Karur case: SC questions 'conflicting' orders by Madras High Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday raised eyebrows on the two seemingly conflicting orders passed by the Madras High Court over the Karur stampede in Tamil Nadu, one declining a plea for a CBI probe (passed by Madurai bench) and another directing a probe by a Special Investigation Team (passed by principal bench) of the high court.

Verbally observing that "there has to be some propriety in the system", a division bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria reserved its orders on a clutch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the stampede which occurred in Karur during a rally held by actor Vijay's political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ( TVK) on September 27, claiming 41 lives.

The bench verbally questioned as to why cognizance of an incident that took place in Karur was taken by the Madurai bench. The top court also questioned as to how the single bench of Madurai HC passed directions when a division bench of the Madras HC was already cognizant of the case.

The development took place during the hearing of an appeal filed by the TVK challenging the October 3 order of the Madras HC which directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Karur stampede.

At the outset, the SC questioned why the PIL before the high court, seeking a special operating procedure (SOP), was entertained by the principal bench of the high court when another petition on stampede was already rejected by the high court's Madurai bench.

The top court also verbally remarked that the plea before the principal bench was limited to formulation of an SOP but the HC went beyond that prayer and ordered a probe by SIT. "What is disturbing us is that the prayer was for permission to conduct a meeting. But high court saw something else. And then SOP was prayed for. The HC went into SIT. We should limit somewhere," the SC orally remarked. After a lengthy hearing, the bench eventually reserved its order.