The Supreme Court of India on Monday, 13 October 2025, transferred the probe into the tragic Karur stampede incident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and constituted a three-member oversight committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice Ajay Rastogi to monitor the ongoing investigation.

This landmark order by the apex court aims to ensure a fair, transparent, and time-bound probe into the incident that claimed several innocent lives during a religious congregation in Karur district, Tamil Nadu.

Background of the Tragedy

The Karur stampede occurred in July 2025 during a large-scale religious gathering held near a temple complex in the district. The event, which drew thousands of devotees, was reportedly organised without adequate safety arrangements. According to initial reports, the tragedy unfolded when a sudden surge of devotees led to a stampede, causing chaos, panic, and multiple casualties.

Local witnesses reported that inadequate crowd management, poor infrastructure, and the absence of emergency exits worsened the situation. Dozens were injured, and several women and children lost their lives.

The incident sparked widespread outrage across the nation, prompting the Madras High Court and later the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the lapses in planning and administration.

Supreme Court Takes Cognisance

The matter reached the Supreme Court following multiple petitions filed by victims’ families and civil society organisations demanding a court-monitored probe. The petitioners argued that local investigations lacked transparency and alleged that district officials and political figures might have influenced the process.

A bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, heard the matter. After examining the preliminary inquiry reports, the bench observed that “there appears to be serious negligence in the organisation of the event and failure to ensure crowd control and public safety.”

The Court expressed dissatisfaction with the state police investigation, citing inconsistencies and potential conflicts of interest. Consequently, it decided to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — India’s premier investigative agency — to ensure an impartial inquiry.

Justice Ajay Rastogi to Lead Oversight Panel

In a move aimed at guaranteeing credibility and oversight, the Supreme Court constituted a three-member monitoring committee led by Justice Ajay Rastogi, a respected former Supreme Court judge known for his integrity and experience in judicial oversight of public interest matters.

The committee also includes:

• Justice K. Kannan (Retd.), former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and

• Dr. Meera Chandrasekhar, a public policy expert specialising in disaster management and crowd safety.

This committee has been tasked with overseeing the CBI’s progress, ensuring timely submission of status reports, and recommending preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in future. The panel will submit its first report to the Supreme Court within eight weeks.

Supreme Court’s Observations

During the hearing, the Supreme Court emphasised that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution includes the right to safety during public events. The bench noted that “failure of public authorities to ensure basic crowd control and infrastructure amounts to a violation of citizens’ fundamental rights.”

Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked, “Public safety cannot be compromised at the altar of administrative convenience or political expediency. The state owes a duty of care to every citizen.”

The Court further directed the Tamil Nadu government to extend full cooperation to the CBI and provide all necessary documents, including CCTV footage, event permissions, and communication logs from district officials.

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