“Don’t Make Politics Out Of Vinayaka Chaturthi”: Madras High Court Refuses Permission For Political Party's Procession

The Madras High Court on Wednesday strongly criticised a political party’s plea seeking protection and permission to celebrate Vinayaka Chathurthi by installing Vinayagar idol and carrying out processions. Justice Anand Venkatesh criticized the political parties seeking police permission to carry out such processions without actually doing anything for the public. The court added that such issues are causing more public nuisance and also added that the police had much more productive work to do than provide protection for such political interests. “Don’t make politics out of Vinayaka Chathurthi. Political parties seeking police permission to carry out processions has become a public nuisance. Police have other productive work to do,” the Judge said in open court. The judge also questioned why political parties were seeking permission for such processions when Vinayagar himself never asked to carry out such processions. “Vinayagar never asked to vary out such processions. He can himself make his own political party” the Judge said while adding that these were his own opinions. The court was dealing with a petition filed by M Rajendran, State Organization Committee General Secretary of the Indu Makkal Katchi party in Tamil Nadu. He submitted that one of the objectives of the party was to maintain the traditional customs of the Hindu religion and to safeguard the interest of the people and as such the party had planned to conduct the Vinayaka Chathurthi festival in Annur Union, Karamadi Union, and Srimugai areas under the guidance and advise of founder and State president of Indu Makkal Katchi. He also informed the court that party intended to light up the entire area surrounding the temple and place loudspeakers in the streets and further conduct games for the children to promote spirituality. He further submitted that the party intended to carry out processions and conduct various other cultural programs. He added that though he had made representations to the authorities seeking permission to celebrate the festival and carry out the procession, permission had not been granted yet, and thus, he had approached the court seeking directions to the authorities to grant permission. The court, however, dismissed the petition noting that it was not inclined to grant permission for such processions which was intended to be performed for a political motive. Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr.S.VenkateswaranCounsel for the Respondents: Mr.A.Damodaran Additional Public ProsecutorCitation: 2023 LiveLaw (Mad) 265 Case Title: M Rajendran v The Superintendant of Police Case No: WP No 26941 of 2023Click here to read/download the judgment

“Don’t Make Politics Out Of Vinayaka Chaturthi”: Madras High Court Refuses Permission For Political Party's Procession

Upasana Sajeev

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