Court allowed petition by an Anganwadi worker selected after a rival candidate failed documents regarding non-residence, directing respondents to confirm her appointment and grant service benefits while dismissing a connected petition for non-prosecution.
Petitioner allowed to continue as Anganwadi Worker and entitled to honorarium and seniority.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
Serial No. 23 Regular Cause list
HIGH COURT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AND LADAKH AT SRINAGAR WP(C) 3269/2019 C/W WP(C) 2115/2019
SHUGUFTA AKTHAR
…Appellant(s)/Petitioners(s)
Through: Mr. M. Rafiq Bhat, Advocate in WP(C) 3269/2019 None in WP(C) 2115/2019
Vs.
STATE OF J AND K AND ORS. ICDS
...Respondent(s)
Through: Mr. T.A Lone, Dy.AG
CORAM:
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SEKHRI, JUDGE.
ORDER
01.09.2026
WP(C) 3269/2019:
WP(C) No. 2115/ 2019) was shown tentatively selected as Anganwadi Worker for Anganwadi Center Naropora Ahsan Mir Mohalla, subject, however, to the objections, if any, from the fellow candidates. The petitioner, Shugufta Akthar objected to the tentative selection of Saima Maqbool on the predominant premise that she was not a resident of the area, for which advertisement notice was issued. When enquired on the basis of field staff, Numberdar, Sarpanch and Chairman Auqaf Committee, it surfaced that Ms. Saima Maqbool was actually not a resident of the area for which advertisement notice had been issued. Consequently, Ms. Saima Maqbool was asked to produce the requisite documents of belonging to the hamlet, which she failed. As a result, matter was taken up with the Chairman Selection Committee (District Programme Officer, ICDS Project, Anantnag), intimating that since Ms. Saima Maqbool has failed to produce relevant document regarding her residence, necessary approval be accorded in favour of the next eligible candidate- the petitioner. Accordingly, approval came to be accorded in favour of the petitioner by the Chairman Selection Committee and engagement order dated 24.05.2019 came to be issued in her favour as Anganwadi Worker for the Anganwadi Center Naropora Ahsan Mir Mohalla.
Mir Mohalla against which she has already joined and is working in terms of order bearing No. CDPO/Breng/19/13437 dated 24.05.2019, she is also entitled for all service benefits including honorarium, seniority etc.
WP(C) 2115/2019:
connected CMs.
(RAJESH SEKHRI) JUDGE
Srinagar: 01.09.2026 Adil Ismail
2 issues framed by the court
Whether petitioner can be allowed to continue as Anganwadi worker after selection of previous candidate was found premature due to non-residence.
Whether petitioner is entitled to service benefits including honorarium and seniority.
SHUGUFTA AKTHAR
SHUGUFTA AKTHAR
STATE OF J AND K
ICDS
RAJESH SEKHRI
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
