The Madras High Court has issued a significant directive to the Tamil Nadu government, ordering it to officially notify a finalised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for regulating political road shows and public meetings. The court has set a clear deadline for this action: the SOP must be notified as early as possible, but no later than January 5, 2026.
The Court's Directive and Legal Recourse
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, delivered this order on Friday. The bench emphasised that if any political party or entity finds its grievances unaddressed or objects to conditions imposed by the SOP, they are free to seek appropriate legal remedies. "If all the grievances, or any part thereof, remain unredressed and if any party is aggrieved by any condition imposed, it will be open for it to take appropriate remedy as may be available under the law," the bench stated.
This order came in response to a batch of petitions, including one from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, which sought uniform and non-discriminatory rules across the state for granting permissions for such political events.
Addressing Objections from Political Parties
During the proceedings, several political parties, including the AIADMK and TVK, raised concerns that their suggestions or objections to the draft SOP were not considered by the state government. The court examined the state's affidavit, the draft SOP, and the written suggestions submitted by the parties.
After careful consideration, the bench directed the state to make a definitive decision on these suggestions. "We are of the view that the state should take a decision, one way or the other, on the suggestions or objections submitted before this court in writing," the judges noted, ensuring that all stakeholder inputs are formally addressed in the final procedure.
The Tragic Catalyst: Karur Stampede
The urgency for a comprehensive SOP was tragically underscored by a major incident while these petitions were pending. On September 27, a devastating stampede occurred during a TVK road show in Karur, resulting in the deaths of 41 individuals, including children.
This catastrophe prompted the petitioners to approach the Supreme Court. The apex court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Karur stampede. Furthermore, the Supreme Court ruled that the matter concerning the formulation of the SOP should be heard by a division bench of the Madras High Court. Consequently, the first bench clubbed all related petitions together for a consolidated hearing, leading to the current directive.
The court's order represents a critical step towards establishing clear, state-wide safety protocols to prevent future tragedies and ensure that political campaigning is conducted in a secure and regulated manner.
