Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered notice to the state government on a petition filed by J.Deepa, a niece of former chief minister late J.Jayalalithaa, challenging the announcement of the chief minister to convert the property ‘Veda Nilayam’ at Poes Garden, where Jayalalithaa lived during her lifetime, as Jayalalithaa memorial.
Justice K.Ravichandrabaabu ordered notice and posted to October 23, further hearing of the petition filed by Deepa, which sought to restrain the authorities from in any way transforming the property at Poes Garden as Jayalalithaa memorial.
In her petition, Deepa submitted that her paternal aunt Jayalalithaa died on December5, 2016 leaving behind her, Deepa and her brother J.Deepak as second class legal heirs to succeed to her entire estate which also includes the property “Veda Nilayam” at Poes garden. Her paternal aunt Jayalalithaa died without executing a will or testament.
She and her brother were entitled to succeed to her estate, which includes the property “Veda Nilayam”. While so, the Chief Minister gave a press release on August 18, 2017 stating that Veda Nilayam will be converted as a memorial to Jayalalithaa and following the same, the revenue and tourism officials visited the premises.
The state government has no authority to declare the private property, more specifically the residence of her aunt Jayalalithaa at Poes garden as a memorial.
The private property belongs to her and her brother as per Hindu Succession Act.
She reliably learnt that in a haste, the officials were surveying the property which was nothing but illegal. Aggrieved by the press release, she gave a representation to the authorities on August 22. But to her dismay, the work was not stopped and they were continuing to work in haste. Therefore, she filed the present petition, she added.
