The Madras High Court today granted an 'ad interim injunction' restraining the present managing committee of the Chennai Press Club to go ahead with conduct of elections to the club.
The court expressed surprise over the club not conducting elections for its managing committee for the past 16 years.
"The press club has been highlighting various political and social issues and acted as a watchdog to ensure free and fair election to elect members to the Parliament, Legislative Assembly and local bodies. Such being the relevancy of press, it is really surprising that press club itself has not conducted election to elect its managing committee for the last 16 years," Justice K K Sasidharan said.
A Selvaraj, a member of the Press Club, sought a direction to restrain the present managing committee of the Press Club from holding the elections on March 27.
"The appellant has alleged serious financial irregularities and acts of mismanagement against the present Managing Committee... The draft voter's list has not been published for the purpose of submission of objections and to publish the final valid list of voters," the judge said.
"Such being the factual position, the applicant is prima facie correct in his contention that it would not be in the interest of Press Club to permit the present managing committee to go ahead with the election process."
"There shall be an order of ad interim injunction restraining the present managing committee from continuing with the process of election to the Press Club, Chennai, pursuant to the election notification dated February 24, 2016 or any other notification of similar nature or the conduct of election" onMarch 27or any other date, till April 4, it said.
