P.D. Dinakaran, J.

Refusal of compassionate appointment to the respondent/writ petitioner by the appellant, namely the Superintending Engineer, Madurai Electricity Distribution Circle, Madurai, in his proceedings dated 03.06.2005, has been drawn for our consideration, as an issue, in the above appeal. For the purpose of convenience, the parties are described as arrayed in the writ petition.

2.1.The writ petitioners husband died on 05.10.1999 while he was discharging his duty as a Helper in the respondent Electricity Board. She applied for appointment on compassionate ground 15.11.2000, but the same was rejected on the ground that she did not possess the minimum educational qualification, namely a pass in 8th standard. The hapless widow/the writ petitioner again applied for employment on compassionate ground, but her request was turned down once again on the same ground by the proceedings of the respondent dated 07.03.2002. The writ petitioner therefore passed 8th standard examination on private studies in December, 2004 and again applied for appointment on compassionate ground. But, the respondent, by his proceedings dated 03.06.2005, rejected the request of the writ pe