Supreme Court Intervenes in Controversial Job Policy for Stampede Victims' Families

The Supreme Court has temporarily halted a Madras High Court ruling that annulled a job provision policy for the families of stampede victims in Karur. This decision comes after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's order was challenged, raising questions about government policy and the needs of other applicants awaiting compassionate appointments. The court's intervention highlights the complexities surrounding employment policies in the wake of tragedies.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 14, 2026, 12:34 IST

Supreme Court's Ruling on Job Provision for Victims' Kin

New Delhi: On Friday, the Supreme Court put a hold on a ruling made by the Madras High Court that annulled Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's directive to grant government jobs to the relatives of individuals who lost their lives in a stampede in Karur last year.

A bench consisting of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran has issued a notice to the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu and other relevant parties.

The bench questioned the petitioner of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), stating, "Who are you to challenge the government's policy? If a sole breadwinner perished in the incident, shouldn't the government provide employment to their child?"

This decision comes as a blow to the TVK government, as the Madras High Court had previously ruled on July 27 to invalidate Vijay's order, citing concerns that it could lead to a surge in similar requests.

The division bench, which included Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel, emphasized that it would be inappropriate to disregard the needs of many others who are awaiting compassionate appointments within government sectors.