The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has set aside the Tamil Nadu state government's order granting compassionate appointments to the family members of individuals who died in the Karur stampede. Delivering its verdict on July 27, the court highlighted that executive decisions must operate strictly within constitutional bounds. The bench observed that allowing such appointments would trigger an unmanageable flood of similar demands across the state.
Constitutional Boundaries and Existing Waiting Lists
A division bench comprising Justice C.V. Karthikeyan and Justice R. Shaktiwel held that the executive order violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and equal opportunity in public employment. The judges pointed out that numerous eligible candidates across various state government departments are already awaiting compassionate appointments under standard procedures. Overlooking these long-pending administrative queues to provide jobs specifically to the tragedy victims was deemed legally unsustainable.
Addressing the state's defense that it exercised administrative powers under Article 162 of the Constitution, the court clarified that executive discretion is not absolute. Any administrative power exercised by the state must comply strictly with constitutional principles and existing statutory frameworks rather than overriding established service rules.
Distinction Between Ex-Gratia Relief and Public Employment
The bench further noted that sanctioning government appointments for this event would establish a precedent, paving the way for similar claims in other tragedies. To illustrate this point, the court referenced incidents such as industrial firework explosions and fatal road accidents. In many such cases, despite deaths occurring due to administrative or state negligence, victims' families are granted ex-gratia financial compensation rather than public sector jobs. Accepting compassionate appointments in the present case would logically obligate the government to extend job offers in all other disaster cases as well.
Background of the Karur Tragedy and Executive Action
The incident traces back to September 27, 2025, when a massive stampede broke out during a rally organized by the TVK political party in Karur, Tamil Nadu. The disaster resulted in 41 fatalities and left more than 60 individuals injured.
In early July, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay visited Karur to meet the affected families, announcing the construction of a memorial dedicated to the victims. During that visit, appointment letters for government employment were distributed to 32 relatives of the deceased. Following the High Court's ruling invalidating these appointments, the Tamil Nadu government is preparing to appeal the judgment before the Supreme Court.
