New Delhi/ Tamil Nadu :
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed an order of the Madras High Court that had quashed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s decision to provide government jobs to relatives of those who died in last year’s stampede at Karur. A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran issued notice to the Tamil Nadu chief secretary and other respondents on the matter.
During the hearing, the bench posed a pointed question to the PIL petitioner who had challenged the state government’s order, asking why the policy of the government was being questioned and remarking that if the sole earning member of a family died in the tragedy, the government should be able to offer employment to the son or daughter.
What the Madras High Court Had Ruled
In a setback for the Tamil Nadu government, the Madras High Court had on July 27 quashed the CM’s order granting government jobs to kin of the Karur stampede victims. A division bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel held that it would not be appropriate to overlook the needs of the many others already waiting for compassionate appointments in government departments, warning that the move would “open floodgates” of similar demands.
The high court had described the appointments as “side-door entries” that violated the fundamental right to equality of thousands of other citizens seeking government jobs through established channels, noting that many departments maintain long wait-lists for compassionate appointments linked to the deaths of serving public servants. The court also cited a lack of evidence regarding the financial status of the beneficiaries as a key factor in its decision. The 32 appointments were quashed before the individuals concerned had even received their first salary.
The Karur Stampede and Its Aftermath
The tragedy took place on September 27, 2025, during a rally organised by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in Karur, Tamil Nadu, in which 41 people died and scores of others were injured. The Supreme Court had subsequently ordered a CBI inquiry into the incident, describing it as one that had “shaken the national conscience,” and appointed a three-member committee headed by former apex court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi to supervise the probe.
Following the stampede, the Tamil Nadu government had announced government jobs for the families of those who lost their lives, with Chief Minister Vijay personally handing out appointment letters to several of the victims’ kin.
What Happens Next
With the Supreme Court’s stay, the government appointments will remain valid for now, pending further hearings on the matter. Notice has been issued to the Tamil Nadu chief secretary and other parties, and the case is expected to come up for further hearing in the coming weeks.
