Madras High Court Quashes Tamil Nadu Govt’s Jobs Order for Karur Stampede Victims’ Families

July 27, 2026

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday quashed the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to grant compassionate government jobs to the families of those who lost their lives in the Karur stampede, disposing of a batch of petitions that challenged the appointments.

The court observed that the stampede case is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the supervision of the Supreme Court, and therefore refrained from making any observations on the merits of the tragedy.

Appointments had been issued earlier this month

Earlier this month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay handed over compassionate appointment orders to 32 legal heirs of victims who died in the Karur stampede as part of the state’s relief and rehabilitation package.

The appointments were intended to provide financial support to bereaved families, with one eligible member from each affected family receiving a government job.

Court cites ongoing CBI investigation

While setting aside the government order, the High Court noted that the CBI probe into the stampede remains underway and is being monitored by the Supreme Court. The bench said it would not comment further on issues connected with the incident while the investigation is in progress.

The Karur stampede, which occurred during a political event in September 2025, claimed 41 lives and left several others injured. The incident is being investigated to determine responsibility for the tragedy.