Court orders job for woman, equates daughter-in-law with daughter

The Rajasthan High Court ruled that a daughter-in-law is eligible for compassionate appointment on par with a daughter, directing immediate appointment of a petitioner in a PWD case and warning officials against delay or contempt action

Jaipur: In a significant judgment on compassionate appointments, the Rajasthan High Court has ruled that a daughter-in-law is entitled to the same rights as a daughter, reinforcing gender equality and legal clarity on the issue.​

While hearing a petition filed by Sundari Devi, Justice Ravi Chirania directed the concerned department to grant her compassionate appointment without delay, warning that any failure to comply would invite strict action against responsible officials.​

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The Court observed that a Division Bench had already clarified in 2023 that a daughter-in-law holds equal entitlement as a daughter in such matters. It expressed displeasure over the department’s repeated reliance on technical objections, stating that such conduct is not in accordance with established legal principles and unnecessarily delays justice.​

According to case details, Sundari Devi is the daughter-in-law of a Public Works Department (PWD) employee who passed away in service on November 19, 2016. At the time, her husband was bedridden due to a severe accident. To support the family, she applied for a compassionate appointment; however, the department failed to decide on her application.​

The situation worsened after her husband’s death on May 25, 2020, leaving the entire family dependent on her. Despite this, the application remained pending, with the department continuing to raise objections that the judiciary had already addressed.​

The High Court has ordered the department to grant the appointment within 30 days, making it clear that any delay, even a single day, will not be tolerated. It further directed that a compliance report be submitted within 45 days.​

The Court warned that failure to comply with the order or any undue delay would result in contempt proceedings against the concerned officials.​

This ruling is being seen as a landmark step in ensuring justice and equal rights for women, particularly those bearing family responsibilities under challenging circumstances.

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