The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition from the DMK that sought to prevent Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay from meeting with the families of the Karur stampede victims, questioning the legal basis for restricting the executive head’s official movements.
A bench consisting of Justices KV Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe declined to entertain the petition, which accused state ministers of attempting to influence witnesses. The court allowed the opposition party to withdraw the plea after indicating it would otherwise be dismissed.
Judiciary Questions DMK Objections
During the proceedings, the bench questioned senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing the DMK, on how a scheduled visit to distribute aid could be construed as witness tampering. The judges asked how the court could regulate the public duties of the head of the state’s executive branch.
Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to travel to Karur on July 10 to meet with affected families and distribute compassionate appointments, government orders, and other relief benefits.
Faced with the court’s assertion that the petition would be dismissed if not withdrawn, the DMK’s counsel agreed to withdraw the case with the freedom to seek other legal remedies. The bench subsequently dismissed the petition as withdrawn.
Concerns Over CBI Investigation
The petition, filed by DMK Secretary RS Bharati, had sought court orders to restrain the Chief Minister, State Minister Aadhav Arjuna, and other accused individuals from making public statements about the incident. It also requested the court to regulate their interactions with the victims’ families while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues its inquiry.
The DMK argued in its plea that several individuals who were initially chargesheeted in connection with the stampede have since assumed ministerial portfolios in the state government following the 2026 assembly elections.
Background Of The Karur Stampede
The litigation arises from a stampede in Karur that resulted in 41 deaths. On October 13 last year, the Supreme Court transferred the probe to the CBI, stating that the severity of the tragedy had shaken the national conscience and required an independent and impartial investigation.
