Tripura HC orders reappointment of 10 Anganwadi workers, directs state to clear pending honorarium since October 2022. Landmark ruling ensures justice, reinstatement, and financial relief for terminated ICDS workers after prolonged legal battle.
A significant relief has been granted to a group of Anganwadi workers in Tripura after a prolonged legal battle over termination and unpaid dues. The Tripura High Court has ordered the re-appointment of 10 Anganwadi Workers and helpers and directed the state government to clear their pending honorarium within a fixed timeline.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao and Justice Biswajit Palit delivered the order on Thursday. The court instructed authorities to reinstate the workers within four weeks and release their unpaid honorarium, pending since October 2022, within the next eight weeks.
Senior advocate Purushottam Roy Barman, who represented the petitioners, stated that the workers had been serving in five Anganwadi centres under the Damcherra ICDS project before their abrupt termination. According to him, the termination took place in December 2022 without any prior notice, raising serious concerns about procedural fairness.
The state government had justified the termination by citing relocation of Anganwadi centres. As a result, not only were the workers removed from service, but their monthly honorarium was also withheld. This led the affected workers to approach the High Court, seeking justice and reinstatement.
Initially, a single bench of the court, also headed by Justice Biswajit Palit, granted partial relief by directing the government to release 50 percent of the pending honorarium. However, both the state government and the petitioners challenged the order, leading to further legal proceedings.
In the final judgment, the division bench dismissed the state government’s appeal and upheld the workers’ claims. The court emphasized the importance of fair treatment and due process in employment-related decisions, especially in welfare-driven schemes like the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
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The ruling is being seen as a strong affirmation of workers’ rights and accountability in administrative decisions. It also highlights the judiciary’s role in safeguarding the interests of grassroots-level service providers who play a crucial role in delivering essential nutrition and childcare services in rural areas.
With this verdict, the affected Anganwadi workers are expected to regain their positions and receive long-overdue financial compensation, bringing an end to nearly two years of uncertainty.
