Anganwadi workers can serve up to 65 years: Tripura High Court verdict

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, December 15, 2022

The High Court has re-recognized the right of Anganwadi workers to serve up to 65 years. High Court Justice Arindam Lodh passed the order yesterday in a writ petition. Justice Arindam Lodh directed the expeditious execution of the writ petitioner ordering the re-employment of the 5 Anganwadi workers within four weeks.

It is reported that five Anganwadi workers who have crossed the age of 60 have been retired by the Social Welfare Department. Although the High Court made a clear observation about the employment of Anganwadi workers and helpers up to the age of 65 years in March 2021, the writ petition was ruled on. Subsequently, the writ appeal and Division Bench on 29th June 2021 upheld the judgment of the Single Judge. Despite the central government raising the retirement age of Anganwadi workers and helpers to 65, the state government has been implementing the decision to retire Anganwadi workers for the past several years on the basis of retirement at the age of 60. They filed a writ case against five Anganwadi workers working in Teliamura and Kalyanpur ICDS projects when they were sent to retire after completing 60 years. The Hon'ble High Court ordered the reinstatement of the retired Anganwadi workers within four weeks. Senior Advocate Purushottam Roy Barman, Advocate Kaushik Nath argued the case for the petitioners. The Honorable Justice expressed his anger in the court as to why five Anganojadi activists had to appear before the court unnecessarily.