The Supreme Court on Friday put on hold a Madras High Court decision that had nullified a Tamil Nadu government initiative offering public sector employment to surviving family members of individuals killed in last year’s Karur stampede.
Supreme Court Questions Challenge to State Policy
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran issued formal notices to the Tamil Nadu chief secretary alongside other respondents in the case.
During the proceedings, the bench questioned the public interest litigation petitioner who challenged the executive order, asking on what grounds a private party could contest state policy. The judges noted that the government should be entitled to provide employment to a surviving child in instances where a family lost its sole breadwinner to a tragedy.
High Court Concerns Over Precedent
The top court’s order temporarily halts a July 27 decision rendered by a Madras High Court division bench of Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel.
In that ruling, which dealt a setback to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s TVK government, the High Court set aside the employment scheme. The High Court judges reasoned that bypassing individuals waiting for compassionate appointments in government departments was inappropriate and expressed concern that the measure would invite a wave of similar demands.
