Can’t permit fast on Marina, police tell HC

The Chennai city police on Friday told the Madras High Court that it could not grant permission to the leader of a farmers’ body, P. Ayyakannu, 75, to go on a fast on the Marina. It said that permission for such protests could be granted only at designated places such as Valluvar Kottam or the government guest house. Additional Advocate-General P.H. Arvindh Pandian made the submission before Justice T. Raja, who was seized of a writ petition filed by Mr. Ayyakannu seeking a direction to Commissioner of Police, Chennai city, to grant permission for a fast on the Marina for 90 days, demanding constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.

The AAG told the court that there were judgements of the High Court that permission could not be granted for a fast for more than five days. After hearing him, the judge directed that all those submissions be put in writing by way of a report and placed in the court on Wednesday.

The judge also asked the AAG to provide the list of permitted places where the fast could be permitted so that the petitioner could be asked to choose one of them.