URMILA VERMA Vs. STATE OF H.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By means of this writ petition, the Petitioner has challenged the order dated 20.3.2010 whereby she was removed from the post of mid day meal worker/helper.

(2.) This case makes interesting reading. The mid day meal scheme has been implemented in various Government schools in the State of Himachal Pradesh and the Government has laid down the guidelines for the appointment of cooks to cook the mid day meals vide its letter dated 11.2.2010. It has not been disputed before me that such workers are appointed by the Village Education Committee alongwith the Parent Teacher Association and the Mother Teacher Association. We are concerned with the post of mid day meal worker in the Government Middle School, Chairi.

(3.) On 15.3.2010, a meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Respondent No. 5, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Chairi. The members of the Village Education Committee, Mother Teacher Association and Parent Teacher Association also took part in the said meeting. During the course of discussion, no unanimity could be achieved with regard to the person to be appointed but four names were considered, viz. (1) Sh. Amar Singh, (2) Urmila Verma, Petitioner, (3) Ratha Devi and (4) Reema Devi. Since there was no unanimity, the Chairman directed that person be appointed on the basis of voting and voting was conducted and the Petitioner who had polled the highest votes was appointed. It is alleged that Respondent No. 3 Kanta Devi was present in the said meeting.