahul Gandhi coming to power.

The disclosure came in a written reply by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary to a set of questions raised by VCK Villupuram MP D Ravikumar, who sought details on farm loan waivers, the debt burden on farmers and the Centre's plans to provide relief to small and marginal cultivators.

Reacting to the reply, Ravikumar, on a social media post, accused the Union government of adopting a double standard on debt relief. He alleged that while corporate loans worth more than Rs 12 lakh crore had been written off, the Centre had refused to extend similar relief to farmers despite Tamil Nadu recording the highest outstanding agricultural debt in the country.

Ravikumar had asked whether the Centre had considered farmers' demand for waiving loans availed from nationalised banks in view of the agrarian crisis and mounting indebtedness. He also pointed out that while several state governments, including Tamil Nadu, had waived cooperative crop loans, no similar relief had been extended to crop loans taken from public sector banks.

In its reply, the Centre said the Reserve Bank of India had already put in place a framework for restructuring stressed loans through the Master Directions on Resolution of Stressed Assets, 2025, issued on November 28, 2025, and updated on July 1, 2026. The framework allows banks to restructure eligible loans in accordance with board-approved policies.

The government further said the Tamil Nadu State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) had reported that no crop loan waiver had been granted for loans outstanding with public sector banks in the State during the last three financial years.

State-wise data furnished by the finance ministry, based on information reported by banks on NABARD's ENSURE portal, showed that Tamil Nadu topped the country with outstanding agricultural loans of Rs 3,44,996.64 crore as of March 31, 2026.

The Centre also ruled out any immediate relief, stating that there was no proposal under consideration for a one-time waiver of loans availed by small and marginal farmers.

He made the remarks during his visit to Tirunelveli to meet jailed DMK MLA GV Markandayan, arrested for making a threatening and defamatory speech against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

"In Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, even members of the TVK have lodged complaints against their own party functionaries. However, no action has been taken on those complaints. Instead, they are spending all 24 hours trying to poach DMK and AIADMK MLAs by offering sofas. You yourselves know whom I am referring to," Udhayanidhi told reporters, alleging that the TVK government was targeting DMK functionaries.

Referring to Markandayan's arrest, Udhayanidhi said, "Our MLA Markandeyan has been in prison for the past eight days. He was arrested for allegedly speaking against the government. The TVK government has taken such action only to intimidate him. Our party president asked me to visit him and inquire about his well-being. Accordingly, I, along with former ministers Geetha Jeevan and Anitha R Radhakrishnan, met him in prison." “Markandyan is in good spirits" he added.

Ramadoss's daughter Srikanti is said to be making the moves to secure a political future for her son Mukundan Parasuraman. Both of them met Rangasamy at his residence on Saturday

During the meeting, they reportedly urged Rangasamy to expand the All India NR Congress into Tamil Nadu and requested that Mukundan be appointed as the party's Tamil Nadu state president if such an expansion takes place.

Sources said Rangasamy responded that he would discuss the proposal with senior leaders of the NR Congress before taking a decision.

Party sources also claimed that former PMK MLA R Arul, party founder Ramadoss' loyalist, met Rangasamy separately and made a similar request. According to the sources, Rangasamy is also considering Arul's name for the proposed Tamil Nadu unit's president post.

Sources further indicated that Rangasamy is expected to announce whether the NR Congress will be expanded into Tamil Nadu, and who will lead the proposed state unit, on August 4, coinciding with his birthday.

It is said, Mahamuni (31), a lorry driver from Palaviduthi near Kadavur in Karur, had joined a chit from 2024 for an amount of Rs 2 lakh. 

As Mahamuni had undergone treatment for his ailment, he lost his job, and so he could not pay the EMI properly for the past few months. 

Subsequently, the chit firm owner, Loganathan and his supporters went to his house and used abusive words and threatened him. They also had taken away his two-wheeler.

The frustrated Mahamuni attempted to commit suicide by self-immolation on the night of July 20. He was admitted to Karur Medical College Hospital with severe burn injuries. However, he succumbed to his burns despite treatment.

On Monday, Ponnarasi (29), wife of Mahamuni, along with her two children, approached the Karur Collector and submitted a petition demanding that action be taken against the chit firm owner Loganathan who had instigated the suicide of Mahamuni.

She also mentioned in the petition that the police had not initiated any action against her complaint. She also appealed to the Collector for compensation.

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Replying to an unstarred question raised by PMK Rajya Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said, "As per a 2018 Supreme Court judgment on the Cauvery water dispute, there is no mention that Karnataka has to obtain the consent of the other riparian States namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the UT of Puducherry to construct any kind of structure across river Cauvery."

The clarification comes amid Tamil Nadu's continued opposition to the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, with the state maintaining that Karnataka cannot proceed with the project without the concurrence of the lower riparian states and arguing it would adversely affect its share of Cauvery waters.

Choudhary further said the Supreme Court, in its February 16, 2018 order, had found Clause XVIII of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award, 2007, appropriate and reiterated: "Nothing in the order of this tribunal shall impair the right or power or authority of any State to regulate within its boundaries the use of water or to enjoy the benefit of waters within that State in a manner not inconsistent with the order of this tribunal."

Reacting to the Centre's stand, TNCC president B Manickam Tagore termed the Union minister's written reply "highly dangerous" and "completely unacceptable". He alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government had consistently acted against the interests of Tamil Nadu and its farmers and said the reply had once again exposed the BJP's anti-Tamil Nadu and anti-people stance.

Tagore said the Congress would strongly oppose the Centre's position both inside Parliament and among the public to safeguard Tamil Nadu's rights over the Cauvery waters and protect the interests of the state's farmers.

The Kumbakonam Court Bar Association held a meeting chaired by president Sankar and secretary Karnan. The meeting had a vast debate on the case levelled against the member advocate Suresh Kumar by DSP with fabricated charges. The meeting also condemned the police for threatening the family of Suresh Kumar and resolved to hold a protest.

As per the decision, the members boycotted the court on Monday and later staged a road block protest at Kacheri road near the court. On information, the Kumbakonam police rushed to the spot and held talks with the protesting advocates. Upon assurance by the police, they withdrew the protest

In a statement, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said the Union government had rejected the projects on the grounds that the two cities did not meet the minimum population criterion prescribed under the 2017 Metro Rail policy.

According to the policy, a city should have a minimum population of 20 lakh to qualify for a Metro Rail project. Veerapandian said Coimbatore, with an estimated population of about 15.8 lakh, and Madurai, with around 15 lakh, had been denied approval on this basis.

However, he pointed out that north Indian cities such as Agra, Bhopal and Patna, which had populations comparable to Madurai and Coimbatore based on the 2011 Census, had received approval for Metro Rail projects.

Calling the decision discriminatory, Veerapandian said denying approval to Metro projects in two of Tamil Nadu's major cities reflected the Union government's biased approach towards the State.

He urged the BJP-led Union government to abandon what he described as its anti-Tamil Nadu stance and immediately grant approval for the Metro Rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai.

According to a Government Order (GO) issued by the Finance Department, the committee has been tasked with advising the government on measures to augment the State's own tax and non-tax revenues, besides suggesting policy and administrative reforms to improve revenue buoyancy, efficiency and fiscal self-reliance.

The committee comprises KP Krishnan, chair professor of economics at the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER); Arbind Modi, tax policy expert; Najib Shah, retired Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer; MA Siddique, additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department; and M Suresh Babu, director of the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), as members. Raja Gopal Sunkara, joint secretary to the Finance Department, will serve as the committee's convener.

The committee will also identify new and underutilised sources of revenue and examine avenues to enhance non-tax income, including dividends from Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), land and asset monetisation, and other potential revenue streams.

The panel is expected to recommend strategies to strengthen the State's fiscal position by improving tax administration, widening the revenue base and enhancing resource mobilisation while ensuring sustainable public finances.

The members of Desiya Thennindhiya Nadhigal Inaippu Sangam, led by the state president Ayyakannu, had planned to hold a protest in Chennai on Monday for various demands, including crop loan waiver, profitable price for agriculture products, prevention of Mekedatu dam construction and release of due water share from Karnataka for irrigation.

Around 100 members, headed by Ayyakannu, were scheduled to travel by train on Sunday night. However, the information about his travel was known by the police, and soon, a team of police from Fort Police Station went to his house near Karur bypass and kept him and the other members under house arrest.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Ayyakannu sought a special permission from the police headquarters and travelled to Chennai by around 11 am, reached the City and staged a protest in front of the Secretariat. Ayyakannu said that the farmers were listened to by the government. He said that he sought permission to meet the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, which was denied.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Kumaradevan of Chennai, seeking to quash a case registered against him by the Pulianthope police. According to the prosecution, Kumaradevan, a Dravidar Kazhagam member, addressed a National League Party public meeting on December 19, 2016, where he called for opposing “Hindu terrorism” and eliminating acts that divide people.

Following the speech, the police registered a case against him under Sections 153, 153A (1) (a) - (b), 504, 505 (1) (b) (c), and 505 (2) of the IPC, read with Sections 2 (o) and 13 (1) (b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy observed that the speech ended with an appeal for people to remain united and could not be construed as an attempt to divide people on communal lines. The judge held that saying Hindu terrorism alone would not attract offences under Sections 153, 153A (inciting riot) or the other provisions invoked, as the words were not followed by any act on Kumaradevan’s part.

Noting that the allegations were based solely on the speech, that the case has been pending since 2017, and that continuing the proceedings would serve no useful purpose, the court held that compelling the petitioner to face trial would be oppressive, and quashed the case.

After meeting the Speaker in his chamber, AIADMK MLA and party whip Agri SS Krishnamurthy told reporters that the party had already submitted three representations last month, urging the Speaker to take action against the four MLAs who resigned from the AIADMK.

"The Speaker has not taken any action on our representations. We met him again on Monday seeking the clarifications we require," Krishnamoorthy said.

He said the resigned MLAs had submitted their replies to the Speaker in response to the AIADMK's representations. However, copies of those replies have not yet been shared with the party. "We have once again requested the Speaker to provide us with copies of the replies submitted by the resigned MLAs," Krishnamurthy said.

It may be noted that the Assembly Speaker Prabhakar has ordered a fresh inquiry into the resignation of four AIADMK legislators, summoning AIADMK Floor Leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and the former MLAs concerned to appear for separate hearings on July 30 before a final decision is taken on the validity of their resignations.

The order issued by Director of Geology and Mining T Prabhushankar on Monday applies to rough stone, khandas, boulders, crushed stone, M-Sand, metal jelly, ballast, mill stones, hand chakais, and building and road construction stones transported to other states.

Justifying the ban, the government said large quantities of rough stone and aggregates being transported to neighbouring states was affecting availability within Tamil Nadu. It cited rapid infrastructure development and urbanisation, coupled with limited economically exploitable rough stone deposits concentrated in a few districts, including Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Theni, Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Krishnagiri. It also noted that significant mineral-bearing areas in these districts fall within the eco-sensitive zones of the Western Ghats.

According to the order, the current production from operational quarries is insufficient to meet the State's growing demand for construction materials required for infrastructure, housing, and industrial projects. It said large-scale exports to neighbouring states had widened the supply-demand gap, inflated construction material prices, and affected public and private infrastructure projects.

The shortage of construction materials had fuelled illegal quarrying, storage and transportation, resulting in excessive mining beyond permitted limits and posing a threat to the environment, it said.

Collectors and SPs in border districts have been directed to maintain strict vigil, coordinate with enforcement agencies and create awareness among the public to ensure compliance with the ban. Officials of departments regulating mineral transportation have also been instructed to take stringent enforcement measures against violations.

Geology and Mining Director Prabhushankar issued the order by exercising the powers delegated under the newly inserted Rule 3(A) of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage of Minerals and Minerals Dealers Rules, 2011. The order of the Natural Resources Department to empowering the director to regulate inter-State transport of rough stone and its derivatives, including by imposing a temporary ban.

In response to a query under RTI, the State-run corporation also asked the applicant to approach its 38 district offices for details on the liquor shops that were closed.

The response came to an RTI application filed by a Coimbatore-based petitioner, Yuvaraj Ramalingam, who sought records relating to the government's decision that came into effect following an order passed in May 2026.

In its reply, Tasmac said all 717 identified shops had been closed. However, it refused to furnish the information on the district-wise list of the shops, along with shop numbers, addresses, and reasons and dates of closure, and instead gave him the addresses of all district offices and told him to approach the respective district managers.

The same response was given when he sought the date on which each of the 717 shops was closed, details of shops that had been relocated, shifted, or reopened elsewhere, and the district-wise list of new Tasmac retail outlets opened after May 12.

"The head office asked me to approach all 38 district managers separately. Why should a citizen be made to run from one district office to another for information? Is the administration so inefficient that even the head office does not have this data, or is the information being withheld," he questioned.

He added that shop numbers alone were of little use as there was no publicly accessible database through which citizens could identify a shop's location.

"Without the addresses, the public cannot independently verify whether the identified shops were actually closed or whether alternative outlets have been opened nearby.

The minister had put out shop numbers. What's stopping the HQ to give addresses? If the government has nothing to hide, why not disclose the complete list," he asked.

He had also sought copies of the district-wise compliance reports submitted by Tasmac district managers regarding the closure. While rejecting the request, it cited the administrative burden involved in furnishing them instead of making clear if the compliance reports were unavailable or did not exist.

The corporation invoked Section 7 (9) of the RTI Act to decline to provide the records, stating that furnishing the information would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority and affect its day-to-day functioning.

The minister, who was delayed by traffic and travelled on a scooter to reach the venue, flagged off the desilting works on the Cooum near Padikuppam and inspected the site. He later inaugurated restoration works at Okkiyam Maduvu and reviewed the work.

The 72-km Cooum originates from Cooum lake in Tiruvallur district, receives water from the old Bangaru canal at the Kesavaram anicut and empties into the Bay of Bengal near Napier Bridge. Within Greater Chennai Corporation, the river flows for about 21 km through Tiruverkadu, Koyambedu, Aminjikarai, Choolaimedu, Chetpet, Egmore, and Chintadripet.

According to the Water Resources Department (WRD) officials, the river stretch within the city has been heavily infested with water hyacinth, floating vegetation, and debris, reducing its carrying capacity. In association with a voluntary organisation, the WRD will undertake desilting and cleaning from Padikuppam downstream to Napier Bridge, including the Cooum's northern branch.

The exercise is expected to improve the free flow of floodwater through Aminjikarai, Choolaimedu, Chetpet, Egmore, and Chintadripet during the monsoon and help mitigate urban flooding.

The minister also launched restoration works at Okkiyam Maduvu, a 2.65-km channel adjoining the Pallikaranai marshland. The channel carries floodwater from the marsh to the Buckingham Canal before it drains into the sea. It also receives surplus water from 62 upstream lakes and has a flood-carrying capacity of 12,000 cusecs.

WRD officials said the unchecked growth of water hyacinth had reduced the channel's carrying capacity. In the first phase, the entire 2,650-metre stretch will be desilted to improve water flow and reduce flood risk in south Chennai neighbourhoods around the Pallikaranai marshland.

Describing the initiative as part of the State's pre-monsoon flood preparedness, Anand directed officials to complete the works before the onset of the northeast monsoon.

Water Resources Department Principal Secretary Satyabrata Sahoo, Chennai Collector S Malathi Helen, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran, Government Chief Whip and Virugambakkam MLA R Sabarinathan, other legislators, officials, and representatives of voluntary organisations attended the event.

Data from the Directorate of Collegiate Education (DCE) shows that the 181 government arts and science colleges across the State have UG intake of over 1.28 lakh seats, including 1,708 newly added seats over the sanctioned strength of 1,26,959.

So far, only 89,933 students have secured admission, taking the overall intake to 69.9%. This leaves around 38,700 seats vacant, accounting for almost one-third of the available undergraduate seats.

Women continued to dominate enrolment in arts colleges. Of those admitted, 53,096 are women, 36,812 are men and 25 are trans persons.

A senior official from the higher education department said that the decline in admissions was primarily due to a fall in the number of applicants compared with previous years.

The trend is reflected in PG admissions as well. Against a sanctioned intake of 24,334 seats in 110 arts and science colleges, only 23,896 candidates have registered so far. Of them, just 16,905 have paid the application fee, indicating that a sizeable number of applicants are yet to confirm their applications.

Officials attributed the decline in registrations to changing student preferences, with more candidates opting for engineering and other specialised professional courses instead of conventional arts and science programmes.

Admissions are continuing in colleges where seats remain vacant and officials expect the intake to improve in the coming days. However, they admitted that a significant number of UG seats are likely to remain unfilled even after the process concludes.

He claimed that repeated queries under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on the closure had failed to establish the claim. "The addresses of the outlets said to have been closed have not been disclosed.

RTI replies also do not clarify whether the shops were permanently shut or merely relocated," he said. He alleged that applicants were repeatedly asked to approach individual district Tasmac managers instead of being provided a consolidated response.

"If the information is available at the district level, why is the government reluctant to compile and publish it? It should issue a white paper detailing the outlets closed, their locations and the rehabilitation of employees who worked there," he said. The BJP leader also questioned whether the closures had actually taken place or were announced only to create a favourable public perception after the government took office.

In a separate statement, Nainar Nagenthran criticised Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan's remarks on the delay in implementing the promised Rs 2,500 monthly women's entitlement scheme, calling them irresponsible.

"The government cannot cite the State's financial condition as an excuse to defer an election promise. It sought votes after making a clear commitment to women," he said. Urging Chief Minister Vijay to honour the assurance, Nainar said the government should implement the Rs 2,500 monthly assistance scheme without further delay instead of offering what he described as justifications and excuses.

The order came on a protest petition filed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) challenging the closure report that the DVAC had filed after Vaithilingam crossed over from the AIADMK to the then ruling DMK ruling DMK in January 2026.

When the central agency’s protest petition against the closure of a bribery case involving Vaithilingam came up for hearing, Principal Sessions Judge S Karthikeyan granted permission to DVAC to conduct further investigation, which should be completed in three months and a final report should be filed.

The ED challenged the closure report earlier filed by the DVAC in a case alleging that Vaithilingam, in his capacity as ex-officio chairman of the CMDA, received a bribe of Rs 27.90 crore from Shriram Properties and Infrastructure for granting planning permission for 1,453 additional dwelling units at a project in Perungalathur. The complaint was originally lodged by Arappor Iyakkam in 2022.

Based on the corruption case, the ED registered a money laundering case and subsequently filed a prosecution complaint before the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). But after Vaithilingam joined the DMK in January this year, the DVAC filed a closure report citing lack of sufficient evidence.

The ED contended that the closure report overlooked crucial evidence and a documented money trail, and sought further investigation. Following the change of government in Tamil Nadu, the DVAC sought permission to withdraw the closure report and reopen the investigation, which the court has now allowed.

In the alleged land-grab case, Vijayabhaskar is accused of usurping 22 acres of land belonging to Vangal resident Prakash by creating fake documents in 2024 and later threatening him with dire consequences. Vijayabhaskar, along with former Karur town police Inspector Prithviraj, had appeared before the court on July 20 and received a copy of the chargesheet. The court had directed him to appear again on July 27.

When the case came up before Judicial Magistrate Bharathkumar on Monday, the magistrate asked Vijayabhaskar whether he was personally involved in the offence. Vijayabhaskar told the court that the case was politically motivated and said he was prepared to prove his innocence. His statement was recorded, and the proceedings continued.

Vijayabhaskar later appeared before the same court in a case related to the alleged distribution of gifts during the 2024 Lok Sabha election and obstructing officials from discharging their duties when they attempted to prevent the distribution. The case was registered by Karur town police based on a complaint lodged by the then Tehsildar. The magistrate posted the case to August 8.

He also appeared before the court in a 2021 rioting case registered during the COVID-19 pandemic over a protest against the then DMK government. The magistrate adjourned the case to August 5.

Replying to a question raised by AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP Dhanapal, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said that the 54-km Metro Phase I and Phase I extensions in Chennai, built at a cost of Rs 22,149.92 crore, have been operational since February 2019 and March 2022, respectively.

“While the Detailed Project Report (DPR) projected a daily ridership of 15.69 lakh passengers for the operational corridors in 2026, the Metro is recording an actual daily ridership of only 3.14 lakh passengers, indicating that patronage has reached only about 20% of the projected level,” he added.

The Centre also said the 118.9-km Chennai Metro Phase II project, sanctioned at a cost of Rs 63,246.4 crore, is under construction. According to the DPR, the new network is expected to attract 15.50 lakh passengers a day once it becomes operational.

To improve public transport usage and seamless connectivity, Chennai Metro Rail Limited has undertaken several initiatives, including strengthening first and last-mile connectivity through feeder buses, e-rickshaws, shared bicycles and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. It is also implementing a single smart card and mobile ticketing system that can be used across metro services, buses and suburban rail, besides enabling UPI-based digital payments.

The Ministry observed that CMRL was promoting mixed-use development around Metro stations and strengthening coordination among agencies such as MTC, Southern Railway, municipal corporations and the traffic police through the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) to facilitate integrated transport planning and implementation.

In a post on its social media page, the AIADMK IT Wing cited a series of recent incidents of murder, robbery and sexual violence across the State.

The opposition party also referred to the murders of elderly people living alone in their homes over the past eight days, alleging that such crimes, which had occurred during the previous DMK regime, were continuing under the present government. It claimed that while the government had changed, there had been no improvement in the law and order situation.

The AIADMK further alleged that frequent power outages were affecting people across the State, forcing residents in several places to stage protests.

It also claimed that there were complaints of people associated with the ruling TVK threatening members of the public and demanding money.

Accusing the ruling party of failing to deliver on its election promises, the AIADMK said the government had not fulfilled the assurances it had made before coming to power.

Releasing the Pattali Makkal Katchi's (PMK) 24th annual Shadow Budget for 2026-27 at a private hotel in T Nagar on Monday, party president Anbumani Ramadoss said the State government should move faster against corruption and warned that public confidence could erode if the pace of action slows.

Claiming that the TVK government was initially proactive after assuming office, he said its anti corruption efforts had become sluggish in recent months. "People voted for the TVK as an alternative to the DMK. The government should act decisively against corruption and ensure that illicit wealth is brought back into the State treasury," he said.

Anbumani reiterated PMK's allegation that corruption worth Rs 6 lakh crore had taken place during the previous DMK regime and demanded separate investigations into alleged irregularities in the Highways, Public Works and Mines departments, including sand mining, mineral extraction, recruitment and contract awards.

He called for the establishment of five special courts to exclusively hear corruption cases and urged the government to amend the law to empower the Lokayukta to punish those convicted through such courts. He also proposed making it mandatory for the Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs to publicly disclose their assets every year on January 1.

Presenting the Shadow Budget, Anbumani projected Tamil Nadu's revenue receipts for 2026-27 at Rs 6,71,891 crore and claimed that efficient management of mineral resources alone could generate Rs 2,17,945 crore in non-tax revenue. He alleged that the State had lost around Rs 40,000 crore due to illegal sand mining during the previous regime.

On the Cauvery dispute, Anbumani opposed any direct talks between Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and his Karnataka counterpart over the proposed Mekedatu project, arguing that the neighbouring State had repeatedly failed to respect the Cauvery Tribunal award and Supreme Court orders. Instead, he urged the State government to pursue legal remedies, convene an all-party meeting and press the Union government to strengthen the Cauvery Management Authority.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Chief Minister at the Secretariat, Vaiko said the book, a four-volume compilation of his speeches in Parliament over the past three decades, would be released by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.

He said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav would receive the first copy of the book.

"If the Chief Minister attends the function, it could attract an uncontrollable crowd due to the enthusiasm of his supporters. I myself requested him not to participate in the Delhi event, and he accepted my request," Vaiko said.

He added that Chief Minister Vijay had assured him that he would attend the release of the Tamil edition of the book at a later date.

During a routine vehicle inspection at the Chinnakarai check-post near Palladam on Sunday, the police intercepted a two-wheeler carrying Mrutunjaya Rana (27) of Odisha and Nirodh Bagh (22) of Bihar and recovered eight kg of ganja from their possession.

A subsequent search of their rented house led to the seizure of a country-made pistol, four live cartridges, a spent cartridge case, a pistol holster and an additional two kg of ganja.

During interrogation, they claimed to have purchased the firearm from Naxalites in Bihar. Police said the accused had also been practising with the weapon to familiarise themselves with its use in emergencies. A detailed investigation has been launched to trace the origin of the firearm.

Further investigation led police to Raja Kumar (26) of Bihar and Suryakanth Doss (29) of Jharkhand, who were intercepted at Podanur railway station in Coimbatore district while they were transporting 30 kg of ganja by train from their native States. The contraband was seized, and the duo was arrested.

According to the police, the four accused were part of an interstate network involved in smuggling ganja into Tamil Nadu for distribution. Officials said the accused were already facing cases related to ganja trafficking at police stations in Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts.

Ramachandran, who had sustained 75% burn injuries in the explosion and was undergoing treatment at the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night.

The two other victims were identified as Pandidurai (32) of Meenampatti and Ayapparaj (38) of Sengamalapatti. They, too, were killed in the explosion.

According to the police, R Ramaprasath of Sengamalapatti, his brother Ramachandran, Innasimuthu of Meenampatti and two others were allegedly manufacturing firecrackers illegally when the explosion occurred around 8.30 am on Sunday. The five people had begun manufacturing firecrackers at around 4 am.

The police had identified R Ramaprasath (40) of Sengamalapatti and Innasimuthu (43) of Meenampatti soon after the explosion.

As they were unable to identify the remaining two victims, personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services Department spent nearly three hours searching the farmland before recovering human remains weighing about 2.15 kg from different parts of the blast site. The police had planned to conduct DNA profiling to establish the identities of the two victims.

However, the relatives requested the police to show them the recovered human remains.

"When they examined the remains, they identified certain physical features and confirmed the identities of the two deceased. Following this, the police handed over the remains to the relatives," a police source said.

The relatives informed the police that Innasimuthu and Ayapparaj were brothers.

The relatives staged a protest inside the hospital premises, refusing to receive Innasimuthu's body and Ayapparaj's mortal remains, demanding compensation of Rs. 20 lakh from the government.

After the police held talks with them, the relatives accepted the bodies but said they would approach the court seeking appropriate relief.

A team of personnel from the Sirumugai Forest Range, on a routine patrol, discovered the elephant's carcass in the plantation at around 6.30 am on Monday. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the plantation owner, R Kumar (65), and farm labourer Bakiyaraj (42) had diverted AC power supply to the solar-powered fence surrounding the plantation. The elephant is believed to have come into contact with the live fence during the early hours of Monday and died of electrocution.

Forest officials said the department had conducted inspections in the locality only last week as part of preventive measures against the illegal electrification of fences. Despite the inspections, the accused allegedly connected the high-voltage power supply to the fence on Sunday night in an attempt to prevent wild elephants from entering and damaging their banana crop.

A team of veterinarians conducted a post-mortem examination on the carcass, following which the elephant was buried at the site in accordance with standard protocol.

The Forest Department arrested Kumar and Bakiyaraj under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. They are expected to be produced before a court in Mettupalayam on Tuesday.

Approximately 4.5 tonnes of medical waste are generated daily from both government and private hospitals in the Madurai district. 

“In a month, around 140 tonnes of medical waste are generated, but they are dumped illegally in the Vaigai river, along National Highway, and also in waste containers kept by the city corporation on the streets,” alleged Dr B Sarmesh Khan, a medical practitioner.

When Khan sought an explanation from the Pollution Control Board in Madurai through an RTI regarding the existing practices for disposing of medical waste, the authorities stated they had authorised a private firm to dispose of the waste, which is allegedly being sent to Gummidipoondi, nearly 600 kilometres away. “It is a complete lie,” he claimed.

Explaining this further, Dr Karthik Kannan said that the private firm charges Rs 10 per bed to collect medical waste from a hospital. For instance, if a hospital has 500 beds, they need to pay Rs 5,000 per day, which amounts to Rs 1.5 lakh a month. The private firm gives us a plastic bag with QR codes so that we can track it to the disposal site. But after they collect the bag, they remove the QR code and dump the waste into containers near our hospitals, he claimed.

He alleged that when Corporation officials discover this, they impose fines ranging between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 on the hospitals.

This is not a case unique to Madurai. The team claimed that most of the southern districts — including Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, and Virudhunagar — do not have adequate, scientifically sound Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility setups to treat and dispose of medical waste.

Disposing of waste in public places causes serious threats to the public, but the authorities are least bothered about it, said the petitioner. He added that although they have made repeated representations to Pollution Control Board officials and the district administration over the last three months, they have not received a proper response.

Now, members of the AMMK have also joined us. If the district administration does not take proper action, the AMMK and other like-minded parties will organise a protest to grab the public's attention, said Sarmesh Khan.

When contacted, District Collector Nishant Krishna was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, the accused, identified as Iyappan, 27, died by suicide on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday at the victim's residence in Keezhamoongiladi village in Cuddalore district.

Iyappan used to frequent the house of a Class 11 student for electrical repair work, during which he developed an infatuation for her. He had approached the minor multiple times, but she had consistently rejected his proposals, a police official said.

Exploiting the absence of the girl's mother, who had left for her job at a textile shop, Iyappan entered the house on Sunday knowing the teenager was alone. When she turned him down once again, he attacked her with a knife, inflicting a deep wound on her neck before fleeing the spot.

Alerted by the teenager's cries, neighbours rushed to the house and summoned an ambulance. She was taken to the Chidambaram Government Hospital, where doctors stated her condition is critical.

After registering a case, the Chidambaram Taluk police launched a manhunt for the absconding accused, only to find that he had taken his own life at his home in the meantime. "We could not find any suicide note at the scene," a senior police official said.