#Age Limit

The Supreme Court ruled that the 35-year age limit for compassionate appointments under the National Coal Wage Agreement must be measured from the date the application process begins, not from when the claim is finally considered. This prevents employers from using procedural delays to disqualify eligible dependents of deceased workers.

The Calcutta HC reinstated a compassionate appointment after an ossification test confirmed the petitioner was under 35 at the time of provisional appointment in 2021, despite later medical reports suggesting overage. The court held that a nearly five-year delay in finalizing the appointment, coupled with inconsistent medical assessments, rendered the termination prejudicial and violative of natural justice, setting a precedent for delayed compassionate appointments in government services.

Madhya Pradesh High Court rules that age relaxation granted under a time-bound circular expires on the specified date and cannot be claimed in subsequent recruitments. The judgment clarifies that candidates have no legal right to demand extended concessions beyond the circular's validity period, reinforcing administrative discretion in recruitment rules.