1. Edappadi K Palaniswami Offers to Withdraw Disqualification of Rebel MLAs
Desperate to muster support of a few MLAs to save his government, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has offered a compromise formula, which entails withdrawal of the disqualification of the rebel MLAs who return to the parent organisation.
"It is a tricky issue, because following the speaker's decision to disqualify 18 rebel MLAs, the government had notified the vacancies. The Election Commission did not proceed with an election notification just because the Madras high court stopped it from doing so. But legal experts are of the view that speaker is well within his right to rescind his earlier decision of disqualification," said a source privy to the negotiations between the EPS and rebel camps.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Doctors Stage Protest in Chennai After Assault By Patient’s Kin
Doctors from Chennai’s Stanley Medical college sat in protest in the college campus on 17 June, after a member of a patient’s family allegedly slapped a medical intern. The doctors claimed that the disgruntled relatives of a patient slapped a medical intern on the campus around 1:30 am in the early hours of 17 June, and have demanded that additional security be deployed in the wards before they resume work.
Their demands include: a security guard in each ward, separate duty rooms for male and female interns and post-graduate students, with a cot, attached bathrooms, and a security guard.
Read the full story here.
3. Now, Access TNRERA Building Records Without RTI
Aggrieved home buyers who have filed complaints against developers with the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA), will no longer have to take the RTI route to seek details from the realty regulator. Just an application would fetch them the information.
The state government has notified the regulations for TNRERA that it should follow. These were notified on Wednesday and made public on Saturday. As per the regulations, any complainant or their legal representative may be allowed to inspect the record of the case by making an application. Further, the facility has been extended to those not connected with the case as well. However, those inspecting documents cannot record or take notes of the documents and records.
(Source: The Times of India)
4. Actor Mansoor Ali Khan Arrested for Remarks on Chennai-Salem Highway
Actor Mansoor Ali Khan was detained by the Salem police in Chennai on Sunday morning, allegedly for his remarks against the proposed Chennai-Salem expressway. Specific details of the case that has been registered are awaited.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the area on Saturday, Mansoor Ali Khan said, "I came to Salem to see the water bodies filled with water. If Salem gets an airport, 8-lane highway etc, people can't live in Salem. If the 8-lane road comes, then many trees and hills will be destroyed. It will affect the livelihood of the people who live here. Hence, the state and the central government must not implement it. Moreover, if there are protests against the highway, I will definitely participate. If the eight-lane project is implemented, then I will kill eight people and go to jail."
(Source: The News Minute)
5. PIL Petition Seeks Reduction in Metro Fare
A public interest litigation petition filed in the Madras High Court recently sought a direction to the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to fix the minimum ticket fare at Rs 5 per person and follow the same pricing as suburban electric trains operated by the Southern Railway. The petitioner also sought a direction to the Centre to take over the Metro Rail services in the city through the Indian Railways and operate it with the assistance of the Southern Railway.
He pointed out that the fare from Chennai Central to Tirusulam (near the airport) covering a distance of 18 km in the suburban trains was only Rs 5 per person as against Rs 60 in Metro Rail. Such exorbitant collection of fares was not in the interest of society, he said.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. DMK Under Fire After Ruining Footpaths for Meeting
The DMK came under fire from residents and netizens for damaging footpaths in Kilpauk and Anna Nagar, including new pedestrian pathways built by the Chennai Metro Rail. While the party is protesting against the ruling government on various counts, it was criticised for digging up the platforms and roads for hoisting party flags and cut-outs for its leader MK Stalin, who spoke at a public function in Anna Nagar on Saturday night.
Residents, pedestrians and social media erupted in anger at the continuing culture of putting up banners, flags and cut-outs, mostly along Poonamallee High Road. DMK MLA J Anbazhagan responded, saying: “As said, I will make sure everything is cleared in couple of days. This was not done by our cadres, it was by a contractor. My team will rectify it at the earliest.”
(Source: The Hindu)
7. Fishermen Net Little Profit, Thanks to High Diesel Price
Sunday was special for the city’s fishermen as they returned to the sea after a 61-day-long ban on mechanised boats entering the waters. But the catch was not great, and the profit too was not much due to high diesel prices. The boats spent two to three days at sea and returned early on Sunday morning. Fishermen brought back kadama, Sankara, prawns, cuttlefish and even some octopus.
“Some fishing grounds frequented by fishermen did not have fish and in some spots, nets got caught and were damaged. The oil spill has done more damage than expected. Oil has formed a layer on the seabed on many stretches where there is absolutely no fish,” said Nanjil Ravi of Akila Indhiya Meenavar Sangam.
(Source: The Hindu)
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