MDMK general secretary Vaiko and others had filed a petition before the Madras High Court seeking the removal of Prosopis juliflora trees, also known as Seemai Karuvelam trees. The matter came up for hearing before a special bench comprising Justices N Sathish Kumar and K Rajasekar.

Vaiko, who was present in court, requested the court to direct the government to file district-wise reports to ascertain whether the High Court's directions were being implemented seriously.

He further submitted that Seemai Karuvelam trees had been completely removed in Kerala and that not a single tree remained there. He said Tamil Nadu should learn from Kerala. He added that the removal work had commenced in eight districts of Tamil Nadu.

While eradicating the trees was a Himalayan task, he said the commencement of removal of Seemai Karuvelam trees from the Thamirabarani and Vaigai rivers was a great achievement.

The bench observed that there was no bar on using mineral funds to remove Seemai Karuvelam trees and directed the funds to be released within two weeks without citing rules for delay. It also directed that priority be given to removing the trees from water bodies and adjourned the hearing to October 9.

The deceased, R Valli (40), was residing with her father-in-law M Sivasami (64) and mother-in-law Malarkodi (60) at Puthur near Ammapettai in Thanjavur.

On September 16, Malarkodi brought temple prasadam for Sivasami. But Valli took it and gave it to her pet dog, which triggered an argument between her and Malarkodi.

The quarrel snowballed into an assault in which Malarkodi had reportedly assaulted Valli.

In such a backdrop, on Thursday (September 17) night, Sivasami who came to the house under the influence of alcohol, took a crowbar and attacked Valli in which she sustained severe head injury and died on the spot.

Upon receiving information, Ammapettai police rushed to the spot, retrieved the body and sent it to the Papanasam GH.

The police also registered a case and arrested Sivasami. Further investigations are on.

“In fact, I had lost my self-respect at Kalaignar Arivalayam in Tiruchy during the meeting ahead of the Lok Sabha election, and the DMK leaders insisted that I contest in their party symbol and continued to demean me for refusing the suggestion,” said Durai Vaiko, while addressing a press conference in Tiruchy on Friday.

Durai Vaiko said that as soon as the Lok Sabha election was announced and the Tiruchy segment was allotted to MDMK, for which he was selected as the candidate, the DMK leaders, particularly KN Nehru, forced him to contest under the DMK party symbol.

“When I went to take part in the meeting, I was wearing a black shirt, but the DMK functionaries asked me to remove the black shirt, and I lost my self-respect there. I had no option but to change the shirt, but still, they continued to demean me,” charged Durai Vaiko.

Durai Vaiko refused Nehru’s claim about his willingness to join DMK after dissolving the MDMK.

“It was a tailored story, and my entry into politics was an accident, and I will continue to stay in politics for the welfare of the party members and for the people who elected me as the Member of Parliament,” he said.

Durai Vaiko recalled Nehru’s statement of ‘incapability’ about the DMK president MK Stalin and the Youth Wing Secretary and leader of the opposition party Udayanidhi Stalin.

“Nehru is noted for destroying the political lives of the rivals in his own party, and even he indirectly worked against a few MLAs for their defeat in the just-completed assembly polls,” Durai Vaiko recalled.

Meanwhile, Durai Vaiko said NHAI has sanctioned a fund of Rs 95 crore and the railways department has allocated eight acres of land for the G-Corner project.

Apart from this, the subway works at Sanjeevi Nagar, Maruthi Nagar and Y-Junction would come up at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore, and a regional office for ESI would come up in its own building, which would serve the employees from nine delta districts including Tiruchy, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Thanjavur, Durai Vaiko added.

Justice P Murugan issued the order on September 16, granting a petition seeking to secure and preserve CCTV footage from the office of the Superintendent of Police, Madurai, and other relevant locations for two days — August 28 and 29. The petitioner sought the footage on the ground that his wife, Nachimuthu, had been detained by the police for more than 36 hours without registration of a CSR or FIR before she was subsequently arrested and remanded.

The Government Advocate informed the court that the petitioner’s wife was arrested only on the morning of August 29 and taken to the District Crime Branch (DCB), located near the SP office, at around 10.30 am. On the issue of preserving the CCTV footage, he submitted that some of the CCTV cameras installed at public places with the help of sponsors were shifted to the SP office on the instructions of Mari Raja, Technical Inspector. Moreover, as CCTV footage was preserved only for 15 days, they were unable to preserve the footage at that time.

However, the court directed the SP, Madurai, to preserve all available CCTV recordings from the cameras installed inside the SP office campus, the DCB building and other buildings situated within the campus for two days and produce a copy before the court.

The court also sought a report on how CCTV cameras installed at public places came to be shifted to the SP office and under which rules or GOs such shifting was permitted

Justice Murugan further directed the SP, Madurai, to submit a report regarding the installation of CCTV cameras at the SP office. The report should include details such as who installed the cameras, the number of cameras installed, how many cameras are currently functioning, how many are not functioning, the date on which each non-functioning camera became dysfunctional and the action taken to rectify the non-functioning cameras.

Pointing out that the SP, Madurai, is expected to follow the Supreme Court's directions on the installation, functioning and preservation of CCTV cameras, the court sought a report on how CCTV cameras installed at public places came to be shifted to the SP office and under which Rules or Government Orders such shifting was permitted.

The judge also directed the Government Advocate to produce before the court the relevant Rules, Government Orders and directions of the Supreme Court governing the installation and shifting of CCTV cameras within one week. The SP was also directed to file his report within one week, and the matter was posted after one week for further orders.

Though most posts under the ministerial category are transferable, the government has sought details of staff who have been working at the same station for several years.

In a letter issued to all directorates of government departments, the Tamil Nadu government said officials should furnish the particulars of Administrative Officers, Junior Administrative Officers, Superintendents and Assistants who have been working at the same station for more than five years and 10 years in the prescribed format before September 23.

The government has also asked the Directorates to furnish details of employees who were transferred to another station on promotion but were subsequently diverted back to their previous place of posting.

The TVK-led government has been taking measures to curb corruption across government departments. As part of these measures, the government has sought details of staff who have been working at the same place for several years.

Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar had already issued a circular stating that people would complain if any government employee demanded a bribe by sending a WhatsApp message to 9498180936.

This is among the latest measures taken by the government to fight corruption. The WhatsApp number has been posted on all official government websites along with a link to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) portal.

The state government also appointed former TNPDCL distribution director AR Mascurnas as member and A Muthusaratha as member (Legal), filling all three statutory posts through an order issued by the Energy Department on Friday.

TNERC had been without any office-bearer since June 25 after chairman R Manivannan resigned. Member (Legal) B Mohan had demitted office on March 9, while member K Venkatesan completed his tenure on June 1.

Manivannan, who remained the lone office-holder from June 2, resigned on June 19 and his resignation was accepted on June 24.

The government had constituted a three-member selection committee on July 1 to fill the vacancies.

The committee, headed by retired Madras High Court judge Justice RMT Teekaa Raman, met on September 15 and recommended panels of two names for each post.

Radhakrishnan, currently additional chief secretary and director of the Anna Administrative Staff College and director general of training, has been appointed chairperson.

TNERC had previously faced periods without the mandatory quorum of two members, but at least one office-holder remained in place on every occasion.

The present vacancy was unprecedented.

The commission regulates electricity tariffs, power procurement and transmission charges, besides framing regulations and adjudicating disputes in the power sector.

The farmers from over 40 associations commenced their indefinite protest at Samayapuram in Tiruchy on Tuesday (September 15), demanding complete loan waiver as per the poll promise. Though the police refused permission to gather, the farmers protested, braving the scorching sun and heavy rains.

On September 15, agriculture minister R Vinoth, cooperation minister V Gandhiraj and HR and CE minister S Ramesh convened a meeting with the leaders at Tiruchy Collectorate. But farmer leaders headed by Easan Murugasamy, founder of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Paathugappu Sangam, refused to withdraw the protest as ministers sought time to fulfil their demands.

Subsequently, the protests continued despite the police denying them permission even for drinking water. As the indefinite protest reached its fourth day, a delegation of farmers including Easan Murugasamy, P Ayyakannu, KV Elankeeran and others were called for a talk in Chennai.

As many as nine ministers, including N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, R Vinoth, V Gandhiraj, S Ramesh and Vanni Arasu, were present in the meeting convened at the Secretariat in Chennai, which commenced at around 3.30 pm and lasted till 4.30 pm.

“The ministers sought 20 days to fulfil demands, citing the poor financial conditions," said Easan Murugasamy after the meeting. He also noted that the farmers were protesting for the complete loan waiver for the past three months and the peace talks by the ministers on August 7, September 1 and September 15 failed as the ministers continued to seek time for fulfilling the promise.

“Today, during the fourth round of talks too, the ministers sought 20 days. So we have asked them to meet the association members who have been protesting in Tiruchy, whose decision would be final," said Easan Murugasamy.

He noted that the ministers Vinoth, Gandhiraj and Ramesh would hold the fifth round of talks with the protesting farmers in Tiruchy on Saturday. “We will decide on our next move based on how the fifth round of talks goes,” Easan Murugasamy added.

Meanwhile, in Tiruchy, the protesting farmers placed flowers on their ears, symbolising the 'cheating' by the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government and continued their protest.

Poyyamozhi, a DMK leader, appeared before the CCB at the Chennai Police Commissionerate in Vepery around 10.30 am, accompanied by his advocates. He was questioned until the evening, and his responses were recorded as part of the investigation.

The CCB registered the case following allegations that money was collected from private schools by promising permanent recognition, upgradation, DTCP approvals and other government clearances. Police have received 177 complaints in the case, with the alleged collections estimated at more than Rs 100 crore. BT Arasakumar and two others have been arrested in connection with the case.

The CCB has booked Poyyamozhi under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. On September 16, police conducted searches at nine locations in Chennai and Tiruchy linked to the former minister and others. Investigators seized property documents, bank records, mobile phones, laptops, computers, pen drives and other electronic devices.

Following the searches, Poyyamozhi was summoned under Section 35 (3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to appear for questioning.

During Friday's inquiry, investigators questioned him about his alleged links with Arasakumar and other accused persons, his interactions with private-school managements, alleged collections described as "party funds", and related bank accounts and financial transactions. Questions were also based on documents and electronic devices seized during the searches.

Sources indicated that he could be called for further questioning.

Poyyamozhi has denied the allegations and said he would cooperate with the investigation.

The CCB is continuing to examine the documents, financial records and electronic evidence seized during the searches to establish the role of each person connected with the case.

The bypolls are expected to witness a five-cornered contest. AIADMK has fielded S Kanitha Sampath in Maduranthakam and K Banumathi in Dharapuram.

The two constituencies were won by AIADMK in the 2026 Assembly elections. P Sathyabama won from Dharapuram, while Maragatham Kumaravel was elected from Maduranthakam, both on the Two Leaves symbol. Both legislators have since joined TVK and are now contesting the bypolls as TVK candidates.

According to the tour programme released by AIADMK, Palaniswami will campaign in Maduranthakam on September 24, 25 and October 3. He will campaign in Dharapuram on September 27, 28 and October 3.

The party has directed its functionaries to make elaborate arrangements for Palaniswami's campaign programmes.

AIADMK had earlier announced a list of 40 star campaigners who will campaign for the party's candidates in the two constituencies.

Sharing a video on his social media handle, Nainar Nagenthran said he was shocked after watching a purported video in which two youths allegedly issued the threat in the presence of police personnel. He questioned how the youths had the confidence to make such remarks in front of the police and urged the authorities to investigate their backgrounds and ascertain whether any organisation was behind the incident.

Nainar also referred to reports that the two youths had been taken to the police station for questioning and subsequently released. He urged the police to conduct a detailed inquiry into their alleged extremist views and take appropriate action based on the findings.

BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy alleged that some youths at a mosque objected to percussion instruments being played and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogans being raised when the Vinayagar procession passed the mosque. He said six persons — Mohammed Ashraf, Rahul Fayaz, Mohammed Ashik, Nazruddin, Balamastan and Sheikh Mohammed — were arrested as a preventive measure and later released on station bail.

Narayanan Thirupathy further alleged that the Indian Thowheed Jamath and Indian National League had issued a notice seeking action against police officer Rajalingam over the release of the video.

He sought a special investigation into the incident and urged the police to examine whether the organisations or any other groups had any role in activities that could threaten public order.

Nainar also called for enhanced security in Srivilliputhur until the issue was resolved and sought protection for Hindu organisation leaders and Rajalingam.

Speaking to reporters at Anna Arivalayam on Friday (September 16), he said the DMK regime in the past had attracted investments worth Rs 12.50 lakh crore.

He added that DMK president MK Stalin had insisted that party members should not mix politics with investment promotion.

Questioning the ruling party, Rajaa asked when the TVK-led government would bring investments from other countries to Tamil Nadu.

Explaining the difference between assured investments and a Letter of Intent (LoI), the former Minister said an LoI did not amount to investments being made in the State.

"The TVK-led government has announced plans to set up a Formula 1 racing track. Where is the government going to acquire the land for this project? During the Chief Minister's London visit, why were the Industries Minister and Secretary not accompanying the Chief Minister?" Rajaa asked.

He alleged that the meetings in London had not been properly organised and condemned the arrangements. He also questioned why the Chief Minister, Ministers and officials did not meet the media after returning to Chennai.

Recalling investor meetings and press briefings during the DMK regime, Rajaa said Tamil Nadu was the only State in India to conduct the conversion conclave, adding that the principal Opposition party is alerting the government to issues without making allegations against the ruling party.

Vijay will seek votes for Maragatham Kumaravel in Madurantakam and P Sathyabama in Dharapuram, spending two days in each constituency.

He is expected to address public meetings during the first phase and return after October 1 for the second round of campaigning, including roadshows.

Elaborate arrangements are being made for his proposed visits, with the party planning programmes aimed at reaching voters without causing inconvenience to the public, sources said.

During the campaign, Vijay is expected to highlight the TVK government's 100-day performance and make a concerted outreach to different sections of voters.

While the party has a support base among youngsters and women, he is expected to focus on strengthening its appeal among middle-aged and senior voters, the sources said.

According to sources, the Chief Minister is keen to win both constituencies and intends to use the bypolls to demonstrate the TVK's electoral strength.

The sources said the party's objective was also to ensure that the Opposition candidates, particularly those of the DMK and AIADMK, lose their deposits.

They further said Vijay's campaign would be aimed at building momentum ahead of bypolls expected in five other Assembly constituencies and creating a situation where Opposition parties would be reluctant to enter those contests.

Campaigning will end on October 4 evening, with polling scheduled for October 6.

The BJP had removed Muruganandam from all party positions with immediate effect following a complaint by Divya Sheshadri, the party’s state OBC wing secretary. The complaint alleged physical abuse, mental harassment, coercion, intimidation and threats, besides other serious allegations, and sought an inquiry, police protection and disciplinary action.

Muruganandam, however, said his more than three-decade association with the BJP had been without any complaint and alleged that action was taken against him without an inquiry by the party’s disciplinary committee.

He said he had spoken to BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh and state in-charge Aravind Menon, who had assured him that action would follow a disciplinary inquiry.

“Taking action against me solely on the basis of fabricated, AI-generated photographs and a fake complaint, without any inquiry, is completely unacceptable,” he said.

Muruganandam also warned of stringent legal action against those circulating what he described as fake news and rumours.

He added that dengue cases rose from 61 on September 14 to 133 on September 15 and 283 on September 16 (Wednesday), before declining to 244 on September 17. He attributed the fluctuations to seasonal factors and said the Health and Family Welfare department was taking all precautionary measures.

“People must not panic,” Arunraj said. “Adequate mosquito-control workers had been deployed across all districts. A dedicated dengue treatment protocol has also been prepared and government hospital doctors trained to follow it.”

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had convened a review meeting on dengue and issued directions to ministers and officials, he said. Mosquito-control workers have been conducting house-to-house visits and removing stagnant water.

Industries and construction companies have also been warned against allowing water to accumulate, with fines to be imposed for violations.

“Public cooperation is essential in mosquito-control activities,” the Minister said. “Preventing dengue requires a coordinated effort involving multiple departments and the community.”

Arunraj was speaking after launching the pre-release event of Vizhithirai Kaappom, a State initiative for early detection of retinal disorders, at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital in Egmore here.

The programme will cover 385 block-level government primary health centres, 37 district headquarters hospitals and 150 urban primary health centres, besides government general, district and medical college hospitals.

The Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital will serve as the nodal institution, providing technical support, training and equipment.

The initiative aims to screen people aged above 30 once a year, besides those with diabetes and hypertension, to detect retinal disorders early and facilitate specialised treatment. Arunraj said that public opinion would be sought before making fundus screening mandatory for diabetics.

On medical education, he stated that 6 new nursing colleges would be established in Tirunelveli, Tiruchy, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Namakkal at a cost of Rs 270.26 crore. Additional seats have also been created in nursing, pharmacy and 12 allied-health courses.

Divya Sheshadri, BJP OBC Secretary, had lodged the complaint seeking a time-bound inquiry into allegations of physical abuse, harassment, coercion, intimidation and threats against Muruganandam. She had also sought his suspension pending the inquiry and appropriate action if the allegations were established.

In her complaint, Divya alleged that Muruganandam had represented that he would marry her, was named as guardian in her wards' school records and had assured her support for her candidature from Srirangam in the 2026 Assembly election. She said she had shifted from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and had been residing in Tiruchy since 2024.

She further alleged that she became pregnant during their relationship and was coerced into terminating the pregnancy against her wishes. She also alleged physical abuse and threats to kill her and/or her children. Divya said she was prepared to submit electronic evidence and details of witnesses in support of her allegations.

The complaint was submitted to BJP national president Nitin Nabin, national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, state in-charge Arvind Menon, Nagenthran and other senior leaders. It sought examination of relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police protection and disciplinary action, including Muruganandam's removal from the post and expulsion from the party if the allegations were established.

Muruganandam's response

When contacted by DT Next, Muruganandam said he was unaware of the complaint.

“I still don’t know what the complaint is. I’m unaware of that. Without knowing the complaint and charges made against me, I couldn’t respond to anything. After I get to know the details, I will issue a clarification,” he said.

Following the complaint, the BJP state leadership removed Muruganandam from all party positions with immediate effect. The allegations made in the complaint remain subject to inquiry.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased was identified as Pandiammal, a resident of Sivakasi. She worked as a cutter at the paperboard manufacturing company.

On Friday morning (September 18), while Pandiammal was working at the factory, her saree accidentally got caught in the cutting machine, which pulled her into it.

Her hand was severed in the accident, and she died on the spot due to excessive blood loss.

Sivakasi East police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. They recovered her body and sent it to the Sivakasi Government Hospital for an autopsy.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident

Another case of a factory worker's death in Tamil Nadu

On September 5, a worker named Madasamy (38) was killed in an explosion at a firecracker unit in Othayal village near Sattur, Virudhunagar district. He was preparing a mixture in a chemical mixing room when the blast occurred.

The Chinnathambi Fireworks factory where the blast occurred is co-owned by Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu's sister, Jayashakthi.

Jayashakthi, her daughter Selvamari and son-in-law Muraleeswaran, and factory manager Surya Prakash have been booked under four sections, including causing death by negligence and careless handling of explosives.

While Surya Prakash has been arrested by Sattur taluk police, the other three are absconding, according to a Maalaimalar report dated September 7.

Preparations are under way for grand public meetings in both constituencies, where Vijay will address party cadres and voters. In Dharapuram, a public meeting is planned at Thirumalaipalayam on the Udumalpet Road, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

The by-elections in Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tirupur district have already begun generating political activity, with the ruling TVK, DMK, AIADMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi and Left parties contesting separately, resulting in a five-cornered contest. The CPI (M) and CPI announced that they would contest as an independent Left front, breaking away from traditional electoral coalitions, placing them in direct opposition to both the DMK and TVK.

This will be the first electoral battle in the state after the TVK formed its maiden government with the help of allies after winning the April 23 Assembly polls.

CM Vijay has nominated former AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama from Madurantakam and Dharapuram, respectively.

Both Kumaravel and Satyabama had won from their respective constituencies as AIADMK candidates in the April 23 polls, before resigning as legislators and joining the ruling TVK later.

Madurantakam bypoll candidates

In Madurantakam, TVK has fielded former AIADMK MLA and a TVK deputy general secretary K Maragatham Kumaravel, while the DMK has nominated Parandhaman, its legal wing joint secretary and party spokesperson.

The AIADMK has fielded its former Madurantakam MLA Kanitha Sampath.

The CPI(M) candidate is Suganthi, State Committee member and the General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF).

The NTK has fielded K Janakiraman.

Dharapuram bypoll candidates

In Dharapuram, TVK has fielded former AIADMK MLA P Sathyabama who is seeking re-election under her new party banner.

The DMK has nominated advocate and women's wing member S Suganya.

The AIADMK has fielded K Bhanumathi, joint secretary of its Tirupur suburban east district women's wing.

The CPI candidate is P Lakshmanan.

The NTK has fielded M Karthika.

Meanwhile, the nominations of 58 candidates for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls were accepted on Thursday (September 17), following scrutiny, the EC said.

The final list of candidates for both constituencies is scheduled to be released on Saturday (September 19), which is the last date of withdrawal.

Following this, political parties are expected to intensify their campaigns after September 20, with local functionaries making arrangements for visits by their leaders.

Leaders set to campaign for TN bypolls 2026

DMK president MK Stalin, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, NTK chief coordinator Seeman and leaders of the Left parties are also preparing to campaign in the two constituencies.

Stalin is expected to campaign for two days across Madurantakam and Dharapuram, while a detailed campaign schedule for Udhayanidhi Stalin is also being worked out.

Security stepped up for TN bypolls 2026

The visits by senior leaders have prompted authorities and party functionaries to step up preparations. Security arrangements are also being strengthened in both constituencies, particularly for Vijay's public meetings.

With this being Vijay's first election campaign as Chief Minister after the TVK came to power, his proposed meetings have generated considerable interest among party workers and supporters.

With several major leaders set to hit the campaign trail after September 20, the electoral battle in Madurantakam and Dharapuram is expected to intensify in the coming days.

So far, nine people have died of dengue, while Chennai alone recorded 87 new cases in a day, as reported by Daily Thanthi.

Which of the districts in Tamil Nadu reported high cases of Dengue?

Dengue cases are reported to be high in districts including Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur, Salem and Krishnagiri.

The department said dengue is prevalent in 10 districts, including Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram. More than 25,000 people are involved in mosquito-eradication work across the state.

The Health Department has intensified prevention measures across the state amid an increase in the number of Aedes mosquitoes due to changing weather conditions.

The health department has also ordered District Collectors to carry out dengue monitoring and coordination work, and has appointed separate 45 special nodal officers for districts. Officials have been ordered to visit districts and monitor the spread of dengue fever, record the daily incidence of the disease, and conduct inspections and studies to prevent mosquito breeding. 

Dengue cases in Chennai

The figures assume significance as the city enters a period of intermittent rainfall, which can create conditions favourable for mosquito breeding. In August, around 4,500 fever cases were reported, including 160 dengue infections.

The Greater Chennai Corporation has deployed about 3,700 mosquito-control workers across its 15 zones. Field teams have been instructed to inspect residential areas and other potential breeding sites, including vacant plots, construction sites and public institutions. Private hospitals have also been asked to share daily information on fever cases to strengthen surveillance.

(With inputs from Bureau)

Divya Sheshadri, BJP state OBC secretary, submitted the formal complaint to the BJP national president Nitin Nabin, national general secretary (org) BL Santhosh, state in-charge Arvind Menon, state president Nainar Nagenthran and other senior leaders, seeking a time-bound inquiry and Muruganandam’s suspension pending the probe.

Divya Sheshadri alleged that Muruganandam represented that he would marry her, was named as guardian in her wards’ school records and assured her support for her candidature from Srirangam in the 2026 Assembly election. She said she shifted from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and had been residing in Tiruchy since 2024.

She further alleged that she became pregnant during their relationship and was coerced into terminating the pregnancy against her wishes. She also alleged physical abuse and threats to kill her and/or her children, and said she was prepared to submit electronic evidence and witness details.

The complaint sought examination of provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and police protection. It also sought disciplinary action, including removal from the post and expulsion from the party, if the allegations are established.

When contacted by DT Next, Muruganandam said he was unaware of the complaint. “I still don’t know what the complaint is. I’m unaware of that. Without knowing the complaint and charges made against me, I couldn’t respond to anything. After I get to know the details, I will issue a clarification,” he added.

The tiger was trapped in the early hours of Friday in a cage installed in the Silver Cloud forest area. The operation had been launched following the deaths of two villagers in separate tiger attacks on August 8 and August 21. In both incidents, the victims’ bodies were found partially consumed, prompting the forest department to mount an extensive search for the suspected animal.

As part of the operation, 14 cages fitted with bait were placed at strategic locations. The department also deployed 305 automatic and GSM-enabled camera traps to monitor the tiger’s movements and identify its movement patterns.

Several search teams carried out intensive ground-level surveillance across the Gudalur forest division and adjoining areas. The prolonged operation had also drawn criticism from local residents, who had raised concerns over the delay in locating and capturing the tiger following the two fatal attacks.

During the search, two leopards were captured in the traps and released in suitable dense forest habitats. Following the capture of the tiger, the forest department has begun the process of comparing its photographs with images recorded by the camera traps during the search operation to confirm whether the animal caught in the cage is the same tiger suspected in the two fatal attacks.

Citing his age and health condition, the magistrate directed police to question him within the Central Prison, Puzhal. The magistrate also allowed for Veeramani's advocate to be present during the interrogation and directed the investigating officer to videograph the interrogation and submit a copy to the magistrate.

Veeramani (84) and his two associates were arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on August 29 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl. Police said that the action was taken based on a video evidence submitted by an activist to the city police's ITPU (Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit), which showed an elderly man sexually exploiting a young girl.

Police sources said that a pendrive with the video was sent to the ITPU in October 2025 and a case was registered, but action was delayed for several months. The police had earlier sought to close the case after they could not identify or locate the girl. A special POCSO court rejected the closure report on August 19 and ordered further investigation. The fresh probe led to the arrests of Veeramani and his associates, Mahendra Simhan (64) and his wife, Shanthi (60).

Meanwhile, Police have also submitted that the survivor in the video has been identified and her statement was recorded before a magistrate.

The State government has postponed the launch of the expanded breakfast scheme from September 17 to September 22. According to the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment department, the scheme will be inaugurated in Chennai and simultaneously rolled out across the state.

While the expansion has been welcomed, educationists and teachers say the government should not stop with middle-school students. They have called for the breakfast programme to cover Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 and for the noon-meal scheme to be extended to Classes 11 and 12.

Stakeholders also point out that the TVK government must begin by extending the existing breakfast and noon meal schemes to all school students instead of contemplating providing chicken biryani to students.

"Children do not stop needing a nutritious breakfast when they enter higher classes. Nutritional and educational needs of adolescents are equally important. The schemes should cover students up to Class 12 so that no child is left out simply because of the class they study in," said an educationist.

Teachers also pointed out that students in Classes 11 and 12 often spend long hours in school and attend additional academic activities. "A student preparing for board exams needs adequate nutrition and concentration. Providing breakfast and lunch can help students remain attentive during lessons and reduce the burden on families," a teacher said.

Speaking on its importance, a child psychologist added, "Breakfast is particularly important for children and adolescents as it provides energy after the overnight fasting period and can support concentration, classroom participation and overall well-being." Therefore, advocates of universal school nutrition argue that access should be based on the needs of growing children rather than their class level.

The LoI seeks to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan's ICT sector and Karnataka's technology and innovation ecosystem and is expected to pave the way for a future Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

TCA Manager Hsin-Lun Tsai and IIIT-B Registrar Cmde SR Sridhar signed the agreement in the presence of TECC Chennai Director General Stephen Hsu, Foundation for Commerce and Culture Interchange CEO Dennis Hu and Karnataka Digital Economy Mission CEO Sanjeev Kumar Gupta.

The two organisations will explore cooperation in artificial intelligence, electronics, smart manufacturing, smart cities and cybersecurity. The framework also provides for knowledge sharing, policy dialogues, business matchmaking, joint seminars and conferences, and bilateral delegation exchanges.

Hsu said Taiwan's strengths in ICT, semiconductors and electronics manufacturing could complement Bengaluru's technology and innovation ecosystem.

TCA's Tsai said the partnership would seek to combine IIIT-B's academic and research capabilities with Taiwan's hardware manufacturing and semiconductor expertise.

IIIT-B Director Prof Debabrata Das said the LoI would help explore mutually agreed initiatives across technology, innovation and the digital economy.

KDEM CEO Sanjeev Kumar Gupta said the initiative could strengthen global partnerships and academic-industry engagement in Karnataka.

In Madurantakam, 48 nominations were filed, of which 20 were rejected and 28 accepted. In Dharapuram, 51 nominations were filed, with 29 rejected and 22 accepted.

In Madurantakam, the scrutiny was conducted at the RDO office under the supervision of election officer Narendra. The rejected nominations were mainly due to incomplete forms and failure to submit the required documents, officials said.

The accepted nominations include those of TVK's Maragatham Kumaravel, DMK's Parandhaman, AIADMK's Kanitha Sampath, CPM's Suganthi and NTK's Janakiraman.

In Dharapuram, scrutiny was conducted under the supervision of RDO Felix Raja. Among the 22 candidates whose nominations were accepted are TVK's P Sathyabama, DMK's S Suganya, AIADMK's K Bhanumathi, CPI's P Lakshmanan and NTK's M Karthika. The nominations of 13 Independents were also accepted.

Officials said 29 nominations were rejected in Dharapuram for procedural deficiencies, including failure to submit affidavits within the prescribed time, non-submission of mandatory documents and discrepancies in polling station numbers mentioned by some proposers of Independent candidates.

Saturday is the last date for withdrawal of nominations, following which the final list of candidates will be published. In Madurantakam, the election officer said two EVMs would have to be deployed at each polling station if the number of candidates in the final fray remains above the permissible limit for a single machine.

The Madurantakam election officer said flying squads had so far seized cash and other items worth around Rs 8 lakh. Two complaints received through the online grievance mechanism were resolved within 100 minutes, he said.

There have been no complaints so far alleging distribution of cash or gifts to voters in Madurantakam, Narendra said.

The Madurantakam bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of AIADMK MLA Maragatham Kumaravel, who later joined TVK and is contesting the bypoll on its ticket. The Dharapuram bypoll followed the resignation of AIADMK MLA P Sathyabama, who subsequently joined TVK and is contesting as the party's candidate.

A pass system (red, yellow, purple and green), with each marking a specific area closest to the temple’s inner sanctum, was in place. Devotees without passes were permitted entry only after 10 am for darshan.

“Is the consecration ceremony organised only for VIPs?” questioned a cross-section of devotees who were stopped by the police on the four Chithirai Streets, located in proximity to the gopurams (towers) where the consecration was performed.

“During the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam (sacred celestial wedding) organised over the years, we have been allowed to gather on the four Chithirai Streets,” noted the devotees.

“We are not asking the police to allow us inside the temple, but only onto these streets so that when holy water is poured over the kalasams during the Kumbabishekam, it will be sprinkled on us,” they noted.

Some people were seen forcibly crossing barricades erected by police to gain entry into the Chithirai Streets. Over 100 devotees waiting at the entrance raised slogans and staged a protest over holy water not being sprinkled on them.

Subsequently, police personnel brought a large vessel filled with water and sprinkled it on the devotees. This led to further protests, with the devotees alleging that the water being sprinkled was not holy water but ordinary water.

Meanwhile, members of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers also expressed disappointment over the cancellation of 30 passes allotted.

After the Kumbabishekam, Minister R Nirmal Kumar urged devotees gathered on Chithirai Street near the police control room to remain patient and said that everyone would be allowed inside after Kumbabishekam is completed. Barricades had been put up in the interest of people's safety and to prevent some untoward incidents, he said.

On the occasion of the 148th birth anniversary of social reformer and founder of the Dravidar Kazhagam, Periyar, Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar, Chief Minister Vijay and Ministers, including N Anand and Aadhav Arjuna, took part in the pledge event held at the Parade Ground at the Secretariat on Thursday.

During the event, the Chief Minister read out the pledge, followed by the other participants.

In the pledge, they stated that they would follow the principles of "Pirappokkum Ella Uyirkkum" (By birth, all are equal) and "Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir" (Every place is our native, every person is our relative) in their lives.

"My activities will be based on the characteristics of self-respect and leadership qualities. I would dedicate myself to the principles of equality, brotherhood and socialism. I would uphold humanity and form a society based on social justice, " the pledge stated.

Before the event, Chief Minister Vijay paid floral tributes to a portrait of Periyar. Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar and other officials also participated in the event.

Periyar’s legacy guiding light for equality: Aadhav

Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna on Thursday paid tribute to social reformer 'Periyar' EV Ramasamy on his birth anniversary, recalling his lifelong struggle for equality, self-respect and social justice.

In a statement, Aadhav said the first Self-Respect Conference, held at Chengalpattu, had declared that the notion of people being superior or inferior by birth must be rejected in its entirety. Periyar propagated this principle of equality throughout his life and served as a guiding light for the people of Tamil Nadu to live with dignity and self-respect, he said.

Aadhav described Periyar as a leader who took the idea of equality to the masses and fought relentlessly for social justice. He also credited Periyar's movement with creating the circumstances that led to the First Constitutional Amendment.

Highlighting his advocacy of women's liberation, Aadhav recalled Periyar's words: "The first step towards human equality is a society in which men and women are equal."

He also described Periyar as a steadfast opponent of Hindi linguistic dominance and recalled his message that a life of self-respect is a life of happiness.

"Let us honour the legacy of Thanthai Periyar, whose principles continue to guide us as a bulwark against caste and religious majoritarianism," Aadhav said.

He called upon people to pledge themselves to the path of secularism and social justice without compromise, asserting that Periyar's principles continued to provide direction in the pursuit of an egalitarian society.

Aadhav later paid floral tributes to Periyar by garlanding his statue and portrait on Anna Salai here.

Speaking after paying floral tributes to Periyar on his birth anniversary, Shanmugam said Periyar had encouraged people to question everything and spread rational and scientific thought while instilling self-confidence among the people. He said Periyar's ideas and thoughts continued to have considerable influence on Tamil society.

However, Shanmugam questioned whether the present-day Dravidian movements were following Periyar's principles in practice. "Whenever Dravidian leaders speak, they refer to what Periyar said and his thoughts. But they do not intervene constructively against caste discrimination and caste atrocities in Tamil Nadu, " he said.

He said caste discrimination, caste atrocities and untouchability were social issues and political parties should work together beyond party lines to address them. "Whether in power or in the opposition, everyone should work on these issues beyond party politics and in a manner that unites humanity, " Shanmugam said.

He urged the major Dravidian movements in Tamil Nadu to give greater attention to caste-based discrimination and atrocities, saying concrete action against such practices would demonstrate that they were genuinely implementing Periyar's ideas. CPM senior leader and former MP TK Rangarajan and Chennai central district secretary Selva were among those who participated in the floral tribute.

Taking advantage of the crowd, the gang allegedly stole purses and handbags from women and elderly persons who had been waiting for long hours for darshan.

Meanwhile, women and male police personnel who were patrolling the area in plain clothes amid the crowds caught the women red-handed while they were allegedly committing the thefts and brought them to the police control room.

During questioning, the women told the police that they were from Maharashtra. The police seized purses and handbags allegedly stolen from members of the public that were found in their possession.

The four women were subsequently taken to a police station, where the police are continuing their inquiry.

The party has submitted the list of leaders who will campaign for its candidates in the two constituencies. The omission of the three senior leaders has attracted attention, particularly amid the differences between the camp of general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and leaders associated with Shanmugam and Velumani.

The differences surfaced after the 2026 Assembly elections over the issue of extending support to the TVK government. Subsequently, Palaniswami removed Shanmugam and Velumani from their district secretary posts. Though they were later given other organisational responsibilities, their earlier district posts were not restored.

Shanmugam and Velumani have been seeking restoration of the posts held by them and their supporters. They have also sought the convening of the AIADMK general council, but their demands have not been accepted so far.

Against this backdrop, the exclusion of their names, along with that of Thangamani, from the star campaigners list has renewed attention on the organisational differences within the party.

The development comes at a time when AIADMK is seeking to consolidate its campaign for the two bypolls, with the absence of the three senior leaders potentially underscoring the continuing divide between the EPS camp and functionaries aligned with Shanmugam and Velumani.

With the consecration of the Sri Kaliamman temple scheduled for Thursday, a group led by T Sethupathi erected a digital banner welcoming the devotees on Wednesday. Meanwhile, another group led by M Prakash decided to install a banner at the same spot, triggering a heated argument between the groups, which snowballed into a physical assault.

Shocked, the elders pacified the groups, after which both gangs left the place. However, at around 2 am, Prakash, along with his father M Mathiyazhagan (58) and his brother Rajkumar (30), went to the house of Sethupathi and picked up a quarrel. Suddenly, the trio attacked Sethupathi and his father, Thalapathi (50), with lethal weapons. Thalapathi died on the spot, sustaining stab injuries to his chest and other parts. The trio escaped.

On receiving information, Kabisthalam police rushed to the spot, retrieved the body and sent it to Papanasam GH. The police have registered a case, and further investigations are under way.

A PIL filed by Bhaskar of Kamarajar Salai in Madurai came up for hearing before the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Aravind Dharmadhikari and Justice CV Karthikeyan.

In his petition, Bhaskar has sought directions to expedite the construction of the AIIMS hospital at Thoppur and complete the project within a stipulated time.

Bhaskar submitted that the central government had announced the establishment of an AIIMS in Tamil Nadu in 2015. Pointing out that the construction work had not progressed at the expected pace and the project had remained pending for a long time, the petitioner therefore sought directions to expedite the construction work at Thoppur and complete it within a specified timeframe.

PIL filed by Bhaskar of Kamarajar Salai in Madurai sought directions to expedite AIIMS hospital construction at Thoppur and complete the project within a stipulated time

When the case came up for hearing before the Division Bench, the counsel for the central government submitted that as of August 31, around 57% of the overall construction work had been completed.

The counsel for the central government further submitted that the five batches of MBBS students admitted between 2021 and 2025, who had initially been accommodated temporarily at Ramanathapuram, had now been shifted to the AIIMS's own campus.

The central government further informed the court that a fully functional outpatient department at AIIMS Madurai was scheduled to commence operations from January 1, 2027.

After hearing the submissions, the Division Bench disposed of the petition after the counsel appearing for the Centre submitted that necessary steps were being taken to open the OPD from January 1.

Justice Sunder Mohan observed that while one may sympathise with a father over strained relationships with his children, the court cannot accept the Family Court’s view that he should be financially compensated for it.

The father, CM Goyal alias Chandrakumar M Goyal, had sought maintenance stating he was unable to maintain himself. He submitted that he had run a successful business manufacturing household appliances and computers, provided a good education to his children, and given his son a 50% share in the business.

He further alleged that after purchasing a flat in Perambur, his son and daughter-inlaw deceived him into executing a settlement deed and later defrauded him during his illness. He also claimed his son stopped paying property tax and electricity bills for the apartment, leaving him without any source of income. Aggrieved by the Family Court order directing him to pay Rs 75,000 per month, his son Suraj Goyal filed a revision petition before the High Court.

During the hearing, Suraj argued that his father had ill-treated the family and had extra-marital affairs. He submitted that although his father settled the property in his name while retaining life interest, he later sought to cancel the deed under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. After failing in that attempt, the father filed the maintenance case under Section 125 CrPC as an afterthought, the son contended.

Allowing the petition, Justice Sunder Mohan observed that the case was certainly a hard one as the son was accused of obtaining his father’s self-acquired property through a settlement and failing to provide moral support. However, this alone did not entitle the father to claim maintenance under Section 125 CrPC unless prescribed conditions were satisfied.

“No amount of money can compensate for the lack of moral or family support a person is entitled to in his old age,” the court said, adding it could only hope that good sense would prevail and the parties would resolve their issues. Holding that the ground on which the Family Court awarded maintenance could not be accepted, the High Court set aside the order.

The facility will use an alkaline electrolyser to produce at least 45 kg of green hydrogen an hour. It will also include storage tanks, compressors and a refuelling system capable of supplying up to 900 kg of hydrogen a day to vehicles. The project is a part of the ministry's broader objective to develop the port as a Green Hydrogen Hub. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the VOC Port has been identified as one of India's green hydrogen hubs.

The plant will have storage capacity for around 720 kg of hydrogen. Hydrogen will be stored at high pressure and dispensed at 350 bar. The turnkey project includes the design, engineering, procurement, civil and electrical works, automation, safety systems, installation, commissioning, testing and training. It will also cover facility operation and maintenance for seven years, including a two-year guarantee period.

The project is proposed on around three acres of land and is expected to be completed in 12 months. The port will provide 22 kV power supply and potable water free of cost, while the contractor will be responsible for the required arrangements, protection systems and other project-related works.

The tender marks a major expansion from VOC Port's existing green hydrogen pilot project, which has a production capacity of 10 Nm³ per hour. The pilot powers port streetlights and an electric vehicle charging station.

According to VOC Port chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit, the pilot project helped establish the technical feasibility of producing green hydrogen at a port and helped identify operational and technical challenges.

VOC Port intends to expand the pilot plant in phases and eventually scale up to 10 MW for green mobility applications, including deploying hydrogen-powered trucks for port operations. The chairperson earlier said the first stage of commercial green hydrogen production at VOC Port is expected in 2029.

The three-day conference, held from September 11 to 13, brought together over 200 participants, including heads of state, ministers, economic experts and investors from over 20 countries.

Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool presided over the award ceremony and presented the honour to Sekar Viswanathan, along with prominent Tamils from various fields around the globe.Discussions at the conference covered international investments, business opportunities, artificial intelligence, financial services, higher education, healthcare, startups and global trade.

VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan attended the event as chief patron and special guest. Minister for School Education Rajmohan and president of the Madras Development Society and World Tamils Economic Foundation VRS Sampath also attended the conference.

The award recognised Sekar Viswanathan's contribution to the higher education sector.

The conference provided a platform for participants from different countries to discuss economic cooperation, investment opportunities and emerging sectors, including technology and education.

The issue is likely to come up for discussion at the university's Senate meeting, scheduled for Friday after a gap of more than a year. The meeting is significant as the university is required to approve the budget and take up discussions on several administrative and financial matters.

According to university sources, the institution requires around Rs 100 crore from the government to meet its expenses, but the State has only provided Rs 52 crore in the budget. The shortfall could put additional pressure on the university's finances, including salaries, pensions and other administrative expenditure.

Last year, the University of Madras paid Rs 95 crore towards retirement benefits to retired staff from its Rs 300 crore corpus fund. The university has also been paying monthly pensions from the interest generated by the corpus fund. The university faced a similar financial situation the previous year, with government assistance proving insufficient to meet all its financial commitments.

Sources said the current situation has again raised the question of whether the university would have to depend on its corpus and other resources if additional government assistance is not released. However, no decision has been taken so far to withdraw money from the corpus fund this year.

Speaking to DT Next, former University of Madras Vice-Chancellor SP Thyagarajan said the government should allocate a special reform package to the University of Madras to help it overcome the fund crunch. He also said the university should focus on generating its own revenue and a vice-chancellor should be appointed soon. He recalled that the University of Madras was once financially strong and had a revenue surplus.

Professors from the university have also raised concerns over the State government's fund allocation, pointing out that Rs 525 crore of the Rs 767 crore allocated for State universities has gone to Annamalai University and the remaining Rs 242 crore has been distributed among other State universities, they said.

They also pointed out that timely release of adequate funds would help the University of Madras manage its regular commitments without excessively depending on its own reserves. University of Madras registrar Prof Dr Rita John replied that the university is not reeling under any financial crisis now. The Senate meeting on Friday is therefore expected to provide a clearer picture of the university's financial position, including its fund requirements and the measures proposed to manage the funding gap.

According to university data, 2,425 students from these 24 colleges sat for various semester examinations between November-December 2021 and November-December 2025, but none managed to pass. Semester exams are generally held in November-December and April-May.

Of these candidates, 1,394 wrote the first, third, and fifth-semester exams, while 1,031 appeared for the second, fourth, and sixth-semester tests.

The analysis further showed that 177 colleges had fewer than 50 students passing the examinations over the four years. This poor performance, combined with very low student intake, has raised serious doubts over whether candidates admitted to such institutions can complete their degree within the prescribed timeframe.

Questioning the rationale behind allowing such colleges to participate in admissions, educationist D Nedunchezian said: "Despite low admissions and poor performance, why are these colleges allowed to participate in counselling? This amounts to ruining the future of students." He added that institutions with just one or two students in a batch cannot provide a conducive academic environment or ensure effective teaching.

Educationist Jayaprakash Gandhi urged Anna University to set a strict timeframe for colleges to raise standards. "Colleges that have admitted a sufficient number of students in previous years should alone be allowed to participate in the counselling process. If Anna University fails to address this issue, producing quality engineering graduates will remain a challenge," he said.

Tamil Nadu currently has 418 engineering colleges with a sanctioned intake of 2,53,806 seats, of which 1,99,775 were filled during the 2026 counselling process.

The issue assumes significance as several engineering colleges have struggled to attract students, with some even shutting down in recent years. The 2026 counselling data revealed a sharp contrast: only 35 colleges achieved 100% admissions, while 104 recorded over 90%. At the other end, 24 colleges saw admissions fall below 10%, including 15 that managed only single-digit enrolments.

When contacted, Anna University Registrar Prof Dr V Kumaresan said the varsity is yet to receive the relevant performance data from the Directorate of Technical Education. "Once we receive the data, we will examine the matter and initiate appropriate action based on the findings," he said.

Academicians have urged Anna University and AICTE to conduct a comprehensive review of institutions with persistently poor results and low intake, rather than focusing solely on expanding seat capacity, and take firm action against those failing to maintain academic standards.

Justice Vijayakumar issued the directions on a petition filed by Yogalakshmi of Koodal Pudur, the mother of the deceased Tamilselvan, who sought transfer of the probe and an interim stay on the police investigation.

Yogalakshmi said that her son went out to play with his friends on September 6 but did not return home till evening and alleged that a boy had informed her that one Thuraipandi had assaulted her son a few days earlier. She also claimed that her son was in a relationship with Thuraipandi's daughter and that love letters were allegedly found at her house.

Meanwhile, Tamilselvan's body was recovered from a nearby pond on September 7. His friends, who had initially denied going to the pond with the deceased, later admitted the truth after the police showed them CCTV footage, the petitioner said.

She further claimed that she later received information that some persons had assaulted Tamilselvan and thrown him into the pond. Though she had handed over audio recordings and other materials relating to her suspicions to the police, no action had been taken, she alleged.

The police submitted that the cause of death could be ascertained only after the post-mortem report is released.

Following this, the judge directed the police to preserve the CCTV footage, examine an audio recording of a conversation between Tamilselvan's friend and his mother and adjourned the case to September 24.

Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Palaniswami alleged the TVK government has unfulfilled election promises and has also failed to rectify power shortages in the state.

On CM Vijay's visit to London, Palaniswami said that he travelled to the United Kingdom to attract industrial investment but did not include key officials such as the ministers and officials of the department concerned.

"If the Chief Minister had travelled specifically to attract industrial investments, he should have taken appropriate persons with him," he said.

Palaniswami further said that corruption has increased under the TVK government and people are forced to pay bribes for everything.

He also expressed concern over the State's financial position, noting that since the TVK government took office, State debt has increased by nearly Rs 40,000 crore and revenue expenditure has risen by approximately Rs 36,000 crore.

He also called on the government to suspend plans to build a new Secretariat in a congested coastal area. Once the State's finances improve and a more accessible, traffic-friendly location can be chosen, said EPS.

The association stated that recovering the excess amount without issuing rules and guidelines for TAPS was an autocratic move and that the government should clarify the criteria under which an employee would be considered to have completed 18 years of service and become eligible for the interim payout under TAPS.

"The TVK government should implement its election manifesto, stating that the Old Pension Scheme would be implemented once the party came to power. The order on interim payout issued by the Finance Department should be repealed," the association said.

In a recent circular issued by Finance Secretary N Venkatesh to the Director of Treasuries and Accounts, the Finance Department said that retired government staff who had completed 18 years of service or more would be eligible for 30 per cent of their last-drawn monthly basic pay or Rs 10,000 as interim payout, whichever was higher.

Venkatesh said that if pensioners were credited with a payout of 30 per cent despite not having completed 18 years of qualifying service, the excess amount would be recovered from their bank accounts in 10 equal instalments.

JACTO-GEO also said that only a few government employees and teachers had completed 18 years of service, particularly among those recruited after 2007 through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in The Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts on Friday.

According to the weather bulletin, a trough extending from a cyclonic circulation over Marathwada and its neighbourhood to the Gulf of Mannar, across Interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu at 0.9 km above mean sea level, is driving the rain across the State.

Moderate rain with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph is expected at a few places over the remaining Western Ghats districts, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur, Salem, Tirupur, Erode, Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Madurai, Sivagangai, Krishnagiri, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Karur, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Pudukottai districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal.

On September 19, heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Vellore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Kallakurichi, and Salem districts. The heavy spell will continue at isolated places over The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Madurai, Villupuram, and Kallakurichi districts on September 20.

For Chennai, light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely in some areas during the evening or night on Friday. The maximum temperature in the city will hover around 37 degrees Celsius, while the minimum will be around 26 degrees Celsius.

Maximum temperatures are likely to remain near normal across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal until September 21. Moderate rain at a few places, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph at isolated spots, will continue over the Western Ghats districts, North Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on September 22 and 23.