Justice N. Senthilkumar passes the order following a few applications filed by industrialist M.A.M.R. Muthiah, his wife Geetha Muthiah, and five others

[17/05, 07:08] sekarreporter1: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/madras-high-court-appoints-industrialist-vijayakumar-reddy-as-interim-administrator-of-chettinad-vidyashram-school/article70986015.ece
[17/05, 07:08] Meta AI: *Madras High Court appoints industrialist P. Vijayakumar Reddy as interim administrator of Chettinad Vidyashram school*
_The Hindu | May 15, 2026_

*1. What happened*
*Trigger*: Secretary of Kumara Rajah Muthiah School of Traditional Arts and Crafts (KRMSTAC), which runs Chettinad Vidyashram, *Meena Muthiah passed away on May 2, 2026*.

*Dispute*: After her death, 2 society members – *K.T.R. Raja Karuppan Chetty & C. Chockalingam* – issued notice on *May 7, 2026* to convene a _managing committee meeting_ instead of a _general body meeting_ to elect new secretary.

*Challenge*: Industrialist *M.A.M.R. Muthiah, wife Geetha Muthiah + 5 others* filed applications questioning the notice.

*2. HC Order – Justice N. Senthilkumar*
1. *Appointed*: _“Noted industrialist P. Vijayakumar Reddy as the interim administrator”_ of KRMSTAC/Chettinad Vidyashram.
2. *Reason*: The May 7 notice to convene managing committee meeting was _“not issued strictly in accordance with the bylaws of the society”_.
3. *Bylaw violation*: _Clause 22 of bylaws_ requires _“requisition to the secretary by at least two members for convening managing committee meeting”_. Court found _“no such requisition had been made, and the two individuals had unilaterally convened the meeting on their own.”_

*3. Arguments*
*Applicants’ counsels*: Senior Advocates M.S. Krishnan, V. Raghavachari, J. Ravindran + Adv Nithyaesh Natraj argued meeting was illegal without requisition.

*Court agreed*: _“Unilaterally convened meeting”_ contrary to bylaws.

*4. Background: Chettinad Vidyashram disputes*
1. *Property row*: Multiple civil suits pending over 41.6 grounds of land next to school. Dec 2022: HC refused to restrain construction of 14-storey hospital-cum-commercial complex by Rajah Muthiah Chettiar Charitable Trust.
2. *Management tussles*: School run by KRMSTAC, a public charitable trust. Earlier appeals by _“Kumara Rani Meena Muthiah, KRMSTAC represented by secretary Meena Muthiah, Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy Chettiar of Chettinad Charitable Trust”_ were dismissed.

*5. Court’s view on interim administrators – general principle*
In related _Siddha medical college_ case (Oct 2025), Madras HC held: _“Primarily, courts are not expected to run the administration of private institutions… appoint interim administrators only to address turmoil and restore democratic functioning… prolonged continuation deprives members of right to vote and elect office-bearers… offend the very spirit of democracy.”_ fb0d

*Bottom line*: Due to secretary Meena Muthiah’s death and disputed managing committee meeting call, HC appointed P. Vijayakumar Reddy as _interim administrator_ of Chettinad Vidyashram until proper general body elects new secretary per bylaws.

Want details on the society bylaws or the ongoing civil suits over Chettinad Vidyashram property?
[17/05, 07:08] sekarreporter1: News
Cities
Chennai
Madras High Court appoints industrialist Vijayakumar Reddy as interim administrator of Chettinad Vidyashram school
Justice N. Senthilkumar passes the order following a few applications filed by industrialist M.A.M.R. Muthiah, his wife Geetha Muthiah, and five others
Updated – May 16, 2026 12:51 pm IST – CHENNAI

The Hindu Bureau
Madras High Court
Madras High Court | Photo Credit: K. Pichumani

The Madras High Court has appointed noted industrialist P. Vijayakumar Reddy as the interim administrator of Kumara Rajah Muthiah School of Traditional Arts and Crafts, which runs the Chettinad Vidyashram school in Chennai. The appointment has been made pursuant to the demise of the registered society’s secretary Meena Muthiah on May 2, 2026.

Justice N. Senthilkumar passed the orders pursuant to a few applications filed jointly by industrialist M.A.M.R. Muthiah, his wife Geetha Muthiah, and five others. The applicants had questioned a managing committee meeting convened by two society members – K.T.R. Raja Karuppan Chetty and C. Chockalingam – instead of convening a general body meeting to elect a new secretary.
[17/05, 07:09] Meta AI: *Madras HC appoints P. Vijayakumar Reddy as interim administrator of Chettinad Vidyashram*
_The Hindu | Updated May 16, 2026 12:51 pm IST | Chennai_

*1. What led to HC intervention*
1. *Trigger*: _“Demise of the registered society’s secretary Meena Muthiah on May 2, 2026”_. She was secretary of Kumara Rajah Muthiah School of Traditional Arts and Crafts (KRMSTAC), which runs Chettinad Vidyashram.
2. *Dispute*: Two society members – _K.T.R. Raja Karuppan Chetty & C. Chockalingam_ – issued notice on *May 7, 2026* to convene a _managing committee meeting_ instead of a _general body meeting_ to elect a new secretary.

*2. Who moved HC*
Applications filed by *industrialist M.A.M.R. Muthiah, his wife Geetha Muthiah, and five others*. They challenged the managing committee meeting notice.

*Argued by*: Senior Advocates M.S. Krishnan, V. Raghavachari, J. Ravindran + Adv Nithyaesh Natraj.

*3. Justice N. Senthilkumar’s order*
1. *Appointed*: _“Noted industrialist P. Vijayakumar Reddy as the interim administrator”_ of KRMSTAC/Chettinad Vidyashram.
2. *Finding*: May 7 notice _“had not been issued… strictly in accordance with the bylaws of the society.”_
3. *Bylaw breach*: _Clause 22_ requires _“requisition to the secretary by at least two members for convening managing committee meeting”_. Court held _“no such requisition had been made, and the two individuals had unilaterally convened the meeting on their own.”_

*4. Why interim administrator*
After secretary’s death, proper procedure to elect successor is via _general body meeting_. Since managing committee meeting was called _“unilaterally”_ violating bylaws, HC stepped in and appointed Reddy to run administration till due process is followed.

*Context*: Chettinad Vidyashram is one of Chennai’s prominent CBSE schools. KRMSTAC has been facing multiple management and property disputes in recent years.

Want the full text of Clause 22 or details on past Chettinad Vidyashram litigation?