Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay Drops Peaceful Protest Cases Against Farmers, Teachers

In a major policy move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay's government has announced the complete withdrawal of police cases registered against farmers and teachers who participated in peaceful protests during the tenure of the previous administration. Making the formal announcement on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, under Rule 110 in the State Assembly, the Chief Minister underscored his administration's commitment to upholding freedom of expression and protecting the democratic right of citizens to protest within legal bounds.

Rule 110 Announcement and Scope of Relief

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay stated that all criminal cases filed between May 2021 and April 2026 against farmers and teachers who staged peaceful agitations over livelihood, rights, and welfare issues will be dropped. The relief directly benefits agrarian communities and educators who faced police action during high-profile local struggles.

Key groups slated to benefit from the amnesty include:

• SIPCOT Protestors: Farmers who were booked—and in some cases detained under the stringent Goondas Act—while protesting against the SIPCOT Industrial Estate project in Tiruvannamalai.

• Parandur Airport Agitation: Local farmers and residents who waged long-running campaigns against the proposed Parandur airport project to protect their agricultural lands, water bodies, and livelihoods.

• Teacher Associations: Educators who faced police cases while demonstrating for professional demands, service rights, and educational reforms.

Opposition Backlash and Assembly Fireworks

While allies and several legislators welcomed the decision, the announcement immediately triggered a fierce political storm inside the Assembly. The principal opposition DMK strongly questioned the intent behind the move. DMK whip E.V. Velu alleged political motives behind the selective amnesty, while former minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam challenged whether the government would extend similar relief to farmers booked during protests over crop loans within the last 100 days.

Intervening in the heated exchanges, Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar dismissed the opposition's procedural objections, ruling that the Chief Minister's announcement was made entirely within the legislative rules of the House. Despite political friction, the move provides immense legal relief to hundreds of farmers and teachers across Tamil Nadu.