Compassionate appointment is not a matter of right but an exception to general recruitment rules, granted only to dependents in financial destitution in accordance with the employer's specific scheme.

NAFR

NIRMALA RAO

Judgment On Board

1) Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner has taken brief of this case from his office and thus, he has no instructions in the matter.

2) By way of this petition, the petitioner has sought following reliefs:-

“i. That the Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to set aside/quash the order dated 10.12.2020 and 11.12.2020 (Annexure P-5).

ii. That the respondents be directed to allow the application of the petitioner for compassionate appointment in any suitable post.

iii. That the respondents be directed to pay the compensatory cost to the petitioner from the date applied till date.

iv. Any other relief may also be granted to the petitioner which this Hon'ble Court feels fit in the facts and circumstances of the case.”

3) Facts of present case are that petitioner’s father namely Raju Lal Baghel, who was posted as a Class-IV employee (daftari) in respondent-bank died in harness on 26.9.2019. Petitioner moved an application for grant of compassionate appointment and same was rejected by Dy. Regional Manager, Bank of Baroda vide orders dated 10.12.2020 & 11.12.2020 on the ground that financial condition of the family is not indigent.

4) Learned counsel for the respondents would refer Clauses 5.1 and 10.1 of the Scheme for Compassionate Appointment or Payment of Ex-Gratia Financial Relief to dependents of deceased employees on Compassionate Grounds, 2020 dated 1.12.2020, which was in force on the date of demise. He submits that in the inquiry, it was found that family of the deceased bank employee is not indigent, as there is an earning member; therefore, the family does not require relief from financial destitution. He contends that widow of deceased bank employee is receiving family pension and family has duly been paid the amounts of provident fund, gratuity, leave encashment and life insurance, thus the family is not facing any financial hardship. He further contends that respondent authority has rightly rejected the claim of petitioner for grant of compassionate appointment. He has placed reliance on the judgments rendered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matters of General Manager (D&PB) and Others Versus Kunti Tiwary and Another, . 2004 SCC (L&S) 943, State Bank of India and Another Versus Somvir Singh , . (2007) 2 SCC (L&S) 92 and State of Gujarat and Others Versus Arvindkumar T. Tiwari and Another ³. (2012) 2 SCC (L&S) 795

5) Admittedly, claim of petitioner for grant of compassionate appointment has been rejected on the ground that financial condition of the family is not indigent. Clause 5.1 of the policy dated 1.12.2020 deals with eligibility and states that claim of a dependent can be considered if family is indigent and deserves immediate assistance for relief from financial destitution. Clause 10.1 of said policy clearly states that when there is already an earning member in the family, a dependent family member may be considered for compassionate appointment with a prior approval of the competent authority.

6) Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Kunti Tiwary (supra) held that appointment on compassionate basis is an exception carved out of the general rule for appointment on the basis of open invitation of application and merit and such exception was to be restored to in cases of penury where the dependents of an employee are left without any means of livelihood and that unless some source of livelihood was provided a family would not be able to make both ends meet.

7) In the matter of Somvir Singh (supra), Hon’ble Supr