SHUBHNEET KAUR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner seeks appointment on compassionate grounds in view of the death of Surinder Singh, who is stated to have adopted the petitioner. It is not disputed that Surinder Singh died on 01.09.1993. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner, on attaining the age of majority and after completing her graduation in Engineering, applied for the job on compassionate grounds as per the representation dated 11.05.2015 (Annexure P-6). As per the affidavit filed, it is not disputed that the petitioner has done B.Tech (Electronics) and is over 21 years old. The respondents offered her solatium of Rs.3,00,000/- vide cheque dated 07.04.2015, due to which, she has approached this Court saying that she is not interested in the amount but only interested in the job.

(2.) The said right of appointment on compassionate grounds after such a long period has been frowned upon by the Apex Court in Umesh Kumar Nagpal vs. State of Haryana, 1994 AIR(SCW) 2305, in which, it has been held that the compassionate appointment is not another source of recruitment to the exclusion of others who are entitled. The relevant observations read thus:-

(3.) In Haryana State Electricity Board v. Naresh Tanwar and Another, 1996 8 SCC 23, the direction to appoint on compassionate ground, issued by this Court, was set aside by noting that the the purpose of compassionate appointment was an exception and the consideration for such appointment could not be kept pending for years. Relevant observations read as under: