News Analysis India

Tag: Edappadi K Palaniswami

  • Madras HC order for CBI probe against EPS axed by SC

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a Madras High Court ruling ordering a CBI probe into allegations of corruption against former chief minister and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami in awarding road contracts.

    A bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli asked the HC to decide on the complaint against Palaniswami without being influenced by earlier observations or orders passed in the matter.

    The Madras High Court, after taking note of the plea of DMK leader RS Bharathi, had in October 2018 passed the order transferring the probe on his complaint of tender irregularities to CBI for “fair, reasonable and transparent probe”.

    “We don’t want CBI. We want an independent investigation,” senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Bharathi, told the apex court on Wednesday. Senior advocate Aryama Sundaram, appearing for Palaniswami, said a report filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had exculpated Palaniswami.

    The HC, however, passed the order without considering the DVAC report, and the SC must examine the report, Sundaram said. The SC bench, however, said it will ask the HC to take a fresh decision and remitted the matter to the Madras HC.

    “Let the HC examine the (inquiry) report. Without going into the details of the matter, we request the high court to look into the reports submitted there and pass an appropriate order after examining the report…We set aside all the observations that will not come in the way of the fresh consideration of the matter,’ the bench said. RS Bharathi had filed a petition in the high court accusing Palaniswami of misusing his official position.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a Madras High Court ruling ordering a CBI probe into allegations of corruption against former chief minister and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami in awarding road contracts.

    A bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli asked the HC to decide on the complaint against Palaniswami without being influenced by earlier observations or orders passed in the matter.

    The Madras High Court, after taking note of the plea of DMK leader RS Bharathi, had in October 2018 passed the order transferring the probe on his complaint of tender irregularities to CBI for “fair, reasonable and transparent probe”.

    “We don’t want CBI. We want an independent investigation,” senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Bharathi, told the apex court on Wednesday. Senior advocate Aryama Sundaram, appearing for Palaniswami, said a report filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had exculpated Palaniswami.

    The HC, however, passed the order without considering the DVAC report, and the SC must examine the report, Sundaram said. The SC bench, however, said it will ask the HC to take a fresh decision and remitted the matter to the Madras HC.

    “Let the HC examine the (inquiry) report. Without going into the details of the matter, we request the high court to look into the reports submitted there and pass an appropriate order after examining the report…We set aside all the observations that will not come in the way of the fresh consideration of the matter,’ the bench said. RS Bharathi had filed a petition in the high court accusing Palaniswami of misusing his official position.

  • Supreme Court to hear on July 6 plea on AIADMK leadership row

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Monday said that it would hear on July 6, a plea filed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) challenging the Madras High Court order staying the passing of any unannounced resolutions in the meeting of the AIADMK General and Executive councils concerning the issue of single leadership of the party.

    A vacation bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and JK Maheshwari said it would hear the plea on July 6 subject to the clearance given by Chief Justice NV Ramana.

    Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for the EPS faction, mentioned the matter for urgent listing, saying that the High Court division bench held an extraordinary sitting past midnight and passed the order at 4 am on June 23.

    He said that the High Court order restraining the party from taking up any unannounced resolution interferes with the internal functioning of a political party.

    Vaidyanathan said that contempt petitions have been filed in the high court alleging violation of the interim order, which is coming up for hearing on Monday.

    Counsel appearing in a caveat for party co-ordinator O Panneerselvam faction opposed the request for urgent listing saying it was an interim order and High Court is still seized of the matter.

    He said that the order passed in an Original Suit, which is still pending before the high court, and contempt petitions were filed as there was a breach of the directions in the General and Executive councils meetings. The bench ordered that the matter will be listed on July 6 subject to clearance given by the CJI.

    On June 23, the Madras High Court had ruled that no unannounced resolutions could be taken up at the meeting of the AIADMK General and Executive councils here, restraining the camp led by Joint Co-ordinator EPS from initiating any such move over the possible single leadership issue.

    The meeting of Tamil Nadu’s main opposition party’s General Council, its highest decision-making body, and the Executive was held on June 23.

    In a late-night hearing that stretched till early June 23, a special division bench had granted the relief to party co-ordinator O Panneerselvam (OPS) at a special sitting held at the senior judge’s residence at Anna Nagar in the city, on an appeal against a single judge order.

    It had said that the meeting can take place as scheduled and the already decided 23 resolutions can be taken up and adopted.

    No other new resolutions touching upon making amendments to party bye-laws to abolish Co-ordinator and Joint Co-ordinator posts and restoring the general secretary post to pave way for single leadership shall be taken up, the High Court had said.

    Earlier at around 9 pm on June 22, a single-judge bench of the High Court in its brief order permitted the conduct of the meet but refrained from restraining the EPS group from taking up any other fresh resolutions, which would ultimately result in unitary leadership.

    The aggrieved group led by OPS met High Court Chief Justice M N Bhandari after the order of the single-judge was pronounced and obtained his permission to prefer an appeal against the order.

    The CJ constituted a bench of Justice M Duraiswamy and Sundar Mohan as the judges to make a special sitting and hear the appeal.

    Accordingly, the bench sat at the senior judge’s residence and commenced the hearing around 1 am on June 23 and passed its orders around 4 am, which effectively led to joy and jubilation in the OPS camp.

    The internal rumblings of the AIADMK over the single leadership issue, with a majority of district secretaries and others favouring EPS to take over the mantle, had prompted Panneerselvam (OPS) to write to the former seeking deferring the meet, even as speculations were rife that the GC and EC could discuss the matter to affect the unitary leadership.

    On June 23, the meet was held amid chaos and the AIADMK General Council announced that the one and only demand of the GC members is to bring in a system of a single leadership for the party, favouring Joint Coordinator EPS.

    The Executive and General Council meet held together saw EPS emerging as the supreme leader and he was honoured with a decorated crown, a sword, and sceptre by supporters.

    EPS’ colleague and Coordinator OPS was apparently snubbed in the meet and rude slogans were shouted against him.

  • EPS meets Amit Shah in Delhi amid alliance whispers

    By Express News Service
    CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: Barely two months after the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah’s high-octane visit to Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami called on him in New Delhi on Monday. The two leaders are learnt to have discussed the political situation in Tamil Nadu.

    The 45-minute meeting is under a lot of political glare because there has been no progress from the BJP top brass after the surprise announcement made by Palaniswami and deputy Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, during Shah’s November 21 Chennai visit, that the AIADMK alliance with the BJP would continue.

    Palaniswami was accompanied by Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar at Monday’s meeting, in which Chief Secretary K Shanmugam and Chief Minister’s secretaries were also present. It could not be ascertained whether Palaniswami held a one-on-one discussion with Shah.

    The Chief Minister is, however, scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday at 10.30 am.Sources said Palaniswami is likely to invite Modi to the State to inaugurate a slew of projects.

    On its part, the BJP has also been planning to schedule a few high profile visits to Tamil Nadu, ahead of the elections, as the party is keen to throw its hat in the ring in a good number of seats as part of its strategy to keep the DMK at bay.

    Meanwhile in Chennai, Pannerselvam, who is also the party coordinator, used a party meeting, held to discuss the arrangements for the celebration of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary on February 24, to give a pep talk to members.

    At the meeting, termed Amma Peravai (Amma’s birthday), Panneerselvam, said: “Issues are bound to happen even in families with just two or three siblings. The AIADMK has nearly 1.5 crore cadre. We have to set aside our differences and work for the party’s victory in the upcoming elections, because our only objective is to re-establish the AIADMK government after the polls.”

    “That would be an appropriate tribute to our Amma (J Jayalalithaa),” added Panneerselvam.