The Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench invalidated a Tamil Nadu government directive that allowed compassionate appointments for Karur stampede victims’ families in September 2025. The court ruled that this decision breached constitutional principles of equality and fair public employment opportunities. Compassionate appointments, the court emphasized, should not circumvent established legal norms but address immediate financial distress following a government employee’s death.
The court stressed that executive powers under Article 162 of the Constitution must adhere strictly to constitutional limits. It highlighted that any executive action conflicting with Articles 14 and 16, ensuring equality and equal opportunity in public employment, would be legally unsustainable. The judgment noted that the government’s move disregarded numerous eligible applicants awaiting compassionate appointments in government departments.
Articles 14 and 16, guaranteeing equality before the law and in public employment matters, cannot be compromised by administrative orders, the judges asserted. Despite recognizing the tragedy and the state’s empathy for the affected families, the court upheld constitutional safeguards over executive decisions. It rejected the government’s argument that the appointments were within its administrative powers, emphasizing that executive authority must always be subject to constitutional constraints.
The ruling underscores that compassionate appointments are exceptions to regular recruitment processes and must comply with statutory and constitutional norms. While the state can offer financial aid or relief to disaster-affected families, public employment cannot be granted in contravention of constitutional equality and fairness guarantees.
