Archive · 24 Jul 2026
High Court Orders Job for Army Officer's Son
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the state government to give a job to the son of an Army officer who died during Operation Snow Leopard.
The court said the state was wrong to say the officer died of a disease and not in battle.
The officer's son, Saksham Rathore, had asked for a job under a policy for families of soldiers who die in service.
The court was upset with the state's unkind and unhelpful attitude and said the officer's death was because of his service in a high-altitude area.
The court told the state to give Saksham a job within four months.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the state to give a job to Saksham Rathore, son of Late Brigadier Abhimanyu Singh Rathore, who died during Operation Snow Leopard.
The court rejected the state's argument that the officer died of a disease, stating his death was due to service in a high-altitude operational area.
The court found the state's stance 'preposterous' and 'unsympathetic', noting it had complicated clear policy instructions.
The court clarified that 'battle casualty' includes deaths in operational areas, making the petitioner eligible under the 2018 and 2023 policies.
The court quashed previous rejection orders and directed the state to grant the compassionate appointment within four months.
- Who
- Saksham Rathore, son of Late Brigadier Abhimanyu Singh Rathore
- What
- High Court orders compassionate job appointment for the son of an Army officer declared a 'battle casualty'
- When
- July 17, 2024 (court order), July 30, 2023 (officer's death)
- Where
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Why
- To rectify the state's incorrect interpretation of policies and grant eligibility under applicable policies
Petitioner's Argument
State's Argument
Eligibility for Compassionate Appointment
Petitioner's Argument
The petitioner argues that as the son of a 'battle casualty', he is eligible for compassionate appointment under the 2018 and 2023 policies.
State's Argument
The state argues that only dependents of 'martyrs' are eligible, and the officer's death was due to disease, not action.
Definition of 'Battle Casualty'
Petitioner's Argument
The petitioner contends that the term 'battle casualty' includes deaths in operational areas, making his father's death eligible.
State's Argument
The state insists on the term 'martyr' and argues that the officer's death was not in action but due to disease.
- Petitioner
- Saksham Rathore
- Deceased Officer
- Brigadier Abhimanyu Singh Rathore
- Operation
- Operation Snow Leopard (Galwan incident)
- Cause of Death
- Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT)
- Policy Dates
- 2014, 2018, 2023
- Court's Decision
- Allowed petition, quashed rejection orders, directed compassionate appointment within four months