Chhattisgarh HC: Compassionate appointee has moral and legal duty to support deceased employee's family
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh High Court has upheld the Family Court's decision directing a government employee to pay monthly maintenance to his stepmother and step-siblings, observing that compassionate appointment carries not just legal but moral obligations toward the dependents of the deceased.
Dismissing a revision petition filed by Satyam Khakha, a lineman employed by the Chhattisgarh Electricity Board in Jashpur, Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha noted that the applicant had failed to fulfill the promise made at the time of his compassionate appointment—namely, to provide financial support to the family of his deceased father, Surendra Khakha.
The petitioner had challenged a 2018 order by the Family Court, which directed him to pay Rs 1,000 per month to his stepmother, Rukhamani Khakha, and Rs 3,000 each to his minor step-siblings, Anju and Shivam, until they attained adulthood.
Surendra Khakha, who served as a lineman, died in December 2010. Following his death, the Electricity Department offered a job on compassionate grounds. Rukhamani, the widow, issued a No Objection Certificate in favour of Satyam on the understanding that he would take care of the entire family, including her and the children. However, the Family Court found that despite drawing a salary of Rs 30,000–Rs 35,000 per month, Satyam did not honour this commitment.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia
IC Markets
Tìm hiểu thêm
Undo
In the High Court, the applicant argued that the non-applicants were his step-relations and not legally entitled to maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC. He also claimed his monthly income was only Rs 14,500 and that his stepmother was financially self-sufficient through pension benefits.
Rejecting these arguments, the High Court observed that 'under the legal objective of granting compassionate appointment, it was considered to be the moral and legal duty of the appointee to provide maintenance to the dependents of the deceased until they became self-sufficient.'
The Court emphasized that Satyam had initially agreed to support the family, but later distanced himself after marriage and ceased payments even though his income had increased to over Rs 40,000 per month.
Taking into account the social status of the parties and the rising cost of living, the Court concluded that the Family Court's award of Rs 7,000 per month in total maintenance was reasonable and not 'shockingly on higher side.'
The High Court thus found no illegality or irregularity in the Family Court's order and dismissed the revision petition.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
12 minutes ago
- Hans India
UP: Four arrested with centuries-old stolen idols from Bahraich temple
Bahraich (UP): Police in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district have arrested four alleged thieves and recovered four ancient and highly valuable idols that were stolen from a village temple last week, officials said on Monday. The recovery was made on Sunday following a tip-off, according to a senior official. Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Durga Prasad Tiwari told reporters on Monday that the idols, believed to be several centuries old, were stolen from a temple in Kela village under Baundi police station limits on the night of July 28. A case was registered soon after the theft, and Bahraich Superintendent of Police Ram Nayan Singh had formed multiple teams to investigate the matter, the officer said. Acting on intelligence inputs, a police team intercepted three motorcycles carrying four suspects in the Gambhirwa area under Ramgaon police station. Upon being searched, the team found the stolen idols in their possession, Tiwari said. During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed that they believed the idols to be made of ashtadhatu (a traditional eight-metal alloy used in sacred idols) and were planning to sell them at a high price to a goldsmith, he said. The arrested men have been identified as Kuldeep Shukla, Sahibe Alam alias Badshah, Bechan, and Farmaan, all residents of the Ramgaon police station area. The police said Kuldeep Shukla is the mastermind of the gang. He has a criminal background, including a prior case of abduction and action under the Gangsters Act. They said that they are now working to identify others involved in the theft, including any potential buyers of the stolen idols. SP Ram Nayan Singh has announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for the police personnel who successfully recovered the idols and apprehended the gang.
News18
22 minutes ago
- News18
Five ex-Punjab cops sentenced to life imprisonment in 1993 fake encounter case
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Chandigarh, Aug 4 (PTI) A CBI court in Mohali on Monday sentenced five former police officials to rigorous life imprisonment in a 1993 fake encounter of seven persons of Tarn Taran district and described their conduct 'morally bankrupt and profoundly inhumane". The court of CBI Special Judge Baljinder Singh Sra which pronounced the verdict also imposed a fine of Rs 3.50 lakh on each of the convict. The court had found them guilty of criminal conspiracy, murder and destruction of evidence under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code on August 1. The then deputy superintendent of police Bhupinderjit Singh (61), who later retired as SSP, the then assistant sub-inspector Devinder Singh (58), who retired as DSP, the then assistant sub-inspector Gulbarg Singh (72), the then Inspector Suba Singh (83) and the then ASI Raghbir Singh (63) have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life. Five other accused police officials — the then Inspector Gurdev Singh, the then sub-inspector Gian Chand, then ASI Jagir Singh and then head constables Mohinder Singh and Aroor Singh passed away during the trial. The court, in an order, said, 'Upon consideration of the rival contentions, this court is of the view that there is no doubt regarding the sheer venality and callousness with which the convicts acted, reflecting an utter disregard for human dignity and life. Their conduct was not only unlawful, it was morally bankrupt and profoundly inhumane." 'However, in view of their advanced age and the prolonged agony endured during the course of the trial over many years, this court refrains from awarding the capital punishment," it said. The court said Dr B R Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, once said, 'Rights are protected not by laws but by the social and moral conscience of society". Regrettably, this moral consciousness has yet to be fully absorbed and reflected in the institutions of governance entrusted with the protection of people's rights, said the order. The court said it can very well imagine the plight of their parents and family members who were running from pillar to post since the year 1993 to seek justice. Taking into consideration all these facts and circumstances in the light of above judgment, the fine amount awarded shall be paid as compensation to their widows and legal heirs in equal proportion, said the order. Among the seven victims, three were special police officers. As per investigation conducted by the CBI, a police team led by the then station house officer of Sirhali police station Gurdev Singh picked up SPOs Shinder Singh, Desa Singh, Sukhdev Singh and two others Balkar Singh and Daljit Singh from the residence of a government contractor on June 27, 1993. They were falsely implicated in a robbery case, as per the CBI probe. Thereafter, on July 2, 1993, the Sarhali police registered a case against Shinder Singh, Desa Singh and Sukhdev Singh, claiming that they had absconded along with government-issued weapons. On July 12, 1993, a police team led by the then DSP Bhupinderjit Singh and then Inspector Gurdev Singh claimed that while escorting one Mangal Singh to Gharka village for a recovery in the dacoity case, they were attacked by militants. In the crossfire, Mangal Singh, Desa Singh, Shinder Singh and Balkar Singh were killed. However, forensic analysis of seized weapons pointed to serious discrepancies and post-mortem examination reports also confirmed that the victims were tortured prior to their death, as per the probe. Despite being identified in records, their bodies were cremated as unclaimed, as per CBI investigation. On July 28, 1993, three more persons Sukhdev Singh, Sarabjit Singh and Harvinder Singh were killed in a staged encounter involving a police team led by the then DSP Bhupinderjit Singh, according to the CBI investigation. The case was handed over to the CBI following a Supreme Court order on December 12, 1996 in connection with mass cremation of unidentified bodies in Punjab. The CBI registered the case in 1999 based on the complaint of Narinder Kaur, the wife of Shinder Singh. PTI CHS NB NB (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 04, 2025, 19:15 IST News agency-feeds Five ex-Punjab cops sentenced to life imprisonment in 1993 fake encounter case Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Foul play? Sunjay Kapur's mother Rani asks UK police to probe 'mysterious' death; family feud escalates
Rani Kapur and Sunjay Kapur NEW DELHI: The mysterious death of Sunjay Kapur in London has triggered an international investigation and intensified a bitter family dispute involving the Kapur family and their flagship company, Sona Comstar. Rani Kapur, Sunjay's mother and former chairperson of Sona Comstar, has formally approached UK authorities seeking a thorough probe into the 'unexplained circumstances' surrounding her son's death. Sources from ANI confirmed that Rani Kapur lodged an official criminal complaint with British police, stressing the urgency for investigation. According to media reports, Rani Kapur claims to have 'credible and concerning evidence… that suggests his (Sunjay Kapur's) death may not have been accidental or natural, but may have involved foul play, including possibility of murder, abetment, conspiracy, fraud, and forgery.' Adding to the international spotlight, US authorities are reportedly monitoring the case closely, as Sunjay Kapur was a US national. In an emotional video interview with ANI, her first public statement since her son's demise, Rani Kapur expressed deep anguish and lingering questions. 'I still don't know what happened to my son,' she said, her voice trembling. 'I'm old now. I need closure before I go,' she was quoted as saying. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo Family fued Reflecting on the legacy of Sona Comstar, which she co-founded with her late husband, Rani Kapur spoke of the sacrifices and care involved in building the company. 'I remember the early days of Sona, built with care, sacrifice, and love,' she said, pushing back against the company's claims that she has had no involvement since 2019. 'I am here to remind the world that our family's legacy must not be lost. It must be passed on, as my husband always wanted it to be.' The dispute took a sharper turn when Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd, the listed arm of the group, issued a regulatory filing dismissing Rani Kapur's claims as 'baseless' and 'legally untenable.' The company reiterated that she has held no authority or position in the organization since 2019. Before going public, Rani Kapur reportedly sent a letter to the company's board alleging she was coerced into signing documents shortly after her son's death, an episode she described as 'highly suspicious.' She also claimed she was denied access to her bank accounts and left financially dependent on a few individuals. She asserted that no one was authorized to represent the Kapur family on the board. Despite her request to postpone the Annual General Meeting, the company proceeded as scheduled. Sona Comstar has since served her a legal notice demanding she cease spreading what it calls 'false and damaging information,' strongly refuting her allegations of coercion and mismanagement as 'malafide, false, unwarranted, and uncorroborated.' While Rani Kapur has decided to step back from public comments due to age and health concerns, she affirmed her legal team will handle all future proceedings, signaling that the high-stakes family and corporate battle is far from over.
