Bench dismisses plea for compassionate appointment

MADURAI: Dismissing the plea for compassionate appointment by the son of an Office Assistant in Tuticorin district, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High court has said such appointments were not automatic.

Justice K Chandru said the Petitioner's elder brother was employed as an Engineer in Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals and fertilisers. His sister was married and living seperately. So the question of granting compassionate employment to such a well settled family did not arise.

The compassionate scheme was an exception to Art 14, (Equality before law) and 16 (Equality of opportunities in matters of Public employment of the constitution and it is not a new source of recruitment, he said.

The Tuticorin District administration was correct in refusing the petitioner appointment on compassionate grounds stating that his elder brother was employed, he said.

The government had considered all the relevant facts applicable to the case and declined to grant compassionate appointment to the petitioner. Under the circumstances, there was no power vested on this court to direct the respondents to appoint the petitioner on compassionate ground and 'de hors' the scheme, he said