Chennai: The Karur stampede government jobs case took a major turn after the Madras high court allowed the Tamil Nadu government to issue appointment orders to the families of people who died in the Karur stampede. However, the court made it clear that these appointments will be temporary and subject to judicial review, meaning the final outcome will depend on the court’s decision in the pending case.
Karur Stampede: What Did the Madras High Court Say?
A Division Bench of Justice C.V. Karthikeyan and Justice R. Sakthivel said it would not be appropriate for the court to interfere with a policy decision taken by the government at this stage. The court allowed the government to continue with its scheduled function for issuing appointment letters. However, it clarified that the appointments would remain temporary until the legal challenge is finally decided. The bench also stated that it intends to hear the matter before the appointed candidates receive their first salary.
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Why Was the Case Filed
The petition was filed by Theeran Thirumurugan, a lawyer from Madurai. He challenged the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to provide government jobs to the families of 41 people who lost their lives in the Karur stampede that took place in September 2025.
The petitioner argued that there is no uniform government policy for such appointments and that offering jobs only in this case could violate the constitutional principles of equality under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
Karur Stampede: Petitioner Raised Concerns Over Compassionate Appointments
According to the petition, every eligible person has the constitutional right to compete for public employment. The petitioner argued that compassionate appointments must follow clear government rules and guidelines. Since there is no uniform policy for granting jobs in tragedies like the Karur stampede, the decision was described as arbitrary and legally questionable.
Karur Stampede: Court Seeks TNPSC Report
During the hearing, the Madras High Court added the Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) as a party to the case. The court directed the TNPSC official to submit a report explaining:
- The guidelines governing compassionate appointments.
- Whether those guidelines were followed in the Karur stampede case.
This report will help the court examine whether the appointments comply with existing rules.
Government’s Stand
The State informed the court that an earlier intervention application in the Supreme Court opposing government jobs in the case had already been withdrawn. The government also referred to previous instances where families of victims in exceptional tragedies had received government jobs, arguing that such relief had been provided in special circumstances before.
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