Jayalalithaa's Nephew And Niece Has Been Declared As Her Legal Heir

The Madras High Court has declared former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s nephew J.Deepak and niece J. Deepa as her legal heirs. The High Court also ordered on Friday that the duo was entitled to her possessions under the Hindu Succession Act. In its explanatory order, a Division Bench of Justices N.Kirubakaran and Abdul Quddhose announced that Deepak and Deepa were Jayalalithaa's legal heir as per section 15(2)(a) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.

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The decision

It stated that “Hence, in the order passed on May 27 it has been inadvertently stated that the petitioner(Deepak) and Deepa have become the legal heirs of Late Chief Minister Dr. Jayalalithaa under Entry IV Class II of Hindu Succession Act,1956”. Although in regard to the properties handed down to the former Chief Minister from her mother, the petitioner and the respondent are legal heirs as per section 15(2)(a) of the Act. Also, In respect of the self acquisitions of Jayalalithaa, the petitioner and the respondent are the legal heirs.

The Madras High Court declared former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s nephew J.Deepak and niece J. Deepa as her legal heirs.

The heirs

According to the judgment, the total amount of assets that will be inherited by the nephew and the niece is worth about Rs 900 crore. The judgment comes in following a directive passed by the Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit for the state government to for the time being take possession of the former CM's residence and other belonging such as furniture, books, Jewels, etc. Though this was done for making the arrangements to convert it into a memorial.

Taking this into consideration the court has asked the government to reconsider its decision to convert it to a memorial. It further advocated that by law Deepak and Deepa are the heirs and so if required only a portion of the property can be converted into a memorial.

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Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa who was also called the ‘Iron lady’ had passed away in December 2016 after suffering from a heart attack. The dispute over the assets arose soon after her demise since she did not leave a will and had been going on since then.

Shreya is an intern with SheThePeople.TV