Nashik: The Bombay high court has sought responses from the local police and Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) regarding a petition filed over the removal of a portrait of Tipu Sultan from the deputy mayor’s office in the civic body.
During the initial hearing, the high court directed the police and the MMC to file their responses before the next hearing scheduled for Oct 5. The petition challenges orders issued by the corporation secretary directing the removal of the photograph based on state circulars from 1965 and 2002 that list 24 officially approved national leaders for display in public offices.
Responding to the removal, Shan-e-Hind said, “There’s nothing wrong in it. Her counsel said circulars specifying approved portraits were guidelines, not mandatory rules. Images of Tipu Sultan were displayed in other public institutions, including Parliament Central Library, Delhi Legislative Assembly and Nashik District Court, counsel said, also pointing to his inclusion in the illustrated artwork of the original Constitution of India.
He is not a terrorist but a person who fought for his homeland. I have filed a petition in the Bombay high court challenging the action taken by the police and civic officials.