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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi Police to decide by November 29 a plea moved by Mission Save Constitution, an organisation, for permission to hold the “All India Muslim Mahapanchayat” at the Ramlila grounds in December.

The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad asked the petitioner organisation to give the list of speakers at the event to the Delhi Police and listed the case for further hearing on Thursday, i.e., November 30.

“He is giving the list of speakers today. Please consider it and pass an order. Day after tomorrow, I am hearing the writ petition,” the court said.

It further added, “Either you say that you have already taken a decision to reject the application (for permission), then I will proceed ahead based on the judgment of the Supreme Court."

Notably, on Saturday last week, the court asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Police to consider the feasibility of holding the meeting. The judge directed the authorities to treat, as a representation, the application given by Mission Save Constitution seeking permission for the public meeting on December 18.

"This Court is not going into the controversy as to whether the Maha Tyagi Seva Sansthan should have first approached the MCD and then the Police Authorities or as to whether the Petitioner herein should have first approached the Police Authorities and then the MCD," it had said.

"In order to cut short the controversy, this Court had requested the learned counsel for the MCD and the police authorities to give those dates on which no function is scheduled to be organized at Ramlila Ground, Delhi," the court had directed. 

On November 22, the court sought the response of the Centre, Delhi Police, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on a plea seeking permission for holding a public meeting (All India Muslim Mahapanchayat) of around 10,000 people at Ramlila Ground

Earlier, the Delhi Police submitted that the application regarding the NOC to organize the event on December 4 had been considered, but the request could not be acceded to. He stated that the Central District received an application on November 8 from Mahatyagi Sewa Sansthan for organizing a program at Ramlila Ground from December 3 to December 5.

The counsel submitted that the NOC has already been granted to Mahatyagi Sewa Sansthan for December 4, so it is not feasible to entertain another application for the same date.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Mission Save Constitution, which claims to be working to create awareness among the masses about their constitutional rights.

About the Plea

The petitioner said that it is aggrieved by the pendency of a decision by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central District, on its application seeking a NOC for organizing the All India Muslim Mahapanchayat on December 4 at the Ramlila ground.

The plea stated the petitioner seeks to initiate a series of events for strengthening all weaker sections, beginning with minority communities, followed by other communities like SC, ST, and OBC, and in the meetings/panchayat voice of all the oppressed would be raised.

The plea further stated that the organization, whose national convenor is Advocate Mehmood Pracha, works to enlighten and create awareness among the masses, especially the depressed classes, about their rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India and for utilizing the constitutional and legal provisions for alleviation of the distress and suffering of such classes.

''The Horticulture Department of the MCD redirected the petitioner to the Delhi Police for NOC, and the petitioner then submitted a request on November 13 after the conclusion of Diwali festivities", the plea stated. 

Notably, the petitioner organization had earlier called for a mass meeting on October 29, and initially, permission was granted, but later it was revoked. The petitioner consequently rescheduled their event for December 4 and applied for permission to book Ramlila Ground on November 10.

Case Title: Mission Save Constitution v. Union of India & Ors.