HC set aside Salem police commissioner's order on WTC meet

Chennai, Aug 11 (UNI) Madras High Court today set aside an order of the Commissioner of Police (COP), Salem, refusing permission to World Tamil Confederation (WTC) to conduct its fifth annual Conference on August 12 and 13 in Salem.

Mr Justice K Ravirajapandian, who set aside an order of COP dated August 8, however directed the State Home Secretary and COP, Salem, to consider the issue again and pass orders.

The judge passed the order on a petition filed by R Padmanabhan, Head Quarters Secretary, WTC, Chennai.

When the matter came up for hearing, Government counsel Raja Kalifullah told the Court that if the conference was allowed, in the name of Conference, LTTE members and symbathisers of the banned organisation could infiltrate into the State.

However, Senior Counsel R Gandhi, appearing for the petitioner submitted that the WTC was ready to give an undertaking that they would not speak or allow anybody to speak about the LTTE. Police can be posted at the venue and they can arrest anybody and seize their passports, he said.

In his petition, Mr Padmanabhan submitted that elaborate arrangements have been made, and invitations sent to Tamil laeders all over the world. The permission was rejected on the ground that the passports and visa details of the International participants have not been provided.

Such details were never called for during the previous Conference, he added.

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