HC dismisses petition filed by PRF Convener

Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Feb 8: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by Convenor of People's Rights Federation (PRF) P Nedumaran, seeking a direction to the police to permit the Tamizhar Urimai Manaadu (Tamils' Rights Conference) scheduled at Tirunelveli on February 10.

In his affidavit, Nedumaran said the PRF was launched in September 2000 to protect the rights of Tamils living across the world. The PRF resolved to convene two conferences of which one was held at Cuddalore on February 2 and the second was scheduled at Tirunelveli on February 10.

The PRF would urge the Tamil Nadu Government to fulfill its promise of supplying food and medicines to the Sri Lankan Tamils besides requesting the State Government to impress upon the Centre not to provide military arms to the Lankan armed forces and to stop joint air surveillance in the island nation.

He said the Cuddalore district organiser of PRF E Tamizheezhan submitted a petition to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Cuddalore on January 7 last, seeking permission for hosting the conference, but the police rejected the application on January 30 stating that the conference might support banned militant organisations.

If the Tirunelveli police refuse to give permission for the conference the PRF would suffer an irreparable loss as it had already made elaborate arrangements and invited various dignitaries for the conference.

When the petition came up for hearing last evening, Justice K Mohan Ram said it was not possible to entertain the writ petition, as the Police Commissioner of Tirunelveli city was yet to dispose of an application submitted by the petitioner seeking permission to stage the conference.

However, the Judge opined that the petitioner could approach the court if the police rejected the application.

UNI