Vel Yatra: Court criticises BJP, govt for violations, bias
CHENNAI: Criticising both the BJP for violating the law by taking out Vetri Vel Yatra despite permission being denied and also the State authorities for acting selectively while granting permission for political congregations, the Madras High Court on Tuesday granted liberty to the national party to challenge rejection orders passed by SPs/Commissioners.
A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha, before whom lengthy arguments prevailed, held that aspects like these were bound to happen when an issue was decided on political considerations. The bench sought the government’s response on its failure to maintain social distancing and adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in force due to COVID-19.
‘Police must act uniformly against all. It did not happen in the case of anti-CAA protesters squatting on public roads,” the bench held, while the State submitted that police had never given permission to any political party for mass events.
Pointing out the gross violation of pandemic norms in the past three days, the bench led by Justice Sathyanarayanan wondered why the BJP was seeking the court’s aid if it can act on its own and face the consequences. The party cannot point to such congregations by other political outfits and seek uniformity in illegality, it added.
Advocate General Vijay Narayan said permission cannot be granted for the Yatra unless the GO that banned such events until November 16 was in force and unchallenged.
The bench then dismissed the plea which claimed that the BJP State president L Murugan, accompanied by 15 cars and two persons in each vehicle, was merely visiting temples in his individual capacity, but retained the main petition to enable it challenge the rejection orders passed by the respective district police. The plea has been posted to December 2 for further hearing.
HC sought the govt’s response on its failure to maintain social distancing and adherence to the SOPs in force