The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu government to frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within ten days for holding public events such as political roadshows and rallies across the state.
A Bench of Chief Justice M.M. Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan issued the directive while hearing a batch of petitions filed in the aftermath of the September 27 Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives during a roadshow conducted by actor Vijay’s political outfit, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran informed the court that until the SOP is framed, no political party will be permitted to conduct roadshows or rallies. However, he clarified that parties will still be allowed to hold regular public meetings.
When asked about the timeline, Ravindran said the state needs to consult multiple departments, including the police, fire services, and local civic bodies, before finalizing the SOP. He requested additional time to complete the process.
Rejecting the plea for delay, the Bench directed the government to complete the SOP within ten days, warning that the court would “pass appropriate orders” if the deadline was not met.
The court was hearing multiple pleas seeking measures to prevent such tragedies in the future following the Karur incident, where a large crowd gathered to attend a TVK roadshow addressed by Vijay.
The Bench also allowed the AIADMK to file an impleading petition in the matter and posted the case for further hearing on November 11.
In a related development, the same Bench dismissed as withdrawn the anticipatory bail plea filed by TVK’s general secretary, N. Anand.
