Setback for OPS: SC Stays Madras HC’s Order, Allows AIADMK General Meet

The meeting would have elevated EPS as the single leader of the party.

Supreme Court agreed to list the plea moved by EPS challenging the order by Madras High Court staying passing of resolutions in AIADMK General Council, on 6 July.

(Photo: Namita Chauhan/The Quint)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 6 July, put a stay on a previous order by a division bench of the Madras High Court, which restrained the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general council from amending party by-laws during its meeting.

The SC also refused to interfere with the call made by the party to conduct a general council meeting on 11 July, Live Law reported.

The meeting was expected to further distance O Panneerselvam (OPS) from the power centre at the party.

On Wednesday, a vacation bench of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Krishna Murari passed the interim order while hearing a plea, moved by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), against the HC's order.

The bench said, "Notice be issued to respondents, returnable in two weeks… In view of the facts and circumstances of case and subject matter of litigation and high court orders, it is considered appropriate that operation and effect of order 23 June 2022 shall remain stayed," Live Law reported.

The high court division bench had held an extraordinary sitting past midnight and passed the order at 4 am on 23 June.

The high court had ruled that no unannounced resolutions could be taken up at the meeting of the AIADMK general and executive councils, restraining the camp led by joint coordinator Palaniswami from initiating any such move over the possible single leadership issue.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also observed that the judiciary cannot interfere with the inner functioning of a political party and further clarified that the meetings of the general council can proceed in accordance with law, which means that there is no restraint on the meeting proposed on 11 July.

The dispute relates to the changing of the dual-leadership structure of AIADMK.

After the passing away of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, AIADMK had been following a dual-leadership model with OPS and EPS leading it as coordinator and joint coordinator respectively.

However, recently, disputes arose between both the leaders, with EPS group pressing for unitary leadership.

(With inputs from Live Law.)