Is Vijay’s TVK Challenging the Madras HC's Order on the Karur Stampede?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- TVK's Supreme Court petition challenges a Madras HC order.
- Karur stampede resulted in 41 deaths, raising safety concerns.
- The Madras HC criticized Vijay for lack of accountability.
- An SIT has been established to investigate the incident.
- Public safety at political events is under scrutiny.
New Delhi, Oct 8 (NationPress) Actor and politician Vijay, representing the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has taken legal action by filing a petition with the Supreme Court against a directive from the Madras High Court. This directive called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the devastating Karur stampede, which tragically resulted in the loss of 41 lives and left over 100 individuals injured.
On Wednesday, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) consented to schedule a hearing for TVK's petition, submitted through representative Aadhav Arjuna, on October 10, following its urgent mention.
In a ruling issued on September 3, the Madras High Court expressed serious criticism towards the leadership of TVK, citing a lack of support for their followers after the catastrophic event. The court noted, “Shockingly, the programme organisers, including the leader of the political party, absconded from the venue, abandoning their own cadres, followers, and fans. There is neither remorse, nor responsibility, nor even an expression of regret,” as stated by Justice N. Senthilkumar.
The Madras High Court issued a strong condemnation of Mr. Vijay and his party’s conduct, highlighting how they fled the scene immediately following the tragic occurrences.
“It is essential for such a party to have taken immediate actions to rescue and assist individuals caught in the stampede-like situation arising from the massive crowd, in which many children, women, and several young individuals tragically lost their lives,” the court added.
While denying a petition for a CBI investigation, the court ordered the establishment of an SIT led by IPS officer Asra Garg to investigate the tragic incident.
The Madras High Court mandated the SIT to carry out an impartial and timely investigation, providing regular updates.
Earlier on Tuesday, CJI Gavai agreed to schedule a hearing on October 10 for a plea filed by BJP leader Uma Anandan requesting a CBI probe, after it was mentioned for urgent consideration.
The Karur stampede stands as one of the most severe crowd-control failures in Tamil Nadu in recent years, sending shockwaves throughout the nation and raising significant concerns about public safety at political gatherings.