The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Briefly

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Sunday, Apr 03, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

By Our Special Correspondent

`State will get isolated on VAT'

CHENNAI APRIL 2. The Congress leader, G.K. Vasan, today warned that the Tamil Nadu Government's stand on the value added tax (VAT) would only isolate the State.

He said the Centre had relaxed many provisions for small traders.

It was high time that the Tamil Nadu Government initiated talks with traders and evolved a consensus for introducing the new system.

In a statement here, Mr. Vasan said it was unfortunate that the system, initiated by the National Democratic Alliance Government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, was being opposed by the BJP-ruled States themselves. It only showed the BJP's "opportunist" policies.

Fill judges vacancies: forum

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI APRIL 2. The Advocates Forum for Social Justice has called for immediate appointment of judges to vacancies in the Madras High Court and said advocates from oppressed communities should be given preference.

The Forum will stage a demonstration on the court premises in support of the demand, said a resolution adopted at its advisory meeting held here yesterday.

The meeting sought transparency in the recruitment procedure and said shortlisted names should be made public at least three months in advance. It wanted the name Madras High Court changed into Chennai High Court and demanded permission to advance arguments in Tamil.

Another resolution urged the State Government to allocate residential facilities for advocates practising in Chennai.

Pension for freedom fighters

CHENNAI April 2. Chief Minister Jayalailthaa today directed issuance of pension to seven freedom fighters and widows of three others.

R. Govindaraj and M. Natarajan of Chennai, R. Ramalingam and S.A. Karuppannan of Madurai district, S. Muthu Sowdayya of Theni district, S.K. Irulappan of Virudhunagar district and Krishnasamy of Vellore district would be given the freedom fighters' pension. Each of the freedom fighters would receive a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 and a medical allowance of Rs.15.

The pension would also be extended to K.M. Dhanalakshmi and P.V. Parvathi Ammal of Madurai district, Ramu Ammal of Ramanathapuram district and Parvathi Ammal of Dharmapuri district.

Each would receive a monthly pension of Rs. 1,515, including Rs.15 as medical allowance, said a release.

Rice haul

By Our Staff Reporter

KRISHNAGIRI APRIL 2. Twelve tonnes of rice meant for supply in public distribution outlets was seized by officials of the Civil Supplies department at Pocchampalli, 25 km from here, on Friday. According to the police, a team was checking vehicles on the Pocchampalli-Mathur road.

They intercepted a lorry laden with 260 rice bags proceeding to Bangarapet in Andhra Pradesh. On inspection it was found that the rice was being smuggled for sale in the open market.

The rice bags were seized along with the lorry. The lorry driver, Daulat, was arrested.

Additional charge

CHENNAI APRIL 2. S. Subramanian, General Manager (Operations/Airport) of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in Chennai has assumed additional charge as the airport director. He replaces R.J. Treasuryvala, who has been posted as executive director (operations), AAI, New Delhi.

Two sisters electrocuted

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL APRIL 2. Two sisters were electrocuted at Eraniel on Saturday.

According to police sources, Gana Deevideen Ammal (52) and Mariya Nesam (51) came into contact with a live wire in front of their house. The husband of Gana Deeviden Ammal, Backiyaraj who sustained burns was admitted to Government headquarters hospital.

Chinnappa, new Archbishop

CHENNAI APRIL 2. Bishop A.M. Chinnappa is the new Archbishop of the Madras-Mylapore diocese.

The announcement of the elevation of Bishop Chinnappa of Vellore as Archbishop was made by the Apostolic Nuncio to India, Most Rev. Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Pope's Ambassador to India.

Born on July 23, 1937, Bishop Chinnappa was ordained priest of the Salesian Congregation on December 16, 1972.

He was appointed Bishop of Vellore on November 17, 1993 and consecrated bishop on January 25, 1994.

The Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore has been vacant after the death of Arul Das James.

Bishop Lawrence Pius, who has been the Administrator of the Archdiocese, will continue as the Auxillary Bishop.

Rev. Yuvone Ambroise of Pondicherry has been appointed Bishop of Tuticorin and Rev.Fr. Susai Manickam, Vicar General of Madurai Archdiocese has been appointed as the Co-Adjutor Bishop (with the right of succession) of Sivaganga Diocese, according to a release.

Special buses for Yugadi

SALEM APRIL 2. The Salem division of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation will operate special buses to Madheswaran Hills for the Yugadi festival from April 5 to April 10. The buses will be operated from Salem, Erode, Dharmapuri, Hosur and Mettur, a release here has said.

Affiliation granted

SALEM APRIL 2. Periyar University has granted provisional fresh affiliation to three self-financing education colleges (B.Ed colleges) from the academic year 2004-2005 - the PDR Vellachiammal College of Education, Sekkampatti, Harur taluk, the Dharmapuri, Kasthooriba Gandhi College of Education, Athanoor, and the Paavai College of Education, Annaipalayam, Rasipuram taluk, Nammakkal.

Vehicle tax collection

Salem april 2. The Lions Club of Salem Mid Town in association with the Regional Transport Office will conduct a vehicle tax collection drive from April 4 to April 7. A special camp to collect annual tax, life tax and green tax will function at the Hindu Modern Café on Cherry Road from April 4.

Tax forms will be available at the camp and taxes could be paid there, the club president, S. Chandrasekaran, has said.

Infant thrashed to death

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI APRIL 2. The police are on the lookout for a youth and his parents, who allegedly dashed his 45-day-old son against the floor.

The police said the complainant, V. Murugeswari, of Valasai under the Sernthamaram police station limits was married to Mahesh of Bala Arunachalapuram in the same area last year. Now, he demanded Rs.25,000 from his in-laws.

Murugesawari gave birth to the baby boy. Mahesh, who visited his wife last evening, sought the money. As she refused, he dashed the infant, which died after being admitted to a hospital.

Skeleton recovered

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI APRIL 2. The Alangulam police recovered the skeleton of a 35-year-old woman from a watercourse near Subbiahpuram

The police said the unidentified woman might have been dead or could have been murdered by somebody some 45 days ago. Since no case pertaining to missing of a woman was registered in the police stations in the Alangulam sub-division, the police are clueless.

AIR special on

SSLC subjects

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI APRIL 2. The Tiruchi station of All India Radio will broadcast a special hour-long live-in programme `Vetrikku Vazhi' from 11 a.m. on April 3 to clarify doubts of students in Social Science and General Science papers of the SSLC public examination.

The `Ilaya Bharatham' at 8 p.m. on April 3 would feature a special phone-in programme for the benefit of students of under-graduate course in Journalism and Public Information.

A press release issued here today said teachers would clarify the doubts of the students.

Students who want to benefit by the programme can dial 0431-2415341, 2415342.

Students clean

public places

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM APRIL 2. Hundreds of students of A.V.C. College at Mayiladuturai, attached to different service organisations like NSS, Rotaract, Leo, Junior Jaycees, Youth Red Cross, Pekak Extension Service and NCC cadets carried out cleaning of 20 temples, churches, mosques, Government hospital, municipal library and bus stand in and around Mayiladuturai on Friday during a special service camp organised as part of the College's golden jubilee celebrations.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI APRIL 2. The water level in the Mettur dam stood at 51.84 feet today. The inflow was 185 cusecs and the discharge 900 cusecs.

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