HC rejects IMK’s rally plea but allows conference with riders

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday denied permission to the Indhu Makkal Katchi to conduct a rally called "Hindu Dharmic Rise rally" in Cuddalore on January 29. However, the court allowed the saffron outfit to proceed with the public conference.

Justice G Chandrasekharan passed the direction on hearing a petition filed by SR Deva, district secretary, of Indhu Makkal Katchi's Cuddalore unit. According to the petitioner, his party planned a rally and state-level public conference to celebrate the birth anniversary of Vallalar.

The petitioner prayed for a direction to the Cuddalore district police to grant permission to conduct the rally.

When the matter was taken up for hearing Additional Public Prosecutor S Santhosh submitted that if the police granted permission to such events it would affect the harmony and disrupt the law and order.

Recording the submissions, the judge denied permission to the Indhu Makkal Katchi to conduct its rally in Cuddalore. The court further held that if the petitioner wants to conduct the conference, they can do it at a specific time without affecting the law and order.

The judge also made it clear that the conference should not hurt others' faiths and it can be held between 3 PM and 10 PM on January 29. Justice Chandrasekharan directed the petitioner organization to file an undertaking before the Cuddalore police in this regard.