TN passes ordinance for possession of Veda Nilayam, memorial committee formed
CHENNAI: The State government on Friday passed an ordinance to take temporary possession of ‘Veda Nilayam’, the residence of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, in Poes Garden.
“The ordinance was promulgated to take temporary possession of Veda Nilayam and to establish ‘Puratchi Thalaivi Dr J Jayalalithaa Memorial Foundation’ for long term arrangements to convert ‘Veda Nilayam’ into a memorial,” a release stated.
The Chief Minister will be the chairperson of the memorial and the Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju and other officials will be its members. Director of Information and Public Relations will be the member secretary of the foundation.
“The foundation will take necessary steps for maintenance, upkeep and safety of all movable properties of Veda Nilayam,” the government said in the ordinance.
There was controversy surrounding the Poes Garden house following Jayalalithaa’s death and a case filed by her nephew Deepak and niece Deepa on possession of property is still pending in High Court.
The release recalled that action has been initiated to acquire the land and building and that a preliminary notification was published in June 2019, and thereafter a declaration on May 6. The government first gave its administrative sanction in October 2017.
It further recalled that Palaniswami had earlier announced converting the residence of Jayalalithaa into a memorial and open it to the public in “remembrance of her achievements and sacrifices for the people of Tamil Nadu.” Separately, a Rs 50 crore phoenix-themed memorial is already coming up for the late AIADMK general secretary on the Marina, where she was laid to rest following her demise on December 5, 2016.