IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 04-02-2010
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JAICHANDREN
W.P.No.5433 of 2006
P.Chitra .. Petitioner.
Versus
1.The Chief Engineer,
Tamilnadu Electricity Board,
No.800, Anna Salai,
Mount Road, Chennai-600 002.
2.Superintending Engineer,
Coimbatore Electricity Distribution
Circle/South,
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board,
Coimbatore-12. .. Respondents.
Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to appoint the petitioner in any one of the posts on compassionate ground which the petitioner was qualified to be appointed.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.Ganesan
For Respondents : Mr.M.Vaidyanathan
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner praying for a Writ of Mandamus to provide her, with an appointment on compassionate ground.
2. The petitioner has stated that her late husband, Perumal, had been appointed, as a Lineman in the Tamilnadu Electricity Board, in the year, 1985. While so, he had died in harness, on 15.5.2002, while he was in service, due to an accident. Thereafter, the petitioner had approached the second respondent for appointment on compassionate ground, on 14.5.2004. However, the second respondent had rejected the request of the petitioner, by an order, dated 9.8.2004, for the reason that she had not passed 8th standard.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner had submitted that even if the petitioner is not qualified for being appointed in any one of the higher posts, as alleged by the second respondent, in his impugned order, dated 9.8.2004, the petitioner could be appointed, as an Office Assistant or a Sweeper for which post, it would be sufficient if the petitioner knows to read and write.
4. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents had submitted that an appointment on compassionate ground can be made only for Class III posts, for which the minimum qualification is a pass in 8th standard. Since the petitioner does not possess such a qualification she is not eligible for being appointed on compassionate ground.
5. In view of the submissions made by the learned counsels appearing on behalf of the parties concerned and on a perusal of the records available, this Court is of the considered view that the petitioner is not entitled to be appointed on compassionate ground, as she does not possess the required qualification for such appointment. Since an appointment on compassionate ground can only be made in Class III posts, as per the available Scheme for such appointments and as the basic qualification prescribed for such appointments is a pass in 8th standard, the petitioner is not entitled to claim that she should atleast be appointed, either as an Office Assistant, or as a Sweeper.
6. Further, in view of the various decisions of the Courts of law, it is clear that an appointment on compassionate ground cannot be claimed, as a matter of right and that it is an exception to the regular rules of recruitment. The views expressed by the Courts of law could be of relevance in deciding the present case. The following are some of the recent decisions relating to appointment on compassionate ground:
6.1. In State Bank of India and another Vs. Somvir Singh (2007 (4) SCC 778), the Supreme Court had held that appointment on compassionate grounds is an exception carved out to the general rule that recruitment to public services is to be made in a transparent and accountable manner, providing opportunity to all eligible persons to compete and participate in the selection process. Such appointments are required to be made on the basis of open invitation of applications and merit. Dependants of employees who had died in harness do not have any special or additional claim to public services other than the one conferred, if any, by the employer. The claim for compassionate appointment and the right, if any, is traceable only to the scheme, executive instructions, rules, etc. framed by the employer in the matter of providing employment on compassionate grounds. There is no right of whatsoever nature to claim compassionate appointment on any ground other than the one, if any, conferred by the employer by way of a scheme or instructions, as the case may be.
6.2. In I.G.(Karmik) and others Vs. Prahalad Mani Tripathi (2007(6) SCC 162), the Supreme Court had held that compassionate appointment must be in consonance with the Constitutional scheme of equality enshrined in Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.
6.3. In Union Bank of India and others Vs. M.T.Latheesh (2006(7) SCC 350), the Supreme Court had held that grant of employment on compassionate grounds in all cases, would shut the door for employment to the increasing number of unemployed youth.
6.4. In Mohan Mahto Vs. Central Coal Field Ltd., and others (2007(8) SCC 549), the Supreme Court had recognised the fact that appointment on compassionate grounds are an exception to Article 16(1) of the Constitution of India.
6.5. In State Bank of India and others Vs. Jaspal Kaur (2007(9) SCC 571), the Supreme Court had held that a major criterion while appointing a person on compassionate grounds should be the financial condition of the family of the deceased person. The appointment under the scheme of compassionate appointment is at the discretion of the authority concerned. The discretion is to be exercised keeping in view the scheme and the object and the rationale behind it. However, it cannot be claimed as a matter of right.
6.6. In Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, Musheerabad and others Vs. Sarvarunnisa Begum (2008 (3) SCC 402) the Supreme Court, quoting with approval the decision made in Umesh Kumar Nagpal V. State of Haryana (1994 (4) SCC 138), had held that it has been time and again held that compassionate appointments would be given to the dependants of the deceased who had died in harness, to get over the difficulties on the death of the bread earner and that it cannot be claimed as a matter of right.
6.7. “In H.Anwar Basha Vs. The Registrar General, Madras High Court (2008 (3) CTC 785), a Division Bench of this Court had held that the object of compassionate appointment is to mitigate the sufferings of the bereaved family of the Government servant who had died in harness leaving his family in indigent circumstances.
7. From the above decisions, it is clear that compassionate appointments are made in order to help the family in distress, due to the sudden death of its bread winner. However, such appointments are not to be made, as a matter of course, without verification of the relevant circumstances existing in the family of the deceased employee. Nor can it be made, without following the rules and regulations applicable to such employment. Further, employment on the compassionate ground cannot be claimed, as a matter of right, since, such appointments are an exception to the usual procedures followed in making regular appointments. In such circumstances, the writ petition is liable to be dismissed, as devoid of merits. Hence, it stands dismissed. No costs.
Index:Yes/No 04-02-2010 Internet:Yes/No csh M.JAICHANDREN,J. csh To 1.The Chief Engineer, Tamilnadu Electricity Board, No.800, Anna Salai, Mount Road, Chennai-600 002. 2.Superintending Engineer, Coimbatore Electricity Distribution Circle/South, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Coimbatore-12. W.P.No.5433 of 2006 04-02-2010