TVK challenges two provisions of T.N. government’s SOP for political rallies before Madras High Court

Actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court challenging two provisions of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) notified by the Tamil Nadu government on January 5, 2026, for permitting the conduct of public meetings, processions, roadshows, demonstrations, protests, cultural/religious events, and other public gatherings attended by over 5,000 people.

The party has urged the court to quash clauses 6(c) and 8(g)1 of the SOP after declaring them illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional, and violative of the principles of natural justice. They further sought a consequent direct to the Home Secretary to reframe and notify a fresh SOP in a fair, uniform, and non-discriminatory manner after duly considering the objections and suggestions of all stakeholders, including registered political parties.