Ajit Munda Vs the State of Jharkhand through Secretary, Agriculture and Sugarcane Development Department — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Ajit Munda Vs the State of Jharkhand through Secretary, Agriculture and Sugarcane Development Department — Jharkhand HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, son of Late Mungri Munda (ex-Peon, Birsa Agriculture University), is entitled to compassionate appointment in place of his mother, when one appointment on account of her death was already granted to his elder brother Vijay Munda. +1 more

Court's answer

An appointment on account of the death of Mungri Munda was already granted to her elder son Vijay Munda; the petitioner therefore cannot claim any further appointment on account of his mother's death dated 14.04.2010.

Ratio / Principle

Since Vijay Munda left behind his wife and children, the petitioner, being his brother, has no right to appointment on compassionate ground, his right not being better than that of Vijay Munda's wife and children.

Key takeaways

The claim for regular salary in the pay-scale and other consequential benefits of late Vijay Munda can only be maintained by his wife and children, and not by the petitioner.ratio¶26
The petitioner, being a major, can by no means be said to be a dependent upon Vijay Munda; accordingly no relief can be granted to him.ratio¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Service Law - Compassionate appointment - Petitioner, son of Late Mungri Munda (Peon, Faculty of Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi, who died on 14.04.2010), sought compassionate appointment in place of his mother - One appointment on account of her death had already been granted to her elder son Vijay Munda on 11.04.2015 (submitted by the University to be ad hoc, Vijay Munda not being a matriculate); Vijay Munda died on 23.07.2020 - Held: only one appointment was granted on account of the mother's death, and the petitioner cannot claim a further appointment on the same death - Vijay Munda having left behind his wife and children, the petitioner-brother's right is not better than theirs - Petitioner's second prayer for regular salary in the pay-scale and consequential benefits of late Vijay Munda is maintainable only by Vijay Munda's wife and children; the petitioner, being a major, cannot be said to be dependent upon Vijay Munda - Writ petition dismissed.

2026:JHHC:612

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(S) No. 34 of 2026

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Ajit Munda, aged about 37 years, son of Mangru Munda and Late Mangri Munda, Resident of Village-Kadma, PO & PS-Kanke, District-Ranchi. … … Petitioner(s)

… … Petitioner(s)

Versus

The State of Jharkhand through Secretary, Agriculture and Sugarcane Development Department, Govt. of Jharkhand, Nepal House, PO & PS-Doranda, District-Ranchi.

Birsa Agriculture University, through its Vice Chancellor, POKanke, PS-Kanke, District-Ranchi.

The Registrar, Birsa Agriculture University, PO-Kanke, PSKanke, District-Ranchi.

The Director Administration, Birsa Agriculture University, POKanke, PS-Kanke, District-Ranchi.

The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Birsa Agriculture University, PO-Kanke, PS-Kanke, District-Ranchi.

… … Respondent(s)

CORAM : SRI ANANDA SEN, J.

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For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Niraj Kishore, Advocate For the Respondent(s) : Mr. Zeeshan Ahmad Khan, AC to SC-VII Mr. A. Allam, Sr. Advocate Ms. Sushmita Kumari, Advocate Ms. Asfia Sultana, Advocate Mr. Faisal Allam, Advocate

02/ 12^th January, 2026

1. Heard the parties.

2. The petitioner by filling this writ application, prays for compassionate appointment in place of his mother Late Mungri Munda.

3. Late Mungri Munda was Peon in the Faculty of Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi and she died on 14.04.2010. After the death, her elder son, namely, Vijay Munda was appointed on 11.04.2015. He also died on 23.07.2020. The petitioner prays that now the petitioner be appointed in place of his Late mother Mungri Munda.

4. The prayer of the petitioner cannot be accepted by this

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2026:JHHC:612

Court.

5. Mungri Munda died on 14.04.2010. One appointment was given to the elder son, namely, Vijay Munda on 11.04.2015. 6. Though, the learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent- Birsa Agriculture University submits that Vijay Munda was appointed on adhoc basis as he was not matriculate but the fact remains that an appointment on account of death of Mungri Munda was already granted to Vijay Munda. This petitioner now cannot claim any appointment on account of death of his mother who died on 14.04.2010.

7. Further, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Vijay Munda is married and has left behind his wife and children after his death. Since, there is wife and children of Vijay Munda, this petitioner who is the brother of Vijay Munda, has got no right to be appointed on compassionate ground, as it cannot be said that his right is better than the right of wife of Vijay Kumar and his children.

8. So far as the second prayer is concerned to pay regular salary in the pay-scale and other consequential benefit to late Vijay Munda is concerned, the said claim can only be maintained by the wife and the children of Vijay Munda and not by this petitioner. This petitioner, who is major, can by no means be said to be a dependent upon Vijay Munda. Thus, no relief can be granted to the petitioner. Accordingly, this writ petition stands dismissed .

(ANANDA SEN, J.)

12.01.2026

S.K.D., cp2

Uploaded on 13.01.2026

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