CHENNAI: Madras High Court has rejected a plea for a direction to authorities concerned to reject permission to Muslim outfits for staging demonstrations to mark the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6.
When the Court has granted permission to Hindu outfits to hold demonstrations to press for construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya on December 6, denial of permission to (Muslim) organisations holding an opposite point of view will be completely unethical and unlawful, Justice V Ramasubramanian said on Wednesday. The Judge was dismissing a writ petition from advocate K Gopinath, general secretary of the Hindu Munnetra Kalagam.
His grievance is that the TN Muslim Munnetra Kalagam has planned to conduct processions and demonstrations on December 6 demanding restoration of the Babri Masjid. The plea, if allowed, would destroy peace and tranquility and the atmosphere of religious tolerance, the petitioner contended.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Judge had granted permission to S Elumalai and K Balu, office-bearers of Hindu Munnani, to hold demos on December 6. They challenged the police refusing them permission to hold demos at Thiruvennai Nallur and Villupuram on December 6 demanding a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. The Villupuram police submitted that the places where the petitioners want to hold demonstration, are highly congested. But the petitioners said that they were prepared to shift the time and venue if needed.
Disposing of the petitions, the Judge said that the first petitioner may shift the venue of demonstration at Thiruvennai Nallur to the place suggested by the police, who shall permit to hold a demonstration at the new venue, subject to reasonable restrictions. As regards the second one, the Judge said the police may permit the petitioner to hold demo at a venue and time as suggested by them, without clashing with the permission sought for by the Muslim outfits.