CHENNAI:THE Arappor Iyakkam, a non-political social outfit, has been permitted by the Madras High Court to conduct its symposium under the banner ‘Uzhave Thalai’ (Farming is Supreme) for five days from Wednesday April 5 at Pandeshwaram in Ambattur taluk, subject to the conditions to be imposed by the local police.
Justice R Mahadevan granted the permission on Monday while disposing of a writ petition from M Chandramohan, who originally planned to hold the event at the YMCA grounds in Nandanam from Monday (April 3). He applied for permission, but there was no order. After seeing the presence of cops in large numbers at the event venue in Nandanam and apprehending police interference, he moved to the High Court. When the matter came up before Justice M S Ramesh, at a special sitting at his residence on Sunday, the petitioner was asked to give alternative venue and date. Accordingly, the petitioner filed an affidavit changing the prayer.
After going through the affidavit filed on behalf of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Pattabhiram, the judge said that the petitioner can hold the symposium at Pandeshwaram from Wednesday to Sunday between 9 am and 5 pm. The judge, however, made it clear that the organisers shall adhere to the conditions to be imposed by the police and in case of any violation, the police will be at liberty to dismantle the structures.