In an important judgment, the Bombay High Court has ruled that a
married daughter is equally entitled to a government job on compassionate grounds on father's demise. The court said giving job to unmarried daughters of government servants but denying the same benefit to married daughters violates the right to equality, equality
of opportunity in matters of public employment and right to life which
are enshrined in the Constitution.

The court was hearing a petition
filed by 29-year-old Swati Kulkarni against Maharashtra Irrigation Department's decision to reject her claim for a job on compassionate grounds after her father's demise. The department had cited a 1994 Government Resolution which said that only unmarried daughters would get this benefit. The division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and Revati Mohite Dere quashed the Irrigation Officer's decision and ordered that Swati Kulkarni's name be included in the waiting list.