Jaipur: A single-judge bench of Rajasthan High Court on Friday issued notices to the chief secretary and the director of elementary education in a case related to a govt job on compassionate grounds. Justice Sameer Jain issued notices both officers on a petition filed by Rahul Kumar, who was denied a job on compassionate grounds and sought the court's intervention. The HC asked the two officials to reply in four weeks
The petitioner's father, who was working as a grade III teacher in the elementary education department, died in an accident on April 12, 2005, said his counsel, Harendra Neel. "At the time of his father's death, the applicant was only 18 months old. The applicant's mother could not apply for a compassionate appointment since she was illiterate. The applicant completed 18 years on Sept 16, 2021, and applied for a compassionate appointment. His mother and sister also gave their consent in the application," said Neel to TOI.
The chief block education office of Bayana also recommended giving an appointment to the applicant, but the recommendation and the application were rejected by the elementary education department.
"The department said an application for compassionate appointment can be made by the dependents of deceased govt employees within 90 days of death under Rajasthan Compassionate Appointment Rules, 1996. We have argued in the HC that the department itself had given relaxation in the time limit for applying. There are hundreds of such applications where the department has granted relaxation. Under the right to equality, this applicant should also get a relaxation. The department cannot adopt a pick-and-choose policy in cases of compassionate appointment," said Neel.