Chennai: The state government on Monday informed the Madras high court that it would consider and dispose of a representation made by J. Deepa, a niece of former chief minister late J.Jayalalithaa, against the government's decision to convert her aunt's Poes Garden residence as a memorial.
Advocate general Vijay Narayan made this submission before Justice K.Ravichandrabaabu when the petition filed by Deepa came up for hearing.
Recording the same, the judge directed the government to take a decision and dispose of the representation of Deepa within four weeks.
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 during her lifetime was residing in the said property.
Her paternal aunt Jayalalithaa during her lifetime purchased several properties in and around Chennai, Kodanadu, Hyderabad, besides landed properties in Tamil Nadu and Bangalore. 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.
