Supreme Court Slams Madras High Court Over Karur Stampede Probe: ‘Something Wrong’ in Judicial Oversight
Apex court stunned by Registrar General’s report; says ‘something wrong with Madras High Court’ in shocking indictment over delayed justice in deadly Karur temple stampede
New Delhi, December 12, 2025 – In a stinging rebuke that has sent shockwaves through Tamil Nadu’s judicial corridors, the Supreme Court of India today expressed deep dismay over the Madras High Court’s handling of the tragic Karur stampede case, declaring, “Something wrong with Madras High Court” after scrutinizing a detailed report from the High Court’s Registrar General.
The apex court, led by a bench comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Prashant Kumar Mishra, was hearing a suo motu petition initiated in the wake of the devastating stampede at the Sri Rajalingeswarar Temple in Karur district on November 15, 2025. The incident, which claimed the lives of 12 devotees and injured over 50 others during a chaotic Deepavali festival rush, exposed glaring lapses in crowd management and administrative preparedness, sparking nationwide outrage.
The Registrar General’s report, submitted under sealed cover, painted a damning picture of procedural irregularities and delays in the High Court’s monitoring of the ongoing investigation. Sources close to the proceedings revealed that the report highlighted unexplained adjournments, inadequate follow-up on police inquiries, and a perceived reluctance to expedite justice for the victims’ families. “The High Court appears to have dropped the ball at critical junctures,” remarked Justice Bopanna during the hearing, underscoring the Supreme Court’s frustration with what it termed a “systemic failure” in the lower appellate forum.
The Karur stampede, one of the deadliest such incidents in recent years, occurred when thousands of pilgrims surged forward amid poor barricading and insufficient security personnel at the temple’s annual festival. Preliminary probes pinned blame on local authorities for underestimating crowd sizes and neglecting safety protocols, leading to a First Information Report (FIR) against several officials under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
In response to the Supreme Court’s observations, the Madras High Court has been directed to constitute a special bench within 48 hours to oversee the case afresh, with daily progress reports mandated to the apex court. The bench also issued a broader advisory to all High Courts, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring in public safety-related matters to prevent judicial complacency.
Legal experts hailed the intervention as a “wake-up call” for the judiciary. “This isn’t just about one case; it’s a reminder that High Courts must act as robust sentinels, not passive observers,” said senior advocate R. Venkataramani, who appeared as amicus curiae. Victim families, represented by counsel in the virtual hearing, expressed cautious optimism, with one bereaved relative telling reporters, “Finally, someone is listening. We want accountability, not just words.”
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny on temple administrations across India following a spate of similar mishaps, prompting the Union Home Ministry to announce a national audit of festival security measures last month.
As the probe intensifies, questions linger over potential political ramifications in Tamil Nadu, where the ruling DMK government faces mounting pressure ahead of state assembly polls.
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