SIAA election: HC notice to SIAA on petition

The Madras High Court today issued a notice to South Indian Artistes Association to file a counter to a petition by actors Vishal and Naseer to declare the election notification of June 5, 2015 as null and void.
Justice K Ravichandra Baabu, before whom the petition came up for hearing, issued notice to SIAA, represented by its General Secretary, actor Radha Ravi and posted the matter for further hearing to June 22.
Vishal and Naseer submitted that Radha Ravi, General Secretary of the Association, had announced that the election for its office-bearers for 2015-2018 would be held on July 15, Wednesday, which is a working day.

They said it was well known that many artistes are busy during working days and also travel to outdoor locations for shoots. Normally in all cinema-related associations, the polls are held on the second Sunday as the entire industry is on a compulsory holiday on that day.
They submitted they had written to the Association on June 4 to change the election date but there was no response.
They said they had already requested SIAA to furnish a copy of members/voters list to enable verification of eligible voters and for canvassing, but till date it not been done.

Without conduct of a proper election process, the present office bearers were hastily declared elected even in the last election. Only after publishing the list of eligible members can an aggrieved member, whose name was wrongly omitted, approach the Election officer within seven days in writing. Discrepancies can be rectified only after publication, they said.

The petitioners submitted that the notification does not mention who the election officers and Assistant Election officers are. It also does not state when the executive committee meeting was held, what resolutions were passed and whether at all any deliberations took place.
Hence they prayed the court appoint an eminent retired High Court Judge to conduct a fair and transparent election.
The petitioners said there are serious charges against the President and the General Secretary who had 'misrepresented' themselves as life trustees of Nadigar Sangam Charitable Trust attached to the Association and purchased an apartment vide sale deed dated 10.12.2010.

They said they feared that the intention of the SIAA President and General Secretary,(actors Satath Kumar and Radha Ravi) was to remain as office bearers for life.
Hence they prayed that the Court pass an interim injunction, restraining the Association and its office bearers from proceeding further, pursuant to the June 5 notification.