The Madras High Court said on Tuesday it could not frame guidelines on caste, religious and communal rallies and Guru Poojas and it was the duty of the State government to maintain law and order.
The government had to act as per statutes, rules and regulations. The machinery should act bearing in mind the exigencies and other relevant factors, more particularly public interest.
The First Bench comprising Chief Justice R.K. Agrawal and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan was disposing of public interest litigation petitions seeking to ban meetings, processions and Guru Poojas conducted by caste, religious and communal organisations. The petitions were filed by the Social Justice Forum, represented by its secretary, A. Irulandi of Madurai, and two others.
The petitioners said the restrictions cited by the Inspector-General of Police in the counter failed to achieve any objective.
In fact, there were loss of lives, serious injuries to persons and damage to public property during caste and communal meetings/processions and Guru Poojas.
