In a setback to the incumbent officer-bearers of the Nadigar Sangam, the Madras High Court refused to grant an interim stay the appointment of a Special Officer to manage the affairs of the association.
The government of Tamil Nadu had, on Thursday, appointed PV Geetha, Assistant Inspector General of Registration, as the Special Officer who would oversee the day-to-day workings of The South Indian Artistes’ Association, known popularly as Nadigar Sangam.
Following the appointment, actor Vishal, the General Secretary of the association filed a petition in the court against the government’s move. The petition was heard by Justice Kalyanasundaram on Friday where he refused to grant an interim stay to the government’s order.
During the hearing of the case on Friday, Nadigar Sangam contented that it was against the law to appoint an officer when all the cases related to the elections of the Nadigar Sangam are pending. The petitioners also stated that it was wrong of the government to appoint a special officer based on the complaints of three members in an association that has 3000 members.
Meanwhile, the state government argued that actor M Nasser, the President of the association, has assured on Thursday that they will cooperate will the Special Officer. Adding that the office-bearers cannot stay in their positions after completion of their terms, the state government also submitted that the Special Officer has been appointed till the disposal of pending cases or for a term of up to one year. The government also contended that it appointed a special officer only because there is a vacuum in the leadership of Nadigar Sangam at present.
Recording the submissions from both sides, Justice Kalyanasundaram refused to stay the appointment of the Special Officer and ordered the state government to file its response by November 14.
Earlier, the Registrar of Societies had temporarily called off the Nadigar Sangam polls just days before it was set to happen, based on a complaint from 61 members. The complainants had alleged that their names were removed from the voters’ list by the contesting Pandavar Ani, led by Nasser, to skew the election results in their favour. However, the polls happened on June 23 after the members went to court and the results of the elections have been withheld by the court.
Source: The News Minute