According to Ambattur police, the complainant Gopalakrishnan, a resident of Compounder Ramasamy Street, Varadharajapuram, Ambattur, had filed a complaint that Rs 8 lakh kept in a locker at his house was stolen on August 20.

During the inquiry, his wife told the police that she had seen a woman leaving their house and when questioned, the woman claimed she had come to inquire about providing medical insurance and walked away quickly. Based on the complaint, Ambattur police registered a case and examined CCTV footage from the locality. The footage showed a woman conducting recce of houses in the area. A special team was formed to nab the culprit.

After analysing several hours of CCTV footage, the special team traced her to Coimbatore where she was hiding and brought her to Ambattur police station. During interrogation, Kokila confessed that she used to specifically target houses where senior citizens lived alone, keeping a watch on their movements before breaking in.

She told police that she had donated Rs 20,000 from the robbed money as an offering at the Tiruttani Murugan Temple. Police said they have recovered only Rs 4 lakh out of the total Rs 8 lakh stolen. The remaining amount had been spent by the accused, police said.

The accused, Sujitha Sri, misled the police by claiming that a three-member gang intercepted their car on the Omalur-Sangagiri Road in the early hours of Tuesday and hacked her husband Boopathy (43), a brick-kiln owner from SK Nagar near Omalur, to death. She also claimed that the gang threatened her at knife-point and fled with 12 sovereigns of jewellery.

However, the Omalur police grew suspicious after examining the murder scene inside the car, as they found that the blood stains were not consistent with the manner of attack described by the woman. Boopathy’s family members also expressed doubts over the circumstances surrounding his death, citing frequent quarrels between the couple.

During intensive questioning, Sujitha Sri allegedly confessed to have murdered her husband along with her lover, Santhosh Raj (33), an unmarried software professional who lives opposite their house.

Officials said a quarrel ensued between Boopathy and Sujitha Sri over her extramarital affair issue on Monday night, following which, she pushed him down. “In the fall, Boopathy suffered an injury on his head and fainted. Soon, Sujitha Sri called Santhosh Raj to her house and together they stabbed him to death. They took his body in the car and staged the murder drama,” said the police. The police have arrested the duo and further investigations are on.

According to the police, eight students had repeatedly harassed the boy since he was studying in Class 7. The accused boys also belong to the same class. They allegedly threatened him with further harassment if he revealed the matter to anyone, officials said.

The matter came to the attention of a teacher after the boy fell ill frequently. The teacher informed his parents, who lodged a complaint. Based on that, the Vilathikulam All Women Police registered a case and arrested five students, who were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board in Thoothukudi and sent to the Observation Home for Children in Tirunelveli. The police are questioning the remaining three students.

District Chief Educational Officer Sangeetha Chinnarani said the teacher had initially counselled the students and their parents in the case. Steps were also being taken to provide counselling to all students at the school through the Child Welfare Committee. After completion of the police investigation, departmental action would be taken based on the findings, the CEO said.

Purse seine fishing is a method that uses a vertical net attached to a vessel to encircle schools of fish in open water.

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe ruled that the rights and liabilities of the parties will now be governed according to the relevant laws, EEZ Rules, 2025 and the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020.

The bench said laws, rules and regulations addressing the issue of access to the EEZ for fishing using purse seine nets and transiting through the territorial waters of the state have come into force and are operating.
"For effective and efficient implementation of these rules and regulations, it is necessary for the Union and the State to abide by the principle of cooperative federalism. The Union as well as the state administration are the duty bearers not only to implement the respective regulations within their province, but also to ensure that the stakeholders have easy access and efficient clearance of their applications to pursue their fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India, of course subject to reasonable regulations," it said.

Giving a reality check, the bench said the status of applications for access passes under the EEZ Rules, 2025 on the Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft Portal (ReALCRaft Portal) as on August 3, 2026 is rather "disturbing" and demonstrates a "lack of coordinated endeavour" between the issuing authority appointed by the Union and the verifying authority of the state, who is a state government official.

The top court flagged that out of 257 applications made, almost 226 applications are still pending verification by Tamil Nadu.

"It appears that only six access passes have been issued. This is said to be the lowest among all coastal states. Not processing the applications in time virtually amounts to imposing an unwritten ban, which is impermissible in law," it said.

The bench said, "The state of Tamil Nadu is directed to ensure effective, efficient and timely clearance of the applications as per the rules and regulations which govern the subject."

It further directed the state government to frame necessary rules/ regulations designating a specified channel under Rules 15(5) and (6) of the Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020 for transit of vessels from its territorial waters to the EEZ for fishing using purse seine nets.

"These rules/ regulations may be made after taking into account the final recommendations of the expert committee," the bench said, while disposing of a batch of pleas filed by fishermen and a NGO challenging the regulations of the state government, banning purse seine fishing.

The bench noted that the expert panel constituted by the court earlier has broadly said that purse seine nets do not cause any major environmental harm in the maritime zones on the population of fishing stocks. The panel has suggested no outright blanket ban on purse seine fishing but it was of the view that there must be effective regulation on the use of these nets, it said.

The bench said the powers of both the Union and the state are equal and autonomous in each of their legislative spheres.

On August 4, the top court, while reserving its decision, had told the state government that fishermen must be allowed to go for purse seine fishing beyond the state's territorial waters but any such activity should be within the exclusive economic zone with due permission.

It had said if fishermen doing purse seine fishing violate the norms of the state within its territorial waters, they can be arrested.

The NGO 'Fisherman Care' alleged that the state was neither allowing it to do fishing in its territorial waters nor was it allowing them to go beyond 12 nautical miles in the Centre's jurisdiction of the exclusive economic zone.

On January 24, 2023, in a relief to fishermen, the top court conditionally allowed purse seine fishing beyond the territorial waters of the state but within the exclusive economic zone of the Centre.

It had noted that some coastal states like Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Goa and West Bengal do not have any restrictions on this type of fishing within their territorial waters.

The top court had formed an expert panel which had suggested that a ban on purse seine fishing was not justified and may be allowed with a proper access plan for the fishermen.

The top court had said that the fisheries department will give permission to only those boats where an approved vessel tracking system has been installed and which shall be kept running during the operating time of the vessels.

The state government had contended that fishing entities could use their vessels with purse seine nets in the territorial waters itself while proceeding to the EEZ and their concern was that under the guise of fishing in the EEZ, the fishermen could employ purse seine nets within 12 nautical miles.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan set aside the single judge’s order, holding that the directions to inspect all temple- and privately-owned elephants, prevent further acquisition, consider their shifting to these camps, and direct temples not to acquire elephants could not be sustained.

SGM Shaa alias Sheik Mohammed had bought an elephant named Lalitha in 2000 and applied for transfer of her ownership in his name. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden rejected his request by proceedings dated March 23, 2020.

Challenging the order, he filed a petition before the Madurai Bench, which observed that all captive elephants, whether held by temples or private persons, should be shifted to these camps. The court also directed HR&CE to instruct all temples not to acquire any elephant.

Aggrieved by this order, Arulmigu Sri Subramania Swami Thirukoil filed an appeal before the HC.

The commission will be headed by the Chief Secretary and will bring 22 State laws under a common investment facilitation framework. The laws include those relating to forests and land, town planning, fire safety, public health and urban local bodies. The proposed commission will facilitate "large, strategic and high-impact" investments, including projects involving Rs 200 crore or more, those expected to generate at least 5,000 jobs, projects linked to free-trade agreements and investments by the Tamil diaspora.

The Industries secretary will be the member-convener of the commission, which will have up to 20 other members. Five investment or industry experts may be invited as special invitees. As per the Bill, directions issued by the commission to State nodal agencies, single-window committees and departments will be binding. The commission will also review industrial land allotted for industrial use but remaining undeveloped. It will examine the utilisation of land allotted by SIPCOT, TIDCO, SIDCO, TAHDCO and ELCOT, among other State agencies.

The Bill also proposes to streamline the timeline for regulatory approvals. Where State laws or subordinate legislation prescribe more than 21 days, or do not specify a deadline, the approval period will generally be deemed to be reduced to 21 days. However, the provision will not override a longer timeline prescribed under a Central law.

After the Chief Minister's announcement, the DMK Whip EV Velu objected to his reference to the "previous government" in the statement.
"There should not be any debate on announcements made under Rule 110. However, the Chief Minister's statement has led to a debate. It sets a wrong precedent to announce the withdrawal of cases under Rule 110," he said.

Rejecting the DMK's objection, Speaker JCD Prabhakar said there was no violation of the rules in the Chief Minister's announcement.
"Owing to the cases, farmers and other people are under mental stress, and there is nothing wrong in providing relief to them through the withdrawal of cases," the Speaker said.

Intervening, Deputy Leader of Opposition KN Nehru said the government could not immediately withdraw the cases, adding that cases could be withdrawn only through court proceedings.

Replying to him, Minister for Public Works Aadhav Arjuna said the Chief Minister had taken the decision based on the farmers' request, and there was no politics involved in it.

The Speaker stood firm on his position and said the Chief Minister's announcement was not contrary to the Assembly rules. Intervening in the debate, Leader of Opposition Udhayanithi said cases had also been withdrawn during the DMK regime, but not through an announcement under Rule 110.

Addressing reporters here, Nagenthran termed the Chief Minister a "costly Chief Minister" and questioned the necessity of deploying barricades and spending public funds on the visit when the dam held only partial capacity.

"Until today, the total expenditure incurred to construct the Mettur Dam was only Rs 4.80 crore. Today, the Chief Minister has spent Rs 5 crore just to travel from his point of departure to Mettur with barricades lined up on both sides," Nagenthran alleged.

Accusing the state government of "failing" delta farmers, the BJP leader pointed out that the sluice gates of the Mettur Dam, traditionally opened on June 12 for cultivation, faced delays due to an acute water shortage.

He stated that against the dam's total capacity of 95 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), it currently held only 54 TMC. He added that it would take at least 12 days for the released water to reach the tail-end areas of the Cauvery delta.

Nagenthran hit out at the ruling TVK for "failing" to secure Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water from neighbouring Karnataka, despite being in an alliance with the Congress party that governs the upper riparian state.

"The Karnataka government has not released water, yet the Chief Minister has not spoken a single word," he said, stating that Karnataka failed to deliver the mandated 94 TMC of water stipulated by the Cauvery Water Management Authority for the months of July and August.

Highlighting the agrarian distress, the BJP leader said nearly two lakh hectares of farm land remain uncultivated due to water scarcity and demanded immediate compensation for the affected farmers. He added that farmers are currently staging demonstrations in Chennai over the TVK government's unfulfilled electoral promises.

Nagenthran also criticised remarks made in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, stating that while taking training to speak Tamil was unproblematic, prioritising Christianity over the Tamil language alienated the Hindu population and threatened the government's standing.

Taking a swipe at discord within the alliance when asked about leadership projections, Nagenthran noted that while Congress leaders projected Rahul Gandhi, others promoted actor-politician Vijay, reflecting deep disunity and internal friction within the opposition ranks.

Announcing the demand for grants for the Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department in the Assembly, the Minister said the enhanced assistance would provide greater financial support to families facing uncertainty after fishermen go missing at sea.

At present, the families receive Rs 350 per day, or Rs 10,500 a month, for a maximum period of two years or until they receive relief assistance under the Group Accident Insurance Scheme or through the Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Board, whichever is earlier.

State government to provide Rs 1.86 crore as relief assistance to owners of boats seized by the Sri Lankan Navy

Under the revised scheme, the daily assistance will be increased to Rs 600, taking the monthly assistance to Rs 18,000.

In another announcement, the minister said the State government would provide Rs 1.86 crore as relief assistance to owners of boats seized by the Sri Lankan Navy, subsequently released but which could not be recovered.

The relief will cover mechanised and country boats belonging to fishermen from Ramanathapuram, Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts that have remained unrecovered despite being released after their seizure over the past year.

Owners of mechanised boats will receive Rs 8 lakh each, while owners of country boats will be provided Rs 2 lakh each, with the total relief package amounting to Rs 1.86 crore.

The measures were aimed at meeting the challenges of rapid urbanisation and population growth.

In order to ensure safe and continuous water supply, the 400 MLD (million litres a day) desalination plant will be established at Minjur at an estimated cost of Rs 4,800 crore to serve north Chennai, Avadi, Ponneri, and Minjur areas.

The CM also proposed a dedicated project for 24/7 water supply in Avadi at a cost of Rs 500 crore.

Water facility improvements in Madurai, Cuddalore, and other municipalities for Rs 1,000 crore and restoration of 33 old water schemes at a cost of Rs 300 crore, and upgrading the Kilpauk water treatment plant capacity at an estimated cost of Rs 410 crore were also among the announcements made the chief minister under rule 110 in the Assembly.

He said the aging sewage systems in Madurai, Nagercoil, and Chennai will be upgraded alongside implementing the Waste-to-Energy projects in Tirunelveli (9 MW capacity for Rs 256 crore) and Salem (10 MW capacity plant for Rs 291 crore).

Vijay said road restoration and new construction across urban local bodies will be initiated for Rs 1,850 crore. He announced the implementation of the Integrated Urban Development Plan for Rs 275 crore, including modern "People-Friendly" roads, "Safe Access to Schools" projects, and traffic island improvements in Chennai and other corporations.

A massive initiative to plant one crore saplings and development of major parks in Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur, and Pudukkottai (Rs 130 crore) and 250 new parks statewide (Rs 175 crore) would be taken up. School facilities will be upgraded to improve the learning environment in urban local bodies (for Rs 335 crore), he said.

On cultural and tourism development, Vijay announced beautification projects for Chidambaram's temple chariot festival routes (Rs 36 crore), a Heritage Walk in Cuddalore (for Rs 80 crore), and tourism enhancements at Kanyakumari beach and tourism facility upgrades (for Rs 50 crore).

Targeted infrastructure improvements in underdeveloped zones within the Chennai Corporation like improving basic amenities such as laying roads, storm-water drains, streetlights, and community centers for Rs 100 crore, will also be undertaken, he added.

The DMK leader noted that previous administrations have routinely taken similar steps.

"When they were naturally fighting for their rights, we (DMK government) had also earlier cancelled many cases, withdrawn many cases against people who had fought for their cause," Elangovan told PTI Videos.

He explained that while police immediately register cases for property damage during agitations, governments generally do not press those charges once they consider the underlying reasons for the protests.

"That is what Vijay has also done," he added, minimising the uniqueness of the move.

CM Vijay informed the Assembly on Wednesday that police cases pending against farmers who peacefully protested for their rights opposing Parandur airport and SIPCOT industrial park expansion projects will be withdrawn.

Similarly, cases against teachers who protested in a democratic manner for their rights and demands will be dropped, he said, and asserted that the withdrawal of cases would further strengthen democratic rights and deepen the trust between the ordinary people and the government.

To a question on the rebel faction of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saayoni Ghosh's recent meeting with CM Vijay and speculation about her joining his party, Elangovan expressed skepticism.

"If she is an MP from West Bengal... if she comes alone and joins the party, she may lose her post," he cautioned.

Ghosh, who won the Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat by over 2.5 lakh votes, recently defected from the TMC alongside 19 other rebel MPs to join the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).

She held discussions with the actor-turned-politician at the Chief Minister's Office on September 1, triggering speculation. However, Elangovan dismissed the surrounding political buzz.

The DMK leader also firmly rejected suggestions that Vijay could emerge as the Prime Ministerial face for 2029.

Highlighting the current legislative arithmetic, Elangovan pointed out, "The government of Vijay has no absolute majority in Tamil Nadu itself. Then how can he get more MPs and become a prime minister with an absolute majority? These are all their (TVK's) wishes, that's all."

He also said just because Vijay, like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is not meeting the media, it does not mean he would become a PM like him.

According to the CB-CID, its cyber crime team detected the video during routine cyber patrolling. The video, carrying Hindi audio, was circulated on Facebook and other social media platforms. It allegedly asked people seeking financial assistance to contact a WhatsApp number, apparently with the intention of cheating them.

Based on a special report submitted on September 1, the Cyber Crime Cell registered a case the same day and launched an investigation. The authorities have also approached Meta seeking details of the fake social media account and relevant logs, besides initiating steps to have the video taken down.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that several similar AI-generated videos portraying the Chief Minister offering financial assistance are being circulated across multiple social media platforms. Some of the videos were found to have been shared by purportedly Pakistan-based Facebook accounts, police said.

The investigation is underway to identify those behind the circulation and remove the fake content from social media platforms.

The CB-CID has cautioned the public against responding to phone numbers or joining WhatsApp groups mentioned in such videos. Police said the videos are fabricated deepfakes and urged people to alert their family members and friends about the scam.

Between August 1 and 31, the DVAC laid 19 traps across the State targeting government personnel who had demanded and accepted bribes ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3 lakh, according to an official release issued on September 1.

Those apprehended included a Revenue Divisional Officer, Block Development Officer, Assistant Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Junior Assistant, Commercial Inspector, Secretary, Village Administrative Officer, Village Assistant, Sub-Inspector of Police, and Assistant-rank personnel. DVAC teams and District Inspection Cell officers also carried out surprise inspections at various state government offices, resulting in the seizure of Rs 28,24,945 in unaccounted cash and the detection of Rs 89,89,663 transferred through suspicious GPay transactions (over Rs 1.18 crore).

Additionally, surprise checks conducted at vehicle check-posts along the borders led to the recovery of Rs 3,36,200 in unaccounted cash. In total, the surprise inspections yielded Rs 31,61,145 in seized cash and uncovered Rs 89,89,663 in digital payments, taking the total unaccounted sum to Rs 1,21,50,808. Cases have been registered and investigations are underway.

The agency also reported convictions in three corruption cases during the same period before the Special Courts for Prevention of Corruption Act cases and Principal District and Sessions Courts in Tirunelveli, Tiruchy and Perambalur.

The convicted officials – an Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer, an Adi Dravidar Welfare Superintendent, a Village Administrative Officer, and a Police Inspector – were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment ranging from two to four years, alongside fines between Rs 2,000 and Rs 20,000.

A team from the BIS Chennai Branch Office conducted the search on September 1 under Section 28 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 and found 175 thaalis weighing 671.50 grams, 12 baby bangles weighing 25.02 grams, 40 pairs of earrings weighing 86.14 grams and 10 pendants weighing 21.33 grams without hallmarking. 

BIS said that the jewellery was being displayed for sale without the mandatory hallmark and was seized for further investigation and legal action. SD Dayanand, scientist-F, senior director and head of BIS Chennai Branch Office, said, “The bureau conducts regular market surveillance and enforcement operations to protect consumers and ensure compliance with prescribed standards. Appropriate action is being initiated against the outlet under the BIS Act.”

Depending on the nature of the offence, violations under Section 29 can attract imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh that may extend up to 10 times the value of the goods, or both. Consumers have been advised to verify hallmarking and other applicable BIS certification details before purchasing jewellery and other regulated products.

Complaints on hallmarking violations can be made through the BIS Care App or by email to cnbo1@bis.gov.in

The petitioner, originally a transgender person, underwent gender affirmation surgery in January 2024 and legally changed his name.
Subsequently, he approached the court seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council to update all records pertaining to him, including his name, gender and photograph, to reflect his gender as male, and consequently issue a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) enabling the transfer of his registration to the Karnataka State Nursing Council.

Though he had duly applied, even in the communication requiring him to appear for verification, he was again described as a transgender man in the documents, forcing him to approach the court.

After hearing the petition, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the council to correct all records to reflect the petitioner as "male", either digitally or by scoring out terms such as "transgender" or "transgender male" in physical records.

The petitioner should be described only as "male" in all future communications and records transferred to Karnataka, without any reference to his earlier transgender identity. "It should be pure and simple male," the court said, directing completion of the exercise within eight weeks.

Earlier, P Pugalenthi filed a petition alleging that RTI information revealed that the Madurai Central Prison had prepared inflated bills claiming to have supplied large quantities of stationery to district courts and other government offices, though only smaller quantities were actually supplied. He alleged that public money running into several crores was misappropriated between June 1, 2019 and June 30, 2021, and sought a probe by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).

After hearing the plea, the court observed that the petition was not maintainable in the absence of material supporting the allegations, but granted him liberty to file a fresh petition with supporting evidence, after which Pugalenthi’s counsel withdrew the petition.

Meanwhile, a petition was filed by M Gokila, whose husband, Murugaiyan, is a convict lodged in Central Prison, Puzhal. She sought consideration of her representation seeking 60 days’ remission for her husband, besides payment of four months’ wage arrears.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice M Jothiraman, her counsel urged the authorities to expedite the investigation into the alleged large-scale corruption at Madurai Central Prison. He submitted that any further delay could allow the accused to escape the clutches of law.

The Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that DVAC required more time to complete the detailed inquiry.

The court then directed the government to constitute a special team headed by a senior IPS officer to expedite the investigation, complete it, and file the final report before the competent criminal court within four months.

If DVAC and the State government fail to comply, the court may consider transferring the investigation, it warned. The bench observed that the pendency of criminal proceedings does not bar departmental disciplinary action, and added that it should also continue simultaneously.

It directed the government to collect the documents, frame charges under the relevant rules, and conclude the disciplinary proceedings expeditiously.

Health Minister KG Arunraj brushed off the astrological theory, maintaining that the state relies on science and is currently tackling common colds and not snake curses.

The hilarious discussion began when Panneerselvam, also a Chief Minister took the floor to highlight a recent string of snakebite incidents across several constituencies. Many regions were likely suffering from "Nagadhosham" brought on by displeased serpents, hesaid and went on to urge the health minister to organise state-sponsored temple rituals to ward off the celestial curse.Arunraj, who was quick to respond, firmly declined to hold rituals to appease snakes in the health budget, and said the administration relied on medical science, not planetary alignments.

"The only widespread ailment we are currently tracking is the common cold - Jaladosham and not Nagadosham," the minister said.

Refusing to let the joke fade, Panneerselvam playfully offered to provide a team of ritual experts to help the health ministry.

The banter drew Public Works and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna into the fray, and he reminded the Assembly of the state's deep roots in the ideals of rationalist leader Periyar, emphasising that the government solves problems with rationalism rather than incantations.

Leader of the Opposition DMK Udhayanidhi Stalin stepped in to clarify the confusion. He said the senior member - Panneerselvam - made a playful jab aimed at the DMK Deputy Leader K N Nehru, who was currently laid down by a severe cold.

Immediately, Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar wrapped up the debate with the ultimate word of caution, advising Panneerselvam to "take precautions, or you might catch a cold yourself."

The lighthearted exchange drew laughter from both the Treasury and Opposition benches.

He was replying to DMK MLAs KN Nehru and MRK Panneerselvam who had raised questions about snakebite deaths across the State, during Zero Hour.

Responding to them, the Minister said 9,519 people had been affected by snakebites and nine people had died so far this year.

He also said 15,837 people were affected by snakebites and 26 people died in 2025.

"In 2024, 16,142 people were affected by snakebites and 27 people died. To ensure immediate treatment not only for snake bites but also for cardiac arrests and other emergencies, the Health Department will create a unique dashboard to enable people to know the status of treatment and availability of medicines at hospitals across the State," the minister said.

Nursing colleges to be established in 6 dists

Giving details about the locations of the six nursing colleges announced by Chief Minister Vijay, Arunraj said the new colleges would be established in Tirunelveli, Tiruchy, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Namakkal.

"The proposed colleges will be set up for Rs 270 crore under the funds of Dr MGR Medical University. Along with this, 60 BSc Nursing seats will be added at Coimbatore ESI Medical College Hospital, " the Minister said.

Demanding that MLAs set up more nursing colleges in their constituencies, he said that the government would establish more nursing colleges in other districts as well.

The chopped body of Thangamani of Mettupatti Thadanur, who was working as a maid, was found in the overhead water tanks and the terrace of an adjacent house at Arisipalayam on Monday.

The gruesome murder came to light when Ramesh (62), a temple priest from Gunapala Ramasamy Street in Arisipalayam, noticed a stench in the water coming through the tap of his house. He then opened the lids of the two overhead tanks and found the chopped remains of a woman concealed in sacks. In the terrace of an adjacent house, there was another sack with body parts.

The Pallapatti police established the identity of the deceased with a tattoo on her hand. After examining the CCTV footage and her mobile phone records, the police traced the accused identified as Nandini (28), a maid from Sukkampatti, her lover Malik Basha (27), a driver from Alagapuram, and her friend Sivaraman (26) from Kuranguchavadi.

Officials said the trio allegedly murdered the woman and robbed her four sovereigns of jewels, before disposing of her body by chopping into pieces. Inquiries revealed that Nandini took the woman to her aunt’s house to offer work and murdered her by attacking on the head with a wooden log along with Malik Basha.

After stealing her jewels, the duo, along with Sivaraman, cut her body into pieces and concealed them in tanks. Further investigation is on.

As part of the preparedness, GCC is carrying out desilting along 1,671 km of storm water drains (SWD), while desilting work has been undertaken in 1,10,082 silt catch pits. Similar works have been ordered in suburban areas, with flood-prone areas such as Velachery, Ambattur SIDCO, Tiruvottiyur and Manali getting focused attention.

Officials have also been directed to address gaps in SWD connectivity, particularly in areas where Metro Rail works are under way and along highways. The Water Resources Department has been asked to expedite desilting of rivers and canals and clear obstructions at points. Pending drainage works on key stretches including Demellows road, Nookampalayam and MRH road have also been ordered to be expedited.

It is also stressed that there should be no loss of life due to electrical leakage during the monsoon. Flood relief centres and community kitchens are to be inspected and equipped with the necessary facilities.

At a review meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the Chief Secretary reviewed preparedness across the Greater Chennai, Avadi and Tambaram corporations with zonal monitoring officers and senior officials from the Water Resources, Highways, Electricity, Revenue and Disaster Management departments, besides Metro Rail and Metro Water.

The Transport Department issued the order on August 31, providing for payment of the arrears in 49 monthly instalments. The first 48 instalments will be Rs 75 crore each, while the balance Rs 37 crore will be paid in the 49th and final instalment.

The move follows a long-running dispute in which pensioners of transport corporations had protested against the denial of DA hikes that were extended to other government employees and employees of public sector undertakings, including TNPDCL, TNPGCL, and Tantransco. The issue continued through successive AIADMK and DMK governments before reaching the courts.

This was a long-running dispute spanning successive AIADMK and DMK governments in which pensioners of transport corporations had protested against the denial of DA hikes that were extended to other government employees and employees of public sector undertakings

In March 2023, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled that retired employees of State Transport Corporations were entitled to DA at the rate applicable to serving employees. It directed the authorities to calculate the pension arrears and settle the benefits.

However, the legal battle continued even after that, with writ appeals, special leave petitions, review applications, review petitions, and a curative petition arising from the proceedings, all of which were dismissed.
The government had initially proposed settling the estimated Rs 3,637 crore arrears in 60 monthly instalments of around Rs 60.62 crore each.

During contempt proceedings on August 14, however, the High Court directed that the settlement be made at Rs 75 crore per month. The government subsequently gave an undertaking to pay Rs 75 crore in 48 monthly instalments and the remaining Rs 37 crore in the 49th instalment.

The High Court took note of the undertaking on August 21 and closed the contempt petitions and related applications.

As per the Government Order, the managing directors of all State Transport Undertakings, in coordination with the TNSTC Employees' Pension Fund Trust, will arrange for the release of the instalments from available resources. Where necessary, the undertakings can avail loans from the government or through the Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation Ltd (TNTDFC).

The government has also said that financial assistance facilitated for the purpose may be adjusted against subsidies or viability gap funding payable to the respective transport undertaking.

The Pension Fund Trust will verify the entitlement of individual pensioners and family pensioners, ensure audit and verification of claims before payment, and submit monthly details of beneficiaries and amounts disbursed before the subsequent instalment is released.

The government said the phased settlement was decided considering the financial position of the STUs and the pension fund trust, fiscal constraints, and the larger public interest.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan issued the directive while hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate AF Parvesh Mushraf, which was transferred from the Madurai Bench to the principal seat.

During the hearing, Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that of the 305 persons who went on the Kailash Yatra in Nepal, 220 had been traced, rescued, and sent to their native places, while efforts were under way to trace the remaining 85. “The relatives of the 85 missing persons, including former High Court judge Sivagnanam, were taken to Kathmandu at government expense,” he said.

The bench then directed the Union and State governments to file a detailed report on the steps taken to trace and rescue the pilgrims missing in the Nepal floods and posted the case for further hearing next week.

In his PIL, advocate Mushraf of Dindigul said that a group of 57 pilgrims, including Sivagnanam, had travelled from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to Nepal on a pilgrimage through Super Yathra Travels, a travel operator based in Kumbakonam. Following the floods and landslides on August 23, a substantial number of the pilgrims could not be contacted and their whereabouts could not be ascertained, he said, arguing that the constitutional obligation applied equally to all 57 pilgrims and that rescue and verification efforts must proceed without differential priority, while seeking focused protective attention for the unaccounted-for pilgrims.

The petitioner sought directions to the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to coordinate with Nepal’s search-and-rescue authorities and the travel firm to urgently trace and rescue the unaccounted-for pilgrims from the Kumbakonam group, including the retired judge, and provide necessary medical treatment, food, shelter, medical evacuation, and safe repatriation to India.

In an indirect reference to the DMK regime, he announced in the Assembly under Rule 110 on Wednesday, stating that several cases had been filed against farmers and teachers who held protests between May 2021 and April 2026.

"Permission was not given to farmers and teachers to hold agitations through democratic means. Owing to these cases, they have been facing hardships until now," he said.

Hailing farmers, the Chief Minister said they were considered the backbone of the nation's economy and food security, adding that several cases were still pending against those who had protested for their demands.

Recalling the protests against the Melma SIPCOT project, the Chief Minister said the Goondas Act had been invoked against some farmers during the agitation against the project.

"The previous government had filed cases against farmers without humanity when they protested against projects such as the proposed airport. Due to the pending cases, the teachers and farmers have been under mental stress," the Chief Minister said.

He announced that the government had decided to withdraw cases against teachers and farmers who had protested for their demands without resorting to violence. He said the decision was taken on humanitarian and democratic grounds.

Assuring the farmers and teachers, the Chief Minister said the government would support their legitimate demands. The announcement was welcomed by the Congress, CPM, CPI, ADMK (CVe Shanmugam), PMK, IUML and VCK.

The new system will enable “Anywhere Registration/Licensing” services, allowing citizens to access transport-related registration and licensing services irrespective of the office where they originally applied.

Under the initiative, Digital Registration Certificates (RCs) will be issued online to owners of newly registered vehicles. The facility will be available across the State from September 15, 2026.

Similarly, applicants who pass the driving test will receive their Digital Driving Licence on the same day. The digital licence facility will also be rolled out statewide from September 15.

The digital documents can be verified online by government offices and other authorised institutions by scanning their QR codes. If a document is lost or damaged, users will also be able to download and print it again, eliminating the need to obtain a fresh physical copy.

Eligibility: Open to SC, ST and Muslim students from any Indian state or union territory who have passed Class 12 with the required marks and have annual parental income up to ₹5,00,000, seeking UG admission at the Chennai campus.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship covering up to 100 per cent of tuition fee, hostel accommodation, food and examination fee

Last Date to Apply: 14-09-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/CRSCT1

Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in the first year of a full-time regular undergraduate (UG) degree in any stream at a recognised Indian institute. Must have passed Class 12 with a minimum of 60% marks.

The annual household income should be up to INR 15,00,000 per year (preference will be given to those students whose family income is less than INR 2,50,000). Open to resident Indian citizens only. An aptitude test is mandatory.

Prizes & Rewards: Up to INR 2,00,000 over the duration of the degree

Last Date to Apply: 05-10-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/RFS14

The restriction, which came into force on September 1, is aimed at preserving the sanctity of temples and ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for devotees during worship, the minister said in a statement.

Clarifying the scope of the measure, he said there was no restriction on carrying ordinary mobile phones that do not have facilities to take photographs or record videos.

The move follows similar restrictions already in force at major temples, including Palani, Tiruchendur, Madurai, and Rameswaram.

The department said the measure was intended to prevent photography, video recording, selfies, and reels inside temple premises, which could affect the worship experience of other devotees.

For devotees carrying camera phones, secure deposit counters and lockers have been arranged at the temples.

A nominal charge of Rs 5 per phone has been fixed to meet the expenses of staff, lockers, and related technological facilities, and is not intended as temple revenue, the minister said.

Temple administrations have been instructed to increase the number of counters wherever necessary to reduce waiting time. Devotees have also been advised to leave their phones at home, in their accommodation or in their vehicles, wherever possible, to avoid queues and congestion.

The minister appealed to devotees and the public to extend their cooperation to ensure a peaceful worship environment and safeguard the tradition and sanctity of temples.

Eligibility: Students who are enrolled in the first-year full-time regular postgraduation programmes pursuing select future-ready courses from Engineering, Technology, Energy and Life Sciences. Must have secured 550 to 1,000 in the GATE examination, OR must have a CGPA of 7.5 or above in their undergraduate studies (or equivalent percentage normalised to CGPA) if the student has not attempted GATE. Open to resident Indian citizens only.

Prizes & Rewards: Up to INR 6,00,000 over the duration of the degree.

Last Date to Apply: 05-10-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/RFS15

Eligibility: Students enrolled in the first year of BBA, BFIA, B.Com. (H, E), BMS, IPM, B.A. (Economics), BBS, or any other finance-related degree courses are eligible. Applicants must have secured at least 80% marks in Classes 10 and 12 (70% for PwD students). The annual parental income must not exceed INR 6 lakh from all sources. Open for Indian nationals only.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship from INR 40,000 to INR 5,50,000 per year for 3 years.

Last Date to Apply: 30-09-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/RKMSP6

Eligibility: Open to Indian students in Classes 11 and 12 or pursuing UG, Diploma, or ITI courses at recognised institutions.

Minimum 60% marks in the previous year.

Annual parental income must not exceed INR 4 lakh.

Prizes & Rewards: Selected students can receive 80% to 100% of their tuition/course fees, up to INR 15,000 (Class 11 & 12) and up to INR 18,000 (undergraduate, diploma & ITI), based on their academic performance. (Whichever is less)

Last Date to Apply: October 10

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/TCPS37

QR Code: https://dle9eg0t055l3.cloudfront.net/static/images/scho-media/tata-capital-pankh-scholarship-program-2026-271788235677.png

Eligibility: Open to first-year MBA/PGDM/PGP/B.E./B.Tech./M.E./M.Tech (For Tech, Applicable Courses are: Computer Science, IT, AI/ML, Data Science, or Statistics.)

Must have secured a minimum of 75% marks or equivalent in Class 10 and 12.

Students from top 25 NIRF-ranked colleges will be considered for this scholarship, with students from the top 10 NIRF-ranked colleges given preference.

Annual parental income up to INR 15 lakh.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship of up to INR 10,00,000 per year*, based on course category and fee-linked slab.

Last Date to Apply: October 10

Application mode: Online applications only

Short URL: www.b4s.in/dtnt/BFAS2

QR Code: https://dle9eg0t055l3.cloudfront.net/static/images/scho-media/2026-271788240134.png

Note: The scholarship support will be provided on a per-year basis for the duration of the course, subject to the student continuing to meet the applicable renewal criteria.

Eligibility: Must be an Indian citizen.

Must be currently pursuing a professional photography-related course with a minimum duration of three months.

Must have passed Class 12 (any stream).

Annual parental income from all sources must not exceed INR 6,00,000

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship up to INR 1,00,000 based on the actual course fee.

Last Date to Apply: 23-09-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/NIKON14

Eligibility: Open to PAN India girl students belonging to the SC, ST or OBC communities studying in Classes 9 to 12, or pursuing general undergraduate courses (such as B.A., B.A. (Hons.), B.Sc. or B.Com.) and general postgraduate courses (such as M.A., M.A. (Hons.), M.Sc. or M.Com.).

Applicants must have secured at least 50% marks in their previous academic year or semester.

Annual family income from all sources should not exceed INR 4,00,000.

Prizes & Rewards: Fixed scholarship of INR 5,500 per selected scholar

Last Date to Apply: 21-09-2026

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/MNM3

The restriction, which came into force on September 1, is aimed at preserving the sanctity of temples and ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for devotees, he said. There was no restriction on carrying ordinary mobile phones that do not have facilities to take photographs or record videos. The move follows similar restrictions already in force at major temples, including Palani, Tiruchendur, Madurai, and Rameswaram.

This was intended to prevent photography, video recording, selfies, and reels inside temple premises, which could affect others.

Secure deposit counters and lockers have been arranged and a nominal charge of Rs 5 per phone has been fixed to meet the expenses of staff, lockers, and related technological facilities. It is not intended as temple revenue, he said. Temple administrations have been told to increase the number of counters wherever necessary to reduce waiting time. Devotees were advised to leave their phones at home, in their accommodation or in their vehicles to avoid queues and congestion.

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

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

The girl managed to escape the gang and informed her mother about the incident, and the latter lodged a complaint with the Sethubavachatram police. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case. On Tuesday, the police arrested the four, and also the man who lured the girl, under the Pocso Act. The men were produced before the court which remanded them in custody, while the minors were lodged in the government observation home in Thanjavur.

AIADMK member L Jayasudha's mispronunciation triggered repeated laughter in the Assembly on Tuesday, with members across party lines joining in during the debate.

Participating in the discussion on the Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi and MSME Departments, the Arani MLA began her speech by thanking Palaniswami, as AIADMK members customarily do before addressing the issues related to the departments under discussion.

However, Jayasudha, instead of sounding "Edappadiyaar", was seen pronouncing it as "Ettappadiyaar," prompting laughter from the Treasury and Opposition benches. Each time she used the pronunciation, members exchanged smiles and laughed, turning the proceedings into a brief, light-hearted episode.

During her speech, Jayasudha described Health and Family Welfare Minister KG Arunraj as a "well-mannered and cultured person". She referred to Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan as a close associate and also thanked Handlooms Minister M Vijay Balaji.

Taking the exchange in good humour, Vijay Balaji remarked: "Goodness… your party chief is not present here (in the Assembly)."

Family members waiting anxiously at the airport broke down in tears, as they saw their loved ones safe and embraced them after days of uncertainty. The returnees were from Coimbatore, Tirupur, the Nilgiris, and Erode districts.

For some, the homecoming brought a painful reminder of how narrowly they had escaped the disaster. Prema of Kaniyampoondi in Tirupur said the group was fortunate to have crossed the flood-affected area just a day before the disaster struck.

“We were shocked to learn that the place we had travelled through for darshan had been devastated and that many lives had been lost. We feel fortunate to have returned safely,” she said.

Two other women, Saroja and Rathi of Sathyamangalam, recalled the help they received from their Nepali guides during the difficult journey. “Two Nepali guides helped us reach a safer place. Even after learning that the brother of one of the guides had gone missing in the floods, he stayed with us and ensured that we reached a safe destination,” they said.

For Ajay of Uthukuli in Tirupur, the ordeal ended only when he saw his parents return safely. He had come to the airport to receive his parents, Chandrakumar (57) and Mohana (47).

“My parents left for Nepal on August 18 as part of a 39-member group on a spiritual tour. We were extremely worried after hearing about the devastating floods. We felt relieved only after we managed to contact them over the phone. Seeing them return safely has brought us immense relief,” he said.

Replying during a debate on the demands for grants for his department, Balaji said the expansion of Co-optex's sales network would help take Tamil Nadu's handloom products to a wider customer base. The franchise showrooms and multi-brand outlets would be established in India and abroad. The minister announced the setting up of a silk export trade facilitation centre (SETFC) in Kancheepuram to strengthen support for exporters and manufacturers.

The government would also promote the use of renewable energy in the handloom sector by installing solar panels for weavers. A Natural Dye House would be established to promote eco-friendly production. A design studio would come up in Thanjavur to develop new designs and improve the marketability of handloom products. A special handloom expo would be organised to showcase products made by local weavers.

To improve textile market access, the department would organise a reverse buyer-seller meet, bringing buyers and producers together to create new business opportunities. Balaji also announced a Centre of Excellence for HomeTech Textiles to promote research, product development and innovation in the home-textile sector.

The government would further establish a Tamil Nadu Knitwear Board to support the State’s knitwear value chain and facilitate the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises.

MSME package

Under a Rs 32.95-crore micro and small cluster development programme,

Athangudi's handmade tile industry will receive a Rs 3 crore common facility centre, while Dindigul's traditional lock cluster will get Rs 10 crore. covering four traditional-product clusters, MSME minister P Madhan Raja announced on Tuesday.

The announcements to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), span traditional industries, finance, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, technology and market access.

The government will implement the ‘Vetri Kaivinai Kalaignargal Thittam’, under which projects up to Rs 10 lakh will be granted 50% financial assistance. The ‘MMM Scheme’ will provide Rs 100 crore in margin-money support through the Tamil Nadu Industrial Cooperative Bank.

New industrial parks for women entrepreneurs will be established in eight districts, covering 108.28 acres at an estimated Rs 237.56 crore.

For startups, the ‘Tamil Nadu Start Smart Seed Fund’ will provide up to Rs 25 lakh to eligible startups. The government will also create a Rs 100 crore investment fund for startups.

A new MSME policy will address technology adoption, Industry 4.0, intellectual property, quality, design and market access. The government will also support new entrepreneurs through the Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute-Tamil Nadu, with 1,000 new entrepreneurs to be assisted through various programmes.

A medical and drug park will be established at Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district on 60.36 acres at a cost of Rs 48.08 crore. The park is expected to generate about 2,800 jobs.

The package also includes measures for technology support, skill development, market access and strengthening MSME clusters across the State.

The Bill was tabled by Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajkumar on Tuesday (September 1), stating that the move was aimed at simplifying the process for obtaining permission for land development, reducing procedural delays, and improving the ease of obtaining such permissions.

The Opposition parties, AIADMK, CPI, and CPM, opposed it at the introductory stage.

The primary Opposition DMK, along with the PMK and BJP, sought a debate before the Bill was passed. One of the Cabinet colleagues from the Congress supported the Bill.

The debate on the Bill will be taken up before the Assembly session concludes. If the PMK and BJP support the Bill, it is likely to be passed by voice vote, even though the Left parties have opposed it.

"The government has decided to dispense with the requirement of obtaining prior concurrence from the district Collector for the development of wetlands in non-planning areas and to give powers to the DTCP to give prior concurrence to the local authority in the case of wetlands," the Bill said.

During the debate on demands for grants for the Labour Welfare and Skill Development departments, Sattur legislator A Kadarkarairaj said the DMK government had always protected workers' interests and welfare. He alleged that the present government had not yet implemented any significant scheme for the welfare of labourers.

Responding to the remarks, Minister Aadhav Arjuna said the previous DMK government had introduced a Bill proposing to extend working hours from 8 to 12, claiming such a move was against labour welfare.

He said the Bill was eventually withdrawn following opposition from alliance partners.

Responding to the Minister's allegation, DMK floor leader EV Velu said that several companies from abroad looking to establish industries in Tamil Nadu had sought flexible working hours, so the then government proposed to introduce the Bill.

He also said the Bill stated that those willing to work 12 hours could opt for it, while others who did not wish to work more than 8 hours could continue with the 8-hour workday.

He said the DMK government had withdrawn the proposal after considering concerns and requests from its alliance partners.