The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu government to frame the draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within 10 days for regulating political rallies, road shows and public meetings of political parties in the wake of the deadly stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally killing 41 people.
The first bench of the Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan directed the Tamil Nadu government to place the draft SOP before the court on November 11, 2025. The court also said that it would issue an interim SOP if the state fails to come out with the SOP, as per its undertaking in the court.
“Considering the submissions made by the counsels for the parties in the petitions, the matter relates to laying down certain guidelines. We direct the state to ensure its submission (on framing SOP) before the court within a period of 10 days,” the bench said in the order.
The interim order was issued by the first bench of the Madras High Court while hearing the writ petition filed by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The petition was filed by TVK with a prayer seeking SOP for public meetings much before the Karur stampede. In the petition, TVK complained about the onerous conditions imposed by the police for its campaign. The court also heard a batch of other petitions filed by other individuals seeking framing of an SOP or guidelines to regulate the conduct of political meetings and ensure safety of those attending the meetings.
V. Raghavachari, senior counsel representing TVK and Vijay, informed the court that the police should be directed to grant permission to the political meetings, campaigns and road shows well in advance. TVK also informed the court that the police did not give it permission well in advance to make arrangements. Raghavachari said the permission to the September 27 rally was granted only a day before the event. He also said one party was imposed with 11 conditions; another party was imposed no conditions. “But TVK was slapped with 23 conditions,” Raghavachari argued.
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General (AAG) J. Ravindran, however, denied the allegations, saying there were documents to prove the claims to be false. The prosecution also informed the court that the TVK had originally intended to conduct its rally at Karur only in December and there was a sudden change. “An application was submitted on September 25 for the conduct of the event on September 27,” AAG told the court.
The court also permitted TVK general secretary Bussy N. Anand to withdraw his anticipatory bail plea in a culpable homicide case booked against him and other TVK leaders relating to the Karur stampede. The bench also directed the high court registry to list a quash petition filed by TVK general secretary (election strategy) before Justice A.D. Jagadish Chandira on November 5. Aadhav Arjuna had filed the petition seeking to quash an FIR filed against him for posting an allegedly inflammatory tweet, saying there might revolt against the state by the youngsters and Gen Z as it had happened in Sri Lanka and Nepal.