Thread by @barandbench

TN Govt informs #MadrasHighCourt that permission to conduct #VelYatra by @BJP4TamilNadu was rejected against citing various reasons including that they have not respected rule of law

HC has granted liberty to challenge the rejection of permission and kept the main matter pending

AG Vijay Narayan submitted that processions were carried out in violation of COVID-19 norms despite a ban on processions. A COVID-19 GO places a ban on processions till Nov 30. He is prepared to argue on the validity of the GO, AG added.

#VelYatra

Adv Ragavachari for BJP submitted that the latest application only seeks permission for 30 persons with offerings by only 5 persons at a time.

The administration has blown the issue out of proportion, he submitted.

#VelYatra

Ragavachari added: If they are able to permit a political meeting and every conceivable kind of meeting why not a vel Yatra for visiting temples with 30 persons?

Before they point an accusing finger at me, they should see their own videos. Let there be parity in treatment.

#MadrasHighCourt orally observed today that the @BJP4TamilNadu's conduct in the last 3 days to carry out the procession has raised doubt in the Court's mind.

Court said: Permission is not granted. What kind of impression you are creating in the mind of court? If you want to do it, you do it, but be prepared to face the consequences.

#VelYatra

HC also noted that the State does not seem to have uniformly applied GO banning processions to all political parties

HC observed: Your (State's) officials are not expected to act selectively. These kinds of things have been repeatedly happening in other political congregations

The matter has been posted to be taken up next on December 2.

#VelYatra
#MadrasHighCourt