Latest news with #Neelakandan
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Teachers protest over pension, promotions and pay parity
Trichy: Members of the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisation held a protest in front of the Trichy district collector's office on Thursday, urging the state govt to address a 10-point charter of demands. The key demand was the immediate implementation of the old pension scheme (OPS). Protesters criticized the state-appointed three-member committee formed to study the reintroduction of OPS, alleging that the panel had failed to function effectively. They urged the govt not to extend the committee's term unnecessarily. Other demands included restoration of pay parity for secondary teachers withdrawn by the Centre, scrapping of GO 243 that prevents teacher promotions, resolution of pay discrepancies, filling of teaching vacancies, and cancellation of the rule mandating immediate release of retiring teachers—arguing it affects student learning mid-academic year. District secretary of the organisation, Neelakandan, who spoke demanded that the merit-based promotion case pending in Supreme Court be expedited. Concerns were also raised about the use of P-shaped classrooms, which they said were deemed unfit by medical professionals. The protesters warned that a massive blockade would be staged at Fort St George in Chennai in August if the demands were not met.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre's pick & choose policy hits HC judge appointments
Representative image NEW DELHI: Advocate Ramaswamy Neelakandan prepared for life as a high court judge by returning case files to clients after the CJI-led Supreme Court collegium on Jan 17, 2023, recommended to Union govt to appoint him, along with four other advocates, including L C Victoria Gowri, as judges of Madras high court. The Union govt appointed all of them as judges, except Neelakandan. Though names of the five advocates were sent by the SC collegium on the same day, the govt appointed them in batches - three on Feb 7, 2023, and the fourth on Feb 27, 2023. Neelakandan, who belongs to the OBC community, shares his fate with 28 other advocates, whose names were recommended to the govt by the collegium between Jan 2023 and April this year. The Centre's pick and choose policy has left them in suspense - whether to resume practice or keep waiting for the Centre's nod to become an HC judge. While Neelakandan's wait has stretched beyond 29 months, advocate Subhash Upadhyay, whose name was recommended by collegium on April 12, 2023, for judgeship in Uttarakhand HC, is waiting for his warrant of appointment for the last 26 months. Along with Upadhyay, the collegium had recommended names of three advocates and a judicial officer for appointment as judges of the HC. Only Upadhyay's name was left out. Like him, advocate Arun Kumar is awaiting action on collegium's May 9, 2023, recommendation for his appointment as Allahabad HC judge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Birla Evara 3 and 4 BHK from ₹ 1.75 Crore* Birla Estates Learn More Undo On Oct 17, 2023, the collegium recommended the names of five advocates for appointment as judges of Madhya Pradesh HC. Among them, only advocate Amit Seth is still awaiting appointment. Of the 29 advocates still awaiting appointment as HC judges, five are women advocates. Among them, the one enduring the longest wait is advocate Shamima Jahan, whose name was recommended by the collegium on Jan 4, 2024, for appointment as a judge of Gauhati HC. Other women advocates sharing Jahan's fate are Sreeja Vijayalakshmi (name recommended on April 16, 2024), Tajal Vashi (Oct 15, 2024; Gujarat HC), Shwetasree Majumder (Aug 21, 2024; Delhi HC), and Sheetal Mirdha (March 5, 2025; Rajasthan HC). Despite successive chief justices, including the incumbent CJI B R Gavai, impressing upon the Union govt not to pick and choose from the list and avoid making staggered appointments from the same batch, the govt has not abandoned the practice which creates seniority issues in constitutional courts where merit and seniority are two crucial factors for career advancement. Interestingly, the collegium's recommendations for appointment of judges to Supreme Court have been speedily processed and implemented by the govt, in some cases the appointments have come through within three days of the recommendation. The collegium recommended to the govt on May 26 to appoint Justices N V Anjaria, Vijay Bishnoi and A S Chandurkar as judges of the SC. The three took oath as Supreme Court judges on May 30. On May 26, the collegium recommended appointments of chief justices to five HCs, transfers of four HC CJs and transfer and repatriation of 22 HC judges. More than a month later, govt is yet to give effect to the appointments and transfers of HC CJs and judges.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Tree felling near Sector 43 sparks outcry, audit demand
A large-scale tree felling drive along the busy corridor from Millennium City Centre to Golf Course Road has triggered outrage among residents and environmentalists, who allege that scores of mature trees are being axed with scant notice, transparency or legal scrutiny. Felling reportedly began earlier this week near Millennium City Centre metro station and has since advanced toward Vyapar Kendra. Locals say the operation—linked, they believe, to road-widening or utility-laying—is proceeding 'without signage, public consultation or displayed permits'. 'When I spoke to the contractor, he casually said all the trees on the road would be cut. It's shocking—no prior notification, no transparency,' said a Sector 29 resident, requesting anonymity. Neighbourhood groups from Sushant Lok and adjoining sectors have petitioned the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and the Forest Department to halt the work. 'It is disheartening to see tree felling right before the monsoon… We urgently need a stronger Tree Protection Act in Haryana, similar to what Delhi has,' said Rashmi of Jeevantara Apartments, Sector 43. Residents have also flagged health concerns. 'The damage to the environment and health is irreversible. Authorities must act immediately,' warned Neelakandan of Sanskriti Apartments, Sector 43. 'Trees are being cut indiscriminately. The contractor claims to have permission, but we see no documentation,' added Vasu Sashti, another Sector 43 resident. Gurugram-based environmentalist Vaishali Rana called the exercise 'disturbing', arguing that development is being pursued 'without compensatory afforestation or public consultation', further imperilling the city's fragile urban ecology. 'Gurugram's urban ecology is already fragile—such actions push it closer to irreversible environmental degradation,' she said. Responding to the outcry, divisional forest officer RK Jangra confirmed the removal, stating that 'the project has formal sanction for the removal of 250 trees. We have obtained all the necessary clearances from the government. There is no alternative for developing this stretch without cutting these trees.' Jangra added that compensatory plantation would follow 'as per legal norms'.
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC directs DVAC to probe Peravurani panchayat fund misappropriation
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently directed the DVAC to conduct a detailed inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the Peravurani town panchayat in Thanjavur. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has been told to take action against erring officials within six months. Justice B Pugalendhi passed the order on a petition filed by S Neelakandan, who alleged that some contractors colluded with the officials and swindled panchayat funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore without executing the works concerned. Neelakandan said the issue was previously raised before the court in 2023 by one G Senthil Kumar, upon whose petition, the court ordered the director of the town panchayat to conduct an inquiry. Subsequently, the director initiated disciplinary proceedings against the chairman and executive officer of the town panchayat, he said, and sought a criminal investigation into the allegations. However, one N Selvaraj, father-in-law of chairman Shanthi -- also alleged to be involved in the malpractice -- claimed in his impleading petition that Neelakandan's plea is unenforceable as a division bench had passed an interim order in the matter. Justice Pugalendhi observed that the case pending before the division bench is only related to the disciplinary proceedings, and it would not prevent the DVAC from inquiring whether the town panchayat officials were involved in misappropriation. He passed the order, noting that the government had already granted sanction to initiate an inquiry.
