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HC directs TN govt, police not to allow mass protests, gatherings till April 21
The Madras High Court on Friday said no to protests or mass gatherings in the state to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus while hearing a batch of pleas filed by supporters of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests and those who oppose the protests.
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Chennai
Advocate PC Saranya moved a fresh plea in addition to the batch of petitions before a division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy seeking action against Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) for organising ‘fill the jails’ protest near the High Court campus against the advice of the government to avoid mass gatheringsrecently.
State public prosecutor A Natarajan submitted a copy of a circular issued by the Health Department that DGP has been instructed to not give permissions for mass gatherings and advise the public to avoid crowding in public places.
Recording the submissions, the bench said, “We are more concerned with the present scenario wherein a pandemic has set in. Central and state governments have taken adequate measures to control the spread of the virus. Even this court, has taken certain measures. Therefore, in the light of the larger interest, we are inclined to direct that there shall not be any protests, processions and demonstrations till the threat of coronavirus abates.”
The court added that if any protests or mass gatherings were going on now, the authorities shall take appropriate steps to stop the protests and made it clear that restriction is not to any particular group of persons but applicable to all.
Noting that spread of coronavirus shall not differentiate the nature of gatherings, the bench said the state government may issue appropriate advisories not to have any functions during the interregnum and regarding the upcoming scheduled marriages by people are concerned, the state may give an advisory requesting the parties either to consider postponement or reduce the gatherings. The court then posted the pleas to April 21.
Earlier, PIL petitioners who were seeking to stall anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests in Tamil Nadu argued that making children participate in the protest is a punishable offence. “Section 83 (2) of the Juvenile Justice Act says that bringing children to protests is a punishable offence which attracts imprisonment up to seven years with a maximum penalty of Rs 5 lakh,” said senior advocate S Prabakaran, who appeared for a petitioner seeking tostall the protest.
PIL seeks anti-COVID-19 kits, Rs 15,000 for ration cardholders across state
A PIL has been moved in the Madras High Court seeking to direct the Chief Secretary to make a monthly payment of Rs 15,000 to all ration cardholders due to coronavirus threat. The petition was filed by one Ramesh Umapathy. He petitioned that due to the outbreak of a global pandemic, the government should make door to door delivery of hand sanitizers or soaps and facial masks to all ration cardholders.
He submitted that the state must provide for the basic needs of the general public such as three layers face mask, soaps and provisions to the below poverty line people and above the poverty line. Noting that Kerala has announced a revival package for about Rs 20,000 crore to overcome the crisis, he approached the court under Article 226 of the Constitution to issue a direction to the government. The petition is likely to be taken up before Justice MM Sundaresh on Monday.
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