1 CGHC010395162026 2026:CGHC:43613 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 7374 of 2026 1 - Smt. Akti Ghritlahre W/o Late Bodhan Ghritlahre Aged About 43 Years R/o Village And Post Amera, Tehsil Pallari, Distt. Baloda Bazar Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh. ... Petitioner versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Women And Child Development, Mantralaya, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur, Distt. Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 2 - Director Directorate Of Women And Child Development Department, Indrawati Bhawan, Atal Nagar Naya Raipur, Distt. Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 3 - Collector District Baloda Bazar Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh. 4 - District Program Officer Women And Child Development Department, Baloda Bazar Bhatapara, Distt. Baloda Bazar Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh. 5 - Project Officer Irrigated Child Development Project, Pallari, Distt. Baloda Bazar Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh. 6 - Chief Executive Officer Janpad Panchayat Pallari, Distt. Baloda Bazar Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondents (Cause title taken from Case Information System) AMARDEEP CHOUBEY Digitally signed by AMARDEEP CHOUBEY Date: 2026.10.12 18:02:39 +0530 2 For Petitioner : Mr. Govind Prasad Dewangan, Advocate For State : Mr. Aditya Tiwari, Panel Lawyer Hon'ble Shri Justice Bibhu Datta Guru Order on Board 08/10/2026 1. By the present petition, the petitioner has for following reliefs:- “10.1 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to call for the entire records in relates to the case of the petitioner from the possession of respondents for its kind perusal. 10.2 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to set aside the impugned order of termination dated 21.09.2026 (Annexure-P/1) issued by the respondent No.5 i.e. Project Officer, Irrigated Child Development Project, Pallari, District Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara (C.G.) and further be pleased to direct the respondents authority to reinstate the petitioner in service and allow her to work as Anganbadi Worker at Anganbadi Center, Amera-02, Janpad Panchayat Pallari, District Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara (C.G.) with all consequential benefits. 10.3 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly further be pleased to set aside the impugned advertisement 3 dated 24.09.2026 (Annexure-P/2) issued by the respondent No.5 i.e. Project Officer, Irrigated Child Development Project, Pallari, District Baloda Bazar- Bhatapara (C.G.) to the extent of filing up the post of Anganbadi Worker at Anganbadi Center, Amera-02, Janpad Panchayat Pallari, District Baloda Bazar- Bhatapara (C.G.), in the interest of justice. 10.4 That, this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to grant any other relief/relief's in favour of the petitioners, which the Hon'ble Court deemed fit & just in the facts and circumstances of the case, including awarding of the costs to the petitioner.” 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was working as Anganbadi Worker and posted at Anganbadi Center, Amera-2, Janpad Panchayat Pallari, District Balodabazar-Bhatapara. Learned counsel submits that the termination order dated 21.09.2026 against the petitioner was passed by the Collector, because of some irregularities found at Anganbadi Center. The impugned termination was passed without affording the petitioner a fair and reasonable opportunity of hearing. Though the reply was submitted by the petitioner in response to show cause notice, but the same was summarily rejected without considering the reply. In the matter, 4 a detailed inquiry is required to be conducted under the relevant applicable rules and the charges leveled against the petitioner are required to prove in accordance with law. There is no inquiry conducted against the petitioner, yet the termination order has been passed against her. He would further submit that, even if some deficiencies is considered, the termination of the petitioner is disproportionate with that discrepancy and such the major punishment cannot be imposed without proper departmental inquiry. The action of the respondent authorities are violative of the guidelines of 2008. He would also submit that immediately after the order of termination, two days later, fresh advertisement for appointment on the post of Anganbadi Karyakarta/ Sahayika for Amera-2, Janpad Panchayat, Pallari has been issued by the authorities, therefore, the impugned termination order is liable to be quashed. 3. Per contra, learned counsel appearing for the State vehemently opposes the submissions and has submitted that the petitioner has afforded proper and sufficient opportunity of hearing before passing the impugned termination order. When the authorities have found the reply unsatisfactory, the order of termination has been passed. Therefore, there is no infirmity or illegality in the order impugned, and the petition is liable to be dismissed. 5 4. I have heard leaned counsel for the parties and perused the material annexed with the petition. 5. The State Government has issued a guideline on 02.04.2008 with respect to the appointments of Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika/Mini Anganbadi Karyakarta. Clause 13 of the said guideline provides for termination of the Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika, which is necessary to be reproduced here:- “13. कार्यकार्ताओं/ सहायिर्यकाओं का पद स हाटाने का प्रकिकार्य :- 13.1 किकास आंगनेबाड़ी कार्यकार्ता/ सहायिर्यका का सदर्भ में शिकार्यर्ता प्रप्र्ता हा ने पर बाल कि!कास परिरर्य जने अधि&कार द्वार सबाधि&र्ता पर्य! क्षका स जच कार!कार प्रकिर्ता! दने प्रप्र्ता किकार्य जर्य ग ! प्रप्र्ता प्रकिर्ता! दने में ग*ण द षों- का परक्षण कार शिकार्यर्ता सहा पर्य जने पर र्यदिद किकास प्रकार का गबाने अथ! गर्भर अकिनेर्ययिमेंर्तार्ता का प्रकारण बानेर्ता हा0 र्ता सबाधि&र्ता कार्यकार्ता/ सहायिर्यका का उस पर परिरलशिक्षर्ता हुए आंर प- स स्पष्ट अ!गर्ता कारर्ता हुए अपने पक्ष रखने का अ!सर प्रदने किकार्य जने हा र्ता* पन्द्रहा दिद!स का समेंर्य प्रदने किकार्य ज! ग ए! उत्तर प्रप्र्ता हा ने पर प*ने: ग*ण द षों- का परक्षण कार न्र्यर्य धिचर्ता किनेणर्य ल र्ता हुए र्यदिद पद स प;थका किकार्य जने आं!श्र्यका हा र्ता पद स प;थका किकार्य जने सबा& प्रस्र्ता! ज>च प्रकिर्ता! दने सकिहार्ता जनेपद पचर्यर्ता/ नेगरर्य किनेकार्य का उस सयिमेंकिर्ता का समेंक्ष 6 प्रस्र्ता*र्ता किकार्य ज! ग ज चर्यने का धिलर्य सक्षमें हा?। उक्र्ता सयिमेंकिर्ता का अने*में दने हा ने का उपरर्ता में*ख्र्य कार्यपलने अधि&कार, जनेपद पचर्यर्ता/ आंर्य*क्र्ता नेगर किनेगमें/में*ख्र्य नेगर पधिलका अधि&कार द्वार पद स प;थका कारने का आंद प्रसरिरर्ता किकार्य जर्यग । 13.2 र्यदिद गबाने अथ! गर्भर अकिनेर्ययिमेंर्तार्ता का प्रकारण परिरलशिक्षर्ता नेहाC हुआं हा0 ए! मेंत्र समेंन्र्य लपर!किहार्य- परिरलशिक्षर्ता हुई हा? र्ता सबाधि&र्ता बाल कि!कास परिरर्य जने अधि&कार द्वार प्रथमें द बार सबाधि&र्ता कार्यकार्ता/ सहायिर्यका का सच र्ता कारर्ता हुए च र्ता!ने जर का ज! ग ए! र्ता;र्तार्य बार र्भ स*&र ने आंने पर उस पर स्पष्ट आंर प आंर किपर्ता कारर्ता हुए स*ने!ई का अकिर्तामें अ!सर प्रदने किकार्य ज! ग ए! प्रप्र्ता स्पष्टकारण पर न्र्यर्य धिचर्ता रूप स कि!चर कारर्ता हुए र्यदिद पद स प;थका किकार्य जने आं!श्र्यका हा र्ता र्तादG‌ने*सर उपर क्र्ता काण्डिJKका 13.1 अने*सर जनेपद पचर्यर्ता / नेगरर्य किनेकार्य का प्रस्र्ता! प्रस्र्ता*र्ता कार स ! समेंप्र्ता कारने का कार्य!हा का ज! ग। र्यदिद गर्भर कादचर/ अकिनेर्ययिमेंर्तार्ता का शिकार्यर्ता हा ने पर र्भ जनेपद पचर्यर्ता/ नेगरर्य किनेकार्य का चर्यने सयिमेंकिर्ता कार्यकार्ता/ सहायिर्यका का पद स प;थका कारने सबा& प्रस्र्ता! प्रस्र्ता*र्ता कारने का र्ताने सप्र्ताहा का समेंर्य!धि& का र्भर्तार परिरर्ता नेहाC कारर्ता हा0 ए! परिरर्य जने अधि&कार उक्र्ता कार्यकार्ता/ सहायिर्यका का जनेकिहार्ता में पद स प;थका किकार्य जने आं!श्र्यका मेंनेर्ता हा? र्ता बाल कि!कास 7 परिरर्य जने अधि&कार प्रकारण मेंLल्र्यकाने सयिमेंकिर्ता का समेंक्ष रखग । बाल कि!कास परिरर्य जने अधि&कार का व्दर मेंLल्र्यकाने सयिमेंकिर्ता का प्रस्र्ता! स जिजल कार्यकामें अधि&कार का अने*में दने उपरर्ता पद स प;थका किकार्य ज सका ग। 13.3 !रिरष्ठ अधि&कारिरर्य- अथर्ता जिजल कार्यक्रमें अधि&कार अथ! उनेस उच्च अधि&कारिरर्य का किनेरक्षण का दSरने स्थिUकिर्ता असर्ता षोंजनेका पर्य जने पर र्यदिद उनेका कि!! का अने*सर कार्यकार्ता का पद स प;थका किकार्य जने आं!श्र्यका पर्य जर्ता हा0 र्ता इस हा र्ता* सबाधि&र्ता किनेरक्षणकार्ता अधि&कार अपने किनेरक्षण र्ताथ अकिनेर्ययिमेंर्तार्ताओं का कि!स्र्ता;र्ता स*स्पष्ट प्रकिर्ता! दने र्ता0र्यर कार पद स प;थका कारने हा र्ता* उल्ल ख कारर्ता हुए में*ख्र्य कार्यपलने अधि&कार जनेपद पचर्यर्ता और र्यदिद नेगरर्य क्ष त्र हा0 र्ता आंर्य*क्र्ता नेगर किनेगमें/ में*ख्र्य नेगर पधिलका अधि&कार का प्र किषोंर्ता कार दग ए! जनेपद पचर्यर्ता ए! नेगरर्य किनेकार्य व्दर काण्डिJKका 13.1 ए! 13.2 अने*सर कार्य!हा का ज! ग । 13.4 पद स प;थक्कारण का आंद का कि!रूद्ध अपल काकिKका 11 का प्र!&ने- का अने*सर का ज सका ग। 13.5 र्यदिद का ई आंगने!K कार्यकार्ता/ सहायिर्यका किबाने किकास सLचने का लगर्तार एका मेंहा स अधि&का अ!धि& र्ताका अने*पस्थिUर्ता रहार्ता हा0 र्ता परिरर्य जने अधि&कार अने*पस्थिUकिर्ता का कारण पर पर्य! क्षका स एका ज>च प्रकिर्ता! दने प्रप्र्ता कार 8 का किKका 13.1, 13.2 का अने*रूप स ! समेंप्र्ता कारने का कार्य!हा कारग । 13.6 आंगने!ड़ी कार्यकार्ता / सहायिर्यका का स ! का अधि&कार्तामें उम्र 62 !षों पLण हा ने पर परिरर्य जने अधि&कार उन्हा एका मेंहा पL! धिलखिखर्ता सLचने द कार स ! समेंप्र्ता कारने सबा& आंद प्रसरिरर्ता कारग । इस हा र्ता* का किKका 13.1. 13.2 का अने*रूप जनेपद पचर्यर्ता/ नेगरर्य किनेकार्य का चर्यने सयिमेंकिर्ता स अने*में दने ल ने का आं!श्र्यकार्ता नेहाC हा ग। स्पष्टकारण: - उपर क्र्ताने*सर पद स प;थका कारने का प्रकिक्रर्य में जिजस अभ्र्यथ\ का किनेर्य*स्थिक्र्ता जिजस प्रकिकार्य स हुई हा ग उस प्रकिकार्य स उस प्रकिकार्य का र्ताहार्ता कि!किहार्ता सयिमेंकिर्ता ! अने*में दने का अने*सर उस पद स प;थका किकार्य ज! ग अथर्ता र्यदिद जनेपद पचर्यर्ता/ नेगरर्य किनेकार्य स चर्यने हुआं हा0 र्ता उस किनेकार्य का मेंध्र्यमें स का किKका 13.1 अने*सर कार्य!हा कारर्ता हुए पद स प;थका किकार्य ज! ग ए! जिजस अभ्र्यथ\ का चर्यने मेंLल्र्यकाने सयिमेंकिर्ता र्ताथ जिजल कार्यकामें अधि&कार का अने*में दने स हुआं हा ग उस र्तादG‌ने*सर हा मेंLल्र्यकाने सयिमेंकिर्ता ! जिजल कार्यक्रमें अधि&कार का अने*में दने स पद स प;थका किकार्य ज! ग।” 6. From perusal of the procedure prescribed for removal of the Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika, it transpires that on a complaint received against the Anganbadi 9 Karyakarta/Sahayika, it was to be inquired from the concerned Observer, who shall submit his report and if prima facie material is found against the Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika, show cause notice is required to be issued giving 15 days time to file reply and after receiving their reply, the matter be again examined, and if it is found that, the concerned Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika is to be removed from service, then a proposal along with the inquiry report is to be produced before the committee of concerned Janpad Panchayat/Local Bodies, who is competent to appointment, and after their approval the matter is to be referred to the Chief Executive Officer, Janpad Panchayat/ Commissioner, Municipal Corporation/Chief Municipal Officer for passing of the order separately. An explanation was also given in clause 13 that, the process of removal of the employee, would be the same on which he/she is selected, and if his/her selection was through the scrutiny committee and approval of programme officer, she would be removed only after approval of the scrutiny committee and programme officer. It also transpires from clause 13.4 that, the employee can prefer an appeal against the order of termination as provided under clause 11 of the said guideline. 7. From perusal of the impugned order as well as the documents annexed with the petition, it transpires that there are certain lapses in issuing notices, conducting inquiry and representing 10 the case of the petitioner before the authorities by both sides and the inquired procedure by the authorities concerned appears to be in hasty manner. 8. Be that as it may, the remedy of appeal under clause 13.4 of the guideline dated 02.04.2008 is provided against the termination from the post of Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika. In view of the issue involved in the case, it would deem appropriate to direct the petitioner to approach before the authority concerned by filing her appeal as provided under clause 11 and 13.4 of the guideline dated 02.04.2008 and then the appellate authority shall decide the appeal in accordance with law after giving proper opportunity of hearing to the respective parties. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on merits of the case and the appellate authority shall decide the appeal of the petitioner, if so filed, on its own merits without there being influenced of any observation made in this order. 9. The petitioner is directed to file the appeal as provided under clause 11 and 13.4 of the guideline dated 02.04.2008 within 02 weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order, and then, the appellate authority shall decide the appeal in accordance with law after giving proper and sufficient opportunity of hearing to the parties within a period of 04 months from the date of filing 11 the appeal. Till then, the impugned order dated 21.09.2026 (Annexure P/1) shall be kept in abeyance and the same shall be subject to ultimate outcome of the appeal, and the petitioner shall be permitted to work there at Anganbadi Center, Amera-2, Janpad Panchayat Pallari. 10. In view of the aforesaid, the subsequent advertisement dated 24.09.2026 for appointment on the post of Anganbadi Karyakarta/Sahayika at at Anganbadi Center, Amera-2, Janpad Panchayat Pallari shall also be kept in abeyance, which shall also be subject to final outcome of the appeal. 11. With the aforesaid observations, the present writ petition is disposed of. SD/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) Judge Amardeep