SC stand on delay in making job claim on compassionate grounds

One-liner: Any delay in seeking compassionate appointment militates against such a claim as the objective to provide immediate amelioration to the family of a deceased govt employee stands extinguished by then, the Supreme Court has said.

Verdicts set aside: A bench set aside the concurring verdicts of the Orissa HC and the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to provide job on compassionate grounds to the son of a deceased Steel Authority of India (SAIL) employee, citing the delay in making the claim.

• SAIL was asked by the CAT, whose 2019 judgment was upheld by the HC, to provide a compassionate appointment to the second son of its deceased employee, who had approached the HC seeking the job in 1996.
• Interestingly, prior to the second son, the first son of the deceased employee had also approached the SAIL for compassionate appointment in 1977 when his father died and his plea was rejected as per the policy prevalent then

18-year delay: Despite the above fact, the second time the application was filed was in the year 1996 now to appoint the second son, which was after a period of 18 years. 

• The tribunal still directed the appellant to re-consider the case and to appoint the second son on compassionate grounds, which has been confirmed by the HC by the impugned judgment and order.
• Setting aside the verdicts of the HC and the tribunal, the judgment said that the man was not entitled to appointment on compassionate grounds on reasons of delay.

Source: PTI