IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.8012 of 2010 1. Poonam Kumari Pandey Wife of Sri Narayan Pandey 2. Kanti Devi Wife of Manoj Kumar Pandey, both residents of Village Chuar, P.O. Attawn, P.S. Koransarai, District Buxar (Bihar)………………………..………………………………..Petitioners Versus 1. The State of Bihar through the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar, Old secretariat, Patna-1. 2. Director, Social Welfare, Government of Bihar, Patna-1. 3. Director, Integrated Child Development scheme, Pant Bhawan, Bely Road, Patna-1 (Bihar) 4. Collector-cum-District Officer, Buxar, Bihar. 5. District Program Officer, Dumrawn, Buxar, Bihar. 6. District Welfare Officer, Buxar, Bihar. 7. Child Development Project Officer, Dumrawn, Buxar (Bihar). 8. M.I.S. Consultant, Pant Bhawan, Bely Road, Patna-1 (Bihar), Management Enforcement System………………………………………………………………..Respondents ----------- For Petitioners: Mr. Abhay Shanker Singh, Advocate For the State: A. C. to G.P. VI *** 2 25.03.2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioners as well as learned counsel for the State. Petitioners have challenged an order of the Director, I.C.D.S. dated 28.04.2008, as contained in Annexure-1, by which on the basis of enquiry report in respect of alleged irregularities and lapses committed by the petitioners in 2 functioning of Anganwari Centre, their engagement has been cancelled. Learned counsel for the petitioners rightly points out that under the Guidelines, Director, I.C.D.S. had no power to cancel the engagement of Anganwari Sevika and Sahiyaka. He submits that the order has been passed behind the back of the petitioners and without affording any opportunity to them to file their explanation in respect of the said allegations. Under the present Guidelines, on the ground of irregularities and lapses being committed in running the Centre, District Programme Officer has power to cancel the engagement of Anganwari Sevika against which an appeal lies before the Collector and a revision lies before the Commissioner. In the circumstances, the impugned order as contained in Annexure-1 is quashed with a direction to the petitioners to appear before the District Programme Officer, Buxar within four weeks from today along with a copy of this 3 order. Upon their appearance, District Programme Officer shall get all the reports adverse to the petitioners served upon them with an opportunity to file their reply. Thereafter he will decide the matter in accordance with law after hearing the parties within two months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. BT (J. N. Singh, J.)