Madras High Court conducts late night hearing at Ambedkar Jayanti gathering site to ensure basic amenities

Justice SM Subramaniam of the Madras High Court on Friday, April 12, conducted an urgent late night hearing on a petition filed by a lawyer seeking basic facilities at a gathering to commemorate Ambedkar Jayanti..The judge personally inspected the site where the gathering was scheduled to take place and conducted the hearing at the site itself, at around 11:30 PM. In its order, the Court recorded the State government's submission that it will provide such facilities..The urgent plea was moved by lawyer K Senthamizhselvi and one Niranjan Vijayan seeking directions to the State government to make arrangements and provide basic amenities at the Ambedkar Memorial and Library in the RA Puram area in Chennai..Appearing for Senthamizhselvi, Senior Advocate R Vaigai said that while the government had earlier agreed to provide facilities such as drinking water for the participants and ramps for the physically disabled, no such facilities had been provided till late evening on April 12. He said that last year too, the State had failed to provide such services.It was then that Justice Subramaniam decided to personally inspect the site..Senthamizhselvi also sought directions to the State to permit him to display some books and speeches of Dr Ambedkar that had been published by a particular publishing house. Additional Advocate General J Ravindran, who appeared for the State government, assured the Court that facilities will be extended this year.He, however, said that the State cannot permit display of books by just one particular publishing house.Justice Subramaniam recorded the State's submission and directed the petitioners to make a separate representation to the authorities concerning the display of books.."Regarding the claim of the petitioner to provide space/individualstall to display their publications, the same cannot be granted by this Court since an administrative decision has been taken by the Government, not to grant permission to the individual persons to occupy separate space for promoting their publications. Regarding the books, authored or published by the petitioners, they are at liberty to approach the competent authoritiesfor displaying the same in the library by following the procedures ascontemplated. The authorities competent are bound to take uniformdecision in respect of the requests made for displaying of publications in public places," the High Court said.As per the lawyers, the event was held as planned on April 14. .[Read Order]