IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA CWP No.11553 of 2025 Date of Decision: 18.07.2025 _______________________________________________________ Pooja Devi …….Petitioner Versus State of Himachal Pradesh & Others ….Respondents _______________________________________________________ Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? 1 For the Petitioner: Mr. Sanjay Jaswal, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. Rajan Kahol and Mr. B.C. Verma, Additional Advocates General. ____________________________________________________ Sandeep Sharma, Judge(oral): Petitioner herein is seeking appointment on compassionate grounds on account of death of her husband, who died in harness on 03.11.2024. Though Gram Panchayat concerned, where petitioner’s husband was working, vide resolution dated 06.01.2025 requested Superintending Engineer, Jal Shakti Vibhag, Division Jhanduta, District Bilaspur, for providing appointment to the petitioner on compassionate grounds, but since nothing was heard from the department-side, petitioner herein filed statutory representation dated 26.06.2025 (Annexure P-6) to Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Vibhag, Division Jhanduta, District Bilaspur, praying therein for her appointment on compassionate grounds on account of death of her husband, who admittedly died in harness. 1Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2 2. While putting in appearance on behalf of respondents, Mr. B.C. Verma, learned Additional Advocate General, states that representation has been filed by the petitioner on 26.06.2025 and action upon the same is yet to be taken by the department. He states that since application filed by the petitioner has been already entertained by the department and ultimate decision upon the same is to be taken by the department, in terms of policy for appointment on compassionate grounds, present petition being premature deserves dismissal. 3. Since decision upon the representation filed by the petitioner is to be taken by the competent authority, it may not be appropriate for this Court to look into the entitlement of the petitioner, if any, for compassionate appointment, in terms of policy formulated by the State of Himachal Pradesh for appointment on compassionate grounds and as such, present petition is disposed of with the direction to Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Vibhag, Division Jhanduta, District Bilaspur, to consider and decide the pending representation dated 26.06.2025 (Annexure P-6), expeditiously, preferably, within a period of two weeks. Needless to say, authority concerned while doing the needful in terms of instant order, shall afford an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and pass appropriate order thereupon taking note of policy formulated by the Government of Himachal Pradesh for 3 appointment on compassionate grounds prevalent at the time of death of husband of the petitioner. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of. p` (Sandeep Sharma), Judge July 18, 2025 (Rajeev Raturi)