ORDER

1. Special leave granted.

2. This matter relates to giving appointment on compassionate ground to Respondent 1 after the death of her husband who was in the service of Cochin Dock Labour Board (hereinafter referred to as "the Board"). The husband of Respondent 1 died on 27-7-1987 and on 3-8-1987 she submitted an application for appointment on compassionate ground. Since the said appointment was not given to her, she filed the writ petition giving rise to this appeal. On behalf of the Board it was submitted before the High Court that there were 250 dependants registered in the register kept by the first respondent as on the date and it will not be fair to consider the claim of Respondent 1 in isolation. The learned Single Judge of the High Court, by his judgment dated 8-8-1991, allowed the writ petition and directed that Respondent 1 be appointed against the next arising vacancy suitable to her qualification. Letters patent appeal filed by the Board against the said judgment of the learned Single Judge has been dismissed by the Division Bench of the High Court by the impugned judgment dated 4-7-1996. Hence this appeal.

3. The learned counsel for the Board submitted that the ma