<p>The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking more time to file a reply in a case related to the probe into the death of former chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa.</p>

<p>A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi allowed the state government's request.</p>

<p>The apex court had on April 26 stayed the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probe into the death of Jayalalithaa on an appeal by Apollo Hospitals against an order of the Madras High Court.</p>

<p>The case will now be heard by the Supreme Court after four weeks. Popularly known as 'Amma', Jayalalithaa was taken to Chennai's Apollo hospital on September 22, 2016, where she was treated for 75 days before she breathed her last on December 5.</p>

<p>In September 2017, Justice Arumughaswamy was appointed to head the probe into the death of the former chief minister.</p>

<p>Over a year later, the hospital had demanded the constitution of a medical board comprising doctors and medical professionals to examine Jayalalithaa's medical records.</p>

<p>In an affidavit filed before the Arumughaswamy Commission, the hospital had raised the demand citing that errors crept in due to the inability of a typist to comprehend and type correct medical terms.</p>

<p>It had said that words like 'intubation'&nbsp;were recorded as 'incubation'&nbsp;besides other errors.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking more time to file a reply in a case related to the probe into the death of former chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa.

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking more time to file a reply in a case related to the probe into the death of former chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi allowed the state government's request. The apex court had on April 26 stayed the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probe into the death of Jayalalithaa on an appeal by Apollo Hospitals against an order of the Madras High Court. The case will now be heard by the Supreme Court after four weeks. Popularly known as 'Amma', Jayalalithaa was taken to Chennai's Apollo hospital on September 22, 2016, where she was treated for 75 days before she breathed her last on December 5. In September 2017, Justice Arumughaswamy was appointed to head the probe into the death of the former chief minister. Over a year later, the hospital had demanded the constitution of a medical board comprising doctors and medical professionals to examine Jayalalithaa's medical records. In an affidavit filed before the Arumughaswamy Commission, the hospital had raised the demand citing that errors crept in due to the inability of a typist to comprehend and type correct medical terms. It had said that words like 'intubation' were recorded as 'incubation' besides other errors.

Jayalalithaa death probe case: Supreme Court allows Tamil Nadu government's plea for more time to file reply

<p>Little would have Tamil Nadu expected that J Jayalalithaa would be as feisty in her death, as she was in her life. When Jayalalithaa breathed her last on the night of December 5, she had dashed the hopes of millions of citizens who had fervently hoped that she would, yet again, stage a powerful comeback from the &quot;adversity&quot;&nbsp;as she always did.</p>

<p>The sight of her mortal remains in the Rajaji Hall served as a stark reminder of the personality that she had come to be in three decades of Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s political history. Three decades ago, it was from the same Rajaji Hall that Jayalalithaa&rsquo;s political career had pretty much begun. On a similar December morning in 1987, Jayalalithaa was sitting next to the mortal remains of her mentor M G Ramachandran, braving the humiliations heaped on her by supporters of V N Janaki, MGR&rsquo;s widow. For hours together, Jayalalithaa sat there even as she was jeered, called all kinds of names and even physically assaulted. They were detractors who had always resented her proximity to M G Ramachandran and her astonishing rise in the party. After hours of heaping humiliation, the detractors were successful in sending her home banishing her from attending MGR&rsquo;s funeral.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>They had thought she was banished, politically too. But those who had known Jayalalithaa, knew she would come back. Even though MGR had not announced her as his political heir, the party threw its lot behind her. After some minor squabbles for about two years, V N Janaki relinquished her rights in the party, paving way for Jayalalithaa to become AIADMK&rsquo;s supremo, something that she would continue to be till her death in December 2016.</p>

<p>Like her mentor M G Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa largely relied on her screen persona to cultivate among the masses an emotional bonding bordering on hysteria. In fact, when MGR made her AIADMK&rsquo;s propaganda secretary in the 1980s, it was also because that he couldn&rsquo;t go to public meetings as often as he would like to and he needed a leader with a mass appeal to maintain the party&rsquo;s ties with the public. Jayalalithaa used the opportunity to the hilt. Old timers recall how her public speeches evoked hysterical reactions. She always made impassionate speeches, giving attention to detail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jeevasundari Balan, biographer of Moovalur Ramamirutham Ammal &ndash; a Dravidian woman icon who worked towards ending the Devadasi system &ndash; recalls how she had first heard the name of Ramamirutham Ammal in a public meeting of Jayalalithaa. &ldquo;It was 1984 and Jayalalithaa was addressing a public meeting in Moovalur. Pointing to a house in front of the venue, Jayalalithaa said it was where Moovalur Ramamirutham Ammal had lived and that she was proud to be standing in front of the Dravidian leader&rsquo;s house and delivering her speech. That was the first time I heard Ramamirutham Ammal&rsquo;s name. My search to document her began from there.&rdquo; For many others in the meeting too, Jayalalithaa had probably disclosed an information that not many were aware of. But Jayalalithaa had always loved to do that &ndash; strike a deeply personal chord with the audiences.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>But unlike her mentor MGR, Jayalalitha perhaps loved to exhibit her tough exterior. While MGR was very cautious about maintaining cordial ties with the power centre in Delhi, Jayalalithaa sought to firmly establish her authority in Delhi. When she declared that the Congress-AIADMK combine swept the Assembly elections in 1991 not because of Rajiv Gandhi&rsquo;s assassination but because of her own charisma, it was considered an audacious statement. Jayalalithaa would continue to be almost recklessly audacious throughout the rest of her life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She was the first leader from Tamil Nadu to align with the BJP, allowing them space to grow in a rigidly Dravidian land. But the Central Ministers were made to wait at her beck and call, were made to attend to her whims and fancies. In a year, Jayalalithaa walked out of the Central government, and the alliance, paving way for another election in 1999. &nbsp;</p>

<p>From putting an end to the forest brigand Veerappan to arresting Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, Jayalalithaa did the unthinkable. Her admirers always say how &quot;such acts&quot;&nbsp;would not have been possible in any other regime. But during her tenures as the chief minister, Jayalalithaa also did the unthinkable in terms of large-scale corruption and gross misuse of office. Critics were brutally silenced. Sycophancy was blindly encouraged. Vaasanthi, a seasoned journalist and author of <em>Amma: Jayalalithaa&rsquo;s journey from movie star to political queen</em>, mentions in her book how Jayalalithaa had &quot;initiated a new cult of leader worship when ministers prostrated themselves full length on the floor in front of her&quot;&nbsp;soon after she took over in 1991.&nbsp;The leader worship would continue to dominate the state&rsquo;s political scene though the world continued to ridicule it.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>But Jayalalithaa&rsquo;s supporters also point to her vulnerability as a woman and claim that she would have been finished off in no time, had she not been so ruthless. Perhaps for a woman to be as successful as she had been in a heavily male dominated political scenario, required a certain amount of ruthlessness. But it will never be easy to judge if Jayalalithaa over did it.</p>

<p>In public domain, Jayalalithaa made up to her ruthlessness by unleashing a slew of populist measures just as her mentor MGR did. There were some schemes like cradle baby to put an end to female infanticide that was largely seen by activists as a token measure, but there were other schemes like free bicycles to rural girl students that meant well. When she won the elections in 2016 and was re-elected as the chief minister, she again created a record of sorts. She became the first leader to be re-elected to office in thirty years and the victory was credited to freebies announced by her.</p>

<p>But beneath the tough exterior that she had always loved to show, was a reluctant leader and a vulnerable woman. Her huge dependence on Sasikala Natarajan was perhaps a demonstration of this vulnerability. Jayalalithaa needed someone who would take care of everything in her life, who would accept her unconditionally.</p>

<p>But she had never wanted to exhibit this vulnerability. Jayalalithaa perhaps wanted to be remembered as a tough politician, and in fighting death for over 70 days in the hospitals, she proved to&nbsp;her followers that she was a fighter always. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Little would have Tamil Nadu expected that J Jayalalithaa would be as feisty in her death, as she was in her life

Little would have Tamil Nadu expected that J Jayalalithaa would be as feisty in her death, as she was in her life. When Jayalalithaa breathed her last on the night of December 5, she had dashed the hopes of millions of citizens who had fervently hoped that she would, yet again, stage a powerful comeback from the "adversity" as she always did. The sight of her mortal remains in the Rajaji Hall served as a stark reminder of the personality that she had come to be in three decades of Tamil Nadu’s political history. Three decades ago, it was from the same Rajaji Hall that Jayalalithaa’s political career had pretty much begun. On a similar December morning in 1987, Jayalalithaa was sitting next to the mortal remains of her mentor M G Ramachandran, braving the humiliations heaped on her by supporters of V N Janaki, MGR’s widow. For hours together, Jayalalithaa sat there even as she was jeered, called all kinds of names and even physically assaulted. They were detractors who had always resented her proximity to M G Ramachandran and her astonishing rise in the party. After hours of heaping humiliation, the detractors were successful in sending her home banishing her from attending MGR’s funeral. For hours together, Jayalalithaa sat there even as she was jeered, called all kinds of names and even physically assaulted. × They had thought she was banished, politically too. But those who had known Jayalalithaa, knew she would come back. Even though MGR had not announced her as his political heir, the party threw its lot behind her. After some minor squabbles for about two years, V N Janaki relinquished her rights in the party, paving way for Jayalalithaa to become AIADMK’s supremo, something that she would continue to be till her death in December 2016. Like her mentor M G Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa largely relied on her screen persona to cultivate among the masses an emotional bonding bordering on hysteria. In fact, when MGR made her AIADMK’s propaganda secretary in the 1980s, it was also because that he couldn’t go to public meetings as often as he would like to and he needed a leader with a mass appeal to maintain the party’s ties with the public. Jayalalithaa used the opportunity to the hilt. Old timers recall how her public speeches evoked hysterical reactions. She always made impassionate speeches, giving attention to detail. Jeevasundari Balan, biographer of Moovalur Ramamirutham Ammal – a Dravidian woman icon who worked towards ending the Devadasi system – recalls how she had first heard the name of Ramamirutham Ammal in a public meeting of Jayalalithaa. “It was 1984 and Jayalalithaa was addressing a public meeting in Moovalur. Pointing to a house in front of the venue, Jayalalithaa said it was where Moovalur Ramamirutham Ammal had lived and that she was proud to be standing in front of the Dravidian leader’s house and delivering her speech. That was the first time I heard Ramamirutham Ammal’s name. My search to document her began from there.” For many others in the meeting too, Jayalalithaa had probably disclosed an information that not many were aware of. But Jayalalithaa had always loved to do that – strike a deeply personal chord with the audiences. But Jayalalithaa had always loved to do that – strike a deeply personal chord with the audiences. × But unlike her mentor MGR, Jayalalitha perhaps loved to exhibit her tough exterior. While MGR was very cautious about maintaining cordial ties with the power centre in Delhi, Jayalalithaa sought to firmly establish her authority in Delhi. When she declared that the Congress-AIADMK combine swept the Assembly elections in 1991 not because of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination but because of her own charisma, it was considered an audacious statement. Jayalalithaa would continue to be almost recklessly audacious throughout the rest of her life. She was the first leader from Tamil Nadu to align with the BJP, allowing them space to grow in a rigidly Dravidian land. But the Central Ministers were made to wait at her beck and call, were made to attend to her whims and fancies. In a year, Jayalalithaa walked out of the Central government, and the alliance, paving way for another election in 1999. From putting an end to the forest brigand Veerappan to arresting Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, Jayalalithaa did the unthinkable. Her admirers always say how "such acts" would not have been possible in any other regime. But during her tenures as the chief minister, Jayalalithaa also did the unthinkable in terms of large-scale corruption and gross misuse of office. Critics were brutally silenced. Sycophancy was blindly encouraged. Vaasanthi, a seasoned journalist and author of Amma: Jayalalithaa’s journey from movie star to political queen, mentions in her book how Jayalalithaa had "initiated a new cult of leader worship when ministers prostrated themselves full length on the floor in front of her" soon after she took over in 1991. The leader worship would continue to dominate the state’s political scene though the world continued to ridicule it. Jayalalithaa’s supporters also point to her vulnerability as a woman and claim that she would have been finished off in no time, had she not been so ruthless. × But Jayalalithaa’s supporters also point to her vulnerability as a woman and claim that she would have been finished off in no time, had she not been so ruthless. Perhaps for a woman to be as successful as she had been in a heavily male dominated political scenario, required a certain amount of ruthlessness. But it will never be easy to judge if Jayalalithaa over did it. In public domain, Jayalalithaa made up to her ruthlessness by unleashing a slew of populist measures just as her mentor MGR did. There were some schemes like cradle baby to put an end to female infanticide that was largely seen by activists as a token measure, but there were other schemes like free bicycles to rural girl students that meant well. When she won the elections in 2016 and was re-elected as the chief minister, she again created a record of sorts. She became the first leader to be re-elected to office in thirty years and the victory was credited to freebies announced by her. But beneath the tough exterior that she had always loved to show, was a reluctant leader and a vulnerable woman. Her huge dependence on Sasikala Natarajan was perhaps a demonstration of this vulnerability. Jayalalithaa needed someone who would take care of everything in her life, who would accept her unconditionally. But she had never wanted to exhibit this vulnerability. Jayalalithaa perhaps wanted to be remembered as a tough politician, and in fighting death for over 70 days in the hospitals, she proved to her followers that she was a fighter always.

The making of 'Amma': The audacious and vulnerable Jayalalithaa

<p>Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has not passed away and continues to remain on life support, Apollo Hospital in Chennai insists, minutes after speculations went on an overdrive about the politician&#39;s demise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apollo Hospital released a statement, saying: &quot;Some TV channels are wrongly reporting that Honourable Chief Minister is no more. This is totally baseless and false.&quot;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Apollo Hospital releases statement, says <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jayalalithaa?src=hash">#jayalalithaa</a> continues to be on life support <a href="https://t.co/nZ6YcBvGjE">pic.twitter.com/nZ6YcBvGjE</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/805752224362020864">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>Confusion over the Jayalalithaa&#39;s death started when multiple TV agencies in Tamil Nadu began reporting about her death. TV screens in the southern state erroneously started flashing about her death.</p>

<p>The national frenzy engulfed Pakistan too. A Pakistani journalist&nbsp;named Omar R Quraishi tweeted on Monday morning that prominent Urdu papers this morning reported that Jayalalithaa had died, even though she&#39;s alive.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Two of Pakistan&#39;s largest Urdu papers this morning reported that Indian politician Jayalalitha had died (she&#39;s alive) <a href="https://t.co/Q6Hs0fy89P">pic.twitter.com/Q6Hs0fy89P</a></p>
&mdash; omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) <a href="https://twitter.com/omar_quraishi/status/805662593750855680">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dear Express, Geo and Nawa-I-Waqt: Jayalalitha is alive<br />
<br />
<a href="https://t.co/30BVJZ1TCO">pic.twitter.com/30BVJZ1TCO</a></p>
&mdash; omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) <a href="https://twitter.com/omar_quraishi/status/805697034476994560">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>AIADMK headquarters was also gripped in the frenzy. They initially lowered the party flag at half mast only for later to be hoisted to full mast again. Jayalalithaa joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 1982.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chennai: Party flag flying at half mast at AIADMK HQs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jayalalithaa?src=hash">#jayalalithaa</a> <a href="https://t.co/mvan9qvxWH">pic.twitter.com/mvan9qvxWH</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/805747345279238144">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Party flag hoisted again at AIADMK HQs in Chennai <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jayalalithaa?src=hash">#jayalalithaa</a> <a href="https://t.co/8dAqqTwjSc">pic.twitter.com/8dAqqTwjSc</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/805754071550300160">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>Twitter soon followed suit.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Announcement was delayed on purpose it seems<br />
Rest in peace <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jayalalithaa?src=hash">#jayalalithaa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPAmma?src=hash">#RIPAmma</a></p>
&mdash; BAN Modi... (@VAvinash) <a href="https://twitter.com/VAvinash/status/805748512386232320">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The southern moon has set for ever. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jayalalithaa?src=hash">#jayalalithaa</a> no more. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPAmma?src=hash">#RIPAmma</a></p>
&mdash; ruchi kokcha (@ruchikokcha) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruchikokcha/status/805745224156782592">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Schrodinger&#39;s Amma?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPAmma?src=hash">#RIPAmma</a></p>
&mdash; priyanka kashyap (@_kpriyanka) <a href="https://twitter.com/_kpriyanka/status/805759685101916160">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPAmma?src=hash">#RIPAmma</a> Doctors continue to provide all life saving measures. According to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ApolloHospital?src=hash">#ApolloHospital</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jayalalitha?src=hash">#Jayalalitha</a> is still alive. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayersForAmma?src=hash">#PrayersForAmma</a></p>
&mdash; Ali Akhtar Mohammed (@EngAliAkhtar) <a href="https://twitter.com/EngAliAkhtar/status/805759548619456513">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">That awkward moment when you jump gun,publish obituary,then change headline,but URL still says &quot;dead&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianExpress">@IndianExpress</a> <a href="https://t.co/NWJaYNs6ij">https://t.co/NWJaYNs6ij</a></p>
&mdash; Ravi Mantha (@rmantha2) <a href="https://twitter.com/rmantha2/status/805756404392824832">December 5, 2016</a></blockquote>

<p>(WION)</p>


Apollo Hospital in Chennai had to issue a clarification after Twitter, news agencies and Pakistan penned Amma's obituary

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has not passed away and continues to remain on life support, Apollo Hospital in Chennai insists, minutes after speculations went on an overdrive about the politician's demise. Apollo Hospital released a statement, saying: "Some TV channels are wrongly reporting that Honourable Chief Minister is no more. This is totally baseless and false." Apollo Hospital releases statement, says #jayalalithaa continues to be on life support pic.twitter.com/nZ6YcBvGjE — ANI (@ANI_news) December 5, 2016 Confusion over the Jayalalithaa's death started when multiple TV agencies in Tamil Nadu began reporting about her death. TV screens in the southern state erroneously started flashing about her death. The national frenzy engulfed Pakistan too. A Pakistani journalist named Omar R Quraishi tweeted on Monday morning that prominent Urdu papers this morning reported that Jayalalithaa had died, even though she's alive. Two of Pakistan's largest Urdu papers this morning reported that Indian politician Jayalalitha had died (she's alive) pic.twitter.com/Q6Hs0fy89P — omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) December 5, 2016 Dear Express, Geo and Nawa-I-Waqt: Jayalalitha is alive pic.twitter.com/30BVJZ1TCO — omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) December 5, 2016 AIADMK headquarters was also gripped in the frenzy. They initially lowered the party flag at half mast only for later to be hoisted to full mast again. Jayalalithaa joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 1982. Chennai: Party flag flying at half mast at AIADMK HQs #jayalalithaa pic.twitter.com/mvan9qvxWH — ANI (@ANI_news) December 5, 2016 #WATCH: Party flag hoisted again at AIADMK HQs in Chennai #jayalalithaa pic.twitter.com/8dAqqTwjSc — ANI (@ANI_news) December 5, 2016 Twitter soon followed suit. Announcement was delayed on purpose it seems Rest in peace #jayalalithaa #RIPAmma — BAN Modi... (@VAvinash) December 5, 2016 The southern moon has set for ever. #jayalalithaa no more. #RIPAmma — ruchi kokcha (@ruchikokcha) December 5, 2016 Schrodinger's Amma?#RIPAmma — priyanka kashyap (@_kpriyanka) December 5, 2016 #RIPAmma Doctors continue to provide all life saving measures. According to #ApolloHospital #Jayalalitha is still alive. #PrayersForAmma — Ali Akhtar Mohammed (@EngAliAkhtar) December 5, 2016 That awkward moment when you jump gun,publish obituary,then change headline,but URL still says "dead" @IndianExpress https://t.co/NWJaYNs6ij — Ravi Mantha (@rmantha2) December 5, 2016 (WION)

Jayalalithaa is not dead, insists Apollo Hospital amid rumour frenzy