SC dismisses plea against construction of Jaya memorial

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to consider a plea against construction of a memorial in the name of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at Chennai's Marina Beach at the cost of Rs 50.80 crore.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna asked petitioner-advocate M L Ravi, if the top court was required to go into all these issues.

Ravi challenged the Madras High Court's order of January 23 dismissing his plea against the memorial in the name of Jayalithaa, who, he claimed, was a convict in the disproportionate assets case.

The high court had rejected the claim made by Ravi, belonging to Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi, saying Jayalalithaa was not a convict as she died before the top court could deliver judgement in the asset case, forcing abatement of proceedings.

The petitioner sought a direction to the state authorities not to spend Rs 50.80 crore from public exchequer for construction of the memorial and to take steps to recover the money, if any, spent by the government, from her property or any other source.

The high court, on dismissing his plea, suggested the state government to formulate a policy for construction of hospitals, schools, colleges and provision of basic amenities and facilities to benefit the people in honour and memory of great leaders.