EPS retains AIADMK headquarters key as SC refuses to stay Madras High Court deseal order

The bench also sought a response from the Revenue Division officials and the EPS faction.

Revenue Division officials, on 11 July, sealed the party’s headquarters following the clash between EPS and OPS supporters.

What happened on 11 July?

Hours before the AIADMK general council meeting on 11 July,  O Panneerselvam and his supporters arrived at the party headquarters to discuss his next move.

Panneerselvam had petitioned the Madras High Court seeking an injunction against the meeting, where he was certain to be ousted as joint coordinator.

However, the high court dismissed his petition. Following the order, violent clashes broke out between OPS and EPS factions in the AIADMK office.

At least five were injured during the violence and admitted to a government hospital, Royapettah police officials told South First on the day of the incident.

Supporters of OPS allegedly broke open the room of Jayalalithaa at the headquarters.

Revenue Department officials sealed the AIADMK headquarters following the violence.

OPS supporters allegedly ransacked the headquarters and took documents from there, the EPS faction claimed.

Arguments in Supreme Court

Senior Advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for OPS, argued in court that Panneerselvam, who continued to be the AIADMK coordinator, should have access to the headquarters’ key.

Referring to the Madras High Court order from Wednesday, which favoured OPS and nullified the general council meeting, the advocate said, “OPS is the coordinator of the party, and he should continue to have access. The possession should be with him.”

However, Mukul Rohatgi, a senior advocate appearing for EPS, contended that OPS was not the coordinator of AIADMK.

“He says that he is the coordinator, but he’s nobody”, the advocate said to the court.

The bench then adjourned for a week.

What brought the case to Supreme Court?

After Revenue officials sealed the AIADMK office on 11 July, Palaniswami approached the Madras High Court seeking the keys to the office.

The Madras High Court, on 20 July, quashed the Revenue Division Office’s order to seal the AIADMK headquarters.

The court ordered the Revenue Division officers to hand over the keys to AIADMK interim general secretary Palaniswami.

However, the court prohibited EPS from allowing any party cadres inside to prevent untoward incidents.

Panneerselvam petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the Madras the High Court order transferring the keys of the AIADMK office to Palaniswami.