#AIADMK Power Tussle : Edappadi K Palaniswami Versus O Panneerselvam Face-Off Over Single Leadership Issue ; Supreme Court To Hear Plea On July 6

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The Supreme Court Monday said that it would hear on July 6, a plea filed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami challenging the Madras High Court order staying the passing of any unannounced resolutions in the meeting of the AIADMK General and Executive councils concerning the issue of single leadership of the party.

A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and JK Maheshwari said it would hear the plea on July 6 subject to the clearance given by Chief Justice NV Ramana.

Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for the EPS faction, mentioned the matter for urgent listing, saying that the High Court division bench held an extraordinary sitting past midnight and passed the order at 4 am on June 23.

He said that the High Court order restraining the party from taking up any unannounced resolution interferes with the internal functioning of a political party.

Vaidyanathan said that contempt petitions have been filed in the high court alleging violation of the interim order, which is coming up for hearing on Monday.

Counsel appearing in a caveat for party co-ordinator O Panneerselvam faction opposed the request for urgent listing saying it was an interim order and High Court is still seized of the matter.

He said that the order passed in an Original Suit, which is still pending before the high court, and contempt petitions were filed as there was a breach of the directions in the General and Executive councils meetings.

The bench ordered that the matter will be listed on July 6 subject to clearance given by the CJI.

On June 23, the Madras High Court had ruled that no unannounced resolutions could be taken up at the meeting of the AIADMK General and Executive councils here, restraining the camp led by Joint Co-ordinator EPS from initiating any such move over the possible single leadership issue.

The meeting of Tamil Nadu’s main opposition party’s General Council, its highest decision-making body, and the Executive was held on June 23.

In a late-night hearing that stretched till early June 23, a special division bench had granted the relief to party co-ordinator O Panneerselvam (OPS) at a special sitting held at the senior judge’s residence at Anna Nagar in the city, on an appeal against a single judge order.

It had said that the meeting can take place as scheduled and the already decided 23 resolutions can be taken up and adopted.

No other new resolutions touching upon making amendments to party bye-laws to abolish Co-ordinator and Joint Co-ordinator posts and restoring the general secretary post to pave way for single leadership shall be taken up, the High Court had said.