The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to interfere with a Madras High Court judgment allowing the screening of Tamil film ‘Dasavatharam,’ starring Kamal Haasan, thereby paving the way for its release on Friday.
A vacation Bench of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice P.P. Naolekar dismissed a special leave petition filed by Swami Govinda Ramanuja Dasa, president of the International Sri Vaishnava Dharma Samrakshanaa Society, challenging the High Court judgment. The Bench heard the Swami, and counsel K.K. Mani and K. Ravi, appearing for film director K.S. Ravikumar and producer V. Ravichandran of Oscar Films. Counsel denied ‘Dasavatharam’ “sarcastically ridicules or denigrates the religious sentiments of Hindus.”
It said: “The petition is premature as the petitioner himself has admitted that he has not seen the full movie. Further, affidavits have been filed in the High Court by the respondents, including the director, producer and the Censor Board, that there are no objectionable scenes in the movie. However, after seeing the movie, if there are objectionable scenes, it is open to the petitioner to take appropriate action…”
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Friday, June 13, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Prices of automotive lubricants hiked
The three national oil marketing companies have increased the prices of automotive lubricants such as two-stroke engine oils, adding to the burden of motorists.
The prices of lubricants across the grades marketed by Indian Oil Corporation have gone up by about Rs. 18 a litre since April, including an increase of Rs. 12 from Tuesday, company sources said. The prices were untouched for around 18 months prior to the increase in April.
The reasons for the increase include an increase in the cost of base oil, a key raw material and additives.
The prices of lubricants across the grades marketed by Indian Oil Corporation have gone up by about Rs. 18 a litre since April, including an increase of Rs. 12 from Tuesday, company sources said. The prices were untouched for around 18 months prior to the increase in April.
The reasons for the increase include an increase in the cost of base oil, a key raw material and additives.
‘Paruthiveeran’ hogs the limelight Awards for Priya Mani and Vasanthabalan
Priya Mani can’t seem to hide her excitement. The news of her winning the National Award for best female lead came when she was enjoying a break at her Bangalore residence.
“I can’t believe this. To get this prestigious award at such an early stage in one’s career is like a dream. I am really excited,” the actor told The Hindu over telephone.
The award, she says, goes to the entire ‘Paruthiveeran’ team. “I also dedicate it to my gurus Bharathiraja sir and Balumahendra sir,” said the actor, who currently has her hands full with films in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.
Understandably, it’s a double treat for Paruthiveeran’s director Ameer. “I am really happy for both of them. I’m sure Priya Mani will choose to play weighty characters after this,” he said, adding, “I had an amazing team. It would have been wonderful if Karthi and Yuvan had also got an award.”
Director Vasanthabalan, whose ‘Veyil’ was adjudged the best feature film in Tamil, sees this award as an acknowledgement for his 15 years’ struggle. “I did not make the film keeping this award in mind. It was an earnest attempt to say something from the heart. What the audience saw was my story…my poetry…my experiences…my tears and my joy,” he said.
For ‘Veyil,’ which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and also made it to the contest at the Shanghai festival, this is yet another honour.
Vasanthabalan feels it was the liberty given by director Shankar, producer of the film, that made this possible.
“This award has brought a lot of meaning and colour to my life. I dedicate it to my team that gave its best for this film,” he said.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Central station telegraph office faces closure threat
The future of the telegraph office at Chennai Central railway station lies in the balance, following a spat between BSNL Chennai Telephones and the Railways over rental.
The difference of opinion also extends to whether the telegraph office is functioning as a public utility or as a commercial outlet.
The Railways is demanding rent at commercial rates for roughly 650 sqft while Chennai Telephones argues for a concessional rent as the telegraph and public call office was a convenience for the travelling public.
BSNL sources said the department could ill afford the commercial rates proposed by Railways and had no option but to close down the facility.
The BSNL, which approached Railways some time ago with a proposal to construct an additional storey as part of establishing a full-fledged Customer Service Centre (CSC) was told to pay monthly rent at the rate of Rs. 58 per sq ft for the 650-sq ft space and also to cough up nearly Rs. 30 lakh as arrears (calculated from the year 2000 when BSNL became a public sector undertaking).
The difference of opinion also extends to whether the telegraph office is functioning as a public utility or as a commercial outlet.
The Railways is demanding rent at commercial rates for roughly 650 sqft while Chennai Telephones argues for a concessional rent as the telegraph and public call office was a convenience for the travelling public.
BSNL sources said the department could ill afford the commercial rates proposed by Railways and had no option but to close down the facility.
The BSNL, which approached Railways some time ago with a proposal to construct an additional storey as part of establishing a full-fledged Customer Service Centre (CSC) was told to pay monthly rent at the rate of Rs. 58 per sq ft for the 650-sq ft space and also to cough up nearly Rs. 30 lakh as arrears (calculated from the year 2000 when BSNL became a public sector undertaking).
Birth, death certificates to be issued online
When Primary Health Centres go in for e-administration, there certainly are advantages for the common man. If the well-laid out plans of the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) fructify, birth and death certificates will soon be available online.
Seeking to seamlessly integrate the civil registration functions into its primary health unit, the DPH hopes to facilitate the evolution of the PHC as a one-stop shop for villagers. With the online registration system, certificates can be downloaded via the Internet and printed at one’s convenience from any computer.
However, this will be preceded by a more basic service through which birth certificates will be delivered by the staff (who will liaise with revenue officials) to mothers before they leave the PHC. In effect, this move will provide villagers the same benefits that people in the cities and towns are already enjoying. Parents of children born in government hospitals in cities and towns are now spared the trouble of going through the process of getting a birth certificate. Hospital staff themselves are required to procure the documents with attestation from revenue officials and hand them over to the parents before the mothers are discharged.
When this was implemented on a trial basis in PHCs in Kanyakumari district, birth certificates were provided in three days, according to Director of Public Health S. Elango.
In a unique experiment, Health Inspectors of PHCs were designated birth and death registrars, who will issue certificates.
“For deliveries in Corporation or other Government Hospitals in the Chennai city limits, we have ensured that the birth certificates are handed over within 24 hours or if there is a delay, the document is delivered at home,” Rajesh Lakhoni, Corporation Commissioner, said.
The civil registration system will go online first in the city. Once active, hospitals will provide inputs about the birth to the Corporation’s birth registrar, who will validate the facts and put the information online in the set format, attested with a digital signature. “People can download this from any computer and print it out,” Mr. Lakhoni said.
Dr. Elango said the former Director of Public health P. Padmanabhan had held discussions with the Revenue Administration department to tie up with village-level revenue and panchayat officials to facilitate easy birth and death registration at PHCs.
Software developed by the National Informatics Centre will enable downloading of forms and certificates online with digital attestations. A print out could be taken at the PHC and handed over to the mothers or relatives.
Seeking to seamlessly integrate the civil registration functions into its primary health unit, the DPH hopes to facilitate the evolution of the PHC as a one-stop shop for villagers. With the online registration system, certificates can be downloaded via the Internet and printed at one’s convenience from any computer.
However, this will be preceded by a more basic service through which birth certificates will be delivered by the staff (who will liaise with revenue officials) to mothers before they leave the PHC. In effect, this move will provide villagers the same benefits that people in the cities and towns are already enjoying. Parents of children born in government hospitals in cities and towns are now spared the trouble of going through the process of getting a birth certificate. Hospital staff themselves are required to procure the documents with attestation from revenue officials and hand them over to the parents before the mothers are discharged.
When this was implemented on a trial basis in PHCs in Kanyakumari district, birth certificates were provided in three days, according to Director of Public Health S. Elango.
In a unique experiment, Health Inspectors of PHCs were designated birth and death registrars, who will issue certificates.
“For deliveries in Corporation or other Government Hospitals in the Chennai city limits, we have ensured that the birth certificates are handed over within 24 hours or if there is a delay, the document is delivered at home,” Rajesh Lakhoni, Corporation Commissioner, said.
The civil registration system will go online first in the city. Once active, hospitals will provide inputs about the birth to the Corporation’s birth registrar, who will validate the facts and put the information online in the set format, attested with a digital signature. “People can download this from any computer and print it out,” Mr. Lakhoni said.
Dr. Elango said the former Director of Public health P. Padmanabhan had held discussions with the Revenue Administration department to tie up with village-level revenue and panchayat officials to facilitate easy birth and death registration at PHCs.
Software developed by the National Informatics Centre will enable downloading of forms and certificates online with digital attestations. A print out could be taken at the PHC and handed over to the mothers or relatives.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Varsity finalises college locations
Anna University–Tiruchi (AU-T) has finalised temporary locations from where its four constituent colleges would start functioning from the ensuing academic year. In Nagapattinam district, the constituent college will function from Anjugam Muthuvelar Government Higher Secondary School at Thirukkuvalai.
Likewise, in Ariyalur district, the constituent college will become operational from the premises of the Ariyalur Government Arts and Science College.
In Ramanathapuram district and Panrutti in Cuddalore district, the university has identified private locations with huge buildings. The university intends to establish re-locatable sheds.“The task of appointing faculty and creating permanent infrastructure for the four constituent units has already been initiated,” said Vice-Chancellor V. Ramachandran.
A uniform architectural plan has been drawn up for all the four constituent colleges. For each college, a huge 1.25 lakh square feet building has been envisaged. The permanent infrastructural facilities are expected to get ready in a year’s time, he said, exuding confidence that the constituent units would receive the desired patronage at the time of counselling.
Likewise, in Ariyalur district, the constituent college will become operational from the premises of the Ariyalur Government Arts and Science College.
In Ramanathapuram district and Panrutti in Cuddalore district, the university has identified private locations with huge buildings. The university intends to establish re-locatable sheds.“The task of appointing faculty and creating permanent infrastructure for the four constituent units has already been initiated,” said Vice-Chancellor V. Ramachandran.
A uniform architectural plan has been drawn up for all the four constituent colleges. For each college, a huge 1.25 lakh square feet building has been envisaged. The permanent infrastructural facilities are expected to get ready in a year’s time, he said, exuding confidence that the constituent units would receive the desired patronage at the time of counselling.
State cuts tax on diesel by 2 per cent
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday announced a 2 per cent reduction in tax on diesel in the State to counter the hike in prices of petroleum products announced by the Centre.
This will lead to revenue loss of Rs.260 crore a year. In addition, State Transport Corporations stand to add Rs. 210 crore to the losses as there is no move to raise bus fares.
Recalling the statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, wherein he had said that States levying high tax rates should enforce cuts and absorb the petroleum price hike, Mr. Karunanidhi said when the Centre hiked fuel prices in 2006, Tamil Nadu was the first to cut sales tax, bringing it down from 25 per cent to 23.43 per cent.
Subsequently, the Centre lowered prices of petrol and diesel, but the State government did not restore the tax to the earlier, higher rate. Because of this, the government was losing Rs.200 crore each year.
This will lead to revenue loss of Rs.260 crore a year. In addition, State Transport Corporations stand to add Rs. 210 crore to the losses as there is no move to raise bus fares.
Recalling the statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, wherein he had said that States levying high tax rates should enforce cuts and absorb the petroleum price hike, Mr. Karunanidhi said when the Centre hiked fuel prices in 2006, Tamil Nadu was the first to cut sales tax, bringing it down from 25 per cent to 23.43 per cent.
Subsequently, the Centre lowered prices of petrol and diesel, but the State government did not restore the tax to the earlier, higher rate. Because of this, the government was losing Rs.200 crore each year.
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