By Rohini Sridharan
On August 14, 2025 around midnight, sanitation workers who were protesting outside the Greater
Chennai Corporation’s Ripon building were forcefully cleared by the Police force, stating the Madras
High court’s orders. They were evacuated from the place of protest and were transferred to various
private halls for investigation.
The conservancy workers of the GCC’s two zones,Thiru Vi ka Nagar and Royapuram were protesting
against the privatization of sanitation operations, outside the Ripon building since August 1,2025 for
justice. The protest was non-violent and was held for rightful reasons. On August 12, 2025 the Madras
High Court ordered the government to clear out the protestors stating that they do not have a proper
permission to protest outside the Ripon building. 600 people including workers, protestors, advocates,
students and supporters were forcefully evacuated from the place at midnight.
The women were left free after the arrest, but all men were taken to various private and public halls in and
around Chennai, and were confiscated of their mobile phones. Police said that they are yet to decide on
the further legal proceedings on this matter and are investigating.
People are agitated by this move by the High Court and government and are calling it as an undignified
way to handle the working class people who are fighting for their rights in a democratic and dignified
manner. Several politicians like AIADMK leader and oppositional leader Edapadi K Palanisamy, TVK
leader Vijay, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, BJP leader Naiynar Nagendran condemned the act of
Government and the brutality of police. People and the leaders also have added that the workers are
protesting for a right cause in a rightful manner, but the government’s response to them and their queries are undemocratic. This incident has added to the hopelessness of people in the current government and the Chief Minister, MK Stalin.