The Hindu : PIL against Rajiv statue dismissed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

Other States

Other States - Rajasthan

PIL against Rajiv statue dismissed

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR SEPT. 16. The Rajasthan High Court today dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against a statue of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the busy Nai Sadak area of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's own town, Jodhpur. This facilitated the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, unveiling the statue as per schedule during her visit to the town to address a rally.

A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice N.N.Mathur and Justice O.P.Vishnoi dismissed the public interest writ filed by one Shyam Singh with the observation that it was "devoid of any reason''. The complainant's plea was that the statue was erected on public land.

A similar writ, filed by R.K.Joshi before the court of Additional Civil Judge, K.C. Atwasis, too was rejected well in time for the Congress president to unveil it.

The petitioner had charged that the State Government did not follow the norms of the Jodhpur Urban Improvement Trust and the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation while allocating the plot on which the statue stands.

Addressing the rally after the unveiling of the statue in the presence of Mr. Gehlot and the PCC(I) president, Girija Vyas, Ms.Gandhi said Rajiv Gandhi had left an unfulfilled dream. It was for the rest of the Congress people to fulfil that dream, she noted.

Ms.Gandhi recollected the late leader's identification with the suffering masses and said he had toured Rajasthan driving himself during the drought period in order to extend help to the affected people.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Many hurt in firing

PIL against Rajiv statue dismissed

BJP has divided society: Sonia