ORDER

1. Leave granted.

2. We have heard learned counsel on both sides. The question is whether the brother of the deceased employee who died in harness is eligible for employment on compassionate grounds. The High Court of Punjab and Haryana by order dated December 30, 1993 in C.W.P. No. 8419/93 directed appointment of the brother of the deceased employee. Feeling aggrieved, the State has come up in appeal.

3. The only question is whether the brother is a dependent of the deceased employee who died in harness. By proceedings dated October 31, 1985, the Government had stated that the underlying idea to introduce the scheme was to help the bereaved family of a deceased employee immediately by way of providing employment to one dependent of the deceased Government employee in addition to ex-gratia payment etc. The Government in an earlier Circular dated 9th March, 1979 had stated that the Government took the decision that the family members of the employee, who died while in service or retired due to disability would be given the facility of employment. Accordingly directions were given. The word family has been defined Under Rule 6. I 6-B(a) of the Punjab Civil Services Rules, your