The Madras High Court on Monday issued notices to the Commissioner of Chennai Corporation and other authorities on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate S. Doraisamy, seeking to remove the mortal remains of former Chief Minister Jayalaithaa from the Marina Beach and to direct the authorities not to construct any memorial at the specified spot.
A Division Bench comprising justices M. Sathyanarayanan and N. Seshasayee admitted the petition questioning whether the provisions of the Madras City Municipal Corporation Act and the Coastal Regulations Zone Notification 2011 were duly followed prior to the burial of the late CM in the Marina.
The Bench ordered notices to the authorities, returnable by August 18. In his petition, Mr. Doraisamy pointed out that Jayalalithaa had been found guilty of corrupt practices and convicted in the Disproportionate Assets case. “No convict should be given State honours. Convicts have no right to be celebrated and honoured by the State,” he contended.
Pointing to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s announcement in the Assembly on constructing a memorial for Jayalalithaa, the petitioner alleged that her remains were buried in utter violation of the rules and regulations, adding that the body can be buried in any authorised burial ground.
Citing the provisions of the Madras City Municipal Corporation Act, the petitioner said that any body can be disposed of in a new place only after obtaining valid licence and no application was presented to the Commissioner in the present case. As the Corporation Council was already dissolved, there was no possibility for the Council to have passed a resolution to grant a sanction.
Contending that the burial of the former Chief Minister was done in violation of provisions, Mr. Doraisamy also said, “Unless the licence of consent is obtained from State Coastal Zone Management Authority, no construction should be raised on the beach.”