A division bench comprising Justice M Sathaynarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha before whom the plea came for hearing on Monday ordered notice to both the State and Centre returnable by March 2. The bench also directed the petitioner to include the names of two professors’ named in the plea of instigating the Madras University students to indulge in protest as respondents in the case.

Indian Makkal Mandram, president Varaki submitted in his plea that there has been widespread protest across the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act. But the protest is against the constitution and the law and order problem arising out of this has affected the public. But unfortunately students are also participating in the protests and certain political parties and certain fringe outfits are behind them. Worst is they are drawing minor school children into the protest.

Moreover, teachers with ideological leanings to certain political parties are instigating children to indulge in such protest and hence it is important that students are restrained from participating in the anti-CAA protests.

Also, citing the recent protests by Madras University students in this regard, he further submitted that besides the students, members drawn from Tamil Nadu All Students Union and All India Students Union were part of the in-house protest which lasted for over 36 hours without obtaining due permission.