Madras HC scraps govt jobs for Karur stampede victims’ families, cites recruitment rules

The stampede occurred during a rally organised by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay in Karur on September 27 last year. 

The incident claimed 41 lives and left several others injured.

The court’s decision comes amid an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and a political dispute over the government’s decision to provide jobs to the victims’ families.

32 heirs received compassionate appointment orders

Earlier this month, the Chief Minister handed over compassionate appointment orders to 32 legal heirs of those who died in the Karur stampede.

The appointments were part of the state government’s relief and rehabilitation measures intended to provide financial support and livelihood security to bereaved families following the tragedy.

The Madras High Court has now cancelled the decision to provide the government jobs, bringing the recruitment process under renewed focus.

The development also comes against the backdrop of questions over whether government employment can be granted as compensation while bypassing the prescribed recruitment framework.

AIADMK questions govt recruitment process

Senior AIADMK leader RB Udhayakumar had strongly criticised the decision to provide government employment to the victims’ families.

Describing the move as a “betrayal”, Udhayakumar had argued that such appointments could affect the prospects of lakhs of young people from ordinary families who spend years preparing for government recruitment examinations.

He had alleged that temporary government jobs were being offered without following standard statutory procedures.

The AIADMK leader had also stressed that government recruitment in Tamil Nadu must be carried out through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).

“Offering government jobs as compensation by flouting rules for political reasons is a wrong approach,” Udhayakumar had said.

He further argued that such a decision could establish what he described as a “shocking and wrong precedent” for the state’s youth.

Karur stampede probe transferred to CBI

The latest development comes as the investigation into the Karur stampede continues.

The tragedy occurred during a TVK rally on September 27 last year, when a large crowd gathered for the event. Forty-one people died, and several others suffered injuries.

In October 2025, the Supreme Court transferred the investigation from a state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), stressing the need for an independent and impartial probe.

The CBI investigation is examining several aspects of the rally, including crowd-management arrangements, the timing of Vijay’s arrival and the coordination between TVK organisers and local authorities.

Jobs decision adds another layer to Karur case

The government’s decision to employ the legal heirs of the victims had been presented as part of the relief and rehabilitation measures for families affected by the tragedy.

However, the move faced criticism over the procedure used to make the appointments, with questions raised about the requirement to follow established recruitment mechanisms for government employment.

The Madras High Court’s decision to cancel the appointments has now brought the issue back into focus, alongside the continuing investigation into the circumstances that led to the Karur stampede.