Himachal Compassionate Appointment Applicants Seek Cabinet Relief
Hundreds of applicants in Himachal Pradesh demand fast-track compassionate appointments to prevent candidates from becoming overage due to delays.
A massive delegation of approximately 250 to 300 applicants and their family members descended upon the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat on Saturday, demanding urgent intervention from the state government. The protesters, who are dependents of government employees who died while in service, are seeking the immediate clearance of thousands of long-pending compassionate appointment cases.
The demonstration coincided with a scheduled Cabinet meeting, as the applicants urged the government to fast-track appointments that have already cleared the screening process and to extend a uniform annual income ceiling to those previously rejected.
The Risk of Becoming Overage
One of the most critical concerns raised by the applicants is the ticking clock of age eligibility. Due to prolonged administrative delays, many candidates are at risk of becoming ineligible for employment entirely.
Ajay Kumar, president of the Himachal Pradesh Karunamoolak Sangh, highlighted a grim reality: at least 120 applicants across various departments, boards, and corporations have already crossed the age of 45.
"Because of flawed policies and delays, around 120 cases have crossed the age of 45. If employment is not provided in time, they will become overage and be excluded altogether," Kumar warned, noting that some cases have been languishing for as long as 15 to 20 years.
Stalled Policies and Financial Hurdles
The association pointed toward bureaucratic bottlenecks as the primary reason for the stagnation. While the government had previously raised the annual income limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, the benefits were reportedly only applicable for a short three-month window in 2025.
During that brief period, about 1,200 applicants cleared the screening process, with roughly 450 securing Class-III positions. However, the remaining cases are moving at a snail's pace. Furthermore, the transition of Class-IV roles into the "multi-task worker" category is currently stuck.
Key Demands of the Applicants:
- Release of Multi-Task Worker Policy: The association alleges the relevant policy is currently stuck within the Finance Department, preventing nearly 1,200 selected candidates from receiving employment.
- Uniform Income Ceiling: Applicants are demanding that the Rs 3 lakh annual income ceiling be applied to the 2,200 to 2,300 previously rejected cases.
- Immediate Appointments: If the 2025-screened cases are processed immediately, the association estimates that 800 applicants could receive joining orders within a month.
A Call for Immediate Cabinet Action
The scale of the pending crisis is significant. According to the Karunamoolak Sangh, the total number of pending cases stands between 2,500 and 3,000. If the government acts swiftly to process the 2025-screened cases and reconsiders rejected applicants under the revised income criteria, approximately 1,800 families could receive much-needed relief.
The protesters expressed hope that the Chief Minister would take a decisive stance during the Cabinet meeting to resolve these long-standing grievances and provide a lifeline to the families of deceased public servants.