Tamil Nadu Government has permitted Nadigar Sangam office-bearers to continue in office without elections, Madras High Court told

Tamil Nadu grants Nadigar Sangam leaders extended tenure until 2028, exempting them from mandatory elections, Madras High Court confirms.

South Indian Artistes Association (popularly known as Nadigar Sangam) has informed the Madras High Court that a Government Order (G.O.) was issued as early as October 14, 2025, permitting actors M. Nasser, Karunaas, ‘Poochi’ S. Murugan, Vishal Krishna and S. Karthi to continue as its office-bearers till March 19, 2028.

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Appearing before Justice A.D. Maria Clete, who was seized of a civil suit filed by one of the members against the continuation of the office-bearers elected in 2022, the Nadigar Sangam counsel Krishna Ravindran recently said that the government had granted a special exemption from conducting elections for the association.

According to the G.O. issued by the Registration department, the Nadigar Sangam had been in existence since November 15, 1952 after being registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. It was now governed under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975.

The records related to the association were being maintained at the South Chennai District Registrar’s office since the creation of the office in 1974 and as per the annual report 2023-24 submitted by the association before the district registrar’s office, around 3,000 film artistes had registered with it as members.

On March 21, 2022, Mr. Nasser, Mr. Karunaas, Mr. Murugan, Mr. Vishal and Mr. Karthi had got elected as the president, vice-presidents, general secretary and treasurer of the association and their tenure had ended on March 20, 2025 since Section 15(4) of the 1975 Act requires conduct of elections every three years.