In Brief
An unmarried man (respondent) sought compassionate appointment to a government post following his sister's death as an unmarried female government employee in December 2010. The respondent claimed eligibility under rules amended in July 2012, which extended compassionate appointment benefits to unmarried brothers. The Supreme Court held that compassionate appointment is an exception to regular recruitment, not a vested right, and does not have automatic application upon an employee's death. The Court ruled that the date of the employee's death—not the date of application or consideration—is the controlling fixed factor for determining which version of the rules applies. Since the sister died before the 2012 amendment, the pre-amendment rules applied, which did not extend benefits to unmarried brothers. The amendment had no retrospective effect. The Court dismissed the respondent's claim and allowed the State's appeal.
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