IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.3718 of 2008 PUNAM SINGH, Wife of late Sunil Kumar Raman, C/0 Shri Yamuna Singh, Resident of Ragga Tard, Police Station and P.O. and District- Dhanbad (Jharkhand). Versus 1. PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK through Chairman Cum Managing Director Bhikhajee Cama Place, New Delhi- 110066. 2. General Manager (Personnel) Punjab National Bank Bhikhajee Cama Place, New Delhi- 110066. 3. Zonal Manager Punjab National Bank, Patna. 4. Senior Regional Manager, Regional Office Biharsharif, District-Nalanda. ----------- 2. 19.04.2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner. No one appears for the Punjab National Bank. Admittedly, when the case of the petitioner for compassionate appointment had been considered, the scheme of the Bank had undergone a change by abolishing this concept of compassionate appointment and replacing it by ex-gratia one time payment in lieu of compassionate appointment. The submission of Mr. Naresh Chandra Verma, learned counsel for the petitioner is that since the death of the deceased bank employee is prior to such change in policy and therefore, the petitioner will be governed as per the earlier provision of the policy in force inasmuch as has to be only noted for its being rejected the Apex Court itself in the case of State Bank of India & Anr. Vs. Raj 2 Kumar reported in 2010 (2) BBCJ 353 (S.C.) has held that all pending application shall receive consideration as per the subsequent changed policy is in force. Thus, the law laid down by the Apex Court in the case of Raj Kumar (Supra) will squarely cover the case of the petitioner. That being so, this Court would not find any error in the impugned order rejecting the case of the petitioner for appointment on compassionate ground and giving option to the petitioner to apply for one time ex-gratia payment as per the revised policy. It is however made clear that the Bank, shall be under obligation to entertain and consider the claim of the petitioner for grant of one time ex- gratia payment in lieu of compassionate appointment and, therefore, if the petitioner after being made aware by the present order that she is not entitled for appointment on compassionate ground would approach the Bank for claiming of ex-gratia payment, her case will be considered strictly in accordance with revised policy and if she would be found eligible she also must be paid the ex-gratia amount to which she would be entitled under the said revised policy. 3 Such exercise must be completed by the Bank within a period of six months from the date the petitioner would submit her application seeking ex- gratia payment in lieu of compassionate appointment. With the aforesaid observation and direction this application is disposed of. Anand Kr. ( Mihir Kumar Jha, J.)