Andhra Pradesh High Court: In a writ petition filed by Viswa Hindu Parishad (‘VHP’) to seek direction from the Court, in order to carry out procession and immersion of Lord Ganpati idol, a Single Judge Bench of Harinath.N, J., directed Respondent 3-Deputy Superintendent of Police (the Police) to facilitate VHP in the procession and immersion through the requested route which was being used for the same for past 30 years. The Court also suggested the Police to install cameras on the route to keep an eye on trouble mongers and further directed to take all the necessary steps, deploy all necessary machinery for conducting a peaceful procession.
VHP had applied to Respondent 2-the Adoni Municipality and to the Police Authorities for the procession of the Lord Vinayaka idols for the immersion in the canal through the route Arts College, Srikrishna Devalayam, Emmiganur Circle, Sri Anantha Mangala Anjaneyaswamy Temple, Nirmala Talkies, II Town Police Station, Srinivasa Bhavan, and Kotta Bridge in Adoni Town.
VHP alleged that the same route for the procession and immersion of idols was being followed since past 30 years but from last two years the respondents had been diverting the procession through a narrow 15 feet road. The road being narrow caused inconvenience to VHP as some of the idols were above 15 feet in height. Therefore, permission was sought by VHP from the respondents but it was denied by the respondents. Thus, being aggrieved by the same, VHP approached the present Court.
The Police contended that it had conducted a coordination meeting with all the parties concerned and had issued a route map which was supposed to be followed for the procession and immersion of the idols. Further, the Adoni Municipality post the coordination meeting, stated that it was the Police who was responsible to accord the permission for the same.
The respondents pointed out an incident of 5-9-2011 during the procession, where communal clashes broke out between two different communities near Madina Mosque which was on that route, due to which curfew had to be imposed, and 39 communal riot cases were registered consequently, thus, the new route was being followed.
Based on the above-mentioned observations, the Court directed the Police to facilitate VHP in carrying out the procession of Lord Vinayaka idols for immersion in the canal via Arts College, Srikrishna Devalayam, Emmiganur Circle, Sri Anantha Mangala Anjaneyaswamy Temple, Nirmala Talkies, II Town Police Station, Srinivasa Bhavan, and Kotta Bridge. Furthermore, the Police were directed to take all necessary steps to ensure peaceful procession, deploy adequate personnel and machinery to ensure the peaceful procession and subsequent immersion. The Court also suggested the respondents to install cameras and record procession in order to keep an eye on trouble mongers. Accordingly, the writ petition was dismissed.
[Viswa Hindu Parishad v. State of Andhra Pradesh, 2025 SCC OnLine AP 3133, decided on: 29-8-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
Advocate for the Petitioner- J.V. Phaniduth
Advocate for the Respondents- Government Pleader
