Madras HC dismisses petition against Palaniswami, OPS general council meet

AIADMK's merged factions have called a meeting to nullify Sasikala's appointment as general secretary

The Madras High Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed to restrain factions led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam from going ahead with their plans to conduct a joint general council meeting on Tuesday. The petition was filed by Perambur MLA P Vetrivel, a supporter of AIADMK leader T T V Dhinkaran.

AIADMK's merged factions called a meeting of the party's general council on September 12, 2017, mostly for the purpose of nullifying the appointment of jailed General Secretary V K Sasikala.

While dismissing the civil suit, Justice C V Karthikeyan also imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on Vetrivel after terming the suit as a vexatious litigation. 

The judge said that it has become a "condemnable" practice for litigants to file civil suits by making men on their side as defendants so that the latter could "stab the other defendants on their back" at an opportune moment.

The judge also asked how a sitting MLA filed the suit against other MLAs and ministers without bringing it to the notice of the Chief Justice in accordance with a circular issued by the court in March this year.

The judge also refused to buy the argument of the petitioner that the case had been filed in his individual capacity and not as an MLA.

The petitioner could either attend the general council by honouring the invitation extended to him or choose to have a sumptuous lunch alone at the venue. Alternatively, he could ignore the invite and sit at home, the judge suggested. However, he would certainly not be allowed to file a vexatious litigation, Justice Karthikeyan added.