RSS annual pathsanchalan , HC directs police and petitioners to finalise route details before 30th
— TS Venkatesan
Madras High Court has asked both the police and RSS to finalised the details about the route march by following the guidelines framed by this Court vide order dated 05.01.2023 and report this Court on 30.09.2024 at 02.15 p.m.
Tirupur RSS mandal secretary M Jothiprakash and K SEthuraj , joint secretary RSS in Dindigul have filed petitions in Madras High Court seeking a direction to police. They appealed to the court to direct the police to allow them to hold the annual route marches on October 6 to celebrate Vijayadasami at 58 locations across the state. The petition came up before Justice G Jayachandran.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that their request is in line with a High Court direction from January 5 which gave guidelines for conducting such rallies. Ignoring these guidelines and submitting applications for permission, the petitioners said police have not acted on them. They said permission is needed a week ahead of the route marches.
The judge after hearing both sides posted the matter for further hearing on 24th and granted time to consider the applications submitted by the petitioners.
When the matter camp up for hearing on 26th., the judge in his order said “The learned Senior Counsels appearing for some of the writ petitioners today reported that Yesterday late night, the representations been rejected on the flimsy reasons just to reject the request and circumvent the earlier orders of this Court and the Hon’ble Supreme Court passed in this matter”.
The judge said that Government Advocate (Crl.Side) submitted that some of the basic particulars, such as, starting and ending point of the route march, number of the participants, space for parking vehicles were not provided in the representation and that is the reason for rejecting the representation”
Justice Jayachandran said “this Court finds that for the reasons mentioned, the representations ought not to have been rejected. As already observed by this Court in the earlier judgment, dated 22.09.2022, the Station Officer or the higher officials could have called the organiser to provide necessary details and completed the process of granting permission, without rejecting it outright. In any event, the learned Senior Counsels appearing for the petitioners state that wherever the rejection order issued, they have already provided the information sought by the police.”
The court has directed that the representatives of the petitioners shall meet the concerned police officers on 27.09.2024 and provide particulars required by the respondent police. The details about the route march shall be finalised by following the guidelines framed by this Court vide order dated 05.01.2023 and report this Court on 30.09.2024 at 02.15 PM and posted the same for 30th afternoon.
The judge also made it clear that this direction is not only for the petitioner, who had approached this Court, but also to all applicants of the organisations, who had sought permission for route march and the said request not yet considered or rejected.
Meanwhile, TN BJP condemned Tamil Nadu government’s attempt to ban the RSS rally and public meeting across the state on Vijayadashami is a blatant violation of Indian constitution and democratic principles. In a statement, spokesperson ANS Prasad said “this move comes despite the High Court and Supreme Court orders permitting the rally. The police, under the DMK government, initially denied permission by citing flimsy grounds”.
He said “RSS, a premier service organization, has been tirelessly working for the nation’s progress and Hindu unity since its inception in 1925. As it prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2025, the Tamil Nadu government’s actions reveal its anti-Hindu and anti-people agenda. The RSS ideology of ‘Ekathma Manava Darshan’ guides global unity, progress, and humanitarian values”.
TN BJP said “DMK government has consistently suppressed Hindu organizations and sentiments, and its police department has been instrumental in this agenda. This move to ban the RSS rally is another example of the government’s authoritarianism and disregard for constitutional rights. The Tamil Nadu government’s actions are undemocratic and against the principles of freedom of speech and assembly”.
Pointing out, he said, “RSS has a proven track record of conducting peaceful rallies, and this year’s event, held across 58 locations in Tamil Nadu, was no exception. RSS’s community service, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and floods, has earned it widespread acclaim”.
Prasad said “Chief Minister intervene and uphold democratic principles by instructing police to grant permission. This would demonstrate the government’s commitment to protecting democracy and upholding constitutional rights”.
