DMK leader M Karunanidhi will be buried at the Marina Beach, next to his mentor Anna. He also join AIADMK leaders MGR and J Jayalalithaa to get a place at the Marina Beach.

Madras High Court this morning allowed allotment of place on the Marina Beach for burial of DMK leader M Karunanidhi, who died last evening following prolonged illness. He was 94.

The court directed the State Government to allot land at the Marina Beach.

The Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice SS Sundar passed the order on a writ petition filed by DMK’s RS Bharathi, which was taken up last night up for urgent hearing and adjourned for further hearing this morning.

On hearing the news, Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin broke down and thanked thousands of mourners with folded handed who visited Rajaji Hall to pay their respects to Karunanidhi.

 

The petition challenged last night’s press release issued by Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan that said due to various cases in the Madras High Court, the State government was unable to allot space in Marina to cremate Karunanidhi. Instead the Government was willing to give land near Rajaji Memorial and Gandhi Mandapam opposite Anna University in Adyar.

When the hearing continued this morning, counsel for the petitioner, P Wilson, argued that a leader who was five times Chief Minister of  the State deserves space in the Marina.

Wilson referred to Article 21 that said "no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law comes," for a place in Marina.

CS Vaidyanathan, Counsel for Tamil Nadu argued that the DMK was pursuing political agenda by filing this case. Dravida Kazhagam leader Periyar was the tallest leader of Dravidian movement. ‘Was he buried at Marina beach?' he argued.