'Something’s Wrong': SC Questions Madras HC Over Conflicting Orders In Karur Stampede

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Madras High Court to respond regarding the procedures being followed for listing and hearing cases, noting that “something wrong” appears to be happening. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi made the remark while hearing the Karur stampede case, citing a report submitted by the Registrar General of the Madras High Court.The top court issued a notice and made the Madras High Court Registrar a party to the case linked to superstar Vijay’s TVK party, stating that it will examine the rules currently being followed by the high court."Something wrong is happening in the High Court. We need to see...," Justice JK Maheshwari observed.Also Read: SIR 2.0 Crisis? SC Slams States Over BLO Threats,

Warns of Anarchy Earlier, while hearing TVK’s petition challenging the Madras High Court’s directive for a Special Investigation Team probe, the Supreme Court had raised concerns over “impropriety” by the Chennai bench.The apex court had strongly objected to the Madras High Court’s order directing an SIT probe, noting that the petition had only sought guidelines for conducting roadshows. The Supreme Court also pointed out that this order contradicted an earlier ruling by the Madurai bench, which had declined a CBI probe.The Supreme Court had earlier raised questions about the propriety of the Madras High Court issuing two apparently conflicting orders regarding the Karur stampede in Tamil Nadu and sought a detailed explanation from the high court on how this occurred.Also Read | 'Hindus In Tamil Nadu...': What RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Said On Thiruparankundram 'Temple' RowWhile the Madurai bench had rejected a request for a CBI investigation into the stampede, the Chennai bench had ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).The Tamil Nadu government’s petition challenging the Supreme Court’s October 13 interim order directing a CBI probe into the Karur stampede has been scheduled for hearing at a later date.The stampede at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally on September 27 claimed 41 lives and injured more than 60 people.Senior Advocate NK Kaul, representing the Tamil Nadu government, stated that the state has submitted a counter affidavit and requested a hearing. Justice JK Maheshwari’s bench, however, stated that it is issuing a notice today to examine how cases are being heard in the Madras High Court and is including the High Court Registrar as a party.The Tamil Nadu government has also requested the Supreme Court to lift its stay on a single-member commission, headed by retired Madras High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan, set up to investigate the incident. The state argued that allowing the commission to continue its work would help prevent such stampedes in the future. The Supreme Court, however, deferred the matter, stating that it first needs to understand the scope of the commission’s work.