Tamil Nadu: Cops Deny EPS Approval for Roadside Rallies

In Tamil Nadu, police have denied permission for planned campaign rallies by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) in the Namakkal district. The denial comes amid heightened scrutiny of public gatherings following a recent stampede in Karur that resulted in numerous fatalities.

The Madras High Court has taken a firm stance on public meetings, issuing an interim injunction that prohibits political parties from holding events on state and national highways until standard operating procedures (SOPs) are finalized. This order was a direct response to public interest litigations filed in the wake of the Karur stampede, which underscored the urgent need for comprehensive safety protocols for mass gatherings. The Tamil Nadu government has assured the court that meetings on highways will be restricted to designated areas until the SOPs are in place.

The Karur stampede, which claimed the lives of 41 people, occurred during a public rally led by a politician and actor. Preliminary investigations suggest that inadequate crowd management contributed significantly to the tragic event. A special investigation team has been formed to investigate the incident, while the High Court dismissed a plea for a CBI probe. The court also questioned the political party's inability to control its members during the roadshow, citing instances of unruly conduct and property damage.

This isn't the first time Tamil Nadu police have denied permission for political events citing concerns about law and order. In March 2024, the police initially refused permission for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Coimbatore, referencing law-and-order concerns and the scheduling of a public exam. However, the Madras High Court overturned the police's decision, allowing the roadshow to proceed with certain conditions. The police stated that the denial of permission was not targeted at any specific party, as similar restrictions had been applied to other political groups as well. The court also noted that the Special Protection Group primarily handles security for the Prime Minister, minimizing the state's role in securing such events.

The state government is formulating the draft of SOPs in compliance with a 2014 Supreme Court directive that entrusted the government to frame SOPs for road safety and post-trauma care. The recent actions by the police and the High Court underscore a commitment to prioritizing public safety and preventing future tragedies during public gatherings.