The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 03, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

By Our Special Correspondent

Appointed Chief Electoral Officer

CHENNAI Jan. 2. T he Member-Secretary, State Planning Commission, N.P. Naresh Gupta, has been appointed the new Chief Electoral Officer for Tamil Nadu.

The Election Commission notified the appointment on Saturday. He replaces Mrutyunjay Sarangi, who has joined the Delimitation Commission.

Though Mr. Naresh Gupta, who was earlier Home Secretary, was not in the panel of names originally recommended by the State Government, he was appointed after an exchange of communications with the Election Commission, according to Commission sources. Significantly, he was the Chief Electoral Officer in 1999-2000.

L. Rajendran dead

CHENNAI JAN. 2. The special judge for Prevention of Terrorism Cases, L. Rajendran, passed away early this morning following a cardiac arrest. He was 57. He is survived by his wife, and two daughters.

Mr. Rajendran was handling many sensitive cases including the Pervention of Terrorism Act case against the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary, Vaiko, and R.R. Gopal, editor Nakkheeran, and P. Nedumaran.

Hospital sources said the judge probably suffered an attack past 1 p.m. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In a condolence message to his wife Preethi Rajendran, the Chief Minister, said she was shocked and saddened to hear about the demise. Mr.Vaiko went to the residence to convey his condolences.

EPF special coverage drive

CHENNAI JAN. 2. The Employees Provident Fund Organisation is launching a special coverage drive for January and February in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

All establishments, which are employing 20 or more persons and remain uncovered under the EPF and MP Act, 1952, may approach the Regional PF Commissioner to obtain code numbers and to comply with the scheme provisions. They may also contact the jurisdictional regional PF Commissioner in the Tamil Nadu region.

It is assured that once the requisite documents/details are provided by employers to the respective Regional PF Commissioners, EPF Code Numbers will be allotted immediately. Employers are advised to utilise the opportunity. Failure to comply will result in penal actions under Section14 of the Act besides recovery of penal damages and interest on all belated payments, says a release from the PF Commissioner.

Meet on emerging technologies

By Our Staff Reporter

Coimbatore Jan. 2. Three departments of the Kumaraguru College of Technology have joined hands to conduct an international conference on `Emerging Technologies in Intelligent Systems and Control (EISCO 2005)', from January 5 to 7. A release said the event would be jointly organised by departments of Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering. The conference was co-sponsored by the Centre for Intelligent Product and Manufacturing Systems of National University of Singapore, and the Product Development and Manufacturing Centre of Oakland University, United States. Delegates would attend 18 technical sessions during the three-day conference, and would be able to meet experts from abroad and India.

Youth found dead in Yercaud

SALEM JAN. 2. A 27-year old youth from Karnataka, who came to Yercaud with his wife was found dead in a lodging house in which the couple stayed.

According to the police, Santhosh, a software engineer from Belgaum and his wife Sheethal (23), accompanied by nine of their friends came to Yercaud on December 31. After participating in the New Year celebrations, the couple withdrew to their room. But on Saturday afternoon the hotel staff noticed a steady outflow of water seeping through the door of the room in which the couple was staying.

With the help of their friends, the door was opened. While Santhosh was reportedly found dead inside the bathroom, his wife was lying on the floor in an unconscious stage. She was rushed to a private nursing home in Salem where her condition was said to be stable.

Fisherman trampled to death

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM JAN. 2. A 33-year-old fisherman of Pudupettai coastal village near Tharangampadi was trampled to death by the elephant of Sri Amirthakadeswarar temple at Thirukkadaiyur last night. Police sources said the fisherman who had lost his children and other relatives in the tsunami tragedy allegedly touched the elephant `Periyanayagi' which caught hold of him and trampled him to death. The fisherman was said to be in a drunken mood.

Karnataka donates Rs. 2 crores

CHENNAI JAN. 2. The Karantaka Finance Minister, M.P. Prakash, today handed over a cheque for Rs. 2 crores from the State to the Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, C. Ponnaiyan. In a letter to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, the Karnataka Chief Minsiter, Dharam Singh said: ``The people of Karnataka would like to stand by their unfortunate brethren in Tamil Nadu in their hour of distress." The cheque was a ``token contribution'' from the Karnataka Government to mitigate the sufferings of the people in Tamil Nadu.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Central team coming tomorrow

Focus on rehabilitation: NGOs

Water supply in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam to be restored soon

The old man and the sea

`Relief yet to reach the needy'

Sethu project site safe: expert

Task of rebuilding boats begins

`Tsunami has not affected marine life'

100 more bodies found in Nagapattinam

`Centre will help in resettling fishermen'

CPI seeks drinking water for Pazhaverkadu

Ensure early enumeration of loss: Karunanidhi

Camp for elephants to end tomorrow

Briefly