Madras High Court directs Tamil Nadu Police to allow RSS route march on November 6

Madras High Court on Friday directed the Tamil Nadu Police to grant permission to RSS to hold its route march in 50 places in the state on November 6, after the state government argued that it cannot allow any procession on October 2 as originally planned by the Sangh due to law and order issues.

The court also told the police that it would take action against it for contempt of court if they don’t grant permission on November 6, one of the dates proposed by the RSS in place of October 2. Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan gave the direction to the police on a contempt petition filed by RSS against Home Secretary K Phanindra Reddy, Director General of Police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu and others.

The RSS filed the petition after the government refused permission for the RSS route march despite the Madras High Court asking them to grant the nod in line with rules and regulations. Counsels representing the RSS on Friday proposed four dates for the route march after which the judge asked the police to grant permission for the route march on November 6.

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The DMK had on Thursday refused permission to the RSS to hold route marches in 50 locations on October 2, citing recent incidents aimed at “flaring up” communal tension in the state.

The government also decided not to grant the nod for a social harmony human chain to be formed by cadres of VCK, and Left parties in protest against the RSS march on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi. A few other organisations have also sought permission to hold “peaceful” marches on October 2.

The RSS plans to hold the march on the occasion of its founding day which falls on Vijayadashami in 50 locations in all major cities and district headquarters in the state. Though the police denied permission for the march, the RSS knocked at the doors of the Madras High Court seeking permission which asked the state government to grant the nod on or before September 28.

The RSS has always found it tough to hold marches in Tamil Nadu with the then chief minister J Jayalalithaa refusing permission for years together. The marches resumed after her death in 2016 and were not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The march assumes significance in the wake of a massive political push by the BJP to make inroads into Tamil Nadu, where it still lacks a solid base.

Government sources said apprehension of a law and order situation was the primary reason in not considering the permission for the route march. Several Muslim organisations are now protesting against the decision to declare PFI as an unlawful organisation, a senior official said, adding that political parties and other outfits have sought permission to conduct peaceful protests on the same day the RSS had planned the march.