Uttar Pradesh adds married daughters in dependents’ list for government jobs

LUCKNOW: Married daughters of government officials, who die during their service period, would also be eligible to get a government job under deceased dependent quota.
In a significant development, the state cabinet headed by CM Yogi Adityanath has green- flagged the proposal to include “married daughters” in the category of dependents of deceased government officials to be given a government job on compassionate grounds. The move could potentially lend a renewed traction to BJP's campaign vis-a-vis women empowerment ahead of the UP polls due early next year.
The state cabinet cleared the proposal to this effect through a by-circulation late Wednesday night. Until now, only the wife, a married/unmarried son and unmarried daughter were bracketed as dependents of a deceased government official.
The cabinet broadened the definition of "dependent daughters" to include the married ones also, officials said. A senior official, however, said that the married daughter will be lower down the order after the deceased's wife, married/unmarried son and unmarried daughter. "She may also get the job if other family members refuse to take up a government job," an official said.
The proposal was moved as the 12th amendment in the deceased government servants rule 2021. Earlier this year, the Allahabad high court had maintained that excluding married daughters from the definition of “family” in the rules for appointment on compassionate grounds was “unconstitutional” and in violation of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. While hearing a petition in January, the high court held that a married daughter was “no less eligible” for government jobs on compassionate grounds than her married brother or unmarried sister.
The court was hearing a petition by one Manjul Srivastava, who had challenged a June 2020 order of Prayagraj’s district basic education officer, rejecting her claim to the appointment on compassionate grounds following her father's death during his service to the state government. The state cabinet also approved the `Matrbhoomi Scheme’ allowing people, who have settled in bigger cities/abroad to contribute to the development of their native village. If a person is willing to bear 60% cost, government will contribute remaining 40%.