Latest news with #DBharathaChakravarthy
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
TNHB must bear additional 5% GST cost, can't ask flat buyers to foot bill, rules Madras HC
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ruled that the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) is not entitled to collect additional GST from flat purchasers after collecting the full flat cost, which is inclusive of the GST amount, as per the advertisements released during the time of entering into the agreement. The ruling was given by Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy while allowing a batch of petitions challenging the notices issued to purchasers by the TNHB in 2024, forcing them to pay an additional GST of 5% of the total sale price of the flats. He ordered the board to execute the sale deed in favour of the petitioners who have paid the full cost calculated as per the advertisement rate and refund the additional 5% to those who have already paid that within eight weeks. The purchasers who moved the court are those who bought 102 High Income Group (HIG) flats in Nandanam division of TNHB and 72 such flats in Anna Nagar division. They contended that in 2021, the rate was fixed at Rs 9,892 per square foot inclusive of GST in Nandanam and Rs 10,500 per square foot in Anna Nagar as per the advertisements and display boards in the site, but they were later forced to pay the additional GST before executing the sale deed. TNHB's counsel submitted that the cost per square foot included the 12% GST when contracts for construction were awarded and therefore, the advertisement reflected it.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Madras HC allows 28-week abortion for disabled rape survivor; says case ‘can brook no delay'
CHENNAI: A pregnant woman with 80% disability, who was raped by her neighbour, terminated her 28-week foetus on Tuesday after the Madras High Court allowed her to undergo the procedure. Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, termination of foetus is allowed only up to 24 weeks. The woman is suffering from Friedreich's Ataxia, a rare neurological condition that has led to paralysis of her limbs and 80% permanent physical impairment. The woman's mother did not notice her pregnancy in the early stages because of her condition. After noticing bodily changes, the woman took her daughter to the Government Medical Hospital in Chengalpattu where doctors confirmed that she was in her 28th week of pregnancy. Though the police registered a case against the accused for rape and criminal intimidation, the doctors at the hospital refused to terminate the pregnancy citing rules. The mother later moved the Madras High Court, seeking direction to the hospital to terminate her daughter's pregnancy. The woman cited pregnancy due to rape and her daughter's medical condition for seeking the court's intervention. Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy, in his order, said that the woman, being a rape survivor, is entitled for medical termination of pregnancy. He further said that the outer limit of 24 weeks need not be held as a barrier in this case since the woman's mother noticed it only after 24 weeks because of her medical condition. The only consideration that has to be made is the matter of risk associated with the continuation or termination of the pregnancy by a Medical Board that can be constituted by the Dean of the Government Medical College Hospital, Chengalpattu, the court had ruled recently.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HC: 21L cbm illegally mined in Tirupur
Chennai: More than 21 lakh cubic metres (cbm) of rough stone and soil — 1.6 times Porur Lake's full capacity — were illegally mined from two adjacent quarries in Kodangipalayam, Tirupur, Madras High Court found. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy upheld the govt's cancellation of an order that let the quarry operate despite large-scale violations. He directed prosecution, full recovery of mineral value, penalty reassessment, and action toward lease cancellation. The court appreciated district collector Vinith IAS for constituting the taluk task force and uncovering the violations. Although the commissioner of geology and mining later criticised the collector in writing, records showed the commissioner dictated the penalty order himself, with junior officials preparing the draft and signing it, bypassing higher-level scrutiny. Quarry operator R Ramakrishnan challenged the Dec 6, 2024, govt order issued under Rule 40 of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, which overturned a 2022 directive from the then Commissioner. That directive allowed quarrying to resume on payment of 30 lakh upfront and the balance 10.4 crore in instalments—of which only 4.99 crore was paid by Nov 2024. Inspections revealed that lessee exceeded approved depths — up to 50.8 metres where 25 metres was sanctioned — and mined far beyond permitted volumes. Violations included unpermitted extraction, merged pits across expired and current leases, unsafe proximity to patta lands and power lines, and dumping soil on private land. The court termed the 2022 order "fraudulent" and "shocking to conscience," finding that no prosecution was initiated, and penalties were drastically underassessed. The total value of illegally mined minerals was estimated at 78.48 crore. The court directed the sub-collector to file a private complaint, asked the state to initiate lease cancellation proceedings, and called for a supplementary order to recover dues and assess penalties under Rule 36-A.
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC disqualifies trust chief who usurps temple property for Rs 2,000
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has disqualified the chairman of the trust board of Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswar temple from being a trustee for 'usurping the temple property for a paltry Rs 2,000, and shamelessly setting up persons and creating false rent receipts.' The order was passed by Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy on April 30 on the petitions filed by T S Shankar of Tiruvannamalai alleging illegal occupation of the trust property by the chairman of the trust board, R Jeevanantham, and continuing as the chairman against the rules. The petitioner accused the chairman of dismantling a 100-year-old heritage building belonging to Kalasanthi Arakkattalai, one of the trusts of the temple, and constructing a building on 1,995 sq ft area after entering into a rental agreement with the trust in 2010. The land was part of a parcel of 4,400 sq ft. He has been using the space for a rent of Rs 2,000 per month, the petitioner alleged. He had raised the building without obtaining permission from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department or any other departments, by using his political clout as a leader of the ruling party, the petitioner alleged.
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Madras High Court asks government to shut illegal homestay facilities in Ooty & Kodai, form panel
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered the state government to crack the whip on unauthorised homestay facilities being run in the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal immediately and close down those operating without valid licence from the government departments concerned. It also ordered setting up of a three-member committee headed by the district revenue officer (DRO) in the Nilgiris and Dindigul districts for holding field inspection to check the credentials of the homestays (bed-and-breakfasts). A special bench comprising Justices N Sathish Kumar and D Bharatha Chakravarthy passed the order on Friday while hearing a batch of petitions pertaining to forest-related matters. The committee will comprise municipal commissioner and district tourism officer. 'A thorough inspection shall be made by this committee to check whether the homestays have obtained proper licence from the tourism department or the local bodies. If they are found to have violated the norms, they must be closed down forthwith,' the bench ordered, adding that the inspection shall be held throughout the hills. It instructed the authorities concerned to introduce a dedicated mobile number with social media access so as to enable the public to share details of unauthorised facilities or to lodge complaints. Pointing out that numerous unauthorised homestays are operating in the hill stations, the bench said there is 'an urgent necessity' to crack down on them. The bench also expressed concern about the homestays fleecing tourists during the peak season for offering their services, and wanted the committee to check if these facilities have obtained a proper building plan and whether they have converted a residential building into a commercial one without permission. It directed the government to file a report on June 20 in this regard. ePass upper limit The special bench of the high court permitted district collectors of the Nilgiris and Dindigul to increase the upper cap for issuing ePass for vehicles entering these hill stations by 500 and 300, respectively during the summer festivals such as the Flower Show, Fruit Show and Rose Show
