SC Allows E Palaniswami To Continue As AIADMK Interim General Secretary, Upholds Madras HC's Order

The Supreme Court today upheld a Madras High Court order allowing E Palaniswami to continue as interim general secretary of the AIADMK, establishing his position as the single, supreme leader of the party.

A bench of Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Hrishikesh Roy, which had reserved judgment on the matter on January 12, dismissed the petitions filed by O Panneerselvam.

"We have upheld the order of the Division Bench of the High Court dated September 2, 2022 and made our earlier interim order permanent. We have not dealt with the matter of resolutions before the party that were being heard by the single judge. We leave it open for the said resolutions to be dealt with in accordance in law," the bench said.

The judgment came on a batch of pleas concerning amendments made to party bylaws during July 11, 2022, general council meeting, which elected Palaniswami, or EPS as he is known, as its single leader while expelling his rival Panneerselvam and some of his aides.

The division bench quashed the August 17 order of Justice G Jayachandran, which ordered maintenance of status-quo ante as of June 23 when Panneerselvam was coordinator and Palaniswami joint coordinator.

With PTI Inputs