B. Ajith Kumar, the temple security guard who was a victim of custodial death in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
1. Sivaganga custodial death case: CBI informs jewel theft case false
During the hearing of bail plea of the accused policemen in the Sivaganga custodial death case of temple guard Ajith Kumar, the CBI informed the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court that the FIR in the jewel theft case filed by complainant Nikitha has been closed after it was found to be false.
The High Court judge orally asked whether action will be taken against Nikitha whose complaint prompted police inquiry during which the Ajith Kumar died of custodial torture last year.
2. SC stays Madras HC’s interim order that favoured Governor in V-C appointments
The Supreme Court set aside an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed an amended provision enabling the Tamil Nadu government to appoint Vice-Chancellors to State-run universities.
Underlining that the State had to be provided with a reasonable opportunity of being heard, the bench set aside the order and sent it back to the High Court for a fresh hearing. “Keeping in view the fair stand taken by the appellants (State of Tamil Nadu), we request the High Court to decide the case within six weeks,” the apex court’s bench said.
3. AIADMK makes five more poll promises
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami made five more electoral promises, including the provision of three cooking gas cylinders each to rice-drawing ration cardholders every year, waiver of educational loans drawn from banks, and hike in old-age pension to ₹2,000 per month from ₹1,200 per month.
Earlier last month, AIADMK announced five poll promises including monthly distribution of ₹2,000 to women heads of families.
4. Educationist S.S. Rajagopalan no more
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condoled the death of veteran educationist S.S. Rajagopalan. The nanogenarian who passed away in Chennai served as a member of the committee that drafted the Tamil Nadu Uniform System of School Education and played an instrumental role in the transformation of the education system in the State.
CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam requested the Tamil Nadu government to institute a research fellowship in his name.
5. Higher Education Minister skips Anna University convocation
Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Govi. Chezhiaan skipped the Anna University convocation in Chennai where Governor-Chancellor R.N. Ravi participated and gave away medals and certificate to graduands.
He abstained from the University of Madras convocation last month as well.
The acrimony between the Governor and the State government has, of late, led to a stalemate over appointment of Vice-Chancellors to 16 of the 22 State universities that have since been lying vacant.
Published – February 04, 2026 07:05 pm IST
