In a significant victory for Hindu rights, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down police objections and given a green signal to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to hold the grand Vinayaka immersion procession through the heart of Adoni town, Kurnool district on August 31.
The two-judge bench of Justice Battu Devanand and Justice Hariharanatha Sharma came down heavily on the authorities on August 30, making it crystal clear that ensuring security is the duty of the government and police, not a pretext to deny devotees their traditional rights.
Earlier, police had blocked permission citing “law and order” concerns, claiming the route passed near a mosque and recalling clashes from 2011. But the court brushed aside these excuses, refusing to bow to fear tactics. The bench upheld the earlier single-judge order, which had directed that the procession be allowed along the route proposed by VHP District President A. Basavanna Goud, with cameras installed for monitoring.
The DSP’s urgent appeal to quash the order was flatly rejected, with the court reaffirming that the age-old Hindu tradition of Ganesh immersion cannot be curtailed by imaginary fears.
This verdict is being hailed as a huge moral triumph for VHP and crores of Vinayaka devotees across the state. The High Court has not only safeguarded the procession but has also sent a strong message that Hindu festivals cannot be restricted under pressure.
