HC dismisses PIL challenging validity of amendment in TN

The Madras High Court today virtually dismissed a PIL challenging the validity of an amendment made to Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act saying organisations should remove the words "Human Rights" from its name.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh, orally cautioned that it will be constrained to dismiss the petition if it was not withdrawn with the cost.
The petititoner P Chellam, Founder Trustee of Human Rights Organization (World Awareness Centre) in Dindigul district, then withdrew the petition.
"Merely because of some inconvenience caused to some individuals, the very validity of the law cannot be challenged", the judges said.

The petitioner submitted that based on the the amendment, police and other authorities are "harassing' the organisations and its members which, he said, was "unconstitutional."
In January 2010, the government had amended Tamil Nadu State Societies Registration Act, 1975, saying any society registered by the name containing the words "Human Rights" shall within six months change the name by deleting the words human rights.

Justice N Kirubakaran had on February 16, this year vide an order called for the details of the Human Rights Forums and directed the state government to crack the whip on associations misusing their status.
Till Justice Kirubakaran's order came last month, the compliance level was poor.

Now, facing action, they have started approaching courts looking for judicial relief.
In his petition, Chellam said while the amendment had been made in the Societies Registration Act, his forum was Indian Trust Act, which was no way connected or relevant to the 'arbitrary and unfair amendment'.