JUDGMENT :

Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, J.

Leave granted.

2. A Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Madras, by its judgment dated 9 August 2016, issued a mandamus, while setting aside the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, and directed the appellants to grant appointment on a compassionate basis to the respondent within a period of three months from the date of the order.

3. The father of the respondent, who was working in the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, died on 25 May 1996. The widow of the deceased employee made a representation for compassionate appointment. On 3 January 1997, the representation submitted by her was rejected. Thereafter, a fresh representation was made, which was considered and rejected in the Minutes of a Meeting held on 1st July 1999, which considered similar requests by several other employees.

4. In 2007, the respondent initiated proceedings [OA 430 of 2007] before the Madras Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal. The Tribunal, by its order dated 26 June 2007, directed the appellants to consider the representation of the respondent dated 14th February 2006 by a speaking order. The OA was disposed of. Accordingly, o