Madras High Court criticizes Tamil Nadu over RSS march denials

The Madras High Court has questioned the Tamil Nadu police regarding the repeated denial of permission for route marches by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). During a hearing for a petition filed by RSS member VG Jagadeesan, Justice V. Lakshminarayanan orally remarked that the state government appeared to be seeing its citizens as “enemies” by refusing permission for processions, including those by the Dravidar Kazhagam.

The court questioned why such marches are permitted in regions like Jammu and Kashmir but routinely denied in Tamil Nadu due to law and order concerns. While the State Advocate General argued that refusals were based on the use of non-notified public meeting sites rather than the identity of the organizers, the judge noted that these repeated denials force organizations into unnecessary litigation. The court has directed representatives from the petitioner's side to meet with the State Public Prosecutor to seek a peaceful solution for the proposed marches.