1. Anti-People Govt Has Got An Extension: TTV
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam founder TTV Dhinakaran said that the “longevity of the anti-people government has been extended” because of Thursday’s judgment.
Speaking to reporters, Dhinakaran, who was accompanied by the disqualified MLAs, said, “While one judge has deemed the Speaker’s decision (to disqualify MLAs) as invalid, the CJI has ruled the Speaker’s actions to be valid. But a couple of months ago, the CJI ruled in the Puducherry Speaker’s case that his action wasn’t valid. As a layman, I don’t understand how there can be one law for TN’s Speaker and one for Puducherry’s Speaker.”
He said that while he would call for a floor test, the 18 MLAs who are his supporters “are still a part of the AIADMK and only want a change of Chief Minister.”
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Ruckus Over Stalin’s Remarks on Sterlite
Pointing out the observation by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on the action taken to close down Sterlite Copper in Thoothukudi following the police firing that claimed 13 lives, Leader of Opposition MK Stalin on Thursday, 14 June, demanded the government to take necessary steps, including a Cabinet resolution to close the polluting unit permanently.
The issue raised a little heat in the House during zero hour as Speaker P Dhanapal expunged a particular term Stalin used, leading to an argument with the Chair who stated that a matter that was sub judice could not be discussed in the House as per rules.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. Puducherry Verdict Different From TN MLAs Case
Within minutes of the Madras High Court delivering its verdict on Thursday, 14 June, in the case of disqualification of 18 MLAs, social media was abuzz with why Chief Justice Indira Banerjee had not quashed the Tamil Nadu Speaker’s decision though she had in March held as unsustainable a decision taken by the Puducherry Speaker to reject nominations of three MLAs by the Centre to the Union territory’s Assembly.
The answer can be found in the two judgements itself. The Chief Justice has in both judgements held that the Speaker’s decisions are subject to judicial review. However, when it comes to reviewing an order passed by the Speaker under the Tenth Schedule (popularly known as the anti-defection law) of the Constitution as was the case in the 18 MLAs case, the scope of judicial review was limited.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. EMUs Faster Than Express Trains on Arakkonam Route
The passengers from Arakkonam and Tiruvallur travelling by EMU trains will reach Chennai Central faster than those travelling in superfast trains with the Southern Railway having increased the travel time of select express trains.
The move aimed at improving the punctuality of 87 trains terminating at Central, Thiruvananthapuram, Kanniyakumari, Ernakulam and Mangaluru has resulted in increased travel time by 30 to 45 minutes.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Panel Puts off Visit to Apollo
The daughters of VK Sasikala’s brother Dhivakaran on Thursday, 14 June, contradicted the statement of Dr KS Sivakumar — a member of her family — before the commission of inquiry looking into former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s death.
A source familiar with her testimony said that Dr Rajamathangi, a physician at Apollo Hospitals, told Justice (retd) A Arumughaswamy that she had not taken notes on Jayalalithaa’s treatment daily. While being examined by the Commission’s lawyers S Parthasarathy and R Niranjan, she said that Dr Sivakumar's statement before the Commission to that effect was wrong.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Insurance Money Given to Kin of Cops Who Died
Chennai City Police Commissioner AK Viswanathan, along with officials of Axis Bank, gave Rs 30 lakh personal accidental insurance money to the families of two police personnel who died in road accidents last year.
The statement from the police said that M Murali Kumar (26), attached to the Armed Force, was killed in a road accident on 1 December, 2017. Similarly, Gopi Kumar, a Grade-2 personnel, died in an accident on 5 May, 2017.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
7. Thirukkural Sparks Row in Assembly
A recital of a couplet from Thirukkural and its explanation by a DMK MLA triggered a wordy duel between the ruling AIADMK and the principal Opposition DMK in the Assembly on Thursday.
The Deputy Speaker, however, expunged certain remarks made by the DMK MLA, prompting the Opposition to stage a walkout.
When DMK MLA R Masilamani (Mailam) was about to wind up his speech during the debate on the demand for grants to the Health Department, he recited a Thirukkural (Kural 563) “ Veruvantha Seythozhugum Vengola Naayin Oru Vantham Ollai Kedum ” and made some remarks, which were expunged by the Chair.
(Source: The Hindu)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)