Patna High Court
Pushpa DeviversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- ANSHUMAN
Holding
The dispute relates to the appointment of the Anganwadi Sevika, so Rules 10.3 and 10.4 apply, and the petitioner is entitled to file an appeal within 30 days before the statutory appellate authority.
Summary
The petitioner, Pushpa Devi, challenged an order dated 07‑08‑2025 issued by the District Programme Officer, Samastipur, regarding her appointment as an Anganwadi Sevika. The State contended that the order could not be challenged under the 2011 Anganwadi Sevika Sahayika Margdarshan. The court examined Rules 10.3‑10.6 of the Margdarshan, which provide two separate appeal mechanisms: one for appointment decisions (Rules 10.3‑10.4) and another for procedural irregularities (Rules 10.5‑10.6). It held that the dispute pertained to the appointment itself, making Rules 10.3 and 10.4 applicable. Accordingly, the court granted the petitioner liberty to file an appeal before the statutory appellate authority within 30 days and disposed of the writ petition.
Issues considered
- Whether the order of the District Programme Officer is challengeable under the 2011 Anganwadi Sevika Sahayika Margdarshan.
- Which set of provisions (Rule 10.3‑10.4 or Rule 10.5‑10.6) governs the present dispute.
- Whether the petitioner may be permitted to appeal before the statutory appellate authority within the prescribed period.
Subjects
- Anganwadi Sevika
- appointment
- Margdarshan 2011
- Rule 10.3
- Rule 10.4
- writ petition
- statutory appellate authority
- 30‑day appeal period
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.692 of 2026
======================================================
Pushpa Devi W/o Krishnanand Paswan, Resident of Village- Neauri P.O-
Kyot har P.S- Singhiya Dist- Samastipur.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Addl. Chief Secretary, Social Welfare
Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.
2. The Director, Social Welfare Department (ICDS) Directorate, Indira
Bhawan, Patna.
3. The Divisional Commissioner, Darbhanga Commissionery, Darbhanga.
4. The District Collector cum District Magistrate, Samastipur.
5. The District Program Officer (ICDS), Samastipur.
6. The Child Development Project Officer, Singhiya P.S. Singhiya, Distt-
Samastipur.
7. Puja Yadav, W/o Ranjeet Yadav, R/o Vill- Neauri P.O- Kyot har P.S-
Singhiya, Diss- Samastipur.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Kedar Jha, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Standing Counsel (05)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DR. ANSHUMAN
ORAL JUDGMENT
Date : 02-02-2026
Heard learned Counsel for the petitioner and
learned Counsel for the State.
2. Learned Counsel for the petitioner has filed
the present writ petition challenging the order dated 07.08.2025
passed by the District Programme Officer, Samastipur, in
Anganwari Appeal Case No.352 of 2019 (ICDS), Sasamtipur,
and DPO Court Samastipur Case No.71 of 2016-17 dated
03.06.2019.
Patna High Court CWJC No.692 of 2026 dt.02-02-2026
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3. Learned Counsel for the State raised
preliminary objection that order of District Programme Officer
is challengeable under the Margdarshika for appointment of
Aganbari Sevika Sahayika.
4. After hearing the parties, it transpires to this
Court that the advertisement for appointment of Anganwari
Sevika took place in the year 2013, appointment letter issued in
the year 2015, it is being guided by the Anganwari Sevika
Sahayika Margdarshan, 2011. Under the 2011 Margdarshika,
there is a provision of challenging order passed by District
Programme Officer within 30 days before the Deputy Director
Welfare or Additional Collector authorized by the Divisional
Commissioner, who has to pass order within 45 days.
5. The relevant provision laid down under Rule
10.3 to 10.6 are as follows:-
“10.3. जजला प्रोग्राम पदाजधकारी यजद चयन मे
अजनयजमतता पाते है तो उकत चयन को रद करते हुए मे धा सूची के
द्जवतीय अभयरीर को चयन करने का आदे श दे गे।
जजला प्रोग्राम पदाजधकारी के उकत आदे श के जवरद
तीस (30) जदनो के अं दर प्रमं डलीय आयु कत के कायारलय मे
पदसराजपत उप जनदे शक, कलयाण अरवा प्रमं डलीय आयु कत दारा
प्राजधकृत अपर समाहतार से अनयून सतर के पदाजधकारी के समक
Patna High Court CWJC No.692 of 2026 dt.02-02-2026
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अपील दायर की जा सकेगी।
10.4 प्रमं डलीय उप जनदे शक, कलयाण अरवा
प्रमं डलीय आयु कत दारा प्राजधकृत पदाजधकारी दारा सं बंजधत पको
को सु नकर तरा जजला प्रोग्राम पदाजधकारी के आदे श से सं बंजधत
अजभले ख का अवलोकन करते हुए पै ताजलस (45) जदनो के अनदर मु खर
आदे श पाजरत करे गे ।
इस मामले मे उनका आदे श अं जतम होगा और इस
आदे श के जवरद कोई अपील दायर नहीं की जा सकेगी।
10.5 से जवका सहाजयका दारा केनद्र सं चालन मे
अजनयजमतता बरते जाने का प्रजतवे दन प्रापत होने पर जजला
प्रोग्राम पदाजधकारी सं बंजधत पको को सु नकर 30 जदनो के अं दर
मु खर आदे श पाजरत करे गे ।
10.6 जजला प्रोग्राम पदाजधकारी के उपयु रकत आदे श
के जवरद 30 जनो के अं दर जजला पदाजधकारी के समक अपील दायर
जकया जा सकेगा। जजला पदाजधकारी सं बंजधत पकी का सु नकर 60 जदनो
के अं दर मु खर आदे श पाजरत करे गे । इस आदे श के जवरद कोई अपील
नहीं दानी।”
6. Upon going through those provisions, it is
crystal clear that there are two forum of appeal are present. In
the first channel, the appointment on the post has subject to
challenge, i.e., in Rule-10.3 and 10.4, whereas in second
channel, for the irregularity done in running of the Anganwari
Patna High Court CWJC No.692 of 2026 dt.02-02-2026
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Kendra is there which is 10.5 and 10.6. It is admitted that in the
present case the dispute is admittedly relating to appointment of
the Anganwari Sevika. Therefore, provision of 10.3 and 10.4
shall be applicable.
7. In this view of the matter, the present writ
petition is disposed off granting liberty to the petitioner to
challenge the same before the statutory appellate authority
within 30 days from today.
(Dr. Anshuman, J)
Mkr./-
AFR/NAFR NAFR
CAV DATE NA
Uploading Date 09.02.2026
Transmission Date
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