Date:22/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072207890100.htm

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State seeks Supreme Court clarification

J. Venkatesan

"Order on statue installation not in violation of earlier government undertaking"

New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu Government on Friday filed a petition in the Supreme Court stating that the Sivaji Ganesan statue installed at the junction of Kamarajar Salai and Radhakrishnan Salai will not obstruct free flow of traffic.

Counsel for the State, V.G. Pragasam, filed the petition pursuant to the Madras High Court order asking the State to approach the apex court for clarification. The Government in its petition said that the government in April 10, 2003 had given an undertaking that no temporary or permanent structure would ever be allowed on the main road which would affect free flow of traffic.

Referring to this undertaking and the subsequent order passed by the apex court, the Government said the statue was not installed in the middle of the road. It was installed where a traffic island was located earlier and it would not in any way hinder traffic.

The petition said no objection was received from the public or the competent authorities to the installation of the statue.

The Chennai Commissioner of Police recommended the proposal.

The apex court judgment was not applicable to the facts of the present case.

The petition pleaded the court to clarify that the Government Order dated June 24 on installation was not in violation of the undertaking given by the State.