K. Arul Jothi takes charge as security chief for Southern Railway
A 1995-batch Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS) officer, Mr. Jothi served the force in various capacities across North Frontier Railway, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, Eastern Railway, East Central Railway, and other zones.
During his stint as Deputy Inspector General, Southern Railway in the 2019-20 COVID-19 period, he spearheaded the RPF teams in organising the safe movement of migrant workers to various parts of the country through 503 Shramik Special Trains.
Mr. Jothi succeeds G.M. Eswara Rao, who retired from service, according to a press release.
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News18
15 hours ago
- News18
Australia's divorce rate is the lowest it's been in 50 years. Why?
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Included among the more than a dozen grounds for divorce were adultery, drunkenness and non-consummation. When Australians divorce now, they're older – 47 years for men and 44 for women – reflecting increasing age when marrying and longer duration in marriage. Marriages are typically lasting just over eight months more to separation and nearly 11 months longer to divorce than in 2019, the year before the COVID pandemic started. Such an increase points to a swift and sharp change likely brought on during and since the pandemic. But this doesn't mean we're getting better at navigating relationships – rather, Australians are remaining longer in marriages due to economics. Cohabiting before marriage is also increasingly common, enabling relationship testing. Most Australians believe marriage isn't necessarily a lifelong thing, reflecting widespread acceptance of divorce. But marriage remains an important aspect of our lives. Fewer brides and grooms Marriage remains a major part of Australian society, with most Australians marrying at some point in their lives. Marriage equality, enshrined in law in 2017, reflects the enduring relevance of formal marriage. But there have been some changes. Religion no longer dominates marriage, with most weddings officiated by celebrants. This trend has continued since the late 1990s. In 2023, more than 83 per cent of marriages were conducted by civil celebrants, not a religious minister. Latest figures show marriages have steadied since the COVID slump and rebound, with Australians marrying less on average now than before the pandemic. Overall, the rate of marriage has more than halved since 1971, dropping from 13 marriages per 1,000 people aged 16 years and over to 5.5 in 2024. Marriage rates are now well down from the peak set during Australia's post-war baby boom, where increased and younger coupling drove record birth rates in the 1960s. 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On average, Australians are having fewer children than ever, with the total fertility rate at a record low of 1.5 births per woman. Changing expectations and norms concerning coupling and childbearing have enabled greater empowerment for Australians to choose whether they marry at all. Women especially benefit from more progressive attitudes towards remaining single and childfree. The costs of divorce Costs associated with a divorce can be high, with a 'cheap" marriage dissolution starting upwards of AUD 10,000. Couples have become creative in navigating marriage breakups during a cost-of-living crisis. Where children are present – 47 per cent of divorced couple families – parents are looking to new ways to minimise adverse social and economic consequences. 'Birdnesting", where kids remain in the family home as parents rotate in and out according to care arrangements, is one such solution. 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Where relationships involve financial dependence and high conflict, such arrangements are forcing families into potentially highly volatile circumstances. top videos View all Families are changing and diversifying, and policy must reflect this. Cost-of-living pressures are increasingly denying couples much-wanted families and making it more difficult for families to thrive, divorced or not. (The Conversation) GSP (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 05, 2025, 09:45 IST News agency-feeds Australia's divorce rate is the lowest it's been in 50 years. Why? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Can't deny rent for building taken over under DM Act, citing illegal construction: Kerala HC
Kochi: High court has ruled that the state govt cannot deny rent/compensation for a building taken over and used under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, merely on the ground that the construction was unauthorised. The ruling was issued by a bench of Justice N Nagaresh while allowing a petition challenging the order of the Thiruvananthapuram district collector, who had denied rent for the takeover of a private medical college, along with all its existing human and material resources, during the Covid-19 pandemic for use as a treatment centre. The petitioners, SR Educational and Charitable Trust at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram, stated that in March 2020, the collector had directed them to hand over the hospital buildings and facilities to the district medical officer under the Disaster Management Act. Although the hospital was later returned to the petitioners in Nov 2021, following another order of the collector, no rent or compensation was paid. The petitioners claimed Rs 46 crore as rent/compensation, but the collector rejected the claim, holding that the petitioner was not entitled to any compensation as the building constructed for the medical college was unauthorised. Aggrieved by this, the petitioners approached HC. In the interim, the rent committee fixed the rent for the portion of the building used for Covid-19 response activities at Rs 1.06 crore, based on a direction from the bench. Meanwhile, the local panchayat authorities reported that the women's hostel building of the college was constructed in violation of coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms. Upon examining the facts, HC noted that Section 66 of the Disaster Management Act lays down the procedure for computing rent/compensation, and that rent cannot be denied solely on the ground of unauthorised construction. If there are statutory violations in the building's construction, the authorities are free to proceed in accordance with the law. However, once a building has been used by the govt, the authorities are legally bound to pay rent or compensation to the petitioner. Accordingly, HC directed the collector and district disaster management authority to take a fresh decision in the matter within three weeks.
