The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Chennai, is suo-motu impleaded as respondent No.7 in WP(MD) No.19539 of 2026 and a report must be filed on 21.07.2026 giving the guidelines for grant of compassionate employment and whether the guidelines would satisfy in the present incident. It must also be noted that grant of public employment has to be offered only in accordance with Rules and none can be denied without reasonable cause. 9. Registry to carry out necessary amendment reflecting the Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission as 7th respondent in WP(MD) No.19539 of 2026. (C.V.K.,J.) (R.S.V,J.)
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 10.07.2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN
AND
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R.SAKTHIVEL
W.P.(MD)Nos.19539 and 19658 of 2026 and WMP(MD) No.14536 of 2026
Theeran Thirumurugan @ Thiru Murugan,
S/o.Ganesan,
Mannar Gulf Law Office,
Melur Main Road,
Y.Othakadai, Madurai 625 107
... Petitioner(s) in WP(MD). 19539/ 2026
- Vs. -
1. The Chief Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
2. The Additional Chief Secretary, Human Resources Management Department,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
3. The Secretary Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
4. The Secretary Home Department,
Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
5. The Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
6. The District Collector Karur District Collectorate, Karur.
7. The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Tnpsc Road, V.O.C. Nagar, Park Town, Chennai Tamil Nadu, India. 600 003,
.. Respondent(s) in WP(MD). 19539/ 2026
(R7 has been suo-motu impleaded vide order of this Court dated
10.07.2026)
Prayer in WP(MD). 19539/ 2026 :Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 - 6 to forbear from issuing or implementing any Government appointment orders arising out of the Karur stampede incident until the proceedings pending before the Honble Supreme Court in relation to the said incident attain finality.
For Petitioner : Mr.W.Cleetus
For Respondents : Mr.B.Saravanan
Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.M.P.Senthil counsel for State
WP(MD) No.19658 of 2026
1. Seeni Ahamed S/o. Mohamed Ali,
State Deputy Secretary,
Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi, Manjanakarra Street, Southgate, Madurai
... Petitioner(s) in WP(MD). 19658/ 2026
- Vs. -
1. The Chief Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Fort St.
George, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Additional Chief Secreta Ry to Government,, Personnel and
Administrative Reforms Department,
Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009.
3. The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Tnpsc Road,
V.O.C. Nagar, Park Town, Chennai Tamil Nadu, India. 600 003,
4. The Directorate of Employmen T and Training (Det), Commissionarate
of Employment and Training,, Thiru. Vi. Ka. Industrial Estate, Alandur Road, Guindy, Chennai 600 032.
5. The Director, Cbi Central Bureau of Investigation, Chennai Zonal Office, Chennai.
6. The Superintendent of Cbi, O/o. Superintendent of Cbi, 3rd Floor, Shastri Bhawan, No. 26, Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai.
7. The Inspector of Police, Karur Town Police Station, Karur District.
8. N. Anand, The General Secretary the Party Headquarters, Tamilaga
Vettri Kazhagam (Tvk) 8th Avenue, Panaiyur Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600119.
... Respondent(s) in WP(MD). 19658/ 2026
Prayer in WP(MD). 19658/ 2026 :Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus direction restraining the respondent Nos.1 to 3 from giving effect to the proposed scheme of granting government employment to the family members of the deceased victims of the karur stampede (Crime No. 855 of 2025) now the file of Respondent No.6 and consequently direct respondents 5 and 6 to examine and report to this Honourable Court whether the proposed conferment of government employment on the said families is capable of affecting the fairness of the ongoing investigation and to take such steps as may be warranted in law.
For Petitioner : Mr.SMA.Jinnah for
Mr.A.Mohammed Rashid
For Respondents : Mr.B.Saravanan
Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.M.P.Senthil counsel for State
Mr.Arun Arockiasamy for R7
Government Advocate
(Crl.side)
Mr.J.Anandakumar for
TNPSC
COMMON ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.)
Both these writ petitions have been filed seeking a restraint against the Government from granting employment to any one of the family members of the deceased victim, who had unfortunately died in the Karur stampede, which occurred on 27.09.2025.
2. It is to be noted that with respect to the said incident, the Hon'ble
Supreme Court had transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of
Investigation and had also constituted a committee headed by a former Judge of the Supreme Court. It is also not in dispute that exgratia had also been granted to the family members for the death of one of their member.
Now it is stated that the Government had taken a policy decision to grant employment to any one of the eligible member of the deceased family. That decision is put to challenge in these two writ petitions.
3. It is contended by the learned Additional Advocate General appearing on behalf of the respondents that the function to actually issue the appointment orders is scheduled to be held later in the evening ie., at 3.00 p.m.. It is contended that an intervening application had been filed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in IA No.187811 of 2026, wherein one of the specific grounds taken while seeking permission to implead was that the State Government had come forward to grant compassionate employment when exgratia assistance had already been granted. But, however, when the matter was actually heard by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Senior Counsel for the applicant therein had sought leave to withdraw the said application with liberty to pursue such other remedy as may be available.
4. It is contended on behalf of the writ petitioners that grant of compassionate employment to family members of those who had
unfortunately died in the Karur stampede would be violative of the Rules and Guidelines now in force relating to the grant of compassionate employment to the legal heirs of the Government servant, who die in harness. The Rules are very strictly followed and conditions are imposed and a verification is done before such employment is granted.
5. The learned Additional Advocate General stated that however, there has been a precedent when in the shooting which had taken place at Tuticorin, employment had been granted to a member of the family of those who died.
6. To a limited extent, a distinction can be drawn to the effect that, that incident could be attibuted to excess by the State. Be that as it may, it may be extremely narrow for this Court to intervene in a policy decision of the Government. We would permit the function to proceed further with a condition that the employment would only be on temporary basis subject to judicial review and we intend to hear the main matters within the end of this month before the prospective persons to whom employment had been
offered receive their first salary. On that condition, the function may go on.
7. List the matter on 21.07.2026 at 2.15 p.m. Counter to be filed bythen.
8. The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Chennai, is suo-motu impleaded as respondent No.7 in WP(MD) No.19539 of 2026 and a report must be filed on 21.07.2026 giving the guidelines for grant of compassionate employment and whether the guidelines would satisfy in the present incident. It must also be noted that grant of public employment has to be offered only in accordance with Rules and none can be denied without reasonable cause.
9. Registry to carry out necessary amendment reflecting the Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission as 7th respondent in
WP(MD) No.19539 of 2026.
(C.V.K.,J.) (R.S.V,J.)
10.07.2026
Index : Yes/No
Internet : Yes/No
RR
To
1. The Chief Secretary
Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
2. The Additional Chief Secretary, Human Resources Management Department,
Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
3. The Secretary Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department,Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
4. The Secretary Home Department,Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
5. The Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Department,Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
6. The District Collector Karur District Collectorate, Karur.
7. The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Tnpsc Road, V.O.C. Nagar, Park Town, Chennai Tamil Nadu, India. 600 003,
8. The Directorate of Employment and Training (Det),
Commissionarate of Employment and Training,,
Thiru. Vi. Ka. Industrial Estate,
Alandur Road, Guindy, Chennai 600 032.
9. The Director, CBI Central Bureau of Investigation, Chennai Zonal Office, Chennai.
11. The Inspector of Police, Karur Town Police Station, Karur District.
C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J
AND R.SAKTHIVEL, J
RR
W.P.(MD)Nos.19539 and 19658 of 2026
10.07.2026
