Page 69 - Kerala

Elephant herd enters rubber estate in Kerala; resist drive to push them out

A herd of wild elephants ventured into a rubber estate in this high range district on Sunday and withstood repeated efforts of the forest authorities to chase them back into the forest. A senior forest official of the district said that the herd of eight pachyderms, including a calf, entered the estate at Peruvanthanam here early today. We reached the site at around 10 AM after being informed by the locals and since then we have been trying to chase the herd back into the forest, but to no avail, the official said. He said the herd was hiding deep inside the estate covered by dense foliage where it was difficult for the officials to go and therefore, it was proving difficult to chase away the wild elephants. A similar incident had occurred a week ago, the official said and added that back then the herd, believed to be the same one as now, had returned to the forest on its own. "This time too they may go back on their own. However, we are stationed here to keep track of their movem

Station House Officer taken into custody over rape complaint in Kerala

The Kerala police on Sunday took into custody a Station House Officer (SHO) of the Kozhikode Coastal police station for allegedly raping a woman here. Police said as per the woman complaint, she was allegedly gang raped by few people including the SHO. "The SHO was taken into custody today morning. He is currently being questioned by our team," city police commissioner C H Nagaraju told PTI. Police sources said the woman, whose husband was in jail in another case was allegedly raped by the police officer and few others, exploiting her helplessness. Police said the incident happened in May and the woman was afraid to lodge the complaint as she was threatened by the SHO.

If ordinance sent by state govt targets me, will refer it: Kerala Governor

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said that if the ordinance sent to Raj Bhavan by the CPI(M)-led government was intended to target him, then he will not sit in judgement over it and would refer the same to the President. Khan, while speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Saturday evening, said he was yet to see the ordinance or go through it and would take a decision only after that. "If I am the target, then I shall not be the judge in my own cause. I won't declare it now. I will see it and if I come to the conclusion that the purpose is to target me, then I shall not sit in judgement (over it). I shall refer (to the President)," he said. State Minister for Local Self-Governments and Excise M B Rajesh, meanwhile, said that the government expects the Governor to act in accordance with the Constitution. Rajesh, while speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, said that the state government exercised its powers under the Constitution when it came out with the ordinance and sent th

Kerala govt sends ordinance to axe governor as chancellor to Raj Bhavan

The CPI(M)-led government in Kerala on Saturday sent its ordinance to remove the Governor from the post of Chancellor of universities in the state, to the Raj Bhavan for approval, days after the cabinet had taken a decision in this connection. Raj Bhavan sources confirmed that the ordinance to replace the Governor as Chancellor of varsities and appoint eminent academicians in that role, has reached for the assent of Arif Mohammed Khan. However, it is unlikely for Khan to promulgate the ordinance soon as the tussle between him and the state government over the issue was yet to die down, sources added. The Pinarayi Vijayan-headed government on Wednesday had decided to come out with the ordinance, a move opposed by both the Congress and BJP. The opposition parties have alleged that the cabinet decision was aimed at turning universities in Kerala into "Communist centres".

India's groundwater extraction stage at 60% in 2022, says report

In 2022, around 87 per cent of the total annual ground water extracted that is around 208.49 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) was for irrigation which in 2020 was around 89 per cent

Governor vs government face-off intensifies in three southern states

Friction between Governors and the ruling dispensation in three non-BJP ruled southern states escalated on Wednesday, with Tamil Nadu seeking a recall of R N Ravi, Kerala proposing the ordinance route to replace Arif Mohammed Khan as Chancellor of state varsities, and Tamilisai Soundararajan expressing doubts of her phone being tapped in Telangana. While the Telangana Governor also claimed of an "undemocratic" situation in TRS-ruled Telangana, ruling DMK and its allies told President Droupadi Murmu that Ravi's acts were unbecoming of those in the gubernatorial post and sought his sacking. The ruling LDF in Kerala, which has had a number of run-ins with Governor Khan, said it has decided to come out with an ordinance to replace the Governor as Chancellor of universities in the state and appoint eminent academicians to that post, a move opposed by both the Congress and the BJP. The Kerala cabinet, which met in Thiruvananthapuram, decided to recommend to Khan to promulgate the ordinanc

Kerala High Court refuses to stay appointment of VC in-charge at KTU

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday refused to stay the appointment of Kerala technical University vice-chancellor in-charge and said the matter will be heard on Friday. Justice Devan Ramachandran refused to stay a plea filed seeking to stay the appointment of Cisa Thomas as the vice-chancellor in-charge of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. While the advocate general told the court that the authority to recommend the name of the vice-chancellor rests with the state government, the Governor's lawyer stated that even temporary appointments can be made only in accordance with the UGC rules and regulations. The court has decided to implead the University Grants Commission in the case. A recent Supreme Court order had quashed the appointment of the vice chancellor of Technological University here for being contrary to University Grants Commission regulations. The Governor later appointed a VC in-charge which was challenged before the court today.

Kerala Tourism bags Responsible Tourism Global award in London travel mart

The Kerala Tourism has bagged the prestigious Responsible Tourism Global award at the World Travel Mart held in London. State Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas received the award on behalf of the department at London and said it was an encouragement for the Kerala tourism sector. The award was given for the STREET project implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission under the Kerala Government. "I would like to share with you with utmost pride that the state Responsible Tourism and the Tourism Department has won the award for the water STREET project. Street is the acronym for Sustainable, Tangible, Responsible, Experiential, Ethnic, Tourism hubs and this was implemented from March 31, this year," Riyas said in a video message on Tuesday. The 'street' initiative is a water protection and conservation project in Tourism sector implemented with public participation. The minister said the Jury made special remarks about the water street project implemented at Maravanthuruthu in .

Kerala Governor bars two Malayalam channels from his press meet in Kochi

The press meet was held at the guest house in Kochi today morning

Kerala Guv blames ruling CPI-M for collapse of constitutional machinery

Asked about his stand on the replies of Vice Chancellors (of six universities) to the show-cause notice, Governor AM Khan said that he cannot reply unless he goes through their responses

Oligarchy prevailing in the state under CPI(M) rule, says Kerala Governor

Amidst the ongoing tussle between the Raj Bhavan and the Left government, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday alleged that a system of "oligarchy" is prevailing in CPI(M)-ruled state and it was evident from the incidents of party cadres being appointed in government jobs. He made this remark while referring to the reports of a purported letter from the Thiruvananthapuram Mayor's office asking the "priority list" of CPI(M) cadres to be appointed in temporary posts in the civic body. "The letter which is being discussed in the press is not the first of its kind. Many such letters exist with people. They have become like an oligarchy in Kerala," the Governor said. He also claimed that the people were asking are all the jobs under Kerala government reserved for cadres and the university jobs for powerful people in Thiruvananthapuram. The Governor, while talking to reporters here, also claimed that the CPI(M) central leadership has distanced itself from Finance Minister K N ...

Woman IAS gives speech while holding son, triggers debate on social media

In a video, Divya S Iyer, District Collector-Pathanamthitta, could be seen sitting with her child on the dais in an event, and affectionately talking to him while standing up to deliver her speech

Kerala governor appoints Ciza Thomas as VC of APJ Abdul Kalam University

The Governor made the appointment of Thomas, who is the senior joint director of the Directorate of Technical Education

IMD issues 'orange alert' of heavy rainfall for three Kerala districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued an 'orange alert' for three southern districts of Kerala. The orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall of 6 cm to 20 cm. Very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm in 24 hours) is likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Pathanamthitta and Idukki today (Thursday), an IMD statement said. Similarly, very heavy rainfall is likely to hit Kottayam along with Pathanamthitta and Idukki on Friday, it said. The statement said rain or thundershower is likely at most places for the next five days under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over south Tamil Nadu and the neighbourhood. Northeast monsoon has been active over Kerala and rain occurred at most places in Kerala and at a few places in Lakshadweep in the last 24 hours, it added.

Inter-state school education disparity significantly down since 2017: Rpt

Kerala best state, Chandigarh best union territory (UT) for school education, says Performance Grading Index (PGI) released by Ministry of Education on Thursday

Congress launches state-wide agitations against Left govt in Kerala

The Opposition Congress party on Thursday launched State-wide agitations against the alleged anti-people policies and administrative failure of the Left government in Kerala. Hundreds of party activists took out protest-marches across the southern State, marking the beginning of the three-phase stir "Paura Vicharana" (trial by citizens). The march was taken out to the Secretariat, the administrative hub, in Thiruvananthapuram and to the respective Collectorates in other districts, party sources said. Marking the State-level inauguration of the agitation, KPCC chief K Sudhakaran led the march to the Secretariat. Inaugurating the march in front of the district Collectorate in Kozhikode, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan said the decision to launch a mass agitation against the CPI(M) government was jointly taken by the Congress and the party-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The stir was launched raising issues being faced by people which were being neglected

Will intervene if CMO is involved in gold smuggling: Kerala governor

Vijayan on Wednesday had said that Khan was behaving in such a manner as if he was running a parallel government

Kerala governor rejects CM's allegations of interference in VC appointments

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday rejected allegations by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the former was politically interfering in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors to universities in the state and offered to resign if even one example of the same could be shown. Khan also openly challenged the Chief Minister, asking whether he would be able to resign if he was unable to prove or substantiate his allegation. "They (Left government, CM) are saying I am doing this (action against VCs) to bring RSS people. If I have nominated even one person, not just of RSS, any person, on my own using my authority, then I will resign. Will he (CM) be able to resign if he is not able to prove it? I am asking you (media)," he said, speaking to reporters in New Delhi. "When you make such a serious charge against me, you have to substantiate the same," he added. He was responding to reporters when his stand was sought on Vijayan's allegations against him on Wednesday at a convention

Byju's decides not to shut its Kerala centre after founder meets CM

Byju Raveendran reiterates his commitment to the state, says company spokesperson

Driver of Kerala Minister's private secretary held for assault on woman

A contract driver of the staff of Kerala Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a woman recently when she was out for a morning walk near the Museum area here, police said. An officer of Museum police station said that the accused driver has also been arrested for trespassing into a house here recently. In view of the police recording the contract driver's arrest for the two offences, the minister ordered his immediate removal from being driver of his private secretary, according to a statement issued by his office. He also instructed the water authority to conduct an inquiry against the accused driver and take appropriate action, it said. According to police, the accused allegedly used the vehicle allotted by the water authority to the minister's private secretary for carrying out the offences. However, while being taken for evidence collection, the accused told reporters here that he was being falsely implicated in the case an