T.N. govt. mulls security deposit for party rallies

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The Tamil Nadu government has proposed to collect a returnable security deposit ranging between ₹1 lakh and ₹20 lakh from political parties, depending on the expected turnout for thepublic meetings, rallies or road shows they organise.

The State government presented the proposed features during a consultation meeting of political parties at the Secretariat in Chennai on Thursday, as part of steps to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for public meetings by political parties.

The government has also proposed separate enclaves at the meeting venues for pregnant women, senior citizens and children.

It has also proposed to obtain from the organisers a written undertaking that they would “ensure smooth passage of ambulances without any hindrance”, and ensure the safe dispersal of the crowd/gathering.

The State government has proposed to collect a returnable security deposit of ₹1 lakh if the expected turnout was between 5,000 and 10,000; ₹3 lakh if it was between 10,000 and 20,000; ₹8 lakh if it was between 20,000 and 50,000; and ₹20 lakh if it was over 50,000.

It has proposed to divide the arena into zones, with a zone for every 500 people standing and one for every 1,000 people sitting.

If the organisers chose a location not recognised by the authorities, certificates from engineers and undertakings from land/location owners were to be produced. In case of violation of norms or damage, the report, along with the demand draft, would be sent to the Collector, who may decide if and whether the security deposit was to be forfeited partially or in its entirety.

The government has also proposed that the event’s organisers should ensure the provision of a public announcement system, CCTV coverage, generators, lighting, drinking water, first-aid centres, and ambulances, among other facilities.

Political parties put forth some suggestions at the meeting. The CPI(M), an ally of the ruling DMK, however, rejected the proposals in their entirety, especially the one seeking a security deposit for organising public meetings.

The parties could formally submit their response to the proposals in a few days.

In case of road shows, it has proposed that the organisers should provide the details of the special guest invited, and place barricades separating the special guest around 500 metres away from the gathering. The government also said that people should not be made to wait for more than two hours, and public meetings and road shows should be completed within three hours.

The security deposit was proposed to be used in case of injuries or damages or for providing support under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992. When organisers submit applications, the

The government has proposed to categorise the events as low, medium and high risk. In case of a low risk event, it has proposed to depute one policeman for every 200 people, and in case of medium and high risk events, for every 100 and 50 respectively. It has also proposed undertakings from organisers to take responsibility for damage to public and public property.

The SOP being proposed would be applicable for public meetings, rallies, road shows, agitations, protests and cultural and religious events that receive footfalls of about 5,000 people or more. However, it would not be applicable for religious and traditional events at specific locations, and also for events organised by institutions under the control of the government.

If more than one application was received for the same location, the government has proposed to operate on a first-come first-serve basis and prioritise recognised political parties. If the crowd turned out to be about 50% more than expected, it would be considered a “serious violation”, and not only would the deposit be forfeited but “legal action would be initiated”, as per the proposal. The government has proposed district and taluk-level event safety monitoring committees in this regard.

Though the guidelines issued by the Election Commission through the Suvidha portal would be followed when the Model Code of Conduct is in place, the SOP is proposed to be applicable as far as security arrangements and basic amenities were concerned. The District Collector, in consultation with the police and the political parties, would select a list of permitted locations, which would be reviewed once a year. Officials would decide on the locations based on the parking facilities and emergency exits available, among other factors.

The State government has said the SOP would not infringe upon the exclusive powers of the district administration and the police authorities, and they were empowered to amend or include fresh provisions. It further noted that the proposed SOP would complement the laws, rules and advisories of the government already in place.

The proposed features, along with inputs from political parties, are expected to be made into a draft SOP, and placed before the Madras High Court.