HC slams state government on compassionate appointment of late MLA’s son

Kochi: The high court slammed the Kerala government on the compassionate appointment of R Prasanth, son of the late Chengannur MLA K K Ramachandran Nair, to the post of assistant engineer (electric) in the Public Works Department.

The HC order quashing the appointment came on Monday and it pointed out that if the wards of MLAs can get a compassionate appointment, then the panchayat president’s children also deserve a post. This is unjust to the eligible candidates, HC noted.

The compassionate appointment aims to grant jobs to the family member of government employees when they die in service. But an MLA will not come under this category. HC also highlighted that it is an illegal intervention of the government and it cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. Government cannot offer employment to those they ‘like’, it added.