1. Bus strike in T.N. to be suspended till Jan 19
The Madras High Court, while disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by S. Paul Kithiyon, a 25-year-old pharmacology student from Chennai, persuaded the Tamil Nadu transport corporation trade unions to suspend the bus strike till January 19, in the interest of the people dependent on public transport for travel during the Pongal season.
2. CM Stalin launches distribution of Pongal gift hampers
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the distribution of the Pongal gift hamper and the cash component of ₹1,000, free dhotis and saris to rice ration cardholders in Chennai.
Besides the cash component, the gift hamper includes 1 kg raw rice and sugar and one sugar cane.
3. Murasoli Trust land dispute | Madras HC dismisses plea against inquiry by NCSC
The Madras High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by the Murasoli Trust, which is associated with the DMK party, to prohibit the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) from inquiring into a complaint of the Trust being in occupation of 12 grounds of Panchami land in Chennai.
Justice S.M. Subramaniam held that “an investigation and an inquiry by the commission is warranted for the purpose of ascertaining the truth regarding the character of the land in order to safeguard and protect the interest of the scheduled caste members.”