According to DVAC , the accused, Ramakrishnan, was serving as the officer-in-charge at the Alangayam police station in Tirupattur district. The case originates from a road accident involving a four-wheeler driven by the complainant, Manjunathan, a resident of nearby Ambur.

Following the collision, Manjunathan sought to complete legal procedures to secure his release and retrieve his vehicle. However, the SSI allegedly demanded a sum of Rs 5,000 as illegal gratification and was trapped by the DVAC sleuths. He was subsequently remanded in custody.

The case has been registered under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) based on a complaint lodged by Chellathurai, joint commissioner and executive officer of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. A complaint submitted by the anti-corruption organisation Arappor Iyakkam also led to the alleged irregularities coming to light.

According to a will registered in 1930 at the Saidapet sub-registrar's office, the Ashoka Vilas Bungalow and its adjoining garden situated on Alagarkoil Road in Madurai belong to a trust established to render services to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Alagarkoil, said a police source.

As per the conditions of the will, the property could only be leased out and could not be sold, mortgaged or transferred.

However, the complaint alleges that on June 24, 2016, former Madurai North Tehsildar Anbalagan illegally removed the temple's ownership from the revenue records and transferred the patta in favour of Ramaayi Ayyar and eight others. Following this, former Village Administrative Officer Arasan was placed under suspension, while departmental action and a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption inquiry were recommended against the former Tehsildar.

Subsequently, the Revenue Divisional Officer cancelled the Tehsildar's order, confirmed that the property belonged to the trust attached to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Alagarkoil, and ordered that the patta be restored in the name of the temple. A case relating to the property was also filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which granted an interim stay.

Despite the court's interim order, the FIR states that a general power of attorney was registered on April 16, 2021, at the Murappanadu sub-registrar's office in Thoothukudi district through sub-registrar Anandaraman. Based on that document, a mortgage deed was subsequently registered on July 19, 2021, at the Vadamadurai sub-registrar's office in Dindigul district by sub-registrar Prashanth Santhana Karuppan.

The FIR, which was registered on 25th July, names 19 persons as accused, including Ramaayi Ayyar, Senthamizh Selvi, Prema, Rajkumar, Muthurani, Rajendran, Kulandhaiya, Pushparaj, Jothi, Geetha, former VAO Arasan, former Tehsildar Anbalagan, Ilayaraja, Anish, Anandaraman, Kavitha, Prakash, Kalikumar and Prashanth Santhana Karuppan.

The accused have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy to usurp trust lands belonging to the temple by illegally mutating the patta, registering documents and creating a mortgage in violation of court orders and the provisions of the Registration Act. The Madurai City Central Crime Branch police are conducting a detailed investigation with all those connected to the case.

The online application process for MBBS and BDS admissions closed on Sunday after the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DME) extended the deadline by 29 hours in the interest of students.

Initially, 70,485 candidates had submitted their applications. Following the extension from 10 am on July 26 to 3 pm on July 27, another 2,142 candidates registered, taking the total number of applications to 72,627.

According to official data, 61,306 candidates from Tamil Nadu qualified in NEET this year. However, the number of applications received for medical counselling is significantly higher than the number of NEET-qualified candidates from the State. Explaining the higher application count, a DME official said, “Many applicants could be students belonging to TN families residing in other states for employment who appeared for NEET outside Tamil Nadu but remain eligible to seek admission in the State. Students from other states may have applied under the management quota in private self-financing medical colleges in TN.”

The State has 16,199 UG medical seats (13,999 MBBS and 2,200 BDS), of which, 5,349 MBBS seats are in government colleges or under the government quota, while 8,650 are under the management quota. Among the BDS seats, 250 are government seats and 1,950 are under the management quota.

Officials said that all nativity certificates and supporting documents would be scrutinised during the verification process to ensure eligibility. Medical counselling will commence after the completion of document verification.

Following strong objections from residents, farmers and other stakeholders, Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja assured the gathering that he would conduct an on-site inspection within a week and announced that construction would remain suspended until then.

During the grievance meeting, residents submitted around 80 petitions to Mayor R Ranganayaki and the Commissioner, urging the Corporation to abandon the proposed STP at the lake. The project has been facing sustained opposition, with residents and farmers staging a hunger strike in recent days demanding that it be scrapped or shifted to another location.

The petitioners argued that the proposed facility could contaminate groundwater, create public health concerns, lead to loss of biodiversity and compromise the lake's future potential to store fresh water. They reiterated their demand that the project be relocated.

Responding to the concerns, Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja said the STP was being constructed in compliance with a court order. However, he assured the residents that he would personally inspect the site within the week and confirmed that construction would remain on hold until the inspection was completed. The assurance brought the protest to a close, with the residents dispersing after the meeting.

The accused, Somasundaram (28), a resident of Pazhayaseevaram in Kancheepuram, was serving as a Home Guard. He was in a relationship with Sonia (28), a native of Aanambakkam. The couple got married eight months ago and had been living at Somasundaram's house. Sonia was five months pregnant.

According to the police, the couple had been having frequent marital disputes in recent months. On Tuesday morning, an argument broke out again between the couple while Sonia was at her mother's house. During the altercation, Somasundaram allegedly strangled Sonia to death before fleeing the spot.

On information, the Salavakkam police rushed to the spot, recovered Sonia's body, and sent it to the Chengalpattu Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The police later traced and arrested Somasundaram, who was hiding in the same area. A case has been registered, and further investigation is under way.

The former union minister's daughter appeared after the police issued a summons as part of the ongoing investigation. Sources said that she was questioned for about two hours and was instructed to remain in the city and to inform the police if she planned to leave the city.

A video of her slapping the manager of SBI at his office in Adyar went viral. According to the police, Kayalvizhi, who owns the commercial building housing the branch, visited the premises after the branch manager raised concerns over a malfunctioning lift.

The police said the branch manager, Harshin Singh, initially reported the faulty lift to the building's maintenance personnel. As the issue remained unresolved, he escalated the matter to Kayalvizhi. During her visit, an argument broke out between the two over the maintenance issue, following which she slapped the manager.

The police had registered a case against Kayalvizhi on charges of assault and criminal intimidation among others.

Justice L Victoria Gowri passed the order on a petition filed by advocate G Thirumurugan, who alleged that the YouTubers associated with Valai Pechu Media had published defamatory and unsubstantiated content against Seeman. The petitioner submitted that despite lodging a complaint on July 2, no FIR had been registered and sought a direction to the police to initiate legal action.

The court observed that consistency in law enforcement constitutes an indispensable component of the rule of law and that the investigating agency is expected to respond with equal promptitude to complaints involving members of the ruling party, the opposition or any other political organisation. It further observed that the neutrality of the police forms the foundation of public confidence in the criminal justice administration.

On the night of July 26, a woman from Pudhukothampadi, near Attur, received a phone call from a person claiming to be an official from the Attur Tahsildar's office.

The caller claimed that a new disease, similar to COVID-19, was spreading through human hair and that several countries had adopted head tonsure as a preventive measure. To lend credibility to the claim, the fraudster said the state government is offering a cash incentive of Rs 15,000 to women, Rs 45,000 to female college students and Rs 6,000 to men who shaved their heads under a special disease-prevention scheme.

The caller further claimed that only a limited number of tokens were available for residents of Pudhukothampadi, and those who availed of the scheme could collect the money from the Attur Taluk Office.

Shortly afterwards, the woman received WhatsApp messages from the same number containing photographs of women with shaved heads and bundles of Rs 500 notes, as proof that the scheme was genuine. Believing the messages to be authentic, she shared the information with her neighbours.

Acting on the misinformation, three women — Chitra (63), Ramayi (62), and Kaveri (64) — visited a local salon and had their heads shaved. When they later attempted to contact the caller to confirm that they had complied with the instructions, they found the mobile phone had been switched off.

The women realised that they had been deceived only after visiting the Attur Taluk Office on Tuesday to claim the promised money, where officials informed them that no such government scheme existed. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the fraud. A youth has been detained on suspicion and is being questioned in connection with the incident.

“Are TVK MLAs people’s representatives or local goons?” Nainar asked, condemning the alleged assault on journalists outside a theatre in Sholinghur.

He alleged that TVK MLA G Kapil and his supporters attacked journalists when they sought his reaction after he watched Jana Nayagan. “The MLA’s supporters snatched the mobile phones of those who filmed the attack and attempted to destroy evidence. This is the height of arrogance,” he charged.

Nainar accused the Joseph Vijay-led government of seeking to silence critics, arresting those who spoke against the administration and intimidating journalists. Terming it a fascist tendency, he urged the Chief Minister to rein in his party functionaries and ensure the safety of journalists and the public while protecting freedom of expression.

In a separate statement, Nainar hit out at Minister Vanni Arasu for allegedly mistaking the NCC cadets’ greeting “Jai Hind, Sriman” for “Jai Shri Ram” at a recent school function and launching into an attack on the BJP.

He said “Jai Hind, Sriman” was a traditional form of address in the armed forces and uniformed services, which roughly translates into "Victory to India, Sir," made as a mark of a cadet reporting for duty when formally presenting themselves to a senior officer or commander.

“Political rhetoric has no place in schools,” Nainar said, urging Vijay to prevent ministers from spreading hatred against Hinduism among students.

According to an X post by the Chennai Press Club, the incident occurred when Dinamalar reporter Kalyanasundaram and Dinakaran reporter Aranganathan were attempting to film an attack carried out by a group of individuals inside a shop in Sholingur.

Journalists allegedly assaulted by TVK MLA, group

The Press Club alleged that Sholingur MLA Kapil, along with the individuals accompanying him, brutally assaulted the two journalists while they were gathering news.

It further claimed that the incident took place in the presence of Sholingur Assistant Police Inspector Munir Pasha, who allegedly failed to prevent the attack and provide immediate protection to the journalists.

Chennai Press Club calls for strict legal action against journalists' assault

The Club said the attack on journalists carrying out their professional duties amounted to a "direct assault on media freedom and democratic principles."

It further urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to direct the police to arrest all those involved, including MLA Kapil, register cases under appropriate stringent legal provisions, including attempt to murder, and take necessary action.

They also sought registration of cases relating to destruction of evidence over the alleged seizure of the journalists mobile phones, deletion of news footage, obstruction of news gathering and interference in media work.

'Attack on journalists cannot silence democracy'

Reiterating its stand, the Chennai Press Club in its post said attacking journalists could not silence the voice of democracy and asserted that it would never tolerate any form of violence that threatens media freedom.

In his letter, Satheesan highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two states, describing it as one founded on "geographical proximity, cultural affinity and a long tradition of mutual cooperation." He said both governments have consistently worked together in the spirit of cooperative federalism for the welfare and economic development of their people.

Referring to the Tamil Nadu government's Gazette Notification dated July 9, Satheesan said the new regulations governing the inter-state transportation of rough stones and other construction materials had significantly disrupted the supply of stone aggregates from the districts of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari to Keralam.

"These districts have traditionally been the principal source of stone aggregates required for the execution of several National Highway projects in Kerala," the Chief Minister wrote, adding that Keralam has limited availability of suitable stone aggregates for large-scale infrastructure works and therefore depends heavily on supplies from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

He cautioned that the restrictions had adversely affected the supply chain, disrupted construction activities and posed a serious risk of delays in completing several nationally significant infrastructure projects. Satheesan further noted that the National Highway projects would not only improve connectivity within Keralam but also strengthen logistics, trade and tourism across southern India.

He said the projects would provide seamless connectivity to the Vizhinjam International Seaport and the International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam, enhancing the region's economic competitiveness. While acknowledging Tamil Nadu's objective of ensuring sustainable management of natural resources, Satheesan expressed confidence that a balanced solution could be found.

He urged Vijay to consider granting suitable relaxations or evolving an appropriate mechanism to facilitate the uninterrupted transportation of stone aggregates meant exclusively for ongoing National Highway and other nationally important infrastructure projects in Keralam, expressing hope for a positive response and continued cooperation between the two states.

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

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

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

Questions over language policy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Chief Minister also highlighted that the detailed project report for the Mekedatu project, submitted by Karnataka in 2019, had been returned by the Central Water Commission for revision to ensure compliance with the CWDT award and applicable guidelines.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to investigators, the accident happened when a motorcycle travelling across the railway overpass reportedly went out of control. The rider is believed to have lost balance, causing the two-wheeler to veer into the opposite lane and collide head-on with an oncoming luxury bus.

The force of the impact compelled the bus driver to apply the brakes suddenly in an attempt to avoid further damage. However, the abrupt halt triggered a chain collision as a car and a tempo van travelling behind were unable to stop in time and crashed into the vehicles ahead.

The impact left multiple vehicles badly damaged and several occupants trapped inside. The motorcycle rider, identified as Boopathy, a native of Narasingapuram in Villupuram district, died on the spot.

John Anbazhagan (55), a resident of Mudichur in Chennai who was travelling in the car, also succumbed to his injuries at the accident site before medical assistance could reach him. On receiving information, personnel from the Villupuram police station, assisted by local residents, rushed to the scene and launched rescue operations.

Those trapped inside the mangled vehicles were extricated and shifted to safety before emergency medical teams arrived. Three injured persons, identified as Lazar, Solomon and Balaji, the driver of the car, were rushed to the Villupuram Government General Hospital.

Hospital sources said all three sustained serious injuries and remain under intensive medical care. Their condition is reported to be critical. The accident led to heavy traffic congestion on the railway overpass, with vehicle movement disrupted for a considerable period.

Police regulated traffic while cranes were deployed to remove the damaged vehicles and clear the roadway. Normal traffic resumed only after the accident site was fully cleared. Villupuram police have registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation to determine the precise sequence of events leading to the collision. Officials said they are examining eyewitness accounts and other evidence to establish the exact cause of the fatal accident.

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

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

Network operation across cities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Students' hands swollen after beating from teacher's cane

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

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

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

Case filed against teacher who beat students with cane

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

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

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

Describing the reply given to PMK president and Rajya Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss as a "signal" to facilitate the Mekedatu project, Vaiko contended that the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict had unequivocally upheld the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and Karnataka can't construct Mekedatu without the approval of Cauvery lower riparian states, including Tamil Nadu.

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

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

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

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

He urged the Tamil Nadu government to remain vigilant and asserted that there should be no direct negotiations with Karnataka on the Mekedatu project. He also called upon the State government to safeguard Tamil Nadu's rights as the lower riparian State and prevent any attempt, with the support of the Union government, to deprive it of its legitimate share of Cauvery waters.

He alleged that the Union government's reply in the Rajya Sabha to a question raised by PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss could pave the way for Karnataka to secure approval for the proposed Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery.

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

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

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

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

What are the tender conditions for free breakfast scheme?

The tender conditions are as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

Free breakfast menu and expenditure details

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

The government spends over Rs 12.71 per child per breakfast.

Free breakfast scheme expansion plans

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

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

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

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

(With inputs from Bureau)

Manonmaniam students protest change in degree distribution

Tension prevailed after the organisers made a last-minute announcement that the governor would confer medals only on 113 gold medallists, instead of all 871 students. However, when he learnt about the students' disappointment, he reversed the decision and conferred awards on all 817 students at the ceremony.

The governor apologised to the students for the inconvenience caused and praised them for their "good sanskaras".

Minister, MLAs boycott Manonmaniam convocation ceremony

"Many times people speak ill of the younger generation. Nowadays we are tempted to call them Gen-Z. In recent times, we have seen what happened at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. I am comparing the Gen-Z there with my young, capable and experienced students here. What a big difference," he said.

The governor further said, "You have got all the talents and got all the sanskaras from your families, your schools and this university, which they didn't have. Their demands may be just, but the sanskaras they displayed certainly did not reflect your culture and nature."

"We have a rich culture to follow, and Tamil Nadu has always shared that culture with the rest of the nation. What you have shown today should be replicated throughout the country," Arlekar said.

The Governor also revealed he had been informed that some people might create trouble during the convocation. "Ignoring everything, you are present here. “I am proud of you,” he added.

Referring to the absence of pro-chancellor Viswanathan and senior State government officials, Arlekar said, "They should have come here to see the satisfaction on your faces, which makes me very happy."

Interestingly, chief guest B Madhusoodhana Kurup, founding vice-chancellor of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, said, "Every official function in Tamil Nadu begins with ‘Tamil Thaai Vazhthu’, as a tribute to the Tamil language."

Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, who was scheduled to receive his post-doctoral degree at the convocation, did not attend the function.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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