Pune: The Bombay High Court has permitted a procession to commemorate Tyrant of Mysore 'Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary in Baramati on December 24. This comes after the Pune Police had initially denied permission, citing concerns over law and order.

The issue began when Pune Police refused permission for a procession in Baramati to mark the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century tyrant ruler of Mysore, also known as the 'Aurangzeb of South'. The refusal prompted AIMIM’s Pune unit president Faiyaz Shaikh to file a petition in the Bombay High Court. The petition also sought permissions for rallies marking the anniversaries of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Constitution Day.

During the hearing, the division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite-Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan criticized the police’s repeated use of law and order concerns to deny permissions. The court emphasized that maintaining public order is the responsibility of the police, adding, "The tendency to deny permissions citing law and order must change. It is the duty of the police to ensure no untoward incidents occur."

The bench further stated, "No one can stop you from taking out a procession. However, all conditions and restrictions imposed by law must be adhered to. Police are better aware of local situations, and we will not interfere in their jurisdiction."

The court directed organizers to obtain local permissions for banners and gates and instructed the police to facilitate the procession as per legal provisions. Following the police’s assurance to grant permission, the court dismissed the petition.