Jawan`s wife moves HC for job on compassionate ground

Chennai: A widow of an army jawan, who died due to illness while in service in 2004, has knocked at the doors of the Madras High Court for relief after her plea for a government job on compassionate ground was rejected by Mettur Municipality in Tamil Nadu. When the petition by M Mary Metilda of Salem District came up for hearing, Justice S Nagamuthu directed the state Chief Secretary to submit a report on whether the government had any scheme for providing employment for dependents of members of armed forces who died in service. "This court is not informed as to whether there is any scheme available with the government of Tamil Nadu to provide employment for the dependents of the members of armed forces who lost their lives while in service befitting their educational qualification. Since it involves a policy of the government, this court wants to know the stand of the government in this regard,? the Judge said. Passing the interim order on the petition seeking a direction to appoint her as a Revenue Assistant in the Mettur Municipality, the Judge posted the matter for further hearing on June 23. According to the petitioner, her husband Mariyaluis died due to illness on December 19, 2004 after serving the army as a soldier for 14 years, leaving behind his daughter, his aged parents and herself. She made an application to the Salem District Collector on April 25, 2006 seeking an employment on compassionate ground which was registered in the special register for legal heirs of deceased military soldiers. When her name, along with six others, was sponsored by the Collector for appointment to fill four vacancies of Revenue Assistants in 2013, the Commissioner and Engineer of Mettur Municipality rejected it saying compassionate appointment can be given only in the place where the employee died while in service. The petitioner stated the government (Labour) department had passed various orders directing the authorities concern to provide a compassionate appointment where the place of the family of the deceased employee was located.

She alleged the Commissioner and Engineer, by citing the "lame" reason, were taking all steps to fill the four vacancies through the backdoor. She sought an interim direction to keep one post vacant pending disposal of her petition.