1. Over 2,500 Idols Immersed in the City
With 15,000 police personnel providing security, over 2,500 idols were immersed in Chennai and the suburban areas on Sunday. Barring minor skirmishes between those who took part in the procession, the event was conducted in a peaceful manner.
Unlike last year, there were minimal traffic disruptions due to the processions in the city. A large number of policemen were deployed at T. Nagar and the surrounding areas to ensure a peaceful procession. Huge Vinayaka idols in different hues were taken on bullock carts and lorries to Kamarajar Salai on Sunday afternoon. Marina Loop Road saw normal traffic on Sunday evening, unlike last year when it was crammed with vehicles.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Green Building Certification for Central Railway Station
For incorporating green concepts and environment-friendly features in Chennai Central Station, Southern Railway was awarded with Green Building Certification by Indian Green Building Council governed by the Confederation of Indian Industry as part of the Railway SWACHCHTA program on Saturday.
The award was given under Green Railway Stations Rating System for adopting green concepts in the station’s operation and maintenance in a bid to reduce adverse environmental impacts, a press release said.
The rating system evaluates railway stations based on energy efficiency improvements, ways of water management and rain water harvesting and in the overall care taken to keep up the health and hygiene conditions. At present, the council is working with 40 other railway stations for their certification.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. HC Sets 3-Month Time Limit for Filing Counter Affidavits
Expressing dismay over case bundles gathering dust due to non-filing of counter affidavits by government entities for years together, the Madras High Court has impressed upon the need to fix a time limit for filing such affidavits. The court has directed its Registrar General to restore a rule which mandates filing of counters to writ petitions too within three months.
Justice S M Subramaniam issued the direction on a writ petition filed by Nallasura Ravi Reddy of Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district in 2016. Though the petitioner had sought to quash an order passed by a Tahsildar refusing to issue patta for a piece of land, the case could not be disposed of fore more than two years for want of a counter affidavit by the Tahsildar. Stating that it was not an isolated incident and that he had been coming across several old cases in which counter affidavits were yet to be filed, the judge said, it had become a routine affair for the counsel representing the government entities to seek adjournments after adjournments for filing of counter affidavit thereby wasting judicial time.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. US National Married to TN Man Stranded
A 26-year-old native of United States who was found stranded at Kancheepuram was on Thursday rescued and sent back to her native on Friday night.
The police said, Rosie (26) (name changed) had married a city-based software engineer. “It seems the woman and her husband were addicted to alcohol. Dissatisfied with her behaviour and family disputes that arose later, her husband and his mother are said to have deserted the woman at Kancheepuram and fled the city as well.”
On Thursday, based on information, Kanchipuram Taluk police rushed to Vellai Gate and rescued Rosie. She was found speaking with some autorickshaw drivers. “The woman was taken for enquiry, but she was in inebriated state and hence we sent her to a home at Kanathur,” a police officer said. She underwent medical examination and there were no signs of sexual abuse or rape, said the police. When police reached the software engineer’s house, it was locked and neighbours said the family had shifted a week ago.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Woman Arrested for Murdering Visually Impaired Son
A woman, who murdered her 13-year-old visually impaired son, has been arrested by the police. According to the police, Padma Gopinath, the accused, was living with her mother and son in St. Thomas Mount after separating from her husband. Her mother died recently.
On Friday night, Padma took her son, Bharath, in an unconscious state to a nearby hospital and claimed that he had attempted suicide by wrapping his face in a plastic cover. Doctors declared him ‘brought dead’ and sent the body to the Government General Hospital , Chromepet, for post-mortem. The results revealed that Bharath was suffocated to death. When confronted, Padma admitted to having killed her son, as she was unable to take care of him. The police said that Padma first covered Bharath’s face in a plastic cover and then tried to hang herself.
(Source: The Hindu)
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