High Court Of Kerala
P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON
Valsala Kumari - Appellant
Versus
Commandant - Respondent
OP. No.38809 of 2001(T) & W.P.(C) No. 12706 of 2004
Decided On : 02/13/2009
Service - Petitioner in both these petitions is one - Sustainability of order passed by the first respondent rejecting the claim of the petitioner seeking the benefit of compassionate employment under State scheme - Original Petition filed much earlier pertains to different reliefs - Disbursement of monetary benefits allegedly due in respect of the military service rendered by the deceased husband of the petitioner - Claim put forth against the Railways for damages when the deceased husband, while on duty was run over by the train when it was being shunted in the premises of the railway station - Held, The petitioner is not aggrieved with any of the stipulations contained in scheme confining the benefit to such class of persons whose death occurred in such 'operation area' as specified by the Central Government - Since scheme has not been subjected to challenge, nothing further requires to be considered in this regard and the matter is to be confined to the facts and circumstances, as now available before the court - Original Petition and the Writ Petition are dismissed.
The petitioner in both these petitions are one and the same. Sustainability of Ext.P13 order passed by the first respondent rejecting the claim of the petitioner seeking the benefit of compassionate employment under Ext.P2 State scheme is the subject matter involved in W.P.(C) No. 12706 of 2004; whereas the Original Petition filed much earlier pertains to different reliefs; viz (i) compassionate appointment under respondent Nos. 1 to 3 ; (ii) disbursement of monetary benefits allegedly due in respect of the military service rendered by the deceased husband of the petitioner and (iii) in respect of the claim put forth against the Railways for damages when the deceased husband, while on duty was run over by the train when it was being shunted in the premises of the railway station.
2. With regard to the reliefs prayed for in the earlier case (O.P.38809 of 2001), a detailed counter affidavit has been filed by the respondents asserting that the request for compassionate appointment preferred by the petitioner was duly considered, but no favourable orders could be passed as no vacancy had arisen as allocable to the petitioner on the basis of her turn and the quota earmarked for giving such employment assistance of compassionate appointment. It is pointed out by the learned Central Government counsel for the respondents in the said case, with reference to Ext. R1 (b) produced along with the counter affidavit, that the application for compassionate appointment can be kept pending only for one year and if the turn has not arisen in the meanwhile, it cannot be considered any further.
3. The learned Central Government Counsel further pointed out that the question of compassionate appointment can be considered and the benefit can be extended only in accordance with the scheme and that there is absolutely no violation of any of the provisions in the scheme in respect of the quota earmarked or otherwise; particularly when no such challenge has been raised in O.P. No. 38809 of 2001. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that the Apex Court vide the decision in Himachal Road Transport Corporation vs. Dinesh Kumar [1996) 4 SCC 560], has held that the benefit of compassionate appointment cannot be extended by directing the Government/Department to create supernumerary vacancies (Paragraph 10). The law has been reiterated by the Apex Court in the subsequent decision in Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. vs. A. Radhika Thirumalai [1996) 6 SCC 394] as well. This being the position and since the reason for rejection of the application of the petitioner for compassionate appointment by the respondents in O.P.No. 38809 of 2001 has not been assailed, absolutely no relief can be extended to the petitioner in this regard.
4. With regard to the second prayer raised in the said Original Petition, a detailed statement has been filed by respondent Nos. 1 to 4 pursuant to the interim order passed by this court on 25.07.2007 wherein it has been stated in black and white terms showing the break-up figures of all the benefits payable to the petitioner on the death of her husband. The amounts released to her under different heads include Ex-Gratia payment of Rs.5 lakhs, Army Group Insurance Fund Death Benefit of Rs, 3.75 lakhs and such other amounts, besides sanctioning and granting of family pension. It is asserted that no further amount is due from the respondent in this regard. Obviously no reply affidavit has been filed by the petitioner rebutting the statement made by the respondents. Hence the second prayer in the Original Petition does not deserve to be considered any further.
5. With regard to the third prayer, claiming damages from the Railways, it is pointed out by the learned counsel appearing for the Railways that the death of the husband of the petitioner actually occurred when he was hit by loose shunting boggies at Merta Road Railway Station in Rajasthan. It is stated that on 10.09.1998, when the husband of the petitioner was recklessly
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