Plea In Madras High Court Challenging Installation Of Former TN Chief Minister Karunanidhi's Statue Withdrawn

The petitioner, G. Karthick, had contended that one of the respondents, A Rajendran, in collusion with Government authorities, secured patta over and above the land owned by him in the given survey number and was now attempting to put up construction on the land. He further contended that this property was now acquired by one Jeeva Educational Trust (14th respondent) to install a statue or idol of the former CM.

When the matter came up before the bench of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N. Mala, the court allowed the litigant to withdraw the matter with a liberty to challenge the grant of Patta.

The case was then heard by a second vacation bench of Justice MS Ramesh and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq, that had reserved orders. However, after going through certain documents and the precedents in this regard, the court raised concerns over the guidelines to be followed while installing a statue in private patta land. Thus, the Court decided to re hear the matter.

The respondents had contended that there was no illegality in the construction and that the property was developed in accordance with law. They further submitted that the petition was filed with a political motive and that the petitioner did not have any locus standi to file the petition in respect of such issues where he has no connection at all.