GURUBARI MAHANANDIA Vs. STATE OF ODISHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner in the present writ application assails the order dtd. 4/6/2025 passed by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Subarnapur in Anganwadi Helper Second Appeal No.1 of 2025, whereby the order passed by the Sub-Collector, Birmaharajpur in Anganwadi Helper Appeal No.3 of 2024 was set aside.

(2.) The facts of the case, briefly stated are that pursuant to an advertisement executed by the CDPO on 23/7/2024 inviting applications for engagement as Anganwadi Helpers in different Anganwadi Centers including Kumursingha Mini Anganwadi Center, the petitioner was one of the four candidates including Opposite Party No.6. In the selection process that followed, it was found that the Opposite Party No.6, despite not having produced her pass certificate of Diploma in Civil Engineering was selected for engagement. The petitioner had raised objection pointing out the non-submission of Diploma Engineering Certificate by Opposite Party No.6 but the same was not considered by the Selection Committee. Opposite Party No.6 was engaged by order dtd. 30/8/2024.

(3.) The petitioner therefore, filed a writ application before this Court being W.P.(C) No.22751 of 2024, which was disposed of by order dtd. 12/9/2024 directing her to prefer an appeal. Accordingly, the petitioner filed Anganwadi Helper Appeal No.3 of 2024 before the Sub-Collector, Birmaharajpur. After hearing all concerned, the Sub-Collector vide order dtd. 20/12/2024, held that the selected candidate had not uploaded her Diploma Certificate in Civil Engineering, equivalent to 12th standard at the time of application and also not before the Selection Committee. It was therefore, held that her selection was in violation of clause-5 of the advertisement. Accordingly, the engagement of Opposite Party No.6 was set aside and the petitioner being the next meritorious candidate was directed to be engaged.