The RSS set out to observe Gandhi Jayanti but may end up marking unwittingly the birth anniversary of an Ottoman sultan.

Madras High Court on Friday directed Tamil Nadu police to permit the RSS to conduct marches on November 6, a day after the state administration denied permission to the organisation’s plan to hold 51 “route marches” on October 2 in the Mahatma’s memory.

No one mentioned the coincidence but November 6 happens to be the probable birth anniversary of Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566), the longest-reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for codifying the empire’s legal system.

The Sangh had moved a contempt plea before the singe-judge bench of Justice G.K. Ilanthirayan, who had on September 22 asked the police to give the RSS permission, by September 28, for the October 2 programme.

However, the police contended that allowing RSS rallies on October 2 could set off clashes with ideologically opposed political groups, especially with the Centre’s ban on the Popular Front of India triggering tension in the state.

The court asked the RSS to suggest four alternative dates, and the organisation quickly obliged without insisting on October 2. The court then picked November 6 from the suggested dates and the RSS accepted it.

The court adjourned the contempt hearing till October 31, warning the police that failure to allow the RSS rallies on November 6 would attract contempt.

The DMK’s allies, including the Dalit party VCK and the Left, had opposed any RSS rally on October 2 saying it would be an affront to the Mahatma, whose assassin had been linked to the pro-Hindutva organisation. They had proposed a counter “human chain” on Gandhi Jayanti. The Tamil Nationalist outfit NTK had echoed them.

Citing this volatile situation, the state administration had on Thursday refused to allow rallies by the RSS or any political group on October 2.

It had also referred to the recent “violence” in the state — an allusion to the firebomb attacks on BJP and RSS leaders’ properties since last week’s central agency raids on the PFI.

A few days earlier, Tiruvallur district police had on their own refused permission for the October 2 RSS rallies in the district. This had prompted the RSS contempt petition, whose scope was later widened to cover Thursday’s decision by the state administration.

Senior counsel N.R. Ilango, appearing for the police, told the court about the law-and-order fears and added that the central intelligence agencies had warned of “possible communal tension” following Wednesday’s ban on the PFI.

Citing a Supreme Court order that courts should not interfere in law-and-order issues, Ilango said the police had on September 27 moved a review petition against the September 22 order (which is yet to be heard).

The RSS counsel said the organisation had been allowed to hold Gandhi Jayanti marches in Kerala. Citing an apex court judgment, he said law and order could not be cited as a reason for rejecting permission, as it is the police’s duty to maintain law and order.