Supreme Court Rules Married Daughters Cannot Be Denied Compassionate Appointment, Strikes Down Exclusion from Family Definition

June 2, 2026 : The Supreme Court has held that married daughters cannot be excluded from consideration for compassionate appointment, declaring that such exclusion is arbitrary, unjustified, and constitutionally unsustainable.

A Bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe made the observation while setting aside an order of the Allahabad High Court, which had ruled that a married daughter does not fall within the definition of “family” for the purpose of compassionate appointment.

Compassionate appointment is a welfare measure through which the government provides employment to an eligible family member when a public servant dies while in service or is forced to retire prematurely on medical grounds, ensuring financial support to the bereaved family.

The case arose from an appeal filed by a married daughter of a deceased fair price shop dealer whose claim for appointment on compassionate grounds had been rejected. Her application was denied on the basis of a 2019 government order that excluded married daughters from the definition of family.

Challenging both the government order and the High Court’s decision, the appellant argued that the exclusion was discriminatory and violated constitutional guarantees of equality.

Allowing the appeal, the Supreme Court held that the omission of married daughters from the definition of family could not withstand constitutional scrutiny. The Court emphasized that the primary objective of allotment under the dependent quota is to provide immediate financial relief to the family of a deceased employee or dealer facing hardship. Excluding a married daughter solely on the basis of her marital status defeats that objective and creates an unreasonable classification.

The Court concluded that a married daughter remains a member of the family and is equally entitled to be considered for compassionate appointment, reaffirming the principles of equality and non-discrimination under the Constitution.