RSS march in TN | Tamil Nadu govt. files petition against Madras HC order, SC lists case for March 27

The State has filed a special leave petition against a September 22, 2022 order of the Single Judge of the Madras High Court allowing RSS to conduct route marches

The Tamil Nadu government in the Supreme Court on March 17 suggested more reflection on proposed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route marches, citing the example of how recent rumour-mongering triggered panic among Hindi-speaking workers in the State.

The State has filed a special leave petition against a September 22, 2022 order of the Single Judge of the Madras High Court allowing RSS to conduct route marches. The Single Judge had a month later, in November, imposed some conditions for the route march. In February this year, however, a Division Bench of the High Court set aside these restrictions. The State had earlier moved the apex court against the Division Bench order. But it has now filed the special leave petition against the original September order itself.

“Your Lordships must have seen the disturbances caused in the North Indian workers’ issue in the last 15 days…” senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Joseph Aristotle, for Tamil Nadu, voiced the State’s apprehensions about the danger to law and order situation.

“But that politics is settled… I keep a watch on what is happening in the State…” Justice V. Ramasubramanian responded.

The counsel appearing for RSS said the State had in the previous hearing assured the court that it would come out with a “workable solution” for alternate routes for the march.

“Now, instead of giving the proposed solution, the State has filed a fresh special leave petition. This is not fair to the court,” the counsel submitted

The court listed the case for further hearing on March 27.