Bombay HC Seeks Response on Malegaon Deputy Mayor's Tipu Portrait Row

The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to file a response regarding a petition filed by Malegaon Municipal Corporation's Deputy Mayor against the removal of a Tipu Sultan portrait from her office premises.

According to the petition, Nilesh Kakade, the Leader of the Opposition Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction in the municipal corporation, had lodged a complaint regarding the historical portrait displayed in the corporation's office building. The complaint subsequently led to an order directing its removal.

The Deputy Mayor has challenged this directive, contending that the portrait's removal violates her rights. The high court's decision to seek the state government's position indicates the matter has assumed legal significance beyond the municipal corporation's administrative purview.

The case highlights ongoing disputes over historical iconography in public institutions across Maharashtra, where questions of heritage, political sentiment, and administrative authority frequently intersect. The court's intervention suggests the matter will require careful examination of both the statutory authority to order such removals and the Deputy Mayor's entitlements regarding office decor.