T.N. moves Supreme Court against HC striking down jobs to Karur stampede victims’ families
The Tamil Nadu government has appealed to the Supreme Court after the Madras High Court struck down a plan to provide government jobs to the families of Karur stampede victims. The High Court ruled that such appointments violate constitutional equality and due process by bypassing established seniority wait-lists.
Why it matters
This case highlights the tension between executive humanitarian gestures and the legal requirement for fair, merit-based public employment practices.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court in appeal against a Madras High Court decision to strike down the grant of government jobs to the family members of Karur stampede victims.
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.
The State had argued in the court that the appointments were meant as a humane gesture.
But the court concluded that specific guidelines covered the field of compassionate appointments, and they cannot be cast aside by the State government. The High Court had warned that the government’s action, if condoned, may run the risk of opening the floodgates.
The High Court had pointed out that there were wait-lists in every government department for appointments on compassionate grounds.
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