Madras High Court restrains M Muruganandam from taking charge as Rotary International Director

The Madras High Court on June 26 passed an interim order restraining M Muruganandam from taking charge as the Rotary International Director for Zone 5 (comprising Rotary clubs in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Sri Lanka) for the term 2025–2027, amid allegations of electoral malpractices [Rotary Club of Sivagiri and 2 others v. Rotary International and 4 others]..Justice K Kumaresh Babu passed the order on a plea by the Rotary Club of Sivagiri, the Rotary Club of Erode Central and one, EK Sagadhevan (plaintiffs).The plaintiffs have claimed that Muruganandam had violated electoral norms and the Rotary Code of Policies and Bylaws during the election process. Muruganandam had denied the allegations, and a Rotary committee had earlier dismissed complaints against him as devoid of merit, prompting the plaintiffs to approach the High Court for relief. The High Court, however, found that the committee's decision lacked proper findings on facts. Therefore, it granted the plaintiffs interim relief by restraining Muruganandam from taking charge as the Director of Rotary International Zone 5 for now. .Earlier, Muruganandam was slated to take over the role on July 1, which has now been stalled by the High Court. The Court's interim order will operate for four weeks, it added. "What had been placed (in Rotary committee report) before this Court is bereft of any finding of facts, conclusions and recommendations and therefore, there shall be an order of injunction as prayed for, for a period of four weeks, subject to compliance of Order XXXIX Rule 3 CPC," the June 26 interim order said. .The plaintiffs have alleged that the Zone 5 director election process was tainted by serious electoral malpractices, including unauthorized campaigning, coercion, and bribery by Muruganandam. This was done in violation of Rotary International’s Bylaws and Code of Policies, the plaintiffs, who include a member who was under consideration for the role of director, claimed. Their plea before the Court has alleged that Muruganandam violated rules that prohibit Rotarians from campaigning, canvassing, or electioneering for an elected position in Rotary International.The plaintiffs added that despite the submission of formal complaints, affidavits, and supporting documentary evidence to Rotary International, its Board and its Council on Legislation dismissed these grievances without conducting a proper inquiry.Therefore, they approached the Madras High Court for relief..The Court has sought the response of Rotary International (USA), the Rotary International South Asia Office, Muruganandam, the Rotary International Board of Directors and its Council on Legislation (Corporate Governance. The matter has been listed next after four weeks. .Senior Advocate PM Subramanian and Advocate D Prasanna appeared for the plaintiffs. Their plea has been filed through Advocate N Darani. .[Read Order]