AIADMK power tussle: HC to pronounce orders in EPS’ appeal

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court will pronounce its orders on Friday on an appeal preferred by former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami challenging the August 17 status quo ante order of a single judge in favour of AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam in the AIADMK General Council meeting case.

The second bench of Madras HC comprising Justice M Duraiswamy and Justice K Sunder Mohan will pass the orders as the matter has been listed as the first case.

EPS prayed for setting aside the 75-page order of Justice G Jayachandran ordering the status quo ante as on June 23.

EPS contended the findings of the single judge are arbitrary, illegal, and against the law. A battery of senior advocates, including CS Vaidyanathan, C Aryama Sundaram, and S Vijay Narayan represented EPS.

The senior advocates submitted that the GC is the supreme body in the party and the GC meeting held on July 11 was on the basis of the requisition made by 2,190 GC members on June 23.

EPS’ counsels also argued that the single judge had incorrectly held the invitation for the July 11 GC meeting was issued on July 1, but it was originally issued on the June 23 GC meeting itself. The former chief minister also noted that the single judge had treated a party that has its own bye-laws as if it was a corporate firm.

Meanwhile, senior counsel Arvind Pandian for O Panneerselvam submitted that as per the bye-laws framed by the AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, primary members have the supreme power to elect the General Secretary. He further argued that the joint consent of the coordinator and joint coordinator is mandatory for convening the GC meeting.