Thiruvananthapuram: There is a major turning point in the case of Pookod Veterinary and Animal Sciences College student JS Siddharthan who committed suicide after brutal ragging and mob trial.  Re-suspension of 33 students who were suspended earlier in the incident and later reinstated.

 Dean issued an order in this regard.  The suspension is for 7 working days.  The suspension came after the order passed by the VC acquitting all 33 students.  Parties and student organizations protested the process of withdrawing the suspension of the students.  Siddharth’s family, who strongly criticized the action of the VC, filed a complaint against the VC to the Governor and pointed out the slowness of the investigation in the case.  The action came after this.

 Siddharth’s father Jayaprakash told the media that the state government cheated, the Chief Minister announced a CBI investigation to cover up the family’s mouth, and the Chief Minister stuck.  The father said that the Chief Minister had ordered a CBI investigation but was not aware of any follow-up action in this regard.

High-temperature warning in the state.  Officials informed that the temperature will rise in Thrissur, Kollam, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kozhikode districts till 28th of this month. 

 Thrissur district saw a high of 39°C, Kollam and Palakkad districts saw a high of 38°C, Kottayam district saw a high of 37°C, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kozhikode saw a high of 36°C (2 – 4 above normal).  °C more) is likely to rise, the Central Meteorological Department informs.

 Due to high temperature and humid air, these districts, except hilly areas are likely to experience hot and humid weather from 24th to 28th March 2024.

Thiruvananthapuram: Due to the constant intervention of the state government, the central government has sanctioned the arrears of Rs.852.29 crore. This includes Rs. 116 crore that the state was supposed to receive in 2019-20 and 2020-21.  Food and Public Distribution Minister GR Anil had requested the Central Government several times and met with the Union Food Minister to release the dues to the state.

 According to the rice procurement scheme, the central government has to pay the support price to the farmers.  Supplyco, the nodal agency appointed by the state government for the implementation of the scheme, processes the paddy procured from the farmers and distributes it to the beneficiaries through ration shops.  This process will take six to eight months to complete.  Apart from this delay, in order to provide procurement price to the farmers, the amount is made available to the farmers under the guarantee of Supplyco through banks as PRS loan and after receiving the amount from the government, Supplyco itself repays the bank loan.

 However, due to the central government not sanctioning the support rate in time, loan repayments are delayed and banks are often reluctant to grant re-lending.  This is the reason why there was a delay in paying prices to rice farmers during the last procurement season, the Agriculture Minister’s office said.

Thiruvananthapuram: The forest department to investigate the incident of cannabis cultivation at Ranni Placheri Forest Station in Pathanamthitta.  The Forest Minister said that a detailed investigation will be conducted into the incident and upon receipt of the report of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Vigilance, strict action will be taken.

 Reports and photos surfaced that the staff of Placheri Forest Station had grown cannabis plants.  The Erumeli Range Forest Officer made an inquiry and submitted a report to the Kottayam DFO.  According to the report, around 40 cannabis plants were grown in growbags around the station.

 The report stated that no cannabis plants were found and the range officer had received pictures of cannabis cultivation.  The Minister has directed to conduct a detailed investigation into this incident and submit a report.

Thiruvananthapuram: The distribution of documents such as RC book and motor driving license, whose printing has been stopped due to the arrears to the company, will start next week.  The months-long crisis was resolved last week when the government released money to settle the company’s arrears.  The move will be a relief to many people whose RC books and licenses are pending.

 It is reported that so far 25,000 documents have been printed for distribution.  Meanwhile, the decision on postal distribution is yet to be made.  It is indicated that a decision will be taken soon in this regard.  The current decision is to deliver the documents directly to the RTO offices.  The contractor stopped printing due to arrears of crores.  The printing of the documents was resumed after the Finance Department issued an order to pay 9 crores to the contractors.

 Only a few licenses are currently printed, including for those going abroad.  But the contractors have informed that 3 lakh documents have been prepared for printing and they will start printing as soon as the money is received.

Kochi: Reserve Bank of India has instructed that all bank branches should be open on March 31. As it is the last day of the financial year (2023-24) and the financial transactions of the government have to be completed, it is suggested that the branches should be opened on that day. The Reserve Bank has directed that the action is as per the request of the Central Government and informs the customers about the functioning of the branches.

Another peculiarity is that it is Easter day. Bank employees will lose their leave.