On Tuesday, Supreme Court allowed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to carry out its route march in the Tamil Nadu state. Apex court dismissed the appeal of the petition filed by the MK Stalin government and upheld the Madras High Court order, which allowed the RSS to hold marches. Top court chair headed by Justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said while stating the verdict, ‘All special leave petitions are dismissed’.

The major development came after on March 27, the court had reserved its verdict on the petition of the Tamil Nadu government against the Madras High Court allowing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to carry the marches in the Tamil Nadu state. 

On the other hand, DMK led government in Tamil Nadu reached the Apex court on March 3 challenging the Madras High Court verdict on the RSS march’s permission in the state. Government counsel, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, told the top court it is not completely opposed to allowing the RSS’ route marches; authorities provided the list of five places where the RSS can carry out the route march. 

He further added that the Tamil Nadu government is reasonably concerned about the law and order issues on driving the route march in fifty places on the very day. “There can not provide the absolute right and there can not be a complete ban,” Rohtagi said. On February 10, the Madras HC bench restored the order dated September 22, 2022, in which the verdict directed the Tamil Nadu authority and police to consider the RSS demand for a route march and allow them to carry out the march programme without pre-condition. 

Besides, the earlier order passed on November 4, 2033, by a single bench of the top court had put out conditions on the state-wide route marches asking the RSS to hold the event indoors or in closed space.