New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Friday, stayed an order of the Madras High Court that had struck down the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to provide government jobs to eligible relatives of those who died in the Karur stampede last year.
The Tamil Nadu chief secretary and other respondents were also issued notice by the bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran on the challenge to the High Court order.
The Supreme Court questioned the basis of the challenge to the government’s policy of providing employment to families affected by the tragedy, during the hearing.
“Who are you to question the policy of the government? Suppose the sole member died in the tragedy, shouldn’t the government give some employment to son or daughter?” the bench told the petitioner who had filed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Madras High Court against the state’s decision, as reported by PTI.
Based on the PIL, the High Court had, on July 27, quashed the government’s orders providing employment to relatives of the Karur stampede victims.
Allowing such appointments could open the door to similar demands from families affected by other tragedies, the Court held. It also pointed to existing guidelines governing compassionate appointments and the large number of people waiting for government employment, as reported by The Times of India.
It was not appropriate to overlook those already waiting for compassionate appointments in government departments, the High Court had observed.
On September 27, 2025, 41 people were killed in a stampede during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) meeting addressed by Vijay.
After Vijay came to power, the Tamil Nadu government decided to provide government employment to eligible family members of those who died. He handed over appointment orders to 31 family members on July 10.
In its order, the High Court had said public employment could not be treated as a form of largesse by the state and stressed that government jobs must be granted within the framework of constitutional principles.
The Tamil Nadu government already had guidelines governing compassionate appointments, including eligibility requirements and timelines, the Court had noted.
It had “full sympathy” for families of those who died in the Karur tragedy but distinguished the case from employment granted to families of personnel who die while serving the nation, the High Court had said.
The government could instead support affected families through skill development, technical training and entrepreneurship programmes, potentially helping family members become self-sufficient, it had suggested.
After the Supreme Court’s the High Court’s will be in abeyance, while the Apex Court considers the challenge.
