Why can’t the government give employement to families in such tragedies, the Supreme Court said Friday, referencing the Vijay government’s move to provide jobs to families of those who died in the Karur stampede last year, staying the Madras High Court order that had cancelled the Tamil Nadu government’s jobs order.
Forty-one people, including children, were killed in the stampede at a TVK rally addressed by Vijay in September last, when the DMK was in power.
Forty-one people, including children, were killed in the stampede at a TVK rally addressed by Vijay in September last, when the DMK was in power. The police had alleged that Vijay’s delayed arrival led to crowds swelling beyond the permitted capacity and cited several lapses, including inadequate drinking water, food and toilet facilities. The TVK rejected the allegations, blaming police failure and alleging a conspiracy by former DMK minister Senthil Balaji, a charge he has denied. A division bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel of the high court had held that it was not appropriate to overlook the needs of many who are waiting to get compassionate appointments in government departments.
In a setback to the TVK government, the Madras High Court on July 27 had quashed Vijay’s order providing government jobs to relatives of people who died in the stampede, saying it violates Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 16 (Equality of Opportunity in Government Employment) of the Constitution.
The High Court further noted that the move will open “floodgates” for others to seek such employment.
