On Friday, April 12, an urgent late-night hearing was convened by Justice SM Subramaniam of the Madras High Court in response to a petition sought essential amenities for a gathering commemorating Ambedkar Jayanti.

The judge, Justice SM Subramaniam, personally visited the site designated for the gathering and conducted the hearing there at approximately 11:30 PM. In its ruling, the Court noted the commitment of the State government to provide the necessary facilities as per the submission made during the hearing.

Lawyer K Senthamizhselvi, along with Niranjan Vijayan, filed an urgent plea requesting the State government to ensure arrangements and furnish basic amenities at the Ambedkar Memorial and Library situated in the RA Puram locality of Chennai.

Representing Senthamizhselvi, Senior Advocate R Vaigai stated that despite the government's previous agreement to furnish amenities such as drinking water for attendees and ramps for individuals with disabilities, these provisions were not in place as of late evening on April 12. Vaigai also highlighted a similar failure on the part of the State government to provide such services during the previous year.

At that point, Justice Subramaniam made the decision to personally inspect the site himself.

Senthamizhselvi also requested directions from the State to allow the display of certain books and speeches by Dr. Ambedkar, published by a specific publishing house. Additional Advocate General J Ravindran, representing the State government, assured the Court that the necessary facilities would indeed be provided this year.

However, he clarified that the State cannot allow the display of books from only one specific publishing house. Justice Subramaniam duly noted the State's stance and directed the petitioners to submit a separate representation to the authorities regarding the display of books.

According to the lawyers, the event proceeded as scheduled on April 14th.