AIADMK can hold General Council meet: Madras HC

High Court has upheld the order of a single judge, who dismissed a plea seeking to stay the general body. The case is posted for further hearing to October 23.

Incidentally, the single judge, while dismissing the plea, also imposed a cost of Rs. 1 lakh on the petitioner, for wasting court’s time with a vexatious suit.

The bench comprising Justice Rajiv Shakdher and Justice Abdul Quddhose, on holding that we see no impediment in law if rival factions of the original party choose to get together and jointly convene a meeting, said, “The holding of the meeting by itself may or may not grant legitimacy to the outcome reached at the meeting but that by itself cannot be a ground for the court to intervene and stay the meeting.” However, the bench also clarified that any decision taken at the impugned meeting will be subject to the final outcome in the appeal.

It also held that it is needless to say that the observations made by us would in no manner impact the decision that the Election Commission will take in the dispute pending before it.

Justice C V Karthikeyan, while dismissing the plea moved by Perambur MLA P Vetrivel in the capacity of being an AIADMK member, came down heavily on him for including the name of TTV Dinakaran, to whom he owes his allegiance, in his plea. The judge, on holding it as a highly condemnable thing, said, “Such practice was being followed in several litigations, wherein a ‘plaintiff is shown as the defendant so that at an opportune time, he could effectively stab the contesting defendants in the back.” “Probably it is in this background, the applicant impleaded Dinakaran as fourth defendant. This in simple terms is collusion. Then the entire character of the suit becomes vexatious,” the judge added.

Further on saying that the applicant failed to have any cause of action, the Judge said, “Vetrivel had three options — attend Tuesday’s meeting either in his individual capacity or as an MLA or choose to remain at his house or resign from his post as a legislator and be rid of the irritants which have upset his peace of mind.” The division bench took up the hearing in the appeal after court-hours.

BENGALURU: A city civil court on Monday stayed the General Council and Executive Committee meeting called by the Chief Minister E Palaniswamiled faction of the AIADMK in Chennai on Tuesday. The 15th City Civil Court Judge Patil Nagalinganna Gowda granted an interim stay on the meeting and posted the matter to September 13. The plea was filed by AIADMK

Karnataka State Secretary V Pugazhendi, a supporter of sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dinakaran, seeking a stay on the general council meeting