The Madras High Court has directed the police to permit the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) to hold a rally and a procession for the abolition of superstitions and black magic, which it has planned to conduct at Mettur in Salem district on May 30.
When a petition by a DVK functionary challenging the ban on the event came up for hearing, Justice V. Dhanapalan directed police authorities to permit the event on May 30.
Petitioner E.K. Chokkalingam, Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam functionary, submitted that his organisation had planned to hold a rally and a public meeting against superstitions including black magic at Mettur on May 30 and their representation to police authorities seeking permission for conducting the event was rejected.
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The petitioner submitted that over 300 people were expected to participate in the event. He recalled that last year too the permission for the similar event was rejected by the police and was later granted only after obtaining permission from the High Court.
“It is worthwhile to mention that the State cannot plead its inability to handle the hostile audience problem. Its obligatory duty to prevent it and protect freedom of expression,” the petition submitted and sought to quash the ban on the event by the police.