CHENNAI: A public interest litigation filed in the Madras high court has sought directions to Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, chief secretary and principal secretary to governor to remove the name and the photo of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa from public welfare schemes. The PIL also wanted the court to restrain authorities from constructing a memorial for Jayalalithaa.In his PIL, president of the Advocates' Forum for Social Justice K Balu said Palaniswami, after being sworn in as the chief minister, announced an Amma two-wheeler scheme which prominently displayed the picture of late Jayalalithaa.However, the Supreme Court in its recent verdict in the disproportionate assets case had squarely indicted Jayalalithaa for corruption. So "the scheme...in the name of a convict is against the oath and affirmation taken by the chief minister and against the Constitution of India," said the PIL.It also said multiple schemes were announced. The schemes carried the name of late chief minister (popularly known as Amma) along with her picture. These included Amma food centre, Amma pharmacy, Amma salt, Amma gardens, Amma pregnancy sanjeevi scheme, Amma special scheme for women's full health checkup and Amma physical exercise centre.Her name and photographs were also affixed on cycles, schoolbags, two-wheelers and other equipment distributed to people under the ambit of the schemes.The name and the picture could be replaced with the name and the symbol of the Tamil Nadu government, respectively. The government could also prohibit the death ceremony visuals of late Jayalalithaa from being shown in theatres.The chief minister and other office bearers were also keeping the pictures of late Jayalalthaa in all public offices. These also could be removed.While the representation sent to the authorities was pending, a proposal to construct a grand memorial for the late chief minister from public fund in a public place was announced. As this was a matter of "moral turpitude," the court could grant an injunction restraining the authorities from building a memorial.Despite charges against her being abated due to her death, Jayalalithaaa was neither innocent nor an exemplary public figure, it said.Though the government was morally obliged not to promote the name of any convict, it was "promoting and advertising her name," the PIL said.Displaying her picture as the name of Tamil Nadu was "an abuse of power," it said.

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