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Court declines to interfere in U.P. statues case

J. Venkatesan

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to restrain the Uttar Pradesh government from installing the statues of Chief Minister Mayawati and other Dalit leaders at a park in Noida, near Delhi.

A Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P. Sathasivam refused to entertain an application filed by advocate Ravikant, on whose petition a vacation bench had issued notice to the government on June 29 for its response in four weeks. The PIL had alleged misuse of public money by Ms. Mayawati for self glorification.

Mr. Ravikant alleged that the government was speeding up work on the statues and proposed to install statues of BSP leaders, including Ms. Mayawati and party founder Kanshi Ram, in the gigantic 4-km-long walled area along the banks of the Yamuna in Noida.

He prayed for maintaining status quo.

Senior counsel Harish Salve and S.C. Chandra, appearing for the State, opposed the application stating that there was no violation of the laws or misuse of funds and the State Cabinet had approved the expenditure.

“If the Cabinet has approved it, then we can’t do anything. First, you should have gone to the High Court where some more petitions relating to it are pending,” the CJI told the petitioner.

The Bench said the fresh application would be heard along with the main petition.

Related news:

Symbols over substance? — Editorial

Memorials, statues serve as an inspiration: Mayawati

Supreme Court notice to U.P. on “funds diversion”

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