HC allows political meeting to be held inside college premises

Chennai, Feb 25 (PTI): Disposing a writ petition by astudent of a city college seeking a direction against conductof a political meeting in the college premises in which ChiefMinister M Karunanidhi would take part, the Madras High Courttoday permitted the event to go ahead with certain conditions.

Balaji Rao, a B Com student at Sir P T Thyagaraya Arts andScience College filed a Public Interest Litigation to forbearauthorities, including the Educational Department, City PoliceCommissioner and the institution from permitting a DMKfunction inside the college premises.

The function is to be held tomorrow in connection withformer AIADMK MLA Sekar Babu joining DMK, the petitioner said.

He alleged that Babu had encroached the playground in thecollege premises to organise the function and sought adirection to forebear the respondents from permitting thefunction as "it would affect the peaceful atmosphere of theeducational institution."

Disposing the petition, the First Bench, comprising ChiefJustice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivaganam said theorganisers should be solely responsible for the safety and thesecurity of the college and its properties.

Observing that the intention of the petitioner was"laudable", the bench said, "yet on facts of the present case,we are not persuaded to interfere and grant relief sought forby the petitioner".

The bench also said the organiser should strictly complywith conditions in the February 12 letter given by theinstitution in which the college has listed the conditions toconduct the event peacefully.

Further, police and fire service authorities should accordprotection as requested by the institution, the court ruled.