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Thiruvananthapuram: Mass appointments on compassionate grounds in municipalities and corporations sidelining PSC qualified candidates are on the rise. Most of these are done with the favours of service organisations and senior officers. Those who cleared the PSC exam with ranks and are waiting for appointments are being left in the lurch.
Only 5% of government appointments are allowed on compassionate grounds. If the number of people so appointed is more, they are made supernumerary and are included in the service as per their turn. It is also mandated that there shouldn’t be more than half appointments on compassionate grounds to a particular post. These appointments have touched nearly 70 per cent in certain corporations but are comparatively fewer in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system.
Most appointments are for the dependents of contingent workers in corporations. They are appointed via employment exchanges and the service is till the age of 60. If they die while in service, the dependents will be considered for municipal common service to which employees are appointed on the basis of PSC ranks. This is why there is a large number of appointments on compassionate grounds.