Chennai: The High Court has ordered that the keys of the sealed AIADMK office be handed over to the EPS, and has imposed a condition that the volunteers should not be allowed inside the party office for a month.
When the AIADMK general committee meeting was held on the 11th regarding the single leadership issue, OPS-EPS supporters clashed in front of the party headquarters in Rayapetta. Subsequently, the Kotakshiar sealed the party office.
Cases were filed separately in the High Court by both the OPS-EPS seeking removal of the seal placed on the office. The trial was held in the presence of Justice N. Satishkumar. Judge N. Sathishkumar gave the details of the verdict yesterday:
Palaniswami and Panneerselvam are former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu. However, there has been a difference of opinion between the two on the single leadership issue. Due to this, the conflict between the two parties has erupted into a riot.
According to the OPS, the problem arose because the Palaniswami side locked the doors of the party office and refused to let them in. At the same time, the police did not take any action until the OPS team went inside the office. After the riots, the police resorted to mild caning.
Video evidence shows that OPS marched to the party office with his supporters and his supporters attacked the party office carrying deadly weapons and pelting stones. He should not have acted like this. Similarly, Palaniswami should not have allowed his supporters inside the party office. Both have acted without considering the law and order issue. At the same time, if the police had taken appropriate action, the riot would not have happened.
The resolutions passed in the AIADMK general meeting including single leadership were taken by the majority of the party. Unless the Court of Rights overrules them, that decision will prevail. In the current context, OPS has been removed from the party. He cannot claim an independent right to party office.
Kotaksiyar did not specify whether this involved the sale of office-related property or not. He said that it has been sealed to maintain law and order. Kotakshiar did not issue this order with complete consent.
The fact that there was no incident in the office prior to July 11 makes it clear that the office was not in the possession of the OPS. The police report also makes it clear that the party office is on Palaniswami’s side.
The fact that the OPS side broke down the door should be seen as an act of trespass. In a similar situation in 1988, it was handed over to Janaki Ramachandran as it was 3 days before the party office was sealed. Therefore, Kotakshiar should immediately hand over the key of the AIADMK party office to Palaniswami. The office should be provided 24-hour security by the police. At the same time, considering the current situation, Palaniswami should not allow volunteers or his supporters to come to the party office for a month. This is what the judge has ordered.
An appeal will be made
Meanwhile, “under the Criminal Procedure Code, the single judge has no power to decide on the party’s office transfer. The judgment was passed by a single judge taking over the jurisdiction of the Kotaktaki and civil courts. Therefore, an appeal will be filed against the verdict,” Panneerselvam’s lawyer C. Thirumaran said.