Supreme Court stays Madras HC order striking down compassionate appointments for Karur stampede victims’ kin

The Supreme Court on Friday gave relief to Tamil Nadu government by staying a Madras High Court decision to strike down the grant of government

The Madurai Bench of the High Court had quashed the government orders granting jobs to the victims’ family members on compassionate grounds on July 27.

Justice J.B. Pardiwala asked what was wrong with the government reaching out to give “some succour to the families who have suffered such a tragedy”.

“Don’t bring politics into this, such stampede took place several people died. If the government has decided to give jobs, then who are the respondents to oppose it… If sole member has died in the stampede, then there is nobody else in the family who is earning, should the government not give some employment to son or daughter or wife according to their educational qualifications?” Justice Pardiwala observed orally.

The Judge said in many families the only bread winner may have perished in the stampede. A total of 41 people died and around 100 others were injured in the crowd crush and stampede on September 27, 2025 during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) roadshow addressed by current Chief Miniter Joseph Vijay, who is also the party president.

The State had argued in the court that the appointments were meant as a humane gesture. But the court concluded that specific guidelines covered the field of compassionate appointments, and they cannot be cast aside by the State government. The High Court had warned that the government’s action, if condoned, may run the risk of opening the floodgates.

The High Court had pointed out that there were wait-lists in every government department for appointments on compassionate grounds. Employment has to be granted only in accordance with seniority and not with reference to the immediate nature of relief to be granted, the Division Bench of the High Court had noted.

The High Court had reasoned that it would be in violation of the fundamental rights of equality and due of process of law, enshrined in Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution, respectively, to overlook those in the waiting list in a bid to bring relief to the family members of the Karur stampede victims.

The State had contended that these jobs were given in exercise of its executive powers under Article 162 of the Constitution. But the High Court had responded that any exercise of executive authority of power had to be within the confines of the Constitution.