Vehicle pass not needed for Murugan Maanaadu attendees: Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday said vehicle pass is not needed for those wishing to attend Hindu Munnani's religious conference (Murugan Maanaadu) on June 21, and instead, they can submit copies of RC book, insurance and driving licence at police booths to be set up by police in parking spaces arranged by organisers.
A bench comprising justices GR Swaminathan and K Rajasekar passed the order by setting aside a condition imposed by Madurai police, which stated that vehicle pass was mandatory.
Hearing an appeal filed by Hindu Munnani zonal secretary M Arasupandi challenging an order passed by a single judge upholding the police condition, the judges said no justification has been shown by police in support of the condition. The authorities have neither specified the problems anticipated by them nor demonstrated as to how the condition would quell the problem, they observed.
"We are a republican democracy. Just as ease of doing business is important, the ease of participation in democratic gatherings is equally vital. The authorities ought not to come in the way of the citizens exercising their democratic right," they said.
Moreover, the assistant commissioner of police of Anna Nagar range, who imposed the condition, does not have jurisdiction over the entire Madurai city, the judges remarked, and added that such a condition was not imposed in recent political party meetings in Madurai.
The organisers undertake to extend their fullest cooperation in ensuring that the event takes place peacefully. They assured that sufficient arrangements have been made so that there is no stampede which was witnessed in Bengaluru, New Delhi and other places recently, the judges said and allowed the appeal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
17 hours ago
- India Today
In the name of Murugan
On June 22, Madurai played host to a grand gathering of Lord Murugan's devotees—the Muruga Bhakthargal Maanadu. Organised by the Hindu Munnani, a right-wing outfit closely aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the event featured devotional music, ornate replicas of Murugan's six sacred abodes, or Arupadai Veedu, along with a steady undercurrent of political messaging.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Not religion, only BJP alliance under threat in Tamil Nadu: Stalin
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Thursday said that religion was not under threat in the state and 'the only thing under threat in this state is the BJP alliance'. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Thursday said that religion was not under threat in the state and 'the only thing under threat in this state is the BJP alliance' (File photo) Stalin was referring to the conference held for the devotees of Lord Murugan on June 22 by right wing group Hindu Munnani, with the backing of the BJP. The event generated controversy owing to the display of videos criticising Dravidian stalwarts EV Ramaswamy Periyar and CN Annadurai, 'They do not know how to gain votes in Tamil Nadu, so they continue to divide people on the basis of religion and caste. But the people of Tamil Nadu will not fall for the BJP's fake devotion drama,' said Stalin without directly naming the event. 'Religion is not under threat here, as they claim. The only thing under threat in this state is the BJP alliance,' he added. Stalin said that the DMK-led government had consecrated 3,000 temples. 'We've spent ₹ 84 crore on restoring churches and mosques too,' the chief minister said. He also criticised Tamil Nadu's main opposition party, the AIADMK, for remaining silent while the clip criticising the Dravidian stalwarts was played during the event. AIADMK patched up with the BJP this April after walking out of the NDA alliance in 2023 over the national party's then state president K Annamalai criticising the Dravidian leaders. Following the backlash after the event, deputy leader of opposition RB Udayakumar, who had attended the conference along with three other senior AIADMK leaders, said that they would not tolerate criticism against Periyar and Annadurai and they did not condone the resolutions passed at the event. The six resolutions passed in the conference included the removal of the department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) and a call for Hindu electoral unity ahead of the 2026 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. But Stalin was unsparing. 'The party (AIADMK) that carries Annadurai's name stood quietly when he was mocked,' he said, adding, 'The party that has mortgaged itself to the BJP will not hesitate to pledge the state too.' Stalin said that while his party fought for people-centric national issues, the BJP-AIADMK alliance focuses on religion and added that the DMK's coalition would win assembly elections not just in 2026 but also in 2031 and 2036. Reacting to Stalin's remarks, Annamalai said: 'Government officials, police, women, senior citizens and children - no one is safe under this government. Stalin is playing drama every hour of every day and can pursue full time acting.'
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Family values: Court affirms Tamil Nadu's inclusive gender traditions
In a landmark ruling delivered earlier this month, the Madras High Court affirmed that same-sex couples can form families without legal marriage. It marked a major milestone for LGBTQIA+ rights in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. Emerging from a habeas corpus petition, the ruling addressed the case of a 25-yearold lesbian woman detained by her natal family. Her partner sought her release so that they could live together. While securing her freedom, Justices G R Swaminathan and V Lakshminarayanan expanded the definition of family under Indian law, emphasising personal autonomy and right to self-determination. It comes decades after the 2002 suicide of two lesbian women in Erode's Satyamangalam forest after facing societal rejection of their relationship. Despite this, the 2025 verdict builds on Tamil Nadu's progressive legacy rooted in both legal reforms and Indic traditions fostering wider acceptance of diverse identities. The verdict signals progress while recognising the concept of a 'chosen family' under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees life and personal liberty. The court's assertion that 'marriage is not the sole mode to found a family' validates non-traditional relationships and offers hope where despair once prevailed. Despite a section of society refusing to accept gender-diverse communities, every May to July, vast numbers of indigenous gender-variant and diverse SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sex characteristics) communities in south India honour their patron deities at temples such as those for Koothandavar Aravan in Tamil Nadu, and for Ellamma, Bhagavati and Mariamman across the region. These communities enact gender-specific Hindu rituals, which have historically provided sacred spaces for early LGBTQIA+ activism. This cultural acceptance, though not universal, has helped shape a more inclusive societal framework and complemented the legal efforts. The court's legal reasoning in the latest case was meticulous. The detainee confirmed her lesbian identity and desire to live with her partner, exposing familial coercion. The judges, referencing the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in the Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty case, noted while same-sex marriage remains unrecognised, same-sex couples can still form families. The court criticised police inaction and directed law enforcement to protect the couple, reinforcing the judiciary's role in safeguarding individual rights against societal and familial pressures
