The leadership dispute within the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam has returned to the High Court, with an interim injunction issued against businessman Damendran Amas Gounder, also known as Damend Gounder.
The High Court in Suva issued the order on Friday, October 16, restraining Mr Gounder from convening meetings, interfering in the organisation’s operations or holding himself out as an office bearer until further order of the court.
A meeting was scheduled to be held in Nadi today to discuss the future of the organisation.
The organisation did not hold elections at its annual general meeting last month and formed an interim committee – with current Sangam president Parveen Bala and Damend Gounder appointed as co-chairs.
The proceedings were initiated by four Sangam officials — vice-presidents Raja Kumaran and Kandaswamy Naicker, general secretary operations Govind Sami Padayachi and chairman of the Sangam Institute of Technology Muni Kamlesh Naidu.
According to the court order, obtained by The Fiji Times, the plaintiffs filed an ex parte summons and an application for an interim injunction on October 15.
The matter was heard before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere.
The court restrained Mr Gounder, his agents, representatives and anyone acting on his instructions from calling, convening, holding or conducting meetings of the Sangam and its members or Council of Management on October 18 or any other date.
He was also restrained from interfering, directly or indirectly, with the organisation’s business, governance, management, operations and internal affairs.
A further order prevents Mr Gounder from holding or occupying any Sangam office or performing the functions of an office bearer.
The court also directed that, until the completion of the organisation’s election or annual general meeting, the plaintiffs and other office bearers who held appointments before September 27, 2026, should continue conducting Sangam affairs in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The orders remain in effect until further direction from the court.
Mr Gounder has been given until Tuesday, October 20, to be served with the proceedings after the court directed that the ex parte summons be converted into an inter partes summons.
The matter has been adjourned for mention on Friday, October 23, at 9am.
The interim orders were issued pending further proceedings and do not constitute a final determination of the leadership dispute.
