Vipin Kumar v. State of U.P. and others

petition came up on 08.08.2024, the parties had exchanged affidavits. It 1 2 ‘CCC’ for short ‘Rules of 1974’ for short Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -3- of 8 was admitted to hearing, which proceeded forthwith. Judgment was reserved.

5. Heard Mr. Adarsh Bhushan, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Sharad Chandra Upadhyay, learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents.

6. The stand in the counter affidavit, in substance, is that the Superintending Engineer vide his letter dated 07.09.2021, in order to maintain the minimum level of efficiency amongst the ministerial staff, made provision for the holding of an examination in General Hindi and Mathematics, scheduled on 10.09.2021 at 12 noon. The said written examination or test was prescribed by the Superintending Engineer, which the respondents say, as the Appointing Authority he was competent to do. According to the respondents, the petitioner has staked claim for appointment to the post of a Junior Assistant, a Class III post in the Establishment and the Appointing Authority had to ascertain if he possessed the minimum level of proficiency to work in that position. The petitioner, on the other hand, would say that appointment on compassionate grounds is governed by the Rules of 1974 and the holding of a selection test or examination to appoint a candidate on compassionate grounds to a Class III post is not envisaged there. The Superintending Engineer, as the Appointing Authority, has no jurisdiction or business to introduce or adopt a procedure for judging the petitioner’s suitability for compassionate appointment, not envisaged by Rules.

7. The only point, therefore, that arises for consideration in this case is that whether it was open to the Superintending Engineer, by an administrative order, acting as the appointing authority and dehors the Rules, to devise a criteria based on a written test for judging the suitability Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -4- of 8 of a candidate for compassionate appointment under the Rules of 1974, not envisaged under those Rules.

8. There is hardly any cavil between parties that the Rules of 1974 do not envisage a selection test or examination for judging the suitability of the dependant of a deceased employee for appointment to a Class III post on compassionate grounds, under the Rules of 1974. The Rules of 1974 have been made by the Governor in the exercise of powers under the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution. These have statutory force. Rules 5 of the Rules of 1974, as amended by the 11th Amendment of 2014, that was in force at the time when the petitioner was appointed, provides (relevant part) : 5- मृत胑腺 胑腺肱潐 胑腺ु टुम्專卡 胑腺肱潐 कि胑腺स䁨㞭 सदस्Ⓒ┚ 胑腺ቴ⓺ भत(cid:18)- (1) Ⓒ┚किद इस कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚मावल䁨㞭 胑腺肱潐 ्ቚारम्भ हो(cid:20)肱潐 胑腺肱潐 प्ቐात कि胑腺स䁨㞭 सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐व胑腺 胑腺ቴ⓺ स肱潐वा胑腺ाल म厍寛 मृत्Ⓒ┚ु हो जाⒸ┚肱潐 और मृत सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐व胑腺 胑腺ा प⸹⓺त Ⓒ┚ा पत्(cid:20)䁨㞭 ( जैस䁨㞭 भ䁨㞭 ቝኌस्%⸹⓺त हो) 胑腺肱潐 न््ቖ䁨㞭Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा कि胑腺स䁨㞭 राज्Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा 胑腺肱潐 न््ቖ䁨㞭Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा कि胑腺स䁨㞭 राज्Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार 胑腺肱潐 स्वाकिमत्वाध䁨㞭(cid:20) Ⓒ┚ा उस胑腺肱潐 ्ቛारा कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ंकि-त कि胑腺स䁨㞭 कि(cid:20)गम 胑腺肱潐 अध䁨㞭(cid:20) पहल肱潐 स肱潐 स肱潐वाⒸ┚ोजिजत (cid:20) हो तो उस胑腺肱潐 胑腺ु टुम्專卡 胑腺肱潐 ऐस肱潐 ए胑腺 सदस्Ⓒ┚ 胑腺ो जो 胑腺肱潐 न््ቖ䁨㞭Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा राज्Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार अ%वा 胑腺肱潐 न््ቖ䁨㞭Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा राज्Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार 胑腺肱潐 स्वाकिमत्वाध䁨㞭(cid:20) Ⓒ┚ा उस胑腺肱潐 ्ቛारा कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ंकि-त कि胑腺स䁨㞭 कि(cid:20)गम 胑腺肱潐 अध䁨㞭(cid:20) पहल肱潐 स肱潐 स肱潐वाⒸ┚ोजिजत (cid:20) हो इस ्ቚⒸ┚ोज(cid:20) 胑腺肱潐 लिलए आव肱潐द(cid:20) 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 पर भत(cid:18) 胑腺肱潐 सामान्Ⓒ┚ कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚मሗ኶ 胑腺ो शि7शि%ल 胑腺रत肱潐 हुए सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐वा म厍寛 कि胑腺स䁨㞭 पद पर ऐस肱潐 पद 胑腺ो छो勣䦾 胑腺र जो उ्ቈर ्ቚद肱潐7 लो胑腺 स肱潐वा आⒸ┚ोग 胑腺肱潐 ्ቌ肱潐-ान्तग<त हो, उपⒸ┚ु誚ꖏ स肱潐वाⒸ┚ोज(cid:20) ्ቚदा(cid:20) कि胑腺Ⓒ┚ा जाⒸ┚肱潐गा Ⓒ┚किद ऐसा व्Ⓒ┚कि誚ꖏः- (ए胑腺) पद 胑腺肱潐 लिलए किवकिहत 7ै⸹⓺्ቌ胑腺 अह<ताएं पूर䁨㞭 胑腺रता हो। परन्तु Ⓒ┚ह कि胑腺 Ⓒ┚किद कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ुकि誚ꖏ कि胑腺स䁨㞭 ए肱潐स肱潐 पद पर 胑腺ቴ⓺ जात䁨㞭 है जिजस胑腺肱潐 लिलए टं胑腺ण 胑腺ो ए胑腺 अकि(cid:20)वⒸ┚< अह<ता 胑腺肱潐 रूप म厍寛 किवकिहत कि胑腺Ⓒ┚ा गⒸ┚ा है, और मृत सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐व胑腺 胑腺肱潐 आशिDत 胑腺肱潐 पास टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ्ቚव䁨㞭णता (cid:20)हሻከ है, तो उस肱潐 इस 7त< 胑腺肱潐 अध䁨㞭(cid:20) कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ु誚ꖏ कि胑腺Ⓒ┚ा जाएगा कि胑腺 वह ए胑腺 व宺䨠< 胑腺肱潐 भ䁨㞭तर ह䁨㞭 टं胑腺ण म厍寛 25 7ब्द ्ቚ⸹⓺त किम(cid:20)ट 胑腺ቴ⓺ अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त ्ቚाȴ虜 胑腺र ल肱潐गा और Ⓒ┚किद वह ऐसा 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 म厍寛 किवफल रहता है तो उस胑腺ቴ⓺ सामान्Ⓒ┚ वቧኌ宺䨠胑腺 व肱潐त(cid:20)- वृ⸹⓺K रो胑腺 ल䁨㞭 जाएग䁨㞭 और टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त ्ቚाȴ虜 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 胑腺肱潐 लिलए उस肱潐 अ्ቇ肱潐तर ए胑腺 व宺䨠< 胑腺ቴ⓺ अव⸹⓺ध ्ቚदा(cid:20) 胑腺ቴ⓺ जाएग䁨㞭 और Ⓒ┚किद 專卡ढ़ाⒸ┚䁨㞭 गⒸ┚䁨㞭 अव⸹⓺ध म厍寛 भ䁨㞭 वह टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त ्ቚाȴ虜 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 म厍寛 किवफल रहता है तो उस胑腺ቴ⓺ स肱潐वाⒸ┚厍寛 समाȴ虜 胑腺र द䁨㞭 जाⒸ┚厍寛ग䁨㞭. Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -5- of 8 परन्तु Ⓒ┚ह और कि胑腺 कि胑腺स䁨㞭 ऐस肱潐 पद पर कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ुकि誚ꖏ कि胑腺Ⓒ┚肱潐 जा(cid:20)肱潐 胑腺ቴ⓺ द7ा म肱潐 जिजस胑腺肱潐 लिलए 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) और टं胑腺ण ए胑腺 अकि(cid:20)वाⒸ┚< अह<ता 胑腺肱潐 रूप म厍寛 किवकिहत 胑腺ቴ⓺ गⒸ┚䁨㞭 है और मृत胑腺 सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐व胑腺 胑腺ा अाशिDत 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) और टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ्ቚव䁨㞭णता (cid:20)हሻከ रखता है तो उस肱潐 इस 7त< 胑腺肱潐 अध䁨㞭(cid:20) रहत肱潐 हुए कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ु誚ꖏ 胑腺र लिलⒸ┚ा जाⒸ┚肱潐गा कि胑腺 वह ए胑腺 व宺䨠< 胑腺肱潐 भ䁨㞭तर ह䁨㞭 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) म厍寛 ड䁨㞭.ओ.ई.ए.स䁨㞭.स䁨㞭. सोसाⒸ┚ट䁨㞭 ्ቛारा ्ቚद्ቈ "स䁨㞭.स䁨㞭.स䁨㞭.” ्ቚमाण- प- Ⓒ┚ा सर胑腺ार ्ቛारा उस胑腺肱潐 सम胑腺्ቌ मान्Ⓒ┚ता ्ቚाȴ虜 कि胑腺स䁨㞭 ्ቚमाण-प- 胑腺肱潐 सा%- सा% टं胑腺ण म厍寛 25 7ब्द ्ቚ⸹⓺त किम(cid:20)ट 胑腺ቴ⓺ अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त अቌኌजत 胑腺र ल肱潐गा और Ⓒ┚किद वह ऐसा 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 म厍寛 किवफल रहता है तो उस胑腺ቴ⓺ सामान्Ⓒ┚ वाቧኌ宺䨠胑腺 व肱潐त(cid:20)- वृ⸹⓺K रो胑腺 ल䁨㞭 जाⒸ┚肱潐ग䁨㞭 और 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ्ቚमाण- प- और टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त अቌኌजत 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 胑腺肱潐 लिलए उस肱潐 ए胑腺 व宺䨠< 胑腺ቴ⓺ अ्ቇ肱潐तर अव⸹⓺ध ्ቚदा(cid:20) 胑腺ቴ⓺ जाⒸ┚肱潐ग䁨㞭 और Ⓒ┚किद 專卡ढ़ाⒸ┚䁨㞭 गⒸ┚䁨㞭 अव⸹⓺ध म厍寛 भ䁨㞭 वह 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ्ቚमाण- प- और टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त अቌኌजत 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 म肱潐 किवफल रहता है तो उस胑腺ቴ⓺ स肱潐वाⒸ┚厍寛 समाȴ虜 胑腺र द䁨㞭 जाⒸ┚肱潐ग䁨㞭।

9. It is not in dispute that the petitioner possesses a CCC Certificate issued by the competent authority and has all the other educational qualifications, which include a graduation in Science. He is eligible to be appointed to a Class III post. A perusal of Rule 5 of the Rules of 1974 makes it evident that in order to support a candidature for a Class III post on compassionate grounds, the rules do not envisage any selection test or examination to judge the candidate’s proficiency. The right, if established and the candidate found suitable on the parameters prescribed under Rules, to wit, the applicant being a dependant of the deceased employee and the family, including the applicant, being plunged into a sudden economic crisis on account of the deceased’s untimely demise in harness, the only condition for appointment to a Class III post is if it requires knowledge of typing or working on a computer, the candidate would have one year’s time to achieve the requisite speed of 25 words per minute in typing on computer etc. within a year of his/her appointment. If that speed is not achieved within a year, the appointee would have to suffer the withholding of his annual increment. He would then further have one year to acquire the necessary proficiency and achieve the requisite typing speed. In case at the end of the extended one year, if the appointee fails to achieve the requisite typing speed, his services would be terminated. Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -6- of 8 There is also a provision that if the appointee has not earned a CCC Certificate from the Department of Electronics and Accreditation of Computer Courses (DOEACC) (now National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT)), he would have one year’s time to acquire that qualification too. If the qualification is not earned within one year, the annual increment would be withheld and a further year granted to acquire the necessary qualification. At the end of the extended one year, if the qualification is not acquired, it would lead to termination of the compassionate appointee’s services from the Class III post. Now, looking to these Rules, which have statutory force and are a complete Code regarding compassionate appointment in any Department of the State Government or whichever Government Establishment the Rules of 1974 apply, it is evident that there is no selection test or examination envisaged for a compassionate appointment.

10. Compassionate Appointment, in its very nature, is an exception to the normal mode of recruitment. It is a facet of affirmative State action to bail out a family who have plunged into deep economic crisis on account the breadwinner’s death, who happens to be an employee in an Establishment governed by the Rules of 1974. Even if it is not the Rules of 1974, this is a general precept on which the right to be considered for compassionate appointment is based as an exception to the normal rule of recruitment through a process that gives equal opportunity to all citizens. In the nature of things, therefore, and, consistent therewith under the Rules of 1974, no selection test or examination is postulated, nor can it be postulated. In order to ensure that a compassionate appointee to a Class III post, that requires a certain decree of proficiency, to discharge his duties in the Establishment, provision is made in the Rules of 1974 for the acquisition of training qualification (CCC Certificate) and the achievement of requisite typing speed stipulated in the Rules within a specified period of time, which is extendable by an year. This is the only Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -7- of 8 requirement for appointment to a Class III post that the Rules of 1974 envisage.

11. The Superintending Engineer, in issuing his letter dated 07.09.2021, and then passing the order impugned dated 10.09.2021, has acted ultra vires in introducing the report of a written selection test for compassionate appointment to a Class III post not envisaged under the Rules of 1974. As already remarked, the Rules of 1974 have been made by the Governor in the exercise of his powers under the proviso under Article 309 of the Constitution and these are statutory in character. The Superintending Engineer cannot, by his administrative fiat, add to or subtract anything from the requirements of eligibility for appointment under the Rules of

1974. The Superintending Engineer, by introducing a selection test to ensure the petitioner's proficiency, has precisely done what he cannot, in derogation of the Rules of 1974. The impugned order dated 13.09.2021 passed by the Superintending Engineer, therefore, is not only manifestly illegal, but also ultra vires. It is fit to be quashed.

12. In the result, this petition succeeds and is allowed. A writ in the nature of certiorari is issued, quashing the order dated 13.09.2021 passed by the Superintending Engineer, only to the extent that it rejects the petitioner's candidature for appointment to a Class III post in the Establishment. However, it is made clear that this order of ours will not deprive the petitioner of his right to continue as a Class IV employee until appropriate orders are made under the Rules of 1974, considering and giving effect to his claim for compassionate appointment in regard to a Class III post. A mandamus is issued to consider the petitioner’s claim for compassionate appointment in accordance with the Rules of 1974 on the basis of his application originally made and in terms of his rights and candidature, as it then stood, without insisting for holding any kind of a selection test or examination. In the event, the petitioner is appointed to a Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -8- of 8 Class III post, he would hold his lien on the Class IV post that he is currently occupying, until such time that he is confirmed on the higher post.

13. There shall be no order as to costs. Allahabad February 07, 2025 I. Batabyal (J.J. MUNIR) JUDGE Whether the order is speaking : Yes Whether the order is reportable : No ISHAN BATABYAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022

petition came up on 08.08.2024, the parties had exchanged affidavits. It 1 2 ‘CCC’ for short ‘Rules of 1974’ for short Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -3- of 8 was admitted to hearing, which proceeded forthwith. Judgment was reserved.

5. Heard Mr. Adarsh Bhushan, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Sharad Chandra Upadhyay, learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents.

6. The stand in the counter affidavit, in substance, is that the Superintending Engineer vide his letter dated 07.09.2021, in order to maintain the minimum level of efficiency amongst the ministerial staff, made provision for the holding of an examination in General Hindi and Mathematics, scheduled on 10.09.2021 at 12 noon. The said written examination or test was prescribed by the Superintending Engineer, which the respondents say, as the Appointing Authority he was competent to do. According to the respondents, the petitioner has staked claim for appointment to the post of a Junior Assistant, a Class III post in the Establishment and the Appointing Authority had to ascertain if he possessed the minimum level of proficiency to work in that position. The petitioner, on the other hand, would say that appointment on compassionate grounds is governed by the Rules of 1974 and the holding of a selection test or examination to appoint a candidate on compassionate grounds to a Class III post is not envisaged there. The Superintending Engineer, as the Appointing Authority, has no jurisdiction or business to introduce or adopt a procedure for judging the petitioner’s suitability for compassionate appointment, not envisaged by Rules.

7. The only point, therefore, that arises for consideration in this case is that whether it was open to the Superintending Engineer, by an administrative order, acting as the appointing authority and dehors the Rules, to devise a criteria based on a written test for judging the suitability Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -4- of 8 of a candidate for compassionate appointment under the Rules of 1974, not envisaged under those Rules.

8. There is hardly any cavil between parties that the Rules of 1974 do not envisage a selection test or examination for judging the suitability of the dependant of a deceased employee for appointment to a Class III post on compassionate grounds, under the Rules of 1974. The Rules of 1974 have been made by the Governor in the exercise of powers under the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution. These have statutory force. Rules 5 of the Rules of 1974, as amended by the 11th Amendment of 2014, that was in force at the time when the petitioner was appointed, provides (relevant part) : 5- मृत胑腺 胑腺肱潐 胑腺ु टुम्專卡 胑腺肱潐 कि胑腺स䁨㞭 सदस्Ⓒ┚ 胑腺ቴ⓺ भत(cid:18)- (1) Ⓒ┚किद इस कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚मावल䁨㞭 胑腺肱潐 ्ቚारम्भ हो(cid:20)肱潐 胑腺肱潐 प्ቐात कि胑腺स䁨㞭 सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐व胑腺 胑腺ቴ⓺ स肱潐वा胑腺ाल म厍寛 मृत्Ⓒ┚ु हो जाⒸ┚肱潐 और मृत सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐व胑腺 胑腺ा प⸹⓺त Ⓒ┚ा पत्(cid:20)䁨㞭 ( जैस䁨㞭 भ䁨㞭 ቝኌस्%⸹⓺त हो) 胑腺肱潐 न््ቖ䁨㞭Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा कि胑腺स䁨㞭 राज्Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा 胑腺肱潐 न््ቖ䁨㞭Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा कि胑腺स䁨㞭 राज्Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार 胑腺肱潐 स्वाकिमत्वाध䁨㞭(cid:20) Ⓒ┚ा उस胑腺肱潐 ्ቛारा कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ंकि-त कि胑腺स䁨㞭 कि(cid:20)गम 胑腺肱潐 अध䁨㞭(cid:20) पहल肱潐 स肱潐 स肱潐वाⒸ┚ोजिजत (cid:20) हो तो उस胑腺肱潐 胑腺ु टुम्專卡 胑腺肱潐 ऐस肱潐 ए胑腺 सदस्Ⓒ┚ 胑腺ो जो 胑腺肱潐 न््ቖ䁨㞭Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा राज्Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार अ%वा 胑腺肱潐 न््ቖ䁨㞭Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार Ⓒ┚ा राज्Ⓒ┚ सर胑腺ार 胑腺肱潐 स्वाकिमत्वाध䁨㞭(cid:20) Ⓒ┚ा उस胑腺肱潐 ्ቛारा कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ंकि-त कि胑腺स䁨㞭 कि(cid:20)गम 胑腺肱潐 अध䁨㞭(cid:20) पहल肱潐 स肱潐 स肱潐वाⒸ┚ोजिजत (cid:20) हो इस ्ቚⒸ┚ोज(cid:20) 胑腺肱潐 लिलए आव肱潐द(cid:20) 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 पर भत(cid:18) 胑腺肱潐 सामान्Ⓒ┚ कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚मሗ኶ 胑腺ो शि7शि%ल 胑腺रत肱潐 हुए सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐वा म厍寛 कि胑腺स䁨㞭 पद पर ऐस肱潐 पद 胑腺ो छो勣䦾 胑腺र जो उ्ቈर ्ቚद肱潐7 लो胑腺 स肱潐वा आⒸ┚ोग 胑腺肱潐 ्ቌ肱潐-ान्तग<त हो, उपⒸ┚ु誚ꖏ स肱潐वाⒸ┚ोज(cid:20) ्ቚदा(cid:20) कि胑腺Ⓒ┚ा जाⒸ┚肱潐गा Ⓒ┚किद ऐसा व्Ⓒ┚कि誚ꖏः- (ए胑腺) पद 胑腺肱潐 लिलए किवकिहत 7ै⸹⓺्ቌ胑腺 अह<ताएं पूर䁨㞭 胑腺रता हो। परन्तु Ⓒ┚ह कि胑腺 Ⓒ┚किद कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ुकि誚ꖏ कि胑腺स䁨㞭 ए肱潐स肱潐 पद पर 胑腺ቴ⓺ जात䁨㞭 है जिजस胑腺肱潐 लिलए टं胑腺ण 胑腺ो ए胑腺 अकि(cid:20)वⒸ┚< अह<ता 胑腺肱潐 रूप म厍寛 किवकिहत कि胑腺Ⓒ┚ा गⒸ┚ा है, और मृत सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐व胑腺 胑腺肱潐 आशिDत 胑腺肱潐 पास टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ्ቚव䁨㞭णता (cid:20)हሻከ है, तो उस肱潐 इस 7त< 胑腺肱潐 अध䁨㞭(cid:20) कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ु誚ꖏ कि胑腺Ⓒ┚ा जाएगा कि胑腺 वह ए胑腺 व宺䨠< 胑腺肱潐 भ䁨㞭तर ह䁨㞭 टं胑腺ण म厍寛 25 7ब्द ्ቚ⸹⓺त किम(cid:20)ट 胑腺ቴ⓺ अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त ्ቚाȴ虜 胑腺र ल肱潐गा और Ⓒ┚किद वह ऐसा 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 म厍寛 किवफल रहता है तो उस胑腺ቴ⓺ सामान्Ⓒ┚ वቧኌ宺䨠胑腺 व肱潐त(cid:20)- वृ⸹⓺K रो胑腺 ल䁨㞭 जाएग䁨㞭 और टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त ्ቚाȴ虜 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 胑腺肱潐 लिलए उस肱潐 अ्ቇ肱潐तर ए胑腺 व宺䨠< 胑腺ቴ⓺ अव⸹⓺ध ्ቚदा(cid:20) 胑腺ቴ⓺ जाएग䁨㞭 और Ⓒ┚किद 專卡ढ़ाⒸ┚䁨㞭 गⒸ┚䁨㞭 अव⸹⓺ध म厍寛 भ䁨㞭 वह टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त ्ቚाȴ虜 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 म厍寛 किवफल रहता है तो उस胑腺ቴ⓺ स肱潐वाⒸ┚厍寛 समाȴ虜 胑腺र द䁨㞭 जाⒸ┚厍寛ग䁨㞭. Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -5- of 8 परन्तु Ⓒ┚ह और कि胑腺 कि胑腺स䁨㞭 ऐस肱潐 पद पर कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ुकि誚ꖏ कि胑腺Ⓒ┚肱潐 जा(cid:20)肱潐 胑腺ቴ⓺ द7ा म肱潐 जिजस胑腺肱潐 लिलए 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) और टं胑腺ण ए胑腺 अकि(cid:20)वाⒸ┚< अह<ता 胑腺肱潐 रूप म厍寛 किवकिहत 胑腺ቴ⓺ गⒸ┚䁨㞭 है और मृत胑腺 सर胑腺ार䁨㞭 स肱潐व胑腺 胑腺ा अाशिDत 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) और टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ्ቚव䁨㞭णता (cid:20)हሻከ रखता है तो उस肱潐 इस 7त< 胑腺肱潐 अध䁨㞭(cid:20) रहत肱潐 हुए कि(cid:20)Ⓒ┚ु誚ꖏ 胑腺र लिलⒸ┚ा जाⒸ┚肱潐गा कि胑腺 वह ए胑腺 व宺䨠< 胑腺肱潐 भ䁨㞭तर ह䁨㞭 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) म厍寛 ड䁨㞭.ओ.ई.ए.स䁨㞭.स䁨㞭. सोसाⒸ┚ट䁨㞭 ्ቛारा ्ቚद्ቈ "स䁨㞭.स䁨㞭.स䁨㞭.” ्ቚमाण- प- Ⓒ┚ा सर胑腺ार ्ቛारा उस胑腺肱潐 सम胑腺्ቌ मान्Ⓒ┚ता ्ቚाȴ虜 कि胑腺स䁨㞭 ्ቚमाण-प- 胑腺肱潐 सा%- सा% टं胑腺ण म厍寛 25 7ब्द ्ቚ⸹⓺त किम(cid:20)ट 胑腺ቴ⓺ अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त अቌኌजत 胑腺र ल肱潐गा और Ⓒ┚किद वह ऐसा 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 म厍寛 किवफल रहता है तो उस胑腺ቴ⓺ सामान्Ⓒ┚ वाቧኌ宺䨠胑腺 व肱潐त(cid:20)- वृ⸹⓺K रो胑腺 ल䁨㞭 जाⒸ┚肱潐ग䁨㞭 और 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ्ቚमाण- प- और टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त अቌኌजत 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 胑腺肱潐 लिलए उस肱潐 ए胑腺 व宺䨠< 胑腺ቴ⓺ अ्ቇ肱潐तर अव⸹⓺ध ्ቚदा(cid:20) 胑腺ቴ⓺ जाⒸ┚肱潐ग䁨㞭 और Ⓒ┚किद 專卡ढ़ाⒸ┚䁨㞭 गⒸ┚䁨㞭 अव⸹⓺ध म厍寛 भ䁨㞭 वह 胑腺म्प्Ⓒ┚ूटर ्ቚचाल(cid:20) म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ्ቚमाण- प- और टं胑腺ण म厍寛 अप肱潐⸹⓺्ቌत ग⸹⓺त अቌኌजत 胑腺र(cid:20)肱潐 म肱潐 किवफल रहता है तो उस胑腺ቴ⓺ स肱潐वाⒸ┚厍寛 समाȴ虜 胑腺र द䁨㞭 जाⒸ┚肱潐ग䁨㞭।

9. It is not in dispute that the petitioner possesses a CCC Certificate issued by the competent authority and has all the other educational qualifications, which include a graduation in Science. He is eligible to be appointed to a Class III post. A perusal of Rule 5 of the Rules of 1974 makes it evident that in order to support a candidature for a Class III post on compassionate grounds, the rules do not envisage any selection test or examination to judge the candidate’s proficiency. The right, if established and the candidate found suitable on the parameters prescribed under Rules, to wit, the applicant being a dependant of the deceased employee and the family, including the applicant, being plunged into a sudden economic crisis on account of the deceased’s untimely demise in harness, the only condition for appointment to a Class III post is if it requires knowledge of typing or working on a computer, the candidate would have one year’s time to achieve the requisite speed of 25 words per minute in typing on computer etc. within a year of his/her appointment. If that speed is not achieved within a year, the appointee would have to suffer the withholding of his annual increment. He would then further have one year to acquire the necessary proficiency and achieve the requisite typing speed. In case at the end of the extended one year, if the appointee fails to achieve the requisite typing speed, his services would be terminated. Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -6- of 8 There is also a provision that if the appointee has not earned a CCC Certificate from the Department of Electronics and Accreditation of Computer Courses (DOEACC) (now National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT)), he would have one year’s time to acquire that qualification too. If the qualification is not earned within one year, the annual increment would be withheld and a further year granted to acquire the necessary qualification. At the end of the extended one year, if the qualification is not acquired, it would lead to termination of the compassionate appointee’s services from the Class III post. Now, looking to these Rules, which have statutory force and are a complete Code regarding compassionate appointment in any Department of the State Government or whichever Government Establishment the Rules of 1974 apply, it is evident that there is no selection test or examination envisaged for a compassionate appointment.

10. Compassionate Appointment, in its very nature, is an exception to the normal mode of recruitment. It is a facet of affirmative State action to bail out a family who have plunged into deep economic crisis on account the breadwinner’s death, who happens to be an employee in an Establishment governed by the Rules of 1974. Even if it is not the Rules of 1974, this is a general precept on which the right to be considered for compassionate appointment is based as an exception to the normal rule of recruitment through a process that gives equal opportunity to all citizens. In the nature of things, therefore, and, consistent therewith under the Rules of 1974, no selection test or examination is postulated, nor can it be postulated. In order to ensure that a compassionate appointee to a Class III post, that requires a certain decree of proficiency, to discharge his duties in the Establishment, provision is made in the Rules of 1974 for the acquisition of training qualification (CCC Certificate) and the achievement of requisite typing speed stipulated in the Rules within a specified period of time, which is extendable by an year. This is the only Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -7- of 8 requirement for appointment to a Class III post that the Rules of 1974 envisage.

11. The Superintending Engineer, in issuing his letter dated 07.09.2021, and then passing the order impugned dated 10.09.2021, has acted ultra vires in introducing the report of a written selection test for compassionate appointment to a Class III post not envisaged under the Rules of 1974. As already remarked, the Rules of 1974 have been made by the Governor in the exercise of his powers under the proviso under Article 309 of the Constitution and these are statutory in character. The Superintending Engineer cannot, by his administrative fiat, add to or subtract anything from the requirements of eligibility for appointment under the Rules of

1974. The Superintending Engineer, by introducing a selection test to ensure the petitioner's proficiency, has precisely done what he cannot, in derogation of the Rules of 1974. The impugned order dated 13.09.2021 passed by the Superintending Engineer, therefore, is not only manifestly illegal, but also ultra vires. It is fit to be quashed.

12. In the result, this petition succeeds and is allowed. A writ in the nature of certiorari is issued, quashing the order dated 13.09.2021 passed by the Superintending Engineer, only to the extent that it rejects the petitioner's candidature for appointment to a Class III post in the Establishment. However, it is made clear that this order of ours will not deprive the petitioner of his right to continue as a Class IV employee until appropriate orders are made under the Rules of 1974, considering and giving effect to his claim for compassionate appointment in regard to a Class III post. A mandamus is issued to consider the petitioner’s claim for compassionate appointment in accordance with the Rules of 1974 on the basis of his application originally made and in terms of his rights and candidature, as it then stood, without insisting for holding any kind of a selection test or examination. In the event, the petitioner is appointed to a Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022 Page -8- of 8 Class III post, he would hold his lien on the Class IV post that he is currently occupying, until such time that he is confirmed on the higher post.

13. There shall be no order as to costs. Allahabad February 07, 2025 I. Batabyal (J.J. MUNIR) JUDGE Whether the order is speaking : Yes Whether the order is reportable : No ISHAN BATABYAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad Writ - A No. 18846 of 2022