Karnataka High Court orders fresh look at compassionate-appointment case where widow exceeded cut-off age
The woman’s counsel states in the Karnataka HC that the cut-off age defeats the very objective of a compassionate-grounds appointment, since it means that one has to become a widow before 43 to avail of it.
The bench also noted that the state had opposed the bail in the trial court while also declaring monetary assistance. (File photo) The Karnataka High Court last month directed the reconsideration of an application for compassionate appointment where the widow of an employee of the Northwestern Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (NKSRTC) exceeded the cut-off age.
Petitioner Saroja’s husband passed away in 2023 while on duty as a driver for the NKSRTC, for which he had worked since 2006. Her application for a compassionate-grounds appointment was rejected in January, as she had crossed the cut-off age of 43 to avail of such benefits. She had also submitted a representation explaining the financial condition of her family.
Saroja’s counsel stated that the cut-off age defeated the very objective of a compassionate-grounds appointment, since it meant that one had to become a widow before 43 years of age to make use of it. He also stated that in a case with identical circumstances, the high court had ruled against the age limit being the grounds to reject an appointment.
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