16.09.2026 Item No.14 Ct. No. 30 Aloke WPA 16788 of 2026 Nimai Chandra Das Vs The State of West Bengal & Ors. Mr. Bikash Shaw Mr. Sk. Saad Islam Mr. Suman Basu … for the petitioner Mr. Suman Basu … for the Chandannagore Municipal Corporation Mr. Brijendra Pratap Singh Mr. Kawaljeet Singh … for the State 1. The writ application has been preferred by the husband of the deceased Anganwadi worker praying for direction upon the respondents for grant of Rs. 3,00,000/- along with interest accrued thereon in terms of the notification under Memo bearing No. 3216-SW/WCD-14026/3/2018 dated 30th September 2020, which speaks of awarding of One Time Terminal Grant of Rs. 3,00,000/- to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (A WHs) under ICDS Project. 2. It appears from the materials on record that the wife of the petitioner herein expired on 24.06.2021, when she was engaged as an Anganwadi Worker. The said deceased would have acquired 65 years of age on 30.09.2024 and as such the petitioner's wife was not allowed the said grant. 2 3. On a representation being made by the petitioner herein, his prayer was rejected by the respondent no. 3 on the ground, that the deceased had not attained the age of 65 years, on the date of her death and as the grant is one time grant to be given only when the worker attains the age of 65 years, she did not become entitled to it. 4. The State has filed a report wherein it has been stated as follows : “……the petitioner's wife, Late Minati Das, was employed as an Anganwadi Worker in Chandannnagar Urban ICDS Project, until the day of her expiry i.e. 24th June, 2021. That as per provisions of Memo No 361-SW/3S-225/04(Pt) dated 3rd February, 2014 (Annexed hereto), all Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers under Govt. run and NGO-run ICDS Projects who will attain the age of 65 years after 31st March 2014 and so on will be discontinued/terminated from their honorary works on the last date of the month in which she will attain the age of 65 years. That, as per records available in office, the date of birth of the petitioner's wife, Late Minati Das, is 15th September, 1959. Accordingly, the notional date of termination of her service is 30th September, 2024, as per provisions of the Memo dated 3rd February, 2014. The petitioner's wife expired before attaining the age of 65 years.” 5. It is further submitted that : 3 “Memo No 3216-SW/WCD-14026/3/2018 dated 30th September, 2020, of the Joint Secretary, Women & Child Development and Social Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal categorically states that, One Time Terminal Grant of Rs 3,00,000/- (Rupees Three lakhs only) will be awarded to each and every Anganwadi Worker and Anganwadi Helper of both Government run and NGO run ICDS Projects throughout the State of West Bengal whose services from honorary work will be terminated on the last day of the month in which she will attain the age of 65 years, from 30.09.2020 and onwards.” 6. It is thus submitted that as the petitioner’s wife passed away before attaining the age of 65 years; hence, she was not entitled to receive the One Time Terminal Grant, as per provisions of Memo No 3216- SW/WCD-14026/3/2018 dated 30th September, 2020, of the Joint Secretary, Women & Child Development and Social Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal. 7. On hearing the learned counsels for the parties and on perusal of the memo under reference dated 3rd February, 2014, this Court finds that the order categorically states as follows : “Now in compliance of Govt. of India's guidelines issued in terms of No. 1-1/2007- CD-1(Vol. II) dated 01.03.2013 and in order to keep parity with the uniform schematic pattern of ICDS Scheme, the undersigned is directed, by order of the Governor, to say that the Governor, after careful consideration of the 4 matter, has been pleased to decide in the public interest that the services of all the Anganwadi Workers and the Anganwadi Helpers under Govt. Run and NGO-run ICDS Projects who will reach/have reached the age of 65 years by 31.03.2014 will be terminated from the honorary works w.e.f. 01.04.2014. The Governor has further been pleased to decide in the public interest that all Anganwadi Workers and the Anganwadi Helpers under Govt. run and NGO-run ICDS Projects who will attain the age of 65 years after 31st March 2014 and so on will also be discontinued/terminated from their honorary works on the last date of the month in which she will attain the age of 65 years. All previous memoranda, orders, G.Os issued in this regard shall stand superseded.” 8. On careful perusal of the said memo dated 3rd February, 2014, the relevant sentence herein is as follows : “………..will also be discontinued/terminated from their honorary works on the last date of the month in which she will attain the age of 65 years.” 9. The said sentence clearly implies that the Anganwadi Workers or Helper has to be in service till the last date of the month when she attains the age of 65 years when as per the said Memo her service will be discontinued/terminated. 10. This clearly implies that the incumbent has to be in service on the last date of the month on which she attains the age of 65 years. 5 11. Admittedly, in the present case, the wife of the petitioner expired before attaining the age of 65 years and, as such, vide the impugned order the respondent authority concerned had rightly decided the issue and the said order requires no interference by this Court. 12. The writ application is disposed of. 13. Connected application, if any, stands disposed of. 14. Urgent Photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance with all requisite formalities. (Shampa Dutt (Paul), J.)