Chennai, June 22 (BPNS )
The Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere in the general council meeting of the AIADMK to be held on Thursday, June 23 at Chennai. This is a major setback to former Chief Minister and AIADMK coordinator, O. Panneerselvam who had approached the court.
The court also refused to restrain the party’s general council meeting from amending the party’s by-laws. The party’s by-laws were to be amended for paving the way for a single leadership.
Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy of the Madras High court while pronouncing the verdict said, “ It is for the general council and the members to pass resolutions and this court cannot interfere with the process of conducting general council meeting. Therefore this court is not inclined to pass any interim orders or directions except making it clear that the General Council meeting which is scheduled to be held on June 23 will go on.”
Advocate Rajagopal who represented Shanmugham, the co-petitioner with OPS, said that AIADMK has a by-law that mandates the agenda of the meeting be circulated before the general council meeting but that was not done before the general council meeting of June 23.
The advocate said that the Edappadi K. Palaniswami faction was trying to amend the by-law and bring back the post of general secretary that was abolished after the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa who was the party general secretary.
Rajagopal said that such an important decision cannot be taken without circulating the agenda to the members before the general council meeting.
He also said that the general council meeting can take place but no important decision cannot be taken in the meeting.
AIADMK coordinator and former Chief Minister, O. Panneerselvam wanted the meeting to be postponed and had insisted on the continuation of dual leadership of the party. However, the faction led by joint co-ordinator and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami insisted on amending the by-law and bringing back the post of general secretary leading to a single leadership for the party.
