1 - Smt. Vidya Jain W/o. Shri Ishwar Chand Jain Aged About 50 Years v. 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Women And Child Development Department, Mahanadi
Case Details
1 2025:CGHC:33920 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 5127 of 2025 1 - Smt. Vidya Jain W/o. Shri Ishwar Chand Jain Aged About 50 Years R/o. Village - Barbaspur, Janpad Panchayat, Nawagarh, District - Bemetara (C.G.) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Women And Child Development Department, Mahanadi Bhawan, New Raipur, District - Raipur (C.G.) 2 - The Chief Executive Officer Janpad Panchayat, Nawagarh, District - Bemetara (C.G.) 3 - The Permanent Women And Child Development Samiti Through Its Secretary, Janpad Panchayat, Nawagarh, District - Bemetara (C.G.) 4 - The District Program Officer Women And Child Development Department, District - Bemetara (C.G.) 5 - The Project Officer Integrated Child Development Project, District - Bemetara (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) (Cause title taken from Case Information System) For Petitioner(s) For Respondent(s)/State : : Mr. Goutam Khetrapal, Advocate Mr. Ajit Singh, Govt. Advocate Hon'ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal Order on Board VEDPRAKASH DEWANGAN Digitally signed by VEDPRAKASH DEWANGAN Date: 2025.07.17 20:13:07 +0530 2 19/06/2025 1. The petitioner has filed the present writ petition challenging her termination order dated 05.06.2025 (Annexure P/1) and claimed the following reliefs in her writ petition:- “10.1 That Honble court may Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, quashing and setting aside the impugned termination order bearing No. /171/Ma.Ba.Vi./Shika./2025-26 dated 05/06/2025 (Annexure P-1) passed by the Respondent No. 5 Project Officer, integrated Women and Child Development Department, Nawagarh District Bemetara (C.G.), as being arbitrary, illegal, violative of principles of natural justice, and passed without jurisdiction and authority of law. 10.2 That this Hon'ble court may kindly be pleased to call for the entire records from the possession of the respondents regarding the petitioner's termination for kind perusal of this Hon'ble court. 10.3 Issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, directing the respondents to reinstate the petitioner forthwith in service as Anganwadi Worker at Anganwadi Kendra No. 01, Village Barbaspur, Project Nawagarh, District Bemetara (C.G.) with full continuity of service and all 3 consequential benefits, including payment of arrears of salary. 10.4 That Honble court may kindly quash the advertisement number/177/Ba.Vi.Pari./Stha./ Aa.Ba.Niyu./2025-26 for fresh appointment Annexure P/2 as fresh appointment will render the petition infructuous. 10.5 That any other/relief order which may be deemed fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case including awarding of the heavy cost may also be passed in favor of the petitioner.” 2. The subject matter in brief is that the petitioner was working as Anganbadi Worker and posted at village Barbaspur Centre No.1, Project Nawagarh, District Bemetara. She is also the President of Jujharu Anganbadi Karyakarta Sahayika Kalyan Sangh, District Bemetara. On 11.04.2025, she moved an application to the Collector, Bemetara raising the grievance of irregularities in appointments, promotion and ill-treatment by senior officers and informed that they will go on one day strike on 16.04.2025 as protest. On 16.04.2025, a complaint was made by the villagers alleging that the petitioner is negligent and irresponsible in her duties and then the Project Officer, Integrated Women and Child Development, Bemetara directed for an inquiry and to submit report within 03 days. On 21.04.2025, a sudden inspection was carried out by District Level team, in which certain deficiencies have been found 4 at Anganbadi Centre No.1, Barbaspur, for which a show cause notice was issued to the petitioner on 23.04.2025 and called her reply within 03 days. A second show cause notice was issued on 05.05.2025 and two days time was given to the petitioner to file reply. On 06.05.2025, the District Programme Officer initiated the proceeding under Anganbadi Sahayika Niyukti Nirdesh 728/ 1098/2008/Ma.Ba.Vi./50, dated 02.04.2008. The petitioner submitted her reply to the concerned authorities, however her reply was found unsatisfactory, and thereafter, the order of her termination is passed by the respondent No.5 on 05.06.2025, which is under challenge in the present writ petition. 3.
Legal Reasoning
Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the termination order dated 05.06.2025 was passed without affording the petitioner a fair and reasonable opportunity of hearing. Though the reply was submitted by the petitioner in response to show cause notice, but the same was summarily rejected without considering the reply. In the matter a detailed inquiry is required to be conducted under the relevant applicable rules and the charges leveled against the petitioner are required to prove in accordance with law. There is no inquiry conducted against the petitioner, yet the termination order has been passed against her. He would further submit that the petitioner is also the President of Jujharu Anganbadi Karyakarta Sahayika Kalyan Sangh, Bemetara and she has to raise voice against illegality and irregularity of mismanagement, threats and abuses by the authorities concerned, by which she already moved a 5 letter on 11.04.2025 to the Collector, Bemetara and as a consequence to pressure her not to raise voice, the entire exercise of her termination has been done. The entire process of sudden inspection, repeated show cause notices and ultimately termination, clearly indicates mala fide and arbitrary exercise of powers against the petitioner. He would further submit that, even if some deficiencies is considered, the termination of the petitioner is disproportionate with that discrepancy and such the major punishment cannot be imposed without proper departmental inquiry. The action of the respondent authorities are violative of the guidelines of 2008. He would also submit that immediately after the order of termination, on the very next day, fresh advertisement for appointment on the post of Anganbadi Karyakarta/ Sahayika for Barbaspur Centre No.1 has been issued by the authorities, therefore, the impugned termination order is liable to be quashed. 4. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the State vehemently opposes the submissions and has submitted that the petitioner has afforded proper and sufficient opportunity of hearing before passing the impugned termination order. When the authorities have found the reply unsatisfactory, the order of termination has been passed on 05.06.2025. The petitioner being the President of Jujharu Anganbadi Karyakarta Sahayika Kalyan Sangh, Bemetara tried to create pressure upon the authorities to work on her instructions and was remained adamant in hearing of the case. Due to non- cooperation of the petitioner, the work of Anganbadi Centre at 6 Barbaspur is frustrated, and therefore, repeatedly notices were issued to her, but she could not demonstrate her bona fide and then the authorities are constrained to take the decision to terminate the petitioner from the post of Anganbadi Karyakarta. Therefore, there is no infirmity or illegality in the order impugned, and the petition is liable to be dismissed. 5. I have heard leaned counsel for the parties and perused the material annexed with the petition. 6. The State Government has issued a guideline on 02.04.2008 with respect to the appointments of Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika/Mini Anganbadi Karyakarta. Clause 13 of the said guideline provides for termination of the Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika, which is necessary to be reproduced here:- “13. का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4)ओं/सहायि्काओं को पद से हटाने की ्ቚकिक्ा :- 13.1 किकसी आं गनबाड़ी का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4)/सहायि्का के संद्ቝ(cid:4) में शि(cid:30)का्ቔኋ ्ቚा् होने पर बाल कि"कास परिर्ोजना अयि&कारी ्ቛारा संबंयि&ቔኋ प्(cid:4)"े्ቌक से जांच कर"ाकर ्ቚयिቔኋ"ेदन ्ቚा् किक्ा जा्ेगा " ्ቚा् ्ቚयिቔኋ"ेदन में गुण दोषों का परी्ቌण कर शि(cid:30)का्ቔኋ सही पा्े जाने पर ्किद किकसी ्ቚकार का गबन अथ"ा गं्ቝीर अकिन्किमቔኋቔኋा का ्ቚकरण बनቔኋा है ቔኋो संबंयि&ቔኋ का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4)/सहायि्का को उस पर परिरलयि्ቌቔኋ हुए आरोपों से स्प्ቖ अ"गቔኋ कराቔኋे हुए अपना प्ቌ रखने का अ"सर ्ቚदान किक्े जाने हेቔኋु पन््ቖह किद"स का सम् ्ቚदान किक्ा जा"ेगा ए"ं उ्ቈर ्ቚा् होने पर पुनः गुण दोषों का परी्ቌण कर न््ा्ोयिचቔኋ किनण(cid:4)् लेቔኋे हुए ्किद पद से पृथक किक्ा जाना आ"श््क हो ቔኋो पद से पृथक किक्े जाने संब&ी ्ቚस्ቔኋा" जाँच ्ቚयिቔኋ"ेदन सकिहቔኋ जनपद पंचा्ቔኋ/नगरी् किनका् की उस सकिमयिቔኋ के सम्ቌ ्ቚस्ቔኋुቔኋ किक्ा 7 जा"ेगा जो च्न के लिल्े स्ቌम हैं। उ्ሹ सकिमयिቔኋ के अनुमोदन होने के उपरांቔኋ मुख्् का्(cid:4)पालन अयि&कारी, जनपद पंचा्ቔኋ/आ्ु्ሹ नगर किनगम/मुख्् नगर पालिलका अयि&कारी ्ቛारा पद से पृथक करने के आदे(cid:30) ्ቚसारिरቔኋ किक्े जा्ेंगे। 13.2 ्किद गबन अथ"ा गं्ቝीर अकिन्किमቔኋቔኋा का ्ቚकरण परिरलयि्ቌቔኋ नहीं हुआ है ए"ं मा्ቔ सामान्् लापर"ाकिह्ों परिरलयि्ቌቔኋ हुई हैं ቔኋो संबंयि&ቔኋ बाल कि"कास परिर्ोजना अयि&कारी ्ቛारा ्ቚथम दो बार संबंयि&ቔኋ का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4)/सहायि्का को सचेቔኋ करቔኋे हुए चेቔኋा"नी जारी की जा"ेगी ए"ं ቔኋृቔኋी् बार ्ቝी सु&ार न आने पर उस पर स्प्ቖ आरोप आरोकिपቔኋ करቔኋे हुए सुन"ाई का अंयिቔኋम अ"सर ्ቚदान किक्ा जा"ेगा ए"ं ्ቚा् स्प्ቖीकरण पर न््ा्ोयिचቔኋ रूप से कि"चार करቔኋे हुए ्किद पद से पृथक किक्ा जाना आ"श््क हो ቔኋो ቔኋद् नुसार उपरो्ሹ कቄኌGHका 13.1 अनुसार जनपद पंचा्ቔኋ /नगरी् किनका् को ्ቚस्ቔኋा" ्ቚस्ቔኋुቔኋ कर से"ा समा् करने की का्(cid:4)"ाही की जा"ेगी। ्किद गं्ቝीर कदाचार/अकिन्किमቔኋቔኋा की शि(cid:30)का्ቔኋ होने पर ्ቝी जनपद पंचा्ቔኋ/नगरी् किनका् की च्न सकिमयिቔኋ का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4)/सहायि्का को पद से पृथक करने संबं&ी ्ቚस्ቔኋा" ्ቚस्ቔኋुቔኋ करने के ቔኋीन स्ाह की सम्ा"यि& के ्ቝीቔኋर पारिरቔኋ नहीं करቔኋी है ए"ं परिर्ोजना अयि&कारी उ्ሹ का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4)/सहायि्का को जनकिहቔኋ में पद से पृथक किक्ा जाना आ"श््क मानቔኋे हैं ቔኋो बाल कि"कास परिर्ोजना अयि&कारी ्ቚकरण मूल््ांकन सकिमयिቔኋ के सम्ቌ रखेंगे। बाल कि"कास परिर्ोजना अयि&कारी के व्दारा मूल््ांकन सकिमयिቔኋ के ्ቚस्ቔኋा" से जिजला का्(cid:4)कम अयि&कारी के अनुमोदन उपरांቔኋ पद से पृथक किक्ा जा सके गा। 13.3 "रिर् अयि&कारिर्ों अथा(cid:4)ቔኋ जिजला का्(cid:4)्ቅम अयि&कारी अथ"ा उनसे उ्ሴ अयि&कारिर्ो के किनरी्ቌण के दौरान ቄኌस्थयिቔኋ असंቔኋोषजनक पा्े जाने पर ्किद उनके कि""ेक अनुसार का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4) को पद से पृथक किक्ा जाना आ"श््क पा्ा जाቔኋा है ቔኋो इस हेቔኋु संबंयि&ቔኋ किनरी्ቌणकቔኋा(cid:4) अयि&कारी अपने किनरी्ቌण ቔኋथा 8 अकिन्किमቔኋቔኋाओं का कि"स्ቔኋृቔኋ सुस्प्ቖ ्ቚयिቔኋ"ेदन ቔኋै्ार कर पद से पृथक करने हेቔኋु उ्ቤेख करቔኋे हुए मुख्् का्(cid:4)पालन अयि&कारी जनपद पंचा्ቔኋ और ्किद नगरी् ्ቌे्ቔ है ቔኋो आ्ु्ሹ नगर किनगम/ मुख्् नगर पालिलका अयि&कारी को ्ቚेकिषቔኋ कर देंगे ए"ं जनपद पंचा्ቔኋ ए"ं नगरी् किनका् व्दारा कቄኌGHका 13.1 ए"ं 13.2 अनुसार का्(cid:4)"ाही की जा"ेगी । 13.4 पद से पृथ्ሪरण के आदे(cid:30) के कि"रू्ቍ अपील कयिHका 11 के ्ቚा"&ानों के अनुसार की जा सके गी। 13.5 ्किद कोई आं गन"ाHी का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4)/सहायि्का किबना किकसी सूचना के लगाቔኋार एक माह से अयि&क अ"यि& ቔኋक अनुपቄኌस्थቔኋ रहቔኋी है ቔኋो परिर्ोजना अयि&कारी अनुपቄኌस्थयिቔኋ के कारण पर प्(cid:4)"े्ቌक से एक जाँच ्ቚयिቔኋ"ेदन ्ቚा् कर कं यिHका 13.1, 13.2 के अनुरूप से"ा समा् करने की का्(cid:4)"ाही करेंगे। 13.6 आं गन"ाड़ी का्(cid:4)कቔኋा(cid:4) / सहायि्का की से"ा की अयि&कቔኋम उ् 62 "ष(cid:4) पूण(cid:4) होने पर परिर्ोजना अयि&कारी उन्हें एक माह पू"(cid:4) लिललिखቔኋ सूचना देकर से"ा समा् करने संब&ी आदे(cid:30) ्ቚसारिरቔኋ करेंगे। इस हेቔኋु कं यिHका 13.1. 13.2 के अनुरूप जनपद पंचा्ቔኋ/ नगरी् किनका् की च्न सकिमयिቔኋ से अनुमोदन लेने की आ"श््कቔኋा नहीं होगी। स्प्ቖीकरणः - उपरो्ሹनुसार पद से पृथक करने की ्ቚकि्ቅ्ा में जिजस अभ््थX की किन्ुकि्ሹ जिजस ्ቚकिक्ा से हुई होगी उसी ्ቚकिक्ा से उसी ्ቚकिक्ा के ቔኋहቔኋ कि"किहቔኋ सकिमयिቔኋ " अनुमोदन के अनुसार उसे पद से पृथक किक्ा जा"ेगा अथा(cid:4)ቔኋ ्किद जनपद पंचा्ቔኋ/नगरी् किनका् से च्न हुआ है ቔኋो उसी किनका् के माध््म से कं यिHका 13.1 अनुसार का्(cid:4)"ाही करቔኋे हुए पद से पृथक किक्ा जा"ेगा ए"ं जिजस अभ््थX का च्न मूल््ांकन सकिमयिቔኋ ቔኋथा जिजला का्(cid:4)कम अयि&कारी के अनुमोदन से हुआ होगा उसे ቔኋद् नुसार ही 9 मूल््ांकन सकिमयिቔኋ " जिजला का्(cid:4)्ቅम अयि&कारी के अनुमोदन से पद से पृथक किक्ा जा"ेगा।” 7. From perusal of the procedure prescribed for removal of the Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika, it transpires that on a complaint received against the Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika, it was to be inquired from the concerned Observer, who shall submit his report and if prima facie material is found against the Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika, show cause notice is required to be issued giving 15 days time to file reply and after receiving their reply, the matter be again examined, and if it is found that, the concerned Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika is to be removed from service, then a proposal along with the inquiry report is to be produced before the committee of concerned Janpad Panchayat/Local Bodies, who is competent to appointment, and after their approval the matter is to be referred to the Chief Executive Officer, Janpad Panchayat/ Commissioner, Municipal Corporation/Chief Municipal Officer for passing of the order separately. An explanation was also given in clause 13 that, the process of removal of the employee, would be the same on which he/she is selected, and if his/her selection was through the scrutiny committee and approval of programme officer, she would be removed only after approval of the scrutiny committee and programme officer. It also transpires from clause 13.4 that, the employee can prefer an appeal against the order of termination as provided under clause 11 of the said guideline. 10 8. In the present case, on 11.04.2025, the petitioner has informed the Collector, Bemetara about one day protest on 16.04.2025 against the irregularities committed by the authorities, and then on 21.04.2025, notice was issued to the petitioner by the respondent No.4 calling her on the same day at 5:00 PM to discuss the issue. Prior to that, on 16.04.2025, the respondent No.4 issued a letter to the respondent No.5 that he received a complaint against the petitioner and to submit an inquiry report within 03 days. On 23.04.2025, the respondent No.4 again issued a notice to the respondent No.5 and the petitioner calling their reply on certain irregularities alleged to be found on the Anganbadi Centre at Barbaspur and called their reply within 03 days. On 05.05.2025, another notice was issued to the petitioner calling her reply within 02 days on certain alleged irregularities at Barbaspur Centre No.1, Anganbadi Centre and on very next day, the respondent No.4 issued another notice on 06.05.2025 calling her on 08.05.2025, at 4:00 PM raising certain allegations against her and irregularities. On 09.05.2025, she again filed her reply against the show cause notice dated 06.05.2025 and explained the allegations. From perusal of the documents annexed with the petition, it appears that repeated notices and reply of the notices have been exchanged by both the parties and ultimately the order of termination of the petitioner has been passed on 05.06.2025 holding the allegations against the petitioner is found proved and considering the misconduct of the petitioner, the respondent No.5 has issued the order of termination 11 (Annexure P/1) after approval from the committee of Women and Child Development and Health Committee, dated 02.06.2025. 9. From perusal of the impugned order dated 05.06.2025, it transpires that there are certain lapses in issuing notices, conducting inquiry and representing the case of the petitioner before the authorities by both sides and the inquired procedure by the authorities concerned appears to be in hasty manner. 10. Be that as it may, the remedy of appeal under clause 13.4 of the guideline dated 02.04.2008 is provided against the termination from the post of Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika. In view of the issue involved in the case, it would deem appropriate to direct the petitioner to approach before the authority concerned by filing her appeal as provided under clause 11 and 13.4 of the guideline dated 02.04.2008 and then the appellate authority shall decide the appeal in accordance with law after giving proper opportunity of hearing to the respective parties. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on merits of the case and the appellate authority shall decide the appeal of the petitioner, if so filed, on its own merits without there being influenced of any observation made in this order. 11. The petitioner is directed to file the appeal as provided under clause 11 and 13.4 of the guideline dated 02.04.2008 within 02 weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order, and then, the appellate authority shall decide the appeal in accordance with law after giving proper and sufficient opportunity of hearing to the parties within a 12 period of 04 months from the date of filing the appeal. Till then, the impugned order dated 05.06.2025 (Annexure P/1) shall be kept in abeyance and the same shall be subject to ultimate outcome of the appeal, and the petitioner shall be permitted to work there at Barbaspur Centre No.1. 12. In view of the aforesaid, the subsequent advertisement dated 06.06.2025 for appointment on the post of Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika at Barbaspur Centre No.1 shall also be kept in abeyance, which shall also be subject to final outcome of the appeal. 13. With the aforesaid observations, the present writ petition is
Decision
disposed of. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) Judge ved