NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, SEP 2
The Division Bench of the Madras High Court comprising Justices M Duraiswamy and Sunder Mohan set aside the August 17 order of the single judge favouring O Pannerselvam and thus clearing EPS as single leader here on Friday.
Although EPS faction is jubilant over this verdict, the OPS faction will challenge it before the Supreme Court.
This is considered to be a big boost for AIADMK leader and former chief minister Edappadi K Palanisamy (EPS) who was elected as interim General Secretary of the AIADMK at its July 11 General Council meeting.
- With this order from the division bench, the single judge’s order of maintenance of status quo ante as on June 23 becomes invalid.
- OPS faction say they are planning to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.
The division bench of the Madras High Court comprising Justices M Duraiswamy & Sunder Mohan allowed an appeal preferred by EPS and set aside Justice G Jayachandran’s August 7 order in favour of O Panneerselvam (OPS) on party leadership dispute.
With this order from the division bench, the single judge’s order of maintenance of status quo ante as on June 23 becomes invalid. The verdict effectively means that EPS is back as the interim general secretary of the AIADMK. On August 7, the single judge G Jayachandran ordered status quo ante as on June 23 in AIADMK affairs and nullified the election of EPS as interim general secretary at the July 11 GC. The single Judge stated he found that the general council convened by EPS was not followed by bylaws, therefore it was ineffective. Subsequently, EPS filed an appeal against the order. It is pertinent to mention that the same division bench-Justices M Duraiswamy and Sunder Mohan-barred the June 23 general council from passing resolutions other than 23 pre-approved ones by OPS during a late night hearing of another appeal by a general council member.
Following the Madras HC verdict in favour of EPS, AIADMK functionaries celebrate the moment by distributing sweets at the residence of EPS.
Meanwhile, sources from the OPS faction say they are planning to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.
