Madras High Court permits RSS route marches in Tamil Nadu

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu police to consider applications for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route marches without rejecting them solely based on the presence of religious sites, traffic concerns, or opposition from other groups. Justice V Lakshminarayanan made these observations while hearing a petition from RSS North Tamil Nadu secretary VG Jagadeesan, who challenged previous denials of permission for the organization’s annual Vijayadashami celebrations.

The court criticized the police for using grounds for denial that had been previously rejected in other proceedings. It noted that public roads are secular spaces accessible to all, regardless of religion or caste. While the RSS had sought permission for marches on October 18, October 25, and November 1, the court specifically addressed the upcoming dates of October 25 and November 1, covering 128 locations across the state.

The state government has assured the court that police will review the organizers’ representations and reach a decision by October 19. The court advised the RSS to submit applications well in advance for future planned events.