SAROJ Vs. UNION BANK OF INDIA AND ANR.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed with a prayer for a direction to the respondents to appoint the petitioner under the Dying in Harness Rules in place of her husband.

(2.) It is the case of the petitioner that her husband was working as Sweeper in the respondent-Bank and he died in harness on 3.9.1997. In the counter-affidavit the respondents have filed a copy of letter/order dated 28.8.2000 whereby the application of the petitioner for appointment on compassionate grounds had been rejected. The ground taken in the said order is that the application moved by the petitioner was after three years whereas under the scheme of the Bank for appointment on compassionate ground the period for moving such application is only one year. Learned Counsel for the respondents has also submitted that there is no provision for relaxation of the period for making an application. Even otherwise it is well-settled law that the appointment on compassionate grounds is provided to tide away the immediate financial crisis which the family of the deceased may suffer because of sudden death of the sole bread earner. If the petitioner did not find it necessary to file the application for three years after the death of her husband, the rejection of the said application cannot be said to be unjustified. In the facts and circumstances of this case, I am of the view that the petitioner is not entitled to any relief. The writ petition lacks merit and is, accordingly dismissed. Petition Dismissed.