‘What’s wrong in it?’: Supreme Court stays Madras HC verdict quashing govt. jobs order to kin of Karur stampede victims

The Supreme Court on Friday (August 14, 2026) stayed the Madras High Court’s decision of striking down the grant of government jobs to the family members of Karur stampede victims.

Justice J.B. Pardiwala wondered what was wrong if the government reaches out to give some succour to the families who have suffered such a tragedy. The Judge also noted that in many families the only bread winner has died in the stampede.

The Madurai Bench of the High Court had quashed the government orders granting jobs to the victims’ family members on compassionate grounds on July 27. Employment has to be granted only in accordance with seniority and not with reference to the immediate nature of relief to be granted, the Division Bench of the High Court had noted.

As many as 41 people were killed in a crowd crush while attending a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally addressed by party chief Vijay on September 27 last year.

Later when he became the Chief Minister, he handed over appointment orders on compassionate grounds to 32 family members of the victims.