(Prayer: This writ petition is preferred under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking for the issuance of writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned order dt. 09.03.2026 made in RC.No. PG/LIC/EZ/TY.PRL/E-13332552-1/2026 and consequential order dt. 09.03.2026 made in RC.No. PG/LIC/EZ/TY.PRL/E-13332552-1/2026 passed by the 4th respondent and quash the same as null and void and consequently directing the respondents more particularly the 4th to 6th respondents to give adequate police protection to the petitioner and its participants to conduct State Conference 2026 of Indu Makkal Katchi-Tamilagam would be held on 15.03.2026 (Sunday) at Chennai Royapettah, YMCA Ground, Chandra Convention Centre, (Indoor Meeting) at Morning 6.00 AM to 8.00 PM night and pass such further or other orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice.)

1. The petitioner, who is the President of the Chennai North Zone Advocates Wing and State Conference 2026 Chief Working Committee, Indu Makkal Katchi-Tamilagam, has filed this writ petition challenging the impugned order of rejection passed by the fourth respondent Joint Commissioner of Police (East Zone). By the impugned order, the petitioner’s request for permission to conduct the Conference in the YMCA Royapettai Chandra Convention Centre on 15.03.2026 was rejected.

2. Heard Mr.N.Seshadri, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for respondents 2 to 6.

3. It is the case of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner has sent a representation to the respondents on 11.02.2026 seeking permission for holding a Conference for Hindutva Political Awareness in Royapettah YMCA Ground, Chandra Convention Centre on 15.03.2026 Sunday between 06.00 a.m. to 08.00 p.m. They have given the programme details in the representation itself that the programme would start at 6.00 a.m. with ‘Ko- Pooja’ and homam and around 1000 people would participate. There will be discourse from 08.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. and around 2000 people will participate. Thereafter, there will be cultural programme in which around 2000 persons would participate. Further, there will be procession between 02.00 p.m. and 04.00 p.m. in which around 2000 persons are expected to participate and between 04.30 p.m and 08.00 p.m., there will be a pubic meeting in the convention centre wherein 4000 persons are expected to participate and around 1000 vehicles are also expected. Therefore, the petitioner sought police permission and protection and also sought for permission for the use of light and sound system in the conference.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that though the representation was sent on 11.02.2026 and the same was received by the respondents on 12.02.2026, but there was no response from the respondents police. Hence, a reminder was also sent on 18.02.2026. Thereafter, a representation dated 25.02.2026 was given to the Fire and Rescue Department seeking to provide fire and rescue vehicle for safety. This being the position, suddenly on 09.03.2026, the fourth respondent-Joint Commissioner of Police, East Zone has passed the impugned order of rejection, without hearing the petitioner which was served on the petitioner on 09.03.2026 at 11.40 p.m. The petitioner was not even called for any enquiry with regard to the preparation and the safety measures taken by the petitioner for the Conference.

5. It is the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner was not granted permission for conducting procession also which was also rejected by a separate order dated 09.03.2026 and with regard to the said rejection, the petitioner has filed a separate writ petition being W.P.Crl.No.559 of 2026.

6. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that though the representation was submitted on 11.02.2026, the Joint Commissioner of Police has not taken any steps for nearly a month and in the last minute, i.e., on 09.03.2026, a few days before the Conference, he has passed the impugned order. It is further submitted by the learned counsel that all preparatory works for the conference have been started. The advance payment towards rent for the conference hall has been remitted as early as on 17.02.2026 and on 19.02.2026 and a sum of Rs.1 Lakh has been remitted. Apart from the above expenses, they have also spent lakhs of rupees towards arrangements and other facilities for the conference. They have also sent invitations and have also arranged for volunteers to participate in the conference. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that they would conduct the conference in a peaceful manner without public disturbance. At this point of time, without giving an opportunity to the petitioner to give details about the conference and about the preparatory works, the impugned order has been passed and it would cause much hardship and the entire preparation and the expenses incurred would go in vain. Hence, he has sought the interference of the Court for giving suitable directions to the respondent authorities for the grant of permission to hold the conference.

7. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondents police officials submitted that the place where the permission is sought to hold the conference is a very congested place and is surrounded by government hospital and schools and now, the metro rail work is also being undertaken near that place and therefore, now the road has become very narrow. Apart from that there is no sufficient space available in the ground for parking 1000 vehicles and also for participation of 4000 persons. Further, just opposite to the ground, the Royapettah Government Hospital is also situated. Therefore, the conduct of conference near the hospital would cause great hardship and difficulties to the patients. Further, it would cause obstacles and road block owing to the vehicles which are coming for the conference and it would disturb the ambulance service to the hospital. Further, owing to uncontrolled crowd and gathering of public for the conference, it would create traffic congestion and the free flow of traffic would be affected. Further, because of the use of sound system and raising slogans, the health of the patients would be affected. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor further submitted that there will be law and order problem because of the conference and the apprehension of the Joint Commissioner is reasonable. Therefore, he sought for dismissal of the writ petition.

8. This Court has considered the submissions made by both sides. When the matter was taken up yesterday [12.03.2026], this court has directed the learned Additional Public Prosecutor to produce the photographs of the venue and to furnish the seating capacity and the other facilities available in the venue. Accordingly, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor has produced the details and photographs. From the photographs, it is seen that the preparatory works for the conference is in progress. Likewise, the photographs of the approach road shows that the metro rail work near that area is progressing. It further shows that in that place, the construction equipments, such as cranes, bulldozers and other heavy weight machineries have been placed and that the sheeted flooring in the place shows that the underground tunnelling work is progressing. The said photographs were also shown to the learned counsel for the petitioner and the petitioner and they have also not disputed the same. At this stage, the learned counsel for the petitioner fairly submitted that they are not pressing the W.P.(Crl.)No.559 of 2026 which was filed challenging the rejection of permission to conduct procession and the learned counsel has made an endorsement in the case bundle pertaining to W.P.(Crl.)No.559 of 2026. Therefore, vide separate order in the said writ petition, that writ petition was dismissed.

9. The learned Additional Public Prosecutor has furnished the details pertaining to the facilities available in the venue. A perusal of the same would indicate that the seating capacity in the temporary auditorium is around 3000 to 3200 people and parking facility available would be 400 four wheelers and 800 two wheelers. The photographs and the details furnished by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor clearly shows that heavy vehicles such as Buses, lorries and mini buses cannot be parked inside the venue or abutting the conference area. The parking of the heavy vehicles would cause disturbance and obstacles to the free flow of traffic. Even the participants who are coming in such heavy vehicles shall stop their vehicles elsewhere and they shall use the small vehicles to reach the venue or they can come by walk.

10. The learned counsel for the petitioner has filed an undertaking affidavit dated 12.03.2026 in W.P(Crl.)No.559 of 2026 before the court stating that they would not raise any slogans and speech against anyone and they would not cause any hindrance to the traffic or general public and that they would follow the instructions by the respondents police. The learned counsel submitted that they would follow the said undertaking given in W.P.(Crl)No.559 of 2026 in the instant case, as that writ petition came to be dismissed vide a separate order passed by this court today.

11. In the light of the above submissions and considering all aspects of the matter such as public health and safety and free vehicular movement in and around the area where the conference is scheduled to be held, permission is granted for the petitioner to hold the conference in a peaceful manner and without causing any public disturbance and traffic congestions. By such conduct of conference in a peaceful manner and by following the instructions of the respondents police, the participants in the conference shall set an example for public and shall act as model citizens for others to follow and they shall not be the reason for creating any law and order and public order issue. Further, they would not use any sound system outside the venue and they can use the same inside the venue alone without disturbing the public in the outside and near the hospital. They shall cooperate with the police and to ensure peace throughout the conference.

12. The petitioner shall appear before the 4th respondent Joint Commissioner of Police (East Zone), Chennai today evening at 05.00 p.m. [13.03.2026] for a discussion about the conduct of the conference in a peaceful manner and shall furnish details of the volunteers and important persons who are in-charge of the conduct of the conference with their contact details and identity to the Joint Commissioner of Police (East Zone). The petitioner shall also furnish necessary undertakings for the conduct of the conference. The Joint Commissioner (East Zone) shall form a team of police officials headed by a senior police officer in the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police to be there in the conference venue to monitor the conduct of the conference and to ensure that the conference is conducted in a peaceful manner. The respondent authorities shall give permission for entry of participants in the venue through two wheeler and through car taking into account the parking facility available in the venue and they shall also permit the cattle to come inside during the performance of Ko-Pooja. The petitioner and the persons in-charge for the conference are directed to give full cooperation to the police for the smooth conduct of the Conference. It is also agreed by the petitioner that the conference would start at 06.00 a.m. and ensure that it would end at 06.00 p.m. and should not conduct the conference beyond 06.00 p.m. and the petitioner shall give an undertaking to the Joint Commissioner (East Zone) in this regard also.

13. In the light of the above, the impugned order, dated 09.03.2026 passed by the fourth respondent is set aside. The Joint Commissioner of Police (East Zone) is directed to pass positive direction giving permission to the petitioner with requisite undertaking and prescribing suitable conditions for conducting the conference in a peaceful manner. This writ petition is allowed. No costs.