Siddhartha Dinesh Mishra: Supreme Court Questions DMK Plea Seeking Restrictions on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s Visits and Speeches
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticised the DMK’s plea seeking restrictions on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s speeches and visits in connection with the Karur stampede case. The court questioned whether it could intervene in the political activities and public appearances of an elected chief minister.
A bench comprising Justice KV Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe expressed displeasure over the petition filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), stating that the matter appeared to involve political disagreements rather than a legal issue requiring the court’s intervention.
“What exactly are you asking us to do? Do you want the Supreme Court to decide where a chief minister can visit or what he can say?” the bench questioned during the hearing.
The court also pointed out that Chief Minister Vijay is not an accused in the case and questioned the demand for restrictions on his freedom of speech. The judges observed that political parties should respond through their own statements instead of approaching the court to control the statements of their opponents.
The DMK had approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to regulate Vijay’s proposed visit to Karur and his public statements, claiming that such activities could influence witnesses connected with the ongoing investigation into the stampede.
After the court’s remarks, the DMK requested permission to withdraw its petition, which the Supreme Court allowed.
The dispute relates to the tragic Karur stampede that occurred during a political rally in September 2025, where 41 people lost their lives while attending an event addressed by Vijay, the leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The DMK had argued that statements and actions by TVK leaders could impact the investigation. The party also raised objections to remarks made by TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna, who allegedly accused the DMK government and police of responsibility for the incident.
The investigation into the stampede was later taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following directions from the Supreme Court. Vijay appeared before the agency during the probe and stated that he would cooperate with the investigation.
The DMK has alleged that the tragedy occurred due to poor coordination and alleged negligence by the event organisers and TVK workers. Meanwhile, Vijay and his party have denied the accusations and claimed that there was a political conspiracy against them.
The Supreme Court’s remarks have brought fresh attention to the ongoing political dispute surrounding the Karur stampede case, with the legal investigation continuing separately from the political allegations.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
