MP takes up 5% ceiling issue in Lok Sabha

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27

MP Kirron Kher today raised the issue of appointment on compassionate grounds in Lok Sabha.

Speaking during the Zero Hour, Kirron said the objective of the scheme of compassionate appointments was to provide job to a dependent family member of a government servant who died in harness or who retired on medical grounds before attaining the age of 55.

Due to a ceiling of 5 per cent for direct recruitment vacancies on making such appointments, the rightful beneficiaries from the UT of Chandigarh have been unable to avail themselves of the scheme benefits.

Kirron said Chandigarh has adopted the Punjab State Civil Services Rules and accordingly, the benefits of employees of the UT, with regard to pay, allowances, age of retirement, pension, benefits, etc, have been brought in line with that of the state of Punjab. Unfortunately, the status quo prevailed on compassionate appointments, she said.

She added although there were provisions in the scheme to accommodate the issue for small states and UTs, these were not brought into practice. In many cases, applicants have had to wait for over a decade, she said.

The MP urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to do away with the ceiling, as was the case in Punjab, which was the only way relief would be extended to the bereaved families.