[RSS route march] TN Police tells Madras High Court permission granted for 3 out of 50 requested spots

The Tamil Nadu Police Wednesday told the Madras High Court that it has permitted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct a state-wide route march on November 6 at only three places out of the fifty places the organisation had requested for. .Senior counsel NR Elango, who appeared for the TN police, told a bench of Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan that permission for such march led by a musical procession had been granted at Kalaikurichi, Perambalur, and Cuddalore.At twenty-four other places, the concerned Commissioners of police and the Superintendents of Police had applied their minds and concluded that the law and order situation, keeping in mind the recent Coimbatore car blast and the prevailing heavy rain conditions in the State, was not conducive for such procession or march, the police said. At the remaining twenty-three spots, the RSS can conduct the march only indoors or in a closed space, Elango said. .The RSS counsel, however, told the court that the police's decision was in contempt of its previous order that had directed that the organisation be permitted to conduct the march, musical procession, and public meetings at the requested 50 locations on November 6. The RSS also argued that it is not possible to conduct any procession or march indoors. It underlined that the proposed event is a peaceful one and there was no reason for the police to anticipate any threats to law and order owing to the route march. Senior counsel NL Rajah, who appeared for the RSS also said that the state police was bound to obey the court's order and also ensure that the RSS' constitutional right to conduct a meeting or procession is not breached.The organisation further argued that last month, the TN police had permitted the Dalit Panthers organisation to conduct an event at multiple locations across the state. It, therefore, asked why the RSS could not be granted permission for its event that was initially scheduled for October 2. .The police, however, submitted that the two events were different and no parallels could be drawn between them. The Dalit Panthers event was held in closed grounds and comprised of forming a human chain, it said. "We have annexed the individual orders passed by the concerned Commissioner or the SP. Each officer has applied their mind and passed orders accordingly. While we have to mindful of not being in contempt, we also have to ensure the safety of the general public," Elango said. Justice Ilanthiraiyan then said that he will go through the intelligence report submitted by the police and pass orders on Friday, November 5, on whether or not the TN police is in contempt of the court's order in rejecting permission for the RSS march at 24 of the 50 spots. Senior counsel NR Elango and State Public Prosecutor Hassan Mohammad Jinnah appeared for the TN government and the police.Senior counsel NL Rajah and S Prabakaran and advocate B Rabu Manohar appeared for the RSS.