Key Takeaways
- The Madras High Court reserved its orders on Sasikala’s appeal, delaying a final ruling.
- Sasikala argues her removal as interim general secretary was unlawful under party bylaws.
- The case highlights ongoing power struggles within AIADMK after Jayalalithaa’s death.
Chennai: The Madras High Court has reserved its orders on an appeal filed by ousted leader V.K.Sasikala, a close aide of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in 2022.
She is challenging the civil court’s refusal to declare her removal as AIADMK Interim General Secretary illegal and void.
It may be noted that after the death of Ms Jayalalithaa, Ms Sasikala was elected as interim
general secretary on the 2017 New year even at a meeting of the AIADMK, and she was later removed from the post following a resolution passed by the AIADMK general council
on September 12, 2017, after the merger of the warring factions headed by Edappadi
K.Palaniswami and O.Panneerselvam.
A Division Bench of Justices R. Subramanian and N. Senthilkumar reserved their orders
without mentioning any date after hearing elaborate arguments from senior counsel
G. Rajagopal, appearing for the appellant and senior counsel Vijay Narayan, who argued
on behalf of AIADMK general secretary Mr Palaniswami.
Ms Sasikala, in her plea, contended that she was appointed as interim general secretary
of the party after the death of Ms Jayalalithaa in the AIADMK general council meeting held
on December 29, 2016 on the basis of a call given by the then presidium chairman
E. Madhusudhanan (since deceased).
However, on September 12, 2017, another general council meeting was convened without
following due procedures as contemplated under the bylaws of the party, and an ‘unlawful’
resolution was passed to remove her from the post, she said and sought a direction that
she continues to be the interim general secretary of the party.
