The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Madras High Court's order that had quashed the Tamil Nadu government's decision to provide government jobs to the relatives of victims of the Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives in September 2025.
An interim order was passed by a two-judge bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran. The apex court also issued notices to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Dr M Sai Kumar and others in connection with the matter.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court questioned the petitioner who had challenged the state government's decision to provide employment to the victims' family members. The bench observed that the government could frame a policy to provide relief to families that had lost their sole earning member in 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 Supreme Court said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
The Karur stampede took place on September 27, 2025, when Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder C Joseph Vijay was visiting the district as part of preparations for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The incident resulted in the deaths of 41 people and left several others injured.
After the 2026 Assembly elections, Vijay ordered that government jobs be provided to the kin of those who died in the stampede. Following his election victory and subsequent swearing-in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, the state government distributed appointment orders to 31 relatives of the victims.
The decision, however, faced a legal challenge. On July 27, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel, quashed the government's decision.
The High Court had held that providing such appointments could "open floodgates of similar demands". It also observed that when a waiting list for government jobs exists, bypassing it to provide employment as relief to the families of the Karur stampede victims could violate the constitutional guarantees under Articles 14 and 16.
"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," the High Court had said, holding that the appointments were in violation of the right to equality and equal opportunity in public employment.
The High Court's ruling had disappointed the families of the Karur stampede victims, who had sought reconsideration of the decision and urged that the government's order be upheld.
Advocate Cletus, representing Naam Tamilar Katchi, one of the petitioners in the matter, had expressed hope that the case would eventually result in a landmark ruling on compassionate appointments.
The Supreme Court's latest intervention means that the Madras High Court order will remain stayed for now, providing temporary relief to the families who had received government appointment orders. The matter is expected to be examined further as the apex court considers the legal validity of the Tamil Nadu government's policy.
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