Madras High Court today demanded the Tamil Nadu police lift its ban on the RSS route march set for Oct 18. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan presided over the hearing and said the state’s blanket refusal of processions by groups such as the Dravidar Kazhagam and the RSS amounts to political intimidation.
The judge questioned the police’s logic, noting that the RSS has successfully conducted marches in Jammu and Kashmir even amid insurgency, yet Tamil Nadu residents are denied the same right every year. He said, "If the RSS can march in Kashmir, why deny Tamil Nadu citizens their right to assemble?"
VG Jagadeesan, an RSS member, filed the petition seeking permission for marches on Oct 18, Oct 25, and Nov 1. His counsel, Senior Advocate N.L. Rajah, argued that the denial is a form of state‑level censorship and that the organisation’s founders have been granted clearances elsewhere.
Advocate General Vijaya Narayan countered that the police had refused because the proposed route did not align with designated public gathering sites, citing security protocol. He urged the court to consider a pragmatic solution that balances public order with constitutional rights.
The court instructed the counsel to meet State Public Prosecutor John Sathyan to work toward a resolution and warned that it would issue a directive within 48 hours if the police do not comply. If the directive is ignored, the court will file a writ petition to enforce the order.
Residents of a Tamil‑Nadu neighbourhood that hosts the annual RSS gathering said they feel “politically silenced” by the repeated denials, hoping the court’s order will finally allow the community to exercise its right to assembly.