NAGPUR: The Nagpur session court on Thursday issued notices to Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Mohan Bhagwat and its Vyavastha Pramukh along with Kotwali police station asking them all to file replies on a petition challenging the use of wooden sticks (lathis) in their programs.
During its various programs, the RSS organizes path-sanchalan, where lathis are openly displayed by hundreds of uniform-clad volunteers. During one such training session held on 28 May this year, around 700 volunteers of RSS had participated in path-sanchalan with lathis on their shoulders.
Mohnish Jabalpure, a resident of Mahal in Nagpur, has filed a petition in the court challenging the use and display of lathis during RSS programs. Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Jabalpure had sought information about the rules under which police grants permission for path-sanchalan (march-past). In the reply given by the police department, it was clearly mentioned that the use and display of lathis is prohibited during path-sanchalan. In his petition filed in the High Court, Jabalpure stated that the public use and display of lathis creates atmosphere of terror and hence it should be banned. He also pointed out that as per the Arms Act, path-sanchalan can be conducted without the use of lathis.
The Nagpur session Court has admitted the petition filed by Mohnish Jabalpure and issued notices to RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Vyavastha Pramukh of the particular program Anil Bokare, and Kotwali police station asking them to clear their stand on the issue.
