Madurai
Taking cognisance of the fact that political meetings near residential areas were turning into a nuisance, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday directed the authorities concerned not to grant permission for such meetings and rallies in street corners, roads, thoroughfares and near residential areas.
A Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and S. S. Sundar suo motu impleaded the Principal Secretary, Home department, and the Director General of Police in the case and observed that the court was taking a judicial note of the fact that political parties conduct their meetings and rallies in towns and cities, urban and residential areas, affecting free movement and peaceful living of people.
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The nuisance was experienced particularly during election time. Since the Lok Sabha poll and by-election for 18 Assembly constituencies were to be conducted on April 18 and many political parties were conducting such meetings and rallies, there shall be a direction not to permit those meetings and rallies that affected free movement and peaceful living of people, the court said.
The court said that people’s lives were affected and their free movement was crippled. However, the court said that the authorities concerned could grant permission to political parties to hold meetings outside urban areas, by which life of the public would not be affected. The case was adjourned to April 5.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by S. P. Narayanan of Tiruchendur, who sought a direction to restrain political meetings in public places in Tiruchendur. Such meetings were causing disturbances that affected normal life.
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