The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by a woman who sought grant of appointment on compassionate grounds. Her father, a Sub-inspector of Police, was murdered while on duty in 2021.The court was hearing an appeal filed by B. Jeyadurgaveni of Thoothukudi district who had challenged a Single Bench order that dismissed her petition seeking employment on compassionate grounds as announced by the then Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and duly published by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).The announcement made by the then CM was not carried out despite several requests made by the appellant, the daughter of Eral Sub-Inspector of Police V. Balu, who was murdered in 2021. The DGP in 2023, citing a G.O. issued with regard to compassionate appointments, declined the request stating that the family was not in financial distress. The Single Bench had also dismissed her petition.Dismissing the appeal, a Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel said the appellant had failed to satisfy the conditions given in the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 2023.The court said the grant of compassionate employment is to bridge the gap between penury and the loss which a family suffers owing to sudden death of a member of the family, who was discharging public duty as a public servant. But, if the family could take care of themselves, then such employment could be granted to any other family also suffering owing to indigent circumstances.The appellant cannot claim employment as a matter of right. The Rules are self contained and the Rules have self imposed conditions to be followed before employment could be granted or offered, the court said and held that the appellant does not meet the criteria to be granted employment. Published - August 14, 2026 08:33 pm IST