SC dismisses Tamil Nadu's pleas against Madras HC order allowing RSS to hold marches in state
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Madras High Court orders allowing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold marches in state and dismissed the appeals of the Tamil Nadu government.
A bench of Justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said, "All special leave petitions are dismissed".
On March 27, the top court had reserved its verdict on pleas of the Tamil Nadu government against the February 10 order of the Madras High Court allowing the RSS to hold marches in the state.
The Tamil Nadu government had on March 3 told the top court that it is not completely opposed to allowing the RSS' route marches and public meetings across the state but cited intelligence reports to say these cannot be held in every street or locality.
On February 10, a division bench of the Madras High Court had restored the order dated September 22, 2022 which directed the Tamil Nadu Police to consider the RSS' representation and grant permission to conduct the programmes without conditions.
It had set aside the order passed on November 4, 2022 by a single judge bench of the high court which had imposed conditions on the proposed state-wide route marches asking the RSS to hold the events indoor or in an enclosed space.
Accordingly, it had directed the RSS to approach the state authorities with three different dates of their choice for the purpose of holding the route march/peaceful procession and the state authorities were asked to grant permission to them on one of the chosen dates.
Also, the RSS was asked to ensure strict discipline and make sure there is no provocation or incitement on their part during the marches.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
