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AIADMK Leaders exempted from appearing in Court in Defamation Case

defamation laws

Shivangi Prakash-
Published on: September 14, 2021, at
13:16

The Madras High Court waived the attendance of AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint co-ordinator K Palaniswami before the Special Court for MPs and MLAs in connection with a defamation lawsuit filed by expelled party spokesperson V Pugalendhi.

The Special Court had ordered the two to appear before it on September 14 after hearing Pugalendhi’s allegation.

The duo had filed a petition with the Madras High Court, requesting that the proceedings pending before the Special Court be quashed and that they be excused from appearing before it.

Justice M Nirmal Kumar, who heard both parties’ senior counsel, reserved his order today.

The appearance before the Special Court was also postponed till the orders were issued, according to Justice Kumar. The two leaders had argued that the complaint was invalid in law since it was irrational and likely to be dismissed.

It failed to establish a prima facie case, and the complainant failed to establish any of the essential elements of Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC.

The complaint, which was based on a communication from the party and led to his removal from his position as official spokesperson as well as expulsion from the primary membership, did not meet the provisions’ requirements.

According to the petitions, the notice of dismissal was in the best interests of the political party and not against Pugalendhi’s reputation.

According to Pugalendhi, the contents of the order removing him from his position as the AIADMK’s official spokesman as well as his primary membership in the party defamed him.

Click here to read/download order

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