By the Court.—We have heard Shri R.N. Singh, Senior Advocate assisted by Shri G.K. Singh and Shri V.K. Singh for the petitioner. Standing Counsel appears for the respondents.

2. The petitioner’s husband late Shri Mani Prakash Pathak was serving in U.P. Police as Deputy Superintendent and was posted as Circle Officer, Collector Ganj, Kanpur Nagar with additional charge as In-charge Special Operation Group. On 13.6.2007 while he was returning after arresting some accused, the vehicle in which he was travelling met with an accident on Etawan Kanpur road. He sufferred serious injuries in the accident and died in a hospital on 24.6.2007.

3. The petitioner is an educated lady with M.A. and M.Ed. as her academic qualifications. In order to settle herself in life and to provide education to her two children, she made an application on 12th July, 2007 to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanpur Nagar, to consider her for appointment on compassionate grounds on the post of Officer on Special Duty under the U.P. Recruitment of Dependents of Government Servants Dying in Harness Rules, 1974 (in short the Rules of 1974).

4. The S.S.P., Kanpur Nagar made a favourable recommendation for