Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH THURSDAY, THE 13TH DAY OF APRIL 2023 / 23RD CHAITHRA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 13515 OF 2023 PETITIONERS:
1 OMANA. A ANGANWADI WORKER, CENTRE NO.52, MYLAMKULAM, PUTHUR-P.O., KOLLAM-691 507 AND RESIDING AT MULLIKKATTU CEEDU, ATTUVASSERI, MAVADI-P.O., KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM, PIN - 691507 2 ELAMMA. M ANGANWADI WORKER, CENTRE NO.85, KARIKKAL, KARMPINPUZHA-P.O., KOLLAM-691 507 AND RESIDING AT THEKKADATH KIZHAKKETHIL, KARMPINPUZHA-P.O., KOLLAM-, PIN - 691507 3 SREE DEVI AMMA. D ANGANWADI WORKER, CENTRE NO.73, SREE NARAYANAPURAM,PAVITHRASWARAM-P.O., KOLLAM-691 507 AND RESIDING AT KOCHUPARACKAL VEEDU, THAZHAM, KARIMPINPUZHA-P.O., PUTHUR, KOLLAM, PIN - 691507 4 VASANTHAKUMARI. M AGED 61 YEARS, ANGANWADI WORKER, CENTRE NO.96, S.N. PURAM,PAVITHRESWARAM-P.O., KOLLAM-691 524 AND RESIDING MUKALIL VEEDU, S.N. PURAM, PAVITHRESWARAM- P.O., KOLLAM, PIN - 691524 5 LATHIKAMANI. D AGED 62 YEARS ANGANWADI WORKER, CENTRE NO.98, MARANAD WEST, KARUVELIL- P.O., KOLLAM-691 505 AND RESIDING ATHULIYA, KARIKKAL,KARIMPINPUZHA-P.O., KOLLAM-691 507., BY ADV N.UNNIKRISHNAN
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001., PIN - 695001 2 THE DIRECTOR SOCIAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695033 3 THE ADDITIONAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHEME PROJECT, KULAKKADA-P.O., KOLLAM, PIN - 691521
SMT.K.G.SAROJINI-GP THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13.04.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
JUDGMENT
Dated this the 13th day of April, 2023 The petitioners are working as Anganwadi Workers. As per the Government Order dated 31.05.2012, they have to retire at the age of 62 years in the month of April, 2023. However, the Government has principally agreed to fix the retirement age at 65 years on the basis of the recommendation of the Expert Committee, contend the petitioners.
2. The petitioners have approached this Court seeking
to direct the respondents to permit them to continue in service on contract basis till regular hands join, because there are dearth of Anganwadi Workers and no one has been posted against the posts held by the petitioners, on their retirement. Unless this Court interferes in the matter, the petitioners will be put to untold hardship, contend the petitioners.
3. As the petitioners have submitted Exts.P4 to P8
representations in this regard before the 2nd respondent, I am of the opinion that it will be only in the fitness of things that the 2nd respondent considers those representations and takes a decision thereon in an expeditious manner. The writ petition is therefore disposed of directing the 2 nd respondent to consider Exts.P4 to P8 representations submitted by the petitioners and to take appropriate decision thereon, within a period of one month. sd/- N.NAGARESH JUDGE hmh APPENDIX OF WP(C) 13515/2023 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit-P1 A TRUE COPY OF ORDER NO.VTC.601/83 DATED 31.08.1984 ON 16.07.1984 ExhibitP2 . A TRUE COPY OF ORDER NO.A-192/2017 DATED 19.12.2017 ExhibitP3 A TRUE COPY OF ORDER NO.ICDS/VK/1021/06 DATED 31.07.2007 ISSUED BY VETTIKAVALA CDPO ExhibitP4 . A TRUE COPY OF REPRESENTATION DATED 26.02.2023 FILED BY THE FIRST ExhibitP5 . A TRUE COPY OF REPRESENTATION DATED 06.03.2023 FILED BY THE SECOND ExhibitP6 A TRUE COPY OF REPRESENTATION DATED 06.03.2023 FILED BY THE THIRD ExhibitP7 A TRUE COPY OF REPRESENTATION DATED 26.02.2023 FILED BY THE FOURTH ExhibitP8 . A TRUE COPY OF REPRESENTATION DATED 26.02.2023 FILED BY THE FIFTH RESPONDENT’S EXHIBITS : NIL