RSS moves Madras High Court challenging single-judge order that imposed conditions on its route march

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Wednesday moved the Madras High Court challenging a November 4 order of a single-judge, that had modified the scheduled date and imposed conditions on its proposed state wide route march in Tamil Nadu. .In a letters patent appeal filed through one of its functionaries, G Subramaniam, the RSS also urged the Court to "punish" the TN government officials and the police personnel for not complying with the court's earlier order directing them to grant permission to the RSS route march on October 2. Further, the plea also sought action against the State Home Secretary, the Director General of Police, Greater Chennai Police Commissioner, and the inspector attached to the Korattur police station. On November 4 this year, Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan had allowed the RSS to conduct its route march at 44 of the 50 spots it had sought permission for. The Court had also directed that its march and proposed public meetings should be at public grounds or other enclosed spaces. The organisation had moved the Court seeking permission for the march on October 2. This was initially granted by way of an order passed in September. .However, the single-judge had suggested the change in date and directed the organisation to conduct the march on November 6 and imposed the conditions after the Tamil Nadu police cited risks to law and order situation across the State if such route march was conducted on October 2. "The order of the judge in the contempt petition modifying the original order passed on the writ petition, that too after dismissing the review petitions, is per se illegal and without jurisdiction conferred under the Contempt of Courts Act," the RSS' appeal said. The petitioner claimed that the single-judge did not have the power or the jurisdiction to have modified its previous order passed in September this year, where it had directed the TN police to permit the RSS to conduct the route march on October 2. The plea also contended that the single bench had "completely lost sight" of the fact that demonstrations and agitations by other political parties at public places across TN during the very same period had been allowed.