CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu police should not behave like Procrustes (i.e.; must not force everyone or everything to fit into a rigid, arbitrary standard, ignoring individual differences and special circumstances), Madras high court has said. “They should not search the applications (seeking permission for RSS route march) for its rejection by placing it on the same bed as they have done all these years,” the high court said on Friday.




“An attempt must be made to process the applications and approve them rather than looking for defects for its rejection,” Justice V Lakshminarayanan said.




Pointing out that guidelines had been framed for the particular issue at the instances of both the high court and the Supreme Court, the judge added that the very same guidelines were being utilised for the purpose of its rejection. “It is a classic case of using the scalpel not for the purpose of operation, but to kill the patient on whom the operation is said to be performed,” the court said.




“One thing must be said to the credit of the Tamil Nadu police. They have not come up with any novel reasons for rejection. They have been consistently giving the very reasons which this court found as lame,” he added.




The court then recorded the submissions of the advocate general that the procession scheduled on Oct 25, and Nov 1 could go on, subject to modifications as may be suggested by police authorities in the districts depending upon the local conditions. The court directed the organisers of the RSS march to file an affidavit to the effect that they would strictly comply with the conditions imposed.




“The hope that was expressed by the Supreme Court in 2023 and reiterated by this court while framing guidelines and disposing of the writ petition is rekindled now. It is hoped that police would not reject the application by RSS, forcing them to come to the court again and occupy precious judicial time,” the court said.