On December 19, 2025, the Madras High Court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to review and consider objections from political parties on its draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for political meetings and large gatherings. The draft SOP covers events expecting more than 5,000 attendees, such as meetings, roadshows, and protests. The Court directed the state to publish the final SOP by January 5, 2026. The First Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan avoided making changes themselves, stating the SOP would face future judicial review. The order came on petitions including one by actor C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which complained about strict police conditions on their campaigns. After a stampede at a Karur rally on September 27, 2025, that killed 41 people, the government created a 47-page draft SOP with penalties for violations. Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar said the District Collector would recover damages for public and private property based on police reports, under the Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992. This would be in addition to criminal action. The draft exempts religious gatherings at places of worship held by custom. However, AIADMK objected to this exemption. Senior counsel Vijay Narayan said, "The SOP must be made applicable to those religious events too." AIADMK also wants organisers to have the choice of event venues rather than forcing designated ones. They opposed the need for permission from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and State Highways. Instead, they suggested merely informing these agencies and getting police permission, which should be decided within three days. Other parties including Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi also proposed changes. The judges instructed the government to consider all suggestions before finalizing the SOP by January 5, 2026.