High Court Directs Madurai DRO To Take Possession Of Golden Armour For Thevar Jayanthi Celebrations Amid Dispute Between OPS And EPS Factions

The Madras High Court has directed the District Revenue Officer (RDO), Madurai to take possession of the 13kg gold armour to be adorned on the statue of late freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar during the Guru Pooja Celebrations of his birth anniversary.

The Madurai bench of Justice Bhavani Subbaroyan observed that since there were claims and counter-claims going on between AIADMK factions of O Paneerselvam and Edappadi Palanisamy, it was difficult to operate the locker facility of joint account along with the Pasumpon Thevar Ninaivalayam and receive the golden armour that has been kept in the locker facility of the respondent bank.

This Court is of the view that since the armour was directed to be placed on the deity coupled with an obligation in MoU that the said gold armour will be received by the treasurer of AIADMK party and the third respondent who would operate the said account and redeposit the same with Bank is certainly not possible as there is a claim and counter claim by A and B parties.

At the same time, the court observed that celebrations and the adorning of the golden armour could not be stopped just because of rival claims between the parties.

That apart, in the given situation, the Court also has to look into the aspect of holding the customary event by celebrating the occasion and also the adorning of gold armour on the deity (Guru Pooja) should not be stopped merely because there is a dispute between two factions namely A and B party of AIADMK.

The 13kg golden armour was donated in 2014 by Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Late J Jayalalitha on behalf of the AIADMK party to decorate the statue of freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar during his birth anniversary celebrations which is celebrated between 27th and 30th October. 

The armour was kept in a locker and the account was jointly managed by the AIADMK party and the Pasumpon Thevar Ninaivalayam. Presently, since there are ongoing disputes with regard to leadership in the party, it has become difficult to receive the armour from the locker facility. 

Thus, the court directed the bank to accept the signature of the trust alone and further directed the DRO of Ramnad District to sign and receive the armour and take it to the venue of celebration.

Since the DRO, Ramnad District could not physically receive armour on the same day, the court directed the DRO, Madurai District to take possession of the armour. The court also directed the police to provide required protection.

The court also directed both OPS and EPS factions not to interfere in the process of receiving, adorning and redepositing the armour.

Case Title: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam v The Branch Manager, Bank of India and others

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Mad) 443

Case No: WMP(MD) No.18242 of 2022 in WMP(MD) No.18507 of 2022 in WP(MD) No.24134 of 2022