Fri Jun 20 16:38:46 UTC 2025: ## Madras High Court Upholds Right to Assembly, Strikes Down Vehicle Pass Requirement for Religious Gathering
**Madurai, June 20, 2025 (The Hindu)** – In a significant victory for freedom of assembly, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court today overturned a controversial condition requiring vehicle passes for attendees of the upcoming Muruga Bakthargalin Aanmeega Maanadu (Muruga Devotees Spiritual Conference) scheduled for June 22nd in Madurai.
The ruling came after M. Arasupandi, Zonal Secretary of Hindu Munnani, appealed the condition imposed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Anna Nagar range, Madurai. Arasupandi argued that the requirement infringed upon the rights of participants to freely attend the event.
Justices G.R. Swaminathan and K. Rajasekar, presiding over the Division Bench, agreed with the appellant. They stated that the ACP overstepped their jurisdiction in issuing a blanket prohibitory order covering the entire city. “We fail to understand as to how such a condition could have been imposed by the Assistant Commissioner in the first place,” the court noted, emphasizing that the ACP’s authority is limited to their territorial jurisdiction.
The court further affirmed the fundamental right to freedom of movement enshrined in Article 19(1)(d) of the Indian Constitution, stating that “It is open to any citizen to enter Madurai city in his/her vehicle and such a right cannot be interfered with by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.”
In a strong statement, the bench declared, “We are a republican democracy. Just as ease of doing business is important, the ease of participation in democratic gatherings is equally vital. The authorities ought not to come in the way of the citizens exercising their democratic right.”
Acknowledging the authorities’ concerns regarding security and identification, the court suggested the use of modern technology, such as license plate scanning, to track vehicles entering the conference area. To further alleviate concerns, the appellant pledged that attendees arriving in personal or hired vehicles would provide photocopies of their vehicle registration, insurance certificate, and driver’s license at designated police booths located at parking areas. The organizers also assured the court that measures were in place to prevent stampedes, which have occurred at similar events in other cities.
The ruling is expected to be welcomed by organizers and participants alike, reaffirming the importance of upholding fundamental rights in a democratic society.
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