Chennai: Madras high court on Tuesday refused to vacate an interim order staying the proceedings pending before a Chennai civil court moved by PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, seeking to restrain Dr Anbumani from using the name of the party, its flag and election symbol ‘mango’. Justice T V Thamilselvi directed the city civil court to take up the suit for hearing after May 10, since election to the state Assembly has been notified. “It would not be appropriate to decide the intra-party dispute once the election has been announced,” she said. On March 12, the court passed an interim stay against the proceedings of a civil suit moved by Dr Ramadoss in a city civil court, seeking to restrain his son and former Union minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss from using the name, flag and election symbol of PMK. The court passed the order on a plea moved by PMK’s general secretary Vadivel Ravanan, challenging the order of the XIII additional city civil court, Chennai, refusing to implead him in the suit moved by Dr Ramadoss. According to the petitioner, as of that date, he was the general secretary of PMK and hence he was a necessary party to the proceedings, but the trial court, without considering his impleading application, is inclined to proceed with the injunction application filed in the suit. Therefore, he seeks a direction to the trial court to dispose of his impleading petition and thereafter to proceed with other applications; if not, it will lead to a multiplicity of proceedings. He further added that on Dec 4, 2023, the Election Commission of India (ECI) also recognised him as the general secretary and the trustee of PMK. The term of office-bearers takes effect from June 22, 2023, till June 21, 2026. Thus, as of that date, he is the general secretary of PMK.
