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Patna High Court

Pramila KumariversusThe State of Bihar

Decided
Disposal
DISMISSED

Holding

The Division Bench dismissed the intra‑court appeal, upholding the Single Judge's order cancelling the appellant's selection.

Summary

Pramila Kumari, an Anganwadi Sevika appointed in 2003, was removed from service after an inspection in 2011 revealed that she had distributed biscuits instead of the prescribed supplementary nutrition, leading to several children falling ill. The District Programme Officer cancelled her selection, a decision affirmed by the District Magistrate in 2022, and the appellant’s subsequent writ petition was dismissed by a Single Judge. The appellant filed a Letters Patent intra‑court appeal alleging procedural infirmities and that the Single Judge failed to apply his mind. The Division Bench examined the factual findings, held that the appellant’s conduct amounted to gross negligence and that the Single Judge’s findings were not perverse or illegal. Citing Supreme Court precedents on the limited scope of Letters Patent appeals, the Bench affirmed the lower court’s order and dismissed the appeal.

Issues considered

  • Whether the order cancelling the appellant's selection as Anganwadi Sevika can be set aside on grounds of procedural irregularity or lack of evidence.
  • Whether a Letters Patent intra‑court appeal can interfere with the factual findings of the Single Judge.
  • Whether the appellant's alleged negligence in providing biscuits instead of prescribed nutrition justifies termination of her service.

Subjects

  • Anganwadi
  • Negligence
  • Service termination
  • Letters Patent appeal
  • Intra‑court appeal
  • Administrative law
  • Child nutrition

Judgment

         IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                        Letters Patent Appeal No.988 of 2024
                                           In
                  Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.12548 of 2024
     ======================================================
     Pramila Kumari, Wife of Kishore Kumar Vishwakarma, Resident of Village-
     Daulatpur Simari, P.S-Bihta, District-Patna.

                                                               ... ... Appellant/s
                                       Versus

1.   The State of Bihar through the Secretary, Social Welfare Department,
     Government of Bihar, Patna.
2.   The District Magistrate, Patna.
3.   The District Programme Officer, Patna.
4.   The Child Development Project Officer, Bihta, Patna.
5.   Sarita Pandit Wife of Rajendra Paswan Resident of Village-Daulatpur
     Simari, P.S-Bihta, District-Patna, At Presently posted as Anganwari Sevika
     at Centre-Daulatpur Simari Code No. 158, Child Development Project,
     Bihta.

                                               ... ... Respondent/s
     ======================================================
     Appearance :
     For the Appellant/s    :      Mr.Dhaneshwar Prasad Gupta, Advocate
     For the Respondent/s   :      Mr. Gyan Prakash Ojha, GA-7
     ======================================================
     CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH
             and
             HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SHAILENDRA SINGH
     ORAL JUDGMENT
     (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR SINGH)

      Date : 31-03-2026

                   Re.: I.A. No. 01 of 2026

                  The present interlocutory application has been filed

      seeking condonation of delay of 01 day in preferring the present

      appeal.

                  2. For the reasons stated in the interlocutory

      application, the delay in filing the appeal is condoned.

                  3. I.A. No. 01/2026 stands allowed.
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                      Re.: L.P.A.No. 988 of 2024

                      4. Heard learned counsel for the parties.

                      5. The present intra court appeal has been preferred

         under Clause 10 of letter patent of Patna High Court Rules,

         against the order dated 22.08.2024 passed by the learned Single

         Judge in CWJC No. 12548 of 2024, whereby the writ petition

         was dismissed.

                      6. CWJC No. 12548 of 2024 was filed by the

         appellant, seeking the following reliefs:

                          “For issuance of the appropriate writ/writs,
                          order/order or direction/directions for quashing the
                          order dated 12.10.2022 passed by Learned
                          Collector-Cum-District Magistrate. Patna in
                          Aganbari Appeal No.02/2022-2023, whereby and
                          whereunder the Appeal No.02/2022-2023 was
                          dismissed, and also for quashing the Memo
                          No1574, dated 08.12.2011 issued by the District
                          Programme Officer, Patna by which the Selection
                          of the petitioner on the Post of the Aganbari Sevika
                          was cancelled and further be direct to respondent
                          authority to appoint/Select the petitioner on the
                          Post of Aganbari Sevika after cancel the Selection
                          of the respondents No.5.”

                      7. The brief facts of the case are that the writ-

         petitioner/appellant herein was appointed as an Anganbari

         Sevika on 15.10.2003. During the course of her service,

         Anganbari Centre was inspected by the Child Development

         Programme Officer (CDPO) on 27.11.2011 and vide letter no.
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         245 dated 29.11.2011, an enquiry report was submitted to the

         District Programme Officer (DPO), Patna. Pursuant thereto,

         after considering all the facts and materials on record, the DPO,

         Patna, by order dated 08.12.2011, cancelled the selection of the

         appellant. Thereafter, the appellant filed Anganbari Appeal Case

         No. 02 of 2022-23, which was heard and rejected by the

         appellate authority by order dated 12.10.2022. Against the said

         orders, appellant filed CWJC No. 12548 of 2024, which was

         dismissed by order dated 22.08.2024.

                      8. The learned Single Judge, after hearing the parties

         and upon consideration of the materials available on record,

         passed the following order,:

                          “5. Upon perusal of the impugned order passed by
                          the Collector-cum-District Magistrate, Patna this
                          Court is of the firm view that the order is well
                          reasoned and speaking and there is no need of any
                          interference in this matter.
                          6. Hence, this writ petition stands dismissed.”


                      9. Learned Counsel for the appellant submits that the

         appellant was not present at the Anganwadi Centre at the time

         when biscuits were distributed by the Sahayika, which allegedly

         led to illness among the children. Learned Counsel pointed out

         that from the date of appointment till the date of dismissal, the

         service record of the appellant remained satisfactory and free
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         from any adverse remarks. It is further submitted that order

         passed by the learned Single Judge suffers from legal infirmity

         and     non-application         of     mind,   and   therefore,   warrants

         interference by this Hon’ble Court.

                      10. Learned Counsel for the respondents submits that

         the District Magistrate, Patna, in Anganbari Appeal Case No.

         02/2022–23, after affording due opportunity of hearing to the

         parties, passed a reasoned order dated 12.10.2022, whereby the

         appellant was found guilty and consequently, the appeal

         preferred by the appellant was rejected. It is further submitted

         that the learned Single Judge, upon due consideration of the

         materials on record, has rightly dismissed the writ petition. The

         impugned order, therefore, does not suffer from any illegality or

         infirmity.

                      11. Learned counsel for the respondents has brought

         to the notice of this Hon’ble Court the averments made in the

         counter affidavit, the relevant paragraph whereof is reproduced

         hereinbelow:

                          “8. That it is needful to state that the C.D.Ρ.Ο.,
                          Bihta vide letter no.-245, dated-29.11.2011 has
                          submitted report that on 27.11.2011, the Anganbari
                          Centre-Daulatpur Simari (Code No.-158) has been
                          inspected. The children, namely-Suraj, Raghu,
                          Rakesh, Amn, Anuslika and Puja had stated that on
                          26.11.2011 only one biscuit was given to them
                          instead of 'Khichari'. Thereafter all the children
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                          became ill and started vomiting. The local
                          residents/villagers had stated against the arbitrary
                          behavior of the Anganbari Sevika (Petitioner). She
                          prepares Poshahar rarely and offers only
                          biscuit/toffee. Further, only 15-20 children are
                          found instead of 40. She use to operate the centre
                          from her house.
                          9. That in view of the inspection report of the
                          C.D.P.O., Bihta, the District Programme Officer,
                          Patna has found many irregularities and thus
                          sought show cause from the petitioner, which was
                          not found to be satisfactory. The charges against
                          the petitioner have been found to be a serious
                          nature. Thus Case No.-44/2010-11 has been
                          initiated on basis of the report dated-29.11.2011
                          submitted by the C.D.P.O., Bihta.
                          10. That the District Programme Officer, Patna had
                          issued notice to the Anganbari Sevika and Sahayika
                          of the said Centre and heard the said case at
                          length. The Anganbari Sahayika had submitted that
                          on-26.11.2011, the Anganbari Sevika did not come
                          at the Centre till 12:00 PM. Due to which
                          'Khichari' could not be prepared. She came later
                          and gave a packet of biscuit for distributing it to the
                          children and left the Centre saying that she is going
                          to Bihta. Thus poshahar was not given to the
                          Sahayika. There has been lot of oveiwriting found
                          in the attendance register. The District Programme
                          Officer, Patna after considering all the facts on
                          record including the report submitted by the
                          C.D.P.O., Bihta. been passed Thus order has vide
                          memo по.-1574, dated-08.12.2011, whereby the
                          selection of petitioner has been cancelled and the
                          C.D.P.O., Bihta has been directed to ensure that
                          there is no compromise on the standard/quality of
                          meal given to the children.
                          11. That the petitioner had filed Appeal No.-
                          05/2012 before the District Magistrate, Patna. The
                          District Magistrate, Patna had heard the matter
                          and after considering all the facts on record has
                          passed order vide memo no.-1465, dated-
                          10.06.2013,-whereby the order passed by the
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                           District Programme Officer, Patna has been
                           affirmed.
                           12. That the petitioner had filed C.W.J.C. No.-4256
                           of 2015 against the said order passed by the
                           District Magistrate, Patna. The Hon'ble Court after
                           hearing the matter has passed order dated-
                           19.04.2019 directing the Appellate Authority to
                           pass a reasoned and speaking order after hearing
                           the parties.
                           13. That accordingly, the District Magistrate, Patna
                           has heard the matter in Anganbari Appeal Case
                           No.-02/2022-23 and after giving opportunities to
                           the concerned parties has passed order dated-
                           12.10.2022, whereby the Anganbari Sevika
                           (Petitioner) has been found to be guilty. Thus the
                           appeal filed by the petitioner has been rejected.”


                      12. The order passed by the District Programme

         Officer (DPO), Patna, vide Memo No. 1574 dated 08.12.2011,

         whereby the appellant has been removed from service, is

         reproduced hereinbelow:

                                  “ससवविकक      एवि व सहकवयिकक कस    बयिकन     सस
                           ननम्नकववकत अननयिनमिततकएए स्पष्ट हहोतती हह:-
                      १.      ददिनकवक- 26.11.11 कहो ननरकर्धाररित अविनर कस प पविर्धा
                              यिकनन 11.00 AM मिमें ऑगनबकडती कमें द्र सस ससवविक
                                                     व ती मिमें आगमिन कक
                              चलल गई। जबवक उपररिरकत पज
                              समियि 9.00 AM तथक प्रस्थकन कक समियि 1.00
                              PM दिजर्धा हह।
                      2.      बच्चचों कस नलए नसरर्धा एक पहकसट नबस्ककट उपलब्र
                              करिकनक।
                      3.      खखिचडती बनकनस हसत क कहोई भती सकमिगती सहकवयिकक कहो
                              नहलव दिसनक।
                      4.      कमें द्र परि बच्चचों ककी विकस्तवविक उपखस्थनत कमि हहोनस
                              कस विकबज पदि अनरक बच्चचों ककी ननयिनमित उपखस्थनत
Patna High Court L.P.A No.988 of 2024 dt.31-03-2026
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                              बनकनक।
                      5.      दिहो-ततीन ददिन पहलस हल कमें द्र कहो नयिस स्थकन परि
                              खशिफ्ट वकयिक गयिक थक . परिव त क प पविर्धा सस कमें द्र वकरिकयिक
                                  क
                              कक भगतकन लसत स रिहनक।
                      6.                व ती मिमें ससवविकक दकरिक ओविरिरिकइवटग
                              उपखस्थनत पज                                   व तथक
                                 व करि बच्चचों ककी सख्व यिक अनरक दिशिकर्धानक।
                              कवटग
                      7.      बकल वविककस पररियिहोजनक पदिकनरककरिल , नबहटक दकरिक
                              ददिनकवक- 15.09.11 कहो ननरिलक्षण कस क्रमि मिमें 15-
                              20 बच्चचों कक पकनक।
                      8.      ऑगनबकडती कमें द्र परि पहोषकहकरि कक मितीन प नहलव टकएगक
                              जकनक।
                      9.                              व कयित मिशितीप
                              सहकवयिकक गकमि- दिदौघडक पच         क रिक ककी हह .
                                                           प पच
                              जहो पहोषक क्षसत्र सस बकहरि दिसरिस व कयित मिमें हह।
                      10.          पहोषकहकरि ननयिनमित रूप सस नहल बननक।
                                   उपरिहोक्त तथ्यिचों कस आलहोक मिमें ससवविकक एवि व
                           सहकवयिकक दकरिक ददियिक गयिक स्पष्टतीकरिण स्वितीककरि करिनस
                           यिहोग्यि नहलव हह।
                                   अततः शतीमिनत प्रनमिलक ककमिकरिल , ससवविकक एवि व
                           शतीमितती सनबतक दिसविती सहकवयिकक , कमें द्र - दिदौलतपरिक
                                          व - 158 बकल वविककस पररियिहोजनक,
                           नसमिरिल, कहोड स०
                           नबहटक कक चयिन रिद वकयिक जकतक हह औरि बकल
                           वविककस पररियिहोजनक पदिकनरककरिल नबहटक कहो आदिसशि
                                                                     व नविकडती
                           ददियिक जकतक हह वक विस अपनस स्तरि सस सभती आग
                           ससवविककओ व एवि
                                       व       सहकवयिककओ व कहो वहदिकयित           दिमें वक
                                              व खिकद्य सकमिगती आप पनतर्धा मिमें ग कणवितक
                           पहोषकहकरि ववितरिण एवि
                           सस कहोई समिझदौतक नहल करिस ।"


                      13. The Collector-cum-District Magistrate, Patna, in

         Anganbari Appeal Case No. 02/2022–23, after affording due

         opportunity of hearing to the parties and upon consideration of

         the facts and materials on record, has affirmed the order passed
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         by the DPO by a reasoned order dated 12.10.2022, which is

         reproduced hereinbelow:

                                        “अनभलसखिबद्ध ककगजकतचों कक पररिशितीलन एवि व
                                         क
                          उभयि पक्ष कहो सननस कस उपरिकवत न्यिकयिकलयि इस
                          ननष्कषर्धा परि पहएच           व नबकडती कस न्द्र सव 0-
                                            क तक हह वक आग
                          158            दिदौलतपरिक      नसमिरिल मिमें घटनक कस    नतनथ        -
                          26.11.2011 कहो प्रनमिलक दिसविती, ससवविकक एवि व सववितक
                          दिसविती, सहकवयिकक कस न्द्र परि पदिस्थकवपत थतीव। उस कस न्द्र
                          मिमें पढ़नस विकलस बच्चचों             (1)   स परिज,    वपतक-रिकजसशि
                          वविश्वकमिकर्धा (2) रिघ क एवि व रिककस शि , वपतक-शिक
                                                                           व रि वविश्वकमिकर्धा
                                                      क
                          (3) अरूण, वपतक-अननशि (4) अनष्कक, वपतक-सरिसक शि
                          वविश्वकमिकर्धा (5) प पजक, वपतक-मिनक
                                                           क सकवि इत्यिकददि कहो एक-
                          एक वविस्ककट खिकनस कहो नमिलक थक। नबस्ककट खिकनस कस
                          बकदि हल सकरिस बच्चस बतीमिकरि पड गयिस। उनलहोगचों कहो
                          पसट मिमें दिदिर्धा तथक उल्टल ह कयिती। उन्हमें स्थकनतीयि डडॉक्टरि सस
                                                     क घटनक कस पशकतत
                          ईलकज करिकयिक गयिक। इसककी पखष्ट
                          ददिनकवक-27.11.2011 कहो बकल वविककस पररियिहोजनक
                          पदिकनरककरिल, नबहटक दकरिक वकयिक गयिक हह। उनकस दकरिक
                          बच्चचों सस प पछनस परि जकनककरिल नमिलल वक खिकनक नहलव
                          बनक थक। मिकत्र एक-एक नबस्ककट खिकनस कस नलए कस न्द्र
                          परि नमिलक थक , खजसस खिकतस हल तनबयित खिरिकब हहोनस
                          लगती।           प्रभकरिल खचवकत्सक पदिकनरककरिल ,          प्रकथनमिककी
                          स्विकस्थ्यि     कस न्द्र,    नबहटक कस दकरिक असहननक         शिल्यि
                                         क
                          खचवकत्सक सह मिख्यि खचवकत्सक पदिकनरककरिल , पटनक कहो
                          पत्र सव 0-404, नबहटक, ददिनकवक-28.11.2011 दकरिक
                          स पखचत वकयिक गयिक वक नसमिरिल ब्रहमिपरिक
                                                               क नबहटक मिमें ककछ
                          बच्चस बतीमिकरि हह। स पचनक नमिलनस परि डक० ककष्ण
                          ककमिकरि, खचवकत्सक पदिकनरककरिल एवि व स्विकस्थ्यि टलमि कस
                          सकथ घटनक स्थल परि पहएच
                                               क करि दिसखिक तहो 16 (सहोलह)
                          बच्चचों कहो एक हल तरिह ककी समिस्यिक थती। सभती बच्चस
                          उल्टल करि रिहस थस, खजसमिमें ततीन बच्चचों कहो "उल्टल" औरि
                          "दिस्त" दिहोनचों हहो रिहल थती। खचवकत्सक दिल दकरिक सभती
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                                                                    व र
                          बच्चचों कक उपचकरि वकयिक गयिक। इस घटनक कस सब व
                          मिमें प पछनस परि ससवविकक प्रनमिलक दिसविती दकरिक अपनस बचकवि मिमें
                                                                           व मिमें
                          पक्ष रिखिक गयिक वक विस प्रखिण्ड मिमें आह पत नमिवटग
                          कस न्द्र सहकवयिकक परि छहोडकरि चलल गई। बहठक मिमें
                          जकनस सस प पविर्धा उन्हमें प परिक पहोषकहकरि बनकनस हसत क कच्चती
                          सकमिगती सहकवयिकक कहो उपलब्र                   करिकनक थक एवि व
                                              क
                          पहोषकहकरि बनविकनक सननखशत करिनक चकवहए थक। वकन्त क
                          अपतीलकथर्थी कस दकरिक सहकवयिकक कहो पहोषकहकरि बनकनस हसत क
                          सकमिगती जहसस चकविल , दिकल इत्यिकददि न दिसकरि नबस्ककट
                          कक एक पहकसट बच्चचों मिमें ववितरिण कस नलए ददियिक गयिक।
                          चवपए क कस न्द्र परि उपलब्र सभती सकमिगती कस प्रभकरिल
                          ससवविकक हल हहोतती हह। अततः ससमियि पहोषकहकरि बनविकनस
                          ककी खजम्मिसविकरिल इनककी हहोतती हह, परि इनकस दकरिक सहल सस
                          अपनती खजम्मिसविकरिल कक पकलन             नहलव वकयिक गयिक।
                          अनभलसखि               व ग्न
                                         मिमें सल          बकल    नबककस          पररियिहोजनक
                          पदिकनरककरिल,       नबहटक कस       ननरिलक्षण      प्रनतविसदिन   मिमें
                          उल्लसखखित हह वक गकएवि विकलचों नस बतकयिक वक ससवविकक
                          बह कत मिनमिकनती करितती हह औरि कभती कभती पहोषकहकरि
                          बनकतती हह। प्रकयितः ससवविकक कस दकरिक खिकनस कस स्थकन परि
                          नबस्ककट एवि व टडॉरकी कक ववितरिण वकयिक जकतक हह।
                          ससवविकक प पविर्धा मिमें अपनस घरि परि हल कस न्द्र कक पररिचकलन
                          करितती थती खजसमिमें 15 सस 20 बच्चचों कहो हल रिखितती
                          थती।बकरि-बकरि कहनस परि 02 सस 03 ददिन पहलस कस न्द्र
                          कहो नयिस वकरिकयिस कस कमिरिस मिमें स्थकनकन्तरिण वकयिक गयिक
                          थक, जबवक पहलस सस वकरिकयिक उनकस दकरिक नलयिक जक
                          रिहक थक। आएगनबकडती कस न्द्र परि तत्ककल हल कच्चती
                          नमिटती कक च पल्हक बनक ह कआ थक , खजसकहो दिसखिनस सस
                          प्रततीत    हहोतक    थक      वक    ननरिलक्षण      ककी    नतनथ
                          27.11.2011 तक इसपरि खिकनक नहलव बनक थक।
                          अपतीलकतकर्धा कस दकरिक यिह स्वितीककरि वकयिक गयिक हह वक
                          नबस्ककट खिकनस सस हल बच्चचों ककी तनबयित खिरिकब ह कयिती
                          हह। बकल नबककस पररियिहोजनक पदिकनरककरिल , नबहटक कस
                          प्रनतविसदिन मिमें यिह भती प्रनतविसददित वकयिक गयिक हह कस इससस
Patna High Court L.P.A No.988 of 2024 dt.31-03-2026
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                          पहलस भती कई नतनथयिचों कहो जकएच ककी गयिती थती , खजसमिमें
                          कस न्द्र परि अननयिनमिततक पकयिती गयिती थतीव।
                                                                        क ससवविकक कस
                                  अपतीलकथर्थी प्रमितीलक ककमिकरिल चयिनमिक्त
                                           व तीरि प्रककनत कस हह। सभती आरिहोप
                          वविरूद्ध आरिहोप गभ
                          ससवविकक कहो हल दिहोषती ठहरिकतस हह। सहकवयिकक ससवविकक कस
                                      क
                          आदिसशि कक अनपकलन करितती हह। ससवविकक कस आदिसशि
                          परि हल पहोषकहकरि नहलव बनकयिक गयिक औरि उनकस ननदिर्देशि
                          परि हल बच्चचों कस बतीच खिरिकब नबस्ककट कक ववितरिण
                          वकयिक गयिक, खजससस बच्चचों ककी तनबयित खिरिकब ह कयिती।
                          खजससस स्पष्ट हहोतक हह वक सहकवयिकक ननदिर्दोष हह। सकरिल
                          जविकबदिसहल ससवविकक ककी हह। अपतीलकथर्थी प्रनमिलक ककमिकरिल ,
                          ससवविकक कक अपनस करर्धाव्यि कस प्रनत लकपरिविकहल प्रमिकखणत
                          हहोतक हह। इस ककरिण अपतीलकथर्थी प्रमितीलक ककमिकरिल कहो
                          ससवविकक कस पदि                 क वकयिक गयिक तथक
                                               सस चयिनमिक्त
                                                                      क बहकल
                          सहकवयिकक कहो ननदिर्दोष पकयिस जकनस कस ककरिण पनतः
                          करि नलयिक गयिक।
                                  उपयिक्त कर्धा विखणर्धात तथ्यिचों एवि व अनभलसखि मिमें उपलब्र
                          ककगजकतचों कस अविलहोकन तथक उभयि पक्ष कहो स कननस कस
                          पशकतत यिह स्पष्ट हह वक प्रनमिलक ककमिकरिल , तत्ककललन
                          ससवविकक कतर्धाव्यि मिमें लकपरिविकहल ककी दिहोषती हह औरि उनकक
                          तकर्धा यिथहोखचत नहलव हह। अततः अपतीलकथर्थी कस अपतील कहो
                          खिकररिज करितस ह कए विकदि कहो समिकप्त वकयिक जकतक हह।"

                      14. Upon perusal of the material on record and after

         hearing the parties, it is evident that the appellant, while

         functioning as Sevika, failed to ensure preparation of the

         prescribed supplementary nutrition for the children and instead

         distributed biscuits, upon consumption of which several children

         fell ill, suffering from stomach pain, vomiting, and allied

         symptoms. It was incumbent upon the appellant to ensure the
Patna High Court L.P.A No.988 of 2024 dt.31-03-2026
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         proper and effective functioning of the Anganbari Centre in

         accordance with the prescribed norms. The responsibility of

         maintaining adequate standards of nutrition and ensuring the

         safety and well-being of the children rested upon her. In the

         present case, the materials on record clearly demonstrate that the

         appellant failed to discharge these essential duties. Such

         conduct, in the considered opinion of this Court, reflects gross

         negligence and serious dereliction of duty on the part of the

         appellant, thereby justifying the action taken by the respondent

         authorities in cancelling her selection.

                      15. Further, the appellant has been unable to

         substantiate the grounds of the present appeal to dislodge the

         findings of the learned Single Judge. The Scope of a Letters

         Patent Appeal is limited, and normally in absence of cogent

         reasons, Division Bench would not differ from a finding of fact

         recorded by learned Single Judge as the Letters Patent Bench

         primarily acts as a court of correction. The relevant paragraph of

         the    decision      of    Hon’ble Supreme       Court    in   Baddula

         Lakshmaiah v. Sri Anjaneya Swami Temple, reported in (1996)

         3 SCC 52, is reproduced as under:

                          “2.… A letters patent appeal, as permitted under
                          the Letters Patent, is normally an intra-court
                          appeal whereunder the Letters Patent Bench, sitting
                          as a Court of Correction, corrects its own orders in
Patna High Court L.P.A No.988 of 2024 dt.31-03-2026
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                          exercise of the same jurisdiction as was vested in
                          the Single Bench. Such is not an appeal against an
                          order of a subordinate court. In such appellate
                          jurisdiction the High Court exercises the powers of
                          a Court of Error. So understood, the appellate
                          power under the Letters Patent is quite distinct, in
                          contrast to what is ordinarily understood in
                          procedural language. …”

                      16. Similarly, it is well settled that interference with

         findings of fact recorded by the learned Single Judge is

         warranted only in cases of perversity or patent illegality. In this

         regard, it is relevant to take note of the judgment of the Hon’ble

         Supreme Court in Narendra & Co. (P) Ltd. v. Workmen,

         reported in (2016) 3 SCC 340, wherein it has been held that

         merely because another view is possible, the order of the Single

         Judge ought not to be interfered with. The Court observed as

         follows:

                          “5. … Be that as it may, in an intra-court appeal,
                          on a finding of fact, unless the Appellate Bench
                          reaches a conclusion that the finding of the Single
                          Bench is perverse, it shall not disturb the same.
                          Merely because another view or a better view is
                          possible, there should be no interference with or
                          disturbance of the order passed by the Single
                          Judge…”

                      17. In view of the facts and materials available on

         record, the discussions made hereinabove, and the law laid

         down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, this Court finds no

         illegality or perversity in the order passed by the learned Single
             Patna High Court L.P.A No.988 of 2024 dt.31-03-2026
                                                         13/13




                      Judge warranting interference.

                                   18. Accordingly, the present intra court appeal stands

                      dismissed.

                                   19. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand

                      disposed of.




                                                    (Sudhir Singh, J)


                                                  (Shailendra Singh, J)
Sujit/-
AFR/NAFR                NAFR
CAV DATE                NA
Uploading Date          03.04.2026
Transmission Date


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