No Mandatory Requirement Of Graduation Or Post-Graduation Prescribed By Govt For Post Of Anganbadi Karyakatri: Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court has held that for appointment on the post of Anganbadi Karyakatri, whether the candidate has done graduation or has a post-graduation degree is irrelevant. It held that the merit list must be prepared based on the minimum qualification, i.e., High School and Intermediate qualifications, not graduate and post-graduate degrees.Petitioner approached the High Court...
The Allahabad High Court has held that for appointment on the post of Anganbadi Karyakatri, whether the candidate has done graduation or has a post-graduation degree is irrelevant. It held that the merit list must be prepared based on the minimum qualification, i.e., High School and Intermediate qualifications, not graduate and post-graduate degrees.
Petitioner approached the High Court seeking consideration for her candidature on the post of Anganbadi Karyakatri, which was rejected because she could not upload her post-graduation degree with the application form due to technical glitch.
Upon query from the Court, counsel for petitioner showed Clause 7 of the Government Order dated 21.03.2023 which provides that merit list of the post of Anganbadi Karyakatri and Anganbadi Sahayika will be prepared on the basis of minimum qualification or equivalent qualification and also the maximum academic qualification of Post Graduation.
The Court held that Graduation and Post Graduation qualification cannot be taken as preferential qualification when there is no provision declaring them prefrential and no additional marks have been allotted for the same.
The Court held that the merit list for Anganbadi Karyakatri must be prepared in accordance with the minimum qualifications, i.e., High School and Intermediate qualifications and not based on the graduate and post-graduate degrees of the candidates.
Justice Ajit Kumar held: “The provision of preparation of merit list as per Post Graduate degree is held to be directory only. Respondents are directed to prepare the merit list strictly in accordance with the minimum qualification as prescribed and allot the marks on the basis of High School and Intermediate qualification pursuant to the advertisement issued and not on the basis of Graduation or Post Graduation as there is no preferential qualification prescribed under the relevant Government Order.”
Accordingly, the Court held that the candidature of the petitioner could not be rejected only because she had failed to submit the post-graduation degree and that she could not be placed below a candidate who had submitted the post-graduate degree. It was held that the petitioner's merit was to be decided based on her performance as Anganbadi Sahayika and/ or High School and Intermediate marks.
Case Title: Smt Chandani Pandey v. State Of Up And 2 Others [WRIT - A No. - 3371 of 2025]
