Won't restrain AIADMK council from amending party bylaws: Madras HC

In a setback to AIADMK coordinator O Paneerselvam, the Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to restrain the general council (GC) from amending the bylaws that will pave the way for a single leadership. The GC is scheduled to hold a meeting in Chennai on Thursday, June 23.

“This court cannot imagine what would be going to take place during the general council meeting and issue interim orders/directions in advance,” said Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy as he rejected pleas to restrain the GC from amending the party bylaws.

“In fact, it is well settled that in matter of internal issues of an association/party, the courts normally do not interfere, leaving it open to the association/party and its members to pass resolutions and frame a particular bylaw, rule or regulation for better administration of the party since any decision comes forth among the members of the general council, it is well within their collective wisdom and this court cannot insist the members to act upon in a particular manner,” the judge said, as quoted by a Times of India report.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by AIADMK GC member Shanmugam and others, who contended that they had no objection to the GC meeting per se, but wanted the court to restrain it from passing any resolution amending the bylaws of the party.

Opposing the pleas, the faction led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami contended that the GC is supreme. Even the coordinator or the joint coordinator cannot give undertaking to that effect, EPS and his followers said.