Upon the husband’s death, a wife is eligible to inherit her husband’s job under the Compassionate Appointment Scheme.
However, problems arise when the wife’s age is higher than the maximum age limit set for the job.
In a recent case, the Karnataka High Court issued an important ruling stating that a widow cannot be denied a compassionate job solely because she is older than the prescribed age limit.
The court emphasized that humanity and the needs of a grieving family should come before strict rules.
What Was the Case About?
Saroja, a 47-year-old woman, lost her husband on September 27, 2023. He had been working with the KSRTC Kondai division since 2006
and was the sole breadwinner of the family. After his death, she applied for a job under the Compassionate Appointment Scheme to support her household.
However, on January 17, 2025, KSRTC rejected her application, stating that she was 47 years old, while the age limit under the scheme was 43. Saroja challenged this decision in the Karnataka High Court.
Why Did the High Court Rule in Her Favour?
The High Court stated that the main objective of compassionate appointments is to provide immediate financial support to families facing sudden hardship.
Applying age limits rigidly goes against the purpose of the scheme. The court noted that in past cases, it had relaxed age limits in similar situations.
It also referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Canara Bank vs. Ajithkumar (2025), which says that institutions must first consider whether a family is suffering financial distress before rejecting an application based on age.
What Did the Court Order?
The High Court set aside KSRTC’s rejection order and directed the corporation to reconsider Saroja’s application within eight weeks.
KSRTC has also been asked to explore how the age limit can be relaxed in her specific case.
This ruling is a major relief for Saroja and offers hope to many families who lose their sole earning member and struggle to obtain a compassionate job due to age restrictions.
