Retired HC judge to conduct Nadigar Sangam elections

The election for the South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA) would be conducted by a retired High Court judge and the election process would have to be completed in three months’ time, the Madras High Court has held.

Hearing an appeal filed by the present office-bearers of the SIAA, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam named former High Court judge Justice E. Padmanabhan to preside over the SIAA elections and further directed him to complete the process within three months. 

Note

SIAA general secretary Radha Ravi had filed an appeal against a single judge’s interim order granting a stay on the notification for the election, originally scheduled for July 15, while hearing a plea filed by actors Vishal, Nasser and Karthi.

The court had earlier directed the Registrar of Cooperative Societies to appear in person to assist in explaining the bylaws of the SIAA with regard to the conduct of its elections. Actors Vishal, Nasser and Karthi had in their plea levelled allegations against the present office-bearers of the SIAA and had sought for a retired High Court judge to conduct the elections.

It may be noted that it was Justice Padmanabhan who presided over the SIAA elections in 2005 too.