Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Saturday (June 6, 2026) led a tree-planting drive in Auroville and laid the foundation stone for the PLAZA (Public Life Artisan Zone Auroville).

Mr. Arlekar was accompanied by Jayanti S. Ravi, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation; G. Seetharaman, Officer on Special Duty, Auroville Foundation; and D. Manikandan, Secretary to the Lt. Governor of Puducherry.

According to the press statement, as part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (A Tree in the Name of Mother) campaign, the dignitaries each planted a tree at the entrance of the Auroville Visitor Centre, honouring their own mothers alongside Mother Nature and The Mother (Mirra Alfassa), the founder of Auroville.

Reinforcing the township’s commitment to its “Galaxy Plan” — which features an unprecedented 212 square metres of open green space per resident — it was formally announced that Auroville plans to plant more than 10,000 trees in the near future to further enrich its dense, sustainable urban forest.

Strategically located on the Outer Ring Road, The P.L.A.Z.A. is poised to become a vibrant hub for artisans, economic resilience, and community life. This new development represents a crucial step forward in establishing a self-sustaining township, providing a dedicated space where non-polluting industries, creative arts, and public life can seamlessly intersect.

The Madras High Court on Friday (June 5, 2026) refused to grant an interim stay on a circular issued by the Director of Private Schools on June 1, 2026, which instructed all private schools in Tamil Nadu to display their fee structures on their notice boards.

Justice M. Dhandapani rejected the plea for interim relief and said, he would prefer to take up for final hearing, after two weeks, a writ petition filed by All India Private Educational Institutions Association, represented by its general secretary K. Palaniappan of Chennai.

The petitioner association had challenged the June 1 circular, as well as Tamil Nadu Information Commission’s (TNIC) May 25, 2026, order, based on which the circular had been issued. It had urged the court to quash the TNIC’s order and the circular and stay them until the disposal of the main case.

What is the case about?

The court was informed that an individual named M. Liyakath Ali had in 2022 filed an application under the Right to Information Act of 2005, seeking information regarding the fee structure of private schools. The application was addressed to the Public Information Officer (PIO)/Personal Assistant to Coimbatore Chief Educational Officer.

The PIO forwarded the application to the District Education Officer (DEO) who, in turn, forwarded it further to the individual schools in the district. Aggrieved over it, the applicant had taken the matter on second appeal before the TNIC and complained about the information not having been given to him.

The TNIC issued wide-ranging directions on the matter on May 25, 2026. It was in compliance of those directions that the Director of Private Schools had issued the circular under challenge, mandating all private schools to display their fee structures on their notice boards, the petitioner association said.

Assailing the TNIC’s order and the circular on various grounds, the association said, such directions and instructions had been issued without analysing whether the RTI Act would apply to private unaided educational institutions and whether those institutions would fall under the definition of the term ‘public authority.’

The petitioner’s counsel said, it also had to be analysed whether the TNIC had exceeded its jurisdiction under the RTI Act by passing suo motu directions of a legislative and regulatory character amounting to a general policy mandate for all private schools functioning in the State.

After hearing the preliminary arguments, the judge decided to take up the writ petition for final disposal pursuant to the filing of counter affidavits by the respondents.

The AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday (June 1, 2026) urged his party members not to carry out “undesirable and depressing” acts in the wake of the organisation’s defeat in the Assembly election. 

In a post on his social media handle, Mr Palaniswami described his party as a “massive movement” that had accomplished “several achievements, overcoming challenges.”  

He stated this against the backdrop of the death of joint secretary of traders’ wing in the party’s Thanjavur (East) district unit K.S. Mahendran.  

Mr Palaniswami announced the payment of solatium of ₹ 55 lakh to the family of the deceased. The amount included ₹ 25 lakh from the Thanjavur (east) unit of the party and ₹ 30 lakh from the organisation’s family benefit fund. He also stated that the party would bear educational expenses of Mahendran’s daughter up to higher education.  

A post by the secretary of the AIADMK’s information technology (IT) wing, Raj Satyen, on Monday, calling upon apparently senior members of the party to make way to youngsters in the organisation, was later found missing.  The IT secretary made the post, citing the death of Mahendran.  

Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050) 

A day after Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijayannounced crop loan waiver, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on Tuesday (May 26, 2026), criticised the move contending it was “scientific deception.”

Alleging that the crop loan waiver was an attempt to divert attention from deteriorating law and order situation and charges of horse trade, Mr. Palaniswami charged that the TVK-led government failed in waiving farm loans properly.

Recalling that crop loans up to ₹12,110 crore were waived off to benefit over 16.43 lakh farmers in 2021, Mr. Palaniswami said the TVK, in its election manifesto, assured to completely waive off loans of farmers who held up to 5 acre of land. But now, instead of using land as the criterion (for crop loan waiver), the government has considered money as the yardstick, engaging in the biggest deception.

“As someone who held the plough and tilled the land, I say, the government which deceived the farmers, has never continued in power. Do not deceive the farmers,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

Would join farmers to hold protests: BJP

BJP State unit president Nainar Nagenthran, on Tuesday, also criticised the TVK-led government of having betrayed the farmers by restricting the crop loan waiver only to benefit certain sections of the farmers.

“Is it not a betrayal to waive off crop loans only up to ₹50,000, when you promised to fully waive off loans of farmers who have up to five acres of land,” asked Mr. Nagenthran in a social media post. He also charged that the TVK-led government had similarly deceived people by placing conditions while granting 200 units of free electricity bimonthly by restricting it only to consumers whose consumption is up to 500 units.

Also Read | T.N. Economic Survey 2026: Several key areas of State’s agriculture sector require immediate attention, finds Planning Commission

Mr. Nagenthran said that this was yet another proof that 99% of the assurances made by Mr. Vijay’s could not be fulfilled and further criticised whether this was the ‘change’ the TVK aspired to bring about. Insisting that the TVK-led government under Mr. Vijay should completely waive off loans of farmers who held up to five acres of land, Mr. Nagenthran said if not, the BJP would join affected farmers to hold protests.

The special court for POCSO Act cases in Thoothukudi on Monday (May 25, 2026) sentenced Dharma Muneeswaran, 38, of Sayalkudi, to death on two counts after convicting him in the sexual assault and murder case of a 17-year-old schoolgirl in the district in March.

The girl had gone missing in a scrub forest area around 250 metres from her residence on the evening of March 10, and was found murdered on March 11. The Kulathur police had recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem examination to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital.

Following the incident, the victim’s parents, relatives, and villagers staged a protest, demanding the arrest of the accused and action against the Kulathur and Vilathikulam police for allegedly failing to act in a timely manner.

After a week-long hunt, the accused, Munneswaran was arrested on March 19 in connection with crime.

Then Superintendent of Police of Thoothukudi district C. Madhan had said that evidence leading to Muneeswaran was gathered through scientific investigation.

Following the arrest, Dharma Muneeswaran was remanded in judicial custody at the central prison in Palayamkottai, before being shifted to Madurai prison due to safety concerns.

The investigation officer, Vilathikulam DSP Sundarapandian, filed a charge sheet of about 1,150 pages on March 31. The case was presided over by II Additional District Judge M. Breetha.

Special Prosecutor V. Ellammal said 71 witnesses were examined between May 5 and May 22. The prosecution submitted 19 material objects and 117 documentary evidences before the court. Holding the accused guilty, the court awarded him two death penalties and one year’s imprisonment under Sections 104 and 127(2) of the BNS and Section 6 of the POCSO Act.

IG hails verdict

The double death sentence awarded by the court to the accused in the Thoothukudi schoolgirl rape and murder case restores faith in the criminal justice system, said Inspector General of Police Vijayendra Bidari on Monday.

He said the trial proceedings in the case that created much uproar in the State were completed in 54 days, resulting in highest punishment for the accused.

“There was no clue to the crime and its circumstances in this ‘blind’ case,” he added.

Senior police officers, including the ADGP (Law and Order), IG South Zone and DIG Tirunelveli Range, camped in Thoothukudi for multiple days.

Ten special teams were formed and swift efforts were taken to secure the accused.

With meticulous investigation, a clue was found in CCTV analysis, following which a two-wheeler rider was identified as prime suspect. Later, conclusive proof of DNA match confirmed the involvement of the accused in the crime.

The IG also appreciated the investigation officer, Sundarapandian, under the supervision of SP Thoothukudi, for the meticulous and swift manner in filing the chargesheet in 21 days after detailed investigation.

The portfolios of Ministers in the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay were announced on Saturday (May 16, 2026).

Mr. Vijay will hold key portfolios, including Home and Special Programme Implementation, while N. Anand has been assigned Rural Development and Water Resources.

Aadhav Arjuna will handle the Public Works Department (Buildings, Highways, and Minor Ports) and Sports Development portfolios. K.G. Arun Raj will be the Minister for Health, Medical Education, and Family Welfare.

K.A. Sengottaiyan has been allotted the Finance portfolio, while S. Keerthana has been allocated Industries.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that caste discrimination could be eradicated only through the spread of rational thought and scientific temper, and called for strengthening social harmony in a diverse society.

Speaking after inaugurating the newly constructed Sri Bhojalingeshwara temple at Sugur (N) village in Chittapur taluk, Kalaburagi district, the Chief Minister said the teachings of Bhojalingeshwara emphasised truth, equality and unity among people.

The Election Commission of India is planning to set up 14 polling stations in high-rise buildings/ group housing societies for the upcoming Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.

While five such polling stations would be in Chennai district, four of them would be in Tiruvallur district. Two each would be in Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts and one would be in Madurai district.

The Election Commission of India is planning to set up 14 polling stations in high-rise buildings/ group housing societies for the upcoming Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.

While five such polling stations would be in Chennai district, four of them would be in Tiruvallur district. Two each would be in Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts and one would be in Madurai district.