The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Chennai Commissioner of Police to consider a representation and pass orders within six weeks.
The representation seeks to ban agitations, rallies, dharnas and protest meetings within a 100-metre radius of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital here, as they cause traffic jams.
A Vacation Bench comprising Justices K.K. Sasidharan and N. Kirubakaran passed the order on a public interest litigation petition by an advocate.
The petitioner, K. Ashok Chakkravarthy of Choolai said the police permitted political parties and organisations to hold demonstrations at the entrance to the Memorial Hall building (Park Town).
As a large crowd gathered in a small area and participants parked their vehicles on all sides of EVR Periyar Salai, there was traffic congestion from the Fort station to Kilpauk and from Central station to Anna Salai and Pallavan Salai junction.
Ambulances and other vehicles which took the injured to the General Hospital were the worst affected.
Those who were to take trains at the Central station got stranded and missed trains. Mr. Chakkravarthy said there was a huge space available at the Island Grounds, which was flanked by Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai, where demonstrations could be held.
He sent a representation dated October 19 in this regard to the police commissioner. As no action was taken, the present petition was made.
