New Delhi, Mar 27 (FN Agency) The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on Tamil Nadu government’s appeal against Madras High Court order directing the state police to allow RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) marches in the state. A bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice V Ramasubramanian, and Justice Pankaj Mithal as member, reserved the order after hearing the submissions made by both the parties. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Tamil Nadu government stressed on issues concerning to law and order and said that some balance should be maintained.
He said that neither everything can be banned nor everything can be allowed. Tamil Nadu Govt said that there is no absolute right to hold a procession, which is subject to various restrictions. How can there be direction that marches can be held wherever desired, the lawyer said. Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for RSS, said that the state is prohibiting the route marches saying that someone might come and attack. He stressed that due to someone else’s specious conduct, fundamental rights cannot be regimented in this fashion. “This has earlier passed of peacefully, no complaints were there,” the lawyer said. Senior Advocate Maneka Guruswamy, also appearing for RSS, questioned the status report that was filed by Tamil Nadu Government and said that can public order and reasonable restrictions be reduced to this sort of status report.
She apprised the court about the status report which stated that RSS processions can be permitted only in an enclosed ground. Earlier Tamil Nadu Government told the Supreme Court that they are not totally against the RSS route march but can’t permit it in sensitive locations. The Top court was hearing Tamil Nadu government’s appeal against the Madras High Court order permitting RSS for its route march in the state. On February 10, the Madras High Court directed Tamil Nadu police to grant permission to RSS to take route marches in various districts across the State on public roads. Recently the Tamil Nadu Government has challenged two orders of Madras High Court of September 22, and November 2, 2022.