Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Dispute over `manimandapam' inauguration solved

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, SEPT. 4. The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court today solved the dispute over the inauguration of a `manimandapam' for the late, P. K. Mookiah Thevar, at Usilampatti.

The conciliatory efforts, made by Mr. Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla to solve the differences over the inauguration between different factions of the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), bore fruit.

The court ordered that the inauguration take place at 5 p.m. on September 5. The judge also made sure that every faction was honoured in the celebrations.

L. Santhanam, MLA, and general secretary, AIFB (Tamil Nadu State Committee), approached the court, seeking to quash the Usilampattti Tahsildar's order, banning the inauguration of the `manimandapam' till September 11. The Tahsildar slapped the ban, fearing a threat to public peace, as there was no consensus on the date among the factions.

Arguing for the petitioner, N. Ananthapadmanabhan said his client completed the construction after the death of P.N. Vallarasu, who had left it unfinished. "Vallarasu was expelled from the party in 2001 and he started another faction and later died. Hence, he has nothing to do with our party. My client who completed the project is entitled to inaugurate the `mandapam', as scheduled by us on September 5," he said.

T. K. Gopalan, appearing for P.V. Kathiresan, general secretary, AIFB (Vallarasu), contended that it was Vallarasu who completed 90 per cent of the work. "Since the `manimandapam' is located inside the Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar College, the Kallar Kalvi Kazhagam, which administers the college, has to grant permission for the ceremony. They have granted us permission for the inauguration on September 4. As the other party has not been granted permission, we should be allowed to carry on (with the function)," he said.

Representing the third respondent, K. A. Murugan alias Muruganji, his counsel, S. Kanagaraj, said they wanted to conduct the ceremony even as early as today, if the court permitted.

The judge suggested that they constitute a committee of all the parties along with their counsels and arrive at a consensus. He also allotted his personal assistant's chamber for them to hold discussions. The court passed its order, based on the outcome of the talks. The order made it clear that the leaders of all factions should preside over the function.

While P.V. Kathiresan would deliver the welcome address, Muruganji would garland the tomb of Mookaiah Thevar. A foreign dignitary, invited by the petitioner, would cut the ribbon.

The judgement also said: "All the parties ... agreed to conduct the celebrations without giving any room for commotion, or heartburn among them."

However, the police and the Tahsildar were ordered to make security arrangements.

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