Lawfully yours: By Retd Justice K Chandru

CHENNAI: We’ve to realise and ensure that public spaces are for public good

Q: This refers to a news item which stated that the Greater Chennai Corporation has accorded permission to install the statue of former CM M Karunanidhi at Anna Salai-Bazaar Street Junction in Saidapet, Chennai. In the light of the October 8, 2011 directive of the Madras High Court to the Tamil Nadu government to remove all statues of all political leaders and eminent personalities installed on roads and other public places within three months and create a Leader’s Park to relocate them, does it not amount to going against the orders of the court, eliciting contempt proceedings? Further, the government has done nothing either to remove the statues which are in public places or to create a park to relocate them which again amounts to contempt of court. Please clarify.— VS Jayaraman, T Nagar

On the question of installing statues in public places there are different orders of the courts.Presently, the bottom line is no statues in the middle of Highways, and for erecting a statue in a public place, government’s permission is a must.In a country where personality cult rules the roost, erection of statues for public figures is inevitable. Of late, even for Vinayakar Chaturthi, a millon Vinayakars are installed in public spaces.Unless we start realising and think that public spaces are meant for public good, there will be no limits to the springing up of new statues on road margins.

If there’s a scheme, appointment needs to be given on compassionate grounds

Q: My husband died in harness due to post COVID complications last year but the death certificate has no mention of COVID. He was working with a cooperative bank when he contracted the infection. With his health issues getting worsened, he was not in a position to continue with the job and after abstaining for more than six months, he had to leave the job. As my son is still studying and we are financially struggling, I would like to know my chances for a job on compassionate grounds.— Meenakshi, Uthandi

So long as there is death during employment and if there is a scheme for compassionate appointment, you will get one. But you have not mentioned the organisation in which your husband was working.