Ramadoss vs Anbumani | Madras HC Calls Rift ‘Father-Son Ego Clash’, Declines to Halt PMK Meet
The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition by Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) General Secretary Murali Sankar seeking to stop a General Body Meeting called by former party president Dr. R. Anbumani, describing the row with his father and PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss as an “unfortunate ego clash".
The bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh held that such internal matters do not warrant judicial interference under writ jurisdiction.
The petition contended that Dr. Anbumani’s three-year tenure as president ended on 28 May 2025, after which Dr. Ramadoss was nominated as president from 29 May. The meeting scheduled for 9 August, according to the petitioner, was illegal, violated party by-laws, excluded the founder, and risked creating a law and order problem.
The petitioner had earlier approached the police to block the meeting, but authorities declined, citing that a closed-door party meeting requires no prior permission. In court, Additional Public Prosecutor R. Muniyapparaj reiterated this stance, assuring that police would step in only if the situation escalated.
During the morning session on August 8, 2025, Justice Venkatesh attempted to broker peace between father and son, directing them to appear in chambers. While Dr. Anbumani was willing to attend in person, Dr. Ramadoss joined via video conference citing ill health. Mediation failed when the founder refused to engage in dialogue.
On merits, the high court concluded that the dispute revolved around personal differences and party by-laws, which are best addressed in civil proceedings.
“A private dispute between the father and the son can never be dealt with in a writ petition,” the judge observed, noting the absence of any “semblance of public function or duty” in the case.
Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in S. Shobha v. Muthoot Finance Ltd. (2025), Justice Venkatesh reiterated that writs under Article 226 are generally maintainable against public bodies, statutory authorities, or private bodies discharging public duties, not against private political disputes.
“The parameters fixed by the Apex Court are not satisfied in this case,” the judge said. “Police permission is not required for a closed-door meeting of a political party. If any law and order problem arises, the police will handle it as per law.”
Dismissing the petition, court refused to stop the meeting, remarking that the matter exemplified how personal rivalries can fracture political organisations. The order effectively allows Dr. Anbumani to proceed with the meeting, while leaving questions over its legality to be pursued in other legal forums.
The PMK, founded in 1989 by Dr. Ramadoss, has been a significant player in Tamil Nadu politics, often aligning with major Dravidian parties during elections.
Case Title: Pattali Makkal Katchi vs. Dr.R.Anbumani and Others
Order Date: August 8, 2025
Bench: Justice N Anand Venkatesh