Chennai, July 30: The most-used search engine on the internet, Google dedicated its doodle on Tuesday to Muthulakshmi Reddy, known for firsts, on her 133rd birth anniversary.

Born in 1886 in Pudukkottai princely state, Reddy is one of the country's first set of successful women doctors in the early 20th century and the first woman legislator.

The doodle illustration by a Bengaluru-based guest artist Archana Sreenivasan shows the Padma Bhushan awardee (1956) carrying a book in her right hand while her left is shown guiding other women in the background.

Despite several restrictions, Reddy completed her education and was admitted into the medical profession in 1912.

After her stint in the medical profession, Reddy joined Madras Legislative Council in 1926 and became the first legislator in the country.

In 1954, she founded Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai and died in 1968 at the age of 81.

"Constantly breaking barriers throughout her life, Reddy was a trailblazer who devoted herself to public health and the battle against gender inequality, transforming the lives of countless people especially young girls," the Google said in its description.

Sreenivasan said the main inspiration for this doodle was Reddy herself, adding: "I tried to let a sense of her energy, determination, and clarity shape this doodle." 

Tamil Nadu government announced July 30 as 'Hospital Day' to honour Reddy's contribution to society and medicine.

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Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.

The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.

A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.

Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.

In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.

Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.

The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.

The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.