New Delhi, August 14: The Supreme Court has lifted the stay on the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to provide government jobs to the families of those who lost their lives in the Karur tragedy. On Friday, the Supreme Court issued an interim order against the Madras High Court’s ruling that had annulled this decision.
A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran delivered this interim order while hearing the Tamil Nadu government’s petition. The state government had challenged the Madurai bench’s decision from July 27 in the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, the bench questioned, “Why challenge the state’s offer to provide employment to the families affected by a tragic incident?” They further inquired, “What is the difficulty in providing jobs to the victims of this tragedy?”
Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi represented the Tamil Nadu government.
In September 2025, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had annulled the government’s decision to grant compassionate appointments to the families of those who perished in the Karur stampede. The High Court stated that such appointments are unconstitutional, emphasizing that the purpose of compassionate appointments is to provide immediate financial relief to families upon the death of a government employee during service, and cannot be extended as a general rehabilitation measure after a public tragedy.
The stampede occurred during a rally of TVK leader Vijay in Karur in September 2025, resulting in the deaths of 41 individuals, including 8 children, and injuring 46 others.
According to officials, Vijay was scheduled to arrive in Karur around noon but reached after 6 PM, leading to a massive gathering of supporters and fans. Approximately 30,000 people had gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor-politician, causing the tragic stampede.
With this interim order from the Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu government can now proceed with the employment process for the affected families.
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