The Madras High Court has concluded final hearings and reserved its orders on a significant batch of public interest litigation petitions seeking a uniform Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for granting permissions to political roadshows and meetings across Tamil Nadu.
Court Proceedings and Final Hearings
The first bench comprising Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan wrapped up the final hearings on Friday before reserving their orders. The petitions, filed by various political entities including Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, highlight the pressing need for standardized protocols governing political assemblies in the state.
The bench expressed concerns that each clause in the draft SOP could potentially lead to separate litigations, indicating the complexity of establishing comprehensive guidelines that would satisfy all stakeholders while maintaining public order and safety.
Expansion to Religious Gatherings
During the proceedings, the court made a crucial suggestion to the state government, recommending the development of a separate SOP specifically for regulating religious festivals that attract massive gatherings of devotees. This recommendation came following submissions by senior advocate Vijay Narayan, who represented the AIADMK party.
Senior advocate Vijay Narayan argued that separate SOPs for religious gatherings are equally essential, given the scale and frequency of such events across Tamil Nadu. The court acknowledged this point and formally proposed that the government consider creating distinct protocols for religious events alongside the political gathering procedures.
Implications and Next Steps
The court's decision to reserve orders marks a critical juncture in the ongoing debate about regulating public gatherings in Tamil Nadu. The outcome is expected to have far-reaching consequences for how political parties conduct their campaigns and how religious organizations plan their festivals.
The final order, once delivered, will establish legal precedents for managing large public assemblies while balancing fundamental rights with public safety concerns. All parties involved now await the court's written order, which will determine the future framework for granting permissions to political and potentially religious gatherings throughout the state.
This case represents a significant step toward creating more structured and predictable processes for event management in Tamil Nadu's vibrant democratic and cultural landscape.
