NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Madras high court order 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.A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran also issued notice to the Tamil Nadu chief secretary and other respondents on the challenge to the high court order.During the hearing, the Supreme Court questioned the basis of the challenge to the government’s policy of providing employment to families affected by the tragedy.“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, according to PTI.The Supreme Court’s order provides interim relief to the Tamil Nadu government, led by chief minister C Joseph Vijay, which had challenged the high court’s decision.
What did Madras HC say?
The Madras high court had on July 27 quashed the government’s orders providing employment to relatives of the Karur stampede victims.The court had held that allowing such appointments could open the door to similar demands from families affected by other tragedies. It also pointed to existing guidelines governing compassionate appointments and the large number of people waiting for government employment.The high court had observed that it was not appropriate to overlook those already waiting for compassionate appointments in government departments.The background case involved the September 27, 2025 stampede in Karur, where 41 people were killed and more than 100 injured during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) meeting addressed by Vijay.After the incident, the Tamil Nadu government decided to provide government employment to eligible family members of those who died. Vijay handed over appointment orders to 31 family members on July 10, according to the background report.The decision was challenged through public interest petitions before the Madras high court.
Why did the high court quash the appointments?
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.It noted that the Tamil Nadu government already had guidelines governing compassionate appointments, including eligibility requirements and timelines.The court had also expressed concern that granting jobs in this case could lead families affected by other deaths and tragedies to seek similar appointments.
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The high court said 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.It also suggested that the government could instead support affected families through skill development, technical training and entrepreneurship programmes, potentially helping family members become self-sufficient.The Supreme Court’s decision to stay that order means the high court’s ruling will not operate for now, while the apex court considers the challenge.
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