Here’s the latest update (June 14, 2025) from Live Law: the Punjab & Haryana High Court has ruled that a second wife, if officially nominated by her husband and fully dependent on him, is eligible for a compassionate appointment—even if the first marriage hadn’t been legally dissolved.

Tirath Singh, an Assistant Lineman at PSPCL, died in service on February 26, 2022. He had two marriages—the first in 2006, followed by a Panchayati “divorce” in 2007 (not legally recognized), and a second marriage in 2009. The second wife, Kirandeep Kaur, was nominated in his service records and had two daughters with him. PSPCL’s legal team argued the second marriage was invalid, so she wasn’t entitled. However, Kirandeep produced an affidavit from the first wife promising not to claim the appointment, and other supporting documents . Justice Nalwa held that Kirandeep was the nominee in official records, fully dependent, and that the first wife’s affidavit cleared any conflict. Invoking earlier case law, the court ordered PSPCL to grant her compassionate employment.

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