Madras High Court questions Tamil Nadu police refusal of RSS march permits
The Madras High Court asked Tamil Nadu police to explain why the RSS’s annual route marches were repeatedly denied permission, despite no record of violence.
During a hearing, the Madras High Court pressed Tamil Nadu police for reasons behind the repeated denial of permission to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s annual route marches. Justice V Lakshminarayanan highlighted that other states, such as Jammu and Kashmir, allow similar gatherings and asked why Tamil Nadu treated citizens as adversaries. RSS North Tamil Nadu secretary VG Jagadeesan filed a petition seeking clearance for marches on Oct. 18, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, proposing uniformed participants, a musical band, and public meetings.
Advocate General Vijay Narayan argued that the proposed routes would disrupt shoppers during Diwali and Navratri and would strain police deployment. Senior advocate NL Rajah reminded the court that the RSS has conducted such marches since 1925 and that procedural guidelines should not be used to block them outright. The judge suggested that if the state wishes to prohibit the processions, it should enact specific legislation, and ordered the petitioner’s counsel to discuss details with public prosecutor R John Sathyan.
