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Senthil Balaji resigns, but continues to wield influence behind the scenes?

Senthil Balaji resigns, but continues to wield influence behind the scenes?

'Power' of politics
Former electricity minister Senthil Balaji resigned after the Supreme Court's order, but there's chatter he's still in control behind the scenes. Just a few days ago, senior officials were spotted at his home, and the behind-closed-doors meet went on for quite a while. It raised eyebrows since he's no longer in power. No one knows what they discussed—other bureaucrats are clueless too! An insider mentioned it definitely wasn't just a casual visit. His phone is ringing off the hook, and files are allegedly still making their way to him. So, is he really done, or is he still calling the shots?
— S Guruvanmikanathan
The travails of X
It's not every day you see civil servants flexing their literary muscles, but IAS officer VP Jayaseelan from Virudhunagar district did just that. On May 14, he shared a free-verse poem about his lifelong struggle with the mysterious 'X' in math, which has haunted him for years. He humorously reflected on everything from that tricky two-headed compass to dodging concepts like stock market investments and passive income. The best part? He finally found his true 'X' at a bus stand—the White Dog aka Memory, that relentlessly chases him. His poem prompted Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu to quip: 'X-ellent, sir!'
— T Muruganandham
Will the numbers keep coming?
It looks like the TN Police are taking a page from the banking world by rolling out quarterly press releases on crime data. They shared this first batch of figures in late April, just as the Assembly was in session, which feels a bit too convenient, right? Interestingly, the stats show a drop in road accidents and crimes. It'll be curious to see if they keep this trend going in future quarters when the Assembly isn't in session. It's one thing to share numbers during budget talks; it's another to keep the accountability going when the spotlight isn't on them.
— ENS
No comments, please
Once loud enough to crash the comments section, PMK's social media warriors have suddenly discovered the 'mute' button. Despite senior Ramadoss politely (read firmly) reminding that Anbumani is just a working president – not the full boss yet – Anbumani's online cheerleaders have treated their keypads as hot coal. The usual digital drumbeats have gone more conspicuously radio silent than a WhatsApp family group after someone mentions 'family photo'. Sources say as those who tried cheering both dad and son got caught in the crossfire — now everyone's playing safe, proving silence is the new strategy in family-run politics.
—Kumaresan S
(Compiled by Dinesh Jefferson E, Mary Catherene)

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Delhi assembly to table 100-day report; rules of procedure set for overhaul
Delhi assembly to table 100-day report; rules of procedure set for overhaul

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

Delhi assembly to table 100-day report; rules of procedure set for overhaul

Delhi assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Monday said he will present a 100-day report on Friday, outlining the legislative and administrative work undertaken since the 8th Assembly was constituted on February 24, 2025. The report aims to highlight the Assembly's functioning and key developments during this period. Gupta also announced the initiation of the process to amend the assembly's Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business (1997), which govern the House's functioning. The amendments aim to align the rules with practices followed in Parliament, particularly the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 'The existing rules have gaps that have been exploited by vested interests to disrupt proceedings,' said Gupta. Gupta further cited Rule 280 — which allows MLAs to raise urgent public matters — as one such provision needing revision. 'During the last session, 10 opposition members raised the same issue under Rule 280 despite rules permitting only one such matter per MLA. We had to fall back on Rajya Sabha procedures to resolve the disruption,' he added. 'The best practices from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be studied and incorporated to ensure effectiveness and alignment with national standards,' said Gupta. In response to the criticism of Rule 280, Aam Aadmi Party released a statement labelling Gupta's comment as 'strange.' 'It is strange that a person who used every opportunity during last 10 years to disrupt Delhi Legislative Assembly is pointing fingers at others. Mr Vijender Gupta is the same person who embarrassed his whole party, who stood on the desk of Legislative Assembly during its session. Mr Gupta should use his office to fulfill his promise to Bus Marshals about permanent jobs,' the statement read. The rules committee, chaired by the speaker, will hold its first meeting on June 5 to review draft amendments. The reforms will also introduce gender-neutral language, replacing masculine terms like 'he' in official documentation. 'The last amendment to the rules was in 2017. This review will simplify language and bring gender inclusivity,' Gupta noted. To be sure, Section 33 of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 grants the power to the Delhi assembly to frame its own Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. The approval of the House is required for the amendments to be incorporated in the rules. Two new committees — the committee on welfare of senior citizens and the committee on welfare of transgenders — have been constituted, and rules for their functioning will also be framed. Rules for other panels, such as the committee on peace and harmony and the Committee on MCD, will be drafted during this exercise, Gupta said. The upcoming 100-day report will highlight key initiatives: tabling six CAG reports, initiating an audit paras monitoring system, beginning the heritage site project with IGNCA, and setting up a 500-kW solar plant for self-reliant energy use. Gupta said the Assembly conducted two full sessions — a break from the earlier trend of just one session annually — and held 12 sittings totalling 46 hours and 16 minutes, the highest in 25 years.

Supreme Court defers Batla House plea, declines stay on demolition
Supreme Court defers Batla House plea, declines stay on demolition

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Supreme Court defers Batla House plea, declines stay on demolition

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the impending demolition of homes and shops in Delhi's Batla House area, observing that its earlier order of May 7 – directing action against unauthorised construction, did not warrant any interference at this stage. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma, hearing a plea filed by over 40 residents, declined interim protection against the demolition drive being undertaken by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, but agreed to list the matter in July, once the court resumes full functioning after the summer vacation. 'It is our order and we have seen it… You take instructions if you would want us to simply adjourn this,' the bench told senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the residents, while referring to the earlier direction of the apex court from May 7. 'We are telling you that we have seen the papers. We can adjourn it. That is all we can do,' said the bench, making it clear that the court was not inclined to examine the issue substantively during the summer vacation. Hegde urged the bench to at least clarify that no demolitions should be carried out in the interim. 'Let nothing happen in the meantime,' he said. But the court stood firm. 'You will be taking a risk if you want to argue this,' the bench warned, reiterating that it would not hear the matter during the vacation and asking Hegde to 'take instructions.' After consulting his clients, Hegde asked that the matter be listed in the week after the summer recess. The court agreed. The partial working schedule of the Supreme Court ends on July 13, after which regular hearings resume. Hegde informed the bench that the petitioners would approach the appropriate appellate authority to challenge the demolition notices. The dispute stems from a May 7 ruling by another bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, which directed that unauthorised constructions outside the boundaries of colonies regularised under the 2019 Pradhan Mantri-Unauthorized Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana (PM-UDAY) be demolished. The order said residents should be given 'at least 15 days' notice' and allowed to 'adopt appropriate proceedings in accordance with law.' Acting on the order, DDA issued eviction notices dated May 26, which were pasted on several buildings in Batla House. The notices, marked by large red Xs, stated: 'This building/structure has been found to be an illegal/unauthorised structure falling in khasra number 279, village Okhla, outside PMA-UDAY colony boundary… occupants are hereby directed to vacate the premises within 15 days… the demolition programme shall be carried out from 11-06-2025 without any further notice.' With the demolition set to begin just days before Eid-ul-Adha, anxiety has spread through the predominantly Muslim neighbourhood. Many residents, in their plea, said they have lived in the area for decades and view the notices as arbitrary and unjust. In their plea before the top court, residents argue that the 15-day notice was not meaningfully served. Instead of individual communication or clear deadlines, the notices were simply pasted on buildings, offering no scope for redress. They claim the demolition drive is arbitrary, illegal, and in breach of the protections under the PM-UDAY scheme. While DDA and the UP Irrigation Department claim the affected area lies outside the scheme's boundary, residents insist they qualify for regularisation or at the very least deserve a chance to be heard. The petitioners say they are legitimate homeowners with long-standing possession, and that no individualised assessment of legality was made before marking homes for demolition. The residents had first approached the Supreme Court on May 29. At the time, the court advised them to move Delhi High Court. But the petitioners pointed out that the authorities were relying on the Supreme Court's May 7 order to justify the imminent demolitions, leaving them with no choice but to return to the top court. The bench then directed the registry to list the matter this week. Batla House, part of the Jamia Nagar locality, has long been a densely populated working-class enclave. It first drew national attention in 2008 after a controversial police encounter resulted in the deaths of two alleged terrorists and a Delhi Police inspector. Now, the looming demolition has brought it back into the spotlight. With Monday's development, the matter now rests in limbo until July. Meanwhile, the 15-day notice period, expiring on June 10, leaves affected families facing an uncertain and anxious wait, coinciding with one of the year's biggest religious festivals.

Even as SC hears case, road from Haryana to Rajasthan for illegal mining rebuilt
Even as SC hears case, road from Haryana to Rajasthan for illegal mining rebuilt

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Even as SC hears case, road from Haryana to Rajasthan for illegal mining rebuilt

Gurgaon: Between Supreme Court hearings and five months after the Haryana forest department razed it, an illegal road connecting Basai Meo in Nuh to Gadhaner in Rajasthan was rebuilt by miners. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It was this 6km road, originally built in Oct 2024, that led the miners through the Aravali forests to a hillock in Nuh's Rava. TOI reported in Dec last year that the Rava hillock was blasted into pieces and the stones were then transported across state borders through the same road. The matter of illegal mining and construction of the road eventually reached the Supreme Court, which pulled up Haryana's chief secretary last month for failing to act against those violating environmental laws in the state. On Monday, the forest department blocked the road once again. "This is the same road that was illegally built last year under the pretext of village land consolidation," a forest official said, adding: "We have now blocked it again and filed an FIR against two villagers involved in its reconstruction. We have increased surveillance as well." The area where the road was built falls under sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), which prohibits any construction in forests. It also violates Section 2 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, which bars construction in protected forests without approval of the central govt. The forest department official told TOI no such permissions were obtained. Experts said the road being carved through the Aravalis for a second time despite an ongoing case in the Supreme Court shows the impunity with which mining is carried out in the area. "The fact that a road is being carved through protected forest land while the matter is sub judice reflects blatant disregard for the rule of law. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It underscores a systemic failure in enforcement and a culture of impunity that emboldens violators. If such violations can occur under the court's watch, one can only imagine the unchecked damage happening elsewhere," said Debadityo Sinha, lead (climate and ecosystems) at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The matter first came to light in Oct 2024, when Basai Meo residents alleged that the road was illegally constructed on forest and farm lands, disrupting natural drainage system of the area. A month later, villagers filed a petition before SC, alleging that the road was built by mining mafia "in collusion" with officials. On the night of Dec 19, miners flattened the hillock in Rava, just 10km from Basai Meo. Locals said they had heard the blast and some eyewitnesses captured videos of it. TOI also reported about the incident on Dec 23. Forest officials believe mined stones from Rava were taken to Rajasthan's Gadhaner through this road. "Mining the Aravalis is banned in Nuh, but there is no such prohibition in Rajasthan. This allows the miners to sell the stones, used in the construction industry, after crossing the state borders," said Sunil Harsana, an ecologist. The forest department, in Jan 2025, blocked the road to stop all illegal activities. It also ordered an FIR to be registered against three revenue officials for allowing this construction to take place in the Nuh village. The Supreme Court, hearing the petition, directed the central empowered committee (CEC) to investigate the allegations. CEC, in its report, confirmed the violations and recommended action against erring officials. Last month, Haryana's chief secretary filed an affidavit that said the state's forest department did not act against violations. The top court did not agree, and in its latest hearing on May 29, it pulled up the chief secretary for "passing the buck" to the forest department and not taking action against other officials. "It appears that (mining) mafia is strong enough to protect not only its members but also the officers of the state govt who acted in collusion with them," Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said. On Monday, environmentalists said repeated violations of norms in the Aravalis was alarming. "Aravalis are not just ancient hills, they are the lungs of northern India. Every illegal encroachment, every tree felled, is a blow to our future. Protecting them is not a choice, it is a necessity. Construction of a road through Aravalis is illegal and it also fragments the eco-sensitive zone," said Vaishali Rana, an activist.

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