M.Sangeetha v. The Union Of India Represented By
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 01.12.2025 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI 1.M.Sangeetha 2.D.Kalpana 3.R.Suganya 4.B.Hemalatha 5.T.Kanimozhi 6.K.Ramya 7.K.Nithiyasri 8.M.Dhanlakshmi 9.Saranya 10.E.Ezhilarasi 11.K.Gowsalya 12.N.Vithiya ... Petitioners Vs 1.The Union of India represented by The Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Union, Territory of Puducherry, Puducherry-605 001.
2.The Secretary to Government, social Welfre Department, Government of Union Territory of Puducherry, Puducherry-605 001.
3.The Director of Women and Child Development Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
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4.The Managing Director, Puducherry Corporation for the Development of Women and Differently Abled Persons Limited, 1st Cross Rd, Natesan Nagar, Puducherry, 605005. ... Respondents Prayer : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records on the file of the 3rd respondent relating to the impugned recruitment notification dated 20.11.2025 bearing Ref.No.195/DWCD/lICDS Cell/2025-6 and quash the same as illegal and arbitrary and consequently, direct the respondents to permit the petitioners and other similarly placed existing Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers, who were duly selected and appointed pursuant to the earlier notification dated 26.05.2021 to continue engagement of the petitioners and to absorb the petitioners in the regular post of Multipurpose Women Development Coordinators and Assistants under the 4th respondent. For Petitioner : Mr.R.Saravanan For Respondent : Mr.V.Vasanthakumar, Additional Govt. Pleader (Puducherry)
O R D E R
The present Writ Petition has been filed challenging the recruitment notification dated 20.11.2025 issued by the 3rd respondent inviting applications for filling up 344 posts of Anganwadi Workers and 274 posts of Anganwadi Helpers on honorarium basis.
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2. Brief facts that are necessary for disposal of this Writ Petition are as follows:- The petitioners were selected and engaged as Anganwadi Workers/Helpers under the recruitment notification dated 26.05.2021 on honorarium basis initially for a period of three months and their engagement has been continuously extended from time to time and they have been serving till date without any break. As per the said notification, the requisite qualification was prescribed as a pass in Matriculation/SSLC fixing the maximum age limit at 35 years. However, without absorbing the petitioners in the existing regular vacancies and without passing the order of termination, the present impugned notification dated 20.11.2025 has come to be issued by enhancing the Educational Qualification from SSLC to 12th standard to the post of Anganwadi Workers. Challenging the same, the present Writ Petition has been filed.
3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that, already the petitioners were engaged and continuing their employment till date. It is further submitted that while their engagement is extended till February 2026 and without passing any termination order, issuance of fresh notification inviting applications for filling up the post of Anganwadi Workers/Helpers on honorarium basis by enhancing the educational qualification is wholly unsustainable. Accordingly, he prayed for appropriate orders.
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4. Per Contra, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submitted that admittedly, the petitioners were engaged as Anganwadi Workers/Helpers on honorary basis. He further submitted that, the Government of India bears 60% of the expenditure and the Government of Puducherry bears 40%. As per the present recruitment notification, the minimum Educational Qualification prescribed is 12th standard and the age limit is between the 18 and 35. It is further submitted that, the earlier notification is only for a period of three months and that subsequently, the petitioners were continued to till the date of issuance of next notification however, the enhancement of the educational qualification of 12th Standard is a policy decision taken by the Government of India and therefore, the impugned notification cannot be found fault with. Accordingly, he prayed for dismissal of the Writ Petition.
5. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.
6. The petitioners have challenged the impugned recruitment notification on the ground that, neither their services were regularised nor any termination order was passed before passing the impugned notification. It is not in dispute that the petitioners were engaged as Anganwadi workers/helpers on temporary basis pursuant to the recruitment notification dated 26.05.2021 and their 4/6
engagement has been periodically extended from time to time till February 2026.
7. However, considering the fact that their earlier appointment was purely temporary in nature, they do not any vested rights to challenge the subsequent recruitment notification. In the absence of any vested rights, filing of Writ Petition is wholly unsustainable. In such view of the matter, this Court finds no reason to interfere with the impugned notification.
8. However, the respondents are directed not to disengage the petitioners till the completion of the extension period. Liberty is granted to the petitioners to participate in the recruitment process during the subsistence of the extension period or till the completion of the recruitment process, whichever is earlier.
9. Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. 01.12.2025 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order / Non-speaking order Nhs 5/6
M.DHANDAPANI, J Nhs To 1.The Union of India represented by The Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Union, Territory of Puducherry, Puducherry-605 001.
2.The Secretary to Government, social Welfre Department, Government of Union Territory of Puducherry, Puducherry-605 001.
3.The Director of Women and Child Development Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
4.The Managing Director, Puducherry Corporation for the Development of Women and Differently Abled Persons Limited, 1st Cross Rd, Natesan Nagar, Puducherry, 605005. 01.12.2025 6/6