On 03.01.2004, father of the petitioner, who was serving the respondent Nigam, died in harness and on the happening of such an event, in the year 2004 itself, mother of the petitioner sought employment for the petitioner on compassionate grounds. The application moved by the petitioner's mother was considered under the Haryana Compassionate Assistance to the Dependents of the Deceased Government Employees Rules, 2003 (hereinafter referred to as – the 2003 Rules) and accordingly, in response thereto, the respondent Nigam, through letter dated 24.06.2005, informed the mother of the petitioner that in the seniority list, being maintained by the respondent Nigam, of all eligible candidates seeking compassionate appointment, the petitioner figured at Serial No. 92. She was further informed that as per clause 3(b) of the 2003 Rules, a maximum of 5% of the sanctioned posts (falling under direct recruitment quota in Group-C and Group-D) could be filled up through ex-gratia employment and since as per seniority, the petitioner was not entitled to appointment in lieu thereof, she was offered compassionate financial assistance of ` 2.5 lacs, the amount payable under the applicable Rules. The record reveals that neither the petitioner's mother nor the petitioner responded to the aforereferred offer and in the meanwhile, the Haryana Compassionate Assistance to the Dependent of the Deceased Government Employees Rules, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as – the 2006 Rules) were promulgated, as per which, on 20.11.2006, the petitioner's mother was asked to give either of the following options :-
