Vehicle pass not needed for Murugan Maanaadu attendees: Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday said vehicle pass is not needed for those wishing to attend Hindu Munnani's religious conference (Murugan Maanaadu) on June 21, and instead, they can submit copies of RC book, insurance and driving licence at police booths to be set up by police in parking spaces arranged by organisers.
A bench comprising justices GR Swaminathan and K Rajasekar passed the order by setting aside a condition imposed by Madurai police, which stated that vehicle pass was mandatory.
Hearing an appeal filed by Hindu Munnani zonal secretary M Arasupandi challenging an order passed by a single judge upholding the police condition, the judges said no justification has been shown by police in support of the condition. The authorities have neither specified the problems anticipated by them nor demonstrated as to how the condition would quell the problem, they observed.
"We are a republican democracy. Just as ease of doing business is important, the ease of participation in democratic gatherings is equally vital. The authorities ought not to come in the way of the citizens exercising their democratic right," they said.
Moreover, the assistant commissioner of police of Anna Nagar range, who imposed the condition, does not have jurisdiction over the entire Madurai city, the judges remarked, and added that such a condition was not imposed in recent political party meetings in Madurai.
The organisers undertake to extend their fullest cooperation in ensuring that the event takes place peacefully. They assured that sufficient arrangements have been made so that there is no stampede which was witnessed in Bengaluru, New Delhi and other places recently, the judges said and allowed the appeal.
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New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Vehicle pass not needed for Murugan Maanaadu attendees: Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday said vehicle pass is not needed for those wishing to attend Hindu Munnani's religious conference (Murugan Maanaadu) on June 21, and instead, they can submit copies of RC book, insurance and driving licence at police booths to be set up by police in parking spaces arranged by organisers. A bench comprising justices GR Swaminathan and K Rajasekar passed the order by setting aside a condition imposed by Madurai police, which stated that vehicle pass was mandatory. Hearing an appeal filed by Hindu Munnani zonal secretary M Arasupandi challenging an order passed by a single judge upholding the police condition, the judges said no justification has been shown by police in support of the condition. The authorities have neither specified the problems anticipated by them nor demonstrated as to how the condition would quell the problem, they observed. "We are a republican democracy. Just as ease of doing business is important, the ease of participation in democratic gatherings is equally vital. The authorities ought not to come in the way of the citizens exercising their democratic right," they said. Moreover, the assistant commissioner of police of Anna Nagar range, who imposed the condition, does not have jurisdiction over the entire Madurai city, the judges remarked, and added that such a condition was not imposed in recent political party meetings in Madurai. The organisers undertake to extend their fullest cooperation in ensuring that the event takes place peacefully. They assured that sufficient arrangements have been made so that there is no stampede which was witnessed in Bengaluru, New Delhi and other places recently, the judges said and allowed the appeal.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
HC sets aside condition to obtain vehicle passes from district police
Madurai: Madras high court on Friday set aside the condition imposed by Madurai city police to obtain vehicle passes for participation in the Lord Murugan devotees conference, saying the right to movement throughout the territory of India is guaranteed to all citizens under Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution. The court modified the order of a single bench in this regard. The court was hearing an appeal filed by Hindu Munnani functionary M Arasupandi challenging a condition imposed by a single bench. The petitioner had earlier filed another petition challenging certain conditions imposed by the city police while permitting the conference. The single bench had refused to interfere with the condition requiring participants to obtain passes for vehicles from the concerned district police. Aggrieved by the condition, the petitioner moved Supreme Court. The petition was disposed of as withdrawn on the petitioner's request, following which he preferred the present appeal before high court. Senior counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the object of the state appears to be to put spokes in the wheels and discourage participants to the conference. A division bench of Justice G R Swaminathan and Justice K Rajasekar observed that since the authorities themselves chose to grant permission for the conference, no exception can be taken to its conduct. The condition imposed by the assistant commissioner of police, Anna Nagar, Madurai city, states that no vehicle carrying the conference participants without a vehicle pass will be allowed to enter city limits. An assistant commissioner can have jurisdiction and sway only over her territorial limits. The official cannot issue an order preventing the entry of vehicles into Madurai city. It is open to any citizen to enter Madurai city in his/her vehicle, and such a right cannot be interfered with by an assistant commissioner, said the judges. In the case on hand, not more than 10,000 vehicles are expected, and therefore, there is no need to impose such an onerous condition. The appellant undertook that participants who come in their personal vehicles or hired vehicles would deposit the photostat copies of the RC book, insurance certificate, and driving licence at the police booths at various parking places earmarked. "The organisers assure us that pucca arrangements have been made so that there is no stampede, which was witnessed in Bengaluru, Delhi, and other places recently," the judges observed.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
15 injured as CPM, BJP cadres clash in Dindigul
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