Madras High Court Orders SOP for Political Rallies Amid Karur Tragedy

The Madras High Court has mandated the Tamil Nadu government to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within ten days for organizing political gatherings and rallies. This directive comes after a tragic stampede in the Karur district during a rally by TVK Chief and actor Vijay, resulting in 41 fatalities and numerous injuries.

The bench, including Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, has also permitted other political parties, like the AIADMK, to present their suggestions on the SOP by the deadline of November 11. The TVK's legal representative, Arivazhagan, indicated that their party had filed a writ petition to ensure timely police permissions for political events, which remains pending in court.

In accordance with a Supreme Court order, the matter was reviewed by the Chief Justice, who questioned the delay in SOP formulation. The state promised to complete the guidelines by November 11, 2025. Meanwhile, applications for political rallies can still be made, and permission may be granted by police. The Supreme Court has also directed the CBI to investigate the Karur incident, with oversight by a committee led by Justice Ajay Rastogi to guarantee an unbiased inquiry.

In the aftermath, TVK Chief Vijay consoled the families of the victims and announced a financial aid of Rs 20 lakh. The tragic event has intensified calls for robust guidelines to safeguard future political events in the region.