However, the move has drawn opposition from devotees, who said the additional process would further increase their waiting time, according to a Daily Thanthi report. Devotees already have to wait around two to three hours for darshan, and they said they now have to spend nearly another half an hour depositing their phones and about 30 minutes collecting them after darshan.

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department had banned devotees from carrying mobile phones into 58 temples under its control in Tamil Nadu. Under the new arrangement, which came into effect on September 1, devotees can deposit their phones at designated counters before entering the temples.

At Tiruttani, the fifth of the six abodes of Lord Murugan, a counter was set up for this purpose, with a fee of Rs 5 being charged for each phone. Following strong protests from devotees, the counter was closed last weekend, and devotees were allowed to switch off their phones and carry them inside the temple.

The counter has now been reopened, but without any fee. Devotees, however, have expressed dissatisfaction over the time spent at the counter and urged the authorities to find a more convenient arrangement.

Instead, he demanded the creation of an integrated administrative city spanning 500 to 1,000 acres outside the state capital to meet governance needs for the next century.

Reacting to media reports suggesting that the proposed Rs 1,200 crore, 20-lakh square feet Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex announced by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would come up on a 26.36-acre parcel of land in Pattinapakkam, Anbumani, in a statement, termed the move "shortsighted."

"While the need for a modern Secretariat in Tamil Nadu is beyond dispute, establishing it at Pattinapakkam will cause more harm than good," PMK leader said.

He cited severe traffic congestion along Santhome High Road and Greenways Road, which are already heavily strained despite the construction of a loop road.

Adding a massive government complex near densely populated hubs, major schools, and the Santhome Church would choke traffic in the area, he warned.

The former union minister further pointed out that 26.36 acres would be grossly inadequate once mandatory FSI compliance, green space allocation, fire stations, emergency medical units, parking facilities, and public transit links are accounted for.

"Building it on a restricted plot will inevitably replicate the current space constraints within a few years," he noted.

Highlighting Vijay's stated vision that the new complex should serve the state’s needs for the next 100 years, the PMK chief argued that global and historical precedents favor relocating administrative hubs to dedicated greenfield locations.

Anbumani urged the government to acquire at least 500 to 1,000 acres outside Chennai to build a self-contained administrative city.

The proposed township, he suggested, should house the Secretariat, Legislative Assembly, departmental headquarters, residences for the Chief Minister, Ministers, and civil servants, as well as Metro connectivity, helipads, schools, colleges, sports arenas, and commercial complexes.

There were reports of he rescheduling his European trip in view of the planned visit of Malaysian PM to Chennai. However the sources said that the CM had decided to go ahead with his London trip as per plan.

According to sources, the Chief Minister will leave Chennai at around 10 pm on September 10 by an Emirates passenger flight and travel to London via Dubai.

During his stay in London, Vijay is expected to hold meetings with leading businessmen and representatives of industries from Europe. He is likely to invite industrialists to establish new ventures in Tamil Nadu and explore opportunities for increased investments in the State.

The visit is expected to focus primarily on attracting industrial investments and promoting Tamil Nadu as a major destination for new businesses and manufacturing ventures.

After completing his engagements in London, the Chief Minister is scheduled to return to Chennai on September 16 by an Emirates flight via Dubai. He is expected to arrive at Chennai airport at around 8.30 pm.

The trip will be Vijay's first foreign visit after assuming office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and is also significant as he will be travelling abroad from Chennai on a commercial passenger flight.

Airport and other government officials have reportedly begun making extensive arrangements in connection with the Chief Minister's departure and return.

Officials from the Industries and Finance Departments are also expected to be part of the delegation accompanying the Chief Minister. Some of the officials may leave for London ahead of Vijay to make advance arrangements and coordinate meetings with potential investors.

The Chief Minister's visit is being closely watched as it marks his first overseas trip since taking charge and is expected to provide an opportunity for the State government to engage directly with international investors and explore fresh investment opportunities for Tamil Nadu.

The 484-page final report of the commission, constituted by the then DMK government to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragedy, was tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday.

According to the report, more than 231 people consumed illegally brewed liquor, which was allegedly mixed with methanol, between June 17 and 20, 2024, in areas under the Kallakurichi, Sankarapuram and Kachirapalayam police station limits. A total of 70 people died, while 161 were taken ill.

The commission examined 433 witnesses, including 157 survivors who suffered serious or minor health complications, and 69 relatives of the deceased.

The commission said though methanol was not a narcotic, it was misused by unscrupulous traders for commercial purposes and called for strict regulations on its purchase, storage and sale.

Though methanol had been brought under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act in 2002, after a series of hooch tragedies, continuous monitoring by Prohibition and Excise officials could have exposed its illegal possession and sale, the report said.

The commission pointed to the alleged auctioning of the contract for selling illicit liquor, stating that village welfare committees in areas such as Seshachamuthiram, Madhavacheri, Sankarapuram and Kachirapalayam were involved in such practices.

The report observed that Kallakurichi lacked adequate industrial development and job opportunities. Sections of population that lost employment when agricultural activities remained unavailable turned to alcohol.

The commission suggested additional assistance to some of the affected families, beyond the Rs 10 lakh compensation given.

It recommended strict enforcement of the Prohibition Act and called for a phased reduction of liquor sales with the objective of complete prohibition within a stipulated period.

It said the alleged nexus between illicit liquor sellers and police officials must be dismantled and called for action against officials who failed to discharge their duties.

It also suggested establishing industries in Kallakurichi, considering natural toddy sales, reducing IMFL prices and changing TASMAC’s operating hours.

In this connection, officials have installed about 51 LED screens at the Puthu Mandapam control centre to monitor the entire temple premises from a single location, manage crowd congestion, and identify suspicious persons. “More than 200 advanced CCTV cameras and Face Recognition System (FRS) cameras have been installed across the temple premises and surrounding areas to ensure the safety of the devotees,” said A.G. Inigo Thiyan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Madurai City to DTNEXT.

Madurai District Collector Nishant Krishna and City Police Commissioner Rajendran, IPS, inspected the control room and CCTV monitoring centre set up at Puthu Mandapam on Wednesday. During the inspection, they reviewed the quality of CCTV footage, recording capabilities and coordination among security personnel.

“As lakhs of devotees are expected to attend the event, we need to ensure their safety. As people would be witnessing the Kumbabishekam from the four major streets around the temple, property offenders could use this opportunity to steal their valuables. Hence, we have installed FRS to identify them,” he said.

The city police have already prepared a list of property offenders along with their criminal antecedents and uploaded their photographs to the computer system. “If the offenders are seen roaming in the streets, the FRS will immediately match their faces and alert the police. We will immediately secure them,” said Inigo Thiyan.

“For the next eight days, 160 officials from 10 key departments, including the Police Department, Madurai Corporation, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and Revenue Department, will be deployed on a shift basis at the control room for 24x7 surveillance,” said the officer.

More than 300 walkie-talkies will be provided to personnel so that information relating to security, crowd management, emergency drinking water and sanitation can be immediately communicated to the control room for necessary action, said a senior revenue officer.

“For instance, if there is a shortage of drinking water, it will be immediately communicated from the control room to Corporation officials and the issue will be resolved immediately,” he said.

LED screens will also be installed at major crowded locations, including Periyar Bus Stand and Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Stand, to provide devotees with a live telecast of the consecration ceremony.

The district administration said that all security and precautionary arrangements were being made on a full scale to ensure that devotees could participate in the Kumbabishekam safely and peacefully.

In a statement, Stalin said I Paranthamen, the legal wing joint secretary and a DMK spokesperson, would contest from the Madurantakam constituency.

It may be recalled that Paranthamen was the Egmore MLA from 2021 to 2026, but was denied a ticket in the Assembly election early this year. After the drubbing that the party received in the polls, he had issued an open statement criticising senior leader PK Sekarbabu, and had urged the party leadership to take corrective action. However, he has also remained a staunch loyalist, and the ticket seems to be a reward for that.

Stalin also announced S Suganya, a newcomer, as the party’s candidate for the Dharapuram Assembly constituency, the second seat that is going to polls on October 6.

Interestingly, Stalin said the candidates were announced with the support of the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), though the coalition is now reduced to only a handful of minor partners after its key partners – Congress, CPM, CPI, VCK, and IUML – have broken away and are backing Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK.

When will the 2 TN bypolls be held?

Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies fell vacant following the resignation of sitting AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, who then joined the ruling TVK. They are likely to be fielded by the ruling party, though the TVK is yet to formally announce its candidates.

The bypolls are politically significant as they will be the first electoral test for the three-month-old TVK government. The Election Commission has fixed October 6 as polling day, with counting scheduled for October 9. The nomination process begins on September 9 and ends on September 16.

The Madurantakam constituency has 2,11,295 voters, including 1,03,943 men, 1,07,288 women and 64 third-gender voters. The Model Code of Conduct has already come into force in the constituency.

When will bypolls be held for 5 other TN seats?

The two seats are among seven vacancies in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The EC, however, has not announced polls for Tiruchy East, Ambasamudram, Viralimalai, Perundurai, and Karur, where election-related cases concerning the returned candidates are pending. The restraint on holding by-elections in these five constituencies has been extended till September 8.

(With inputs from Bureau)

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the scheme is now expected to be launched on Friday (September 25) at a government hospital in Usilampatti, Madurai district.

Why was the Thaimaaman Gold Ring Scheme announced?

CM Vijay had announced the scheme on June 23 with the aim of increasing the number of children born in government hospitals. He had said it would be launched on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister CN Annadurai.

Children born in government hospitals from June 22 would be eligible, with their maternal uncles to present them with a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring.

How many gold rings have been ordered for the scheme?

The government has allocated Rs 755.83 crore in the budget for the scheme for the next one year and placed an order for 4,41,667 gold rings. Joyalukkas has secured 70 per cent of the contract to supply the rings, while Kalyan Jewellers has secured the remaining 30 per cent.

Why is the September 15 launch unlikely?

With only five days remaining for the proposed launch, the scheme is unlikely to begin on September 15, reportedly because Vijay is scheduled to leave for London on Thursday to attract business investments. He will travel from Chennai to Dubai and then proceed to London.

When is the Thaimaaman gold ring scheme likely to be launched?

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is expected to return to Chennai from London on the night of September 16. In view of this, the Thaimaaman Gold Ring Scheme is reportedly likely to be launched on September 25 at a government hospital in Usilampatti, Madurai district.

The Usilampatti location is said to have been chosen as the custom of giving Thaimaaman Seer is popular in the area.

Eligibility: Open to students enrolled in full-time B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA/PGDM, or Polytechnic diploma programmes at recognised government or private institutions in India

Prizes & Rewards: Selected candidates will receive financial aid of up to Rs 20,000, disbursed in a milestone-based manner upon successful completion of four approved certification courses

Last Date to Apply: September 30

Application mode: Online applications only

Short Url: www.b4s.in/dtnt/EPSP2

Eligibility: Open to students in Classes 1 to 12, diploma, ITI, polytechnic, undergraduate (general and professional), and postgraduate (general and professional) courses.

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarship up to Rs 75,000 based on education level

Last Date to Apply: October 31

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Eligibility: Students studying in Classes 9 to 12 from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tripura, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are eligible to apply

Prizes & Rewards: Selected students will receive scholarship benefits of up to Rs 12,000 (based on actual expenses). Mentorship support (Session on Road Safety)

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Eligibility: The application is open to meritorious students who have secured at least 60% marks or an equivalent CGPA in Class 10th or 12th/equivalent examinations during the academic years 2023–24 to 2025–26. For the General Scholarship, applicants must have taken admission in the first year of one of the listed academic programmes in 2026–27.

Prizes & Rewards: An award of up to Rs 50,000.

Last Date to Apply: September 30

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Eligibility: Open to Indian nationals studying in Classes 9 to 12, undergraduate, postgraduate, MBBS, IIT or IIM programmes. Overseas Studies is open only to SC/ST Indian nationals

Prizes & Rewards: Scholarships ranging from Rs 15,000 to Ra 20,00,000 per academic year will be awarded depending on the scholarship category

Last Date to Apply: September 19

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Eligibility: Must be an Indian citizen. Open to students enrolled in the first year (academic year 2026-27) of their B.Tech or BE programme

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Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V Sampathkumar moved the resolution, stating that caste-wise details of Other Backward Classes had not been collected in the Census conducted after Independence.

The resolution said accurate details of BCs, MBCs and DNCs were essential to ensure social justice for all sections of society. It urged the Union government to collect caste details during the second phase of the Census in the same manner as those for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

It further urged the Centre to pre-load the lists of BCs, MBCs and DNCs notified by the State and Union governments into the Census enumeration portal/application. The resolution said that the details should be collected solely from the names contained in these notified lists.

The Assembly also urged the Union government to dispense with the "open-column method" for enumerating BCs, MBCs and DNCs, describing the method as ambiguous.

The resolution was adopted unanimously by the House with the support of all parties, including the VCK, IUML, Congress, AIADMK, PMK, Left parties and BJP. Due to their eviction from the House, DMK members were unable to participate in the debate on the resolution.

Addressing the media at a press conference here on Tuesday, principal accountant general (Audit-I), Tamil Nadu, R Thiruppathi Venkatasamy provided key insights into the findings of seven CAG reports presented in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

The reports cover the State's finances for 2024-25; State revenues for the period ended March 2024; educational scholarship schemes for SC/ST/SCC students; power generation activities of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited; state public sector enterprises (SPSEs); Jal Jeevan Mission; and implementation of the Smart City Mission.

The State Finances Audit Report for 2024-25 noted that Tamil Nadu recorded robust GSDP growth of 15.98%, but continued to face fiscal pressures. The State reported a revenue deficit of Rs 45,840 crore, while revenue receipts grew by only 6.89%. Revenue expenditure accounted for 84.70% of total expenditure, committed expenditure for 53.75% of revenue expenditure and subsidies for 16%. The CAG also observed that a significant portion of borrowings was used for revenue expenditure and debt servicing rather than asset creation.

The report further found that revenue arrears stood at Rs 58,110.16 crore as of March 31, 2025, of which Rs 28,726.53 crore had remained outstanding for more than five years. The arrears accounted for 27.18% of the State's own revenue.

Thiruppathi said the seven reports highlighted the need for tighter monitoring, improved revenue realisation and greater accountability.

The Performance Audit on Power Generation Activities of Tangedco, tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday, flagged deficiencies in thermal power generation, coal procurement and handling, and delays in commissioning power projects.

Poor performance and failure of the ash handling system at NCTPS-II caused generation loss and additional expenditure of more than Rs 130 crore, the audit said.

Coal shortages and purchase of coal at higher prices resulted in additional expenditure of more than Rs 3,900 crore. Tangedco’s failure to adopt the variable-price method for imported coal, instead of the firm-price method, cost another Rs 1,200 crore.

Listing out the lapses, it said despite contractual provisions to claim compensation for coal shortages, Tangedco neither calculated shortages nor claimed compensation from contractors for 2001-24. Also, testing was not done or results were unavailable for 17.55 lakh tonnes of coal.

The audit said acceptance of lower-grade coal forced Tangedco to use additional quantities, causing avoidable expenditure of around Rs 1,500 crore. It also incurred around Rs 250 crore due to pre-berth delays in time charters and made excess idle-freight payments because of deficiencies in the Fuel Supply Agreement.

The CAG noted that a previous audit covering coal management for the five years ending 2018-19 had highlighted similar deficiencies, but most issues continued to persist.

Projects delayed

Thermal projects scheduled for completion before March 2023 remained incomplete, with progress ranging from 18% to 94%, and the utility exceeded the 50-month completion norm prescribed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission by 13 to 56 months, it said.

The resultant increase in Interest During Construction, estimated at around Rs 3,600 crore for three projects, is likely to be disallowed by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission while finalising project capital costs, the auditor cautioned.

The audit also highlighted the failure of the Ujwal Discoms Assurance Yojana (UDAY) to improve Tangedco’s financial position. Tamil Nadu was required to take over 75%, or Rs 56,317 crore, of Tangedco’s debt but took over only Rs 22,815 crore, or 34.38%, citing financial constraints.

The gap between Average Cost of Supply and Average Revenue Realised widened from (-) Rs 0.60 per unit in 2015-16 to (-) Rs 1.07 in 2019-20, while outstanding debt rose from Rs 81,312 crore to Rs 1.23 lakh crore by March 2020, it noted.

The CAG also said the Rs 28,731.74-crore Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme remained at an initial stage, with smart metering yet to take off. State government subsidy and grant support to the utility rose 314%, from Rs 5,947.09 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 24,636.98 crore in 2024-25.

Dindigul was the 12th but was not selected, as its first Smart City Proposal (SCP) did not contain the prescribed sector-wise list of projects for the Area Based Development (ABD) area along with the Pan-city coverage.

Though a revised proposal was forwarded in November 2017, the Centre did not consider. The audited cities had initially proposed 243 projects worth Rs 10,035.58 crore. But 52 of these projects, accounting for Rs.1,602.20 crore, were not implemented.

At the same time, 44 projects worth Rs 623.86 crore that were not part of their original proposals were implemented. Five of these were routine works that should have been undertaken by the respective corporations from their own funds, while 21 were implemented outside the ABD area.

Another significant planning gap was the complete absence of Greenfield development in all 7 audited cities. As many as 70 projects involving Rs 655.43 crore were implemented outside the approved ABD areas.

The 7 cities remained largely dependent on government grants, with little mobilisation through public-private partnerships, borrowings or other sources envisaged under the mission. Against Rs 1,630.03 crore of projects planned through PPP, only 4 worth Rs.16.57 crore were executed in Chennai and Coimbatore.

Dindigul was the 12th city but was not selected, as its first Smart City Proposal did not contain the prescribed sector-wise list of projects for the Area Based Development

The CAG also found that Rs 1,127 crore of the Centre’s share was diverted to Personal Deposit accounts in 2021, contrary to maintaining it in a Single Nodal Account. Delays in transferring funds from the State government to TUFIDCO and subsequently to the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) were also observed.

Municipal corporations continued to retain significant control over project selection and implementation, limiting the role of these agencies. Revenue of Rs 57.72 crore collected by the corporations from deposits, lease rentals, parking and user charges was also not transferred to them.

Around 93 projects requiring statutory approvals had been commenced without obtaining the necessary clearances. Of these, 81 projects worth Rs 1,430.83 crore were awaiting clearances from planning and other authorities, while 12 projects worth Rs 175.27 crore were awaiting approvals from the TN Pollution Control Board.

The CAG also found that 12 projects worth Rs 590.58 crore and another 60 projects worth Rs 625.73 crore had not been placed before the High-Powered Project Sanctioning Committee after being split into smaller packages. According to the audit, this denied the projects the intended expert scrutiny and the possibility of cost savings.

KEY NUMBERS

• Originally proposed projects: 243

• Original project value: Rs 10,035.58 crore

• Projects eventually taken up: 414

As of March 2024...

• Completed: 387

• Ongoing: 27

• Expenditure: Rs 6,341.81 crore

Projects and their value

• Planned projects not implemented: 52

• Valued at Rs 1,602.20 crore

• Unplanned projects implemented: 44

• Valued at Rs 623.86 crore

• Centre’s share diverted to PD accounts: Rs 1,127 crore

• Revenue not transferred to SPVs: Rs 57.72 crore

• Projects sans clearances: 93

The draft rules, framed under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, are based on the 2025 guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The aggregator licence is aimed at regulating app-based transport services and ensuring transparent and efficient services for passengers.

The minister, who was speaking during a debate on demands for grants, also said autorickshaw fares would be revised soon and fare meters will be installed in all autorickshaws.

The preliminary report of the special committee on fare revision had been submitted and was under review, he revealed.

“Autorickshaw fares were revised in Chennai in 2013 and in other districts in 2014. Revision of fares in line with rising fuel and maintenance costs has been a long-pending demand of autorickshaw owners,” he noted.

Parthiban said a fare revision committee formed on August 5 submitted its revised fare recommendation on August 21.

The amendment Bill seeks to reduce the minimum land requirement to set up private universities to 12 acres within the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) limits, 18 acres in other municipal corporations and municipal councils, and 25 acres in other areas. It also proposes reducing the permanent endowment fund requirement from Rs 50 crore to Rs 25 crore.

The amendment follows recommendations of a Task Force on Compliance Reduction and Deregulation constituted by the Union government, which was led by the Cabinet Secretary. The task force had recommended removing the minimum land and endowment fund requirements for establishing higher educational institutions.

The proposal, however, faced stiff opposition in the Assembly from both allies and rivals of the ruling TVK.

CPI MLA K Marimuthu opposed the Bill, arguing that reducing the requirements could lead to the commercialisation of education and affect the principle of social justice.

PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar also opposed the amendment, stating that reducing the land requirement could result in universities lacking adequate infrastructure and facilities. He also criticised the proposal to reduce the endowment fund from Rs 50 crore to Rs 25 crore.

However, Higher Education Minister Viswanathan defended the Bill, saying the amendments were aimed at facilitating the establishment of world class private universities in Tamil Nadu.

The proposal had earlier been introduced by the previous DMK regime. However, following strong opposition from political parties and other stakeholders, the government withdrew the Private Universities Bill in February 2026.

The TVK - led government has now revived the proposal in an amended form and secured its passage in the Assembly despite opposition from its supporting parties.

While Kannan, a resident from Elangadu village near Boothalur in Thanjavur was digging a land near his house, he found a metal coin and soon, he passed on the information to the Vishnampettai temple Executive officer Gopi, who contacted Mani Maran, a Tamil Pandit and archaeological researcher of Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur.

Soon, a team headed by Mani Maran rushed to the spot and found that there was a Siva Lingam dating back to the Pallava era. Mani Maran said that the Elangadu village is known for the rich heritage of Chola, Pallava, Mutharaiyar, Pandia, Naikar and Maratha kings.

The Lingam was believed to be buried in due course of time. The texture and the size of the lingam depict that it belonged to the Pallava period. “Further excavation might bring out several idols from the spot, and it has reference in ancient manuscripts,” Mani Maran said.

Upon inspection of the coin unearthed, the research team along with the numismatic Seetharaman, said the coin which was weighing around 3.30 grams belonged to Sadaya Sundara Pandian I ruled the region between 1,250 and 1284.

The coin has the symbol of fish depicting the Pandian era, a kuthuvilakku and a human face. There is a Tamil word ‘Ellanthalaiyanan’ around the coin, which confirms that it was released during Sundara Pandian's rule.

According to manuscripts, Sundara Pandian established Vikkrama Pandia Sathurvedi Mangalam near Chidambaram in veneration of his elder brother Vikkrama Pandian.

He also built the Vikkrama Pandia Eswaran temple in the locality and performed special pujas before wars and won every single war, and so he has been acclaimed as Ellanthalaiyanan, said Mani Maran.

He also urged the government to begin excavation in the Elangadu village, which would become a treasure trove.

To streamline relief operations across all Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) zones, senior IAS officers have been deployed under the leadership of ministers. Ministerial teams and senior officials have been instructed to conduct field inspections at least twice a week in flood-prone areas and ongoing project sites to address operational gaps immediately.

A joint framework has been established involving the GCC, CMWSSB, police, fire services, health, fisheries, TNPDCL, and CMRL to expedite the works. The departments concerned have been directed to clear water hyacinth from waterbodies, desilt canals, and expedite pending road, drinking water, and sewage pipeline repairs to prevent urban flooding. TNPDCL has been specifically ordered to replace snapping-hazard power cables and reinforce weak electricity poles to eliminate electrocution risks during heavy rains.

Emergency equipment, including high-capacity dewatering pumps, chainsaws, heavy machinery, and rescue boats, is being pre-positioned in vulnerable zones for immediate deployment. Also, schools and community halls are being readied as relief centres, backed by community kitchens equipped to provide hot meals and safe drinking water.

The meeting was attended by ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, KG Arunraj, and KA Sengottaiyan, along with Chief Secretary M Saikumar, State police chief Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal and department secretaries, while district Collectors joined the proceedings via video conference.

The decision followed a meeting between senior AIADMK leaders Agri SS Krishnamurthy, OS Manian and R Kamaraj and BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran, during which the AIADMK leaders sought the saffron party's support. This assumes significance after EPS said that new parties joining the AIADMK-led front would be welcomed. Asked whether the DMK would be accepted, he smiled and replied: “Will the DMK come?” The talk has brought to the fore the principal opposition's stance in the bypolls: whether to field candidates that will split the opposition vote or abstain to indirectly help the AIADMK candidates.

The BJP's backing comes amid the AIADMK's preparations to reclaim the two seats it won in the 2026 Assembly elections. The BJP's decision to support the AIADMK assumes significance as the bypolls will be the first electoral contest between the principal political formations since the TVK government assumed office. The two seats are also politically significant for the AIADMK as the vacancies resulted from the defection of its legislators to the ruling party.

Polling is scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9. Nominations can be filed from September 9 to 16, scrutiny will take place on September 17, and the last date for withdrawal is September 19. The Model Code of Conduct has already come into force in the two constituencies.

“This case stands as a classic textbook illustration of how draconian statutory provisions can be weaponised, holding an innocent person beneath the suspended sword of a death sentence,” observed a Division Bench of Justices N Anand Venkatesh and KK Ramakrishnan.

The Bench set aside the conviction and death sentence imposed by the Principal Sessions Court (Pocso Act Cases), Sivaganga, on April 20, 2026, and directed that Chandran be released forthwith unless his custody was required in any other case.

“The Pocso Act is intentionally stringent, designed as a shield to protect children from exploitation. Yet, it is deeply painful to witness instances where vulnerable children are used as pawns by adults to settle private scores, rendering the child a victim twice over,” the judges observed.

The High Court found material contradictions in the prosecution witnesses' accounts, particularly regarding how the children had assembled at the accused's house. It also questioned the absence of any natural reaction from neighbours at the alleged place of occurrence.

The court further noted the unexplained delay in lodging the complaint and the failure to recover the mobile phone allegedly used by the children before the incident. It held that the absence of this objective evidence added to the reasonable doubt.

The Bench also held that the trial court had erred in convicting Chandran under Section 4 of the Pocso Act when no specific charge had been framed under that provision.

The government in the Assembly, during the debate on demands for grants for the Public Department, also announced a package of measures covering welfare assistance for Sri Lankan Tamils, overseas employment and ex-servicemen.

An AI chatbot and Interactive Voicebot will be introduced on the Mudhalvarin Mugavari—CM Helpline portal to help citizens register petitions, check their status, and learn about the action taken, particularly benefiting senior citizens and those facing difficulties with web portals. Rs 2.18 crore will be allocated annually.

Digital kiosks will be installed at all 38 district Collectorates and the Chief Minister's Special Cell in the Secretariat to facilitate access to helpline services. Rs 30 lakh has been earmarked.

Monthly assistance for Sri Lankan Tamils in camps will rise from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800 for family heads, Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 for those aged 12 and above, and Rs 500 to Rs 600 for younger children, entailing an additional annual outlay of Rs 14.95 crore. Education assistance will rise from Rs 42,000 to Rs 48,000 per student, at an annual cost of Rs 2.72 crore.

A 'Vettri Thamizhar Award', carrying Rs 10 lakh, will honour overseas Tamils providing legal, medical, passport and other public assistance.

An AI-based Instant Global Match (IGM) platform will connect Tamil Nadu youth with verified overseas jobs based on qualifications, skills, experience and language proficiency, with Rs 50 lakh allocated in the first year. Free German training from A1 to B2 will be provided to eligible jobseekers.

Assistance to poor ex-servicemen and widows will rise from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000, benefiting 250 veterans and 600 widows, at an additional annual cost of Rs 2.04 crore. A Rs 38-lakh web application will cover attendance, transfers, e-signatures, and office procedures for 8,887 personnel of the Tamil Nadu Ex-Servicemen's Corporation.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for the Finance, Planning, Development, Pension and Other Retirement Benefits departments in the Assembly, Marie Wilson spoke about the ups and downs he had faced in life and recalled that he had once even considered bequeathing his property to the church.

He appealed to young people to remove thoughts of suicide from their minds. "There have been leaders such as Kalaignar, MGR and Jayalalithaa. No leader has committed suicide. Similarly, there should be no place for suicidal thoughts in our minds," he said.

Wilson said he had been undertaking a 27-year-long pilgrimage on foot to the Velankanni shrine and that he had never received a reception comparable to the one he received this year.

He also flagged the poor water quality in Devanur village near Tharangambadi in Mayiladuthurai district and urged the Rural Development and Water Resources Minister, N Anand, to take immediate steps to rectify the problem.

Meanwhile, he claimed that he hailed from a family that has been deeply involved in politics. "The right person should be in the right place. In that sense, Tamil Nadu has got CM Joseph Vijay," he said, hailing the TVK chief.

The decision will be implemented through an amendment to the TNPSC Act. The Bill was tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday by Minister for Human Resources Management D Sarathkumar, on behalf of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who holds the municipal administration portfolio. The Bill seeks to ensure a more efficient, professional and transparent recruitment process for appointments in urban local bodies.

"The youth in rural and remote areas of the State can apply for such posts and get recruited in a transparent manner," the minister said as the bill was passed by voice vote.

The jobs scam erupted in the Municipal Administration Department during the DMK regime. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) registered an FIR after the High Court directed it to probe allegations involving the Municipal Administration Department, which was headed by KN Nehru during the DMK regime.

It is said that Gopalakrishnan (29), resident from Mela Kattur near Thiruvidaimarudur in Thanjavur inaugurated a biryani stall at Tirupananthal on Monday (September 7) and offered one plus one offer on the inaugural day and so the residents in large number bought biryani with special inaugural offer.

Meanwhile, on Monday late hours, as many as 12 persons including Suseela (60), Mahalakshmi (23), Nithish (16), Bhavadarini (19), Shivani (9), Magizhan (60), Atheesh (10) and Atheen (11) who ate the biryani complained of vomiting and diarrhea and even a few fainted.

Subsequently, they were rushed to Kumbakonam GH where they have been undergoing treatment.

On Tuesday, the Food safety officials Karthi, Balamurugan and Madhan went to the eatery and collected samples of the food and sent them to the lab for analysis.

The officials also conducted an inquiry with the people who fell ill and the eatery owner. The officials also found that the meat was stored a few days back and was used for the biryani.

Subsequently the officials imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 to the owner. Meanwhile Tirupananthal police registered a case and are investigating.

The works largely involved conventional infrastructure without any smart solution or IT component. The finding is part of CAG’s Performance Audit covering 7 sampled cities: Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Salem, Tirunelveli and Tirupur.

Pan-city development was meant to apply smart solutions such as intelligent traffic management, wastewater recycling and smart water meters to existing city-wide infrastructure using technology.

The seven cities had initially proposed 37 projects costing Rs 1,488.59 crore, but 69 projects worth Rs 780.77 crore were eventually executed.

On scrutiny, CAG found only 22 projects costing Rs 209.24 crore actually qualified. The remaining 47 ineligible projects (Rs 571.53 crore) were spread across 5 cities: Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Tirunelveli and Tirupur.

They implemented projects such as Micro Composting Centres, incineration plants, solid-waste vehicles, solar power plants and underground sewerage works which are normally expected from urban local bodies to build.

City-wise, Coimbatore had 7 ineligible projects, including LED street lighting (Rs 73.51 crore), UGSS internal plumbing and tank construction (Rs 26.21 crore), and Micro Compost Centres at 36 locations (Rs 21.22 crore).

Erode had 16 ineligible projects, among them a Rs 145.33 crore water supply distribution system and a STEM park with a digital planetarium. Salem had 16, Tirunelveli two, and Tirupur six.

Meanwhile, several genuinely tech-oriented projects from the original proposals were dropped altogether.

Chennai’s Street Light Monitoring System (Rs 248 crore) and Intelligent Traffic Management System (Rs 100 crore); Coimbatore’s CCTV camera and server network (Rs 80 crore); Erode’s e-Health project (Rs 250 crore); and Tirunelveli’s Intelligent Traffic Management System (Rs 74.90 crore).

The audit also noted deficiencies in SCADA-based water projects in Tirunelveli and Salem. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a technology used to monitor, control, and automate water treatment and distribution.

In Tirunelveli, an unplanned SCADA system estimated at Rs 46.67 crore had an energy meter that had remained non-functional since December 2023, while remote terminal units and control points for collecting and monitoring water-flow data had not been provided.

In Salem, a Rs 74.88 crore SCADA-based 24x7 water-supply project was still incomplete two years after its projected completion date.

According to the audit, data from the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) was compared with scholarship data maintained by the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare (AD-amp;TW) Department across eight sampled districts. It found that an average of 46 per cent of schools did not avail the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for SC/ST students during 2019-22.

During 2019-23, the non-coverage of potentially eligible students under the Pre-Matric Scholarship for SC students ranged between 21 and 52 per cent.

The audit also noted that no special campaigns were launched to identify the poorest households for enrolment under the scheme. Further, adequate steps were not taken by the Department or educational institutions to encourage students who had dropped out to return to school, undermining the objective of the scholarship programme.

Another major concern was the delay in opening the online scholarship portal, which subsequently resulted in delays in the sanction and disbursement of scholarships.

Scrutiny of applications in sampled institutions showed that income and community certificates were missing from 30 per cent of applications. More seriously, scholarships amounting to Rs 1.45 crore were sanctioned and disbursed to 6,861 beneficiaries whose annual parental income exceeded the prescribed ceiling of Rs 2.50 lakh.

The audit further found that Rs 19.59 crore meant for 81,586 beneficiaries was not credited to their bank accounts due to various reasons.

The fishermen, including boat owner Nattar alias Michael Raj, had sailed from Kochi on September 4.

They were taken to Kavaratti Island for questioning.

These fishermen from Thoothukudi district had ventured into the Arabian Sea for fishing in a mechanised boat.

In the eight sampled districts, an average of 39 per cent of schools did not avail the PMS scheme during 2019-22. The non-coverage of potentially eligible students ranged between 20 and 29 per cent during the period. The audit noted that no special efforts or campaigns were undertaken to identify students from the poorest households for enrolment.

The audit also pointed out that the TN government is yet to begin issuing 'Freeship Cards' to eligible students. Adequate measures were not taken by the Department or educational institutions to encourage students who had dropped out to re-join.

Financial management also came under scrutiny. Contrary to existing guidelines, the Directorate of Adi Dravidar Welfare deposited Rs 55.50 crore by splitting the amount into 35 fixed deposits.

Scrutiny of applications in sampled institutions revealed that income and community certificates were missing in 27 per cent of applications. Further, Rs 41.95 crore was sanctioned and disbursed to 20,509 students whose parental income exceeded the prescribed threshold.

Comparison of scholarship payments between 2021-22 and 2022-23 showed that 30,424 students received excess scholarships amounting to Rs 17.90 crore. Among them, 160 students received the 40 per cent State share twice, resulting in an excess payment of Rs 13.50 lakh.

The audit also detected instances of students receiving dual scholarships, including PMS-SC along with the PMS scholarship for minorities, and PMS-SC along with the first generation graduate tuition fee concession.

It is said that Krishnasamy (23), a final year law student from Veeramancheri near Thanjavur and his brother Bogarsami (19) were proceeding to Ayyampettai by a two wheeler.

When they were nearing the Guruvadi highway, they attempted to overtake a van that was proceeding ahead. However, they did not notice that a private bus was coming from the opposite direction. The bus hit their bike in which Krishnasamy died on the spot while his brother Bogarsami sustained severe injuries.

On receiving information, the Taluk police rushed to the spot, retrieved the body and sent it to the Ayyampettai GH. The injured is undergoing treatment.

A case was registered and investigations are on.

On a tip-off that a huge quantity of drugs is being peddled in the Pattukottai area, Thanjavur SP E Sundaravathanam held surprise raids.

Anti-Narcotic Task Force which rushed to Pattukkottai and conducted vehicle inspection at Soorapallam bypass and found a huge quantity of sedative pills in car.

The force conducted further inquiry, in which the police found that the drugs were being smuggled for selling to the youth in and around Pattukkottai.

Subsequently, the team seized as many as 5,600 pills and the car. The police also arrested two smugglers who were identified as Shoban Harish from Pattukkottai and Mohammed Lukmann from Muthupettai.

The police said that the drug peddlers get their stock through online purchases from a unit in Nagpur, and they target school and college students and sell them.

The police also said that they would continue to prevent the circulation of drugs.

It may be noted that around 7,000 pills were seized in a similar vehicle inspection in Thanjavur on August 30 and September 4.

Making a suo motu statement, Minister Aadhav said that funds were allocated for 80 works without the Assembly's nod. "The financial allocation did not get the approval of the Assembly, which was against the rules. They had taken the amount through the ensuing budget, owing to the fact that they might have thought they would come to power again," Minister Aadhav said.

The minister alleged that this would affect the Assembly's financial authority and dignity and appealed to the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.

He also said it was considered a serious allegation because the Assembly did not approve it.

Replying to him, Speaker JCD Prabhakar said that after considering the matter, he would decide whether it fell within the purview of privilege or whether any other action should be n taken on the issue.

The Budget session concluded on Tuesday. According to figures cited by the Speaker, the Assembly received 22,651 visitors in 2021, 20,137 in 2023, 10,754 in 2024 and 20,123 in 2025. The 2026 figure of 32,055 was recorded in just 28 sitting days.

Prabhakar said the growing participation of students was particularly significant.

While an average of about 20 schools had sent students to observe proceedings earlier, students from 76 schools and colleges visited the Assembly during the current session.

"Many students studying in Classes 11 and 12, as well as working people, have taken leave to come and watch the Assembly proceedings. This shows the growing interest among the next generation in participating in public life," he said.

He added that interest among Gen Z in watching Assembly proceedings was increasing by the day.

Prabhakar also lauded the ruling TVK government for what he described as transparency in administration.

"People are lauding the current government because it is functioning transparently and with no hidden agenda. Since this government assumed office, no files have been stalled or kept pending, and every file is moving without delay and transparently. Even the media in North India is praising the government for its transparency," he added.

Even as the AIADMK asked members interested in contesting the by-elections to collect the application forms from the party headquarters from Tuesday until September 10, Palaniswami accused the government and the principal Opposition DMK of repeatedly trading charges and wasting valuable House time instead of discussing people’s issues.

He said the Assembly might function for 10 hours a day, but only about three hours were devoted to public issues. He also alleged that ministers failed to provide department-specific replies, with only about three ministers answering most questions.

“If ministers concerned answer questions relating to their departments, only then can solutions be found,” he said.

Palaniswami said questions raised during the police demands for grants, including those concerning an alleged online investment fraud in which he claimed about Rs 1,000 crore had been lost, promotions and pay for police personnel and fraudulent chit schemes, had not received proper replies.

Calling the TVK government ineffective, he criticised it over law and order, corruption, inflation, and farmers’ problems. He alleged that murders, robberies, thefts and sexual-harassment incidents had increased and said preventing crime was the government’s responsibility.

The former CM alleged that paddy procured from farmers in the Cauvery Delta had been left in the open and damaged by rain, particularly in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai. He also demanded adequate water from the Mettur reservoir for samba cultivation, saying 40-45 days of supply would be insufficient for the crop’s 120-day cycle.

Palaniswami questioned the need to shift the Chief Minister’s office, saying successive Chief Ministers had used the same room since CN Annadurai. He described the government as a reels government and accused it of relying on borrowing to fund new schemes.

He said new parties joining the AIADMK-led front would be welcomed. Asked whether the DMK would be accepted, he smiled and replied: “Will the DMK come?”

The petition was filed by Sundaravimal Nathan of Swami Malai in Thanjavur district.

He sought inclusion of questions on the number of persons with disabilities in a family, disability identity cards, availability of assistive devices and the need for personal assistance.

The state committee meeting of the Sangam was held in Tiruchy chaired by the State president S Gunasekaran and the General Secretary Masilamani who spoke among the members, said, the farmers have lost their entire income of kuruvai as the crop failed due to water scarcity and it is essential for the state government to ensure at least single samba crop cultivation and so, the government should announce a special scheme for the samba cultivation which should assure medium and short term paddy seed varieties at 50 per cent subsidy.

He said that the delta farmers should initiate steps for the ensuing samba and thaladi in an area of 16 lakh acre for which adequate storage of water in Mettur is very essential, and so the state government should initiate legal fights to get the due share of water from Karnataka .

“Since it is predicted that the monsoon would create a challenge in cultivation, the farmers can not quit samba also, and so the special scheme should be drafted in such a way to help out the delta farmers”, he said.

He also appealed that the state government should release at least 16,000 cusecs from Mettur after November 15, which would support the turn system irrigation so that the water would reach until the tail-end region, and so the government should also appoint a monitoring committee in each district to ensure proper water flow, Masilamani said.

He also appealed not to entertain the private sector in samba insurance. Later, resolutions were passed on these demands during the meeting.

“As part of the intensified operation, drones were deployed through the night on Monday to scan forest areas in Gudalur for signs of the tiger. Forest personnel also conducted night patrols in locations where the animal was suspected to be moving,” said an official of the forest department.

On Tuesday, officials inspected 171 camera traps installed across the Gudalur forest division and adjoining areas, including the Naduvattam and Pykara forest ranges under the Ooty forest division.

To strengthen surveillance, another 18 camera traps were installed at strategic locations, taking the total number of cameras monitoring the tiger's movements to 189.

Despite the deployment of 13 trap cages at various locations, the tiger has continued to evade the capture teams.

Search teams, meanwhile, intensified combing operations along the boundaries of the Gudalur forest division, particularly around Northern Hay and the Singara border areas, in an effort to locate the animal.

The prolonged search comes amid fresh concern over tiger intrusion at Kuruthukuli near Ooty. Four cows taken for grazing close to forest areas were killed in suspected tiger attacks over the past two days.

The repeated livestock attacks have heightened anxiety among villagers, who have urged the forest department to intensify patrolling and surveillance.

However, forest department officials said an assessment was under way to determine whether a tiger was responsible for the attacks on the cattle.

The police seized 26 bank passbooks, 18 mobile phones, 77 ATM cards, 18 cheque books and 60 SIM cards from them.

According to the police, the main accused, J Faraskhan (23) of Ramanathapuram, a Visual Communication graduate, acted as a second-level agent who converted the money into US dollars before it was sent abroad as part of an “ID running” operation.

Madurai Superintendent of Police N Devanathan said, “This online fraud operates in multiple layers involving many people, but criminals involved in different layers have bare-minimum communication.”

The modus operandi is as follows: Cyber criminals who cheat people through various online frauds immediately transfer the money to different bank accounts through agents.

These agents immediately withdraw the money from these accounts, convert it into dollars through another network and send it back to the cyber scammers, Devanathan said.

The syndicate operates in such a way that, before victims can seek police help, the money is transferred through various bank accounts, making the investigation difficult, he added.

In this case, Faraskhan used his bank account and the bank accounts of several other persons to receive the money with the intention of earning money through illegal means.

“For every Rs 1 lakh he received from cyber criminals in various bank accounts, converted into US dollars and sent to cyber scammers, he received a commission of Rs 6,300,” said an investigating officer.

Through this illegal activity, he had received commissions amounting to around Rs 10 lakh during the past year, the officer added.

The two other accused, F Hafeeb Mohammed (21) of Pudukottai and M Mohamed Mubarrak (23) of Ramanathapuram, allegedly helped him carry out the operation.

“The trio hired a room on the outskirts of Madurai to carry out the operation,” said the officer.

“Many innocent people were cheated in this crime. These agents approach people in rural areas and open bank accounts in their names. They pay them between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 10,000 and collect their bank passbooks, which they use to receive money from cyber criminals,” the SP said.

Moreover, the agents also collect mobile SIM cards from another group and use them while opening the bank accounts.

They carry out all the online transactions using these numbers, while the original account holders remain unaware of the transactions, he added.

In some cases, people knowingly give their bank accounts to agents for a commission, the officer said, adding that the agents who help convert the money into dollars also earn substantial commissions.

The police have appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant against cyber fraud.