CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has permitted an expelled AIADMK partyman to celebrate the 70th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Coimbatore district, subject to certain conditions.
Granting the relief, Justice M S Ramesh also pulled up the Inspector of Mettupalayam Police Station for refusing to accept the application sent by registered post for permission.
It is common knowledge that representations and complaints are often sent to government officials and police through post. The inspector will not be justified at any point of time in refusing to receive the application sent through post. Such a conduct would amount to dereliction of ordinary duties, the judge said.
Earlier, the Additional Government Pleader submitted that the petitioner G Anandan was not an authorised person as he had been expelled from the party. Moreover, permission for flex banners in 110 places in the district would cause serious prejudice to the general public. Hence, the numbers can be reduced to 50 flex banners, he said.
The judge directed the Periyanaickenpalayam DSP to grant permission to the petitioner to conduct the celebration by erecting 50 flex banners. The banners should be erected subject to the condition that they do not violate the TN Open Places (Regulation of Pasting of Posters and Fixing of Thatty Boards) Rules. It is open to the DSP to impose reasonable restrictions while granting permission for the function, the judge said.