The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to clearly state its position on a petition seeking installation of statues of Kannagi and Pandyan King Nedunchezhiyan within the court premises.
The direction came while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Madurai advocate Selvakumar. The petitioner cited the epic Silappathikaram, saying it highlights the idea of review and correction of judicial error, and portrays Kannagi proving her innocence against a wrongful decision.
He also referred to the episode in which the Pandyan king realises his mistake and is said to have declared, “I, the king, am the thief,” describing it as a lesson in accountability and integrity for those in the justice system. Kannagi’s stand in the royal court, he argued, symbolises women’s strength and the courage to speak truth.
The petitioner said placing the two statues in the Madurai Bench campus would convey to future generations that law is equal for all and that the judiciary has the power to correct misuse of authority. He sought directions to consider his representations sent to the state’s Revenue and Law departments and the High Court’s Registrar General.
A bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman issued notice to the Principal Secretaries of the Revenue, Law and Public Works departments to inform the court of the government’s stand, and adjourned the matter to June 15.
