NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct a route march across Tamil Nadu, by dismissing a plea by the state government.
A bench led by Justice V Ramasubramanian said all special leave petitions are dismissed. The state government had challenged the validity of the Madras HC's order allowing the march.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the RSS, had contended that if its march is faced with a threat by a terrorist organisation in Tamil Nadu then the state government has to protect it.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Tamil Nadu, had said the state was not totally opposed to having route marches and public meetings across the state, but it cannot be in every street, every mohalla.
He claimed that the state government cannot shut its eyes to law and order concerns. The state was wary of allowing the 'march' at places affected by the banned PFI and those which had witnessed bomb blasts previously.
The RSS, however, had submitted that the state government cannot stop an organisation from holding peaceful marches by citing apprehensions in connection with a banned outfit.
The RSS cannot be singled out against the backdrop that marches have been held by Dalit Panthers and the ruling DMK party, it said. It insisted that the state government cannot abdicate its responsibilities.
The state government, however, said it was ready to share Intelligence reports with the RSS containing the apprehension of breach of peace and law and order problem.
The story would be updated after details of the judgement is uploaded on the SC's website.
