VSK TN
MORE
THAN 35000 SWAYAMSEVAKS/WELL-WISHERS COURT ARREST
THAN 35000 SWAYAMSEVAKS/WELL-WISHERS COURT ARREST
PERMISSION
DENIED FOR RSS ROUTE MARCH IN UNIFORM DESPITE MADRAS HIGH COURT DIRECTIVE
DENIED FOR RSS ROUTE MARCH IN UNIFORM DESPITE MADRAS HIGH COURT DIRECTIVE
COLONIAL
HANGOVER CONTINUES IN TAMILNADU
HANGOVER CONTINUES IN TAMILNADU
In
an unprecedented Sangh history of RSS Tamilnadu, thousands of Swayamsevaks/well-wishers
including women (even transgenders) courted arrest on 9th November
2014 in all district headquarters of Tamilnadu as permission was denied for
taking out Route March with Sangh Uniform, despite court order. In all the district headquarters of Tamilnadu
Route Marches were planned to mark the beginning of celebrations of 1000th
Coronation Year of King Rajendra Chola. Permission
was sought from Police for taking out Route Marches. As Police refused permission in 7 centres, a
writ was filed in Madras High Court and the Hon’ble High Court passed orders
directing the Police to grant permission to RSS to take out procession in the
routes specified and to hold public meeting in the places earmarked with such
reasonable restrictions as they deem fit and proper. Instead of denying permission, the Police
laid the following restrictions for
taking out the procession.
an unprecedented Sangh history of RSS Tamilnadu, thousands of Swayamsevaks/well-wishers
including women (even transgenders) courted arrest on 9th November
2014 in all district headquarters of Tamilnadu as permission was denied for
taking out Route March with Sangh Uniform, despite court order. In all the district headquarters of Tamilnadu
Route Marches were planned to mark the beginning of celebrations of 1000th
Coronation Year of King Rajendra Chola. Permission
was sought from Police for taking out Route Marches. As Police refused permission in 7 centres, a
writ was filed in Madras High Court and the Hon’ble High Court passed orders
directing the Police to grant permission to RSS to take out procession in the
routes specified and to hold public meeting in the places earmarked with such
reasonable restrictions as they deem fit and proper. Instead of denying permission, the Police
laid the following restrictions for
taking out the procession.
1)
The procession and the public meeting
should not be conducted in uniform resembling that of armed forces of the union
or police forces.
The procession and the public meeting
should not be conducted in uniform resembling that of armed forces of the union
or police forces.
2)
The members of the procession should not
carry any lathi/stick or any other offensive weapons with them at the time of
the procession and public meeting.
The members of the procession should not
carry any lathi/stick or any other offensive weapons with them at the time of
the procession and public meeting.
3)
The members of the procession should not
carry band/drum/musical instruments while going in procession or conducting a
public meeting.
The members of the procession should not
carry band/drum/musical instruments while going in procession or conducting a
public meeting.
Immediately,
the Advocate, representing RSS, issued a notice to the Secretary to Home
Department, Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police stating that
any attempt made by the authorities misinterpreting the order of the Hon’ble
High Court especially para 20 would attract contempt proceedings.
the Advocate, representing RSS, issued a notice to the Secretary to Home
Department, Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police stating that
any attempt made by the authorities misinterpreting the order of the Hon’ble
High Court especially para 20 would attract contempt proceedings.
The
Hon’ble High Court had stated regarding Sangh Uniform as follows:
Hon’ble High Court had stated regarding Sangh Uniform as follows:
“Arguments were advanced on both sides on
the question as to whether the Khaki half-trouser and the white shirt worn by
the volunteers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, resemble the uniform of the
armed forces of the Union of the police force.
Apart from the fact that no member of the police force today wear
half-trousers, the question is of no relevance to the cases on hand, since
Section 41-A does not deal with the holding of processions but it deals only
with drill, training or assembly. It is
claimed that the Uniform that the volunteers wear, was designed way back in
1920s. Therefore, the Respondents appear
to have raised a bogey, in the form of such an objection and they have taken
recourse to a wrong provision of law.
Hence, on a pure and simple question of law, the impugned orders are
liable to be set aside.”
the question as to whether the Khaki half-trouser and the white shirt worn by
the volunteers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, resemble the uniform of the
armed forces of the Union of the police force.
Apart from the fact that no member of the police force today wear
half-trousers, the question is of no relevance to the cases on hand, since
Section 41-A does not deal with the holding of processions but it deals only
with drill, training or assembly. It is
claimed that the Uniform that the volunteers wear, was designed way back in
1920s. Therefore, the Respondents appear
to have raised a bogey, in the form of such an objection and they have taken
recourse to a wrong provision of law.
Hence, on a pure and simple question of law, the impugned orders are
liable to be set aside.”
In spite of the notice the Police
authorities have uniformly denied permission for taking out Route Marches in
Tamilnadu in Sangh Uniform. Therefore,
RSS has decided to defy the restriction of wearing of uniform and proceed with
Route Marches as planned. It is
pertinent to state here that the Sangh has agreed for other restrictions
imposed by the Police. As a result, the
Swayamsevaks/well-wishers including women courted arrest in all district
headquarters aggregating a total of more than 35000. There has been
unprecedented response from the well-wishers and women for courting
arrest.
authorities have uniformly denied permission for taking out Route Marches in
Tamilnadu in Sangh Uniform. Therefore,
RSS has decided to defy the restriction of wearing of uniform and proceed with
Route Marches as planned. It is
pertinent to state here that the Sangh has agreed for other restrictions
imposed by the Police. As a result, the
Swayamsevaks/well-wishers including women courted arrest in all district
headquarters aggregating a total of more than 35000. There has been
unprecedented response from the well-wishers and women for courting
arrest.
Particularly in Chennai where the
total participants was 8000 including women and well-wishers, the enthusiasm
was so high that all came out voluntarily and got arrested.
total participants was 8000 including women and well-wishers, the enthusiasm
was so high that all came out voluntarily and got arrested.
Despite being a massive public
programme in 36 places, the Sangh discipline was maintained fully and totally
incident free.
programme in 36 places, the Sangh discipline was maintained fully and totally
incident free.
Colonial Hangover:
Permission for RSS route march has been
denied for a long time in Tamilnadu with the Police taking shelter under laws
enacted by the British Government viz., Section 41-A of Chennai City Police Act
and Section 30(2) of Police Act, 1861. However, both these acts provided only
for regulation and not prohibition. This
has been clearly pointed out by the Hon’ble Judge himself. In certain districts the Police have laid
conditions that the processionists should not even raise slogans like ‘Vande
Mataram’, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ etc ., a clear case of Colonial hangover.
denied for a long time in Tamilnadu with the Police taking shelter under laws
enacted by the British Government viz., Section 41-A of Chennai City Police Act
and Section 30(2) of Police Act, 1861. However, both these acts provided only
for regulation and not prohibition. This
has been clearly pointed out by the Hon’ble Judge himself. In certain districts the Police have laid
conditions that the processionists should not even raise slogans like ‘Vande
Mataram’, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ etc ., a clear case of Colonial hangover.
Further Course of Action:
It
has been decided to file a Contempt of Court petition in Chennai High Court and
proceed legally.
has been decided to file a Contempt of Court petition in Chennai High Court and
proceed legally.
