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Shifting of Ambedkar statue draws court's ire
TNN, 12 February 2010, 04:52am IST
CHENNAI: Denouncing the attempt to confine a statue of BR Ambedkar to
a Dalit locality, the Madras HC said it was highly deplorable that a
national leader was sought to be considered leader of a single
community.
The matter relates to an Ambedkar statue installed at Pazhaiya
Pattinam village in Cuddalore district. Owing to objections from a
community, the statue was sought to be removed. Following this, a
public interest writ petition was filed by a villager seeking to
restrain the authorities from relocating the statue.
Denouncing the attempt by some villagers and authorities to confine a
statue of B R Ambedkar to a Dalit locality, the Madras high court said
it was highly deplorable that a national leader was sought to be
considered a leader of a community.
The matter relates to an Ambedkar statue near a public library at
Pazhaiya Pattinam villager in Cuddalore district. Owing to certain
objections from a minority community in the area, the one-year-old
statue was sought to be removed. Following which a public interest
writ petition was filed in the high court by a villager seeking to
restrain the authorities from relocating the statue.
Unable to obtain an undertaking from the government that no harm would
be done to the statue and that it would not be removed from its
original location, the first bench had restrained the officials from
removing or damaging the statue. However, claiming that no copy of the
order was available, the local revenue and police authorities used an
earth-mover to relocate it to a spot close to a Dalit settlement on
January 20.
On Thursday, an infuriated first bench comprising Chief Justice HL
Gokhale and Justice KK Sasidharan, described the shifting of the
statue, in spite of an injunction order, as most deplorable and said:
"It is most unfortunate that the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, which was
already located at a place for more than a year (and which place could
not be considered to be in any manner a controversial one), was sought
to be shifted to a Dalit settlement."
"It is highly deplorable that a national leader is sought to be
considered as a leader of a community, disregarding his contribution
to citizens of India, irrespective of their caste, religion and
community," the bench observed.
Besides directing the Cuddalore collector to hold an inquiry into the
matter and take action against the erring officials, the judges said
the statue should be re-installed at the original place and due
protection should be given to it.
The bench also imposed a cost of Rs 20,000 on the state government,
and added that the state was at liberty to recover the sum from the
officers responsible for the unfortunate incident.
Seeking to clarify a government order dated November 20, 1998 laying
down general guidelines for statues, memorials and arches, the bench
made it clear that henceforth no statue or memorial should be erected
without the prior sanction of the state government. On receiving
applications, the district collector concerned must collect necessary
details and forward his recommendation to the home secretary, it said.
Secondly, statues, memorials, arches and pillars already erected
should be protected and maintained by persons who had erected them.
They shall also furnish an affidavit, giving an undertaking that they
would maintain the structures. It is desirable to have only bronze
statutes as easy damage could be avoided, it said.
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