The Madras High Court recently observed that there was nothing illegal about the demand to make Tamil the official language for all communication and pleadings before the High Court.Justice N Anand Venkatesh permitted a lawyer to go on an ‘indefinite fast’ from February 24 till such demand is met.The Court directed the Chennai Police Commissioner to permit lawyer G Bhagavath Singh to sit on an indefinite fast at the Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore on the condition that there would be no law and order problems or instances of violence due to such fast.“The petitioner wants to express himself strongly demanding Tamil to be used as official language in the proceedings in the High Court. There is nothing illegal in this objective. Hence, permission can be granted subject to the following conditions,” Justice Venkatesh said.The judge accepted Singh’s submission that around 25 people were likely to participate in the fast and that the participants will not create any law and order problems.Justice Venkatesh further directed Singh to file an affidavit undertaking that he will “not initiate violence while organising meetings in connection with his indefinite fasting and he should co-operate with the police to ensure law and order.”Advocate R Sankarasubbu appeared for the petitioner, Bhagavath Singh.Government Advocate A Gopinath appeared for the respondent Chennai police commissioner.Previously, another bench presided over by Justice G Jayachandran had asked Singh to show he had a right to go on such a fast. At the time, Justice Jayachandran had also said that the Court could “never endorse any life threatening” agitation, and that if the lawyers were really keen on making Tamil the official language of the Court, they should think of productive ways to realise their wish.
TAGS: Madras High Court Tamil language Official language Indefinite fast Justice N Anand Venkatesh Lawyer protest Permission granted Language demand Legal battle
