The Madras High Court on Friday observed that there appeared to be a “game of one-upmanship” between Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu Munnani in the celebration of Vinayagar/ Ganesha Chaturthi.

Justice V Lakshminarayanan made the observation while dealing with VHP's plea for permission to hold its Vinayagar idol immersion processions in Nilgris district on September 20 (Sunday), instead of the dates allotted by the police.

Notably, the police fixed September 20 as the date for the Hindu Munnani's idol immersion procession. September 20 marks the seventh day of the Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations that started on September 14. Meanwhile, the VHP was given permission to hold their processions on September 19 and September 21.

The Court today refused to alter these dates. The judge also questioned why the VHP and the Hindu Munnani, which were broadly part of the same ideological grouping, could not coordinate with each other on such matters.

“It’s all a game of one-upmanship. You want to say you are more powerful than Hindu Munnani; he is VHP,” the Court remarked.

The judge also quipped in Tamil that the only apparent difference between the two groups was the language spoken by their respective Vinayagars.

“Your Vinayagar will speak in Hindi, their Vinayagar will speak in Tamil, that is the only difference! Don't unnecessarily do politics with all this and stress out the police," Justice Lakshminarayan advised.

The State today told the Court that the VHP and the Hindu Munnani are historically given separate dates because there had been problems between them when their events coincided.

The State said VHP had 24 idols for immersion this year while Hindu Munnani had 7. This was one of the reasons VHP had been given 2 days to hold their idol immersion procession, as against 1 day for the Hindu Munnani.

The State also informed the Court that the idol immersion activities are usually accompanied by celebrations and large gatherings. He pointed to records from the previous year, when around 600 people had participated in a Hindu organisation's procession involving 12 idols, while around 500 people had participated in a VHP procession involving 11 idols.

It was also submitted that the capacity of the river used for immersion had to be taken into account and that all idols could not necessarily be immersed simultaneously.

The VHP, however, argued today that September 20 would allow greater participation and sought permission to hold its procession on the said date.

The Court noted that VHP had approached the authorities only after permission had already been granted to Hindu Munnani for September 20.

“If you had at least come earlier, we could have given notice to Hindu Munnani and arranged something; you didn't do that either,” the judge observed.

The Court eventually told the VHP's counsel to “try your luck next year” and suggested that it either approach the authorities earlier for such date modifications or conduct the event jointly with the Hindu Munnani.

The judge also declined to micromanage the police arrangements for the processions.

“I am not running the government, sir. Police requires support," he remarked.

The Court further questioned whether the scheduling of an idol immersion procession warranted interference under Article 226 of the Constitution.

“If they didn't allow placing the Vinayagar idol, we could issue a mandamus. Would people come for a writ even for when to remove it after placing?” asked the judge.

The Court proceeded to make it clear that it was not inclined to disturb the arrangement made by the authorities this year.

Special Public Prosecutor Arun Anbumani appeared for the State Government.