Tamil Nadu   

Briefly

Sankara Jayanthi on May 2

CHENNAI: Sankara Jayanthi, marking the birth of Sri Adi Sankara, falls on May 2.

The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam has published a booklet explaining the procedure to be followed in celebrating the event. It can be had from the Peetam by sending a self-addressed (Rs. 5 stamped) envelope. According to the Srikaryam and Agent of the Peetam, P. Neelakanta Iyer, those students who learn by heart `Thotakashtakam' and `Bhaja Govindam' and obtain a statement to this effect from their parents/teachers, will receive a silver dollar each. — Special Correspondent

Apex court upholds bail for six women prisoners

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has upheld a Madras High Court order granting bail to six women arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) in November 2003.

Reeta Mary, Sathia Mary, Jayanthi Mary, Sathiya, Amalorpavam and Vijaya were among 26 persons arrested by the Uthangarai Police in Dharmapuri district. The High Court in April 2005 directed the women prisoners to be released on bail but rejected the petitions of 20 others. A Bench of Justice B.P. Singh and Justice Altamas Kabir dismissed the special leave petition filed by the State Government challenging the judgment saying they were charged for grave offences and even the POTA Review Committee had found prima facie case for arresting them. The Bench told counsel for the State that only the women accused had been released on bail.— Legal Correspondent

Transport union plea to Election Commission

MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu Government Transport Corporation Staff Federation has appealed to the Election Commission to provide postal ballot facility to the drivers and conductors of State Transport Undertakings who would be out of their constituencies on duty.

In a representation sent to the Chief Election Commissioner, State general secretary T. Thirumalaisamy, said at least 70,000 drivers and conductors of STUs would be on outstation duty on the polling day. The Commission should evolve a mechanism enabling crew members on duty to exercise their franchise. — Staff Reporter

Telugu Federation demand

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Telugu Federation will support that political party which concedes the demands of the federation in the May 8 Assembly elections.

In a release, general secretary V. Anantharaman, said the Government should declare Telugu New Year Day as a Government holiday since 35 per cent of the population in Tamil Nadu was Telugus. — Special Correspondent

Spinal surgeons' meet

COIMBATORE: A Spinal Surgeons' Meet will be held at the PSG Hospital here on April 16. In all, 100 delegates from the South, including leading spine surgeons will discuss the advances in spine surgery, a hospital release said on Tuesday.

There had been technological advances such as better imaging techniques in the last 10 years.

This helped in locating the exact location of the problem. Micro discectomy, endoscopic discectomy and disc replacement are advances to be discussed, the release said. — Special Correspondent

Marijuana seized

THENI: Police arrested one person and seized 17 kg of marijuana from him during a raid in Palani Chettipatti near here on Tuesday.

Madhavan, who claimed that he is an office-bearer of Actor Vijay Fans Association and announced that he would contest in Andipatti against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. A case has been registered. — Staff Reporter

Boycott of courts

PERAMBALUR: Lawyers will abstain from courts here today, the second day of their protest against the alleged `humiliation' of an advocate by a police official attached to the District Crime Branch here recently. They abstained from courts on Monday also.

A resolution to this effect adopted at an urgent meeting of the Perambalur Bar Association convened here demanded action against the police official concerned.

The president of the Association, E. Valluvan Nambi presided over the meeting.

Teachers hold gate meeting

PERAMBALUR: Members of the Perambalur district wing of the Tamil Nadu Post-Graduate Teachers' Association held a gate meeting in front of the Plus Two paper valuation centre here on Tuesday, in support of their demands.

Led by the District president, S. P. Tamizhselvan, they demanded enhanced remuneration for valuation from the present Rs.3.75 to Rs.10 a paper and travelling allowances.

The District secretary of the Association, S. Kamaraj, was among those who spoke.

Temple festival

PERAMBALUR: Hundreds of devotees pulled the temple car of the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple at Chettikulam on the occasion of `Panguni uthiram' festival on Tuesday. The processional deity of Sri Thadayuthapani was taken to the temple car where special pujas were performed.

The temple car, along with the processional deity, was pulled for some distance near the temple where it will be kept till this afternoon for public worship. It will resume its run and will be brought to rest on Wednesday evening. Elaborate bandobust arrangements were made for the smooth conduct of the festival.

Earlier, devotees offered their `kaavadi' prayers, and `paalabishekam' (worship by offering milk) was performed to the deity for several hours in the morning.

The eleven-day festival commenced on April 2. The special `Udhirva pujas' will be performed on April 18, when special abhishekam will be performed to Sri Thandayuthapani, according to the Executive Officer of the temple, R. Karunakaran.

Passing of women's bill sought

TIRUCHI: The LEAD, a non-governmental organisation, has urged the Centre to take immediate steps to pass Women's Reservation Bill with immediate effect.

A resolution adopted at a function to mark the International Women's Day celebrations here recently, strongly condemned all sorts of atrocities unleashed against women at work-places etc. It also expressed serious concern over the continued female infanticide and called upon the government to put an end to this heinous crime.

Mettur level

Tiruchi: The water level at the Mettur dam stood at 112.38 feet on Tuesday. The inflow was 1,177 cusecs and the outflow, 2,786 cusecs.

— Staff Reporter

Man murdered

TIRUNELVELI: A farmer was murdered by a gang due to personal enmity.

Police said S. Kannan, 30, of Kaarukurichi under the Veeravanallur police stations, who had gone to his farm to irrigate the plantain saplings last night, was found murdered this morning.

Based on a complaint from the victim's father, Siddharthan, the Veeravanallur police are looking for E. Mariappan of the same area.

Prospectus on net

MADURAI: Prospectus and application form for admission to MBA and MCA courses offered by the Madurai Kamaraj University departments for 2006-2007 can be downloaded from the website www.mku.ernet.in. For more details, the Admission Cell of the university can be contacted, according to a press release from the Registrar.

Action against quacks welcomed

MADURAI: The `Madurai Siddha Vaidhya Sangam' has welcomed legal action initiated against quacks in the district.

In a memorandum, the association said there were genuine practitioners of traditional medicine under Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Practitioners Act, 1997, and hence they should be protected against any penal action. — Staff Reporter

Villagers threaten agitation

ERODE: The villagers of Surampatty were disappointed for the second day on Tuesday, as no official turned up for photographing for Electors' Photo Identity Card. It was announced that for the voters in Surampatty Wards 1 to 12, photograph would be taken at the CSI Elementary School.

Voters, mostly, the labour force, waited all day on Monday too and returned home disappointed. The villagers threatened to resort to agitations if no official turned up on Wednesday either. - Staff Reporter

Poompuhar expo

ERODE: Poompuhar, a unit of the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, will organise a special sale-cum-expo here from April 13 to 23. The Branch Manager of the Erode Poombuhar, S. Govindarajan, told the media on Tuesday that a 10 to 40 per cent discount would be on offer on select products. Bronze images, wood carvings, brass lamps, plates with Tanjore paintings, terracotta, stone sculptures, gems and jewellery, and leather products would be on sale. The expo will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. without break. - Staff Reporter

Commits suicide

ERODE: A ration shop employee committed suicide on Monday. According to the police, Gurusamy (45) of Uthukuli Nallagoundenpalayam was the employee of a ration shop. Recently, officials of the Cooperative and Revenue Departments, conducted a raid on his house and seized a few bags of ration rice. Frustrated, he consumed poison and died on the way to the hospital. - Staff Reporter

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