State of
Harayana & Anr Vs. Dhan Singh [1995] INSC
775 (4 December 1995)
Ramaswamy,
K. Ramaswamy, K. Paripoornan, K.S.(J)
CITATION:
1996 SCC (7) 262 1996 SCALE (1)605
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
O R D
E R
Leave
granted.
We
have heard learned counsel on both sides. The question is whether the brother
of the deceased employee who died in harness is eligible for employment on
compassionate grounds. The High Court of Punjab and Haryana by order dated December 30, 1993 in C.W.P. No.8419/93 directed
appointment of the brother of the deceased employee. Feeling aggrieved, the
State has come up in appeal.
The
only question is whether the brother is a dependent of the deceased employee
who died in harness. By proceedings dated October 31, 1985, the Government had stated that the
underlying idea to introduce the scheme was to help the bereaved family of a
deceased employee immediately by way of providing employment to one dependent
of the deceased Government employee in addition to ex-gratia payment etc.
The
Government in an earlier Circular dated 9th March, 1979 had stated that the Government took
the decision that the family members of the employee, who died while in service
or retired due to disability, would be given the facility of employment.
Accordingly directions were given. The word 'family' has been defined under
Rule 6.16-B (a) of the Punjab Civil Services Rules, Vol. III applicable to the
Government of Haryana which reads thus:
"6.16-B.
(1) For the purpose of this rule:- [a]"family" shall include the
following relatives of the Officer-
(i)
Wife, in case of male officer;
(ii)
Husband, in case of female officer;
(iii)Sons;
[including stepchildren and adopted Children]
(iv) unmarried
and widowed daughters; [including step-children and adopted children]
(v) brothers
below the age of 187 years and unmarried and widowed sisters, including
step-brothers and sisters;
(vi)
Father; [including adoptive parents in case of
(vii)
Mother; individuals whose personal law permits adoptional
(viii)
married daughters; and
(ix)
Children of a pre-deceased son.
A
reading of this Rule would clearly indicate that for the purpose of the above
rules 'family' includes the wife, in the case of male officer,husband, in the
case of a female officer, sons, unmarried and widowed daughters [including step
children and adopted children, brothers below the age of 18 years and unmarried
and widowed sisters [including step-brothers and sisters, father, mother
[including adoptive parents in case of individuals whose personal law permits
adoption], married daughters and children of a pre- deceased son. It would thus
be seen that in the case of a brother, he will he a member of the family as
dependent if he is below 18 years. If he seeks employment under the rules, he
cannot be appointed if he is below 18 years and has not become major. The
moment he crosses 18 years, he no longer remains to be the dependent member cf
the family of the deceased Government employee.
Shri Prem
Malhotra, learned counsel appearing for the respondent has stated that
previously they had appointed the brother of the deceased employee and,therefore,
the Government is stopped by contending that the brother is not a dependent of
the deceased Government employee. It might be that some Department had wrongly
given the benefit but such wrong action cannot become right, in the face of
specifically unambiguous language in which the rules are couched. Under these
circumstances, the High Court was not right in giving direction to appoint the
brother of the deceased on compassionate grounds.
The
appeal is allowed accordingly. If the widow of respondent's brother is eligible
for employment, it would be open to her to make an application and the
Department is directed to consider her application according to the rules.
No
costs.
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