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Sivaji’s statue will be shifted by May 18: Government
The statue of Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan at a junction near Marina Beach will be shifted by May 18, the State government assured the Madras High Court.
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Chennai
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar on directing the government to strictly adhere to its assurance, said “The time schedule submitted before us has to be adhered to. We hope the authorities will not give any cause to us to revive the petition and take a most stringent view of the matter. Contempt petition closed.”
When the contempt plea filed by P Nagarajan of Triplicane came up for hearing on Tuesday, the additional advocate general informed the bench that instead of its earlier decision seeking time until October 15, 2017 to shift the statue from Marina Beach, a decision has been taken to shift the same on or before May 18, 2017. The decision to shift the statue had come at least two and half years ago, based on a PIL moved by P N Srinivasan of Triplicane.
As the Chennai police, had also concurred with the High Court that the statue posed a traffic hindrance and road risk, the government was directed on January 23, 2014 to take a decision on shifting the statue expeditiously. But with the government failing to shift the statue, since Srinivasan had passed away by then his son Nagarajan filed a contempt plea stating that despite the High Court ruling the statue was yet to be shifted.
Meanwhile, the then CM J Jayalalithaa had assured that a memorial would be built for the actor and the statue will be shifted there. It may be noted that the statue was unveiled by the then chief minister M Karunanidhi on July 21, 2006.
However, based on the PIL and the police submission thereafter that the statue was responsible for many road accidents, including a fatal one and in 2012 alone as many as 21 accidents had taken place near the statue the court had held that: “There are materials to show that the statue obstructs traffic, as it is located on a public road which is meant for regular vehicular traffic.”
Plea against MKU Vice-Chancellor search panel dismissed
The Madras High Court has dismissed a plea seeking to quash the Government Order constituting a fresh search committee to find a suitable candidate for appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU).
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar while dismissing the plea held that “In the midst of the selection process, we are not inclined to interfere merely because one of the members of the search committee resigned. The tenor of the letter sent by the person who has resigned as a member of the search committee seems to suggest his working equation problems with the chairperson rather than anything substantive.” The plea moved by Change India, represented by its Director A Narayanan, had contended that the inclusion of C Murukadas as the convener of the search committee despite allegations of irregularities pending against him does not augur well for a clean selection. Counsel appearing on behalf of Narayanan argued that the government before forming the new search committee should have at least held an enquiry on the allegation raised, which had prompted one of the member to reign.
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