POONGODI Vs. CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner's father was employed as a Messenger in the respondent bank, at Tiruvannamalai Branch. After serving for a period of 17 years, the petitioner's father died while in service, on 28.09.2000. At the time of the petitioner's father's demise, the petitioner's mother was 50 years old, the petitioner was 20 years and her younger sister was aged about 16 years. Since the family was robbed off the only bread winner due to sudden death of the petitioner's father, the family was placed in an indigent circumstance and was not able to make both ends meet.

(2.) In these circumstances, an application was made on 14.02.2001, seeking for appointment on compassionate ground. The appointment was sought against a Clerical Assistant in the respondent Bank under the then prevalent Scheme. At that time, when the application was submitted on 14.02.2001, all necessary documents like legal heir certificate, death certificate and other relevant particulars were enclosed for consideration of the bank. Thereafter, the petitioner was directed to wait till a final decision was taken by the bank.

(3.) According to the petitioner, in pursuance of her application made in 2001, she has been repeatedly visiting the office of the respondent bank at Thiruvannamalai Branch and every time when the family members approached the bank, they were informed that correspondences were going on between the officials of the bank and as soon as a decision is taken, the same will be communicated to them. In the said circumstances, the petitioner was awaiting a favourable decision from the bank, as according to the petitioner, the family fulfilled the criteria for consideration for compassionate appointment.