CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered the release of 24 persons, some believed to be Revolutionary Students Youth Federation (RSYF) members, who were taken into preventive custody on Thursday morning. The court’s order was issued so that they could participate, subject to conditions, in Monisha’s funeral.
A division Bench of Justices S Nagamuthu and CT Selvam, passing orders on a habeas corpus writ petition from one Ramu, directing the Maduravoyal police to free them provided they gave their addresses and on condition that they did not indulge in agitation like road roko, road blockade, dharna, slogan shouting, procession, etc.
They should attend the funeral and disperse peacefully. If any of these conditions was violated, the police would be free to take action to maintain law and order, the Bench added. Earlier, the additional public prosecutor submitted the detainees were members of the RSYF, which frequently indulged in acts that affected law and order.
On learning that the students intended to gather unlawfully near the place of post mortem and that they intended to shout slogans, criticize the State and carried posters for the purpose, they had been taken into preventive custody by Maduravoyal police on Thursday morning.
The petitioner’s counsel R Sankarasubbu said that but for two persons, the others were not RSYF members.
They only intended to attend the funeral and would remain peaceful. The affidavit for proper conduct of those detained would be filed. An affidavit has been filed by the petitioner.