RBE No. 28/1990: Appointment on Compassionate Grounds – Near Relative

No.E(NG)II/88/RC-1/1/Policy, dated 12.02.1990

Sub: Appointment on compassionate grounds – Near relative.

1. Attention is invited to Ministry of Railway’s letter No.E(NG)III/78/RC-1/1, dated 25.08.1980, in terms of which the appointment on compassionate grounds of a ‘near relative’ of a Railway employee dying in harness could be considered, subject to the conditions stipulated therein.
2. Ministry of Railways have recently reviewed these instructions in the context, inter alia, of the fact that subsequent to the issue of the aforesaid instructions, the retirement benefits admissible to Railway employees and their families have been considerably liberalized. For instance, a minimum family pension of Rs.375 plus interim relief thereon is now admissible. In addition to Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, a Group Insurance Scheme has also been introduced for Railway employees, which provides for a minimum of Rs.10000 insurance money (being increased to Rs.15000) for Group ‘D’ and Rs.20000 (being increased to Rs.30000) for Group ‘C’ staff. The death gratuity and the leave salary benefits have also been considerably liberalized in the light of recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission.
3. Having regard to the foregoing, it is felt that the considerations on which the provisions of the aforesaid instructions of 25.08.1980 were based, no longer subsist, especially in cases where a Railway employee dying in harness leaves behind only his widow and there are no children to be supported by the widow. Accordingly, in partial modification of the instructions contained in Ministry’s letter dated 25.08.1980 cited above, it has now been decided that in cases where an employee dies in harness leaving behind only the widow, i.e. without any children, appointment of a near relative would not be admissible.
4. In future, the eligibility of a “near relative” for appointment on compassionate grounds will, therefore, be subject to the following conditions:-

(i) Such appointment is not permissible where the Railway employee who has died in harness has left behind only the widow, with no son/ daughter to be supported by her.
(ii) The son or daughter of the employee or ex-employee is a minor one and the widow cannot take up employment.
(iii) A clear certificate should be forthcoming from the widow that the ‘near relative’ will act as the bread-winner of the family.
(iv) If the family certifies at a later date that the ‘near relative’, who was appointed on compassionate grounds, refuses to support the family, the services of that employee are liable to be terminated.
(v) Once a ‘near relative’ is appointed on compassionate grounds, no further appointment shall be given later to a son, or daughter or to the widow of the employee, on compassionate grounds.
(vi) The appointment of the ‘near relative’ shall not be considered, if a son or daughter, or the widow herself is already working and is earning.

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No. 28/1990

Forward reference⇒RBE No.