Chennai: A follower of the V.K. Sasikala faction approached the Madras high court to direct the Vellore North Police to grant permission for a public meeting by AIADMK (Amma wing) deputy general secretary T.T.V .Dhinakaran at Sri Kiruba Trade Grounds in Vellore on February 24, to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister, the late J.Jayalalithaa.
Justice M.S. Ramesh before whom the petition filed by N.G.Parthiban, came up for hearing on Tuesday, directed the additional public prosecutor to get instructions and posted to February 19, further hearing of the case.
According to the petitioner, he is a follower of the AIADMK Amma wing headed by general secretary V.K.Sasikala and deputy general secretary T.T.V.Dhinakaran. The latter intended to hold a public meeting on February 24 at Sri Kiruba Trade Grounds to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late Jayalalithaa, for which preparation work has begun. A representation seeking police permission and protection had been made on February 6 to the Vellore North Police, he added.
He said that the venue which has ample facilities for parking is located on the outskirts of Vellore town and is frequently used for conducting exhibitions, religious and public meetings by various political parties. There are no incidences of complaints of disturbance to general public or disruption to traffic caused due to meetings held in this venue. Police has been granting permission for holding such meetings here, but their faction of political party has been denied permission to hold public meetings in the recent past on many occasions in various parts of the state. Though every representation is made well in advance, police do not act on these, and when contacted, give evasive and flimsy reasons. Finally, permission is orally rejected so as to prevent them from approaching the court or cancel the meeting.
Police were clearly influenced by undue factors and biased in discharging their duties. They have been strictly instructed to refuse permission for all public meetings of their political party. Though the present representation was made 19 days prior to the meeting, police were once again evading a reply to reject the plea at the last moment. Therefore, he had filed the present petition, he added.
