In Brief
The respondent's father died as a Ministry employee in 1996. His widow sought compassionate appointment for the respondent, but the claim was rejected in 1997 and 1999. The respondent filed tribunal petitions starting in 2007—over a decade later—leading to repeated remands. The High Court ultimately ordered appointment. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that compassionate appointment exists to address immediate financial crisis upon an employee's death. After a decade's delay and rejection of initial applications, the claim lost its essential character. Successive tribunal remands cannot resurrect a stale claim. The appeal was allowed and the High Court's order set aside.
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