Madras HC asks state govt to frame draft SOP for political campaigns within 10 days

THE Madras High Court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu government to frame a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) within 10 days to regulate roadshows and public meetings of political parties to prevent incidents like the Karur stampede of September 27 in which 41 people died at the rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief actor Vijay.

- R SIVAKUMAR @Chennai

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan issued the direction while hearing a batch of petitions related to the tragedy. The court also said that it would issue an interim SOP on its own if the state fails to come up with the SOP within the stipulated time. The bench further clarified that its order should not be treated as an impediment for considering applications filed by parties seeking permission to hold public meetings, except those proposed on national and state highways.

The judges said that the permissions for political events should be granted a few days before the scheduled date.