Tamil Nadu Government Moves Supreme Court Against Madras HC Order Allowing RSS Route March

Delhi (India), February 22, 2023: The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court order that had allowed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct a route march across the state.

The state government, through its counsel, Joseph Aristotle, submitted that the march would pose a law and order problem, and other problems are given in intelligence reports. The plea contended that the state government’s decision against the march was within reasonable restrictions on the fundamental rights under Article 19(2) of the Constitution to maintain public order.

The state government pointed at the apprehension over the disturbance of public peace against the backdrop of the ban on the Popular Front of India in September last year. It further contended that there have been instances of the throwing of petrol bombs and clashes when the RSS has conducted similar events in other states.

The high court had directed the RSS to file fresh applications for carrying out the route march on three different dates and also directed the police to permit the RSS to carry out route marches on any of those dates in various districts across the state on public roads.

The Supreme Court is likely to be mentioned on Wednesday for an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court, and it may seek an interim stay on the order passed by the high court.

The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Madras High Court order that allowed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct a route march across the state.

The state government, through its counsel, Joseph Aristotle, submitted that the march would pose a threat to law and order and other problems as per intelligence reports. The plea contended that the state government’s decision against the march was within reasonable restrictions on the fundamental rights under Article 19(2) of the Constitution to maintain public order.

The state government cited its apprehension over a disturbance of public peace against the backdrop of the ban on the Popular Front of India in September last year. It further contended that there have been instances of petrol bombs being thrown and clashes when the RSS conducted similar events in other states.

The high court had directed the RSS to file fresh applications for carrying out the route march on three different dates and also directed the police to permit the RSS to carry out route marches on any of those dates in various districts across the state on public roads.

The Supreme Court is likely to be mentioned on Wednesday, and the state government may seek an interim stay on the order passed by the high court.