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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The consultation, organised by the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department at the Anna Centenary Library here, was attended by Agriculture Minister R Vinoth, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KA Sengottaiyan, Water Resources Minister N Anand, Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Venkataramanan and several other ministers, along with senior bureaucrats, agricultural scientists, farmer producer organisations and representatives from allied sectors.

Addressing the gathering, minister Vinoth said the Chennai meeting marked the culmination of an extensive State-wide consultation process. Four regional consultations had already been held and suggestions received from all 38 districts had been compiled and submitted to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

"The Agriculture Budget will reflect the needs of every region. Irrigation, soil and water conservation, natural farming, crop insurance, marketing, livestock, fisheries, dairy development and agri-based industries will receive special attention," he said.

The minister added the government had set a foodgrain production target of 131.36 lakh metric tonnes for 2026-27 and was pursuing measures such as expanding the cultivated area, promoting mechanisation and encouraging modern farming technologies to achieve the goal.

He also highlighted the Rs 134.83 crore kuruvai special package announced for Delta and non-Delta districts and said crop loans worth nearly Rs 6,000 crore had been waived for 14.43 lakh farmers despite the State's financial constraints.

Warning that El Niño and low storage in the Mettur dam could affect cultivation, Vinoth urged farmers to enrol in crop insurance at the earliest. "Farmers expect fair prices for their produce, but more importantly, they want their concerns to be heard. The government will also prioritise schemes for women farmers," he said.

Farmer organisations urged the government to fix procurement prices at Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane, constitute district-level price fixation committees for horticultural crops, expand crop loan waivers, restore lakes and tanks, strengthen cold storage infrastructure and bring crop insurance entirely under government administration.

The Mekedatu issue dominated the discussions. Tamil Nadu All Farmers Associations coordination committee president PR Pandian urged the government to pursue only legal remedies, arguing that further political negotiations with Karnataka would be inconsistent with the Supreme Court's position. In contrast, Federation of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association president KV Elankeeran said the Chief Minister should engage directly with his Karnataka counterpart while continuing legal efforts to protect Tamil Nadu's water rights.

Farmer leaders also sought drought relief for the Cauvery Delta, compensation for agricultural labourers and removal of encroachments from water bodies, expressing hope that the consultations would translate into an Agriculture Budget rooted in farmers' needs rather than remaining a routine fiscal exercise.

Announcing the State’s decision to challenge the verdict, the minister said the government would file a Special Leave Petition before the apex court on Tuesday morning, arguing that the High Court’s order had been passed without hearing those directly affected by it.

“The beneficiaries who had already received government appointment orders were not impleaded as respondents in the case. The court delivered its verdict without giving them an opportunity to present their case,” Nirmalkumar said.

He said the State would contend before the Supreme Court that the appointments were set aside without hearing the beneficiaries, raising concerns over adherence to the principles of natural justice.

According to the minister, the government considers the omission significant as the High Court’s order directly impacts the employment and livelihood of the appointees.

The Madurai Bench had on Monday struck down the government’s decision to provide public employment to the next of kin of those killed in the Karur crowd crush, paving the way for the State to mount a legal challenge.

The government has now decided to seek urgent relief from the Supreme Court, with the appeal scheduled to be filed on Tuesday morning.

The case is expected to focus on whether the beneficiaries should have been made parties to the proceedings before the High Court invalidated their appointments. The State will seek restoration of the appointment orders while defending its decision to provide temporary government employment as a measure of relief to the bereaved families.

In a statement, DRPU general secretary Sankaranarayanan alleged that the Centre had rejected the proposals solely on the basis of population, despite Tamil Nadu submitting revised detailed project reports for both cities. He said the Centre had relied on 2011 Census figures instead of considering the cities' projected growth. According to the union, Madurai's population has now crossed 20 lakh and is expected to increase further by the time the metro project is completed.

Sankaranarayanan argued that metro rail projects should be evaluated based on long-term factors such as urban expansion, industrial development, economic growth and future transport demand, rather than existing population alone. He said Madurai, as the gateway to southern Tamil Nadu, required a metro rail network. He also questioned the basis on which metro projects were approved for Kanpur, Indore, Nagpur and Bhubaneswar, claiming those cities have populations of less than 20 lakh.

The union further opposed the Centre's reported recommendation to implement a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) instead of a metro, saying Madurai lacks the road infrastructure needed for such a project. The statement urged the Centre to reconsider its decision and accord approval for the Madurai Metro Rail project at the earliest.

A division bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel categorically held that the State government's move to provide jobs on compassionate grounds overlooked the needs of many who are waiting to get compassionate appointments in government departments.

"When there is a waiting list, it is not appropriate to overlook their needs and extend what is termed as succour to the family members of the Karur incident. If compassionate appointments were permitted in this case, it would open the floodgates to similar claims in other cases,” the bench said, pointing out that the families of victims of accidents involving state buses and frequent firecracker explosions in Sivakasi had been compensated monetarily, not through compassionate appointments.

“We hold that these appointments are in direct violation of the guarantee to a citizen of this country under Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution," the bench said.

It further noted that many persons appointed on compassionate grounds were themselves awaiting regularisation and that extending government employment in the present case would not be justified.

The bench also observed that the State could instead consider providing skill development training and other rehabilitation measures to the affected families, which would be more beneficial than granting government jobs.

Appearing for the State, Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that the decision to provide government jobs was a considered policy decision by the government.

The State further submitted that similar appointments were made after the Sterlite firing incident by the previous governments on compassionate grounds. The State argued that the decision had been made solely to provide immediate relief to the affected families.

In response, the petitioners who challenged the appointments argued that the State had failed to explain what distinguished the Karur incident from other tragedies in which no such appointments had been granted. They further submitted that government jobs had not been provided to the families of those who died in several other tragedies, including the 1992 Kumbakonam school tragedy and the Chennai floods. They also pointed out that around 3.9 million youth were unemployed and nearly two million candidates applied for every major recruitment examination.

The bench noted that it had earlier permitted the State to distribute appointment orders only on a temporary basis and had directed that the main case be decided before they received the first month's salary.

HC passed order without hearing beneficiaries: Law Minister

Announcing the State’s decision to challenge the verdict, Nirmalkumar said the government would file a Special Leave Petition before the apex court on Tuesday morning, arguing that the High Court’s order had been passed without hearing those directly affected by it.

“The beneficiaries who had already received government appointment orders were not impleaded as respondents in the case. The court delivered its verdict without giving them an opportunity to present their case,” the minister saiid,

According to the minister, the government considers the omission significant as the High Court’s order directly impacts the employment and livelihood of the appointees.

The High Court bench, rejecting the objection to the maintainability of the PILs, held that the present case was not a service matter involving an individual's appointment, but a challenge to a policy decision affecting public employment.

The bench, however, refrained from making any observations on the Karur stampede itself, noting that the CBI investigation into the incident was continuing under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

The order was passed on a batch of public interest litigations filed by Naam Tamilar Katchi functionary Dheeran Thirumurugan, Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi State executive committee member Seeni Ahamed, and Santosh Kumar of Vedasandur in Dindigul district.

The consultation, organised by the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department at the Anna Centenary library here, was attended by Agriculture Minister R Vinoth, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K A Sengottaiyan, Water Resources Minister N Anand, Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Venkataramanan and several other ministers, along with senior bureaucrats, agricultural scientists, farmer producer organisations and representatives from allied sectors.

Addressing the gathering, Vinoth said the Chennai meeting marked the culmination of an extensive State-wide consultation process. Four regional consultations had already been held and suggestions received from all 38 districts had been compiled and submitted to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

“The Agriculture Budget will reflect the needs of every region. Irrigation, soil and water conservation, natural farming, crop insurance, marketing, livestock, fisheries, dairy development and agri-based industries will receive special attention,” he said.

The minister said the government had set a foodgrain production target of 131.36 lakh metric tonnes for 2026-27 and was pursuing measures such as expanding the cultivated area, promoting mechanisation and encouraging modern farming technologies to achieve the goal.

He also highlighted the Rs 134.83 crore Kuruvai Special Package announced for delta and non-delta districts and said crop loans worth nearly Rs 6,000 crore had been waived for 14.43 lakh farmers despite the State’s financial constraints.

Warning that El Niño and low storage in the Mettur dam could affect cultivation, Vinoth urged farmers to enrol in crop insurance at the earliest. “Farmers expect fair prices for their produce, but more importantly, they want their concerns to be heard. The government will also prioritise schemes for women farmers,” he said.

Farmer organisations urged the government to fix procurement prices at Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane, constitute district-level price fixation committees for horticultural crops, expand crop loan waivers, restore lakes and tanks, strengthen cold storage infrastructure and bring crop insurance entirely under government administration.

The Mekedatu issue dominated the discussions. Tamil Nadu All Farmers Associations Coordination Committee president P R Pandian urged the government to pursue only legal remedies, arguing that further political negotiations with Karnataka would be inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s position. In contrast, Federation of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association president K V Elankeeran said the Chief Minister should engage directly with his Karnataka counterpart while continuing legal efforts to protect Tamil Nadu’s water rights.

Farmer leaders also sought drought relief for the Cauvery delta, compensation for agricultural labourers and removal of encroachments from water bodies, expressing hope that the consultations would translate into an Agriculture Budget rooted in farmers’ needs rather than remaining a routine fiscal exercise.

Officials said renovation and remodelling work is currently under way on the 10th floor ahead of the Chief Minister's Office shifting to the premises. As a result, departments have been unable to hold review meetings, including pre-Budget discussions, at the conference hall, which was earlier the preferred venue for such meetings.

"The pre-Agriculture Budget consultation was held at the Anna Centenary Library on Monday, which is primarily meant for educational and literary activities," an official said.

Officials noted that the conference hall on the 10th floor could accommodate around 20 people in a single row on the dais, making it suitable for meetings involving several Ministers and senior officials. At the pre-Agriculture Budget meeting held at the Anna Centenary Library, however, all 11 Ministers could not be seated on the stage in a single row due to space constraints.

Meanwhile, readers and competitive examination aspirants have expressed concern over the use of the Anna Centenary Library for large government meetings.

"When large-scale official meetings are held at the library, there is a heavy influx of visitors, which disrupts the peaceful atmosphere required for reading and preparation. It affects the learning environment of the library," said S Kumar, a competitive examination aspirant.

Officials said Kalaivanar Arangam, located close to the Secretariat, is being considered as a possible venue for future large-scale government meetings.

Speaking to reporters in Thanjavur, the federation president Durairaj said the decision was taken during a consultative meeting of broiler chicken traders. According to him, the protest has been called after poultry producers allegedly refused to comply with the traders' demand to regulate the feed given to broiler chickens.

Broiler chicken feed dispute triggers sales suspension

Durairaj claimed that concerns have been raised over the quality of feed used in poultry farms and its possible impact on consumers. He alleged that broiler chickens were being raised using practices that traders had repeatedly objected to and said producers had failed to address the issue despite discussions.

The federation maintained that the suspension of sales is intended to pressure producers into adopting what it described as safer and more acceptable poultry-rearing practices.

Durairaj also clarified that the protest is not directed against the Tamil Nadu government's food safety department. Instead, he urged the authorities to intervene and hold talks with all stakeholders to resolve the issue at the earliest.

If implemented, the proposed suspension is expected to affect the supply of broiler chicken across Tamil Nadu from July 31.

Earlier this month, the federation had demanded that the State government test and regulate the feed used in broiler chicken production units and introduce a standard operating procedure (SOP).

It had further sought a rule requiring poultry producers to withhold feed for 15 hours before sale, arguing that this would ensure the birds' actual weight is recorded and help reduce health risks.

(With inputs from Bureau)

Officials said post-mortem and investigation reports for all elephant deaths have been submitted to the Central government as mandated under the elephant conservation programme.

Elephant population rises

According to the 2025 elephant census, Tamil Nadu has 3,170 elephants, up from 3,063 recorded in 2024.

Around 70 per cent of the State's elephant population is found in the forest areas of the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts. Officials said the growing population has also increased the need to expand elephant habitats.

Most elephant deaths recorded in Nilgiris, Erode

A senior Forest Department official said that of the 19 elephant deaths recorded between January and the end of June this year, eight each occurred in Mudumalai in Nilgiris district and Sathyamangalam in Erode district.

The official added that compared with the 127 elephant deaths recorded in 2025, the number of deaths has now declined, and efforts are continuing to reduce them further.

“The greatest challenge for tea cultivation is no longer the total amount of annual rainfall but its increasingly erratic distribution. Short bursts of heavy rain followed by prolonged dry periods are creating severe moisture stress, even in areas receiving normal annual rainfall. Since tea is harvested as young shoots, even small climate changes tend to affect shoot growth, yield and quality,” said P Murugesan, Advisory Officer at UPASI Tea Research Foundation’s Regional Centre in Coonoor.

In his study, ‘Super El Nino: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for the Nilgiris', he claims that long-term observations show that average temperatures have risen in the Nilgiris by about 0.5 degree celsius, while dry days have become more frequent and frost and hailstorm-affected areas have expanded.

“The average rainfall in the district declined by 31 per cent from 173.3 cm in 2021 to 119.4 cm in 2025, while tea productivity fell by 11.8 per cent from a peak of 2,315 kg per hectare in 2023 to 2,042 kg in 2025,” he said.

To safeguard plantations, the UPASI Tea Research Foundation has recommended a series of climate-resilient interventions. Foremost among them is the large-scale planting of ‘gliricidia sepium’ as a shade tree, as it can reduce soil temperature by 3 degree celsius to five degree celsius, improve moisture retention by up to 25 per cent, enrich soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and provide valuable green mature.

Other key recommendations include establishing micro ponds in tea estates to harvest rainwater, vettiver grass barriers to reduce soil erosion, post-pruning lime washing to minimise heat stress, foliar nutrient sprays, and retaining mother leaves while extending plucking intervals during drought.

Emphasising that long term sustainability depends on protecting tea bushes rather than maximising short term harvests, the study states that science-driven adaptation is essential to sustaining long term productivity of the plantation industry.

The birthday celebration in Madurai was organised as a "Green Nature Festival" by the Water Body Protection Movement and other public welfare trusts. Held in the Meenakshipuram area along the Sellur-Kulamangalam road near the Sellur tank, the event was led by the movement's founder, Abubakar.

The 107-year-old banyan is the last remaining centenarian tree in the immediate locality, following the prior removal of at least seven other banyan trees for road expansions and park construction. Activists have held the annual birthday event since 2019 to advocate against the tree being felled for future infrastructure projects.

Locals and students from Rajaji Middle School gathered to cut a cake, distribute sweets, and take an oath to protect nature. The tree was decorated with lights, and organisers distributed notebooks and tree saplings to the participating students.

During the gathering, conservationists noted that the tree, which serves as a nesting ground for crows, pigeons, and cuckoos, remains under threat. They cited ongoing damage from the burning of dumped garbage, frequent branch cutting by electricity board workers for overhead lines, and noise pollution from local festival firecrackers.

Meanwhile, in Karur district, a 200-year-old banyan tree collapsed in the Kulithalai area. The fall resulted in damage to two vehicles.

Extending his congratulations, the Chief Minister said Muthupandi's victory would inspire other youngsters and give them renewed energy and confidence.

In a statement, he said Muthupandi would continue to bring pride to both Tamil Nadu and India through his future achievements.

Muthupandi won the silver medal in the men's 65 kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games, which is being held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Former Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin and other leaders also conveyed their wishes to Muthupandi.

The incident comes days after a man from Andhra Pradesh died after getting trapped inside the same cave-like passage.

Devotee rescued

The obese woman devotee attempted to enter and exit through the cave entrance of the Idukku Pillayar Temple but was unable to come out and got stuck inside.

Frightened by the situation, she screamed for help. People present at the temple pulled her out by holding her hand and rescued her.

Recent incident

On the midnight of July 24, Manikumar from Andhra Pradesh, who had come for Girivalam with his family, entered the cave-like passage but was unable to come out, got trapped, collapsed and died.

Devotees arrive in huge numbers for darshan

The Tirumala temple recorded 84,488 devotees who visited for darshan. Devotees filled 31 compartments of the Vaikuntam Queue Complex with the queue extending up to Silathoranam.

Huge waiting time at the temple

Devotees with time-slot tokens had to wait 20 to 24 hours for darshan.

Annaprasadam, laddus, medical services

As many as 4.28 lakh laddus were sold to devotees on Saturday (July 25), while 2.74 lakh devotees received Annaprasadam. Medical services were provided to 3,789 devotees at the temple.

Earlier transport issue

Earlier this year, train services across the Villupuram Yard and the Tirupati-Katpadi section were affected for several weeks after Southern Railway announced cancellations, short-terminations and changes in originating stations due to maintenance and engineering works.