Punjab and Haryana HC Rules Daughter-in-Law Must Provide Maintenance to Mother-in-Law After Compassionate job Appointment

Keywords: Punjab and Haryana High Court, daughter-in-law maintenance, compassionate appointment, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar, moral obligations, mother-in-law, Section 144 CrPC, Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala.

In a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a daughter-in-law appointed on compassionate grounds following her husband’s death is obligated to provide financial maintenance to her mother-in-law.

The case revolved around a petitioner who secured a junior clerk position at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala in 2005 after her husband’s demise. At the time of her appointment, she signed an affidavit committing to support her late husband’s family. However, despite earning a monthly salary of ₹80,000, she later refused to provide financial support to her mother-in-law.

Court’s Observations

Justice Harpreet Singh Brar dismissed the petitioner’s plea, emphasizing that compassionate appointments are not merely employment opportunities but carry moral and ethical responsibilities.

“The petitioner cannot be allowed to take benefits of a compassionate appointment and avoid the responsibilities that come with it,” Justice Brar observed.

The court directed the petitioner to pay ₹10,000 per month as maintenance to her mother-in-law, noting that the purpose of compassionate appointments extends beyond providing jobs—it includes ensuring the welfare of the deceased’s dependents.

Legal Interpretation and Rationale

While Section 124 of the CrPC (now Section 144 of the BNSS) does not explicitly impose a duty on a daughter-in-law to support her in-laws, the court adopted a broader interpretation to align with the law’s overarching purpose—preventing destitution and ensuring fairness.

Justice Brar remarked:

“The overarching aim of justice is to serve what is deserved, and accountability and fairness are identifying features of the same. However, the purpose would be defeated if justice is viewed in its absolute mechanical form, devoid of context and nuance.”

This nuanced perspective underscores the importance of contextualizing justice to address the realities of specific cases.

Implications of the Ruling

The judgment reinforces the ethical dimensions of compassionate appointments, highlighting that individuals benefiting from such provisions must honor their commitments to the deceased’s family.

The ruling also serves as a reminder that legal mechanisms, while rooted in statutory provisions, must be interpreted dynamically to achieve equitable outcomes, particularly in cases involving familial and societal obligations.

The decision is likely to influence future cases where questions arise about the obligations of individuals appointed on compassionate grounds. It also sheds light on the judiciary’s role in balancing legal technicalities with broader ethical considerations to serve justice effectively.

This landmark judgment not only safeguards the rights of vulnerable dependents but also strengthens the accountability of those benefiting from compassionate job appointments.

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