In Brief
Steel Authority of India Limited challenged a High Court order directing it to reconsider a widow's application for compassionate appointment of her second son, made 18 years after her husband's death as a deceased SAIL employee. The Supreme Court held that compassionate appointment claims must be pursued promptly and cannot succeed after unreasonable delay. Since the family had survived for 18 years and the objective of providing immediate relief was defeated, the claim was unsustainable on grounds of delay and laches alone. The Court quashed the High Court and Tribunal orders and allowed the appeal, holding the second son ineligible for compassionate appointment.
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