HC sets aside single judge's order on demonstration on Dec 6

The Madras High Court has set aside a single judge's order directing Tamil Nadu government not to permit demonstrations, rallies or any protest by religious organisations on the 24th anniversary of Babri mosque demolition day on December 6.
Disposing of an appeal filed by Popular Front of India yesterday challenging the single judge's order, justices M Sathyanarayana and J Nisha Banu agreed with the PFI's counsel that the order was against freedom of speech and expression and amounted to curtailing the legitimate expression of disapproval to an incident of demolition of an ancient mosque.
The single Judge gave the order on a writ petition filed by an office bearer of the Hindu Munnani seeking permission to hold demonstration demanding construction of Ram Temple at the site where the mosque was demolished on December 6, 1992.

The single judge had said that the Tamil Nadu government should not give permission to any organisation in future irrespective of religion for conduct of such demonstration on December 6.
The judge felt such a demonstration was "wastage" of public money as police had to be deployed.
The Judges directed Police to consider the PFI's application for holding demonstration, adding that PFI should hold peaceful demonstration without causing any disturbance.