The Madras High Court on Thursday asked the Tamil Nadu government to explain why applications seeking permission to hold political processions and public rallies cannot be submitted online, as it heard a plea challenging the state’s regulatory framework introduced after the 2025 Karur stampede that left 41 people dead.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M. M. Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan directed the state to file its counter-affidavit within three weeks in response to a petition filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The party has sought to quash the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing political events.
The petition was moved by TVK joint general secretary C. T. R. Nirmal Kumar, who questioned the validity of the SOP framed by the government following the September 27, 2025 tragedy in Karur. The stampede occurred during a public meeting addressed by actor-politician Vijay and resulted in 41 fatalities, prompting the state to introduce stricter norms for political gatherings.
The court noted that the guidelines were formulated pursuant to earlier directions of the High Court in the aftermath of the incident and asked the petitioner to clarify what specific provisions were objectionable.
During the hearing, the Bench raised concerns over the absence of an online mechanism for seeking permission for political processions and rallies. The judges questioned why the state could not allow applications to be filed digitally, indicating that such a system could streamline the process.
The Bench also observed that the SOP’s provision giving priority to political parties with a long record of contesting elections and securing representation in Parliament and state legislatures did not appear inherently inappropriate.
The matter will be taken up after the state files its response, with the court expected to examine both the procedural aspects of the permission system and the broader challenge to the post-Karur regulatory framework.
