Madras HC set aside govt order of acquiring Jayalalithaa’s residence
Chennai: The Madras High Court has set aside the order of the Tamil Nadu government acquiring the Poes garden residence of the former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
The AIADMIK government has decided to convert the former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s house into monumental. However, Jayalalithaa’s legal hair Deepa and Deepak had challenged the state government notification, acquired former general secretary of AIADMK Jayalalithaa’s house.
Then AIADMK government headed by E. Palaniswamy had taken a decision to convert Poes garden residence to Veda Nilayam -- home to the state's iconic Chief Minister -- to a memorial.
It was one of the pre-conditions of the merger of two warring factions in 2017 -- months after Jayalithaa's death -- and E Palaniswami, who was Chief Minister made an announcement in the TN Assembly.
In July last year, the state government had deposited ₹ 67.9 crore in a city court to take possession of the sprawling 0.55 acre property.
The AIADMK said the party has a "responsibility and right" to convert the house into a memorial and that it was the 'wholehearted desire' of the people of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK party workers.
But Jayalalithaa's niece and nephew, who were declared her legal heirs by the court, had objected, saying the takeover would amount to "grabbing" the property".
"She (Jayalalithaa) couldn't leave behind a will for various reasons... maybe because of the cases foisted against her, the prevailing political situation then and also she never knew that she would die," J Deepa was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.
Jayalalithaa had died in December 2016 after a prolonged illness. The four-time Chief Minister, known for her Amma canteens and a host of other welfare measures, provoked impassioned displays of loyalty.
