Gauhati High Court: The single Bench of Michael Zothankhuma, J., disposed of the writ petition and held that a cousin cannot be included within the definition of ‘member of family’ under the provisions of Assam Public Services (Preferential Appointment) Rules, 1999 (hereinafter as APS Rules, 1999).
A writ petition was filed by the petitioner stating that he was the cousin of the deceased Gajendra Bijoy Rabha, who was a martyr in the Assam Movement and hence, was entitled to be given a preferential appointment as per the provisions laid down of the Assam Public Services (Preferential Appointment) Rules, 1999.
Dismissing the petition, the Bench observed that under Rule 2 (d) of the APS Rules, 1999, a preferential appointment is provided to only certain categories of family members which includes a son or daughter of the spouse or a brother or sister of a martyr or a physically disabled person. Therefore, the Bench held that a cousin cannot be included within the definition of ‘member of family’ under the APS Rules,1999. Hence, the petitioner was not entitled to preferential appointment in Assam Public Services as per the provisions of the rules.
[Jackie Rabha v. Principal Secretary to the Govt of Assam, 2022 SCC OnLine Gau 1074, decided on- 18-07-2022]
Appearances
For the Petitioner: MD B Islam, Advocate
For the Respondent: GA, Assam