Jayalalithaa's Residence 'Veda Nilayam': Madras High Court Allows State Govt. To Inaugurate Memorial, Prohibits Public Entry

The Bench of Justice N. Seshasayee, however, noted that the Government should have refrained from opening the memorial and prohibited the public entry into the memorial until further hearings in the case.

The matter before the Court

The petitioners, Deepak and Deepa, preferred separate writ petitions challenging the notification for acquisition of the residence (named "Veda Nilayam") of the former Chief Minister of the State, Late. J. Jayalalitha into a memorial, or the award passed by the Land Acquisition Officer.

The challenge was not only confined to the correctness or the legality of the acquisition of the immovable property in 'Veda Nilayam', but to the incomplete process of acquisition of the movables also.

It may be noted that 'Veda Nilayam' was owned by Ms. J. Jayalalitha. While so, on 05^th December 2016 she died intestate.

Both the petitioners, Deepak and Deepa, being the children of the brother of Jayalalitha, are the nephew and niece of the former Chief Minister.

By an order, the Division Bench has already declared both Deepak and Deepa as the Class II heirs of Ms. Jayalalitha and this means that both Deepak and Deepa are the heirs of late Jayalalitha, the title to all her assets – both movable and the immovable properties, vested in Deepak and Deepa.

While the petitions were pending for hearing, the Government notified its intent to declare open the aforesaid residence of the former Chief Minister as a memorial in a function (the function took place today i.e., on 28^th January).

In this backdrop, the Petitioners challenged the Government's decision to inaugurate the Memorial.

Background

On 05^th October 2017, the Tamil Nadu Government came up with G.O. (Ms) No. 180 (Tamil Nadu Development and Information (Memorials) Department), granting administrative sanction for acquiring 'Veda Nilayam' to constitute it as a memorial for the late Chief Minister.

Soon thereafter, the TN Government went ahead with the acquisition proceedings of Veda Nilayam' (the proposed site of the memorial) under The Right To Fair Compensation And Transparency In Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation And Resettlement Act, 2013 [RFCTLARR Act, 2013].

The question before the Court

Whether the respondents should be permitted to declare open the residence of the former Chief Minister as the memorial as scheduled?

Court's Observations

The Court noted that the RFCTLARR Act, 2013 does not permit the acquisition of a building to dedicate it as a memorial, for the same does not fall within the ambit of the definition of public purpose within the meaning of Sec.3 read with 2(1) of the Act.

In this backdrop, the Court took cognizance of the fact that converting the residential house of late Ms. Jayalalitha will not fall within the definition of public purpose within the meaning of Sec. 2(1) of the Act.

The Court further noted that the Government consciously maneuvered the proceedings to deny the petitioner, a right of hearing under the stage of Section 11 & Section 12 of the Act, when it knew that Deepak and Deepa are claiming themselves to be the heirs of late Ms. Jayalalitha.

Importantly, the Court noted,

"So far as movable properties of late Ms.J.Jayalalitha are concerned, they are not even valued, and it is unfair and impermissible for the Government to declare open 'Veda Nilayam' as a memorial when the entire acquisition proceedings is not yet complete."

The Court further opined,

"It may have to be underscored here that the petitioners have been relentless in their pursuit to inform the officials at all levels that they are the Class II heirs of late J. Jayalalithaa. Whether ignoring the same and proceeding with the acquisition process, which might have denied the petitioners personal notices under Sec.11 and 12, is appropriate, or how it impacts the acquisition proceedings itself, may have to be assessed only during the final hearing of these cases, but the facts as are now made available before the Court do establish that the petitioners have a strong prima facie case, and an arguable case in that."

Further, noting that so far as the movable properties of late Chief Minister are concerned, no inventory has been made yet, the Court said,

"An inventory of these articles therefore has to be taken only in the presence of the parties who are likely to be affected by it. Necessarily, when the Claim Commissioner constituted under the Act, values these articles, he ought to grant the petitioners a right of hearing. Here, this Court finds no provision in the said Act enabling the Government to appropriate the movables belonging to late Chief Minister without awarding compensation to the parties to who they belong."

Importantly, the Court said,

"It may not be appropriate for the Government to present the Court with a fait accompli, and to rush to declare open a memorial, when the owners thereof are clueless as to the actual value of the movables that they are entitled to in law."

Lastly, noting that arrangements for holding the function has been made, and any stay of the function might create considerable difficulties for the Government, the Court passed the following Order:

• The ceremony of opening a memorial alone can take place as scheduled on 28.01.2021. The building shall not be thrown open to public without the leave of the Court;
• Holding the function on 28-01-2021 will not in any way confer any right to the Government, nor deprive the petitioners of their right in the subject matter of the writ petitions.
• No flex banners or obstructive hoardings shall be placed; this apart the City Police Commissioner is directed to ensure that no undue inconvenience is caused to those live in the locality
• The main gate to the premises of 'Veda Nilayam' alone can be opened during the function. The building 'Veda Nilayam' shall not be opened at any time, even during the function, since taking the inventory of the movables and their valuation is not yet complete. The right, title and the interest of the heirs of late Chief Minister cannot be marginalized.
• Once the function is over, the District Collector, or such official who has the custody of the keys of the entire premises of 'Veda Nilayam' shall hand over the keys to the Registrar General of this Court, since the valuable movables of late J. Jayalalithaa to which the petitioners are now the heirs, have to be valued.
• Till the function is over, the custodian of the keys shall hold them in custodia legis, and is accountable to this Court.

The matter has now been posted for final hearing 24^th February 2021.

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