Supreme Court Refuses to Restrict TN CM Vijay's Visits to Stampede Victims' Families
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an application filed by a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader seeking to prevent Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and other members of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) from making public comments about the September 27, 2025, Karur stampede or from meeting the victims' families.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice K V Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe sharply criticised the petition, stating that the Supreme Court should not be used as a forum to resolve political disputes. Justice Viswanathan questioned, “You want the chief minister’s visit to be regulated by the Supreme Court and fix his itinerary?”
The court noted that the initial First Information Report (FIR) in the case does not name Chief Minister Vijay as an accused. The bench observed that there was no legal basis to restrict the chief minister’s interactions, as the petition appeared to be motivated by political rivalry rather than a genuine legal grievance.
The Karur stampede, which occurred during a public event, resulted in multiple casualties and injuries. The state government has been conducting relief and investigation efforts. The DMK leader's application argued that the chief minister's public comments could prejudice the investigation or influence witnesses, but the court found no evidence to support such claims.
The Supreme Court’s decision upholds the principle that elected representatives are entitled to engage with affected communities, unless there is a specific legal prohibition. The court also emphasised that petitioners must exhaust other legal remedies before approaching the apex court with politically charged matters.
