Jayalalithaa's properties must be taken over by govt., urges plea in court

In PIL petition filed in Madurai Bench of Madras HC, NGO urges appointment of a retired judge of the court to administer them.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at ‘Veda Nilayam’ in Poes Garden in Chennai. File photo

A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed in the Madras High Court Bench here seeking a direction to the Centre and the State government to nationalise the assets of the former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, and appoint a retired High Court judge to administer the properties.

Tamil Nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation, a non-governmental organisation based here, filed the case on the ground that Ms. Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5, had no direct legal heirs and she used to often say in public meetings that she is "by the people and for the people."

Listing out her properties in the affidavit filed along with the petition, the petitioner organisation said that all her properties should be taken over by the State government and the income from them should be utilised for people's welfare.

The case is expected to be listed for hearing before a Division Bench of Justices A. Selvam and P. Kalaiyarasan on Thursday.