Madras HC refuses to close contempt plea filed against EPS, OPS

Chennai: Madras High court has refused to close a contempt petition against Chief Minister Edappadi .K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam despite first bench of the court setting aside a portion of a single judge order banning banners and flex boards dotted with living persons.

Justice S. Vaidyanathan, before whom a contempt petition filed by a social activist ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy came up for hearing, said the counsel for the petitioner submitted that the chief secretary, Chennai corporation commissioner and police commissioner had not violated the order passed by this court dated October 23, 2017.

The judge said hence, the contempt petition is dismissed insofar as chief secretary, Chennai corporation commissioner and police commissioner, are concerned.

The petitioner sought to punish CM, Deputy CM and other officials for violating the court order banning flex boards, banners with pictures of living persons.
Justice Vaidyanathan said the order passed by the division bench of this court was not submitted. Whether the contempt petition should be proceeded with or not, would be decided based on the observations made in the writ appeal.

Only after going through the order passed by the division bench and ascertaining whether the entire order of this court dated October 23, 2017, had been interfered with, this court can proceed with the contempt petition.

Making it clear that after going through the order passed by the division bench, the further orders will be passed in this contempt petition, Justice Vaidyanathan adjourned the matter to January 5, 2018.