High Court quashes dismissal of eight Anganwadi workers and helpers

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 13, 2026

The Tripura High Court has quashed the cancellation of appointments of eight Anganwadi Workers and Helpers in Dhalai district, ruling that the authorities acted arbitrarily and violated principles of natural justice.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice S Datta Purkayastha passed the order while allowing four connected appeals against a single judge's July 4 judgment.

The workers were appointed in August 2023 following a recruitment process initiated in December 2022 under the Dumburnagar ICDS Project. However, the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) cancelled their appointments on February 26, 2024, citing unavoidable reasons, and initiated fresh recruitment.

The court found no provision in the government's recruitment guidelines granting preference to substitute workers. It also observed that the affected employees were neither issued notices nor given an opportunity to respond to allegations concerning their local residency.

The Bench further noted that political pressure appeared to have influenced the decisions of the CDPO and the Dhalai District Magistrate, following a letter from the Tipra Motha Party seeking withholding of their joining.

Setting aside the cancellation order, the court directed immediate reinstatement, payment of pending honorarium from February 26, 2024, within eight weeks and costs of Rs 5,000 to each appellant.

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