Court nod to Tipu Sultan fete, but 17 conditions to be met

The Tipu Sultan anniversary, planned to be held in a town near Vellore in Tamil Nadu called Gudiyatham, can go ahead, but with severe restrictions after the Madras high court gave assent to 17 preconditions by the police. The court directed the Gudiyatham town police to allow an organisation to hold a public meeting on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan.

Justice M.M. Sundresh, before whom the petition filed by A. Ismail, state general secretary, Thamizhaga Makkal Jananayaka Katchi, Gudiyatham, came up for hearing, directed the police to give permission.

In the petition, Ismail, challenged the denial of permission to the organisation to celebrate birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan. The Gudiyatham police had refused permission on the ground that neighbouring Karnataka faced serious law and order problems during the birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan.

When the matter came up for hearing, the police filed an affidavit informing that the department had imposed 17 conditions for the function. The programme may be conducted on January 9 or 10 next year. The conditions include provisions that speeches shall not be made against the government and its policies and speeches shall not be made against any religion and caste. Cultural programmes would be prohibited and processions would not be allowed and speeches shall be made only about the historical life and sacrifices of Tipu. The public meeting shall be attended by not more than 200 persons.