Chennai: The Madras High Court on Thursday took a strong stance on the regulation of political rallies, issuing directives for the creation of uniform guidelines for all parties while also warning the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party (TVK), led by actor Vijay, that it would ensure compensation is collected for any public property damaged during their recent rally in Trichy. The court’s observations came during the hearing of a petition filed by TVP, which alleged discriminatory practices by police in granting permissions for its campaigns.

With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, Vijay’s party has intensified its outreach, holding public meetings in Vikravandi and Madurai, with plans to tour multiple districts in the coming months. The petition, filed by TVP Deputy General Secretary Nirmal Kumar, claimed that the police imposed unusually strict and last-minute conditions solely on TVP events, while other political parties faced no such barriers. It emphasized that previous events, including conferences and protests, had concluded peacefully without any law-and-order issues.

Court Stresses Leader’s Accountability and Calls for Standardized Protocols

During the proceedings, the court highlighted the responsibility of political leaders to ensure discipline among their supporters. The bench remarked, “You, as the leader, should control the crowd. Who will be responsible if an incident occurs due to people climbing elevated structures? Shouldn’t the party leadership enforce discipline among volunteers?” These comments underscored the judiciary’s concern over safety and organizational oversight during large-scale public events.

In a significant move toward institutionalizing fairness and accountability, the court instructed the Tamil Nadu Police to develop standardized rules applicable to all political parties seeking permissions for rallies and public meetings. It also mandated the establishment of a clear mechanism to assess and recover costs for any damage to public property from the responsible parties. The case has been adjourned until September 24 for further review of the proposed guidelines and compliance.