HC holds late-night hearing at Ambedkar memorial, issues orders

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Saturday conducted a late-night hearing at the Ambedkar Mani Mandapam in Chennai after the State government failed to arrange even basic amenities for the people who were to gather at the late leader’s memorial.

Hearing the urgent plea moved by K Senthamizhselvi and Niranjan Vijayan seeking directions to the State to ensure basic amenities that it had assured in the affidavit submitted before the court, Justice SM Subramanian personally drove his car to the memorial at 11.30 pm on Saturday, and heard arguments after inspecting the facilities.

During the late-night hearing at the judge’s residence on Greenways Road, the petitioner’s advocate, AB Karl Marx Siddharthar, said the Director of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) did not ensure the arrangements that it had assured in the affidavit. Even after the court’s order, there was no awning to shield the people, who were expected to gather there during the Ambedkar birth anniversary event on Sunday, from the sun.

When Additional Advocate General J Ravindran objected to this, Justice Subramanian drove down to the memorial along with the AAG and Siddharthar to take stock of the situation. The court then held a sitting at the Mani Mandapam itself, and directed the government to provide basic amenities, including two Arabian tents, at the memorial.

Meanwhile, commotion prevailed at the Ambedkar memorial on Sunday when the police denied entry for the young couple and their families, who came to perform self-respect marriage, citing Chief Minister MK Stalin’s visit.

Retired judge of the Madras High Court, D Hariparanthaman, and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam president Kolathur Mani, were also denied entry. Aggrieved by the restriction, the marriage between the Dalit couple was performed outside.

The judge drove his car to the memorial at 11.30 pm on Saturday, and heard arguments after inspecting the facilities