HC reserves orders on actors' plea on SIAA poll notification

The Madras High Court today reserved orders on a petition filed by actors Vishal and Naseer seeking to declare as null and void the June 5 notification of South Indian Artistes Association for elections to the body.
"It is stated that the election process begins from tomorrow. It is needless to say that any proceedings taken in pursuant to the election process is subject to the result of the petitions filed before the court," Justice K Ravichandra Baabu said.
The judge gave the order after hearing the arguments of counsel Barnaboss appearing on behalf of SIAA and advocate Ravindran for Vishal and Naseer, following SIAA's submission that the election process was going to start by tomorrow.

Vishal and Naseer filed a petition finding fault with the manner in which elections were declared by the General Secretary, Radha Ravi and the President, Sarathkumar.
They submitted that Radha Ravi had announced that the election for its office-bearers for 2015-2018 would be held on July 15, which is a working day.
In his reply, Radha Ravi had submitted that appointment of election officers for election of office bearers to the Association "is the absolute power of the executive committee members who rule and control the administration of the Association in accordance with byelaws of the Association."
On the prayer by Vishal and Naseer that a retired judge be appointed as an election officer, Ravi submitted that "it should never be an order of the day or a fancy or fashion to appoint a retired High Court Judge as an election officer to conduct election to private organisations..."

It is only when a dispute arises between two or three groups that someone may approach for appointment of judges, he contended.