Supreme Court Stays HC Order Scrapping Vijay Govt’s Jobs for Karur Stampede Victims’ Families

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Madras High Court’s order quashing the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to provide government jobs to the families of those killed in the Karur stampede, offering a major relief to the government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran issued notice to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and other respondents on a petition filed by the state government challenging the High Court judgment. The top court directed that the High Court’s order would remain stayed.

The case concerns the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to provide compassionate appointments to the families of the 41 people who died in the September 2025 Karur stampede. The stampede occurred during a rally organised by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench had, on July 27, struck down the government orders providing the appointments. The court had held that public employment could not be granted in a manner that bypassed constitutional requirements and existing claims for compassionate appointments.

The High Court had referred to Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before law and equality of opportunity in public employment. It had also expressed concern that allowing such appointments could open the door to similar demands following other tragedies.

During Friday’s hearing, the Supreme Court questioned the challenge to the government’s decision to extend relief to the families of the stampede victims. The bench observed that if the sole earning member of a family had died in the tragedy, the government could consider providing employment to the deceased person’s son or daughter as a form of relief.

The Supreme Court’s interim order does not finally decide the legality of the Tamil Nadu government’s policy. The matter will now be examined further after responses are filed by the state’s Chief Secretary and other parties.

The Madras High Court had earlier noted that several families of government employees who died while in service were already waiting for compassionate appointments, and that their claims could not simply be overlooked in favour of the Karur victims’ families.

The Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives, has also been the subject of a separate investigation. The Supreme Court had previously directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to take over the probe into the tragedy.

The Supreme Court’s latest intervention comes as a significant legal relief for the Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government, temporarily restoring the position under which the families of the Karur stampede victims can benefit from the state’s decision to offer government employment, pending further proceedings.

ALSO READ: 500-KG Salaya Drug Seizure Case: NIA Attaches Assets of Accused Linked to Transnational Network