HC dismisses contempt petition filed by DMK MLA

The Madras High Court today dismissed a contempt petition filed by a DMK MLA seeking punishment for authorities, including the Chief Secretary, for "wilful disobedience" of the court order passed in connection with a plea filed by him on the issue of displaying of photos of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in public offices.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M.M. Sundresh, in its order, said the Government Pleader has produced a communication dated January 5 addressed to the person, who made a representation, disposing of his representation "where a reference has been made to the government order in question."

The petitioner wanted the representation dated October 9 last to be decided by his subsequent representation dated November 10. "Thus as per the order of the court the representation having been now disposed of as per the communication of the Government Pleader, the petitioner cannot make a grievance about the same. Contempt petition is thus dismissed."
The bench, while disposing of the petition filed by DMK MLA T R B Rajaa, son of former Union Minister T R Baalu, had on November 24 directed the government to dispose of the representation made by the petitioner for which the Government Pleader replied through a communication that the representation was disposed of by attaching a GO in which it was mentioned whose photos can be displayed.

Rajaa had submitted that even after Jayalalithaa resigned as chief minister, all public offices, including in Thiruvarur district, continued to display her portraits as if she was the incumbent chief minister. Apart from this, government websites were also creating an impression that she was still the head of the state government.
He had also sought an interim direction for removal of the photos and portraits of Jayalalithaa.
The AIADMK supremo has been convicted in a disproportionate wealth case by a court.