OPS challenges curbs on use of AIADMK symbol, flag in Madras High Court

The Madras High Court on November 7 had restrained former AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam (OPS) from using the party’s name, flag, symbol and letterhead as he had been expelled from the AIADMK. This was in response to party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s (EPS) petition in HC stating that OPS was telling cadres he was still the party coordinator and causing confusion. The Madras HC granted an interim injunction and posted the case on November 30.

OPS has now challenged this interim injunction as a civil suit regarding his expulsion from the AIADMK. He contended that a single judge should not have granted this injunction on November 7. OPS added that this order restraining him from using the party flag and symbol was causing him and his supporters’ prejudice. The matter is now up for hearing on November 15 in the Madras HC.

In August this year, the Madras HC had dismissed all the appeals filed by OPS and his supporters challenging their expulsion from the AIADMK, the revival of the general secretary post, the abolition of the posts of coordinator and joint coordinator. This was considered a big setback to OPS and his supporters.

It was a Bench of Justices R. Mahadevan and Mohammed Shaffiq who delivered the verdict on the appeals that had been filed by OPS and his supporters. On November 15, OPS’ case challenging the interim injunction on the use of the party flag and symbol will also come up before them.