Judgement

N. P. SINGH, J.:- Leave granted.

2. These appeals have been filed on behalf of the State of Haryana for setting aside the orders passed on two writ petitions filed by respondent Rani Devi and Anguri Devi, directing the appellant-State to appoint the said respondents against Class-IV posts on compassionate grounds in view of the fact that their respective husbands died while working as Apprentice Canal Patwaris. The husband of respondent Rani Devi worked as Apprentice Canal Patwari from 25-8-1987 to 25-2-1989, whereas the husband of respondent Anguri Devi worked as Apprentice Canal Patwari from 15-7-1992 to 2-6-1993.

3. There is no dispute that the husband of the two respondents had been appointed on ad hoc basis as Apprentice Canal Patwaris. According to the State Government, in this background there is no question of issuing any direction in respect of appointments of the respondents who are the widows on compassionate grounds. In this connection, our attention was drawn to the Punjab Civil Services Rules which we are informed are in force even in the State of Haryana. Paragraph 2.6 of Chapter II defines Apprentice to mean a person deputed for training in a trade or busines