M KARTHIKEYAN Vs. CHIEF ENGINEER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The relief sought for in this writ petition is for a direction to direct the respondents to appoint the writ petitioner on compassionate ground. The father of the writ petitioner was employed as an Office Assistant in the office of the Planning and Designing, Sub Division Paramakudi and passed away on 08.02.2000 while he was in service. A criminal case was registered against the mother of the writ petitioner for committing murder of the father of the writ petitioner. However, the criminal case ended with an order of acquittal. The learned counsel for the writ petitioner states that the mother of the writ petitioner initially submitted an application seeking compassionate appointment on 17.09.2000 itself. Since the mother of the writ petitioner was an accused in the criminal case under Section 302 IPC, she was unable to pursue the application for compassionate appointment.

(2.) It is brought to the notice of the Court that the mother of the writ petitioner was also murdered by her own sons and the criminal case was registered and the same also ended in acquittal. One brother of the writ petitioner committed suicide and the other is deaf and dumb. It is unfortunate circumstances to the family and it is pertinent to note that the mother of the writ petitioner who had submitted original application on 17.09.2000 and also not pursued the same and at the relevant point of time, the writ petitioner was a minor and he was not in a position to submit any application seeking compassionate appointment and thereafter submitted an application seeking compassionate appointment on 11.01.2010.

(3.) The sequences of events took place in the family in respect of several crimes cannot be considered for the purpose of providing public appointment on compassionate grounds. The Court cannot be carried away with the misplaced sympathy and the Court has to consider the legal principles settled by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in this regard. Public employment has to be provided equally to all. Equal opportunity in public employment is the constitutional mandate and the public employments are to be made only in accordance with the recruitment rules in force.