Chennai, 2 September: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced in the Assembly on Wednesday that his government will withdraw all cases registered between May 2021 and April 2026 against farmers and teachers who took part in peaceful protests over livelihood, rights and welfare issues.
Legal withdrawal aimed at easing grievances
Making the announcement under Rule 110, Mr Vijay said the decision was taken on humanitarian grounds and to uphold democratic principles. The withdrawal will cover cases arising from protests against projects such as the SIPCOT industrial estate in Tiruvannamalai district and demonstrations by farmers at Parandur over the proposed airport project, where concerns were raised about loss of agricultural land, water bodies and livelihoods. The Chief Minister also referred to instances in which some protesters had been booked under the Goondas Act.
"This government will stand by farmers and teachers and their just demands," the Chief Minister said in the Assembly.
The announcement is expected to include cases against teachers who staged agitations for service-related and welfare demands. The decision follows agitation and public concern over the mental and economic impact of prosecution on protesters, including a recent hunger strike by nearly 50 differently-abled unemployed teachers outside the Commissionerate for the Welfare of the Differently Abled in Chennai.
Major drinking water investments
Alongside the legal announcement, Mr Vijay unveiled a Rs 4,800 crore drinking water programme aimed at strengthening supply and treatment infrastructure across the state. Key projects listed in the Assembly include:
- A 400 MLD desalination plant at Minjur to meet requirements of North Chennai, Avadi, Ponneri and Minjur.
- A Rs 500 crore scheme in Avadi Municipal Corporation to provide round-the-clock drinking water to all households.
- Rs 1,000 crore allocated to improve drinking water facilities in Madurai and Cuddalore municipal corporations, nine municipalities and 20 town panchayats.
- Rs 300 crore as the first phase for renovating 33 old combined drinking water schemes.
- A Rs 410 crore project to enhance capacity at the Chennai Kilpauk Water Treatment Plant.
| Project | Allocation | Primary Benefit / Area |
|---|---|---|
| Minjur Desalination Plant | — | 400 MLD; North Chennai, Avadi, Ponneri, Minjur |
| Avadi 24-hour water supply | Rs 500 crore | Avadi Municipal Corporation |
| Urban water improvements | Rs 1,000 crore | Madurai & Cuddalore corporations; 9 municipalities; 20 town panchayats |
| Renovation — Phase I | Rs 300 crore | 33 old combined drinking water schemes |
| Kilpauk WTP capacity enhancement | Rs 410 crore | Chennai |
Political reactions and context
Allies and opposition figures welcomed the announcement, though some criticism surfaced. DMK whip E V Velu alleged an "ulterior motive" behind the move, suggesting it was aimed at projecting the previous DMK government in a negative light. Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin challenged the claim that this was the first withdrawal of such cases, asserting that the earlier DMK administration had also withdrawn more than 5,000 cases related to protests on issues including hydrocarbon projects, Kudankulam and farm laws. Former minister M R K Panneerselvam asked whether the government would also withdraw cases filed within the past 100 days by farmers seeking crop loans.
The government defended the step as a measure to restore trust between the administration and aggrieved groups while emphasising that the right to protest would be protected within the framework of law.
Practical implications
Officials will now have to identify and process the relevant case files registered during the specified period and coordinate with police stations and courts for formal withdrawal orders. The move could ease legal and financial burdens on affected farmers and teachers, but detailed lists and timelines for implementation were not provided in the Assembly statement.
The drinking water package, if implemented on schedule, is likely to target chronic urban shortages in northern Chennai suburbs and improve water infrastructure in municipal corporations and smaller urban bodies. Specific tendering, timelines and project contractors were not announced in the Assembly disclosures.
Further clarifications are expected from the Chief Minister’s Office and the Water Resources Department in the coming days regarding implementation schedules for both the legal withdrawals and the water projects.
Selvan Murugesan is the Tamil Nadu correspondent reporting from Chennai.
