Afr High Court
Case Details
1 2025:CGHC:23095 AFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR Order reserved on : 03-03-2025 Order passed on : 11-06-2025 WPS No. 3968 of 2015 Smt. Seema Yadav W/o Shri Keshwar Yadav, Aged About 27 Years Caste Ahir, Occupation Anganbadi Karyakarta, R/o Village Shyamnagar, Kharkha Para, Tahsil Pratappur, District Surajpur Chhattisgarh ... Petitioner versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Panchayat And Rural Development Department, Mahanadi Bhawan, Naya Raipur Chhattisgarh, 2 - The Commissioner, Surguja Division Ambikapur Chhattisgarh, 3 - The Collector, District Surajpur Chhattisgarh 4 - District Woman And Child Development Officer, District Surajpur Chhattisgarh 2 5 - District Programme Officer, Woman And Child Development Project, Ambikapur Chhattisgarh 6 - The Project Officer, Unified Child Development Project, Pratappur, District Surajpur Chhattisgarh 7 - Chief Executive Officer, Janpad Panchayat, Pratappur, District Surajpur Chhattisgarh 8 - Smt. Parmeshwari, W/o Manoj Rajwade, Aged About 27 Years Caste Rajwade, R/o Village Shyamnagar, Kharkhapara, Tahsil Pratappur, District Surajpur Chhattisgarh ... Respondents For Petitioner
Legal Reasoning
maintainable, it is settled law that dismissal of a petition for want of prosecution will not have the effect of adjudicating the rights of the parties and therefore, second appeal filed by respondent No.8 was very much maintainable. The order impugned does not suffer from any infirmity or illegality and as such, the instant petition being devoid of any substance is liable to be dismissed. 8 06. In her rejoinder, the petitioner contended that the petitioner has not submitted any forged and fabricate document to secure appointment on the post of Aanganbadi Worker. She passed the examination of Class 10th in the year 2005 with poor marks (third division) and for improvement of her division she completed her education of higher secondary examination in the year 2008 from Manisha Public Higher Secondary School, Silphili which was affiliated with Board of Higher Secondary Education, Delhi vide Annexures P/3 & P/4 and secured good marks and was, therefore, selected for the post of Aanganbadi Worker. As per enquiry report dated 14.5.2013 (Annexure P/16) submitted by the District Woman and Child Development Officer, the said school was functional and complaint against the petitioner in relation to false certificate is bogus. This apart, the Sarapcnh of Village Panchayat-Silphili issued a certificate on 20.2.2016 (Annexure P/21) clearly stating that the said school was running in their village. The impugned order has been passed without proper appreciation of the material on record in an unreasonable and arbitrary manner, hence liable to be set aside. 07. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 08. It is an admitted position in this case that the petitioner was appointed as Aanganbadi Worker on 22.12.2009 and she joined her services on 23.12.2009. Respondent No.8 filed an appeal before the 9 Collector, Surguja challenging appointment of the petitioner which was dismissed on 25.10.2010 for want of prosecution and thereafter, she filed a fresh appeal before the Collector. On 29.4.2013 respondent No.4/District Woman and Child Development Officer, Surajpur issued notice for verification of marksheets of the petitioner and respondent No.4 gave verification report regarding marksheets of the petitioner. The Collector, Surajpur vide order dated 17.12.2014 allowed the appeal of respondent No.8 and quashed the appointment order of the petitioner. Against this order, the petitioner filed an appeal before respondent No.2/Commissioner and by the impugned order dated 29.9.2015 the Commissioner dismissed the appeal of the petitioner. 09. It is clear from the notice dated 14.5.2013 (Annexure P/16) that respondent No.4/District Woman and Child Development Officer, Surajpur furnished information to respondent No.8 on her complaint against the petitioner. The operative paragraph of this notice is as under: “ मा(cid:2)ध्यमिमाक शि(cid:8)ቌኋ(cid:2) माण्डल रा(cid:2)यपु(cid:15)रा से(cid:17) मा(cid:2)न्यता(cid:2)/ सेमाकቌኋता(cid:2) क(cid:2) पु्ቔ ቚኋ(cid:2)प्ता हो(cid:24)ने(cid:17) क(cid:17) उपुरा(cid:2)(cid:27)ता हो(cid:28) आं(cid:27)गनेबा(cid:2)ड(cid:28) क(cid:17) न््ቖ श्य(cid:2)मानेगरा मा" आं(cid:27)गनेबा(cid:2)ड(cid:28) क(cid:2)य#कता(cid:2)# क(cid:17) पुद पुरा ቦኍ(cid:28)माता(cid:28) से(cid:28)मा(cid:2) क(cid:2) निनेय(cid:15)ሹኌ(ता आंद(cid:17)(cid:8) जा(cid:2)रा(cid:28) निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो*। आं(cid:27)गनेबा(cid:2)ड(cid:28) क(cid:17) न््ቖ खराक(cid:2)पु(cid:2)रा(cid:2) मा" अनिनेयमिमाता निनेय(cid:15)ሹኌ(ता क(cid:17) से(cid:27)बाध मा" आंपुक(cid:17) ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) कल(cid:17)(टरा न्य(cid:2)य(cid:2)लय (अቚኌ2बाक(cid:2)पु(cid:15)रा) सेराग(cid:15)जा(cid:2) मा" य(cid:2)शि3क(cid:2) ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क/19/बा(cid:28)-121- 2009-10 द(cid:2)यरा निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो*। उ(ता य(cid:2)शि3क(cid:2) अदमा पु*रावी(cid:28) मा" न्य(cid:2)य(cid:2)लय ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) ख(cid:2)रिराजा निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो*। तात्क(cid:2)ल(cid:28)ने सेमाय मा" से(cid:27)ቝኋ(cid:2) ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) जा(cid:2)रा(cid:28) अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) मा(cid:2)न्यता(cid:2) ቚኋ(cid:2)प्ता थी(cid:28)। अता; आंपुक(cid:17) ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) क< गई शि(cid:8)क(cid:2)यता सेहो(cid:28) नेहो> हो*। ቚኋस्ता(cid:15)ता शि(cid:8)क(cid:2)यता क(cid:17) से(cid:27)बा(cid:27)ध क@ ता क(cid:2)य#वी(cid:2)हो(cid:28) से93ने(cid:2)थी#।" 10 From perusal of the order dated 17.12.2014 (Annexure P/17) it is observed that the Collector, Surguja allowed the appeal of respondent No.8 on the ground that marksheet of Class 10 of the petitioner was submitted after last date of submission of the application. The applications were invited from 24.5.2008 to 8.6.2008 and the petitioner submitted her application on 26.5.2008 whereas in her marksheet the date of issuance of marksheet is mentioned as 19.6.2008. The operative paragraphs of this order read as under: “… आंवी(cid:17)दने दिदने(cid:2)(cid:27)क 24.5.2226 से(cid:17) 8.6.2008 ताक आंमा(cid:27)नि्ቔता निकय(cid:17) गय(cid:17) थी(cid:17)। उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । से(cid:28)मा(cid:2) ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) ቚኋस्ता(cid:15)ता अ(cid:27)क से93(cid:28) मा" अ(cid:27)क से93(cid:28) जा(cid:2)रा(cid:28) निकय(cid:17) जा(cid:2)ने(cid:17) क(cid:2) दिदने(cid:2)(cid:27)क 19.6.2008 अ(cid:27)निकता हो*। उपुरा(cid:24)(ता से(cid:17) ्ቢ्ቖ हो(cid:24)ता(cid:2) हो* निक माने(cid:28)षा(cid:2) पुሹኌGलक हो(cid:2)यरा से(cid:17)क(cid:17) ᭹ᯚ(cid:28) स्क9 ल क(cid:17) ने(cid:2)मा पुरा शिसेलनिIल(cid:28) मा" क(cid:24)ई से(cid:27)ቝኋ(cid:2) जाबा से(cid:27)3(cid:2)शिलता हो(cid:28) नेहो> हो* ता(cid:24) क* से(cid:17) उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) पुሹኌGलक हो(cid:2)यरा से(cid:17)क(cid:17) ᭹ᯚ(cid:28) स्क9 ल क(cid:2) अ(cid:27)क से93(cid:28) ቚኋस्ता(cid:15)ता निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो* इसेसे(cid:17) ्ቢ्ቖ हो* निक उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क 1 ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) IजाK अ(cid:27)क से93(cid:28) ता*य(cid:2)रा करा(cid:2)करा से(cid:27)लग्ने निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो*। से(cid:2)थी हो(cid:28) रा(cid:24)जाग(cid:2)रा पु(cid:27)जा(cid:28)यने क(cid:17) अने(cid:15)से(cid:2)रा उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क 1 जाबा वीषा# 2005 मा" हो(cid:28) कቌኋ(cid:2) 10 वी(cid:28) उ्ቈ(cid:28)ण य(cid:28) ता(cid:24) निIरा उसे(cid:17) पु(cid:15)ने; कቌኋ(cid:2) 10 वी> वीषा# 2008 मा" (यN उቔኚता(cid:28)ण कराने(cid:2) पु़(cid:2) इसेसे(cid:17) इसे से(cid:27)द(cid:17)हो क(cid:24) बाल मिमालता(cid:2) हो* क< IजाK अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) ता*य(cid:2)रा क< गय(cid:28) हो*। आं(cid:27)गनेबा(cid:2)़(cid:28) क(cid:2)य#कता(cid:2)#/ सेहो(cid:2)मियक(cid:2) हो(cid:17)ता(cid:15) आंवी(cid:17)दने पु्ቔ ቚኋ(cid:2)प्ता निकय(cid:17) जा(cid:2)ने(cid:17) हो(cid:17)ता(cid:15) पुरिराय(cid:24)जाने(cid:2) क(cid:2)य(cid:2)#लय ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) दिदने(cid:2)(cid:27)क 24.5.2226 से(cid:17) 8.6.2008 क(cid:2) सेमाय निनेध(cid:2)#रिराता निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) थी(cid:2)। उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) दिदने(cid:2)(cid:27)क 26.5.08 क(cid:24) आंवी(cid:17)दने क(cid:2)य(cid:2)#लय मा" जामा(cid:2) निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो*। उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) ቚኋस्ता(cid:15)ता अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) मा", अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) जा(cid:2)रा(cid:28) निकय(cid:17) जा(cid:2)ने(cid:17) क(cid:2) दिदने(cid:2)(cid:27)क 19.6.2008 अ(cid:27)निकता हो*। इसेसे(cid:17) ्ቢ्ቖ हो* निक आंवी(cid:17)दने ቚኋ(cid:2)प्ता कराने(cid:17) क< निनेयता शिलशिथी सेमा(cid:2)प्ता हो(cid:24)ने(cid:17) पुቐኋ(cid:2)ता उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC क(cid:24) अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) ቚኋ(cid:2)प्ता हुआं हो*। उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) ቚኋ(cid:2)प्ता हो(cid:24)ने(cid:17) क< निताशिथी से(cid:17) पु9वी# हो(cid:28) आंवी(cid:17)दने पु्ቔ क(cid:17) से(cid:2)थी अ(cid:27)क 11 से93(cid:28) से(cid:27)लग्ने निकय(cid:2) जा(cid:2)ने(cid:2) से(cid:27)द(cid:17)हो क(cid:24) जाGमा द(cid:17)ता(cid:2) हो* जिजासेसे(cid:17) उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) ቚኋस्ता(cid:15)ता अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) क(cid:24) सेहो(cid:28) नेहो> मा(cid:2)ने(cid:2) जा(cid:2) सेकता(cid:2) हो*। ቚኋकराण मा" आंय(cid:17) उपुरा(cid:24)(ता ताथ्यN क(cid:17) से9ቌኚमा अवील(cid:24)कने पुቐኋ(cid:2)ता माV इसे निनेष्कषा# पुरा पुहु(cid:27)3ता(cid:2) ूሻ(cid:27) निक उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क 1 से(cid:28)मा(cid:2) य(cid:2)दवी ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) कቌኋ(cid:2) 10 वी> क< IजाK अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) ቚኋस्ता(cid:15)ता निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो*। तात्क(cid:2)ल(cid:28)ने सेमाय मा" उ(ता अ(cid:27)कसे93(cid:28) क(cid:2) बाग*रा जा(cid:2)(cid:27)3 निकय(cid:17) हो(cid:28) उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । क< निनेय(cid:15)ሹኌ(ता आंगनेबा(cid:2)़(cid:28) क(cid:2)य#कता(cid:2)# क(cid:17) पुद पुरा आंल(cid:24)च्य आंद(cid:17)(cid:8) क(cid:17) मा(cid:2)ध्यमा से(cid:17) निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो* जा(cid:24) निवीमिधयN क(cid:17) अने(cid:15)क9 ल नेहो> हो*। आं(cid:27)गनेबा(cid:2)़(cid:28) क(cid:17) न््ቖ श्य(cid:2)मानेगरा खराख(cid:2)पु(cid:2)रा(cid:2) हो(cid:17)ता(cid:15) आं(cid:27)गनेग(cid:2)़(cid:28) क(cid:2)य#कता(cid:2)# हो(cid:17)ता(cid:15) द(cid:24) आंवी(cid:17)दिदक(cid:2) थी(cid:28), अपु(cid:28)ल(cid:2)थीK एं(cid:27)वी उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क 1 क(cid:17) आंवी(cid:17)दने पुरा निवी3(cid:2)रा निकय(cid:2) गय(cid:2) हो*। 39 (cid:27)निक उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । से(cid:28)मा(cid:2) य(cid:2)दवी ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) ቚኋस्ता(cid:15)ता कቌኋ(cid:2) 10 वी> क< अ(cid:27)क से93(cid:28) IजाK पु(cid:2)य(cid:2) गय(cid:28) हो* जिजासेसे(cid:17) उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क 1, निनेय(cid:15)ሹኌ(ता हो(cid:17)ता(cid:15) य(cid:24)ग्य उ2मा(cid:28)दवी(cid:2)रा नेहो> थी(cid:28), अता; आंल(cid:24)च्य आंद(cid:17)(cid:8) कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क 226/मा०बा(cid:2)०निवी०/2009-2010 ቚኋता(cid:2)पुपु(cid:15)रा दिदने(cid:2)(cid:27)क 22.12.2009 जिजासेक(cid:17) ቛኋ(cid:2)रा(cid:2) 3 अन्य क(cid:17) न््ቖN क(cid:17) से(cid:2)थी श्य(cid:2)मानेगरा खराख(cid:2)पु(cid:2)रा(cid:2) क(cid:17) न््ቖ मा" क(cid:2)य#कता(cid:2)# क(cid:17) पुद पुरा उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क 1 क< निनेय(cid:15)ሹኌ(ता क< गय(cid:28) हो* उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क 1 से(cid:28)मा(cid:2) य(cid:2)दवी क(cid:17) पुरिराቚኋ(cid:17)ቌኚय मा" आं(cid:27)शि(cid:8)क रूपु से(cid:17) निनेरास्ता निकय(cid:2) जा(cid:2)ता(cid:2) हो* एं(cid:27)वी पुरिराय(cid:24)जाने(cid:2) अमिधक(cid:2)रा(cid:28) मानिहोल(cid:2) एं(cid:27)वी बा(cid:2)ल निवीक(cid:2)से पुरिराय(cid:24)जाने(cid:2) ቚኋता(cid:2)पुपु(cid:15)रा क(cid:24) आंद(cid:17)शि(cid:8)ता निकय(cid:2) जा(cid:2)ता(cid:2) हो* निक उ्ቈरावी(cid:2)दC कमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क । से(cid:28)मा(cid:2) य(cid:2)दवी क(cid:24) आं(cid:27)गनेबा(cid:2)़(cid:28) क(cid:17) न््ቖ श्य(cid:2)मानेगरा खराख(cid:2)पु(cid:2)रा(cid:2) क(cid:17) क(cid:2)य#कता(cid:2)# पुद से(cid:17) पु@थीक कराता(cid:17) हुएं अपु(cid:28)ल(cid:2)थीK पुरामा(cid:17)्ቫरा(cid:28) रा(cid:2)जावी(cid:2)़(cid:17) क< निनेय(cid:15)ሹኌ(ता आं(cid:27)गनेबा(cid:2)़(cid:28) क(cid:17) न््ቖ श्य(cid:2)मानेगरा खराख(cid:2)पु(cid:2)रा(cid:2) मा" कराने(cid:17) क< क(cid:2)य#वी(cid:2)हो(cid:28) करा"। अपु(cid:28)ल(cid:2)थीK क< अपु(cid:28)ल स्वी(cid:28)क(cid:2)रा क< जा(cid:2)ता(cid:28) हो*।" 10. Respondent No.7/Chief Executive Officer, Janpad Panchayat, Pratappur filed documents of Annexures R/7-1 & R/7-2. Annexure R/7- 2 is a certificate issued by Gram Panchayat, Silphili, Janpad Panchayat-Surajpur. In this certificate it is mentioned that no institute of 12 Manisha Public Higher Secondary School is functioning in Gram Panchayat, Silphili. This Court on 17.12.2024 directed the State counsel to file affidavit of District Education Officer, Surajpur regarding details of registration of the school namely Manisha Public Higher Secondary School, Silphili, Surajpur as to be apprised of the fact whether the said school was operating there at that time or not and about its current situation. In compliance of this order, the District Education Officer, Surajpur filed her affidavit wherein it is stated that the Block Education Officer, Surajpur vide letter dated 24.2.2025 (Annexure A) informed the District Education Officer that Manisha Public Higher Secondary School, Silphili was operating since 2006 to 2012 and at present it is not in operation. The letter dated 24.2.2025 (Annexure A) is as under: का(cid:2)ኋ(cid:2)(cid:4)लኋ वि(cid:7)का(cid:2)सखण्ड शि(cid:13)ቌኋ(cid:2) अधि(cid:17)का(cid:2)री(cid:19) स(cid:20)रीजपु(cid:23)री (छ०ग०) ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क/1473/ቝኋ(cid:2)./2024-25 से9राजापु(cid:15)रा, दिदने(cid:2)^क 24-02-2025 ቚኋनिता, जिजल(cid:2) शि(cid:13)ቌኋ(cid:2) अधि(cid:17)का(cid:2)री(cid:19) जिजल(cid:2)-स(cid:20)रीजपु(cid:23)री निवीषाय:- माने(cid:28)षा(cid:2) पुሹኌGलक हो(cid:2)यरा से(cid:17)क(cid:17) ण्डरा(cid:28) स्क9 ल शिसेलनिIल(cid:28) क(cid:17) मा(cid:2)न्यता(cid:2) क(cid:17) से(cid:27)बा(cid:27)ध मा"। से(cid:27)द्ቝ#:- आंपुक(cid:2) ्ቅमा(cid:2)(cid:27)क/2447/मा(cid:2)न्यता(cid:2)/2024-25/ से9राजापु(cid:15)रा दिदने(cid:2)(cid:27)क 21.02.2025 -00- 13 उपुरा(cid:24)(ता से(cid:27)दኌमाaता निवीषाय(cid:2)न्ताग#ता ल(cid:17)ख हो*, निक माने(cid:28)षा(cid:2) पुሹኌGलक हो(cid:2)यरा से(cid:17)क(cid:17) ण्डरा(cid:28) निवीቕኋ(cid:2)लय शिसेलनिIल(cid:28) निवीक(cid:2)सेखण्ड से9राजापु(cid:15)रा जिजाल(cid:2) से9राजापु(cid:15)रा (छ०ग०) क(cid:17) ने(cid:2)मा से(cid:17) से्ቔ 2006 से(cid:17) 2012 ताक से(cid:27)3(cid:2)शिलता थी(cid:2)। जा(cid:24) वीता#मा(cid:2)ने सेमाय मा" से(cid:27)3(cid:2)शिलता नेहो> हो*। अता; आंवीश्यक क(cid:2)य#वी(cid:2)हो(cid:28) हो(cid:17)ता(cid:15) आंपुक< ओरा से(cid:2)दरा से93ने(cid:2)थी# सेᮈᯡ(cid:17)निषाता। वि(cid:7)का(cid:2)सखण्ड शि(cid:13)ቌኋ(cid:2) अधि(cid:17)का(cid:2)री(cid:19) वि(cid:7)का(cid:2)सखण्ड स(cid:20)रीजपु(cid:23)री जिजल(cid:2) स(cid:20)रीजपु(cid:23)री (छ०ग०) 11. It is thus clear from Class 10th marksheet of the petitioner that it was issued on 19.6.2008 and as per report dated 14.5.2013 (Annexure P/16) of the District Woman and Child Development Officer, Surajpur it is also clear that at that time marksheet issued by Manisha Public Higher Secondary School was recognized. The Block Development Education Officer, Surajpur also informed that Manisha Public Higher Secondary School, Silphili was operating from 2006 to 2012. However, the Collector did not appreciate all these facts and merely on the ground that the petitioner submitted marksheet of Class 10 after last date of submission of the application, cancelled her appointment. The Commissioner also dismissed the appeal of the petitioner on the ground that at the relevant time Manisha Public Higher Secondary School was not operating in Silphili. Both the authorities ought to have enquired about the aforesaid facts from the concerned authorities of the School Education Department but it has not been done in this case. 14 12. On the basis of aforesaid discussions, looking to the report of the District Education Officer and the letter dated 24.2.2025 of the Block Development Education Officer, the impugned order dated 29.9.2015 (Annexure P/1) is not sustainable. Accordingly, the order dated 29.9.2015 as also the order dated 17.12.2014 are hereby set aside. Respondent No.3/Collector, Surajpur is directed to reinstate the petitioner on her post with 50% backwages and all the consequential benefits. The respondent authorities are directed to comply with this order within 45 days from the date of passing of this order.
Arguments
: Mr. A.K. Shukla, Advocate For Respondents/State : Mr. Devesh G. Kela, Panel Lawyer For Respondent No.8 : Ms. Chetna Sharma, Advocate on behalf of Mr. RS Baghel, Advocate. Hon’ble Smt. Justice Rajani Dubey, J C A V Order Challenge in this petition is to the order dated 29.9.2015 (Annexure P/1) passed by respondent No.2/Commissioner, Surguja in case No. PACN 29/B-121/2014-15 dismissing the second appeal of the petitioner and confirming the order dated 17.12.2014 of the Collector, Surajpur whereby appointment of the petitioner on the post of Aanganbadi Worker was directed to be cancelled and in her place respondent No.8 was ordered to be appointed. 3 02. Case of the petitioner, in brief, is that the petitioner applied for the post of Aanganbadi Worker along with other candidates including respondent No.8 for Aanganbadi Center, Shyamnagar, Kharkhapara, Tahsil-Pratappur, Distt. Surajpur. After counseling and due verification of the testimonials, she was appointed on the said post vide order dated 22.12.2009 (Annexure P/8) and accordingly she joined the post on 23.12.2009 (Annexure P/9). However, respondent No.8 preferred an appeal before the Collector, Surguja challenging appointment of the petitioner and it was dismissed on 25.10.2010 for want of prosecution vide Annexure P/10. Instead of filing application for restoration of the case, respondent No.8 again filed an appeal afresh before the Collector in which after about 4 years respondent No.4/District Woman and Child Development Officer, Surajpur issued notice to the petitioner for producing all the relevant markshets and accordingly, the petitioner submitted her marksheets along with her reply. After due scrutiny and verification in respect of allegations made by respondent No.8 regarding genuineness of marksheets of the petitioner of Class 10th and recognition of the institution, respondent No.4 opined that the complaint is completely baseless and frivolous. However, despite that the Collector allowed the appeal of respondent No.8 and cancelled the petitioner’s appointment and directed for appointment of respondent No.8 in place of the petitioner. Thereafter, the petitioner preferred second appeal before respondent No.2/Commissioner, Surguja Division in which stay was granted in favour of the petitioner against 4 operation of order of the Collector. However, vide impugned order dated 29.9.2015 the Commissioner dismissed the appeal. Hence this petition for the following relief: “10.1 This Hon’ble Court may graciously be pleased to issue a writ of mandamus/certiorari or of like nature quash the impugned order dated 29.09.2015 (Annexure P-1) with direction to reinstate the petitioner in service with all consequential and monetary benefits. 10.2 That, a command/direction may kindly be issued to call for the entire records pertaining to the case of the petitioner for kind perusal and adjudication. 10.3 Any other relief, which is deemed fit and proper may also be awarded alongwith the cost of the petition.” 03. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the impugned orders passed by the Collector and the Commissioner are full of illegality and perversity as well as anomalies, therefore, not sustainable in the eye of law and deserve to be quashed. The authorities below should have followed the due process of law and procedure. Once the appeal filed by respondent No.8 was dismissed by the Collector for want of prosecution, then subsequent appeal could not have been entertained by the Collector which was barred by res judicata and the principles of multiplicity of proceedings. Respondent No.8 ought to have filed application for restoration of the appeal but 5 she did not do so and as such, the order of the Collector dated 25.10.2010 dismissing the appeal for non-prosecution became final for want of challenge. Learned counsel further contended that once after due verification and subtle scrutiny it was found that Manisha Public Higher Secondary School, Silphili was duly recognized educational institution affiliated with the Board of Higher Secondary Education, Delhi, then there was no occasion to record perverse finding by the Collector as well as the Commissioner against the petitioner. Moreover, the final report of respondent No.4/District Woman and Child Development, Surajpur on the enquiry was never subjected to challenge before any authority by respondent No.8 and as such, it has attained finality. Learned counsel for the petitioner would next submit that one objection was raised by the petitioner before the Collector but without deciding the said objection, after division of district the new Collector of Surajpur district passed the final order. Apart from this on 30.4.2014 the matter was heard ex-parte without issuing notice to the petitioner. Further, the Collector relied upon the fake certificate of village Sarpanch that Manisha Public School is not functional whereas the Principal of the school gave certificate to the petitioner. It is relevant to mention that subsequently looking to less enrollment of the students, the said school did not run further somewhere in the year 2013-14. As such, neither the educational institution in question was found to be fake and unrecognized nor the marksheet of Class 10th of the petitioner 6 was found to be false and fabricated. He submitted that the petitioner has also attended the training of Aanganbadi Worker vide training certificates of Annexure P/19 & P/20. Thus, in view of above the impugned order is liable to be set aside and the petitioner deserves to be reinstated with all consequential benefits including the monetary benefits. 04. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the State/respondents No. 1 to 6 would submit that during the course of scrutiny of the documents by the selection committee, the petitioner was found more meritorious than respondent No.8, however, a note was appended to the credential of the petitioner that the marksheet submitted by her needs to be verified and hence respondent No.8 was placed at Sl.No.2 in the merit list. Since the record submitted by the petitioner with the application form created doubt in the mind of respondent No.8, she moved an appeal before the Collector, Surguja challenging appointment of the petitioner. The Collector after scrutinizing the material available on record and affording opportunity of hearing to the petitioner found that the marksheet of the petitioner is forged and fabricated and therefore, vide order dated 17.12.2014 directed to cancel the appointment of the petitioner and issue order for appointment of respondent No.8. This order was subsequently affirmed by the Commissioner, Surguja in appeal filed by the petitioner. Both these orders are strictly in accordance with law. The petitioner has miserably failed to point out any illegality or infirmity in it warranting 7 interference by this Court in exercise of its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, particularly when the Sarpanch of the village has certified that the school from which the petitioner completed her 10th Board exam does not exit in the concerned village panchayat. The instant petition lacks any substance and is, therefore, liable to be dismissed. 05. Respondent No.7 in his reply to the petition submitted that the orders passed by the Collector and the Commissioner are in accordance with law and passed in exercise of provisions of the Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam. A bare perusal of the same will reveal that the orders have been passed after properly appreciating the material on record. The Sarpanch of the village certified that the school from which the petitioner claims to have completed her 10th Board does not exist in the village panchayat vide Annexure R/7-2. As regards contention of the petitioner that second appeal between the same parties for the same relief being hit by principle of res judicata was not
Decision
13. With the aforesaid directions, the writ petition stands allowed. Sd/ (Rajani Dubey) Judge MOHD AKHTAR KHAN Digitally signed by MOHD AKHTAR KHAN Date: 2025.06.12 17:43:53 +0530 Khan