Madras HC dismisses PIL to nationalise Jayalalithaa’s properties

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court dismissed a PIL on Thursday asking the Centre and the state government to nationalise assets owned by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The division bench of Justices A Selvam and P Kalaiyarasan dismissed the case, observing that it was a “personal issues related to individuals” and hence fell outside the ambit of PILs according to the guidelines framed by the SC.

The petition filed by NGO, Tamil Nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation sought the appointment of a retired judge to administer the properties as Jayalalithaa does not have a legal heir.

The petitioner, the NGO’s Managing Trustee KK Ramesh stated that all the properties should be taken by the state government and all the revenue from it should be used for people’s welfare. The petitioner also listed all the properties belonging to Jayalalithaa.

Ramesh had previously made a representation to the Centre and the State governments on December 15 asking for the total value of the properties owned by Jayalalithaa and also to appoint a commission headed by retired High Court judge.

Jayalalithaa’s aide VK Sasikala, Ilavarasi and her family have continued to reside at the late CM’s Poes Garden residence ‘Veda Nilayam’ following her death.  

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Chennai on September 22, and died on December 5 after spending 75 days in hospital.