Punjab changes Compassionate Appointment Policy

CHANDIGARH (INDIA): Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today approved changes in policy to ensure that an eligible next of kin of government employees who were on two-year extension were given jobs on compassionate grounds if they die in harness.nnBadal cleared the file to this effect late in the evening, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office here said.nnExplaining the changes, the spokesperson said earlier a family member of a government employee who died in harness during service – applicable up to 58 years – was eligible for job as per the existing Compassionate Appointment Policy.nnBut now the government has decided to extend the facility to the government employees who have opted for a two-year extension in their service after superannuation at 58.nnIn another decision, Badal decided to give relief to the employees by empowering the Head of Department (HoD) to give jobs to the next of kin of deceased staffer within five years.nnThe government also decided to give Administrative Secretaries the power to give jobs after the five-year period in case there’s no claimant on compassionate grounds.nnEarlier the HoD had the power to give job on compassionate grounds within an year beyond which the case was forwarded to the personnel department which could give the approval in five years, thereby causing undue harassment and inordinate delay.nn nnSource: Press Trust of India