Don’t grant permission for public gatherings targeting judges, Tamil Nadu police orders Madras High Court
Madras High Court. File | Photo credit: K. Pichumani
The Madras High Court on Friday (October 30, 2026) ordered the Tamil Nadu police not to grant permission for any public assembly or march to personally target or intimidate a judge and to initiate appropriate legal action if the permitted assembly results in personal attacks against judges.
The Supreme Court First Division Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan issued the directions while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by R. Karthikeyan of Chennai seeking a direction to the Center and the state government to take action against those scandalizing the judiciary.
“The state police and district administration will continuously evaluate all requests for public meetings, marches and protests related to judicial matters strictly on a case-by-case basis in exercise of powers under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Local Police Act,” the Bench ordered.
It further stated: “No permit will be granted for any public assembly or march intended to personally attack or intimidate a sitting judge. If a permitted assembly turns into a personal attack, the officers concerned will immediately terminate the event and take appropriate legal action.”
The judges also issued several more directions after a PIL petitioner brought to their notice the protests led by Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath and Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam after a bench headed by Justice GR Swaminathan ruled that Muslim converts are not entitled to reservations.
The petitioner insisted on issuing a direction to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the State Government and the Director General of Police to take effective preventive and punitive measures against organized campaigns, public gatherings, processions, demonstrations, speeches, social media publications and other activities that scandalise, intimidate or undermine the authority of the judiciary.
He said the police should aim to register criminal cases against those who commit personal attacks against constitutional court judges and conduct fair and speedy investigations into all cognizable offenses in accordance with the law. The party also wanted relevant guidelines to be drawn up governing the granting of permits for meetings, processions and demonstrations related to the trial.
Published – 30 Oct 2026 11:57 IST