The Madras High Court has allowed the state government to issue compassionate appointments to families of the Karur stampede victims, subject to further judicial review. On July 10, 2026, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S. Joseph Vijay distributed government job orders to 31 legal heirs at the Karur District Collector’s Office.
Vijay described the September 27, 2025, stampede that killed 41 people as a painful tragedy and blamed the previous DMK administration for the incident. This marked his first visit to the district nearly ten months after the event during a TVK public meeting.
He accused the DMK of seeking political advantage from the tragedy and questioned police actions at the time. Vijay stated he had trusted security advice and rejected claims that he avoided the area. He emphasized that his entry into politics was to serve people rather than seek gains, and he placed people above financial considerations.
The Chief Minister announced that his party would build a memorial for the victims to inform future generations about the incident. He also criticized unnamed DMK leaders, repeated references to the party as an adverse force, and urged voters to respond in upcoming local elections.
Vijay called on citizens to refuse any demands for bribes and claimed that no corruption had occurred in government offices during the two months since his party assumed power. He said people were now treated with respect and that earlier practices of collecting funds for political purposes had ended.
Earlier that day, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court declined to stay the job appointments, ruling they would remain temporary pending further hearings. DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi commented that the stampede case remains under investigation.
