Supreme Court denies urgent plea for e-passes to attend Madurai’s Murugan spiritual conference.
Case in NewsSupreme Court refuses e-pass plea for Murugan meet allowing petitioner to approach High Court. |
Case Overview
Case Name – M. Arasupandi vs. The Commissioner of Police, SLP(Crl) No. 009176 – 009177 / 2025
The Supreme Court during partial working days, declined to entertain a plea against the condition imposed by the Commissioner of Police, Madurai City requiring vehicle passes to be physically collected from the DSP 24 hours in advance for the Muruga Bakthargal Aanmeega Maanadu . A two-judge bench of Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Prasanna B. Varale heard the matter . The petitioner approached the top court after the Madras High Court denied permission to use the Tamil Nadu e-pass portal for the religious event scheduled on June 22, 2025 .
Key Aspects
The plea raised significant concerns about digital governance, public convenience and the State’s duty to facilitate religious gatherings.
- Petitioner sought permission to apply via Tamil Nadu’s existing e-pass portal .
- Event: Lord Murugan Conference in Madurai, June 22, 2025 .
- Police directive : physical vehicle passes to be obtained 24 hours prior from DSP .
- Sr. Adv. Siddharth Luthra argued for digital facilitation citing nationwide digital shift .
- State cited logistical difficulties in implementing e-pass for the event .
Legal Insights
The case raises issues under :
- Article 25 of the Constitution – freedom of religion and public religious practice.
- Article 226 – powers of High Courts to issue directions and orders .
- Supreme Court Rules, 2013 – regarding maintainability of Special Leave Petitions .
- Remedy of Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) under the Madras High Court (Jurisdictional Procedure) .
Court’s Verdict
The Supreme Court declined to interfere questioning how the respondents could be forced to issue e-passes when facing genuine logistical hurdles . The bench allowed the SLP to be withdrawn and gave liberty to the petitioner to pursue the appropriate remedy before the Madras High Court including filing a Letters Patent Appeal.
Source – Supreme Court of India
Read also – Article 226 of Indian Constitution
