Consider plea to reopen Kallakurichi schools, HC directs Collector

A-G assures the court that the plea will be considered taking into account the need for students to resume physical classes and the police investigation

A-G assures the court that the plea will be considered taking into account the need for students to resume physical classes and the police investigation

The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Kallakurichi Collector to consider within 10 days a representation made by Latha Educational Society Kaniyamoor seeking permission to reopen its two schools that were ransacked by rioters on July 17, following the death of a Class XII girl. Justice Abdul Quddhose issued the direction while disposing of a writ petition filed by the society seeking a direction to the State government and the Collector to consider its plea and permit reopening of Sakthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School and ECR International School. Advocate General R. Shunmugasundaram told the court that the society’s request would be considered by the Collector after taking into account all factors, including the need for the students to resume physical classes as well the ongoing police investigation into the death and the riots. Earlier, the State Public Prosecutor told the court that the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID), probing into the death of the girl, required the scene of crime for some more days since there were multiple theories behind the crime and the police had to conduct a thorough investigation. He claimed there were absolutely no issues with respect to the education of the students since the two schools were taking classes online for Classes I-VIII and physical classes at a different venue, arranged by the School Education Department officials, for students of Classes IX to XII. However, senior counsel A.R.L. Sundaresan, representing the petitioner society, told the judge that online classes could not be continued forever and it could only be a temporary arrangement.

He also pointed out that physical classes for Classes IX to XII were now being taken in a teacher training institute. If that institute was in need of the space for its use, the school students would be stranded without any place to go. Therefore, it was absolutely essential to permit the society to take possession of its campus and undertake all repairs before reopening the two schools for the benefit of around 3,500 students and 225 staff, he argued.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/consider-plea-to-reopen-kallakurichi-schools-hc-directs-collector/?feed_id=14929&_unique_id=6305641bce3b7

Sri Lanka president’s office to reopen after crackdown

Sri Lanka’s besieged presidential office will reopen on Monday (Jul 25), police said, days after anti-government demonstrators were flushed out in a military crackdown that triggered international condemnation.

Widespread public anger over the island’s unprecedented economic crisis saw protesters storm and occupy the colonial-era building earlier this month.

Soldiers were forced to rescue then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa from his nearby residence on the same day, with the leader fleeing to Singapore and resigning days later.

Troops armed with batons and automatic weapons cleared the 92-year-old presidential secretariat in a pre-dawn raid on Friday on the orders of Rajapaksa’s successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

At least 48 people were wounded and nine arrested in the operation, during which security forces tore down tents set up by protesters outside the complex since April.

“The office is ready for reopening from Monday,” said a police official on Sunday, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

“The siege of the secretariat, which lasted since May 9, has now been lifted.”

Police said forensic experts had been called in to check damage to the presidential secretariat and gather evidence.

Western governments, the United Nations and human rights groups have condemned Wickremesinghe for using violence against unarmed protesters who had announced their intention to vacate the site later on Friday.

Wickremesinghe defended the crackdown and said he had told Colombo-based diplomats on Friday that blocking government buildings was unacceptable.

Police spokesman Nihal Talduwa said protesters were free to continue their demonstrations at a designated site near the presidential office.

“They can remain at the official protest site. The government may even open a few more places for demonstrators in the city,” Talduwa said on Sunday.

The military operation to clear the secretariat building and its immediate surroundings came less than 24 hours after Wickremesinghe was sworn in and just before a new Cabinet was appointed.

Sri Lanka’s 22 million people have also endured months of lengthy blackouts, record inflation and shortages of food, fuel and petrol.

Its government is officially bankrupt, having defaulted on its US$51 billion foreign debt, and is currently in bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

The economic crisis which fuelled the protest campaign shows no sign of easing, but the government announced on Sunday it would reopen schools which had remained shut for the better part of a month.

The education ministry said students and teachers will be asked to return to school only for three days each week as transport is still hampered by a national fuel shortage.

Miles-long queues of motorists waiting to fill up were seen across the country Sunday despite the government introducing a rationing system.

New president Wickremesinghe has said he will unveil a fresh budget for the rest of the year in August as previous revenue and expenditure estimates were unrealistic.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/sri-lanka-presidents-office-to-reopen-after-crackdown/?feed_id=1646&_unique_id=62de071038da0

Telangana: State govt. asks rice mills to reopen in two days

The State government has asked rice millers and Civil Supplies officials to ensure the launch of full-scale milling operations in two days, now that the Centre has agreed to buy custom milled rice.

Where workers have left due to closure of mills after the Centre suspended custom milling of rice since July 7, the owners were asked to overcome the handicap immediately.

The instructions were issued by Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar at a meeting on Friday. The Minister urged the General Manager of Food Corporation of India to step up movement of rail rakes to facilitate quick disposal of stocks.

Meanwhile, the rice millers’ association was wary about milling paddy cultivated in the last rabi season because the stocks were soaked in rainwater and will not meet the Fair Average Quality norms of FCI for payment of selling price. It will not be remunerative for millers even if the rice was tested to determine the quantity of broken rice and fix payment of compensation accordingly.

As the mills were packed with paddy of kharif last year pending milling, the owners had stored the stocks of rabi under protective covers in open spaces. However, a large quantity was exposed to the rains. If milled, the yield of raw rice from it will not amount to even 25%. Therefore, this stock was best for boiled rice which, however, will not be purchased by the FCI. The association favoured sale of the entire quantity of 50 lakh tonnes of paddy produced in rabi by e-tendering.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/telangana-state-govt-asks-rice-mills-to-reopen-in-two-days/?feed_id=475&_unique_id=62db350945272