ROHINI V Vs. REGIONAL MANAGER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is stated to be the daughter of Sri.K.Viswanathan, who unfortunately died in harness as an Administrative Officer while in the service of the New India Assurance Company - the 2nd respondent herein. She says that upon the sudden demise of her father, who was only 51 years, she, her mother and sister survived him.

(2.) The petitioner says that she has a congenital hearing impairment of more than 90%, as is evident from Ext.P1; and that her family, at the time of unfortunate demise of her father, was plunged into extreme financial crisis and distress. She says that she, therefore, has preferred Exts.P5 and P6 representations before the competent Authority of the Insurance Company seeking that she be granted an employment under the Compassionate Appointment Scheme; or in the alternative, that they pay her the eligible amount as lumpsum monetary compensation in lieu of it. The petitioner, therefore, prays that the same be directed to be disposed of at the earliest.

(3.) The learned Senior Counsel, Sri.George Thomas Mevada, instructed by Sri.Amal George Mevada, learned counsel for the petitioner, added to the above submissions by saying that even though the petitioner's mother was employed in the LIC as an Assistant Administrative Officer at the time when her father died, she is suffering from debilitating diseases and that she has virtually become physically handicapped, thus being unable to take care of the family. He points out that the petitioner's mother went through complicated surgeries for removal of Thymus Gland and that the tenuous health of her mother has imposed additional pressure on the family, both emotionally and financially. He contends that, therefore, the mere factum of the petitioner's mother having been already employed with the LIC would not take away the petitioner's entitlement to be appointed under the Compassionate Appointment Scheme or to be granted a lumpsum compensation.