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2024 Supreme(Online)(MAD) 12828

HIGH COURT OF MADRAS
Honourable Mr Justice G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN
M.ASIRVADHAM – Appellant
Versus
THE BRANCH MANAGER – Respondent



Compassionate appointments are restricted to specific family members and conditions; thus, the unmarried status of the deceased disqualified the petitioner's daughter from such consideration.

Headnote:

Compassionate Appointment - Legal Heirship - Circular No.9/2019 - The court examined provisions regarding compassionate appointments and legal heirship eligibility, concluding that the petitioner could receive terminal benefits but not a compassionate appointment due to the deceased's bachelor status.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner sought directions for compassionate appointment following the death of their elder brother while employed at a bank. After legal complications regarding a legal heir certificate, the document was eventually issued, leading to a request for benefits and appointment for the deceased's daughter.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that while the petitioner was eligible for terminal benefits as a Class II legal heir under the legal heirship certificate, the deceased's bachelor status meant there was no basis for granting compassionate appointment.

Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to compassionate appointment and terminal benefits following the death of the elder brother as an employee.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that compassionate appointments are limited to certain family members of an employee, and as the deceased was unmarried, the petitioner's daughter did not qualify under existing legal provisions.

Final Decision: The writ petition was disposed of, allowing for terminal benefits but denying compassionate appointment.

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed for direction to the respondent to consider the representation of the petitioner seeking appointment on compassionate ground.

2. The petitioner's elder brother M.Anthony died while he was working in the Oriental Bank of Commerce, Kilpauk Branch, Chennai due to ailment on 24.10.2020. The petitioner applied for legal heir certificate and the same was not considered and as such the petitioner filed W.P.No.20404 of 2020. This Court passed an order dated 05.01.2021 and directed the respondents to consider the petitioner's application and pass orders. However, the application submitted by the petitioner for seeking legal heirship certificate rejected by the Tahsildar by an order dated 25.10.2021 on the ground that there is no provision to issue Class-II legal heir certificate as per Circular No.9/2019 dated 24.09.2019. Once again, it was challenged before this Court in W.P.No.25418 of 2021 and this Court once again directed the Tahsildar to issue legal heirship certificate. The petitioner again filed contempt Petition in Cont.P.No.2111 of 2023.

Thereafter, the Tahsildar issued legal heir certificate dated 08.09.2023. On the strength of the legal heir ship certificate the petitioner submitted representation seeking terminal benefits of his deceased brother and also compassionate appointment to his daughter. Though, it is pending on the file of the respondent. The petitioner and his sisters, his daughter is not entitle for compassionate appointment. The compassionate appointment is given only to deceased family those in poor condition due to sudden demise of the employee. Admittedly, the deceased died as bachelor. Therefore, this petitioner is a Class II legal heir of the deceased M.Antony. The petitioner and other family members were issued with Class-II legal heirship certificate. Therefore, they entitle for terminal benefits of the deceased employee. But, the petitioner's daughter is not entitle for any appointment on compassionate ground.

3. In view of the above, the respondent is directed to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner only for the retirement benefits alone of the deceased within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Insofar as seeking compassionate appointment cannot be considered.

4. With the above direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

04.03.2024 Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non Speaking Order Neutral Citation : Yes/No gvn To The Branch Manager, Punjab National Bank, (Previously Oriental Bank of Commerce), Kilpauk Branch, No.74, New Avadi Road, Kilpauk, Chennai-600 010.

G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN,J.

gvn

04.03.2024

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