V.RAMANA @ RAMAKRISHNAN Vs. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Writ Petition has been filed to quash the Order of the 3rd respondent dated 09.02.2019, rejecting permission for holding a public meeting to condemn 'honour killing' by petitioner's organization 'Tamil Puligal' (Tamil Tigers) at Ulavar Sandai grounds, Trichy, proposed to be held between 4 pm and 10 pm on 14.02.2019 and to direct the 2nd respondent to grant one.

(2.) The 3rd respondent, Inspector of Police has rejected the request of the petitioner on the ground that the details of the speakers are not been given and the subject on which they propose to speak.

(3.) Attacking the impugned Order of the 3rd respondent as an attempt to stifle the right to free speech and that there cannot be any pre censorship of the content of the speech. He fortified his arguments with a catena of authorities where the Courts have amplified the significance of free speech which included: Ramlila Maidan Incident, In re [(2012)5 SCC 1], Home Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu Vs. Era. Selvam [(2013)3 MLJ 513], Thol. Thirumavalavan Vs. Govt. of Tamil Nadu though Home Secretary [(2013)6 MLJ 137], and C. Sakthivel Vs. Commissioner of Police, Chennai [(2010 (5) CTC 134]. He indicated that due to paucity of time to obtain meeting within a day, the meeting may now be held on 22-02-2019.