Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 30: High Court today stayed the order of Social Welfare Department terminating the services of adhoc Anganwari workers and helpers and directed the department to allow the petitioners to continue in the centres where they are presently working in terms of their engagement/extension orders. High Court also restrained the State from replacing the petitioners by any other temporary arrangement.
After hearing Advocate FA Natnoo appearing for the petitioners and Deputy Advocate General Ranjeet Jamwal, Justice Tashi Rabstan observed, “it is strange that the respondents with one single stroke have terminated the services of all stop gap/adhoc Anganwadi workers with immediate effect without making any alternate arrangement to function the Anganwadi centres”.
“The statement of Deputy AG that the Anganwadi centres still exist and are not closed leads to the conclusion that the services of Anganwadi workers are still required by the respondents”, Justice Rabstan said, adding “some of the engagement orders of petitioners even reveal that they have been allowed to continue till the final selection is made by the competent authority”.
“Therefore, respondents are required to be restrained from replacing the petitioners by any other temporary arrangement/ substitute”, court said and directed the respondents to allow the petitioners to continue in the centres where they are presently working in terms of their engagement/ extension orders.
“However, this order is subject to objections from other side and till next date of hearing before the bench only”, Justice Rabstan said.
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