Notice to govt on plea to replace stone plaque in actor statue

Madras High Court today issued notice to Tamil Nadu government on a plea by a lawyer to replace a stone plaque that has former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's name, in the statue of legendary actor, late Sivaji Ganesan.
The statue was recently relocated to Adyar from a main thoroughfare of Kamarajar Salai, on orders of the High Court.
The petitioner alleged that it out of political vengeance that the name plaque ofDMK leader Karunanidhi,instrumental in erecting the statue in memory of the actor in 2006, was removed by the present government while relocating the statue.
Admitting the plea, Justice K Ravichandra Baabu issued notice to the state government, returnable by two weeks.

The petitioner, who submitted he was a loyal follower of Karunanidhi and named after him, said he sent a detailed representation to the government on October 10,with a request to replace the old name plaque with the DMK leader's name.
Since the authorities turned a deaf ear to his request, he moved the high court.

The statue was unveiled by the then chief minister Karunanidhi at Kamarajar Salai on July 21, 2006.
Subsequently, in view of the high court orders to remove the statue from Kamarajar Salai as it caused hindrance to smooth flow of traffic, the government decided to relocate it to a memorial raised for the late actor in Adyar.

OnOctober 1, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam unveiled the statue in the new location.