Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 17: The state high court, in its judgement, has ruled that when government employees die when on duty, their married daughters too are eligible to claim jobs on compassionate grounds. It said that there can be no differences on the basis of sex. "When a married male is eligible to claim this benefit, married daughters too are equally eligible," it stated.

The high court delivered this verdict when disposing of an application moved by Bhuvaneshwari V Puranik from the city. She had been refused employment on compassionate basis upon the death of her father when on duty because of the fact that she was married. A single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice M Nagaprasanna delivered this order. Till now, the government rules specified that wife of a deceased employee, his sons or unmarried daughters alone could have been eligible for job on compassionate grounds. Married daughters were not eligible. The high court has now removed this anomaly.

The bench said that Karnataka Civil Services (appointments on compassionate grounds) Act 1996 holds that married woman cannot claim jobs on compassionate grounds, thus keeping her outside the ambit of the concept of family. It said that this is rule violates chapters 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution, the judgement said.

The high court asked the government to remove the word 'married' in the said rule, and reconsider the claim of the applicant for employment. It also said that the government, duly keeping in mind the opinions expressed in this order, should issue revised orders within a month.