#compassionate grounds

Karnataka High Court holds that inordinate delay in processing a representation for fair price shop allotment on compassionate grounds amounts to a violation of natural justice. The court directed authorities to dispose of the petitioner's request within a strict timeline, reinforcing the duty to act promptly under statutory provisions.

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a convict serving a fine-default sentence is entitled to emergency leave to attend his son’s marriage, affirming that family milestones constitute compelling humanitarian grounds under Article 21. This sets a new precedent for prison authorities to interpret compassionate release beyond medical emergencies, expanding the scope of human dignity in correctional policy.

CAT Ernakulam ruled that transferring a gazetted officer despite acknowledged compassionate grounds-such as long-term family separation and Scheduled Caste status-constitutes arbitrariness violating Article 14. The decision mandates that service exigencies cannot override personal hardship without documented, objective justification, setting a new standard for fairness in public sector transfers.