- 15-May-2025
- Personal Injury Law
Compassionate appointments in the Indian Armed Forces are a special category of recruitment reserved for the family members (typically dependents) of military personnel who have died or been permanently disabled while on duty. These appointments provide an avenue for financial security and support for the families of soldiers who have made significant sacrifices for the country. Compassionate appointments aim to assist the family members during times of loss or distress by offering them employment within the defence forces.
Dependents of the deceased or permanently disabled military personnel are eligible to apply for a compassionate appointment.
The dependents generally include the spouse, sons, daughters, or parents (in cases where the soldier is unmarried or has no direct heirs).
The soldier must have died or been rendered permanently disabled during active service. The disability should prevent the individual from performing their military duties.
If the soldier dies due to injuries sustained during operations, war, or combat, the family members are automatically eligible for compassionate appointment.
Compassionate appointments are usually made for Group C or Group D posts, but in exceptional cases, Group B or even Group A posts can be considered, depending on the educational qualifications and experience of the dependent.
Group C and D posts typically include administrative, clerical, and other support roles, while Group B and A posts include technical or professional roles, which may require specific qualifications.
The posts offered are often based on the availability of vacancies and the family member’s educational qualifications.
If the soldier has been permanently disabled, their condition must be thoroughly assessed by a medical board. Only those with permanent disabilities (which prevent them from performing military duties) are eligible for compassionate appointments.
The medical board will provide the disability percentage, and this percentage is crucial for determining the type of benefits the soldier’s family will be eligible for.
The application for a compassionate appointment must be made by the dependent(s) of the deceased or disabled soldier to the concerned defence authority (such as the Ministry of Defence or respective branches of the Armed Forces).
Documents required for the application include:
The application must be submitted within a certain period after the soldier’s death or injury (usually within 5 years from the date of death or injury).
The application is reviewed by a designated Selection Committee within the armed forces, which evaluates the eligibility based on the available vacancies and the dependent’s qualifications.
If the application meets all the criteria, the dependent is offered the job. The appointment is made on compassionate grounds, but it is subject to the availability of a suitable vacancy and adherence to the recruitment process.
The dependent can only be appointed to a post that is vacant and available in the respective branch of the Armed Forces. If no vacancies exist, the dependent may have to wait until a post becomes available.
In some cases, the priority vacancies for compassionate appointments are created specifically to provide immediate employment opportunities to the families of soldiers who have died or been injured in service.
The dependent applying for the compassionate appointment must typically fall within an age range of 18 to 25 years, though this can vary based on the type of post.
For Group C and D posts, the age limit may be slightly more relaxed, and it can extend up to 30 years.
The appointed family member will be given a permanent job within the organisation, subject to the usual terms and conditions of employment.
Compassionate appointees are expected to work in a similar manner as regular employees, following the rules and regulations set by the department.
The appointment is made solely on the basis of compassionate grounds and not for financial remuneration. However, it does provide the family with regular income and financial stability.
Compassionate appointments are meant to be rehabilitative in nature, providing dependents with an opportunity to lead a dignified life after the loss of a family member.
In some cases, if the deceased soldier was a high-ranking officer (e.g., an officer or a senior NCO), compassionate appointments may be offered for more specialized or higher-ranking roles, based on the qualifications of the dependent.
If the dependent is disabled, they may be considered for suitable positions based on their own medical condition or disability, and the armed forces may offer roles that accommodate the dependent’s needs.
A soldier in the Army dies in combat. His wife, who has completed a bachelor’s degree, applies for a clerical position under the compassionate appointment scheme. After submitting the required documents, including the soldier’s death certificate, proof of relationship, and her educational qualifications, the army reviews the application and offers her the job, as there is a vacancy in the administrative division.
A soldier suffers a permanent disability due to an accident during training, making him unfit for military service. His son, who has completed his 10+2 education, applies for a lower-level administrative post. After the medical board confirms the soldier’s permanent disability and the necessary paperwork is submitted, the son is offered the job, as there is a vacancy in the administrative sector of the army.
The process for compassionate appointments in the Indian Armed Forces provides much-needed support to the families of soldiers who lose their lives or are permanently disabled in service. Through this scheme, dependents can find employment within the armed forces, which helps alleviate the financial hardships faced after the loss of a breadwinner. However, compassionate appointments are subject to certain eligibility criteria, medical evaluations, and available vacancies, and they are primarily aimed at offering financial security and dignity to the families of military personnel.
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