On 6 November, the Supreme Court permitted the RSS to take out its marches across Tamil Nadu on 19 or 26 November.
RSS route march. (SuryahSG/ X)
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) took out marches in several parts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, 19 November. A large number of workers of the outfit took part in the marches.
After the state government had denied permission for the route march, the RSS approached the Madras High Court.
When the high court granted permission for the march, the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court. It said in its petition that the high court while allowing the marches by the RSS, did not consider its history of violent incidents.
On 6 November, the Supreme Court permitted the RSS to take out marches across Tamil Nadu on 19 or 26 November.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying L Murugan took part in the rally, an RSS spokesperson said.
BJP state secretary SG Suryah was among several office-bearers of the party who participated.
Chennai, Erode, Namakkal, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Karaikudi and Kaninyakumari were among the districts where the RSS held its rallies. The organisation took out route marches in 53 towns, including three locations in Chennai, the spokesperson added.
In a social media post, Suryah said the marches have been held by the RSS, overcoming the “conspiracies” of the DMK regime.
At #RSS Pathasanchalan in #Chennai. 🚩
தி.மு.க அரசின் சூழ்ச்சிகளை முறியடித்து தமிழகம் முழுக்க 55 இடங்களில் ஆயிரக்கணக்கானோருடன் பிரம்மாண்டமாக நடைபெற்றுள்ளது.
தமிழக காவல்துறைக்கு நன்றி. நாளை #BJP ஆட்சியில் இன்னும் பிரம்மாண்டமாக நடக்கும் அப்போது நீங்கள்… pic.twitter.com/X7Sr3HG54B
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) November 19, 2023
In the course of the hearing, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government and the state police, made it clear that they could not have permitted the RSS marches from 22 October to 29 October in view of the festival season and to maintain the law-and-order situation.
The bench was also told that the initial proposed route was through a crowded commercial area passing in the proximity of the three mosques.
When Justice Surya Kant pointed out that the organisers had left the choice of the route to the state police and assured that they would carry no weapons, Sibal said that RSS marches could not have been permitted from 22 to 29 October on account festival season and similar requests by the parties of the ruling alliance in the state — including the CPI(M) — to hold gatherings were rejected.
Rohtagi said that the police would now permit one route march in each district and not three as has been proposed, stating, “We know their intention. The state is free from communal clashes.”
As both Sibal and Rohatgi urged the bench to stay the contempt proceedings against top state police officers, the bench, keeping the matter pending, posted the matter after three weeks, telling them to apprise the high court of the proceedings before it (the top court).
The Madras High Court, on 10 February, permitted the RSS to take out its route march in Tamil Nadu on rescheduled dates and observed that protests are essential for a healthy democracy.
Setting aside the order passed on 4 November 2022 by a single judge that had imposed conditions on the proposed statewide route march — asking the RSS to hold the march indoors or in an enclosed space — the court restored the order dated 22 September 2022, which directed the Tamil Nadu police to consider the RSS’s representation seeking permission to conduct the march and a public meeting, as well, and to grant permission.
In September 2022, the Madras High Court said that it would direct the Tamil Nadu Police to grant permission for the saffron organisation’s proposed route march on 2 October 2022 at 50 locations across the state, but it also imposed certain conditions.
The conditions included not singing songs or speaking ill of any individuals, caste, religion etc. Participants should also not indulge in any act disturbing the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
They are also prohibited from bringing any sticks, lathis, or weapons that might cause injury to anyone.
The court also said that participants of the march should not — in any manner — offend the sentiments of any religious, linguistic, cultural, and other groups, further warning that the programme should not create any hindrance to the public or traffic.
When the issue was taken up to the apex court, the Tamil Nadu government had told the court that it was not entirely opposed to the RSS conducting its programmes, including route marches, but insisted that certain conditions and prohibitions be followed in sensitive areas in the wake of the ban on the People Front of India (PFI) and bomb blasts.
The Supreme Court on 11 April, rejected the Tamil Nadu government’s appeal against the Madras High Court’s order permitting the RSS to hold its public programmes, including route marches, in open areas in the state.
Pronouncing the order — that paved the way for the RSS to go ahead with its public programmes and route marches across the state — a bench of Justice V Ramasubramanian and Justice Pankaj Mithal, in an order said, “All appeals dismissed.”
On 1 November, the Madras High Court issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to appear before the court in connection with a contempt of court case relating to the RSS route march.
(With PTI inputs)
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
