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2025 Supreme(Mad) 5326
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, C.J., G.Arul Murugan, J.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Rep by its Deputy General Secretary - Petitioner
Versus
The Director General of Police Office of the Director General of Police - Respondent
WP No.43333 of 2025 and WP(MD) Nos. 28971 and 28984 of 2025 and WMP(MD) No. 22449 of 2025
Decided On : 19-12-2025
For the Petitioner: Mr.P.V.Balasubramaniam Senior Counsel For Mr.S.Arivazhagan
For the Respondent:Mr.J.Ravindran Additional Advocate General Assisted By Mr.R.Muniyapparaj Additional Public Prosecutor, And Mr.M.Habeeb Rahman Government Advocate, Mr.A.P.Surya Prakasam, Mr.Vijay Narayan, Senior Counsel, Mr.K.Gowtham Kumar
The court affirmed the necessity for the State to establish comprehensive guidelines for managing political gatherings, highlighting public safety and proper consideration of political party inputs.
Headnote:(A) Constitutional Law - Political Campaigns - Mandamus - Petitioner sought permission for political campaigns from 20.09.2025 to 20.12.2025, requesting uniform guidelines for safety and organization - Following a tragic incident during a rally, directives issued for formulation of comprehensive guidelines for meetings and rallies by the State Government. (Paras 1, 4, 8, 10, 11)
(B) Public Safety - Guidelines for Political Gatherings - Court emphasized the necessity for comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure safety during public meetings, requiring State Government to respond to suggestions made by political parties regarding draft SOP. (Paras 5, 8.1, 11)
Facts of the case:
The case emerged after a petition was filed for regulating political rallies following a stampede. The petitioner party sought uniform permissions for conducting campaigns, bringing attention to the need for guidelines after numerous petitions were filed seeking regulatory measures post-incident. (Paras 1, 5)
Findings of Court:
The court directed the State to make decisions regarding the suggestions/objections submitted and to finalize and notify the SOP for political gatherings promptly, emphasizing a fair consideration of diverse views from various political entities. (Paras 11, 13)
Issues: The issues included the requirement for the State to formulate effective guidelines for political rallies and the adequacy of the State's consideration of input from political parties in drafting the SOP. (Paras 2, 10)
Ratio Decidendi: The court underscored the importance of ensuring public safety during political events, mandating the formulation of SOPs and requiring the State to consider all stakeholder inputs before final implementation. (Paras 10, 11)
Result: Petitions disposed of with directive to State Government. No order as to costs.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. need for guidelines on political rallies (Para 1 , 4 , 5 , 6) |
| 2. state's responsibility to establish sop for public events (Para 2 , 3 , 9) |
| 3. obligations to consider all stakeholder inputs (Para 10 , 11) |
| 4. timeline for finalizing the sop (Para 13) |
| 5. provision for judicial remedy for grievances (Para 14) |
ORDER :
Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, C.J.
The petitioner in W.P.No.43333 of 2025 filed a petition [W.P.(Crl) No.884 of 2025] seeking issuance of a mandamus, directing the respondent therein to forthwith instruct all subordinate police officials throughout the State of Tamil Nadu to consider and grant necessary permissions to the petitioner party for conducting political campaigns between 20.09.2025 and 20.12.2025, on the basis of representations made by the petitioner, in a fair, uniform and non-discriminatory manner, within a stipulated time.
2. While hearing W.P.(Crl) No.884 of 2025, a learned Single Judge of this Court directed to State Government to come up with guidelines with regard to the collection of security deposit from the political parties who intend to have such huge public meetings, gatherings, demonstrations, etc.
3. Later on, the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, were suo motu directed to be impleaded as party respondents in W.P.(Crl) No.884 of 2025, on the observation that the matter requires guidelines to be formulated and policy decision to be taken by the State Government.
4. When things stood thus, an unfortunate incident of stampede took place on 27.9.2025 at Karur, during a political rally organized by the petitioner party [Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam], in which many persons died and several others were injured.
5. Petitions have been filed before the Madurai Bench of this court seeking issuance of direction to respondents to frame guidelines/Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) for regulation of political party meetings, rallies, road shows, conferences and other ill-managed mass gatherings throughout the State of Tamil Nadu.
6. While hearing a batch of petitions, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and others v. P.H.Dinesh and others , 12025 INSC 1224 was of the view that the issue pertaining to formation of SOP/guidelines for political rallies, which arose for consideration in W.P.(Crl) No.884 of 2025, should be heard by a Division Bench of this Court. Accordingly, W.P.(Crl) No.884 of 2025 was re-registered as W.P.No.43333 of 2025.
7. As various petitions were filed seeking issuance of directions for framing of comprehensive guidelines for SOP to regulate meetings, rallies, road shows, etc., by various political parties across the State, these petitions were heard analogously.
8.1. In compliance with the direction of this court, a detailed affidavit has been filed by the State along with draft SOP for regulation and management of public gatherings in Tamil Nadu. The affidavit states that the State Government convened a meeting on 6.11.2025 chaired by Senior Cabinet Ministers and the Chief Secretary to Government with representatives of the political parties recognized by the Election Commission of India and parties having representation in the Parliament and the Legislative Assembly for offering their valuable suggestions and remarks on the proposed draft SOP for regulation and management of public gatherings in Tamil Nadu. The affidavit further states that it was decided to obtain views/inputs of other registered political parties also by writing to them.
8.2. The affidavit further states that in the meeting organized on 6.11.2025, representatives of 20 recognized political parties participated and offered their suggestions on the draft SOP. The political parties were also requested to furnish their inputs in writing on or before 10.11.2025. It is also stated that the contents of the draft SOP were also sent by email to 42 registered political parties in Tamil Nadu and they were also requested to send inputs on draft SOP to the Government on or before 1
