JUDGMENT

S. PANDA, J. - Petitioner in this writ petition assails the order dated 17.11.2017 passed by the Odisha Administrative Tribunal, Cuttack Bench, Cuttack in O.A. No.375 (C) of 2016 wherein the Tribunal rejected the prayer of the applicant for engagement under Rehabilitation Assistance Rules by dismissing the original application.

2. Mr. B.K.Routray, learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that after the death of the father of the applicant who was a Government employee in the year 2002, the widow filed an application for appointment under Rehabilitation Assistance Rules (hereinafter referred to as Rules). The family was in a distress condition due to sudden death of the sole bread earner. The said application was kept pending for want of distress certificate from the competent authority which was issued in the year 2015 only. The widow in the meantime has suffered from serious ailment due to poverty and became unfit for any job. Thus, she made a representation to the appointing authority to consider engagement of her son in her place under the aforesaid scheme. However the appointing authority did not consider such representation. Due to such inaction the petitioner had a