Karunanidhi's burial row: SC dismisses Traffic Ramaswamy's plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed petitions filed by activist Traffic Ramaswamy, seeking a stay on the last rites of late Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi at the Marina Beach.

Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who was heading the bench of the apex court, instructed Ramaswamy's advocate to first file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) and then mention the matter before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Deepak Misra.

Earlier, Ramaswamy had moved to the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Court order, which granted permission to bury former Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi on the Marina beach in Chennai.

A massive controversy had erupted over the final resting place of Karunanidhi after the Tamil Nadu government, citing legal hurdles, dismissed DMK's request and offered a two-acre site at the Gandhi Mandapam.

Karunanidhi, fondly referred as 'Kalaignar' and also a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, breathed his last in Chennai's Kauvery hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 94.

The Government of India also decided to accord a full-state honour while the national flag would fly half-mast during this period and all government-related functions would also remain suspended.