Madras High Court permits observance of first death anniversary of prime accused Nagendran in BSP leader Armstrong murder case
The Madras High Court has granted conditional permission for the family of the late P. Nagendran to hold a first death anniversary observance at their residence. The court emphasized that while the deceased was a criminal, his family retains the right to perform customary rituals under strict police-imposed restrictions.
Why it matters
This ruling highlights the legal balance between maintaining public order and upholding the fundamental rights of families to perform private religious or cultural observances.
The Madras High Court on Thursday (October 8, 2026) directed the Greater Chennai City Police to grant permission for the observance of the first death anniversary of P. Nagendran, who was the prime accused in the July 2024 murder of former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader K. Armstrong, on Friday (October 9, 2026).
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan quashed an order passed by the police denying permission for the event since they apprehended disturbance to law and order due to possible retaliatory action. He directed them to grant conditional permission by imposing reasonable restrictions such as limiting the number of participants.
Though Nagendran’s family had initially sought permission for the participation of 300 members in the event planned to be conducted at their residence in Vyasarpadi, they agreed to restrict the number of participants to 60 and submit the list of names to the police by Friday morning.
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