IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.370 of 2008 NEELAM DEVI,W/O LATE SURESH PRASAD R/O VILLAGE DAMAUA, P.O. AND POLICE STATION GHOSHI, DISTRICT JEHANABAD, AT PRESENT HOUSE OF TARA DEVI, R/O MOHALLA MALAHI PAKARI KANKARBAGH, PATNA POLICE STATION KANKARBAGH, DISTRICT PATNA. ……………………………PETITIONER. Versus 1.THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH THE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, NEW SECRETARIAT, BIHAR, PATNA. 2.THE ADMINISTRATOR, BIHAR STATE AGRICULTURE MARKETING BOARD (ABOLISHED) PANT BHAWAN, BAILY ROAD, PATNA. 3.THE SECRETARY, BIHAR STATE AGRICULTURE MARKETING BOARD (ABOLISHED), PANT BHAWAN, BAILY ROAD, PATNA. 4.THE SUB DIVISIONAL OFFICER CUM SPECIAL OFFICER, AGRICULTURE PRODUCE MARKET COMMITTEE (ABOLISHED) SAHEBGANJ, DISTRICT MUZAFFARPUR. 5.THE MARKET SECRETARY, THE AGRICULTURE PRODUCE MARKET COMMITTEE (ABOLISHED) SAHEBGANJ, DISTRICT-MUZAFFARPUR. 6.MOSTT. MEENA DEVI W/O LATE DINESH PRASAD, R/O VILLAGE DAMAUA, POLICE STATION GHOSHI, DISTRICT JEHANABAD. 7.SHAILESH KUMAR S/O LATE DINESH PRASAD, R/O VILLAGE DAMAUA, POLICE STATION GHOSHI, DISTRICT JEHANABAD. …………………………RESPONDENTS. ----------- 02/ 15.04.2011 Heard counsel for the petitioner and counsel for the State. Despite service of notice, no one has appeared for Bihar State Agriculture Produce Marketing Board. Counsel for the petitioner would submit that the husband of the petitioner was an employee of Agriculture Produce 2 Marketing Committee, Sahebganj, Muzaffarpur who died in harness on 23.11.2006, but the application filed by the petitioner for appointment on compassionate ground on 07.12.2006, has not yet been finally disposed of. He has also brought to the notice of this Court that respondent no. 6 has staked a claim for appointment of respondent no. 7 by projecting him to be the son of the deceased employee, whereas the fact remains that respondent no. 7 is only the nephew of the deceased employee. Admittedly the petitioner had filed an application after the death of her husband and such application had to be decided by the competent authority. The respondents in course of taking such a decision as to whether the petitioner is eligible for appointment on compassionate ground or whether respondent no. 7 was an imposter being not the son of the deceased employee, will have to address themselves on all relevant aspects. The very purpose of compassionate appointment is to provide immediate relief to the family members of the deceased employee and therefore such 3 decision has also to be taken as expeditiously as possible. Considering the aspect that despite service of a copy of writ petition on the counsel for the Bihar State Agriculture Produce Marketing Board, no one has appeared nor any counter affidavit has been filed, this court will have no other option but to direct respondent no. 1 and 2 to take a final decision and communicate the same to the petitioner within a period of four months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. Let it be made clear, that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the appointment on compassionate ground but it has only directed the concerned competent authority to take a final decision strictly in accordance with law. With the aforementioned observations and direction, this application is disposed of. Ranjan (Mihir Kumar Jha,J)