Police ‘no’ to public meet on corruption set aside

Justice MS Ramesh, on directing the police to grant necessary permission for conducting the meeting by imposing reasonable restrictions, said, “I do not endorse the reasoning of the police for rejecting the petitioner’s request for the simple reason that the police department has been created only for the purpose of tackling the above problems.” 

“Since it is the fundamental right of the petitioner to conduct such a meeting, if at all, the police are of the view that they intended to instigate people and thereby create law and order problem, it was always open to them to permit the petitioner to conduct the meeting by imposing conditions.” 

The judge also held, “Likewise, if the police had apprehended that antisocial elements may infiltrate with the public and indulge in anti-social activities, adequate protection can be extended during the course of the meeting to ensure that such incidents are thwarted. While that being so, the rejection order may not be justified.” Arappor Iyakkam had moved the court seeking to declare the failure of the Mylapore police in granting permission to conduct the public meeting as illegal and  arbitrary.