The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday (27 July) quashed the Tamil Nadu government's order granting compassionate appointments to the family members of those who died in the Karur stampede in September last year.
In its judgment delivered on 27 July, the court held that public employment cannot be distributed as a form of compensation or special assistance and that such appointments must conform to constitutional principles.
The court ruled that the government's decision was contrary to the principles embodied in Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. It said equality in public employment and equal opportunity for all eligible citizens must be ensured.
A Division Bench comprising Justice C.V. Karthikeyan and Justice R. Sakthivel observed that appointments to government service must be made only through established constitutional and legal procedures. The bench noted that Article 14 guarantees equality before the law, while Article 16 establishes the principle of equal opportunity for all citizens in matters of public employment.
The court acknowledged that sympathy and assistance for the families affected by the Karur tragedy were necessary. However, it held that granting government jobs solely on the basis of a tragic incident would create an arrangement outside the established rules governing public recruitment. The bench further stated that government jobs are not special benefits to be distributed by the State but must be filled in accordance with the constitutional framework.
The High Court also expressed concern that permitting special appointments in the Karur case could lead to similar demands in future. According to the court, if providing government jobs to the families of those who die in a public tragedy is accepted as a general practice, families affected by other accidents and disasters could seek appointments on the same basis.
Referring to incidents such as firecracker-related accidents and road accidents, the court observed that while victims' families may receive financial assistance or ex gratia compensation, such relief is not converted into a right to government employment. It said allowing such appointments could trigger similar claims in other comparable cases and affect the public recruitment system.
The Tamil Nadu government had defended its decision by invoking the State's executive powers under Article 162 of the Constitution. However, the court clarified that executive powers must also be exercised within constitutional limits and established legal principles. It held that equality, fairness and the constitutional rules governing public employment must be followed while exercising administrative powers, and that a separate system of government appointments cannot be created solely on the basis of executive authority.
Earlier in the proceedings, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had permitted the government to issue temporary appointment letters to members of the affected families. At that stage, the court had made it clear that those appointments would remain subject to the final judicial decision and would not confer any permanent right. Subsequently, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay handed over appointment letters to some of the relatives of those who died in Karur.
With the final judgment, the court has now set aside the government order. The legal and administrative process regarding the appointment letters already issued and the status of the concerned employees will now assume significance.
The Karur stampede occurred on 27 September 2025 during a political public meeting in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The event was associated with actor-turned-politician Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The incident claimed 41 lives and left several others injured. Following the incident, the State administration and various investigating agencies initiated inquiries into the matter.
