J.S. Khehar, J. - (1.) The petitioners husband Bishan Singh was inducted into the service of the Punjab State Electricity Board as a peon in 1980. On 27.10.1992, he left his residence to attend to his duties but never returned. He is stated to be missing ever since 27.10.1992. On 5.6.1994, the petitioner registered a first information report at Police Station Sadar, Jalandhar, asserting therein that her husband Bishan Singh had been missing since 27.10.1992.
(2.) In terms of the instructions issued by the State Government which have been adopted by the Punjab State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as the respondent - Board), the dependents of missing employees are entitled to family pension on the expiry of one year from the date with effect from which the employee has been missing. Despite the fact that the petitioner claimed family pension, the same was denied to her. She accordingly approached this Court by filing CWP No. 12790 of 1996, not only claiming family pension but also claiming the right to retain the house allotted to the petitioners missing husband at normal rent. The aforesaid writ petition was disposed of by a Division Bench of this Court on 3.12.1997. In the order passed by this Court, it was noticed that the respondent-Board admitted that the petitioners husband had been missing since 27.10.1992. The pensionary benefits claimed by this petitioner in the aforesaid writ petition were unilaterally released to the petitioner. In so far as the claim of the petitioner to occupy the residential quarter allotted to her husband is concerned, this Court directed the respondent-Board to charge her normal rent and to refund the difference of rent between normal and penal rent already deducted from the pensionary benefits released to her. It is not a matter of controversy between the parties that the order passed in CWP No. 12790 of 1996 on 3.12.1997 has attained finality.
(3.) The petitioner now claims consideration for appointment on compassionate grounds in terms of the instructions dated 21.5.1993 issued by the State Government which have been adopted by the respondent-Board. According to the aforesaid instructions, a dependent of an employee who has been missing fora period of seven years is entitled to be considered for appointment on compassionate grounds. It is submitted that despite repeated requests made orally as well as in writing by the petitioner, her claim for employment on compassionate grounds has not been considered despite the fact that more than even years have passed since the petitioners husband Bishan Singh has been missing.;