K.Manikandan v. The Inspector Of Police
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 22.04.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN K.Manikandan ... Petitioner Vs The Inspector of Police, Meensurutty Police Station, Ariyalur District.
... Respondent Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, calling for records of the impugned order passed by the respondent dated 15.04.2025 in Na.Ka.No.05/R1PS/2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondent to grant permission and Police protection to conduct Cricket tournament from 23.04.2025 to 27.04.2025 at Kundaveli Village, Udayarpalayam Taluk, Ariyalur District. For Petitioner : Mr.K.Balu For Respondent : Mr.A.Gopinath, Government Advocate (Crl.Side) 1/7
O R D E R
With consent of both sides, this Writ Petition has been taken up for disposal at the admission stage itself.
2. This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the order dated 15.04.2025 in Na.Ka.No.05/R1PS/2025 passed by the respondent and consequently direct the respondent to grant permission and Police protection to conduct Cricket tournament from 23.04.2025 to 27.04.2025 at Kundaveli Village, Udayarpalayam Taluk, Ariyalur District.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has conducted the cricket tournament for the past 20 years without any problem, whereas, the respondent police had rejected the grant of permission.
4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent, on instructions, would submit that the permission sought for by 2/7
the petitioner may be granted with appropriate and stringent conditions for maintaining law and order and also to avoid any untoward incident during performance of such tournament. Further, he would submit that the petitioner has not furnished the required informations and hence, the respondent police has rejected the permission for conducting cricket tournament.
5. Taking into consideration the submission of the both parties, this Court is of the opinion that permission may be granted subject to imposition of reasonable condition and thereby, the impugned order rejecting permission is liable to be set aside. Accordingly, this impugned order dated 15.04.2025 passed by the respondent is set aside. In view of the same, the respondent/The Inspector of Police, Meensurutty Police Station, Ariyalur District is directed to consider the representation of the petitioner, dated 15.04.2025 and to give permission and to provide police protection for conducting cricket tournament held on 23.04.2025 to 27.04.2025 from 06.00 a.m., to 06.00 p.m., at Kundaveli Village, Udayarpalayam Taluk, Ariyalur District subject to the following conditions: 3/7
i) The petitioner and other participants shall not shout, raise any slogan for or against any party or party leader, any caste, community or creed;
ii) The petitioner shall ensure that no untoward incident is caused disturbing the public peace and tranquillity; iii) The petitioner shall ensure proper first aid arrangements by keeping one or two doctors in the venue;
iv) The participants of "Cricket" tournament shall not wear any form of dress showing offending slogans or picture of any communal/political leader which may cause disturbance; v) Songs praising communal leader or having communal overtones should not be played;
vi) The petitioner shall ensure that no flex board or hoardings depicting particular community or political leader is displayed; vii) If there is any violation of any one of the above conditions imposed, the concerned Police Officer is at liberty to take necessary action, as per law and stop such performance;
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viii) Similarly, the Police is empowered to stop the Cricket tournament, if it exceeds beyond the permitted time; ix) the participants of the tournament shall not intake any kind of toxic substance or liquor during the tournament; x) If there is any untoward incident took place, the village people and the organizers of the tournament will be made responsible for the same; xi) The Umpire must be authorized person from the District Cricket Association; and xii) The respondent is at liberty to put any further restrictions or to impose any conditions purely in the interest of preserving public order and tranquillity, so as to maintain law and order and communal harmony.
6. The petitioner is also directed to ensure that the conditions are strictly compiled with and also to ensure that no law and order problem is created in the course of conducting the tournament. 5/7
7. The writ petition stands disposed of with the above directions. However, there shall be no order as to costs. 22.04.2025 Index:Yes/No kv Note: Issue order copy on 22.04.2025.
To
1. The Inspector of Police, Meensurutty Police Station, Ariyalur District.
2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.
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G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.
kv 22.04.2025 7/7