Karur Stampede Victims Families: Vijay government of Tamil Nadu has got a big blow from Madras High Court. The court has stopped the families of Karur stampede victims from giving government jobs. The court said that government appointments made on compassionate grounds violate Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The bench of Justice CV Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel gave this decision. Last year, at least 41 people were killed and many were injured in a stampede at Vijay’s rally in Karur.
A bench of Justice Karthikeyan and Justice Sakthivel on Monday quashed the order of the Tamil Nadu government, which had made a provision for giving government jobs to the family members of those killed in the Karur stampede. The court said that if this is done then there will be a flood of such demands in future. The court said that many people are already waiting in the waiting list for jobs on compassionate grounds in government departments. It is not appropriate to give special relief only to the victims of Karur incident by ignoring their needs.
Direct violation of Articles 14 and 16
The bench of Justice Karthikeyan and Justice Sakthivel said that when the waiting list already exists, then it is not right to give jobs to certain people by ignoring it. The bench also said that these appointments are a direct violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, which give equal rights to all citizens. The government should use its powers only within the limits of the Constitution.
CM had handed over appointment letters to 32 members
The court also said that the order to provide government jobs to the families of the stampede victims will lead to a flood of people demanding jobs on similar lines. Let us tell you that on July 10 this month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had handed over appointment letters of government jobs to 32 members of the families of 41 people who lost their lives in the Karur stampede.
#WATCH | Karur | Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay handed over government job appointment orders to 32 members of the families of the 41 people who lost their lives in the stampede during the TVK rally in September 2025.
(Video Source: TNDIPR) pic.twitter.com/1d9JdbCLIU
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2026
What arguments were given in the court
However, during the hearing of the case, the government said in its arguments that these appointments were made within the ambit of the Constitution and on humanitarian grounds. The government also cited earlier appointments, including jobs given to the families of those killed in police firing during anti-Sterilite protests in Tuticorin. The Advocate General, appearing for the State, argued that these appointments were made only to ensure the livelihood of the affected families.
At the same time, the counsel for the petitioners said that about 39 lakh youth are unemployed in Tamil Nadu and about 20 lakh candidates apply for competitive recruitment examinations. Providing government jobs beyond the regular recruitment process was unfair and contrary to constitutional principles. At the same time, Gyanambika, mother of Karur stampede victim Ravi Krishna, expressed concern over the verdict and said that the court should reconsider its decision and approve the government order giving him a job.
41 lives lost in Karur stampede
On 27 September 2025, 41 people were killed and more than 60 were injured in a stampede at a TVK rally in Karur. After the accident, the Tamil Nadu government had announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each deceased. An additional compensation of Rs 20 lakh was given by TVK. 27,000 to 50,000 people had gathered in the rally, whereas only 10,000 people were allowed. The huge crowd that had gathered became even more furious when Vijay arrived late at the rally. After this there was a stampede there.
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