Tamil Nadu government on Thursday appointed PV Geetha, Assistant Inspector General of Registration, as Special Officer to manage the affairs of South Indian Artistes Association, also known as Nadigar sangam. Geetha will hold office for a period of one year beginning November 6, 2019, or until disputes pertaining to Nadigar Sangam elections pending with the Madras High Court are resolved.

In its order, the government has stated its decision to invoke section 34-A of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, to supersede the committee of office-bearers to appoint a Special Officer to regulate the affairs of Nadigar Sangam.

The Tamil Nadu government had in October argued that the election conducted by the Nadigar Sangam in the state is invalid as it was not held in accordance with the Association's bye-laws. It said so in the Madras High Court on October 15, when the court was hearing a group of petitions related to the Nadigar Sangam elections. Though the elections have taken place, the counting of votes is pending due to a stay order.

On October 5, the Tamil Nadu government sent a show-cause notice to Nadigar Sangam, stating that the Association did not have proper management. In the absence of a duly elected committee of office-bearers, the government also questioned why it shouldn't appoint a special officer to manage the Association's day-to-day affairs.

To this, former Nadigar Sangam General Secretary actor Vishal had said that had the state government not interfered in the matter, new office-bearers would have taken charge by now, and would have continued to carry out the responsibilities of the Association.

Elections in Nadigar Sangam are held once every three years to elect the president and other members of the group. The last elections were held in 2015 and Nassar was elected as the president. His term ended in October 2018. The election for new office-bearers was held on June 23 this year.