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Supreme Court Taps Veteran Judge to Probe Deadly Karur Stampede
13 Oct
Summary
- Supreme Court orders CBI inquiry into Karur stampede
- Three-member oversight committee led by former SC judge
- Justice Rastogi known for fairness, landmark rulings on gender equality

In a move to ensure justice for the victims, the Supreme Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the Karur stampede tragedy that claimed at least 41 lives and left many injured. The court has also set up a three-member oversight committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, to monitor the probe.
Justice Ajay Rastogi, known for his fairness, administrative acumen, and impactful rulings, will lead the committee. During his tenure at the apex court, he was part of benches that directed the Indian Army and Navy to grant Permanent Commission and command roles to women officers, reinforcing gender parity in the armed forces.
The Supreme Court's directive comes in response to petitions filed by Tamil actor Vijay's political outfit, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which had challenged earlier court orders concerning the investigation. The court observed that an independent and transparent probe was essential to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for any administrative failures.