TN This Week: Govt Approaches SC; Seeks Timely Disposal of Bills and Files from Governor

Six people have been arrested for allegedly assaulting two Dalit men and robbing them in Tamil Nadu's Thirunelveli district, police officials said on Wednesday. 

A couple in Tamil Nadu, who had married against the wishes of their families, was murdered three days after their wedding, the police said on Thursday in Thoothukudi.

With torrential rains battering several parts of Tamil Nadu on Friday, Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Dindugal and Theni district administrations declared a school holiday for Saturday.

The Income Tax Department conducted searches in various locations in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu. The raids were carried out at several locations allegedly linked to the late DMK leader Vasugi Murugesan and Tamil Nadu Minister and Highways and PWD Minister EV Velu.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee on Monday recommended that Karnataka ensure a minimum flow of 2,600 cusecs of water reaches Biligundlu in Tamil Nadu from November 1 to 15.

The Tamil Nadu government has ordered the setting up of a fact-checking unit (FCU) to combat the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and fake news.

The Supreme Court on Friday indicated that it was hesitant to intervene in a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging two orders of single-judge benches of the Madras High Court allowing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct route marches in the State.

In a major relief to non-service postgraduate medical students in Tamil Nadu, the State has reduced the tenure of the bond period from two years to one year. The bond amount has also been reduced by the Government from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

A candlelight vigil in support of Palestine was organised by a coalition of trade union movements and people’s organisations on Friday calling for an end to Israel's war on Palestine on Friday.

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the important developments from Tamil Nadu in the past week.

‘GIVE TIMEFRAME TO GOVERNOR’

Tamil Nadu has moved the Supreme Court over inordinate delay by the Governor in giving assent to Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly and in clearing of files relating to key decisions taken by the state government. This is a significant escalation in the tussle between Governor RN Ravi and the DMK government.

The state also sought direction to the Governor to dispose of the files within a specified timeframe.

MGNREGA WORKERS' ARREARS

MGNREGA workers held rallies and protests in many places in Thanjavur on Friday to demand payment of wage arrears ahead of Diwali. They have not received wages for three months.

A protest was held in Orathanadu block, Thanjavur. Image credit: CPI(M)

Officials at the Orathanadu block development office announced that the eight weeks’ arrears will be released all at once.

MINISTER BOYCOTTS CONVOCATION

As many as 220 members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) courted arrest in Madurai on charges of waving black flags against Governor RN Ravi, who attended the 55th convocation ceremony of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) on Thursday.

Meanwhile, as previously announced, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy boycotted the convocation due to the Governor’s refusal to award an honorary doctorate to freedom fighter and veteran CPI(M) leader N Sankaraiah, thus turning down the government’s request.

Additionally, 15 senate members and some graduates also did not turn up for the convocation.