T.N. moves Supreme Court against HC striking down jobs to Karur stampede victims’ families

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.

Waiting list overlooked

The High Court had pointed out that there were wait-lists in every government department for appointments on compassionate grounds.

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.

The High Court had reasoned that it would be in violation of the fundamental rights of equality and due of process of law, enshrined in Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution, respectively, to overlook those in the waiting list in a bid to bring relief to the family members of the Karur stampede victims.

The State had contended that these jobs were given in exercise of its executive powers under Article 162 of the Constitution. But the High Court had responded that any exercise of executive authority of power had to be within the confines of the Constitution.

The stampede occurred in September last year during a TVK roadshow addressed by now Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, who is also the party president.