The introduction of a weather forecast guide for this year by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, based on the almanac, has kicked up a controversy.
Without going into the question whether the contents of the almanac were scientific or not, the Madras High Court has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Coimbatore, to consider a representation of the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam to stage a protest.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian passed the order, disposing of a petition filed by Iniyan Ma. Nehrudhasu, president of the DVK, Coimbatore city. The petitioner said a request to stage a protest in front of the university on November 17 was rejected by the police.
The judge said the guide carried details of the dates when various districts of Tamil Nadu would receive rainfall. The petitioner’s stand was that he would not have any objection had the predictions been made on the basis of satellite images. But they were based on almanac, and it was irrational.
Mr. Justice Ramasubramanian said that whether the contents of the almanac were scientific or unscientific was a larger debate. It could be seen that the petitioner merely wanted to propagate rationalistic ideas. There could not be any objection in view of the fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.
