Chennai: Madras High Court on Wednesday directed Tamil Nadu Government to handover the residence of former Chief Minister, late J Jayalalitha’s Veda Nilayam at Poes Garden to her nephew and niece J Deepa and J Deepak within three weeks.

Madras High Court Justice N Seshasayee delivered the judgement on the petition of Jayalalitha’s nephew and niece; he set aside the previous AIADMK Government’s decision to acquire former Chief Minister, late J. Jayalalitha’s residence Veda Nilayam at Poes Garden for her memorial. Justice Seshasayee considered the emotions of Jayalalitha’s legal heirs Deepa and Deepak their emotions attached to the Poes Garden.

They also pleaded the Court that they would establish a public trust and do charity in her name. The court also questioned the wisdom of establishing a second memorial for Jayalalitha as there is already a memorial for her at the Marina. The petitioners also told the court that the authorities had not given them an opportunity to submit their objections against the acquisition of Veda Nilayam and this was in total violation of the principles of natural justice as mandated by the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

They stated in the petition that a division bench of the Madras High Court had declared them as the legal heirs of Jayalalitha and had also directed to establish public trust in her name with a few of her properties to do charity. They also said that the action of the State Government acquiring the property and converting it into a memorial will be against the order of the Court.