SUMITA SINHA Vs. STATE OF TRIPURA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. R Datta, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as Mr. D Sharma, learned Addl. GA appearing for the respondents No. 1 to 5 and Mr. B Majumder, learned Asst. SG appearing for the respondent No.6, Union of India.

(2.) Both the writ petitions emerged in the similar background and hence, those will be disposed by a common judgment. There is no dispute that the petitioners have been working as Anganwadi Workers since 28.06.1984 in respect of the petitioner in WP(C) 765 of 2020 [and no particular date in respect of the petitioner in WP(C) 766 of 2020] continuously under the centrally sponsored scheme called Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) introduced by the Government of India in the year 1975-76. The Anganwadi Workers have been discharging essential social services in the area of supplementary nutrition, immunization, health checkup, referral services, non-formal education to pre-school children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Their services are supervised by the Supervisor (ICDS), Assistant Child Project Officer and Child Development Project Officer. The details of their duties have been enumerated in the writ petitions.

(3.) But the controversy in the writ petition falls within a short compass. The Government of India by the communication under No.1-8/2012-CD-1 dated 22.10.2012 has observed as follows: