RBE No. 214/1986: Appointment on Compassionate Grounds – Death of Husband & Wife – Both are Railways Employees

No.E(NG)II/86/RC-1/1/Policy, dated 31.10.1986

Sub: Appointment on Compassionate Grounds in the event of death of husband and wife (both Rail¬way employees).
Ref: Your Railway’s (Eastern Railway’s) confidential letter No. CPO/SC/SA/Comp./Cl.IV/896, dt.26.08.1986.

The issue raised in your letter quoted above viz., whether two compassionate appointments – one on account of death of the father and another on account of death of the mother, when both were Railway employees – are permissible, or not; has been considered by the Department of Railways (Railway Board). Normally only the father is taken to be the bread-winner of the family. Therefore, in the case referred to by your Railway, only one compassionate appointment is admissible. Accordingly your presumption that another son can be appointed on compassionate grounds on account of demise of another is not correct.

Copy of Eastern Railway’s letter
No.CPO/SC/SA Comp/Cl. IV/896, dated 06.08.1986

Sub: Appointment on compassionate ground in the event of death of husband and wife (both Railway employees).

In terms of Railway Board’s letter No.E(NG)III/78/RC-1/1, dated 07.04.1983, while offering appointment on compassionate grounds, it need not be checked whether another son/ daughter is already working, but there should not be more than one appointment against one death/ medical incapacitation.
A case has cropped up in this Railway where both husband and wife were Railway employees. Their second son was appointed on compassionate ground consequent upon the death of the husband, Late Sangam Hela, ex Fitter Gr. II under C&WS/Howrah while in service. Thereafter the wife Smt. “Sumitra”, Female Safaiwala also died on 07.11.1982 while in service and the 3rd son has applied for appointment on compassionate grounds on account of his mother’s death.
The Board are requested to kindly clarify if two compassionate appointments, i.e. one against father’s death and one against mother’s death are permissible.
It is, however, presumed that there will not be any violation in rule if the 3rd son is given appointment on compassionate grounds against his mother’s death, who was also a Railway employee.
An early decision in requested.

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No. 214/1986

Forward reference⇒RBE No. 75/1997