Madras High Court Questions Tamil Nadu Police Denial of RSS and DK Route Marches

The Madras High Court questioned why the Tamil Nadu police deny permission for route marches and bike rallies by groups like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Dravidar Kazhagam. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan raised the issue during the hearing of a petition filed by RSS North Tamil Nadu secretary V.G. Jagadeesan.

Petition Details

The petition asked for permission to hold route marches across the State on October 18, October 25, and November 1, 2026. The petitioner stated that participants would wear dark olive brown trousers, white shirts, caps, belts, and black shoes, accompanied by a musical band and followed by public meetings. Senior counsel N.L. Rajah told the court that the organisation has held such annual marches since 1925, including in international cities like New York, London, Sydney, Auckland, Paris, and Ottawa.

Court and State Stance

Justice Lakshminarayanan noted that if such events happen in Jammu and Kashmir, they should be allowed in Tamil Nadu, adding that police bring negative publicity upon themselves by refusing permission. Advocate General Vijay Narayan argued that the proposed routes are not suitable and that public movement would face trouble during the festival season. The judge directed the petitioner's counsel to meet State Public Prosecutor R. John Sathyan to sort out dates, times, and locations, and report back to the court on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

Context

Courts frequently hear petitions regarding public processions and rallies when local authorities deny permission due to law and order or traffic concerns. Public authorities often evaluate route suitability and festival season crowds before granting permits for large public gatherings.