In a quick turn of events on Tuesday, the Dravidar Kazhagam advanced the thaali removal event at Periyar Thidal here by a few hours and managed to conduct the programme before a Division Bench of the Madras High Court stayed it.
However, the beef-eating ceremony arranged by the DK had to be cancelled after the stay order of the court was communicated to its leaders.
Justice D. Hariparanthaman, on Monday, quashed a ban order imposed by the Chennai police on both the events. This was overturned by a special sitting of the Division Bench consisting of Justice Satish K. Agnihotri and Justice K. Venugopal at the former’s residence.
As information came that petitioners were moving the special bench for a remedy against the event on Tuesday morning, DK functionaries were quick to arrange for the programme at 7 am. Originally, the event was scheduled for 10 am.
Twenty one couples participated in the programme with women discarding their thaalis and pledging to lead a life promoting gender equality before DK president K. Veeramani. When the police communicated the stay order, DK functionaries asked the crowd at the Periyar Thidal to disperse.
“The question raised in the appeal is substantial and [of] public importance as to whether the fundamental right, freedom of speech and expression and also to assemble peacefully be permitted to an extent of destroying the fabric and ethos of Indian culture causing law and order problem in the light of availability of proper enactment under Article 19 (2) and (3) of the Constitution of India,” the Bench order said and posted the case for further hearing on April 28.