'Not Asking For Total Ban On RSS Route Marches In The State' Says Tamil Nadu Government In Supreme Court

In a hearing in the Supreme Court today (3 March), the Tamil Nadu government has said that it would work out a solution with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) regarding the routes to be taken by the marches organised by it.

It added that it was not pressing for a total ban on RSS route marches but permission could not be granted for marches all over the state in any street or locality because of security threats from organisations like the Popular Front of India (PFI) and in areas like Coimbatore, which witnessed a terror attack recently.

Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who appeared for the RSS had argued that peaceful marches of an organisation should not be stopped due to threats and it was the state’s responsibility to ensure law and order. He added that the PFI is already banned.

The matter reached the Supreme Court because the Tamil Nadu government had appealed against the order of the Division Bench of the Madras High Court, which had asked the state to allow the route marches. The Division Bench had said that conducting peaceful public processions is a part of the ‘freedom of speech.’

Earlier, a single-judge bench of the High Court had ordered the RSS to conduct the march in a closed compound like a stadium.

The case has been listed for further hearing on 17 March.

Also Read: 'State Must Uphold Freedom Of Speech', Says Madras HC, Allows RSS Route March