The Madras High Court bench here on Wednesday ordered notices to the Madurai Police and the district administration on a public interest writ seeking a ban on public meetings in Chinna Kadai Street here.
In his petition, Abdul Kadhar Jailani, a resident of Chinna Kadai Street, alleged that conducting public meetings in the congested street was ‘against the welfare of the residents of the street.’ “The street is located near the South Gate. Thousands of devotees visit Mohaideen Aandavar Dargah, and permitting public meetings in the area causes public nuisance,” contended the petitioner through his counsel S.M.A.Jinnah. “Political parties put up stages, use loudspeakers and lights in front of the mosque, which is a nuisance to school students, worshippers, patients in nearby hospitals and the residents of our area. On a few occasions, a few men tried to misbehave with the women coming to the mosque,” he alleged.
The secretary of the mosque sent a representation to the district administration not to permit public meetings near the mosque, but it was not considered, he claimed.
A division bench comprising Justices N.Paul Vasanthakumar and P.Devadass ordered notices and adjourned the case by two weeks.
