A complete ban on meetings, processions and conferences conducted by caste, religious and communal-based organisations is neither possible nor practicable, the Director General of Police (DGP) said in his counter-affidavit filed in the Madras High Court on Monday.
The counter was filed on behalf of the DGP by TP Sundaramoorthy, Inspector General of Police (Administration), in response to a public interest writ petition from Varaaki of Ganapathy Puram in Tambaram. The PIL filed in the first week of September last, before Dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran celebrations at Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district, prayed for a direction to the government to prohibit performance of communal-based Guru poojas and caste-based rallies throughout the State, based on his representation dated September 3 last.
The counter, however, stated that appropriate restrictions and conditions would be imposed as warranted by the situation, instead of a blanket ban,
as prayed for by the petitioner. Necessary police bandobust arrangements would be made to ensure maintenance of law and order, the counter added.
Effective steps to prevent riots and clashes and appropriate instructions to maintain law and order are issued from time to time and various methods and restrictions are imposed by the police personnel in each district. However, the stipulated conditions were breached more than observed. Effective steps to facilitate smooth conduct of the celebrations are being taken by the government and police, the counter said.