Ernakulam: In a packed courtroom on Monday, Justice K. Natarajan of the Kerala High Court settled a dispute simmering for months inside the Nair Service Society Karayogam at Vennala. The judge clarified an earlier “status quo” order that had left the society in limbo, paving the way for its newly elected committee to handle everyday functions without obstruction.
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Background
The case arose from a tug-of-war between an ad hoc committee and a democratically elected administrative committee of the Vennala Karayogam, a branch of the larger Nair Service Society. According to court records, elections for 15 administrative members and key office-bearers were held in June 2024, followed by a general body meeting in September 2024. Names such as Dr. T.V. Vinayakumar (President) and K.N. Ramesh Kumar (General Secretary) surfaced as part of the elected panel.
The society had moved the High Court earlier this year after the Additional Munsiff’s Court, Ernakulam, posted their injunction plea along with the main suit rather than deciding it promptly. On July 17, the High Court directed the lower court to dispose of the interlocutory applications within three months and ordered “status quo” over the society’s affairs. That single phrase triggered fresh confusion.
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Court’s Observations
At Monday’s hearing, the petitioner’s lawyers argued that the “status quo” order, meant as a temporary safeguard, was ironically blocking the elected committee from performing its lawful duties. They pointed out that the ad hoc committee had already ceased to exist as per Clause 16 of the society’s bye-laws.
Justice Natarajan noted this practical difficulty. “Though the court had not elaborated on the status quo earlier, it is evident that the elected body, having assumed charge lawfully, must continue to discharge its functions,” the bench observed. The judge reminded that under Order 39 Rule 2 of the Civil Procedure Code, interim applications should be considered promptly and not merged with the main suit.
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Decision
Disposing of the review petition, the court clarified that until the trial court decides the pending interlocutory applications, the elected committee is free to manage the day-to-day affairs of the society in accordance with its bye-laws. The High Court left it to the Additional Munsiff’s Court to pass any restraining orders if necessary but made it clear that the present order “should not tie the hands” of the democratically chosen team.
With this, months of internal uncertainty inside the Vennala unit of the Nair Service Society may ease, at least until the lower court issues its final word on the interim injunction.
Case: Nair Service Society Karayogam Vennala vs. Karayogam Registrar & Others
Case Type: Review Petition No. 979 of 2025
Date of Judgment: 29 September 2025