Holding

Compassionate appointments are limited to the immediate hardship of the deceased employee's dependents and must be to posts for which the candidate satisfies the eligibility criteria; acceptance of a lower post estops any claim to a higher post.

Summary

The son of a constable who died in harness applied for a compassionate appointment as a constable but was found ineligible on physical standards and was appointed as a peon, which he accepted without objection. He later sought to be absorbed in a higher Class III post, and the Uttar Pradesh Service Tribunal directed such appointment, counting his peon service for pension, a decision upheld by the High Court. The State appealed, arguing that acceptance of the peon post estopped the claim to a higher post and that appointments must follow eligibility criteria. The Supreme Court held that compassionate appointments are an exception to the constitutional equality mandate and must be confined to the immediate hardship of the deceased employee's dependents, limited to posts for which the candidate is qualified. Since the respondent accepted a lower post and did not meet the physical fitness requirement for a constable, the Tribunal and High Court orders were set aside, and the appeal was allowed.

Issues considered

Whether a compassionate appointment can be upgraded to a higher post after the beneficiary has accepted a lower post.
Whether acceptance of a lower post estops the claimant from seeking a higher post under the die‑in‑harness scheme.
Whether the appointment must conform to Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution and the eligibility criteria prescribed in the service rules.

Subjects

compassionate appointmentdie‑in‑harnessArticles 14Articles 16estoppelpublic service recruitmentUttar Pradesh Policephysical fitness eligibilityclass III post

Judgment

A LG. (KARMIK) AND ORS.
\-
v.
PRAHALAD MANI TRIPATHI

APRIL 27, 2007

B (S.B. SINHA ANDMARKANDEY KATJU, JJ.]

Service Law:
>
4

Compassionate appointment-Incumbent accepting appointment as peon
c without any demur-Later contending that he was entitled for appointment
on a higher post-Tribunal directing the authority to appoint him in Class-
Ill post-Affirmed by High Court-On appeal, Held: All appointments must
confirm to the constitutional scheme of equality as adumbrated under Articles
14 and 16 of the Constitution-Supreme Court, however, carved out an
D exception in favour of the children or other relatives of the Officer who dies
or have become incapacitated while serving in Police department-Exception
so carved out must be strictly complied with-Appointment on compassionate
ground given only for meeting the immediate hardship faced by the family
by reason of the death of the bread-earner-It should be kept confined only
to the purpose it seeks to achieve-Appellant accepted appointment in a
E lower post without any demur whatsoever, later he could not have been
permitted to contend that he was entitled for a higher post although not
eligible therefor-Constitution of India, 1950-Articles 14 and 16.

Respondent's father was constable in Uttar Pradesh Police Service. He
died in harness. Respondent was considered for appointment on compassionate
F ground as a Constable by the authorities but he was not found eligible therefore
having not satisfied the physical standard stipulated under the rules. He was
' -
appointed as a Peon. He accepted the said appointment without any demur
whatsoever. He, however filed an application before the Uttar Pradesh Service
Tribunal praying for his absorption in the post of.. Constable (M) with
G consequential benefits from the date of his initial appointment. The Tribunal
directed the appellant to appoint him in Class III posts with a further direction
that the services rendered by him to the post of ordinary Peon be counted
., _
towards his pensionary benefits in the class III posts. A Writ Petition filed
before the High Court questioning the correctness of the order was dismissed

H 978
LG. (KARMIK) v. PRAHALAD MANI TRIPATHI 979
by it. Hence the present appeal. A
->
Appellant-employer contended that the Order of the Tribunal and
consequently that of the High Court suffers from a manifest error in so far
as they failed to take into consideration that he respondent having accepted
the post of a Peon, was estopped from claiming a higher post after a period of
five years; and that the rules provided for appointment only to a post for which B
the candidate possessed the academic and other qualifications.

Respondent-employee submitted that in the facts and circumstances of
-.- this case, this Court should not exercise its discretionary jurisdiction under
""' Article 136 of the Constitution oflndia as not only a prayer was made by the
respondent for his appointment to a post which was commensurate with the c
academic qualifications he possessed, and the Superint~ndent of Police
recommended therefore, but having regard to his alleged deficiencies in
physical fitness only, the Police Headquarters directed his appointment only
as a peon.
D
Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD: 1.1. In the matter of appointment, the State is obligated to give
~ effect to the constitutional scheme of equality as adumbrated under Articles
14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. All appointments, therefore, must
conform to the said constitutional scheme. This Court, however, while laying E
emphasis on the said proposition carved out an exception in favour of the
children or other relatives of the officer who dies or who becomes incapacitated
while rendering services in the police department. [Para 6) [982-A, BJ

Yogender Pal Singh and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors., A.LR. (1987)
SC 1015, relied on . F
.'
1.2. Public employment is considered to be a wealth. It in terms of the
constitutional scheme cannot be given on descent. When such an exception
has been carved out by this Court, the same must be strictly complied with.
Appointment on compassionate ground is given only for meeting the immediate
hardship which is faced by the family by reason of the death of the bread earner. G
._,, When an appointment is made on compassionate ground, it should be kept
confined only to the purpose it seeks to achieve, the idea being not to provide
for endless compassion. Respondent, thus, could be offered an appointment
only to the post for which he was suitable. (Para 7) (982-C, D; 984-A)
H
980 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 5 S.C.R.

A National Institute of Technology & Ors. v. Niraj Kumar Singh, 12007) 2
SCALE 525; State of Rajasthan v. Umrao Singh, (1994) 6 SCC 560; State of \:' -
Haryana and Anr. v. Ankur Gupta, [2003[ 7 SCC 704 and Food Corporation
of India & Anr. v. Ram Kesh Yadav & Anr., JT (2007) 4 SC 1, relied on.

Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals ltd. v. Devki Devi and Ors., 12006] 5
B SCC 523 and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Ors. v. Sajal Kumar Roy
and Ors., [2006[ 8 SCC 671, referred to.

1.3. Appellant accepted the post of Peon without any demur whatsoever.
He, therefore, upon obtaining appointment in a lower post could not have been >. ~
permitted to turn round and contend that he was entitled for a higher post
C although not eligible therefor. A person cannot be appointed unless he fulfils
the eligibility criteria. Physical fitness being an essential eligibility criteria,
the Superintendent of Police could not have made any recommendation in
violation of the rules. Nothing has been shown before this Court that even the
petitioner came within the purview of any provisions containing grant of
D relaxation of such qualification. Whenever, a person invokes such a provision,
it would be for him to show that the authority is vested with such a power.
[Para 13) [984-A, B, CJ

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 2208 of2007.

E From the final Judgment and Order dated 27 .11.2002 of the High Court
of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, Lucknow in Writ Petition No.
1650 (SB) of2002.

Arvind Vanna, Malvika Trivedi, Kamlendra Mishra and Anuvrat Shanna
for the Appellants.
F
Anoop Kumar Srivastava and Rameshwar Prasad Goyal for the ( .
Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

G S.B. SINHA, J. I. Leave granted.

2. Respondent's father Shri Nannadeshwar Mani Tripathi was a constable.
He was in Uttar Pradesh Police Service. He died in harness on 2.1.1986. Grant
of appointment to a dependant of an employee who died in harness is
governed by statutory rules, in terms whereof the respondent filed an
H application for his appointment. He disclosed his academic qualification therein.
LG. (KARMIK) v. PRAHALAD MANI TRIPATHI [S.B. SINHA, J.] 981
- 'j He was considered for appointment as a Constable. He was not found eligible A
therefor having not satisfied the physical standard stipulated under the rules.
He was appointed as a Peon. He accepted the said appointment without any
demur whatsoever. He, however filed an application before the Uttar Pradesh
Services Tribunal, Lucknow praying for his absorption in the post of Constable
(M) with consequential benefits from the date of his initial appointment. By
reason of a Judgment and Order dated 24.7.2000, the Tribunal arrived at a B
finding that although, ordinarily, rule of estoppel apply in a case of this
.. .(
nature, having regard to the representations made by him before the authorities
in the instant case, the same should not be applied. It directed the appellant
to appoint him in Class III posts with a further direction that the services
rendered by him in the post of ordinary Peon be counted towards his c
pensionary benefits in the class III posts.

3. A Writ Petition was filed before the High Court questioning the
cofrectness of said order. By reason of the impugned judgment dated
27 .11.2002, the High Court declined to interfere therewith despite observing;
D
"A word of caution, is put on record that the right to claim appointment
under the dying in harness rules on compassionate ground can be
i neither used as a devise to seek employment nor it is a new mode of
recruitment in Government service nor can be treated as a channel of
promotion to higher post. The impugned order has been passed on
the basis of facts of the present case." E

4. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant would submit
that the Order of the Tribunal and consequently that of the High Court suffers
from a manifest error in so far as they failed to take into consideration;

-" (i) Respondent having accepted the post of a Peon, was estopped
from claiming a higher post after a period of five years.
F

(ii) The rules provided for appointment only to a post for which the
candidate possessed the academic and other qualifications.

5. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent, on the G
__, other hand, would submit that in the facts and circumstances of this case, this
Court should not exercise its discretionary jurisdiction under Article 136 of
the Constitution of India as not only a prayer was m_ade by the respondent
for his appointment to a post which was commensurate with the academic
qualifications he possessed, and the Superintendent of Police recommended
therefor, but having regard to his alleged deficiencies in physical fitness only, H
982 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007) 5 S.C.R.

A the Police Headquarters directed his appointment only as a peon. \' -
6. An employee of a State enjoys a status. Recruitment of employees
of the State is governed by the rules framed under a statute or the proviso
appended to Article 309 of the Constitution of India. In the matter of
appointment, the State is obligated to give effect to the constitutional scheme
B of equality as adumbrated under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of
India. All appointments, therefore, must conform to the said constitutional
scheme. This Court, however, while laying emphasis on the said proposition
~

carved out an exception in favour of the children or other relatives of the j
officer who dies or who becomes incapacitated while rendering services in the
c police department. See Yogender Pal Singh and Ors. v. Union of India and
Ors., A.LR. (1987) SC 1015].

7. Public employment is considered to be a wealth. It in terms of the
constitutional scheme cannot be given on descent. When such an exception
has been carved out by this Court, the same must be strictly complied with.
D Appointment on compassionate ground is given only for meeting the immediate
hardship which is faced by the family by reason of the death of the bread
earner. When an appointment is made on compassionate ground, it should be
kept confined only to the purpose it seeks to achieve, the idea being not to r
provide for endless compassion.

E 8. In National Institute of Technology & Ors. v. Niraj Kumar Singh,
(2007) 2 SCALE 525, this Court has stated the law in the following terms:-

"16. All public appointments must be in consonance with Article 16
of the Constitution of India. Exceptions carved out therefore are the
cases where appointments are to be given to the widow or the
F dependent children of the employee who died in harness. Such an ., -
exception is carved out with a view to see that the family of the
deceased employee who has died in harness does not become a
destitute. No appointment, therefore, on compassionate ground can
be granted to a person other than those for whose benefit the exception
G has been carved out. Other family members of the deceased employee
would not derive any benefit thereunder." ..,_
9. In State of Rajasthan v. Umrao Singh, (1994] 6 SCC 560, this Court
has categorically stated that once the right is consummated, any further or
second consideration for higher post on the ground of compassion would not
H arise.
l.G. (KARMIK) v. PRAHALAD MANI TRIPATHI [S.B. SINHA. 1 .) 983
, >' 10. Again in State of Haryana and Anr. v. Ankur Gupta, [2003] 7 SCC A
704, this Court held;

"6. As was observed in State of Haryana v. Rani Devi it need not be
pointed out that the claim of the person concerned for appointment
on compassionate ground is based on the premise that he was
dependent on the deceased employee. Strictly, this claim cannot be B
upheld on the touchstone of Article 14 or 16 of the Constitution of
India. However, such claim is considered as reasonable and permissible
on the basis of sudden crisis occurring in the family of such employee
who has served the State and dies while in service. That is why it is
necessary for the authorities to frame rules, regulations or to issue C
such administrative orders which can stand the test of Articles 14 and
16. Appointment on compassionate ground cannot be claimed as a
matter of right. Die-in-Harness Sch~me cannot be made applicable to
all types of posts irrespective of the nature of service rendered by the
deceased employee. In Rani Devi case it was held that the scheme
regarding appointment on compassionate ground if extended to all D
types of casual or ad hoc employees including those who worked as
apprentices cannot be justified on constitutional grounds. In LIC of
India v. Asha Ramchhandra Ambekar it was pointed out that the
High Courts and Administrative Tribunals cannot confer benediction
impelled by sympathetic considerations to make appointments on E
compassionate grounds when the regulations framed in respect thereof
do not cover and contemplate such appointments. It was noted in
Umesh Kumar Nagpal v. State of Haryana that as a rule, in public
service appointments should be made strictly on the basis of open
invitation of app Iications and merit. The appointment on compassionate
ground is not another source of recruitment but merely an exception F
to the aforesaid requirement taking into consideration the fact of the
death of the employee while in service leaving his family without any
means of livelihood. In such cases the object is to enable the family
to get over sudden financial crisis. But such appointments on
compassionate ground have to be made in accordance with the rules,
regulations or administrative instructions taking into consideration G
the financial condition of the family of the deceased."

11. See also Food Corporation of India & Anr. v Ram Kesh Yadav &
Anr., JT (2007) 4 SC I].
H
984 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 5 S.C.R.

A 12. Respondent, thus, could be offered an appointment only to the post
for which he was suitable.

13. Furthermore, Appellant accepted the said post without any demur
whatsoever. He, therefore, upon obtaining appointment in a lower post could
not have been permitted to tum round and contend that he was entitled for
B a higher post although not eligible therefor. A person cannot be appointed
unless he fulfils the eligibility criteria. Physical fitness being an essential
eligibility criteria, the Superintendent of Police could not have made any
recommendation in violation of the rules. Nothing has been shown before us >- ,
that even the petitioner came within the purview of any provisions containing
C grant of relaxation of such qualification. Whenever, a person invokes such a
provision, it would be for him to show that the authority is vested with such
a power.

14. The pre-requisite for' making such a appointment by granting
relaxation has been laid down by this Court in Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
D Ltd. v. Devki Devi and Ors., (2006] 5 SCC 523. [See also Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan and Ors. v. Sajal Kumar Roy and Ors., (2006] 8 SCC 671].

15. For the reasons aforementioned, the impugned judgment cannot be
sustained. It is set aside accordingly. The Appeal is allowed. In the facts and
circumstances of this case, however, there shall be no order as to costs.
E
S.K.S. Appeal allowed.

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