Mon Oct 27 08:27:03 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the text, focusing on the key events and implications:
Headline: Madras High Court Orders Tamil Nadu to Draft Rally Safety Guidelines After Stampede Tragedy
CHENNAI, October 27, 2025 – In response to the tragic stampede at a political rally in Karur last month that claimed 41 lives, the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for political meetings and rallies. The order, issued on Monday, gives the state government ten days to draft the SOP, with a deadline of November 11.
The directive comes after a writ petition filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party of actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, prior to the Karur incident, cited “onerous” conditions imposed by the police for campaign events. Additional petitions were filed after the tragedy, urging for clearer guidelines to ensure participant safety.
The court, comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan, stated that failure to submit the draft SOP by the deadline would result in a court order requiring political parties to apply for rally permits ten days in advance, with police required to respond at least three days prior to the event.
During the hearing, TVK accused the police of granting permission for the Karur rally with very little notice. The Additional Advocate General refuted this claim, stating that TVK had originally planned the event for December and submitted a last-minute application on September 25.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the state’s principal opposition party, has filed a petition to be included as a respondent in the case, stating their intention to provide input on the rally regulations.
The court also closed a petition requesting a CBI probe into the Karur stampede, confirming the Supreme Court had already assigned this to CBI.
Additionally, the TVK general secretary withdrew his anticipatory bail petition regarding culpable homicide charges booked against him and other party leaders for the Karur stampede.
Finally, TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna’s petition to quash an FIR registered against him for an allegedly inflammatory tweet was deferred for a later session.
The High Court’s intervention highlights the urgent need for clearer safety protocols at political events to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety of participants. The SOP is expected to involve multiple entities including civic bodies, police, health, and fire and rescue services departments.
First Piper 