High Court Cancels Vijay govt’s job offers to Karur stampede victims’ families
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has set aside the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to provide government jobs to the family members of those who died in the Karur stampede during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) roadshow in September 2025.
A Division Bench comprising Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel allowed a batch of public interest petitions challenging the government orders issued by the Vijay-led administration. The court held that offering public employment in this manner violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and equal opportunity in public employment.
The Bench also observed that allowing such appointments could encourage similar demands in future tragedies, creating an unsustainable precedent.
The Karur stampede claimed 41 lives, including those of children, during a TVK rally addressed by party president C. Joseph Vijay when the DMK was in office. Police had attributed the tragedy to overcrowding, delayed arrival of the party leader and inadequate public facilities at the venue. TVK denied the allegations, accusing the police of mishandling the event and alleging political interference by former minister Senthil Balaji, who rejected the charge.
In October 2025, the Supreme Court transferred the probe from the state Special Investigation Team to the Central Bureau of Investigation, citing the need for an independent inquiry. The CBI is examining crowd-control arrangements, the sequence of events and the coordination between organisers and officials.
Earlier this month, the State government had issued compassionate appointment orders to 32 legal heirs of the victims as part of its rehabilitation package. The High Court had previously permitted the distribution of these appointments but clarified that they would remain temporary until the legal challenge was decided.