Public money can’t be spent to convert Jaya house into memorial: HC

A division bench comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice Abdul Quddhose made an oral observation while hearing a plea moved by K Pugazhendi, a lawyer, seeking to appoint an executioner to manage the property left behind by Jayalalithaa.

When the court was informed that the estimate for the Poes Garden property, which is around 10 grounds with a building, would roughly work out to Rs 100 crore, Justice Kirubakaran said, “Public money can’t be spent like this in building memorials. It is important that good things ought to be done in her name. But using public money to build a memorial would not end there, as similar demands would come forth for other leaders and the State government cannot afford to convert all their residences into memorials at public cost.”

Pointing out that Jayalalithaa had also lived in her Kodanad Estate, Justice Kirubakaran asked: “Can that place also be converted into a memorial just because she lived there?”

Earlier, appearing for the State, Additional Advocate General Narmada Sampath submitted that the acquisition cost has been estimated at Rs 32.09 crore, which included unpaid Income Tax arrears and compensation for Jayalalithaa’s nephew Deepak and niece Deepa, who have staked claim as her class I heirs.

However, Deepak’s counsel submitted that his client was not in favour of converting his aunt’s house into a memorial. Moreover, Poes Garden residents have also opposed the conversion of Jayalalithaa’s residence into a memorial, as the residential area would end up losing its quietude.

It may be noted that the High Court has already been informed that Jaya’s Poes Garden residence, a commercial space at Parsn Manere at Anna Salai and a residential property at Sri Nagar Colony in Hyderabad were attached in 2007, while another property on St Marys Road in Chennai was attached in 2013.

The plea has been posted for further hearing to July 22.