The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Muslim organisations allowed to hold public meeting
Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, Aug 14, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version * Tamil Nadu * News: ePaper | Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements | Advts: Retail Plus | Classifieds | Jobs | Obituary | Tamil Nadu - Madurai * Muslim organisations allowed to hold public meeting * Staff Reporter MADURAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday permitted the Popular Front of India, a federal body of three Muslim organisations from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, to hold a public meeting here on August 15 for highlighting the role played by Muslims in the struggle for Independence. Allowing a writ petition filed by the Manitha Neethi Pasarai, a forum representing Tamil Nadu in the Front, Justice K. Chandru quashed an order passed by the Commissioner of Police here refusing permission for the meeting on the apprehension that it might be used to incite communal tension. The judge said that the fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression and to assemble peacefully without arms conferred on every citizen could not be taken away by the power vested on the Commissioner under Section 41 of the Madras City Police Act, 1888, to regulate any meeting. He said the present case falls squarely under a judgment passed by a Division Bench in C.J. Rajan Vs. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mayiladuthurai (2008), wherein it was held that the court's commitment to freedom of expression demands that it cannot be suppressed unless the situations created by allowing the freedom were pressing and the community interest was endangered. Writing the judgment for the Bench, Mr. Justice Chandru had said: "The anticipated danger should not be remote, conjectural or far fetched, but should have proximate and direct nexus with the expression. The expression of thought should be intrinsically dangerous to the public interests and it should be inseparably locked up with the action contemplated like the equivalent of a spark in a power keg." On the Commissioner's other contention that there would be a very thin police force available on the Independence Day and hence it might not be * News Update * Stories in this Section l "Take cue from adivasis on continuity of culture" l Medical camps for physically challenged children under way l Plan to double samba coverage l Training in short-film making l PGDCA course in evening college l Tight police security for next couple of days l Parcel booking suspended l Muslim organisations allowed to hold public meeting l "Build gallery at 'jallikattu' venue in Alanganallur" l Computer training centre for government staff inaugurated l Special camp for inclusion of names l In Madurai Today Archives Yesterday's Issue Datewise Features: Magazine Literary Review Metro Plus Open Page Education Plus Book Review Business SciTech NXg Friday Review Cinema Plus Young World Property Plus Quest http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/14/stories/2008081461410300.htm (1 of 2)8/14/2008 8:35:44 AM The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Muslim organisations allowed to hold public meeting possible to depute it for the meeting, the judge pointed out that the petitioner forum had not asked for any police protection. It was up to the Commissioner to provide any security. Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail Tamil Nadu News: ePaper | Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements | Advts: Retail Plus | Classifieds | Jobs | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News | The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | The Hindu ePaper | Business Line | Business Line ePaper | Sportstar | Frontline | Publications | eBooks | Images | Home | Copyright (c) 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu http://www. -- 'Trust in God, but tie your camel first' - The Holy Prophet (pbuh) 'Knowledge is better than wealth, you have to look after your wealth, knowledge looks after you' - Imam Ali *** (O Controller of the hearts make my heart steadfast in Your religion).'' [At-Tirmidhi].
