SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA, CHENNAI * MARCH 26, 2017 TIMES CITY 5 Residents In Neighbourhoods Could Access Long-Due Civic Amenities No income tax on VRS New corporations can for staff of sick PSU: HC TIMES NEWS NETWORK TOI Once a public sector gi- ant with a monopoly in X-ray Chennai: In a significant ru- films market, HPF became a ling, the Madras high court white elephant since 1987 said the voluntary retire- when salary stagnated and keep old promises ment scheme (VRS) package, staff had either no or little C Suresh Kumar equal to salary for 72 months, work. A VRS package was re- Bay of Bengal Bay paid to willing employees of adied by the Cabinet Com- Tambaram (in pic), Avadi and Tentative map AT THE CENTRE Pallavaram are likely to get new Hindustan Photo Film (HPF) mittee on Economic Affairs corporations Manufacturing Company Li- DEFUNCT: Hindustan Photo which approved a proposal mited in Ooty was in the na- Films in Ooty has been a non- for providing non-plan bud- ture of compensation and no performing unit since 1987 getary support of `181.54 cro- GREATER income tax should be deduc- re for voluntary retirement ted. On their part, employees (10B) of the IT Act. Therefo- at the 2007 notional pay scale. AVADI accepting the package shall re, provisions of Section 10 The HPF Workers’ Welfa- CHENNAI A new CORPORATION vacate and hand over posses- (10B) of the Income Tax Act, re Centre termed VRS unfair corporation sion of the quarters within a 1961 are attracted and accor- and illegal. It sought pay- is welcome. month of the date on which dingly, the same shall not fall ment of 72 months’ salary on Facilities like they receive the monetary within the definition of inco- 2007 payscale to each emplo- underground benefits, the court said. me, while computing the to- yee, non-deduction of inco- sewerage and Justice T S Sivagnanam, tal income of concerned me tax on severance packa- St Thomas roads will concurring with the submis- employee and income tax ge, special performance allo- Mount improve sions of senior counsel R Va- cannot be deducted from the wance, adjustable advance Cantonment P Basavaiah, igai, said: “The benefit, severance package paid to paid to employees and per- RESIDENT, CTO COLONY TAMBARAM which will accrue to the emp- the employees of HPF.” mission for employees to oc- loyees, is in the nature of Quick to realise the ru- cupy staff quarters till May compensation, which is pur- ling could lead to other pub- 1, 2016 at the same rate of PALLAVARAM suant to a decision taken by lic sector undertakings pre- rent. CORPORATION the government of India spe- paring similar severance Contentious issues boi- Creating satellite cifically for the employees of packages for their employe- led down to 72 months’ sala- corporations is a [email protected] gineering professor at Anna University, HPF. Therefore, the amount es, counsel for the Centre sa- ry as severance package in- long pending issue. would be exempted from in- id the government of India stead of 60 months, exemp- said corporations will have better techni- The new corporation pen drains, overhead power cal knowledge for planning, designing come tax in terms of the first would appeal against it in tion from income tax and no should not delay in proviso under Section 10 the Supreme Court. eviction from the quarters. cables, dark alleys and a and execution of basic amenities such extending metrowater handful of staff struggling as water supply, underground sewer- and underground to solve a multitude of civic age system, liquid and solid waste TAMBARAM sewerage facilities complaints could be a thing management. “Development will be Avadi CORPORATION S Mohanram, Oof the past for residents of Avadi, Palla- regulated as constructions cannot be car- RESIDENT, PRAKASH NAGAR, Record haul as corporation varam and Tambaram as the government ried out in violation of building rules. 3 municipalities | Avadi, Poonamallee and THIRUNINDRAVUR is planning to create three independent The strength of officers will also increase Thirverkadu satellite municipal corporations adjoin- for addressing issues related to civic 1 town panchayat | Thirunindravur ` ing Chennai, headquartered in these amenities, leading to better quality of Tambaram collects 650cr property tax 11 village panchayats | Including Nemilichery, neighbourhoods. life,” he said. However, he noted people 2 municipalities | Tambaram Nazarethpet, Kattupakkam, Ayapakkam and TIMES NEWS NETWORK 10% from the last year’s fig- in the first week of demon- If the proposal gets through, people may have to shell out more towards prop- and Sembakkam in places which are yet to see basic amen- erty tax and water tax. Vanagaram ures. And with five more etisation, we collected over 4 town panchayats | Chennai: ` ities could have piped water supply, street Real estate may see an upswing in the Wards | 80-100 (proposed) The city corpora- days to go before the end of 25 crore in property tax. We Perungalathur, tion has netted a record in the financial year, officials were able to clear a signifi- lights and motorable roads. For instance, long term. According to Kanchana Area | 148 sqkm areas falling under the juris- Krishnan, director, Knight Peerkankaranai, property tax collection for expect to add on to these cant portion of the arrears Frank (India) Pvt. Ltd, real Population | 6.12 lakh Madambakkam and fiscal 2016-17 with more than numbers by a sizeable mar- as well within 15 days (of the diction of Avadi Municipality WHAT’S ` estate price in Chennai in- Chitlapakkam 650 crore earned so far,. gin. “We expect to collect an- announcement),” an official are covered by underground IN STORE ` sewerage system. A munici- creases gradually and over a Pallavaram 7 village panchayats | According to revenue de- other 20 crore property tax. said. Including Agaramthen, partment officials of the civ- The last two days are frantic Unlike the previous year, pal corporation will ensure period of time. “Infrastruc- 3 municipalities | Anakaputhur, Pallavaram Medavakkam, Vengaivasal, ic body, the city’s 11.70 lakh usually because assessees revenue officials also people living in villages within its ambit ture and connectivity are two major fac- and Pammal tors that influence growth of any city. Mudichur and assessees have contributed a turn up in huge numbers to steered clear of controver- access to it. ` Formation of new municipal corpora- This in turn will result in creation of new 1 village panchayat | Cowl Bazzar Varadharajapuram little more than 654 crore so pay their dues,” said a corpo- sies when attempting to get tions would mean more funds from vari- residential pockets. So appreciation of far, enabling the corporation ration official. large sum defaulters to pay ous financial institutions in the state land will happen gradually in the medi- What it means for residents to surpass its property tax Despite a setback during up. Last year, officials in- government and the Centre. “Municipal um to long term,” she said. collection target for the year. cyclone Vardah, officials volved transgender people corporations get a better share from the Though residents are enthused about Better amenities | Corporation can plan, design and execute The sum collected so far also said they “worked hard”, al- who played drums or the new proposal, some said authorities basic amenities like water supply, underground sewerage represents an increase of though there was staff short- dumped garbage at the door- government. Loans can be availed for Flip side ` ` infrastructure-related projects,” an offi- should not delay in providing civic amen- system, liquid and solid waste management better around 70 crore from the age, to meet the target of 650 step of business establish- cial said. Municipal corporations open ities. While welcoming the move, S Mo- Effective implementation | More manpower to Property and last year. crore set in the local body’s ments or residences to call the window for a slew of services includ- hanram, a resident of Thirunindravur, address civic amenities water tax will Together with profes- budget document. Mean- upon attention to the defaul- ing improved sanitation. Like those liv- said some areas in Ambattur Municipal- increase sional tax revenue, which while, the central govern- ter. These measures proved Development | Regulated and planned development in crossed the `240-crore mark, ment’s move to demonetise unpopular and attracted ing within Greater Chennai Corporation, ity are yet to get underground sewerage terms of constructing buildings will take place people in the new corporations may have system and metrowater facilities even the collection is a significant high value currencies in No- criticism for the local body. More value | Real estate prices will appreciate in long term access to corporation-run hospitals and after five years of merging with Greater increase in revenue generat- vember 2016 also came as a “We served them with no- schools, online services and upgraded Chennai Corporation. “Such glitches Quicker transport | Corporation can augment transport facilities ed by the local body. The pro- blessing in disguise for the tices and judiciously fol- fessional tax collected so far corporation. lowed up all cases we could,” technology to resolve civic issues. should not happen in the proposed new Welfare | Corporation-run hospitals and schools may come up K P Subramanian, former urban en- corporations,” he said. is an increase of more than “In a two-day period with- a senior official said. At 263, TN to send Probe found illegal custody, torture CITY DIGEST was conferred by Madura Welcome, Poll officials meet to a tourist guide book company, in From P 1 While the revenue divisional offi- ishment when he was informed that association with Incredible India, cer gave a finding that there were the ADGP’s report was pending with discuss procedures most teams to 36-hr Ministry of Tourism, Government of is family of aged father, wife contusions which might have been the government, and that the district More than 1,600 polling personnel India. Airport director G Chandra- and two children were also caused by police torture, a probe by administration was still awaiting the underwent training on Saturday mouli, along with Anil Garg, deputy summoned to the police sta- ADGP-CBCID laid the issue bare. government’s nod to proceed against non-stop hackathon H ahead of the RK Nagar byelection airport director received the award tion where they were verbally The officer concluded that Nambu the erring officials. scheduled for April 12. Polling from film director K Bhagyaraj. This TIMES NEWS NETWORK India to offer digital and sus- abused. had indeed been held in illegal custo- Citing past apex court rulings on officials from Greater Chennai was the second time in a row that tainable innovative solu- On May 10, 2010, he was again dy and subjected to ‘ill-treatment’ custodial torture and compensation Corporation, including returning Chennai airport received the hon- Chennai: Tamil Nadu has tions to solve real time chal- picked up by the Melur police. The which led to his hospitalisation and package, the judge said the theory of officer Praveen Nair, general ob- our for the ‘Best Tourist Friendly the highest number of te- lenges faced in the country. next morning, Nambu was taken to a death. ‘last seen with’ and ‘mutilant liabili- server Praveen Prakash, expendi- Airport’. Twenty-nine international ams shortlisted for the 36- The event aims to harness private hospital in Manapparai from While his family moved the court ty’ would prove police were to blame ture observer Aparna Villuri, and airlines are operating from the hour non-stop digital pro- the creativity of bright yo- the station. There he was declared for `10 lakh as compensation, the gov- for Nambu’s torture in custody, and law and order observer Shiv Kumar airport connecting 15 international gramming competition ung minds and is touted to be dead the same day. Why he was taken ernment said the family court could death. An experienced driver, Nam- Verma, met at Ripon Buildings to cities and eight domestic airlines ‘Smart India Hackathon the biggest hackathon in the to a distant private hospital, instead move an appropriate civil court for a bu would have been earning at least discuss poll procedures. The gener- are operating to 25 domestic cities. 2017’ on April 1and 2. world till date. of rushing him to a government hos- remedy. `1 lakh a year, so the demand for `10 al observer will be at the govern- Of about 2,100 teams In Tamil Nadu, 1,990 stu- pital in Madurai became a non-issue. Justice Ramesh expressed aston- lakh compensation was fair, he said. ment guest house in Chepauk College fest on March 31: Sri shortlisted from across the dent teams submitted propo- between 5pm and 6pm daily for Venkateswara College of Engineer- country, 263 teams are from sals of which 263 have made public to meet him. ing will organise its college day on Tamil Nadu, the highest it to the grand finale that will March 31 at 2pm at ‘Sri Jayendra number of entries, said Ba- be held from different nodal Second inquiry initiated Chennai airport receives Tamil Saraswathi Platinum Jubilee Com- lamurugan, All India Coun- centres across the country. Man held for eloping Nadu Tourism Award: Chennai plex’ on the college premises. cil for Technical Education After Tamil Nadu, Andhra International airport on Friday Muthuvel gajapati, vice-president southern region officer. Pradesh and Telangana ha- on same charges received the Tamil Nadu Tourism and delivery head(business in- A total of 7,531 teams ve the next highest number with schoolgirl From P 1 Award–2016 in the category of ‘Best telligence) of Infosys, will be the from across the country had of entries. In Tamil Nadu, Tourist Friendly Airport’. This award chief guest. submitted ideas from more the grand finale is being TIMES NEWS NETWORK The girl, student of a go- he contempt proceedings were initiated by a than 2,100 technical institu- held at Chennai and Coim- vernment school in Pallipat- government employee called Lawrence tions of which 1,266 were batore. While the nodal cent- Chennai: Three months af- tu, 130 km from Chennai, had Tagainst whom a charge memo was issued on shortlisted for the competi- re in Coimbatore will be the ter a Class XII student went disappeared from her house. July 28, 2008. Since no action was taken till 2014, tion launched by the AICTE Srikrishna College of Engi- missing, the girl and her bo- Unable to find any trace of during which time Lawrence lost his promotion under the ministry of hu- neering and Technology, yfriend walked into a police the girl, the parents lodged a opportunities, he moved the high court for the man resource development. (Nodal Centre for Ministry station in Tiruvallur dis- missing complaint in the first time. The court had in December 2014 asked The initiative involved of Environment, Forests & trict on Friday, seeking pro- Pothatturpet police station. the authorities to pass appropriate orders. 598 problems posted by 29 go- Climate Change), the Chen- tection. The two feared they On Friday, police discovered Though the charges were not proved at the end of vernment departments for nai Nodal Centre will be the would be targeted by the that the girl had left on her the inquiry in February 2015 and the court direct- which students had to find Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar girl’s relatives and came to own accord, eloping with ed the authorities to take appropriate decision, a practical solutions. (SSS) College of Enginee- police, who arrested the man her boyfriend, who was second inquiry was initiated on the same charges The participating teams ring, Kalavakkam (Nodal for kidnapping the minor. identified as Raghu, 26, of in violation of rules. It held him guilty of most of will simultaneously compe- Centre for Ministry of Earth The girl was handed over to Bommarajupet in Tiruval- charges. It was then the high court issued statuto- te from across 26 locations in Sciences). her parents. lur district. ry contempt notice against Reddy. FYI: Madras high court not a fan of abbreviations Shinod Akkaraparambil marasamy, standing counsel for habeas corpus petitions to declare [email protected] the high court, explained the ab- their remand illegal and consequ- breviations and we also infer that ently set them at liberty, said that Chennai: Abridging words and ‘Acc’ means ‘Accused’, ‘Pro’ me- on three hearing dates – July 18, using acronyms are a social me- ans “Produced” and ‘RE’ means 2014, August 14, 2014 and Septem- dia fad. Whacky abbreviations “Remand Extended.” ber 12, 2014 – the judge did not pass may be the in-thing on WhatsApp, The bench further said: “This any specific orders but merely ex- Twitter and text alerts via SMS. practice of courts using unfamili- tended the detention. But, the higher judiciary in Tamil ar abbreviations needs to be ne- The bench, agreeing with his Nadu has made it clear it is not a cessarily deprecated. The orders submissions, said the judge ought fan of such abbreviations. passed by courts should be under- to have afforded opportunity to Deprecating the practice of standable by a common man, mo- the accused and applied his judici- subordinate courts using unfami- re particularly the person in who- al mind before passing remand or- liar abbreviations in official se favour or against the order is ders. Instead, the special judge transactions, the Madras high co- passed. We only expect that judici- had merely made an endorsement urt has cautioned that no court in al officers in this state and in the on these three dates. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry sho- union territory of Puducherry Though such endorsements uld use abbreviations in their do- shall not hereinafter use these are not in accordance with law, re- cuments and judgments. kinds of abbreviations under- ferring to various Supreme Court The immediate provocation standable only to the maker of the orders, the bench declined to de- for a division bench of S Naga- abbreviations. They are expected clare the detention of the accused muthu and Justice M Sathyanara- to write orders legibly without as illegal saying valid remand or- yanan to flay lower courts on this using unfamiliar abbreviations.” ders were passed on their subse- score, was an abbreviation-rich The case pertaining to six su- quent production before the co- remand extension order passed spects arrested by NIA (Hydera- urt. by a special judge for National In- bad), and their remand/exten- Therefore, their detention as vestigation Agency (NIA) cases in the following order: ‘Acc. Pro. R.E. cult to understand this telegrap- sion of remand by the special jud- of now cannot be stated to be ille- Puducherry. Till 18/07/14’,” pointed out the hic abbreviation in the order of ge in Puducherry. Their counsel gal and so they cannot be set at li- “The special judge had passed bench, adding: “We find it diffi- the special judge. But R Muthuku- M Radhakrishnan, arguing their berty, the bench said.