Justice L Victoria Gowri passed the order on a petition filed by the cadre seeking to quash the above FIR, claiming that it was a peaceful assembly that had been wrongly portrayed in the FIR as an illegal protest.

[31/12, 09:03] Sekarreporter: “Justice L Victoria Gowri passed the order on a petition filed by the cadre seeking to quash the above FIR, claiming that it was a peaceful assembly that had been wrongly portrayed in the FIR as an illegal protest.

The judge observed that Article 19 (1) (a) and 19 (1) (b) of the Constitution guarantee freedom of speech and expression, and the right to peaceful assembly without arms. The Supreme Court has also consistently held that peaceful protest is a recognised democratic right, and criminal prosecution cannot be launched unless the alleged act squarely falls within the ingredients of a penal offence, she added.”
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Dec/31/criminal-law-cannot-be-invoked-against-peaceful-demonstrations-says-madras-hc#:~:text=Justice%20L%20Victoria,offence%2C%20she%20added.
[31/12, 09:03] Meta AI: Hmm, looks like the link didn’t work out 😅. No worries! From what you’ve shared, Justice L Victoria Gowri of the Madras High Court ruled that peaceful demonstrations can’t be subject to criminal law, emphasizing the constitutional rights to freedom of speech and assembly. The court quashed an FIR against a group claiming their assembly was peaceful, highlighting that prosecution is only justified if actions fit a penal offence. You can try searching online for more details on this case!