HC directs police to provide protection to Pattina Pravesam of Dharumai Aadheenam

CHENNAI: A vacation bench of Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Mayiladuthurai district police to extend police protection to the ‘Pattina Pravesam’ ceremony of Dharumapuram Aadheenam which is set to be held on May 22 in the Mayiladuthurai wherein the Aadheenam is functioning.

The bench comprising Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy passed the order on disposing of a public interest litigation filed by Raja Sivaprakasam, a resident of Villivakkam locality in Chennai.

The petitioner sought a direction from the court to the police to provide security for the Pattina Pravesam event alleging that a law and order problems would occur during the procession.

“After TN governor RN Ravi’s visit to the Adheenam, a few groups in the state are protesting against the Pattina Pravesam event. Subsequently, the Revenue Divisional Order (RDO) passed an order banning the Pattina Pravesam of the Dharumapuram Aadheenam. Hence, the devotees wanted to lift the ban, the TN government revoked the ban order. Under these circumstances, the state should provide police protection to the Pattina Pravesam,” the petitioner submitted.

R Shunmugasundaram, Advocate General, submitted that Adheenam has not approached the concerned police for seeking protection.

“If the petitioner makes any representation seeking protection for the Pattina Pravesam event, the government will consider the same and would in accordance with the law, ” the AG submitted.

On recording the submissions, the judges arrayed Dharumapuram Aadheenam and directed the Aadheenam to approach the Mayiladuthurai district administration for asking the police protection. The bench noted that the Mayiladuthurai district police shall act on the representation and provide the police protection.