Compassionate Appointment: Allahabad High Court Mandates Irrevocable Undertaking to Support Other Dependents

The Allahabad High Court held that any eligible candidate seeking a compassionate appointment must execute an irrevocable affidavit undertaking to financially support other dependents of the deceased employee.

Justice Ajay Bhanot emphasized that the appointee “steps into the shoes of the deceased” and assumes the responsibility to maintain the remaining dependents.

In a case where the deceased’s wife and mother contested the benefit, the Court held that family disputes cannot frustrate compassionate appointments.

The Court directed equitable resource-sharing and found the petitioner eligible, since she voluntarily undertook to give 20% of her salary to the deceased's mother. [Smt. Naina Gupta v. Union of India and 4 Others]