The Rajasthan High Court ordered a widow to deposit 25 percent of her salary into her mother‑in‑law’s account, effective immediately, after she secured a compassionate appointment with Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited in 2017.
The order follows the widow’s promise, in a sworn affidavit, to care for her late husband’s parents when she accepted the post. Instead, she left the matrimonial home and remarried, leaving the in‑laws without financial support.
Under Rajasthan government rules, a deceased employee’s next of kin may be offered a position to ease the family’s financial crisis. The court reiterated that such appointments are not a personal benefit for the widow but a duty to the in‑laws.
In addition, the court ruled that terminal benefits payable to the late employee must be divided equally between the widow and the mother‑in‑law, ensuring the in‑laws receive their rightful share.
Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, which granted the appointment, must now directly deposit the 25 percent share into the in‑law’s bank account and will face penalties if it fails to comply.
The widow is expected to comply within 15 days; failure to do so could trigger a contempt proceeding and the court may impose a fine.