The Madras High Court has permitted RSS Pathasanchalan (route march) in all 58 places across Tamil Nadu.
This comes a day after the court criticized the DMK government for its unsatisfactory response to not giving permission for the route march.
The Madras High Court criticized the State police for denying protection to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route marches, while recently providing security for the ruling DMK’s 75th anniversary event. The court asked the government to not test its patience and ordered the police to reconsider their decision rejecting protection for the RSS marches.
Justice G. Jayachandran warned that if the police failed to consider all RSS applications for route marches based on court and Supreme Court guidelines, they could face contempt proceedings. This was in response to petitions from RSS members seeking permission for Pathasanchalan and public meetings at 58 locations on Vijayadasami.
The judge noted it was a serious issue that the ruling party was granted permission for its event, but RSS was being denied similar approval.
Representing the police, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) KMD Muhilan stated that 42 out of 58 RSS applications were approved with conditions, and 16 were rejected due to a lack of police resources in certain areas.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that the police should admit their incapacity since the marches were allowed elsewhere in the country. They alleged rejections were for improper reasons, citing the example of Tiruchy, where an event scheduled for a Sunday was denied on the basis that it would inconvenience students and office workers.
Following the submissions, the judge emphasized that the Supreme Court and High Court had established clear guidelines for approving such marches, and there was no need for rejection or additional conditions. The police were instructed to review all applications.
On October 1, 2024, senior advocate Karthikeyan, representing the RSS, informed reporters that the police had updated the court, stating they had granted permission for 10 of the remaining 16 routes, rejecting only six. He added that, as the state failed to provide adequate justification for the rejections, the court ultimately approved the rallies in all six previously denied locations.
The court remarked that atleast from next year, the police should address such matters independently and grant permissions without requiring the RSS to seek judicial intervention.
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