Madras high court orders TN revenue dept to hand over AIADMK headquarters to EPS – Times of India

CHENNAI: In a reprieve to AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, the Madras high court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu revenue department to hand over the possession of the party headquarters in Chennai to EPS.
Justice N Sathish Kumar restrained the members of the AIADMK from entering the headquarters for one month. Police are also directed to ensure that no untoward incidents happen on the issue.
The court passed the order on the pleas moved by EPS and O Panneerselvam challenging the attachment of the office by the revenue department.
According to EPS, the entire event was pre-meditated and orchestrated with the police support of the OPS faction. “There is no dispute with regard to the ownership or possession of the premises. The property is owned by the AIADMK party, and the party has been in possession of it,” he said.
“The property that belongs to the party cannot be disputed upon by any other person. OPS has no claim to the party whatsoever now. In a legally convened meeting, he was removed as a primary member of the party,” he added.
On the other hand, OPS submitted that he was the coordinator of the party and was in-charge and in possession of the party building. “We were removed and the property was attached under seal,” he said.
He said the department had not taken the material fact that the petitioner was the coordinator of the AIADMK and by virtue of that he had every legal right to enter upon and enjoy the peaceful possession of the party headquarters building.