The legal team of Jayalalitha’s government headed by ace advocate Navaneethakrishnan seems to be leading the AIADMK government to one disaster after another. The legal team is time and again wrapped left right and center by the Madras High Court...which has resulted in huge embarrassment for the AIADMK regime...
While Jaya’s petitions for exemption from personal appearance were being dismissed in the Supreme Court, the Madras High Court for its part continued to give jolts after jolts to Amma by stonewalling various moves by her government.
Starting with Jayalalitha’s announcement of abandoning Samachir Kalvi, which was implemented following the recommendation of a team of educationists after thorough research, Amma’s government had to bear the brunt of Judicial activism. Even after the Madras High Court gave a detailed judgment while quashing the government’s move to abandon samachir kalvi, an obstinate Jayalalitha went to the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court’s order. But Amma managed to buy time which saw the children whiling away their valuable time without any syllabus. Ultimately, the Supreme Court upheld the Madras High Court order...which was the first setback for Amma.
Then Amma’s next move … Shutting down the Anna Centenary Library at Kotturpuram and starting the same inside DPI complex in the pretext of integrating it with Knowledge Park... There was widespread public outrage against Jaya’s announcement. A furious Madras High Court was ignoring the allegations of corruption in the construction of the library, promptly stayed the move. In fact, an exasperated Chief Justice Iqbal after listening to the arguments of Navaneethakrishnan, posed a direct question "Are you the Advocate General or a party man ?"
Then came the issue of dismissal of Assistant Public Relations Officers by the Jaya government...that decision too was stayed by the court. Amma’s next salvo came in the form of dismissal of 14,000 Makkal Nala Paniyalargal which too was stayed by the Madras High Court. The government’s appeal against the single judge’s order too was thrown away by a Division Bench.
In fact, Advocate General Navaneetha Krishnan quite blatantly expressed his inability on in open court during the course of arguments in connection with the Makkal Nala Paniyalargal issue. Justice Suguna had earlier stayed the termination of 14,000 makkal nala paniyalargal by the government. In spite of the stay order the government was adamant and refused to take back the terminated MNPs. When this matter was brought to the notice of the court the court issued a firm warning to the government to implement its order immediately. But the MNPs saw no relief in spite of a writ of the High Court. When arguments in the court commenced in this regard, a visibly angered Justice Suguna posed a question to the AG “Why are you not implementing the orders in spite of it having been confirmed by a Division Bench ?” The AG replied “I will take instructions”. When the Justice again reminded him of the undertaking he gave when the stay orders were issued, Navaneethakrishnan replied “I am not able to follow my Lordship’s orders”. An irritated Suguna asked him what do you mean that you are not able to follow ? An unfazed Advocate General calmly said “I am a humble and simple man my Lord”.
The advocate general had to eat humble pie when the Madras High Court stayed the TN government’s order to take back the land allotted to Muthamizh Peravai, a trust which is run by Karunanidhi’s close relatives.
Jayalalitha government which came back to power with the promise of a clean administration tried on its part to save the building norm violators in T.Nagar and filed a status report. The court which saw through the designs of the government wrapped the government on its knuckles and a jittery government fearing court’s wrath was quick to seal the buildings just a day before the next hearing.
The building violators who are flush with money hired legal big guns to represent them and they went on appeal to the Supreme Court which returned the ball back to the Madras High Court. Fearing a tough legal battle the government appointed Senior Counsel A.L.Somayaji to represent the state government in the CMDA matters recently.
Sources tell whispers in Tamil Nadu that Navaneethakrishnan has pulled all the strings with ‘Chinnamma’ and got this order cancelled, and a fresh order has been issued by the Chief Secretary authorizing the Advocate General to represent the State in CMDA case too.
Now Whispers doing rounds in the corridors of Madras High Court is that...If the present legal team continues to represent the Tamil Nadu government, then Amma's government should prepare itself for a bumpy ride ahead.
Now Whispers doing rounds in the corridors of Madras High Court is that...If the present legal team continues to represent the Tamil Nadu government, then Amma's government should prepare itself for a bumpy ride ahead.