Page 69 - Tamil Nadu

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Appointment of ministers CM's sole prerogative, says DMK on Senthil Balaji

The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on Friday strongly asserted that appointment and dismissal of ministers is the sole prerogative of the chief minister and lashed out at Governor R N Ravi for his move of dismissing V Senthil Balaji from the MK Stalin-led Cabinet, which was subsequently retracted on the advice of the Union Home Ministry on the matter. Stating that the Tamil Nadu government was "disregarding" the Governor's action of sacking Balaji, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said Stalin will write a detailed letter to Ravi on the matter. The party also said it may weigh all options and legal factors related to Ravi's action, which came in for criticism from allies of the ruling party as well as other quarters. Addressing the press here along with Law Minister S Reghupathy and Rajya Sabha member P Wilson, who is also an advocate, Thennarasu recalled Stalin earlier saying the Governor has no right to sack Balaji and that the issue will be faced legally. He alleged that Ravi acted

TN Governor RN Ravi must be removed from his post: CPIML Liberation

The Communist Party of India (MarxistLeninist) Liberation, an alliance partner of the grand alliance' government in Bihar, on Friday demanded removal of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for transgressing his jurisdiction. In an unprecedented move, Ravi on Thursday dismissed with immediate effect arrested minister V. Senthil Balaji from the council of ministers, only to backtrack on his decision late in the night. Ravi has decided to keep the dismissal order of Senthil Balaji in abeyance for the time being and informed Chief Minister M K Stalin about it, sources said. Talking to PTI on Friday, CPIML Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said, Ravi had been repeatedly transgressing his jurisdiction and indulging in acts of gubernatorial adventurism. Bhattacharya said, The Governor has been emboldened by the arrogance of the Narendra Modi-led government. Every non-BJP government is being treated as an enemy. From the demotion of Jammu and Kashmir to Union territories to the .

President should remove TN Governor RN Ravi: Cong leader Manish Tewari

This comes after Tamil Nadu Governor has decided to keep the dismissal order of the jailed DMK leader and state minister V Senthil Balaji in abeyance for the time being

TN working on improving EV charging infrastructure: Minister TRB Rajaa

Tamil Nadu is engaged in improving the electric vehicle charging infrastructure aimed at accelerating the adoption of EVs in the state, Minister for Industries T R B Rajaa has said. To boost EV consumption, the government also amended a policy thereby allowing battery-operated e-autorickshaws, e-taxis and e-buses to be issued permits by the transport department without a permit fee. Earlier, permits were not being issued to battery operated passenger vehicles and those vehicles that run on methanol or ethanol fuel. In 2018, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had issued a notification that battery operated passenger vehicles and passenger vehicles driven on methanol or ethanol fuel were exempted from obtaining a permit. The latest move by the Tamil Nadu government comes in the backdrop of a meeting on June 16 held in the city with the Minister for Industries Rajaa, who was apprised by the members of the electric vehicle industry about this issue. Accordingly, the governmen

DMK may consider browbeating TN Guv Ravi over Senthil Balaji's dismissal

The DMK may weigh all the options and legal factors related to Governor RN Ravi's later backtracked move to dismiss Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Cabinet, sources said on Friday. The party brass may consult its leaders and office-bearers to devise a strategy --both legal and political-- on the matter. "The Governor has backtracked and he has been exposed thoroughly," an office-bearer told PTI adding all the political maneuvering of the BJP to target the DMK has been backfiring in Tamil Nadu. Sources said there was no need 'immediately' to look into legal aspects or consider anything else (such as the possibility of political interests over the dismissal and a counter-strategy to frustrate it), as the dismissal was now on hold. On Thursday, hours after dismissing Balaji from the cabinet, Ravi had later kept it in abeyance. The DMK, may however consider weighing legal options to take on the Governor for his alleged excesses and fight the BJP politically at the right time and as

DMK supporters put up wall posters in Chennai questioning Governor Ravi

The posters have been put near DMK headquarters at Anna Arivalayam in Teynampet, Chennai

TN governor reserves dismissal order of Senthil Balaji to consult AG

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has decided to keep the dismissal order of state minister V Senthil Balaji in abeyance for the time being and informed Chief Minister M K Stalin about it, sources said on Thursday. In a late evening communication to the chief minister, the governor said he would consult the attorney general and seek his legal opinion about the move. The order to dismiss Balaji from the Council of Ministers has been kept in abeyance by the governor until further communication, the sources said. Earlier, the governor had dismissed Balaji from the Council of Ministers, days after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. Stalin had said the state government would challenge the governor's decision legally. In an official release, the Raj Bhavan in Chennai had said, "There are reasonable apprehensions that the continuation of V Senthil Balaji in the Council of Ministers will adversely impact the due process of law, including fair ...

TN minister Balaji's dismissal by governor outrightly unconstitutional: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday termed the dismissal of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji by Governor R N Ravi "outrightly unconstitutional" and said such decisions come under the "exclusive domain" of the chief minister. The AAP's reaction came after the governor dismissed Balaji from the Council of Ministers, days after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam. Chief Minister M K Stalin said his government will challenge the governor's move legally, contending that Ravi had no authority to dismiss a minister from the cabinet. Coming out in support of the DMK government in the southern state, AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha wrote on Twitter: "Dismissal of V Senthil Balaji by Tamil Nadu Governor is outrightly unconstitutional." Chadha said according to the Constitution, decisions pertaining to the appointment and removal of ministers as well as a cabinet reshuffle come under "the exclusive domain of the chief minister". The

Tamil Nadu amends policy to enable registration of e-autorickshaws, e-taxis

Earlier, permits were not being issued to battery-operated passenger vehicles and passenger vehicles driven on methanol or ethanol fuel

Cash-for-jobs scam case: TN Guv dismisses jailed minister Senthil Balaji

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Thursday dismissed DMK leader jailed minister V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect

MoUs for Rs 1,723 cr investment signed in TN, expected to generate 30K jobs

Investments worth Rs 1,723.05 crore were confirmed at the International Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day function held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister M K Stalin here on Tuesday while a special government scheme for SC/ST entrepreneurs was also launched. The MoU, signed in the presence of the Chief Minister, would help in creating employment for about 30,000 people. A Memorandum of Understanding between FaMe TN (Facilitating MSMEs in Tamil Nadu) and SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) was inked to attract investments worth Rs 1,510 crore to provide jobs for 7,400 people. The Chief Minister inaugurated three new industrial estates at Kodur in Chengalpattu district, Manapparai in Tiruchirappalli and Sakkimangalam in Madurai district at an estimated cost of Rs 153.22 crore providing employment to 21,500 people and also a cashew processing cluster at Kadampuliyur in Cuddalore district under the MSME cluster development scheme for Rs 2.16 crore ...

TNEA rank list 2023 released on official website at tneaonline.org

Candidates who meet the requirements can access the official website at www.tneaonline.org to view and print their TNEA Rank List 2023

Vedanta Limited says not selling copper plant at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu

Vedanta Ltd on Thursday said that it has no plans to sell its copper plant at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. Junking the media reports that claimed that the company is selling Sterlite Copper plant, Vedanta said the reports are "wrong, baseless and incorrect". In a regulatory filing, the company said Sterlite Copper is a national asset and claimed it contributed 40 per cent to India's overall copper production. "It has come to our notice that certain sections of the media have carried out the news article that Vedanta Ltd is selling the Sterlite Copper Plant, Thoothukudi. The said media articles are wrong, baseless and incorrect and the same is refuted by the company," it said. As the country has become a net importer of copper, there has been a growing demand to restart its operations, Vedanta Ltd said.

Zootorium to come up in Chennai zoo at an outlay of Rs 4.3 cr: TN govt

The Tamil Nadu government has proposed to establish a Zootorium at the Vandalur Zoo (Arignar Anna Zoological Park) here, as part of measures to strengthen conservation efforts and about Rs 4.3 crore has been sanctioned for the project. A museum and also a theatre will be part of the Zootorium to be established by the Environment, Climate Change and Forests department, Additional Chief Secretary Supriya Sahu said on Thursday. "The government has issued orders today to set up a zoo museum and a zoo theatre in Vandalur zoo at Chennai at a cost of Rs 4.3 crore under the planning commission innovation fund to enable people to understand wildlife conservation in a new light," she said in a tweet. A 3D/7D theatre will be developed at the old auditorium within the zoo premises and also a zoo museum and an interpretation complex with an interactive display model enabling people to discover, explore and experience wildlife in a new way, will be established, the government order said. The ...

Ola commences construction of its 100GWh gigafactory at Tamil Nadu facility

Electric vehicle company Ola on Wednesday said it has commenced construction of its 100 GWh gigafactory at its manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu. The company has installed the first pillar of its cell factory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu today. A gigafactory is a facility where equipment and components related to electrification and decarbonisation technologies are manufactured. In February, Ola signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government committing investments of Rs 7,614 crore for manufacturing electric cars, two wheelers and lithium cell gigafactories in the state. Spread across 115 acre, the Ola Gigafactory is expected to commence operations by early next year with an initial capacity of 5 GWh (Giga Watt hours). It would be scaled up to 100GWh in phases, a company statement said. On commencement of operations at full capacity, it is claimed that the factory would be one of the world's largest cell manufacturing facilities. "This is a proud moment for

Michelin with CleanMax Enviro to raise renewable energy usage to 37%

French tyre major Michelin has signed a power purchase agreement with CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions Pvt Ltd aimed at increasing its renewable energy sources at its facility near here, the company said on Wednesday. The first long-term open access power purchase agreement would allow the tyre manufacturer to increase its use of renewable energy to 37 per cent from the current 11 per cent at its facility in Thervoy Kandigai located at about 45 km west of Chennai in neighbouring Tiruvallur district. "...in India we have been a pioneer in adopting multiple innovative green initiatives both inside and around outside our factory. Our partnership with CleanMax is one more concrete step by Michelin in India to contribute to our global green mission" Michelin Chennai plant director Florent Chaussade said. Michelin India has several green energy projects in and around its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant as part of the Michelin Group's global green mission to becoming carbon-neutral by

SC refuses to stay HC order allowing Balaji to be shifted to pvt hospital

In a relief to arrested Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, the Supreme Court Wednesday refused to stay a Madras High Court order allowing to shift him to a private hospital for treatment notwithstanding fervent request by the Enforcement Directorate. The Enforcement Directorate, which arrested Balaji in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the state's transport department, had moved the apex court against the Madras High Court order. Balaji, 47, underwent a coronary bypass surgery at a private hospital in Chennai on Wednesday and was said to be doing fine. A vacation bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice M M Sundresh noted a habeas corpus petition filed by Balaji's wife against his "illegal" arrest is still pending in the high court and asked the ED to approach it. The top court noted the high court is yet to pronounce its final judgement on the maintainability of the habeas corpus petition and on the ED's request for exclusion of the period of Balaji's stay in ..

Tamil Nadu plans to shut down 500 liquor outlets from June 22 onwards

Following up on an announcement made on the floor of the Assembly, 500 retail liquor outlets in Tamil Nadu will stop functioning from June 22 onwards, the state-run TASMAC said on Wednesday. Minister V Senthil Balaji, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate and hospitalised for heart-related ailment, had made the announcement in the House in April this year, while holding the Excise portfolio then. State-run liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) recalled the Assembly announcement made then "on the directions of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister" M K Stalin and said a Government Order (GO) was subsequently issued dated April 20, 2023. The GO pertained to identifying 500 retail liquor outlets and closing them, it said. "In order to implement the GO, it has been directed to identify 500 retail outlets across the state and close them from June 22, 20223 onwards." "Based on that, the said 500 retail outlets will not function from June 22," a TASMAC statem

Tamil Nadu govt defends Fintech City contract, says process transparent

Company that won deal for project is not blacklisted, it says after criticism