Madras HC raps TV govt over ban on protests in Marina

While hearing a petition filed by farmer leader P Ayyakannu against the Tamil Nadu government for cracking down protests in Marina, the Madras High Court on Tuesday reportedly clarified that the government has the authority to regulate protests, but not to ban them altogether. Ayyakannu had sought permission to hold hunger strike for 90 days, which he reduced to 30 days on subsequent hearings, demanding the formation of Cauvery Management Board. He argued that the government wasn’t giving permission over fears of uprising like pro-Jallikattu protests in 2017. The court asked the government, “Is the Marina beach more important than Cauvery?”. Further stating that people gather in lakhs in temples and churches during festival days, the court rapped, “Will you (the government) say that you cannot control the crowds, so people should not celebrate those festivals?”