AMMU.K Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AS the claims in all these Writ Petitions are similar in nature, the Writ Petitions are disposed of on the basis of this common judgment. The petitioners claim to be Anganwadi workers and they aver that, they have been providing services to children below six years, pregnant women, nursing mothers and adolescent girls etc. They claim to involve in rendering services for child development, women's empowerment, self development, nutrition, health education, literacy, recreation, skill formation, caring of old and disabled people ect. The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) projects were implemented through these Anganwadi workers located in the village and slums.

(2.) ACCORDING to the petitioners, their retirement age was initially fixed by the Central Government as 58 years & connected cases with provision to allow their continuance subject to fitness with respect to health and efficiency. Later, the upper retirement age of 58 years has been modified as 62 years. It is averred that, now other States like Hariyana have raised the retirement age of Anganwadi workers from 62 years to 65 years. In neighboring States like Karnataka, the demand for such enhancement of retirement age to 65 years is also being considered, is the case putforth by the petitioners.

(3.) IT is also submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.(C) No. 11653 of 2014 that, this Court has & connected cases disposed of some Writ Petitions relating to service conditions of Anganwadi workers and has recently issued directions to the State Government to consider increase of the wages of Anganwadi workers and helpers and also directed the Central Government to appoint a Commission to settle the issue of Anganwadi workers and helpers and submit a report suggesting the ways and means to improve their service conditions, etc.