New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed the Tamil Nadu government’s appeal seeking to use public money for the construction of a statue of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The apex court upheld the Madras High Court’s earlier order, which had banned the erection of the statue near a vegetable market in Valliyur, Tirunelveli district, citing it as a potential public hindrance and an inappropriate use of taxpayer money.
The legal dispute began when the Valliyur Town Panchayat passed a resolution to install a bronze statue and nameplate of the late leader at the entrance of the local vegetable market. This move was challenged in the Madras High Court, which, after hearing the case, refused permission for the statue. The High Court had not only rejected the proposal but also issued a directive for the removal of any existing statues that obstructed public spaces, emphasizing that such monuments erected to promote a leader’s fame should not impede citizens.
Karunanidhi Statue Case: A Firm Rebuke from the SC Bench
The Tamil Nadu government subsequently filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, hoping to overturn the High Court’s decision. The case was heard by a bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath and Prashant Kumar Mishra. During the proceedings, the judges posed a fundamental question to the state government’s counsel, Advocate P Wilson, asking why public money should be utilized to spread the fame of a political leader. The bench expressed clear agreement with the High Court’s reasoning, stating it found no grounds to interfere with the well-justified order.
Faced with the court’s firm stance, the state’s lawyer requested permission to withdraw the appeal, with the intent to potentially approach the Madras High Court anew. The Supreme Court bench allowed this withdrawal and formally dismissed the petition, thereby letting the High Court’s prohibition stand.