Madras High Court
R.Kathiravan vs The Commissioner Of Police on 3 August, 2018
Author: D.Krishnakumar
Bench: D.Krishnakumar
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 03.08.2018 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.KRISHNAKUMAR W.P.(MD)No.17444 of 2018 R.Kathiravan ... Petitioner Vs. 1.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai District. 2.The Inspector of Police, C-5, Karimedu Police Station, Madurai District. ... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct the 2nd Respondent to grant permission forthwith and police protection for ?Aadal Padal", dancing program to be held on 12.08.2018 based on the representation of the petitioner dated 28.07.2018 in connection with ?Temple Festival? of Arulmigu Sri. Sakthi Vembu Muthu Mariyamman Thirukovil situated at Mettu Theru, SMR Thoppu, Madurai Taluk, Madurai District. !For Petitioner : Mr.R.Sudhagar For Respondents : Mr.M.Karuppasamy Government Advocate :ORDER
The petitioner has come forward with this Writ Petition seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the 2nd Respondent to grant permission forthwith and police protection for ?Aadal Padal", dancing program to be held on 12.08.2018 based on the representation of the petitioner dated 28.07.2018 in connection with ?Temple Festival? of Arulmigu Sri. Sakthi Vembu Muthu Mariyamman Thirukovil situated at Mettu Theru, SMR Thoppu, Madurai Taluk, Madurai District.
2.Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents.
3.Taking into consideration the facts of the present case and the fact that such programmes are being organized and conducted in every village all over the state, preventing the petitioner from conducting such programme in this particular village will amount to discrimination.
4.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that this Court, by the order dated 24.07.2017, in WP(MD)No.13517 of 2017, passed an order, directing the respondent therein to consider the representation of the petitioner, subject to certain conditions and any other reasonable restrictions that may be imposed by the respondent in the interest of public and to preserve the law and order. The conditions imposed in the said order reads as follows:
(a) the "Adal Padal" programme in connection with a festival should be completed before 10.30 p.m.
(b) double meaning songs should not be played so as to spoil the minds of students and the youth;
(c) no songs, touching upon any political party or religion, community or caste be played;
(d) no flex boards in support of any political party or religious leader be erected;
(e) the function should not affect either religious or communal harmony and shall be conducted without any discrimination based on caste;
(f) if there is any violation of any one of the conditions imposed, the concerned Police Officer is at liberty to take necessary action, as per law and stop such performance;
(g) similarly, the Police is empowered to stop the programme, if it exceeds beyond the permitted time;
(h) the participants of the programme shall not intake any kind of in- toxic substance or liquor during the programme; and
(i) if any untoward incident takes place, the organizers of the programme be made responsible for the same.
5.The learned Government Advocate appearing for the respondents submitted that in the light of the aforesaid order passed by this Court in WP(MD)No.13517 of 2017 dated 24.07.2017 and also in the light of the decision rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in (2001) 1 L.W. (Crl.) 233 [Church of God (Full Gospel) in India Vs. K.K.R.Majestic Colony Welfare Association and others], appropriate orders will be passed on the representation of the petitioner.
6.The relevant portion of the decision rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Church of God (Full gospel) in India Vs. K.K.R.Majestic Colony Welfare Association and others, reported in 2001 1 L.W. (Crl.) 233 reads as follows:
?.... Further, it is to be stated that because of urbanization or industrialization, the noise pollution may in some area of a city / town might be exceeding permissible limits prescribed under the rules, but that would not be a ground for permitting others to increase the same by beating of drums or by use of voice amplifiers, loudspeakers or by such other musical instruments and, therefore, rules prescribing reasonable restrictions including the rules for the use of loudspeakers and voice amplifiers framed under the Madras Town Nuisance Act, 1889, and also the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 are required to be enforced. We would mention that even though the Rules are unambiguous, there is lack of awareness among the citizens as well as the Implementation Authorities about the Rules or its duty to implement the same. Noise pollution activities which rampant and yet for one reason or the other, the aforesaid Rules or the rules framed under various State Police Acts are not enforced. Hence, the High Court has rightly directed implementation of the same. In the result, the appeal is dismissed. ?
7.The application shall be submitted only by the trustees of the Temple or the committee of the Vizha Kuzhuvinar or the organizers of the festival committee before the concerned respondent police. In the case on hand, the petitioner has stated both in the affidavit filed in support of the Writ Petition as well as the representation that he is the Member of the Village festival committee of the said Temple. Therefore, the petitioner is directed to enclose a copy of the said representation along with a copy of this order and the second respondent, on receipt of such representation, shall consider the same on or before 09.08.2018 in accordance with law, by taking into consideration of the conditions imposed by this Court in W.P.(MD)No.7911 of 2018, dated 12.04.2018, if there is no rival claim to conduct the festival.
8.In addition to the above conditions imposed in WP(MD)No.13517 of 2017, in the event of granting permission by the second respondent, the member or the petitioner has to give undertaking or assurance before the authority concerned that there will not be any obscenity or vulgarity in the cultural programme and there will not be any disturbance to the public peace and tranquillity. Further, the second respondent / The Inspector of Police, C-5, Karimedu Police Station, Madurai District, is directed to videograph the entire cultural programme, at the cost of the petitioner and submit the CD to the Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai District. If any violation of the above said condition by any of the parties is noted, the respondents are at liberty to take appropriate criminal action against the organiser and the concerned persons in accordance with law.
9.With the above direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.
To
1.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai District.
2.The Inspector of Police, C-5, Karimedu Police Station, Madurai District.
.