Madras HC warns Latha Rajinikanth that failure to vacate Ashram school from current premises by Apr. 30, 2021 could invite contempt proceedings

The Madras High Court on Monday warned the Sree Raghavendra Educational Society, the secretary of which happens to be actor Rajinikanth’s wife Latha Rajinikanth, that it could attract contempt of court proceedings if it failed to vacate the premises from where it was running The Ashram School by April 30, 2021.

Justice N Sathish Kumar also ordered that the society not admit students at the rented premises from the academic year 2021-2022.

Elambharathi, who appeared for the society, submitted to the court that the society had arrived at a compromise with the landowners on August 3, 2018, according to which the society would vacate the premises by April 30, 2020. This apart, the society would pay a monthly rent of Rs 8 lakh inclusive of TDS to the landowners.

However, Elambharathi pointed out that while the society had been paying rent promptly to the landowners that is Ch. Venkateswarlu, Poorna Chandra Rao and others, the society was unable to vacate the premises as promised due to the Covid 19 problem.

He therefore prayed that the society be granted time until April 2021 to vacate the premises.

After hearing the submission, the judge said that the society should strictly adhere to the final deadline and warned the society represented by its secretary Latha Rajinikanth that failure to vacate the premises by April 30, 2021 would attract contempt of court proceedings.