1. Ragging On the Rise in State
The State has seen a steady increase in enrolment in colleges but are students enjoying the experience? In the last three years, according to a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Satya Pal Singh, there has been a steady increase in the number of incidents of ragging across the country.
In Tamil Nadu, from just 25 incidents of ragging in 2015, 43 were recorded last year.
In 2015, a BTech student of Sathyabhama University committed suicide, leaving behind an eight-page note that complained of ragging. But the police maintained that the parents had not complained to the anti-ragging cell. Colleges and universities too alleged that the students and parents did not bring it to their notice.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Bird Strike Grounds Air Indian Aircraft
Air India flight carrying 172 passengers, including crew, from Singapore to Chennai suffered a bird hit 400 feet above the ground, damaging the nose of the aircraft.
An Airport Authority of India official told Express that the incident happened at 400 feet above and not in the airport premises.
“The nose of the aircraft or radome is damaged but the radar has not been affected,” an airport official said.
Radome or nose cone is found at the foremost point of an aircraft. The nose cone also houses radar and other instruments that might be used to detect meteorological phenomena or transmit communication signals.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. 311 Convicts Owe Release to MGR
As many as 311 prisoners serving life terms have been released so far from State prisons on the occasion of the birth centenary of former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran, while 1,189 prisoners are to be released in the coming months after examining each case individually, prison officials said.
The government considered the requests of various sections of society for releasing life convicts who have completed 10 years, and has also taken into consideration the legal aspects of the orders of Supreme Court.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Raju Mahalingam Sidelined by Rajinikanth?
Raju Mahalingam, the former creative head of Lyca Productions, appears to have been sidelined in actor Rajinikanth’s fans club, Rajini Makkal Mandram.
Mahalingam was in February named the secretary of the outfit that the actor was planning to convert into a political party. The appointment of a relatively young person, amidst those who were members of the club for decades, is said to have caused much heartburn among old-timers.
While the outfit’s administrator VM Sudhakar recently denied that Mahalingam had been sidelined, it is learnt that none of the communications to the functionaries of the outfit was signed by Mahalingam of late.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. No Work, No Pay; DEE Warns Teachers
Issuing a stern warning to teachers intending to stage fresh protests over pay anomalies and against the Contributory Pension Scheme, the School Education Department authorities issued a circular on Monday stating it would be no pay if no work.
A circular issued by Director of Elementary Education to all Chief Educational Officers stated that “absence in the name of teachers protests” will be termed as “unauthorised absence” by the State government.
The State government has also warned of disciplinary proceedings against employees and teachers for violation of rules, it stated.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Modi to Kick off Work on Chennai Airport
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit the city soon to lay the foundation stone for the phase II modernisation of Chennai airport.
According to sources, Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to request for dates to the Prime Minister’s Office for this event.
“Since this is a massive project, we thought it will be nice to have the PM laying the foundation stone. We are hoping to get a date soon,” an official said.
The phase II modernisation is estimated to cost Rs 2,500 crore and this includes construction of a new international terminal and also remodification of the existing terminals.
(Source: The Hindu)
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