Latest news with #MadrasHighCourt
Scroll.in
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Government need not suspect NGOs only because they receive foreign funds: Madras High Court
The government need not treat non-governmental organisations with suspicion merely because they receive foreign funding, the Madras High Court said on Friday. 'Just because some institutions run with the aid of foreign contribution, it is not necessary to look at the institutions like that of the petitioners with suspicion unless there are materials to show that such foreign contribution is being misused and it is being used against public interest/national interest,' the court said. Justice Anand Venkatesh said that several persons of Indian origin living abroad donate money to help India, and that alone should not raise concerns. The court was hearing a petition by two sister organisations, the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education and the Ellen Sharma Memorial Trust, challenging the Ministry of Home Affairs' decision to deny the renewal of their registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. Non-profit organisations that wish to receive funds from abroad need to register themselves under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The trusts said that they had been working since 1982 to improve children's education and health and relied heavily on foreign donations for their work that includes setting up schools and health centres in and around Chennai. The government argued that the organisations had violated Foreign Contribution Regulation Act rules by moving funds among themselves without permission. However, the court found that the rejection letter did not clearly explain the reasons and that the trust had not been properly informed about the rule changes made in 2020. The court set aside the government's rejection and ordered the authorities to process the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act renewal application within four weeks. In 2020, the Union government amended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act to extend tighter control over how non-profit organisations use foreign funds. Since then, several NGOs have alleged that the government has been using the law to target organisations they do not agree with. Among organisations whose licences under the Act were cancelled or not renewed were non-profits working on human rights, such as Oxfam India and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, and think tanks such as Centre for Policy Research.
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Madras High Court gives thumbs-up to for TNPL tournament to continue
CHENNAI: Allowing the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) tournament to go ahead, the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) not to take further action until July 16, 2025 on the orders issued to the teams to remove certain sponsor's logos from the team jerseys. Hearing the petitions filed by the team franchises, including the Metro Nation Television Private Limited which owns the Chepauk Super Gillies, Justice N Anand Venkatesh granted the relief stating the tournament is at an advanced stage; and so, the matches can go on. He posted the matter to July 16 and directed the TNOGA to keep in abeyance further action pursuant to the impugned order till then. Senior counsel PR Raman appeared for the petitioner and special government pleader Veda Bagath Singh represented the state and the home secretary and advocate Arvind Srevatsa appeared for the TNOGA. The Metro Nation has challenged the impugned order issued on June 26 by TNOGA seeking to remove the logo of MELBAT LIVE from the team jersey, as it amounts to promoting online gambling and violation of the Tamil Nadu Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act.
New Indian Express
7 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
7 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Bottle buy-back system a failure in Tasmac outlets in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: The operation of unauthorised bars near Tasmac outlets has tied the hands of employees, as they are unable to affix the hologram sticker, which is necessary for the liquor bottle buy-back scheme, implemented by Tasmac after a Madras High Court direction. Sources said almost two-thirds of the 286 bars attached with outlets in the district have been functioning out of contract. A Tasmac outlet supervisor attached to Coimbatore South, who did not wish to be named, said, "Bar contractors can take the bottles to the bar and store them and sell it to anyone. As unauthorised bars cannot store and sell bottles, those should be maintained by employees and handed over to the firm which has got the contract. As most bars attached to outlets in the district are operating without renewing their contract, bottles are not be stored in the bars. That makes employees refrain from sticking the Rs 10 hologram." "Despite not pasting stickers and collecting empty bottles, supervisors of the shops are required to pay Rs 3 per bottle to the contractor, who is supposed to collect empty bottles. Without performing their duty, the private firm receives money from Tasmac, which is borne by employees of the outlets," he added. Officials contact the supervisors and instruct them to clear the total amount, which would come into lakhs each month, leaving the salespersons with no choice, other than to collect an extra of Rs 10 per bottle from customers, he further said. A John, the secretary of Tasmac employees union affiliated to CITU said, "The buy-back system was implemented to prevent disposal of empty bottles in open areas as per the High Court's order. However, the system is not followed in outlets due to structural level failure in the administration. Without correction of flaws, the buy-back system would not attain its objective and salespersons and customers will have to bear the brunt." Speaking to TNIE, R Govindharasu, senior Regional Manager of Tasmac, Coimbatore said, "The buy-back system was implemented partially in the district. We have instructed the employees to follow the norm. I will also look into the matter."
New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Madras High Court denies anticipatory bail to MLA Jagan in teen abduction case
CHENNAI: Finding prima facie materials to establish his role in the abduction of a boy from Tiruvallur, the Madras High Court on Friday refused to grant anticipatory bail to KV Kuppam MLA and leader of Puratchi Bharatham party 'Poovai' M Jagan Moorthy. Justice G Jayachandran said the court has arrived at an irresistible conclusion that for a fair investigation and fearless trial, the petitioner needs to be secured and subjected to custodial interrogation. The teenager was allegedly abducted as his brother had married a girl outside his caste from an affluent family in Theni. 'The call details collected show that the petitioner was in touch with ADGP HM Jayaram and other persons. These materials prima facie are sufficient to hold that the petitioner is a party to the alleged conspiracy,' the judge said in the order. The matter pertains to the abduction of the teenager from his house in Tiruvalankadu police limits on June 7, 2025, by five unidentified persons in the marriage involving his brother. The kidnapped boy was later let go near the Perumbakkam bus stand. Preliminary probe brought to the fore the alleged involvement of Moorthy and HM Jayaram, an ADGP-rank IPS officer. On Friday, Additional Advocate General (AAG) J Ravindran assisted by Additional Public Prosecutor R Muniapparaj, representing the CB-CID, submitted that the investigating agency has collected electronic evidence, call records, photographs, CCTV footage and recovered Rs 7.86 lakh from the girl's father Vanaraja that point to the MLA's role in the case.
