Hyderabad, Jan. 30 -- The Telangana High Court has approved the installation of a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Picket Public Gardens in the Secunderabad Cantonment area, dismissing a public interest litigation (PIL) that challenged the statue's placement.

The PIL, filed by social activist Jetty Umeshwar Rao, raised concerns about the statue's potential impact on the park's greenery and environment, citing Supreme Court guidelines against erecting statues in public spaces like parks.

The unveiling ceremony is set to be officiated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as part of the celebrations for Vajpayee's birth centenary.

The court's decision came after arguments from both sides; Rao's counsel contended that t...