The court has stopped the AMMA ad hoc panel and allowed Shwetha Menon’s committee to continue, adding a new twist to the leadership dispute.
The leadership crisis within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has entered a new phase after an Ernakulam court restrained the organization’s newly appointed ad hoc committee from functioning and permitted the executive committee led by former president Shwetha Menon to continue until further orders.
The interim order, issued by the Ernakulam Munsiff Court on Friday, temporarily halts the authority of the nine-member ad hoc panel formed during AMMA’s Annual General Body (AGB) meeting on June 21.
The decision represents the first major legal intervention in the ongoing dispute over the leadership of one of Malayalam cinema’s most influential industry bodies.
Court Grants Interim Relief
The court’s order came in response to a petition filed by Shwetha Menon, who challenged the formation of the ad hoc committee after her executive body resigned.
Pending further hearings, the court has directed that Menon’s executive committee will continue to function, effectively suspending the powers of the interim panel established by the General Body.
The ruling provides temporary clarity while the legal proceedings continue.
How the Dispute Began
The controversy began during AMMA’s Annual General Body meeting on June 21, when Shwetha Menon and the entire executive committee announced their resignation following growing opposition from a section of members.
Following those resignations, the General Body approved the formation of a temporary nine-member ad hoc committee to oversee the association’s affairs until fresh elections could be conducted.
The committee was headed by Congress MLA Ramesh Pisharody and included actor and former minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar.
Its mandate was to manage the organization’s day-to-day operations until a new executive committee was elected.
Shwetha Menon Questions Ad Hoc Committee
Before the court’s decision, Shwetha Menon publicly defended her position through a social media statement.
She argued that AMMA’s constitution allows the outgoing executive committee to remain in office until a newly elected committee formally assumes charge.
Menon also questioned the legality of the ad hoc committee’s appointment and alleged that certain groups were attempting to gain control of the association outside the framework of its existing by-laws.
These arguments formed the basis of her legal challenge before the Ernakulam Munsiff Court.
Fresh Uncertainty Over AMMA’s Leadership
The court’s interim order has temporarily restored the authority of Menon’s executive committee while preventing the ad hoc panel from carrying out its responsibilities.
However, the broader leadership dispute remains unresolved.
Unless the matter is settled internally or in court, AMMA may face an extended legal battle before fresh elections determine the association’s next leadership.
The case is expected to remain under judicial consideration in the coming weeks as both sides present their arguments regarding the interpretation of the organization’s constitution and governance procedures.
Source: Gulf News
