MUMBAI: Deputy mayor of Malegaon Municipal Corporation has petitioned the Bombay high court challenging recent order issued to her by the corporation’s secretary to remove a photograph of Tipu Sultan from her office.Shaan E Hind Nihal Ahmed also challenged state’s circulars of 2002 and one dated back to September 15, 1965 that set out an approved list of photographs or portraits of 24 national leaders that can be displayed in public offices.Senior counsel Mukesh Vashi appearing for the Dy Mayor said she has displayed photos of 12 national leaders in the chamber she was allotted at the Municipal Corporation building. She received an order on August 27 from the corporation secretary to display only the 24 national leaders approved in the government resolutions followed by an order on August 31 to remove the photo of Tipu Sultan.She also received the copy of a letter addressed by the leader of Opposition, to the Chief Minister objecting to the photo of Tipu Sultan in her chamber. The dy Mayor informed the HC that she replaced the photo with one showing Rani Laxmibai with Tipu Sultan, which was also being objected to.Vashi said the photo of the Sultan of Mysore was also on display in a district court, the Parliament Central Library, Delhi Legislative Assembly and other places. He submitted that there was no objection to photos of other leaders she had displayed whose names were not on the approved list.Vashi said the circulars cited by the State could only be directory, not mandatory. Bhupesh Samant additional govt pleader appearing for the State and Malegaon police opposed the petition on its very maintainability. The HC Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna issued notice and seeking a reply posted the matter after 3 weeks for a hearing
