Setback for TVK govt: HC quashes job orders for Karur stampede victims’ families
Madurai Bench of Madras HC sets aside compassionate appointments to victims' families, says deaths at political events are not covered under existing policy
In a major setback to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday (July 27) quashed the government order providing compassionate appointments to the families of those who died in the Karur stampede.
The tragedy occurred in 2025 during a public meeting addressed by TVK leader and now-Chief Minister Vijay in Karur. Forty-one people lost their lives in the stampede. The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the incident. Recently, the chief minister personally handed over appointment orders to the families of 31 victims, offering them government jobs.
Appointments challenged through PIL
Advocate N Prabhakaran of Chennai challenged the move through a public interest litigation. He pointed out that the families had already received Rs 10 lakh as government compensation and an additional Rs 20 lakh from TVK.
The petition argued that the 2020 government order on compassionate appointments makes no provision for deaths occurring at political gatherings. Granting jobs while the criminal investigation is still under way, the advocate contended, amounts to interference in the probe and could pressure witnesses to alter their statements.
Also Read: TN CM Vijay hands over govt job orders to 31 families of Karur stampede victims
After hearing the matter, the Madurai Bench set aside the appointment order. The judges posed pointed questions: “Why cannot the families of the Karur stampede victims be given self-employment training and turned into entrepreneurs? Why not offer them multiple technical skill-development programmes?”
They further noted that the decision had already triggered demands for similar compassionate appointments for families of those killed in the Sivakasi fireworks accident and for dependents of people who die in collisions involving government buses.
Petitioner’s arguments
Counsel for the petitioner told the court that heirs of government servants who die in service have been waiting for years for appointments. “How did the Karur victims’ families jump the queue?” the Bench asked.
The advocate later said, “Lakhs of youth are waiting with hope for government jobs. We filed this case on their behalf. This is an important judgement. We believe government jobs will now reach the deserving youth.”
Also Read: Madras HC allows Vijay govt to give jobs to kin of Karur victims
Senior journalist Priyan observed, “The court has clearly held that government jobs cannot be granted for deaths occurring at a party event. This principle will apply to all similar incidents.”
After becoming chief minister, Vijay made his first visit to Karur following the stampede tragedy. In an emotional ceremony, he personally handed over the government job orders to the victims' families; notably, the orders themselves carried a clear rider stating they were subject to the court's final verdict.
Sources indicate that the TVK leadership has decided to appeal the Madurai High Court’s order quashing the appointments.