Why shouldn’t political parties pay rent for holding public meetings to police for providing security, asks HC judge
The HinduThe Madras High Court on Friday wanted to know why political parties should not be directed to pay rent for using public spaces to conduct meetings as well as rallies besides being asked to pay costs to the police department for deploying its personnel for security purposes. However, the petitioner’s counsel S. Shankar said such an order would have wide ramifications and no political party would be able to conduct public meetings and rallies without paying money. The judge, in turn, asked when the political parties spend considerable amount of money towards erection of stage, making seating arrangements for hundreds of their cadres and so on, why should they not pay costs to the police department for providing security arrangements at the venue. However, after Mr. Shankar reported to the court that the petitioner was willing to shift the venue of the public meeting to an open ground near the Tiruporur Block Development Officer’s office, the judge directed the police to grant permission by imposing reasonable conditions.
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