Administrative authorities are directed to provide compassionate appointments when applications are delayed for over a decade due to official inaction, justifying the relaxation of strict time-limit rules to achieve the remedial purpose of the scheme.

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed for the following reliefs:-

“directing the 1st respondent to consider the representation of the petitioners letter dated 27.1.2026 and consequently allot compassionate appointment to the petitioner in accordance with the seniority list in the compassionate appointment grounds candidates list, without affecting or disturbing the existing seniority of the candidates in the said list, within a time frame.”

Brief Facts:-

2. The petitioner is the son and one of the legal heirs of Late Swaminathan, who died in harness on 03.11.2008 while serving under the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Villupuram) Limited. After his death, the family was left in severe financial hardship. On 09.01.2009, a Legal Heirship Certificate dated was issued recognising the petitioner and other family members as the legal heirs of the deceased employee Swaminathan.

3. Immediately after the employee's death, the petitioner's mother, Tmt.

S.Shankari, had submitted an application seeking compassionate appointment in the year 2009. At that point in time the petitioner was a minor.

4. As the petitioner's mother had become overaged and her application for compassionate appointment had remained pending without any valid reason for more than a decade, the petitioner had submitted a representation dated 06.07.2020 seeking compassionate appointment in his favour. However, the said request was rejected on the ground that his mother's name was already included in the compassionate appointment records.

5. Thereafter, the petitioner's mother had executed a consent letter dated

20.01.2021 relinquishing her claim and authorising the petitioner to be considered in her place. Accepting the substitution, the respondents, by proceedings dated 11.10.2022, included the petitioner's name in the compassionate appointment seniority list and assigned Seniority No.137.

6. Subsequently, the respondents had issued proceedings dated

07.10.2025 calling upon the petitioner for certificate verification and interview on 10.10.2025. The petitioner had attended the verification, produced all requisite documents and complied with all requirements. However, no appointment order was issued thereafter. Therefore, the petitioner had once again submitted a representation dated 27.01.2026 requesting issuance of appointment order based on his seniority. Despite the same, the respondents have not passed any orders. Aggrieved by the prolonged inaction of the respondents, the petitioner has approached this Court seeking the relief stated supra.

7. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the records.

8. A perusal of the records would clearly show that the petitioner's father had passed away on 03.11.2008 and the petitioner's mother had within a few months submitted an application seeking compassionate appointment. The petitioner was aged about 12 years at the time of death of his father. The application given by the petitioner's mother was kept pending without any genuine reason from 2009 till 2021. Thereafter, by letter dated 20.01.2021, the petitioner’s mother had requested that the appointment be given in favour of the petitioner, her son since she had become overaged. By letter dated 11.10.2022, the 1^st respondent had accepted the request made by the petitioner's mother and included the petitioner's name in the seniority list for compassionate appointment, assigning him Seniority No. 137. On 10.10.2025, pursuant to the proceedings of the respondents dated 07.10.2025, the petitioner had attended the certificate verification and submitted all the required documents. Therefore, it is evident that the petitioner's request has been processed.

9. The learned counsel for the respondents would submit that the request for substitution of the applicant seeking compassionate appointment cannot be considered, as it was made beyond the period of one