Holding

The embargo is a valid, reasonable classification and does not contravene Article 14.

Summary

The respondent, Samir K. Sarkar, applied for a compassionate appointment after his father, an employee of the West Bengal State Electricity Board, died within two years of his scheduled superannuation. The Board rejected the application citing an office order dated 15 March 1993, which imposes an embargo on appointments when the death falls under clauses (iii) to (v) and occurs within two years of superannuation. The Calcutta High Court held that this embargo was discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, directing the Board to consider the appointment. The Board appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the embargo, finding a reasonable classification between deaths arising out of employment (clauses i and ii) and other deaths (clauses iii to v), and concluded that Article 14 was not breached. Consequently, the appeal was allowed and the High Court's order was set aside.

Issues considered

Whether the embargo in clause (a) of the West Bengal State Electricity Board Office Order dated 15.3.1993 violates Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

Legislation cited

Constitution of Indias. Article 14

Subjects

compassionate appointmentdiscriminationArticle 14reasonable classificationpublic service employmentsuperannuationWest Bengal State Electricity Board

Judgment

t'

WEST BENGAL STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD AND ORS. A
v.
SAMIR K. SARKAR

SEPTEMBER 17, 1999

[G.B. PATTANAIK AND UMESH C. BANERJEE, JJ.] B

Service Law:

Appointment on compassionate grounds-West Bengal State Electricity
Board Office order 15.3.1993-Providingfor grounds on which appointment C
can be claimed, but putting embargo on appointment in certain cases if
ground arose within two years from scheduled date of superannuation of the
employee-Held, embargo is valid-Office order cannot be said to be
discriminatory-Constitution of India-Article 14.

The respondent, on the death of his father, who was an employee under D
the appellant - Electricity Board, applied for appointment on compassionate
ground. The Board rejected the application on the ground that since the
employee died within two years of his scheduled date of superannuation, the

- respondent was not entitled to appointment. ,,'.fhe Board relied on an office
order dated 15.3.1993 regarding appointment on compassionate grounds.
The said office order provided for consideration for employment of dependant
E

of (i) employees whose death was caused due to accident arising out of and
in the course of employment, (ii) employees rendered totally disabled due to
an accident arising out of and in the course of employment; (iii) employees
dying in harness; (iv) employees reported missing and (v) employees declared
lunatic. It was further provided in Clause (a) titat where the death under F
clause (iii) or incident under clause (iv) or declaration under clause (v) took
place within two years from scheduled date of superannuation, any case for
employment would not be considered. The writ petition filed by the respondent
was dismissed by Single Judge of the High Court. But the Division Bench
held that disentitling appointment on compassionate ground only in respect G
of clauses (iii) to (v) and not in case of clauses (i) and (ii) was discriminatory
and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, and directed consideration of

- the case of respondent for appointment. Aggrieved, the Board filed the present
appeal
Allowing the appeal, the Court
. 675 H
676 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A HELD : 1. The embargo contained in ciause (a) of West Bengal State
Electricity Board Office Order dated 15.3.1993 is valid. The High Court
erred in holding that the embargo was violative of Article 14 of the
Constitution. [678-F)

1.2. Clauses (i), (ii) of the Office Order deal with death arising out of
B and in the course of employment or total disablement arising out of and in
the course of employment whereas clauses (iii) and (iv) have no relationship
with the employment. In that view of the matter, there is a reasonable
classification and consequently the embargo that no employment would be
considered when criteria under clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) are satisfied, if such
C criteria happen to be within two years from the scheduled date of retirement
on superannuation, cannot be held to be discriminatory. [678-E)

1.3. Admittedly, the death of the father of the respondent occurred
within two years preceding the date of superannuation, and, therefore, the
respondent will not be entitled to compassionate appointment under the office
D order dated 15th March, 1993. [678-D)

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 5343 of ~-
1999.

From the Judgment and Order dated 30.6.98 of the Calcutta High Court
E in M.A.T. No. 4271of1997.

V.R. Reddy, H.K. Puri, S.K. Puri, Rajesh Srivastava and Ujjwal Banerjee
for the Appellants.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
F. PATT ANAIK, J. Leave granted.

The West Bengal State Electricity Board has come in appeal against the
judgment of the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court dated 30th June
1998 in M.A. T. No. 4271 of 1997 whereunder the High Court has directed the
G appellants to consider the case of the private respondent for appointment on
compassionate grounds: The father of the said respondent, Samir Kumar·
Sarkar was an employee under the State Electricity Board and he died on 29th

-
November 1996 at the age of 56 years I 0 months and 15 days, which was
within two years from the scheduled date of his retirement on superannuation.
When the respondent applied for an empl9yment on compassionate ground,
H the Board rejected his prayer on the ground that under the Rules in question
WEST BENGALSTATEELEC. BOARDv. SAMIRK. SARKAR[ PATTANAIK, J.] 677
dealing with compassionate appointments, no appointment can be given ifthe A
-
' employee dies within two years from the scheduled date of retirement on
superannuation. The respondent, therefore, filed a writ petition and the learned
Single Judge, in view of the Rules, dismissed the same. The respondent went
in appeal in the High Court. The Division Bench of the High Court came to
the conclusion that provision disentitling appointment on compassionate
ground ifthe employee dies within two years from the date of superannuation
B
only in respect of clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) and not in case of clauses (i) and
(ii) is discriminatory and violative of Article 14. Therefore, the High Court
quashed that part of the order and directed consideration of the case of
respondent for compassionate appointment. It is not disputed that the death
...... of the father of the respondent was on account of illness and it was within c
two years from the date of superannuation.
Mr. V.R. Reddy, learned senior counsel appearing for the appellants
contended that the concept of compassionate appointment is itself a
discretionary one. There is no statutory rule governing such appointments,
conferring an enforceable right on the LRs of the deceased employee. The D
idea to give such compassionate appointment is that the children of the
employee who dies in harness may not be destitute on the road and can have
a decent living. To achieve that objective, several guidelines/criteria are fixed.

-
The reason why the embargo in question does not apply to clauses (i) and
(ii) but applies to clauses (iii), (iv) and.(v) is for an avowed purpose inasmuch
as in clause (i) and (ii), the death having occurred due to accident arising out E
of and in course of employment and total disablement due to accident in
course of employment whereas under clauses (iii), (iv) and (v), the death is
not in any way connected with the employment and, therefore, there is a
reasonable basis for the classification in question and the High Court was not
justified in coming to the conclusion that such classification is discriminatory. F
In order to appreciate the contention raised by Mr. V.R. Reddy, learned senior
counsel for the appellants, the relevant office order is quoted herein below
in extenso:
"The Board is pleased to make provision for consideration for
~--~·
employment of a dependent of deceased employee in the following
G
circumstances and subject to condition as mentioned hereunder:
(i) In case of death of an employee due to accident arising out of
... i- and in course of employment;

(iI) Employees rendered totally disabled due to an accident arising
out of and in course of employment; H
678 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A (fu) Employees dying in ha~ess;

(iv) Employees reported missing subject to observance of formalities
as prescribed by the Board;

(v) Employees declared lunatic by appropriate authority.
B No employment would however, be considered in the following
circumstances:

(a) Where the death under (iii) above or the incident under (iv) or
the declaration under (v) above takes place in the proceeding
c two years from the scheduled date of retirement on
superannuation of the concerned employees.
(b) Where a dependent of the deceased, affected employee is already
in employment of the Board irrespective of the date of securing
such employment."
D An analysis of the different clauses providing for compassionate
appointment in case of death of the employee would indicate that clauses (i),
(ii) deal with death arising out of and in course of employment or total
disablement arising .out of and in course of employment whereas clauses (iii)
and (iv) have no relationship with the employment in question. In that view
E of the matter, we find sufficient force in contention of Mr. V.R. Reddy, learned ....
senior counsel appearing for the appellants that there is a reasonable
classification and consequently the embargo that no employment would be
considered when criteria under clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) are satisfied, if such
criteria happens to be within two years from the scheduled date of retirement
on superannuation, cannot be held to be discriminatory. The High Court,
F therefore, was totally in error to hold that the embargo is violative of Article
14 of the ConstitutiOn. We, accordingly, set aside the said conclusion of the
High Court and hold that the embargo contained in clause (a) is valid. On the
admitted position that the death of the father of the respondent occurred on
29th November 1996 which is within two years preceding the date of
G superannuation, the respondent will not be entitled to a compassionate
appointment under the office order dated 15th March 1993 which deals with
the criteria for such appointment. We, therefore, set aside the impugned
judgment of the Calcutta High Court and allow this appeal. But as there is
no appearance on behalf of the respondent, there will be no order as to costs.

H RP. Appeal allowed.