The Madras High Court on Friday, 14 August 2026, questioned the decision of the police under the Joseph Vijay TVK government to deny permission for a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally carrying the national flag ahead of Independence Day, asking whether carrying the Tricolour in a procession could be considered an offence, as reported in Dinamalar.
The court was hearing an urgent petition filed by Ramesh Kumar, Coimbatore city district BJP president, after the police denied permission for the party to conduct a procession carrying the national flag as part of Independence Day celebrations.
Justice Lakshmi Narayanan heard the petition and questioned the police’s objections to the proposed rally.
“Are the police saying that the national flag should not be carried during the procession? If there is no flag, you will have no rights. This is distressing,” the judge observed.
The judge also invoked the legacy of freedom fighter Tiruppur Kumaran, who died while holding the national flag, and questioned why a procession carrying the Tricolour could not be permitted in Coimbatore.
“This is the land of Tiruppur Kumaran, who sacrificed his life for carrying the flag; in such a place, are they not being allowed to carry the flag?” the court asked.
The judge further pointed out that people carry national flags even in places such as Kashmir, where protests have taken place, and stressed that the national flag should be viewed with pride irrespective of political affiliations.
“Even in Kashmir, where protests are taking place, people carry flags. Without political differences, we should take pride in our national flag. Is Coimbatore part of Pakistan or Afghanistan?” the judge said.
Questioning whether carrying the national flag could itself be treated as a problem, the court asked: “Is carrying the national flag in a procession a sin?”
The judge also questioned whether permission for rallies was being granted selectively to political parties.
“There is no permission for the TVK to conduct a procession, there is no permission for the BJP, but is permission being given only to the TVK?” the judge asked.
The court further cautioned the police against acting in favour of any particular political party and questioned whether carrying the national flag could create a law-and-order issue.
“The police should not act in favour of one side. Is there a law-and-order problem because of carrying the national flag?” the judge asked.
The court subsequently directed the authorities to identify alternative locations where the BJP could conduct the proposed procession and adjourned the hearing.
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