'Could open floodgates': Why HC quashed Vijay govt jobs for kin of Karur stampede victims
The Madras High Court has struck down a government order that granted state jobs to relatives of victims of the Karur stampede. The court ruled that the appointments violated constitutional guarantees of equality and bypassed existing waiting lists for compassionate employment.
Why it matters
The ruling reinforces the legal principle that executive power must adhere to constitutional equality standards, even when responding to public tragedies.
CHENNAI: In a setback to the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government, the Madras high court's Madurai Bench on Monday set aside the state government's order providing government jobs to relatives of those who died in the Karur stampede, holding that the appointments violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution and could open the "floodgates" for others to seek similar employment after tragedies.According to news agency PTI, a division bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel held that the government order was in direct violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The court said it was not appropriate to overlook the claims of people already waiting for compassionate appointments in government departments."When there is a waiting list, it is not appropriate to overlook their needs and extend what is termed as succor to family members of the Karur incident.
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