Karur Stampede| Supreme Court Directs CBI Investigation; Constitutes Three-Member SIT Headed By Former Judge To Monitor It
The Supreme Court considered an SLP filed by the TVK challenging the order of Madras High Court, by which constitution of a Special Investigation Team was directed to conduct SIT on the Karur Stampede incident.
Today, the Supreme Court, while pronouncing judgment in the in the SLP filed by the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), a political party, challenging the order of Madras High Court to set up Special Investigation Team in the Karur Stampede case, directed the CBI to investigate the incident and constituted a three-member SIT, headed by former Supreme Court Judge Ajay Rastogi, to monitor the investigation.
On October 10, the Supreme Court heard the matter at length and reserved for judgment.
The Bench of Justice J K Maheshwari and Justice N V Anjaria pronounced the Judgement and directed, “The committee shall have the liberty to see the evidence collected by CBI from time to time and supervise the investigation to ensure that it reaches its logical conclusion."
Justice Maheshwari pronounced the judgment and underscored that the investigation of the incident is the Right of the Citizens.
The Supreme Court directed to handover the investigation by CBI for fair investigation. "There cannot be any doubt that the fair investigation is the Right of the citizens", the Court observed.
Further, the Court proposed to set-up a three members supervisory committee, to headed by the former Judge of Supreme Court, Justice Ajay Rastogi.
"We further request him to choose two senior IPS Officers, not below the rank of Inspector General of Police, who may be of Tamil Nadu Cadre, but shall not be a native of Tamil Nadu", the Court said.
The Court also formulated the scope of the Committee. It was ordered, "The committee shall have the liberty to see the evidence collected by CBI from time to time and supervise the investigation to ensure that it reaches its logical conclusion."
The committee was also authorised to undertake any matter which was ancillary or incidental to the Karur Stamped. Further, the CBI was also directed to submit a monthly progress report to the committee.
After the pronouncement of judgement, Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Singhvi, apprised the Court that two of the petitioners in the matter has told that they never filed the Writ Petition.
Accordingly, Justise Maheshwari said that the order has been passed on the basis of prima facie facts and and circumstances of the case.
Thereupon, Justice Maheshwari read the whole judgment and said, "We have mentioned everything...we will consider it... Justice Rastogi is appointed and he will look into everything. This is the reason that we want a fair investigation."
Accordingly, the matter will be heard after the filing of country affidavit.
Background
A Writ Petition was filed at the Madras High Court to frame guidelines in the nature of SOP for the conducting of road show. The Petition was presented following a roadshow that was permitted by the Respondent at Karur and stated that a major man-made disaster occurred at the said event, resulting in the loss of 41 lives.
The Madras High Court condemned the conduct of Tamil Nadu Actor Vijay, the organisers of the event and the members of the political party for fleeing from the scene of stampede and stated that it was incumbent upon such a party to have taken immediate steps to rescue and assist individuals caught in the stampede like situation arising from the massive crowd in which many children, women, and several young persons tragically lost their lives.
The Madras High Court also observed, “It is to be noted that the Hon'ble President of India, Hon'ble Prime Minister, Hon'ble Union Home Minister has condoled the incident. The Hon'ble Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu visited the hospital on early hours. The leader of the opposition, Tamil Nadu and almost all the political parties have expressed their concerns and many leaders of the political parties came to the scene of occurrence and participated in the rescue process. When that being the situation, it is really sad that Mr.Vijay, the leader and the members of his political party which organised the meeting fled the scene of occurrence.”
Given the depth of the situation, the Court constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation.
Cause Title: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam V. P.H Dinesh (Diary No. 58048-2025 II-C)