IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE FOURTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 12021 of 2006 Between: Ch. Radha Rani, D/o. Sri Chandramalla Charless, *** R/o. Dowlaiswaram, Rajahmundry ( Rural Mandal), E.G.District, A.P. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The State ofA.P., rep. by Secretary to Government, Department of Women and Child Welfare, Secretariat, Hyd. 2 The Child Development Project Officer, I.C.D.S., Project, Rajanagaram, E.G.District, A.P. 3 The Sarpanch, Grampanchayat, Dowlaiswaram, E.G.District A.P. .....RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Aﬃdavit ﬁled herein the High Court will be pleased to issue Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ Order or direction in the nature of writ directing the respondent No.2 to consider the case of the petitioner for appointment to the post of Anganwadi Helper at Dowlaiswaram, Rajahmundry ( Rural Mandal), East Godavari District notiﬁed vide letter 45/2006 dt. 18.4.2006, issued by the 2nd respondent will all consequential beneﬁts such as regular appointment and seniority etc. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.VEMURIVENKATESWARA RAO Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR WOMEN DEV. & CHILD WELFARE The Court made the following ORDER: The second respondent issued a notiﬁcation inviting applications for the post of Anganwadi Worker for the Village of Dowaleswaram, Rajahmundry Rural Mandal. The petitioner submitted her application. However, it was not considered, on the ground that she is under-aged and unmarried. She challenges the action of the respondents. It is stated that under the relevant Service Rules, the persons with 18 years of age are also eligible to be considered for appointment and there is no basis for the respondents in stipulating a higher age limit. The respondents ﬁled a counter-aﬃdavit, opposing the writ petition. According to them, for the post of Anganwadi Worker, married women in the age group of 21 to 45 years are suited and in fact, an unmarried woman below the age of 21 years cannot be expected to perform the duties of Anganwadi Worker. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader for Women Development and Child Welfare. The post of Anganwadi Worker carries with it, certain special duties such as taking care of the children and looking after their nutritional needs. Obviously for this reason, the respondents have prescribed the age limit between 21 and 45 years and incorporated a condition to the eﬀect that the applicant must be married. The petitioner does not fulﬁll both the qualiﬁcations. Therefore, no exception can be taken to the action of the respondents in not considering the case of the petitioner. This Court is not convinced to accept the contention of the petitioner as regards job requirements. Hence, the writ petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. ___________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY,J Dt:04.08.2008 kdl