1. One Year On, No Sign of Confiscated Assets in Jaya Case
More than a year after the Supreme Court upheld the trial court verdict in the disproportionate assets case against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, her close aide VK Sasikala and two others, there is no sign of the AIADMK government taking possession of 68 immovable properties of six companies spread across six districts attached in the case.
Though in March 2017 the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) wrote to Collectors of the six districts, including Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, to immediately take possession of the properties, there has been no perceptible action to comply with the court order so far, sources in the DVAC said.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Film Producers’ Council to Strike from 16 March
The Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) will halt production and post-production of Tamil movies from 16 March after no compromise was reached between TFPC and digital service providers, such as Qube and other players, over the ‘Virtual Print Fee’.
The announcement comes at a time when the occupancy in movie theatres, especially single-screen halls, has reduced considerably.
TFPC president Vishal said that the decision was taken because no agreement could be reached between the two sides.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Daswant Chargesheeted For Mother’s Murder
After being convicted for the rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl, Daswant has been charged with the murder of his mother Sarala.
In a chargesheet filed before judicial magistrate court, Sriperumpudur, the police accused him of killing his mother, enraged over her denial to give money for his personal expenses and scolding him for murdering the little girl.
On 18 February, Daswant was convicted and sentenced to death by the mahila court in Chengalpattu for the rape and murder of the girl in February last year.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. TN Urges Centre Not to Interfere With Tribunal Order
The Tamil Nadu government on Friday impressed upon the Centre that the Supreme Court’s judgment did not interfere with recommendations of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its final order with regard to the implementation mechanism.
Giving an account of the deliberations of the meeting chaired by Union Water Resources Secretary UP Singh in New Delhi, an official of the State government said the Centre was urged to carry out the final order of the tribunal, which had the force of a Supreme Court order or decree. For effectively executing orders of the tribunal, the proposed Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) should be fully empowered.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. Govt Quotes SC Order on Liquor Shops
The State government on Friday contended before the Madras High Court that the Supreme Court has recently clarified that there was no bar on establishing liquor shops even within 500 metres from national highways and state highways if they pass through municipal areas which included corporations, municipalities and town panchayats.
Arguing before the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose, Advocate General Vijay Narayan contended that the apex court had gone a step further and given liberty to the State governments to establish liquors shops on highways that do not pass through municipal areas too if it was of the view that such establishment was necessary.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. PIL Petition Against Spot Fine on Motorists
In the wake of a tragic incident that led to the death of a pregnant woman in Tiruchi on Wednesday when an Inspector of Police chased and kicked a motorcycle on which she was riding pillion along with her husband without wearing a helmet, activist ‘Traffic’ KR Ramaswamy has filed a public interest litigation petition in the Madras High Court against forcing motorists to pay spot fine for violation of road traffic rules.
According to an affidavit filed by Ramaswamy in support of his petition, the offence of violating any of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 or the rules framed there-under must be dealt with like any other offence and proved in a court of law. The policemen could only issue a charge memo to the offenders and give them an opportunity to appear before the jurisdictional court to prove their innocence.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. DMK’s Assets Rose by 197%, AIADMK’s by 155%: ADR Report
The two major parties in Tamil Nadu — AIADMK and DMK — reported a major increase in their assets between 2011-12 and 2015-16, according to a report compiled by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The report is based on assets, liabilities and capital declared by the parties for the period between 2011-12 and 2015-16. The report has analysed the data submitted by 22 regional parties in the country.
Both the parties reported an increase in its Capital/Reserve Fund, with the DMK ending 2015-16 with total funds of Rs 835.56 crore, while the AIADMK’s funds stood at Rs 792.43 crore.
(Source: The Hindu)