The Madras High Court on Wednesday questioned the Tamil Nadu Police over repeated refusals to permit route marches by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), asking why the organisation could hold marches in Jammu and Kashmir but faced restrictions in Tamil Nadu.
Justice V Lakshminarayanan made the oral observations while hearing a petition filed by RSS member VG Jagadeesan seeking permission to organise a route march in the State.
“If they (RSS) are able to have a march in a terrorist-infested place like Jammu and Kashmir, why is the Tamil Nadu Police denying permission to them every year?” the Court orally remarked.
The Bench also criticised the State government’s approach towards public processions, observing that permission was being denied to organisations across the ideological spectrum, including the RSS and the Dravidar Kazhagam.
“This government is against any procession,” the Court orally observed, adding that citizens appeared to be treated as adversaries when permission for such events was refused.
Senior Advocate NL Rajah, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the organisation was repeatedly compelled to approach the High Court after the police refused permission for its proposed marches.
He submitted that the RSS intended to commemorate its foundation day, which coincides with Vijayadashami, by conducting a route march in uniform, accompanied by a musical band, followed by a public meeting.
The petitioner sought directions to the police to consider his representation and permit the march on October 18, October 25, November 1, or on another date considered appropriate.
Rajah also raised concerns about smaller political and social organisations that may lack the resources to pursue litigation whenever permission for public events is refused.
“An organisation like the RSS is able to come to court and seek permission. But what about the smaller parties which do not have the wherewithal to come to court?” he submitted.
Advocate General Vijaya Narayan, representing the State, submitted that permission had been refused because the petitioner sought to hold a route march and public meeting at a location that had not been notified as a designated venue for public meetings.
The State’s position was that the refusal was linked to the proposed location rather than a blanket prohibition on the organisation’s activities.
After hearing the submissions, the Court directed the petitioner’s counsel to meet State Public Prosecutor John Sathyan to explore a mutually acceptable arrangement for conducting the procession peacefully.
The Bench asked five representatives from the petitioner’s side to meet the prosecutor and work towards resolving the dispute.
The High Court adjourned the matter until Thursday and directed the State to submit a report on the possibility of permitting a peaceful procession.
The proceedings arise against the backdrop of earlier litigation over permission for RSS route marches in Tamil Nadu. The High Court had previously laid down detailed guidelines for conducting such marches, but the organisation was again denied permission in 2024, leading to further litigation.
In earlier proceedings, the Court had emphasised that the police were responsible for protecting both the public and the organisers and could not rely on general law-and-order concerns alone to refuse permission.
The present petition, titled VG Jagadeesan v. The State, is registered as W.P. (Crl.) No. 2790 of 2026.
The High Court has not yet delivered a final ruling on the current request for permission.
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