SC questions Madras HC’s order directing formation of SIT to probe Karur stampede
The Supreme Court on Friday raised several questions to the Tamil Nadu government while hearing petitions on the ongoing investigation into the stampede in Karur.
It also flagged the “impropriety” with the Madras High Court’s Chennai bench’s order directing a special investigation team (SIT) probe when the petition only sought guidelines to hold roadshows.
The Supreme Court questioned how the Tamil Nadu government carried out post-mortems at 4 am after the stampede that killed 41 people including children.
It questioned the Tamil Nadu government over the permission given to actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for holding a roadshow in Karur on September 27, when AIADMK was denied permission for a similar event at the same spot.
The Supreme Court asked this after taking note of the reason for denial of permission to AIADMK i.e. the state was still working on the standard operating procedure (SOP) for political meetings when AIADMK applied.
The bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria also questioned the propriety of the Madras High Court passing two seemingly conflicting orders over the Karur stampede.
While the Madurai bench rejected a petition for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the stampede, the Chennai bench directed a probe by an SIT.
Vijay challenged the order by the Chennai bench, which he alleged was passed without even hearing him. He said the adverse observations against him in the order were politically damaging and sought an independent probe into the incident.