Blow to Vijay govt, High Court cancels jobs order for Karur victims' families
On July 10, Vijay made his first visit to Karur since assuming office and handed over government appointment orders on compassionate grounds to 32 members of the victims' families. Under the relief package, one eligible member from each affected family was offered a government job.
The Madras High Court on Monday quashed the Tamil Nadu government's order granting government jobs to the families of those killed in the Karur stampede, while disposing of a batch of public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the appointments. Observing that the stampede is under investigation by the CBI and that the Supreme Court is monitoring the probe, the court said it would refrain from making any observations on the merits of the case.
The Bench noted that it had earlier allowed the Tamil Nadu government to proceed with the appointment ceremony only on the condition that the appointments would remain temporary and that the matter would be decided before the beneficiaries received their first month's salary. The court said the issue had now been adjudicated in line with that undertaking.
During the hearing, the court also examined whether the PILs challenging the compassionate appointments were maintainable. Referring to Supreme Court precedents, it observed that courts are empowered to grant appropriate relief in deserving cases. Meanwhile, sources said the TVK government is likely to challenge the High Court's verdict before the Supreme Court.
The State government argued that compassionate appointments are governed by established guidelines, including eligibility criteria such as age and educational qualifications, and maintained that the appointments in the Karur case had been made strictly in accordance with those norms. It questioned the basis on which the appointments were being challenged.
The court, however, raised broader concerns over the implications of such appointments. It observed that if government jobs were granted to the families of victims in the Karur stampede, similar demands could arise in cases involving government bus accidents or recurring industrial tragedies, such as firecracker factory explosions in Sivakasi.
The Bench also pointed out that thousands of candidates are awaiting recruitment through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC). It noted that the government had exempted these appointments from the usual approval process required for regularisation of compassionate appointments.
The court further remarked that providing skill development training and livelihood assistance to affected families could be a more appropriate and sustainable form of rehabilitation than granting government employment.
Rejecting the State's contention that the posts offered were merely "ordinary jobs", the Bench observed that no government post can be described as ordinary, as every government job provides livelihood and security to a family.
The appointments stemmed from a rehabilitation package announced by the Vijay government for the families of the 41 people killed in the September 2025 Karur stampede during a TVK election rally.
On July 10, Vijay made his first visit to Karur since assuming office and handed over government appointment orders on compassionate grounds to 32 members of the victims' families. Under the package, one eligible member from each affected family was offered a government job.
The Chief Minister also met the bereaved families at the District Collectorate before addressing a public gathering in the district.
The event was marked by emotional scenes as Vijay broke down while handing over the appointment letters. Dressed entirely in black, the actor-turned-politician struggled to hold back tears as he consoled grieving relatives, describing the tragedy as an "unhealed wound" that continued to weigh heavily on him.
Visuals from the ceremony showed Vijay embracing family members of the victims, often lowering his head in silence as he handed over the appointment orders.
The Madras High Court on Monday quashed the Tamil Nadu government's order granting government jobs to the families of those killed in the Karur stampede, while disposing of a batch of public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the appointments. Observing that the stampede is under investigation by the CBI and that the Supreme Court is monitoring the probe, the court said it would refrain from making any observations on the merits of the case.
The Bench noted that it had earlier allowed the Tamil Nadu government to proceed with the appointment ceremony only on the condition that the appointments would remain temporary and that the matter would be decided before the beneficiaries received their first month's salary. The court said the issue had now been adjudicated in line with that undertaking.
During the hearing, the court also examined whether the PILs challenging the compassionate appointments were maintainable. Referring to Supreme Court precedents, it observed that courts are empowered to grant appropriate relief in deserving cases. Meanwhile, sources said the TVK government is likely to challenge the High Court's verdict before the Supreme Court.
The State government argued that compassionate appointments are governed by established guidelines, including eligibility criteria such as age and educational qualifications, and maintained that the appointments in the Karur case had been made strictly in accordance with those norms. It questioned the basis on which the appointments were being challenged.
The court, however, raised broader concerns over the implications of such appointments. It observed that if government jobs were granted to the families of victims in the Karur stampede, similar demands could arise in cases involving government bus accidents or recurring industrial tragedies, such as firecracker factory explosions in Sivakasi.
The Bench also pointed out that thousands of candidates are awaiting recruitment through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC). It noted that the government had exempted these appointments from the usual approval process required for regularisation of compassionate appointments.
The court further remarked that providing skill development training and livelihood assistance to affected families could be a more appropriate and sustainable form of rehabilitation than granting government employment.
Rejecting the State's contention that the posts offered were merely "ordinary jobs", the Bench observed that no government post can be described as ordinary, as every government job provides livelihood and security to a family.
The appointments stemmed from a rehabilitation package announced by the Vijay government for the families of the 41 people killed in the September 2025 Karur stampede during a TVK election rally.
On July 10, Vijay made his first visit to Karur since assuming office and handed over government appointment orders on compassionate grounds to 32 members of the victims' families. Under the package, one eligible member from each affected family was offered a government job.
The Chief Minister also met the bereaved families at the District Collectorate before addressing a public gathering in the district.
The event was marked by emotional scenes as Vijay broke down while handing over the appointment letters. Dressed entirely in black, the actor-turned-politician struggled to hold back tears as he consoled grieving relatives, describing the tragedy as an "unhealed wound" that continued to weigh heavily on him.
Visuals from the ceremony showed Vijay embracing family members of the victims, often lowering his head in silence as he handed over the appointment orders.
The Madras High Court on Monday quashed the Tamil Nadu government's order granting government jobs to the families of those killed in the Karur stampede, while disposing of a batch of public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the appointments. Observing that the stampede is under investigation by the CBI and that the Supreme Court is monitoring the probe, the court said it would refrain from making any observations on the merits of the case.
The Bench noted that it had earlier allowed the Tamil Nadu government to proceed with the appointment ceremony only on the condition that the appointments would remain temporary and that the matter would be decided before the beneficiaries received their first month's salary. The court said the issue had now been adjudicated in line with that undertaking.
During the hearing, the court also examined whether the PILs challenging the compassionate appointments were maintainable. Referring to Supreme Court precedents, it observed that courts are empowered to grant appropriate relief in deserving cases. Meanwhile, sources said the TVK government is likely to challenge the High Court's verdict before the Supreme Court.
The State government argued that compassionate appointments are governed by established guidelines, including eligibility criteria such as age and educational qualifications, and maintained that the appointments in the Karur case had been made strictly in accordance with those norms. It questioned the basis on which the appointments were being challenged.
The court, however, raised broader concerns over the implications of such appointments. It observed that if government jobs were granted to the families of victims in the Karur stampede, similar demands could arise in cases involving government bus accidents or recurring industrial tragedies, such as firecracker factory explosions in Sivakasi.
The Bench also pointed out that thousands of candidates are awaiting recruitment through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC). It noted that the government had exempted these appointments from the usual approval process required for regularisation of compassionate appointments.
The court further remarked that providing skill development training and livelihood assistance to affected families could be a more appropriate and sustainable form of rehabilitation than granting government employment.
Rejecting the State's contention that the posts offered were merely "ordinary jobs", the Bench observed that no government post can be described as ordinary, as every government job provides livelihood and security to a family.
The appointments stemmed from a rehabilitation package announced by the Vijay government for the families of the 41 people killed in the September 2025 Karur stampede during a TVK election rally.
On July 10, Vijay made his first visit to Karur since assuming office and handed over government appointment orders on compassionate grounds to 32 members of the victims' families. Under the package, one eligible member from each affected family was offered a government job.
The Chief Minister also met the bereaved families at the District Collectorate before addressing a public gathering in the district.
The event was marked by emotional scenes as Vijay broke down while handing over the appointment letters. Dressed entirely in black, the actor-turned-politician struggled to hold back tears as he consoled grieving relatives, describing the tragedy as an "unhealed wound" that continued to weigh heavily on him.
Visuals from the ceremony showed Vijay embracing family members of the victims, often lowering his head in silence as he handed over the appointment orders.
