Srinagar, Apr 3: Keeping in view the interest of public at large, the High Court has directed the State Government to go ahead with the promotion of Anganwari workers, who possessed graduation as degree at the time of appointment, to the post of Supervisors in the Social Welfare Department.
The Government was due to promote several Anganwari workers to the post of Supervisors under 25 per cent quota meant for graduate appointees. Subsequently, some candidates, who achieved the degree after their appointment as workers, also applied for the promotion.
However, on Oc]t 15, 2010 government in its order rejected the degree qualification of such workers on grounds that such qualifications were obtained by them while working with Social Welfare Department as Anganwari workers. “Therefore, the degree qualifications cannot be recognized for considering their claims for promotion to the post of supervisors under 25 per cent quota meant for graduate Anganwari workers,” order said.
Following which the drop out candidates filed a petition before the court through senior counsel Zaffar Ahmad Shah to challenge the order. While hearing the petition, court of Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifulla said, “The State government will be at liberty to proceed with the process of promotion for the post of supervisors in the 25 per cent quota meant for graduate Anganwari workers.”
However, such promotion would be subject to the outcome of the writ petition, court said.
Justice Kalifulla said if the petitioners (drop outs) came out successful, any promotion made during the pendency of the petition would “automatically cease” to operate. “In that case, the Government should hold fresh selection of the petitioners along with the other candidates, who were holding the degree qualification at the time of engagement as Anganwari workers.”The petitioners have admitted before court that they were not possessing degree qualifications at the time of engagement as Anganwari workers. “Therefore, the question for consideration is whether the subsequent acquisition of the degree qualification, while engaging themselves as Anganwari workers can ensure to their benefit and entitle them to compete for the post of Supervisors under 25 per cent quota for such workers possessing such higher qualification,” court observed.
Unless the petitioners come out successful in the petition, “there is no scope to grant any relief against those Anganwari workers, who already possessed the qualification.”
Court said the process of promotion could not be withheld awaiting the result of the petition in the interest of public at large. Court has listed the case for hearing in the first week of May. While state government has already filed the objection to the petition, the counsel for graduate workers has been directed to file counter in two weeks.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST