Top court may hear plea regarding AIADMK single leader row on July 6

The Supreme Court, if the justice permits, will, on July 6, hear a plea by Edappadi K Palaniswami challenging the Madras HC order refraining resolutions regarding single leadership to be passed within the AIADMK General Council meeting.

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, July 6, may hear the plea filed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) challenging the Madras HC order issued on Midsummer Eve. The Madras HC order states that no resolution may be passed regarding amending the party bye-laws to pave the way for one leadership during the AIAMDMK general council meeting.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and JK Maheshwari said the apex court would hear the plea on July 6 if justice NV Ramana gave his approval.

Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, who appeared for the EPS faction, requested that the matter be listed on an urgent basis. He argued that the Madras HC division bench held a unprecedented sitting past midnight to pass the order at 4 am on June 23.

He said that the HC order interferes with the interior functioning of a organization, and added that contempt petitions are filed within the HC alleging violation of the interim order.

The counsel, while appearing in a very caveat for party coordinator O Panneerselvam’s (OPS) faction, opposed the request for urgent listing.

The Madras HC, on June 23, ruled that no unannounced resolutions may be obsessed at the meeting of the AIADMK General and Executive councils. This order cripples the camp led by EPS from initiating any move to become the only leader of the AIADMK.

The late-night hearing, which stretched till 4 am on Midsummer Night, granted relief to the OPS-led faction on an appeal against one judge's order.

It said that, while the meeting can occur, no resolutions except for the 23 pre-approved ones can be obsessed and adopted.

The HC said that no resolutions regarding amending the party bye-laws to abolish the coordinator and joint coordinator posts and restoring the final secretary post, which might pave the way for one leader, should be concerned.

Earlier, on June 22, a single-judge bench of the HC had permitted the meeting. But, the judge didn't restrain the EPS group from absorbing the other fresh resolutions, which might have ultimately resulted in unitary leadership.

The OPS-led group met HC justice MN Bhandari after the order on June 22 and obtained his permission to appeal against the order.