The Madras High Court on Friday wanted to know when was the last time the Chennai city police granted permission to any individual or an outfit to stage a protest on the Marina here.
Justice T. Raja asked Additional Advocate General P.H. Arvindh Pandian to obtain instructions on the issue from the Commissioner of Police by Tuesday.
The judge raised the question during the hearing of a writ pettiion filed by P. Ayyakannu, 75, leader of a farmers’ body seeking permission to hold a fast on the Marina beach for 90 days in order to impress upon the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board and consequently save the farmers in the delta region.
The petitioner’s counsel S. Ayyadurai insisted that the proposed fast would gain the attention of the Centre only if the protesters were allowed to sit on the sands of the Marina. However, the AAG vehemently opposed such a plea.
