Madras High Court Dismisses PMK Founder's Plea to Freeze 'Mango' Election Symbol
In a significant legal development, the Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a plea filed by PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, who sought to freeze the party's iconic 'mango' election symbol. This decision comes amid an ongoing internal dispute between Dr Ramadoss and his son, Anbumani Ramadoss, over control of the party's electoral assets.
Court Order and Judicial Proceedings
Justice T V Thamilselvi passed the order, explicitly rejecting the application moved by Dr Ramadoss. The founder has been actively pursuing legal avenues to freeze the symbol since the announcement of the Assembly elections, citing concerns over its use in the electoral process.
This latest ruling follows a series of judicial setbacks for Dr Ramadoss. Earlier, on March 12, the same judge imposed an interim stay on the proceedings of a civil suit filed by Dr Ramadoss in a Chennai city civil court. That suit aimed to restrain his son from using the PMK's name, flag, and election symbol.
Supreme Court and Civil Court Interventions
Dissatisfied with the interim stay, Dr Ramadoss escalated the matter to the Supreme Court. However, the apex court declined to provide any relief and directed him to approach the jurisdictional civil court for resolution. Acting on this directive, the civil court on March 26 also refused to freeze the symbol.
The civil court observed that restraining or altering the allotment of an electoral symbol at this critical juncture would inevitably impinge upon the ongoing election process, potentially disrupting democratic procedures.
Continued Legal Efforts and Final Outcome
Aggrieved by the civil court's decision, Dr Ramadoss once again approached the Supreme Court. In response, the Supreme Court redirected him to the high court, leading to the present plea. Justice Thamilselvi's order marks the culmination of these efforts, with the high court firmly turning down the request to freeze the 'mango' symbol.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's cautious approach to electoral symbol disputes during active election periods, prioritizing the integrity of the electoral process over internal party conflicts.
