The High Court today granted leave to senator T Murugiah to quash the decision of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) which held that his sacking by the People's Progressive Party (PPP) was valid.

NONE Justice Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin, who made the ruling in chambers, also granted leave to the deputy minister to challenge the ROS ruling that the an extraordinary general meeting which elected Murugiah as PPP president was invalid.

She made the order after hearing submissions from counsel Francis Pereira, for Murugiah, and senior federal counsel Nadia Hanim Mohd Tajuddin, who represented ROS.

Pereira told reporters later that the judge ruled that there was reason to proceed to hear the matter despite the provision under Section 18(c) of the Societies Act 1966 which states that the decision of a political party on matters relating to its affairs shall be final and conclusive and cannot be challenged in court.

He said the judge also ruled that the findings by the ROS was a decision and could be challenged in court.

He said the judge directed both parties to file the documents for hearing.

Jurisdiction questioned

Murugiah named the ROS as sole respondent in his application for an order of certiorari to quash the ROS' decision dated Aug 26.

Among others, he is seeking for a declaration that the respondent (ROS) has no power under the Societies Act 1966 to make any decision over the validity of his sacking by PPP.

He is also asking for a declaration that the ROS has no jurisdiction under the Societies Act to make any decision over the invalidity of the party's EGM which was held on May 24.

Murugiah was sacked in May after he allegedly used his deputy minister's office in the prime minister's department to organise a news conference which tarnished the good name of the party and made highly defamatory remarks against the party, its supreme council and leadership.

- Bernama