Compassionate appointment: Appointees to lose salary if they fail to provide welfare for dependents

Thiruvananthapuram: The salary of those who were appointed on a compassionate basis and failed to protect their dependents will be withheld. The state cabinet has decided to withhold 25% of the basic salary and distribute it to deserving dependents.

The provision will also include a proposal to continue the protection given to disabled dependents beyond 17 years of age. Upon a government servant’s death in harness, appointment on compassionate grounds is offered only after an undertaking in writing (consent) is submitted that the appointed person will maintain the welfare of other dependent family members. 

The conditions of this rule state that the dependents should be provided with food, shelter, property, treatment, and care. The move to withhold salary is being implemented after it has come to light that many dependent appointees are violating these conditions. 

The aggrieved employees who are being investigated can offer an appeal to the Collector within three months. However, the decision taken by the Collector in this regard would be final.

Meanwhile, this provision will not be valid to the dependents who avail of family-pension scheme benefits. However, dependents who receive pension aid under social security and welfare fund board schemes are entitled to this protection. The appointee also is liable to take responsibility for such dependents. 

The appointing authority can file a complaint against their employees if they are found to be neglecting their dependents after being appointed on compassionate grounds. Based on the report submitted by the Tehsildar, salary will be seized every month and deposited in the bank accounts of the deserving dependents.