HC holds AIADMK rebels’ meet invalid

CHENNAI, June 17: The Madras High Court today declared invalid the rival general council meeting convened by the expelled AIADMK leader, S ...

CHENNAI, June 17: The Madras High Court today declared invalid the rival general council meeting convened by the expelled AIADMK leader, S Thirunavakkarasu, held here on June 3 last.

Allowing an application in a civil suit filed by AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalitha, Justice S S Subramani held that Thirunavakkarasu had no authority or locus standi to convene the general council meeting.

Justice Subramani declared prima facie invalid all the decisions taken and resolutions passed by the rebels in the `purported’ meeting. The judge allowed Jayalalitha’s appeal with Rs 3,000 as cost to be paid by Thirunavakkarasu.

Story continues below this ad

Jayalalitha had filed a suit seeking a permanent injunction restraining Thirunavakkarasu from convening the general council meeting. Earlier on June 3, the judge had passed an interim order restraining the defendants from giving effect to the decisions of the rival meeting.

By today’s order, the judge has made the interim order absolute pending disposal of the main suit.

Meanwhile, the imbroglio on the status of Thirunavukkarasu in the Tamil Nadu assembly continued today as the speaker, P T R Palanivelrajan, reserved his ruling on the representations given to him by both the groups, headed by him and Jayalalitha, claiming the status of the AIADMK legislature party.

Palanivelrajan today ascertained the views of all the four AIADMK legislators individually.

Story continues below this ad

While the legislators, owing allegiance to Jayalalitha urged the speaker to declare Thirunavukarrasu as unattached member of the House, Thirunavukarrasu represented to the speaker that he be declared leader of the AIADMK legislature party. The rebel leader told the speaker that if he was convinced that the rival faction of the AIADMK, led by Jayalalitha enjoyed majority among the four legislators, the group could be declared `AIADMK group one’ and he be treated as the member of the `AIADMK group two’. He also informed the speaker that he had raised a dispute in court about his expulsion from the party by Jayalalitha.

Thirunavukarasu contended that his expulsion was “illegal” as he was not given any show cause notice, as was required under the party’s constitution.He said Jayalalitha had no powers to expel him as he along with one fifth of the members of the party’s general council had demanded the convening of a meeting of the general council as early as April 24 last and the split process started on that day.

The speaker, after hearing the views of all the four, said that he would soon give his ruling on the matter.