Madras HC Allows Tamil Nadu Govt to Give Temporary Jobs to Karur Stampede Victims' Kin
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday permitted the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led state government to conduct an event in Karur to distribute appointment orders to family members of the victims of the stampede that occurred in September 2025. The court, however, clarified that the employment would be on a temporary basis and subject to judicial review.
A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel observed that it would be “extremely narrow” for the court to intervene in a policy decision of the state government. The court allowed the event on the condition that the employment offer was only temporary and subject to further judicial scrutiny.
The court directed the state to file a report outlining the guidelines for granting jobs on compassionate grounds and whether those guidelines were satisfied in this case. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 21.
The order came on a batch of public interest litigation (PIL) petitions. One petition, filed by advocate G. Thirumurugan, sought to restrain the state from issuing or implementing appointment orders arising from the stampede until proceedings before the Supreme Court reach finality.
The petitioner argued that 41 lives were lost and several were injured during a rally organised by the TVK on September 27, 2025. Proceedings related to the incident are pending before the Supreme Court. The state government proposed to provide employment to the family members of the deceased, and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay was scheduled to distribute the appointment orders during his visit to Karur on July 10.
The petitioner contended that there was no publicly disclosed statutory provision, government order, or uniform policy explaining the basis and legal framework for such appointments. Extending benefits only for this incident would lead to unequal treatment among similarly placed citizens, he argued. Deferring permanent employment until the judicial process concludes would not prejudice the victims' families but would ensure compliance with constitutional principles and the rule of law.
