- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV WRIT PETITION NO. 25549 OF 2026 (S-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SMT. MANGALA GOWRI. M. N. W/O, LAKSHMI NARASIMMHAIAH, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/AT H. NO.306, CHIKKAGOLLARAHATTI, KACHOHALLI PANCHAYATHI, DASANAPURA HOBLI, LAKSHMIPURA POST, BENGALURU NORTH TALUK, BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT, BENGALURU-562162. 2. SMT. BHARATHI K, D/O KRISHNAPPA, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, R/AT MANDALAMANE, HADIGALLU POST, THIRTHAHALLI TALUK, SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT-577422. 3. SMT. JYOTHAMMA M, W/O, D.C. THIPPESWAMY, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, R/AT THORANAGATTE VILLAGE, JAGALUR TALUK, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT-577528. Digitally signed by PRAKASH N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 4. SMT. H.P. POORNIMA, W/O. KRISHNANAYAKA, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, R/AT. POOVANAHLLI VILLAGE, GANJIGERE POST, BUKANAKERE HOBLI, POOVANAHALLI POST, K.R. PETE TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571812. 5. SMT. RATHANAMMA D, W/O. SHIVARAJU T, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, GOLLARAHALLI GRAMA, HALAGURU HOBLI, HALAGURU POST, MALAVALLI TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571430. 6. SMT. VIDYA BASAVARAJ MURAL, W/O. LATE BAPU VANAROTTI, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/AT C/O B.C. MURAL, KSRTC NEAR MGMK ENGLISH SCHOOL, MAHANTESH NAGAR, MUDDEBIHAL TALUK, BIJAPUR DISTRICT-586212. 7. SMT. SHWETAMBARI L CHATTARAKI, W/O. LAXMAN CHATTARAKI, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, R/AT NETAJI GALLI, MUDDEBIHAL POST AND TALUK, BIJAPUR DISTRICT-586212. 8. SMT. T.J. MANJULA W/O. YOGA. S, - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, R/AT ATHUPPE, BUKKINAKERE AND POST, KRISHNARAJPET SUB DISTRICT, MANDYA DISTRICT-571812. 9. SMT. SUMA. H, W/O MANUKUMAR, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, R/AT HANCHIPURA VILLAGE, DUGGANAHALLI POST, KIRUGAVALU HOBLI, MALAVALLI TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571430. 10. SMT. RADHA. C. R, D/O RACHAIAH, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, R/AT. CHOTTANAHALLI VILLAGE, CHOTTANAHALLI POST, B.G. PURA HOBLI, MALAVALLI TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT-571430. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. A. NAGARAJAPPA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, SENIOR CITIZENS DEPARTMENT, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE DIRECTOR, WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT DEPT., - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 VIDHANA SOUDHA, M.S. BUILDING GATE NO.3, BENGALURU-560001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. ASHVINI PATIL, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE AN ORDER/DIRECTION/ WRIT IN THE NATURE OF WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING RESPONDENT NO.1 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PETITIONERS MARKED AT ANNEXURE-R AND R1, IN TERMS OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN W.P NO.7923/2020 C/W 3801/2020 DISPOSED ON 12.12.2025 AND ALSO THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KALABURAGI BENCH IN W.P.NO.226096/2020 DISPOSED OF ON 16.02 2026 DIRECTING RESPONDENT NO.1 TO PREPARE SENIORITY LIST WITHIN 4 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF RECEIPT OF THE ORDER OF PROMOTION BY SELECTION BY GIVING WEIGHTAGE AT THE RATE OF 4 MARKS FOR EVERY 5 YEARS OF SERVICE AS ANGANWADI WORKERS AS PER THE WRIT PETITION NO. 9797/2026 FILED BY SMT. SHIVALINGAMMA AND OTHERS MARKED AT ANNEXURE-L AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 ORAL ORDER The petitioners who are working as Anganwadi workers have filed the present petition seeking for issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus to direct respondent No.1 to consider the representations of the petitioners marked at Annexures-R and R1 in terms of the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.7923/2020 and connected matters. Further direction is sought to direct respondent No.1 to prepare seniority list and accord appropriate weightage at the rate of 4 marks for every 5 years' of service, in terms of the direction passed in W.P.No.9797/2026. Certain other allied reliefs have also been sought for. 2. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the respondent - State submits the factual matrix and legal question that have been raised, have already been dealt with and adjudicated in - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 W.P.No.7923/2020 disposed of on 12.12.2025 and the matter may be disposed of on same terms. 3. The observations made in W.P.No.7923/2020 at para-6 onwards reads as follows: "6. An affidavit of the Assistant Director (Admin), Department of Women and Child Development is filed on 21.11.2025 declaring as follows: "2. I state that as per the Karnataka Department of Women and Child Development (Cadre and Recruitment) Rules, 2020 (for short 'C & R Rules'), the post of Female Supervisor at Sl.No.23 of the Schedule is to be filled up 25% by direct recruitment (open competition pool with 5% in- service quota for female employees of the Department), 50% by direct recruitment from Anganwadi Workers holding Bachelor Degree with 5 years of continuous working experience and 25% by direct recruitment from Anganwadi Workers passed in P.U.C. with 10 years of continuous working experience. 3. I state that the pool of 50% and 25% reserved for direct recruitment for Anganwadi Workers is a specific percentage reserved for presently working Anganwadi Workers and hence, in terms of the suggestion from this Hon'ble Court on the previous dates of hearing, the Department has no objection for "Reading Down" the words "Direct Recruitment" in Sl.No.23 Item (ii) and (iii) of the Schedule to the C & R Rules as "Promotion by - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 Selection", as the effect of such "reading down" is in tune with the intendment of providing direct recruitment quota of 50% and 25% for presently working Anganwadi Workers with degree and PUC qualifications respectively. (emphasis added by Court) 4. (emphasis added by Court) 4. I state that in the C & R Rules, 50% and 25% direct recruitment quota for Anganwadi Workers is to be filled up in accordance with Karnataka Civil Services (Direct Recruitment by Competitive Examination and Selection) (General) Rules, 2006 (for short "2006 Selection Rules"), which provides that selection in respect of Group-C posts shall be through competitive examination. However, it is submitted that though the C & R Rules still refer to 2006 Selection Rules, the same have been repealed as per Karnataka Civil Services (Direct Recruitment by Competitive Examination and Selection) (General) Rules 2021 (for short "2021 Selection Rules"), which under Rule 5 gives a discretion to the appointing authorities to choose any of the five methods as specified in Rule 5. One of the methods as provided in Rule 5(b) is selection on the basis of percentage of marks secured in qualifying examination. In view of the said provision in the 2021 Selection Rules, I state that the promotion by selection in respect of 50% and 25% quota for Anganwadi Workers holding Bachelor degree and PUC qualification respectively, will be carried out on the basis of percentage of marks secured in the qualifying examination (i.e., Bachelor degree examination and PUC examination), if directed by this Hon'ble Court." (emphasis added by Court) - 8 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 7. The learned Additional Advocate General submitted that as against the letter of Government of India, now the post of Female Supervisor can be filled through promotion by selection as a result of which, 50% of posts would be filled by promotion through selection from amongst candidates, who possess Degree qualification with five years of continuous service and 25% of posts would be filled by promotion through selection from amongst candidates, who possess PUC with ten years of continuous service. He contends that this would take care of the interests of the Anganwadi workers as promotional avenue is now open to 75% of the posts. He also contends that the selection shall not be based on any interview or performance of interview, but shall be based on the educational qualification and the marks secured in the qualification prescribed. 8. When this Court questioned whether the respondents would grant weightage for the number of years of service put in while selecting candidates, he submitted that as was done in the case of guest lecturers, the Anganwadi workers may be granted 4 marks for every five years of service. This, he submits, would take care of any - 9 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 candidate loosing out on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examination. 9. In view of the above, the following order is passed: ORDER (i) These writ petitions are disposed off. (ii) The words "Direct Recruitment" in Sl.No.23 item no.(ii) and (iii) of the schedule to the post of Female Supervisors in the Karnataka Department of Women and Child Development (Cadre and Recruitment) Rules, 2020, is read down as "Promotion by Selection". (iii) The basis of promotion by selection of Anganwadi Workers to the post of female supervisors shall be based on the qualification and the marks obtained by them at the qualifying examination. At such selection, the Anganwadi Workers shall also be entitled to weightage at the rate of 4 marks for every five years of service as Anganwadi workers. (iv) The respondents shall prepare a list of seniority of Anganwadi workers as on the date of filing of these writ petitions and extend the benefit to those Anganwadi workers who are still in service." - 10 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010557852026 NC: 2026:KHC:49304 WP No. 25549 of 2026 4. Accordingly, the present petition is also disposed of taking note of the directions at para-9 (ii) to (iv) as extracted above. Sd/- (S SUNIL DUTT YADAV) JUDGE MCR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 25