- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 3582 OF 2024 (S-RES) BETWEEN: SMT. SAKAMMA W/O VENKATESH NAIK AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS OCC EMPLOYED AS ANGANAWADI WORKER R/O PIRAMANAHALLI VILLAGE (PERUMANAHALLI) BELENAHALLI POST, M C HALLI CIRCLE TARIKERE TALUKA CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT – 577228. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. VILAS RANGANATH DATAR., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA DR AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU 560001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHIKKAMAGALURU 577101. 3. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT CHIKKAMAGALURU OFFICE OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT CHIKKAMAGALURU, CHIKKAMAGALURU 577101. Digitally signed by MALATHI CHALUVA IYENGAR Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 4. THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER OFFICE OF THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER, TARIKERE TALUKA-577228. 5. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER OFFICE OF THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER, SHIVAMOGGA 5777201. 6. SMT JAYASHEELA W/O MANU KUMAR AGED MAJOR OCC EMPLOYED AS ANGANAWADI WORKER AT PIREMANAHALLI VILLAGE R/O LAKKENAHALLI TARIKERE TALUK CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT-577228 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.G. RAMESH NAIK., AGA FOR R1 TO R5: R6 SERVED) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH ORDER ISSUED BY THE R-4 BY ITS ORDER BEARING NO. UNICHE MAMAE C-3 KAPA 2023-24 DATED: 30.10.2023 VIDE ANNEXURE-L AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD ORAL ORDER In this writ petition, the petitioner has sought for the following relief/s: “(a) To issue a writ of Certiorari or writ order or direction in the nature of Certiorari or any other appropriate writ order or direction under Article 226 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 and / or 227 of the constitution by quashing order issued by the 4th Respondent by its order Bearing No. UNICHE: MAMAE: C-3:ΚΑΡΑ:2023-24 Dt.30-10-2023 vide Annexure-L in the interest of justice and equity, (b) Consequently issue a Writ of Mandamus or a writ order or direction in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate Writ or Order or Direction under Article 226 and / or 227 of the Constitution of India by calling for records from Respondents and on perusal of the same be pleased to issue a direction to the Respondents 1 to 5 to consider the application vide Annexure D, E and F of the Petitioner to consider her Transfer from the main Anganawadi Centre at Lakshmipura village, to the post of Anganawadi worker at the Pirenahalli / Perumanahalli village in Tarikere Taluka of Chikkamagaluru District in the interest of justice and equity. (c) Costs.” The case of the petitioner is that, she was appointed as an Anganwadi Worker at the Anganwadi Centre, Lakshmipura Village, pursuant to the appointment order dated 17.04.2015 (Annexure–B). From the date of her appointment, the petitioner has been continuously discharging her duties at the said Anganwadi Centre. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 3. On 24.02.2019, the petitioner married one Sri Venkatesh Naik, a resident of Perumanahalli Village. Subsequent to her marriage, the petitioner has been residing at her matrimonial home in Perumanahalli. As Lakshmipura Village is situated at a distance of approximately 60 kilometers from Perumanahalli, the petitioner has been compelled to commute daily, causing grave hardship and inconvenience. 4. In the aforesaid circumstances, the petitioner submitted a representation seeking transfer from Lakshmipura Anganwadi Centre to Perumanahalli Anganwadi Centre, as per Annexure–D. While the said representation was pending consideration, the impugned order dated 30.10.2023 (Annexure–L) came to be issued, whereby respondent No.6 was promoted as Anganwadi Worker and transferred to Perumanahalli Anganwadi Centre. Being aggrieved by the said action, the petitioner approached this Court seeking appropriate relief. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 5. It is submitted that Clause VII(6) of the guidelines issued by the Government governing the selection and appointment of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, dated 03.12.2022 (Annexure–K), clearly prescribes the order of priority for appointment to a vacant post in a newly established Anganwadi Centre. As per the said clause, first priority shall be accorded to eligible Mini Anganwadi Workers, second priority to Anganwadi Helpers, and third priority to transfer candidates. Only in the absence of applications from the above categories, selection is to be made by calling for fresh applications. Clause VII(6) of the guidelines reads as under: “VII.6. CAUÀ£ÀªÁr PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉð ºÀÄzÉÝ SÁ°AiÀiÁzÀ/ºÉƸÀ PÉÃAzÀæPÉÌ CºÀð «Ä¤ PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉð/¸ÀºÁAiÀÄQAiÀÄjAzÀ PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉð ºÀÄzÉÝUÉ ¥ÀzÉÆãÀßw PÉÆÃj Cfð ¹éÃPÀÈvÀªÁzÀ°è «Ä¤ PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉðUÉ ªÉÆzÀ®£Éà DzÀåvÉ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄQAiÀÄjUÉ JgÀqÀ£Éà DzÀåvÉ, ¸ÁÜ£À¥À®èlPÉÌ ªÀÄÆgÀ£Éà DzÀåvÉ, ¤Ãr CªÀgÀ£Éßà DAiÉÄÌ ªÀiÁqÀvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ. CAvÀºÀ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà CfðUÀ¼ÀÄ ¹éÃPÀÈvÀªÁV®è¢zÀÝ°è ¸ÁÜ£À¥À®èl/ªÀUÁðªÀuÉUÉ DzÀåvÉ ¤ÃqÀĪÀÅzÀÄ. ¸ÀzÀj AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 ¥ÀæPÀgÀtUÀ¼ÀÄ E®è¢zÀÝ°è ºÉƸÀzÁV DAiÉÄÌ ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ ¥ÀæQæAiÉÄAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¥ÁægÀA©ü¹ UÀjµÀÖ 3 wAUÀ¼ÉƼÀUÉ ªÀÄÄV¸ÀvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ.” 6. In Clause XII of the said guidelines, condition has been prescribed for promotion to mini Anganvadi workers and Anganvadi helpers. The case of the Anganvadi worker who has passed PUC and who has completed 5 years service, will be considered first for giving a promotion. The relevant Clause XII is extracted below: “«Ä¤ CAUÀ£ÀªÁr PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉð/CAUÀ£ÀªÁr ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄQAiÀÄgÀ£ÀÄß PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉðAiÀÄgÀ£ÁßV ¥ÀzÉÆãÀßwUÉ UÀÄgÀÄw¸ÀĪÀ «zsÁ£ÀzÀ PÀÄjvÀÄ:- CAUÀ£ÀªÁr PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉð ºÀÄzÉÝUÀ½UÉ ¦.AiÀÄÄ.¹ GwÛÃtð ºÉÆA¢zÀ «Ä¤ CAUÀ£ÀªÁr PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉðAiÀÄjUÉ ªÉÆzÀ® DzÀåvÉ ¤ÃqÀĪÀÅzÀÄ. CAUÀ£ÀªÁr ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄQAiÀÄgÀÄ 5 ªÀµÀð PÀ¤µÀÖ ¸ÉêÉ, GvÀÛªÀÄ ¸ÉêÁ zÁR¯É, »jAiÀÄ ªÀAiÉÆêÀiÁ£À ºÉÆA¢zÀ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄQAiÀÄgÀ£ÀÄß ºÉaÑ£À «zÁåºÀðvÉ ºÁUÀÆ ªÀAiÀĹì£À C£ÀÄUÀÄtªÁV ¥ÀzÉÆãÀßwUÉ ¥ÀjUÀt¸ÀĪÀÅzÀÄ. ºÁUÀÆ CzÉà UÁæªÀÄ/ £ÀUÀgÀ ¥ÀæzÉñÀzÀ°è ªÀÄÆgÀÄ Q.«ÄÃ. ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ°è ªÁ¸ÀªÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ.” 7. Clause XII has been further clarified by the Government by issuing a clarification order on 16.08.2024. The same is extracted below: - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 “G¯ÉèÃR 1 gÀ ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ DzÉñÀzÀ ªÀiÁUÀð¸ÀÆa ¸ÀASÉå: XII gÀ°ègÀĪÀAvÉ CAUÀ£ÀªÁr PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉðAiÀÄ ºÀÄzÉÝUÉ ¥ÀzÉÆãÀßwUÁV J¸ï.J¸ï.J¯ï.¹. GwÛÃtðgÁVzÀÄÝ, 5 ªÀµÀð PÀ¤µÀÖ ¸ÉêÉ, GvÀÛªÀÄ ¸ÉêÁ zÁR¯É, »jAiÀÄ ªÀAiÉÆêÀiÁ£À ºÉÆA¢zÀ «Ä¤ CAUÀ£ÀªÁr PÁAiÀÄðPÀvÉðAiÀÄjUÉ/¸ÀºÁAiÀÄQAiÀÄjUÉ DzÀåvÉ ¤ÃqÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ UÁæ«ÄÃt/£ÀUÀgÀ¥ÀæzÉñÀzÀ CAUÀ£ÀªÁr PÉÃAzÀæzÀ ªÀÄÆgÀÄ Q.«Äà ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ°è ªÁ¸ÀªÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ JAzÀÄ CxÉÊð¹PÉƼÀÄîªÀÅzÀÄ” JAzÀÄ ¸Àà¶ÖÃPÀgÀt ¤ÃqÀ¯ÁVzÉ.” 8. From the aforesaid guidelines, it is manifest that a Mini Anganwadi Worker becomes eligible for promotion to the post of Anganwadi Worker only upon completion of a minimum period of five years of service as a Mini Anganwadi Worker. 9. In the present case, respondent No.6 was appointed as a Mini Anganwadi Worker on 13.01.2022 at Lakkenahalli, as is evident from Annexure–J dated 04.11.2023. However, by the impugned order dated 30.10.2023 (Annexure–L), respondent No.6 has been promoted as an Anganwadi Worker and transferred to Perumanahalli Anganwadi Centre. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 10. It is thus evident that respondent No.6 had not completed the requisite minimum service of five years as a Mini Anganwadi Worker on the date of her promotion. The impugned order dated 30.10.2023, produced as Annexure–L, is therefore in clear violation of the guidelines/circular issued by the Government dated 03.12.2022 (Annexure–K). 11. For the aforesaid reasons, the impugned order cannot be sustained in law and is liable to be set aside. Hence, the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is allowed. (ii) The impugned order dated 30.10.2023 passed by the third respondent, produced as Annexure–L, is hereby quashed. (iii) The respondents are directed to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner vide Annexures–D, E and F, in accordance - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:3781 WP No. 3582 of 2024 with law, and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible, and in any event, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. (iv) In view of the disposal of the writ petition, all pending interlocutory applications stand disposed of. Sd/- (H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD) JUDGE CM LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 52