SUDHANSUBALA DEBI Vs. STATE OF ORISSA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Shri B. Routray, learned counsel for the petitioner, and Shri S. K. Swain, learned Addl. Standing Counsel for the State.

(2.) THE petitioner in this writ petition challenges the order dated 15.10.2001 passed by the Collector, Puri, cancelling the selection and appointment of the petitioner as Anganwadi Worker of Haridaspur Anganwadi Centre and directing for commencement of process of selection of Anganwadi Worker de novo in respect of the said center.

(3.) IN order to satisfy myself about the alleged irregularity committed at the interview, I directed the learned Addl. Standing Counsel to produce the relevant record and accordingly the said record relating to selection of Anganwadi Workers under Kakatpur Block is produced before me. On perusal of the same, I find that in respect of Haridaspur Anganwadi Centre, a slip has been pasted against the names of the petitioner and Sabita Kumari Nayak showing the marks awarded by the M.O., C.D.P.O., the total and average marks. In the said slip the average mark shown against Sabita Kumari Nayak is 5.25 and that of the petitioner is 7.25. The four members constituting the interview board, i.e., the Sub -Collector, B.D.O., M.O. and C.D.P.O., have respectively awarded 9, 5, 2 and 5, totaling 21 marks to Sabita Kumari Nayak and 3, 8, 9 and 9, totaling 29 marks to Sudhansubala Debi. The individual marks awarded by the different officers, who were members of the selection committee perfectly tally with the slip which has been pasted on the tabulation -sheet. No manipulation or over -writing is found in any of the individual mark -sheets prepared by the aforesaid members of the selection committee in respect of the candidates in question. The reason for pasting the slip is unknown but from the order of the Collector, I find that he has not taken into consideration the individual marks awarded by the different members of the selection committee separately while reaching at the conclusion as arrived at by him. The marks awarded by the individual members of the selection committee fully tally with the slip so superimposed on the tabulation -sheet against the names of the petitioner and Sabita Kumari Nayak. The order of the Collector in Annexure -4 is, therefore, set aside and the Collector is directed to examine the matter afresh keeping in view the marks awarded to the petitioner as well as Sabita Kumari Nayak by the individual members of the selection committee and take a decision on the same. Let this exercise be completed within two months of the date of receipt of this order.