Chennai, June 4 (IANS) The Madras High Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday a plea seeking permission to withdraw a case challenging the expulsion of several senior leaders from the AIADMK following the party’s bitter leadership split in 2022.
The matter is set to come up before Justice N. Kumaresh Babu after a procedural delay prevented the court from considering the withdrawal request on Wednesday.
The dispute traces its origins to the power struggle that erupted within the AIADMK in 2022, when the party split into rival factions led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and O. Panneerselvam (OPS). Amid the internal battle, the AIADMK convened a crucial General Council meeting on July 11, 2022.
Ahead of the meeting, OPS approached the Madras High Court seeking an order restraining the party from conducting the session. However, the court declined to grant an interim stay, allowing the meeting to proceed.
At the General Council meeting, the AIADMK adopted a series of resolutions that reshaped the party’s leadership structure. One of the key resolutions expelled O. Panneerselvam, Manoj Pandian, J.C.D. Prabhakar and Vaithilingam from the party.
Challenging their expulsion, the four leaders moved the Madras High Court, and the case has remained pending ever since as part of the wider litigation arising from the AIADMK leadership dispute.
Political developments since then have altered the circumstances surrounding the case. J.C.D Prabhakar later joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and went on to become Speaker, while O. Panneerselvam and some of his associates subsequently joined the DMK.
In view of these developments, J.C.D. Prabhakar and the other petitioners recently submitted a letter to the High Court seeking permission to withdraw the case.
When the matter was taken up on Wednesday, Justice Kumaresh Babu was informed that the withdrawal letter had not reached the courtroom from the High Court Registry. As a result, the court was unable to act on the request. Taking note of the situation, the judge adjourned the matter and directed that it be listed for hearing on Thursday.
The High Court is now expected to consider the petitioners’ request to withdraw the case and pass appropriate orders.
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