Memorial row: Details of Jaya’s I-T dues sought

The second bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice Anita Sumanth passed the above direction on the plea moved by social activist Traffic K Ramaswamy seeking to restrain the State from acquiring the former Chief Minister’s Poes Garden residence and convert it into a memorial using public money.

The bench while directing the Income Tax department to state as to whether they are objecting or supporting the prayer made by the petitioner also directed the State to file an affidavit about the nature of the property so far declared as memorials in memory of leaders.

“Also appraise the court about the enactment which governs provisions relating to declaring of any property either private or government as a memorial in the memory of a political leader,” the bench added before posting the case for further hearing to January 24. The petitioner had contended that state cannot afford to build a memorial for Jayalalithaa who was declared as a convict by the apex court in the disproportionate assets case.

The plea was moved following an announcement by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on August 17, 2017 that Jayalalithaa’s Veda Nilayam would be converted into a memorial. It may be noted that Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa moved the high court challenging the same and the plea was disposed on October 23, 2017 with a direction to decide on her plea within four months.