Chennai (Tamil Nadu), October 3: In a significant ruling on Friday, the Madras High Court issued a ban on political rallies, roadshows, and similar public gatherings along state and national highways in Tamil Nadu until proper Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are established. The decision came in response to four Public Interest Litigations (PILs) urging the court to mandate SOPs for mass gatherings to avert incidents like the recent Karur stampede.
In its ruling, the court also received assurances from the state government, which confirmed that no public events would be allowed on highways, except in designated areas, until the SOPs are finalized. In a move to expedite the investigation into the Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives and left several others injured on September 27, the court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.
The bench, led by Justice Senthilkumar, expressed deep condolences for the victims, acknowledging the painful nature of the incident. “Watching the videos is heart-wrenching,” the judge remarked. He pointed out that only two arrests had been made thus far and questioned the authorities about further steps. "You allowed everything to unfold. The police cannot turn a blind eye," the judge emphasized, stressing the need for law enforcement agencies to act preemptively in such situations.
The stampede occurred during a public rally organized by actor Vijay, the leader of the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), resulting in chaos as the crowd surged uncontrollably. Preliminary investigations indicated lapses in crowd management. In light of a recent accident involving Vijay's campaign bus, Justice Senthilkumar questioned whether a case had been registered, noting that police should take proactive action even in the absence of a formal complaint. "What is stopping you from registering a case?" he asked.
The court also condemned the TVK for failing to assist the public and children during the chaos and for not taking responsibility for the incident. It directed the Karur police to immediately provide all relevant documents to the SIT. The SIT, led by IG (North) Asra Garg, was tasked with thoroughly investigating the stampede.
With these developments, the court disposed of certain PILs, ensuring further scrutiny of the events surrounding the tragic incident.
Tags: prameyanews
