There won't be any objection in Tamil Nadu to erecting statues of Dr. BR Ambedkar, Periyar: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently observed that there would be hardly any objection in Tamil Nadu to a proposal to erect the statues of Dr. BR Ambedkar and reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy [Kaladi vs The District Collector and 5 others]. .Single-judge Justice Sathi Kumar Sukumara Kurup was hearing a petition filed by one Kaladi seeking directions to the district authorities to decide on his representation for erecting the statutes of Dr. BR Ambedkar and reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy on his land. "As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, there cannot be any objection from anyone for erecting statues of Thanthai Periyar or, Dr. Ambedkar. The people individually have respect for these leaders. In light of the above, the prayer of the petitioner is found acceptable," the Court said.The Court, therefore, directed the Collector of Thoothukudi district to decide on Kaladi's representation seeking erection of the statues..Kaladi had approached the Court saying that he had written to the Thoothukudi District Collector on August 23 this year, seeking permission to erect statues of Dr. Ambedkar and Thanthai Periyar on a plot of land owned by him in his village. He told the Court that he had submitted all documents proving ownership of the said plot of land. He also said that the local tehsildar had also recommended that the statutes be erected at Kaladi's property. Yet, the collector had not responded to his representation, Kaladi told the High Court. Kaladi urged the Court to direct the collector to consider his representation and take a decision within a stipulated period of time. .The Additional Government Pleader (AGP), appearing for the State government, confirmed that the concerned Tahsildar had already filed a report before the Thoothukudi Collector on the recommended construction work..The AGP said that Kalandi was the owner of the said plot of land, all land revenue records were in his name, and, therefore, there should not be any objection to erecting the statutes. The State's counsel also submitted that the TN government's Commissionerate of Revenue Administration had issued guidelines in 2019 for installation of statues and the same could be followed in the present case. The Court accepted the State's submissions, observing that there would not be any objection to erecting the statutes.The Court, therefore, directed the Thoothukudi district collector to consider Kalandi's representation and pass appropriate orders on the same within two weeks.Advocate R Karunanidhi appeared for the petitioner.Additional Government Pleader K Christy Theboral and Additional Public Prosecutor B Nambu Selvan appeared for the respondents..[Read Order]