Successive CMs’ homes can’t be turned into memorials: HC on Jayalalithaa residence

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Thursday came down hard on the state government for its move to convert former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's residence “Veda Nilayam” into a public memorial.

Veda Nilayam located in Chennai's Poes Garden was recently inaugurated as a public memorial, despite the petition challenging the move pending before the HC. However, on the court’s interim directions, the memorial has not yet allowed public entry.

In its observations on Thursday, the court said the houses of successive chief ministers cannot be made into memorials. "For successive chief ministers you cannot have this," said Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee. “You can have one Gandhi, maybe one Nehru, since he was the first, one Patel… but if you keep extending it you would have memorials for deputy chief ministers also!"

The court went on to add that personality cults are “not great for a republic or espoused in Constitution”. However, the Chief Justice and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy were quick to acknowledge that even if they felt the decision was not in good taste, there were limitations of jurisdiction.