CHENNAI
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced in the Assembly that police cases against farmers and teachers who held peaceful protests for their rights would be withdrawn. The decision was taken on humanitarian grounds and to strengthen democratic values.
Vijay said cases against farmers protesting the Parandur airport project and the expansion of the SIPCOT industrial park in Tiruvannamalai would be dropped. The Parandur airport project was recently scrapped by the Tamil Nadu government.
The Chief Minister said several farmers had faced cases while opposing projects that they believed could affect their agricultural land, water sources and livelihoods. Some farmers protesting the SIPCOT project had also been booked under the Goondas Act.
Cases against teachers who had protested peacefully for their demands would also be withdrawn. Vijay said peaceful protest was a basic democratic right and that citizens should not face legal difficulties simply for raising genuine concerns.
“Farmers are the backbone of our nation’s food security, while teachers form the absolute foundation of societal progress,” Vijay said. He added that pending cases had caused mental stress to both groups.
The Chief Minister said withdrawing the cases would help improve trust between the government and people. He maintained that the move reflected the government’s commitment to humanitarian values, democratic rights and respect for peaceful public protest.