Madras High Court Allows TN Congress SC Wing To Conduct Hunger Strike Demanding Special Laws Against Honor Killing

The Madras High Court has permitted the Tamil Nadu Congress SC Wing to conduct a hunger strike demanding special laws against caste based honor killings. Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy took note of the State's submission that it was willing to permit the hunger strike if the same was to be conducted in a designated area. Since the party agreed to conduct the hunger strike in the earmarked place, the court directed it to make a fresh submission, which was to be permitted by the State with conditions that the Commissioner may deem fit. “The Government Advocate (Crl Side) has submitted that tomorrow, if the petitioner chooses any earmarked place, permission will be granted and arrangements will be made. The petitioner has informed that they are willing to conduct the protest at the Raja Rathinam Stadium in Egmore. The petitioner shall make a request immediately. The Government Advocate shall share the inform this order immediately without waiting for a certified copy. Upon the petitioner making request, the State shall consider permitting the same with conditions that the commissioner may decide,” the court said. The petition was filed by MP Ranjan Kumar, State President of the Tamil Nadu Congress SC Wing. Kumar submitted that he had made a representation to the State seeking permission to conduct a hunger strike on 6th August 2025. However, the state had not considered the same, prompting him to approach the court. Kumar submitted that the hunger strike would not affect the common public and would not cause traffic congestion. Kumar also argued that the party only wished to protect the lives of persons from caste based honour killing. The Government Advocate informed the court that the permission for protest was rejected only because the places suggested by the petitioner party were not in any place earmarked for protest. The court noted that, as far as Chennai was concerned, some areas had been earmarked for conducting protests. Since the state also expressed willingness to permit the hunger strike if conducted at these places, the court directed accordingly. Case Title: MP Ranjan Kumar v. The Commissioner of Police Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 264 Case No: WP (Crl) No. 499 of 2025

Madras High Court Allows TN Congress SC Wing To Conduct Hunger Strike Demanding Special Laws Against Honor Killing

Upasana Sajeev

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