The Supreme Court held that compassionate appointments are governed by the rules in force at the time of application, not the date of the employee's death.
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court clarified that the eligibility for compassionate appointment is determined by the rules prevailing at the time the application is filed, not at the date of the employee's death. The Court emphasized that the relevant date for assessing compliance is when the claim is formally made to the concerned authority.
The decision resolves conflicting practices across departments where some administrations applied rules retrospectively to the date of death. The Court observed that administrative policies governing compassionate appointments are designed to respond to the immediate aftermath of loss and must be assessed based on the legal framework in place when relief is sought.
This clarification provides greater certainty to families of deceased employees and ensures uniform application of rules across government and public sector entities. It also underscores the importance of timely applications to avoid changes in eligibility due to policy amendments.