HC refuses to stay panel formed to manage film producers’ council

Justice S Vaidyanathan, before whom the plea came up for hearing on Friday, conceded with the government submission that the nine-member ad hoc committee had been formed only to aid the Special Officer as per rules and nothing illegal had transpired. Based on this, the judge refused to grant in interim stay in the functioning of the committee. The case has been posted for further hearing to next week. Owing to dissent at TFPC, the Tamil Nadu government intervened to oust actor-producer Vishal Krishna who was elected as the president of the council in 2017. In his place, N Sekar was appointed as Special Officer. While Vishal had moved the High Court challenging the appointment of special officer when an elected body was in place, the government, based on the recommendations of the Special Officer, appointed a nine-member ad hoc committee, which included director Bharathiraja, producer Sathyajothi Thiagarajan and actor S Ve Sekhar. Objecting to the creation of such a panel the council secretary Kathiresan had moved the plea before the vacation court.

It may be noted that TFPC had witnessed plenty of squabbles for almost a year, with a section of producers upping the ante against Vishal’s leadership.

In fact, following a demand that Vishal resign immediately and explain the numerous allegations against him, the warring team had even locked and sealed the TFPC office last year. Vishal was arrested for breaking open the seal.