The Madras High Court bench here has directed the Corporation Commissioner to grant permission for AIADMK to conduct their meeting at Madurai between Sept 18 and 21.
Justice M. Jeyapaul, allowing a petition filed by Party District Secretary Sellur K. Raju directed the Corporation Commissioner to grant permission after receiving Rs 63,371 which was originally deposited with the civic body on July 21 but refunded to the petitioner on the same day after the commissioner decided not to hire the ground.
He agreed with the contention of the Petitioner’s counsel P.H. Pandian that his client would gain priority over any other person or organisation, wanting to use the grounds, because he was the first to pay the rental charges. The corporation too had received the money under a receipt on July 21, along with the no objection certificates issued by the Collector and Police commissioner.
The Judge rejected the corporation’s submission that a clerk had received the money without being aware of the fact that the corporation itself had decided to organise a medical camp for sanitary workers at the Tamukkam grounds between Sept 17—22.
The Petitioner said that he had fixed the dates for the meeting to be presided over by the Party General Secretary Jayalalithaa and attended by leaders of southern districts, only after confirming the availability of the venue. The civic body made a flip flop at the last moment and rejected permission due to political pressure, it was alleged.
