Tamil Nadu govt. denies permission for RSS march ; defies HC order [ Tamil Nadu , India ]

[ Reported as seen ]

On 28 September, the Tamil Nadu Government denied permission to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to perform a march on October 2 citing law and order concerns. The government denied a Madras High Court judgment and continued to stand against the March.

The Tamil Nadu Police said that the law and order situation in the state in the aftermath of the ban on PFI is not conducive for the march. The state govt said that it will not grant permission to any organisation for rallies or marches.

Earlier on September 22, the Madras High Court had directed the Tamil Nadu government to approve the proposed march by RSS on October 2 at 50 locations in the state. A bench of justice GK Ilanthiraiyan had said that the state government must grant the permission on or before September 28.

During the hearing, the petitioners stated that every person has the right to lawfully assemble within acceptable limits and that because the organization has not been outlawed, there is no reason why they cannot carry out their parade. The RSS stated that the march would be held to promote social and communal peace and that no members of the RSS would be allowed to carry weapons.

The organization further asserted that while other states and the union territory of Puducherry had been granted permission to carry out the parade, “Tamil Nadu’s representation was put on hold”.