Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 2 : The high court today ruled that it is for the government to make additions or alterations to the scheme regarding engagement of Anganwadi workers so as to evolve a formula of giving representation to the reserved categories.
The observation was made by a bench of the court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir while dismissing a petition filed by one Khalida Akhtar, a handicapped person seeking her engagement against only one post of Anganwadi Workers at Buchoo in south Kashmir.
"The Anganwadi Workers not being a civil post, therefore, Reservation Act and Rules are not applicable. Anganwadi Workers, working under the ICDS Programme, are not governed by any Statute," the court observed. The petitioner, court said, is a handicapped person for which 3 pc horizontal reservation is permissible under Reservation Rules which are not applicable even otherwise if would have been applicable still there is only one post, how could 3 pc reservation be carved out. "Petitioner has no case to claim superior right of engagement as Anganwadi Worker under reserve category unless otherwise posseses superior merit so as to be taken in general category," the court said and asked authorities including District Programme Officer(ICDS), Pulwama, to finalize within three weeks the process by engaging deserving meritorious candidate as against only one post of Anganwadi Worker in Buchoo area. |
