Hailing the freedom of expression granted in the Constitution, the Madras High Court on Monday quashed a police order which banned the Dravidar Kazhagam from conducting a thali removal and beef-eating festival on the 125th birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar on Tuesday.

Justice D. Hariparanthaman said the order was “to safeguard the right of the petitioner as granted under the Article 19 1 (a) and (b) of the Constitution of India.”

After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge directed the Dravidar Kazhagam to “conduct the programme peacefully” as stated in its letter and affidavit and further directed the police to “give adequate protection to conduct the programme in a peaceful manner in terms of the judgments of the apex court and this court.”

After the order was delivered around 9 p.m., the government received permission to challenge the single judge’s order in a Division Bench, whose sitting is not yet known.

A day after the police banned the event, Kali. Poongundran, vice-president of Dravidar Kazhagam, in a petition sought to quash the order claiming it to be arbitrary, illegal and violated the fundamental rights.

During the arguments, Advocate General A.L. Somayaji said that the police order based on intelligence reports and was aimed at maintaining the law and order. “What about the freedom of expression? I’m only concerned about the freedom of expression if not I won’t be hearing this case at this time,” the judge said.

Though the case was to come up for hearing initially at 2.15 p.m., it was eventually listed at the end of the day and extended till 9 p.m.