Government of Odisha
General Administration & Public Grievance Department
*****
No.GAD-SC-RAS-0050-2026- 31197/Gen., Bhubaneswar,
dated the 30th September, 2026
To
All Departments of Government,
All Heads of Departments,
All RDCs,
All Collectors.
Sub: Clarification regarding certain provisions of the OCS (RA) Rules, 1990- matters regarding.
Government have framed rules from time to time for providing compassionate appointment under the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme to eligible members of the family of a deceased Government servant. It is observed that many Departments are referring files seeking clarification on various provisions relating to appointment under the OCS (RA) Rules, 1990. Further, grievance petitions have also been received from applicants whose cases relate to the applicability of the relevant OCS (RA) Rules, 1990 to their cases. Therefore, it is felt necessary to issue some clarifications relating to the OCS (RA) Rules, 1990 as below:-
1. Applicability of Rules prevailing on the date of death:-
The Supreme Court of India and High Court of Odisha have directed to consider the RA application as per the provisions of the OCS (RA) Rules prevailing as on the date of death of the Government servant. Accordingly, the Odisha Civil Services (Rehabilitation Assistance) Amendment Rules, 2025 came into force with the amendment of the provision of the Odisha Civil Services (Rehabilitation Assistance) Rules, 2020 to deal with pending RA applications as per the prevailing Rules at the time of death .
Accordingly, the OCS (RA) Rules,1990 shall be applicable to the cases relating to Government servants who died during the period from 24.09.1990 [i.e. the date of commencement of the OCS (RA) Rules,1990] to 16.02.2020 [i.e. the date immediately preceding the date of commencement of the Odisha Civil Services (Rehabilitation Assistance) Rules, 2020]
2. Age Limit for appointment under Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme: -
The minimum and maximum age limits prescribed for appointment under the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme shall be governed by the general principles/rules applicable to the age limit for such appointment. In respect of a minor child who was the only eligible ward available in the family of the deceased Government servant for the employment at the time of death can apply for job on attaining the age of eighteen years and in no case beyond three years from the date of attaining the age of eighteen years.
However, in exceptional cases, the maximum age limit may be relaxed by the competent authority.
3. Change in marital status of an applicant: -
The eligibility of an applicant shall be considered with reference to the information furnished at the time of submission of the application. Accordingly, where the daughter of the deceased Government servant was unmarried at the time of submission of the application and thereby came within the purview of the definition of "family" under the OCS (RA) Rules, 1990, her subsequent change in marital status shall not, by itself, render her ineligible for consideration of her application under the said Rules.
4. Applicability to specified categories of employees:
The provisions of the OCS (RA) Rules, 1990, had been extended to Teaching and Non-Teaching Staffs covered under GIA orders-1994 in Aided Educational Institutions of the School & Mass Education Department and Higher Education Department, WorkCharged Employees of the State Government and employees of Public Sector Undertakings under the State Government. Therefore, family members of employees of these categories of Institutions/Organisations, are eligible for appointment under the OCS (RA) Rules, 1990.
All concerned Departments/Authorities are hereby instructed to take necessary action for expeditious disposal of such old pending cases, within a period of three months from the date of issue of this clarification and upload the status of disposal in the Portal to be developed by CMGI soon for the purpose
Suresh Kumar Vashishth
Principal Secretary to Government
31197 Dt. 30.09.2026
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