Chennai: Madras high court has directed the TN government to spell out its decision, if any, regarding displaying the portraits of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in government offices and government schemes, following the Supreme Court verdict in the disproportionate assets case against her on February 14.
The first bench comprising acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice R Mahadevan has passed the order when PILs filed by DMK legislator J. Anbazhagan and president, Advocates Forum for Social Justice. K. Balu, came up for hearing on Monday.
Anbazhagan's senior counsel and former additional solicitor-general of India P. Wilson said Jayalalithaa was convicted in a corruption case and constitutionally debarred from holding any public office. He said merely because the appeals abated on account of her death, the government could not be justified for displaying her portraits in government offices and schemes.
Wilson said authorities were also planning to introduce a lesson on Jayalalithaa in school syllabus.
The SC had ordered attachment of her properties. When he said a representation to remove the portraits was submitted in person on February 25, the bench said, "give them a breathing time. Let them take a decision on displaying the portraits in public offices post-conviction. Let them answer all queries raised by you."
