Don't consume alcohol at prohibition meeting: Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the police to grant permission to a political party to conduct a public meeting in respect of abolition of liquor, corruption and public demand, subject to conditions, including the one that the party cadres should not consume any kind of toxic substance or liquor during the meeting.

Allowing a petition from A Velladurai, president of Eluchi Thamizhargal Munnetra Kazhagam, a registered political party, Justice S. Vaidyanathan directed the police to grant permission to the petitioner for holding the meeting at the venue sought by them in Pudukottai district on the date to be chosen by the petitioner.

Assailing the order of the police rejecting the application for holding a public meeting, the petitioner filed the present petition.

Police said permission was not granted based on the assessment of ground reality and circumstances, more particularly law and order. Moreover as section 30 (2) of the Police Act was in promulgation in Pudukottai town, it was the duty of the police to regulate assembly and processions.

Pointing out that the reasons adduced by police were general in nature and not specific, the judge said the police was not in a position to point any other reason except repeating the same story in parrot-fashioned manner. “The meeting scheduled to be conducted by the petitioner is for a public cause, viz.,
abolition of liquor, corruption and to look after public demands, which cannot be curtailed by the police and in that case, interference by this court is very minimal.

Moreover, it is pertinent to mention here that section 30 (2) of the Police Act has been provided only for regulation and not prohibition”, the judge said.

The judge said the police while granting permission on receipt of necessary
particulars from the petitioner, were entitled to impose necessary conditions apart from the 11 conditions imposed by the court, which included the condition that the petitioner and other participants should not shout, raise any slogan for or against any party or party leader, any caste, community or creed and the petitioner should not use microphones with loud speakers or amplifiers, as it causes disturbance to students, patients and old aged people during the meeting.