The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Madras High Court’s decision to order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Karur stampede that occurred during actor Vijay’s TVK rally. The bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria observed that the original petition before the High Court had only sought the framing of safety guidelines for political events, not an SIT inquiry.The judges also raised jurisdictional concerns, asking how the principal bench in Chennai could issue an order in a case that falls under the Madurai Bench’s purview. The Tamil Nadu government and TVK presented arguments, with TVK seeking an independent probe supervised by a retired Supreme Court judge instead of one led by state police officers.
The court further questioned how permission was granted for the rally and why post-mortems of the victims were conducted late at night and completed within hours. The bench reserved its order after hearing detailed submissions. The September 27 stampede in Karur claimed 41 lives, prompting the state to appoint retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to head a one-member inquiry commission.
The Supreme Court also examined the role of administrative authorities in granting approval for the rally, highlighting the need for strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future. The bench emphasized that accountability must extend beyond organizers to include local officials and law enforcement agencies responsible for crowd management and public safety during large gatherings.
Legal experts say the court’s scrutiny could set a precedent for how high-profile events are regulated in Tamil Nadu and across India. The case has sparked wider debates on the balance between political expression and public safety, and whether independent investigations should be mandatory in incidents involving mass casualties at political rallies.