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2025 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 59291
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
N.Senthilkumar, J
P.H.Dinesh – Appellant
Versus
The Home Secretary Government of Tamilnadu – Respondent
WP Crl. No. 1000 of 2025 | WPMP Crl. No. 475 of 2025
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.G.Sankaran, Mr.S.Bharathi Rajan
For the Respondents: Mr.J.Ravindran, Mr.S.Santhosh, Mr.Hasan Mohammed Jinnah, Mr.A.Damodaran
The State has a duty to ensure public safety in organizing political events, and organizers are accountable for any resulting harm.
Headnote:(A) Constitution of India - Article 226 - Writ of Mandamus - Road shows - Representation to frame SOP after a man-made disaster resulting in 41 fatalities - The court found it necessary to direct the state to ensure public safety and accountability in organizing political events. (Paras 2, 3, 6, 14, 24)
(B) Public Accountability and Legal Obligation - The court emphasized the responsibility of event organizers in emergencies, condemning the conduct of the political party's leaders for fleeing the scene post-incident. (Paras 11, 16, 17)
Facts of the case:
The petitioner sought judicial intervention after 41 lives were lost during a political event where safety conditions were not adhered to.
Findings of Court:
The establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was deemed necessary to conduct impartial inquiry into the tragic events.
Issues: The court addressed safety protocols in public events and the accountability of event organizers.
Ratio Decidendi: The court confirmed that the state has a responsibility to ensure public safety and appropriate actions must be taken by both authorities and political parties involved.
Result: Writ Petition disposed of, including directions for future SOP establishment.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. writ petition addresses safety failures in public events. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. arguments presented by the parties regarding event safety. (Para 4 , 5 , 7 , 8) |
| 3. discussion on tragedy during road show and its impact. (Para 10 , 11) |
| 4. court's observations on responsibility of organizers. (Para 12 , 14 , 16) |
| 5. conclusion regarding formation of special investigation team. (Para 20 , 22 , 24) |
ORDER
The present petition has been filed by one Mr.P.H.Dinesh with a prayer to consider his representation dated 30.09.2025 for framing of SOP for conducting the road shows.
2.Mr. G. Sankaran, learned senior counsel appearing for Mr. S. Bharathi Rajan, learned counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the petitioner had made the present representation following a roadshow that was permitted by the respondent at the venue, namely, Karur. He stated that a major man-made disaster occurred at the said event, resulting in the loss of 41 lives. The learned senior counsel further referred to the following time schedule:
| S.No. | Place | Time |
| 1 | Mr.Vijay started from Chennai | 08.50 hours |
| 2 | Flight landed at Trichy | 09.24 hours |
| 3 | Entered to Namakkal | 11.55 hours |
| 4 | Reached at campaign place | 14.35 hours |
| 5 | Speech time | 14.35 to 14.55 hours |
| 6 | Left from Namakkal | 14.58 hours |
| 7 | Exit from Namakkal entered into Karur | 16.30 hours |
3.Mr.J.Ravindran, learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the 1st respondent, assisted by Mr.S.Santhosh, learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side), submitted that Writ Petitions filed before the Madurai Bench of this Court seeking a CBCID investigation and compensation were declined by the Hon'ble Division Bench of the Madurai Bench.
4.The learned Additional Advocate General further submitted that the political party, viz., Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam , initially submitted a letter dated 09.09.2025, informing that meetings were scheduled to be held on 13.12.2025 at Salem, Namakkal, and Karur. Subsequently, another letter dated 15.09.2025 was submitted, specifying the time of the meetings as 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m on 13.12.2025. Thereafter, by letter dated 23.09.2025, a request was made to the Superintendent of Police, Karur, fixing the meeting date as 27.09.2025 between 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. at Karur Light House Roundtana. Subsequently, another letter dated 25.09.2025 proposed the venue as either Karur Light House Roundtana or Uzhavar Santhai Thidal. Again, on 26.09.2025, a revised letter was sent to the Superintendent of Police, Karur, proposing a change in venue to Karur Velusamypuram.
5.Based on the above communications, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Karur, by proceedings dated 26.09.2025, granted permission to the political party to conduct the programme, subject to eleven conditions , which are extracted below:
6.According to the learned Additional Advocate General and Mr.Hasan Mohammed Jinnah, learned State Public Prosecutor appearing for the 2nd respondent, only condition Nos.7 and 11 were complied with by the said political party, while the remaining conditions were blatantly violated .
7.The learned Additional Advocate General referred to the typed set of papers at Page No.11 , which contains a document retrieved from the official website of the political party, indicating that the venue was Karur, Velusamypuram , and that the programme would commence at 12:00 noon .
8.At this juncture, the learned State Public Prosecutor submitted that the General Secretary of the political party had given a press interview confirming that the programme would commence at 12:00 noon . Consequently, the learned Additional Advocate General and the State Public Prosecutor, in one voice, submitted that a large crowd gathered at the venue from the morning, anticipating the arrival of the party leader at 12:00 noon .
9.They also drew the Court’s attention to the Government Order issued by the Public (Law and Order–F) Department in G.O. (Ms). No. 605 dated 28.09.2025, wherein a Commission of Inquiry, headed by a retired Judge of this Court has been constitute
