RSS allowed to hold rally at 14 places

RSS had moved the court on the basis that its pleas and representations to respective police and district administration for permission to hold the rally had failed to evoke any response. 

Justice B Rajendran, who brushed aside the government submission that procession at this time could not be allowed since civic polls have been scheduled and tension prevails in areas in and around Coimbatore following the murder of a Hindu Munnani leader, allowed the procession after the Counsel appearing for RSS submitted that they were willing to take out the procession in November and not during October, when the local body elections are scheduled. 

However, the judge insisted that the RSS cadre should follow a proper dress code (full pants), not indulge in any unlawful activities during the rally, not raise any slogans that would affect the sentiments of others and abide by conditions imposed by police as per law. 

Earlier, assistant inspector general of police, headquarters, R Thirunavukkarasu sought the dismissal of the writ petition, saying after the death of Hindu Munnani activist Sasikumar in Coimbatore district on September 20, public tranquillity was affected by the violence that followed. 

He said following these incidents, the communal ill-feeling persists not only in Coimbatore but also in Tirupur, Dindigul and Mettupalayam. 

The counter affidavit also cited the ensuing local body elections on October 17 and 19 and how the law enforcement machinery is completely overstretched to contain the volatile communal unrest in addition to maintaining public order in view of local body elections and sought to dismiss RSS’s plea from holding the rally.