Supreme Court Rejects DMK Petition on Karur Stampede

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a petition from the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) that sought to restrict Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and other state ministers from making public statements or interacting with victims' families in connection with the 2025 Karur stampede investigation. The court dismissed the plea as withdrawn, advising the party to pursue political disputes outside the judiciary.

A bench of Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe questioned the basis of the application, noting the court itself had ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident. The judges asked how the court could regulate the itinerary of an executive head of state. Justice Viswanathan observed that the court should not become a political forum and suggested the DMK counter political statements with its own speech.

The DMK's application, filed by organizing secretary R.S. Bharathi, had argued that public comments by ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders and a planned visit by Chief Minister Vijay to Karur on July 10 to distribute compensation and government jobs could influence witnesses and prejudice the...