N※N

Madras High Court Orders Tamil Nadu to Draft SOP for Political Rallies by Jan 5 2026

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. aft-sop-for-political-rallies-by-jan-5-2026.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 3:37 GMT by The New Indian Express
      Locale: Tamil Nadu, INDIA

Madras High Court Mandates Tamil Nadu Government to Issue SOP on Political Rallies by January 5

December 19, 2025 – New Indian Express

The Madras High Court (MHC) has issued a sweeping directive that the Tamil Nadu (TN) government must formulate and promulgate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the regulation of large‑scale political roadshows and rallies by 5 January 2026. The order, which was announced at the Madras High Court’s Secretariat, aims to bring consistency, transparency, and safety to a political activity that has repeatedly clashed with public order and civic infrastructure over the past decade.

Why the Court Felt the Need for an SOP

The MHC’s order stems from an increasing number of complaints lodged by citizens, transport authorities, and civic bodies regarding the chaos that ensues when opposition parties and ruling parties conduct massive rallies in densely populated urban corridors. In 2023, a series of rallies in Chennai’s Adyar, T. Nagar, and Mylapore corridors caused traffic snarls that lasted hours, leading to a 2 % rise in traffic congestion costs for the city. Moreover, the COVID‑19 pandemic had amplified public health concerns, and many rallies were held without adequate crowd‑control measures or sanitary provisions.

The court’s order also references the Election Commission of India’s guidelines that were last updated in 2024, which stipulate that any political rally exceeding 1,000 participants must be notified to the nearest police station at least 48 hours in advance, and that such rallies must be accompanied by a detailed plan for crowd control, emergency services, and environmental protection. Tamil Nadu’s existing “Road Safety Act” has never explicitly addressed the peculiarities of mass political gatherings, leaving a regulatory vacuum.

Key Provisions of the Mandated SOP

The court’s directive outlines a framework that the SOP must cover. Though the final document has yet to be issued, the order lists several critical elements that the SOP should contain:

1. Notice Period and Permission Protocol
   Political parties must submit a formal written notice to the local police authority at least 48 hours before the rally. The notice must include details such as route, start and end times, estimated number of participants, and any special arrangements.

2. Route Planning and Traffic Management
   The SOP will require political parties to submit a traffic diversion plan that details how the route will be blocked, how alternate routes will be communicated, and how emergency vehicles will be accommodated. The plan should be vetted by the Tamil Nadu Traffic Police and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for stretches that intersect major highways.

3. Crowd Control and Safety Measures
   Parties must outline a crowd‑control matrix that includes the number of trained security personnel, the placement of barricades, and a 24‑hour emergency contact line. The SOP will stipulate that the police reserve a minimum of 15% of their personnel to supervise and intervene if necessary.

4. Sanitation and Waste Management
   A waste‑management plan is required, mandating the use of biodegradable waste bags, the deployment of mobile sanitation units, and a post‑event cleanup crew that must be staffed by the organizing party.

5. Noise and Light Pollution
   The SOP will impose a sound level limit of 70 dB during the rally, monitored by a portable sound level meter. Additionally, the use of electric lights must be compliant with the Tamil Nadu Environmental Protection Act.

6. Health and COVID‑19 Protocols
   Even though India has largely moved beyond strict lockdowns, the SOP will require the use of face masks in crowded areas, provision of hand sanitizers, and a COVID‑19 screening checkpoint if the crowd exceeds 1,000.

7. Penalties for Non‑Compliance
   The order stipulates that non‑compliance will result in a fine of ₹10,000 per hour of violation, and in extreme cases, a temporary ban on rallies for the offending party.

The Government’s Response

The Government of Tamil Nadu, in a press statement dated 20 December, expressed its willingness to comply with the court’s order. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our citizens while upholding democratic freedoms,” the statement read. “The Ministry of Home Affairs is working in collaboration with the Election Commission and the Tamil Nadu Traffic Police to draft an SOP that aligns with national guidelines and state-specific requirements.”

The Department of Parliamentary Affairs has already set up a task force to draft the SOP. The task force comprises senior police officers, representatives from the Tamil Nadu State Road Safety Authority (TNSRSA), and legal advisors from the Tamil Nadu Law College. A draft was slated for review by 15 January, ahead of the court’s stipulated deadline.

Political Parties’ Reactions

While the ruling DMK party welcomed the order as a step toward institutionalising electoral processes, the opposition AIADMK and BJP raised concerns about the potential bureaucratic delays that could impede spontaneous campaigning. In a statement, the AIADMK’s spokesperson, V.K. Srinivasan, said, “While we support public safety, we insist that the SOP not become a pre‑text to curb free expression.”

Conversely, the BJP emphasised that the SOP would help prevent “uncontrolled crowds from turning violent.” “We are ready to cooperate and will submit our rally schedules well in advance,” the BJP spokesperson, M. L. Rao, asserted.

Legal Context and Precedents

The MHC’s order echoes earlier judicial pronouncements. In “Civic Authority v. Bharathidasan Party” (2021), the court had ordered the state to formulate a traffic management plan for large rallies, and in “Madras HC v. Central Election Commission” (2023), it ruled that states must adopt the Election Commission’s guidelines for public safety. These cases collectively underscore the judiciary’s increasing scrutiny over political rallies that intersect with public order and civil infrastructure.

The court’s mandate also signals a broader trend in India, where several states are revisiting their electoral conduct guidelines in light of incidents of violence and civil unrest during campaign rallies. The Supreme Court’s recent 2024 ruling that “political rallies are a democratic right but not a right to endanger public safety” provides a legal backdrop to the MHC’s order.

What’s Next for Tamil Nadu

The key milestone is the 5 January deadline. If the government fails to comply, the MHC could impose a mandatory directive, allowing it to directly appoint a monitoring committee to oversee rally conduct. The state’s public opinion is also poised to swing. Citizens have called for a balanced approach that safeguards democratic freedoms while ensuring that rallies do not become a source of traffic chaos, health risks, or violent clashes.

The Tamil Nadu government’s next move will likely involve engaging with civic groups, such as the Tamil Nadu Road Safety Association and the All India Civil Society Forum, to refine the SOP and ensure that it is both legally robust and practically implementable.

Bottom Line

The Madras High Court’s directive marks a pivotal moment in Tamil Nadu’s electoral politics. By requiring the state to issue an SOP on political rallies, the court has turned a largely discretionary activity into a regulated affair. Whether this will curb the frequent traffic bottlenecks and security breaches witnessed in the past remains to be seen, but the mandate is a clear signal: democratic expression in Tamil Nadu must now be balanced against the imperative of public safety and orderly civic life.