Madras High Court directs Chennai police to consider TVK’s plea for demonstration against custodial deaths

The Madras High Court, on Friday (July 4, 2025), directed the Greater Chennai City Police to consider a representation to be made by actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) seeking permission for a demonstration condemning the number of custodial deaths that had taken place in Tamil Nadu since 2022.

Justice P. Velmurugan passed the orders while disposing of a petition filed by TVK, represented by its deputy general secretary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar, which claimed as many as 23 custodial deaths had been reported across the State since the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) came to power in 2021.

The petitioner’s counsel P. Vijendran told the court that the party had made a representation to the city police on July 1 seeking permission to hold the demonstration at Sivananda Salai between 10 am and 1 pm on July 6 (Sunday). However, the police orally expressed reservations over the venue.

Though the party sought permission at an alternative venue, even that request was turned down, the counsel complained. On the other hand, Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran said, the police had sought certain clarifications on July 3 but the petitioner party did not revert.

‘Must give time for consideration’

After hearing both sides, the judge said, the party should give a reasonable time of at least 15 days for the police to consider its representation and could not expect the law enforcing agency to immediately consider a representation submitted on July 1 for a demonstration planned on July 6.

Therefore, he disposed of TVK’s petition with a direction to it to give a fresh representation to the jurisdictional police seeking permission for the demonstration on any other day. The judge also directed the police to consider such representation and pass appropriate orders.