JAMMU: In a petition filed by Rekha Devi challenging the selection and engagement of private candidate as Anganwari worker in Anganwari Centre Payee Morha, Payee Panchayat Dhannu Parole in ICDS Project Lohai Malhar, District Kathua.
Justice Tashi Rabstan after hearing Advocate H.C Jalmeria appearing for the petitioner and Meenakshi Bhatyal for the State, respondent, whereas Advocate R.S Pathania for ‘private respondent’, observed that the case was reserved on 16th September, 2014 for pronouncing the judgment. However, while going through the writ record and on perusing the relevant norms/guidelines/policy and the Government order, it came to fore that the matter required further adjudication and directed Programme Officer, ICDS, Chairman District Level Selection Committee, Kathua is directed to file an affidavit explaining/clarifying therein the following things in particularly that. How many hamlets are there in Village Dhannu Parole? To which hamlets petitioner and private respondent belonged at the time of making the selection process.
Specify the hamlet where the Anganwari centre-in-question is located. Specify whether petitioner was the resident of Hamlet Payee and private respondent was the resident of Hamlet Parnara at the time of selection process.
Condition 3(e) Criteria for selection of Anganwari worker of Government order dated 18th January, 2010 specifically provides that the candidate should belong to the hamlet where the Anganwari Centre is located, and if a suitable candidate is not available in that hamlet, only then the candidate should be selected from the revenue village of which the said hamlet is a part. Court further directed state respondent to specifically depose whether they have complied with the said criteria while making the selection-in-question, i.e., whether initially they had invited the applications only from the candidates residing in the Hamlet where the Anganwari Centre is located. If not, disclose the reasons with proper facts and detail.
Justice Tashi Rabstan further observed that the affidavit, clear in above terms, be filed positively within a period of three weeks from today, failing which Programme Officer, ICDS, Chairman District Level Selection Committee, Kathua; Child Development Project Officer, Lohai-Malhar, Tehsil Billawar, District Kathua, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua and Tehsildar concerned shall remain present in the Court on the next date of hearing to explain their stand. Counsel for State respondents is also directed to produce the complete relevant record on the next date of hearing including the communication of Deputy Commissioner Kathua, whereby it was sought from the Tehsildar concerned to verify the residential status of private respondent. JNF
