‘Sivaji’ to enjoy Marina breeze till next year

A Bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and Arun Mishra recorded the undertaking given by senior counsel L. Nageswara Rao, appearing for Tamil Nadu and asked the Madras High Court to pass appropriate orders taking into consideration the time frame indicated by the State government. The Bench dispensed with the personal appearance of the Principal Secretary, Highways department as summoned by the Madras High Court.

The Bench was hearing an appeal filed by the State government challenging the Madras High Court order directing shifting the statue by September 16 and refusing to grant time for doing so. It wanted an interim stay of the operation of the HC verdict.

Counsel Mr. Rao informed the court that the design and drawings for the memorial to be constructed for Shivaji Ganesan had been finalised and approval from the government will be obtained by the end of this month; detailed financial estimate will be finalized by Nov. 30 and approval to be obtained by December 15. Thereafter tender will be floated and finalised and construction will be completed by September 30 next year. The Bench accepted the time frame and asked the High Court to pass orders on this schedule.

In its special leave petition, the state said the High Court was informed that the Sivaji Ganesan statue on Kamarajar Salai will be shifted and relocated inside the Memorial for Sivaji Ganesan soon after the completion of construction at the site located at Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai as per the announcement of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa on August 26.