Murugan meet organisers must ensure communal harmony: HC
Madurai: Modifying certain conditions imposed by Madurai city police while granting permission to Hindu Munnani (HM) to conduct the Lord Murugan devotees conference in Madurai on June 22,
Madras high court
has observed that the organisers must ensure that communal harmony is maintained.
The court was hearing a petition filed by HM seeking a direction to the authorities to permit them to set up temporary miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan and perform pujas from June 10 to 22 ahead of the conference. Another petition challenged certain conditions imposed by police in its June 12 order while granting permission for the conference.
The conditions required participants to obtain passes from their respective district police, not to conduct a bike rally, obtain permission from HR & CE department and Madurai corporation, and not to use drone cameras.
Ramalingam of Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam filed an impleading application saying the event is creating unnecessary problems for the common man in the name of religion. Another impleading application filed by Aranganathan, president of Archakar Payirchipetra Manavargal Sangam, said installing temporary miniatures of these temples is against agamic rules for temple rituals and idol consecration.
Justice B Pugalendhi observed that though Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees every person a right to freely profess, practise, and propagate their religion, this right is not absolute.
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There can be restrictions if it is intended to affect communal harmony. "The exercise of religious freedom must be harmonised with a broader objective of maintaining public order, morality, and communal harmony," he said.
The judge observed that the Religious Institution (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988, is available to prevent the misuse of religious institutions for political and other parties. In this case, the state as well as the impleading petitioners apprehend that in the guise of a religious event, the organisers may antagonise other communities and there is a possibility of communal clash.
"The petitioner is organising this event as a religious conference for the devotees of Lord Murugan and for the well-being of the universe.
With that being the object, the organisers of the event must strictly comply with the observations of the Supreme Court and ensure that communal harmony is maintained," the judge observed.
If any participant applies for vehicle pass, the police officer concerned shall issue it in 24 hours.
If rejected, it has to be with valid reasons. The court said the condition mandating permission from HR & CE department before installing the miniatures was imposed by police in a mechanical manner. The condition for permission from corporation authorities is also not relevant, it said.
The court modified the condition on use of drones by permitting use of two of them for covering the events. Since the event is to be conducted near a highway, necessary police personnel may be deployed to ensure free flow of traffic, the judge directed, and disposed of the petition challenging the conditions imposed for the conference. The judge also allowed the other petition and set aside the order passed by the police rejecting permission for setting up miniatures of the six abodes of Lord Murugan.
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