SOP aims to fix framework for planning public gatherings

The SOP empowers authorities to impose conditions, take legal action, recover damages and deny future permissions in cases of noncompliance, while safeguarding the right to peaceful assembly.

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This SOP shall apply to all public meetings, processions, road shows, demonstrations, protests, cultural/religious events and any other form of public gatherings where the anticipated number of participants exceeds 5,000. However, this SOP shall not apply to religious gatherings organised in places of worship as customary events or where the venue/route is already fixed by established customary precedents. The applicability of this SOP shall be limited during the period of elections when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force. However, the responsibilities of the organiser concerning crowd safety regulations, etc, shall continue to apply otherwise too.