Get Jamath nod to put up Ganesh idol, litigant told

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed a litigant to give an undertaking along with a local Jamath committee before the Coimbatore police for installing a Vinayakar idol in a Muslim-dominated housing board ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi as per the rules and regulations framed by the government.

Justice N Sathish Kumar passed the order on disposing of a petition filed by Maha Lakshmi of Ukkadam in Coimbatore. The petitioner sought direction to the Ukkadam police to grant permission to install the Vinayakar idol in the Pullakadu housing unit for the Vinayakar Chaturthi fete on August 31.

The petitioner submitted that no law and order problem will occur as even the Jamath there is willing to participate in celebrations.

Recording the submissions, the judge held the petitioner is permitted to file an affidavit/undertaking before the police station concerned along with an affidavit along with that of the local Jamath to install the Vinayakar idol and conduct the festival at their housing unit, by strictly following the guidelines issued by the government.

Additional Public Prosecutor E Raj Thilak submitted that the area is predominantly surrounded by the Muslim community and therefore there will be a law and order problem.

The judge further directed the police to ensure proper protection upon receiving such an affidavit from the petitioner. “The petitioner shall only install Vinayakar idol inside their housing unit and celebrate the function and there should not be any procession along with the idol,” Justice Kumar noted.