Madras HC quashes govt order on jobs for kin of Karur victims, says it will open 'floodgates'

In a setback to the TVK government in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court on Monday, July 27, quashed Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's order providing government jobs to relatives of people who died in a stampede at Karur last year, observing that it will open floodgates of similar demands.

A Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel held that it was not appropriate to overlook the needs of many who are waiting to get compassionate appointments in government departments.

"When there is a waiting list, it is not appropriate to overlook their needs and extend what is termed as succor to family members of the Karur incident. We hold that these appointments are in direct violation of the guarantee to a citizen of this country under Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution," the Bench said.

It noted that the exercise of executive power must be within the Constitutional limits.

Meanwhile, official sources indicated that the government is considering approaching the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court order.

The High Court's Madurai Bench cited instances of loss of lives in mishaps at firework units and also due to motor accidents. In such cases, the kin of victims are provided ex-gratia and not jobs on compassionate grounds.

While the Advocate General Vijay Narayan argued that the appointments were a policy decision to ensure livelihood support to the affected families, the petitioners contended that there was a Government Order in force that needed to be complied with for providing jobs on compassionate grounds.

Also, the court said the order providing government jobs to kin of stampede victims will open "floodgates" for others to seek similar employment.

On July 10, Chief Minister Vijay distributed appointment orders to 31 persons who are relatives of those who died in the stampede on September 27, 2025 at Karur.

In a rally held by TVK, which was addressed by party chief Vijay, a stampede occurred, and 41 people were killed, and over 60 were injured.

In its submissions, the government said the appointments were made within the framework of the Constitution and on humanitarian considerations. It cited the appointments made in the past, including jobs for kin of those killed in police firing during anti-Sterlite protests in Tuticorin.

While the Advocate General argued that the appointments were solely made to ensure livelihood to the affected families, the counsel for petitioners contended that about 3.9 million young people in Tamil Nadu remain unemployed and around two million candidates apply for competitive recruitment exams.

Providing government jobs outside the regular recruitment process was unfair and inconsistent with constitutional principles, they contended.

Meanwhile in Karur, stampede victim Ravi Krishna’s mother Gnanambika expressed concern over the judgment and said the court should reconsider its decision and ratify the government order providing them jobs.

Advocate Cletus, representing Naam Tamilar Katchi (one of the petitioners), challenging the government order on jobs, told PTI Videos that the court had clearly explained the regulations that must be followed when granting government employment on compassionate grounds.

"I hope this will be a landmark judgment in providing jobs on compassionate grounds," he said.