Tamil Nadu government to withdraw cases filed against farmers, teachers during DMK regime: CM Vijay
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has announced the withdrawal of legal cases filed against farmers and teachers during the previous DMK administration. The decision aims to respect democratic protest rights and address humanitarian concerns regarding land acquisition disputes.
Why it matters
This policy shift signals a change in administrative approach toward civil dissent and land rights in the state.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) announced the withdrawal of cases filed against protesting farmers and teachers between 2021 and 2026, during the previous DMK regime.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, he said the government would respect the democratic rights of farmers and teachers who had protested peacefully. “The government has decided to withdraw the cases on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with democratic norms,” he said.
Mr. Vijay said the Goondas Act had been invoked against farmers in Tiruvannamalai district who opposed the acquisition of their lands for the SIPCOT industrial park.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in