The South Indian Artists Association today submitted in the Madras High Court that those appointed by it to supervise the election of office bearers of the Association has absolute power of the Executive Committee Members who rule and control the administration of the body in accordance with its bye-laws.
This was submitted by counsel for actor Radha Ravi, General Secretary of SIAA, before Justice K Ravichandra Babu in reply to a petition by actors Vishal and Naseer to declare the election notification of June, five, 2015 as null and void.
Vishal and Naseer had submitted that Radha Ravi announced that the election for its office-bearers for the years 2015-2018 would be held on July 15, Wednesday, which is a working day.
They contended that it was well known that many artistes are busy during working days and also travel to outdoor locations for shoots. Normally, in all cinema-related associations, the polls are held on the second Sunday as the entire industry is on a compulsory holiday that day.
They submitted they had written to the Association on June four to change the election date but there was no response.
Radha Ravi stated that the power of appointing election officer to conduct the elections of the Association was according to the rule 38 of the byelaws of the Association. It was decided in the Executive Committee meeting held on June one to appoint advocates of the High Court with an experience in conducting elections.
The meeting appointed advocates J Selvarajan, R Murali and S James Amudhan as election officers to conduct the polls, he contended.
He submitted that the prayer by Vishal and Naseer to appoint a retired Judge of the Madras High Court as election officer cannot be granted as they have not challenged the appointment Selvarajan, Murali and James Amudhan as election officers.
On the prayer by Vishal and Naseer that a retired judge be appointed as an election officer, Ravi submitted that "it should never be an order of the day or a fancy or fashion to appoint a retired High Court Judge as an election officer to conduct election to private organisations."
It is only when a dispute arises between two or three groups that someone may approach for appointment of Judges, he contended.
