The court issued notice in the case and posted it for further hearing on October 7.

The Supreme Court on Friday gave relief to Tamil Nadu government by staying the operation of a Madras High Court order to strike down the grant of government jobs to the family members of Karur stampede victims.

The Madurai Bench of the High Court had quashed the government orders granting jobs to the victims’ family members on compassionate grounds on July 27.

On Friday, Justice JB Pardiwala, heading a Division Bench of the apex court, asked what was wrong with the State government reaching out to out to give “some succour to the families who have suffered such a tragedy”. “Don’t bring politics into this, such stampede took place several people died. If the government has decided to give jobs, then who are the respondents to oppose it... If sole member has died in the stampede, then there is nobody else in the family who is earning, should the government not give some employment to son or daughter or wife according to their educational qualifications?” Justice Pardiwala observed orally.

The court issued notice in the case and posted it for further hearing on October 7.

During the brief hearing, senior advocate A M Singhvi, for the Tamil Nadu government, referred to Article 162 (extent of the executive power of the State) to decide a policy to aid the victims of a tragedy.

The respondents, who include private individuals and members of political parties, said government jobs cannot be “doled out” as compensation without any transparency.

But the judge said that in many families the only bread winner may have perished in the stampede. A total of 41 people died and around 100 others were injured in the crowd crush and stampede on September 27, 2025 during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) roadshow addressed by current Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, who is also the party president.

The State had argued in the court that the appointments were meant as a humane gesture. But the court concluded that specific guidelines covered the field of compassionate appointments, and they cannot be cast aside by the State government. The High Court had warned that the government’s action, if condoned, may run the risk of opening the floodgates.

The High Court had pointed out that there were wait-lists in every government department for appointments on compassionate grounds. Employment has to be granted only in accordance with seniority and not with reference to the immediate nature of relief to be granted, the Division Bench of the High Court had noted.

The High Court had reasoned that it would be in violation of the fundamental rights of equality and due of process of law, enshrined in Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution, respectively, to overlook those in the waiting list in a bid to bring relief to the family members of the Karur stampede victims.

The State had contended that these jobs were given in exercise of its executive powers under Article 162 of the Constitution. But the High Court had responded that any exercise of executive authority of power had to be within the confines of the Constitution.

Published on August 14, 2026