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New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Maternity leave can be included in bond period: Madras High Court
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the state government to return the educational certificates of a doctor, which were withheld on the ground that she had gone on maternity leave without completing the mandatory two-year service done by postgraduate doctors. A bench of justices G R Swaminathan and K Rajasekar observed that the 12-month maternity period should be counted as part of the bond period. The judges made the observation while allowing an appeal filed by the doctor, E Krithikaa, challenging an order passed by a single judge rejecting her previous petition. During the admission to MS (General Surgery) at Thanjavur Government Medical College, Krithikaa signed a bond for the sum of Rs 40 lakh with an undertaking that upon completion of the three-year course, she would serve the government for at least two years. She was also required to submit her original certificates. After graduating in August 2019, she served as an assistant surgeon at Thittakudi GH for a year and went on maternity leave. Saying that she did not complete the bonded service period, the authorities refused to return her certificates, a decision upheld by the single judge. Hearing her appeal, the division bench cited several SC judgments declaring that every woman has a fundamental right to maternity benefits. The judges referred to various provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, especially section 27, which stated that provisions of the Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any contract of service. Thus, the bench said the bond condition should give way to the rights conferred on women under the Act. It added that though the doctor is not a regular government employee, she is entitled to the same treatment.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Medical certificate enough for disabled to get family pension: Madurai bench of Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has observed that pensioners' children, who suffer intellectual disability, should be given family pension on submission of medical certificate evidencing his or her incapacity to earn livelihood on their own, without insisting on certificate denoting income from all sources. A bench of justices GR Swaminathan and K Rajasekar made the observation recently while hearing an appeal filed by the principal accountant general of Tamil Nadu against an order passed by the court directing payment of family pension to the intellectually challenged son of a forester. While hearing the appeal, the judges said though the order had been complied with in this case, the daughter of a late judge with similar difficulties was not lucky and expressed anguish over the delay. The judges recalled that the widow of former acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court TS Arunachalam received pension since 2020. After her death in June 2024, their younger daughter filed an application seeking family pension for her sister, who has physical and intellectual disability. After submission of all documents, the accountant general's (AG's) office forwarded it to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice to obtain sanction from the President of India. Later, the AG's office forwarded a letter from the Government of India seeking the very same set of documents and the matter is pending at this stage, the judges noted. Expressing anguish over her struggle in getting pension, the judges called upon the Registrar General of Madras High Court to liaison with the authorities concerned and ensure that she gets family pension at the earliest. They pointed out that both the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules and the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules make it clear that the son or daughter suffering from disorder or disability of mind, which prevents him or her from earning livelihood, will be entitled to family pension for life after the demise of the parents, upon production of a medical certificate proving the disability. When the statutory rule doesn't mention requirement of any other document, the authority cannot ask for anything more, the judges added. This issue was settled by the Supreme Court three decades ago and the said decision has been consistently followed.
New Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Vehicle pass not needed for Murugan Maanaadu attendees: Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday said vehicle pass is not needed for those wishing to attend Hindu Munnani's religious conference (Murugan Maanaadu) on June 21, and instead, they can submit copies of RC book, insurance and driving licence at police booths to be set up by police in parking spaces arranged by organisers. A bench comprising justices GR Swaminathan and K Rajasekar passed the order by setting aside a condition imposed by Madurai police, which stated that vehicle pass was mandatory. Hearing an appeal filed by Hindu Munnani zonal secretary M Arasupandi challenging an order passed by a single judge upholding the police condition, the judges said no justification has been shown by police in support of the condition. The authorities have neither specified the problems anticipated by them nor demonstrated as to how the condition would quell the problem, they observed. "We are a republican democracy. Just as ease of doing business is important, the ease of participation in democratic gatherings is equally vital. The authorities ought not to come in the way of the citizens exercising their democratic right," they said. Moreover, the assistant commissioner of police of Anna Nagar range, who imposed the condition, does not have jurisdiction over the entire Madurai city, the judges remarked, and added that such a condition was not imposed in recent political party meetings in Madurai. The organisers undertake to extend their fullest cooperation in ensuring that the event takes place peacefully. They assured that sufficient arrangements have been made so that there is no stampede which was witnessed in Bengaluru, New Delhi and other places recently, the judges said and allowed the appeal.
Economic Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Madras HC upholds Tamil Nadu's restrictions on real money games
The Madras High Court on Tuesday upheld the Tamil Nadu online gaming authority's restrictions on real money games, including a ban on gameplay between midnight and 5 am, and mandatory Aadhaar verification, rejecting legal challenges by gaming companies. The development follows a February petition where companies challenged regulations that required mandatory KYC verification, Aadhaar authentication and restricted hours of gameplay. These restrictions were imposed under Sections 5(2) and 14(1)(c) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022.A division bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and K Rajasekar ruled that the State has the authority to make laws on online gaming under Entry 6 (public health and sanitation) and Entry 26 (trade and commerce within the State) of the State List in the Constitution, which covers matters exclusively under states' jurisdiction. In their arguments, Head Digital Works Pvt. Ltd., which develops online games of skill in India, and two other gaming companies, Junglee Games India Pvt Ltd, and WinZO, insisted that the current restrictions based on time, age and monetary factors are unconstitutional. Code of ethics and regulatory framework In March, ET reported that real money gaming industry bodies All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), E-Gaming Federation (EGF) and Federation of Indian fantasy Sports (FIFS), jointly came up with a 'code of ethics' encouraging responsible gaming practices. The gaming industry bodies include companies such as Dream11, My11Circle, Khelo Fantasy Live, SG11 Fantasy, WinZO, Games24X7, Junglee Games etc. The code of ethics had provisions similar to the curbs placed by the Tamil Nadu the new GST regime, the real-money gaming (RMG) industry faces a 28% GST levy on the deposits made by players on these platforms. Last September, India's top GST investigation agency, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), stated that the real money gaming sector topped the list of tax evasion, with dues to the tune of Rs 1.1 lakh crore. The agency issued show cause notices to 34 entities and took action against 118 Indian and 658 foreign companies. Trends shaping the RMG sector In FY22-23, India's largest RMG platform, Dream11, recorded gross gaming revenue of Rs 7,167 crore. Of this, Rs 976 crore was spent as promotional credits to players. There are close to 568 million users of online games in India, and nearly 25% of them are pay-and-play customers. In fiscal year 2023, the RMG segment in online gaming was estimated to be a $2 billion business. According to the latest EY-FICCI report, Esports and casual gaming grew to Rs 5,300 crore in 2024, and is projected to reach Rs 6,300 crore in 2025 and Rs 8,300 crore in 2026.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Madras HC upholds Tamil Nadu's restrictions on real money games
The Madras High Court on Tuesday upheld the Tamil Nadu online gaming authority 's restrictions on real money games , including a ban on gameplay between midnight and 5 am, and mandatory Aadhaar verification, rejecting legal challenges by gaming companies. The development follows a February petition where companies challenged regulations that required mandatory KYC verification, Aadhaar authentication and restricted hours of gameplay. These restrictions were imposed under Sections 5(2) and 14(1)(c) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022. A division bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and K Rajasekar ruled that the State has the authority to make laws on online gaming under Entry 6 (public health and sanitation) and Entry 26 (trade and commerce within the State) of the State List in the Constitution, which covers matters exclusively under states' jurisdiction. In their arguments, Head Digital Works Pvt. Ltd., which develops online games of skill in India, and two other gaming companies, Junglee Games India Pvt Ltd, and WinZO, insisted that the current restrictions based on time, age and monetary factors are unconstitutional. Code of ethics and regulatory framework Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories In March, ET reported that real money gaming industry bodies All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), E-Gaming Federation (EGF) and Federation of Indian fantasy Sports (FIFS), jointly came up with a 'code of ethics' encouraging responsible gaming practices. The gaming industry bodies include companies such as Dream11, My11Circle, Khelo Fantasy Live, SG11 Fantasy, WinZO, Games24X7, Junglee Games etc. The code of ethics had provisions similar to the curbs placed by the Tamil Nadu government. Under the new GST regime, the real-money gaming (RMG) industry faces a 28% GST levy on the deposits made by players on these platforms. Last September , India's top GST investigation agency, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), stated that the real money gaming sector topped the list of tax evasion, with dues to the tune of Rs 1.1 lakh crore. The agency issued show cause notices to 34 entities and took action against 118 Indian and 658 foreign companies. Trends shaping the RMG sector In FY22-23, India's largest RMG platform, Dream11, recorded gross gaming revenue of Rs 7,167 crore. Of this, Rs 976 crore was spent as promotional credits to players. There are close to 568 million users of online games in India, and nearly 25% of them are pay-and-play customers. In fiscal year 2023, the RMG segment in online gaming was estimated to be a $2 billion business. According to the latest EY-FICCI report, Esports and casual gaming grew to Rs 5,300 crore in 2024, and is projected to reach Rs 6,300 crore in 2025 and Rs 8,300 crore in 2026.
